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“What makes jazz different is that you can’t predict it, it’s all about freedom,” said the American jazz vocalist Gregory Porter. “Just when you think you know what you are going to hear, there will be a left turn, a jazz musician will change it up.”
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We’ve done a lot of listening back. So where is jazz today? Writers and musicians including Sonny Rollins, Melanie Charles and Terri Lyne Carrington share their favorites from this millennium.
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Release Date: 28th April 2023
Digital Format / UBU0139
Nadav Berkovits (Photographer: Shira Houminer)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Cycle & Line, the solo EP album from pianist/composer Nadav Berkovits, which will be available worldwide from 28th April 2023.
Nadav is a musician, pianist and composer based in Israel. Born to a musical family, he was exposed from a young age to jazz, classical and Afro-Cuban music, as well as Israeli and Middle Eastern. Growing up in such a diverse environment led him to explore different musical territories. In his music, Nadav often combines of all these traditions.
After graduating from the New School Jazz Program in Tel Aviv Conservatory and the Jerusalem Academy of Music, Nadav travelled several times to Cuba in order to explore Afro-Cuban music and its culture, focusing on composing new, original music in his own voice.
Nadav also gained experience in the last decade as a sideman, while performing with different groups in Israel's finest venues and abroad, such as Marseille Jazz Des Cinq Continents Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival, Jerusalem Jazz Festival and more.
Nadav Berkovits (Photographer: Eldar Berkovits)
Nadav’s debut album, Waking the Heart, was released in December 2021 on Ubuntu Music.
Since then, he’s been touring with his group in Israel, performing in Beit Haamudim, Yellow Submarine, Levontin 7 and other venues.
Nadav discusses his latest solo piano project: “’Cycle & Line’ is my first solo piano recording. I’ve been dreaming about it and imagining it for a long time. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to make this happen. My intention was to perform some new compositions just the way I would play these at home by myself, and to let the melodies tell the story.
“After doing ‘Liberation Kriya’ (Kundalini Yoga meditation) for 40 days, I felt like this was the right time and soon thereafter I had the opportunity to record this project.
“My intention was to bring out the melodies as much as I could and let these evolve very freely through improvisation. This five track EP is just me, the piano, and the music of that moment in time.”
Nadav shares his views on his continued relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I’m really happy to be working again with Martin (Hummel), Sam (Carelse) and the team at Ubuntu Music. Since releasing ‘Waking the Heart’ - my debut album - Ubuntu has become my musical home and it’s amazing to see how it’s developed since. I’m looking forward to our latest collaboration.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Nadav is someone very special to us. He has this talent, combined with a deep spiritual strength, that manifests itself beautifully in his music. We are exceedingly happy to be continuing our relationship with Nadav in our Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Nadav Berkovits (Artist): nadavberko2@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Websites:
https://www.nadavberkovits.com/
Release Date: 19th May 2023
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0142
Gur Liraz (Photographer: Boaz Arad)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Squiggles, the third album from Israeli guitarist/composer Gur Liraz, which will be available from 19th May 2023.
Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1988, Gur first took up the guitar when he was nine years old, and soon began his journey with jazz music. He majored in jazz at the prestigious Thelma Yellin High School, where he studied with some of the best musicians from the Israeli scene such as Amit Golan, Yuval Cohen, Erez Barnoy, Amos Hoffman and many more. He spent four years of that time studying under jazz guitar master, Ofer Ganor. Gur spent time in New York City, studying under guitar legend Peter Bernstein. Gur currently resides in Berlin.
Gur Liraz (Photographer: Andreas Etter)
Gur shares the background on Squiggles, his upcoming album: “This was created during the Corona lockdown, and so, more than anything we had time…time to write, compose, arrange, and explore our own ideas as individuals and together as a band. When we decided to record, it was clear to us that we wanted to create only original music, and so even though the album has a clear hard-bop flavour, all the songs are original - seven of my own and two from my organist, Tal Balshai. All of them take inspiration from our Israeli roots as well as from the tradition of soul and blues playing that informs jazz music. With an aesthetic focus on exploring the canonical organ-guitar combos of the 60s - such as Wes Montgomery and Melvin Rye or Grant Green and Larry Young - the songs have a traditional as opposed to innovative sound. Above all, they are an offering of what we created as a band, and me as a composer, during the time the world came to a halt.”
Tal Balshai, Gur Liraz & Omri Gondor
Gur continues, describing the idea behind the project: “Ever since I got into jazz music as a kid, guitar-organ combos always had a place of honour in my playlist. From the classic Wes Montgomery organ trios to the modern versions of Peter Bernstein or John Scofield, that combination just seems so natural and generative, yet it is able to offer so much. When I met Tal, I was absolutely thrilled to explore that sound myself. This recording is a childhood dream come true.”
Gur explains how he was introduced to Ubuntu Music: “I first heard about Martin Hummel and Ubuntu Music from a guitarist friend of mine, Ron Magril, who also had just released his debut album with them and was really impressed with the enthusiasm Martin had for music in general as well as for the projects he released on the label. The fact that the label works with many young, upcoming Israeli artists alongside absolute first row masters made me feel right at home. And so, I was thrilled when Martin told me that he ‘likes the project…a lot’. I couldn't be more excited about this cooperation and what it may bring in the future!”
