John Stein - Encounterpoint

Size: 125,7 MB
Time: 54:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Jordu (5:13)
02. Line Drive (6:59)
03. The Roundabout (5:32)
04. Dindi (5:51)
05. Close Your Eyes (4:19)
06. Trois (4:59)
07. Half-Whole Blues (8:50)
08. So Danço Samba (5:20)
09. You Don't Know What Love Is (6:55)

Guitarist John Stein has brought together an all-star ensemble for the album Encounterpoint and these world-class musicians deliver on every tune. The ensemble cast of Koichi Sate, keyboards, John Lockwood, bass, and Ze Eduardo Nazario on drums and percussion are always on top of their game. Whether it be a funk groove, hard swinger or relaxing bossa-nova tune, the energy and interaction are always solid throughout. With a band of this caliber it would hard for anyone to sound less than their best, but Stein is not one to rest on his heels as he pushes the band to new heights of creativity and emotion during his melodic interpretations and improvised solos.

Stein draws upon a wide variety of styles and influences with the tune selection on Encounterpoint. The album begins with the classic Duke Jordan tune "Jordu," which Stein has arranged to alternate swing and bossa feels during the melody sections while the solos remain in a bossa feel. There is a strong Brazilian influence throughout the album especially on the bossa-nova standards "Dindi" and "So Danco Samba," and with Nazario behind the kit there is always an element of Latin influenced groove creeping up in each song. Aside from the bossa-nova tunes there are also several hard-swinging bebop pieces such as "Close Your Eyes," a Monk influenced "Half-Whole Blues," and the funk-based "The Roundabout." The wide variety of musical styles prevents the album from becoming repetitive and allows each musician the chance to stretch in multiple musical situations.

Stein's playing is stellar throughout the album as he always seems to know when to burn, when to play melodically, and when to just lay out and let the band take over. Stein draws heavily from his bebop vocabulary throughout the record, though he never sounds repetitious and has a knack for twisting his lines and melodies into unexpected territory. Though he leaves most of the chord work to the more than capable hands of Sato, Stein does provide two simple, yet highly effective, chord melody introductions to the tunes "Line Drive" and "Dindi," with the latter being one of the albums brightest moments.

John Stein has really lifted the bar with Encounterpoint, not only for himself but for the jazz guitar quartet genre in general. The mixture of styles, world-class ensemble, and effective tune selection all combine to bring the most out of each individual musician and the group as a whole. The result is an album that is both intellectual stimulating and easily accessible at the same time. ~Matthew Warnock

Personnel: John Stein: guitar, acoustic bass; Koichi Sato: keyboards; John Lockwood: acoustic bass; Ze Eduardo Nazario: drums, percussion.

Encounterpoint

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John Stein & Dave Zinno - Wood & Strings

Size: 165,6 MB
Time: 70:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. I Remember You (4:15)
02. Modinha (4:38)
03. Up And At 'em (3:18)
04. Out Of Nowhere (5:33)
05. Switch-A-Roo (5:41)
06. Sarlat (4:41)
07. Labor Of Love (4:46)
08. Estate (4:41)
09. Song For Now (5:57)
10. But Beautiful (5:46)
11. Beatrice (4:50)
12. Birk's Works (5:37)
13. Till There Was You (6:16)
14. When Lights Are Low (4:47)

Personnel:
John Stein: Guitar
Dave Zinno: Acoustic bass

You wouldn’t think so, but jazz guitar and bass duets are surprisingly rare in recorded jazz, especially considering how common they are on stage. Maybe it’s the sheer nature of the musical context, how it discourages musicians from attempting such stark documentation of their art. There certainly is no place to hide, and it becomes a real challenge to create a compelling musical experience. But that’s if you’re talking about the project in the wrong hands. In the right hands, a guitar and bass can reward the listener with often exhilarating, beautifully nuanced interplay: a musical gift combining individual visions with mutual respect. Wood and Strings shines an intimate light on the simple joys of collaboration. John Stein and Dave Zinno bring with them lifetimes of musical experience and the canny ability to cultivate personal and musical ground together.

Wood & Strings

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John Stein - Raising The Roof

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:01
Size: 130.5 MB
Styles: Jazz guitar
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[6:47] 1. Nica's Dream
[5:07] 2. Moanin'
[6:24] 3. A Child Is Born
[8:19] 4. Elvin!
[7:30] 5. Invitation
[6:34] 6. Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer)
[5:13] 7. Beautiful Love
[4:45] 8. Wild Woods
[6:18] 9. The Boys From Syracuse Falling In Love With Love

John Stein: guitar; Koichi Sato: keyboards; John Lockwood: acoustic bass; Zé Eduardo Nazario: drums and percussion.

