The Squid's Ear Magazine


Sewelson, Dave : Smooth Free Jazz (Mahakala Music)

A soulful and even honky-tonk take on jazz from baritone saxophonist and vocalist Dave Sewleson, covering tunes like Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" (two versions) or leaning back on riffs from popular music through lap steel guitarist Mike Neer, with Dave Hofstra on bass and Bernice "Boom Boom" Brooks on drums, a surprisingly enjoyable merging of popular and free playing.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Dave Sewelson-baritone saxophone, voice

Mike Neer-lap steel guitar

Dave Hofstra-bass

Bernice Brooks-drums


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UPC: 195269123277

Label: Mahakala Music
Catalog ID: MAHA-017
Squidco Product Code: 31700

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2021
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Park West Studios, Brooklyn, New York, on june 2nd, 2021, by Jim Clouse.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Smooth jazz has always seemed like a contradiction in terms. The idea that jazz, a musical gift to America from black people that includes revolutionary concepts of cooperative improvisation and trust, could have its edges beveled and the thrill of spontaneity muted and made "safe", would be like taking the revolution out or revolutionary and just leaving the airy.

Smooth FreeJazz is a creative display of this dichotomy by contrasting a smooth center with a fiery edge. Who better to lead the way than Dave Sewelson, one of the oldest members of New York's Downtown Scene. Instead of music being a shag rug on the floor with the scent of air freshener, we see that it's a dirt floor with a strong wind through the window."-Mahakala Music


Artist Biographies

"Dave Sewelson was born in Oakland, California, in 1952. There was a half-size violin kept in the closet in case he wanted to be a concert violinist. He played trumpet at the age of nine, moving to baritone horn at the age of eleven, followed by a stint on drums until settling on electric bass at thirteen, adding upright bass to the mix until the switch to saxophone at the age of twenty-one. He has specialized in the baritone saxophone since the early seventies.

Sewelson arrived in New York City in the summer of 1977, settled in the East Village becoming an active member of the Downtown Scene, playing with the 25 O'Clock Band, Jemeel Moondoc's Jus Grew Orchestra, William Parker's Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra and Saheb Sarbib's Multinational Big Band and the Microscopic Septet. He has played with many wonderful musicians, including, Billly Bang, John Zorn, Peter Kuhn, Alex Cline, Roy Campbell, Sonny Murray, Kidd Jordan, Daniel Carter, Will Connell and Stephanie Stone.. Dave's current projects include, Two Sisters Inc. with David Hofstra and Claire Daly, a quartet with Peter Kuhn, Smooth Freejazz, Sewelsonics, and The Daves."

-Dave Sewelson Website (http://sewelsonics.com/?page_id=2)
11/18/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Lap steel guitarist Mike Neer is a unique voice in the world of steel guitar, bringing influences from outside the instrument's traditional setting. He studied guitar with Mike Stern. Peter Leitch & Steve Khan, switched to steel guitar, where he learned Hawaiian style from masters like Sol Hoopii. His recordings are widely praised by critics and he's been called 'audacious' and "innovative"."

-Mike Neer 11/18/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"David Carl "Dave" Hofstra (born May 21, 1953, Leavenworth, Kansas) is an Americh jazz double-bassist. He also plays bass guitar and tuba.

Hofstra was an autodidact on bass. He worked with Robin Holcomb, John Zorn, Joel Forrester, and Dave Sewelson (de) in the late 1970s.[1] He was active primarily in New York from the 1980s, playing with William Parker, Lou Grassi (de), Denis Charles, Elliott Sharp, Paul Shapiro, Bobby Previte, Wayne Horvitz, Saheb Sarbib, Bobby Radcliff, Jemeel Moondoc, Marie McAuliffe, Bill Frisell, Robin Eubanks, Greg Osby, David Rosenbloom, Phillip Johnston, Chris Kelsey, Rachelle Garniez (de), Clare Daly, William Gagliardi (de), and Robin Holcomb."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hofstra)
11/18/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Bernice Brooks has performed and shared the stage with Tito Puente, Gregory Hines, Patti Labelle, and many Jazz and R&B greats. One of the most versatile drummers playing today, Bernice is an accomplished instructor and musician who brings passion, creativity and inspiration to drumming. Bernice joined us this summer at the Girls Club to lead our "Seriously Noisy" Drum Corps for a guest class and to introduce girls to the intoxicating rhythms of the Bateria drum corps of Brazil."

-WGRL (https://wgrl.nyc/interview-with-diva-of-the-drums-bernice-boom-boom-brooks/)
11/18/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Nature Boy 19:30

2. Song Moth 07:57

3. The Moment 08:34

4. Bill 08:15

5. Nature Boy (radio version) 03:12

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Quartet Recordings
Song Based Music
Melodic and Lyrical Jazz

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Mahakala Music.


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