Teymur Phell Master Volume

Teymur Phell
Master Volume
Self-produced

Teymur Phell was born in Baku, Azerbaijan in 1987, and began playing the bass guitar when he was 13. He graduated high school when 18 and continued his studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music, studying classical upright bass with maestro Michael Klinghoffer. He came to New York in 2011, built his reputation as a vibrant and virtuosic player and has become a sought-after bassist, performing with artists such as Danielia Cotton, Alex Young, Leni Stern, Lafayette Harris, and landing major gigs with jazz greats such as Mike Stern and Arturo Sandoval. On this debut recording he is joined by varying musicians including Nitzan Gavrieli on piano and keyboards; Lionel Cordew on drums; Chad Lefkowitz Brown on tenor sax;/ Mike Stern on guitar; Dennis Chambers on drums; Daniel Sadownick on percussion; Itai Kriss on flute; Albert Leusink on trumpet; Brian Bonvissuto; on trombone; and Wisam Khoury on Darbuka.

Phell is a virtuoso on the electric bass (he also plays keyboards) that is demonstrated throughout starting on "Zero To Sixty." This composition is evocative of Weather Report, and Phell's remarkable playing suggests he is quite familiar with Jaco Pastorious. Brown plays quite energetically here. A similar hot, fusion mood is present on "Papano Kimono," with a propulsive, highly charged solos by Mike Stern and Brown. Dennis Chambers on drums helps provide the funk groove. The title track is a spirited funk performance with shifting time. Gavrieli is particularly impressive on this number. Itai Kriss' flute is spotlighted against riffing horns on "Worth the Wait" with its Latin tine, A solo bass performances, "Old Window," displays the underlying lyrical quality to his playing. "Unfinished Business" is another funky performance with Stern and Chambers joining Phell and Gavrieli, with a dazzling solo by Phell.

After a virtuosic bass solo, "Heyvanhana," the final three numbers are trio performances with pianist Gavrieli and drummer Cordew. Starting as a duet by Phell and Cordew, "Sweet Sweep" develops into a vibrant, bouncy track. It is followed by the more reflective, melodic "Chances Are," with Phell playing as if he was playing a guitar. The closing tune is the bop-flavored "Blues For Who?" where all three solos. Teymur Phell shows himself to be not only a superb electric bass player but also a composer of merit. The excellent playing and varied compositions make "Master Volume" a very engaging recording.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is Teymur Phell with Mike Stern performing John Coltrane's"Mr. P.C."

 

Eyal Vilner Big Band Hanukkah

Eyal Vilner Big Band
Hanukkah
Self-produced

Composer, saxophonist and arranger Eval Vilner has come up with a uniquely original holiday offering. His latest re lease is an exciting and festive Hanukkah album, with his 16 piece big band on a repertoire of traditional Hanukkah songs, blending holiday melodies with sounds influenced by jazz and swing, Israeli, Jewish and Middle Eastern music, in addition to Brazilian Choro and Afro - Cuban rhythms. In addition there is a vocal trio on one selection and Israeli flute virtuoso Itai Kriss. It was recorded at one of the oldest synagogues in the U.S. - the Museum at Eldridge Street - a National Historic Landmark dating back to 1887 in what used to be a Jewish immigrant neighborhood and is now Chinatown.

The opening "Prelude" opens as the horns provide a classical choral played by the horns of a traditional song sung every day of Hanukah after the lighting of candles followed by "Maoz Tzur," where the band swings the melody with Vilner taking a fervent sax solo with Jack Glottman taking a crisp piano break with the full and coming across like the 50's Basie Band on the joyous romp. "Sevivon," inspired by the spin of the dreidel, has a strong percussive and Brazilian flavor, including a section dedicated to Batucada music (a drum ensemble) as well as some brilliant flute from, Itai Kriss. A vocal trio of three of NYC’s finest trad - jazz vocalists Tamar Korn, Martina DaSilva and Vanessa Perea, sing the Boswell Sisters inspired vocals on "Oh Hanukah," with a strong tenor sax solo by Evan Arntzen, along with the leader's clarinet break while Vilner's arrangement smartly frames the vocals and the sax solo. On "Mi Yemalel," Vilner plays the shofar to open this musical depiction of the Maccabees and their war on the Greeks who occupied Ancient Judea. Wayne Tucker continues, playing a Taqsim (intro, in traditional Arabic music, which sets the mood of a piece) followed by the harmonized trombone section followed by the saxophones and trumpets playing contrasting melodies.

A joyous bonus track, "These Candles" starting as a march before turning to an Ellingtonian flavored swing number and features the trumpet of Irv Grossman and the break all the doors down tenor of Michael Hashim. It is only available digitally, but complements this wonderful recording of Holiday music. This is available from cdbaby and other sources.

I received a download of this to review from a publicist. Here is the Eyal Vilner Big Band performing "Maoz Tzur."