Category Archives: News

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024: Scott Murphy(UK/Hong Kong)-“a dream of form”

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“a dream of form” is an idea conceived while the inspirational music of legendary pianist Fred Hersch performing solo in Hong Kong washed over Scott Murphy which got out of hand very quickly! Before Scott even had a chance to work out what music he wanted to record musicians, engineers and a studio were booked.

A frantic period of creativity took place wherein Scott composed the music for the LP over a short couple of weeks in which he also had performances in China, multiple shows at Hong Kong’s largest Jazz festival and attempted to renew his passport against the clock.Thankfully for this project Scott had booked musicians the musical skill and excellence of whom was beyond reproach.

Taking an ostentatious leap of faith, Scott reached out to Janek Gwizdala; a bassist and composer he had admired since he’d first heard Janek’s “Live at the 55 Bar” album as a teenager. Gwizdala is one of the preeminent bassists of contemporary times with a back-catalogue of genuine world quality. He’s also an exceptionally versatile musician with the artistry to come into the studio one day after arriving in Hong Kong (and without meeting any of the band) and lift the music effortlessly to another level.

Scott turned to two of his favourite local collaborators to complete the group featuring Hong Kong’s most creative and adroit keyboardist Daniel Chu and arguably Asia’s number one drummer in
Padget “Fresh Kid” Nanton III. Daniel is a sound explorer who’s creativity can be heard throughout “a dream of form” and, indeed, any project he is involved with.While Fresh is quite simply the most in- demand drummer in Asia and the absolute engine room of this LP.

The session for “a dream of form” took place in just four hours live without rehearsal or time to attempt multiple takes.This recording is an animated example of four musicians in a room with a common goal and level of respect for improvised music as well as one another.The sheer quality of Janek, Daniel and Padget shines through with every second of this LP and cements it as a unique work featuring musicians at the top of their profession.

Recorded at Avon Studios with Thomas Lo (4231 Music), mixed in Scotland by Gus Stirrat (Solas Studios) and mastered by Peter Beckmann (Technologyworks) in London, this LP is an international collaboration of some of contemporary Jazz music’s most well regarded and exciting young talents.

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024

WorldMusicMix: Gavin Harrison / Antoine Fafard(UK)-Perpetual Mutations (2024)

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Perpetual Mutations is an original album project released in July 2024, following the first collaboration between Gavin Harrison and Antoine Fafard, entitled Chemical Reactions, which debuted four years prior. Perpetual Mutations showcases an eclectic blend of musical arrangements and includes contributions from nine collaborators representing various nationalities and continents.

As it was in the first effort, all the music on this album is entirely performed and excludes any programmed instruments. The joint instrumental musical effort was put together with the clear intention of not repeating the exact same sonic textures featured in the first album and keep looking for different and original musical possibilities. For instance, Perpetual Mutations introduces classical guitar and piano, instruments absent in the 2020 album. In addition, some of the pieces feature the Rhodes piano, the soprano saxophone (performed by Jean-Pierre Zanella), as well as handpans and log drum instruments. The song Objective Reality is a piece which is led by Rodrigo Escalona on the oboe in an unusual trio format.

Some strings are also featured as lead instruments on the album, with two pieces – Deadpan Euphoria and Pentalogic Structure – where the cello has a dominant presence (performed by Joasia Cieslak and Isodora Filipovic) and on Viral Information 101 where violinist Ally Storch takes the lead. To conclude the list of contributors,

Dale Devoe – an alumni from the Stan Kenton Orchestra – provided some brass ensembles on three tracks, performing all the trombone and trumpet parts.

The pacing of Perpetual Mutations on all nine pieces takes the listener into various moods and atmospheres. Directly related to the eclectic and ever changing instrumentations used from one piece to the next, the album can’t be easily summarized as one identifiable entity. However, the playing of Harrison and Fafard on every piece is the common thread that unifies all the music on the album.

