Matt Ulery - In the Ivory (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

Tracklist:

1. Gave Proof 05:23
2. There's a Reason and Thousand Ways 07:56
3. Mary Shelley 06:40
4. Write it on the Wall 05:30
5. Black Squirrel 08:19
6. The Farm 05:35
7. Innocent 02:46
8. Resilin 03:23
9. When Everything is Just the Same 05:10
10. Longing 02:37
11. Visceral 08:01
12. Sweet Bitter 06:07
13. Seeker 05:35
14. Viscous 06:16

Personnel:

Matt Ulery - double bass and compositions
Grazyna Auguscik - voice
Rob Clearfield - piano
Jon Deitemyer - drums
Andrew McCann - violin
Dominic Johnson - viola
Yvonne Lam - violin (of eighth blackbird)
Nick Photinos - cello (of eighth blackbird)
Tim Munro - alto flute (of eighth blackbird)
Michael Maccaferri - clarinet (of eighth blackbird)
Lisa Kaplan - piano (of eighth blackbird)
Matthew Duvall - vibraphone and marimba (of eighth blackbird)