THE MARLEY BROTHERS UNITE FOR ‘THE LEGACY TOUR’

The Marley Brothers – Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian – announce The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour, their 22-date run produced by Live Nation which historically marks their first outing together in two decades. The tour will commence on September 5, 2024 at Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park in Vancouver, BC then continues across the U.S. and Canada through the fall. 

Bob Marley's music endures as a beacon of strength, hope, and unity, attracting a growing global fanbase. For over three decades, his sons have each established themselves as renowned solo artists and collectively boast an impressive count of 22 GRAMMY® Awards, with Julian securing 2024's win for "Best Reggae Album.” 

Now reunited on The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour, they'll honor their father's worldwide impact by performing both individual hits and classic Bob Marley songs during a momentous year for the genre. As the world nears what would have been Bob Marley's 80th birthday in 2025, there's no greater homage than experiencing his music live through his sons, who carry on his enduring influence across popular culture. 

VIP PACKAGES:  The tour will also offer a variety of immersive VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, invitation to the pre-show soundcheck with the Marley Brothers’ band, access to the pre-show VIP lounge, specially designed VIP gift item and more.  

Additionally, on April 20th, Bob Marley: One Love will expand its screenings, inviting audiences to celebrate alongside one of the most influential icons of all time. Coming off the heels of a worldwide record-breaking theatrical run and the 40th anniversary of Marley's revolutionary album, Legend, this tour further underscores his enduring impact on the cultural landscape.

THE 2024 LEGACY TOUR DATES:

• 9.05 | Vancouver, BC | Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park
• 9.06 | Ridgefield, WA | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
• 9.08 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre
• 9.10 | Concord, CA | Toyota Pavilion at Concord
• 9.11 | Chula Vista, CA | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
• 9.12 | Phoenix, AZ | Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
• 9.13 | Albuquerque, NM | Isleta Amphitheater
• 9.15 | Austin, TX | Germania Insurance Amphitheater
• 9.16 | Dallas, TX | Dos Equis Pavilion
• 9.18 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center
• 9.19 | Clarkston, MI | Pine Knob Music Theatre
• 9.22 | Queens, NY | Forest Hills Stadium
• 9.23 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center
• 9.25 | Bridgeport, CT | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
• 9.26 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center
• 9.27 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live
• 9.29 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage
• 9.30 | Laval, QC | Place Bell
• 10.02 | Wilmington, NC | Live Oak Bank Pavilion
• 10.03 | Atlanta, GA | Lakewood Amphitheatre
• 10.04 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amp
• 10.05 | Miami, FL | FPL Solar Amphitheatre 

Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for close to 40 years. The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues, rock and other elements through mindful songcraft. Equal parts master storyteller and motivational guide, he deftly explores issues from environmental awareness to self-empowerment, social injustice to political inequity, while returning again and again to the transformative power of love. And over the past 15 years with his own companies, Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his masters and publishing; alongside his charity URGE – benefiting the well-being of children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.

Stephen “Ragga” Marley is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, and producer whose work has earned no fewer than eight Grammy Awards. Born into a musical family, Stephen is the child of reggae legends Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He began singing professionally at 6, touring the world with his elder siblings Ziggy, Sharon, and Cedella in The Melody Makers. In 2008, he released his first solo album, Mind Control, which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His subsequent solo albums include Mind Control Acoustic, Revelation Part I: The Root of Life, and Revelation Part II: The Fruit of Life. Stephen’s first new full-length album in more than seven years, Old Soul, was released on September 15 via Tuff Gong Collective/UMe/Ghetto Youths International. The new album is a departure from his previous Reggae repertoire, showcasing more of his bluesy, acoustic soul side, as evidenced by the first single, “Old Soul.” Stephen is also an acclaimed producer, working closely with his brother Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley on the massive crossover hit Welcome To Jamrock. In addition, Stephen continues to champion charitable endeavors centered in Jamaica as a co-founder of the Ghetto Youths Foundation, along with his brothers Damian and Julian Marley. In 2017, Stephen established Kaya Fest, the annual music festival, which features special guests and rare family performances, all with the larger purpose of raising awareness around the benefits of cannabis, guided by the mantra “Education Before Recreation.”

Julian Marley, born in London, England on June 4, 1975, to Bob Marley and Lucy Pounder, embraced a musical upbringing, mastering various instruments as a self-taught musician. Mentored by reggae greats in Jamaica, he released his debut album "Lion in the Morning" in 1996, followed by international tours. He contributed to Lauryn Hill's Grammy-winning album and collaborated on a Stevie Wonder tribute. His sophomore album, "A Time and Place," showcased a fusion of reggae and jazz. Julian spearheaded the 'Africa Unite' performances and performed at the 2008 Olympic Games. His Grammy-nominated album "Awake" in 2009 garnered acclaim, winning 'Best Album of the Year' at the IRAWMAs. Julian, deeply rooted in Rastafarianism like his father, remains committed to spiritual and global messages in his music, embodying a conscious movement in reggae.

Ky-Mani Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis, is a Grammy-nominated artist who burst onto the scene with his 1996 debut album "Like Father Like Son," blending reggae with hip-hop. Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, he has a diverse discography including "Many More Roads" (2001), "Maestro" (2015), and a collaboration with Gentleman titled "Conversations." Beyond music, Ky-Mani has showcased his acting skills in films like "Shottas" (2002) and "One Love" (2003). With his soulful voice and powerful lyrics, he upholds the Marley legacy while forging his own distinctive path in entertainment.

Multi-Grammy winning talent, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is a highly acclaimed Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer. He is the youngest son of the revered legend, Bob Marley. His musical style fuses reggae with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, R&B, and rock, crafting a fresh and modern sound that is uniquely his own. Damian was the first ever Reggae artist to win a GRAMMY AWARD® outside of the Reggae category. The acclaimed 2005 breakthrough disc, Welcome To Jamrock, won a GRAMMY AWARD® for Best Reggae Album, with the New York Times naming the track “the best reggae song of the decade.” In 2010, Marley teamed up with Nas and brother Stephen Marley for his Distant Relatives project, and went on to partner with Skrillex for their groundbreaking track “Make It Bun Dem,” which Rolling Stone called “a monster mash-up of dubstep and dancehall.” Which went platinum with over 1 Million copies sold in the United States alone. Following the track’s success, the reggae superstar released his fourth studio album, Stony Hill, resulting in his third GRAMMY AWARD® for Best Reggae Album. In September of 2022, Marley produced the studio album, The Kalling, for Kabaka Pyramid which won Best Reggae Album at the 65th Annual GRAMMY AWARDS®. Most recently, “Jr. Gong” released his rendition of the famed George Harrison track, ‘My Sweet Lord.’. The track got the stamp-of-approval by George’s beloved wife, Olivia, as well as the George Harrison Estate. Damian is the co-founder of the renowned Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise, which is gearing up for its 9th annual.

DAMAMI PHILLIPS - THE RECKONING

"The Reckoning" is a uniquely varied body of work, consisting of a mixture of original compositions and arrangements of infrequently recorded tunes in the jazz repertoire. As has become the standard for my prior recordings, stylistic variety is ever-present within this collection of songs. While seeking to create music that is inviting to a wide variety of listeners, my hard bop roots are front and center in the flavor and spirit of the album. The original compositions on the album strongly reflect the influence of this period of jazz history on my musicianship, consisting of tunes that are substantive yet relatable to many.

