Venezuela-born pianist/composer Olegario Diaz has since 2011 been presenting handful of quality recordings with firm roots in post-bop. Diaz has also published quite a few books on music and musicians. He produced this album, his 5th release to portray Chet Baker as he might write a book about the great artist.
“From Juan Sebastian Bar in Caracas to all the great joints in New York, Los Angeles … and the rest of the jazz world, to great open sky concerts, theatres and festivals, Olegario´s groups always give us ¨Something To Remember¨… good jazz! …” (John N. De Souza – Jazz Y Algo Más, Miami, Fl.)
Highly spiritual & musically steadfast, pianist Joel Weiskopf has been making heads turn for quite some time with appearances on his brother Walt's acclaimed series of recordings before traveling on his own maiden voyage as a leader. Here he gives a broader picture of his talents as both a pianist & writer, backed by his brother on tenor, John Swana on trumpet, John Patitucci on bass & Jeff Brillinger on drums. Joel presents 8 distinctive compositions that are as deeply satisfying as they are harmonically complex & innovative.
One of the few exponents of that most unrelenting instrument, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber has spent for more than a half century performing, composing, arranging and leading his own groups. His robust, no-nonsense playing has been acknowledged to be one of the greats among jazz instrumentalists.
“…Best of all, there’s Cuber himself, whose playing has, incredibly, grown more authoritative with each passing year. His sound, huge and affable, brims with personality, and it’s hard not to be awed by the freshness…” (J. D. Considine – JazzTimes on Ronnie’s Trio SCCD 31848)
Two extraordinary talents from the two totally independent discipline of art forms are meeting here to create a genuinely unique musical experience for us.
Kirk Knuffke one of the most prominent of jazz cornetist and New York’s up and coming operatic baritone singer Steven Herring present here, to quote the liner-note author Neil Tesser, “an album that juxtaposes conservatory and nightclub, improvisation and spoken word, the sacred and the secular, into one of the most unusual and inventive projects of Knuffke’s career”
Knuffke’s previous release “Cherryco” SCCD 31832 was awarded National Public Radio (USA)’s Jazz Album of the Year 2017.
With this sequel volume to SCCD 31855 SteepleChase is proud to make the first live recordings from Wally’s commercially available.
Boston’s historical (it celebrated its70th anniversary last year) live spot is where Jason Palmer and his working band have been performing weekly for the past 12 years.
Wally’s is, to quote Fred Bouchard of Downbeat, “…is the world’s oldest black owned continuously operation jazz club. Founded in 1947 by Joseph L. Walcott. Wally’s Café Jazz Club is located in Boston’s historic Jazz Corner…. Barbados-born Walcott built Wally’s as an oasis where the black community could socialize and listen to bands….”
Wally’s, Boston’s historical (est. 1947) live jazz spot, is where the award-winning trumpeter/composer Jason Palmer started to hone his chops some 20 years ago while a student at New England Conservatory. Jason and his Boston-based quintet has been performing there every weekend to the loyal and enthusiastic crowd since 2006. This CD is the first of two documentary live recordings from those electrifying nights in 2016.
“Over the past decade, trumpeter Jason Palmer has proven to be one of the most compelling artists of his generation. With each new volume in a series of CDs for SteepleChase, Palmer reveals a different aspect to his musical mind while the expressiveness of his horn continues to expand as well.” (Ken Dryden – the NYC Jazz Record on SCCD 31820 Beauty ‘n’ Numbers)
To say “Pierre Dørge” and not to follow it with “& New Jungle Orchestra” is almost impossible.
Dørge created that small big band in 1980, which became a successful and stable vehicle for his adventurous music. They toured all over the world and built an impressive discography along the way.
The guitarist/composer/bandleader, however, has never neglected to seek new palette to draw his music in smaller ensembles.
Following highly acclaimed quartet release “Blui” of 2016, Dørge surrounds himself with all American colleagues who have deep understanding of Pierre Dørge’s unique soundscapes.
