George Schuller Pays Tribute to Keith Jarrett's American Quartet on New CD

[Improvised_Communications]

Playscape Recordings is proud to announce the May 13th release of Like Before, Somewhat After (PSR#060507), Brooklyn-based drummer/composer George Schuller’s tribute to the music of Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet. This is Schuller’s second recording with his longstanding working band, Circle Wide, and the long-awaited follow-up to its 2003 homage to Miles Davis’ pre-fusion transitional period, Round ‘Bout Now (PSR#J021302). Three decades after the demise of Jarrett’s underappreciated ensemble, Circle Wide reinvents six of its favorite tracks from the Jarrett catalog, some of which it has been performing live in New York for years, and documents two Schuller originals inspired by the source material.

“Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet, featuring saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian, is generally regarded as one of the more exciting and influential working jazz bands of the 1970s,” writes journalist Bill Milkowski in the liner notes. “Schuller pays tribute to Jarrett’s American Quartet with his Circle Wide, a remarkably cohesive and exploratory group featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin, vibraphonist Tom Beckham, guitarist Brad Shepik, bassist Dave Ambrosio and special guest percussionist Jamey Haddad (Jarrett’s group was often supplemented by percussionists Danny Johnson, Guilherme Franco or Airto Moreira). Together they succeed in capturing the amazing elasticity and rarefied inside/outside aesthetic that Jarrett achieved 30 years ago.”

“Embracing the lyricism inherent in Jarrett’s writing, Schuller’s ensemble offers one of the most euphorically adventurous albums in recent memory,” explains AllAboutJazz.com’s Troy Collins in his May 7th review. “Effortlessly moving between freedom and formal structure, Circle Wide embraces the same malleable, inside-outside aesthetic that the American Quartet excelled at. Like Before, Somewhat After invokes the bittersweet intensity of Jarrett’s formative work, making this richly rewarding tribute one of Schuller’s most beautiful and accessible albums.”

For more than 25 years, Schuller has worked with many of the most respected names in jazz and improvised music as a bandleader, composer/arranger, sideman and record producer. His diverse discography as a performer features more than 50 recordings, including collaborations with Ballin’ the Jack, Ran Blake, Bill DeArango, Burton Greene, Joe Lovano, Andrew Rathbun, Tom Varner and his father, 2008 NEA Jazz Master, Gunther Schuller. In addition to work with his own bands, Circle Wide and The Schulldogs, Schuller currently performs with the Armen Donelian Trio, Conference Call, Free Range Rat and the Michael Musillami Trio among others. He is also a co-producer of the documentary film, Music Inn, which documents the history of the legendary School of Jazz in Lenox, Massachusetts.

[walto]

the demise of Jarrett’s underappreciated ensemble

Kind of like "underrated" I'm thinking, but maybe not so formal.

[walto]

the legendary School of Jazz in Lenox, Massachusetts

Wait, "legendary" means overrated, right? I mean, because it wasn't really a legend, it was actually there.

[Gerardo A]

This CD sounds great and the instrumentation is interesting, I'd love to hear it. I wouldn't call Jarrett's quartet "underrated" at all, but I do agree that it should be talked about more often as one of the key post 60's jazz bands.

[Gordon B]

“Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet, featuring saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian, is generally regarded as one of the more exciting and influential working jazz bands of the 1970s,” writes journalist Bill Milkowski in the liner notes.

That's not good enough?

How about this?

“Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet, featuring saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian, is generally regarded as one of the most appreciated working jazz bands of the 1970s"

Nevertheless, I'll probably buy this.

[Alino]

I really loved the Schuller's "Circle Wide" previous "Round About Now" (2003), so I bought it as soon as I saw the announce of this cd on playscaperecords.com.

I think this is as good as the previous cd, although so different in moods, more overtly bluesy, folkish and solar. The idea to dedicate their performances to Jarrett's American Quartet is stimulating. The music, the interplay between Schuller, Beckham, Ambrosio and McCaslin is a delight. Again, George Schuller drew his inspiration from a master drummer behind the group leaders; like here '70s Paul Motian, as '60s Tony Williams in the previous cd. Again a thoughtful impeccable hommage

I hope to see the group in Europe this summer!