Neos Quintet releases debut record "Mackerel Sky"
What began as musical experimentation by five friends in an Eastman School of Music practice room four years ago finally came to fruition this Spring when the new ensemble Neos released its debut album, entitled Mackerel Sky. Neos features the pipe organ in an unusual role that exploits its lesser-used strengths as a part of a tightly woven chamber group. The ensemble’s repertoire is groove-based, internalizing influences from contemporary jazz, fusion, ethnic, and classical music. Neos is the brainchild of nationally recognized concert organist Matt Curlee, who performs alongside fellow Eastman Alumni Courtney Orlando (violin), Ted Poor (drums), and Ike Sturm (bass), and Ian Fry (mallets/percussion).
With five performers who bring gifts for composing, arranging, and improvisation to the table, the group’s repertoire is constantly growing and developing. Asked about building the repertoire for Neos, Curlee states, “We want Neos to be an ensemble that has an ability to move people of all ages and musical backgrounds, so we’ve tried to write and commission music that is complex and sophisticated enough engage musicians, yet colorful and exciting enough to appeal to anyone.” In addition to music written from within the group, Neos has tapped a number of composers to write new music, notably including Justinian Tamusuza of Uganda, formerly commissioned by the Kronos Quartet for their best-selling album “Pieces of Africa.”
The organ functions in a variety of unique roles in Neos – member of the rhythm section, source of color, and soloist. “Many people think of the organ as an instrument capable of just one musical voice – ponderous and serious,” says Curlee. “On the contrary, the power of the instrument is its enormous range of colors and textures. In the context of a small ensemble, it’s thrilling to experiment with how those colors interact with the other instruments. If you’ve never been a fan of the pipe organ, you might be pleasantly surprised when you hear it in this context.”
Critical to the band’s formation has been the musical flexibility of its members, states Curlee, whose own musical experience includes a spectrum of classical, jazz, and popular music: “I’m humbled to work with a group of creative people who have such rich artistic backgrounds. These are all musicians who are fluent in multiple musical dialects.” As individuals, the members of the group have collaborated with such greats as Chris Potter, Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler, Bobby McFerrin, composer Steve Reich, and many others.
Mackerel Sky is available through the Neos website at www.neos.org.
With five performers who bring gifts for composing, arranging, and improvisation to the table, the group’s repertoire is constantly growing and developing. Asked about building the repertoire for Neos, Curlee states, “We want Neos to be an ensemble that has an ability to move people of all ages and musical backgrounds, so we’ve tried to write and commission music that is complex and sophisticated enough engage musicians, yet colorful and exciting enough to appeal to anyone.” In addition to music written from within the group, Neos has tapped a number of composers to write new music, notably including Justinian Tamusuza of Uganda, formerly commissioned by the Kronos Quartet for their best-selling album “Pieces of Africa.”
The organ functions in a variety of unique roles in Neos – member of the rhythm section, source of color, and soloist. “Many people think of the organ as an instrument capable of just one musical voice – ponderous and serious,” says Curlee. “On the contrary, the power of the instrument is its enormous range of colors and textures. In the context of a small ensemble, it’s thrilling to experiment with how those colors interact with the other instruments. If you’ve never been a fan of the pipe organ, you might be pleasantly surprised when you hear it in this context.”
Critical to the band’s formation has been the musical flexibility of its members, states Curlee, whose own musical experience includes a spectrum of classical, jazz, and popular music: “I’m humbled to work with a group of creative people who have such rich artistic backgrounds. These are all musicians who are fluent in multiple musical dialects.” As individuals, the members of the group have collaborated with such greats as Chris Potter, Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler, Bobby McFerrin, composer Steve Reich, and many others.
Mackerel Sky is available through the Neos website at www.neos.org.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
