Bass CDs
Bruce Gertz Highlights Original Compositions on Open Mind
Acclaimed Boston-based bassist Bruce Gertz highlights his original compositions on Open Mind Featuring Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi and Trumpeter Phil Grenadier
“It’s worth moving to Boston just to play Bruce’s music”– Bill Mays, jazz pianist extraordinaire
“All of the numerous musicians that have worked with Bruce will tell you he’s a monster” –?Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe
“His modal, post bop and swing derived harmonies and melodies prove he’s equally versed as a player and as a writer” – New England Performer
Sometimes a picture actually does speak a thousand words. On the cover of his latest album, Open Mind, the bassist, composer and bandleader Bruce Gertz is cradling his instrument, his eyes closed, a look of bliss covering his face. This is clearly a man who finds contentment in music, a passion exemplified by a recording that captures equally the virtuosic talents and organizational focus of the leader and the full-on commitment of his band mates: tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, trumpeter Phil Grenadier, pianist Gabriel Guerrero and drummer Austin McMahon. Open Mind is 21-century post-bop informed by the wisdom of inquisitive and striving veteran musicians.
Open Mind, released on Gertz’s own Open Mind label, is also the summation, thus far, of a musical journey that finds inspiration on the bandstand and in the classroom. An active Boston-based player who has shared the stage with Gary Burton, Billy Eckstine, Gil Evans, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Frisell, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, and Mike Stern, and recorded with such notable artists as John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Joey Calderazzo, Mick Goodrick and Kenny Werner, Gertz is also a respected academician who has taught at the Berklee College of Music since 1976 and whose students have included Esperanza Spalding, Victor Bailey and Matt Garrison.
Collaborating again with Jerry Bergonzi, the man Gertz calls his “musical soul brother,” and with whom he has maintained a fruitful three-decade association, Gertz unites the well-admired saxophonist with three other top notch players with whom the bassist has strong ties. Although Gertz is a fluent electric bassist, he determined that the ten original tunes on Open Mind called for the acoustic double bass, the instrument on which he has built his reputation as a masterly player. Possessing a warm tone and a lyrical sensibility, Gertz blends these virtues with an enviable technical command. His acutely supportive work is evident on each performance; superlative bass solos can be heard on “Glad You’re Hear,” “Facing It,” “Lapso,” “E.J.” (on which Gertz displays his outstanding facility on arco bass) and the title track.
Yet Open Mind is anything but a spotlighted showcase for its leader. The ensemble operates with a cohesion that speaks of familiarity –- the quintet has maintained a weekly gig for the past three years at the Acton Jazz Café in Massachusetts — while each player remains committed to authentic self-expression on their respective instrument. Gertz’s memorably melodic tunes are also fashioned to feature his band mate’s abilities as razor-sharp improvisers. On such compelling performances as “Just a Flesh Wound,” “Gwen,” and “Open Mind,” Bergonzi, Grenadier, Guerrero and McMahon exhibit swinging instrumental prowess that begs to extend their reputations beyond that of local jazz legends. Gertz also has a special gift for pensive mid-tempo pieces and ballads, exhibited here on “E.J.” “Gabriella,” and the lovely “Facing It” which elicit heartfelt and lyrical solo statements amid sensitive ensemble interplay.
The triumph of Open Mind is how adroitly it highlights the compositional gifts of its leader; the serious chops of all involved; and the unity that only the best working bands achieve. “It’s the best recording I’ve made,” Gertz states with pride, “Life is a growth process, and my music reflects that. Open Mind is the perfect example of what I’ve become.”
The album shares its title with Gertz’s aptly named record label, Open Mind, which, to date, has released the acclaimed albums: It Wasn’t Me; Reptilian Fantasies, Thank You Charlie, and Open Mind. The next Open Mind album to be released will be The Heart Of a Champion, credited to Trio-Now, which includes Gertz, pianist Steve Hunt and drummer Jack Diefendorf.
A Recipient of National Endowment for the Arts jazz performance grant,
Gertz is also author of “22 Contemporary Melodic Studies for Bass”, “Walkin’ “, and “Mastering the Bass“ (Mel Bay Publications). Of Gertz’s instructional book/CD “Let’s Play Rhythm” (Advance Music of Germany) the master bassist Rufus Reid states, “A must for all players who wish to get to the core and a deeper functional use of the jazz vocabulary,” while saxophonist Dave Liebman has said, “What I like about this book … is that a student can get right to the point and get immediate results.
Following the success of his debut album Now It’s My Turn, Mario Guarini — one of the most acclaimed bass players on the Italian contemporary music scene — returns with Enjoy the Journey.
The album is available on all digital platforms. Featuring ten original tracks, Enjoy the Journey marks a natural and mature evolution in Guarini’s artistic path: a deep, refined work where groove and melody merge into a multi-stylistic and ethnic instrumental language, capable of crossing cultures, influences and sensibilities with remarkable compositional coherence.
