Author: New Artists Records

Jessica Jones & Mark Taylor | Live at the Freight | NA1052

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Mark Taylor is one of a handful of talented young performers carrying on the improvisational tradition pioneered by the great (french) hornist, Julius Watkins. Taylor’s sound has been described as “rapturous” and “golden” (Coda Magazine); “as fluid and limpid as (the) flute, and as gnarly as (the) alto.” (JazzTimes). His innovative style has won him recognition by such legendary artists as Max Roach, who said, “Mark Taylor is a virtuoso instrumentalist…there is no one dealing with the french horn or the music the way he is.” Continue reading →

Connie Crothers | Andrea Wolper | Ken Filiano | Trance Formation in Concert | NA1054

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For those of us who like free improvisation this is just what the doctor ordered. TranceFormation is a trio featuring pianist Connie Crothers, bassist Ken Filiano and scatting, vocalese master, Andrea Wolper. If the instrumentals are too abstract, check out “The Things You See In New York City”. They are fueled by each other’s energy and years of experience make them comfortable enough to explore with no fear. In a trance? Yes, in their zone that overflows to their audience with an abundance of spirit. — D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz Magazine Continue reading →

Richard Tabnik Trio | Symphony for Jazz Trio | NA1053

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Thanks to Roberta Romeo, the genius who keeps my saxophone singing; thank you jushi (June Siegel) for believing in me when so few people did; thank you Sonny Dallas for all the wisdom that you imparted to me; thank you Lee Konitz for being the reason that I play the alto saxophone; thanks to John Zorn for The Stone; thank you Connie Crothers, for inviting me to do that trio gig at The Stone: you will always be my inspiration, teacher, and favorite musician; and above all, Thank You, Prem Rawat, for showing me Beauty beyond everything else. Thank you etc……Richard Tabnik Continue reading →

Connie Crothers | Richard Tabnik | Roy Campbell | Roger Mancuso | Ken Filiano | Band Of Fire | NA 1050

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Fire creates its own sonic universe. Its timbre comes from the burning, while the elemental transmutation breeds new forms of light and ash. It roars and whispers, constantly susurrating just below the energy that bespeaks its crackling multiplicity, its multileveled and precisely detailed identity. The title”Band of Fire” captures the essence of this music with uncanny perfection. Connie Crothers, Richard Tabnik, Roy Campbell, Ken Filianoand Roger Mancuso share a common tradition, but their musical vision refuses to be bound by it. The freedom they created at The Stone, on November21″, 2010, grounded in hard-won precision, tempered through improvisation, is released in bursts of flaming energy. Old forms burn as the quintet’s creative energy destroys and recreates them with new life. Continue reading →

Jessica Jones Quartet | Word | NA 1045

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Her Jessica Jones Quartet has been featured in the What Is Jazz? Festival at New York’s Knitting Factory and also at the Eddie Moore Jazz Festival at Yoshi’s in Oakland, in addition to performing at many Bay Area and East coast clubs, colleges and radio stations. Jessica also performs in a duet setting with her husband Tony. Word is her fourth recording as a leader and follows 2005’s Nod (New Artists Records), 2002’s Shakeup (independent release) and 1997’s Family (Nine Winds). She also performed as part of Joseph Jarman’s Lifetime Visions Orchestra on 2006’s Lifetime Visions for the Magnificent Humans. Continue reading →

Dick Twardzik | 1954 Improvisations | NA1006

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Richard Twardzik’s“1954 Improvisations,” with its home recording on a dim acetate as well as an untuned piano for the first six of twelve numbers, is still a rare and significant find indeed. Digitally remastered, it makes the best of serious drawbacks. Twardzik, who lived only from 1931 to 1955, made very few recordings. A promising star, extinguished too soon by a self-inflicted drug overdose, he left us with a scant 23 sides with Charlie Mariano (1961/1953), Serge Chaloff (1954), and Chet Baker (1955). In addition to one (1951) number with Bird, and an impossible to get 1954 trio album under his own name; hence, these additional 12 performances, in any form, are treasures. — Coda Magazine Continue reading →

Ace Yamashita | Dhamma | NA1036

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On the back glossy sleeve in almost indiscernable print is the statement, “It doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t exist because the humans couldn’t see it. It doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t exist because the humans couldn’t hear it.”That type of enlightened thinking seems to relate to how Yamashita approaches music, and probably life. There are subtleties in his playing that must be brought out by the listener, yet they are present just the same. There are also some very overt statments that require no translation. Yamashita appears to be tying the ancient with the modern with his meditative playing, relating his Japanese ancestry to the current times. Ignoring the deeper philosophical meaning and concentrating strictly on the music, this is a very fine solo guitar album with seductive sonic qualities. It has trance-inducing effects, but mostly it is a solid example of the improvisatory process by a very serious musician — Frank Rubolino
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Harry Schulz | Havin’ A Ball | NA1032

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“This is a beautiful example of the difference between influence and imitation: Bird never did this thing that he inspired Harry to do. Harry got a feeling from Bird and it took him to something completely original. It’s also the kind of line of influence that particularly moves and delight me: a singer, inspired by a saxophone player, comes up with a new conception with shattering implications for singers and instrumentalists alike.” — Andy Fite, Village Life 1992 Continue reading →

Linda Satin | The Way I Am | NA1028

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It is possible for music to be both beautiful and challenging as evidenced on THE WAY I AM by the vocalizing of Satin, who performs in a series of duets with pianist Crothers or guitarist Fite. The beauty comes from the delightful voice of Satin, who sings eight standards that are dripping with love. She conveys warmth and passion through her singing… (Satin) skirts through these love songs displaying all the romance and eloquence the tunes hold. The challenge comes from the instrumental side of the equation. Crothers… excels with probing solos… Her dense patterns underlining Satin’s voice and her own explorations add considerable substance to the duets. Fite… contributes a challenging ring to his… duets with Satin. His playing adds lyricism to the songs… Love is in the air with Satin at the mike…. The three form two delightful teams. – Frank Rubolino, Cadence February 2000. Continue reading →