JOACHIM MENCEL "BROOKLYN EYE"

Joachim Mencel - pianista, paroliere, compositore, produttore musicale, PhD - assistente professore all'Accademia di musica di Cracovia, decorato, tra gli altri, con la Croce d'argento al merito e la medaglia di bronzo al merito alla cultura Gloria Artis, definita la "romantica del jazz polacco pianismo "" Soprattutto ... le frasi di Joachim ... hanno questo fascino melodioso, che è disponibile solo per il più grande dei pianisti. "Paweł Baranowski, Diapazon (Polonia) Celebre pianista, compositore, paroliere polacco e uno dei principali sostenitori del moderno jazz sulla ghironda (vielle à roue), Joachim Mencel ha una carriera ad ampio raggio componendo per film, orchestre e balletto, in tournée con i suoi progetti jazz, o apparizioni con giganti come Lee Konitz, Dino Saluzzi, Richard Galliano, Dave Liebman, Eddie Henderson, Charlie Mariano e molti altri. Sebbene abbia già avuto esperienza di esibizioni in America, inclusa la partecipazione alla Monk Piano Competition nel 1989, "Brooklyn Eye" è la realizzazione di un sogno forgiato nella sua giovinezza dietro il ferro tenda. Registrare composizioni che sono state informate dalla cultura, musicisti, armonie e sentimenti d'America, e poi registrare a New York City con diversi improvvisatori vitali la cui musica lo ha ispirato per anni - il chitarrista Steve Cardenas, il bassista Scott Colley e il batterista Rudy Royston - Mencel termini Brooklyn Eye, "un luogo simbolico e idilliaco dove i sogni diventano realtà". Registrato il giorno dopo l'incendio della cattedrale di Notre Dame a Parigi, una palpabile malinconia ha presieduto la sessione, aggiungendo ulteriore dimensione a questa esperienza fondamentale nella vita musicale di Mencel. JOACHIM MENCEL 

BRANDI DISTERHEFT "BLUE CANVAS"

Il contrabbassista jazz, cantante, compositore, Brandi Disterheft, ha affascinato il pubblico in Canada, Europa, Giappone, Cina, Haiti e persino l'ambita Carnegie Hall. Non è solo il suo basso infuocato che fa alzare il pubblico e urlare, ma anche i suoi innovativi spettacoli dal vivo mentre canta in inglese e francese mettendo in mostra la sua voce ambient e sognante. 21, Brandi ha iniziato a esibirsi nella sua adolescenza con sua madre, pianista nata a Chicago e organista B3. Dopo essere stata sotto l'apprendistato del bassista di Miles Davis, Ron Carter, da quando si è trasferita a New York, ha anche registrato con le icone Oliver Jones e Hank Jones sull'album "Pleased To Meet You", così come Benny Green sull'album di Anne Drummond "Revolving" e Cyrus Chestnut e Jeremy Pelt negli album "Uptown Shuffle" e "Night and Day" di Vincent Herring. La prima registrazione "Debut" di Brandi ha vinto un premio JUNO nella categoria degli album di jazz tradizionale, successivamente l'acclamato "Second Side" è stato scelto da The Globe and Mail come uno dei 10 grandi album del 2009! Le abilità di Brandi come bassista e compositore sono evidenti ad ogni curva del suo straordinario "Gratitudine", che è stato anche nominato per un premio JUNO. Questo promettente talento del nord è attualmente in tournée nel suo quarto album (nominato al premio JUNO) "Blue Canvas" con una line-up di New York con le star del maestro jazz Harold Mabern e il grande Joe Farnsworth. Nelle sue eloquenti note di copertina, la talentuosa musicista ci ricorda le Muse dell'antica Grecia filosofate da Platone e come questi Dei e Dee avrebbero condotto l'artista in uno stato di estasi. E tali sono i sentimenti che la portano a dichiarare che: "Questo album racconta una storia su quella fuga verso la libertà e la sensazione irremovibile di prendere vita". BRANDI DISTERHEFT

Justin Time Records · Brandi Disterheft Blue Canvas

ROB BARRON "WHAT'S IN STORE...."

London Jazz pianist Rob Barron presents his debut album "What's in Store..."Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition the album focuses on fresh new arrangements of classic jazz songs drawing influence from the modern New York straight ahead groups and the great pianists of Wyton Kelly, Cedar Walton and Hank Jones. Featuring some of the finest players on the London jazz scence including Colin Oxley on guitar, Jeremy Brown on bass and Josh Morrison on drums. "What's In Store" is a collection of exquisite original arrangements of timeless songs from the American songbook as well as one original blues composition by the leader.Drawing influence from players such as Cedar Walton, Wynton Kelly and Hank Jones as well as more modern piano players from the New York scene such as Mike Ledonne and David Hazeltine, "What's in Store" is a record full of swing and love for the American tradition. ROB BARRON
 

THE JOE McQUEEN QUARTET "THE LEGENDARY JOE McQUEEN QUARTET"

