http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=62324
Critically Acclaimed Band, The Jazz Passengers Set to Release "Reunited" on October 12
Ensemble's First Release in Over a Decade Features Special Guests Elvis Costello, Debbie Harry, and Marc Ribot
“The Jazz Passengers make jazz that's smart and witty and raucous. For all its unpredictable forms and modernist dissonances, the music comes across as boisterous fun. The Passengers' basic sound is that of a densely dissonant hard-bop band, updating Charles Mingus's Jazz Workshop groups, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and some of Bobby Hutcherson's and Eric Dolphy's 1960's Blue Note albums. Unlike their jazz antecedents, the Passengers deal as much in texture as in melody; their arrangements jump from Mingus-style full-band brawls to saxophone-trombone duets to rock-guitar riffs, with a postmodern jazz band's pleasure in odd juxtapositions." —Jon Pareles, The New York Times (Feb 18, 1988)
Justin Time Records announces the North American release of Reunited, the new recording by The Jazz Passengers, and its first recording in 12 years. The recording, positively blasting with energy, features the venerable NYC-based ensemble in its original incarnation, with guitarist Marc Ribot (re) joining members Roy Nathanson, Curtis Fowlkes, Brad Jones, Bill Ware, Sam Bardfeld and E.J. Rodriguez for what is not only an undeniably strong record, but arguably the acclaimed group's best work.
The recording is proof that despite the group's association with illustrious guests on past recordings and tours (two of whom, Elvis Costello and Debbie Harry, appear on this new work), The Jazz Passengers are a band, and Reunited is a testament to their extraordinary chemistry. This magic can only exist when musicians enjoy a nearly indescribable intuition, coupled with the cohesiveness that comes with longevity. Happily, Jon Pareles' writing (see above intro) is as true today as the day he wrote it twenty-two years ago.
The infectious onstage witty repartee and undeniable joie de vivre of The Jazz Passengers has perhaps contributed to a perception of the group being less than serious. If ever there was a recording to dispel this false notion, it is Reunited. Here is a serious work that is also highly accessible—and wasn't jazz supposed to be like this? Reunited, as with all past Passengers recordings, features a blend of group vocals as well as showcased guest vocals, with trombonist Fowlkes leading the way. Along with Grady Tate, he's got to be one of the best instrumentalists that also possess a killer voice.
“Button Up" is an energetic R&B romp that features Fowlkes on lead with the whole group on ensemble vocals, and it also features some great playing from violinist Bardfeld and guitarist Ribot. “National Anthem" starts as a quiet duo between Fowlkes and Nathanson, then stretches into a completely unpredictable group workout, complete with surf and psychedelic guitar riffs punctuated by sharp, percussive ensemble horn charts. “Tell Me" is a pretty ballad that features great percussion from Rodriguez and lovely trombone licks from Fowlkes, who also provides the vocal. Bill Ware's vibes are also wonderfully evocative, and in fact hard to single out in any song, so integral they are to the Passengers' sound.
It could be said that Reunited is jazz chamber music in the same way that Ellington's music was, as the solos are short, making the proceedings full of intricate ensemble work. The music has its own particular landscape, giving the players the confidence to step out. It's a sound that's uniquely their own, yet there is a precedent: think of the way James Brown made his horns part of the rhythm section. It's also unfailingly diverse, changing as a film does, from scene to scene, with moments of bombast (check out two minutes into “National Anthem") to the intimate, unpretentious poetry they make of the title track, a #1 hit for Peaches & Herb in 1979.
While Herb has remained a constant in the chart-topping group since its creation, no less than six consecutive women have filled the role of “Peaches." Hilariously, Fowlkes sings Peaches' part here (after Nathanson recites the first verse spoken word), effectively crowning him the seventh “Peaches" and the first (known) male one. In all seriousness, the Passengers' reading is both funny (listen to Ribot's trick bag here) yet surprisingly poignant. Ribot, a jazz/rock icon in his own right (his contributions to recordings by Tom Waits, John Zorn, Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull are nearly unimaginable without him), plays his heart out on the album's first six tracks, with excitingly dissonant yet somehow elegant riffs that are as good as anything he's committed to disc.
In most jazz groups, the lyrics are not written by its own members, but here we have one of rock's greatest lyricists (Elvis Costello) singing the album's first composition, yet it's not his own work—it's Roy Nathanson's composition “Wind Walked By." The two are great friends, and Costello has contributed to past Passengers records, including Individually Twisted (1996), on which he did co-write, with bassist Brad Jones, the song “Aubergine." Costello's performance here is lovely and languid; it's Nathanson's reflection on the new depression ("I was afraid we wouldn't get this record out before the financial crunch was over!" adds the composer and saxophonist). Costello has always sung uncannily in tune, and this is no exception. It's also got some incredibly tricky intervals, yet the former Declan MacManus sails through without a hitch.
