Bridge Quartet - Day

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:06
Size: 138,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:38)  1. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(10:26)  2. Exidence
( 6:35)  3. Angel Street
( 6:37)  4. Where Or When
( 5:48)  5. Strode Rode
( 7:51)  6. Italian Sorrow
( 8:30)  7. Milestones
( 6:39)  8. Three for Three

The Portland, Oregon-based Bridge Quartet is a group of hard-swinging musical daredevils who play with ultra-modern sensibilities. The ensemble consists of drummer Alan Jones, pianist Darrell Grant, bassist Tom Wakeling and Canadian saxophonist Phil Dwyer. Their debut release, Day, contains fresh takes on well-worn standards like "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "Where or When" and "Milestones," along with enticing original material. With an emphasis on group interaction, each of the disc's eight tracks bubbles over with an abundance of dynamic intensity. Jones' lengthy "Exidence" is an enticing exploration of rhythmic and harmonic complexity. Dwyer displays confident lyricism, patiently awaiting a torrent of emotional outpouring for the tune's ending. Other highlights include a rather pensive reading of Rodgers and Hart's "Where or When," featuring meandering solo turns by Dwyer and Grant, and a burning take on Sonny Rollins' "Strode Rode," displaying the individual prowess of the entire band. Jones' bombastic maneuvers are nothing short of sensational. For all of the fire and invention heard in Dwyer and Grant, it is Jones' prodding and poking that brings out the best in each soloist. The level of musicianship among these four stalwarts is obvious. What's more impressive, however, is the sensitive, open-ended camaraderie within the band that elevates the music to an insightful level of jazz expression. ~ John Barron https://www.allaboutjazz.com/day-origin-records-review-by-john-barron.php

Personnel: Alan Jones: drums; Darrell Grant: piano; Tom Wakeling: bass; Phil Dwyer: saxophone.

Day

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Darrell Grant - The Territory

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:34
Size: 140,2 MB
Art: Front

( 1:13)  1. Introduction
( 5:56)  2. Mvt. 1 Hymn to the Four Winds
( 6:04)  3. Mvt. 2 Daybreak At Fort Rock
( 3:10)  4. Mvt. 3 Missoula Floods
( 4:03)  5. Missoula Floods, Pt. 2
( 5:58)  6. Mvt. 4 Rivers
(10:13)  7. Mvt. 5 Chief Joseph's Lament
( 5:48)  8. Mvt. 6 Stones Into Blossoms
( 7:12)  9. Mvt. 7 Sundays At the Golden West
( 2:37) 10. Mvt. 8 Aftermath (Interlude)
( 8:14) 11. Mvt. 9 New Land

The Territory marks Grant's seventh CD as a leader and his first since 2007's critically acclaimed "Truth and Reconciliation," which was selected one of the top 10 CDs' of the year by The Village Voice jazz critics poll. The nine-member ensemble includes Grant's long-time collaborators Grammy award-winning drummer Brian Blade, Grammy award-winning saxophonist Steve Wilson and celebrated vibraphonist Joe Locke, as well as renowned cellist Hamilton Cheifetz, Chicago bassist Clark Sommers, Portland vocalist Marilyn Keller, trumpeter Thomas Barber, and bass clarinetist Kirt Peterson. The Territory captures Grant in an exciting 2013 world premiere performance presented by Chamber Music Northwest in front a sold-out audience at Portland's Kaul Auditorium. https://www.darrellgrant.com/the-territory-album

Personnel: Darrell Grant, piano; Joe Locke, vibraphone & marimba; Steve Wilson, flute, alto flute, soprano & alto saxophone; Brian Blade, drums; Clark Sommers, bass; Marilyn Keller, vocals; Hamilton Cheifetz, cello; Thomas Barber, trumpet; Kirt Peterson, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone

The Territory

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Darrell Grant - Twilight Stories

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:13
Size: 138,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:48)  1. Afrique-Ville
(6:02)  2. Yvette
(6:39)  3. When You Dance That Way
(6:29)  4. Twilight
(6:14)  5. My Old Flame
(5:22)  6. I Thought About You
(5:51)  7. The Resumption
(6:30)  8. Wake Up Call
(7:03)  9. Arise
(5:11) 10. Please Send Me Someone To Love

This session remained unissued in the archives of Muse until it was acquired by Joel Dorn when he purchased the label. Most of Grant's earlier releases were done for European labels, so this CD is a great opportunity to get to know a talented pianist. His originals "Afrique-ville" and "Twilight" showcase his talents as a composer as well as at the keyboard. Also recommended are his mellow take of "My Old Flame" and a snappy, stutter-stepped run through "I Thought About You." Tenor saxophonist Don Braden, bassist Joris Teepe and drummer Cecil Brooks III complement Grant's playing, and each contributed a valuable original to the session. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/twilight-stories-mw0000041334

Personnel:  Darrell Grant, piano; Don Braden, tenor saxophone; Joris Teepe, bass; Cecil Brooks III, drums

Twilight Stories

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Dmitri Matheny - Grant & Matheny

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 53:22

Size: 122.2 MB

Styles: Chamber jazz

Year: 2010

Art: Front

[4:23] 1. The Crucifixion

[1:47] 2. Think Of One

[9:08] 3. Around The World Suite

[5:53] 4. Bach To Brazil

[6:08] 5. Nature Boy Fragile

[3:12] 6. Boplicity

[6:30] 7. Fleurette Africaine

[4:15] 8. Country

[3:18] 9. Without A Song

[8:42] 10. Spirituals

Since their 1998 debut at New York's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the classically-trained jazz duo of Darrell Grant (piano) and Dmitri Matheny (flugelhorn) has solidified their reputation as "pioneers and champions of the chamber jazz movement" (Public Radio International).

Exploring the lyricism, the swing, and the soul of songs, GRANT & MATHENY blend the intimate elegance of European chamber music with the playful, spontaneous spirit of American jazz. They perform a large and diverse repertoire with material drawn from many musical genres: classical works of Barber and Bach, jazz standards by Ellington and Monk, contemporary songs of Keith Jarrett and Sting, Negro spirituals, New Orleans second line, American Popular Song, Argentenian tango, ambient film music and more.

Spicing each show with personal stories, impromptu vocal riffs and warm camaraderie, Grant & Matheny are the modern day heirs to a legacy that reaches back to the days of vaudeville and early jazz. The duo appears on major concert stages and festivals around the country, following in the footsteps of legendary teams of touring entertainers who pioneered the art and craft of duo performance: Williams & Walker, Sissle & Blake, Mitchell & Ruff, Armstrong & Hines.

According to Stereophile, "Grant & Matheny are intense listeners, sometimes anticipating and instantly echoing ideas, yet always weaving one fabric." All About Jazz agrees: "Grant & Matheny have played together for years, and it shows: they share the lead; they finish each other's phrases. Both players have refined their instrumental technique to the essentials, giving the music a relaxed, uncomplicated sensibility that makes it fun to listen to. Not surprisingly, the audience loves them."

Grant & Matheny

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