The arrangements of per-existing tunes represent personal favorites from the catalogs of jazz giants Kenny Dorham and Hank Mobley. In keeping with the edgy, hard-bop spirit of my work, I sought the assistance of the best musicians in New York to help in bringing my music to life. I enlisted the help of NYC jazz standouts Greg Gisbert on trumpet, Hammond B3 Organist Pat Bianchi, and the incomparable Lewis Nash on drums. The caliber of musicians joining me on the album give my music an infectiously organic spirit; all while exuding the highest standards of quality and musical substance. "The Reckoning" marks the first time that these three individuals have ever come together to record, yet they play like they've been performing together for years! The combined personnel on this album work together to create a recording that is a exceptional listening experience. The album is highly effective in striking a harmonious balance between the old and new while allowing me to stay true to my individual voice as a musician and composer.

The Tracks:
1. No Room for Squares - One of my favorite tunes by Hank Mobly, and a song that I've been waiting a long time to record. The chemistry between Pat and Lewis is phenomenal on this track!

2. One for C.P. - One of my original tunes written specifically for the album as a tribute to my late father Clarence Phillips. Though this funk tune was written to purposefully be accessible to less experienced listeners, substance and integrity was not compromised in doing so. If the funk doesn't get you, the hip chord progression and fantastic solo work will! Check out Greg Gisbert's killin' solo on this one!

3. Shalom - Another of my original tunes written a while back and revisited for this recording. Inspired by my fascination with Cannonball Adderley's version of "Fiddler on the Roof", this hard bop monster is constructed around the Jewish scale commonly employed in Klesmer music.

4. You Are Who You Are - Another original written specifically for the album. A pretty jazz waltz with a interesting chord progression that is a nice counterbalance to the other tracks on the album.

5. Sinister Intent - My personal favorite on the album. Another original tune that uses a "jungle" or "breakbeat" feel. Intricate counterpoint and unorthodox harmonization between the two horn parts make for a unique and distinctly gritty melody. Lewis Nash is a killer on this track, and the solo work of everyone in the group is second to none! You'll never see the ending coming!!

6. Lotus Blossom - My arrangement of the Kenny Dorham classic. Some interesting experimentations with tempo manipulation and metrical superimposition that's reminiscent of Wynton's "Autumn Leaves" from the 80's. Rumor has it that you might hear me lay down my horn and rip a few scat choruses on this track! An interesting twist on a great tune.

7. Isfahan - My favorite Billy Strayhorn tune. This one pays homage to the lineage of jazz. No fancy arrangements or slick harmonic experiments - just the hard swingin', straight-forward jazz that I grew up loving! Pretty tune that has been overlooked for far too long! It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I present to you "The Reckoning". ... Full Description God bless, and more importantly, enjoy!

~ CD Universe

Yosef Gutman Levitt | "The World And Its People"

In an absorbing follow-up to Soul Song, his recent collaboration with guitar great Lionel Loueke (“a scintillating and sun-struck combination of ringing, gentle jazz and percussive African highlife that can only make you smile” — freq.org.uk), bassist and composer Yosef Gutman Levitt of Jerusalem is back with a new and invigorating release: The World and Its People, available from Levitt’s recently formed Soul Song imprint.

Leading a drum-less, chamber-jazz-newgrass foursome influenced in part by The Goat Rodeo Sessions (with Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Stuart Duncan), Levitt draws from deep within his soul on a collection of beautiful melodies, in deeply felt renderings from all involved.

The tracks are Levitt originals cowritten and arranged by producer Gilad Ronen, with sterling contributions from Levitt’s close musical associates Tal Yahalom on nylon- and steel-string acoustic guitars, Omri Mor on piano and Yoed Nir on cello. Yahalom and Levitt have made two captivating duo albums, Tsuf Harim and Tal Yasis; Mor released his own Soul Song title earlier in 2023 called Melodies of Light and appeared with Levitt on the 2022 trio release Upside Down Mountain. “Everybody worked so hard in bringing creative ideas to this session,” Levit recalls of The World and Its People. “The music is very much inspired by our prior interactions—I feel excited about taking our conversation into different styles and opportunities to connect and communicate.”

The album was mixed by Richard King, whose Grammy-winning work on The Goat Rodeo Sessions has served as an inspiration to Levitt and his colleagues. “The musical color that those musicians bring to the world is something pure and delicate and honest and lovely and luscious and warm,” Levitt remarks of Goat Rodeo. “These are the qualities I wanted to surround myself with: creating a classical crossover, dipping into country, using tools of the language to bring a light, bouncy, folky aspect to the music that I typically play, which is improvised jazz.”

A religiously observant Jew, Levitt has endowed all his music with a sense of spiritual searching and depth, whether he is interpreting Hasidic nigunim on such releases as Ashreinu and Chabad Al Hazman or exploring original music with a jazz trio on Upside Down Mountain. On The World and Its People he focuses again on originals, animated by truths gleaned from Hasidic teachings. “All of my albums begin with a notion of spiritual development, a connection to God and those around me, and how to translate the various things that I’m working on, internally and externally, into melody and music.” He explains the album title as follows: “When we make a space for the world, and we make a space for its people, we infuse it with light and we make an impact—not just socially, but through being honest and open, doing what we’re meant to be doing.”

As on previous releases, Levitt imbues The World and Its People with the sound of upright bass as well as his unique five-string acoustic bass guitar (built by Harvey Citron, Steve Swallow’s luthier), on which he’s developed a signature voice: a warm, singing, bell-like high-register tone with a focus on simple, direct, expressive melodies. The solos and unison passages on the two advance singles, “Awakening” and the title track, cut through the ensemble with a singing legato that is emotionally rich, intense yet delicate. “It’s very precious music,” Levitt says. “It’s very alive when I listen to it—I feel a magical sense of life and humanity and relationships, and I hear the depth and excitement of the other players in the room.”

“Awakening” evokes not only Levitt’s writing process (waking up first thing and improvising melodies into a voice recorder), but also the inner meaning of the Aramaic phrases itaruta diletata and itaruta dile’eyla, “awakening from below” and “awakening from above.” “Awakening from below,” Levitt explains, “can mean making a space for hearing a friend, paying attention to the world around us, inviting the world around us in, which is the idea behind the album.”

Levitt launched the Soul Song label with a set of core principles and values in mind: “The goal is to create music, and to create a label that stimulates others to do the same—to make their soul song. To create music that’s intimate and honest, improvised, and Jewish if you will.

What makes Jewish music, to me, is a profound honesty, stripping away anything that’s not needed. That’s the work I want to do with the artists on this label—whether they’re Jewish or not is not important. What’s important is that the music is inspired by something higher. I want to work with artists who are interested in getting to that place.” Releases with eminent guitarists Gilad Hekselman and Ralph Towner are soon to follow.

VOXMANA Releases New Music -- Natalia Clavier (Thievery Corporation) and Andrei Matorin

VOXMANA, the brand new musical project from Natalia Clavier (Thievery Corporation) and Andrei Matorin is excited to announce “La Marea” out now on Mixto Records!  The new single will be released with a music video and available everywhere you stream music.

The duo first connected through New York City’s underground music scene. Merging their diverse heritages, with Natalia from Argentina and Andrei from Brazil, VOXMANA’s sound includes musical blends of electronic, world, jazz, blues, Argentine folklore, and Brazilian MPB. This sonic remedy of music invites a celebration of life on the dance floor and embarks on a transformative journey with irresistible rhythms. 

On VOXMANA’s newest single “La Marea” the duo captured an improvised musical tapestry of sonic textures that unfolded during a live performance on the shores of Tulum. Inspired by the vastness of the ocean that lay before them, the lyrics took shape, and speak of the ebb and flow of tides and the boundless expanse that lies beyond.

VOXMANA comments, “The song is a spiritual odyssey, urging us to let go of our ego's constraints and connect with a larger, universal consciousness. It invites us to embrace transformation, as we journey through time and space, exploring the realms of expansion. It is an invitation to free ourselves through movement and a profound celebration of life's essence when we surrender to its flow.”

Accompanying “La Marea” release is a powerful music video. It was filmed while the duo were performing at an educational and empowering retreat for at-risk youth from LA called Beyond Boundaries. They were inspired by surrounding landscapes and used the backdrop of the breathtaking lands of Boulder Mountain, Utah. The new video beautifully displays the rugged beauty of Utah's rocky terrain and the vastness of the landscape juxtaposed against the smallness of human existence. This lends to an intricate narrative around the themes of expansion and surrender, as it follows two souls on a transformative journey, discovering a world beyond their known reality. Through the mesmerizing imagery, the video is an odyssey inviting the viewer to celebrate the essence of life, through letting go.

Andrei Matorin and Natalia Clavier have captivated global audiences, weaving immersive, boundary-defying soundscapes rooted in classical and jazz conventions infused with modern flair. Clavier, an Argentine vocalist, songwriter, and DJ, possesses three solo albums and contributed to Thievery Corporation as a lead singer. Matorin, hailing from Brazil, excels as a virtuoso violinist, composer, and producer, performing as a soloist at esteemed venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and TEDx. A Summa Cum Laude graduate from Berklee College of Music, he radiates his talent.

LEGENDARY DRUMMER GINGER BAKER’S FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 16 YEARS, WHY?, TO BE RELEASED JUNE 24

Ginger Baker was once considered the musician least likely to survive the ‘60s. And yet, in 2014, he finds himself on the ascent. The award-winning 2012 documentary Beware of Mr. Baker brought renewed attention to his singular music, fiery and self-destructive personality, and dramatic life story. Ironically, his extreme adventurousness and impulsivity—evidenced, for example, by his leaving England and moving to Nigeria in 1970 to play and record music—are the same qualities that helped make him such a versatile and continually evolving musician. Baker has long ranked among the world’s greatest drummers, and critics have deemed his recent live shows with his quartet, Jazz Confusion, some of the best work of his career. On June 24, Motéma Music releases Why?, his first new recording in 16 years, coinciding with a thirteen-date North American tour with Jazz Confusion June 14-30.

For his time with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band Cream, Baker is often credited with revolutionizing rock drumming and influencing countless other rock drummers. But he has always been, first and foremost, a jazz musician. What distinguished his playing in Cream, Blind Faith and other bands, aside from his stunning virtuosity and dramatic flair, was the fact that he was essentially the first “jazz-rock fusion” drummer. He brought to rock the jazz technique he learned from his deep study of music by the likes of Baby Dodds,Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Art Blakey. Baker’s setup (two bass drums instead of one) and style (improvised drum breaks and solos) made him unique amongst his peers.

Baker’s love of jazz also cannot be decoupled from his deep appreciation for African music, introduced to him in the early ‘60s by his idol and friend Phil Seamen, which Ginger manifested in own his playing through the heavy use of toms, introducing an oft-imitated tribal sound to rock. This influence has been an essential part of Baker’s style throughout his career. It is no surprise then that African rhythm is a key ingredient on Why?

The inclusion of Abass Dodoo in Jazz Confusion accentuates the African feel of the album and hearkens back to Baker’s friendship with another Ghanaian percussionist, the master drummer Guy Warren. While visiting Warren in 1970, Baker became fascinated with the music he heard on a Nigerian radio station, contacted his friend Fela Kuti, went to Lagos, and decided to build a recording studio, Batakota (ARC). During construction, Baker and Kuti recorded Fela Ransome-Kuti and Africa 70 with Ginger Baker: Live at Abbey Road and London. Baker still considers that album one of the high points of his career. (Once ARC opened, in 1973, Paul McCartney and Wings recorded part of Band on the Run there.)

Baker continued to reveal his jazz chops in the Ginger Baker Trio (with Charlie Haden and Bill Frisell) and DJQ20 (with Ron Miles, Artie Moore and others), with whom he recorded his last album, Coward of the County in 1998. Why? is the next step in Baker’s return to his jazz roots, a culmination of his storied career and an amalgamation of his jazz and African music influences.

Why? features material Baker has explored while performing live over the last two years with Jazz Confusion. The music ranges from Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” and Sonny Rollins’ “St. Thomas,” to “Aiko,” which adapts a Nigerian folk tune. The album’s title track echoes Baker’s early music with the Graham Bond Organisation, and represents Baker reflecting on his life: on the personal loss he’s experienced, the dreams he’s had fulfilled and destroyed, asking the question “why?” The tune starts with a prison work song about a man who killed his wife, and also includes “Wade in the Water” as a remembrance of Graham Bond, who died tragically in 1974.

Reviewing Baker and Jazz Confusion at Iridium last fall—Baker’s first New York City club gig since 1997—Ben Ratliff wrote in The New York Times that the band “comes to jazz sideways or through very old roots…Mr. Baker’s sound is so imposing and broad, slow and confident. It’s not loud with ambition, but with spirit and intent.”

Ginger Baker’s recognition as a drummer began during his time in the Graham Bond Organisation, a band that toured with The Who, The Troggs, The Moody Blues and Chuck Berry in the early 1960s, attracting press interest for their outrageous behavior and riotous fun. By 1964, Melody Maker journalist Chris Welch had deemed Baker “one of Britain’s great drummers.”

Baker met Eric Clapton in 1966. The two were mutually impressed with each other’s playing after jamming together,  leading to Baker inviting Clapton to join his band. They soon added bass player Jack Bruce to form Cream. In Baker’s own words, they created “instant magic” and as a touring act broke box office records previously held by The Beatles.

After Cream came Blind Faith, in which Steve Winwood and Rick Grech joined Baker and Clapton. The band made just one album. When Clapton and Winwood left to pursue their own projects, the remaining members went on to form the jazz-rock fusion group Ginger Baker’s Airforce, which added sax, flute, organ and extra percussion.

During a trip to Africa Baker found himself inspired by Nigerian radio. Although there was a war going on, he was adamant about visiting Nigeria, and pushed to set up Batakota Studios in Lagos. Music aside, Africa afforded Baker a wonderful climate and a healthier lifestyle than that of rock n’ roll and touring. He discovered his love for polo and rally driving there, too.

Baker’s work with Airforce and his friendship with Fela Kuti paved the way for Baker’s next musical project: to work with African musicians. With his friend Fela Kuti, at Abbey Road, he recorded the landmark Fela Ransome-Kuti and Africa 70 with Ginger Baker.

Baker then went on to form the British band The Baker Gurvitz Army. Baker provided “extra sounds” on the debut album, such as wheel spins from his Jensen FF on the song “Mad Jack.” He also rode a wheeled swivel chair backwards down a flight of stairs for the LP’s second track.

After setting up a second recording studio, in North London, Baker formed Energy. Since then he has performed at various live events, such as Verona’s Percussion Summit and his own 70th birthday party, with special guest Steve Winwood, at Camden’s Jazz Café.

Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion made a sold-out four-night debut in 2012 at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London.

~ Motema

IVO PERELEMAN'S TWO NEW RELEASES DUE OCTOBER 1 - ENIGMA & A VIOLENT DOSE OF ANYTHING

In his latest harvest of recordings, saxophone visionary Ivo Perelman unveils the products of an especially fruitful month in the recording studio. Not all of the month's recordings: the current crop contains "only" two releases (on Leo Records), which contain just half the music documented during the month of May 2013. (Even considering the whirlwind pace of exploration and discovery that marks Perelman's work, that is indeed a bumper crop.)What's more, each of these recordings uses a unique combination of artists to frame Perelman's dervish saxophone in quite different contexts. 

