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Australian guitarist Tim Jago - Time Shift (Bespoke Jazz) out June 27, 2025 Creators inherently pour their life experiences into their work. This is certainly true for Tim Jago, who spent his early childhood living in the outback (or “bush”) of Western Australia. These formative years living amongst the vast, remote landscape imprinted vivid memories that eventually became reflected through Tim’s music, fused with a deep understanding of the jazz tradition along with an array of musical styles. The result is a vision and output that is uniquely his own. One of the most sought-after collaborators on the global scene today, Jago began his musical journey in Perth, Western Australia, and was quickly deemed a rising talent by the stalwarts of the Australian jazz scene. Tim relocated to the U.S. in 2010 and since then has performed with a host of world-class musicians, including Terence Blanchard, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chick Corea, Gloria Estefan, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Dave Liebman, Bobby McFerrin, Steve Miller, Ignacio Berroa and Arturo Sandoval, to name a few. A finalist in the inaugural Wes Montgomery International Jazz Guitar Competition (2015) he has three leader releases with his trio, The Grid, as well as the co-led straight-ahead release Best Buddies (2021) with GRAMMY nominated saxophonist, Troy Roberts. Tim appeared on the Latin GRAMMY nominated albums – Ontology (2021) and Unánime (2022) by Roxana Amed, and is also a member of Troy Roberts’ long-standing Nu-Jive band – appearing on four albums spanning over a decade. Having served on faculty as a professor at The FROST School of Music and The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Jago currently balances a busy sideman performance schedule in NYC. Accompanying Tim is a stellar band of long-time musical collaborators, each member well-renowned in their own right. Saxophonist, Mark Small is an award winning multi-instrumentalist who has been nominated and won GRAMMY awards with a variety of music including Warner Bros. artist Michael Buble to Darcy James Argue's “Secret Society”. He has performed on Broadway, Film, Television, and all around the world from the Sydney Opera House to Madison Square Garden. Acclaimed Latin GRAMMY nominated pianist/composer/educator Martin Bejerano has performed/recorded with numerous jazz luminaries, including his 20 year association with GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award-winning drummer Roy Haynes, as well as Christian McBride, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter, Russell Malone and Jonathan Kreisberg, performing at nearly all of the major jazz clubs, festivals and venues around the world, as well as performing on the Late Show with David Letterman. Equally at ease playing the electric and upright bass at the highest level, Dion Kerr has performed with Immanuel Wilkins, Godwin Louis, Ignacio Berroa, Jean Caze, Justin Brown, and Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life. Dion co-founded the band The Smoogies, releasing their debut album Planet Smoogies featuring esteemed trumpeter Nicholas Payton and People Music; with an upcoming live album release set for 2025 during their European debut. Prodigious drummer David Chiverton’s musical journey began at the age of 16, playing drums with Stellar Award Winning Miami Mass Choir of Cooper Temple COGIC. He has since performed/toured internationally with various major talents such as Lauryn Hill, Jon Secada, Donnie McClurkin, Marcus Miller, Jill Scott, Leslie Odom Jr, Arturo Sandoval and Ingred Jensen to name a few. A crucial member of bands such as The Smoogies and Troy Roberts’ Nu-Jive (along with Jago) Chiverton’s range of musical versatility allows him to effortlessly weave between Jazz, Gospel, Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop. Time Shift is a truly personal representation of Tim’s life experiences along with his depth and versatility as a guitarist and composer. Having co-led and collaborated on many releases over the last fifteen years, this actually marks the debut album released under his own name. Arriving here fully formed, Tim’s unique vision shines through the eclectic program that displays a variety of grooves and stylistic influences, all with a strong through-line of jazz sensibility. The band Tim has assembled here is the core unit that had been working together for over five years leading up to this recording; developing a collective simpatico rarely experienced between musicians that elevates Jago’s music to the next level. The titular “Time Shift” reflects the unexpected trajectory shifts that life thrusts upon us at times, and how immediately we can be sent in unforeseen, unplanned directions. It begins with a hard-hitting groove, moving surprisingly into a faster tempo, however the initial riff stays constant while the tempo shifts around it. The first solo section features a “round-robin” relay between guitar, keys and bass, each with a distinct character to their fiery trading portions, followed by a moment of respite during Small’s graceful saxophone solo, reflecting a release from the chaotic moments in life. “Calypso’ish” kicks off with a familiar bass line and danceable drum groove which is then layered by unexpected ringing chords that provide a surprising celestial quality and harmonic depth, with further complexity added as guitar and saxophone present the angular melody in unison. The “chorus” serves as a release from the angularity, complete with a sing-able melody on top of the infectious groove. Jago plays a lyrical solo that builds toward sweeping intensity, followed by Bejerano’s exhilarating solo to continue the fervency, and Chiverton displays his extraordinary facility and strong sense of groove in a concluding feature for the drums. Conjuring an image of a “march of our ancestors, ” “Soil To Sky” begins with a groove that Tim created solely using his voice in layers; the genesis idea for the song, that the drums take over with the rest of the group then joining in the land-march imagery. The ancestors eventually transition to an ethereal plain, conveyed through a seamless metric-modulation from 4/4 to the related, flowing 5/8 time. Small and Jago play soaring solos, weaving their lines in flight through the Elysian Fields, before the band abruptly lands back in the original 4/4 time for the closing melody statement; a reminder of the tether between co-existing spiritual and earth-bound worlds. “Soil To Sky” segues into “Major;” the open harmonic space of this pensive piece is a clear representation of the remote country landscape imprinted in Tim’s fond memories from early childhood. The lyrical melody incorporates passing dissonant notes that satisfyingly resolve, followed by the main theme that builds toward a unison ensemble melody in harmony with one another. Dion plays a tasteful solo in the upper register of his six-string bass before handing it over to Tim who explores dissonant beauty with his lines, all while the band carries the momentum to an impactful peak. The first of two non-originals by Jago to appear on the album is “Bernie’s Tune, ” by Bernie Miller. This tune, commonly played by jazz musicians, is listed among the myriad of jazz standards used as vehicles to improvise on and Tim’s arrangement features moving chord hits that punctuate the rhythmic melody, with a few cheeky melody note rhythmic displacements throughout. Jago’s solo over the jaunty A-section hits and broken time in the B-sections builds to a satisfying release when the band swings for the duration of Small’s solo. Although “Body And Soul” is one of the most recorded and performed songs from the Great American Songbook, Tim has brought something new to the table with his unique arrangement of the popular jazz standard; the rhythmic pulse is inspired by Vernel Fournier’s legendary drum groove on Ahmad Jamal’s “Poinciana, ” yet in a slow 5/4 time signature. The timeless melody is shared between Jago and Small, with solos trading off in sections between them and Bejerano while Kerr and Chiverton keep the groove bouncing. “Fine Line” is an original blues by Jago; penned close to twenty years ago yet immortalized on a recording for the first time here. The head features some engaging twists and turns then quickly launches into swinging solos by Jago and Bejerano, while Kerr’s walking bass consistently thumps along locking in with Chiverton’s tipping on the drums in a propelling, swinging groove. The closing track, “Kind Minded” radiates a positive vibe to leave the listener feeling gratified at the end of the album’s journey. With an air of open space; again reminiscent of Tim’s early upbringing in rural Australia, the syncopated yet flowing rhythm-section groove underpins the catchy melody played in unison by guitar and saxophone, perfectly balancing intricacy and approachability. The band’s unity is on full display in an interactive group-solo section through to the closing repeated ensemble figures that allow Chiverton to elevate the piece to an exhilarating finish. Tracks, Times, Composer: 1. Time Shift 9:08 (Tim Jago) 2. Calypso'ish 7:26 (Tim Jago) 3. Soil to Sky 7:18 (Tim Jago 4. Major 6.27 (Tim Jago) 5. Bernie's Tune 5:58 (Bernie Miller) 6. Body and Soul 6:30 (Johnny Green) 7. Fine Line 6:37 (Tim Jago) 8. Kind Minded 7:39 (Tim Jago) TOTAL RUNNING TIME OF CD: 57:09 PLAYERS, INSTRUMENT: Tim Jago (Jay-go): guitar/compositions/arrangements Mark Small: saxophone Martin Bejerano (Bay-e-rah-no): keyboards Dion (Dee-yon) Kerr: electric and upright bass David Chiverton (Shiv-er-ton): drums Artist Name: Tim Jago Album Title: Time Shift Label Name: Bespoke Jazz Street Date: June 27, 2025 Add Date: June 30, 2025 Artist Website: timjagomusic.com Private Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/tim-jago/sets/tim-jago-group Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5WBxhBhKpA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrySxK2Melc |
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