Burghausen

A wonderful live set from the great Roscoe Mitchell and his Note Factory ensemble – recorded live in Burghausen in March of 2007 – exploring space with subtlety and quiet sense of purpose in some movements, and a hard charging intensity in others! The opening 26 minute "Far Side/Cards/Far Side" piece is a dynamic, incredible one that showcases the broad capabilities of the group, while "Quintet 2007 A For Eight" is great mix of mood and melody. "Trio For For Eight" builds slowly, quiets down and builds up again and "Ex Flover Five" closes the set brilliantly. (Source: Dusty Groove America, Inc.)

Recorded live in Burghausen, Germany in 2007, Far Side features journeyman avant-garde saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and his ensemble the Note Factory performing in a concert. Joining Mitchell here are trumpeter Corey Wilkes, pianists Craig Taborn and Vijay Iyer, bassists Jaribu Shahid and Harrison Bankhead, and drummers Tani Tabbal and Vincent Davis. Beginning with the epic three-part 30-minute suite "Far Side/Cards/Far Side," the concert is an atmospheric and cinematic mix of Mitchell's longstanding musical touchstones including free jazz, European classical music, and modern creative group improvisation. Tracks such as the fragmented and atonal "Quintet 2007 A for Eight" and the similarly inclined "Trio Four for Eight" have the feel of composed classical music while evincing a more freely improvised aesthetic. This is often achieved by juxtaposing bowed cello and bass parts against improvised piano and sections where each musician seems to interject a melodic idea into an overall harmonic theme. There are moments of layered percussion, expansive atonal soundscapes, and fiery and combative moments between Mitchell and Wilkes as well as windy, drawn-out passages that tilt upon silence. If you're a hardcore Mitchell aficionado and/or fan of ECM's cerebral jazz catalog, Far Side would be a stellar addition to your library.

Tommy Keys, international boogie and blues man, has a winning combination - barrelhouse boogie & blues piano with moody, soulful vocals. His individual style encompasses elements of New Orleans Blues, Funk, Boogie and Jazz. His previous CD, "The Man in the Moon" has received rave national reviews and significant airplay on XM/Sirius B.B. Kings Bluesville where it hit #4 on the charts! Devils Den is a great piano-packed Blues Boogie "Nawlins funk" CD with 7 great originals and 4 covers, three of which are recorded Live. If you're looking for something to fill your soul, Devils Den will make you feel right at home!

The album was produced by internationally renowned producer and audio engineer Hans-Martin Buff (i.a. Prince, Scorpions). The recordings were made in November 2017 at Abbey Road Studios under the musical supervision of producer and bassist Livingstone Brown (i.a. Robin Trower, Tina Turner), with Luke Smith on keyboard (i.a. Amy Winehouse), Luca Boscagin at the guitar (i.a. John Abercrombie) and Josh “Nasty” McKenzie on drums (i.a. Wretch 32). The collaboration was extraordinarily inspiring for everyone and a foundation for the musical journey ahead. Further contributors to the album were Hamburg-based violinist Stefan Pintev (G-strings) as well as US-based trombone player Michael B. Nelson (hornheads).