Jan 27 2017
Recommended: Vitor Goncalves Quartet – “Vitor Goncalves Quartet”
The debut from pianist Vitor Gonçalves keeps to a nice chatter. It’s talkative music. There is a strong sense of dialog directed from musician to listener, and the tone is frequently one of a sunny disposition. But the arresting quality of Vitor Gonçalves Quartet is how the pianist plants little pockets of introspection throughout the upbeat tunes. It’s not so apparent on opening track “Sem Nome,” which is plenty contemplative, but there are moments on tracks like “Cortelyou Road” and “Samba Do Perdão” that enter a quieter state in between passages when the quartet lights a fire under things. Those shifts in tone, though subtle, change the atmosphere dramatically, and it’s what gives enjoyable tunes a touch of intrigue.
A Brazilian expat now living in NYC, Gonçalves brings some influences from both home turfs, old and new. Renditions of “Samba Do Perdão” and “Se É Por Falta De Adeus” fall nicely into line with modern straight-ahead originals like “Winter Landscapes” and “De Cazadero Ao Recife,” and all of it radiates the charm and warmth of an enjoyable jazz piano session.
You really can’t go wrong with this one.
Your album personnel: Vitor Gonçalves (piano), Todd Neufeld (guitar), Thomas Morgan (bass) and Dan Weiss (drums).
Released on Sunnyside Records.
Listen to more of the album at the label’s Bandcamp page.
Jazz from NYC.
A pleasant straight-ahead session from the 
The Alexis Cuadrado project POÈTICA is brilliant on many levels. The bassist’s ensemble brings together multilingual poetry, Flamenco and both modern straight-ahead and Latin Jazz for glimpses into the challenges of immigrants new to America. I’ve written about this fantastic recording quite recently (
Latin American Songbook are the memories from Edward Simon‘s childhood. The pianist grew up listening to these songs in his native Venezuela, and now, much older and living in New York City, he performs his own renditions, bringing together the nostalgia from the memories and the reality of how he hears these pieces in the present day. The result is a mix of faithful renditions and inventive recreations. Simon has always displayed a nifty talent for developing an active chatter on piano while also being patiently expressive, and that quality is in full display on his 2016 release. Bassist Joe Martin and drummer Adam Cruz round on the trio on this excellent session.
Feb 26 2017
Preview “Caipi,” the upcoming release from Kurt Rosenwinkel
Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel has a new album on the horizon. Caipi is getting released March 10, 2017 on Heartcore Records/RazDaz Records, with some distribution on Sunnyside Records.
Here’s a preview of what’s to come…
Your album personnel: Kurt Rosenwinkel (acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, piano, drums, percussion, synth, casio, voice), Eric Clapton (guitar), Pedro Martins (voice, drums, keyboards, percussion), Alex Kozmidi (baritone guitar), Mark Turner (tenor saxophone), Frederika Krier (violin), Chris Komer (French horn), Andi Haberl (drums) and Kyra Garéy, Antonio Loureiro, Zola Mennenöh, Amanda Brecker (voices).
You can learn more about the album and pre-order it on the artist’s Bandcamp page.
Like this:
By davesumner • Album Preview, Announcement - Music • 0 • Tags: Kurt Rosenwinkel, Sunnyside Records