Guest vocal tracks bookend the record, starting with Elvis and ending with two bonus tracks featuring “The Baroness"—as they call her eminence, Debbie Harry—on vocals. Again, it's testament to her close relationship with the Passengers that she unhesitatingly allowed their inclusion. For years, the rock icon has both performed live and recorded with the Passengers, allowing her the artistic freedom and great fun necessary to keep sane. Here, she has great fun with bassist Brad Jones' “Think Of Me" as well as her own song “One Way Or Another," a worldwide hit for Blondie, culminating in Harry imploring the guys to join her on vocals.
Reunited is—as you may have guessed—a play on words. In naming their album after the Peaches & Herb hit, The Jazz Passengers are in fact addressing a number of things: the return of original guitarist Marc Ribot; the life-affirming fact that it's their first record in a dozen years; and the obviously renewed vigour that any ensemble feels when they reunite after time off, and find that not only does it still work, but that sparks fly!
UPCOMING NEW YORK CITY EVENTS:
The Jazz Passengers—Reunited CD Release at Jazz Standard Sets at 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM
Tuesday, September 28—Special Guest: Guitarist Marc Ribot
Wednesday, September 29—Special Guest: Vocalist Debbie Harry
Roy Nathanson's Sotto Voce—David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
Thursday, October 7—Performance at 8:30 PM
The Jazz Passengers · Reunited
Justin Time Records
Release: October 12, 2010
Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
- EarlManchester
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 6:41 pm
- Location: In the liberated territories
Re: Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
Sample here:...In most jazz groups, the lyrics are not written by its own members, but here we have one of rock's greatest lyricists (Elvis Costello) singing the album's first composition, yet it's not his own work—it's Roy Nathanson's composition “Wind Walked By." The two are great friends, and Costello has contributed to past Passengers records, including Individually Twisted (1996), on which he did co-write, with bassist Brad Jones, the song “Aubergine." Costello's performance here is lovely and languid; it's Nathanson's reflection on the new depression ("I was afraid we wouldn't get this record out before the financial crunch was over!" adds the composer and saxophonist). Costello has always sung uncannily in tune, and this is no exception. It's also got some incredibly tricky intervals, yet the former Declan MacManus sails through without a hitch.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wind-Walked-fea ... B00418FYJY
Re: Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
http://jazzandblues.blogspot.com/2010/1 ... -time.html
October 01, 2010
Tim Niland
Originally formed as an offshoot of John Lurie's band The Lounge Lizards, The Jazz Passengers grew into a concern of their own in the 1990's by recording and touring widely. They have been less active lately, and this marks their first album in over ten years. The core group is made up of Marc Ribot on guitar, Sam Bardfeld on violin, Roy Nathanson on saxophone, Curtis Fowlkes on trombone, and E.J. Rodriguez on drums and percussion. Everyone takes a turn singing and several special guests are featured on the album.
Pop vocalist Elvis Costello guests on the first track, "Wind Walked By," which features tasty guitar and vibes with Costello spitting out the caustic vocals while saxophone probes with nice guitar under the vocalist, sighing and stinging. Strong horns and saxophones guitar usher in the well arranged "Seven," which builds nicely to a cacophonous yet logical conclusion. Dynamic cells and sections of music work well to keep the music moving forward and Ribot is excellent throughout. Things get a little funky on "Button Up" with the groove and vocals spiced by nice vibes and guitar accents.
"Reunited" stays with the R&B groove, opening with guitar and speak singing like a Tom Waits pastiche, before developing into straight soulful vocals. Spare horns probe on "The National Anthem," picking up with strong guitar and drums, storming riffs that lead to an alto solo with nice guitar and drum support making for a cool instrumental performance and a highlight of the album. "Tell Me" starts with a cool percussive rhythm, with guitar accents. A male vocalist sings, wistful and yearning while trombone glides over the cool beat with background vibes shimmering, in a darkly hued manner and trombone with saxophone flirting with the melody.
A spoken word section with strings and horn background opens "Spanish Harlem" morphing into spritely swinging version of song. Funky organ and drums propel the music, with swinging vibes over organ making for a cool sound, and Danish vocalist Susi Hyldgarrd sings pleasantly with strings and horns. Bonus tracks at the end of the album include "Think of Me," beginning with rapid fast improvisation, almost cartoonish in the energy and verve, breaking off for mid temp swinger vocals from Deborah Harry, framed by a violin solo that swings and swirls. Harry sings on the finale, a live version of "One Way or Another" where strutting horns along with Harry's vocals strut with confidence building dynamic fast instruments set against mid-tempo vocals.
A decade plus layoff doesn't seem to have negatively effected the band at all. Combining strong progressive jazz with dashes of humor along the lines of Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, the group makes a fun an accessible statement.
October 01, 2010
Tim Niland
Originally formed as an offshoot of John Lurie's band The Lounge Lizards, The Jazz Passengers grew into a concern of their own in the 1990's by recording and touring widely. They have been less active lately, and this marks their first album in over ten years. The core group is made up of Marc Ribot on guitar, Sam Bardfeld on violin, Roy Nathanson on saxophone, Curtis Fowlkes on trombone, and E.J. Rodriguez on drums and percussion. Everyone takes a turn singing and several special guests are featured on the album.