Gur Liraz (Photographer: Andreas Etter)
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It was a pleasure to have been introduced to Gur and his trio project. The guitar-organ format is a personal favourite of mine and these guys really know how to swing with their own style and musical swagger. ‘Squiggles’ is a joy of an album that sits very well within the Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Gur Liraz (Artist): gurliraz@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1988, Gur first took up the guitar when he was nine years old, and soon began his journey with jazz music. He majored in jazz at the prestigious Thelma Yellin High School, where he studied with some of the best musicians from the Israeli scene such as Amit Golan, Yuval Cohen, Erez Barnoy, Amos Hoffman and many more. He spent four years of that time studying under jazz guitar master, Ofer Ganor.
As soon as graduating high school in 2004, Gur became an active part of the lively Tel Aviv Jazz scene, performing in jazz clubs, bars and different venues, as well as recording. At the same time, he was also teaching guitar and music, both privately and in music schools. Later, Gur took up the classical guitar, studying under internationally acclaimed guitarists Seth Josel and Ruben Saroussi and gaining third place at the Young Guitarist’s competition of the Music Academy in Jerusalem.
In 2013, after eight months in New York, taking lessons with guitar legend Peter Bernstein, Gur moved to Berlin and soon became involved in its rapidly evolving jazz scene. He performs regularly in some of the city's most visited jazz clubs. Aside from his own quartet and trio projects, he collaborates with some of the city's most in demand musicians. Together with his quartet Gur was featured with singer Amanda Becker on her debut album, You’re Looking at Me. The two also recorded a duet album, Ask Me Now, in 2023.
During the corona virus crisis and the subsequent lockdown, Gur became more interested in the challenges of composition. Seeking an inspiring environment to investigate questions of Jewish heritage and its intersections with jazz, he applied and was accepted to the prestigious LABA Jewish culture lab. His debut album, Squiggles, will be released with the London based music label Ubuntu Music on May 19th, 2023. It features his compositions in a trio format, including Tal Balshai (organ) and Omri Gondor (drums).
Gur is also a two-time recipient of Neustart Kulture Grant, #hierspieltdiemusik and Musifonds fundings and GEMA stipendienprogramm 2021, as well as a member of the Deustche Jazz Union and GEMA Society for Composers.
Release Date: 2nd June 2023
CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats / UBU0125
Left to right: Andrej Ugoljew, Johannes Mann, Anna Serierse, Jan Kaiser, Joshua Jaswon, Sidney Werner, Aarón Castrillo, Marc Doffey. (Photographer: Dovile Sermokas)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce its continued relationship with the Joshua Jaswon Octet, for the upcoming release of Polar Waters, the second album in the series, which will be available worldwide from 2nd June 2023.
The Joshua Jaswon Octet is a Berlin-based contemporary jazz ensemble, featuring a broad cross-section of exceptional young musicians from Europe's leading jazz scenes. Led by Jaswon, the London-born saxophonist and composer, the ensemble released its debut album, Silent Sea on Ubuntu Music in October 2020, which was selected by BBC Music as one of the best jazz recordings of 2020-2021 and received 4- and 5-Star Reviews across the UK and international media.
Following this release and successful tours in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Hanover) and the UK (Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and London), the Octet recorded its second album, Polar Waters, which will be supported by an Autumn 2023 tour.
The music from Silent Sea, the first album, has been featured across a range of radio stations, including the BBC, Jazz FM and Worldwide FM. This music was also selected for Best Track and Best Album of The Year polls in Jazzwise Magazine and by Worldwide FM’s radio presenters. In addition, the music was featured in Spotify Editorial Playlists including Jazz X-Press, Jazz Today, Swinging Singing and Destination: Jazz.
Joshua Jaswon & Anna Serierse (Photographer: Dovile Sermokas)
“Impeccably performed...a powerful soundtrack for desperate times”
BBC Music Magazine / 5★ Album Review
Joshua describes the idea behind the project: “As I started writing new music for the Octet, I wanted the compositional method to somehow relate more strongly to creative processes and approaches that had been informed and influenced by science and the natural world. These early ideas led to encountering the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) and the three SciencePoetry (SciPo) anthologies. SciPo explores the creative common ground between science and poetry, and I was hugely interested in collaborating with some of these writers to create a new body of work that traversed the borders between poetry, science and music.
“Following discussions with editor and poet Elsa Hammond and in-depth exchanges with Claire Cox, Catherine Faulds and Carrie Etter about their creative processes, I started composing new music based on the texts of a selection of poems from these anthologies. The finished works were recorded in 2022 and are presented here as ‘Polar Waters’.”