Harrison’s unmistakable sound and personal approach to the drums are evident throughout, while Fafard’s composition and playing style on the bass and guitar contribute to unify the project. Perpetual Mutations offers a fusion of musical styles and sonic textures that complements the first effort Harrison and Fafard put out four years previously.

The intention of this project is to stretch out artistic possibilities and contribute to expanding the musical spectrum. Gavin Harrison’s work with Porcupine Tree, King Crimson and The Pineapple Thief is well known to progressive fans around the world. Harrison has authored several instructional drum books and DVDs and has received multiple awards from various publications.

Fafard has been releasing his music for over 20 years. He has collaborated with some of the world’s most respected and influential players, including Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Goodman, Gary Husband, Simon Phillips and Todd Sucherman. Fafard’s music has been praised for its intricacy and originality by his peers.

Released in 2024, Perpetual Mutations is distributed by Amplified Distribution in the US and Code 7 in the UK.

WorldMusicMix

WorldJazzMix: Gershon Waiserfirer / Lenny Sendersky (Israel)-Wait Until Now(2024)

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“Wait Until Now“. It is a unique blend of ambient jazz, cinematic music, and Middle Eastern sounds, making it a very special project. We have also made a few videos for the album, which you can check out on YouTube via these links: “Wait Until Now” •

ALBUM TEASER

Gershon Waiserfirer – Electric oud / effects
Lenny Sendersky – saxophones/flute/effects

At the duet concert, Gershon and Lenny use a wide palette of musical means from minimalistic lyrics to bright, sometimes ROCK texture. And all sorts of electronic effects give the listener the feeling of a large composition on stage. Musicians create a musical canvas in which there are many genres from jazz to rock and folk.

WAIT UNTIL NOW

SUN DANCE

stream on all platforms

Gershon Weiserfirer is an Israeli multi-instrumentalist and composer.
Active participant in the Israeli music scene in almost all genres, from traditional Jewish music to improvisational music. An actor by training, he regularly composes music for film and theater and has been awarded the Israel Theater Music Prize.
Gershon Weiserfirer has shared the stage with music legends such as Bobby McFerrin, Vyacheslav Ganelin, Avishai Cohen and Israeli rock legend Berry Saharoff

Lenny Sendersky – saxophone, started his international career living and performing in Denmark for two years. In 2011, he immigrated to Israel (from St. Petersburg), where he established himself on the jazz scene, performing and successfully producing projects with the participation of Israeli, American and European jazz performers. He shared stage and recorded with Carmen Souza & Theo Pascal, Randy Brecker, Tony Romano, Joe Locke.

Website

WorldMusicMix

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024: Encuentro Music to Release Reginald Policard’s Global Jazz Album “Boarding Pass” in Label Debut

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Ron Kadish, Publicist ron@dogranchmusicpr.com

Encuentro Music to Release Reginald Policard’s Global Jazz Album “Boarding Pass” in Label
Debut

Called “the most valued Haitian pianist in the jazz scene”, versatile pianist Reginald Policard has
evolved through decades of playing different styles of music such as konpa, jazz, latin jazz and fusion
to arrive at his personal style. Together with special guests from all over the world, Reginald brings
the musical traditions of Haiti, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and American jazz to Boarding
Pass, an exciting and fresh blend of musical cultures, to be released on May 31, 2024 as the debut
release on the new Encuentro Music label.

Miami-based Encuentro Music is a music label project inspired by the traditions and flavors of the
Caribbean. Encuentro aims to be a melting pot and a musical getaway for all The Caribbean, where
artists and creatives, rhythms and sounds, tastes and colors meet and leave a mark of impactful
culture.

Boarding Pass was inspired by the fundamental idea of what Encuentro Music is – a musical meeting
between artists from different countries who all love and are inspired by the music of Latin America,
the Caribbean, and Miami. With its diverse music encounters, Boarding Pass embodies a statement
of what we can expect from Encuentro Music in the future- a message of bringing people together
through music and encouraging them to share and enjoy inspired collaboration.

