JAZZ BIRD TOP PICK MARCH 2024
TENDERLY
Patrick Manzecchi
Tonsee Records
Official Release March 15, 2024
It’s difficult to imagine a better way to start the year than with Patrick Manzecchi’s Tenderly, our top pick for March 2024. Stream it from anywhere and your foot will be tapping, your knee bouncing, and your head swinging. Long respected as a sideman for his musicianship as a drummer, Tenderly cements Manzecchi as a remarkably skillful and thoughtful bandleader.
Tenderly was recorded live in Germany with the legendary Scott Hamilton (ts), André Weiss (p), and Joel Locher (b). “My inspiration was touring with this wonderful band through South Germany and Switzerland back in 2018,” Manzecchi explained when we caught up with him last month. “Live situations are so inspiring sometimes and the band was cooking!” But the pandemic had other ideas (Manzecchi took this time to record his solo album Talking To Myself), and Tenderly was delayed until last year.
Hamilton achieves a lyricism rivaling the previous recordings of this all-time great tenor saxophonist. André Weiss’ creativity and sensitivity on the keyboard leaves us wondering just when and how can we hear more from this spectacular new-generation jazz pianist. If you think that the most beautiful recordings of the jazz standard “Tenderly” have long since come and gone, listen to the sublime final and title track of this release and it just may change your mind.
It took over five years to get Tenderly released. Mr. Manzecchi, it was worth the wait.
— Jazz Bird Records
March 2024
Tenderly
Tonsee Records (March 15, 2024)
Patrick Manzecchi, drums
André Weiss, piano
Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone)
Joel Locher, bass
with Thimo Niesterok (cornet)
Available on streaming platforms worldwide and as haptical CDs via Amazon and Tonsee Records.
JAZZ BIRD TOP PICK FEBRUARY 2024
GIN
Jill McCarron
Jazz Bird Records
Official Release February 23, 2024
The reviews of GIN speak for themselves (see the list of reviews here). For example:
"Jill McCarron’s second release as a leader, Gin, is a testament both to her prowess as a jazz pianist and composer. Gin showcases her versatility and creativity in the company of stellar musicians, including special guests Vincent Herring (alto, tenor) and Randy Brecker (flugelhorn). . . . Reaffirming her status as an impressive talent, the pianist dives into the Bill Evans composition “Waltz For Debby” in a solo piano exposition. The result is an expressive, insightful and tastefully restrained rendition. The album centerpiece is the three sectioned “The Gin Suite”: “Gin/Bitters/ The Luck Of The Draw”. These vignettes deliver a fascinating musical journey encapsulating sultry melodies in the first section, intricate harmonies in the second and some up-tempo improvisation in the third, demonstrating McCarron’s command not only of composition but of arrangement."
— THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD, MAY 2024
GIN
Jazz Bird Records (February 23, 2024)
Jill McCarron, piano
Vincent Herring. alto & tenor sax
Randy Brecker, flugelhorn
Paul Gill, bass
Andy Watson, drums
Ada Rovatti, tenor sax
Available on streaming platforms worldwide and as CD
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Every month, Jazz Bird highlights our favorite full-length albums released by independent labels (we do not review EPs or releases by major labels). For consideration, Contact Us.