Billy Hart Quartet: All Our Reasons

Modern Jazz
premiera polska: 2012-03-20,
Wydawnicto Audiofilskie
kontynent: Ameryka Północna
kraj: USA
opakowanie: plastikowe etui
opis:
Opis dystrybutora:
"All Our Reasons" to nowy album Billy Hart Quartet. Jest to pierwszy album nagrany dla wytwórni ECM i będzie dostępny w sprzedaży już od 20 marca. Kwartet tworzą: Mark Turner na saksofonie, Ethan Iverson przy fortepianie, Ben Street na kontrabasie i Billy Hart na perkusji.

Billy Hart Quartet istnieje od 2003 roku (początkowo jako Ethan Iverson/Mark Turner Quartet) i regularnie koncertuje w Nowym Jorku. Debiutancki album "Quartet" sygnowany nazwiskiem Harta został wydany w 2005 roku przez High Note, zyskując uznanie publiczności i krytyki muzycznej. Od tamtej pory muzyka grupy ewoluuje w stronę większej otwartości i wrażliwości, co doskonale wpisuje się w filozofię wytwórni ECM. Autorami utworów znajdujących się na płycie są Billy Hart, Ethan Iverson i Mark Turner.

Billy Hart swoje pierwsze muzyczne kroki stawiał u boku Shirley Horn i Buck Hill. W latach '60 koncertował z Jimmy Smithem, Wesem Montgomerym, Eddie Harrisem, and Pharoah Sandersem, by w 1970 roku dołączyć do sextetu Herbiego Hancocka. Współpracował również m.in. z McCoyem Tynerem, Stanem Getzem, Gerry Mulliganem, Billy Harperem, Clarkiem Terrym. W latach '90 tworzył skład zespołów prowadzonych przez Charlesa Lloyda, Joe Lovano i Toma Harrella. Od lat '90 zajmuje się głównie nauczaniem.

Ethan Iverson przeniósł się do Nowego Jorku na początku lat '90, gdzie uczył się gry na pianinie pod okiem Freda Herscha. Do 2002 roku był dyrektorem, muzycznym Mark Morris Dance Group. Wraz z Reidem Andersonem i Davidem Kingiem tworzy trio The Bad Plus.

Ben Street studiował w bostońskiej The New England Conservatory of Music wraz z Miroslavem Vitousem i Dave Hollandem. Na początku lat '90 przeniósł się do Nowego Jorku i od tamtego czasu podejmował współpracę m.in. z takimi muzykami, jak: Danilo Perez, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, David Sanchez, James Moody, Mark Turner, Frank Foster, Clark Terry.

Saksofonista Mark Turner przez ponad 10 lat współpracował z Kurtem Rosenwinklem, w 2004 roku z Jeffem Ballardem i Larrym Grenadierem zaożył trio Fly, z którym koncertuje po dziś dzień.

Editor's info:
The quartet heard here was formed in 2003, and originally billed as the Ethan Iverson/Mark Turner Quartet. When Billy Hart asked if it could be his band for a gig in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, the other members unanimously voted to give it him permanently. As the Billy Hart Quartet, the four musicians have continued to play a number of dates each year, often at New York's Village Vanguard. In 2005 the group recorded a well-received debut album for hard-bop label High Note. Since then, as Ethan Iverson notes, the music has become more free and spacious, qualities that fit well with ECM's priorities. "All Our Reasons" was recorded in June 2011 at New York's Avatar Studios, with Manfred Eicher producing.
Billy Hart, of course, is no stranger to ECM, first recording for the label in 1974, with Bennie Maupin on the classic "Jewel In The Lotus". For ten years a member of the Charles Lloyd Quartet, he can be heard on Lloyd's "The Call", "All My Relations", "Canto" and "Lift Every Voice" - influential albums all. Tenorist Mark Turner guested with Enrico Rava on "New York Days" in 2008, also recording with the Fly trio in that year on "Sky And Country" (a second Fly disc is in preparation). Pianist Iverson and bassist Ben Street make their first ECM appearances with "All Our Reasons".

Billy Hart, Ethan Iverson and Mark Turner are all featured as composers on "All Our Reasons". Hart's "Song for Balkis" begins the programme with an evocative drum solo, with Billy in freer mode, loosely swinging but also with a roiling sense of unpredictability which engages his fellow players - each of whom plays differently, and often rather beautifully - in this context. Mark Turner says of playing with Hart: "I feel I have more trust in myself and more trust in the beat than I would in other situations, and it has helped me grow a lot as a musician."

"Ohnedaruth" was the spiritual name adopted by John Coltrane. Ethan Iverson's homage re-works his "Giant Steps": The opening piano salvo has left and right hands in utter de-synchrony (Iverson's description), like a player-piano gone awry. When the tenor trio takes over, the original changes are barely perceivable through a web of delayed resolutions and unexpected voice-leading, but the emotional feeling remains close to Trane.

"Toli's Dance" is a modern blues composition by Billy. After a fanfare for piano trio, Hart initiates an undulating funk beat. Turner devours the complex harmonic atmosphere in a soaring solo, and the piano responds with simple chimes, morning bells at the end of the party.

"Nostalgia for the Impossible" has several uncanny moments of free harmony between Iverson and Street. Iverson grew up on records Paul Bley made for ECM and perhaps this performance is a kind of tribute.

The gently loping Hart tune "Duchess" was previously recorded on his "Oshumare" album (Gramavision). Street works closely with Hart here to shape each new rhythmic feel into a distinctive statement while Iverson and Turner take melodic fragments and spin them about.

Mark Turner's "Nigeria" takes off from "Airegin", Sonny Rollins's much-covered composition (which was inspired originally by Nigerian dancers, and premiered on Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove"). Turner's capacity for high-speed improvising on chord changes at top speed is facilitated by the quick reflexes of Ben Street: a master-class in subtle listening.

"Wasteland" is a through-composed piece by Turner learned in the studio especially for this recording. The only improvised sections are the introductory saxophone cadenza and the drum interludes. "Old Wood", meanwhile, is an improvisation originally intended to introduce another piece. The title comes from Iverson's pleasure in an exceptional Steinway.

Finally, Hart's "Imke's March" begins and ends with a whistled melody Billy used to call his daughter in from the playground. When the band gets going Hart stays active on the snare, continuing the march theme. Iverson's casual solo incorporates trademark diatonicism and motivic development.

muzycy:
Mark Turner: tenor saxophone
Ethan Iverson: piano
Ben Street: double bass
Billy Hart: drums

utwory:
1. Song For Balkis [12:50]
2. Ohnedaruth [6:03]
3. Tolli's Dance [5:27]
4. Nostalgia For The Impossible [5:51]
5. Nigeria [6:30]
6. Duchess [7:52]
7. Wasteland [7:08]
8. Old Wood [1:42]
9. Imke's March [5:48]

wydano: 2012-03-20
nagrano: Recorded June 2011, Avatar Studios, New York
more info: www.ecmrecords.com