Joe Lovano - Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2001
Time: 67:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 155,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:22) 1. Flights of Fancy
(3:31) 2. On April (I'll Remember April)
(4:36) 3. Amsterdam
(4:26) 4. Blue Mist
(4:01) 5. Off and Runnin'
(6:26) 6. Infant Eyes
(6:35) 7. 206
(8:00) 8. Bougainvillea
(4:52) 9. Windom Street
(4:42) 10. Hot Shot
(3:56) 11. Aisha
(3:09) 12. Amber
(5:46) 13. On Giant Steps
(1:26) 14. Flights of Fancy (Reprise)

The first edition of Joe Lovano's Trio Fascination featured Dave Holland on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. Following the album's release in 1998, however, Lovano's live shows featured the less famous but equally muscular bass/drum team of Cameron Brown and Idris Muhammad. On Trio Fascination, Vol. 2, the Lovano/Brown/Muhammad unit is only one of four trio configurations that the saxophonist employs. Taking the trio concept beyond the traditional confines of horn, bass, and drums, Lovano takes a left turn and colors this album with continually changing instrumentation.

Trio one is Lovano, Brown, and Muhammad. Trio two features the leader with Billy Drewes on soprano saxophone and alto flute and Joey Baron on drums; trio three with Toots Thielemans on harmonica and Kenny Werner on piano; and trio four with Dave Douglas on trumpet and Mark Dresser on bass. (The trios change unpredictably from track to track, sort of like a CD player in shuffle mode.) Varying the instrumentation even further, Lovano, like on volume one, switches from among his arsenal of horns: tenor, straight alto, soprano, and C-melody saxes, as well alto and bass clarinets.

On "206," he modifies trio four by playing drums behind Douglas and Dresser, and on "Blue Mist" he begins with gongs to supplement Muhammad's percussion textures. In two instances, the trios change during the very course of the tune. "Bougainvillea" (by Lovano's wife, vocalist Judi Silvano) starts with trio one and in the last two or so minutes segues to an impressionistic ending featuring trio three. "On Giant Steps," based on the groundbreaking Coltrane chord changes, proceeds in the opposite direction: Trio three solos freely and simultaneously, then passes the baton to trio one, which launches into a swing tempo far slower than is usual for the tune, but no less burning.

One of Lovano's first high-profile projects was an unorthodox trio with guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Paul Motian. The saxophonist's association with Drewes and Baron dates back to the early '70s. So Lovano's "trio fascination" has deep roots, and the music on this record is a cumulative and probably near-exhaustive survey of his abilities within the form. One only need contrast "Hot Shot" or "Flights of Fancy" or the obscure McCoy Tyner ballad "Aisha" (all trio one) with modernist, offbeat abstractions like "Amber" and "Amsterdam" by trio four, or "Off and Runnin'" by trio two, to get an idea of Lovano's artistic range. Fans looking for more of the hard-driving, free-spirited swing of the first Trio Fascination record will find it here in smaller doses. And those who got their first taste of Lovano with 2000's neo-bop nonet record 52nd Street Themes ought to be prepared for something very different. By David R.Adler
https://www.allmusic.com/album/flights-of-fancy-trio-fascination-edition-2-mw0000105325

Personnel: Joe Lovano- tenor saxophone, straight alto saxophone, alto clarinet, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, C-melody saxophone, gongs, drums, percussion; Billy Drewes- soprano saxophone, alto flute, percussion; Dave Douglas- trumpet; Toots Thielemans- harmonica; Kenny Werner- piano; Mark Dresser, Cameron Brown- bass; Idris Muhammad, Joey Baron- drums.

Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two

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Dave Douglas - Dave Douglas GIFTS

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 53:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 122,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:54) 1. Gifts
( 7:26) 2. Kind of Teal
( 4:31) 3. Take The A Train
( 3:16) 4. Rain Check
( 8:14) 5. Blood Count
( 4:40) 6. Day Dream
( 7:10) 7. Seven Years Ago
( 7:06) 8. Small Bar

Dave Douglas' Gifts emerges not merely as a collection of tracks but as an opulent gala in honor of the eternal essence of music, welcoming audiences across the spectrum of generations to partake in its celebration. This project is akin to a masterfully blended concoction of shared human emotions and experiences, articulated through the universal dialect of melodies that defy time constraints. It is a sonic tour de force, intricately weaving together the threads of history, the present and what lies ahead, serving as a reminder that music is both a cherished inheritance and a precious legacy.

The assembly of musicians Douglas congregates for this endeavor resembles a league of extraordinary musical virtuosos, each contributing their unique prowess to forge a soundscape as diverse as it is dynamic. Their collective expertise and ingenuity promise a journey of auditory exploration, akin to navigating the vast expanse of the jazz universe aboard a vessel propelled by boundless creativity.

At the commencement of the album is the eponymous track "Gifts," where Douglas' trumpet heralds a jubilee, complemented by Rafiq Bhatia's use of ethereal guitar effects, crafting an ambiance that oscillates between festive and solemn. Following suit, James Brandon Lewis' saxophone elevates the piece into a vivacious escapade. Here, the ensemble acts less as a mere group of musicians and more like conjurers of musical enchantment.

