JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023: Silvan Joray featuring Nadav Erlich & Jeff Ballard(USA)-Updraft

Silvan Joray-Updraft
For Immediate Release Please
Ubuntu Music Presents

Silvan Joray

featuring Nadav Erlich & Jeff Ballard

Updraft

CD AND DIGITAL FORMATS AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2023.UBUNTU MUSIC – UBU0144 (THE ORCHARD) WWW.UBUNTUMANAGEMENTGROUP.COM | WWW.WEAREUBUNTUMUSIC.COM 
CD RELEASE EVENT
Threes Brewing Gowanus
333 Douglas St., Brooklyn, NY
Wednesday, November 8, 8.30 pm
https://threesbrewing.com/pages/gowanus
Silvan Joray – guitar and compositions
Nadav Erlich – double bass
Jeff Ballard – drums
New York City-based guitarist and composer Silvan Joray is proud to present Updraft, his second album as a leader and first for the Ubuntu Music label. The album showcases his forward-thinking original style characterized by a transparent tone, crispy articulation, creative rhythmic ideas and extended techniques like quarter tones and „tapping“ which are not traditionally associated with jazz guitar playing.
A follow up to his ambitious 2020 trio album, Cluster, Joray’s latest outing features once again Israeli double bass player Nadav Erlich and this time, living legend Jeff Ballard (Brad Mehldau, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny) on drums.

 Born and raised in Switzerland, Joray embraces both the openness of European as well as the rootedness and swing of American jazz. While the music on Updraft is clearly influenced by the American jazz tradition, it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not and is totally content with being in its own category.
Renowned jazz bassist Larry Grenadier states: “Silvan along with Nadav and Jeff have made a musical statement together that has at its core a sense of history and at the same time moves the music towards the future with bold playing and fresh compositions. Sonically beautiful and captivating music.“
Ballard, Joray, Erlich  © Victor Hege
The recording includes seven original compositions and two short, freely improvised tracks. The serenity of joyful straight eighth grooves, as heard in “Kokodrillo“ or “Kaeppeleview“, complements the swinging energy of pieces like “Updraft” and “Kurtish”. Joray is also passionate about playing jazz standards and pays tribute to two masters of the genre, Cole Porter and Andrew Hill, with “At Long Last Love” and “Subterfuge“. 

Starting in September 2020, the trio had the chance to refine its band sound and interplay over the course of two years before going into the studio. At the same time, humanity faced some new challenges that heavily impacted everyone’s life. Updraft is Joray’s personal way of dealing with these difficult times and presents a collection of compositions that strive to lift our spirits and elevate our perspectives. The title of the album beautifully encapsulates this sentiment, and Joray’s innate gift for melody and lyricism shines through both in his playing and compositions.
TRACKS
1. Kokodrillo 7:09
2. Kaeppeleview 6:33
3. Updraft 6:39
4. Morning Breeze 0:34
5. Very Sweet Stuff, But Nice! 5:43 
6. Subterfuge 5:50
7. The Liar 4:56
8. Kurtish 5:01
9. Something Ahead 4:31
10. Evening Breeze 1:00
11. At Long Last Love 6:25 

All compositions written by Silvan Joray
except for tracks 4 and 10 (improvised)Track 6 (Andrew Hill) and track 11 (Cole Porter)

Produced by Silvan JorayCo-produced by Roman Hošek (SRF2 Kultur)Executive Producer: Martin Hummel

Recorded by Daniel Dettwiler at Idee und Klang Studio Basel on June 11 and 12, 2022Second engineer, tracking and editing by Josua DillierMixed and mastered by Daniel Dettwiler at Idee und Klang Studio Himmelried.

