With every producer and participating musician contributing while quarantined, Dave Koz’s multi-faceted album A New Day – his first set of original songs in ten years, marking 30 years since his self-titled debut – is extraordinary on every level, musically, technically and logistically. Flush with creativity in the months before COVID-19, he adapted to the new norm, joining forces with a cadre of greats – including first time collaborators David Sanborn, EWF percussionist Ralph Johnson, Meshell Ndegeocello, David Mann and Vulfpeck’s Antwaun Stanley – to build bridges from gentle wistfulness to bursts of optimism. The result is most purposeful, empowering and exhilarating musical statement of his career. ~ smoothjazz.com
Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2012, Peter Leitch was forced to give up a decades long career as a a guitarist and band leader because of his treatment. Although he is unable to play his instrument, he is still driven to create music. Leitch has re-invented himself as a composer, arranger, and director of a 15-piece orchestra. Celebrating this transformation, he has released New Life, the debut, 2-disc recording by the eponymous Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra. It took Leitch two years to compose, arrange, and orchestrate the 17 pieces that comprise this project. In search of a personal voice in writing for a medium-sized ensemble, he was looking for something that sounded like a bigger band but had the freedom and looseness of a small group. The 2-disc set corresponds to 2 sets of music in a club or concert. Although Leitch misses the in-the-moment aspect of being an improvising musician, he has found a new outlet for his endless creativity. His original melodies range from hauntingly beautiful to classically inventive to playful. His orchestrations also have a wide range of colors and textures, from dense and dissonant to light, airy and contrapuntal. His music is fun and challenging for the musician, but more fun for the listener to absorb it all.
Pianist and composer Max Haymer’s newest release as a leader, Whirlwind: Live At Sam First, is a testament to his muscular, inventive playing style and his gift for creating sophisticated, dramatic compositions. Whirlwind follows his 2008 release, Pickpocket Witness, a production of all original tunes. It has taken 12 years for Haymer to release this new project because he’s been so busy touring as a longtime member of Arturo Sandoval’s band as well as leading his own popular trio and acting as West Coast accompanist for singer Jane Monheit. Haymer is an athlete and attended UC Irvine on a soccer scholarship, where he spent four years playing Division 1 soccer. His approach to the piano reflects his athleticism. While Haymer’s approach to playing the piano embodies his innate physicality, his aesthetics have been largely influenced by his years with Arturo Sandoval. Whirlwind was recorded live, before the pandemic shut down live shows, at Sam First, an L.A. club known for world class modern and straight-ahead jazz. Haymer and his trio have performed there many times over the years, and he thought it was the perfect place to capture the energy of a live performance. WHIRLWIND is a high energy album that befits its title. The album comprises six original tunes by Haymer and three standards. For Haymer, music is a dramatic art, where conflict and passion are expressed in a narrative framework. Whirlwind is a series of stories brought to life by three A-list musicians.
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