The reinterpretation of "Take the 'A' Train," Billy Strayhorn's piece, which was immortalized by Duke Ellington, receives a contemporary transformation under Douglas' direction. Envision jazz and rock convening in a lively celebration aboard a metro train this track encapsulates that essence. Ian Chang's relaxed drumming provides the cadence of this locomotive celebration, with Bhatia's guitar lines weaving through the composition like fleeting city lights. This time-honored melody is rejuvenated with a fresh modern twist, dancing in novel exhilarating ways.

"Small Bar" introduces itself like a shadowy figure in a film noir, with guitar and drums engaging in a cryptic dialogue before Douglas' trumpet intercedes, smoothing over the underlying tension with a tone that is simultaneously sharp and melodically rich. Yet "Third Dream" decelerates the session's tempo, presenting a ballad that offers a contemplative counterpoint to the presentation's overall exuberance. It highlights Douglas's breadth as a trumpeter, composer and band leader, adept at evoking deep emotional resonances and underscoring his position as a luminary of jazz innovation.
By Glenn Astarita https://www.allaboutjazz.com/gifts-dave-douglas-greenleaf-music

Personnel: Dave Douglas: trumpet; James Brandon Lewis: tenor saxophone; Rafiq Bhatia: guitar; Ian Chang: drums.

Dave Douglas GIFTS

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Dave Douglas - Devotion

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:20
Size: 125,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:15)  1. Curly
(5:14)  2. D'Andrea
(4:50)  3. Francis of Anthony
(4:50)  4. Miljøsang
(5:51)  5. False Allegiances
(6:19)  6. Prefontaine
(7:36)  7. Pacific
(5:33)  8. Rose and Thorn
(4:14)  9. We Pray
(5:34) 10. Devotion

The aptly titled Devotion by trumpeter Dave Douglas, pianist Uri Caine and drummer Andrew Cyrille is both a prayer and a dedication. Like a prayer, the trio resolves to maintain a virtuous approach to their celebration of personal heroes, both musical and cultural. The disc opens with "Curly," dedicated to the iconic guileless Stooge, who along with Moe and Larry reigned as the masters of physical comedy in the early 20th century. While there were Three Stooges, Douglas' composition features only a duo between Caine and Cyrille. The piano and drums skid and dance a rollicking scamper of pratfalls and constructed foolishness.  This trio configuration is ideal.

Caine and Douglas have a long history recording in each other's projects and they released the gorgeous duo Present Joys (Greenleaf Music, 2014) which recreated Sacred Harp Psalm music. Add to their duo the master colorist Andrew Cyrille who has been the percussionist of choice for artists such as Wadada Leo Smith, Cecil Taylor, Bill Dixon, Oliver Lake, and Dave Burrell. His hand galvanizes "False Alligences" (for Carla Bley) with mallets, and "Rose And Thorn" with sleight of hand cymbal work. All of which has a sort of ballyhoo-effect on Caine and Douglas. The latter piece shines with Caine's off-kilter stride piano and Douglas' immaculate waxing horn lines. Their dedication to Dizzy Gillespie "We Pray" is a most gentle and reverent composition that fills the heart with its sweet full-bodied sound. Other dedications are to the Italian pianist Franco D'Andrea, Mary Lou Williams, the Olympian runner Steve Prefontaine, and Aine Nakamura and the Mannes/New School composition class. If the finest compliment one can pay to a recording is that you could listen to it repeatedly all day, grab a chair and begin.By Mark Corroto https://www.allaboutjazz.com/devotion-dave-douglas-greenleaf-music-review-by-mark-corroto.php

Personnel: Dave Douglas: trumpet;  Andrew Cyrille: drums, percussion;  Uri Caine: piano.

Devotion

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Dave Douglas - Sanctuary Disc 1, Disc 2

Album: Sanctuary Disc 1
Styles: Avant-Garde Jazz, Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:25
Size: 124,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:07) 1. Apparition
( 6:27) 2. Three Beasts
( 6:57) 3. Swoon
( 3:48) 4. The Lethe
( 5:20) 5. Dark Wood
( 6:35) 6. The Dome
(11:44) 7. Heavenly Messenger
( 4:23) 8. Among Frogs

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Album: Sanctuary Disc 2
Time: 58:14
Size: 133,6 MB

( 6:36) 1. Limbo
( 4:43) 2. The Great Cliff
(11:52) 3. The Lantern
( 7:39) 4. Mad Dog
( 9:13) 5. The Flower
(5:50) 6. Contemplation
( 9:34) 7. Coins
( 2:44) 8. Among Stars

Although Dave Douglas is credited as leader, Sanctuary is not just an album of him supported by a backing band. Instead, Douglas plays as equal member in a project of standout musicians. Team work is the theme; live performance is the key. Each CD is a nonstop recording of a different August 1996 show at N.Y.C.'s Knitting Factory. Heard is the great interplay between Douglas, Cuong Vu, and Chris Speed as their horn conversations intermittently get animated and peak, then settle back within the band.

The sampling provided by Anthony Coleman and Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda playfully interacts with the rest of the music on disc one. Throughout "The Lethe" and "Dark Wood," for example, the sampling provide humor and thrills, interjecting into the music like zoo animals spontaneously joining in visitors' conversations! During "Dome" and "Heavenly Messenger," the basses of Mark Dresser and Hillard Greene sound simultaneously like a creaking ship, a mournful violin, and a dress slowly zipped by another.