Raising the Roof is a hard-swinging and thoroughly enjoyable album by Boston-based guitarist John Stein. Featuring an all-star quartet, with keyboardist Koichi Sato, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Zé Eduardo Nazario, the group plays together with a sense of cohesion that borders on the realm of ESP. While this level of communication and familiarity is to be expected by world-class jazz musicians such as these, what is surprising is that they were able to play in this fashion with such a quick rehearsal and recording schedule, another testament to their masterful musicality. The tunes are a mix of freshly-arranged jazz standards and Stein's original compositions. Stein's arrangements stick fairly close to the original composers' intents, but go beyond the realm of simple head charts. A master of subtlety, as both a player and writer/arranger, Stein finds small ways to breathe new life into these classic jazz tunes.

Stein guitar playing on Raising the Roof is simplistic in the best sense of the word. Modern jazz soloists, especially guitarists, are often guilty of overplaying and of making the music complex for the sake of being so, something that has simultaneously raised the intellectual level of the music and isolated the general audience. There's a strong sense that his ears are guiding his notes, not his technique, which is something that can only come from spending as many years on the bandstand as Stein has. Using all of these approaches, Stein draws his audience in, allowing it to be a part of the music—something of a lost art on the jazz scene in recent years.

Raising the Roof is not going to reinvent jazz or change the way people think about jazz guitar. What it will do is provide an hour of musical enjoyment for musicians and non-musicians alike. Far too often jazz is criticized because the musicians seem to be creating music, either for themselves or the enjoyment of other jazz musicians. Stein successfully keeps the music intellectually relevant, while at the same time enjoyable and broadly accessible; not an easy feat to accomplish in any musical genre. ~Matthew Warnock

Raising The Roof

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John Stein, Ron Gill - Turn Up The Quiet

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:43
Size: 161.9 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:38] 1. A Weaver Of Dreams
[4:00] 2. Be My All
[3:45] 3. Detour Ahead
[5:52] 4. My Flaming Heart
[3:40] 5. Love Dance
[5:00] 6. If It's Magic/Too Shy To Say
[7:56] 7. Something In Your Smile/I'll Be Easy To Find
[8:54] 8. Our Love Will See Us Through
[3:40] 9. So This Is Love
[4:46] 10. In A Sentimental Mood
[4:20] 11. Gentle Rain
[4:50] 12. My Foolish Heart
[6:29] 13. One Minute To Zero/When I Fall In Love
[2:46] 14. Wonder Why

John Stein, guitar and acoustic bass; Ron Gill, vocals; Gilad Barkan, piano.

Ron Gill and John Stein find their love of fine songs turn them to dancing with words, lofting pretty chords, and capturing passionate ideas about togetherness. Collaboration - so often a tricky treat, a windy street - they negotiate openhandedly with wit and diplomacy . . . Stein, a subtle and sensitive guitarist, has many sharp arrows in his quiver, with varied, song-rich albums and an enduring presence in Boston's lively jazz scene. He can make a note sing and a chord ring like Kenny Burrell, and always thinks "melody first" . . . Few singers in my ken capture the innocent simplicity of great songs as well as Ron Gill. His voice is immediately endearing and convincing: his blatant honesty charms the dots off snake-eyes . . . Three's no crowd with their inviting aboard Gilad Barkan's bright voice on piano. Check out his nifty melodizing . . . and his earthy interplay with Stein's bass. ~Fred Bouchard

Turn Up The Quiet

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John Stein Quartet - Bing Bang Boom!

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:04
Size: 124,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:39)  1. Sugar
(4:24)  2. Menina
(5:01)  3. Unraveled Plans
(5:03)  4. Bing Bang Boom!
(7:42) 5. Duke Ellington's Sound of Love/Chelsea Bridge
(4:39)  6. Belo Horizonte
(6:44)  7. Love Me Tonight: Lover
(5:19)  8. Delilah
(5:26)  9. Waiting for Woody
(4:02) 10. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To

A signal achievement at any time in jazz history, ensemble longevity is particularly rare at present; yet the John Stein Quartet, a multi--generational and intercontinental enterprise from the outset survives. And as the present and three previous Whaling City discs have documented, it thrives. Stein provides a lot to work with, including five strong originals . . . well chosen standards . . . and a lyrical solo concept. Best of all, Stein's vision of music as "a conversation among friends, not an excuse for impressing people with chops," sets a tone that is upheld and magnified by his partners. (Bob Blumenthal, from the liner notes) http://www.johnstein.com/Albums/BingBangBoom/

Personnel:  John Stein, guitar;  Jake Sherman, piano and Hammond organ;  John Lockwood, acoustic bass;  Zé Eduardo Nazario, drums.

