Joshua Redman Quartet - Passage Of Time (2001)

Talk about the passage of time, a turn of phrase that gives Joshua Redman’s new album its name, hard to believe that it’s been eight years since the saxophonist released his first album as a leader. Since then, Redman has consistently been the darling of a new generation of jazz lovers, while also raising the ears of those seasoned listeners who appreciate the sense of history and tradition that Redman lays bear with his horn. Although two of his previous records featured guitarists (namely, Pat Metheny and Peter Bernstein), Redman has remained committed to the quartet format and Passage of Time is no exception there (the latest group features Aaron Goldberg, Rueben Rogers, and Gregory Hutchinson). Our leader also likes to write his own material and this holds true for this new endeavor too, although it arguably contains some of his best work in this area. Firing things up, Redman starts the disc off by himself with a proclamation that utilizes the tenor’s full range and expressive manner. "Before" acts as a call to worship, leading us to the upbeat swing of "Free Speech, Phase I." Over a vamp, drummer Hutchinson develops a nice froth and foam that leads to the peaceful strains of "Free Speech, Phase II." Four lengthier cuts then provide the meat and potatoes. "Time" clocks in at over ten minutes and the ominous ballad is very close to a musical dialogue, with both Redman and Goldberg tossing phrases back and forth at each other. “Enemies Within” provides the up-tempo swing factor with Redman at his most animated, only to then cool the waters with the aptly titled vignette "After." Throughout Passage of Time, which in some ways functions almost like a suite, Redman’s writing and playing evolves through the use of extended forms that allow for plenty of expressive leg room. This takes the music to a new level that simply cannot be reached via your standard blowing session. ~ by C. Andrew Hovan, AAJ. 

Warner Bros. Records, 9362-47997-2, 2001
Recorded June, 2000 at Avatar Studios, New York City;
River Sound, New York & Sterling Sound, New York 

Musicians:
Joshua Redman - Tenor Sax, Arranger
Aaron Goldberg - Piano
Reuben Rogers - Bass
Gregory Hutchinson - Drums

Tracks:
1. Before (1:50)
2. Free Speech, Phase I (7:05)
3. Free Speech, Phase II (4:29)
4. Our Minuet (8:28)
5. Bronze (8:27)
6. Time (10:38)
7. Enemies Within (9:23)
8. After (3:44) 

All compositions by Joshua Redman 

Total Time: 54:08 

Credits:
Producer - Joshua Redman
Producer [Associate], Engineer - James Farber
Engineer [Assistant] - Anthony Gorman, Aya Nakamora
Mastering Engineer - Greg Calbi
Art Direction - Frank Olinsky
Photography - Duane Michals

LINK

Free Speech, Phase II - Discussion

Darren Barrett - First One Up (1999)

This is the debut recording by trumpeter Darren Barrett who in ’97 won the annual international jazz competition sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute. The man clearly has exceptional chops and enthusiasm to match - but he leaves an inescapable impression that what is being said has been recited many times before, often with deeper awareness and broader substance. In other words, purposeful as Barrett and his companions are, there’s nothing notably fresh or absorbing in their repertoire, which consists here of eight original compositions by Barrett ("First One Up" is performed twice) and one each by Steve Allen ("Impossible") and Thelonious himself ("Reflections"). Barrett sounds much like several of his more recent predecessors (Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Marcus Printup, Terence Blanchard, Wallace Roney and others) with the obligatory nods toward Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan and other old–line boppers. One of the drawbacks is that Barrett’s compositions, while earnest in their intent, haven’t much meat on their bones and thus serve mainly as routine springboards for improvisation. Another is that pianist Goldberg could use a more delicate touch to great advantage (and is that him or his piano making those strange noises while he solos?). Barrett’s front–line partners, Greene (on eight tracks) and Garrett (on three), are quite capable but stylistically inseparable from many of their contemporaries. Make no mistake, Barrett shows great promise and gives an exceedingly good account of himself throughout, and First One Up may one day be seen in retrospect as the wellspring of an uncommonly productive career. For now, however, we must observe that “promising” is about as suitable a word as discretion will allow. The more acclamatory phrases may come later. ~ Jack Bowers, All About Jazz. 

