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| NEW RELEASE FROM AUSTIN BASED Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet "Situation" + UPCOMING PERFORMANCES Artist: ALEX COKE & CARL MICHEL SEXTET Title: SITUATION Artist Website: https://www.carlmichel.com https://alexcokecarlmichelsextet.bandcamp.com Release Date: January 29, 2025 Label: PlayOn Records Catalog Number: 1006-2 UPC Code: 8 25479 99212 6 MUSICIANS: Alex Coke/Flute & Sax, Carl Michel/guitar, Elaine Barber/Harp, Bob Hoffnar/Pedal Steel, James Suter/Bass, Carolyn Trowbridge/Vibes TRACK LISTING 1. 440 (Carla Bley) 4:37 2. Sketchy (Alex Coke) 4:43 3. The Seeker (Carl Michel) 7:32 4. Suikinkutsu 3 (Alex Coke/Steve Feld) 2:55 5. Introduction To Aquarium (Arr. by Carl Michel) 2:14 6. Aquarium (Camille Saint-Saëns) 2:58 7. Situation (Carl Michel) 6:50 8. 221 (Carl Michel) 4:44 9. Sea And Sky (Alex Coke) 2:57 10. Let's Go To The Park (Bob Hoffnar) 1:58 11. Crepuscule With Nellie (Thelonious S. Monk) 5:08 12. Pines of Rome (Ottorino Respighi) 4:50 13. Miyako (Wayne Shorter) 4:23 14. Suikinkutsu 2 (Alex Coke/Steve Feld) 5:00 Recorded April 30 & May 1, 2024 at WIRE Studios, Austin, TX Recorded and Mixed by Stuart Sullivan at WIRE Studios, Austin, TX WIRE Assistant Drew Potter Mastered by Jerry Tubb/Terra Nova Mastering, Austin, TX Cover Art "Birds of the Caribbean" by Christopher Hynes Cover Design by Jeremy Veldhuis Photos by Kim Yarbrough Produced by Alex Coke & Carl Michel The Alex Coke-Carl Michel Sextet features Coke (woodwinds) and Michel (guitar) with Elaine Barber (concert harp), Bob Hoffnar (pedal steel guitar), James Suter (acoustic bass) and Carolyn Trowbridge (vibraphone). This distinctive six piece composer's forum from Austin, Texas, breaks down barriers of musical genres, fearlessly exploring the possibilities involved in combining musicians from diverse musical backgrounds. The music is consistently cinematic and offers listeners a warm, modern, propulsive sound expressed through colorful timbres and solid musicianship. For their third recording, Situation, the six versatile musicians perform six originals by the co-leaders and one composition by Hoffnar, the playful "Let's Go To The Park." Originals by the co-leaders include the quietly adventurous 'Sketchy, " "The Seeker, " (listen for a fiery, melodic tenor solo), two group improvisations "Suikinkutsu 2" and "Suikinkutsu 3". Other originals include the mysterious "Situation" (with solo statements from each musician), "221" with its strong forward momentum, and the impressionistic "Sea And Sky, " Situation features "Crepuscule With Nellie, " an homage to Thelonious Monk. Additional arrangements include: "440, " a catchy melody by Carla Bley; a haunting version of Wayne Shorter's "Miyako"; a melancholy rendition of Respighi's "Pines of Rome"; and the magical "Aquarium" from Saint-Sa.n's Carnival of the Animals. Alex Coke was an original member of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, performed as part of the legendary Willem Breuker Kollektief for a decade, worked extensively with Tina Marsh, and has led such groups as New Visions, the Live Action Brass Band, the Leadbelly Legacy Band, New Texas Swing, and The Worthy Constituents. Guitarist Carl Michel, who was also a co-leader of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, worked with the Madison Music Collective, composed many soundtracks, and led a series of albums for PlayOn Records including a set of Paul Motian compositions titled Music In Motian. Elaine Barber, Principal harpist of the Austin Symphony, is a regular guest with the San Antonio Symphony, and performs a wide variety of music including jazz and early music. Pedal steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar runs a live concert performance series (the Liminal Sound Series) that commissions new works and features musicians and performers in Austin, Texas. Carolyn Trowbridge, who grew up in the Czech Republic and Norway, is a percussionist who plays vibraphone, marimba, steel pan, and world percussion. Carolyn is well-versed in many musical genres from jazz and funk to rock and soul. Bassist James Suter has shared the stage with many top jazz artists including Gary Burton, Chris Potter, Branford Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, and Joey Calderazzo among others. Following the success of their first two albums (The Emissary and Emergence), the Alex Coke-Carl Michel Sextet continues its creative evolution. Situation weaves together the individual members contributions in a collaborative offering that could only be theirs. Performances: January 29, 2025 Waterloo Records, Austin TX - (In Store Performance, 5:00 PM) January 31, 2025 Situation Record Release, The Rosette, Austin TX, 8:00 PM February 13, 2025 Chamber Music America Showcase, El Dorado Ballroom, Houston, TX, 9:00 April 6, 2025 Austin Jazz Society, Chez Zee, Austin TX, 3:00 PM write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |