Seamus Haney

The tenor sound of Seamus Blake is always a treat – and he really stretches out here on a set of long, live tracks with a great group! Most titles go way past the ten minute mark, and the always-inventive Blake manages to make plenty happen with all that time – working deftly in a group that features piano from David Kikoski, and some great guitar interplay with Lage Lund – whose tones ring out strongly on the lead of most tracks! Titles include "Fear Of Rooming", "Amuse Bouche", "Consequence", and "Subterfuge".

New York based tenor saxophonist/composer SEAMUS BLAKE is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations and “sheer swagger". John Scofield, who hired Seamus for his “Quiet Band,” called him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” Seamus Blake’s recent releases, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live 2010), Bellwether (Criss Cross Jazz 2009) and Live in Italy (Jazz Eyes 2009), have garnered considerable critical praise for his masterful playing, his fine compositional skills and for his facility as a leader. Live in Italy was awarded 4.5 stars in Downbeat. Described as “a knockout”, “one of the elite albums of the year” and “as exhilarating as a shot of espresso”, it is on many Top of the Year lists.

BRIDGES is a modern, Nordic jazz project that has a vision to construct musical bridges between Norway and other parts of the world. After releasing the well praised debut album in 2016 and after two years of touring the world, it was clear that the musical bridgework this ensemble was conducting had to be continued. This album is the result.

Emanuele Filippi, from Udine, recently received a very prestigious endorsement from Enrico Rava, who described him as “one of the best pianists of the new generation”. At U&J, accompanied by Canadian saxophonist Seamus Blake. The repertoire, entirely original, has an intimate character, refined sonorities and intense expressive sensitivity and nuances deriving from the tradition of contemporary jazz, classical and pop music. Emanuele Filippi has collaborated with important musicians such as: Fabrizio Bosso, Seamus Blake, Soweto Kinch, Chris Morrissey, Jure Pukl; he lived in New York, where he studied with Fred Hersch and currently resides in Paris. A glimpse into new jazz scenarios…

Ses hommes sont de tous les combats, mais vous n'entendrez pas parler d'eux sur CNN. Pas de gros titres à la une pour révéler leurs actions d'éclat, et pourtant, chaque jour, ils risquent leur vie. Surentraînés, parlant couramment plusieurs langues, ces maîtres du contre-terrorisme se fondent en territoire hostile et sont capables de frapper leurs adversaires à une vitesse stupéfiante…