Sweden in the 60s was experiencing the surge of cool jazz (Tristano tradition) and saw young alto saxophonist Rolf Billberg emerged on the scene as one of its most talented practitioners. Due to his premature death at age 35 ten months after this recording his name never made it to the stardom. This hitherto unknown album is one rare testimony to the state of Swedish jazz scene. It was recorded in November 1965 privately in the legendary live/rehearsal basement club Subland in Malmö. 180g Audiophile Vinyl
As the superlative liner notes by C. Andrew Hoven for the album suggests, this recording marks the new chapter of trumpeter/composer Dave Scott’s musical history. Dave Scott recorded exclusively his adventurous original compositions in a series of releases in the past. Here for the first time Scott dedicates the whole album on a canon of jazz standards where he finds his roots and source for inspiration. He selected a collection of his favourite songs to complement his highly refined quartet.
“colorful, witty, unpredictable, inventive and swinging” is what jazz critic Scott Yanow observes of cornetist/composer Knuffke. He created here an astoundingly musical sounding board by the two phenomenal double bass players: SteepleChase stalwart Jay Anderson (left channel) and Swedish born Thommy Andersson (right channel).
Just like his previous “unusual” album of cornet and tuba Tight Like This. this one will be regarded as “very memorable and very entertaining ” . (K. Oleksiuk – The New York City Jazz Record)
SteepleChase’s deep and expansive catalog of bassists including Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Sam Jones, Ron McClure, Jay Anderson just to mention a few welcomes here a up-and-coming double bass talent Jamale Davis, who has been active on NYC/NJ scene in the last decade.
An autodidact, firmly rooted and nourished in the acoustic gut-string bass tradition, Jamale Davis leads his working band to showcase his passionate input in carrying the torch for bebop into the 21st century.
When the bassist Mike Richmond utters the magic line “Spot on!” at the ending of the recording of track 5 of this album, the album title was decided.
You can actually hear it on the disc.
This is Andy LaVerne’s 36th outing as leader on this label. Our collaboration goes back to 1977 when he was touring Europe with Stan Getz. Since then he has been presenting uniquely creative albums. This new release starts with a homage to McCoy and ends with one to Chick both of whom passed away last year.
SteepleChase kicks off 2024 with the new recording by Dave Pietro, New York scene’s hugely in-demand alto saxophonist/composer/educator whose pure personal voice is noted as “one of the most appealing alto sounds in jazz” (Chuck Berg - JazzTimes).
On this his debut album for the label Pietro put together a gripping selection of tunes new and old including an adaptation of Mahler’s adagietto from 5th symphony executed by Pietro’s hand-picked group with limitless creativity.
By pure happenstance this stunning SteepleChase debut album by trombonist/composer/arranger Alex Heitlinger and his 22-piece band materialized four years after the recording. The band’s drummer John Riley tipped Nils Winther of the existence of this recording in an unrelated session one day and the rest is history. Enjoy the original, vibrant sound of a big band jazz of 21st century.
“Alex Heitlinger is a thoughtful trombonist and a promising composer” (Nate Chinen - New York Times)
If you have been following Byars’ career on this label, you will realize this is his fourth album with this unique sextet of four horns, bass and drums without chord instrument.
Byars’ adept ensemble writing skills provide one of a kind harmony source to the band.
“Because he knows his musicians so well, Byars is masterful in his writing, blending the reeds and trombone in intricate ensembles while letting the soloists all shine throughout.” (Ken Dryden – NYCJR on SCCD 31929 R & B in the 20s)
One thing the veteran bassist/composer Ron McClure cannot stop doing is “writing”.
The latest album embodies 8 tunes by this prolific composer including the famous Nimbus which he wrote at age 15 but has never recorded himself before.
Ken Dryden of AAJ remarks: ”After nearly six decades on the jazz scene, McClure is recognized for inventive improvising, creative compositions in a wide variety of settings and immaculate tone.”
“impressive and absolute vital jazz numbers” (Ivan Rod – GAFA)
The origin of this album goes back to Texas in the early 90s where young baritone student Frank Basile at North Texas Univ. met for the first time his hero baritonist Gary Smulyan. Their friendship culminates here in a studio date in NJ in late 2023.