They would seem to have absolutely nothing in common, except for the presence of Perelman and his musical blood brother, pianist Matthew Shipp. But in Perelman's view, it is this diversity itself that binds them together to depict a single month in his creative life. "What links them is they sound completely different," he says. That statement risks self-contradiction, but as Perelman explains: "The link is that within the same month, in the same time and space, living my same own life, I went into the studio four times and came out with such different results. Of course, I went in with different intents, different goals, and different musicians. 

But the difference is so large - the results are so disparate - that this is what they have in common." In other words, they share one trait: each is utterly unique from the others, although they all stem from the same esthetic consciousness within a finite period of time. Another thing they all share, of course, is the protean and electrifying voice emanating from Perelman's tenor saxophone, which he has fashioned into a singularly expressive vehicle for his far-ranging vision. As jazz authority Neil Tesser writes - in the liner notes to A Violent Dose Of Anything - Perelman's solos "are grounded in the rich soil and rare earths of saxophone history, but they can also prove shockingly mercurial; they traverse that history in swift flights from zephryrous melody to supersonic yawps. . . . Strip away the unpleasant connotations oft he word and 'violence' - which can be defined as 'strength of emotion, or a 'swift and intense force' - might easily creep into descriptions of Perelman's galvanic explorations." 

This album comprises the first of two recording sessions used in the soundtrack for A Violent Dose Of Anything, a 2013 film from Brazilian director Gustavo Galvao. When Galvao approached Perelman about creating music for the film - which follows some young Brazilians "on the road," going from town to town in a quest for self-discovery - the saxophonist at first demurred. Perelman's preferred method of creating music is to walk into the studio with no preconceptions (not even a written theme) and improvise, from scratch,for an hour or so. 

Nothing could stray further from the usual movie-soundtrack process, by which a composer painstakingly fits and shapes music to fit the split-second edits of the finished film. "I told him how I would work, with nothing written, and music not tied to each scene, says Perelman. "I told him I would just go into the studio and make the music, like I always do,and he could pick and choose what he wanted. And to my surprise, he said yes. But I knew that in the recording many moods would come up, like they always do" - more than enough to suit the cinematic needs of the director. Perelman also knew that he wanted to feature a string instrument with his saxophone and Shipp's piano, and to that end he enlisted leading new-music violist Mat Maneri. "I wanted someone who would understand how to work with a saxophone," he points out, and chose Maneri based on his recordings with his father, the iconoclastic saxophonist Joe Maneri.  

This first-ever meeting resulted in a series of performances that indeed reflect a cinematic range of moods and emotions. (The pieces were titled post-production, for characters and places in the film.) Perelman's interplay with Shipp was to be expected: they have developed an extraordinary communication, documented on nearly a dozen recordings over the last three years. Maneri provides a salutary wild card. His hyper-expressive bowing,and his ability to match and at times anticipate Perelman's approach, give the saxophonist a worthy alter-ego while adding layered depth to the music. 

This is one of two recordings Perelman provided for the soundtrack; the other features Shipp and the improvising string quartet Sirius. Perelman recorded both sessions in the first part of May, 2013, and Galvao uses portions of each project in his film. The follow-up recording has a planned release of early 2014. (Shortly after finishing his soundtrack recording, Perelman undertook another adventure, at the behest of his longtime bassist - and frequent guitarist - Joe Morris. After working in a metal rock band with the unlikely name Slobber Pup, Morris learned that the band's drummer, a young Hungarian named Balázs Pándi, was in fact a fan of Perelman's. 

Their mutual admiration led to a studio date - another chapter in Perelman's busy month of May, 2013 - that will be released on RareNoiseRecords, simultaneously with the saxophonist's two albums on Leo Records.) Finally, before the month ended, Perelman found himself in the studio to record Enigma. "I was starting to hear in my head a denser sound, so I wanted to experiment with that - by doubling the personnel," he says. To do so, he invited the drummers who have worked most often with Shipp and himself over the last several years: Gerald Cleaver, the drummer in Perelman's quartet, and Whit Dickey, the drummer in Shipp's own trio. "It was just time to put them together," Perelman explains. "But it was very risky, because both Gerald and Whit are very individual, very particular voices on the drums. So you might possibly dilute their strength; or it could double to unbearable heights." But as proved by the album, neither of those extreme outcomes occurred. Instead, as Neil Tesser writes in the liner notes, "Enigma has a transparency - a clarity of melodic logic, a clarion lyricism, a lightness of context - that actively opposes the sonic complexity that might well come from two drummers banging away at each other." 

The surprise of Enigma, and much of its joy, comes from the thoughtful and even delicate ways in which the percussionists interact - as well as in Perelman's reaction to their dual presence. "It was very organic," he says. "At times they merged intentionally, and became one big drum set; and sometimes the very next bar they would go their own way. When you have two drummers, they can be two, or one, at will." Born in 1961 in São Paulo, Brazil, Perelman excelled at classical guitar before finally gravitating to the tenor saxophone. His initial influences - cool jazz saxophonists Stan Getz and Paul Desmond - could hardly have presaged the volcanic improvisations that have become Perelman's stock-in-trade. But those early influences helped shape the romantic warrior at the heart of his most heated musical adventures.  

In 1981 he entered Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he focused on the mainstream masters of the tenor sax to the exclusion of such pioneering avant-gardists as Albert Ayler, Peter Brötzmann, and John Coltrane - all of whom would later be cited as precedents for Perelman's own work. He left Berklee in 1983 and moved to Los Angeles, where he soon discovered his penchant for post-structure improvisation; emboldened by this approach, he began to research the free-jazz saxophonists who had come before him. In the early 90s he moved to the more inviting artistic milieu of New York, where he now lives and works - not only on his music, but also on the drawings and paintings that have attracted admirers worldwide to his skill as a visual artist.  Critics have lauded Perelman's no-holds-barred saxophone style, on the one hand calling him "tremendously lyrical" (Gary Giddins) and, on the other, "the most intense, disturbing, tormenting sax player alive" (Françoise Couture in Desire Actuel). The blog improvandsounds.com called attention to his "piercing, burning, meaningfully warm, lyrically expressive, dream-awakening sounds that explode with an unrivalled urgency." This latest series of recordings is sure to elicit even more - and perhaps even more extravagant - accolades for his remarkable innovations.

PAUL TAYLOR - TENACITY

In the 19 years since Paul Taylor first got On The Horn with his hit debut album, he’s enjoyed an extraordinary journey in the contemporary urban jazz world. The key to the charismatic saxophonist’s  success?  Beyond those instantly identifiable sax tones, infectious melodies, cutting edge production, and dynamic live performances, it’s one thing: Tenacity–the perfect title for his latest recording on Peak Records (and 10th overall).

From the start of his recording career, Taylor has created his ever cool deeply soulful and rhythmic trip-hop influenced sound by working with some of urban jazz and R&B’s top producers, including Rex Rideout, Barry J. Eastmond and The Heavyweights. But one of the most important architects of the saxman’s core flow has been Dino Esposito, who helped Taylor establish his vibe with On The Horn and Pleasure Seeker (1997), and has played a powerful role in the saxophonist’s evolution by helming tracks on his subsequent recordings Undercover (2000), his Peak Records debut Hypnotic (2001), Nightlife (2005) and Prime Time (2011).

