Charlie Parker Bird in Kansas City Verve Release Date: October 25, 2024

Charlie Parker

Bird in Kansas City

Verve

Release Date: October 25, 2024

On modern jazz pioneer Charlie Parker’s heavenly birthday: August 29, 2024, Verve Records announced Bird in Kansas City, an album featuring a new set of rare recordings dating from between 1941-1951, to be released globally on October 25, 2024 on vinyl, CD, and digitally. Much of this collection has never been heard before and some recordings have never even been known to exist — Bird in Kansas City chronicles Charlie Parker’s evolution from a blossoming soloist with the Jay McShann Band into a brilliant improviser who changed the genre forever.

To celebrate the announcement of Bird in Kansas City, the first track, “Cherokee,” 

Chuck Haddix — scholar and author of Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker, who also produced and wrote liner notes for this album — says, “‘Ray Noble’s ‘Cherokee’ was one of Bird's favorite songs. Whenever he showed up late for a gig, he would make a grand entrance through the front door playing ‘Cherokee.’ Taken at a bright tempo, Charlie takes wing with a melodic solo that deftly navigates the song’s challenging chord changes.”

In addition to two unreleased 78s with the McShann band, Bird in Kansas City offers two sets of private recordings — at the home of Parker’s friend Phil Baxter and at Vic Damon’s studio— made with local musicians and a very relaxed-sounding Parker who has the room to stretch out and show us the shape of jazz that was to come in his wake.

Central to these recordings is Parker’s relationship to his hometown of Kansas City, a place he never lived again once he left in 1941 but remained deeply important to him; his mixed emotions owed to the city’s history of racial segregation and to his strong ties to his family and friends there. Though he never returned permanently, he frequently came home during breaks in his travels, and it is during those times that these recordings were made.

1Bird Song #1 

2Bird Song #2 

3Bird Song #3 

4Cherokee - Phil Baxter Version 

5Body And Soul - Phil Baxter Version 

6Honeysuckle Rose 

7Perdido 

8Cherokee - Vic Damon Version 

9My Heart Tells Me 

10I Found a New Baby 

11Body and Soul - Vic Damon Version 

12Margie 

13I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 

Se publica el libro ‘Jazz en Puerto Rico: Las Entrevistas’.

Se publica el libro ‘Jazz en Puerto Rico: Las Entrevistas’.

San Juan, Octubre, 2024. Luego de la publicación en el 2019 de su primer libro, ‘Boricua Jazz La Historia del Jazz Puertorriqueño: Desde Rafael Hernández a Miguel Zenón’, su autor Wilbert Sostre Maldonado publica ‘Jazz en Puerto Rico: Las Entrevistas’.

En mayo del 2019, luego de más de 10 años de entrevistas e investigación, se publicó ‘Boricua Jazz: La Historia del Jazz Puertorriqueño’, libro que documenta los aportes de los boricuas a la historia del Jazz.

‘Boricua Jazz’ ha vendido cientos de copias en Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos, y se ha utilizado como documento de referencia en cursos universitarios, y en libros y publicaciones en internet.

"El éxito en ventas de nuestro primer libro fue más que inesperado. Nuestro propósito con la publicación de ese libro era dejar un documento histórico para futuras generaciones interesadas en los aportes de los puertorriqueños al Jazz. Jamás pensamos que un libro con el tema del Jazz tendría tan buena recepción y ventas." Wilbert Sostre Maldonado, historiador y columnista especializado en música

Una segunda edición de ‘Boricua Jazz’ fue publicada en el 2021, y la edición en inglés se publicó en el 2023. Actualmente el autor trabaja en nuevas ediciones en ambos idiomas.

Wilbert Sostre Maldonado ha escrito reseñas de grabaciones y eventos de jazz para publicaciones como Jazz Times, Jazz Inside Magazine, Latin Jazz Network, All About Jazz, Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, y su blog ‘Puerto Rico Jazz’ entre otras. Además ha sido invitado a las emisoras Radio Universidad, Radio Oro, Yunque Radio, Vid 90.3, Radio Leo, WPAB, Ponce, Radio Isla 1320, Mundo Salsa Radio y el canal de televisión ABC Puerto Rico para compartir sus conocimientos sobre el Jazz.

El también productor y conductor de los programas ‘Puerto Rico Jazz’ en la emisora de la Universidad William Paterson, New Jersey, y ‘Jazzeando’ en Salseo Radio, ahora presenta su nuevo libro ‘Jazz en Puerto Rico: Las Entrevistas’.

"Entre varias ideas que tenemos para próximos libros, hemos decidido publicar primero esta recopilación de entrevistas que han sido parte de nuestro trabajo cubriendo la escena del Jazz Puertorriqueño."

"Durante 20 años hemos estado cubriendo la escena del Jazz en Puerto Rico a través de reseñas y artículos de grabaciones, festivales y conciertos para publicaciones locales e internacionales especializadas en jazz, arte y música. En el transcurso de esos veinte años hemos tenido la oportunidad de conocer y entrevistar algunos de los mejores músicos de jazz, y a personas relacionadas a la industria de la música." Wilbert Sostre Maldonado

En el libro Jazz en Puerto Rico; Las entrevistas, tendrán la oportunidad de entrar en las mentes de maestros de la música, conocer sus historias y su proceso creativo.

