Hubert Nuss -][- The Book of Colours [Pirouet]

Tags

European Jazz, Hubert Nuss, Jazz, Piano

Hubert Nuss - The Book of Colours

Hubert Nuss -][- The Book of Colours – [Pirouet Records, 2010]

Currently living in Cologne, the German pianist Herbert Nuss has consistently been critically acclaimed for the “beauty” of his recordings – and it is exactly with this word, which is so difficult to define but so strongly delivered. The “Jazz Zeitung” praised the “intensely beautiful sound and structural mastery” of his 2005 Pirouet CD “Feed the Birds“.

And the CD “Piano News” has already shown that Nuss understands how to “…unlock the most subtle nuances.”

These are qualities that Nuss has in abundance. And that holds true for this new trio CD “The Book of Colours“; Hubert Nuss and his two trio partners John Goldsby (bass) and John Riley (drums) offer the listeners music of tremendous subtlety and sensuous strength.

..:: Source: Pirouet.com ::..

[the Weekend spin] … with drummer Roland Vazquez -][- Further Dance

Tags

Drums, Jazz, Roland Vazquez

... the weekend spin

Greetings jazz aficionados, it’s almost unbelievable that we’ve just about made it to another weekend! Today, I’ve hassled up a fabulous album by a terrific drummer from Cali named Roland Vazquez for the Weekend Spin featured album. Now for those who haven’t hear his music before that’s because he’s probably the jazz world’s best kept secret. His album “Further Dance,” from 1997 has certainly proved his durability as a season artist as this record has absolutely stood the test of time. If dig jazz evenly coated with the proper elements of Latin grooves tightly woven with some serious toe tapping funk as reinforcement and accented with spicy melodies over the top then chances are you will indeed enjoy this keeper by Roland Vazquez. —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

Roland Vazquez - Further Dance

Roland Vazquez -][- Further Dance – [RVCD, 1997]

Originally from California, composer/drummer ROLAND VAZQUEZ decided to become a musician at a performance by the Mongo Santamaria Band in 1963. Soon after high school, he began working as a drummer with R&B and rock bands in and around L.A. He began the study of music at Pasadena City College and, while working mostly with touring R&B bands, he eventually completed his Bachelor of Music at Westminster College in Utah (’75). Back in LA, he began composing for his first jazz fusion band – eventually forming the “Urban Ensemble” (’76). As a member of Clare Fischer’s all-star band “Salsa Picante” (‘78-81), he played on that group’s Grammy winning “Salsa Picante 2+2.”

After receiving an NEA Jazz Performance Grant in 1977, he decided it was time to record; his first international release, “Urban Ensemble: The Music of Roland Vazquez” (Arista/GRP‘79) was called “a decade ahead of its time” by Billboard Magazine. After moving to NYC in 1981, he continued to develop his “funky-salsa-bebop” style with unique compositions for octet, quintet, and big band. Many of these works are featured on his subsequent recordings “Feel Your Dream” (’82); “The Tides of Time” (’88); and “No Separate Love” (’91). These albums, as well as “Best of the L.A. Jazz Ensemble” (‘94) – a compilation from 1977 “Urban Ensemble” sessions- collectively feature performances by a veritable “who’s who” of East and West Coast contemporary jazz artists.

Nat Janoff -][- Come Together Move Apart [Nat Janoff]

Tags

Guitar, Jazz, Nat Janoff

Nat Janoff - Come Together Move Apart

Nat Janoff -][- Come Together Move Apart – [Nat Janoff, 2010]

Guitarist, composer and teacher Nat Janoff, has been working steadily in the contemporary jazz scene for the past 15 years. Nat’s earliest experience with music started with the piano. Then, he switched to bass. After hearing Eddie Van Halen, Nat had to play guitar. Growing up in the 80’s, Nat’s musical interests were all things rock and metal and Nat earned a reputation for being one of the best shred guitarist in the area. Nat’s transition from metal and rock guitar to jazz occurred when he sought out a platform to improvise for longer than the standard rock riff. That, and hearing Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Birds of Fire for the first time. Pursue jazz he did and after earning his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in 1996, Nat set to work forging his own musical path.

The first marker on that path was Nat’s debut album, Looking Through featuring the rhythm section of world renowned electric bassist, Matthew Garrison and drummer Gene Lake, putting Nat on the map as both a player and a composer.