Tenacity marks the first time ever that Taylor has recorded an entire project with a single producer – and his longtime friendship and incredible chemistry with Esposito made him the perfect choice for the varied rhythms and progressive sonics that the saxophonist wanted.  “I’ve always had this special bond with Dino and it was really exciting to focus on doing an entire project with my great friend, rather than just a few tracks here and there like in the past,” says Taylor.  “I’m always trying to grow as an artist, so there were ideas going all the time as we developed these tracks,” he adds. “I definitely have an established sound, so the key was having an open mind and being honest when we hit on a certain vibe, groove or lick I had done before – and taking the tune in another direction. “

Taylor has a long history of bringing his favorite urban jazz artists to the mix, and he continues that inspiring tradition by inviting keyboardist Jonathan Fritzen to add his lush piano harmonies to the whimsical, easy flowing soprano-driven opening track “Supernova” – which pairs Taylor’s horn with some snazzy “vocalese.” He textures four alto sax tracks behind a colorful lead melody to create the spirited optimism that rolls through the mid-tempo funk of the title track, then shifts from a balmy, tropical feeling to a more urban, trip-hop pocket on the rhythmically diverse “Awakening.” Taylor says, “This one is magical in that it has three distinct melodic parts.”“Spur of the Moment” isn’t just a clever title – it actually conveys the emotion of Taylor’s spontaneous alto lines and they burst forth and dance over a thick, edgy funk-rock groove and dynamic horn texturing. He named “Luxe,” featuring special guest Jeff Lorber on electric piano and guitar, for the luxurious ambiences surrounding his easy swaying soprano, while the tenor-led “Peace of Mind” taps into a coolly rhythmic Paul Hardcastle style as it moves towards a playful, clapping crunch-funk groove behind a swirl of sax and wordless vocals. Esposito turned Taylor onto the recent alternative R&B hit “Wicked Games” by Canadian artist The Weeknd, and he immediately loved it. The saxophonist’s version features a thoughtful alto melody over a hypnotic piano riff and gentle percussion, then a trippy distant “banging” sound; it also features whispery computer generated vocals.

Taylor envisions “Open Road” as the album’s perfect “road trip with a friend, with no traffic and the horizon straight ahead tune:” his alto romps easily over Esposito’s moody old school keyboard sounds, hypnotic grooves and bright brass flourishes. Promising “More To Come,” Taylor’s gentle soprano winds through a serpentine melody and a double time groove that creates a true club flavor a la the popular Swedish DJ/producer Avicii. Tenacity wraps with Taylor looking out over the “Empire” he’s created, forging a unique tension between his alto lead and backing spirited horn textures with Esposito’s dark and moody piano textures. “It’s a tune that makes you think about things,” says Taylor, “looking out at everything you’ve done and savoring the moment.”

Long a mainstay among the most popular and elite artists, Taylor has been on one of the most exhilarating upswings of his career over the past seven years, starting with Ladies’ Choice (2007), which marked his first ever #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz. “Burnin’,” the title track from his 2009 album, hit #1 on the airplay charts, and “Push To Start” from Prime Time (2011), hit the pole position on the Smooth Jazz Songs chart. Prime Time further lived up to its colorful name by reaching the Top Ten on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

Over the past few years, Taylor has also been part of two of the genre’s biggest summer tours, Gentlemen of the Night (with Marion Meadows and Warren Hill) and Sax and the City (with Meadows and Vincent Ingala). In December 2012, the longtime basketball enthusiast achieved another longtime dream, performing the National Anthem in Madison Square Garden at a New York Knicks game; their coach Mike Woodson is a longtime fan.

Though the Denver native has lived and worked primarily in Las Vegas since graduating as a music performance major from UNLV, the proximity of his adopted hometown to Los Angeles gave him many opportunities to vibe with R&B and contemporary jazz producers and artists, including Esposito, whom he first met in the late 80s. Taylor played one of Esposito’s sessions at Jeff Lorber’s home studio; a few years later, in 1994, the keyboardist remembered Taylor and asked him to play with him at the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival.

Another popular keyboard player, Keiko Matsui, and her producer/husband Kazu liked Taylor’s charismatic performance and soon offered him an audition with their band. He recorded and toured with the Matsuis for two years (appearing on Sapphire and Dream Walk), and Kazu Matsui eventually co-produced On The Horn, which spawned the #1 radio hit “Till We Meet Again.” Taylor’s mix of funk and sensuality were a natural fit for the emerging urban jazz genre, and he soon became one of its core artists. Although Taylor has since been one of the genre’s most popular live attractions as a solo artist, he eagerly accepted Russ Freeman’s invitation to tour with The Rippingtons as a special guest artist in 2000—the year he released his third album Undercover–after Jeff Kashiwa left the group. He later toured as a featured performer with the all-star “Groovin’ For Grover” lineup (including Lorber, Richard Elliot and Gerald Albright) and performed and made his acting debut on the legendary ABC soap opera “One Life To Live.”

With the 20th anniversary of his recording debut coming up next year, Taylor remains a fresh and vital, forward thinking force in contemporary urban jazz. Talent and vision are a given, but sometimes those things fade. It’s his Tenacity that’s made the difference.

~ paultaylorsax.com

ELIANE ELIAS' GRAMMY® WINNING ALBUM "MADE IN BRAZIL"

Eliane Elias’ Made in Brazil marks a musical homecoming for the multi-GRAMMY®-nominated pianist, keyboardist, singer, and composer. In her three-decade long career as a solo artist, Made in Brazil results from the first time she’s recorded a disc in her native Brazil since moving to the United States in 1981. (International release dates may vary)

Elias wears many hats on this project as producer, composer, lyricist, arranger, pianist and vocalist. "I am completely immersed and involved in every single detail of the music and the recording process, from the birth of an idea until its completion through every aspect of the production until it reaches the public,” she explains.

Along with co-producers, Steve Rodby and Marc Johnson, her bass playing musical partner, Elias ventured ‘home’ and recruited a splendid cast of Brazilian musicians that include electric bassist Marcelo Mariano; guitarists Marcus Teixeira and Roberto Menescal; drummers Edu Ribeiro and Rafael Barata; and percussionists Mauro Refosco and Marivaldo dos Santos.

Elias peppered the sessions with delightful special guest performances from Mark Kibble and the multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning gospel vocal group Take 6; her singer/songwriter-daughter Amanda Brecker; one of Brazil’s most celebrated R&B stars, Ed Motta; and the distinguished bossa nova composer Roberto Menescal.

Elias also invited Rob Mathes to handle orchestral arrangements on seven of the 12 tracks, which were recorded in London at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. "It’s so touching to hear the music unfold,” she says of the orchestral arrangements after they were overdubbed onto the São Paulo sessions. "You can see the musical notes on paper, but it’s something else to hear them realized and performed by members of theLondon Symphonic Orchestra.”

In terms of material, Made in Brazil contains six Elias originals plus two Ary Barroso standards, two Roberto Menescal chestnuts, and two Antônio Carlos Jobim world-renowned gems. Elias, who did all the arrangements for the basic tracks, said that she purposely wanted Made in Brazil to incorporate three generations of Brazilian composers. "But it’s not a retro record,” she clarifies. "It’s very contemporary yet with the tradition and authenticity of Brazil; it’s music of the world with Brazilian DNA.”

Indeed, Made in Brazil’s pulsating bossa nova and samba rhythms, transfixing harmonies and sensual lyrics, accentuated by Elias’ own captivating vocals and incredible pianistic acumen, will surely become a 21st-century Brazilian classic. Elias frames the disc with two Barroso gems – "Brasil (Aquarela do Brasil)” and "No Tabuleiro da Baiana.”

"Brasil,” penned in 1939, "is a Brazilian anthem,” enthuses Elias. "It’s reported to be the most preferred Brazilian song of the last 100 years. It’s about the beautiful things of our country, the Brazilian Brazil; its natural beauty, mixed ethnic cultures and the samba.” Here she accentuates the composition with a suspenseful diaphanous string arrangement, whereas Elias and the band concoct an intoxicating, lithe groove. Atop of the infectious samba rhythm, Elias graces the proceeding with a glowing Fender Rhodes accompaniment, which later unfolds into a joyous and rhythmic solo.