“’Jazz en Puerto Rico: Las Entrevistas’, de alguna forma, complementa la información contenida en el libro ‘Boricua Jazz’. Este libro, sin embargo, contiene entrevistas que no habían sido publicadas anteriormente. Ambos libros son parte de nuestro compromiso en continuar documentando la fascinante escena del jazz puertorriqueño.” Wilbert Sostre Maldonado

‘Jazz en Puerto Rico: Las Entrevistas’, carpeta dura y blanda, ya está a la venta en Amazon, y pronto estará disponible en las librerías de Puerto Rico.

Para información adicional pueden comunicarse a jazzinmagazine@gmail.com o 787-942-9772

Edgar Abraham rinde homenaje a Jack Delano con un concierto especial en el MUSAN

Edgar Abraham rinde homenaje a Jack Delano con un concierto especial en el MUSAN

El virtuoso multiinstrumentista se presentará junto a un conjunto de cuerdas este sábado, 26 de octubre, en el Museo de los Santos y Arte Nacional en Santurce.

Santurce — El próximo sábado, 26 de octubre de 2024, el Museo de los Santos y Arte Nacional (MUSAN) será el escenario de un concierto muy especial donde el virtuoso multiinstrumentista Edgar Abraham rendirá homenaje al ilustre fotógrafo y compositor Jack Delano. Este evento, que es parte de su serie de conciertos, promete ser un punto de encuentro entre su legado cultural y la expresión contemporánea de su música.

Edgar Abraham, reconocido por su versatilidad y maestría en diversos instrumentos, cuenta con una carrera que abarca más de dos décadas. Ha colaborado con destacados artistas y ha participado en múltiples proyectos que van desde la música clásica hasta el jazz y fusiones contemporáneas. Su enfoque innovador en la interpretación musical ha llevado su trabajo a diversos escenarios, donde ha compartido su pasión por la música y su deseo de conectar a las audiencias con las raíces culturales de nuestro país.

En este concierto en el MUSAN, Abraham interpretará la "Sonata en La Menor" de Jack Delano, adaptada para saxofón alto y cuerdas. Esta obra, originalmente escrita para viola y piano, es un reflejo del talento y la sensibilidad de Delano, ucraniano radicado en Puerto Rico en la década de 1940 y quien capturó magistralmente la esencia del país no solo a través de su lente, sino también a través de su música. Delano, quien se convirtió en un ícono cultural y un defensor del arte puertorriqueño, dejó una huella indeleble en la historia del país, utilizando su arte para documentar la vida cotidiana y las tradiciones del pueblo puertorriqueño. Su obra abarca desde la fotografía documental hasta la composición musical, influyendo en generaciones de artistas y creadores.

El concierto contará con un talentoso conjunto de cuerdas que acompañará a Abraham, integrado por Adriana Sánchez y Josué Meléndez en el violín, Edgard Marrero Cotté en la viola, Keren Torres en el violonchelo y Reinaldo Robles en el contrabajo.

Además de la obra de Delano, Edgar Abraham presentará dos de sus composiciones originales "Una sola estrella" y la suite "Los diez mundos". Estas piezas reflejan su visión artística y su compromiso con la música como forma de expresión cultural, fusionando influencias contemporáneas con elementos de la tradición musical puertorriqueña.

Las puertas del MUSAN abrirán a las 7:00 PM para recibir al público y a las 7:30 PM iniciará la presentación musical. Se recomienda reservar entradas anticipadamente en givebutter.com/edgarabraham. Los espacios son limitados.

Este evento es posible en parte gracias al programa Mano Amiga de Fundación Plaza Las Américas y Plaza del Caribe. Esta serie de conciertos es producida por Espacio de las Artes.

Las personas interesadas pueden encontrar más información en las redes sociales @musanpr o escribiendo a info@musan.org.

SOBRE EL MUSAN

El Museo de los Santos y Arte Nacional (MUSAN), ubicado en la Avenida Ponce de León en Santurce, cuenta con una valiosa colección permanente de más de 400 santos tallados en madera, exhibiciones de arte contemporáneo y una sala para actividades culturales y educativas. Sus programas incluyen conferencias, talleres y una serie anual de conciertos acústicos y de pequeño formato. El MUSAN es un espacio dinámico que celebra diversas disciplinas artísticas y generaciones de artistas, promoviendo la innovación y la experimentación, y creando un diálogo continuo entre la tradición y las visiones contemporáneas del arte puertorriqueño.