Pop vocalist Elvis Costello guests on the first track, "Wind Walked By," which features tasty guitar and vibes with Costello spitting out the caustic vocals while saxophone probes with nice guitar under the vocalist, sighing and stinging. Strong horns and saxophones guitar usher in the well arranged "Seven," which builds nicely to a cacophonous yet logical conclusion. Dynamic cells and sections of music work well to keep the music moving forward and Ribot is excellent throughout. Things get a little funky on "Button Up" with the groove and vocals spiced by nice vibes and guitar accents.
"Reunited" stays with the R&B groove, opening with guitar and speak singing like a Tom Waits pastiche, before developing into straight soulful vocals. Spare horns probe on "The National Anthem," picking up with strong guitar and drums, storming riffs that lead to an alto solo with nice guitar and drum support making for a cool instrumental performance and a highlight of the album. "Tell Me" starts with a cool percussive rhythm, with guitar accents. A male vocalist sings, wistful and yearning while trombone glides over the cool beat with background vibes shimmering, in a darkly hued manner and trombone with saxophone flirting with the melody.
A spoken word section with strings and horn background opens "Spanish Harlem" morphing into spritely swinging version of song. Funky organ and drums propel the music, with swinging vibes over organ making for a cool sound, and Danish vocalist Susi Hyldgarrd sings pleasantly with strings and horns. Bonus tracks at the end of the album include "Think of Me," beginning with rapid fast improvisation, almost cartoonish in the energy and verve, breaking off for mid temp swinger vocals from Deborah Harry, framed by a violin solo that swings and swirls. Harry sings on the finale, a live version of "One Way or Another" where strutting horns along with Harry's vocals strut with confidence building dynamic fast instruments set against mid-tempo vocals.
A decade plus layoff doesn't seem to have negatively effected the band at all. Combining strong progressive jazz with dashes of humor along the lines of Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, the group makes a fun an accessible statement.
-
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:33 am
Re: Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
Have just heard this EC track, and it is actually horrible - they all decided EC would sing/record/feature on 1st album track singing 'off' ...
'Sometimes via the senses, mostly in the mind (or pocket)'.
Re: Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
agree!charliestumpy wrote:Have just heard this EC track, and it is actually horrible - they all decided EC would sing/record/feature on 1st album track singing 'off' ...
Re: Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/02/17/p ... s-fowlkes/
Portland Jazz Festival 2012: Walkin’ the Talk with the Jazz Passengers — Roy Nathanson and Curtis Fowlkes
by Jeff Melton
February 17, 2012
Sax player Roy Nathanson and trombonist Curtis Fowlkes are cut from the unique fabric of the New York jazz scene. Together these two innovators provide the musical foundation for The Jazz Passengers, who headline the Portland Jazz Festival with special guest Dan Balmer and the Farnell Newton Quintet on Sunday, February 19th, 7pm at Winningstad Theater. Tickets ranging in price from $22 to $42 are still available for the show. The band’s more recent recording, Reunited, features the return of the much-loved and acclaimed ensemble.
(extract)
You have to tell me how you got to meet Elvis Costello.
Nathanson: That’s a similar thing, slightly different though because Elvis was running the Meltdown Festival that is curated by different heavy-duty . . .
Like David Bowie one year and Robert Wyatt another year . . .
Nathanson: Right. So he curated the Meltdown Festival in 1996, and he had heard the record we did with Debbie and he loved that, he loved the band and he knew Marc, so he asked us to come there. We played and I arranged some of his songs, and he sang with us and he loved it. So that was similar except he never did the schlepping from city to city. We’ve done a bunch of gigs with him, but . . . I mean, she was the singer in the band for three years.
Portland Jazz Festival 2012: Walkin’ the Talk with the Jazz Passengers — Roy Nathanson and Curtis Fowlkes
by Jeff Melton
February 17, 2012
Sax player Roy Nathanson and trombonist Curtis Fowlkes are cut from the unique fabric of the New York jazz scene. Together these two innovators provide the musical foundation for The Jazz Passengers, who headline the Portland Jazz Festival with special guest Dan Balmer and the Farnell Newton Quintet on Sunday, February 19th, 7pm at Winningstad Theater. Tickets ranging in price from $22 to $42 are still available for the show. The band’s more recent recording, Reunited, features the return of the much-loved and acclaimed ensemble.
(extract)
You have to tell me how you got to meet Elvis Costello.
Nathanson: That’s a similar thing, slightly different though because Elvis was running the Meltdown Festival that is curated by different heavy-duty . . .
Like David Bowie one year and Robert Wyatt another year . . .
Nathanson: Right. So he curated the Meltdown Festival in 1996, and he had heard the record we did with Debbie and he loved that, he loved the band and he knew Marc, so he asked us to come there. We played and I arranged some of his songs, and he sang with us and he loved it. So that was similar except he never did the schlepping from city to city. We’ve done a bunch of gigs with him, but . . . I mean, she was the singer in the band for three years.
-
- Posts: 6058
- Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:49 am
- Location: Belgium
Re: Elvis guests on new Jazz Passengers album, Oct. 12 '10
"Wind Walked By" on compilation album: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018W ... 1_2&sr=8-2
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.