Phil Grenadier "Playful Intentions"

[Brian P]

http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/cp_images/c2790.jpg

Phil Grenadier "Playful Intentions" (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Phil Grenadier (tp), Kurt Rosenwinkel (g), Bill Carrothers (p), Larry Grenadier (b), Jeff Ballard (d)

1. Borderick (Bud Powell)
2. At a Loss (Brad Mehldau)
3. What is This Unanswered Question? (Phil Grenadier/Charles Ives)
4. Playful Intention (Phil Grenadier)
5. Ellipsis (Phil Grenadier)
6. Idiotheque (Radiohead/Paul Lansky)
7. More Mist From Cali (Phil Grenadier)
8. Tough Love (Phil Grenadier)
9. On the Bound (Fiona Apple)
10. Speak Low (Kurt Weill)
11. Give'Er (group improv)

"Jiveman's" second release is just out on Fresh Sound and was well worth the wait! With the exception of bassist/brother Larry, Phil has assembled a whole new crew from his debut CD (the highly recommended "Sweet Transients") and takes the music in a slightly different direction.

It's still too early for me to get into much detail (only listened once through so far) but I can say that "Playful Intentions" is a worthy title for these 11 tracks. It sounds like the 5 musicians on this session had a ball in the studio!

This one is sure to get many spins in my CD player in the coming months. Highly recommended.

Congrats Phil.

[hearsay]

Congrats to Phil, I look forward to hearing this, looks like some interesting song choices. That Radiohead is one of my favorites, and it should be interesting to hear what Phil did with that Ives piece.

That's a great cover too, did they design that over at FSNT?

[Sergio Zamora]

Fresh Sounds is a European label, right? Who is its distributor on this side?

And can somebody recommend at least a couple more albums on this label?

[hearsay]

How about Brett Sroka "hearsay", it's not bad. http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/cp_images/c2172.jpg

Who distributes them is a mystery to most people.

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally posted by hearsay
How about Brett Sroka "hearsay", it's not bad.,

Well, yes, there is that one.

So, I suppose the best place to get Fresh Sound is directly from them, right? I assumed that, which is why I'd like to order at least three albums together.

[Tom Storer]

You can order from their web site. Start with three w's and a dot, then Fresh Sound Records minus the spaces, then a dot com, and you'll get there. Eventually you'll find the list of "Fresh Sound New Talent".

[Brian P]

Hearsay's record is indeed tempting .. I may have to put in yet another order to Fresh Sound ...

Others FSNT records that I find myself listening to over and over ...

CHRIS CHEEK "Vine"
PHIL GRENADIER "Sweet Transients"
ALEXIS CUADRADO "Metro"
REID ANDERSON "The Vastness Of Space"
MARK ZUBEK "Horse With A Broken Leg"
NUNO FERREIRA QUINTET "Long Distance Calls"
BILL McHENRY "Rest Stop"
OMER AVITAL GROUP "Think WIth Your Heart"
THE BAD PLUS "The Bad Plus"
SEAMUS BLAKE "Stranger Things Have Happened"
CHRIS CHEEK/ETHAN IVERSON/BEN STREET/JORGE ROSSY "Guilty - Live at the Jamboree"

Kudos to Jordi Pujol for giving these musicians an opportunity to record and let their music be heard!

[mke]

I think this CD is better, than the first in that you get a greater feeling of "This is Phil's record".

I'll come back with more detailed comments after a few more listens.

My only negative comment is the artwork: the small image Brian P posted makes it look a lot better than it is in reality, IMO. Then again, I didn't really like the artwork on the first one, either. However, and most importantly, the music inside is good.

[Jiveman]

Well thanks so much for posting this, Brian.I really appreciate your kind words.

Thanks to Brett(Hearsay)for the congrats.

First,I'll say I don't have a copy yet...So I've not seen the artwork that Hearsay liked and mke dissed.

The artwork for both my cds were done by my ex.

I thought it looked cool(music,painting,drawing).She worked quite hard on it,but I know mke knows his stuff.The picture of Larry and I playing as little kids didn't do it for you ? :)


One thing I've learned from the experience of making cds & putting yourself out there is that some will like it and some won't.

I myself,am proud of the cd & I really tried my best.I hope to do even better next time.

Thanks for listening...

[james harrigan]

congrats on the new CD, Phil!

FSNT is putting out a lot of very interesting music these days - too bad they are almost impossible to find. I was just listening to Bill McHenry's "Graphic" yesterday, which is outstanding, and so is Reid Anderson's "Abolish Bad Architecture". Phil's new one, with that lineup, is just too tempting to pass up - I'll have to get it.

Ordering directly from Spain hasn't worked for me. The best and cheapest source for FSNT is the web operation run by Jamey Abersold, The Music Resource, a great online source for jazz in general. For example, they have Phil's first CD "Sweet Transients" available for $11.25 (the new one isn't available yet).
You can figure out the URL yourself.

[Jiveman]

Thank you so much James!I hope you enjoy it when you find it!

I've been told Tower Records in the village has a good supply of FSNT's.

Have you tried Fresh Sounds website.I've heard nothing but success stories.

Thanks again!

[pargyris333@yahoo.com]

Listened to this CD, found many compelling originals. Phil's playing is always an inspiration to me.

If listeners enjoy Phil's work here, they may want to check out his playing on a related cd, 'A Point of Departure', with the Phill Argyris Quartet featuring Boston Jazz veterans Stan Strickland and Phil Grenader. Mostly standards, some orginals. Trying tear at the fabric of the standard tunes. This cd is available on Amazon.

[Other Steve]

Haven't heard Phil's disc yet, but very much looking forward to it. Phil, the downtown Tower didn't have it two weeks ago, but I haven't checked since then.

Just wanted to jump in here to second the recommendations for the Reid Anderson and Bill McHenry discs in Brian P's list, as well as hearsay's recommendation of Brett Sroka's disc. ;)

I also want to add, in the strongest terms possible, Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth, which features a commanding quartet with McHenry, Tony Malaby and Gerald Cleaver and some seriously compelling inside-out writing. One of my favorites of the year so far.

I'm heading over to Tower now.

[Other Steve]

Foiled. One copy of the old one, none of the new one. Hrrmmph.

Oh, well. It was a walk of all of three blocks, which I needed for the fresh air, anyway. But it did require all of my willpower not to part with cash for the new Steve Lacy and Luciana Souza discs on Sunnyside...

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Other Steve
But it did require all of my willpower not to part with cash for the new Steve Lacy and Luciana Souza discs on Sunnyside...

Give in! Give in!

[Other Steve]

Originally posted by Tanager
Give in! Give in!
Oh, I will. But I'm waiting for payday.

[mke]

Originally posted by Jiveman
The artwork for both my cds were done by my ex.

I thought it looked cool(music,painting,drawing).She worked quite hard on it,but I know mke knows his stuff.The picture of Larry and I playing as little kids didn't do it for you ? :)

I figured the same person had done both.

Actually, the pictures are very cool. I'm sure Ellery would envy that hat! ;) And your notes on each song are short but very good: concise and informative. I'm just not a fan of the cover art.

[Gary Sisco]

Congrats, Phil! I'll take a look for it in NYC next week. I dug the first one, as you know.

Brett's is a good one, too, long's it's being talked about, even if I do say so myself. Which I do, in the notes. A very good debut CD.

[Jiveman]

Other Steve-Thanks very much for seeking!I haven't received any copies yet myself.I hope Tower stocks it soon as I'd hate to miss out on yours and Gary Sisco's purchase! I'd be very interested in your thoughts.

Thanks Gary Sisco for the well wishes.I'll never forget how kind & how big a help you were to me on the release of "Sweet Transients".I hope you enjoy this one!

mke-Thanks for clarifying a bit.The hat you refer to(I think)is my Dad playing trumpet during World War 2! Either that or you're confusing my hair for a hat.It wouldn't be the first time!

Great to see Phill Argyris discover this place!Thanks for the kind compliments.I'm getting more & more into composing,so thanks for the encouragement.Phill is an excellent young pianist.I think many here would enjoy his very fine CD.

[Clunky]

I await a package ( hopefully it'll be here today) with Jivemans and Hearsays disc in addition to Lightcap's Bigmouth and a Xavier Davis CD. I saw Davis play with Stefon Harris and his chops simply blew me away.
I am big fan of Bill McHenry and have found the 6 month wait for his new FSNT CD with Paul Motian, Ben Monder and Reid Anderson intolerable. It'll probably come out tomorrow and I have to compile another large Freshsound order.!!