“It’s an inspired collection of musicians and all serve the material well, eight songs written by Dørge …. When people think of Dørge, they tend to gravitate toward the NJO releases but his small-group recordings provide an excellent alternative and a more expansive picture of this unique guitarist.”
(Robert Iannapollo – NYC Jazz Record on SCCD 31797 “Blui”)
Ronnie Cuber (b. Dec. 25, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York), recognized as one og the most important baritone saxophonists in jazz today, has been composing, arranging and leading his own groups since 1959. His powerful command of the instrument led him to perform and record with amazing array of influential artists in almost all thinkable range of musical spectrum. Yet, this is the very first of basic jazz trio album by Ronnie Cuber, which should have a special place in his discography.
“There is not one of his records that contains any half-hearted playing or musical skating. When he plays, it’s serious creative business and he tells a story. If you pick up anything under Cuber’s name, you’re guaranteed a winner …. This recording, ”Ronnie”, released on SteepleChase records, is one of the most vivid and personal saxophone playing ever done on a baritone saxophone. This CD is a shining example of Cuber’s big, beefy baritone sax tone and a fluent technique that is a one of a kind match between the gritty, down-home feeling of R&B and the advanced harmonies of bebop.” (JazzTimes on SCCD 31680 “Ronnie”)
Jazz critic Owen Cordle once described Dick Oatts as “an uncompromising jazz musician, one who possesses monster chops without trumpeting them.” Dick Oatts has, since his move to NYC in the late 70s, been one of the most sought-after soloists on alto sax on both the NY scene and the international stage. Dick Oatts’ sensitive and cerebral approach to music enhanced by his “monster chops” manifested here again on his 11th leader album on SteepleChase.
“… maybe the best showcase we've ever heard for the alto sax work of Dick Oatts!” (Dusty Groove on Sweet Nowhere SCCD 31778)
Harold Danko concludes his liner notes entitled “Arriving at The Unknown” on this “Triple Play” album, stating, “I hope … listeners of this CD are prepared to join us as we take off to undiscovered region.”
Ever subtle and transcendent pianist/composer Danko and his congenial co-players Jay Anderson and Jeff Hirshfield are unfolding a unique universe of improvising in and on the recognizable repertoire to pleasant surprises.
“Danko plays with the kind of finesse and heartfelt emotion that has always marked his work. Bravo!
(C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ on SCCD 31471 This Isn’t Maybe…)
The winner of Downbeat Magazine’s “Rising Star” critics poll 2015 cornetist and composer Kirk Knuffke is presenting here his interpretation of compositions by the two iconic practitioners of 60’s free jazz movement Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman. For Kirk – being identified himself with new jazz – who had known Coleman in his late years personally, this engaging tribute is an axiom.
"One of modern jazz’s most skilled navigators of the divide between inside and outside, freedom and swing", he has "full command of his most demanding instrument…” – (All About Jazz)
Pianist/composer Stanley Cowell at age 75 is having an on-going renaissance as a performer since his retirement from Rutgers University in 2013. The group presented here is scheduled to have a three-night stint at New York City’s renowned live jazz spot Smokes in May.
This is Cowell’s 15th release from SteepleChase.
“…Cowell’s recording career now spans more than thirty years….an impressive consistency of purpose and the highest level of musical thought.” (Richard Cook & Brian Morton – The Penguin Guide to Jazz)
“Mood” deciphers “ballads” here in this Rich Perry new album, which is, to quote the liner notes author Neil Tesser, “.. all ballads, all handled with skill and taste, yet all pushing at the edges to find something else.”
“The SteepleChase sessions… constitute a body of work equal to anyone currently in the jazz mainstream. Perry's editing, shifts in tone and phrasing, and embellishments of songs like "Gone With The Wind" on Gone (SCCD 31670) evince a genuine appreciation of the melodies, as well as a desire to make his own way through them.” (David A Orthmann-AAJ)
One of the handful of surviving original hard-boppers Freddie Redd is turning 88 this month. The famed composer of the 60’s iconic off-Broadway play The Connection Redd ’s recording career has been, however, sporadic despite his great talent.
