THE MUSIC OF GEORGE ROBERT
$24.95
George Robert belongs to a very select
group of young European jazz musicians who have had a successful career
worldwide.
He has performed and recorded with many of the jazz giants and is in great
demand as a saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, arranger and educator. His
discography is very impressive and his biography appears in the Jazz
Encyclopedia written by Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler.
He studies jazz composition and arranging at the Berklee College of Music
where teachers like Phil Wilson, Jimmy Mosher and Ed Tomassi notice his
writing talents. He earns a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Composition and
Arranging Magna cum Laude in 1984.
That same year he forms the George Robert Quartet which receives the 1984 Down
Beat Outstanding Performance Award and is invited to perform on the main stage
of the Montreux International Jazz Festival.
In 1987 he meets Tom Harrell and both men hit it off right from the beginning,
musically and personally!
In 1997 the critics of the American magazine Jazz Times select the duo CD
“Youngbloods” (George Robert and Dado Moroni, Mons Records, 1994) as one of
the top five jazz albums of the year. That same year he records his first
album with Kenny Barron.
In 1998 Phil Woods hires George to play lead alto in his big band which tours
Europe for three weeks and performs at all the major jazz festivals on the
Continent.
In 2002 he is invited as featured soloist with the Chick Corea Trio and the
UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra, conducted by Bobby McFerrin. In 2003
George receives the prestigious prize of the Suisa Fondation for Music for his
career achievements.
As this long list of great jazz musicians can attest, George Robert’s career
is unique for such a young artist and he continues to tour, record and write
extensively. (From the Foreword by Dan Morgenstern Director, Institute of
Jazz Studies Rutgers University, Newark, New York, July 2003)
George Robert has a gift for writing melodies which are memorable
and moving. His melodies are accompanied by some very interesting and surprising
harmonic movement. I look forward to performing more of Mr. Robert’s
compositions.(Kenny Barron)
George’s writing speaks for itself. His tunes are to the point, with unexpected
twists and turns, and a beautiful shape and style. I particularly like the
harmonic motion and the melodic line in George’s writing. He writes very much
the way he plays: with a strong sense of lyricism and melody. I’ve had the
pleasure to play with George in the last year or so, and man, he sounds great!
Hearing George’s tunes pretty much completes the picture. George knows the jazz
language in and out. And he speaks from the heart when he plays and writes.
Check out George’s collaborations with Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, Clark Terry,
Tom Harrell as well as the Metropole Orchestra. It’s the real deal! I do believe
you will enjoy studying and playing George Robert’s music. I certainly have.
(Bob Mintzer)
Featuring:
• Musical demonstration of each song
• Arranged introductions and endings
• Bass lines and rhythmic figures
• Swing, even and Latin feels
Also included:
• Chord voicings
• Rehearsal techniques
• Glossary of chord symbols and spellings
• Preparation method for soloing on progressions
Songs played in ensemble classses at Berklee College of Music
Hal Crook is a very special musician. He’s one of the few musicians I know who
falls in the category, full-fledged jazz music master (FFJMM). According to my
definition, an FFJMM must achieve a very high level of excellence in each of the
following areas:
1. instrumental technique
2. improvising
3. composing
4. arranging
5. educating
Not two out of five; not three out of five; not four out of five. But all five
areas. Hal has accomplished this, in my opinion. When Hal asked me to listen to
a demonstration CD containing 35 of his original compositions, I was delighted
to comply. My only concern was that there might be one or two songs in the
collection that didn’t quite “do it” for me. (You can’t expect all 35 songs to
be consistently good, can you?) Well, I put on the demo CD and began to wait for
a song I didn’t care for. Sixty-five minutes later, I was still waiting – and
I’d heard all 35 songs! Simply put, this is great music. It is appealing from so
many perspectives: wonderful melodies, sophisticated harmonic terrain,
interesting forms, great comping, excellent (and realistic) bass lines, diverse
rhythmic layering. You even find a few of Hal’s signature examples of musical
humor, as well as several pieces that I can only describe as “futuristic” – what
jazz may sound like in ten years or so – featuring the effective use of
bi-tonality and rhythmic superimposition. In addition, Hal walks just as he
talks! (Even better, actually.) His music clearly demonstrates all of the
excellent material in his numerous educational books on jazz. And this wonderful
collection of great compositions will present an inspiring challenge to jazz
improvisers around the world. I, for one, can hardly wait to get my hands on the
music. My only hope – for all of us – is that this full-fledged jazz music
master has plans for Volume 2, then Volume 3, then Volume 4 … (Mick Goodrick)
This enlightening and probing anthology takes us on an amazing musical journey
into the compositional world of Hal Crook. Quick, witty, profound, and always
musical, we can all learn a lot by stealing from this “Crook.” Greg Hopkins,
Professor, Jazz Composition Department Berklee College of Music
This book of 37 of Ron Miller’s most favored recorded & performed compositions contains a brief history, description and performance directions for the successful realization of each composition. His tunes have been recorded and/or performed by Billy Hart, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Gerry Bergonzi, Jerry Coker, Gary Keller, Tim Hagans, Ira Sullivan, Rick Margitza, Dave Liebman and others. Bb & Eb versions available soon.
"Clare Fischer is an imaginative, creative and very sensitive musician... His undeniable talent and proficiency as a composer, arranger and pianist have given all his music a personal quality which is not lost when another jazz musician interprets it."
Born on October 22, 1928 in Durand, Michigan, Clare Fischer
is an uncommonly versatile musician, a master with many muses. Trained in the
classics, inspired by jazz artists, healed by the rhythms of Latin and Brazilian
music, his eclectic sound finds expression in every chart and instrument he
touches.
Clare Fischer has recorded over 40 albums as a leader and has arranged, composed
and/or played on another 100 plus albums for other recording artists. His
discography reads like a “Who’s Who” of the recording industry.
Clare Fischer has been, up to now the best kept secret in the world of jazz and creative contemporary music. Although his work as pianist and arranger for the legendary vocal group, the Hi Los was acknowledged by Herbie Hancock as a major influence on his harmonic development. Clare's unique body of work has remained largely unknown to the musical public. He is the musician's musician personified, and his harmonic skills have influenced many musicians who are seen frequently on television and on the covers of the most influential music magazines.
The material selected for this collection comes from two solo recordings which Clare himself considers to contain some of his best solo piano work: "Alone Together" and "Just Me."
CLARE FISCHER AND THE BRUNNER-SCHWER STEINWAY
Yesterdays; Du, Du liegst mir im Herzen; Tahlia; The Touch of Your Lips; "Excerpt" from Canonic Passacaglia; Everything Happens To Me; Brunner-Schwerpunkt' I Can't Get Started
"If I had to make a list of the ten most important solo jazz piano recordings of all time, this recording would definitely be on the list." (Bill Dobbins)
(62 page book) $33.95
For the first time ever the music of Hermeto Pascoal, legendary Brazilian composer and jazz musician, is finally in print. Tudo e Som contains 32 of Hermeto's greaest works, edited by former band member Jovino Santos Neto. This is a must for every serious jazz musician and composer.
