All About Jazz’s Paul Duggan writes, “This is powerful and exquisitely crafted compositional writing. The balance and interlacing of scored and improvised, within the structure of a classical piece, is highly impressive. A compelling and engaging listen.” 4.5 Stars!
Great News: Music Royalty Payments Are Actually In Better Shape Than You Think
When it comes to music royalties, there’s always been a clear delineation between royalty payouts for recordings versus payouts for the underlying musical composition. But beyond the top-level differences, there’s also another stunning difference that’s rarely highlighted. According to prominent royalty-focused exec Jeff Price, recording payouts are faring much better than composition payouts due to lower data ambiguity — with a far lower percentage of compositions properly matched to their owners. Here, we look at this often-overlooked bright spot in the music royalty landscape.
Ubuntu Music to Release Trio HLK’s Next Album
Trio HLK / Anthropometricks
Release Date: 15th March 2024
CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats / UBU0152
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Anthropometricks, Trio HLK’s next project, on 15th March 2024. This will be the group’s second release on the Ubuntu Music record label.
The core members of the ensemble are Rich Harrold (piano), Ant Law (guitar) and Rich Kass (drums).
Trio HLK have developed a unique language, drawn from the most exciting elements of contemporary classical music and contemporary jazz. Their compositions play with perceptual ambiguities, using all kinds of rhythmic tricks and sonic illusions. Their second album, Anthropometricks, captures the evolution the Trio has undergone since the release of their debut album, Standard Time, and subsequent extensive international touring - both in the trio format and with long-time collaborator Evelyn Glennie. Anthropometricks also marks the beginning of two new exciting creative partnerships: with cellist Natalie Clein and vocalist Varijashree Venugopal.
The seven compositions on the album are grown from fragments of various jazz standards. Each piece is new but listen closely and shards of the original can be glimpsed within. Utilising the various instrumental combinations made available by the addition of the guest artists, the album presents a rich pallet of distinct sonic worlds and narrative journeys.
As the band explains, “On ‘Anthropometricks’, we are excited to have documented the development the music has undergone since our first release - compositionally and improvisationally. We have also thrown two incredible new collaborators into the mix to see what would happen!"
Concerning their continuing relationship with Ubuntu Music, the band continues, “It's a pleasure to take another step forward in our extremely happy working relationship with Ubuntu.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Trio HLK is a group of truly exceptional musicians. They describe their music as littered with metric modulations and metric tricks. We call it a sonic world all its own, that navigates classical structures within jazz improvisation. When combined with the magical percussive talent of Dame Evelyn Glennie, along with special guest Natalie Clein (cello) and Varijashree Venugopal (vocals), the listener is seduced by an intoxicating audio cocktail for the mind and the spirit. We are delighted to represent this outstanding release, as Trio HLK continues to grow as part of the Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Trio HLK (Artist): triohlk@gmail.com
Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
TRIO HLK BIOGRAPHY
In a world which celebrates the virtuosity of the individual, HLK’s vision has been to develop their ensemble virtuosity, compelled by a unified vision. The music comprises precise notated sections, moments of conversational interaction and room for individual improvisation. It is a delicate but powerful balance. This unique, interdependent rhythmic language has required unparalleled commitment, but yielded astonishing results. The trio’s music is celebrated for being emotionally and cerebrally challenging yet accessible, captivating audiences young and old across the UK and mainland Europe.
HLK have completed their second recorded volume: Anthropometricks. Their unique musical relationship with Dame Evelyn Glennie has evolved and the results captured in five of the eight compositions on the album. Two additional artists have also been invited into the fray. British Cellist Natalie Clein’s rich tone and melodic interpretation add a wealth of texture. Varijashree Venugopal contributes a spell-binding vocal performance, including an incredible improvisation on the title track. This is due for release early 2024.
Since their first meeting on New Year’s Day in 2015, Rich Harrold, Ant Law and Rich Kass have worked tirelessly on the careful blend of ingredients which are distilled into Trio’s music. They often disassemble common jazz standards, building entirely new pieces from the motifs contained within them. Often, two or more themes are set in motion simultaneously, creating kaleidoscopic and shape-shifting sounds. The resultant harmonies and rhythms can be incredibly simple and sonorous, or fiercely complex and dissonant.
In 2016 HLK embarked upon the recording of their debut album and so began their long-term partnership with Dame Evelyn Glennie, one of the world’s greatest rhythmicists. ‘Standard Time’ was released in 2018 to great critical acclaim, followed by extensive touring. The collaboration with Evelyn brought the Trio’s music to new audiences and the music found itself being rapturously received in jazz clubs and concert halls alike. Gramophone Magazine singled out the Trio as ‘True Innovators’ whilst their debut live performance was described by Jazzwise as an “extraordinary performance that was in a class all of its own”.
Rich, Ant, Rich, Evelyn, Natalie and Varijashree look forward to performing for you soon.
REVIEW: O'Higgins & Luft
London Jazz News’ Graham Spry gives a big thumbs up to the partners’ second release on Ubuntu Music.
Ubuntu Music Signs Gifted Israeli Pianist Uriel Herman
Uriel Herman Quartet (ft. Itamar Borochov) / Different Eyes
Release Date: 7th July 2023
CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats / UBU0136
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the highly gifted Israeli pianist and composer, Uriel Herman and his quartet, featuring trumpet player Itamar Borochov. The album, Different Eyes, is scheduled for release on 7th July 2023.
Uriel Herman has been performing worldwide--with his quartet and as a soloist--over the past eight years. His sound draws form his classical piano upbringing with a mastery of complex Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies.
“Many musicians can create the obvious. Only few can make every gesture, every note, every moment and every choice not only brilliant, but as if it were the only possibility. Tonight, Uriel Herman’s quartet smashed the gigantic door…”
Alexandre Fournet, “Eclats’demail Jazz edition” (France)
Uriel describes the idea behind Different Eyes, his upcoming album: "We all have one pair of eyes but there are countless layers of seeing. We can see or choose to look. Our memories and dreams are painted in different colours every time we visit them and therefore each moment gives a singular meaning to looking in and out. ‘Different Eyes’ is an intimate portrait that begins in my childhood streets of Jerusalem and goes all the way to a lullaby that I sing to my son.”
The line-up for Different Eyes, Uriel’s third album, consists of Uriel Herman/piano, Itamar Borochov/trumpet, Uriel Weinberger/woodwinds, Avri Borochov/contrabass, Haim Peskoff/drums and Maayan Doari/percussion.
Uriel continues: “It begins with memories. ‘Jerusalem’, a duet with Trumpeter Itamar Borochov, is a melody inspired by fragments of my childhood memories from Jerusalem streets. The two continue into a fragile rendition of ‘Nature Boy’. Then comes the Quartet with ‘MJ’, a tribute to Michael Jordan, one of the greatest American basketball players of all time.
“When we close our eyes, we open a door to dreams, fantasies, illusion and more. In a way, they give us a new pair of eyes. This forms in the shape of ‘Fantasia’, and in pieces written for my band that explore complex rhythms and grooves. Among them is an interpretation of Nirvana’s ‘Polly’. The last song on the album is ‘Yakinton’.”
Uriel shares his view on his new partnership with Ubuntu Music: “I’m really excited about the relationship with Ubuntu. They are one of the only labels that understand the direction that the industry is headed. And I believe that together we will release some unbelievably beautiful music.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I initially met Uriel in 2022 at the Jazzahead international conference in Bremen, Germany. I was immediately struck by the passion of this young artist, along with his ambitions for his career. As the recordings progressed, I was mesmerised by the depth, the beauty and the intensity of Uriel’s compositions and his performance of these. There is something very special here, for all the world to enjoy. We welcome Uriel to the Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Uriel Herman (Artist): info@urielherman.com
Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
BIOGRAPHY
In January 2019 Uriel released his most recent title, Face to Face, with the French label, Laborie Jazz. The album is comprised of Uriel’s original music and unique arrangements to songs by David Bowie and Mordechai Zeira.
