Schedule

Monday, Jan 25, 8:30pm

Feinstein's Jazz Club (NYC)

Braden-Rapp: The Strayhorn Project, CD RELEASE SHOW

Celebrating the brand new CD featuring GRAMMY nominee Gerald Clayton, Don Braden, Sachal Vasandani, Mark Rapp, Rene Hart and Greg Gonzalez. "'...we made particular efforts to give the tunes creative, unusual yet contemporary treatments,' insists Don Braden. From the jump that goal is achieved... This sense of old wine/new bottles was confirmed...with Braden...“We have re-harmonized, re-rhythmized, and even re-melodized some of his great classics, bending and shaping them with elements from throughout the jazz tradition." - from the liner notes by Willard Jenkins.

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from the liner notes... "This pairing of veteran saxophonist-flutist Don Braden and promising young trumpeter Mark Rapp is an inspired coupling. It is successful not only due to their considerable skills and by the enormity of the book Billy Strayhorn left here for us to learn, but also by the wisdom of their discerning manager Gail Boyd. It’s not often that a stable of artists comes together in such an easeful manner that artistically exceeds any sense of crass commercial considerations, but this proves to be an exceptional idea. “Our project is unique because unlike most performances of Strayhorn’s music, we made particular efforts to give the tunes creative, unusual yet contemporary treatments,” insists Don Braden. From the jump that goal is achieved as their novel approach to “Rain Check” kicks off the date with New Orleans second line echoes. This sense of old wine/new bottles was confirmed in communications with Braden, who insists that “We have re-harmonized, re-rhythmized, and even re-melodized some of his great classics, bending and shaping them with elements from throughout the jazz tradition. We also present textural elements that aren’t typical, such as the groove and vibe on “Isfahan,” which is robust and dramatic, “or the use of the alto flute in relatively rare solo mode” on “Daydream”, Braden asserts. “Isfahan” is further enlivened by a bit of polyphony between Braden and Rapp. For his arrangement of “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” Braden borrows gently from Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly.” By Willard Jenkins - www.openskyjazz.com - Home of The Independent Ear

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