Max Ionata • Rewind

 

Italian saxophonist Max Ionata, among the leading players in the contemporary jazz scene and one of the most demanded worldwide, will be releasing his thirteenth album “rewind” in May; his fourth recording produced by Jando Music | Via Veneto Jazz.  
With “rewind” Max Ionata marks a turning point and repositions himself at the head of an entirely different formation: a Hammond trio. The group features an exceptional array of talents, comprised of master musicians of international stature with whom he established a remarkable synergy during the numerous concerts in the past few years; namely the organist Alberto Gurrisi and the premier Dutch drummer Frits Landesbergen - also considered one of the best vibraphonists in Europe.  
This album truly represents a “rewind” - a transition veering from his traditional path - where Ionata starts anew with an abundance of creativity and bold stylistic innovations.  An energetic swerve following an intense artistic career during which Max Ionata performed both as leader and as special guest at the world’s most important jazz festivals and clubs, collaborating with the greatest musicians in the world.  
The album contains two jazz standards, one song composed by Frits Landesbergen and arranged by Max Ionata, six original songs Ionata composed at the piano in August 2015, at his house in Abruzzo. A time during which he intensified his musical research, starting with his great passion for American jazz, particularly modern hard bop, unveiling new layers of that musical genius and intuitive melodic sense that distinguishes his music.  
Of the nine songs in the album, six are autobiographical: “Drum” is a tribute to the great Italian trumpeter Marco Tamburini, with whom Max shared key moments in his musical career; “Bob’s Mood” is inspired by Bob Mintzer and his unique style of composing; “Mr G.T.” is dedicated to his friend and colleague Gege’ Telesforo, who inspired Max with his unique way of experiencing the stage and with his passion for funk. “North Sea” is a ballad, played on the soprano sax, enthused by the coastal landscapes seen during their tour of Northern Europe; “Sunflower” stems from the effect of the intense colors of Van Gogh’s sunflowers, which had impressed Max during his visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
The track list ends with Antonio Carlos Jobim’s pulsing and rhythmic “Chovendo Na Roseira” followed by George Coleman’s  “Amsterdam After Dark” and concludes with the loping swing of “At Vic's” written by Frits Landerbergen and dedicated to one of the greatest musicians in jazz, Victor Feldman.

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El saxofonista italiano Max Ionata, que se encuentra entre los principales intérpretes de la escena del jazz contemporáneo y es uno de los más solicitados en todo el mundo, publicará en mayo su decimotercer álbum "rewind", su cuarta grabación producida por Jando Music | Via Veneto Jazz.  
Con "rewind", Max Ionata marca un punto de inflexión y se sitúa al frente de una formación totalmente diferente: un trío Hammond. El grupo cuenta con un conjunto excepcional de talentos, compuesto por maestros músicos de talla internacional con los que ha establecido una notable sinergia durante los numerosos conciertos de los últimos años; a saber, el organista Alberto Gurrisi y el primer baterista holandés Frits Landesbergen, considerado también uno de los mejores vibrafonistas de Europa.  
Este álbum representa realmente un "rebobinado" -una transición que se aleja de su camino tradicional- en el que Ionata comienza de nuevo con una abundancia de creatividad y audaces innovaciones estilísticas.  Un enérgico giro tras una intensa carrera artística en la que Max Ionata ha actuado como líder y como invitado especial en los festivales y clubes de jazz más importantes del mundo, colaborando con los mejores músicos del mundo.  
El álbum contiene dos estándares de jazz, una canción compuesta por Frits Landesbergen y arreglada por Max Ionata, seis canciones originales que Ionata compuso al piano en agosto de 2015, en su casa de los Abruzos. Un tiempo en el que intensificó su investigación musical, partiendo de su gran pasión por el jazz americano, especialmente el hard bop moderno, desvelando nuevas capas de ese genio musical y sentido melódico intuitivo que distingue su música.  
De las nueve canciones del álbum, seis son autobiográficas: "Drum" es un homenaje al gran trompetista italiano Marco Tamburini, con el que Max compartió momentos clave en su carrera musical; "Bob's Mood" se inspira en Bob Mintzer y su estilo único de componer; "Mr G.T." está dedicada a su amigo y colega Gege' Telesforo, que inspiró a Max con su forma única de vivir el escenario y con su pasión por el funk. "North Sea" es una balada, interpretada con el saxo soprano, entusiasmada por los paisajes costeros vistos durante su gira por el norte de Europa; "Sunflower" surge del efecto de los intensos colores de los girasoles de Van Gogh, que habían impresionado a Max durante su visita al Museo Van Gogh de Amsterdam.
La lista de temas termina con el palpitante y rítmico "Chovendo Na Roseira" de Antonio Carlos Jobim, seguido de "Amsterdam After Dark" de George Coleman, y concluye con el swing de "At Vic's" escrito por Frits Landerbergen y dedicado a uno de los más grandes músicos del jazz, Victor Feldman.


maxionata.com

Buddy DeFranco • Gone With The Wind

Review

Following a stint leading the ghost band of Glen Miller between 1966 and 1974, Buddy DeFranco made several recordings under his own name in 1977, although this live date at Rick's Cafe in Chicago first became available commercially in 1999. With pianist Willie Pickens (a Chicago legend who still deserves greater recognition outside his home town), bassist Todd Coolman, and drummer Jerry Coleman, the veteran clarinetist is playing in top form with his pickup group. None of the tunes are particularly surprising choices, as they had to pick material familiar to everyone, but DeFranco and Pickens clearly inspire one another with their playing, as five of the seven tracks extend over ten minutes. The lovely interpretation of "Yesterdays" and a driving Latin-flavored "Love for Sale" are among the high points of this warmly recommended live set.

by Ken Dryden

https://www.allmusic.com/album/gone-with-the-wind-mw0000254731

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Revisar

Tras un período al frente de la banda fantasma de Glen Miller entre 1966 y 1974, Buddy DeFranco hizo varias grabaciones con su propio nombre en 1977, aunque esta fecha en vivo en el Rick's Cafe de Chicago estuvo disponible comercialmente por primera vez en 1999. Con el pianista Willie Pickens (una leyenda de Chicago que aún merece un mayor reconocimiento fuera de su ciudad natal), el bajista Todd Coolman y el baterista Jerry Coleman, el veterano clarinetista está tocando en plena forma con su grupo de camioneros. Ninguno de los temas es particularmente sorprendente, ya que tuvieron que elegir material familiar para todos, pero DeFranco y Pickens claramente se inspiran mutuamente con su forma de tocar, ya que cinco de los siete temas se extienden a lo largo de diez minutos. La encantadora interpretación de "Yesterdays" y el impactante "Love for Sale" con sabor latino son algunos de los puntos culminantes de este recomendado set en vivo.

por Ken Dryden

https://www.allmusic.com/album/gone-with-the-wind-mw0000254731

Everybody Had an Ocean: Music and Mayhem in 1960s Los Angeles

 

Los Angeles in the 1960s gave the world some of the greatest music in rock ’n’ roll history: “California Dreamin’” by the Mamas and the Papas, “Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds, and “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys, a song that magnificently summarized the joy and beauty of the era in three and a half minutes.

But there was a dark flip side to the fun fun fun of the music, a nexus between naive young musicians and the hangers-on who exploited the decade’s peace, love, and flowers ethos, all fueled by sex, drugs, and overnight success. One surf music superstar unwittingly subsidized the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. The transplanted Texas singer Bobby Fuller might have been murdered by the Mob in what is still an unsolved case. And after hearing Charlie Manson sing, Neil Young recommended him to the president of Warner Bros. Records. Manson’s ultimate rejection by the music industry likely led to the infamous murders that shocked a nation.

Everybody Had an Ocean chronicles the migration of the rock ’n’ roll business to Southern California and how the artists flourished there. The cast of characters is astonishing—Brian and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, eccentric producer Phil Spector, Cass Elliot, Sam Cooke, Ike and Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, and scores of others—and their stories form a modern epic of the battles between innocence and cynicism, joy and terror. You’ll never hear that beautiful music in quite the same way.

 

An American Sampler • Folk Art from the Shelburne Museum

 

121 textiles and sculptures from the collection of the Shelburne Museum included quilts, coverlets, and hooked rugs, weathervanes and whirligigs, decoys, carousel animals, trade signs, scrimshaw, and carved figures.

Encyclopedia of Society and Culture in the Medieval World (4 Volume set)

 

Grade 9 Up—This well-organized resource covers a wide range of topics relating to medieval society and meshes nicely with standard report needs. Though 71 entries may seem skimpy compared to some encyclopedias, the articles are so in-depth (the shortest is 10 pages long, and most are much longer) that these hefty volumes are almost guaranteed to contain the answer to reference requests about medieval society. Topics include agriculture, calendars and clocks, children, clothing and footwear, death and burial practices, manuscript illumination, inventions, and even scandals and corruption. Each entry begins with an overview, followed by five detailed essays addressing the topic from the viewpoints of the main cultural centers of the era: Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Islamic world. Most entries also contain primary-source excerpts, sidebars, maps, and illustrations. A glossary and comprehensive index add to the ease of use. The writing is clear and straightforward, if a bit dry. A useful and important set.