SUNJUMP RECORDS
NEWS AND UPDATES
Due to Michael Stuart having a car accident ( car wrecked, saxophonist fine) we have to cancel our concert at Bard College Monday April 16. I will be in contact to announce the rescheduling of the event. Hopefully next week. So don’t come tomorrow, we won’t be there. But we surely are improvising right now. All the best, John
Hello, music lovers- I’m happy to announce that I am playing a concert of new compositions with my trio and a very special guest artist from Toronto ( that’s near Canada). I hope you can come. All the best, John
Michael Stuart - Saxophone
John Esposito - piano
Ira Coleman - bass
Peter O’Brien - drums
Stuart has played, toured and/or recorded with some of the finest musicians in the world including Jimmy McGriff, Jay McShann, Sadik Hakim, Junior Mance, Kenny Garrett, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Franklin Kiermyer, Kenny Wheeler, Pepper Adams, Sam Rivers, Clark Terry, and Elvin Jones, as well as Canadian names Russ Little (who is Stuart’s brother), Keith Blackley, Sonny Greenwich, Hagood Hardy, Ted Moses, Rick Tait, and Doug Riley.
In 1977 and 1978 Stuart toured and recorded with the great Elvin Jones as a member of The Jazz Machine, playing in Germany, Sweden, France, Denmark, the United States, Austria, Italy and The Netherlands. In 1991, he toured the Soviet Union as a featured member of The Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra. A jazz special for television recorded in Budapest, Hungary followed in 1992, and a tour of Germany in 1993.
Monday April 16, 8 pm
Blum Hall, Blum Music Institute
Blythewood Ave, Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson (not actually on it), NY
Admission Free
John Esposito/Jeff Marx/ Jeff Siegel: Tahrir
Recorded July 20/21 and December 3, 2011 at NRS, Catskill, NY by Scott Petito, cover art by Laura Steele and graphics by Bruce Sconzo
John Esposito - piano, prepared piano
Jeff Marx - mezzo soprano & tenor saxes and flutes
Jeff Siegel - drums and percussion
The second release by this free wheeling trio whose previous CD Inyo was remarkable for its freshness of conception. Tahrir features Nine new compositions by John Esposito and a new Jeff Marx original.
Critics on Inyo: John Esposito, Jeff Marx, Jeff Siegel
“…a true moment of musical Zen created by three masterful musicians.” Jakob Baekgaard -allaboutjazz.com
“The endless inventiveness of this trio is most impressive…” Bruce Lee Gallanter - Downtown Music Gallery
“it is this constant and stimulating dialogue between Esposito and Marx (to which Siegel is not a spectator, but rather an instigator or a fire builder) that makes Inyo stand out and worth investigating.” Alain Drouot -jazzinchicago.com
Sangeeta Michael Berardi: Calling Coltrane SJCD0012
Sangeeta Michael Berardi, Guitar
James Finn, Tenor Sax, Flute
John Esposito, Piano
Hilliard Greene, Bass
Peter O’Brien, Drums
The second part of the 1996 Studio session that yielded Sangeeta Michael Berardi’s Earthship reveals more of this under-recorded, highly original guitarist. Recorded at Nevessa Studio, Woostock, NY by Ted Orr and remastered by Scott Petito at NRS Studio, Catskill, NY in 2011. Includes five compositions by Berardi, two by Esposito and “Wise One” by John Coltrane. An unusual mix of quintet pieces and duets, including several incandescent guitar/drums explorations. Cover and interior art, paintings, drawings and poems by Sangeeta.
“…(Earthship) delivers uncompromising expression, melody, energy, and communication. This recording is pure and honest, deeply from of the Coltrane mold, but filled with unique individual thought and original ideas…. Berardi’s voice rings most true, he is a seasoned storyteller with invention and wisdom to bestow along the way. There is seamless weaving between composition and group improvisation, structure and group invention.” - Erik Lawrence, Chronogram
“…dark-toned electric musings… might serve as a good antidote for listlessness or general malaise.” —Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
“ Berardi’s guitar is a soaring, swooping, melodious jet turbine of an instrument, owing as much perhaps to Jimi Hendrix as to any jazz guitarist. The atmosphere of Earthship is one of deep spirituality, much like John Coltrane during the saxophonist’s Impulse! Records years….when Berardi takes his solo, it’s as if he is diving in from the stratosphere….a radioactive shimmer of brash spirituality .“ Dan McClenaghan allaboutjazz.com
Mitch Kessler: Der Erlkönig SJCD0011
Recorded April10, 2011 at NRS, Catskill, NY. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Scott Petito
Cover art paintings: Monika Woll
Graphics: Bruce Sconzo (brucesconzo@mac.com)
Mitch Kessler, Flute, Soprano, Alto & Tenor Saxes
John Esposito, Piano
Ira Coleman, Bass
Peter O’Brien, Drums
Der Erlkönig is Mitch Kessler’s second CD release on Sunjump Records and features eight new Kessler compositions, headed by his reading, with musical accompaniment, of the CD title poem by Göethe. New work by this prolific composer draws on his arsenal of Post Dolphy/Coltrane, Free Jazz, Early 20th Century German Expressionism, and the Blues.