Front cover photo: George Korunov
Designed by Rumney Design
ABOUT SILVAN JORAY
Silvan Joray is currently based in New York City. He has gained recognition in the jazz community, having won special prizes at the UNISA International Strings Competition in South Africa 2022 and the Smietana Jazz Guitar Competition 2019 in Poland. He has performed at prestigious jazz festivals including the Krakow Summer Jazz Festival, Offbeat Jazzfestival Basel, and International Jazz Festival Bern, and has toured in Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Israel. Silvan will be touring throughout the year – please see his website for details: www.silvanjoray.com 

ABOUT UBUNTU MUSIC
Ubuntu Music, a division of Ubuntu Management Group, is a progressive recorded music label that is committed to bringing quality, accessible jazz and related music genres to increasingly wider audiences. Their approach includes collaborative efforts with an array of performing artists who have a passion for jazz and who possess unique and diversified talents. 
www.weareubuntumusic.com 

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023: Michele Gori(Italy)-Flute Factor

Michele Gori-Flute Factor

Flute Factor is the third album featuring flutist Michele Gori at the helm of his quartet, composed of Roberto Olzer on piano, Roberto Mattei on double bass and Nicola Stranieri on drums. The long and fruitful collaboration of these musicians, who have been travelling the streets of jazz clubs and festivals all over Europe together for fifteen years, translates into a consolidated human and musical understanding, an alchemy recognisable at first hearing, capable of capturing the attention and emotion of every kind of audience, even those less accustomed to jazz.

For Michele Gori, “Jazz” means rhythm and melody, harmony and improvisation, tradition and research, tranquillity and energy, elements that reflect the eight unreleased original compositions of Flute Factor. This album is a musical journey through multicoloured atmospheres, as in the case of the opening track Revolution, in which modern jazz-rock alternates with a classic up tempo swing. Black & Blues is a homage to the roots of jazz, while in Miedo the flute sings a melancholic melody with South American charm. The tracks on Flute Factor were written between 2021 and 2022, with only two exceptions: Looking Forward, a ballad for flute and piano composed in 2012, and French Girl, from 2017. The sources of inspiration are manifold: Jazz Time, for example, was born at the end of an arrangement class at the Clermont-Ferrand conservatory; Tatuzinho, a tribute to Brazil, during one of the many journeys that are part of every musician’s life. The final track is a delicate goodbye that elegantly concludes this journey, making an appointment for the next listening, the next meeting… Au Revoir.

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023

France: EYM Trio et Varijashree Venugopal : sortie de l’album Bangalore le 06/10

EYM Trio & Varijashree Venugopal
Nouvel album Bangalore

Sortie le 06 octobre 2023 chez Melmax Music
En concert le 06/10 au 360 Music Factory à Paris et en tournée
Aujourd’hui bien implanté sur la scène jazz internationale, EYM Trio continue son chemin défendant un jazz acoustique sur un concept à géométrie variable. Le 6 octobre 2023, le groupe fêtera la sortie de son tout nouvel album Bangalore enregistré avec la flûtiste et chanteuse indienne Varijashree Venugopal. Véritable prodige de la musique carnatique  Varijashree Venugopal maîtrise avec une aisance déconcertante les codes de la musique occidentale et orientale. Elle a été adoubée par Chick Corea, Bobby Mc Ferrin, John Mc Laughlin, Victor Wooten, Michael League, BC Manjunath…Elie Dufour, Marc Michel et Yann Phayphet qui forment le noyau dur du groupe EYM Trio créé en 2011, parcourent le monde tant physiquement grâce aux tournées que musicalement par les musiciens qu’ils invitent.EYM Trio et Varijashree Venugopal seront en tournée dans toute la France pour nous faire découvrir leur album Bangalore et le 06/10 au 360 Music Factory à Paris.

