Chris Greene Quartet -][- MERGE and Soul & Science 2 [Single Malt Recordings]

Tags

African American, Chris Greene, Jazz, Saxophone

Chris Greene Quartet - Merge (2009)

Chris Greene Quartet -][- MERGE & – [Single Malt Recordings, 2009 & 2008]

Thirty-something-year-old Chicago-based saxophonist, composer and bandleader Chris Greene is no overnight sensation. He has paid his dues on the Chicago club scene since the early 90’s, playing in bands like The Trippin’ Billies and Kevin O’Donnell’s Quality Six, and freelanced on the city’s rich jazz scene. He studied at Indiana University, home of one of the country’s strongest Jazz Studies Programs, and formed his first band, Chris Greene and New Perspective, in 1994. That band performed regularly, and released two albums of what Greene calls “electric jazz/funk/hip-hop/fusion” music, “On The Verge” (1998) and “jazz” (2004). In 2005 he formed his current unit, The Chris Greene Quartet (or “CGQ”), a band that has maintained a stable roster since its inception.

CGQ features Greene on tenor and soprano saxophone, Damian Espinosa on primarily acoustic piano (but also occasionally on electric keyboard), Marc Piane on acoustic bass and drummer Tyrone Blair. The CGQ has forged a unique sonic identity through the immediate personal chemistry these four remarkable musicians discovered when they first played together, and through subsequent steady work. In many ways, as Greene designed the band to be, they are a throwback to the classic Blue Note label jazz units – bands that featured stable personnel, hard-swinging and thought-provoking music, with a sensibility that was at one time rooted in the popular culture but was very definitely high-concept art; in other words, music for both body and mind. —Chris Greene | BIOGRAPHY

Eumir Deodato -][- The Crossing [101 DISTRIBUTION]

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Eumir Deodato, Keyboards

E. Deodato - THE CROSSING

Eumir Deodato -][- THE CROSSING – [101 DISTRIBUTION, 2010]

The Brazilian-born multi-instrumentalist Eumir Deodato has had and outstanding career for a recording artist, however most fans associate with his unique rendition of Richard Strauss’ classical “Opus Also Sprach Zarathustra.”

Actually it’s been years since I’ve heard any new material by the composer. Fortunately, the gifted Deodato arrives just in time to bring sexy back in the mix with another impeccable, cool and smooth template of Brazilian sounds titled THE CROSSING. This collection of songs features the incomparable Al Jarreau, John Tropea, Novecento, Billy Cobham and Airto Moreira.

These distinctive voices armed with immeasurable talent join their collective souls seamlessly into one cohesive unit to eventually exhale into a symphony of relevant, intoxicating and refreshing gems to brighten up the closing of the 2010 season. —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

Eric Harland -][- Voyager Live by Night [Space Time Records]

Tags

African American, Drums, Eric Harland, Jazz

Eric Harland - Voyager Live by Night

Eric Harland -][- Voyager Live by Night – [Space Time Records, 2010] – the weekend spin –

Alright drum enthusiast, I’m ecstatic to announce that I’ve recently become familiar with a powerful new voice in jazz Eric Harland. Were have I been you say? Please understand, some folks (?me?) are a little slow.

Discovered by multi-Grammy Winner Wynton Marsalis, the native Texan has been pounding the kit on more albums then I could have possibly imagined. Moreover, for those of you who still collect CD’s you’ve probably seen his name appear in the liner-notes on recordings with folks like Stefon Harris (Black Action Figure), Terence Blanchard – (Let’s Get Lost and Wandering Moon) McCoy Tyner, (Land Of Giants) and a host of noteworthy musicians.

On “Voyager Live by Night,” Harland sonically pushes the envelope. He approaches each tune with power and finesse to artfully demonstrate his treacherous playing skillfully without apology throughout this multifaceted set of accessible compositions that should more then satisfy the hungry ears and discriminating tastes of modern jazz aficionados. —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

For more info about this amazing talent, please visit Eric Harland.com.

Walter Smith III -][- III [Criss Cross Jazz]

Tags

Jazz, Saxophone, Walter Smith

Walter Smith III - III

Walter Smith -][- III – [Criss Cross Jazz, 2010]

On III, Walter Smith III’s Criss Cross debut, the rising star tenor saxophonist piggybacks on ideas postulated on his two prior releases with maturity, freshness, and edge. Most visible to the global public as Terence Blanchard’s tenor man of choice in recent years, Smith convenes an A-list crew of New York’s finest under-40s.

Propelling the flow are pianist Jason Moran and drummer Eric Harland (like Smith, both are out of Houston, Texas), triangulated by Milwaukee-born bassist Joe Sanders, while Smith breathes as one on several selections with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, the recent Monk Institute Award winner on his instrument. Guest alto saxophonist Logan Richardson plays on Walter Smith III’s composition Himorme.

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..