|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Mike Moreno - "Between the Lines" Between The Lines is the much anticipated debut release from guitarist Mike MorenoMoreno, without a doubt one New York's most prominent and versatile guitarists. It is a recording of eight original compositions, which presents an exciting palette of harmonies and sound textures that his band has been developing since 2000. A palette that includes sounds of both acoustic and electric guitars, and the finest of New York's jazz scene. Saxophone sensations John Ellis and Marcus Strickland, pianist Aaron Parks (Terence Blanchard), Doug Weiss of the Al Foster Group on bass, and drummers Kendrick Scott (Blanchard, John Scofield) and Tyshawn Sorey (Steve Coleman, Dave Douglas). Moreno uses a variety of approaches to bring his compositions to life. “I wanted each song to have it's own sound. Which is why I chose to use different combinations of instruments and players for each track. No two tracks on this record have the same exact line-up or instrumentation,” Moreno says. The guitarist takes advantage of the recording studio, using overdubs to layer guitar tracks. “And I wanted the sound for most of these tunes to be huge. I didn't want this to be a straight documentation of what we sound like live. People have already heard that at our shows, online, and live bootlegs. This record had to be different.” And different it is. “Between the Lines” represents a new movement of the guitar in today's jazz scene. One where the walls between the roles of instruments are torn down. ”The guitar has always been a tool in which I try to speak the language of the music I love and hear in my head. And what has influenced me the most is the vocabulary from instruments other than the guitar to be honest. Saxophone, piano. I don't try to play traditional jazz guitar or write songs that sound like they are written for what people expect from the guitar. I like to play like a horn as well, or try and make the guitar sound like a Rhodes.” This approach to playing and writing have gained Moreno the attention of major original artists such as Pat Metheny, Greg Osby and Mike Stern, who have endorsed the guitarists work numerous times in worldwide magazines as well as on the internet. “He has something fresh,” says Metheny in an interview for the German Magazine “Gitarre and Bass.” “When I first started learning to play this music, I knew I had to help figure out a way to get people to look at the guitar in a different way, along with some other great guitar players I felt were doing the same in there own way. I didn't want to be put in a box, such as....guitar goes with organ and bluesy funky music, or only with “Modern, spacy music” with lots of effects and less rhythm and harmony. I wanted to play with horn players who were really dealing with harmony, and drummers who really could swing as well as play straight 8th music. So I prepared myself in those ways. And I wrote music that challenged me in those ways.” With Between The Lines Mike Moreno is taking the leader role head on, making his compositional voice more prominent. “People have been asking me for years now, when will I put out a record of my own music? I was waiting for the right time within my playing, the right amount of exposure playing on high profile gigs, the right amount of time to try different musicians and instruments. I didn't want to make just another jazz record. It had to be something special. And I feel this record does offer something special and different. The songs are strong and very clearly stated. This is not a record where we solo till the end of the day and try and confuse the listener. It's very melodic, but still interesting. The harmony and textures are where I try and gain peoples interest the most. I believe in a good melody, and try to engrave it in the listeners mind.” write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |