Sheppard Steve

Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard and Steve Swallow revisit classic Bley compositions on an exceptional album recorded in Lugano last year by Manfred Eicher. Included here are spirited new versions of Utviklingssang and Vashkar, and the suites Les Trois Lagons, Wildlife and The Girl Who Cried Champagne. Carlas robust tunes are vividly conveyed, all members solo compellingly, and the trio has never sounded better.

For over 20 years, the trio of pianist Carla Bley, bassist Steve Swallow, and saxophonist Andy Sheppard have shared each other's creative company. The group's 2016 album, Andando el Tiempo, is a delicately passionate, classically influenced set. A follow-up to 2013's equally compelling Trios, Andando el Tiempo is, surprisingly, only the third album from the group after their initial live 1995 album Songs with Legs. Whereas on Trios they delved into various Bley compositions from throughout her career, on Andando el Tiempo they focus on several more recently penned works. "Naked Bridges/Diving Bridges" brings to mind the impressionism of composer Claude Debussy.

Tallis Scholars are among the world's preeminent choral ensembles. Cultivating a distinctive vocal sound backed by impeccable scholarship, the group has helped raise the general level of interest in Renaissance choral music in Britain and beyond through a large catalog of recordings and numerous international tours.

Andy Sheppard is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, George Russell and Steve Swallow. Naná Vasconcelos was a Brazilian percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, notable for his work as a solo artist on over two dozen albums, and as a backing musician with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Egberto Gismonti, Gato Barbieri, and Milton Nascimento.

Carla Bley - Andando el Tiempo (2016) {ECM 2487}
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© 2016 ECM Records | ECM 2487 / 4779711
Jazz / Modern Creative / Modern Jazz / Piano / Saxophone / Bass

Andando el Tiempo features new music of wide emotional compass by Carla Bley, and underlines her originality and resourcefulness as a jazz composer. “Saints Alive!” sets up animated conversations between the participants with striking statements from Steve Swallow’s bass guitar and Andy Sheppard’s soprano sax. The stately “Naked Bridges/Diving Brides” draws inspiration from Mendelssohn and the poetry of Paul Haines. And the powerful three part title composition – which addresses the trials and tribulations of recovery from addiction - moves through sorrow to hopefulness and joy.

With this strong, mainly Latin influenced debut, add a chapter on Erquiaga to the book of smooth and breezy, and slightly exotic, smooth jazz guitar. Produced by Andy Narell and featuring Narell's steel pans on one cut and the jamming support of Peter Erskine, Jimmy Johnson, Bob Sheppard, and Mitch Forman, this collection goes down smooth and easy. There are moments of frenetic inspiration, but for the most part, it's more of that nice and easy pop jazz with Latin spice. An impressive debut from an artist we unfortunately didn't hear enough of as the '90s rolled by.

Espen Eriksen Trio was formed in 2007 and released their first album in 2010. Their music relies on highly melodic and lyrical instrumentals and a "less is more" approach and is often credited for its unique voice within today's jazz scene by the international press. The aptly named Perfectly Unhappy features eight new songs by the pianist, all written with this collaboration in mind. These are enchanting and lyrical tunes, often melancholic and uplifting at the same time and will surely speak to followers of both the trio and Sheppard and attract many new ones. With a career spanning over four decades, working together with the likes of George Russell and Gil Evans, Andy Sheppard is truly one of Europe's leading saxophonists. Lately, his main focus has been with his own quartet and the trio with living legends Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, both acts recording for ECM.

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Steve Oliver, owner of multiple #1 hits on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart, releases his eleventh career album “Illuminate” on Friday, August 3rd. His first collection of new original instrumentals since 2012 and the follow up to 2016’s well-received all vocal album “Pictures & Frames”, Illuminate celebrates a return to Steve’s trademark guitar melodies and vocalese. With Steve's instantly recognizable guitar lines and a list of stellar guest artists that includes bass virtuoso Jimmy Haslip, the incredible Joel Taylor on drums, and sax luminary Nelson Rangell, Illuminate puts the spotlight back on one of the genre's most engaging performers and songwriters.