From Vinyl to Digital

Newvelle Records, the American-French collaboration that has created an amazing series of modern jazz vinyl albums over the past six years, is just beginning to release some of those albums on their new digital label.  Earlier in 2021, the label released three albums (two new) including the brilliant 61-track tribute to the late pianist Frank Kimbrough plus two duo albums, one by bassist Skúli Sverisson and guitarist Bill Frisell (which had been released on vinyl in 2018) as well as one by vocalist Becca Stevens with label co-owner/ pianist Elan Mehler.

Now, as the year closes, the label has chosen to release three more of the original vinyl albums in a digital format, one from each of their first three "seasons".  Note that the musicians own the rights to the music after two years –– artists who the label has recorded have issued their Newvelle Lps on their own labels including bassist Ben Allison, saxophonist Tim Berne, and guitarist Lionel Loueke (in both a trio session and a duo date with pianist Kevin Hays). 

Let me also state here that when you visit the label's website –– www.newvelle-records.com –– you'll also see that there are recordings of artists from New Orleans (among them, the late Ellis Marsalis as well as vocalist Irma Thomas) plus an "international artists" collection that includes vinyl releases by guitarist Gilad Hekselman (Israel) and trumpeter/flugelhornist Nadje Noordhuis (Australia).

The label's first vinyl release was "Meantime" featuring pianist Frank Kimbrough in a quartet/quintet setting with tenor saxophonist Andy Zimmerman, bassist Chris Van Vorst Van Beest, drummer R.J. Miller, and, on several tracks, trumpeter Riley Mulherkar.  The program, expanded from nine to 12 tracks on the new release, features both new and older originals plus several standards.  Zimmerman is a new voice for me –– he's been based in Chicago for several decades and made his debut as a leader on Newvelle in Season Three, a quartet setting with trumpeter Dave Douglas, pianist Kevin Hays, and bassist Matt Penman.  The saxophonist and leader work well together really nicely (check out "Alabama Song" below), his subdued attack on the sax similar to the gentle explorations of Kimbrough. Adding Mulherkar to the mix, especially on the swing take of Andrew Hill's "Laverne", is a treat as the trumpeter gets to display his delightful bop chops. The rhythm section is responsive throughout while the pianist's inventiveness, as usual of his albums, shines brightly. 

There's much more –– if you are a fan of Frank Kimbrough's music and did not spring for the vinyl (mea culpa), this is a very welcome addition to your collection. Go to https://newvellerecords.bandcamp.com/album/meantime and purchase this delightful album.

Here's the opening cut:

From Newvelle's second season comes "Cuban Nocturne", a solo piano release featuring the impressive Cuban-born now American artist Aruán Ortiz.  The pianist, a native of Santiago de Cuba, started out on violin and viola as a youth but switched to the keyboard after moving to Havana in his late teens to attend school. He went on to study in Barcelona, Spain, before moving to the Berklee school in Boston, Ma, on a full scholarship.  Ortiz has recorded nine albums as a leader or co-leader but "Cuban Nocturne" is his first program of classical Cuban music.  Pieces from the composers Ignacio Cervantes (1847-1905), Antonio María Romeu (1876-1955), Ernesto Lecouna (1895-1963), and Catalan composer Federico Mompou  (1893- 1987) plus the title track which Ortiz created for the 2015 movie "Sin Alas (Without Wings)" as well as two short original "Interludes".  It's a stunning, delightfully impressionistic, 38+ minutes of splendid musicianship, lovely even stately melodies, and certainly well worth your time and money!

For more information about the album, go to www.newvelle-records.com/products/nv011lp-aruan-ortiz-cuban-nocturne. To hear more and to purchase the album, go to. https://newvellerecords.bandcamp.com/album/cuban-nocturne.

Here's the title track:

From Newvelle's third season comes "Charlie & Paul", an tribute to bassist Charlie Haden (1937-1914) and drummer Paul Motian (1931-2011) created by guitarist Steve Cardenas with a ensemble that features Loren Stillman (alto saxophone), bassist Thomas Morgan, and drummer Matt Wilson. The program includes five compositions from Motian (three of which are premiered on this album) and five from Haden (one of which, "There In a Dream", is not on the vinyl version). All four musicians had worked with one or both of the two Masters (Cardenas is the only one who played with both) and the listener can tell that by the way they dig into the material with love, passion, respect, and joy. The music runs the gamut from Country-rock ("Prairie Avenue Cowboy") to a Spanish-Latin feel ("La Passionara") to "freer" associations ("Riff Raff") to a gentle acoustic guitar driven folkish tune ("For Turiya") to "electric bebop ("For the Love of Sarah") and elsewhere. The music is a treat from start-to-finish and the digital sound quality is first class!  The crisp, clean, tones of Cardenas's acoustic guitar as well as Morgan's soulful bass work stand out as do the delightful percussion play of Wilson and Stillman's melodic, cool, alto sax lines.  Such an excellent ensemble, splendid material, and enchanting musicianship.

For more information, go to www.newvelle-records.com/collections/shop-newvelle/products/nv013lp-steve-cardenas-charlie-paul.  To hear more and to purchase the digital album, go to https://newvellerecords.bandcamp.com/album/charlie-paul.