Born in Haiti, Reginald Policard was introduced to music at the early age of 10. Starting in 1969,
Reginald played in Sugar Jazz before co-founding and leading the famous Caribbean Sextet, which
dominated the music scene in Haiti for many decades.

Reginald’s discography includes sixteen solo recordings and his participation in numerous projects,
including films. His album Vinn Avem was selected to be in the pool of nominees for the Latin
Grammys in 1994. Reginald enjoys playing for his fans and his mastery in the piano comes alive every
time he performs. Reginald has performed and collaborated with well-known international musicians
such as Nicole Henry, Ed Calle, Jeff Carswell, Nicky Orta, Sammy Figueroa, Leo Quintero, Joel
Widmaïer, Richard Barbot, David Fernandez, Sal Cuevas, JeanCaze, Felipe Lamoglia, David Einhorn
and more.

Boarding Pass’s special guests include Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona, who has played and
recorded with a host of modern jazz luminaries from Joe Zawinul to Pat Metheny; legendary
singer Angélique Kidjo; Sammy Figueroa, long regarded as one of the world’s great percussionists,
who has played with everyone from Miles Davis to David Bowie; Haitian-American trumpeter Jean
Caze; renowned Latin percussionist Edwin Bonilla; longtime Erique Iglesias percussionist Gilmar
Gomes; and Miami Sound Machine trumpeter Teddy Mulet.

The May 31 release of Boarding Pass follows the highly successful releases of two singles. Intense in
emotion, Melancholia expertly weaves Caribbean, African and traditional Jazz influences to highlight
the warmth and texture of this distinctive collaboration. Policard’s compositional gifts shine through
in Encuentro Theme. His catchy melodies are steeped in a deep understanding of jazz’s historical and
cultural contexts, especially its Caribbean influences. Bona’s multifaceted musicianship adds layers of
complexity and emotional depth, creating a resonant backdrop that invites listeners into a world of
rhythmic euphoria.

Boarding Pass will be available everywhere on May 31, 2024. Pre-save it here.
Encuentro Music
Harold Staco – A&R management
Info@encuentromusic.com

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024: Wil Sargisson Trio(Australia)-Jazz in Meanjin 010

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Wil Sargisson Trio-Jazz in Meanjin 010
Wil Sargisson Trio-Warm Water
Label: 4000 Records / Jazz in Meanjin
Composer:Wil Sargisson

This track is taken from the upcoming next instalment of our Jazz in Meanjin series – live recordings from jazz gig around Brisbane, Australia.

The set features many standards and interpretations but this is Wil’s own composition.

The album is on May 23rd.

Brisbane jazz pianist Wil Sargisson hails from New Zealand, where he was raised on boogie woogie, New Orleans R&B and Harlem stride piano. He began solo festival appearances at age 13 and moved to Australia at 28.

Elliott Parker and Mitch Bellert have established themselves as in-demand session musicians and teachers on the Brisbane scene. The group bonded over a shared love of the records of the Oscar Peterson Trio.

Thanks so much for listening!

website

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024: Akagera(France)-Traverse

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The AKAGERA trio released their debut album ‘Serpente’ in 2019. The subtle blend of African music and jazz laid the foundations for a new sound driven by an unconventional ensemble of instruments. Their new album, ‘Traverse’, is the soundtrack to the imaginary travel diary of three intrepid musicians forced to put a hold on their adventures.


Over a period of three years, they took time out from improvisation sessions to collectively compose a repertoire reflecting the diversity of their backgrounds and influences: classical and contemporary music for Benoit, mixed music from South America and the Caribbean for Stéphane, and African rhythms and Brazilian grooves for David, all to the backdrop of their shared passion for jazz.


The Akagera Trio is a skilled and exciting new trio. With their completely original and instrumental sounds, we are taken on a musical stroll into a world of fierce but playful jazz with innovative orchestrations.
The trio was conceived as a tribute to the album AKAGERA, which was released in 1980 by the Humair-Jeanneau-Texier trio. This new trio aims to take us on a whole new journey.