His trio album “Music For You” (SCCD 31796) in 2014, the first in almost three decades rectified this trend following the precursory 2012 release of “Music Forever” (SCCD 31743) a tribute album to Redd’s music by altoist Chris Byars’ Octet.
On this new album Redd presides over a sextet of much younger generations as performer and composer of old and new compositions embodied here to render a remarkable reminder of jazz’s longevity.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Olegario Diaz moved to USA at age 17 to study jazz at the Berklee College of Music and then furthered his studies at New York’s Manhattan School of Music where he earned the master’s degree. Currently in Venezuela, Diaz leads an active life as performer and renowned author of several instructional books. He travels frequently to New York to record and perform.
“Diaz wrote seven of the tunes here and that seems logical as he appears to be one of the best jazz composers today…. He is more than a fresh breath of air in the classical post-bebop tradition.” (Ole Nimand – Jazz Special on SCCD31774 Basquiat By Night/Day)
Stella By Starlight, My Foolish Heart, Johnny Guitar, Beautiful Love – just a few of the iconic American Songbook titles by Victor Young, whose music has been an important part of the repertoire of guitarist Vic Juris for many years. Juris dedicates the whole album here to the undisputed giant of the American film music composer of the last century.
“Two outstanding qualities characterize Vic Juris' playing. One is his embodiment of the jazz tradition, while always stretching his scope and reaching for new possibilities and concepts. The other is his almost uncanny ability to hear and communicate the totality of the music he is playing, from beginning to end, including what is going on around him in the group and his many references to the jazz legacy.” (Victor L. Schermer – Interview AAJ)
Countless umbrellas, pils of jumble and two grand pianos stacked one upon another found in Erik Satie's apartment after his death were the inspiration of this new release. Pianist Tamar Halperin and producer Guy Sternberg strip down Satie's compositions into individual voices, play them on various instruments and stack the pieces on top of each other. Their goal is to find out what Satie's music would sound like, were it composed in modern times. Halperin and Sternberg want to reflect Satie's influence on the various generations of artists that followed him. Satie was a composer who blurred the lines between Classical Art music and non-classical, popular styles.
Veteran altoist Andy Fusco makes his belated SteepleChase leader debut here with this 2003 quintet recording showcasing his intense and strong command of the instrument in the bebop tradition. Growing up in New Jersey his interests were music and football. He first studied at the Syracuse University with football scholarship. After almost making it to NFL Fusco diverted his attention to music and landed the lead altosax post at the Buddy Rich Big Band (1978-1983). He has performed and recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis and Walt Weiskopf, to mention a few. Fusco is also a dedicated educator currently a member of the Music Faculty of Kean University, New Jersey.
“Andy Fusco is a player's player, a steely-edged bopper whose wide swaths suggest Bird as well as Trane…” (Chuck Berg – Jazztimes)
“…we can be grateful for being exposed to yet another substantial jazz man who is on the rise and will hopefully be bringing us much more great music in the coming years.” (Andrew Hovan – AAJ)
A good part of pianist/composer/educator Harold Danko’s strength lies in his creative intelligence in composition of originals as well as in recasting or reinventing the existing melodies like in this new release.
“Danko's approach is one of subtlety and sophistication, not of pyrotechnics (though his technical facility is formidable). He often takes a recognizable tune and changes the setting and mood to produce performances that are pleasantly surprising.” (Francis Lo Kee, AAJ on Escapades SCCD 31674)
The creation of the GIA WindWorks label represents an expanded relationship between the North Texas Wind Symphony and GIA Publications, Inc. Composers, conductors, music critics, and connoisseurs worldwide have praised the recordings conducted by Eugene Migliaro Corporon for their innovation, excellence, and professional standards.
