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| New Mario Pavone CD Coming in November On November 4th, Playscape Recordings will release acclaimed bassist/composer Mario Pavone's latest CD, Ancestors, the recorded debut of newest working ensemble, the Mario Pavone Double Tenor Quintet. This recording features eight original Pavone compositions written specifically for this group and its all-star line-up of Tony Malaby (tenor and soprano saxophones), Jimmy Greene (tenor and soprano saxophones), Peter Madsen (piano) and Gerald Cleaver (drums). The band will preview this music, which Pavone has dedicated to Dewey Redman and Andrew Hill, during its New York debut on August 23rd at Cornelia Street Cafe and then tour Europe in support of the record the last two weeks of November. "I had been playing with Tony and Jimmy for more than eight years, but always separately, so I was keen to combine their complementary yet contrasting styles into one group," Pavone explains. “Gerald and I have played and recorded a lot together and the great Peter Madsen, who has appeared on my last nine CDs, is almost indispensable to me. Wrapping my rhythm section around a double tenor color like this, especially one with this much grace and power, was a dream come true. I then invited three longtime collaborators, Steven Bernstein, Dave Ballou and Michael Musillami, to guest arrange two tracks each. The resulting sound seems larger than just five players and is almost orchestral. It may well be my favorite album so far." Critics note that Pavone “continues to move the tradition forward with every record" (John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com), calling his work “intense and absorbing" (Kenny Mathieson, Jazzwise), “exciting and stimulating" (Jay Collins, Cadence), “never less than compelling" (Ben Ratliff, New York Times) and “both joyous and serious, abrasive and complex, yet entirely inviting" (David R. Adler, All Music Guide). The Hartford Courant's Owen McNally adds, “Sensitive and probing, Pavone's bass playing is graced with collective empathy and individual melodic inventions that create arias amid even the most airborne flights." His most recent release, Trio Arc (Playscape Recordings) featuring Paul Bley and Matt Wilson, has been called "timeless and innovative" (Robert Iannapollo, AllAboutJazz-New York), “a beautiful amalgam of sounds" (Steve Greenlee, JazzTimes) and “a modern classic" (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com). Jazz.com's Ted Gioia writes, “The conversational give- and-take between the three players is fresh and exciting. This is 'free' jazz in the best sense of the word, free of agenda or ideology, and totally committed to collective creativity without preconceptions or limits." Originally an engineer by trade, Pavone dropped everything to attend John Coltrane's funeral in 1967, where he decided on the spot to dedicate the rest of his life to music. He has since spent the last four decades defining the cutting edge of jazz, both as a sideman to legendary innovators and the leader of groups featuring some of today's most respected young improvisers. His recordings have appeared on best-of-the-year lists from Slate.com, All About Jazz, Coda, and the Village Voice among others. In addition to his ongoing activities as a bandleader, Pavone's artwork and photography have graced the covers of dozens of recordings since the mid 90's, and he currently serves as an educator, administrator and board member for the Litchfield Jazz Festival and Litchfield Summer Jazz Music Institute in Litchfield, Connecticut. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |