Something Else! - Soul Jazz

Styles: Bop
Year: 2024
Time: 50:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 117,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:56) 1. Filthy McNasty
(7:55) 2. Too Blue
(4:05) 3. Mean Greens
(4:57) 4. The Chicken
(7:05) 5. Driftin'
(7:23) 6. Slow Drag
(5:34) 7. Strasbourg/St. Denis
(8:57) 8. Naima (Bonus Track)

Jazz supergroup Something Else! is led by Vincent Herring, featuring some of the very best musicians today, playing some of the most iconic toe-tapping Soul Jazz songs ever created. This era of fantastic, rhythmic and soul warming music will be presented with new arrangements plus original compositions in the same genre.

The septet lineups draw from a pool of talented artists whose combined talents make for exciting, danceable and hugely enjoyable shows.

Alto Sax: Vincent Herring
Trumpet: Jeremy Pelt / Randy Brecker / Freddie Hendrix
Tenor sax: James Carter / Eric Alexander
Guitar: Paul Bollenback / Russell Malone
Piano: David Kikoski / Mike LeDonne
Bass: Essiet Essiet / Yasushi Nakamura
Drums: Lewis Nash / Jeff Watts / Johnathan Blake

"The jazz supergroup Something Else!, …then followed with top-shelf soul-jazz and swing… Every one of these musicians is elite it was an extraordinary set. “ ~ Glide Magazine

“…the band wears its hard-bop heart on its sleeve …It practically dares audiences to sit still and remain on their best behavior.” By Steve Futterman, The New Yorker
https://atljazzfest.com/artists/something-else/

Soul Jazz

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David Kikoski, Eric Alexander - Phoenix Rising

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:17
Size: 136,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:01)  1. Phoenix Rising
(5:21)  2. Kik It
(5:48)  3. Wichita Lineman
(7:57)  4. If I Were a Bell
(6:01)  5. Emily
(6:41)  6. Love for Sale
(6:33)  7. My One and Only Love
(7:26)  8. Lazy Bird
(7:25)  9. Willow Weep for Me

Pianist David Kikoski and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, among the brightest lights on New York City's jazz scene for more than two decades, have known each other for almost as many years but Phoenix Rising marks the first time they have recorded together. After listening, one observation springs immediately to mind: it's about time. A second premise is that the album swings and dazzles from start to finish but one would expect no less from such masters of the idiom, especially when the session benefits as well from the imposing presence of two more paragons, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Joe Farnsworth. That the level of musicianship is high throughout is also no surprise, as Kikoski and his colleagues have been honing their respective skills for many years as members of New York's elite and are unfazed and self-assured in the face of anything that threatens to impede their progress or disrupt their purpose. In their capable hands, excellence is not so much a goal as a given. After a brief aside, the quartet hastens briskly from the starting gate on "Phoenix Rising," co-written by Alexander and Kikoski, a theme that, in Alexander's words, is "all about Dave exploding back on the scene." Explode he does with a powerful two-fisted solo that precedes an equally emphatic statement by Alexander.

That's the first of no less than four burners on the menu. The others are Frank Loesser's "If I Were a Bell," Ann Ronell's "Willow Weep for Me" and John Coltrane's "Lazy Bird," on which Alexander's scorching solo would easily thaw an iceberg. The group is more laid-back but no less persuasive on the album's less heated numbers: Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman," Johnny Mandel's "Emily" (on which Alexander sits out), Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" (set to a saucy Latin beat) and Guy Wood / Robert Mellin's "My One and Only Love." Alexander's nimble blues, "Kik It," rounds out the well-balanced program. Kikoski takes the first solo again, as he does on almost every number (well, it is his gig), and every solo is a model of tastefulness and technical brilliance. The last (and most lasting) impression is that these are four superior musicians, and that quartets simply can't blend together more seamlessly than this. Everyone listens carefully, responds apace, and enhances the group dynamic. Best of all, the music they have chosen to play is invariably bright and pleasing. Well done, gentlemen. ~ Jack Bowers https://delaware.allaboutjazz.com/phoenix-rising-david-kikoski-highnote-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: David Kikoski: piano; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone (1-4, 6-9); Peter Washington: bass; Joe Farnsworth: drums.

Phoenix Rising

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David Kikoski & Eddie Gomez & Al Foster - Presage

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:52
Size: 121,5 MB
Art: Front

(8:12)  1. Hope
(8:34)  2. Blue TImes
(6:16)  3. In the Still of the Night
(5:58)  4. Presage
(8:34)  5. Dirty Dogs
(6:34)  6. I've Got you under my Skin
(4:37)  7. Doorways
(4:03)  8. A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square

On this early effort, pianist David Kikoski is joined by bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Al Foster. While Kikoski's use of synthesizers on several cuts dates the material to some degree, there's still some great playing and writing to be heard. There are also historical details worth mentioning: "Dirty Dogs" would later appear on Billy Hart's 1993 album Amethyst, and "Hope," the opening track, would later appear on Al Foster's 1997 album Brandyn (both of these later discs feature Kikoski himself).

In addition to these and three other solid originals, there are also swinging versions of two Cole Porter tunes, "In the Still of the Night" and "I've Got You Under My Skin," and a closing solo piano meditation on "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square." Even though this is far from Kikoski's most mature work, his harmonic wizardry and stunning chops are very much in evidence. ~ David R.Adler http://www.allmusic.com/album/presage-mw0000619575

Personnel: David Kikoski - Piano, Synthesizers;; Eddie Gomez – Bass; Al Foster - Drums

Presage

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Wayne Escoffery - The Humble Warrior

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:10
Size: 145,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:46) 1. Chain Gang
(9:31) 2. Kyrie
(7:22) 3. Sanctus
(5:05) 4. Benedictus
(0:53) 5. Sanctus (Reprise)
(8:54) 6. The Humble Warrior
(7:00) 7. Quarter Moon
(6:34) 8. Undefined
(5:17) 9. AKA Reggie
(5:44) 10. Back to Square One

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is renowned for his fiery, muscular and virtuosic tenor playing, but his explosive sound is paired with a soft-spoken and thoughtful demeanor off the bandstand. In many cases both of those aspects of his personality can be credited to the same inspirations, giants of the music who paired estimable talents and imagination with rock-solid integrity.

On his latest album, The Humble Warrior, Escoffery pays homage to those figures with his most ambitious and wide-ranging set to date. While Escoffery himself strives to represents the tenets of a Humble Warrior, it would be easy for him to act otherwise given his stand-out career and ample accolades. A Grammy Award and DownBeat Critics Poll winner, he has performed with a who’s who of jazz including Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Abdullah Ibrahim, Al Foster, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Wallace Roney and others. He has been a member of the Mingus Dynasty, Big Band and Orchestra since 2000 and toured and recorded with Tom Harrell for over a decade. In addition to his Quartet, Escoffery co-leads the Black Art Jazz Collective along with other leading voices of his generation and the next.

The Humble Warrior marks Escoffery’s leader debut for Smoke Sessions Records, where he’s previously recorded with the trombonist Steve Davis. The album features the return of Escoffery’s stellar quartet featuring pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Ralph Peterson. Trumpet great Randy Brecker and guitarist David Gilmore supplement the band for Escoffery’s breathtaking arrangement of several parts of Benjamin Britten’s Missa Brevis in D. Vaughn Escoffery, Wayne’s son, also makes a powerful debut on the Benedictus.

“We lost a lot of really great musicians in 2018 and 2019,” he says. “People like Roy Hargrove, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Richard Wyands, Lawrence Leathers, and, most recently, Jimmy Heath. I would describe all of those musicians as “Humble Warriors.” I have a lot of admiration and respect for them; they were all great warriors of the music but always allowed the music to keep them humble. They all exemplified the utmost humility and integrity despite their superior abilities. I hope to maintain those same traits in my musical endeavors.”
https://smokesessionsrecords.com/shop/albums/the-humble-warrior/

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Wayne Escoffery; Guitar – David Gilmore (tracks: 3,4,5); Piano – David Kikoski; Acoustic Bass – Ugonna Okegwo; Co-producer – Damon Smith (6), Paul Stache; Drums – Ralph Peterson; Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks: 3,4,5,6); Vocals – Vaughn Escoffery (tracks: 5)

The Humble Warrior

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Wayne Escoffery - Like Minds

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:33
Size: 134,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:02) 1. Like Minds
(7:48) 2. Nostalgia in Times Square
(7:26) 3. Sincerely Yours
(7:55) 4. My Truth
(6:38) 5. Rivers of Babylon
(4:57) 6. Song of Serenity
(4:07) 7. Treasure Lane
(6:29) 8. Idle Moments
(6:08) 9. Shuffle

Like Minds, the latest album from saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, focuses on chemistry particularly the chemistry between old friends and bandmates who’ve played together so often their interplay is beyond telepathic. To that end, Escoffery uses his regular bandmates keyboardist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr., replacing his late teacher Ralph Peterson, Jr. as the backbone. While this configuration has been a band for only about seven years or so, Escoffery has played with them in so many other contexts they sound like longtime soulmates. The quartet is joined by other Escoffery compadres from across his career, including trumpeter Tom Harrell, guitarist Mike Moreno, and singer Gregory Porter, all of whom grok Escoffery’s vibe well.

None of this is surprising, mind you even if you’re not familiar with the saxist himself, Escoffery’s position as co-director of the Mingus Big Band proves he knows how to lead the troops. In that respect, he takes them to fields of smooth hard bop (“Sincerely Yours”), mystical spirit jazz (Peterson’s “Song of Serenity”), soulful social commentary (“My Truth,” co-starring Porter and Harrell), smoky balladry (Duke Pearson’s “Idle Moments,” made famous by guitarist Grant Green), and funky bop fusion (Charles Mingus’s “Nostalgia in Times Square”). If that sounds too disparate, it ain’t – the tight arrangements, easy chemistry, and Escoffery’s warm tone make every song sound of a piece with the rest. Always smooth but rarely slick, Like Minds goes down like a great big bowl of spicy pho. By Michael Toland
https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/wayne-escoffery-like-minds-sm

Personnel: Wayne Escoffery - saxophone, tenor; David Kikoski - piano; Ugonna Okegwo - bass; Mark Whitfield Jr - drums; Gregory Porter - voice / vocals; Tom Harrell - trumpet; Mike Moreno - guitar

Like Minds

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Alex Sipiagin - Equilibrium

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:49
Size: 151,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:28) 1. Mood 2
(10:58) 2. Equilibrium
( 7:29) 3. Evidence
( 9:02) 4. Sonhando Com O Meu Primeiro Amor
( 3:27) 5. Free 1
( 7:53) 6. High
( 7:26) 7. Good Morning
( 8:28) 8. Blues For Kids
( 3:34) 9. Free 2

Russian native Alex Sipiagin has been a first call trumpeter for several New York big bands for the past five years or so. A veteran of the Mingus Big Band, the Gil Evans Orchestra, and the Dave Holland Big Band, Sipiagin has been a favorite with critics but has yet to break though to the jazz public at large. Over the course of his three previous Criss Cross sides, the trumpeter has shown growth from a mainstream hard bop interpreter to an adventurous post bop progenitor.

Chock full of bristling improvisation, Equilibrium is arguably Sipiagin's best effort to date, and much of this is due to some fine writing no doubt influenced by Holland and a fantastic ensemble that includes saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist David Kikoski, and drummer Gene Jackson. Look no further than a run through Monk's "Evidence to hear that Sipiagin is not interested in run of the mill interpretations, but instead crafts arrangements and originals that are more about an elastic sense of time. Voicing the melody for two saxophones (Potter and David Binney) and his own muted trumpet, Sipiagin changes the rhythmic movement for a slightly off-kilter sound that suits the idiosyncratic nature of the piece to a tee.

Following the extroverted spirit of the opening "Mood 2, the title track, and the previously mentioned "Evidence, a dark and brooding "Sonhando Com O Meu Primeiro Amor by Brazilian heavyweight Toninho Horta finds Sipiagin at his lyrical best with a fat tone reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard. By contrast, the collective improvisation during two takes of "Free confirms that there are two sides to the trumpeter's personality and that he's not afraid to walk a musical tightrope without need for a safety net.

With a total being greater than the mere sum of its parts, Equilibrium serves as a complex and varied showcase for Alex Sipiagin and his top-notch crew of partners in crime. At the rate that he's going, there's no telling what even greater breakthroughs lie ahead for this forward-thinking musician. By C. Andrew Hovan
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/equilibrium-alex-sipiagin-criss-cross-review-by-c-andrew-hovan

Personnel: Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), Chris Potter (saxophones), David Binney (saxophones), David Kikoski (piano), Scott Colley (bass), Gene Jackson (drums)

Equilibrium

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Seamus Blake - New York Factor Vol 1

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2022
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:16
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:19) 1. Alone Together
(7:54) 2. From The Heart
(5:33) 3. Waltz For Debby
(9:59) 4. Points Of A Star
(6:10) 5. Hearts Alone
(8:18) 6. Willow Weep For Me

New York based tenor saxophonist/composer Seamus Blake is recognized as one of the finest and most creative young players in jazz.

John Scofield, who hired him for his “Quiet Band,” calls him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” In February 2002, he took first place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in Washington D.C. As the winner, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Seamus Blake was born in England and raised in Vancouver, Canada. At age 21, while still a student at Boston's prestigious Berklee College, he was asked to record with legendary drummer Victor Lewis. After graduation, he moved to New York, where he rapidly established himself on the New York jazz scene.

Seamus has released six albums on Criss Cross Records, from his 1993 debut The Call to the 1995 premiere of the "Bloomdaddies," a “funky, alternative grunge jazz band”, to Way Out Willy, which was released in February 2007. He has also recorded as a leader for the Fresh Sound label. "Stranger Things have Happened" (now available on itunes) features Kurt Rosenwinkel as well as Jorge Rossy and Larry Grenadier from the Brad Mehldau trio. Fresh Sound also recorded a Bloomdaddies cd, " Mosh for Lovers" in 2001. In 2009 the Italian label, Jazz Eyes, released "Live in Italy", Seamus' most successful cd to date. It received 4 1/2 stars from Downbeat.

Blake is a long standing member of the Grammy nominated group, the Mingus Big Band, and is featured on the last six albums. He continues to play and record with the Victor Lewis Quintet, as well as with Bill Stewart and Kevin Hays. He has also performed and/or recorded with Franco Ambrosetti, Dave Douglas, Jane Monheit, Kenny Barron, Sam Yahel, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Brad Meldhau, Larry Grenadier, Wayne Krantz, Jorge Rossy, Jack Dejohnette, Brian Blade, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Reed, David Kikoski, Al Foster and many others.

Most recently Seamus has been touring with the Seamus Blake Electric Band which includes Scott Kinsey, Tim Lefebvre and Jordy Rossy.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/seamus-blake

Personnel: Seamus Blake tenor saxophone; David Kikoski piano; Alex Claffy bass; Bill Stewart drums; Victor Lewis drums

New York Factor vol 1

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Alex Sipiagin Quintet - Steppin' Zone

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:16
Size: 140,6 MB
Art: Front

( 5:17) 1. Catalyst (Take 1)
( 7:56) 2. Room 28
( 8:21) 3. Steppin' Zone
(11:13) 4. Spacing
( 8:14) 5. Missouri Uncompromised
( 6:41) 6. Moonstone
( 8:38) 7. Conception
( 4:51) 8. Catalyst (Take 2)

Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, one of the mainstays of the Mingus Big Band, has some distinguished company on his Criss Cross debut: Chris Potter on tenor sax, David Kikoski on piano, Scott Colley on bass, and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. It's highly unlikely that an A-list quintet such as this would let listeners down and, sure enough, the disc swings like crazy from beginning to end. The program is bookended by two takes of Colley's "Catalyst," which the bassist also recorded for his Portable Universe album.

Other highlights include the difficult and seldom-covered "Missouri Uncompromised" by Pat Metheny, Sipiagin's steady-burning "Room 28," and a long take of Kikoski's harmonically free "Spacing." The group slows things down with Toninho Horta's "Moonstone" and the leader's lilting title track. (Their odd-metered interpretation of George Shearing's "Conception" is strikingly similar to the version that appears on George Colligan's Como la Vida Puede Ser.) Bolder and more unorthodox records have been made, but this kind of scorching, straight-ahead musicianship is always a pleasure to hear.By David R. Adler https://www.allmusic.com/album/steppin-zone-mw0000005071

Personnel: Alex Spiagin (trumpet); Chris Potter (tenor saxophone); David Kikoski (piano); Scott Colley (bass); Jeff Watts (drums).

Steppin'Zone

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Opus 5 - Tickle

Styles: Trumpet And Saxophone Jazz Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:42
Size: 137,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:27) 1. Silver Pockets
(9:02) 2. Tickle
(9:36) 3. New Old Ballad
(8:43) 4. Five Corners
(9:05) 5. Equilibrium
(7:33) 6. Crack to the Crevice
(7:13) 7. Murzake

Despite busy schedules, the five co-leaders of Opus 5 return once again with a fourth album, Tickle, a statement of great virtuosity, melodic integrity and rhythmic focus. Taking its place alongside Introducing Opus 5, Pentasonic and Progressions, this session finds the band in peak form, interpreting compositions by all the band's members. From the shifting funk to swing of drummer Donald Edwards-penned title track, to the singable purity of tenorist Seamus Blake's opening Silver Pockets, to the poetic bass cadenza and plaintive mood of bassist Boris Kozlov's closing ballad Murzake, Tickle secures Opus 5's place as one of the most compelling and long-lived collectives in recent years. Pianist David Kikoski composed the beautiful New Old Ballad, trumpeter Alex Sipiagin wrote Equilibrium. ~ Opiniones Editoriales https://www.amazon.com/Tickle-Opus-5/dp/B0143DKJI2

Seamus Blake - saxophone, compose; Alex Sipiagin - trumpet, flugelhorn, composer; David Kikoski - piano, fender rhodes, composer; Boris Kozlov - bass, composer; Donald Edwards - drums, composer

Tickle

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Alex Sipiagin - Mirrors

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:43
Size: 148,3 MB
Art: Front

( 6:29)  1. Def I
( 8:40)  2. Tijuana Gift Shop
(13:17)  3. Travel
( 9:28)  4. Crossing
( 9:22)  5. Mirror
( 7:44)  6. Def II
( 9:40)  7. Mood One

A gifted, Russian-born jazz trumpeter, Alex Sipiagin is a dynamic soloist with a harmonically sophisticated approach influenced by the post-bop style of artists like Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, and John Coltrane. Sipiagin initially came to wider recognition after placing fourth in the Thelonious Monk Institute's International Louis Armstrong Competition in 1990. Moving to New York, he quickly established himself as an in-demand sideman, working with such esteemed outfits as the Mingus Big Band and the Gil Evans Orchestra, as well as players like David Binney, Dave Holland, Conrad Herwig, and others. As a leader, he has issued a steady stream of highly regarded and hard-swinging albums, including 2001's Steppin' Zone, 2008's Out of the Circle, and 2010's Generations: Dedicated to Woody Shaw. He is also a member of the Criss Cross label's Jazz Messengers-style group Opus 5, with whom he has recorded a handful of albums such as 2012's Pentasonic and 2015's Tickle. His immense skills have brought him accolades including playing on the Michael Brecker Quindectet's Grammy-winning 2003 album Wide Angles and the Dave Holland Big Band's Grammy-nominated 2010 album Pathways. Away from performing, Sipiagin is also a committed educator, having taught at both NYU and the Groningen Prince Claus Conservatory, Academy of Music, Basel, Switzerland. Alexei "Sasha" Sipiagin was born on June 11, 1967 in Yaroslavl, U.S.S.R. Growing up, Sipiagin studied classical trumpet and played in a youth orchestra. At around age 15 he enrolled in a local music school, where he first encountered modern jazz. Inspired to study more jazz, Sipiagin auditioned and was accepted into the Moscow Music Institute at age 16, eventually graduating with his bachelor's degree in music. After college, Sipiagin's studies were waylaid for two years of compulsory service in the Soviet Army, after which he enrolled in the Gnessin Conservatory in Moscow. In 1990, Sipiagin competed and placed fourth in the Thelonious Monk Institute's International Louis Armstrong Competition in Washington, D.C. He not only won a Bach trumpet, presented to him by legendary jazz trumpeter Clark Terry, but also received much notice by critics and jazz musicians in the States. Buoyed by the attention, Sipiagin relocated to New York, where he found work with a bevy of ensembles including the Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, bassist Dave Holland's Big Band, Sextet, and Octet groups, as well as a cadre of top-echelon players including Larry Coryell, Conrad Herwig, David Binney, and others. He also made his debut as a leader, issuing Images in 1998, playing alongside Binney, Chris Potter, Scott Colley, and others.

He then moved to the Criss Cross label and issued 2001's Steppin' Zone, a hard-hitting acoustic jazz date featuring saxophonist Potter, pianist David Kikoski, bassist Colley, and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. More equally dynamic albums followed for Criss Cross, including 2002's Hindsight, 2005's Returning, and 2007's Prints. He also joined Michael Brecker on the saxophonist's Grammy-winning 2003 Quindectet album Wide Angles, and continued his long association with bassist Holland on the 2005 Big Band album Overtime. In 2008, Sipiagin, ever the adventurous journeyman, released Out of the Circle on Sunnyside, an album with various N.Y.C.-based musicians the trumpeter had not worked with closely before. He returned to Criss Cross in 2009 with the high-energy post-bop of Mirages, featuring saxophonist Seamus Blake, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Johnathan Blake. The trumpeter then paid homage to one of his main influences with Generations: Dedicated to Woody Shaw in 2010. A year later, he emerged with the sextet date Destinations Unknown alongside saxophonists Potter and Binney. Potter was also on board for Overlooking Moments in 2013. Around this time, Sipiagin made his debut with the Criss Cross label ensemble Opus 5, appearing on 2011's Introducing Opus 5 alongside saxophonist Seamus Blake, pianist David Kikoski, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Donald Edwards. The group, which is modeled after Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, has continued to work regularly, issuing 2012's Pentasonic, 2014's Progression, and 2015's Tickle. In 2014, Sipiagin debuted his New Path ensemble featuring Dutch vocalist Hiske Oosterwijk. The group returned in 2016 with New Path 2. The trumpeter also returned to his sextet work with 2015's Balance 38-58. Two years later, he issued Moments Captured with saxophonists Potter and Will Vinson, pianist John Escreet, bassist Matt Brewer, and drummer Eric Harland. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alex-sipiagin-mn0000619312/biography

Personnel:   Alex Sipiagin - trumpet, flugelhorn;  Seamus Blake - tenor saxophone;   Adam Rogers - guitar;   David Kikoski - piano;  Boris Kozlov - bass;  Johnathan Blake - drums.

Mirrors

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Brandon Wright - Boiling Point

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:18
Size: 134,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:40)  1. Free Man
(5:37)  2. Drift
(7:59)  3. Odd Man Out
(5:58)  4. Boiling Point
(8:00)  5. Here's That Rainy Day
(9:15)  6. Castaway
(5:12)  7. Interstate Love Song
(6:31)  8. You're My Everything

The word tenor, in Latin, refers to "a continuous holding to a course," and tenor saxophonist Brandon Wright does just that on Boiling Point. Whether Wright is engaging in a musical boxing match with trumpeter Alex Sipiagin or crooning over pianist David Kikoski on an established ballad, he always seems to maintain a consistent musical presence that transcends tempo, feel and style. Perhaps it's his tone, which is big but not too brash and attractive, yet far from smooth, that ties it altogether. Regardless of what it is, Wright makes it work across these eight tracks.  Of course, some of the credit must also go to the rest of the band. Bassist Hans Glawischnig is the rock at the center of it all, making sure that everything lines up and is held together in just the right way. Drummer Matt Wilson, one of the most creative and enjoyable forces on the jazz scene today, has the rare ability to be fully interactive, while also maintaining his role as a key rhythmic element that locks in the time for the rest of the band. Kikoski occasionally shows a fondness for McCoy Tyner's piano playing in his own sound, but he isn't nearly as percussive as Tyner often was on his classic recordings. He also happens to have tremendous range as an artist and an incredible touch on the piano. Sipiagin is the perfect frontline partner for Wright and he finds a good balance between bold and controlled. He creates some musical fireworks on Wright originals like "Odd Man Out" and "Castaway" but he can also turn it down a few notches for gentler material. While the aforementioned "Castaway" and the title track demonstrate Wright's ability to write and play in a more aggressive manner, he works equally well in a more relaxed setting. His "Drift" sounds like it could have been an outtake from Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage (Blue Note, 1965) and his performance on "Here's That Rainy Day" is soothing and refined. His tone takes on a velvet-like quality here as he gently glides over Kikoski's piano. While his playing often heats up the material on this album, it's Brandon Wright's ability to go from cool to hot and everything in between that proves to be his greatest strength on Boiling Point. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/boiling-point-brandon-wright-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel:  Brandon Wright: tenor saxophone;  Alex Sipiagin: trumpet;  David Kikoski: piano;  Hans Glawischnig: bass;  Matt Wilson: drums.

Boiling Point

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Brandon Wright - Journeyman

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:09
Size: 140,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Shapeshifter
(6:32)  2. Better Man
(5:59)  3. Walk Of Shame
(3:43)  4. Illusions Of Light
(5:57)  5. Big Bully
(6:08)  6. Choices
(6:29)  7. Search For Truth
(8:19)  8. Wonderwall
(8:03)  9. The Nearness Of You
(5:05) 10. He'll Make Me Happy

Beware of album titles that seem to damn with faint praise. Although saxophonist Brandon Wright takes inspiration for the title of his second album from the words of novelist Cormac McCarthy, Journeyman is a term that usually conjures up an image of a reliable, hard-working, solid but uninspiring type of person. All admirable qualities, of course, but hardly earth shattering or applicable to the playing talent of the New York based musician. It's clear from Wright's opening phrase on "Shapeshifter" that he's much, much, more than a reliable worker. Wright's playing is strong, fluid and melodic from the start. His long, flowing tenor lines are a pleasure to hear. His debut, Boiling Point (Posi-Tone, 2010), featured trumpeter Alex Sipiagin alongside Wright. On Journeyman, Wright is out front on his own, but he shoulders the extra sonic responsibility with verve and confidence. "Shapeshifter" establishes not only Wright's chops, but also the strength of the rhythm section. Donald Edwards' driving percussion gives the entire quartet an energy and dynamism. Boris Kozlov's bass stays low in the mix but matches Edwards' swing and power. Pianist David Kikoski who also appears on Boiling Point combines stabbing, rich, left-hand chords with intricate single note runs. Wright's original compositions are engaging. His description of "Walk Of Shame" as a "funky blues" sums it up neatly: straightforward, immediate and fun. "Illusions Of Light" shows that he can also write a soulful ballad and deliver an equally soulful saxophone part while the more aggressive hard bop of "Big Bully" finds Wright and Kikoski producing excellent up-tempo solos underpinned by Koslov and Edwards' rock solid, driving rhythm. Boiling Point featured Wright's take on the Stone Temple Pilots' rock classic "Interstate Love Song." On Journeyman, he follows with interpretations of two other rock tunes. Oasis' Brit Pop standard, "Wonderwall," gets a swinging, straight-ahead treatment though the original song leant so much on the vocal that an instrumental version lacks a clear focus despite Wright's tense, upper-register solo. Pearl Jam's "Better Man," written by Eddie Vedder, proves to be a more inspired choice. Wright takes the original's slightly bitter tone and replaces it with a more regretful mood, established by Kikoski's piano as well as his own tenor saxophone. A lack of familiarity with McCarthy's romanticized image might just make some fans wonder whether this album is worth exploring. That would be a mistake. Wright is an imaginative and hard-blowing saxophonist and a creative composer. This Journeyman inspires, and more. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/journeyman-brandon-wright-posi-tone-records-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel:  Brandon Wright: tenor saxophone;  David Kikoski: piano;  Boris Kozlov: bass;  Donald Edwards: drums.

Journeyman

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David Kikoski - Details

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:51
Size: 155,5 MB
Art: Front

(12:13)  1. In Your Own Sweet Way
( 7:35)  2. Detachment
( 9:09)  3. 7/4 Ballad
( 6:17)  4. Inner Urge
( 6:00)  5. Juriki
( 6:45)  6. Adorable You
( 5:45)  7. K's Blues
( 6:52)  8. Presage
( 7:09)  9. Tag Blues

David Kikoski has earned his chops backing everyone from legends like Roy Haynes (two decades and counting) to young gun David Sanchez. Though he can commandeer a set when he wants (an astoundingly fractured, nearly chaotic barrelhouse blues piano solo is all that remains in memory of the last Pat Martino gig I caught), by nature he's a team player: gently tenacious exploration and ethereal post-bop empathy are this Berklee grad's true bread and butter. Thus Details , as you might expect from its title, is loaded with both. It's a trio disc, and for this kind of patient investigation, Kikoski could scarcely have filled out the group better. Bass man Larry Grenadier and drummer Bill Stewart provide the pianist with a near-telepathic unity that lifts the disc immediately above the ordinary. (Stewart, whose extensive trio forays with keyboardist Larry Goldings have prepared him magnificently for this kind of work, seems particularly alert.) From the group's leisurely twelve-minute stroll through Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way," to its thoughtful, intense work on Joe Henderson's great "Inner Urge," and through the host of tricky Kikoski originals that comprise the remainder of the material, ideas flow free and quick and no subtle shift goes unnoticed. (Even Kikoski's single-track detour on electric keyboard, "K's Blues," comes off.) Short on flash but loaded with exquisite three-way rapport, Details is a dreamy, first-rate disc from a player deserving more attention. ~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/details-dave-kikoski-criss-cross-review-by-aaj-staff.php

Personnel: Dave Kikoski: Piano;  Larry Grenadier: Bass;  Bill Stewart: Drums. 

Details

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Conrad Herwig - Unseen Universe

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:17
Size: 159,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:34)  1. The Tesseract
(8:30)  2. From Another Dimension
(8:38)  3. Unseen Universe
(9:17)  4. Triangle
(8:12)  5. All Is One
(5:19)  6. Rebirth
(6:18)  7. Circumstantially Evident
(7:39)  8. The Magic Door
(7:46)  9. Three Degrees Of Freedom

Conrad Herwig's dazzling trombone chops and intelligent compositions make Unseen Universe, his third Criss Cross release, a stirring success. His sextet can maneuver around tight corners and yet attack with the force of a band twice its size. With Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Seamus Blake on tenor and soprano sax, David Kikoski on piano, James Genus on bass, and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums, Herwig can be sure of the group's ability to bring lushly orchestrated charts to life and improvise with sterling clarity and brilliance. Conceptually, with the title track and also with pieces called "The Tesseract," "From Another Dimension," "Triangle," and "The Magic Door," Herwig seems preoccupied with geometry and some of its metaphysical implications. Even as he draws heavily on the '60s Blue Note sound as established by figures like Joe Henderson and Herbie Hancock, Herwig stretches the limits of modern mainstream jazz with this all-original set. ~ David R.Adler https://www.allmusic.com/album/unseen-universe-mw0000105512

Conrad Herwig Sextet: Conrad Herwig (trombone); Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone); Alexander Sipiagin (trumpet); David Kikoski (piano); James Genus (bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).

Unseen Universe

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Wayne Escoffery - Vortex

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:03
Size: 138,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Vortex
(2:06)  2. Judgement
(8:04)  3. Acceptance
(8:29)  4. February
(9:16)  5. The Devil's Den
(8:17)  6. Tears for Carolyn
(7:12)  7. To the Ends of the Earth
(5:53)  8. In His Eyes
(5:44)  9. Baku

On this recording, jazz saxophonist Wayne Escoffery presents this great quartet on a number of original pieces, a standard and an original piece by the ensemble's brilliant drummer, Ralph Peterson, who Escoffery has worked alongside since Escoffery's arrival in New York in 2000. The rest of the band is equally pedigreed. Pianist David Kikoski has been a regular collaborator in the Mingus Big Band and with Eddie Henderson, and bassist Ugonna Okegwo has been driving the rhythm section of Tom Harrell's ensemble for the entirety of Escoffery's tenure. Escoffery's quartet is augmented by the percussion of Jaquelene Acevedo on a number of pieces.

Personnel:  Wayne Escoffery - tenor saxophone;  David Kikoski - piano;  Ugonna Okegwo - bass;  Ralph Peterson, Jr. - drums;  Jeremy Pelt - trumpet;  Kush Abadey - drums;  Jacquelene Acevedo - percussion

Vortex

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David Kikoski - Inner Trust

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:02
Size: 155.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[7:08] 1. Some Other Blues
[7:42] 2. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
[5:36] 3. Mirical
[6:59] 4. Inner Trust
[8:14] 5. You Don't What Love Is
[8:47] 6. Two Lonely People
[3:18] 7. Once Upon A Summertime
[4:16] 8. We See
[8:14] 9. Old Folks
[7:44] 10. Winnie's Garden

David Kikoski (P); Ed Howard (B); Leon Parker (D). Recorded December 19, 1997 in New York City, NY, USA by Max Bolleman.

One of David Kikoski's strongest offerings, Inner Trust is a departure in that it focuses primarily on non-original material. Three of the ten tracks are by the pianist, but the rest are standards and jazz classics. Joined by Leon Parker on drums and fellow Roy Haynes sideman Ed Howard on bass, Kikoski reaches consistently grand heights of harmonic invention on burning numbers like "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" and John Coltrane's "Some Other Blues." "Winnie's Garden," a Kikoski-penned workout over the chord changes to "Sweet Georgia Brown," practically overflows with energy. And Thelonius Monk's "We See" swings with almost comic cleverness. On the softer side are "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Old Folks," and the unaccompanied "Once Upon a Summertime." "Two Lonely People," a little-known song composed by master pianist Bill Evans and once sung by Tony Bennett, is also noteworthy. Of the two remaining originals, "Mirical" is mannered, but the title track is one of Kikoski's finest achievements -- a simple, stately melody that serves as a launching pad for bold and impassioned improvisation. (A version for quintet can be heard on Roy Haynes's Praise.) ~David R. Adler

Inner Trust mc
Inner Trust zippy

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David Kikoski - Almost Twilight

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:35
Size: 152,7 MB
Art: Front

( 3:23)  1. Waiting For G.M
(12:17)  2. Rose Part 1&2
( 9:07)  3. Water
( 8:06)  4. Games
( 6:15)  5. Almost Twilight
( 7:13)  6. Betrayal
( 6:35)  7. Blues In The Face
( 7:30)  8. Opportunity
( 6:05)  9. Immediacy

Although David Kikoski has done great work as a member of Roy Haynes's band, he is at his absolute best in a trio setting such as this. His previous effort, The Maze, never managed to take flight; it was as though Kikoski's hands were tied by the quartet format. But here he returns in top form on his third Criss Cross release, an all-original trio outing. The formidable pianist is supported by John Patitucci on bass and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums, the very rhythm section that appears on Joey Calderazzo's equally excellent trio album of the same year. "Rose, Part 1 & 2" ranks as one of Kikoski's most swinging, inspired compositions to date. Other highlights include the frenetic, polyrhythmic "Water," the funky and complex "Betrayal," and the ambitious rubato-to-swing "Opportunity." Patitucci's solos on the slow "Blues in the Face" and the up-tempo "Immediacy" are also show-stoppers, as is Watt's solo on the latter. At times, Kikoski's playing and writing can seem coldly technical, but he is nonetheless one of the most compelling pianists on the scene. Along with 1995's self-titled disc and 1998's Inner Trust, Almost Twilight is an essential entry in his steadily growing catalog. ~ David R.Adler http://www.allmusic.com/album/almost-twilight-mw0000619505

Personnel:  Dave Kikoski (piano);  Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)

Almost Twilight

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David Kikoski - Mostly Standards

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:00
Size: 155,8 MB
Art: Front

( 9:02)  1. Grey Areas
( 8:39)  2. Blues On The Corner
( 6:47)  3. Old Folks
( 8:53)  4. Chance
( 7:41)  5. Doxy
( 6:28)  6. TBS
(12:42)  7. Autumn Leaves
( 7:45)  8. Leaves

David Kikoski's ninth CD is titled Mostly Standards, barely a half-truth when you peruse the titles of the selections. Only two of them are actual American popular songs, adapted as the brilliant pianist and his able trio can do them. They also tap on the familiar repertoire of McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, and to an extent Miles Davis, while offering two originals and an adaptation of a classic. Bassist Eric Revis and drummer Jeff Watts have been in the mainstream post-bop jazz game long enough to fully understand how this music works, and add their estimable talents to Kikoski's consistently wondrous and inventive piano musings. The opener "Grey Areas" is a compelling and accessible original of the pianist, combining funk with mysterious dark bass ostinato. Kikoski's true romantic and nostalgic solo piano piece "Leaves" follows a lengthy, extemporaneous, ad infinitum hard bop stretching of "Autumn Leaves," where the changes of the latter standard are only slightly hinted at in the former modification. Tunes like the easygoing Rollins chestnut "Doxy" and Tyner's emerging standard "Blues on the Corner" seem simplistic, even nonchalant in the hands of these three great jazzmen. There's peace, reverence, and repast on "Old Folks," Kenny Kirkland's "Chance," and the Watts penned waltz "TBS," which displays his atypically languid mood. In fact, Watts is much more restrained throughout this entire date. Tasteful, in control, and technically perfect, Kikoski always delivers finely wrought mainstream jazz music that should please anyone with common sense about the music's core values, and this effort is no different. ~ Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/mostly-standards-mw0000808577

Personnel: Dave Kikoski (piano); Eric Revis (upright bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).

Mostly Standards

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David Kikoski - Consequences

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:53
Size: 144,2 MB
Art: Front

(10:00)  1. Blutain
( 7:45)  2. Russian Roulette
( 8:27)  3. Drama.
( 4:31)  4. Placidity
( 9:46)  5. Mr. JJ
( 5:16)  6. (Still) A Glimmer of Hope
( 5:32)  7. Consequences, Part I
( 4:43)  8. Concequences, Part II
( 6:48)  9. Never Let Me Go

On his ninth Criss Cross date as a leader (and 22nd label appearance overall), pianist David Kikoski convenes an extraordinary trio with two famed and longstanding allies, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts. It's no stretch to say that a lineup like this is guaranteed to swing - and it does, on a set of finely wrought Kikoski originals, including the two-part title track Consequences. Watts' own uptempo Mr. JJ and slow-grooving Blue Tain round out the set, and Kikoski ends with a poetic solo-piano take of Never Let Me Go. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Consequences-David-Kikoski-Trio/dp/B007GNMIGS

Personnel:  David Kikoski – Piano;  Christian McBride – Bass;  Jeff "Tain" Watts – Drums.

Consequences

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David Kikoski - Kayemode

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 2017

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:31

Size: 138,9 MB

Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Au Privave

(7:45)  2. Binge Watching

(8:36)  3. Morning Glory

(6:33)  4. H & H

(6:34)  5. Switching Roles

(6:13)  6. Mirror Mirror

(5:45)  7. Trinkle Tinkle

(7:41)  8. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

(3:54)  9. Blues for Gerry

Since his first appearance on record (Randy Brecker's album In the Idiom), pianist David Kikoski has demonstrated an infinite capacity to swing, a rare sensitivity as a ballad interpreter and genuine harmonic savvy as a composer. He delivers once again on all counts on Kayemode. Kikoski says:  "I'm very proud and lucky to have 2 new collaborators in my trio. I met Justin Faulkner on a Monday night at "the Jazz Standard" where I play with the Charles Mingus Big Band and was very impressed. Soon after we really hooked up on a gig with Branford Marsalis and I remember thinking I would love to try and use him on my own project. We had a ball hanging at my house and shedding and listening to music.  Joe Martin was someone we both agreed on to be the perfect bassist for the session. I recently heard him at "Mezzrow" with Spike Wilner and was blown away. His use of harmony and counterpoint is more advanced than most bass players I've known. I knew he could get inside of my concept.  We are using 1st or 2nd takes with no fixing or editing, because I wanted the freshness and honesty to be there".

Personnel:  David Kikoski (piano); Joe Martin (bass);  Justin Faulkner (drums)

Kayemode

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