Barroso wrote "No Tabuleiro da Baiana,” in 1936, which was made famous by singer Carmen Miranda. Through the song’s theme about a tabuleiro, a tray filled with edible treats typical of Bahia, Elias says that her rendition allows her to share her affection for that particular Brazilian state. "I love the culture; I love the people; I love the music; and I love the food,” Elias says.” I’ve been in love with Bahia all my life.” On her delightful rendition, Elias hammers the samba with harder, percussive accents via her vivacious piano playing inside some hip-swerving inducing accompaniment while her dexterous vocal rides and swings on top.

On "Você” and "Rio,” Elias invites the songs’ composer, Roberto Menescal, to accompany on guitar. On "Você,” the two sound like lovebirds on the 1963 bossa nova hit as they croon the romantic lyrics while the string arrangement sweeps them afloat. Elias’ impeccable piano accompaniment and sparkling improvisation provide the perfect musical trimming.

On "Rio,” which also dates back to 1963, Elias retains the same lineup as she sings the song’s elegant lyrics about the beauty of a seaside landscape while creating beautiful modulations and colors through her harmonies. "It was special to have the composer be a guest,” Elias says of her collaboration with Menescal. "We shared some very tender moments.”

As a bonus track, Elias delivers a rapturous makeover of Menescal’s most beloved composition, "Little Boat (O Barquinho),” yet another aquatic-themed showcase for Elias’ incredible musical rapport with Johnson and Barata. Elias’ ingenious arrangement at times evokes the motion of a boat floating and moving through waves.

Regarding Jobim, Elias performs his epochal "Águas de Março (Waters of March),” which she notes is the most covered Brazilian tune in the world.” Through the song’s picturesque, stream-of-consciousness lyrics, Elias puts a new spin on the song’s allure with her R&B-inflected mid-tempo arrangement, and by inviting Take 6 to sing with her. Elias’ arrangement is a completely fresh take on the song, and her vocals combined with Take 6 are splendid.  "Ironically, when Jobim wrote this song in 1972, he thought he had reached the end of his career,” Elias explains. "The lyrics talk about being at the end of the road, about being alone, but the song’s message ultimately is optimistic and carries hope.”

Elias’ other revisit of Jobim’s music on Made in Brazil illustrates her capricious yet musical ingenuity. She delivers a sublime mashup of Jobim’s "Este Seu Olhar” and "Promessas.” Accompanied by Johnson, Teixeira and Ribeiro, this elegant rendition works splendidly as Elias delivers a heartfelt interpretation of the songs. Elias notes that the chord sequence of both compositions is the same and both melodies can be sung together simultaneously.

Whereas the aforementioned compositions display Elias’ mastery at arranging and interpreting Brazilian standards, other songs on Made in Brazil show her deft musicianship as a composer and lyricist. Draped with a gorgeous string arrangement, the yearning "Searching” puts Elias’ enchanting singing and piano playing squarely in the center as she coos the romantic lyrics about the affairs of the heart.  This song evokes the timeless quality of a Frank Sinatra standard.

Elias picks up the tempo slightly on the effervescent "Some Enchanted Place,” which contains poetic, optimistic lyrics and features guest vocals from her daughter Amanda Brecker.

Vocalist Mark Kibble, Take 6’s main arranger, sings with Elias on "Incendiando” and "Driving Ambition.”  On "Incendiando” the stellar performances of Elias and Kibble heighten the romantic and sexual tension revealed in the song.

"Driving Ambition” equally simmers with an erotic charge, thanks to the song’s titillating automobile metaphors and the sauntering bossa nova/Latin blend of rhythms. Kibble’s background vocals are sonic brush strokes of imagery perfectly complementing the seductive vocals by Elias.

The poetic pop/R&B ballad "Vida” features the prominent Brazilian R&B singer Ed Motta. Elias and Motta portray characters in a musical drama. Elias’ character describes what a woman wants in a romantic partner and Motta responds to her as the man she is looking for.

Amidst a magnificent string arrangement, Elias’ gorgeous composition "A Sorte do Amor (The Luck of Love)” is a comely piano and bass duet between her and Johnson that belies an empathic relationship built upon years spent together. Elias explains, "The lyrics are a bit ironic. They describe a love so incredibly intense, it takes away one’s sleep and peace of mind.”

Elias’ songs and lyrics on Made in Brazil  reveal the skills of a great songwriter. The intelligent, sensitive lyrics, beautiful melodies and rich, touching harmonies evoke some of the great songs of the 20th century and give continuity to the line of famous Brazilian composers. This album establishes Elias once and for all as one of Brazil’s most eminent musical artists.

"When I write lyrics, I am inclined to talk about feelings, wishes of the heart and life situations,” Elias says. "Aspects of love – being in a relationship; the search for the right person; the search for happiness; romance; and the desires of our hearts, while I amplify these ideas and bring another depth to the message with the melodies and harmonies.”

Listening to Made in Brazil and diving into Elias’ originals and fetching interpretations of Brazilian classics will surely delight and fill your heart and ears with soul-stirring joy.

NEW RELEASES: MARC CAREY - RHODES AHEAD VOL. 2 REMIXES; TOMOKO OZAWA - GENTIAN; DENNIS ROLLINS' VELOCITY TRIO - SYMBIOSIS

MARC CAREY - RHODES AHEAD VOL. 2 REMIXES

Marc Cary's genre-bending mix of jazz and electronica gets some added spice on his new 4-track EP, Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2 Remixes, a satellite project to the new album, Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2. Fans can expect more of Cary's signature style, dubbed a "self-assured trek to the heart of jazz-funk futurism" in The New York Times and "a new way of seeing music, art and the world-through groove" in DownBeat. On Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2 Remixes, the DJs of La Fine Equipe bring their signature trip-hop vibe to Cary's Indian-influenced "Spices and Mystics", while Dav***K , of TSF Radio in France brings on a chilled out electronica vibe in his remix of "Essaouira Walks". The package is completed by the debut of two new jazz-meets-electronica tracks from Cary's Mini Moogs Ago collection, a work in progress which extends his celebration and exploration of analog technology through various vintage and modern synthesizers such as the Minimoog Voyager, The ARP and The Access Virus. Cary's original compositions draw inspiration from his lifelong fascination with the intersection of Indian and African rhythms with modern jazz and electronica. ~ Motema

TOMOKO OZAWA - GENTIAN

Tomoko Ozawa's premier album, 'Gentian', exhibits far-reaching compositional influences that blend impressionist melodic gestures with hypnotic rhythmic nuance and the playful improvisation. Ozawa's pervasive and inviting musical influences are translated by the group's organic execution. Several pieces, including the title track, 'God made a little gentian', utilize the poetic mastery of Emily Dickinson to guide the listener through the narrative compositions. The time-tested art of Dickinson combines with the sensitive performance of Ozawa to create a conceptual attitude that takes the focus from the exquisite technicalities of the music, and offers it to the subtle and introverted depth of the poems. Alongside the 'poem-songs', Ozawa's trio is highlighted on a number of instrumental tracks. Her supportive rhythm section maintains loyalty to the greater arc of the album as a whole, and creates an enveloping bed on which Ozawa's deliberate and tranquilizing piano playing is laid. ~ CD Universe

DENNIS ROLLINS' VELOCITY TRIO - SYMBIOSIS

Dennis Rollins' Velocity Trio release "Symbiosis" - a progressive follow-up to their debut album 'The 11th Gate'. This album draws together the Trio's collective influences incorporating straight-ahead and avant-garde jazz, fused with tinges of rock and generous helpings of hard-funk. The infectious compositions aim to take listeners on a roller-coaster musical journey. Includes: Utopia, Reverence, Symbiosis, Hark!, Senhora Do Almortao, (Walk) In Their Shoes, Money, Boneyard, Bakkra, and The Rose. ~ CD Universe  

    

Tony Malaby | "The Cave Of Winds"

The 2020 pandemic forced most of us indoors, musicians included, resulting in a surfeit of new solo projects and home recordings. Saxophonist Tony Malaby took the opposite approach. Having hosted regular sessions at his home for years, resulting in countless new collaborations and inspired breakthroughs, he decided to take these creative get-togethers out into the streets (both as an antidote for cabin fever and out of consideration for his suddenly homebound neighbors).