Véritable globe-trotteur, le trio jazz EYM propose un univers surprenant qui invite au voyage grâce à la chanteuse/flûtiste indienne Varijashree Venugopal, une artiste d’exception.
Bangalore est la capitale de l’Etat du Karnataka, Sud de l’Inde. C’est ici qu’EYM Trio a rencontré Varijashree à l’occasion d’une de leurs tournées en Inde. Ce fut leur plus important coup de coeur musical.
Bangalore deviendra naturellement le nom de l’album qu’ils enregistreront ensemble trois ans plus tard. Cet album est une histoire d’amitié, de spontanéité et de connexion musicale forte.
Enregistré live en un après-midi aux studios ICP à Bruxelles. Il est le résultat de nombreuses années connectées à l’Inde, et propose une musique à la croisée des chemins entre le jazz d’EYM Trio et la couleur carnatique indienne apportée par Varijashree.

Quand le trio joue avec Varijashree, tout semble simple, la musique est au-dessus de tout. Ils vont ensemble vers des paysages sonores insoupçonnés qu’il est excitant de découvrir sur scène. L’ambition de cet album est de toucher profondément tout type de public à travers le monde.


En tournée :
06.10.23 : 360 Factory – Paris
07.10.23 : Crescent – Mâcon
11.10.23 : Périscope – Lyon
12.10.23 : Théâtre Sainte-Marie d’en Bas – Grenoble
13.10.23 : CRR d’Annecy
25.01.24 : Bertinoro (IT)
26.01.24 : Jazz Club Ferrara (IT)
27.01.24 : Altitude Jazz – Briançon


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JazzWorldQuest 2023
 

Camilla Svane (Denmark)- Them There Eyes

Camilla Svane - Them There Eyes

This playful and upbeat classic is turned upside down with inspiration from Norah Jones. This interpretation transforms the song into a smooth and calm version. 

Artist and singer Camilla Svane has performed on stage throughout her career in a variety of genres and venues. Her love for jazz has guided her to her first recorded album of her most cherished jazz standards. The album “My Interpretations” is released 27 October 2023. 

With her smooth and yet powerful voice, Camilla aims to touch the hearts of the listener, as if you were sitting in the small and cozy jazz bar, watching her perform right in front of you. Camilla’s voice is extraordinary and it will create two reactions in you: You will feel relaxed, loved and happy. Wait, that was three!

Credits

Artist: Camilla Svane

Musician: Mads Søndergaard (piano)

Musician: Jakob Roland Presterud (double bass)

Musician: Henrik Holst Hansen (drums)
Written by Maceo Pinkard, William Tracey, Doris Tauber

—————

Artist info:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/camillasvanemusic

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/camilla_svane_music

On behalf of Camilla Svane, I thank you in advance for your support!

Peter Bek, Zack’s TALENT

Email: pb@zacks.dk

Web: www.zacks.dk

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023

USA: Venerable Jazz Rockers Squirrel Nut Zippers to Take Fans on a Musical Journey to the Birthplace of Jazz with Special Run of “Jazz from the Back O’ Town” Shows

Iconic Jazz Rockers Squirrel Nut Zippers (SNZ) have announced that they will be taking fans on a magical, musical voyage to the birthplace of Jazz as they present “Jazz from the Back O’ Town” – a four-show love letter to the prodigious New Orleans neighborhood known simply as the “Back O’ Town.”


Kicking off November 8 in Greenwich, RI at the Greenwich Odean and running through November 11 in Woodstock, NY at the legendary Levon Helm Studios, these intimate, yet devilishly-entertaining shows, will explore the late 19th Century through the Roaring 20s NOLA Jazz scene as the Zippers provide a delightful view into this mystical era with reverent, yet exciting, renditions of such seminal classics as Jelly Roll Morton’s “Animule Ball,” Louis Armstrong’s “Back O’ Town Blues,” and many others.

Tickets for the SNZ “Jazz from the Back O’ Town” shows go on sale Friday, August 18 at www.snzippers.com.

During the “Jazz from the Back O’ Town” shows, the Multi-Platinum band will also perform favorites from their own catalog, adapted and arranged to more closely echo the sounds of 1920s New Orleans. Additionally, SNZ founder Jimbo Mathus will lend his humorous, insightful musings on both the musical history of one of America’s most fascinating cities and the stories and inspirations behind many of the Zippers’ most beloved songs.

