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Evan Arntzen, renowned multi-reedist, vocalist and bandleader, presents his third album as a bandleader, Countermelody. This uplifting new release is a celebration of the interplay, collective improvisation and soulful counterpoint that played such a big role in Black American Music emanating from New Orleans in the first half of the 20th century.  During a time when convening is all but impossible, Countermelody brings the gaiety of live music to the recorded realm.

Countermelody brings early-jazz-exuberance to an eager present in a release which author and Louis Armstrong historian, Ricky Riccardi, calls “the very definition of timeless” in the album’s liner notes.  Arntzen’s Dot Time Records debut features many of his own astounding arrangements of early New Orleans and Chicago jazz compositions written by such luminaries as Kid Ory, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet and Bennie Moten. The release also features wonderfully innovative compositions by Arntzen, Halloran and Kellso.  Aside from thirteen hi-fidelity tracks, listeners will also be treated to tracks that were recorded to wax cylinder, a medium that actually predates when much of this music was composed.

Muskrat Ramble (Wax Cylinder Sessions)

After You've Gone (Wax Cylinder Sessions)

Solitarity

Counter Intuitive

Alvita

Down By The Riverside

If You Were Mine

Smiles

Camp Meeting Blues

18th Street Strut

Evan Arntzen is a clarinetist, saxophonist and vocalist originally from Vancouver, BC. He is the third generation of a musical family, and began learning New-Orleans-style clarinet from his grandfather, Lloyd Arntzen, at the age of seven. Since moving to NYC in 2014, Evan has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Cafe Bohemia, Birdland, Town Hall, Mezzrow, Smalls, Symphony Space, as well as festivals and venues around the world. He holds the lead saxophone chair in Grammy® Winning Vince-Giordano’s Nighthawks, and performs with Catherine Russell, Jon-Erik Kellso and The EarRegulars. Evan has released three albums as a leader, including 2021’s Countermelody on Dot Time Records, which was produced by Scout Opatut (4/4 Creative). 

For fans of Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, Lester Young

Evan Arntzen

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