They then follow a stair-tumbling drum solo by teaming with the samplers. At other times, the drums and basses form a simply steady rhythm section. Disc one's concert closes with sampled electronic beats running beneath slow swells and statements made by the group, sounding like a dance track played at too slow of a speed. The concert heard on disc two opens cacophonous and splurty, and stays relatively crazy until "Lantern"'s spookhouse quiet suspense.

"Mad Dog" includes a terrific drum solo from Dougie Bowne. Again, the horns play tight and exciting throughout, and the samplers provide more ambience, with backwards voices and organ sounds, later adding groove-oriented beat tracks. Never guilty of carrying any style or approach for too long, the musicians keep mixing it up, yielding two excellent, well-rounded shows' worth of recordings.

Part abstract space shooting, part late-night dance party, all mixed with the scratching and balladry of outside jazz, Sanctuary is a definite strong addition to any collection that values these musicians, and a good introduction to them for all adventurous listeners ready to jump right in.By Joslyn Layne
https://www.allmusic.com/album/sanctuary-mw0000032272

Personnel: Dave Douglas: trumpet; Cuong Vu: trumpet; Yuka Honda: sampler; Anthony Coleman: sampler; Mark Dresser: bass; Hilliard Greene: bass; Chris Speed: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Dougie Bowne: drums

Sanctuary Disc 1,Disc 2

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Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints - Other Worlds

Styles: Saxophone And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:58
Size: 161,9 MB
Art: Front

(9:59) 1. Space Exploration
(1:04) 2. Shooting Stars
(7:34) 3. Life On Earth
(5:59) 4. Manitou
(7:45) 5. Antiquity to Outer Space
(8:32) 6. The Flight
(5:42) 7. The Transcendentalists
(7:32) 8. Sky Miles
(8:23) 9. Pythagoras
(7:25) 10. Midnight March

Soundprints is a quintet that saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas assembled to carry on the spirit and philosophy of Wayne Shorter's music. Both of the band's previous albums featured compositions by Shorter himself but this is their first effort to contain only new material written by either Lovano or Douglas.

As the album and track titles suggest, there is an underlying theme of space exploration here which reflects Shorter's long-time love of science fiction. Pieces like "Space Exploration" and "Antiquity to Outer Space" begin with the trumpet and saxophone gracefully shooting upwards like a rocket soaring into space, as the rhythm section faintly tumbles around them. On "Exploration," that leads to Lovano and Douglas playing strings of long notes separately and together, supported by the busy pattering of Linda May Han Oh's bass and Joey Baron's drums. On "Antiquity" the horns soar in unison and slowly gain speed before they give way to an eloquent rolling solo by pianist Lawrence Fields.

These five musicians play with a unity which really shows on quieter pieces such as the swaying waltz "Manitou" and the serene "The Transcendentalists." where everything flows together led by Douglas' muted trumpet and Lovano's rapturous tenor lines. The entire album sparkles with inspired work from all the players. Baron's jogging beat and Field's bright, searching piano stand out amidst the backdrop of "Life On Earth" while Oh keeps the beat tight and drops in a monster bass solo. The rhythm section maps out a freely pulsing beat on "Sky Miles" which suggests Wayne Shorter's time in the 60's Miles Davis quintet. "The Flight" has Lovano and Douglas jostling each other over a melody with sharp, funky corners while, on "Pythagoras," the horns play with a hip swagger as they spiral and swoop over the push-pull rhythm.

Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas are both involved in a lot of varied projects but this band feels like the simplest and most freewheeling either does right now. The music can sound a bit complex on the surface but it has energy and a contagious spirit of fun. At heart, these are five excellent musicians creating music which combines familiar elements and exploratory freedom. This release shows that Soundprints has become a very formidable unit. By Jerome Wilson
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/other-worlds-joe-lovano-and-dave-douglas-soundprints-greenleaf-music

Personnel: Joe Lovano: saxophone; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Linda May Han Oh: bass; Lawrence Fields: piano; Joey Baron: drums.

Other Worlds

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Dave Douglas - Keystone

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:00
Size: 122,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:55)  1. A Noise from the Deep
(4:51)  2. Just Another Murder
(4:55)  3. Sapphire Sky Blue
(6:14)  4. Butterfly Effect
(2:31)  5. Fatty's Day Off
(4:47)  6. Mabel Normand
(4:31)  7. The Real Roscoe
(6:52)  8. Famous Players
(1:42)  9. Barnyard Flirtations
(4:19) 10. Hollywood
(5:18) 11. Tragicomique

Paradoxically consistent yet somehow unpredictable, trumpeter Dave Douglas is an artistic rarity. Even when he records a followup to an existing project, you know it's going to be an evolution which throws in some surprises. Last year's Strange Liberation may have been a sequel to 2002's The Infinite, but the addition of Bill Frisell inspired new tactics, both compositionally and in performance. Douglas' new disc, Keystone, has some precedence in his electronica-informed 2003 release, Freak In. Like that record, however, it avoids many of the trappings of pure electronica. Despite all manner of electronic treatments at work, the core is a real playing band. But what distinguishes Keystone most is that it's Douglas' most groove-oriented album to date and his most funky. You can also be sure that when Douglas does a groove record, it's not going to pander or water down his music to reach a larger audience. Keystone will appeal to a broader group of listeners than, say, more avant-garde records like 2001's Witness, but it's no less credible or artistically driven. 