Official dates for SNZ “Jazz from the Back O’ Town” shows are as follows:

Nov. 8 Greenwich Odean East Greenwich, RI
Nov. 9 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
Nov. 10 Buffalo State Performing Arts Center Buffalo, NY
Nov. 11 Levon Helm Studios Woodstock, NY

“Jazz From The Back O’ Town” will provide a uniquely-historic look at the origins and evolutions of SNZ over the course of their career and the role the music of 1920s New Orleans has played in forming and shaping their sound. Not so much a period piece as a living “peek-behind-the-curtain” of inspiration and celebration. And it makes for a very entertaining evening!

For the most up-to-date information on the band visit:
www.snzippers.com
https://twitter.com/snzippers
https://www.facebook.com/SNZippers
https://www.instagram.com/snzippers/
# # #

About Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Platinum recording artists have sold over three million albums to-date with their watershed album, Hot (1996), making them a household name. Recorded in the heat of New Orleans, fueled by a smoldering mix of booze and a youthful hunger to unlock the secrets of old-world jazz, this pivotal release was just the beginning for the band.

Since then, SNZ has unveiled such hits as Beasts Of Burgundy (2018), which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart, and Christmas Caravan (1998), which went on to sell a quarter of a million copies and reach #12 on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart.

Their most recent record Lost Songs of Doc Souchon debuted in late 2020. It featured 10 tracks – a combination of newly-penned Zippers songs, along with a few tunes from past times – and has received acclaim from fans and critics alike.
Since reactivating in mid-2016, SNZ have been performing to packed houses across the country and around the world. As Mathus has said since the band’s re-launch, “it’s not a reunion, it’s a revival.”

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK)-As She Awakens (2023)

Hakim Jamal-As She Awakens

Hakim Jamal(UK)-As She Awakens
Composer: Paul Ashley Wheatcroft
Label: TalkingHead TV Recordings (2023)

On June 21st 2023, a child was born in Algiers. She has not had a simple start to life – her parents are separated by distance, although she is much loved. We keep communication open and we give her what we can in the ways we can, until we can see her. This I also do with my two other grandchildren, but sadly often with little success.
I wanted to give her a gift that would be memorable, and with the skills I have, I created this for her and about her. It was inspired by a video taken of her by her mother as she was waking up one day.
But it’s more than that – children from her part of the world, and I include the Middle East as well as North Africa suffer daily deprivations and injustices. Children of her precise background find themselves even this week caught up in the awful racist theatre of hate that is France.
Yet they remain at heart just children – alive, trusting, hungry, loving, naturally happy – wherever they are.
In my opinion it is our responsibility to make sure they are taken care of; and so this song is for them too. I hope it makes you think of children you know and ways in which you can be kind to them. Peace.

https://hakimjamal.bandcamp.com/track/as-she-awakes

https://youtu.be/uyB2ceVDO74

World Music Mix

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023: António Silva Music new album – “Blessings and Inspirations”

António Silva-Blessings and Inspiration

António Silva Music new album – “Blessings and Inspirations”

Blessings and Inspirations is a compilation of 12 original compositions by António Silva, from styles so diverse as Jazz, Fusion, Classical, Pop and World Music. To give life to this music he was helped by several musicians from 5 different countries. The album is divided into 4 elements. Blessings and Inspirations will be available the 1st of September 2023 to buy and stream in full from Bandcamp here – https://antoniosilvamusic.bandcamp.com/

Further Info and Bio.
António Miguel Dias da Silva was born in Coimbra, city where he began studying the guitar when he was 14 years old. He went on to study Jazz at Bachelor and Masters levels in Lisbon, Helsinki, Stockholm and Aarhus and also the composition system “Equal Interval System” with American teacher Glenn Jordan.
He has recorded 4 albums: Ararur, Mielikki, Up Lift and Súnapsis. Blessings and Inspirations is António Silva newest creation.