“In ‘Face to Face’, Herman throws himself into an oriental cauldron and ‘hears’ in a colourful virtuosity. Uriel’s version of Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ is one of the best covers in the history of broadly understood entertainment music!”
Marcin Puławski Laboratorium Muzycznych, (Poland)
“It is one of the richest, most creative and interesting albums I’ve recently heard in the jazz, classical, ethnic and rock seams.”
Yossi Harsonski, Haronski Music (Israel)
Also in 2019, Herman was commissioned by the Jenaer Philharmonic Orchestra to write three pieces for a jazz quartet and orchestra titled “The Dialogues”. The pieces were played with the orchestra as part of Jazzmeile Thuringen Festival in Weimar.
The Uriel Herman Quartet was created following the recording of Uriel’s first album, Awake. Since then, the quartet has been travelling across the world, performing in major festivals and venues, including The Forbidden City Concert Hall (Beijing, China), Festival Jazz Sous Les Pommiers (Coutances, FR), Centro Cultural Kirchner (Argentina), Stanford University (CA, USA), Jarasum Jazz Festival (South-Korea), Taichung Jazz Festival (Taiwan), Festival Eclats d’Email Jazz (Limoges, FR), Duc de Lombards (Paris, FR), Red Sea Jazz Festival (Eilat, Israel) and many more.
In early 2017, Uriel composed a rhapsody for Jazz Quartet & Orchestra: White Night. This piece was the result of a long journey he started in the jungles of Costa Rica as he underwent a shamanic ceremony with his father. For him, this was a life-changing moment, sending him into a deep writing and composing process which led to this 21-minute rhapsody.
“The pianist-leader brought a classical touch and mastery of complex rhythms to an exhilarating programme of ‘Bach-to-Brazil’”
Bob Weiri, Jazz Journal UK
In mid-2015 the quartet recorded a live session in the Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem in front of a small audience of friends and family. The Windmill Sessions led the quartet to international recognition, followed by headline spots on major jazz festivals in Asia, Europe and the US.
In 2014, Uriel released his first solo album, Awake, which led to the creation of The Uriel Herman Quartet and was named one of Israels’ Top Five Albums of The Year. The album contains original compositions, arrangements to songs by Nirvana and Radiohead, as well as new melodies set to poems by Israeli poets, Yehuda Amichai and Tirza Attar.
“This singular and modern approach to music, reinforced by the passion and dexterity of the musicians who accompany it, makes Uriel Herman one of the most exciting pianists in the jazz scene today and an unavoidable discovery. “
France Musique
Uriel is a graduate of the Jerusalem Music Academy and studied composition under composers Prof. Andre Hajdu and Prof. Michael Wolpe. He also studied piano with the internationally renowned pianist Ilana Vered as well as with Prof. Assaf Zohar. He has played in classical music recitals as a solo pianist at the Perugia Music Festival in Italy and the Moulin d’Andé Festival in France, amongst others.
REVIEW: Tristan Banks
Marlbank writes, “It's one of the best UK jazz releases of 2023 a couple of months in.” FOUR ★★★★
Ubuntu Artists in Jazzwise Magazine - November 2023
Another great showing for the roster!
Doncaster Jazz Alumni
Eddie Gripper / Taking Off
Almanaque Review
Matt Ridley Review
London Jazz News Feature
Ten Tracks by Tim Garland I Can’t Do Without… by Paul Mottram
Ubuntu Music Artists dominate BBC Music Magazine!
Spice’n’Space, Wandering Monster & Shear Brass are 4 Star recipients! ★★★★
Spice’n’Space / The Funk Thing
Wandering Monster / Zenna
Shear Brass / Celebrating Sir George Shearing
5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Sarah Vaughan
All it might take is a second and a half of hearing her sing to make your spine tingle or your heart drop. Opera singers, jazz vocalists, writers and Vaughan’s biographer share their favorites.