[mke]

Originally posted by Jiveman

mke-Thanks for clarifying a bit.The hat you refer to(I think)is my Dad playing trumpet during World War 2! Either that or you're confusing my hair for a hat.It wouldn't be the first time!

Oh, it's your dad. I thought it might of been you playing in some kind of revival band! :p

[Gary Sisco]

Problem solved. This just in:

****************************
Please do not reply to this email address. Questions, comments, orders or anything else should be directed to the email address listed with the body of the text or on the signature line. Thank you. -the crew
****************************************
Hello,

We have the following Fresh Sound titles back in stock. These are *not* yet
listed in our online search engine. These are $15 each, except for #333
which is a double and is $25.00.

Orders can be made by simply sending an email with the
order information to: orders@cadencebuilding.com
We take visa, mc, and discover.

[Jiveman]

Gary-Please excuse my lack o' comprehension...Are you saying Cadence has my CD for sale now?

Thanks for your help!

[Sergio Zamora]

Listening to this right now. Very nice. I'm especially digging the second half of the disc, from around track 6 down. It just seems a bit more cohesive than a few of the earlier tracks. It's all good, though.

[Jiveman]

Thanks very much for purchasing & your comments,Omar!

Do you hear any AE improv influence on "Give Er"?

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally posted by Jiveman
Thanks very much for purchasing & your comments,Omar!

Do you hear any AE improv influence on "Give Er"?

Yeah, that was some very interesting playing. I need to listen to it again, but you definitely had a Dorner/Kelley/Hautzinger/Ezaki thing going on. Very cool.

[Jiveman]

Now that's a compliment!!! :)

Ezaki?Someone else for me to check out?

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally posted by Jiveman
Ezaki?Someone else for me to check out?

I think so. You should check out the 'Trio at Offsite' with Taku Sugimoto, Taku Unami, and him - Masafumi Ezaki, or 'Manga-Michi' with just Taku Unami. Both are on Hibari Music. I really dig those two recordings.

[Jiveman]

Ok Omar--next week I start the search for Masafumi Ezaki!

Thanks for the tip!

I wanna hear that new nmperign too....

[Jiveman]

Just wanted to let any interested people know that "Playful Intentions" is now available at Amazon.

[mke]

Here is babelfish's translation of my soon-to-be-online review. The translation is somewhat incomprehesible, but very funny, so I left it as is. Have you ever considered adopting Phil Pomegranate as your stage name?

----------


Sweet Transients, the first album of Phil Pomegranate, primarily a collection of standards played by a quintet all-star of "young veterans", had made good impression, which is confirmed and amplified today.

On Playful Intentions, exit the standards rebattus: Borderick de Bud Powell, At has loss of Brad Mehldau, Idiotheque de Radiohead and One the bound of Fiona APPLE find themselves among five personal compositions and a free improvisation.

The voice of the leader was all the more strengthened and is essential, as well as a type-setter instrumentalist. On Tough Coils, Grenadier takes its time, as somebody who would not have (already) anything any more to prove. Ellipsis takes a simple, dark and evocative melody and the low register immediately in your memory. The final improvisation Give ' er gives rise to think that this trumpet player still has much margin of evolution in front of him.

The two pop recoveries are quite selected. One the bound allures with his line of low leaping, while Idioteque is aggressif and dissonant.

The playmates of Pomegranate, as for them, are on the level which one awaits oneself from their share. They create an atmosphere very different from that of Sweet Transients. For example, Bill Carrothers is much less minimalist that was not to it Ethan Iverson.

[Jiveman]

Wow Mwanji!

Thanks very much for that.

Yeah,Grenadier=pomegranate

also grenade(explosive)

Philip=lover of horses

Ladies & gentlemen....the Explosive Phil Pomegranate

Some call me love weapon...;)

But seriously,Mwanji,thanks for your time,effort,listening and writing!Much appreciated by me!

[mke]

My pleasure, Jive.

I re-listened to Sweet Transients alongside the new one, and found ST better than I remembered!

[steve(thelil)]

OK. I went to babelfish and translated the above translation into German and then translated that back to english. (To make up for cutting up on this thread I am going to buy a copy of Jivey's Cd from his preferred source (I woulda anyway)

Sweet balance stream, the first album of the Phil of granatapfels, mainly an accumulation standard played by one quintet all star "the young veteran", had formed good impression, which is today confirmed and strengthened. On Playful intentions take you out standards rebattus: Borderick de Bud Powell, on has loss of nail without head Mehldau, Idiotheque de Radiohead and the border Fiona APPLE of the discovery under five personal structure and free improvisation. The voice of the leader was strengthened and is, as well as photo setting equipment instrumentalist substantially. On durable coils infantryman lasts his time, as someone, which would not have somehow to examine (already) nothing more. Ellipsis takes a simple, dark and evocative melody and the low register immediately in your memory. Giving ' it caused it thinks locking improvisation that this trumpet player has still much side edge of the development before it. The two bang resumptions are quite preselected. which tightens the border with its line of low jumping, while Idioteque is dissonant aggressif and. The play comrades of the granatapfels, which concerns her, are you on the level, which one expects oneself from its portion. They cause an atmosphere, which is very different to that of the sweet balance stream. E.G. calculation is Carrothers much less minimum cunning, which was not to their Ethan Iverson.

[mke]

That's without doubt the best review I've ever written.

[Aggie87]

Run it thru babelfish a few more times, and it borders on genius:

The old soldier of new person " quintet level " the granatapfels of electricity of the pricipalmente, with had the whole star of accumulation first inside the album and and the plow this and it examined to it to peel, in the place, it is good, when nu it holds it connected, his compensator was mild, today from the Phil. Attempt of juguetonas outside t3omele of Rebattus of master: That it does not have the edge of Fiona Apple of bud Powell Borderick anh it increases, with 5 it is free, in the lower part of wheat one structure hurried construction the HauptMehldau that li it with the Idiotheque Radiohead loss discovers little more, that, it is a art dealer in if. The instrumentalist is important and that the system which repairs it is connected it is a photography which is the possibility the head of the thing acoustic, of knowing inevitably inside this method. All inside infantryman end, who it resistance well the seiendes role one type and poem is rough again too much type, for anything that outside necessity it was positive in the method which is positive and it is an hour when it is related (already). It manufactures the brevity and the prosecuting attorney of the abolishment and ' give they to the surroundings of low-end rem directly, in order to have this they think in memory smallness for 3evocateur from the O of the melod3ia and permission of the blackness which it sends out the vast quantity and hurried construction brought and always, as the trompeta of the thing which this line veterinarian vast quantity connects in one in of advancement embroiderys side. It that tax there is a possibility that, the absoluteness which spreads out is, approximately this, the Meeresgarnement, as for the granatapfels of the O the Idioteque of the colleague of playing which is a vast quantity dissonant aggressif, as for reasunciones preseleziona demonstration all two, the that of edge li that it does not press hardly, badly from formation of a cabinet to the lecture leveling instrument line iss they it leveling instrument vast quantity. The atmosphere brings from the electricity where in the place this compensator is mild extremely to they, it, it is incorrect. The thing authorization which will be extremely it sees, in the side, for the calculation of O Carrothers of specialty how vast quantity it with it Ethan it it? It does well? From that place of it it is low most, was.

I think this basically sums it all up: From that place of it it is low most, was.

[mke]

This is kind of like DIY Joyce.

Here's my poem:

The old soldier of new person, the granatapfels of electricity
Had the whole star of accumulation first inside the album and
And the plow this
And it examined to it to peel

His compensator was mild

In the lower part of wheat one structure hurried construction
Loss discovers little more, that, it is a art dealer in if

Instrumentalist is important
And that the system which repairs it is connected it
Is a photography which is the possibility
the head of the thing acoustic,
of knowing inevitably inside this method

It manufactures the brevity and the prosecuting attorney of the abolishment
Give they to the surroundings of low-end rem directly

In order to have this they think in memory smallness, permission of the blackness
The absoluteness which spreads out is, approximately this, the Meeresgarnement

Granatapfels

The atmosphere brings from the electricity where they, it, it is incorrect
O Carrothers of specialty how vast quantity it with it Ethan it it?
It does well?
From that place of it it is low most, was

[Tom Storer]

Jiveman, I immediately noticed this line from the first translation of Mwanji's review:

allures with his line of low leaping

Wow! Your "line of low leaping"... I have to get this one!

That will make a great title for a future composition: "Low Leaping Line." Some day it will be a standard.

[Jiveman]

I'll get right(write) on that tune Tom :)

thelil--that is some heavy deep stuff.I'm gonna have to look deep now,even if I may not sound it...

Sweet Transients=Sweet Balance stream

Grenadier=infantryman

pop covers= bang resumptions

These ARE good song titles! :)

Thanks!