Beginning in July of 2020, Malaby began hosting regular sessions underneath a turnpike overpass near his home in New Jersey. Leading a trio featuring bassist John Hébert and drummer Billy Mintz, Malaby invited such improvising luminaries as Tim Berne, Mark Helias, Ches Smith, William Parker and others to join him in the graffiti-covered, reverberant enclave that buzzed with the sound of nearby pedestrians, overhead traffic and the usual collision of nature and humanity that fuels the city.

“My artistic discipline comes from playing sessions,” Malaby says. “I just couldn't let that go. It was something I needed just to keep my head above water with everything that was happening with the pandemic and the [presidential] election. Everything was nuts, so I just had to go down there and throw sound with my guys. It got me through and kept me positive.”

The turnpike sessions proved to be not only a respite from Covid-related stir craziness but also a source of considerable inspiration for Malaby. The saxophonist felt rejuvenated by the freedom and unique sonic qualities of the space, elements that he wanted to carry into the studio. Feeling that a guitar quartet would make the ideal setting, he reconvened Sabino, the group with which Malaby recorded his debut album in 2000. With bassist Michael Formanek, drummer Tom Rainey and guitarist Ben Monder (stepping in for the original album’s Marc Ducret), he recorded the adventurous new album The Cave of Winds, due out January 7, 2022 via Pyroclastic Records.

While there are natural rock formations that share the name in both Niagara Falls and Colorado, The Cave of Winds is Malaby’s affectionate nickname for the turnpike bridge that he made his musical home for the better part of a year. “It was like a tunnel down there,” Malaby recalls. “Wild, crazy things would happen while we were playing in that cavern. Trucks were rolling by, sirens going off, birds singing. We would be down there in 30-degree February weather and the wind would be howling. It was incredible.”

The compositions that make up The Cave of Winds were directly inspired by Malaby’s tenure under the bridge. With the literal and figurative space offered by that environment, he was prompted to pen minimal pieces ripe for expansion by the trio and their guests; at the same time, they also are colored by a return to more traditional jazz contexts by this inveterate free improviser.

“Billy Mintz and John Hébert got me into playing standards and jazz repertoire again,” Malaby explains. That comes into play here. We still play freely, and so, you know, but doing that led me to think about harmonic color, the richness of my roots and the joy of playing changes with someone like Ben Monder.”

One of the most striking examples of this collision of the tradition and Malaby’s intrepid spirit is the album’s closing track, “Just Me, Just Me.” A contrafact based on the chord changes of the classic “Just You, Just Me” (memorably recorded by the likes of Nat King Cole and Thelonious Monk, among countless others), the tune is far more agitated experience than its jaunty predecessor, and while the title is a tongue-in-cheek play on the original it also captures the fervent individuality of these four musicians.

Similarly, the burnished bop melody of “Corinthian Leather” is a loose reinterpretation of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Woody ‘n You,” leading to unspooling invention from both Malaby and Monder as they stretch the flexible theme beyond recognition. Monder’s roaring heavy metal distortion introduces “Scratch the Horse,” which draws inspiration from the Native American ceremonies depicted in the Richard Harris western A Man Called Horse. “Recrudescence” is a hypnotic group improvisation reflecting on the cyclical nature of the musical life, interrupted though it may have been by recent events, while “insect Ward” suggests a sanctuary for Malaby’s restless, flitting soprano (parried by Formanek’s buzzing bowed bass). “Life Coach” is a duo improvisation by Malaby and Rainey dedicated to their former bandleader, bassist Mark Helias, whose presence the saxophonist insists he can hear in the rhythm and language they share.

The Cave of Winds marks the closing of a few chapters for Malaby. For one, it spells the end of the turnpike sessions and the period of research and exploration they represented. Coinciding with the lifting of pandemic-era restrictions, Malaby also left the New York area after more than 25 years for Boston, where he’s taken a position on the faculty of Berklee College of Music.

The album also brings Malaby’s career full circle as he embarks on this new venture. 20 years after the release of Sabino he revisits that quartet with three of his most longstanding collaborators. Malaby met Formanek while the saxophonist was still a student at William Paterson University, when both played with the Mingus Big Band. They were both enlisted by saxophonist Marty Ehrlich for a band that also included Tom Rainey on drums, forging a connection that would remain strong for the next three decades.

While Ducret was featured on the 2000 album, Ben Monder actually precedes him as Sabino’s guitarist, in an early version of the quartet that featured Jeff Williams and Ben Street. Malaby had initially heard the brilliant guitarist in Marc Johnson’s short-lived band Right Brain Patrol, then approached him at the bar of the Knitting Factory. They met again a week later on a session led by Guillermo Klein and have been working together regularly and fruitfully ever since.

Like the primal space its name implies, The Cave of Winds is vast and tempestuous, opening into a reservoir of mystery and inviting the curious to venture deep within. Encouraged by Malaby’s dauntless curiosity, these four stellar musicians delve into the furthest reaches and emerge with inspired riches.

Called “one of New York City’s most in-demand tenor saxophonists [and] one of the most distinctive artists of his time” by All About Jazz, Tony Malaby is an adventurous and acclaimed saxophonist whose work bridges the realms of post-bop and free improvisation. Originally from Arizona, he was based in New York from 1995 until 2021, when he relocated to Boston and joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music. Malaby has been a member of such notable jazz groups as Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra, Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band, Mark Helias' Open Loose, Fred Hersch's quintet and bands led by Mario Pavone, Tim Berne, Chris Lightcap, Kris Davis, Angelica Sanchez, Michael Attias and Marty Ehrlich. He leads several projects of his own including: Apparitions, the Tony Malaby Cello Trio, the quartet Paloma Recio and the trio Tamarindo.

New Music Releases: Cathy Segal-Garcia, Devin Hoff, Earl MacDonald, LE GGRIL

Cathy Segal-Garcia - Social Anthems, Volume 1

Cathy Segal-Garcia is one of the most prolific recording and performing jazz artists on the scene today. An impresario, teacher, and jazz champion, she is a friend and linchpin for many singers and musicians on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Her newest album, Social Anthems, Volume 1, is her 14th CD as a leader. As an artist, Segal-Garcia is always looking for new avenues of expression. She forms each of her projects around a different theme, instrumentation or musical style, and Soscial Anthems is no different. This time, she moves the needle forward by looking back to the past by singing memorable songs of social import with sparkling new arrangements. These songs are originally outside of the jazz genre, but Segal-Garcia and her superb band reinterpret them with soulful, contemporary jazz arrangements. Segal-Garcia always surrounds herself with top musicians. For this recording, she works with a few mainstays on the Southern California jazz scene, as well as New York vocalist Paul Jost, who is widely known as one of the best male jazz vocalists since Mark Murphy, and vocalist Mon David, who is known for his stirring, heartfelt vocals and imaginative, improvisatory vocal approach. Segal-Garcia chose each of the songs on Social Anthems because they resonated deeply with her. Her clear, cool voice and ability to convey lyrics with warmth and sensitivity, combined with her jazz chops, are always the main attraction of her albums. But when you add the innovative arrangements by Josh Nelson and Anthony Wilson and the superb contributions of Jost, David, and the entire band, Social Anthems is Segal-Garcia’s most compelling album yet.

