Conversation with Ivry Gitlis

Andrew McCormack is a composer and pianist at the pinnacle of his creative powers. Born in 1978 in the UK and now residing in New York, McCormack has built a formidable reputation as one of Britain’s hottest pianists and a composer of undeniable skill and talent.

First Light, McCormack's new trio album will be released on 7th July 2014.

Pre-order

Andrew McCormack 'First Light'

Music by Misha Mullov-Abbado

In memory of Claudio Abbado (26th June 1933 - 20th January 2014)

Recorded live at the Church of Santo Stefano, Bologna on 22nd January 2014

Heal Me On This Cloudy Day

Bullhorn is the new album by Finnish trumpeter/composer, Verneri Pohjola, his third as leader. Based in Helsinki, the thirty-six year old has been in the international spotlight for the past few years and is acknowledged as a jazz star in the making. His distinctive tone, with its deeply affecting purity and lyricism, and highly melodic improvising is embedded in self-penned compositions marked by memorable and imaginative themes that steer clear of any hackneyed notion of ‘Nordic’ jazz. 

Bullhorn is a key album in Pohjola’s career, marking the shift from a rising start to an artist of real substance with a powerful, unique sound and a sense of deepening maturity and clarity of vision. Bullhorn is the album that finally realises Verneri’s enormous creative potential.

Featuring his long term associates and friends: pianist Aki Rissanen, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen, Bullhorn undertakes a panoramic overview of Verneri’s wide-ranging, evocative yet energetic approach to music-making, anchored in his strong, personal sound. As Pohjola explains: ‘It has the intimate sounds and lyricism in improvised passages that I love, but also the rough energy and emphasis on the compositions – everything I want to express in my music’.

In addition, Pohjola has set out on Bullhorn to capture the joy and spontaneity that occur in performance between these four like-minded individuals; the vital element of music making and ‘jazz’ that makes each performance a unique and personal statement.
Pre-order 'Bullhorn', the new album from Verneri Pohjola now! 
https://editionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bullhorn

A truly progressive artist with a firm understanding of popular culture providing the foundation of his art, Verneri Pohjola is on the brink of becoming one of the most exciting and original musicians of his generation. In fact, he’s almost ready to blow his own bullhorn.

'Another Day' Verneri Pohjola

Released 4th May - Preorder 'Live in Riga' http://thomasgould.bandcamp.com/

THOMAS GOULD Live in Riga
Sinfonietta Riga

1-3 VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D, OP. 61 - LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN 
I. Allegro ma non troppo 
II. Larghetto 
III. Rondo (Allegro)

4 THE LARK ASCENDING - RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

‘Violinist Thomas Gould is one of a new generation of classical musicians who refuses to be defined by a single genre’. GUARDIAN

‘One of the most talented and charismatic British violinists of the younger generation’. LONDON EVENING STANDARD

‘The young British violinist Thomas Gould seems intent on becoming the Nigel Kennedy of his generation… Scythingly scintillating playing from a young virtuoso with a magpie mind’. THE TIMES

‘Live in Riga’ is the major new album from the celebrated 31 year old British violinist Thomas Gould.  Recorded live in concert with Sinfonietta Riga on April 11th 2014 at the Great Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, it confirms Gould’s enormous potential as one of the most inventive and colourful instrumentalists of his generation.  Gould is no ordinary classical musician but one of a new generation who refuse to be defined by a single genre.  He has developed impressive jazz credentials, but it is in this environment as soloist/director of classical repertoire where he really excels.  The Times recently described Gould as “intent on becoming the Nigel Kennedy of his generation”.  Gould, however, is incomparably his own musician.  Bold and courageous enough to forge his own path and follow his singular vision, he steps outside the footsteps of the greats.

‘Live in Riga’ is a defining album for Gould, his first disc of a three-album deal with forward-thinking British jazz and classical record label Edition Classics.  Over the last decade he has been in demand as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra and LA Phil New Music Group.  He is also much in demand as a leader/director, working with Britten Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO2, but it’s when he brings these disciplines together that the magic happens.  As Gould explains, “It means that everyone plays in a more engaged way. There is a group commitment to making it work, so the process is much more collaborative than when working with conductor.”

Sinfonietta Riga is an orchestra with a story to tell.  Formed in 2006, their vision is as bold as Gould’s.  Equally happy to play in concert dress or T-shirts they are intent on building new audiences for the music while reaching for the highest artistic standards.  Their collaboration is a perfect match and a unique experience for both the orchestra and for Gould.  This live concert recording bears witness to this special musical symbiosis.

To release an album featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending is a bold decision.  As two cornerstones of the violin repertoire, there are plenty of performances to compare, but Gould’s versions demonstrate a brilliance of tone and colour that demands attention.  His flexibility and breadth of musical interests is fully evident.  Gould’s playing has the clarity you would expect from any major performer but radiates a freedom in its expression as though improvised with an immediate elegance and poise.

For Gould it’s all about achieving the right balance.  Whether it’s jazz or classical, written or improvised, as soloist or director, Gould is right in the eye of the storm.  If the dark clouds gathering in the wider music world imply that the days of the single-minded virtuoso are coming to an end; if to succeed in that brave new world we need to attract more diversity and brighter colours, then in Thomas Gould we may have found the lightning conductor to spark a new generation.


THOMAS GOULD Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending

THOMAS GOULD Live in Riga
Sinfonietta Riga

1-3. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 - Ludwig van Beethoven
	I. Allegro ma non troppo
	II. Larghetto
	III. Rondo (Allegro)

4. The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams  

Produced by Raphaël Mouterde
Executive producer Dave Stapleton

‘Live in Riga’ is the major new album from the celebrated 31 year old British violinist Thomas Gould.  Recorded live in concert with Sinfonietta Riga on April 11th 2014 at the Great Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, it confirms Gould’s enormous potential as one of the most inventive and colourful instrumentalists of his generation.  Gould is no ordinary classical musician but one of a new generation who refuse to be defined by a single genre.  He has developed impressive jazz credentials, but it is in this environment as soloist/director of classical repertoire where he really excels.  The Times recently described Gould as “intent on becoming the Nigel Kennedy of his generation”.  Gould, however, is incomparably his own musician.  Bold and courageous enough to forge his own path and follow his singular vision, he steps outside the footsteps of the greats.

‘Live in Riga’ is a defining album for Gould, his first disc of a three-album deal with forward-thinking British jazz and classical record label Edition Classics.  Over the last decade he has been in demand as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra and LA Phil New Music Group.  He is also much in demand as a leader/director, working with Britten Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO2, but it’s when he brings these disciplines together that the magic happens.  As Gould explains, “It means that everyone plays in a more engaged way. There is a group commitment to making it work, so the process is much more collaborative than when working with conductor.”

Sinfonietta Riga is an orchestra with a story to tell.  Formed in 2006, their vision is as bold as Gould’s.  Equally happy to play in concert dress or T-shirts they are intent on building new audiences for the music while reaching for the highest artistic standards.  Their collaboration is a perfect match and a unique experience for both the orchestra and for Gould.  This live concert recording bears witness to this special musical symbiosis.

To release an album featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending is a bold decision.  As two cornerstones of the violin repertoire, there are plenty of performances to compare, but Gould’s versions demonstrate a brilliance of tone and colour that demands attention.  His flexibility and breadth of musical interests is fully evident.  Gould’s playing has the clarity you would expect from any major performer but radiates a freedom in its expression as though improvised with an immediate elegance and poise.

For Gould it’s all about achieving the right balance.  Whether it’s jazz or classical, written or improvised, as soloist or director, Gould is right in the eye of the storm.  If the dark clouds gathering in the wider music world imply that the days of the single-minded virtuoso are coming to an end; if to succeed in that brave new world we need to attract more diversity and brighter colours, then in Thomas Gould we may have found the lightning conductor to spark a new generation.


THOMAS GOULD Beethoven - Violin Concerto In D, Op.61 - II. Larghetto

This summer four musicians and friends, who 10 years ago were together sharing stages internationally with some of the biggest names in Jazz and were signed to Warner France are reforming to release a new album called 'Flow' under the collective name of Drifter.

Co-led by Finnish pianist, Alexi Tuomarila and Belgium saxophonist Nicolas Kummert, Drifter is the new collective name for the celebrated Alexi Tuomarila Quartet. In 2005, Tuomarila’s international career was climbing when without warning, Warner Jazz ditched their jazz and classical department leaving the band without any clear management of direction.  

In a decade during which the pianist and saxophonist expanded the musical horizons with constant touring, the bands special relationship was not forgotten and finally, the time was right for both Tuomarila and Kummert to reform the original quartet with a new sense of purpose and energy under the new collective name of Drifter.  

This new phase in the quartet’s history sees the band fuse the youthful energy and vibrancy of ten years ago with the experience of a decade on tour playing with some of the biggest names in the European Jazz scene. As Tuomarila explains: “The music means so much more now. Ten years ago, we were just playing tunes that we loved to play. Now the music comes from within us and somehow encapsulates the feelings of the last ten years: having our recording contract taken away, the development of our friendship as a band and the greater sense of purpose we all have in our lives. It’s so exciting for us’. 

Due for release in April 2015, Drifter will excite many fans throughout Europe with its boldness, dynamism and creativity. The new music encompasses all that was great about the previous releases – shifting time signatures, surprising turns of phrase and rhythmic interplay – adding a new depth of maturity and musical vision.

Celebrated Belgium saxophonist talks about his new album with Drifter

MISHA MULLOV-ABBADO double bass
MATTHEW HERD alto saxophone
TOM GREEN trombone
JACOB COLLIER piano
SCOTT CHAPMAN drums

New Ansonia is the debut album from bassist and composer Misha Mullov-Abbado. Son of the late, great Italian conductor Claudio Abbado and Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova, British-born Mullov-Abbado grew up in a powerfully musical environment, a unique upbringing that has inspired Misha to create his own musical identity and tell his own compelling story. This, his debut album, demonstrates gifts that are uniquely his own and is full of unusual colours, leaps of imagination and a strong sense of character. New Ansonia clearly defines the path Misha intends to follow both as a composer and performer of exceptional ability. As Kenny Wheeler Music Prize judge Evan Parker put it, this is ‘the beginning of a journey of an outstanding individual’.

01 Circle Song

MARK LOCKHEART saxophones, bass clarinet 
JASPER HØIBY double bass 
LIAM NOBLE piano

London based trio MALIJA brings together a collective empathy and co-leadership with all members sharing the production and writing roles. These names will need no introduction to Edition fans, having played together on Mark Lockheart’s quintet album ‘In Deep’ in 2009, but with their individual international profiles and explosive musical personalities integrated in a trio, there’s no hiding from the fact that this is the band to watch.

More Info http://editionrecords.com/releases/the-day-I-Had-everything/

Buy LP, CD & Download

Wheels

'Footprints' by Wayne Shorter, arranged by Gerard Presencer featuring Danish Radio Big Band, taken from 'Groove Travels' by Gerard Presencer. Due for release on 29th January 2016.

Groove Travels is the highly anticipated new album from British trumpeter, arranger and composer Gerard Presencer, featuring the Danish Radio Big Band.

Groove Travels is set to be a defining album both for Gerard and for new Big Band conceptions. This new release is without doubt his most ambitious and well-executed solo recording to date and will happily stand alongside the leading voices in contemporary big band music. 

Gerard Presencer-Footprints

A 21st Century Global Record Label // New Music. New Thinking.

Andrew McCormack 'First Light'

EDITION RECORDS

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