[JazzKitten]

Here's what the AMG have to say about Mr. Infantryman's latest CD. (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70306041542&sql=Aoy67mp9k9fco)

JazzKitten :)

[Erik Lund]

What is this Babelfish? I think I'll be spending too much time there in the future....

I'll pick up this album and run my review through some Chinese and German and see what happens.

[Jiveman]

Hi Erik! We'll all look forward to that! ;0

[james harrigan]

The playmates of Pomegranate

this should be the title of your next album, Phil.

[Other Steve]

Originally posted by JazzKitten
Here's what the AMG have to say about Mr. Infantryman's latest CD.
Hey, no dis against an obviously thoughtful AMG writer, but in what universe do Bill Carrothers and especially Kurt Rosenwinkel play "more circumspect roles" on Rifleman's -- uh, Jiveman's disc? Geez, they're singing out (figuratively and often literally) throughout this joint.

I still haven't taken the time to clearly compile my thoughts on this disc, but it's spending a LOT of time in the player. And one thing I will say is that, between this and Reid Anderson's Vastness of Space, Rosenwinkel has stepped up his game in a major way since last I checked him out -- and he was no slouch to begin with.

[Jiveman]

Hey Steve--I hope you'll at least share with me your compiled thoughts when you feel it.I really appreciate your checking it out.

I think Kurt IS killin' on this,if I may say.And how often do you hear Kurt play on a 9 minute free improv?Maybe back in the "Human Feel"days?Its Ben Monder on Reid's"Vastness"date.

Hey James Harrigan-Thanks for the suggestion!Any luck finding my CD,yet?

[JazzKitten]

I, too, enjoy the lyrical voice that Carrothers elicits from the piano; and Mr. Phil Rifleman himself has the very talented ability to make his trumpet sing out hauntingly beautiful tones. I think the entire disc was put together very thoughtfully, and I agree with you that this work deserves a lot more merit than the AMG has awarded it thus far.

Originally posted by Other Steve
... it's spending a LOT of time in the player.

Likewise!

JK :)

[Other Steve]

Originally posted by Jiveman
I think Kurt IS killin' on this,if I may say.And how often do you hear Kurt play on a 9 minute free improv?Maybe back in the "Human Feel"days?Its Ben Monder on Reid's"Vastness"date.
Oops, my bad... right you are. It's Mark Turner's Dharma Days I was thinking of.

[Mike Schwartz]

Wanted to get this one back on page 1 again...

This coming Sunday 08/17 the *great* [couldn't resist the Reynoldsism] and overly modest Phil 'Jiveman' Grenadier appears via phone near his hometown in the Bay Area with me on the radio at KSJS 90.5FM *****AND***** www.ksjs.org 9AM Pacific/12 Noon Eastern

If everything goes as planned we'll be back up and streaming come Wed-Thurs this week, I was told!!

We were the 1st university in the USA to do so, and those of us who care are thrilled to have the chance to do so once again.

[Mike Schwartz]

Just concluded a guest appearance via phone with Phil on KSJS, San Jose.

A great job Phil!

I was bummin' thought we were going to stream the interview on the WWW, to no avail, a new server and according the the webmasters down for some work...

In the midst of playing several tracks from the CD as I type...will give the playlist later


I did warn the Bay Area that when Phil comes out here he 'vacumns up' the used bins at all the best places;-)

[Jiveman]

Man that was fun Mike!

I felt like a big shot for a bit :)

I hope I made some sense,Mike.I played a gig at Mohegan Sun casino last night,on the bill with Jimmy Cliff...Party anyone?...Got home at 4:30 AM, so was pretty out of it this morning...

Thanks Mike for such thoughtful questions and the gift of being on your great show.

Yeah I'll be hittin' Amoeba,Streetlights....

Thanks again!

Edit:Any chance Mike of a cassette copy of our chat?People have already asked me as it wasn't online.

[Mike Schwartz]

Under those circumstances, you were amazingly coherent;-)

I did tape, but haven't listened to it....sound quality some weeks is better than others...will see. Welcome to college radio!


Jiveman playlist 90.5FM KSJS, San Jose from "Playful Intentions"

1) Tough Love [original]
2) At A Loss [Mehldau]
3)Title Track....[original]
4) Idioteque [Radiohead]

...after about 23 minutes of pleasant conversation and Q&A