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Rituals

Jim McNeely / Frankfurt Radio Big Band / feat. Chris Potter

Rituals

Price: € 14.95
Format: CD
Label: Double Moon Records
UPC: 0608917140422
Catnr: DMCHR 71404
Release date: 28 January 2022
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Label
Double Moon Records
UPC
0608917140422
Catalogue number
DMCHR 71404
Release date
28 January 2022

"A jazz version of Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring has been attempted many times before, but none as encapsulating of the complex harmonies and textures, the grandiosity and, yes — the terror — of the original..."

Downbeat Best of 2022, 31-12-2022
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Artist(s)
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About the album

“Le Sacre du Printemps” (The Rite of Spring) by Igor Stravinsky is regarded as a key work of classical music of the 20th century. Due to its rhythmic and tonal structures, interspersed with numerous dissonances, it created turmoil in the audience at its world premiere in Paris in 1913, but was then able to quickly establish itself as a central work in the repertoire of concert halls.

With a tribute to this work, the hr Big Band, which plays here as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, and the American tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, fills essential parts of their new CD “Rituals”.
"The work was commissioned by the Alte Oper Frankfurt, which held a Stravinsky Festival in 2013,” Olaf Stötzler recalled, producer of the hr Big Band. "At that time there was a music festival around a central work of classical music, in this case ‘Le Sacre du Printemps’.

The idea was to commission Jim McNeely to compose this work for Chris Potter. However, it is not a jazz version of *Le Sacre du Printemps’, but instead a new composition. It was inspired by the sound language of 'Le Sacre du Printemps’.” The performance was a huge success, which is why Potter and the hr Big Band decided to record the whole thing again in a studio. With plenty of verve and aplomb, the hr Big Band glides through the complex rhythmic and harmonious score that McNeely composed in the spirit of Stravinsky.
"McNeely didn't just take a theme from Stravinsky and set it differently, but instead created a new composition," Stötzler emphasized. “But you can hear that it is clearly inspired by the sound language of ‘Le Sacre du Printemps’. That's why McNeely extended the standard line-up of the big band to include a French horn, a harp and percussion. In addition, he composed an additional movement called 'Rebirth’, which does not even exist in the original."

With Chris Potter, one of the best contemporary saxophonists could be won over for the role of soloist. With a unique sonorous tone and inexhaustible inventiveness, he actually seems to play as if his life depended on it. "Chris Potter is the voice of this spring sacrifice," Olaf Stötzler explained. "He embodies this character, which is why we chose a soloist in the first place. Musical representation of this spring sacrifice is a mammoth task. He really plays all the time, and that's a challenge for which we wanted to have one of the best."

If you already have someone like Chris Potter in the studio, then his music should also play an important role. That's why the six-part "Rituals" are followed by four pieces from Potter's catalog, which McNeely rearranged for the large orchestral context. "Dawn" and "Wine Dark Sea" are from his album "The Sirens" (ECM 2013), "The Wheel" is from "Underground" (Sunnyside 2006) and "Okinawa" is included on the live album "This Will Be" (Storyville 2001). In them, the musicians of the hr Big Band, such as Steffen Weber, Tony Lakatos, Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn and Axel Schlosser, also have the opportunity to perform as soloists. They once again clearly show how well the collaboration with the American jazz star works and where the strengths of the hr Big Band are.

"Thanks to our daily interaction, we have a very good ensemble sound and we attach great importance to it," Olaf Stötzler emphasized. "The strength of the hr Big Band is that we can offer a lot of doubling in the saxophone set. There are many woodwind instruments that are not to be found in a typical big band. It is precisely these orchestral colors that Jim McNeely needs for his music. We are willing to experiment anyway, and the musicians are grateful for the chance to do it."

The album "Rituals" is the best example of the fact that the joy of experimentation can also be accompanied by fun and impressive sound clarity.

„Le Sacre du Printemps“ (Das Frühlingsopfer) von Igor Strawinsky gilt als ein Schlüsselwerk der klassischen Musik des 20. Jahrhunderts. Aufgrund seiner rhythmischen und klanglichen Strukturen, durchsetzt mit zahlreichen Dissonanzen, erregte es bei seiner Uraufführung 1913 in Paris Tumulte im Publikum, konnte sich dann aber schnell als zentrales Werk im Repertoire der Konzerthäuser durchsetzen.

Mit einer Hommage an dieses Werk bestreitet die hr Big Band, die hier als Frankfurt Radio Big Band firmiert, und der amerikanische Tenorsaxofonist Chris Potter wesentliche Teile ihrer neuen CD „Rituals“.

„Das Werk ist entstanden durch einen Auftrag der Alten Oper Frankfurt, die 2013 ein Strawinsky-Festival gemacht hat“, erinnert sich Olaf Stötzler, der Produzent der hr Big Band. „Damals gab es ein Musikfest um ein zentrales Werk der Klassik, in diesem Fall ‚Le Sacre du Printemps‘. Die Idee war, Jim McNeely damit zu beauftragen, für Chris Potter dieses Werk zu schreiben. Es ist aber keine Jazz-Version von ‚Le Sacre du Printemps‘, sondern ein neues Werk. Es ist inspiriert von der Ton- und Klangsprache von ‚Le Sacre du Printemps‘.“

Die Aufführung war ein großer Erfolg, weshalb Potter und die hr Big Band sich entschlossen haben, das Ganze auch noch einmal in einer Studio-Aufnahme auf Tonträger zu bannen. Mit viel Verve und Aplomb gleitet die hr Big Band durch die rhythmisch und harmonisch komplexe Partitur, die McNeely im Geist Strawinskys komponiert hat.

„McNeely hat kein Thema von Strawinsky genommen und einfach nur anders gesetzt, sonders es ist eine neue Komposition“, betont Stötzler. „Man hört aber, dass es ganz deutlich von der Klangsprache von ‚Le Sacre du Printemps‘ inspiriert ist. Deshalb hat McNeely auch die Standardbesetzung der Big Band um ein Waldhorn, eine Harfe und Perkussion erweitert. Außerdem hat er einen zusätzlichen Satz namens ‚Rebirth’ geschrieben, den es im Original so gar nicht gibt.“

Mit Chris Potter konnte einer der besten zeitgenössischen Saxofonisten für die Rolle des Solisten gewonnen werden. Mit einem einmalig sonoren Ton und einem unerschöpflichen Erfindungsreichtum scheint er tatsächlich um sein Leben zu spielen.

„Chris Potter ist die Stimme dieses Frühlingsopfers“, erläutert Olaf Stötzler. „Er verkörpert diesen Charakter, weshalb wir uns überhaupt für einen Solisten entschieden haben. Dieses Frühlingsopfer musikalisch darzustellen, ist eine Mammutaufgabe. Er spielt ja wirklich ständig und das ist eine Herausforderung, für die wir einen der Besten haben wollten.“

Wenn man jemanden wie Chris Potter schon einmal im Studio hat, dann soll auch seine Musik eine gewichtige Rolle spielen. Deshalb schließen sich an das sechsteilige „Rituals“ noch vier Stücke aus Potters Katalog an, die McNeely für den großorchestralen Kontext neu arrangiert hat. „Dawn“ und „Wine Dark Sea“ stammen aus seinem Album „The Sirens“ (ECM 2013), „The Wheel“ ist aus „Underground“ (Sunnyside 2006) und „Okinawa“ ist auf dem Live-Album „This Will Be“ (Storyville 2001) enthalten. Hier haben nun auch die Musiker der hr Big Band wie Steffen Weber, Tony Lakatos, Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn und Axel Schlosser Gelegenheit, solistisch hervorzutreten. Sie zeigen noch einmal deutlich, wie gut die Zusammenarbeit mit dem US-amerikanischen Jazz-Star funktioniert und wo die Stärken der hr Big Band liegen.

„Durch unser tägliches Zusammenspiel haben wir einen sehr guten Ensemblesound und darauf legen wir auch Wert“, betont Olaf Stötzler. „Die Stärke der hr Big Band ist, dass wir im Saxofonsatz sehr viele Doublings anbieten können. Es sind viele Holzblasinstrumente dabei, die sonst nicht in einer typischen Big Band zu finden sind. Genau diese orchestralen Farben braucht Jim McNeely für seine Musik. Experimentierfreudig sind wir sowieso und das nehmen die Musiker auch dankbar an.“

Dass Experimentierfreude auch mit Spaß und beeindruckender Klangschärfe einhergehen kann, dafür ist das Album „Rituals“ das beste Beispiel.

Artist(s)

Jim McNeely (conductor)

Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. In 1978, he joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He spent six years as a featured soloist with that band and its successor, Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). In 1981, he began a four-year tenure as pianist/composer with the Stan Getz Quartet. From 1990 until 1995, he was the pianist in the Phil Woods Quintet. In 1996, he re-joined the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as pianist. He is still associated with the Vanguard Orchestra as composer-in-residence. From 1998 to 2002, McNeely was chief conductor of the DR Big Band in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1] As of 2011, he was chief conductor of the HR (Hessischer Rundfunk)...
more

Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. In 1978, he joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He spent six years as a featured soloist with that band and its successor, Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra).

In 1981, he began a four-year tenure as pianist/composer with the Stan Getz Quartet. From 1990 until 1995, he was the pianist in the Phil Woods Quintet. In 1996, he re-joined the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as pianist. He is still associated with the Vanguard Orchestra as composer-in-residence.

From 1998 to 2002, McNeely was chief conductor of the DR Big Band in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1] As of 2011, he was chief conductor of the HR (Hessischer Rundfunk) Big Band in Frankfurt, Germany. He is currently their Composer-in-Residence. He has appeared as guest with many of Europe's leading jazz orchestras such as the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (the Netherlands), the WDR Big Band (Cologne, Germany), the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra (Sweden) and the Swiss Jazz Orchestra. McNeely also leads his own tentet, his own trio, and appears as soloist at concerts and festivals worldwide. He has recorded more than 20 albums as leader, receiving twelve Grammy nominations between 1997 and 2019.

As part of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, he received a Grammy Award for the album Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard in 2008.[2][3]

McNeely is professor emeritus at Manhattan School of Music,[4] and is former musical director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

A former resident of Montclair, New Jersey,[5] and Maplewood, New Jersey he now resides in Owls Head, Maine .
source: Wikipedia


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Chris Potter (tenor saxophone)

Chris Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his family soon moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent his formative years. Potter showed an early interest in a wide variety of different music and easily learned several instruments including the guitar and piano. He quickly realized after hearing Paul Desmond that the saxophone would be the vehicle that would best allow him to express himself musically. He played his first professional jazz gig on alto sax at age thirteen after mastering the complex musical language of Charlie Parker. He developed a devoted local following while performing with the Columbia jazz musicians Johnny Helms and Terry Rosen, as well as with others in the jazz community. After leaving Columbia upon his graduation from Dreher High School, Potter attended college in New York City,...
more
Chris Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his family soon moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent his formative years. Potter showed an early interest in a wide variety of different music and easily learned several instruments including the guitar and piano. He quickly realized after hearing Paul Desmond that the saxophone would be the vehicle that would best allow him to express himself musically.
He played his first professional jazz gig on alto sax at age thirteen after mastering the complex musical language of Charlie Parker. He developed a devoted local following while performing with the Columbia jazz musicians Johnny Helms and Terry Rosen, as well as with others in the jazz community.
After leaving Columbia upon his graduation from Dreher High School, Potter attended college in New York City, first at the New School, and later at the Manhattan School of Music. Upon his arrival in New York he began performing with Red Rodney and gained a reputation as a rising new star of the saxophone.

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Composer(s)

Chris Potter (tenor saxophone)

Chris Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his family soon moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent his formative years. Potter showed an early interest in a wide variety of different music and easily learned several instruments including the guitar and piano. He quickly realized after hearing Paul Desmond that the saxophone would be the vehicle that would best allow him to express himself musically. He played his first professional jazz gig on alto sax at age thirteen after mastering the complex musical language of Charlie Parker. He developed a devoted local following while performing with the Columbia jazz musicians Johnny Helms and Terry Rosen, as well as with others in the jazz community. After leaving Columbia upon his graduation from Dreher High School, Potter attended college in New York City,...
more
Chris Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his family soon moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent his formative years. Potter showed an early interest in a wide variety of different music and easily learned several instruments including the guitar and piano. He quickly realized after hearing Paul Desmond that the saxophone would be the vehicle that would best allow him to express himself musically.
He played his first professional jazz gig on alto sax at age thirteen after mastering the complex musical language of Charlie Parker. He developed a devoted local following while performing with the Columbia jazz musicians Johnny Helms and Terry Rosen, as well as with others in the jazz community.
After leaving Columbia upon his graduation from Dreher High School, Potter attended college in New York City, first at the New School, and later at the Manhattan School of Music. Upon his arrival in New York he began performing with Red Rodney and gained a reputation as a rising new star of the saxophone.

less

Jim McNeely

Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. In 1978, he joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He spent six years as a featured soloist with that band and its successor, Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). In 1981, he began a four-year tenure as pianist/composer with the Stan Getz Quartet. From 1990 until 1995, he was the pianist in the Phil Woods Quintet. In 1996, he re-joined the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as pianist. He is still associated with the Vanguard Orchestra as composer-in-residence. From 1998 to 2002, McNeely was chief conductor of the DR Big Band in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1] As of 2011, he was chief conductor of the HR (Hessischer Rundfunk)...
more

Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. In 1978, he joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He spent six years as a featured soloist with that band and its successor, Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra).

In 1981, he began a four-year tenure as pianist/composer with the Stan Getz Quartet. From 1990 until 1995, he was the pianist in the Phil Woods Quintet. In 1996, he re-joined the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as pianist. He is still associated with the Vanguard Orchestra as composer-in-residence.

From 1998 to 2002, McNeely was chief conductor of the DR Big Band in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1] As of 2011, he was chief conductor of the HR (Hessischer Rundfunk) Big Band in Frankfurt, Germany. He is currently their Composer-in-Residence. He has appeared as guest with many of Europe's leading jazz orchestras such as the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (the Netherlands), the WDR Big Band (Cologne, Germany), the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra (Sweden) and the Swiss Jazz Orchestra. McNeely also leads his own tentet, his own trio, and appears as soloist at concerts and festivals worldwide. He has recorded more than 20 albums as leader, receiving twelve Grammy nominations between 1997 and 2019.

As part of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, he received a Grammy Award for the album Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard in 2008.[2][3]

McNeely is professor emeritus at Manhattan School of Music,[4] and is former musical director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

A former resident of Montclair, New Jersey,[5] and Maplewood, New Jersey he now resides in Owls Head, Maine .
source: Wikipedia


less

Press

A jazz version of Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring has been attempted many times before, but none as encapsulating of the complex harmonies and textures, the grandiosity and, yes — the terror — of the original...
Downbeat Best of 2022, 31-12-2022

... A work of consistent originality, strong impact and in some cases surprising (as in the impetuous second part of "Sacrifice I" with Potter's torrential phrasing)...
All about jazz, 25-4-2022

... In his complex pieces, McNeely sometimes uses distinctive phrases from the key work of modern classical music...
Fono Forum, 09-3-2022

... Oh, and let's not forget above the wonderfully original Stravinsky translation Chris Potter's big band pieces that make up the second half of this thoroughly recommendable recording.
Frankfurter Rundschau, 22-2-2022

... On "Rituals" this orchestra proves once again its versatility and extraordinary class, even with highly complex challenges. In addition, a world-class man at the central instrument ...
NaDann, 11-2-2022

... and so the CD "Rituals" becomes altogether a strong statement in terms of contemporary, genre-spanning and music history-reflecting big band music.
Bayerischer Rundfunk, 07-2-2022

This is a sumptuous orchestral showcase for one primary soloist, saxophonist Chris Potter. ...
New York City Jazz, 30-11-2022

Fittingly it’s full of orchestral jazz of enormous energy and invention
Notes and observations by Geoff Andrew, 19-4-2022

Composed and arranged by Jim McNeely, the music in six scenes of "Rituals" is a tribute to Stravinsky projected into an exceptionally large orchestra, with an equally gigantic soloist in the person of Chris Potter, breathtaking from beginning to end.
Jazzmania, 09-4-2022

... The Frankfurt Radio Big Band has a first-class line-up, including tenor saxophonist tenor saxophonist Tony Lakatos and bassist Thomas Heidepriem.
Inmusic, 05-4-2022

...a very valuable session which invites and will reward hours of concentrated listening.
Jazzviews, 05-4-2022

Modern jazz at the big band level is a rarely performed listening experience. Pianist, composer and orchestra leader Jim McNeely is responsible for this...
Concerto Austria, 01-4-2022

... The great playing of the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and, as always, the mesmerizing solos of Chris Potter make this album an experience ...
sk.jazz, 16-3-2022

'Rituals' is an exceptional production that is not only a highlight for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, but also deserves a prominent place in the oeuvre of McNeely and Potter.
Jazzenzo, 07-3-2022

For the fan of contemporary big bands, Rituals is likely to tick most, if not all, boxes.
Jazz Rag, 24-2-2022

This is the result of a wonderful collaboration between two Americans, Jim McNeely, pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and Chris Potter, exceptional tenor saxophonist. 
Le Soir, 16-2-2022

... One hears music with a lot of potential for discovery, supplemented at the end, moreover, by four pieces newly arranged by McNeely from the repertoire of Chris Potter.
virgin jazz face, 30-1-2022

There are gentle and contemplative passages, but also turbulent and mysterious ones. The wonderful playing of the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the as always fascinating solos of Chris Potter make this album a breathless listening pleasure.
Jazzfun, 30-1-2022

... Potter is naturally present here as well, but various soloists from the hr-Bigband also step into the spotlight - a welcome opportunity for Potter to step aside for once.
Jazzthing, 25-1-2022

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