Inspired by the life and work of Roscoe "Fatty Arbuckle a comic performer who inspired better-known comedians from the early 20th Century like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton Keystone makes terrific use of the relatively nascent DualDisc technology. One side of the disc contains the CD release with the full tracks, the other a DVD side with Arbuckle's film Fatty and Mable Adrift accompanied by Douglas' score, as well as a video compilation from the film Fatty's Tin-Type Tangle, for Douglas' "Just Another Murder. The new group features Jamie Saft on Wurlitzer piano, Gene Lake on drums, Marcus Strickland on saxophones, Brad Jones on bass, and DJ Olive on turntables. With these players, Douglas manages to create a contemporary sound that's as appealing as it is adventurous. All eleven tracks may revolve around booty-shaking rhythms, but that doesn't mean the players are restricted in any way. There may be considerable structure, but it's filtered through Douglas' sensibilities, and the playing is also loose and elastic. That means that like Bill Frisell's music for Buster Keaton films in the mid-1990s, the multimedia tour starting in October will straddle the line between video cues and a more open-ended approach to interpretation. 

Co-producer David Torn is the hidden seventh member of Douglas' group. In the same way he has worked with saxophonist Tim Berne to fashion an imaginative aural landscape from the musicians' work, he also sculpts Keystone.  Many artists are paying direct homage to Miles Davis today, and Keystone may tip its hat to the Dark Prince at times. But Douglas' writing is far more detailed than any of Miles' late-'60s to early-'70s work. In fact, if anything, Keystone owes more to Wayne Shorter, with a vibe that suggests how Miles' mid-1960s quintet might have sounded had it access to today's technology.~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/keystone-dave-douglas-greenleaf-music-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Dave Douglas: trumpet; Jamie Saft: Wurlitzer; Gene Lake: drums; Marcus Strickland: saxophones; Brad Jones: bass; DJ Olive: turntables; David Torn: co-producer.

Keystone

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Jim Snidero - Project-K

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:27
Size: 122,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:46)  1. Han
(6:49)  2. DMZ
(6:49)  3. Jeju
(5:57)  4. Mother
(5:40)  5. Jenga
(6:44)  6. Seoulful
(7:10)  7. Goofy
(6:29)  8. Han O Bak Nyun

Over the course of the past four decades, and the 20-plus albums produced under his name, Jim Snidero has carved out his rightful place in the pantheon of the music. The esteemed alto saxophonist’s explorations have proved boundless, moving from downhome atmospheres to broad reflections on the American experience, refined string settings to probing realms, and nods to totemic figures to cathartic statements addressing personal loss. Having additionally worked with everybody from Brother Jack McDuff to Toshiko Akiyoshi to Frank Sinatra, established himself as a game-changing author, and taken his music and messages to concert halls, clubs and classrooms across the globe, it might be tempting to say that Snidero has done it all. But once again, he obliterates that assertion. With Project-K, Jim Snidero breaks new ground. Absorbing and refracting varied aspects of Korean folkways, he delves into a topic near and dear to his home and heart. “Having a Korean wife, family, and friends, I’ve been immersed in Korean culture for more than 20 years,” he shares. “Between Korean history, culture and philosophy, I felt that there was much to explore musically.” Bridging his own wide-ranging aesthetic with those very traditions, Snidero turns out one of the most distinctive dates of his career.

In choosing the personnel to flesh out this music, Snidero’s decisions proved shrewd and sound. The rhythm section, comprised of pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Rudy Royston, brings a rare balance of sensitivity, strength, and insight to these ventures. And trumpeter Dave Douglas serves as the perfect front line foil for the saxophonist.Connections abound across that group of five Evans was a notable presence on Snidero’s Waves of Calm; Oh and Royston, both part of Douglas’ beloved quintet, were key figures on Snidero’s Stream of Consciousness and Main Street but the sixth member of the band, who proves to be the x-factor, is new to Snidero’s world. Stepping outside the box, he brought in Do Yeon Kim, a virtuoso on the zither-like gayageum. “I wanted to use a traditional Korean instrument on Project-K and the gayageum appealed to me the most. My goal was to not simply feature the instrument as a separate entity,” Snidero explains, “but to have it fully integrated within at least some of the arrangements. Do Yeon was the first gayageum player accepted into the New England Conservatory, so she was the obvious choice.”

Together, these six honor Korea’s rich heritage while expanding musical worldviews.  That’s clear from the first, as the sound of the Korean prayer bowl, traditionally used in Buddhist meditation, offers a welcome ring on “Han.” The first of six Snidero originals on the album, it’s a statement that speaks in both mournful and resilient tones. “Koreans have endured great hardship through their history, which has contributed to a uniquely Korean feeling called ‘Han.’ Difficult to describe, and very personal, Han could be thought of as a sense of deep sorrow and incompleteness tempered by endurance and acceptance,” he notes. That opener, like the feeling it describes, proves incredibly nuanced in its expression(s). But what follows the feisty “DMZ” is something else entirely. “Do Yeon’s introduction to this piece perfectly projects what has been described as ‘the scariest place on Earth’the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The piece has many harmonic conflicts, at one point with three keys being played and including the folk song ‘Arirang’ on the gayageum. The band builds a huge amount of intensity until the final, tensely quiet cluster.”