“ With only his second release, Der Erlkonig, Mitch Kessler has estabished himself as a soon to be dominate talent on the scene if he continues with this type of consistently strong and creative output. Mitch Kessler is an undiscovered treasure… “ jazzwrapblog
“ Kessler has again delivered an intricate and creative balance of songwriting and musicianship….demonstrate(s) an immediacy and beauty not heard in American jazz for awhile. … This is will be a real discovery for everyone. Mitch Kessler is well on his way to establishing himself as a new force on the scene. “ - Stephan Moore, DMG
John Esposito: Orisha SJCD0010
Recorded January 9 and January 12, 2010 at NRS, Catskill, NY. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Scott Petito
Cover art oil painting and watercolors: Ellen Troncone Esposito (ellenesposito.com)
Graphics: Bruce Sconzo (brucesconzo@mac.com)
John Esposito - Piano
Ira Coleman - Bass
Peter O’Brien - Drums
Orisha is the second John Esposito trio release with Ira Coleman and Peter O’Brien. It features nine Esposito original compositions and one each by Coleman and O’Brien. The pieces range from elegiac to exultant, performed with this trio’s signature sense of spontaneous unfolding and unwavering intention.
“… a superior example of modernistic swing… melodic fills shimmer in the midst of a sweeping hurricane of rhythm…art that is as progressive as it is nostalgic and as aggressive as it is tender.” Jakob Baekgaard allaboutjazz.com
“…a lovely introspective listen that is emotionally effective.” jazzwrapblog
“Recommended!” Bruce Lee Gallanter Downtown music Gallery
Jeff Marx, Jeff Siegel and John Esposito will be playing concerts in Germany and Austria performing music from their previous CD Inyo and their new Sunjump release Tahrir.
Mar 16 - Jazz Studio, Nurnberg, DE
Mar 17 - Schauspielhaus, Bergneustadt, DE
Mar 18 - Kulturkreis, Schlo b Holte-Stukenbrock, DE
Mar 22 - Jazzclub Topos, Dusseldorf, DE
Mar 23 - Jazzclub Bamberg, Bamberg, DE
Mar 24 - Stockwerk, Graz, AT
Mar 25 - Mobile, Marktoberdorf, AT
UPCOMING RELEASES:
Second Sight: Tiger Tracks
Dave Douglas, Trumpet
Jeff Marx, Sax
John Esposito, Piano
Allen Murphy, Bass
Jeff Siegel, Drums
Frederick Berryhill, Percussion Recorded 1987
This 1987 recording, the second studio date by this seminal band, features 6 compositions by Esposito, one by Marx and documents early work by this creative group of musicians active on the NYC jazz scene in the 80’s.
Sangeeta Michael Berardi: Mr P
Sangeeta, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Voice, Tibetan Singing Bowls
Rosi Hertlein, Voice, Violin
Kendra Shank, Voice, Electronic loops
Mitch Kessler, Flute, Soprano, Alto & Tenor Saxes, Bass Clarinet
John Esposito, Piano, Prepared Piano, Harmonica
Hilliard Greene, Bass
Peter O’Brien, Drums
A record date featured in the upcoming film Playing With Parkinson’s by the noted Jazz documentary film maker Burrill Crohn. This documentary film of Berardi’s life’s work as a painter/poet/musician is undergoing the editing process. The CD tentatively titled Mr P, is scheduled for a summer 2012 Sunjump release.
John Esposito: A Book Of Five Rings/Water
Jayna Nelson, Flutes
Rosi Hertlein, Violin and Voice
Greg Glassman, Trumpet
Staci Dillard, Tenor and Soprano Sax
Mitch Kessler, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxes, Flute
John Esposito, Piano, Electric keyboards, loops, Drums
Emma Alabaster, Bass and Voice
Hilliard Greene, Bass
Peter O’Brien, Drums
Available through Sunjump Records at sunjump@gmail.com
Or online at cdbaby.org, itunes
and dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com (212 473-0043)
For more information about John Esposito and Sunjump Records visit our website:sunjumprecords.com
