Ollie Usiskin - Trio Zone

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2023
Time: 45:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:28) 1. Steady Eddie
(3:08) 2. Stand Alone
(4:29) 3. Slow Dance
(7:48) 4. Return Of The Jazz Police
(5:14) 5. Messin'
(5:08) 6. Crossing The Ocean
(6:09) 7. Corner Pocket
(6:44) 8. Blue Shift

Leader Ollie Usiskin is originally from London, UK. He studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston & The Drummers Collective in New York. He recently has been on recordings with Mike Stern, Bob Franceschini, John Etheridge (Softmachine), Bassist Antoine Fafard & Paul Wertico. His past credits include Actor Sir Christopher Lee, Supertramp Saxman John Helliwell, ELO Cellist Hugh McDowell, Singer Ian Shaw.

He has toured with Jack Bruce Son Malcolm Bruce & 80's Band The Woodentops in Europe & the UK. Other Artists he's worked with include Producer Trevor Horn, Singer LuLu & members of Alice Cooper, Uriah Heep, Sting, Judas Priest & YES. His Duo Album release With Cellist Max Oliver was given 3.5 stars in Jazz Journal & was assisted by Executive Producer Jimmy Haslip. Ollie and The Trio have been influenced by John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Jaco Pastorius, Jack DeJohnette and Tony Williams. From this, they have created original Modern Jazz and have performed around the London Jazz Circuit.Carl Orr is an Australian jazz guitarist and composer.

He has been based in London since the 1990s, recording and performing with Billy Cobham, George Duke, Bennie Maupin, Eric Bibb, Ernie Watts, Nigel Kennedy, Eric Krasno, T. M. Stevens, Randy Brecker, Gary Husband, Ettienne M'Bappe, Marcus Miller, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Ric Fierabracci and Don Grusin. He also performed with Sting on the UK tour of "THE LAST SHIP".Rob teaches bass at BIMM Institute London. For over 25 years, Rob has recorded and performed with Mike Stern, John Etheridge, Jim Mullen, Keith Emerson, Ian Carr's Nucleus, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Mojo Buford, Ruby Turner, and Dana Gillespie. He has been a member of John Etheridge tribute to Frank Zappa " Zappatistas". By Editorial Evaluations
https://www.amazon.com/Trio-Zone-Ollie-Usiskin/dp/B0C32ZZ59F

Personnel: Ollie Usiskin - Drums; Carl Orr - Guitar; Rob Statham - Bass

Trio Zone

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David Bitelli & Ollie Usiskin - Harlesden Sessions

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 49:19
File: MP3 @ 128K/s
Size: 45,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:45) 1. Determination
(3:17) 2. Train
(2:49) 3. The Agreed 2 Step
(3:23) 4. Partly Party
(2:29) 5. Rovelli
(5:50) 6. The Reminder
(3:06) 7. Just Go
(3:20) 8. Caution
(5:55) 9. The Rise
(3:32) 10. Tod You Once
(4:56) 11. Temperamental
(3:29) 12. Particulate Motion
(3:23) 13. The Underneath

Tenor saxophone and drums is now a familiar setting within the loose definitions of jazz and improvised music. If John Coltrane and Rashied Ali really made the format “a thing”, then there have been no shortage of musicians queuing up to dip their toes in the water.

With no harmony instrument or bass to hold down the bottom end, it can seem an unforgiving setting for both musician and audience, yet there is a remarkable variety of sounds, textures, rhythmic and melodic possibilities that lend themselves to this format.

These sessions that were recorded on a rather ad hoc basis on “occasional Thursdays” (I just love that as detailed information for the recording dates for the performances), yet the music just flows with the sheer joy of playing and making music together. Apart from that the music is a lot of fun, in the best possible way.

Both musicians are hugely experienced in a a wide range of musical styles. Bitelli came to prominence with the soul-jazz band Working Week and as a member of the anarchic and iconic British big band Loose Tubes. In addition, he has also been a member of Mike Westbrook’s band as well as leading his own groups.

His partner in crime is drummer Usiskin who CV is equally as impressive, including playing with guitarists Nigel Price and Jim Mullen. He has also recorded for SLAM in the past with bassist Max Oliver, presenting a recording of freely improvised duets on the album Usiskin/Oliver Duo.

Taking up the gauntlet of the tenor/drums format, the two musicians draw on their experience to present a series of thirteen improvised duets that focus on groove and melody, and thrive on the variety of music that they can conjure out of thin air.

On this outing Usiskin does not feel the need to make a lot of noise or clatter restlessly around the kit. He is simply brings a concentrated focus on rhythmic movement and patters that do not just lend themselves to melodic statements from the saxophonist but positively suggest them. There is nothing flashy about Usiskin’s playing, but he is constantly inventive varying the beat, subtle changes in dynamics and not afraid to take the lead when required.

By the same token, Bitelli must be overjoyed to have such a supportive partner. His lines are lean, concise and free to pick up melodies and his own rhythmic motifs knowing that his colleague with every step of the way. The saxophonist’s playing is a joy throughout, relishing the rock solid groove from Usiskin on ‘Determination’ for him to work from, and the delicate brushwork that accompanies his improvisation on ‘The Rise’, enabling him to move into more abstract areas before moving back into a lovely melodic improvisation that brings the piece to a close.

Bitelli is a natural storyteller, and the drummer a natural listener, throwing questions and observations into the mix in ‘Told You Once’, and when the tenorist does push the music further out on ‘Train’ exploring split tones and multiphonics that can be drawn out of his instrument, Ususkin is right there with just the right thing to say.

Sceptics may well view this recording as music that Bitelli and Usiskin played to please themselves, the resulting album though is one that I am sure will please many.

You can also check out our Take Five segment we have done with Bitelli and Usiskin.By Nick Lea https://jazzviews.net/david-bitelli-ollie-usiskin-harlesden-sessions/

Personnel: David Bitelli (tenor saxophone); Ollie Usiskin (drums)

Harlesden Sessions

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