Like their illustrious predecessors, the Akagera Trio draws its influences from African music (Akagera is the name of a natural reserve in Rwanda, on border with Tanzania) as well as jazz and contemporary music.

CD store Website
JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024

Austin TX, USA Festival: Rich Harney Jazz Festival 2024

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Rich Harney Jazz Festival 2024
Friday June 7/Saturday June 8
7pm

First Presbyterian Church
8001 Mesa Blvd
Austin TX 78731

TICKETS

Join us for a Jazz Festival in memory and celebration of award winning pianist/composer extraordinaire Rich Harney.
Featuring an all star lineup of a few of Rich’s friends and collaborators playing his original music, these 2 evenings are a must for anyone and everyone who remembers Rich or is a fan of swingin’ jazz.

Friday Night, June 7 (Rich’s Birthday!) Features:

THE BEAT DIVAS
with
Mady Kaye, Beth Ullman, and Dianne Donovan /vocals,
Mitch Watkins /guitar, Andy Langham /piano, John Fremgen /bass

The ALEX COKE QUINTET
with
Alex Coke /saxophone and flutes,
Bruce Saunders /guitar, Collin Shook /piano, James Suter / upright bass,
and
Masumi Jones /drums

Saturday Night June 8 Features:

ROBERT ABERG TRIO
with
Robert Aberg /guitar featuring Buddy Mohmed /upright bass, Austin Crawford /drums
and special guest Sarah Aberg /vocals

REDD VOLKAERT BAND
with
Redd Volkaert /guitar, Floyd Domino /piano,
Nate Rowe /bass
and
Vin Mott /drums

A memorable weekend of music and fellowship you won’t want to miss!

Tickets are $20 each evening
or $30 for both Friday and Saturday.

Rich’s books and recordings will be available to peruse and purchase, as well as recordings from the weekend’s bands and musicians

The music will be swingin’…the stories will be flowing. Come out to listen and bring a friend !

Can’t attend?
Consider a donation to The Rich Harney Memorial Fund.
in support of musical performances and scholarships
that honor Rich’s contribution to the jazz and worship communities.

WorldMusicMix: Yvan Cujious, Louis Winsberg(France) : Une voix, Six Cordes – De Claude à Nougaro

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Yvan Cujious et Louis Winsberg

Nouvel album 1 Voix, 6 Cordes

De Claude à Nougaro
avec Francis Cabrel, Thomas Dutronc, Anne Sila, Bigflo et Oli
Sortie le 31/05/2024 chez Baboo Music

Louis Winsberg et Yvan Cujious rendent hommage à Claude Nougaro vingt ans après sa disparition avec l’album 1 Voix, 6 cordes.

Les deux artistes Yvan Cujious et Louis Winsberg reprennent dix des plus belles chansons de Claude Nougaro avec cet album produit par Richard et Frédéric Seff, et en s’entourant de prestigieux invités comme Francis Cabrel, Thomas Dutronc, Anne Sila, les Toulousains Bigflo et Oli ainsi que de grands musiciens comme Rocky Gresset ou encore Jean-Marie Ecay, réunis par l’amour partagé pour le répertoire de Claude Nougaro.

Il fallait l’immense talent de guitariste de Louis Winsberg (Sixun, Nougaro, Maurane…) et la voix précise et délicate d’Yvan Cujious, pour incarner de façon singulière ce répertoire inoubliable qui revisite des classiques ou des titres moins connus tels Cécile Ma Fille, Le Jazz et la Java, La pluie fait des claquettes, Armstrong, Toulouse, Le Cinéma et bien d’autres… Premier extrait, voici Cécile Ma Fille enregistré à Astaffort avec Francis Cabrel.