Blessings and Inspirations
Chronicles Vol. 1
Air
1 – O espetáculo vai começar
António Silva – Guitar
2 – The chosen one
António Silva – Guitar and Voices; Francisco Brito – Doublebass; Luciano Cuviello – Drums
3 – Glory Day
Sanna Ruohoniemi – Vocals; António Silva – Guitar; Francisco Brito – Doublebass; João Rijo –
Drums
Earth
4 – The Magic Number
António Silva – Guitar; Inês Ochoa – Eletric Bass; João Santiago – Drums
5 – Metal Jazz Groove Thing
António Silva – Guitar; Anatole Buccella – Baritone-guitar; João Rijo – Drums
Water
6 – Ela
7 – Intro
8 – Floating underwater
9 – Cuida de mim
10 – Classical
Tomomi Kato – Piano
Fire
11 – Fantasma
António Silva – Guitar and Voice; Manuel Maio – Violin; Luciano Cuviello – Fretless Bass and Snare
12 – So in Love with You
António Silva – Guitar and Voice

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023: Florian Arbenz- Greg Osby- Arno Krijger – Conversation #9 – Targeted

Florian Arbenz- Greg Osby- Arno Krijger - Conversation #9 - Targeted

Conversation #9 – Targeted” is the latest release of the series of collaborations with like-minded felow musicians initiated by Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz. While the presence of the renowned American saxophonist Greg Osby is not new on these series, Dutch Hammond impressive organist Arno Krijger came on board for the first time, and it must be acknowledged that he succeeds greatly in making his mark.

We hear six pieces nicely integrated into the tapestry of the album, three of them are originals. The three musicians came together to form a solid band that transmits energy and enables their abilities to soar with crystal-clear clarity.

The opener, Eddie Harris’s Freedom Jazz Dance is once more revisited (it was already included on Arbenz’previous Comversations albums) receiving a powerful treatment, breathtaking saxophone and muscular organ solos powered by Arbenz’s solid, imaginative drumming. Sleeping Mountain, composed by Arbenz, takes listeners on a cosmic musical ride with the saxophone weaving intricate lines that glide through the atmosphere, while the organ provides a rich and textured backdrop sustained by Arbenz’s sensitive drumming, building energy just when it’s needed.
Vertical Hold brings forward Greg Osby as a composer while improvising in full swing backed by Arbenz’s galvanic beats. Seven Steps To Heaven by Victor Feldman, takes off with an energetic drum solo into which Arno Krijger‘s organ gradually slips, the fiery duet that follows has jazz-rock qualities. I Loves You Porgy receives a new sonic aesthetic due to Osby’s fluid lyricism to which the organ adds an enigmatic edge. Old Shaman ending the album a hyper thunderous three way improvisation played with the greatest finesse and beauty.

An album that will delight any listener willing to hear three virtuosos unleashing their imagination and skills.

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023: Pilc Moutin Hoenig-YOU Are The Song (Justin Time Records)

Pilc Moutin Hoenig - You are the song
Pilc Moutin Hoenig
Nouvel album YOU Are The Song
Sortie le 12/05/2023 chez Justin Time Records
Le pianiste Jean-Michel Pilc, le contrebassiste François Moutin et le batteur Ari Hoenig se retrouvent pour un nouvel album intitulé YOU Are The Song. Cela faisait douze ans que les trois musiciens de jazz n’avaient pas enregistré ensemble. Avec ce disque qui sort le 12/05/2023, ce trio légendaire se reforme et retrouve son interaction musicale miraculeuse.

Pour la petite histoire, l’album YOU Are The Song a été enregistré en une session unique, sans aucune préparation et ne comprend que des premiers jets. On y retrouve des compositions originales et des standards réarrangés comme Impressions de John Coltrane, Dear Old Stockholm magnifié par Miles Davis et John Coltrane ou Straight No Chaser de Thelonious Monk. Moins free que leurs improvisations d’autrefois, les séances de cet album explorent et expérimentent une expressivité nouvelle, témoignant de l’évolution artistique des trois musiciens.