“Jaswon’s pan-European Octet deftly combine driving jazz with lyrical condemnation”
Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman
Left to right: Sidney Werner, Andrej Ugoljew, Aarón Castrillo, Joshua Jaswon, Anna Serierse, Johannes Mann, Jan Kaiser, Marc Doffey. (Photographer: Dovile Sermokas)
In developing the music for this album, Jaswon wanted to make bolder compositional decisions and push the limits of how words, form and improvisation could interact.
Further drawing out the distinct musical personalities of each member of the Octet into the group’s collective sound was a part of the ensemble’s natural evolution from its first record and something that has developed through extended time living with and performing the music. Jaswon was focused on exploring the fluidity of roles, sound colours and textural combinations in the ensemble and how this related to both the collective and individual.
The premise of writing for 'voice with ensemble' has now largely evaporated, with instead the writing able to engage with eight sound possibilities and the myriad of tonal possibilities contained within.
“Jaswon’s boldest statement yet - a personal manifesto for what jazz can and should be
right now, nearly a quarter of the way into the 21st century.”
Brian Glasser, Jazzwise
Josh describes his extended relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I'm very excited that the Octet's second album is being released with Ubuntu Music. The record is a musical continuation and development from where we left-off with Silent Sea and it felt right to continue this journey of discovery with the dynamic Ubuntu label.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It was a pleasure to release ‘Silent Sea’, Josh’s first album in the series, which received universal critical acclaim across the board. ‘Polar Waters’, the second, picks up where ‘Silent Sea’ concluded, with outstanding compositional crafting, which is brought to life by a talented, culturally diverse European Octet. ‘Polar Waters’ will most certainly delight Josh’s followers, old and new.”
For further information, please contact:
Joshua Jaswon (Artist): joshuajaswon@gmail.com
Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Websites:
https://www.weareubuntumusic.com/
https://www.ubuntumanagementgroup.com/
Joshua Jaswon (Photographer: Dovile Sermokas)
JOSHUA JASWON BIOGRAPHY
Following the disastrous consequences of Britain’s 2016 BREXIT referendum vote saxophonist, composer and arranger Joshua Jaswon took the decision to leave London for Berlin and set about establishing himself in Europe’s creative hub and heartbeat. This journey of musical discovery has led to a diverse output of solo, ensemble and arranging work and the formation of the Joshua Jaswon Octet.
Featuring a broad cross-section of exceptional young musicians from Europe’s leading jazz scenes, the Octet released its debut album Silent Sea in October 2020, which was selected by BBC Music as one of the best jazz recordings of 2020/21 and received 4 and 5 star reviews across the UK and international media.
Using powerful poems of protest as the basis for its music, the ensemble has been broadcast across the BBC, Jazz FM and Worldwide FM; selected for best track and best album of the year polls in Jazzwise and by Worldwide FM Dj’s; and featured in Spotify Editorial Playlists including Jazz X-Press, Jazz Today, Swinging Singing and Destination: Jazz.
Following this debut release and successful tours in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Hanover) and the UK (Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and London) the Octet has recorded its second album Polar Waters, which will be released with Ubuntu Music in June 2023 and backed-up by an Autumn 2023 tour. This recording has been generously supported by the Berlin Senat for Culture and Neu Start Kultur.
Alongside Joshua’s contemporary jazz exploits, he is also busy with orchestral and large ensemble playing. Recent highlights have included projects with the Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle Schwerin, Stewart Copeland and Troy Miller, the LPO Wind Orchestra of Brandenburg, Jazzorchester Neue Welt, City of London Festival Orchestra, London Southbank Sinfonia and the Big Band du Conservatoire de Paris. Joshua is currently preparing to record the John Williams saxophone concerto with the Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg.
Having grown up in London Joshua graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a 1st class honours degree in Jazz Performance. While only in his second year he led the winning group in the Chartered Surveyors Jazz Ensemble Competition and on completing his degree was awarded a two-year Artists Fellowship at the conservatoire. Later he would go on to win a fully funded place on the highly prestigious European Jazz Masters Course at the Jazz-Institut Berlin.
As a bandleader and sideman Joshua has made appearances in the London Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, City of London Festival, Berlin Instrument of the Year Festival, performed at venues such as Ronnie Scotts, LSO St. Luke’s, Kings Place, The Vortex, The Elgar Room, Kunstfabrik Schlot Berlin, Brorson’s Kirken Copenhagen, Dokkhuset Trondheim, Nikolaisaal Potsdam, Berlin Philharmonie, La Gare Paris, and the Barbican Theatre; has been extensively broadcast and led educational workshops.
“With his career seemingly pre-ordained by his name, Jaswon is a young alto saxophonist of rare thoughtfulness and poise…makes all the right choices about when to turn up the heat and when to stay cool.”
Jazzwise Magazine
Marlbank gives the the outstanding album a deserved Four (4) Stars!
“The Gates of Justice,” a large-scale 1969 choral work about relations between Black and Jewish Americans, is being performed in Los Angeles.
At 50, the bassist is always focused on the next gig and fresh collaborations. His 18th album as a band leader is due this month.
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Bebop Spoken Here’s Lance Liddle writes, “In fact, it's lovely.”
Another good showing for the label.
