Kengo Nakamura - Roots (2005)

Another fine work where Kengo explores his jazz roots. He surrounds himself with a great grouping of players that include: Marcus Printup on Trumpet, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson on Alto Saxophone, Aaron Parks on Piano sharing the role with special guest Makoto Ozone and Rodney Green on Drums. Seven of the ten tunes are his own compositions. The remaining three are by Horace Silver, Charles Mingus and even Aaron Parks adds one of his own. The album is a powerful testament to Nakamura's excellent bass playing, but not to overlook the role of the choice sidemen. Kengo’s duo performances with similarly virtuosic Makoto are scintillatingly beautiful. The sound engineering is dynamically set at a high standard DR15, all in all, any jazz or music lover is in for a treat, enjoy! 

55 Records, FNCJ-5505,2005
Recorded 23rd & 24th June, 2004 at Avatar Studio, New York City 

Musicians:
Kengo Nakamura - Bass
Marcus Printup - Trumpet
Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson - Alto Saxophone
Aaron Parks - Piano (#1-4,6-8,10)
Rodney Green - Drums
Special Guest:
Makoto Ozone - Piano (#5,6,9) 

Tracks:
01. Roots {Kengo Nakamura} (8:17)
02. DH Swing {Kengo Nakamura} (5:48)
03. Fifty Five {Kengo Nakamura} (3:38)
04. Sister Sadie {Horace Silver} (2:38)
05. Wango Tango {Kengo Nakamura} (6:00)
06. Nostalgia {Kengo Nakamura} (5:00)
07. The Barron {Aaron Parks} (6:00)
08. Boogie Stop Shuffle {Charles Mingus} (6:10)
09. All Is Well With You {Kengo Nakamura} (4:58)
10. Blues For Wess {Kengo Nakamura} (8:44) 

Total Time: 57:21 

Credits:
Producer - Kengo Nakamura
Executive-Producer - Hiroshi Itsuno
Recording Engineer - Jay Messina
Assistant Engineer - Peter Doris
Mastering Engineer - Bill Sigmund
Photography - Michael A. Black
Design - Sinbad Design Mochida 

Wango Tango

Christian Winther - Soul House (2007)

Danish tenor saxophonist Christian Winther put together a potent quintet for his third SteepleChase release, including the outstanding American trumpeter Marcus Printup, pianist Richard Doron Johnson, bassist Carlos Henríquez, and drummer Ali Jackson. The big-toned tenorist contributed two originals, which open and close the CD. "Milla's Bounce" is a bouncing, upbeat hard bop vehicle full of great solos and lively ensembles, with a bit of Latin flavor kicked in at the end. Winther's "Soul House" is an Afro-Cuban theme, powered by Jackson's driving percussion. The leader's percolating scoring of Thelonious Monk's "Green Chimneys" showcases Henríquez and Printup in sizzling solos before Winther steps forward to add his own soulful touch. Johnson's "Ferris Wheel" is another spirited effort, an unusually constructed tune fueled by his enticing, shifting vamp. Jackson's lyrical originals "For Kenny" and "Aziel Dance" nicely round out this enjoyable session. ~ Ken Dryden, AMG. 

SteepleChase Records, SCCD 31633, 2008
Recorded January, 2007 

Musicians:
Christian Winther - Tenor Saxophone
Marcus Printup - Trumpet
Richard Doron Johnson - Piano
Carlos Henríquez - Bass
Ali Jackson - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Milla's Bounce {Christian Winther} (7:37)
2. For Kenny {Ali Jackson} (8:16)
3. Aziel Dance {Ali Jackson} (7:27)
4. Ones Of Wisdom {Frederick Sanders} (7:30)
5. Ferris Wheel {Richard Johnson} (9:09)
6. Dienda {Kenny Kirkland} (5:05)
7. Green Chimneys {Thelonious Monk} (7:21)
8. Soul House {Christian Winther} (7:36) 

Total Time: 60:05 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Nils Winther
Recording Engineer - Jon Rosenberg
Photography - Greg Miles 

Dienda

Marcus Printup - Nocturnal Traces (1998)

Since what seem like ages-ago sightings at the Monk Competition, and later at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, where he played at the side of the stage in deference to some fluffy smooth jazz outfit scheduled to follow his band, trumpeter Marcus Printup's growth arc has been impressive. Last time out he was paying homage to Freddie Hubbard, with fellow Blue Noter Tim Hagans. This time, save for the smoldering “Freddie's Inferno”, in tribute to the master, it's all about Marcus. The band is his regular crew, including Kevin Bales on piano, Ricky Ravelo on bass, and Woody Williams on drums. The comfort level Printup feels is obvious from the jump.

Throughout this disc there is a palpable joy and fatness in his sound, for which one need listen no further than his buoyant treatment of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" The program strikes a fine balance between standards and Printup's tunes, yet some of his most telling statements are made on the former. Check out his soulful version of "Black Coffee," for example, with trumpet tone sufficiently broadened to address the blue nuances of the familiar tune. Throughout, Marcus Printup is bubbling with energy and controlled passion, and a tip of the hat also to his rompin' stompin' drummer, Williams, who has lit many a bandstand down Atlanta way. ~ by Willard Jenkins, JazzTimes.

Blue Note, CDP 7243 4 93676 2 3, 1998

Recorded 24^th & 25^th January, 1998 to Analog 2-Track At Avatar Studio C, New York, NY

Musicians:

Marcus Printup - Trumpet

Kevin Bales - Piano

Ricky Ravelo - Bass

Woody Williams - Drums

Tracks:

01. Woody's Beat {Marcus Printup} (7:16)

02. Have You Met Miss Jones {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (5:55)

03. Shertzing Along {Marcus Printup} (6:08)

04. Body And Soul {Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour} (5:19)

05. Black Coffee {Sonny Burke, Paul Francis Webster} (7:02)

06. Pier Pressure {Marcus Printup} (6:07)

07. Nocturnal Traces {Marcus Printup} (6:13)

08. Ain't Misbehavin' {Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller} (5:41)

09. How Do You Keep The Music Playing? {Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand} (5:42)

10. Freddie's Inferno {Marcus Printup} (4:07)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Belden, Marcus Printup

Recording Engineer - Jim Anderson

Assistant Engineer - Aya Takemura

Mastering Engineer - Allan Tucker

Photography - Jimmy Katz, Lisa Peardon

Design - Karen Thomas, Burton Yount

Liner Notes - Herb Wong

Total Time: 59:30

In this bright and accessible effort from one of the best young trumpeters on the scene, Printup mixes up originals with standards. The fact that his tunes complement works by Rodgers & Hart ("Have You Met Miss Jones") and Fats Waller ("Ain't Misbehavin'") so well should key you in to the fact that he is a bit of a traditionalist. With his quartet of Kevin Bales on piano, Ricky Ravelo on bass, and Woody Williams on drums, Printup lays down some fine exercises in samba ("Shertzing Along") and bop ("Pier Pressure"). There is plenty of fine work here. ~ by Tim Sheridan, AMG.