Pour regarder le clip de Cécile Ma Fille avec Francis Cabrel :

Yvan Cujious et Louis Winsberg unissent leurs talents pour l’album Une Voix, Six Cordes – De Claude à Nougaro : dix reprises inspirées mettant en valeur la dimension jazz et les influences espagnoles de Claude Nougaro. Yvan Cujious et Louis Winsberg ont trouvé l’angle pour proposer une version pertinente de ce répertoire presque impossible à revisiter. Une façon singulière de décaler ces standards de la chanson française. En magicien prodigieux de la guitare, Louis Winsberg fait danser la voix d’Yvan Cujious. Sur le tapis volant de ses six cordes merveilleusement vibrantes, son allègre dextérité fait tourner le manège des rimes.

L’amitié d’Yvan Cujious avec Claude Nougaro est née alors qu’Yvan était encore prof de physique au lycée Fermat à Toulouse, et durera toute leur vie.

C’est en croisant l’incroyable guitariste Louis Winsberg (Sixun, Jaléo Mike Stern, Maurane Dee Dee Bridgewater… ) qui avait lui-même côtoyé et accompagné Claude Nougaro que l’idée de l’hommage est arrivée !

Le jeu de guitare de Louis Winsberg à la fois savant, virtuose, chaleureux, subtil et généreux, dans lequel l’Espagne pousse un peu sa corne, a permis une approche à la fois originale et fidèle à l’esprit des chansons de Nougaro.  C’est une nouvelle exploration de cet incroyable répertoire, joué plus souvent au piano qu’à la guitare, que nous offre le duo. Une re-création récréative !

Pour l’album, produit par Richard et Frédéric Seff, les deux artistes s’entourent de prestigieux amis et invités : Francis Cabrel, Thomas Dutronc, Anne Sila, les Toulousains Bigflo et Oli ainsi que de grands musiciens comme Rocky Gresset ou encore Jean-Marie Ecay, réunis par l’amour partagé pour le répertoire de Claude.  Une histoire d’amitié, presque de famille qui s’élancera en tournée dès cet été…

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WorldMusicMix

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024: Itiberê Orquestra Familia Da França (France/Brazil)

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Itiberê Orquestra Família Da França

Nouvel album Live à Paris

Sortie le 19/04/2024 chez Inouïe Distribution

Itiberê Orquestra Familia Da França dévoile son extraordinaire Live à Paris dans un album déjà disponible en digital et qui sort en physique le 19 avril 2024.

Avec ses 23 musiciens français et brésiliens, le Live à Paris est un pari fou qui sidère l’entendement par sa démesure musicale.

Itiberê Orquestra familia da França est un orchestre franco-brésilien dirigé par Itiberê Zwarg, très proche collaborateur d’Hermeto Pascoal. Imaginé des deux côtés de l’Atlantique par le saxophoniste Benoit Crauste et Itiberê Zwarg, l’IOF a été conçu pendant la pandémie. L’Orquestra Familia a vu le jour en 2022 à Paris lors du Festival Sons d’Hiver où il a donné deux concerts dont on retrouve l’essentiel sur disque aujourd’hui. Il réunit 18 musiciens de jazz parisien et 4 musiciens brésiliens dont Ajurinã et Mariana Zwarg, sous la direction d’Itiberê.

Entre jazz, classique, expérimentation et musique brésilienne, L’Orquestra Familia Da França se pare de tous les superlatifs. L’album Live In Paris concrétise le rêve d’un échange culturel fort autour d’une musique instrumentale innovatrice, symbole de l’amitié entre la France et le Brésil. On peut plonger dans les coulisses de l’enregistrement avec une vidéo signée du réalisateur Clément Crauste.

Pour regarder et diffuser la vidéo du Live à Paris :

Projet d’une grandiose luxuriance musicale, la sortie de l’album Live à Paris du Itiberê Orquestra Familia Da França est un événement pour tous les amateurs de jazz et de musique brésilienne. Hors norme et démesuré, ce projet séduit par son gigantisme et sa folie contagieuse.

Enregistré à Paris en 2022 à l’invitation du festival Sons d’Hiver, l’album Live In Paris est une création de l’Itiberê Orquestra Familia Da França qui réunit 23 musiciens franco-brésiliens.

