...sumptuously detailed instrumental arrangements. Reverent but unintimidated, their sound is a seamless blend of chamber jazz, rock and instrumental pop.
—Mercury News
Negative Press Project, the eight-piece jazz/indie-art rock–inspired original music collective originally from Oakland, California and spearheaded by bassist Andrew Lion and pianist Ruthie Dineen, will release The Victorious Sessions, their first album since 2019’s Within, on November 3 on Ridgeway Records.The album’s release will be preceded by three singles: “Birds of Agamon Hula” on September 8, “Hexagons” on September 22, and “Table for Three” on October 6. The album will also be released on vinyl on Envelopmental Music Records later this autumn.
Oakland native bassist/composer Andrew Lion and Salvadoran-American pianist/composer Ruthie Dineen are co-leaders of Negative Press Project. Together with Mexican-American guitarist/composer Luis Salcedo they interpret the influence of identity and culture in improvised song and form. Drawing on Black American Music and Latin-American rhythms, the program of music on the album reflects upon loss, determination, and honoring ancestors. Says Dineen, “To me this album is about strength and resilience. The strength it takes to overcome grief, loss, trauma, inequities, strife, and conflict. This conflict exists in all societies, as well as strength and light. The album and songs are a light for me, reminds me/us to stay true, and follow the natural course and beauty of life.”
“In short,” continues Lion, this recording is slightly out of character from prior and forthcoming NPP releases in that it more directly references some of our most beloved musical traditions such as Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Tango, West-African polyrhythm, and the arranging styles of Duke Ellington or Gil Evans, in that it leverages the distinct voices of the players. It generally has a triumphant feeling to the music, while acknowledging difficult subject matter in the sub-text, ultimately arriving at a place of stability to find that we remain in a world of both beauty and complexity—the latter much of our own collective doing.”
The trio recruited some of the Bay Area’s most creative and versatile musicians to join them on The Victorious Sessions,” including drummer Isaac Schwartz, saxophonists Chris Sullivan, Lyle Link and Tony Peebles, and Ivan Artega; Rafa Postel on trumpet; and vocalist Mia Pixley.
The recording kicks off with “Victorious,” penned by Dineen in memoriam of Victor Mulhaney, a promising young Bay area musician whose ascendant career was cut short by an act of random violence. “He was a young drummer, who lived life fully, played music with his whole soul and heart, and was deeply kind and loving,” says Dineen. “The beginning of the tune expresses the loss and grief, but quickly reminds us of the vibrance and force of this young soul. The end of the tune takes us to another realm, one where his memory and essence is brought forward, along with the sweet memories, fighting through the grief. "
Other pieces honor elements of Cuban-Son virtuoso Israel “Cachao” López Valdéz, Dmitri Shostakovich, Alberto Ginestera, Manuel de Falla, Duke Ellington, and Astor Piazzolla.
The title of “Birds of Agamon Hula,” the album’s first single, refers to a natural sanctuary for birds in Israel, a place where the birds stop on their migration between Europe and Africa. Thousands of them stay at Agamon during the winter, while others nest there during the spring and summer. When there, the sounds from the birds are like none other. The piece is a homage to the natural beauty of bird calls. It also explores how musical ideas migrate and are shared across our globe. For example, there is a call out to the music of Cachao throughout the piece, his lilting bass, and melodic ideas,” explains Dineen.
“Chant,” is based on the cadence of a Nichiren Buddhist chant, “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo,” that inherently contains a 6/8 feel (a polyrhythm written into the arrangement),” explains Lion. It represents the uncommon generosity and protection of the universe as we find healing through spirituality and community.”
The expansive electro-acoustic ensemble always brings a supple textural palette to their largely original repertoire. While the group remains focused on their roots in improvisation and committed to deeply inspired composition, they are constantly exploring the intersections of jazz, chamber, and rock music. The voices of Tony Peebles (tenor saxophone), Rafa Postel (trumpet), Chris Sullivan (alto saxophone), Lyle Link (alto & tenor saxophone), Luis Salcedo (guitar), and Isaac Schwartz (drums) imprint the music with a multitude of diverse experiences and sounds.
The Shepherd Express lauded NPP, saying the band was “open to all possibilities... melodious frameworks for instrumental improvisation within a focused ensemble setting. It’s jazz, it’s chamber music and it often involves the dynamic energy of rock.” Similarly, the Mercury News called out the group’s “sumptuously detailed instrumental arrangements. Reverent but unintimidated, their sound is a seamless blend of chamber jazz, rock, and instrumental pop.”
The group released an impressive debut album, See Evil Eyes | Civilize, in 2015, focusing on original compositions. In 2017 they released their second album, Eternal Life— Jeff Buckley Songs and Sounds, which received a four-star review from Downbeat Magazine. They followed this up with the release of Within in the summer of 2019.
In addition to his work with Negative Press Project, Lion has been busy with electric and double bass freelance work throughout the Pacific Northwest, most frequently performing Brazilian repertoire with saxophonist Tom Bergeron, Professor Emeritus Western Oregon University, but also with Americana and Alt. Folk artist Joel Chadd. In addition, he’s been leading a new project called līder|lāder featuring a multitude of collaborators including key creative contributions from several principal Negative Press Project members (including Ruthie Dineen, Luis Salcedo, and Rafa Postel). Recordings of this expanded cohort and others are taking place in Seattle and Los Angeles, while more are scheduled to conclude in Brooklyn, NY and Portland, Oregon over the next 18 months. Live public performances are forthcoming.
As a founding member of the Bay Area collective RDL+, on August 22 Dineen simultaneously released five CDs of music recorded during the group’s four year-long residency at Oakland’s Studio Grand, which featured an array of many of the most interesting and ground-breaking musicians on the scene. Beginning in 2015, the residency resulted in five curated discs that contain a vast array of musical styles ranging from free jazz to Brazilian to classical, always maintaining an aesthetic stemming from traditional jazz. A compilation CD, Bay Area Bridges Compilation, featuring tracks from all five albums, was released in conjunction with the albums.
For more information, visit our website.
Oakland native bassist/composer Andrew Lion and Salvadoran-American pianist/composer Ruthie Dineen are co-leaders of Negative Press Project. Together with Mexican-American guitarist/composer Luis Salcedo they interpret the influence of identity and culture in improvised song and form. Drawing on Black American Music and Latin-American rhythms, the program of music on the album reflects upon loss, determination, and honoring ancestors. Says Dineen, “To me this album is about strength and resilience. The strength it takes to overcome grief, loss, trauma, inequities, strife, and conflict. This conflict exists in all societies, as well as strength and light. The album and songs are a light for me, reminds me/us to stay true, and follow the natural course and beauty of life.”
“In short,” continues Lion, this recording is slightly out of character from prior and forthcoming NPP releases in that it more directly references some of our most beloved musical traditions such as Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Tango, West-African polyrhythm, and the arranging styles of Duke Ellington or Gil Evans, in that it leverages the distinct voices of the players. It generally has a triumphant feeling to the music, while acknowledging difficult subject matter in the sub-text, ultimately arriving at a place of stability to find that we remain in a world of both beauty and complexity—the latter much of our own collective doing.”
The trio recruited some of the Bay Area’s most creative and versatile musicians to join them on The Victorious Sessions,” including drummer Isaac Schwartz, saxophonists Chris Sullivan, Lyle Link and Tony Peebles, and Ivan Artega; Rafa Postel on trumpet; and vocalist Mia Pixley.
The recording kicks off with “Victorious,” penned by Dineen in memoriam of Victor Mulhaney, a promising young Bay area musician whose ascendant career was cut short by an act of random violence. “He was a young drummer, who lived life fully, played music with his whole soul and heart, and was deeply kind and loving,” says Dineen. “The beginning of the tune expresses the loss and grief, but quickly reminds us of the vibrance and force of this young soul. The end of the tune takes us to another realm, one where his memory and essence is brought forward, along with the sweet memories, fighting through the grief. "
Other pieces honor elements of Cuban-Son virtuoso Israel “Cachao” López Valdéz, Dmitri Shostakovich, Alberto Ginestera, Manuel de Falla, Duke Ellington, and Astor Piazzolla.
The title of “Birds of Agamon Hula,” the album’s first single, refers to a natural sanctuary for birds in Israel, a place where the birds stop on their migration between Europe and Africa. Thousands of them stay at Agamon during the winter, while others nest there during the spring and summer. When there, the sounds from the birds are like none other. The piece is a homage to the natural beauty of bird calls. It also explores how musical ideas migrate and are shared across our globe. For example, there is a call out to the music of Cachao throughout the piece, his lilting bass, and melodic ideas,” explains Dineen.
“Chant,” is based on the cadence of a Nichiren Buddhist chant, “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo,” that inherently contains a 6/8 feel (a polyrhythm written into the arrangement),” explains Lion. It represents the uncommon generosity and protection of the universe as we find healing through spirituality and community.”
The expansive electro-acoustic ensemble always brings a supple textural palette to their largely original repertoire. While the group remains focused on their roots in improvisation and committed to deeply inspired composition, they are constantly exploring the intersections of jazz, chamber, and rock music. The voices of Tony Peebles (tenor saxophone), Rafa Postel (trumpet), Chris Sullivan (alto saxophone), Lyle Link (alto & tenor saxophone), Luis Salcedo (guitar), and Isaac Schwartz (drums) imprint the music with a multitude of diverse experiences and sounds.
The Shepherd Express lauded NPP, saying the band was “open to all possibilities... melodious frameworks for instrumental improvisation within a focused ensemble setting. It’s jazz, it’s chamber music and it often involves the dynamic energy of rock.” Similarly, the Mercury News called out the group’s “sumptuously detailed instrumental arrangements. Reverent but unintimidated, their sound is a seamless blend of chamber jazz, rock, and instrumental pop.”
The group released an impressive debut album, See Evil Eyes | Civilize, in 2015, focusing on original compositions. In 2017 they released their second album, Eternal Life— Jeff Buckley Songs and Sounds, which received a four-star review from Downbeat Magazine. They followed this up with the release of Within in the summer of 2019.
In addition to his work with Negative Press Project, Lion has been busy with electric and double bass freelance work throughout the Pacific Northwest, most frequently performing Brazilian repertoire with saxophonist Tom Bergeron, Professor Emeritus Western Oregon University, but also with Americana and Alt. Folk artist Joel Chadd. In addition, he’s been leading a new project called līder|lāder featuring a multitude of collaborators including key creative contributions from several principal Negative Press Project members (including Ruthie Dineen, Luis Salcedo, and Rafa Postel). Recordings of this expanded cohort and others are taking place in Seattle and Los Angeles, while more are scheduled to conclude in Brooklyn, NY and Portland, Oregon over the next 18 months. Live public performances are forthcoming.
As a founding member of the Bay Area collective RDL+, on August 22 Dineen simultaneously released five CDs of music recorded during the group’s four year-long residency at Oakland’s Studio Grand, which featured an array of many of the most interesting and ground-breaking musicians on the scene. Beginning in 2015, the residency resulted in five curated discs that contain a vast array of musical styles ranging from free jazz to Brazilian to classical, always maintaining an aesthetic stemming from traditional jazz. A compilation CD, Bay Area Bridges Compilation, featuring tracks from all five albums, was released in conjunction with the albums.
For more information, visit our website.
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