New Music Releases: The Bad Plus, Something Blue, Jenna Marie Pinard & Jay Yoo

The Bad Plus - Activate Infinity

Infinity is the second album from The Bad Plus since the remarkable pianist Orrin Evans joined the trio back in 2018. With their sights set on a new trajectory, combined with an abundance of spirit and creativity, the trio have produced one of their finest and most original albums to date. This is group music played with vibrant imagination and vigour. It's real, deeply honest and personal. Their joy in music-making together is clear and their vision is committed and democratic. With a new home on the British label, Edition Records, the trio are working with a renewed intent that will see them grow to new heights and continue to flourish. Sit back, listen and enjoy the ride!

Something Blue - Maximum Enjoyment

For this album, I chose to use the aesthetic ideas suggested by classic Victorian era English rhyme to curate all the aspects of the production process. I also specifically selected musicians who are old familiar faces: Art Hirahara, Boris Kozlov, and Rudy Royston. There are some new friends as well: Alexa Tarantino, Nick Finzer, and Sam Dillon. The carefully selected musical program features some borrowed compositions taken from earlier Posi-Tone releases, which were subsequently produced to create performances reminiscent of the mid-1960 s, the blue period of modern jazz. I sincerely hope everyone will experience as much Maximum Enjoyment" listening to these musical offerings as I did producing them. Marc Free, producer.

Jenna Marie Pinard / Jay Yoo – Here, Now

Inspired by extended technique and improvisation, this duo record was made with the intention of paying homage to the jazz tradition whilst simultaneously creating an emotional, intimate and contemporary sound. “Here, Now” is a debut duo album by vocalist Jenna Marie Pinard and guitarist Jay Yoo. The album consists of inventive arrangements of jazz standards and original music. Inspired by the active creative music scene in Toronto, the duo wanted to use this record as a vehicle for exploration and improvisation. Their third collaborator was the highly skillful Tom Upjohn, who mixed and mastered the record. The album was recorded by Jenna Marie Pinard and Jay Yoo, first in Jenna Marie’s family home in Montreal, and later in their individual Toronto apartments. “Here, Now” was generously funded in part by the University of Torotno Faculty of Music Undergraduate Association (FMUA).