Ken Greenley | Uncle Sam’s Portrait | Iniquity Press

Ken Greenley is a writer living and working in Denver, Colorado. The number of places he’s lived is only exceeded by the number of Jobs he’s had. Greenley like to explore the themes of class division (in a supposedly classless country), the struggle to stay spiritual in the modern world, and first-time experiences of any kind. He thinks art, particulary writing, should combat media brainwashing and examine the clash between what we’re told and what really happens. His work has appeared in numerous small press publications, such as Big Hammer, Philadelphia Poets, and The Bukowski Hangover Project. Continue reading

Cal Haines Trio | The Bright Side

In 2005, Lewis Winn composed “Count Me In” after seeing a Basie band video. The fast-moving line that has him and Michael playing like a horn section pays homage to the swinging sound. There is an unusual element similar to a shout chorus where guitar and drums “solo” together, launching the remaining guitar solo. “So Near, So Far” had to be on my first CD because I tried but couldn’t get any band I’m in to play the tune. The guitar counter-melody is a joyous line against which to play the afro-cuban 12/8 rhythm, and the Joe Gilman lyrics gave new interpretations to the meaning of the title. Michael’s 2008 “Middle Side Topwise” uses the changes to a familiar standard as a vehicle for the bass and borrows a quote from the Simpsons for the title. Continue reading

Cal Haines | John Rangel | Michael Glynn | Tribute Trio | Dedications Vol. II

BEST JAZZ CD 2013 NEW MEXICO MUSIC AWARDS The outcome of two years of concert performances and a sequel to the historically focused straight-ahead swinging tunes of Volume I, the new CD is perhaps more forward-looking in its theme of tributing the ideas of jazz. The original compositions are by each of the trio members, some in collaboration. They reflect both the further gelling of the trio in their dynamics and the conceptual growth of the group. Songs such as “Not So Easy” and “Horace-Play” have clear ties to styles heard in the music of Bobby Timmons and Horace Silver, but “Time” is a tribute to the flow in the changes of the great song, “Just In Time.” There is a worldly jazz concept in “A Time for Parting”. Volume II accurately displays the Tribute Trio musicians’ personal compositional styles, while still incorporating learnings from the legends. The range includes swing, ballads and some unique odd-meter tunes. Continue reading

Cal Haines | John Rangel | Michael Glynn | Tribute Trio | Dedications Vol. I

BEST JAZZ CD 2012 NEW MEXICO MUSIC AWARDS The original compositions in this Tribute Trio debut CD were inspired by the melodies, styles, rhythms, and arrangements of some of the 11 composers tributed in the 2010-2011 concert series. Pianist and prolific composer John Rangel dedicates compositions to Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans. Bassist Michael Glynn composed two pieces dedicated to Lennie Tristano. The composer notes inside the CD jacket give insight into the connection between the tributed composer and the inspired composition. The music showcases the depth of individual musicianship and extraordinary combined dynamics of the trio gained from a solid year of delving into and performing concerts of complex works by jazz pianist/composer legends. Continue reading

Mofrancesco Quintetto | Maloca

MoFrancesco Quintetto The project was born at the end of the academic year 2010/11 of the degree in Jazz Music at ESML, Escola Superior de Musica de Lisboa. On the occasion of the last recital of Francesco Valente, on 28/06/11, this quintet has emerged that exhibited with original compositions. Following training began acting in Lisbon in several places where there is a weekly Jazz agenda, and began to act also outside this context (Italian Film Festival, Volvo Ocean Race, Universidade Nova with David Murray, Quinta da Regaleira Jazz etc.). In this past year the quintet have recorded his first album “Maloca”, wich it was released by Art of Life Records. The Quintet proposes a modern jazz and fusion music with Mediterranean and Iberian classic and traditional music. The aim is to join the universal language of jazz music and an array improvisative original arrangements and also expressing the essence of the music from the land of origin of the musicians, in particular different styles and sounds of the Mediterranean. Continue reading

Frode Gjerstad Trio | Russian Standard | Not Two Records

After two decades of trios with various international musicians, this is Frode Gjerstads first all-Norwegian trio. And it is a significant move towards a Nordic improvised sound. In the past, he has played in trios with Hamid Drake, William Parker, John Stevens, Johnny Dyani, Kent Carter, Wilber Morris and Rashid Bakr, John Edwards and Mark Sanders. This trio has made 8 recordings so far: “Last First” on the US label, Falcata-Galica. A studio-recording from November -99 when the group was quite fresh. Then came a live recording from September 2000 in Oslo, “The Blessing Light” on Cadence Jazz Records. This CD is dedicated to the late British drummer, John Stevens. “Sharp knives cut deeper” with Peter Brøtzmann on the Italian label Splash came in-03, “St.Louis” is a live recording from our 2002 US tour that came out on FMR in -04 and in 2005 we recorded “mothers & fathers”. In 2007 we recorded “Nothing is forever” at a concert in Oslo. Then there is “MIR” recorded in 2010 at cafe MIR, Oslo. This was the first try out for the new trio. And the “East of West” was recorded in April 2011. The trio has so far toured and/or played festivals in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Kroatia, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, England, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, USA and Canada. Continue reading