The music of Skyward Eye is presented in two chapters, both full of compositional breadth, improvised soundscapes and purposeful solos... Songs flow in and out of one another, crafted with care and purpose. Voices and metal chairs became drum hits, saxophone mouthpieces became war-cries, and the breath of a choir became the sound of ghosts of battle, and the laughter of children in the distance. For the group, Skyward Eye became a film without actors, a book without words.
Read MoreDR. MiNT's Electro-Jazz-Rock Opus "Voices In The Void" Is Now Available On Orenda Records
Voices in the Void, the fifth release by LA/NYC electronic jazz-rock outfit DR. MiNT presents the band’s most evolved and exciting work to date. Each tune is spontaneously conceived, as the band employs a potent combination of skeletal composition, extensive improvisation, and rhythmic themes from a multitude of genres; improvisation, electronica, and heavy rock influences lay the foundation for the horns to shape winding melodies and dynamic solos. As a whole, the album’s arc weaves a rich musical-tapestry born of the band’s decade-long association and collective musical experience.
Read MoreBassist and Composer Sam Minaie's Riveting Debut "Heyo!" Is Now Available From Orenda Records
Sam Minaie has quickly established himself as one of jazz's most exciting rising stars of both upright and electric bass. His compelling debut as a leader, Heyo!, features a band of heavyweight modern jazz innovators rollicking through mostly original compositions with fire, grit, and attitude, and a distinctive blend of jazz, rock, and world music that's as unusual as it is fun.
Read MoreSound Etiquette Embraces Unconventional Sonic Roles and Shirks Musical Convention on Their Powerful Eponymous Debut
Sound Etiquette, the first calling from a brilliantly inventive trio based out of Oakland, CA, imagines a universe where the small-minded distinctions of musical genres become obsolete. This kaleidoscopic collection of music will take you on a journey where the line between improvisation and composition is erased, giving way to a space where new unions of sound are possible.
Read MoreComposer/Saxophonist Jon Armstrong's "Burnt Hibiscus" Is A Sublime, Exotic and Unsentimental Love Letter to Los Angeles
Burnt Hibiscus is a stunning new work for a ten-piece chamber jazz ensemble created by saxophonist/composer, Jon Armstrong. The music, in Armstrong’s words, serves as an “unsentimental love letter to Los Angeles, highlighting the hypnagogic quality of life as an artist in the southland”. At its core, Burnt Hibiscus revolves around the timbres of multi-instrumentalist and Indian American musician, Sheela Bringi and the sublime poetry of Armstrong’s wife and fellow ensemble member, Erin Armstrong. The result of Armstong’s vision is some of the most enigmatic modern jazz yet offered on the West Coast or anywhere else.
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