Christian Scott | Yesterday You Said Tomorrow

Tags

African American, Christian Scott, Jazz, Trumpet

Christian Scott | Yesterday You Said Tomorrow – [Concord Jazz – 2010] – “Coming March 30th – 2010″

Christian Scott - Yesterday You Said Tomorrow

Concord Jazz presents star trumpeter Christian Scott’s highly anticipated, all-new 10-song collection, Yesterday You Said Tomorrow. The album was recorded at the renowned Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey where legendary Rudy Van Gelder engineered the work. Van Gelder, who is known as one of the greatest recording engineers in jazz history for his work with John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock among others, says about the new album, “This is one of the best things I have done in a long, long time.” Yesterday You Said Tomorrow was co-produced by Scott and Chris Dunn and marks the young trumpeter’s fourth Concord Jazz release.

Born in New Orleans in 1983, Scott has always been acutely aware of the legacy of jazz and its role within the broader context of 20th century history. Regarding the new album, Scott says, “I wanted to create a musical backdrop that referenced everything I liked about the music from the ‘60s – Miles Davis’ second quintet, Coltrane’s quartet, Mingus’ band – coupled with music made by people like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. The music from that era just had more depth, whether it was jazz or rock or folk or whatever.

Mike Reed | People Places and Things (About Us)

Tags

African American, Drums, Jazz, Mike Reed

Mike Reed | People Places and Things (About Us) – [482 Music, 2009]

Mike Reed - People Places & Things (About Us)

The original focus of our quartet was to investigate and reinvent some of the under-recorded, under-recognized aspects of the vibrant Chicago jazz scene circa 1954-60. On Proliferation, we brought ideas and new approaches to music of another time. This second offering is primarily About Us. (A forthcoming third document will bring us full circle; inviting principal players of that past to share in the ideas of today.)

To borrow from both Muhal Richard Abrams and Sun Ra (two of the most significant musicians in the Chicago legacy), numerology isn’t lost in the underlying concept here. On Proliferation we created three pieces dedicated to places and people in Chicago of the 50’s. On this record About Us, we’ve invited three important and influential members of Chicago’s improvised music community to join in.

FRED HO & THE GREEN MONSTER BIG BAND

Tags

Big Band, FRED HO, Jazz, Saxophone

Release Their Debut Recording CELESTIAL GREEN MONSTER
February 9 on Mutable Records

Fred Ho and The Green Monster Big Band

A true Renaissance Man in every regard, saxophonist/composer/writer/survivor/activist Fred Ho and his latest ensemble, Fred Ho & The Green Monster Big Band’s upcoming release Celestial Green Monster (Mutable Music) presents iconic American themes recontextualized for the big band (Spiderman Theme, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida). Rooted in the traditions of Big Band Jazz while incorporating Ho’s panache for Asian and African influences, the recording features the fluid and explosive 18-piece ensemble also performing some of the leader’s distinctive compositions. As a recent cancer survivor, Ho sees The Green Monster Big Band reflecting his new path, “…to do the Impossible! To live an impossible life, to do the music and politics no one else can or will do!”