ELEMENTAL MUSIC UNEARTHS BILL EVANS IN NORWAY FOR RSD BLACK FRIDAY RELEASE AS EXCLUSIVE TWO-LP SET ON NOV. 29

ELEMENTAL MUSIC UNEARTHS BILL EVANS IN NORWAY FOR RSD BLACK FRIDAY RELEASE AS EXCLUSIVE TWO-LP SET ON NOV. 29

 
Master Pianist’s Energetic 1970 Performance at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival Arrives
as a Deluxe Two-CD Set on Dec. 6
 
Comprehensively Annotated Set Includes Interviews with Evans, Bassist Eddie Gomez and Drummer Marty Morell, and Norwegian Pianist Roy Hellvin; Reflections on Evans’ Art by Keyboardists Aaron Parks and Craig Taborn; and Notes by Evans Scholar Marc Myers

Elemental Music will release Bill Evans in Norway, a brilliant 1970 trio concert captured at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival, as an exclusive RSD Black Friday two-LP set on Nov. 29.

 

The 180-gram vinyl package, mastered by Matthew Lutthans at the Mastering Lab and pressed at Memphis Pressing, will be succeeded by a two-CD set on Dec. 6.

 

This latest Evans archival find by the team at Elemental Music, produced for release by the award-winning “Jazz Detective” Zev Feldman, is being issued in cooperation with the Bill Evans Estate. The package includes a rare interview with Evans conducted by Norwegian critic and impresario Randi Hultin at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival; new interviews with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell, members of the pianist’s longest-lived trio, who supported him at the festival; an interview with Norwegian pianist Roy Hellvin, who was in the audience at the performance; reflections on Evans’ art by pianists Aaron Parks, Craig Taborn, and Eliane Elias; and concert photographs by Arthur Sand.

 

“Between Resonance Records and Elemental Music, I’ve had the good fortune of working with Evan Evans of the Bill Evans Estate for the past 14 years, and this will be my 12th production working with the family,” producer Feldman says. “These recordings come from the archives of Norway’s Kongsberg Jazz Festival, which was founded in 1964. It’s been a major breakthrough for us to have established contact with their team in 2023 and we’re very excited about this new relationship.”

The Kongsberg appearance on June 26, 1970, found the Evans trio in especially stirring form. The pianist — who had recently begun to wean himself off a longtime addiction to heroin in a supervised methadone program — was especially sensitive to his audience’s tastes, and brought a fresh energy to his repertoire.

 

Myers notes, “Evans appreciated Norwegians’ reserve, modesty and politeness. He also was aware that their moods tended to be lugubrious in the winter, when there was less sunlight each day, and more gleeful in the summer, when the sun set around 11 p.m. While preparing the Kongsberg set list, he knew Norwegian concertgoers would have a deep connection to wistful songs such as ‘What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?,’ ‘Turn Out the Stars,' and ‘Quiet Now.’ But as you listen, you’ll notice that the Bill Evans Trio took many of these traditionally somber songs at a more spirited clip.”

Evans himself said on the day after the date, “This is an excellent audience, and it's weird to think that a little place like Kongsberg can hire musicians from all over the world just because they like jazz here. I admire the enthusiasm of the organizers, who do all of this without earning a penny for it….These days here in Kongsberg have really meant something to me. It's a beautiful place, and I've been able to relax.”

The pianist’s rhythm section, both experienced hands at European touring, took their cues from the leader’s approach. Gomez says, “When we played in Kongsberg, we had just played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The recording of that event was called Montreux II. And at that time Montreux was a very high-profile festival. Having passed that hurdle, we went on to Kongsberg, and that was a relief. I felt really relaxed, like, ‘Okay, this is good. It's not like Montreux, there's less pressure.’ And I think the outcome is a record that's quite good.”

 

Adds Morell, “There’s nothing like playing jazz in Europe — Norway, Scandinavia. Bill was loved, and it was always a special treat, and an honor really, to play for those people, because he was appreciated so well. But then you go to Paris and London and other countries, and it was a similar vibe. And South America, too. Bill was revered all over the world.”

 

Hellvin says, “It was a great kick for me to hear the tape of this 1970 Bill Evans concert 54 years after being there. I can still remember the atmosphere created by the trio. The summer in Norway was unusually warm that year, but inside the Kongsberg cinema there was a special mood. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another audience so quiet and concentrated, especially during Bill’s rendition of Leonard Bernstein`s ‘Some Other Time.’ It really left us spellbound! To me, Evans was playing a little harder than usual, and with more attack on his up-tempo numbers.”

 

The players touched by Evans’ influence find the essence of the keyboardist’s genius expressed in a fresh way in the unique Kongsberg performance.

 

“I've come to realize that on Bill's playing there is lyricism and sensitivity,” Parks says, “but also deep intelligence, and above all a great muscularity. There's a tactile, grippy kind of thing to the way in which he approaches harmony. There's a real vitality, and a sense of putting skin in the game, rhythmically. All of that can be felt on this Kongsberg concert.”

Taborn says, “The group playing in Kongsberg is really interesting for me, because I think the Marty Morell years are fascinating….With Morell, Bill is really on top a lot. He has a much brighter feel. He's really pushing stuff. Even bringing the tempos up a little bit. This group is swinging along in a brighter way, which really brings out the more rhythmic side of Bill Evans.”

Summing up the impact of Evans’ enduring music, Elias says, “Bill Evans created his own musical universe in harmony, melody and rhythm and has influenced generations of musicians with his sound and conception of interplay.  I consider him to be one of my important influences.”