Devin Hoff - Voices From the Empty Moor (Songs of Anne Briggs)

Hoff has been active in international creative music circles for decades, performing and recording Solo Bass music as well with a wide range of artists. In addition to the talent assembled here, Hoff has collaborated with legendary iconoclasts such as Yoko Ono and Amiri Baraka, virtuoso instrumentalists Nels Cline, Vijay Iyer, Ben Goldberg and Ava Mendoza, underground heroes Cibo Matto, Jewlia Eisenberg, and Carla Bozulich, and punk rock legends such as Mike Watt, Kira Roessler, and Bill Stevenson among many others. The arrangements here include collaborations with musician friends that share a fascination with mining specific folk forms for universal and timeless truths set against multi-tracked bass choirs solo upright bass retellings of Briggs’ a capella songs that transcend the limitations of instrument and genre. The collaborations came about very organically through casually inviting musician friends to participate. Hoff has recorded and performed previously with most of the musicians: he befriended Julia Holter, Shannon Lay, and Sharon Van Etten through playing bass for their own projects, oud player Alejandro Farha and saxophonist Howard Wiley are old close friends and long term cohorts, whereas Emmett Kelly and Jim White are more recent collaborators. Voices From the Empty Moor seeks to honor the mystery and beauty of Anne Briggs’ music while maintaining its own unique perspective, foregrounding powerful emotion and, hopefully, magical transformation.

Earl MacDonald - Consecrated

Consecrated is an album of traditional hymns, brimming with poetic elegance. Unlike any of MacDonald’s previous award-winning recordings, vocals stand front-and-center, with Canadian up-and-comer Karly Epp introduced as an important, new collaborator. Her stirring vocal interpretations mixed with MacDonald’s thoughtfully-crafted instrumental underpinnings convey a wide spectrum of sentiments, ranging from reverence and gratitude to petition, pleading and lament. Consecrated is a deeply spiritual, personal album for MacDonald, and therefore, a deeply refreshing one for the jazz listener. In both his musical artistry and in life, MacDonald clearly searches for beauty and a connection to the Divine, while comfortably exploring dissonance – both cognitive and musical.

LE GGRIL - SOMMES

GGRIL is a motley and joyful crew of musicians from the small, culturally vibrant town of Rimouski in eastern Quebec. In their first decade and a half together, they’ve worked with many of improvised music’s leading lights, including Evan Parker, Ingrid Laubrock, and Xavier Charles. This year, they’re celebrating their milestone 15th anniversary with the release of their 7th recording, the ambitious and gargantuan Sommes: three discs, 12 commissioned pieces by 12 different composers, 21 musicians,  and epic 211 minutes of music. For this new release on the Tour de Bras label, the group revisits music from their storied history, performing compositions by a mix of Canadian and international composers written specifically for the ensemble between 2012 and 2020. Produced and mixed by Michel F. Côté under the musical direction of Guido Del Fabbro, and recorded by Bernard Grenon at the Coopérative de Solidarité Paradis in September 2020, Sommes represents GGRIL at the height of their creative powers. This is truly new music, spontaneous and alive, created by an unlikely and exciting ensemble. 

The New York Standards Quartet To Release Heaven Steps To Seven

By the numbers the New York Standards Quartet (NYSQ) is downright impressive, touring and recording together for thirteen years, with six critically acclaimed recordings in its oeuvre. The band's seventh album, their first to be available on vinyl, and featuring bassist Ugonna Okegwo (a regular member for many of the band's U.S. tours), Heaven Steps To Seven, builds on the great success of their catalog (most recently, Sleight of Hand, The New Straight Ahead and Power of 10). Saxophonist Tim Armacost, pianist David Berkman, drummer Gene Jackson & double bassist Ugonna Okegwo once again offer the listener reimagined standards from the vast canon of jazz and the Great American Songbook that reflect the band's spontaneous, transformational approach. The band is a rarity; one that honors the tradition of this music, representing it authentically, but also creating environments which feel and sound new.

The NYSQ have come a long way in their thirteen years. Tim Armacost warmly acknowledges the closeness of the collaboration: "We all contribute suggestions for classic songs to reinterpret, and the music we conceive taps into the important values of the band - our longevity, our deep friendship. Sometimes we bring pretty much completed arrangements, others just evolve on the bandstand as we play."

  

Such a musical affinity, reaped from the vastness of their respective experiences in many different projects as leaders and sidemen, is distilled into a recording of remarkable finesse, once again refracting kaleidoscopic colors across old favorites and less familiar treasures from the jazz heritage. Having played together for so long, Armacost highlights two key facets: "One is to discover a beautiful standard you haven't heard before; the other is finding something well known, then portraying it differently. So we honor the tradition of this music, representing it authentically, but also creating environments which feel new."

Heaven Steps To Seven opens with the warm, inviting intro to "Tonight" (Leonard Bernstein, from "West Side Story"), before the band launches into the main theme at a medium-up tempo that drips of propulsion while being right in the pocket. "Cheryl" (by Charlie Parker, 1947) is given a magnificent facelift, almost disguising its blues form, as it becomes a vessel for group expeditions. Horace Silver's "Peace" (originally released on Silver's recording "Blowing The Blues Away" from 1959) is up next. This type of meditative ballad was an anomaly for the legendary pianist/composer/bandleader, and it is a fitting tribute to Silver that the NYSQ selected this gem from his repertoire, and rendered it with such love and care. It was "Charlie Parker With Strings" that brought "If I Should Lose You" (from the 1935 film "Rose of the Rancho") to the awareness of the jazz world (later recorded by Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Roy Haynes Mulgrew Miller, Hank Mobley and many others). In the hands of the NYSQ it becomes reborn as a tour-de-force, featuring Armacost's brilliant sound on soprano sax on top of the rhythm section that has the afterburners on. Following Armacost's solo, the band brings it down to earth for Berkman's harmonically sophisticated trip through the changes.

Side two of the album opens with Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" which debuted in 1944 in Porter's "Seven Lively Arts," so it's a nice choice for the NYSQ's seventh album. The band eschews the song's typical bouncy feel, instead opting to play it with a straight eighth note feel, instantly bringing the frequently recorded tune into the 21st century, and into the band's repertoire. Indeed, as they do with many tunes, this sounds as if they composed it. The guys stay on the Cole Porter track with "I Love You" (a hit song for Bing Crosby in 1944), featuring an attention-grabbing intro from bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and completely modernized by the band, in part because they play the "A" sections in nine! For the second ballad on Heaven Steps To Seven the band chose the lovely, "I'll Keep Loving You." It is played with such crystalline virtuosity that NYSQ's rendition stands tall when compared to versions by such legends as Bud Powell, Chick Corea and Tommy Flanagan. Heaven Steps To Seven closes with "Eye Of The Hurricane" which originally appeared on Herbie Hancock's fifth album, "Maiden Voyage" (recorded in 1965 for Blue Note Records). Drummer Gene Jackson toured with Hancock for many years beginning in the Fall of 1991, so is it any wonder that he "owns" this tune, as does the rest of the band in turn?           

  

NYSQ - Heaven Steps To Seven:

1 - Tonight (L. Bernstein)

2 - Cheryl (C. Parker)

3 - Peace (H. Silver)

4 - If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger/L. Robin)

5 - Every Time We Say Goodbye (C. Porter)

6 - I love You (C. Porter)

7 - I'll Keep Loving You (B. Powell)