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Believers: Hard Believer
by Vincenzo Roggero
Veterano della scena downtown newyorchese (da ricordare almeno il Dave Douglas Tiny Bell Trio, il quartetto Pachora con Jim Black, Chris Speed e Skuli Sverrisson, le collaborazioni con Carla Bley's Escalator Over the Hill, Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra, le registrazioni con Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band o il Paradox Trio con Matt Darriau, Rufus Cappadocia e Seido Salifoski) il chitarrista Brad Shepik si è nel corso degli anni sempre più avvicinato alle musiche del mondo. Tutto ciò senza rinnegare la ...
Continue ReadingChris McCarthy: Add a Zero
by Paul Rauch
Chris McCarthy is a wonderfully lyrical pianist, and an unexpected joy to hear. “Unexpected" you might ask? Allow an explanation. He is imaginative, highly skilled and has gained a reputation of excellence on the New York scene. His accompaniment and solo strides on his acclaimed duo release, Life's a Gig (Fresh Sounds, 2024), with vocalist Vanisha Gould make her deep dive into old soul magic seem grounded, adorned with subtle and spacious harmony that keeps the music buoyant and free ...
Continue ReadingBrad Shepik: Hard Believer
by Dan McClenaghan
The first burst of noise from a recording can be telling, predictive of what will come. The Believers' Hard Believer title tune says as much. A guitar, bass and drums group, the music comes to life with some resonant metallic chords. The drums and bass push their weight around. It is assertive music laid down with a gentle and intricate touch. This “Hard Believer" is an introspective entity. Guitarist Brad Shepik, bassist Sam Minaie and drummer John Hadfield ...
Continue ReadingBelievers: Hard Believer
by Dan Bilawsky
Belief--the cornerstone of conceptual development and the impetus for any pursuit, artistic or otherwise--is central to the shared mission binding guitarist Brad Shepik, bassist Sam Minaie and drummer/percussionist John Hadfield in this aptly titled trio. Through their eponymous 2020 debut--a strong album that flew under the radar due to its pandemic-era release timing--these three established an aesthetic reflective of global influences and wide-ranging interests. And with this sophomore date, they further that outlook by branching out in numerous directions and ...
Continue ReadingBrad Shepik: Human Activity: Dream of the Possible
by Richard J Salvucci
All About Jazz is not an academic journal, but once in a while, a little academic insight may not hurt. Two psychologists from McGill University have published an interesting piece in Impact: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning produced by the College of General Studies at Boston University. In “Waking Up to No Sound: Music Psychology and Climate Action," Lindsey Fleming and Daniel Levitin write: “Music is a cultural universal and for ...
Continue ReadingBrad Shepik: Human Activity: Dream of the Possible
by Katchie Cartwright
Brad Shepik's Human Activity: Dream of the Possible, featuring Layale Chaker (violin), Amino Belyamani (piano), Sam Minaie (bass) and John Hadfield (drums), is the guitarist and multi-instrumentalist's second album to respond to climate change. Composed as a single 10-movement work, a “narrative of hope," it follows his Human Activity Suite: Sounding a Response to Climate Change (Songlines Recordings, 2007). Shepik's aim is broad: “to inspire people to take any action they can to preserve and adapt in a sustainable way ...
Continue ReadingPhillip Golub: Abiding Memory
by Vincenzo Roggero
Pressoché sconosciuto dalle nostre parti, il poco più che trentenne Phillip Golub è musicista assai attivo nella sempre effervescente scena newyorchese. Eclettico, trasversale, dalla curiosità onnivora si muove con disinvoltura tra jazz, intrighi elettronici, libera improvvisazione e musica da camera, come testimoniano dischi e concerti. Per Abiding Memory si è scomodato un gigante del pianoforte come Vijay Iyer, scrivendone assai lusinghiere note di copertina. E l'ascolto delle dieci tracce conferma appieno l'eccellenza del risultato, perché Abiding Memory è ...
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