Matt Ulery - In the Ivory (2CD) (2014)

Greenleaf Music is proud to announce the release of bassist and composer Matt Ulery’s “In the Ivory.” This double-CD features pianist Rob Clearfield, drummer Jon Deitemeyer, violinist Zach Brock, vocalist Grazyna Auguscik and 3-time Grammy-winning new music ensemble eighth blackbird in a lush chamber setting.

Expanding upon the artistic and critical success of his 2012 double album By a Little Light, Chicago bassist-composer Matt Ulery returns with In the Ivory on Dave Douglas' acclaimed independent label Greenleaf Music – eighty minutes of resplendent, lyrical, transportive, and impeccably performed chamber-jazz music.

Inspired and motivated by the musical and personal relationships developed while recording and performing By a Little Light–Ulery’s most ambitious project to date–In the Ivory explores the idea of consciousness through patient, lyrical composition.

At a time when classical musicians perform in clubs almost as frequently as jazz musicians appear in concert halls, Ulery has forged a unique signature sound that combines a jazz core with luminous ensemble writing and song craft. Built around a band of select, unique voices, In the Ivory draws upon Ulery's positive experience performing Light with this particular thirteen-piece aggregation. Ulery's sixth album as a leader blends jazz, American minimalism, Eastern European folk music (as a longtime writing member of Chicago band Eastern Blok), and romanticism into a constantly evolving emotional kaleidoscope.

“This is music of brisk intelligence and an almost off-putting abundance of composure… with frictionless access to great chunks of classical postminimalism, atmospheric indie-rock and harmonically astute post-bop.” - NY Times

"In the Ivory giunge a due anni di distanza dall'eccellente By a Little Light, album nel quale il contrabbassista di Chicago Matt Ulery riuniva alcuni membri del suo insieme cameristico Eight Blackbird e un piano trio di stampo jazzistico per un incisione affascinante e ricca di spunti significativi. Con qualche minima variazione viene riproposto lo stesso ensemble, con il leader impegnato nella messa a fuoco del suo mondo sonoro tutto particolare. Le due anime della formazione lungi dall'essere in competizione si (con)fondono magnificamente riverberando l'una nell'altra le proprie specificità per dar forma compiuta alle visioni del leader.

Composizioni che possiedono una evidente maestosità di fondo tradotte in una sorta di minimalismo sinfonico attento ai particolari. Cambiamenti di umore centellinati con gusto e risolti con grazia da arrangiamenti perfettamente calibrati. Esecuzioni cariche di lirismo in bilico tra forma canzone e volo onirico, tra cadenze folkloriche e afflati romantici. E le voci ad arricchire, a donare eleganza e dolcezza, ad aggiungere una nuova dimensione alle trame dell'ensemble.

In the Ivory è tutto questo, è un piacevole e stimolante sovrapporsi di chiavi di lettura, è un'idea di musica contemporanea interpretata con la freschezza e la creatività di chi è in estrema confidenza con la pratica improvvisativa, è un tuffo ristoratore nella musica tout court inebriante e contemplativa allo stesso tempo." ~ VINCENZO ROGGERO

- Rob Clearfield / piano
- Jon Deitemyer / drums, percussion, cymbals
- Matt Ulery / double bass, background vocal (1-2,1-4,2-4)
- Zach Brock / violin
- Yvonne Lam / violin
- Domenic Johnson / viola
- Nicholas Photinos / cello
- Timothy Munro / alto flute
- Michael Maccaferri / clarinets
- Lisa Kaplan / piano (2-1,2-6)
- Gregory Beyer / marimba, vibraphone, berimbau, maracas
- Sarah Marie Young / lead vocal (1-6)
- Erik Hall / background vocal (1-6)
- Corbett Lunsford / background vocal (1-6)
- Grazyna Anguscik / lead vocal (1-2,1-4,2-2,2-4), background vocal (1-6)

All compositions, arrangements, and lyrics by Matt Ulery

Produced by Matt Ulery
Engineered and mixed by Anthony Gravino
Recorded December 2013 and January 2014 at The Drake. Chicago IL.
Mastered by Brian Schwab
Composition published by Woolgathering Music (ASCAP) 2014

Track List (CD1):
1. Gave Proof.
2. There's a Reason and a Thousand Ways.
3. Mary Shelley.
4. Write it on the Wall.
5. Black Squirrel.
6. The Farm.
7. Innocent.

Track List (CD2):
1. Resilin.
2. When Everything is Just the Same.
3. Longing.
4. Visceral.
5. Sweet Bitter.
6. Seeker.
7. Viscous.




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