Results for "Improvisation"

Henk Kraaijeveld

In the land of European jazz vocalists, Henk Kraaijeveld occupies a unique place somewhere between the known and the unknown. He is one of the rare male vocalists that seek musical adventure, bringing together compelling music with poetic lyrics and surprising improvisations. The award-winning singer disarms his audience with his warm voice and natural playfulness on stage. To Kraaijeveld, the storytelling character of music is essential, because of its power to connect people with themselves and the world around them. “I’m fascinated about our human need to show vulnerability and our longing to be loved as authentic beings with all our possibilities and flaws. I see that reflected in many (current) social developments. In my music and lyrics I always try to relate to that. You can hear that on the new album Patches of Sky, that has just been released.”

Alexander Kelley

Vanessa Vacanti

Born: November 10, 1999

Vanessa Vacanti is a fresh new face on the jazz scene. A recent grad of SUNY Fredonia, (BFA/Musical Theatre) her vocal talents are quickly becoming recognized by musician’s and audiences alike.  She has recently become local to Buffalo, NY, but previously has worked in the Syracuse area.  She has been mainstay in the Syracuse scene with performances at Syracuse Jazz Fest, Fayetteville Jazz Fest with Ronnie Leigh, Fulton Jazz Fest, Lake Ontario Wine and Jazz Fest, the Jazz By The Lake series in Oswego as well as frequent night club performances throughout Central New York. She frequently works with The Jazz Mafia Trio, which is her first-call backing band

Eivind Stordal

Eivind Stordal started playing piano at 7 years old. As a young boy he grew up playing psalms and played piano for the church choir. Later he found his passion in jazz and pop. His greatest inspiration where Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and the swedish pianist Jan Johanson. Eivind Stordal studied mathematics and became a self taught piano player. He is interested in exploring the interplay between the naive, melodious and consontant, and oppsoing dissonance.

Eivind Stordal plays piano in Ludum (a piano/drum duo) together with the drummer Mats Monstad. The duo plays avantguard music rooted in jazz traditions from both sides of the atlantic.

Ethan Margolis

Born: May 3, 1978

World-traversed and genre-fluid guitarist Ethan Margolis, aka “Emaginario,” is a prime example of an artist who has become greater than the sum of his many parts and pathways. Through the eclectic filter of his musical passions, studies and influences, Margolis has evolved into a creative and worldly artist, whose deep connections with flamenco, jazz, aspects of pop, blues and even punk coalesce into a unique musical voice.

Elements of that Margolis style can be heard coming to fruition on his latest album, Trio Emaginario, in trio form with jazz masters Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland. Illustrating the diverse reach of his musical impulses, Margolis also ventured into his debut “world jazz” album, Soleángeles, in 2014, during a period of live activity in such celebrated Los Angeles Blue Whale and the Baked Potato. From another hybridized corner of his musical mind comes the 2015 album Sonikete Blues. Recorded both in Spain and the USA, the project proposes an inventive merging of flamenco and blues—idioms with more emotional and fringe socio-cultural connections than might be expected.

Roz

Roz Harding is an "original and imaginative" (Mike Westbrook) alto saxophonist. The alto speaks volumes for Roz; she feels connected to it and audiences enjoy her ability to communicate - "a player who can tell a story that captivates and brings us back for more" (Gary Bayley). Described as "inspirational" and "immense" by Jazzwise Magazine, Roz has an expressive and "distinctive" (Smiths Academy Informer) style, citing her influences as Kate Bush, Bob Dylan, F. M. Alexander and his technique, Art Pepper, Jeff Buckley, Prince, The Beatles, Manic Street Preachers and Jackie McLean

Tombajazz

Tombajazz the funky jazz project from Munich

Bassist Tomba has selected well-known musicians from the Munich jazz scene. The project started in 2020 and the idea was to bring together a selection of great jazz musicians from Munich. The first single „The Senate“ (Miles Davis,Foley) was created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated artist and rapper Kokayi (USA) and was released in January 2021 as part of the BLM movement. The album was supposed to be released in the same year, but Corona and the Ukraine war that finally began put all that on hold.
The forthcoming album Recollections is musically very different and offers a broad spectrum of funk, jazz and chillout. The tracks were recorded in different formations. „Sweet Dreams“ and „Recollections“ were performed live in a studio session. In the videos recorded for this purpose, it is not difficult to imagine the full potential of what the band still has. In „Sweet Dreams“ Evan Tate begins with a cool, expressive solo in the middle part and Thorben Schütt (Jazzrausch) rounds it all off with unbelievable power and emotion at the end that you think he’s floating in other spheres.
„Recollections“ along with „Guinnevere“ always impressed me on Miles Davis‘ album „Bitches Brew“. Of course it’s very difficult to interpret this song fairly in its way. But I think we managed it quite well The tempo change throughout the song also gives it a bit of a boost.
The theme of „Pink Panther“ had inspired me with a funky bassline and starts with the modified theme followed by the horn section. Bastien Rieser improvises the trumpet in different parts and styles with cool effects at the end of the song.
With his synthesizer solo in „Mars Attack“ Hansi Enzensperger (ex. Organ Explosion) sets a special note and highlight. He plays everything on his large collection of vintage analogue synthesizers, on which he also creates the alien sounds. The song begins with a bass riff loop that runs through the themes, followed by an effects-infused bass solo.
The album, mostly original, features funky beats with catchy, catchy themes. The songs are consistently modal, which leaves plenty of room for improvisation.

Ellie Martin

Born: November 10, 1985

Recognized in the vocal jazz performance and scholarship worlds, Ellie Martin is a highly respected vocalist, composer, educator, and Jazz studies scholar. She is currently the vocal jazz instructor at the University of Toledo, as well as Toledo School for the Arts. She performs a wide variety of repertoire from Brazilian music, American Songbook, Bebop, as well as her original compositions. A fearless improviser, Ellie delivers songs with individuality, passion, and honesty. Career highlights include performing at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival, the Sunset Jazz Festival, and the Michigan Jazz Festival. She was the featured vocalist with the National Arab Orchestra in San Antonio Texas, and performed alongside jazz luminaries Geri Allen, Terri Lynne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, the New York Voices, Jon Hendricks, and Afro Blue.  

Guy Lee

Born: June 18

Pro guitarist with 7 albums and 5 music books. Mostly instrumental with some vocals. guyleemusic.com

Suura

Active since: 2017

Suura is an instrumental quartet formed by Nicolas Van Belle. The music consists out of original compositions which focus on free improvisation, sound and textures. 

​From 2021, the formation of the band changed to broaden the soundspectrum. This change led to new musical results which deepen the complexity and layering of their music.

​Suura's third full album to be released on May the 10th on bwaa.records.