I've been aware of saxophonist and composer Michael Blake since the mid-1990s when, along with bassist Ben Allison, pianist Frank Kimbrough, saxophonist Ted Nash, and trumpeter Ron Horton, he co-founded the Jazz Composers Collective. During that time, Blake was also a member of the Lounge Lizards and, by the end of the decade, co-founded Slow Poke with guitarist Dave Tronzo. Since then, he has worked with artists as diverse as Neil Sedaka, trumpeter Enrico Rava, guitarist Charlie Hunter, pianist Henry Butler, trumpeter Steven Bernstein, and many others. Along the way, he's recorded 14 albums for labels such Songlines, Sunnyside, Ropeadope, Newvelle Records (see below), and others.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Love, Loss, Living Sounds
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Large Ensembles and Real Life (Part 1)
Brazilian native (Sao Paulo), saxophonist, composer, and arranger Felipe Salles came to the United States in 1995. Since then, he has worked with and led several different-sized ensembles and has taught at the University of Massachusetts/ Amherst for 13 years. As a composer, he's been quite interested in the Immigrant experience in the United States––in 2020, Tapestry Records issued "The New Immigrant Experience", his second album with his large band, the Interconnections Ensemble (their 2018 release, "The Lullabye Project", was based around tunes from the composer's Brazilian upbringing). The "...Immigrant Experience" is a multi-media project that combines Salles's powerful compositions with interviews featuring immigrants to the US as part of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The stories within the music are heart-breaking, emotional, stunning, and question the attitudes of politicians around the country who hold the future of these people hostage.The 19-member Ensemble's latest project is "Home is Here" (Tapestry Records) and finds Salles writing intricate and vibrant pieces for eight guest artists, all of whom left their countries of origin to pursue their artistic dreams in the US. The album opens with "Re-Invention", a vehicle for Paquito D'Rivera, the oldest guest in the project who, arguably, had the hardest journey to citizenship. Listen below to how Salles blends Cuban rhythms into the body of the piece plus uses the ensemble to paint an evocative portrait. Rivera's joyous clarinet solo (like most if not all of his solos) dances with glee through the musical landscape. "World Citizen" finds Terry, the other Cuban ex-pat, in a less formal setting, one in which the drums and percussion push the proceedings forward. The sensuous feel gives the soloists (bass trombonist Angel Subero and alto saxophonist Terry) just the right cushion (the setting for the sax solo has more fire but is positively effective).
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
A Life in the Day
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Photo: Emra Islek |
"Day" (Greenleaf Music) reunites the band post-Pandemic. The 10-song program (eight by Royston with one each from Martin and Roberts) finds an ensemble comfortable in taking chances, pushing at the edges of composition to create not only delightful interplay but also strong solos. We move through the "Day" starting with "Morning", a melody that stretches out played over time by each musician. When Ellis lays down a rhythmical bass clarinet line that the other members of the band add their voices to, one gets the sense the group is "riffing" on Aaron Copland––Roberts' fine solo takes its cue from the bass clarinet line before Versace pushes the forward in a dialogue with Ellis. All the while, the rhythm section dances with abandon. "Thank You For This Day" opens with the cello melody that turns into rhythmical strumming over Martin's pulsating bass and the dancing high hat. Then, listen as the melody and solos unfold off the rollicking opening.
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Photo: R Royston |
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Listening to The Brothers
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Photo: Shervin Lainez |
"Hush" (SoundSpore Records) is the brothers' first release in seven years. Featuring Dayna Stephens (tenor saxophone), Linda May Han Oh (bass), and Christian Euman (drums, cymbals, brushes), the majority of the 19 tracks (only three are over five minutes duration) live up to the recording's title. Euman uses brushes on the majority of the songs––in fact, it's the quiet nature of the music and the emotional richness of the melodies that pulls in the listener. Due to the brevity of many of the cuts, there are few solos yet the poetry in the melody often stands out. Pieces such as "Soot", "Please Scream Inside Your Head", and "State of Conflict" are much more beautiful than their titles suggest. Take the first track listed (listen below); despite the name, the music is gentle with the melody played by a breathy alto saxophone underpinned by gentle piano chords and low bass notes plus just the hint of mallet work. As the piano moves up front (for just one short chorus), there is no pressure or tension, just an exquisite sense of peace.
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
To Listen is to Wonder, To Dream
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Photo: Dave Stapleton |
His new album "All One" is Wendel's second for Edition Records––it's basically a solo album with guests but what a lineup. The six-program song opens with "I Loves You Porgy". The Ira & George Gershwin classic from "Porgy and Bess" features Wendel on saxes, bassoon, and synth bass supporting Cécile McLorin Salvant whose emotionally stunning vocal stands out. His arrangement for the reed orchestra (all parts played by Wendel) is a delight from start to finish. Later in the program, Jose Jamés inhabits "Tenderly" (music by Walter Gross, lyrics by Jack Lawrence)––the 1946 tune has been recorded by Sarah Vaughan, Rosemary Clooney, Nat "King" Cole, Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald, Eric Dolphy, and many others. Wendel's arrangement is stunning not only when the reeds support the voice but how he "paints" the background behing the handsome tenor sax solo.
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Photo: Dave Stapleton |
Hear "Wanderers" with Terence Blanchard:
Monday, April 17, 2023
Sounds Abound
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Photo: Antonio Narvaez |
Monday, April 3, 2023
A Song of/for Peace
Listen below then go to https://ericaseguineshonbakerorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-day-bends-light and check the other tracks. This is music that will resonate with you long after the tracks end.
To find out more about the Orchestra, go to www.essbjo.com/about.
Here's "Ose Shalom"
Personnel:
Erica Seguine - composer, arranger (1, 3, 5, 6), conductor
Shon Baker - composer (2, 4, 7), alto saxophone, soprano saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6)
Ben Kono- alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
Remy Le Boeuf- alto saxophone, flute, alto flute, piccolo, clarinet (tracks 1-5, 7)
Peter Hess- tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Quinsin Nachoff- tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Andrew Hadro- baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, flute
Nathan Eklund- trumpet, flugelhorn
John Lake- trumpet, flugelhorn
Jonathan Saraga- trumpet, flugelhorn
Adam Horowitz- trumpet, flugelhorn
Scott Reeves- trombone, alto flugelhorn
Nick Grinder- trombone
Kalia Vandever- trombone
Becca Patterson- bass trombone, tuba
Meg Okura- violin, electric violin (tracks 1, 3-6)
Tammy Scheffer- voice (tracks 2, 5-7)
Eric Burns- guitar
Carmen Staaf- piano
Evan Gregor- bass
Paolo Cantarella- drums