MIKE HOLOBER: CANYON
COMPOSER
LEADS A DISTINGUISHED QUINTET ON SMALL GROUP DEBUT
Scott Colley, Brian Blade, Tim Ries & Wolfgang
Muthspiel
“The skillful writing and arranging of
Mike Holober deserves a medal.” — David
Zych, JazzTimes
New York, NY – With
no medals forthcoming, the work of Mike Holober
certainly
deserves special treatment in a solo project. To
that end, Sons of Sound is pleased to announce
the September
2, 2003 release of Canyon (SSPCD016),
a uniquely beautiful jazz recording featuring
the compositions and piano work of Mike Holober.
With
Producer Fred Hersch behind the board and accompanied
by an exceptional quartet of musicians, Canyon
has the strength and open space of its inspiration.
Friend and respected bassist John Patitucci offers
this commentary on Canyon: ”Mike Holober
has put together a recording of thoughtful and
beautifully
conceived compositions performed by a very sensitive
and intuitive group. It really is a breath of fresh
air!”
Inspired by years of experience traveling in
the outdoors, Holober also draws on diverse musical
sources to create Canyon. Says the composer: “Like
many musicians of my generation, I practiced Beethoven
on the piano and listened to Led Zeppelin. Later,
I discovered Sonny Stitt, Count Basie, and Bill Evans — ear-opening
and life-changing experiences. When I wrote the
music for Canyon I was striving for a form of acoustic
jazz that would be evocative of the simple joy
of
The Beatles, the sonic bliss of Ravel, melancholy
of Joni Mitchell, and the optimism of Copland.”
Joining their colleague to complete the rhythm
section for this session are Brian Blade (drums)
and Scott
Colley (bass), both winners of their respective
categories as “Rising Stars” in the
2002 DownBeat Critics Poll. Colley has repeated
this accomplishment
in the just-released 2003 poll, while Blade has
graduated to the #4 Drummer overall.
Blade continues to be one of the most in-demand
drummers in contemporary music, appearing on two
of the most
acclaimed recordings of 2002: Directions in Music
by Herbie Hancock, and Footprints Live! by Wayne
Shorter, the latter receiving “Jazz Album of
the Year” recognition from the DownBeat critics.
Colley is currently seen performing with jazz legend
Herbie Hancock.
The talents of saxophonist Tim Ries have been
associated with Maria Schneider, John Patitucci,
Larry Goldings,
Charles Pillow. Most recently, he has been seen
by hundreds of thousands while touring with the
Rolling
Stones.
A successful solo artist in his own right, guitarist
Wolfgang Muthspiel has a sound that puts him alongside
world-class plectrists Scofield, Abercrombie, Stern,
and Towner. His rhythmic interplay and sonic textures
provide depth and foundation to Holober’s
writing.
Holober will make his follow-up to Canyon in
2004 with Thought Trains, conducting his own big
band,
The Gotham Jazz Orchestra, in a performance of
his own compositions and arrangements. The recording
features the notable contributions of Ron Carter
(bass), John Riley (drums), Dave Petro, Tim Ries
and Charles Pillow (saxophones), Dave Gilmour
(guitars),
and other luminaries of the New York jazz scene.
For additional information see the label’s
web site at http://sonsofsound.com/
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