The project stands out for its outstanding international collaborations, further reinforcing the album’s global scope. Among the featured artists are Vinnie Colaiuta, a true drumming legend whose unmistakable touch enriches the entire record; the iconic Victor Wooten, a worldwide benchmark of electric bass, appearing on both bass and bow bass; Oz Noy, a leading figure of the New York jazz-fusion scene on guitars; Michael Pipoquinha, the extraordinary Brazilian six-string bass virtuoso; Sandro Haick, internationally renowned musician and producer, contributing on guitars, drums, keyboards and vocals; and Israel Varela, one of the most authoritative voices in contemporary jazz drumming, here performing on drums, cajón and palmas.
Alongside these major international names, the album also features an impressive roster of Italian talents, including Daniele Gottardo, Alberto Marsico, Daniele Bonaviri, Giulio Carmassi, Elio Rivaghi, Max Rosato, Adriano Milinari, among many others, creating a rich, deep and authentically international musical dialogue.
These collaborations enrich the album with diverse languages, cultures and sensibilities, reinforcing the idea of the journey as a shared artistic and human experience.
The project aims to showcase Italian excellence within a truly international artistic context, maintaining the highest production standards and a strong expressive identity, further shaped by the production of Antonello Boezio, founder and producer of Bobo Records. The album was recorded at MAST Recording Studio, and mixed and mastered by Massimo Stano.
In an era increasingly driven by numbers, metrics and visibility, Enjoy the Journey tells a different story — one shaped by people, cultures and genuine encounters. Brazil, India, Japan, America and Spain intertwine in a sonic narrative that moves through blues, soul, funk, flamenco and ethnic influences, where each track becomes a stop along the way and each collaboration a moment of shared growth.
With Enjoy the Journey, Mario Guarini confirms his place among the leading voices of contemporary instrumental music, delivering an album that will captivate not only bass players and industry professionals, but all lovers of high-quality music.
This project was produced with the support of the call “Nuove Produzioni Discografiche 2024/25”, funded by NUOVOIMAIE.
Bass CDs
New Music: ROSS VALORY Refreshed And Remastered Version Of His Debut Solo Album, All Of The Above
ROSS VALORY, the acclaimed original Journey bassist and songwriter, has confirmed August 21 as the release date for the refreshed and remastered version of his debut solo album ALL OF THE ABOVE (OID Music). Available for the first time on vinyl and CD, the updated release includes a new VALORY instrumental track and video for “City Lights.”
This marks the first time ALL OF THE ABOVE—originally released digitally in 2024—will be available on vinyl and CD, and the new version will include a special Purple Swirl Color Vinyl with autographed photo exclusively available via EXPERIENCE VINYL. Pre-order the special edition HERE. Click HERE to pre-order the standard vinyl and CD.
For “City Lights,” VALORY (who played standup bass on the song) teamed with a talented group of master players: Eric Levy (Night Ranger, Garage Mahal); Steve Smith (Journey and Vital Information); Bobby Strickland (Todd Rundgren); Stevie “Keys” Roseman (longtime Valory collaborator); and Mic Gillette (Tower of Power Horns), who did all the horn arrangements and played trumpet and trombone, including a trombone solo. Together, they “bring a new level of sophistication” to the track [a standout from ROSS’ vast repertoire],” he says. The visually arresting clip for the song is set against the backdrop of New York City—throughout different time periods—capturing the hauntingly seductive instrumental track.
“‘City Lights’ is really about people out and about in the city, possibly in the rain, looking for and finding romance,” ROSS adds with a laugh. “It’s just the simple enjoyment of nightlife and romance…the adventure, the excitement, the spontaneity. Just being out on the town.”
“‘City Lights’ [and the previously released] ‘Nightflower,’ are really sister songs,” VALORY says. “They both have—in terms of the time period that they represent—the flavor of the big city at night, and in particular, Michael [Cotten, the video director] and my impressions of Manhattan. And while the two music videos have a different visual storyline, they’re both related to nighttime in the city.”
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On The All Seeing Eye, bassist, composer, arranger, and producer Will Lyle brings together a group of musicians whose collective experience spans several generations of modern jazz. The album features Lyle alongside pianist David Kikoski, drummer Billy Drummond, and saxophonist Lucas Pino, with additional appearances by drummer Ronen Itzik and vocalist Sirintip.
Available now, the record moves between angular post-bop, swing, balladry, modal jazz, and contemporary harmonic writing without losing the conversational interplay at the center of the session allowing each composition to dictate its own atmosphere and pacing.
The opening track, “Eridania,” written by composer Craig Cammell, introduces the album with shifting key centers and an angular melody that swerves through several harmonic directions before briefly settling in the bridge. Lyle describes the piece as “alien jazz,” though the quartet approaches its complexity with looseness and forward momentum rather than rigidity.
“Lineas de Sangre,” composed by New York saxophonist Rico Jones, draws from jazz and breakbeat influences while evoking the atmosphere of an early-2000s steampunk anime soundtrack. The tune’s layered rhythmic figures and unusual phrasing made it one of the more demanding pieces to rehearse. Guest drummer Ronen Itzik appears here, bringing a sharp and textural approach to the arrangement.