While the band’s signature sound is set by this point, moods and subjects continue to shift. “Jeju,” a pensive and peaceful journey, beautifully reflects the nature of the South Korean island lending its name to the music, while “Mother”a tribute to the artistic creativity of Koreans” that references Bong Joon-Ho’s 2009 film of the same name brings angularity and reduced gravity into the picture (along with a larger role for the aforementioned Korean prayer bowl). The jaunty “Jenga” a K-pop cover recast in 3/4offers some traded wonders while merging genres.  The witty “Seoulful” plays on volleying intentions. And “Goofy” brings the blues and a swinging sensibility to the foreground. Then it all comes to a close with “Han O Bak Nyun,” a traditional folk song enriched by Snidero’s spiritual search and wrapped up by one last bowl ring. Working together as a single entity, these musicians capture and illuminate Snidero’s vision with incredible focus and sincerity. “Dave, Orrin, Linda, Rudy, and Do Yeon were the perfect choices for Project-K,” relates Snidero. “Individually they are musicians of the highest order. As a group, we were all able to create what I believe is both unique and inspired music.” https://nouveaufluxmusic.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/intrepid-alto-saxophonist-jim-snidero-assembles-all-star-band-with-dave-douglas-orrin-evans-linda-may-han-oh-rudy-royston-doyeon-kim-on-new-album-inspired-by-korea/

Personnel: Alto Saxophone, Producer – Jim Snidero; Bass – Linda May Han Oh; Drums – Rudy Royston; Piano – Orrin Evans; Trumpet – Dave Douglas

Project-K

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Eric Person - Reflections

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:29
Size: 178,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:19)  1. Perfection
(6:39)  2. Mr.More Or Less
(6:11)  3. Friends Again
(4:50)  4. When Morning Comes
(9:15)  5. Implications
(4:38)  6. Extra Pressure
(4:09)  7. Reach!
(6:13)  8. Ancient Sun
(8:29)  9. K.T.
(8:00) 10. The Ringleader
(7:47) 11. Etc.
(3:54) 12. Next Love

Although it is not obvious from the outside of this CD, Reflections mostly contains previously released selections drawn from three of altoist Eric Person's Soul Note albums and two from the Distinction label. Person picked the numbers himself and feels that these performances are among the finest of his career. Based on their creativity, intensity, and brilliant playing, Person is correct. He is heard on both alto and soprano, mostly with several different piano-bass-drums rhythm sections. Flutist Jim Finn is on two selections, guitarist Cary DeNigris is on four, and the pianist is usually John Esposito. The post-bop playing is full of fire, high musicianship, and inventive ideas. Uplifting Reflections from being merely a "best of" set is the inclusion of three selections ("K.T.," "The Ringleader," and "Etc.") from a previously unreleased live performance in 1998. The live performances (pity that they are not extensive enough to fill up an entire CD by themselves) feature Person with trumpeter Dave Douglas in a particularly exciting quintet, rounding out a very impressive package. This CD is easily recommended to listeners not already owning Eric Person's Soul Note and Distinction recordings. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/reflections-mw0001896342

Personnel: Eric Person — saxophones; John Esposito — piano; Dave Holland — bass; Dave Douglas — trumpet; Kenny Davis — bass;  Peter O’Brien — drums

Reflections

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Dave Douglas - Parallel Worlds

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:57
Size: 145,4 MB
Art: Front

(1:29)  1. Sehr Bewegt
(9:14)  2. Parallel Worlds
(5:35)  3. In Progress
(7:04)  4. Remains
(6:51)  5. Piece For Strings
(6:00)  6. Ballad In Which Macheath Asks Everyone To Forgive Him
(5:51)  7. Loco Madi
(7:08)  8. On Your Leaving
(9:24)  9. For Every Action
(4:18) 10. Grand Choral

Trumpeter Dave Douglas is attracting attention among fans and critics on the underground and avant-garde/free music trail. He shows what the hype is all about on this session with some surging solos, high-note explosiveness and impressive playing. But Douglas doesn't merely spew unconnected lines or flashy solos; his playing is a vital part of several originals that feature an intriguing violin/cello/bass backing section. The compositions range from loose, spacy tunes to animated, fierce ones. This isn't another hard bop outing or a completely free-wheeling session; instead, it's got elements of both, and a departure as well. It requires close scrutiny and a completely open mind, because Dave Douglas is following no direction except his own. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/parallel-worlds-mw0000623085

Personnel:  Dave Douglas: trumpet; Mark Feldman: violin; Erik Friedlander: cello; Mark Dresser: bass; Michael Sarin: drums

Parallel Worlds

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Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints - Scandal

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:36
Size: 154,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Dream State
(5:06)  2. Full Sun
(6:03)  3. Fee Fi Fo Fum
(6:57)  4. Ups and Downs
(6:50)  5. The Corner Tavern
(5:51)  6. Scandal
(9:05)  7. Juju
(6:18)  8. Mission Creep
(8:06)  9. Full Moon
(2:26) 10. High Noon
(4:16) 11. Libra

Scandal marks the first time that trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano have recorded a full studio album of material together, revealing a passionately adventurous band for whom no territory is off-limits. As on their live debut recording, Sound Prints features pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Joey Baron. The super group heads off into swinging, heartfelt and sophisticated new territory inspired by saxophonist giant Wayne Shorter. 

Two of Shorter's pieces receive special treatment. A truly fantastic and original group playing new originals and music by Shorter. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Scandal-Lovano-Douglas-Sound-Prints/dp/B079JGMNMG              

Personnel:  Joe Lovano (tenor & G mezzo soprano saxophones), Dave Douglas (trumpet), Lawrence Fields (piano), Linda May Han Oh (bass) and Joey Baron (drums).

Scandal

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Brian Lynch - Madera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective on the Music of Woody Shaw

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 109:28
Size: 251,3 MB
Art: Front

(10:25)  1. Zoltan
( 7:32)  2. Sweet Love of Mine
(11:17)  3. Time Is Right
( 8:28)  4. Just a Ballad for Woody
( 8:34)  5. In a Capricornian Way
( 9:08)  6. Blues for Woody and Khalid
( 9:06)  7. Tomorrow's Destiny
( 9:57)  8. Joshua C.
( 8:28)  9. On the New Ark
(11:11) 10. Song of Songs
(15:18) 11. Madera Latino Suite

The asymmetric rhythms belonging to the Afro-Cuban tradition substantiate this extraordinary double CD by Brian Lynch , who with Woody Shaw shares the sad destiny of being a great musician, but not very exposed to the light of the big stages. With the missing trumpet player, Lynch also shares a love for an all-round expressive dimension, capable of incorporating both a lyrical and nocturnal dimension, and a more energetic figure. The work in question is emblematic in this sense, which incorporates the polyrhythmic trend of Afro-Cuban percussion with the more canonical symmetric times of jazz. The result is a gripping work where everything works wonders and once again confirms the whole class of the leader. As a common denominator, Lynch's rare ability to infuse with his mobile solism what seems to be the essence of jazz: communicative, pathos, ability to transmit deep emotions contained in the unrepeatable and unique moment of jazz improvisation. His big band fully captures and manages to return all the expressive figure of Shaw, as oblique and irregular as lyric and peaceful. His compositions are here revisited with admirable intelligence and originality to give rise to a project of stringent consistency and rigor. An unmissable album that adequatamante pays homage to the masterful artistic figure of a complete and ductile musician, who made the most important business cards of refined refinement and technique. ~ Maurizio Zerbo https://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-latin-jazz-perspective-on-music-of-woody-shaw-bryan-lynch-hollistic-musicworks-review-by-maurizio-zerbo.php

Personnel: Brian Lynch, Sean Jones, Dave Douglas, Diego Urcola, Etienne Charles, Mike Rodriguez, Josh Evans, Philip Dizack, Bryan Davis: trumpet; Zaccai Curtis: piano; Luques Curtis: double bass; Obed Calvaire: battery; Pedrito Martinez, Little Johnny Rivero, Anthony Carrillo: percussion.

Madera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective on the Music of Woody Shaw

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Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas - Sound Prints

Styles: Saxophone and Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:54
Size: 119,6 MB
Art: Front

( 4:38)  1. Sound Prints
(13:58)  2. Sprints
( 8:32)  3. Destination Unknown
(10:25)  4. To Sail Beyond The Sunset
( 1:34)  5. Weatherman
(12:45)  6. Power Ranger

Named after Wayne Shorter's classic composition "Footprints," the Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas quintet Sound Prints is a collaborative ensemble born out of the duo's involvement in the 2008 SFJAZZ Collective's tribute concert to legendary jazz saxophonist Shorter. Inspired to continue the creative spark they ignited at that event, saxophonist Lovano and trumpeter Douglas conceived of a group that would play original compositions, as well as new material from Shorter. The group's 2015 concert album, Sound Prints: Live at Monterey Jazz Festival, showcases their debut appearance at the famed jazz event. Joining Lovano and Douglas here are pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh, and drummer Joey Baron. That each of these musicians could easily lead their own band only adds to Sound Prints' depth as an ensemble. However, rather than coming off as a jazz supergroup, Sound Prints feel like an organic unit of like-minded individuals working toward creating something new. Along with the palpable Shorter influence, they also recall the ruminative experimentalism of the late trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and his 5tet from the early '90s. To these ends, cuts like the fractured title track and the rambunctious, stream of conscious "Weatherman," combine the free bop of Ornette Coleman's '60s quartet with the expressive earthiness of Douglas' own work with his Tiny Bell Trio. Similarly, the evocative, bluesy "Spirits" brings to mind late-'60s Miles Davis, while the Latin-esque "Power Ranger" recalls latter-day John Coltrane. Elsewhere, Douglas and Lovano deliver two previously unheard Shorter pieces with the sultry, introspective "To Sail Beyond the Sunset" and the languid "Destination Unknown." Ultimately, Sound Prints walk the line between muscular, tangible post-bop and free-flowing, avant-garde playing; a tantalizing dance that never fails to leave an impression. ~ Matt Collar http://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-prints-live-at-monterey-jazz-festival-mw0002824082

Personnel: Joe Lovano (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Dave Douglas (trumpet); Lawrence Fields (piano); Joey Baron (drums).

Sound Prints

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Dave Douglas High Risk - Dark Territory

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:13
Size: 92,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:43)  1. Celine
(7:02)  2. All The Pretty Horsepower
(5:50)  3. Let's Get One Thing Straight
(5:28)  4. Mission Acropolis
(3:56)  5. Ridge Hill
(4:51)  6. Neural
(6:20)  7. Loom Large

Dave Douglas's second release with his electronic group High Risk is true to form of the trumpeter's modus operandi to avoid repeating the same thing twice. While Dark Territory is of similar species to 2015's High Risk; it is a completely different animal. Shades of Miles Davis's azure tone permeate the project but there are also a menagerie of hues, shapes and rhythms reminiscent of trumpeter Rob Mazurek's eclectic works. Even with the return of the High Risk crew: Jonathan Maron (Groove Collective) on electric and acoustic bass, Mark Guiliana (Beat Music, Heernt, David Bowie) on electric and acoustic drums and DJ, producer and beatmaker Shigeto (Ghostly International) on electronics the vibe this time is totally different, proving the group's music diversity.

The debut's sweeping vistas are replaced with the warm breeze of "Celine" where Douglas's flourishing trumpet dances over a catchy vamp. Yet the waters get murky in "All The Pretty Horsepower" with peculiar noises: static, funky beats, sampled voices, and keyboards that morph into copacetic flow at the track's culmination. Tunes such as "Ridge Hill" are totally wild as the group works in a frenzied energy with Douglas's trumpet plugged in as well. From art-noise to spastic dub tempos curious themes run the gamut with each track presenting something unique. While some work better than others the common thread is Douglas's strong lead playing in a sonic ocean of changes. Jazz purists will probably not change their minds about High Risk's new electronic playground but Dark Territory is certainly an interesting excursion. ~ Mark F.Turner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dark-territory-dave-douglas-greenleaf-music-review-by-mark-f-turner.php

Personnel: Dave Douglas: trumpet; Shigeto: electronics; Jonathan Maron: bass; Mark Guiliana: drums.

Dark Territory

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Dave Douglas - Brazen Heart

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Bop
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:01
Size: 150,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:23)  1. Brazen Heart
(3:58)  2. Deep River
(7:31)  3. Hawaiian Punch
(5:38)  4. Inure Phase
(2:55)  5. Lone Wolf
(8:16)  6. Miracle Gro
(5:23)  7. Ocean Spray
(7:34)  8. Pyrrhic Apology
(6:23)  9. There Is A Balm In Gilead
(4:21) 10. Variable Current
(5:33) 11. Wake Up Claire

Leading a quintet whose debut recording, Be Still (Greenleaf Music, 2012) was an elegiac song cycle dedicated to his late mother, Dave Douglas' Brazen Heart, sadly, finds the trumpeter / composer in mourning once again. Damon Douglas, Dave's brother, passed away in June 2015. Yet, the overall tenor of Brazen Heart is completely different than Be Still and its direct antecedent Time Travel (Greenleaf Music, 2013). There are no vocals on Brazen Heart. Also, after many months of touring and recording with this band, Douglas is clearly challenging them (and us) knottier, more complicated material. Gone are the "lead sheet" type tunes (did they ever really exist?) Douglas endeavored to write for this band a few years back. Of course, the quintet rises to the occasion and then some. These are, after all, five of the most gifted (and busy) musicians around today. It's miraculous that Douglas has been able to keep the band intact for four years. The instrumentation remains simple: a classic acoustic jazz quintet lineup. And Douglas' writing for this group, no matter how far it strays from the tried-and-true, remains deeply rooted in the jazz tradition. Though the individual members of the band are actively involved in some truly radical musical experimentation, Douglas seems to prefer other venues for his own experiments with electronics (e.g., High Risk, Greenleaf Music, 2015) and hyphenated genre-crossing hybrid musics. The comforting familiarity of the instrumentation and the inclusion of two gorgeous hymns ("Deep River" and "There is a Balm in Gilead") aside, Brazen Heart is one of Douglas' more risky and adventurous albums. And if you know Douglas' music that's saying something.

"Hawaiian Punch," a medium tempo piece that juxtaposes a lengthy, but very pretty, melody against a jagged succession of heavily syncopated unison hits, evokes the music of Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols in a highly personal way. Matt Mitchell's comping sounds a tad wayward until you get to his deeply insightful solo. Linda Oh's virtuosic bass improv is similarly on-point. The intellectually funky "Miracle Gro" is no less engaging. Backed by Rudy Royston's sly machinations, everyone takes brief solos over the changes before the massive, ultra-majestic theme kicks in. Here, the solos tend toward the spare and icy-cool, while the thematic material provides the drama. That said, Jon Irabagon manages to whip up quite a lather here. "Inure Phase" is exactly that: super quick tempos, cliffhanging melodic lines, chiaroscuro harmonies, crazy polyrhythms, and Royston's unbelievable drums rolling and crashing all over the place. The closest thing to a ballad among Douglas' new pieces is "Phyrric Apology;" a rhapsodic mid-tempo piece that frames particularly fetching slow-burn solos by Douglas and Irabagon before taking off into the stratosphere. The rest of Douglas' originals are no less bracing, each a showcase for some different aspect of this amazingly talented and soulful band. The two hymns are understated and tender; contrasting with, yet not incongruous to the brainy dynamism that dominates Brazen Heart. And there's not a whiff of the mawkish or sentimental. Instead, there's a palpable sense of fortitude and gutty resolve at play here. Sure, it's jazz, but on these tracks Douglas and his quintet seem to be channeling the same sort of understated, gospel-inflected mojo that artists such as The Band, Sam Cooke, Van Morrison, and Ben E. King are able to access with stunning regularity. Fittingly, Douglas has chosen to pay tribute to his brother by bravely, brazenly, stepping forward with some of his most advanced and technically challenging music to date. ~ Dave Wayne https://www.allaboutjazz.com/brazen-heart-dave-douglas-greenleaf-music-review-by-dave-wayne.php
 

Personnel: Matt Mitchell: piano; Rudy Royston: drums; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Jon Irabagon: tenor saxophone; Linda Oh: bass.

Brazen Heart

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Martial Solal, Dave Douglas - Rue de Seine

Styles: Piano and Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:40
Size: 111,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:24)  1. July Shower
(5:56)  2. Blues to Steve Lacy
(5:12)  3. 34 Bars Blues
(3:27)  4. For Suzannah
(3:45)  5. Fast Ballad
(5:08)  6. Elk's Club
(4:28)  7. Have You Met Miss Jones
(5:20)  8. Body And Soul
(3:20)  9. Here's That Rainy Day
(6:35) 10. All The Things You Are

French pianist Martial Solal is joined by American trumpeter Dave Douglas for this inspired duo session. Solal has long been one of Europe's top pianists, while he has made occasional trips to the U.S. to perform, while Douglas has become a favorite of critics for his diverse recordings. The 35-year age difference between the musicians means nothing, as they react like old friends who have played together countless times. The session is staged in an unusual fashion, alternating between originals by each player over the first six tracks, followed by several timeless standards. Douglas begins on muted horn for Solal's quirky "July Shower," stimulated by the pianist's unpredictable accompaniment that focuses on the lower half of the keyboard. The trumpeter puts aside his mute for his melancholy tribute "Blues to Steve Lacy," with Solal's dirge-like piano perfectly capturing its mood. The standards are all pieces that the two men have undoubtedly played hundreds of times. Solal's dissonant approach to "Have You Met Miss Jones" is extremely playful and stimulates Douglas' rapid-fire muted trumpet. Their spacious, somewhat pensive setting of "Here's That Rainy Day" is equally refreshing. There's never a mundane moment throughout this brilliant duo date by Martial Solal and Dave Douglas, which merits a follow-up meeting.~Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/rue-de-seine-mw0000508422

Personnel: Dave Douglas (trumpet); Martial Solal (piano).

Rue de Seine

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Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints - Live At Monterey Jazz Festival

Size: 119,4 MB
Time: 51:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Sound Prints ( 4:38)
02. Sprints (13:56)
03. Destination Unknown ( 8:30)
04. To Sail Beyond The Sunset (10:24)
05. Weatherman ( 1:34)
06. Power Ranger (12:44)

For almost twenty years, saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas have been prime moving forces in the jazz scene, their paths crossing often on stage and occasionally on record. Douglas appears on Lovano's 2001 Blue Note album Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two and they overlapped as members of the SFJAZZ Collective for three seasons during which the band performed the repertoire of Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, and their mutual touchstone: saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.

However, the two had yet to find the "proper balance of personnel,” as Douglas puts it, to form a group of their own until they assembled pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh and veteran downtown drummer Joey Baron in 2011. Now, a few years and over 50 gigs later, their band Sound Prints will release their debut Live At Monterey Jazz Festival on Blue Note Records.

Sound Prints takes their inspiration from the music of Shorter – the band's name is a nod to his classic "Footprints" – however the quintet’s focus is on new original compositions by Lovano and Douglas, as well as new Shorter compositions in direct collaboration with Shorter himself, who exclaims: “Onward! Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, Lawrence Fields, Linda Oh and Joey Baron! It’s not often when a combination of musicians such as the aforementioned elect to immerse themselves in an explorative adventure without hesitation or reservation. May they continue forging ahead on the trail less trodden. Onward!”

Sound Prints' debut album was recorded live at the Monterey Jazz Festival on September 21, 2013. Lovano and Douglas contributed two songs apiece to the set and the Shorter compositions were given their public debut that day. "The recordings are the very first performances of the newly commissioned tunes," said Douglas. "We all were at a heightened state of paying attention. Shorter took a lot of risks exploring elements of change. It was such a high to play it for him.” “The music moves from today into tomorrow," adds Lovano. "Wayne told us the melody was just a suggestion – tell your own story with it.

Live At Monterey Jazz Festival

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