Bassiste historique, considéré comme l’un des grands artisans du renouveau de la musique instrumentale brésilienne et principal collaborateur de Hermeto Pascoal, Itiberê Zwarg affirme la dynamique d’un orchestre effusif, jouant sans cesse avec l’esprit de célébration rituelle de la musique, source de vivacité et d’extase. Source agitée par la transmission orale et collaborative.

Au sein des différentes versions de l’Itiberê Orquestra Família, Itiberê Zwarg adore faire jouer la part d’expérience de chacun dans une musique d’ensemble. Ce qui est fondamental pour les musiciennes et musiciens français et brésiliens réunis ici, c’est la liberté d’inventer et de créer.

A l’issue des répétitions en janvier 2022, l’orchestre franco-brésilien a donné deux concerts dont voici sur disque quelques-uns des meilleurs moments. La musique est à l’image du Brésil prodigue qui l’a vue naître, terre d’invention à la poésie exubérante et grand mélangeur du monde. Le répertoire de l’orchestre est librement inspiré de l’univers musical français. Itiberê y restitue les impressions ressenties lors de ses nombreuses tournées avec Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo.

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023: June Yun (South Korea)- Light Cycle, Album: Enlightenment – Solid Waves

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June Yun-Enlightenment - Solid Waves

On October 27th 2023, NYC based South Korean vocalist and composer June Yun released her debut album “Enlightenment – Solid Waves” which includes a collection of 8 pieces of her original music written towards a specific concept she created :

” Similar to one’s feelings and thoughts, the meaning and emotions that people have towards Light and Dark are very personal. They are very difficult to accurately understand and translate directly. Light and Dark coexist. Light and Dark do not stay in one place, they flow and circulate as time passes. The compositions in this album picture these various abstract forms of light and dark within the scope that I built. This project started as a study towards finding the many feelings and thoughts that were lost and couldn’t be described due to the fast-moving society that we live in. Wanting to live with awareness, I took time to find myself, my feelings and thoughts, and built a palette. This album is to remind myself to be present and aware, and to remind myself of this journey I took to learn how to do so. A lot of the “light” aspects that I talk about relate to the people and community around me and how their bright energy helped me recover from any darkness I had faced in the past. I am truly grateful to all the people in my life who have been there for me. This music is for them. I hope this music can reach and help people who are adventuring to find themselves and positivity. “

June Yun (South Korea)- Light Cycle

June Yun, a NYC based, London raised, South Korean vocalist and composer has been building and growing her own philosophy towards the abstract concept of Light and Dark for the past 3 years. Heavily influenced and inspired by jazz, classical music, R&B, Korean traditional music, and pop, Yun composed 8 pieces of originals and has finally recorded this music with some of the most inspiring musicians in the jazz scene today. She invited Shai Maestro (piano), Kanoa Mendenhall (bass), Jongkuk Kim (drums), Vid Jamnik (vibraphone), Brad Kang (guitar) and Nicola Caminiti (alto sax) to be on board.

Yun has studied and performed with some of the most influential musicians including Jean Baylor, Theo Bleckmann, Shai Maestro, Joel Ross, Ingrid Jensen, Amy London, Mike Moreno, Jeremy Manasia and Dr. Richard Harper. She has been performing a wide range of music including her original music, traditional and modern jazz, contemporary pop and R&B, K-pop, classical music, Korean traditional music, film music, and musical theater. Yun has performed at some of the most well-known jazz clubs and halls in NYC and Korea including Dizzy’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, Smalls Jazz club, John Tishman Auditorium, Mercury Lounge, KBS and more.

Yun recently toured in Korea, 15 successful shows were performed to introduce her music to her Korean fans. More about June Yun, her music, upcoming dates for her tour can be found on her website (juneyunmusic.com) or on her social media (@the.juney.effect).

Link to CD store::
https://www.sonaeum.co.kr/product/enlightenment

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2023