Joe McQueen has been performing for over 80 years and at the seasoned age of 95, he's not slowing down! Joe McQueen continues to perform over 60 shows a year with his quartet featuring Ryan Conger on Hammond organ, Brad Wright on guitar, and Dr. Don Keipp on drums. The quartet currently has two albums in the works set to be released in late 2014!Arriving in Ogden, Utah on December 7th 1945, Joe McQueen originally intended to play a weeks worth of gigs at the famed Porters And Waiters Club, but wound up staying and making Utah his home.Over the years, Joe McQueen has had the distinction of being the first African American Musician to play white clubs in Ogden Utah, as well as being the first African American to attend white clubs in Salt Lake City, when Dizzy Gillespie put Joe and famed jazz DJ Al Jazzbo Collins on the guest list.During his lifetime, Joe has had the opportunity to perform with such noted legends as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, and many many others.In 2002, Utah Governor Mike Leavitt declared April 18th to be Joe McQueen Day. Over the past 12 years, this date has been marked with many concerts, celebrations and events.THE JOE McQUEEN QUARTET
 

OLIVER LAKE ORGAN QUARTET "WHAT I HEARD"

Composer, saxophonist, poet and Guggenheim Fellow, Oliver Lake, is one of jazz's most prolific and eclectic artists of the last 40 years. Oliver Lake is known for everything from his solo saxophone performances and recordings; to his solo music-theater work; to his reggae-jazz group Jump Up; to his work as a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet; to his Oliver Lake Big Band; to the Oliver Lake Steel Quartet which performed at The Space in 2004; and The Organ Quartet, one of his most recent projects. Lake was a founding member of the Black Artists Group (BAG) in St Louis in the 1970's where he grew up with trumpeter Lester Bowie and pianist John Hicks. He has received multiple commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, and the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust and his works have been performed by the Arditti String Quartet, the World Saxophone Quartet, the Amherst Sax Quartet, violinist Regina Carter, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the San Francisco Contemporary Players, New York New Music Ensemble, and Pulse Percussion Ensemble of New York. He has worked with a wide range of artists including the pop singer Björk, rocker Lou Reed, jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln and rap group, A Tribe Called Quest. Other projects include a collaboration with writer and law professor Patricia Williams, and the Quagmire Trio with komungo player Jin Hi Kim and bassist William Parker. Also an exhibiting visual artist, Lake continues to perform worldwide with his own ensembles as well as in Trio Three, the long-standing cooperative trio with percussionist Andrew Cyrille and bassist Reggie Workman (sometimes augmented by pianist Geri Allen). OLIVER LAKE
 

CHAD EBY QUARTET "THE SWEET SHEL SUITE"

For years, our children have loved the poetry and stories of Shel Silverstein, and my wife and I have been deeply moved by the "grownup" messages that are delivered in ways that are equally meaningful to our children. It occurred to me that the meter, spirit, and imagery (both implied and brilliantly drawn) of these works were perfect foils for musical inspiration. The first compositions were completed in the winter of 2012-13, and I finished the last few in May of 2014. A few words about each of the tunes (leadsheets of which will download for you in PDF format): Lester (The Wish-Waster) – Lester is a character who receives wishes from a genie, and proceeds to use them to wish for more wishes, becoming greedier and greedier but yet never actually accumulating anything. The melodic fragments repeat and pile up on top of one another as the tune rolls along, eventually ending with Lester’s dissonant demise, with nothing to show for it. One of Lester Young’s favorite vehicles, “Oh, Lady Be Good," provides a loose framework. The Long-Haired Boy – This anti-bullying parable touches me deeply. The song represents the boy’s long hair lifting him into the sky, and helping him soar up and down amongst the clouds, finally bidding a not-so-fond farewell to the townspeople who tormented him, and then wanted him to be their friend once they discovered he can fly. Ourchestra – Just a go-get-em, burnout-type tune. The poem is about people playing a bunch of wild-sounding, body-part instruments, and the crazy band they make up. CHAD EBY QUARTET
 

THE BRANDEE YOUNGER QUARTET "LIVE AT THE BREEDING GROUND"

Harpist Brandee Younger, is known for sharing the stage with Jazz Royalty Jack Dejohnette & Ravi Coltrane, laying down tracks with Grammy-Winning Rapper Common and Artist and Producer Ryan Leslie, as well as bringing to life the Classic Impressionistic work of Maurice Ravel. Her ability to feature the Harp in genres of music where the instrument is often absent is a testament of her love for the instrument, and her cross-reaching ability as a musician.The Brandee Younger Quartet makes you rethink the traditional jazz combo. No piano...instead, a concert harp, upright bass, drumset & tenor sax/vocalist, the sound is reminiscent of vintage Dorothy Ashby and ethereal Alice Coltrane, with a whole new identity. THE BRANDEE YOUNGER QUARTET

KAREN VRIJBURG "LISTEN TO A STRANGER"

Karen Vrijburg is a jazzvocalist/composer based in The Netherlands. A collision with jazz early in life ignited a lifelong journey of free exploration which she describes as ”a long and turbulent but very satisfying love affair” with music. She occasionally performs in the Amsterdam area in an intimate high voltage setting. She lives with her family near the coast of the North Sea.Karen Vrijburg voice compositions ( track 1,2,3,5,9,11)
Dirk Balthaus piano, string arrangements Marco Zenini bass,
Etienne Nillesen drums
Natalio Sued tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute Jasper Le Clercq violin Jeffrey Bruinsma violin Oene van Geel viola Emile Visser cello. Recorded at Powersound Studio, Amsterdam, Sound Engineer - Paul Pouwer Producer - Karen Vrijburg Label-Distribution- Berthold Records, Germany, Photograpy - Keke Keutelaa. KAREN VRIJBURG