Here From There
By Edward Blanco
Young New York-based and Israeli-born pianist Yaniv Taubenhouse, who pursued an advanced musical education at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music after having previously studied under acclaimed Israeli and European instructors, is essentially a classically-trained pianist. Since moving to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2010 to study at the University of Arkansas, jazz has been his professional pursuit and the classic piano trio, his preferred format. The Yaniv Taubenhouse Trio delivers their debut album with an audacious date on Here from There, perhaps a personal reference from the jazz pianist in describing his musical journey from Israel to the U.S. culminating in this first solo album as leader.
Though now performing throughout New York since moving there in 2013, this debut was recorded in Fayetteville with bassist Garrett Jones and drummer Darren Novotny—two Arkansas natives the pianist met during his stay there—with whom he collaborated with and led to the formation of this new trio and recording. Except for two standards, the eleven-track project provides all-new material from Taubenhouse beginning with the brief "Prelude of the Ozarks," a solo piano offering from the leader displaying his excellent classical skills as he introduces his new music.
The hard-driving contemporary-sounding "Coming Back" offers the first glimpse of the pianist's compositional talents on a nine-minute musical statements that essentially states "I'm not coming back, I've just arrived." Well the new kid on the block has indeed arrived and the beautiful title track demonstrates the leader's warm side with soft touches on the keys accompanied well by Novotny's brushes and Jones's laid back upright bass lines. "Joey Boy" however, is another story, as it contains a bluesy-tinged melody with nice bass and drum solos giving this piece, a night club groove to it.
The Walter Gross piece "Tenderly" and Sammy Cahn's classic "Time After Time," are the two jazz standards reimagined here by Taubenhouse, who pens cleaver new arrangements making these time-honored songs sound almost new. The fresh new sound keeps coming on the superb "Uncle Robert," the swinging slightly Latin-tinged "Train to a Green Mountain," and the dark-toned finale, "Hope."
Not very well know yet, but jazz pianist Yaniv Taubenhouse is definitely poised to be one of the new young lions of jazz to watch out for and his impressive Here from There debut, is a serious musical statement sure to shine some light on the young pianist who's current musical obscurity is certain to be brief. A technician on the keys and a talented writer, Taubenhouse provides an enjoyable session of music where jazz and classical merge to forge one of the finest trio performances found on today's jazz landscape.
Track Listing:
By Edward Blanco
Young New York-based and Israeli-born pianist Yaniv Taubenhouse, who pursued an advanced musical education at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music after having previously studied under acclaimed Israeli and European instructors, is essentially a classically-trained pianist. Since moving to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2010 to study at the University of Arkansas, jazz has been his professional pursuit and the classic piano trio, his preferred format. The Yaniv Taubenhouse Trio delivers their debut album with an audacious date on Here from There, perhaps a personal reference from the jazz pianist in describing his musical journey from Israel to the U.S. culminating in this first solo album as leader.
Though now performing throughout New York since moving there in 2013, this debut was recorded in Fayetteville with bassist Garrett Jones and drummer Darren Novotny—two Arkansas natives the pianist met during his stay there—with whom he collaborated with and led to the formation of this new trio and recording. Except for two standards, the eleven-track project provides all-new material from Taubenhouse beginning with the brief "Prelude of the Ozarks," a solo piano offering from the leader displaying his excellent classical skills as he introduces his new music.
The hard-driving contemporary-sounding "Coming Back" offers the first glimpse of the pianist's compositional talents on a nine-minute musical statements that essentially states "I'm not coming back, I've just arrived." Well the new kid on the block has indeed arrived and the beautiful title track demonstrates the leader's warm side with soft touches on the keys accompanied well by Novotny's brushes and Jones's laid back upright bass lines. "Joey Boy" however, is another story, as it contains a bluesy-tinged melody with nice bass and drum solos giving this piece, a night club groove to it.
The Walter Gross piece "Tenderly" and Sammy Cahn's classic "Time After Time," are the two jazz standards reimagined here by Taubenhouse, who pens cleaver new arrangements making these time-honored songs sound almost new. The fresh new sound keeps coming on the superb "Uncle Robert," the swinging slightly Latin-tinged "Train to a Green Mountain," and the dark-toned finale, "Hope."
Not very well know yet, but jazz pianist Yaniv Taubenhouse is definitely poised to be one of the new young lions of jazz to watch out for and his impressive Here from There debut, is a serious musical statement sure to shine some light on the young pianist who's current musical obscurity is certain to be brief. A technician on the keys and a talented writer, Taubenhouse provides an enjoyable session of music where jazz and classical merge to forge one of the finest trio performances found on today's jazz landscape.
Track Listing:
Prelude of the Ozarks; Coming Back; Here from There; Joey Boy; Sunrise Fantasy; Time and Place; Tenderly; Uncle Robert; Train to a Green Mountain; Time After Time; Hope.
Personnel:
Personnel:
Yaniv Taubenhouse: piano; Garrett Jones: bass; Darren Novotny: drums.
Trichotomy
Trichotomy
Known-Unkhown
By Bruce Lindsay
It's been a while, four years to be precise, but Australian piano trio Trichotomy is back. Known-Unknown appears after a break during which the band's members have been busy with numerous other projects and sees the first appearance of a new bassist, but it takes just a few bars of "Five" to reassure fans that this cohesive, exciting trio is back and on track.
Pianist Sean Foran and drummer John Parker are joined by bassist Samuel Vincent and all three musicians contribute compositions—Foran getting the lion's share of writing credits with six tunes. On the band's previous release, Fact Finding Mission (Naim Label, 2013), the trio was augmented by various guest musicians. Known-Unknown eschews this approach, returning to the core trio with no additional players.
All three band members are credited with electronics, used live to alter the acoustic instruments and hence to expand the tonal variation in the music. Such alteration is subtly done, on the hypnotic "Reverie Of Lack" for example.
Foran's "Five" opens proceedings in a fairly straight-ahead style, the trio establishing a muscularity in its playing before calming things down somewhat. It's a fine example of the band's sense of dynamics and drama. "Cells," by Parker, has more of a narrative feel: a melancholy story courtesy of melodic opening and closing passages that bookend some group improvisation. "Past Tense" is Vincent's first composition for the trio and features his mournful arco bass. On this evidence, the new member will further strengthen the band's writing abilities.
Trichotomy's powerful, muscular, playing style is again in evidence on "Asset Or Liability"—especially Parker's drums and percussion. "It's Strange Coming Back" is another Parker number, its title perhaps a nod to the band's extended absence. It's another showcase for the quieter and more reflective side of things and the album's prettiest tune. The repetitive "Semi-Quasars" hangs around a little too long but with "Hemmingways" Known-Unknown closes on a fluid and upbeat tone.
Track Listing:
By Bruce Lindsay
It's been a while, four years to be precise, but Australian piano trio Trichotomy is back. Known-Unknown appears after a break during which the band's members have been busy with numerous other projects and sees the first appearance of a new bassist, but it takes just a few bars of "Five" to reassure fans that this cohesive, exciting trio is back and on track.
Pianist Sean Foran and drummer John Parker are joined by bassist Samuel Vincent and all three musicians contribute compositions—Foran getting the lion's share of writing credits with six tunes. On the band's previous release, Fact Finding Mission (Naim Label, 2013), the trio was augmented by various guest musicians. Known-Unknown eschews this approach, returning to the core trio with no additional players.
All three band members are credited with electronics, used live to alter the acoustic instruments and hence to expand the tonal variation in the music. Such alteration is subtly done, on the hypnotic "Reverie Of Lack" for example.
Foran's "Five" opens proceedings in a fairly straight-ahead style, the trio establishing a muscularity in its playing before calming things down somewhat. It's a fine example of the band's sense of dynamics and drama. "Cells," by Parker, has more of a narrative feel: a melancholy story courtesy of melodic opening and closing passages that bookend some group improvisation. "Past Tense" is Vincent's first composition for the trio and features his mournful arco bass. On this evidence, the new member will further strengthen the band's writing abilities.
Trichotomy's powerful, muscular, playing style is again in evidence on "Asset Or Liability"—especially Parker's drums and percussion. "It's Strange Coming Back" is another Parker number, its title perhaps a nod to the band's extended absence. It's another showcase for the quieter and more reflective side of things and the album's prettiest tune. The repetitive "Semi-Quasars" hangs around a little too long but with "Hemmingways" Known-Unknown closes on a fluid and upbeat tone.
Track Listing:
Five; Cells; Junk; Imaginary Limits; Past Tense; Asset Or Liability; It’s Strange Coming Back; Reverie Of Lack; Semi-Quasars; Hemmingways.
Personnel:
Personnel:
Sean Foran: piano, electronics; Samuel Vincent: double bass, electronics; John Parker: drums, percussion, electronics.
Yaniv Taubenhouse
Yaniv Taubenhouse
Moments In Trio-Voluma One
By Raul Da Gama
"The range of atmospheres and emotions in the poetry of Yaniv Taubenhouse’s music is astounding. Rarely and only once or twice in a lifetime do you get to hear a musician and a pianist who is as sensitive as Taubenhouse to the voice of the heart, the breadth of human emotion and its relationship with the whisper of nature, and its roar as well. Not surprisingly therefore Moments In Trio captures and coddles the whimsical and the tortured, the sensual and the affectionate in these vignettes, these delicate songs that appear on this programme. What invigorating motion, what exultation and what utter delicacy and earthiness in each and every song. This is not simply a talent worthy of recognition, this is one that every pianist – every aspiring musician – must listen to and even learn from.
Yaniv Taubenhouse has truly mastered his instrument to the extent that it, as Charlie Parker once said, has become an extension of his body. Thus it seems to be controlled by neurological energy and impulses rather than voluntary movements. This has a magical effect, for example, on his use of pedalling, the myriad of ways in which he applies pressure on the keys and the energy transferred from his body to the piano. His music stands out for its intelligently parsed dynamics and long singing lines. Each repeated note in ‘Sunshine in Pain’ and ‘Prelude of the Ozarks’ has a different colour, while chromatic such as ‘All the Figs’ and ‘Migrations’ radiate inner strength and ravishing nuance. Yaniv Taubenhouse also employs subtle tempo fluctuations and strategic accents that help give shape and dimension to the music’s harmonic richness.
The pleasures of the music of Moments in Trio can be attributed as much to Taubenhouse’s playing of his colourful arrangements as it can be to the virtuosity and excellence of bassist Rick Rosato, whose beautiful, dark tone and sinuous harmonies provide an exquisite backdrop to the sound and silence of the music. And we cannot ignore the masterful drumming and percussion colouring of Jerad Lippi. Both the accompanists acquit themselves with poise. There are wonderful mixes of sound between Taubenhouse, Rosato and Lippi, a crack ensemble who play with feeling, depth and sonority and the rhythmic dalliance that this music demands. The warm and realistically defined engineering by Robert L. Smith does full justice to Yaniv Taubenhouse’s now-seasoned mastery."
Track Listing:
By Raul Da Gama
"The range of atmospheres and emotions in the poetry of Yaniv Taubenhouse’s music is astounding. Rarely and only once or twice in a lifetime do you get to hear a musician and a pianist who is as sensitive as Taubenhouse to the voice of the heart, the breadth of human emotion and its relationship with the whisper of nature, and its roar as well. Not surprisingly therefore Moments In Trio captures and coddles the whimsical and the tortured, the sensual and the affectionate in these vignettes, these delicate songs that appear on this programme. What invigorating motion, what exultation and what utter delicacy and earthiness in each and every song. This is not simply a talent worthy of recognition, this is one that every pianist – every aspiring musician – must listen to and even learn from.
Yaniv Taubenhouse has truly mastered his instrument to the extent that it, as Charlie Parker once said, has become an extension of his body. Thus it seems to be controlled by neurological energy and impulses rather than voluntary movements. This has a magical effect, for example, on his use of pedalling, the myriad of ways in which he applies pressure on the keys and the energy transferred from his body to the piano. His music stands out for its intelligently parsed dynamics and long singing lines. Each repeated note in ‘Sunshine in Pain’ and ‘Prelude of the Ozarks’ has a different colour, while chromatic such as ‘All the Figs’ and ‘Migrations’ radiate inner strength and ravishing nuance. Yaniv Taubenhouse also employs subtle tempo fluctuations and strategic accents that help give shape and dimension to the music’s harmonic richness.
The pleasures of the music of Moments in Trio can be attributed as much to Taubenhouse’s playing of his colourful arrangements as it can be to the virtuosity and excellence of bassist Rick Rosato, whose beautiful, dark tone and sinuous harmonies provide an exquisite backdrop to the sound and silence of the music. And we cannot ignore the masterful drumming and percussion colouring of Jerad Lippi. Both the accompanists acquit themselves with poise. There are wonderful mixes of sound between Taubenhouse, Rosato and Lippi, a crack ensemble who play with feeling, depth and sonority and the rhythmic dalliance that this music demands. The warm and realistically defined engineering by Robert L. Smith does full justice to Yaniv Taubenhouse’s now-seasoned mastery."
Track Listing:
After the Storm; All the Figs; With You; Sunshine in Pain; Conversation; Migrations; Prelude of the Ozarks; Unknown; Imaginary Darkness; How About You.
Personnel:
Personnel:
Yaniv Taubenhouse: piano; Jerad Lippi: drums; Rick Rosato: bass.
Jasper Somsen Trio
A New Episode In Life Pt.1
By Challenge
Dutch double bassist & composer Jasper Somsen (1973) studied Jazz and Classical double bass at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. During his career Jasper has performed with some of the very best musicians at the (inter)national jazz scene, a.o.: Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Bob Sheppard, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gabriele Mirabassi, Bert Joris, Bert van den Brink, Ramón Valle, Toon Roos, Karel Boehlee, John Engels, Yuri Honing and Eric Vloeimans.
THE TRIO
It’s no coincidence Jasper Somsen’s third album as a leader features an internationalpiano trio line up. Recently performing and/or recording with a.o. Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, Justin Faulkner & André Ceccarelli, he is much sought after by (in particular) pianists. The former New York, now Montreal based French master pianist & composer Jean-Michel Pilc and one of Jasper's all time favorite French drummers André Ceccarelli joined him. The music is an intriguing and exciting exploration in the hearts and minds of these three wonderful musicians.
TWO ALBUMS
On July 11 and 12, 2016 the Jasper Somsen Trio went into the MotorMusic Studios, Mechelen (Belgium). Their entire album was recorded in less than one recording day. The same night Challenge Records decided to have the trio record their second album on day two. And just so happened. The first album is an all new original compositions album by Jasper Somsen. The second album contains a mix of free improvisations and some freely approached standards and was recorded in less than 6 hours. Most of the tracks of the second album were recorded in just one or two takes.
Jasper Somsen Trio
A New Episode In Life Pt.1
By Challenge
Dutch double bassist & composer Jasper Somsen (1973) studied Jazz and Classical double bass at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. During his career Jasper has performed with some of the very best musicians at the (inter)national jazz scene, a.o.: Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Bob Sheppard, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gabriele Mirabassi, Bert Joris, Bert van den Brink, Ramón Valle, Toon Roos, Karel Boehlee, John Engels, Yuri Honing and Eric Vloeimans.
THE TRIO
It’s no coincidence Jasper Somsen’s third album as a leader features an internationalpiano trio line up. Recently performing and/or recording with a.o. Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, Justin Faulkner & André Ceccarelli, he is much sought after by (in particular) pianists. The former New York, now Montreal based French master pianist & composer Jean-Michel Pilc and one of Jasper's all time favorite French drummers André Ceccarelli joined him. The music is an intriguing and exciting exploration in the hearts and minds of these three wonderful musicians.
TWO ALBUMS
On July 11 and 12, 2016 the Jasper Somsen Trio went into the MotorMusic Studios, Mechelen (Belgium). Their entire album was recorded in less than one recording day. The same night Challenge Records decided to have the trio record their second album on day two. And just so happened. The first album is an all new original compositions album by Jasper Somsen. The second album contains a mix of free improvisations and some freely approached standards and was recorded in less than 6 hours. Most of the tracks of the second album were recorded in just one or two takes.
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