The quartet takes a quieter turn on “Autumn Nocturne,” the 1941 ballad first recorded as an instrumental by Claude Thornhill. Lucas Pino approaches the melody with a vocal sensibility, while the rhythm section leaves wide harmonic space beneath him. The performance developed naturally in the studio, resulting in a warm and restrained interpretation of the standard.
Cole Porter’s “All of You” centers around Billy Drummond’s ability to gradually build intensity behind the soloists without disrupting the flow of the performance. The band begins spaciously before settling into a deep swing feel that unfolds gradually over the course of the track.
Lyle’s original composition “Deepfake” is a contrafact on Jerome Kern’s “Make Believe” and references the melodic language associated with Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh. The title came from the increasingly common use of digitally manipulated media online, though the composition itself intentionally contrasts that subject matter with a bright medium swing feel. “They say to write for the times,” Lyle notes. “Truly ‘Make Believe.’”
“Saturn Return” serves as the album’s modal centerpiece and Lyle’s homage to the modal jazz recordings of the 1990s. While the composition ultimately developed a different character than he initially imagined, the darker minor-key atmosphere became an important tonal contrast within the sequencing of the record.
The album closes with “On a Clear Day,” featuring vocalist Sirintip. Known primarily for her work in indie electro-pop settings, she brings her jazz background into a setting that avoids the feel of a traditional vocal jazz feature. Backed by the quartet, the performance captures a meeting point between younger and more established improvising voices.
Visit online at will-lyle-music.com/
Bass CDs
New Music: Five of the Greatest Living Bassists Appear on One Album – Kenny Peagler’s We Are Just Human
Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Will Lee, Jimmy Haslip, and Bakithi Kumalo each anchor different tracks on the new release from the acclaimed pianist and composer, produced by Grammy-winning drummer Poogie Bell
It is rare for a single album to gather even one bass icon. We Are Just Human, the new vocal album from pianist and composer Kenny Peagler, brings together five of the most influential bassists alive — each taking a different track, each bringing a distinct voice to the low end.
Marcus Miller plays on “Come Close To Me” and “Kiss and Make Up.” Five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten anchors “Time Machine.” Will Lee appears on “Like No One’s In the Room” and “I Believe,” Jimmy Haslip on “Where Is The Love,” and Bakithi Kumalo — the voice behind some of the most recognizable bass lines in pop history — on “Live This Life For You.” The result is a record that doubles as a master class in modern bass: five players, five philosophies, one cohesive body of songs.
The album is produced by Grammy-winning drummer Poogie Bell, a fellow Pittsburgh native who holds down the kit across all nine tracks. The supporting cast extends the pedigree further, with saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and percussionist Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez among the contributors.
At the center is Peagler himself — a classically trained pianist with more than three decades on international stages, from Carnegie Hall to the Umbria Jazz Festival to a performance for President Barack Obama. With We Are Just Human, he steps forward as a vocalist and songwriter for the first time, building songs sturdy enough to hold a roster of this caliber.
Critics have taken note. Music Connection awarded the album 8 out of 10, praising Peagler’s voice as “strong and warm” and the musicianship throughout as exceptional, while SoulTracks highlighted the project as revealing a powerful new dimension of an artist long respected on the bandstand.
For bass players, the appeal is direct: a chance to hear Miller, Wooten, Lee, Haslip, and Kumalo on the same album, in service of the song rather than the solo. The masters are owned outright, and isolated bass stems, hi-res audio, and interviews with Kenny Peagler and Poogie Bell are available on request.
We Are Just Human is out now on Apple Music, Spotify, and all major streaming platforms.
Visit online at www.kennypeagler.com
Danielle Nicole is excited to announce the release of her new album Fireflies, arriving August 28 via 40 Below Records. Pre-order here. Alongside the announcement, Nicole is sharing the album’s powerful new single, “Tug Of War,” a soulful anthem about reclaiming strength in the face of imbalance and emotional exhaustion.
“I wrote ‘Tug Of War’ for anyone finding themself no longer willing to accept the terms of a one way relationship,” says Danielle.
Long celebrated for her commanding voice, masterful bass playing, and emotionally fearless songwriting, Danielle Nicole traces the beginning of her musical journey back to a transformative moment in her teenage years: seeing Etta James perform live in Kansas City.
“We had a great blues festival in Kansas City,” Nicole recalls, “and I was able to see Etta James perform. She was fearless. My parents were musicians who played in cover bands, so music was always part of my family — but I didn’t realize I wanted to sing and perform, too, until I heard Etta.”
That reverence for the great soul singers, storytellers, and trailblazers who came before her has fueled a career spanning nearly 25 years, including 10 Blues Music Awards, a Grammy nomination, and international acclaim as both a songwriter and performer. With Fireflies, Nicole delivers what may be her most personal and musically adventurous statement yet — a raw, deeply felt collection recorded live to analog tape that explores grief, resilience, empowerment, and transformation through a rich blend of blues, soul, R&B, and roots music.
“There’s a lot of soul-driven music here,” she says. “A lot of storytelling. It’s a major step forward in my songwriting.”
Visit online at daniellenicolemusic.com/
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