The Jazz Tribe - Everlasting ( Red Records )

The Jazz Tribe are :
Ray Mantilla
Bobby Watson
Jack Walrath
Xavier Davis
Curtis Lundy
Victor Lewis

The Jazz Tribe is a group created by producer and manager Alberto Alberti in the early 90s, specifically as an original production for the La Spezia Jazz Festival. Alberti joined skilfully, with love and talent as he was used to do, some of his preferred musicians: Bobby Watson, alto saxophone player that pushed on an higher level the jazz language with his undoubtedly unique and innovative style; Ray Mantilla, top percussionist from the Latin Jazz group, one of the greatest percussion player from the modern jazz scene ever (played with Art Blakey, Herbie Mann. Stan Getz, Max Roach); Jack Walrath, trumpet player and arranger with a very peculiar and innovative style (worked for many years with Charles Mingus besides his own groups as a leader); Walter Bishop Jr., today no more with us, but one of the top piano player from the Be- Bop Era, mainly by the side of Charlie Parker; Joe Chambers, one of the most important drummer from the modern jazz scene; Steve Grossman, guest member of the Jazz Tribe, great tenor sax player from the post-Coltrane Age by the side of J. Bergonzi, M. Brecker, B. Berg, D. Liebman; on the bass, Charles Fambrough, nowadays almost forgotten musician, he played for many glorious years with Art Blackey's Jazz Messengers in the top line-up including Wynton Marsalis and Bobby Watson himself (Cd recordings can easily testify his superb musical qualities).
The concert given by all those musicians has been recorded and released by Red Records, ad memoriam futura, titling "The Jazz Tribe" and placing itself as a milestones between the crossroads of the top contemporary mainstream jazz expressions: it finds its roots from the latin and afro-cuban experience that enriched the great jazz tradition from Jelly Roll Morton, Mario Bauza, Dizzy Gillespie, Parker, Blakey, Silver, Dorham, Getz … that still nowadays brings towards new enthusiastic musical experiences such as the Jazz Tribe, probably one of the most important and meaningful of all the times.

At the beginning of the new millennium, Ray Mantilla & Bobby Watson, leaders of this cooperative group, asked Red Records to produce a new recording, "The Next Step" (quite meaningful title, isn't it?), bringing ad hoc original compositions and a upgraded line-up: the great pianist Ronnie Mathews (even he recently missed), that took Walter Bishop Jr.'s place; Victor Lewis, one of the greatest drummer and musician of the last 30 years that strictly worked by the side of B. Watson, and Curtis Lundy, Watson's collaborator since the Miami University times, singer Carmen Lundy's brother, bass player that worked with many musicians such as Betty Carter, and leader of several groups released by Sunnyside recordings.
The Next Step isn't a simple group's evolution: it points out the liveliness of the latin and afro-cuban tradition grafted on the great jazz history (we have to listen carefully to certain maeican and argentinian influences on Walrath music).
The tradition evolving or, better, innovation without revolution adapting themes, harmonies and sounds toward a more contemporary sensibility.
The Next Step has been considered a masterpiece of its genre thanks to the excellent soloists, their solid backgrounds, innovative rhythmic sections, involving grooves and imaginative melodies.
One of the characteristic aspect of the Jazz Tribe's music appears to be its easiness in enjoying the audience and, at the same time, its extremely complex execution. Innovation stands in rhythmic and harmonic aspects and both in the sensibility of understanding the more than ever cultural importance, specifically in the American melting pot society, of the latin influences: it faces already existing cultures generating new synthesis and original languages.
After the successful 2007 tour that brought The Jazz Tribe playing in many European countries in front of enthusiastic audiences, our musicians went on April 2008 back again in recording studio to play the tunes of the tour, and finally here to listen to in this current CD.
In this recording Ronnie Mathews, seriously ill, has been substituted by the talented pianist Xavier Davis, a young musical revelation discovered by Bobby Watson, as he always paid attention to contemporary rising stars.
The recording has been accurately mixed by Bobby Watson himself in a Kansas City studio: very high listening quality, clean and brilliant sounds but, most of all, this CD shines for the music in itself for its capability in reporting the present times with deep and sincere intentions.

Seamus Blake - Bellwether

New York based tenor saxophonist/composer Seamus Blake is recognized as one of the finest and most creative young players in jazz.

John Scofield, who hired him for his “Quiet Band,” calls him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” In February 2002, he took first place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in Washington D. C. As the winner, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Seamus Blake was born in England and raised in Vancouver, Canada. At age 21, while still a student at Boston's prestigious Berklee College, he was asked to record with legendary drummer Victor Lewis. After graduation, he moved to New York, where he rapidly established himself on the New York jazz scene.

Seamus has released five albums on Criss Cross Records, from his 1993 debut “The Call” to the 1995 premiere of the “Bloomdaddies,” a “funky, alternative grunge jazz band”, to “Way Out Willy,” which was released in February 2007. He has also recorded as a leader for the Fresh Sound label. "Stranger Things have Happened" (now available on itunes) features Kurt Rosenwinkel as well as Jorge Rossy and Larry Grenadier from the Brad Mehldau trio.

