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| Schapiro17 On Their Recording Debut, Schapiro17 Transforms The Five Selections From Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue Into Inventive And Unpredictable Big Band Jazz What The Press Is Saying Aout New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60 "Schapiro and company pay the best possible tribute: They make Kind Of Blue kind of new." -J.D. Considine DownBeat New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60 is quite an achievement, in my view one of the finest jazz albums ever recorded... I am in awe of what Jon Schapiro has done here, and urge you to really listen to it carefully. - Lynn Rene Bayley, Art Music Lounge "quite magnificent, breezy yet cultured" - Anne Carlini "a powerhouse orchestra driven by the dynamic vision" "...alternately simmering and soaring brass musicians and rhythmic section and an array of off the charts soloists" "sets the standard for all jazz tribute projects to come" Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe "Schapiro becomes a kind of modern day Gil Evans by breathing new life into these classic songs..." - Jim Hynes, Making a Scene "among the most inventive and unpredictable big band jazz sets I've ever listened to…" - Dick Metcalf, Contemporary Fusion Reviews "Another gem to add to your big band collection" - Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs "The innovative and inspired new look at 'Kind of Blue' that you've been waiting for." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record "Miles fans will love this edition..." - Patrick Ven de Wiele, Keys and Chords "Polished and exciting, this is a 'must hear' recording." - Grady Harp "This is a tremendous set." - Robert Rusch "Both an arranger and composer and a current professor, Schapiro and company place a thriving new twist on classic tunes while also staying true to their creative spirit, and the originals display much ingenuity, too." - Tom Haugen Take Effect "Schapiro 17 plays 12 tracks over two discs to create "New Shoes: Kind Of Blue At 60." The work is exciting and is a great escape into the music that generations of fans and musicians came to love, along with a handful of originals that show the masterful playing of the musicians that must be heard to be appreciated." - Dodie Miller-Gould Lemon Wire Artist: SCHAPIRO17 Title: NEW SHOES: KIND OF BLUE AT 60 LABEL: (2CD Set Summit Records SMT-756) www.summitrecords.com Artist Website: schapiro17.com Release Date: APRIL 3, 2020 UPC Code: 099402 756929 TRACK LISTING Disc One 1- Boiled Funk (J. Schapiro) 11:54 2- Foiled Bunk (R. Piket) 3:05 3- So What (M. Davis) 14:03 4- Boiled Funk 2: Dark of Night (J. Schapiro) 3:55 5- Blue in Green (M. Davis) 10:02 Disc Two 1- Boiled Funk 3: Worth Your While (J. Schapiro) 2:26 2- All Blues (M. Davis) 12:08 3- Boiled Funk 3: Old Feet, New Shoes (J. Schapiro) 5:14 4- Flamenco Sketches (M. Davis) 9:52 5- Boiled Funk 5: A Smile (J. Schapiro) 5:41 6- Freddie Freeloader (M. Davis) 12:25 7- Boiled Funk/Theme (J. Schapiro) 4:28 Musicians: Jon Schapiro-composer/conductor/arranger, Bryan Davis - trumpet, Andy Gravish - trumpet, Eddie Allen - trumpet, Noyes Bartholomew - trumpet, Deborah Weisz - trombone, Alex Jeun - trombone, Nick Grinder - trombone, Walter Harris - bass trombone, Rob Wilkerson - alto saxophone (tracks 1-4), Ben Kono - alto saxophone (tracks 5-12), Candace DeBartolo - alto saxophone, Paul Carlon - tenor saxophone, Rob Middleton - tenor saxophone, Matt Hong - baritone saxophone, Roberta Piket - piano, Sebastian Noelle - guitar, Evan Gregor - bass, Jon Wikan - drums New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60 completely reinvents the Miles Davis classic and introduces the innovative arrangements of Jon Schapiro and the playing of Schapiro17 to a wide audience.—By Ron Kearns Miles Davis' highly influential Kind of Blue recording celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019 and continues to be a best-seller. While there have been many tribute projects celebrating this classic recording (which originally featured a sextet with Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans), New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60 differs from all of the others. The arrangements of Jon Schapiro for his 17-piece orchestra take the five themes of Kind of Blue ("So What, " "Blue in Green, " "All Blues, " "Flamenco Sketches" and "Freddie Freeloader") as points of departure, altering the pieces while retaining their creative essence. The writing at times recalls Gil Evans, Charles Mingus and Bob Brookmeyer but is quite original and modern. In addition, Schapiro contributed seven originals, utilizing the name of "Boiled Funk" or, in one case "Foiled Bunk." The unusual song titles were picked because they utilize the same letters as "Kind of Blue." The opening "Boiled Funk, " with its tempo changes, strong solos (from tenor-saxophonist Paul Carlon and trombonist Deborah Weisz) and unpredictability sets the standard for what is to follow. Pianist Roberta Piket is showcased on her "Foiled Bunk, " playing freely yet thoughtfully while leading to "So What." After the melody emerges, "So What" has cooking solos from trombonist Alex Jeun and Rob Wilkerson on soprano with bassist Evan Gregor and drummer Jon Wikan driving the ensembles. "Boiled Funk 2: Dark of Night" features Wilkerson's soprano floating over the brooding ensemble while "Blue in Green" evolves from the unaccompanied alto of Ben Kono to several horns soloing together over the rhythm section, becoming a medium-tempo swinger for Rob Middleton on tenor before finally ending as a ballad. Trumpeter Andy Gravish is heard in spectacular form on the uptempo "Boiled Funk 3: Worth Your While, " "All Blues" briefly retains its theme but, rather than being a blues waltz, becomes an uptempo romp with Carlon, trombonist Alex Jeun and trumpeter Eddie Allen as the solo stars. The rhythmic "Boiled Funk 4: Old Feet, New Shoes" features altoist Candace DeBartolo, "Flamenco Sketches" is turned into a showcase for guitarist Sebastian Noelle, and "Boiled Funk 5: A Smile" is an encore for Roberta Piket. "Freddie Freeloader" (which is taken through several different tempos and features trombonist Walter Harris and baritonist Matt Hong) and the "Boiled Funk Theme" (quoting from Miles Davis' closing theme and including a spot for trombonist Nick Grinder) conclude the consistently intriguing set. Jon Schapiro graduated from Brown University, earning a Master's from the Manhattan School of Music and studying at NYU with Jim McNeely and Dinu Ghezzo, while developing into a masterful jazz composer and arranger. A member of the BMI Jazz Composers' Workshop and a longtime professor at Yeshiva University, he formed Schapiro17 in the fall of 2012. Schapiro17's appearances in New York (including at the Shape Shifter) are always major events. write your comments about the article :: © 2020 Jazz News :: home page |