J-Curve Records, JCR1006, 1999
Recorded 5th & 6th November, 1998 at Avatar Recording Studio, New York, NY 

Musicians:
Darren Barrett - Trumpet
Kenny Garrett - Alto Saxophone (#1,6,10)
Jimmy Greene - Tenor Sax (#2-4,7-9,11), Soprano Sax (#11)
Aaron Goldberg - Piano
Reuben Rogers - Acoustic Bass
John Lamkin - Drums 

Tracks:
01. First One Up [Take 1] {Darren Barrett} (5:44)
02. Word! Dr. Byrd {Darren Barrett} (5:33)
03. Impossible {Steve Allen} (7:59)
04. 2 To 4 {Darren Barrett} (5:20)
05. Grand Ravine {Darren Barrett} (6:29)
06. Up Down - Inside Out {Darren Barrett} (6:45)
07. Conceta Elfreda {Darren Barrett} (5:11)
08. A New Day Comes {Darren Barrett} (5:41)
09. Reflections {Thelonious Monk} (7:15)
10. First One Up [Take 2] {Darren Barrett} (6:45)
11. Dee's Theme {Darren Barrett} (2:42) 

Total Time: 65:31 

Credits:
Producer - Dr. Donald Byrd
Associate Producer - Darren Barrett
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Joe Ferla
Assistant Engineer - Rory Ramano
Mastering Engineer - Mark Wilder [Sony Music Studios]
Photography - Ann Segal, Fabian Guevara
Graphic Design - Karen Berger

Link

First One Up [Take 1]

Helen Sung - Anthem For A New Day (2014)

Although she has released several trio albums, Helen Sung's 2014 album, Anthem for a New Day, is the pianist's first quintet album. As the 2007 Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition winner, Sung has displayed her virtuosic abilities backing such luminaries as trumpeter Clark Terry, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and trumpeter Jon Faddis, just to name a few. Here, Sung takes center stage backed by a stellar cast of supporting players including saxophonist Seamus Blake, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Obed Calvaire, and others. In a jazz world split between more esoteric avant-garde albums and safe, standards-heavy albums, with Anthem for a New Day Sung finds the perfect balance between intellectual, exploratory improvisation and no-nonsense, finely tailored jazz arranging. On Anthem for a New Day, Sung primarily delves into a handful of new compositions, from the buoyant "Armando's Rhumba" to the expansive "Hidden," as well as several well-chosen covers, including a gorgeous "Never Let Me Go," featuring violinist Regina Carter, and the tense yet funky "Epistrophy." These are immaculate and organically arranged pieces, all played in a swinging, straight-ahead style that allows for all musicians involved to shine. All of which is even more impressive when you consider that Sung, a classical student in college, didn't seriously began exploring jazz until after graduating from the University of Texas in 1995. After years of paying her dues as a sideman and "shedding" her chops in trio settings, with Anthem for a New Day Sung has delivered the soundtrack to the next phase of her career as a jazz leader. ~  by Matt Collar, AMG. 

Concord Records, CJA-34496-02, 2014
Recorded at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Helen Sung - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Handclaps & Foot-Stamping (#2)
Ingrid Jensen - Trumpet
Seamus Blake - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Reuben Rogers - Bass
Obed Calvaire - Drums, Handclaps & Foot-Stamping (#2)
Samuel Torres - Percussion, Handclaps & Foot-Stamping (#2) 

Guests:
Regina Carter - Violin (#3,7)
Paquito D'Rivera - Clarinet (#2)
John Ellis - Bass Clarinet (#6) 

Tracks:
01. Brother Thelonious {Helen Sung} (5:37)
02. Armando's Rhumba {Chick Corea} (4:37)
03. Hidden {Helen Sung} (5:48)
04. It Don't Mean A Thing [If It Ain't Got That Swing] (Ellington, Mills} (4:10)
05. Hope Springs Eternally {Helen Sung} (5:33)
06. Anthem For A New Day {Helen Sung} (5:43)
07. Never Let Me Go {Ray Evans, Jay Livingston} (7:18)
08. Chaos Theory {Helen Sung} (5:04)
09. Epistrophy {Kenneth Clarke, Thelonious Monk} (5:30)
10. Equipoise {Stanley Cowell} (2:16) 

Total Time: 51:40 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Helen Sung
Recording Engineer - Mike Marciano
Mixing Engineer - Jeremy Loucas
Mastering Engineer - Paul Blakemore
Art Direction - Albert J. Roman
Photography - Kat Villacorta

Max Ionata, Clarence Penn, Reuben Rogers - Kind Of Trio (2011)

Trio of great harmony, already experienced in the past with another successful album, this time Max Ionata, Clarence Penn and Reuben Rogers compete in a recording project using the original formula of the trio and give us a total of eleven tracks with nine original pieces signed by the three musicians. Max Ionata is considered one of the most exciting saxophonists of the Italian jazz scene, he has played in some of the most important jazz clubs and jazz festivals in the world and has collaborated with great musicians. Clarence Penn, described by some critics as the most elegant of contemporary jazz drummer chosen by many for his versatility in all kinds of music. Reuben Rogers, bass player of exceptional musical talent, has had the opportunity also to work with many international jazz artists. More than just another trio! 

Via Veneto Jazz, VVJ 074, 2011
Recorded 22nd-25th March, 2011 at Icarus Recording Studios, Rome, Italy 

Musicians:
Max Ionata - Tenor Saxophone
Reuben Rogers - Double Bass
Clarence Penn - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Brotherhood {Clarence Penn} (6:48)
02. Con Alma {Arr. Reuben Rogers; Dizzy Gillespie} (7:22)
03. Kumico {Max Ionata} (4:16)
04. But {Max Ionata} (5:22)
05. Out Back {Clarence Penn} (5:34)
06. Nuovo Cinema Paradiso [Love Theme] {Ennio Morricone} (5:51)
07. The Change {Max Ionata} (4:03)
08. To Be {Reuben Rogers} (5:51)
09. Raven {Clarence Penn} (4:28)
10. Aurora {Max Ionata} (6:29)
11. Waiting For Eli {Clarence Penn} (3:59) 

Total Time: 60:09 

Credits:
Recording, Mixing & Mastering - Stefano Del Vecchio
Artwork - Enzo Criscione
Photography - Paolo Soriani

Aaron Goldberg - Worlds (2006)

Pianist Aaron Goldberg has an intriguing style that is a little reminiscent of Marian McPartland in its harmonic sophistication. Although seven of the ten selections on Worlds are his originals, several hint at various standards, most notably "Unstablemates," a witty de-construction of Benny Golson's "Stablemates." The interplay between Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer Eric Harland is consistently inventive, and Luciana Souza adds her haunting voice to "Kianda's Song." However, the high point of this CD is "Oud to Omer," which matches Goldberg with guest guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. The two musicians bring out the best in each other and plenty of sparks fly, making one hope that Goldberg and Rosenwinkel work together more often. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Sunnyside Communications, SSC 1152, 2006

Recorded 15^th, 17^th & 18^th December, 2003

Musicians:

Aaron Goldberg - Piano

Reuben Rogers - Bass

Eric Harland - Drums

Kurt Rosenwinkel - Guitar (#9)

Luciana Souza - Vocals (#3)

Tracks:

01. Lambada de Serpente {Djavan Caetano Viana, Cacaso} (8:05)

02. Taurus {Aaron Goldberg} (8:31)

03. Kianda's Song {Aaron Goldberg} (2:27)

04. Unstablemates {Aaron Goldberg} (5:06)

05. Modinha {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes} (5:10)

06. Salvador {Aaron Goldberg} (5:29)

07. Oam's Blues {Aaron Goldberg} (4:27)

08. Inútil Paisagem {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Aloysio de Oliveira} (6:58)

09. Oud To Omer {Aaron Goldberg} (11:01)

10. Between Worlds {Aaron Goldberg} (1:59)

Credits:

Producer - Aaron Goldberg

Management, Co-Producer - Jason Olaine

Recording Engineer - Michael Brorby (#1-8,10)

Recording Engineer - Peter Karl (#9)

Mixing Engineer - Jay Newland

Mastering Engineer - Greg Calbi

Photography - Maya Yadid

Photography [Band Photo] - JD Sloan

Cover Art - David Ellis

Total Time: 59:13