In 2015, while on tour with The Tedeschi-Trucks Band, band members Tim Lefebvre, Tyler “Falcon” Greenwell, J.J. Johnson, and Kebbi Williams took the stage at the A-Trane in Berlin and went to a place that caused some audience members to throw their clothes (was that a hat?), and set the mandate for a new project to evolve. And so Whose Hat Is This? picked up the improvisational gauntlet thrown down by jambanders and took it to its (ill)logical extreme. They've played with the greats, from TTB to Bowie to Col Bruce, and this band allows them complete freedom to challenge each other, the audience, and the very vibration of the time-space continuum. Their new project, Everything's OK, was recorded live at the 8X10, and features the future-voice stylings of the enigmatic Kokayi. November 16 is the date; stay tuned here for updates.
Aaron Parks Little Big
Aaron Parks created a stir with his debut in 2008, Invisible Cinema, and we are thrilled to announce the natural successor to that album. Aaron Parks Little Big is a lush, melodic and driving work, blending genre and style in a fluid narrative from start to finish. The title references the novel by John Crowley, but also informs us that this is a band; Greg Tuohey with a searing tone on guitar, David 'DJ' Ginyard on bass, and Tommy Crane on drums. As a unit, they bring Parks' compositions to perfect expression, moving across the space and time of different styles to reflect the interwoven and complex world we now inhabit. Aaron Parks Little Big is an easy listen at any time, always ready for your attention when you are ready to dig deeper, and it leaves you with a sense of comfort and optimism. October 19 is the date, stay tuned for Pre-order info.
Jared Sims | The New York Sessions
Jared Sims seems to often speak of places; with his 2017 release Change Of Address he brought us from the busy streets of Boston to his home in West Virginia as he took the chair heading up the Jazz Studies department at WVU. And now, Jared returns with The New York Sessions, his tribute to the places and sounds of New York City. There's something about the sax that can describe the feeling of New York, that sexy and gritty feel on the street, that energy, that flow, that feeling that you not only belong but that it's YOURS. Jared captures the heat on the street as he and the band are in absolutely top form, taking us through the city with tracks titled Tribeca Tap Bar, The Bodega, Pelham and more. This is both a story and a journey; tune in here for pre-order info as we prepare for an October 12 release.
Kyle Nasser | Persistent Fancy
The title balances contrasting philosophies on imagination and the relativity of human views, and so we are introduced to the curious mind of Saxophonist and Composer Kyle Nasser. A graduate of both Harvard and Berklee, Nasser explores the intricacies of composition and perfomance and the concept of the suite, weaving together tracks related by a common theme. The players are sublime and varied; bassist Nick Jost is a member of the metal band Baroness, While Altoist Roman Filu performs with Steve Coleman, Miguel Zenon, and Dafnis Prieto. On drums is the great Allan Mednard, whose credits seem to include just about everyone. Persistent Fancy is an elegant journey, and is set for release on October 5, stay tuned for pre-order and streaming. In the meantime, drop in on Kyle's band Beekman right here.