Jul 27, 2021 10:30 AM
John Pizzarelli’s Ode to Pat Metheny
It was in his darkest hour, during the early stages of the 2020 lockdown, that guitarist-vocalist John Pizzarelli…
Urban(e), a new recording from the Mike Fahie Jazz Orchestra due out Aug. 28 on Greenleaf Music, grew out of a singular notion: the marriage of the classical and jazz idioms.
(Photo: Courtesy of Artist)Trombonist-composer Mike Fahie—a prolific bandleader and in-demand sideman on the New York scene—is serious about his twin passions for jazz and classical music. Urban(e), a new recording from Fahie’s steadfast large ensemble due out Aug. 28 on Greenleaf Music, grew out of a singular notion: the marriage of the classical and jazz idioms. Fahie’s arrangements celebrate the cross-pollination of these two styles, fusing them into one cohesive sound.
Urban(e) represents more than 200 years of musical invention, interpreted through a jazz lens and including subtle undertones of blues, rock and soul in its seven tracks, all well-known works from the classical repertoire.
The album features a tender rendition of “Nessun Dorma”—one of the best-known arias ever written—from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot. Fahie’s arrangement features tenor saxophonist Chet Doxas and brings harmonic intrigue and thoughtful dynamics to Puccini’s masterwork, calling upon night sounds to enhance its beautiful melody.
The track premieres as a single below, accompanied by a time-elapsed video of Fahie creating a watercolor painting that portrays fireworks exploding over a glimmering cityscape.
“I was challenged to make my own videos during the coronavirus lockdown, so I started thinking of things I could do at home,” Fahie said. “During this period of extended time, I’ve been learning to paint, and one of the things I like to do is watch painters work. I thought, why not turn my new hobby into a music video? ‘Nessun Dorma’ means ‘none shall sleep,’ and it’s a victorious song. What is majestic and victorious at night? Fireworks! Once I decided on that, I wanted to time the appearance of the fireworks with the final glorious chorus. And now, it’s ended up with a double meaning, because fireworks and ‘none shall sleep’ are a major theme of the last couple of months. Sometimes, art just works out like that.”
Appearing alongside Fahie on Urban(e) is a winds section consisting of saxophonists Aaron Irwin, Anton Denner, Chet Doxas, Quinsin Nachoff and Carl Maraghi; trumpeters Brian Pareschi, David Smith, Sam Hoyt and Brad Mason; and trombonists Matthew McDonald, Nick Grinder, Daniel Linden and Jennifer Wharton. Guitarist Jeff Miles, pianist Randy Ingram, bassist Pedro Giraudo and drummer Jeff Davis make up the ensemble’s rhythm section. DB
John Pizzarelli hit the woodshed, literally, to develop material for his new recording Better Days Ahead: Solo Guitar Takes On Pat Metheny.
Jul 27, 2021 10:30 AM
It was in his darkest hour, during the early stages of the 2020 lockdown, that guitarist-vocalist John Pizzarelli…
New, impactful live recordings of the late pianist Bill Evans continue to emerge on vinyl.
Jul 20, 2021 4:10 PM
Bill Evans’ discography is immense, beginning with his first recordings as a sideman in 1953 and running through…
This year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has been canceled. It was scheduled to take place in October.
Aug 9, 2021 10:28 PM
New Orleans musicians reacted with distress and disbelief — along with some relief — to the latest COVID…
In Harmony is culled from live 2016 and 2017 duo performances by modern-day legends Roy Hargrove and Mulgrew Miller.
Jul 20, 2021 4:08 PM
The history of jazz is fraught with artists who’ve died too young. But what lives on is their music — the legacy of…
Corea was named Artist, Pianist and Keyboardist of the Year for the final time in the 69th Annual DownBeat Critics Poll.
Aug 27, 2021 2:14 PM
Editor’s Note: This article is from the August 2021 DownBeat Critics Poll issue.
At the time of this writing,…
