Another major showing for Ubuntu Music artists!
REVIEW: Jay Phelps 'Live At The Cockpit’ / 4.5 Stars
Jazz Journal’s Dave Jones writes, “it’s a great set – very contemporary sounding in its variety of grooves, and besides the perhaps more obvious relatively recent influences to be heard in Phelps’s playing, I hear a bit of Chet Baker.”
It’s refreshing to hear some live jazz at the moment, albeit in this case in recorded form, but this is a very real live recording for radio, taken from one set at The Cockpit Theatre in London, with Phelps and his quartet supported by a couple of other bands. Hence the length is a bit more like a studio recording rather than live.
It was recorded by Steve Lowe for BBC Radio 3’s J to Z programme, and we have Chris Phillips and Jez Nelson of Jazz FM to thank for the actual programme of gigs at The Cockpit – a nice concept presenting several high-quality jazz groups in one evening, enabling them to showcase themselves to a live audience in the round, and also to a national radio audience.
As it’s a live album, the sound isn’t quite what you might expect from a studio recording, but this doesn’t affect enjoyment of the music if you listen to it like a gig, which is the whole point here. Phelps’s trumpet sounds a bit distant at times, but I suspect that’s just inherent in the sound of the room.
Anyway, it’s a great set – very contemporary sounding in its variety of grooves, and besides the perhaps more obvious relatively recent influences to be heard in Phelps’s playing, I hear a bit of Chet Baker – not because Phelps sings as well as plays, but because of certain aspects of his sound at times (although he has a bigger sound than Chet), and his phrasing.
The rhythmically interesting Rick Simpson excels on piano, with a hint of Mehldau in his style, and a nod to Debussy’s Clair De Lune at the end of Angel, the penultimate track. Glaser and Ireland’s grooves help the set to really take off in the second half, and Simpson and Phelps fly with them. Buy this album, and once again enjoy the sound of four guys playing in the same room to a packed audience.
REVIEW: Will Glaser / Climbing in Circles
SJM’s Eddie Myer writes, “unique, highly visually evocative music from three masters at work.”
Cover Image: Jay Phelps, by Gina Southgate.
ALINA BZHEZHINSKA’S HIP HARP SHIFTS INTO NEW TERRITORY
Jazzwise Magazine’s George Howlett writes, “The acclaimed London-based harpist debuted her new band at this year’s EFG LJF with guest horn players and deeply danceable grooves.”
For the full article, please click on the image, above.
LIVE REVIEW: Jay Phelps Quartet – ‘Live At The Cockpit’ (2020 EFG LJF)
London Jazz News’ Patrick Hadfield writes, “The band really hit a groove on some tracks, particularly Spread, a cover of an OutKast song, maintaining the tradition of making jazz standards out of pop songs, and the finale of Angel, as well as contributing some excellent solos throughout.”
For the full review, please click on the image, above.
New Series: “Ubuntu Music Live” at Jazz Café launches on 29 September
Ubuntu Music and the Jazz Café are announcing a new series starting on Tuesday 29 September with the launch gig for two albums: James Copus’ album Dusk, and Joe Downard’s Seven Japanese Tales.
For the full article, please click on the image, above.
New Series: “Ubuntu Music Live” at Jazz Café launches on 29 September
Ubuntu Music and the Jazz Café are announcing a new series starting on Tuesday 29 September with the launch gig for two albums: James Copus’ album Dusk, and Joe Downard’s Seven Japanese Tales.
Ubuntu Music Artists in September Jazzwise Magazine
Coverage includes James Copus, Camilla George, Jay Phelps, Joe Downard and TRYPL.
Ubuntu Music to Release Jay Phelps Live Album
Jay Phelps
Live at The Cockpit
UBU0071 / 18th September 2020
CD & Digital Formats
Jay Phelps
Ubuntu Music is pleased to announce the continuation of its relationship with Jay Phelps, for the release of his next album, ‘Live at The Cockpit’.
Trumpeter, composer, band leader, educator and writer – Jay Phelps has performed with some of the world’s top names. With an instantly recognisable warm and projecting tone, Canadian born Phelps is a household name on the Jazz scene in the UK and his international presence is steadily growing. From his own quartet to his other projects NBOC and SoulEndvr, Phelps, who is never idle, remains fresh and full of new ideas and concepts. While living in Vancouver, Phelps was tutored by the city’s top jazz and classical trumpeters. He distinguished himself early on as the youngest bandleader in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival’s history at age 15. In 1999, aged 17, Jay moved to London and immersed himself in the jazz scene immediately.
Jay has performed and recorded with a veritable Who’s Who of international and famed jazz artists such as Courtney Pine, Andrew Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Brown, John Hendricks, Nasheet Waits, George Benson, Jamie Cullum, Sir John Dankworth, Jean Toussaint, Dennis Rollins, Guy Barker, Amy Winehouse, Charlotte Church, Sam Moore, Hugh Masakela, Jazz Jamaica, Mighty Sparrow, Soweto Kinch, Skatroniks, Ska Cubano, Chineke Orchestra, David Murray and Liv Warfield.
Recorded April 26, 2018, Live at The Cockpit is the fifth album under Jay’s own name and his first live recording.
Left to right: Rick Simpson, Ferg Ireland, Will Glaser.
Jay explains, “This concert was my album launch, coupled with a recording for one the first ever J to Z shows for BBC 3. The Cockpit Theatre is the host venue for ‘Jazz in the Round’, headed by famed radio presenters/producers Jez Nelson and Chris Philips. Over the years, they’ve consistently curated world-class Jazz concerts in London, and I feel privileged to be able to release an album that was recorded as a result of their curation.”
And Jay continues, “This album, my third with the wonderful Ubuntu Music, is the full concert from start to finish and features some of London’s most in demand musicians: Rick Simpson (piano), Ferg Ireland (bass) and Will Glaser (drums). I really enjoy exploring my compositions further with these guys. They are all so dedicated to music and their craft as individuals, which enriches our band sound. We had a fantastic audience that night and I think you’ll agree when you hear their boisterous claps, hoots and hollers. I hope you enjoy the live atmosphere, which is something needed now more than ever in 2020.”
Jay Phelps
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his views, “This is our third release with Jay, who continues to go from strength to strength. This guy’s got a broad range of chops and ‘Live at The Cockpit’ captures the energy and excitement of Jay in front of a highly appreciative audience. Our thanks go to The Cockpit Theatre, Jazz FM’s Jez Nelson and Chris Philips, the BBC and J to Z for making this happen. And, of course, to Jay and his band for this beautiful music!”
For further information, please contact:
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Danielle White/Raestar (UK Publicity): daniraestar@aol.com
Ellora Management and Ubuntu Management Group Announce the Creation of a Formal Collaborative Partnership
The two businesses plan an aggressive expansion of
shared services with select artists from their respective rosters.
Left to right: Laura Hess-Hay and Martin Hummel.
Ellora Management Inc, a division of Ellora Designs LLC, is a Lakeville, Connecticut-based company which provides diversified music and related services to jazz artists. It is owned and managed by Laura Hess-Hay, who has considerable talent management experience. Its roster includes Ahmad Jamal, Hiromi and Marialy Pacheco.
Ubuntu Management Group Ltd is a London-based company that provides diversified music services which includes consulting, talent management and recorded music through its record label, Ubuntu Music. It is owned and managed by Martin Hummel, who has a considerable track record in advertising, marketing and communications across a broad spectrum of businesses throughout the world. Artists who have appeared on its album releases include Alina Bzhezhinska, Andrew McCormack, Camilla George, Chet Baker, Darius Brubeck, Eric Alexander, Harold Mabern, Jay Phelps, Laurence Hobgood, Mike LeDonne, Quentin Collins and Seamus Blake.
These two businesses first came together in 2019 through the shared mutual interest in a young Turkish pianist, Hakan Başar. Ellora manages Başar while Ubuntu released his debut album that same year.
The success of this initial encounter led to the decision to work together with Boston-based Japanese pianist, Yoko Miwa. Again, Ellora manages Miwa while Ubuntu will be releasing her next album on its label later this year.
Collaborations with additional artists have been identified and will be announced, shortly.
The essence of the relationship between these two parties resides in leveraging Ellora’s considerable management track record and its booking agent infrastructure along with Ubuntu’s business/marketing management experience and its highly successful Ubuntu Music record label.
Speaking on behalf of Ellora Management, President Laura Hess-Hay said, “Martin Hummel and I came together like a tornado having like minds on absolutely everything we were seeking for our mutual artist, Hakan Başar. As our talks continued and we evolved sharing our views about how we worked and what we intended to achieve in our lives musically, it quickly became apparent that we were like mirrors of the other.
My family is my priority, and this includes my music family as well. Martin’s priorities are absolutely the same. It quickly became apparent that together we could accomplish more for our upcoming family of new artists. Look out for some wonderful happenings in the near future!”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Management Group elaborated further, saying, “This partnership seemed destined to happen. Laura Hess Hay Jamal and I share the same ethos, values and passion for what we do and for the artists we represent. We have complimentary skills and geographic breadth. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working together and independently came to the view that we should formalise the relationship. We have some very exciting plans ahead and firmly believe that the combined forces of our two businesses will continue to make a significant difference to our artists.”
For further information, please contact:
Mike Wilpizeski (mikew@chartroommedia.com) at Chart Room Media, 718 459 2117 (USA)
Ellora Management: info@elloramanagement.com
Ubuntu Management Group: info@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Websites
https://www.elloramanagement.com/
For Jazziz Magazine’s 3-Month trial subscription, please click on the image, above.