Blake is a long standing member of the Grammy nominated group, the Mingus Big Band, and is featured on the last six albums. He continues to play and record with the Victor Lewis Quintet, as well as with Bill Stewart and Kevin Hays. He has also performed and/or recorded with Franco Ambrosetti, Dave Douglas, Jane Monheit, Kenny Barron, Sam Yahel, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Brad Meldhau, Larry Grenadier, Wayne Krantz, Jorge Rossy, Jack Dejohnette, Brian Blade, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Reed, David Kikoski, Al Foster and many others.

Ever since he debuted with The Call back in 1994, saxophonist Seamus Blake's star has been on the rise and he continues to be a valued member of the Criss Cross family.

As a follow-up to Way Out Willy, Blake's latest features pianist David Kikoski, guitarist Lage Lund, bassist Matt Clohesy, and drummer Bill Stewart on another electrifying set of originals that sparkle with creativity and the kind of integrity that marks the best of today's current generation of jazz artists.

Among a decidedly upbeat set of tunes, highlights further include some deeply moving statements from the saxophonist and Lund on the introspective The Song That Lives Inside. Rounding out the mix are takes on John Scofield's Dance Me Home and a third stream-inspired reworking of Debussy's String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 10.

Stefano Bollani - Stone In The Water ( Ecm 2080 )

Stefano Bollani piano

Jesper Bodilsen double-bass

Morten Lund drums

The Italian virtuoso, pianist Stefano Bollani, began his collaboration with bassist Jesper Bodilsen and drummer Morten Lund in 2003. The chemistry between the 3 musicians has from the start been exceptional and their albums have been praised by critics and have sold several thousand copies.

The first album MI RITORNI IN MENTE that was released in 2003 was among the 10 best selling records in Italy that year. Following Danish and Italian tours, it became clear that this constellation was destined to be of a more permanent nature. They have been invited to play at clubs and festivals all over the world - their debut in New York was a successful concert at the legendary Birdland Club.

You need not be a musician to understand what bassist Jesper Bodilsen means when he says, “The fascinating thing about playing with Stefano is his brilliant musicality. You never know what’s going to happen; all you know is that it is so very inspiring. His playing combines playfulness and humor with something very deep.”

This is probably in part due to the fact that Bollani has always expressed himself in a wide range of idioms. Although classically trained, he has played jazz and pop since childhood, and even once contemplated a vocalist career. The diversity and unbiased outlook are two traits he shares with bassist Jesper Bodilsen and drummer Morten Lund. After fifthteen years of collaboration on numerous projects, these two musicians are possibly the tightest bass/drum team of their generation on the Danish jazz scene.

The trio’s first album was dominated by Italian tunes and standard type material. On their second album GLEDA the trio finds a melodic and original tone in a music concentrated around Scandinavian songs. This album was nominated for an Australian Bell Award in the category – Best International Jazz Release in 2006.

The carefully picked material enables the music to flow from this trio in a steady current of intelligence, imagination and delight in playing. Bollani finds his phrases in a deep understanding of the harmonic structures, allowing him to display extreme boldness without ever betraying the melody. Bodilsen is a granite foundation, demonstrating a large and flexible tone and an undisputed authority, while Lund spurs them on, constantly varying his sound.

They have succeeded in creating a beautiful, refreshing and modern sound in a wonderfully well-defined recording. Hearing one of Europe’s great pianists interpret these tunes is pure pleasure and together this trio turns the songs into small miracles!

Jesper Bodilsen and Morten Lund both attended Denmark’s Royal Music Academy in Aarhus, and have played together in numerous contexts since then, along the way becoming, as has been frequently noted, the tightest bass/drums team of their generation on the Danish jazz scene. Bodilsen has been playing professionally since 1985 and has performed and/or recorded with Joe Lovano, Tom Harrell, Enrico Rava, Ed Thigpen, John Abercrombie, James Moody, Jeff Tain Watts, Paolo Fresu among others. Lund has performed and recorded with Mike Stern, Curtis Stigers, Cæcilie Norby, Lars Danielsson, Ulf Wakenius, Christian McBride, Avishai Cohen, Chris Minh Doky, Silje Nergaard, Viktoria Tolstoy, Anders Jormin, Bobo Stenson, Lars Jansson, Bob Mintzer, Tom Harrell, Johnny Griffin, Phil Woods, Etta Cameron, NHØP, and many others. Bodilsen and Lund have each appeared on around 100 albums. “Stone in the Water” is their first for ECM.

With “Stone in the Water” the three players move, with immense subtlety, through a fascinating programme that includes new pieces by Bollani and Bodilsen, plus ballads by Caetano Veloso and Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Poulenc’s “Improvisation 13 en mineur”, bringing fresh colours to the piano trio genre.

Tracklist :

Dom de iludir ( Caetano Veloso )
Orvieto ( Jesper Bodilsen )
Edith ( Jesper Bodilsen )
Brigas nunca mais ( A. C. Jobim / V. D. Moraes )
Il cervello del pavone ( Stefano Bollani )
Un sasso nello stagno ( Stefano Bollani )
Improvisation 13 en la mineur ( Francis Poulenc )
Asuda ( Stefano Bollani )
Joker in the Village ( Stefano Bollani )

Vedi anche :

Enrico Rava - New York Days