Someday

Description

As the pandemic comes to an end and music reemerges in 2022, Marc Copland has released his first quartet CD in several years, featuring some of the best talents from the New York scene. Copland believes this is one of his best recordings, and after listening, it's easy to see why! - - Now, Marc Copland needs no introduction. At 74, he is undoubtedly at the peak of his art, making him one of the few jazz pianists playing at the highest level. John Abercrombie and Gary Peacock certainly thought so; for over 30 years, they played in his bands, and he in theirs. Drew Gress, the other veteran of the group, has been omnipresent on the jazz scene for the past three decades and also needs no introduction. He covers the entire instrument with breathtaking virtuosity, and his understanding of time and harmony may be unmatched among his peers. - - Copland and Gress, long-time partners, are joined by two exceptional young talents. Robin Verheyen is a Belgian-American saxophonist who has been playing with Copland for nearly ten years. According to the pianist, "he really knows how to listen, and has his own sound and approach, which is so important." Copland, who has played and recorded over the years with (among others) Bob Berg, Mike Brecker, David Liebman, Joe Lovano, and James Moody, simply states: "Robin is my favorite tenor and soprano saxophonist." But it’s not just the saxophonist's talents as a player that shine here; Copland has included two ballads composed by Verheyen on this recording, as "his melodies are unusual but very logical and fun to play." Drummer Mark Ferber, who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles, is no stranger to jazz listeners, having toured and recorded with Gary Peacock's trio, Ralph Alessi's quintet (two albums for ECM), and countless other projects. He combines effortless technical skill, killer swing, high intensity, and quiet sensitivity—all in one package. - - Copland's unique sense of touch, lyricism, and poetry on his instrument, his creation of unusual harmonies and lines, and his sense of swing are well documented. What may be less known, but shines brightly here, is how attached he is to the spontaneity of the moment. "It's an approach that John (Abercrombie), Gary (Peacock), and I all shared—when I played with either of them, it was as if we could read each other's minds." In this group, the level of spontaneous interaction and interplay among the musicians is remarkable. - - "I never come to the studio with all the tunes chosen and prepared," the pianist shares. "I like to leave room for something to happen and encourage the band members to participate in the decision-making and development of the music. When everyone is involved, you get that thing where the group sounds and feels like a living organism." - - What does Copland think of this music? "In the few years leading up to John Abercrombie's passing, we had a real vibe with his last quartet. We were, as John liked to say, firmly rooted in tradition but pushing the boundaries to discover new things, and many people seemed to understand and want more. This new quartet feels exactly like that to me, and I’m sure John would agree, wherever he is."