Bing Bang Boom!

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John Stein - Green Street

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:19
Size: 151.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:28] 1. Booga Lou
[6:12] 2. Hotcakes
[4:18] 3. Jack's Back
[5:19] 4. Our Love Will See Us Through
[5:45] 5. Sultry
[7:54] 6. Green Street
[4:38] 7. Greyhound
[5:31] 8. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
[3:42] 9. Culebra
[5:42] 10. Digits
[4:45] 11. Be Ooo Ba
[7:00] 12. You Stepped Out Of A Dream

John Stein; Guitar: Ken Clark; Organ: Dave Hurst; Drums and Percussion. Special Guest; David 'Fathead' Newman

Many jazz enthusiasts have received the resurgence of the “Organ Combo” with welcome arms. On Green Street, guitarist John Stein along with organist Ken Clark and drummer Dave Hurst pursue turf that originated in the 1950’s & 60’s following the traditional approaches of Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff and others. The John Stein Trio along with guest star David “Fathead” Newman incite the listener’s imagination with an aggregate of toe-tapping, invigorating Stein originals and Ellington’s “Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me”.

John Stein possesses a guitar technique which is firmly rooted in the Wes Montgomery and Grant Green school as Stein’s warm, sonorous sound coupled with an inventive, fluid attack is pleasantly persuasive, distinctive and endearing. The opener, “Jack’s Back” sets the upcoming pace through smooth, skillful execution, panache’ and plain old foot stomping’ fun. The legendary saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman picks up the flute on “Hotcakes” and even quotes a few lines from The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”. “Hotcakes” is an affable yet determined swing number as organist Ken Clark does a commendable job on those Hammond B-3 foot pedals. On “When I’m Away”. Newman lends a hand with his signature husky Texas-Tenor blues sound. Vivid images of being in a roadhouse somewhere in the heart of Texas come to mind. Here and throughout, Stein’s multi-colored, subtle and delicate phrasing is a sheer delight. The title track, “Green Street” is a bluesy-swing as organist Ken Clark trades sprightly choruses with tenorist David “Fathead” Newman’s raucous and rollicking style of play. Stein proceeds to settle things down just a bit via poignant and well crafted soloing as he intelligently plays with the memorable and melodic theme. “Greyhound” is a true organ cooker as they proverbially “give the drummer some”! Dave Hurst gets his moment in the sun as he sticks and jabs behind the kit, complimenting the rapid thematic movements from Clark and Stein. David “Fathead” Newman rejoins on alto sax as the band performs Ellington’s “Do Nothing “Till You Hear From Me”. Stein and company restate the recurring theme in alternating fashion through spirited choruses and solos. The final track, “Digits” is a medium tempo swing piece as Stein shines with sleek, elegant phrasing and impressive single note soloing. Stein presents a flurry of ideas through his ax as Ken Clark answers with some cool, jazzy Hammond B-3 riffs.

Green Street is loads of fun and a breath of fresh air. The John Stein Trio along with David “Fathead” Newman represent the organ combo concept in prominent fashion. The performances are top notch as the overall craftsmanship is meticulous, skillful and heartfelt. Green Street is guaranteed to rejuvenate one’s spirits. ~Glenn Astarita

Green Street

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John Stein - John Stein In Brazil

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:46
Size: 118.5 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Hard bop
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[6:28] 1. Happy Hour
[4:46] 2. Lonely Street
[4:56] 3. Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[8:14] 4. It's About Life
[6:07] 5. Marta
[6:33] 6. I'm A Fool To Want You
[4:27] 7. Blues In Maude's Flat
[6:03] 8. Sometime Ago
[4:07] 9. Inutil Paisagem

"Don’t expect an album of conventional Brazilian jazz… In fact, the band’s ability to imply a beat—to play with it and circle around it—owes as much to Bill Evans’ trios or the Miles Davis quintet of the 1960s as it does to native Brazilian elements. And yet, this is jazz played by Brazilians. In a very real sense, it couldn’t have been made anywhere else but Brazil. There’s an approach to ensemble playing, a way of articulating rhythm, and a sense of melody that seems essentially Brazilian in character." (Ed Hazell from the liner notes)

John Stein, guitar; Frank Herzberg, bass; Zé Eduardo Nazario, drums; Alexandre Zamith, piano; Bocato, trombone; Teco Cardoso, flute and bass flute; Pedro Ito, percussion

Recording Date: May 31, 2005 - November, 2005

John Stein In Brazil

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