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| Russ Nolan's New Album On March 4, 2008 saxophonist/composer/educator Russ Nolan proudly releases his second recording as a leader, With You In Mind, featuring his engaging playing on tenor and soprano saxophones, and his singular compositions, backed by the Kenny Werner Trio, with Johannes Weidenmuller on bass, and the ubiquitous Ari Hoenig on drums. With You In Mind is the follow up release to Nolan's stunning debut, Two Colors, and from the opening notes of this recording it is clear that this rising star on the scene has once again created an album that overflows with dramatic, open-eared interplay, joy, virtuosity and expression. The presence of The Kenny Werner Trio on With You In Mind is of major importance as Russ Nolan demonstrates with the opening funk burner, “Kilson's Groove" (a nod to drummer Billy Kilson's funky grooves with the Dave Holland Quintet), that he is major league player, fully able to not only keep pace with this longstanding trio, but to also lead them on musical adventures that they surely found challenging, stimulating and satisfying. The relationship with pianist Werner goes back to their initial meeting in Nolan's hometown of Chicago in 2001 that, “changed the course of my life. Not only by learning his compositional approach, but by confirming my suspicions that I needed to move to New York to absorb the creative spirit there. Or have it absorb me," said the saxophonist. Russ Nolan is a double threat, equal parts astounding player and composer. There has perhaps not been a composition since “Take The A Train" that conveys the feeling of riding the New York City subway system as accurately as the second track on the record, Nolan's “Stand Clear of The Closing Doors." The quartet weaves a musical tapestry that provides the same sense of wonderment, excitement, and risk-taking, that a trip on the subway always delivers. “Disheveled Waltz" truly demonstrates what it means for an ensemble to interact, and what it really means to say that a group has a great rapport. Nolan's haunting melody is delivered with one of the purest and pleasing-to-the-ear soprano saxophone sounds in jazz today, in unison with Werner, before the quartet unleashes a bounty of interchange, crafting a captivating statement in which meter and tempo stretch, contract, extracting every drop of emotion from the tune. Other highlights on the recording include the Monkish “Diatonicus" which is “not referring to any of his compositions in particular, just the vibe," explains Nolan. The fresh take on "Naima" is the album's only standard: “Trane is still my Number One influence, but I find reinterpreting him from a compositional standpoint more vibrant than regurgitating his changes or patterns." Throughout With You In Mind it is abundantly clear that Russ Nolan eats, breathes and sleeps music. It is this kind of dedication and studiousness, not to mention his natural talent, that enabled him to create a recording that, is not only a thrill to listen to in, but must have been a thrill to make. Russ Nolan hails from Gurnee, IL, a Chicago suburb. Through the first half of his life, it was not music that was his passion, but athletics. It was his dream to play professional sports. Only after high school was he bitten by the proverbial 'jazz bug'. This new 'infection' led him to study at the widely acclaimed music department at North Texas State University and spent his summers at the feet of Chicago saxophone Legends Joe Daley and Rich Corpolongo. Returning home after college, Nolan was active for over ten years on the Chicago music scene, absorbing the music and rubbing shoulders with the world-class touring groups at the Jazz Showcase - as well as appearing as a sideman in the club himself on occasion; sitting in with Lin Haliday at the Get Me High Lounge and the legendary Von Freeman at the New Apartment Lounge; leading his own groups at the Bop Shop w/guitarist John McLean, the Get Me High Lounge, Martyrs and the Green Mill; collaborating with violinist Zach Brock at the Hot House, Pete Miller's, Katerina's and the Jazz Showcase; and playing in Kurt Elling's orchestra for Chicago's Millennium Celebration. Nolan's big band arrangements of Kenny Garrett and Pat Metheny compositions (originally written for the One and Two O'Clock Lab Bands at NTSU) have been performed by various ensembles nationwide. Always focused on musical growth, Nolan has had personal study with David Liebman, Chris Potter, Kenny Werner, and David Bloom, founder of the Bloom School of Jazz. Continuing to true his metal with fire, Russ made the trek to pay the toughest dues of all . . . joining the jazz ranks in the Big Apple. Since arriving in March 2002, Russ has begun to emerge as a bandleader, performing in various New York City jazz clubs and other venues.Russ is also a committed educator, and has had extensive tours in 2005, 2006, and 2007, conducting clinics and adjudicating jazz festivals at the college, high school, and middle school level. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |