Steven Bernstein - Brass Bang!

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:04
Size: 143,7 MB
Art: Front

(0:47)  1. Italian at La Glance
(5:11)  2. Black and Tan Fantasy
(8:35)  3. As Tears Go By
(2:32)  4. Dissonanze Cognitive
(3:06)  5. Beng!
(2:23) 6. La Rejouissance (Music for the Royal Fireworks)
(4:34)  7. No Potho Reposare
(7:14)  8. Zero
(0:55)  9. Bing!
(3:10) 10. Surgentem Cum Victoria
(4:44) 11. Shorty
(0:40) 12. Wienerschnitzel
(2:44) 13. Manic Depression
(1:02) 14. Bung!
(6:20) 15. Rockin' in Rhythm
(1:08) 16. Bong!
(2:37) 17. Fuga
(4:14) 18. Guarda Che Luna

At the beginning there is the voice of Steve Bernstein that on a background of fanfare rattles off a sequence of phrases in Italian maccheronico, as a tourist do it yourself, then bursts Duke Ellington , his "Black and Tan Fantasy" has orchestral fullness, colors vivid and surprising delicacy. Even the Rolling Stones? So it would seem because the unmistakable melody of "As Tears Go By" is revealed only after almost six minutes of mysterious, sidereal sounds, references from space or from the depths of the sea that suddenly come together and become recognizable. But the surprises do not end there because we find a Handel almost "mariachi," Palestrina austere but moving, the Jimi Hendrixof "Manic Depression" in a phantasmagoric version, a classic of Italian music like "Guarda che luna" - brought to success by Fred Buscaglione - philologically witty and dreamy. And also original compositions that condense personal visions and aesthetics in just a few minutes but also work as a glue to such a differentiated material. Only four eclectic musicians, transversal and accustomed to contaminations like the protagonists of Brass Bang! they could set up a project of this kind avoiding the risk of pastiche in bad taste. And from a brass quartet it certainly could not miss the memory of a great African-American musician like Lester Bowie , honored with "Zero," a song with a captivating melodic and rhythmic structure that enhances the tubus of Marcus Rojas , a real nerve of the supergroup. ~ Vicenzo Roggero https://www.allaboutjazz.com/brass-bang-steven-bernstein-tuk-music-review-by-vincenzo-roggero.php

Personnel: Steven Bernstein: trumpet, coulisse trumpet; effects; flugelhorn, voice; Paolo Fresu: trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, pocket trumpet, effects; Gianluca Petrella: trombone; Marcus Rojas: tuba, vocals, percussion.

Brass Bang!

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Steven Bernstein - Diaspora Soul

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:53
Size: 154,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:38)  1. Manishtana
(3:45)  2. Chusen Kalah Mazel Tov
(7:52)  3. L'Chaim
(4:31)  4. Mazinka
(5:39)  5. Shalom Bimramov
(4:09)  6. Let My People Go
(8:46)  7. Roumania Roumania
(4:50)  8. Cha
(6:41)  9. Rock Of Ages
(4:45) 10. Ani Mamin
(5:27) 11. Habet Mishmayim
(5:45) 12. Dybbuk Dub

And endlessly inventive musical magician delving deep into his Jewish roots and coming up with sounds you ve never imagined possible. Steve Bernstein has worked as musical director for the likes of Hal Wilner, John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and his own madcap bar band Sex Mob, but this newest project is his best yet. Jewish contunical melodies wailing over Afro-Cuban percussion. A funky New Orleans rhythm section setting up Klezmer classics. Diaspora Soul is this and more. One of the most exhilarating releases this or any other year.

The word "eclectic" is thrown around a lot, but seldom does a record in this post everything era live up to that billing. Judging by its title, Diaspora Soul would seem to be another klezmer recordin fact, its raison d'être is as one of a series of albums foisted by John Zorn as part of his "Radical Jewish Culture" series. But apparently, Steve Bernstein--who's logged time in the Lounge Lizardswas doing some radical cultural-thinking of his own. This album came about as a result of Bernstein's desire to combine what he described as "the Gulf Coast sound, encompassing Texas and Cuba" with traditional Hebrew music. The result is a totally twisted and brilliant affair that pairs greasy organ with Cuban percussion (think Willie Bobo or Mongo Santamaria) and bears little resemblance to the rock-influenced experiments of sometime collaborator Marc Ribot. Bernstein's own trumpet leads the way on most of the compositions--which are principally made up of traditional Hebrew tunes like "Shalom Bimramov" and "Manishtana" and it's a lot closer tone-wise to the clarity of a Booker Little than, say, the muted wheeze of Miles Davis. A great example of the genuine eclecticism displayed here by Bernstein and his cohorts can be heard on "Roumania, Roumania"; Brian Mitchell's whirring Wurlitzer organ, which is suitably smoldering throughout, provides much of the ride, beginning with a sustained sizzle that actually, for about 10 seconds, evokes the pyrotechnic pomp of organ-laden bands like Deep Purple before slinking into a sleazy groove. What's even more amazing is that this song was recorded. On five tracks, Bernstein expands the lineup to include a big band of sorts featuring the underrated Briggan Krauss, who plays baritone sax here and duels it out to good effect with tenor man Peter Apfelbaum on "Mazinka" before Bernstein gets that Cuban thing going once more. Jews with the blues or urban toreadors, take your pick. Who said it couldn't happen here? ~ Joe S. Harrington https://www.amazon.com/Diaspora-Soul-Steven-Bernstein/dp/B00000JWFJ

Personnel:   Producer, Arranged By, Trumpet – Steven Bernstein; Baritone Saxophone – Briggan Krauss; Bass – Tony Scherr; Congas, Bongos, Maracas, Claves [Clave] – E.J. Rodriguez; Drums, Percussion – Roberto Juan Rodriguez; Electric Piano [Wurlitzer Electric Piano], Organ – Brian Mitchell; Tenor Saxophone – Michael Blake, Paul Shapiro, Peter Apfelbaum

Diaspora Soul

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Henry Butler, Steven Bernstein & The Hot 9 - Viper's Drag

Size: 119,4 MB
Time: 51:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: New Orleans Jazz/Blues
Art: Front

01. Some Iko (3:56)
02. I Left My Baby (5:52)
03. King Porter Stomp (6:18)
04. Wolverine Blues (5:37)
05. Gimmie A Pigfoot (5:48)
06. Henry's Boogie (5:34)
07. Buddy Bolden's Blues (5:11)
08. Dixie Walker (6:19)
09. Viper’s Drag (6:45)

Viper’s Drag is the happy collision of two perfectly matched musical sensibilities—that of the New Orleans singer/pianist Henry Butler and trumpeter/arranger Steven Bernstein--two students of early jazz with decidedly modern voices. “Their collaboration is both historically aware and fully prepared to cut loose,” remarked The New York Times in an enthusiastic review of their recent New Year’s Eve performance at the Jazz Standard.

Blind since birth, Butler tells stories through the rise, swing, and rumble of his fingers as they channel sounds as diverse as his Louisiana birthplace: jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B, among others. A giant among giants, he is a member of a special brotherhood that also includes Professor Longhair, James Booker and Allen Toussaint. His technical ability and expansive repertoire are legendary.

A veteran of New York City's downtown scene and a GRAMMY-winning arranger, Bernstein juggles a forward-looking perspective with a rooted sense of what’s come before. Known for his work with The Lounge Lizards and Sexmob, he’s also the leader of the Millennial Territory Orchestra, a nine-piece ensemble that draws tunes and inspiration from the dance orchestras that toured the U.S. before World War II.

Viper's Drag

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