L’idée de réunir le trio Pilc Moutin Hoenig était dans l’air depuis quelques temps et a pu se réaliser au studio Big Orange Sheep, à New York grâce au label Justin Time Records. « C’était une belle occasion de s’associer avec une maison de disque qui comprend notre manière de jouer, c’est-à-dire notre traitement du rythme et notre façon de composer ensemble à travers l’improvisation », a expliqué Jean-Michel Pilc

 Pour regarder la vidéo de Dear Old Stockholm :https://youtu.be/5RT1qEACl28

L’ensemble légendaire Pilc Moutin Hoenig émerge à nouveau avec son premier album en douze ans, intitulé YOU Are the Song et produit par Justin Time Records. Le trio, composé du pianiste Jean-Michel Pilc, du contrebassiste François Moutin et du batteur Ari Hoenig, entreprend d’emblée un assemblage dynamique et enivrant de pièces originales (Thin AirSearing Congress) et d’interprétations au tempo réharmonisé et mouvant de standards tant aimés. Ce n’est pas du free jazz, comme certains auditeurs qui ont suivi les trois décennies de carrière du trio peuvent le supposer. Cet album, au cœur émotif et au fil duquel les trois artistes tiennent rôle de chef, suit des formules mélodiques, s’alimente d’une vitalité rythmique unique, se livre à des cabrioles de terrain de jeux et s’aventure dans des territoires sonores inexplorés.
L’album fut enregistré en direct, sans superposition sonore, au studio Big Orange Sheep, à Brooklyn, le 11 juin 2022. Ce fut un projet spontané, sans préparation. « C’est un album important pour nous », dit Pilc. « Nous avons tant évolué en tant que trio. Aujourd’hui, nous sommes différents de ce que nous étions il y a dix ans. » Il ajoute : « Ce fut la séance en studio la plus facile de ma vie. Nous avons simplement commencé à jouer, sans nous arrêter, pendant presque trois heures. À la fin de la séance, nous avions enregistré assez de musique pour réaliser deux ou trois albums. »
Étant donné le lien qui existait entre Pilc et Jim West, le président de Justin Time, l’idée de reconstituer le trio PMH, plus de dix ans après sa dernière réunion, flottait dans l’air.  « Ce que nous faisons, c’est de l’improvisation pure. Il n’y a aucune résistance dans la musique lorsque nous sommes ensemble, tous les trois. »
Les trois membres s’accordent à dire que YOU Are the Song reflète le dynamisme expressif de leur trio : « Plutôt que de parler de musique, nous laissons la musique parler à travers nous. Plutôt que de jouer de la musique, nous laissons la musique jouer avec nous. Plutôt que de jouer une chanson, nous devenons cette chanson, et nous vous invitons tous à faire de même. »
 
www.jeanmichelpilc.com | Facebook | Twitter

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023:The Scornful Four (Australia) Album: Jazz in Meanjin 001: Live at Can You Keep A Secret?

The Scornful Four-JAZZ IN MEANJIN 001: LIVE AT CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?

This recording results from the last-minute thought that such a moment should be captured. This set by newly formed The Scornful Four shows the very instant when an idea became a creation.

With a book full of COVID-era compositions that had yet to fall on any ears, saxophonist Andrew Garton convened a group of musical friends new and old to tackle the task of creating a setting to enrich what previously only existed in his imagination.

Meanjin jazz-royalty Helen Russell on bass (notably of the lauded 90s ensemble Good Bait), the wise-beyond-his-years journeyman drummer Aaron Jansz and young firebrand trumpeter Sharon Nobs all openly brought their dedication and ability to engage deeply with any music they perform and it shows in the freedom and nuance presented in this live recording.

MEMBERS
ANDREW GARTON – BARITONE SAXOPHONE
SHARON NOBS – TRUMPET
HELEN RUSSELL – BASS
AARON JANSZ – DRUMS

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023