“I was really just so happy to be there playing with him” declares Smulyan the mentor. “His passionate sound and fresh ideas make Alternative Contrafacts a set well worth picking up, particularly by straightahead jazz collectors.” (S. Yanow – NYCJR)
Already on her 2015 leader debut album (Lonely City SCCD 33118) Allegra Levy age 24 at the time was the complete artist equipped with prowess as singer-song writer of unique quality. On this fifth release Allegra compiles another intriguing concept album asking and answering all kinds of questions about life backed by all-female powerhouse quartet. “Throughout, Levy’s distinctive warm cool vide – equal part Junie London and Chris Conner – and flawless articulation shine brilliantly through.” Christopher Loudon of JazzTimes commented on Levy’s other concept album Looking At The Moon (SCCD 31852) selected as Editor’s Pick by JazzTimes. Allegra Levy is a recipient of several prominent awards as performer and composer.
September 8, 1960 Oscar Pettiford, American bassist/cellist/composer with unparalleled recognition died abruptly at age 38 due to a virus disease in Copenhagen where he had made his permanent residence.
He was one of American jazz players Denmark welcomed in in the 60s and 70s. A few weeks after Pettiford’s passing a circle of Danish jazz fans organized a memorial concert presented here to raise fund for his children with a star-studded program that included Stan Getz, Alice Babs, among others.
Adams/Eaton duo’s new album stays in “Third Stream”, a term invented by Gunther Schuller as a way to create a new genre by bringing jazz and European classical music together.
Eaton points, “We think of ourselves as jazz musicians with some classical training, but our cultural milieu was one where jazz had become a global music.”
The debut album Paraphrase prompted NYCJR’s Dan Bilawsky to remark, “the tracks) illuminate the duo’s take on jazz history and where things might be headed next.”
The pianist who goes by the name of Mferghu is SteepleChase’ newest discovery. Mferghu, a native of Harlem (Manhattanville), NY has just turned 70. And this is his very first leader album. Unassuming and reserved Mferghu never seeks the spotlight but could not avoid being spotted by the producer Nils Winther during Jamale Davis’ session last year. Here as the leader of his own trio Mferghu displays his immense aptitude for performing and composing music deeply rooted in hard bop and beyond.
November 20, 1961 Dizzy Gillespie brought on stage of Falkoner Centret, Copenhagen the quintet version of “Gillespiana Suite”, composed originally for his 16-piece orchestra by young Argentine composer/pianist Lalo Schifrin.
The suite was recorded in the previous year to become a huge success.
This composition paved the way for Schifrin to become one of the most popular screen music composers. The program finishes with Gillespie’s own Kush which stayed in his repertoire for the next 15 years
Magic … is one of the most overused terms for describing music. You seldom hear something that is really magical. On the other hand, the American bandleader Ray Anderson is a magician if there ever was one. His magic wand is the trombone. He masterly breaks down the boundaries between magic and reality, spirit and the physical, tradition and utopia.
"Our new album In Between is a homage to those intermediate states, those moments of laughter and crying in which music stands against the rational order of our daily life and makes room for our souls.” Singer Juliana Blumenschein and guitarist Florin Küppers are musical storytellers. On In Between they tell stories situated between North and South America, more precisely from the Great American Songbook to the sambas and bossa novas of Brazil.
Jasper Somsen Invites...Paul van der Feen & Bert van den Brink
Challenge Records
CD
$18.99Oct 06, 2023
The concept of “Jasper Somsen Invites ...” is typical in the world of Jazz music. I just called some of my colleagues and asked if they would like to perform with me in a duo, trio or quartet. Being my guests of honour, I’d let my invitees decide our repertoire. On 30 March 2023, I invited the Metropole Orchestra’s alto saxophone player Paul van der Feen and master pianist Bert van den Brink. We had so much fun during the sound-check that we decided to record the concert. The recordings turned out to be a lucky shot in the dark. Paul, Bert and I instantly agreed and selected the best tracks for an album. The music on this album perfectly reflects the same spontaneity as many other concerts of that series: live music, up-close and personal, for a wonderful audience.
