Mason Razavi

Quartet Plus, Volume 2

OA2 22142

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iTunes - $9.90


...an introspective experience of deeper meaning, his latest offering is a mature rendering of masterful playing and ideas. Razavi is definitely one to watch.
Jazz Times

From delicately scored ballads to a raucous take on "Caravan," Bay-Area guitarist Mason Razavi's second volume of his Quartet Plus series inhabits the great traditional jazz forms while enhancing them with modern textures and rhythms, creating a work that should leave jazz aficionados of various stripes nodding in approval. Working with pianist Bennett Roth-Newell, bassist Dan Robbins and drummer Cody Rhodes, the "Plus" is a five-piece horn section featured on several dynamic and intricately arranged compositions.

"Evocative storytelling is the hallmark of Razavi's music." - All About Jazz


Track Listing:

1. Riverbed 6:35
2. Blues in New Hues 6:28
3. Looking Forward, Looking Back 5:31
4. Blue and Grey Waltz 5:57
5. With the Wind at My Back 6:55
6. When the Ink Ran Dry 8:01
7. Grvünkabop 6:22
8. Portrait for Mingus 5:07
9. Through the Fog 6:04
10. Caravan 6:53

Performers:

QUARTET
Mason Razavi - guitar
Bennett Roth-Newell - piano, keyboards
Dan Robbins - acoustic & electric bass
Cody Rhodes - drums

PLUS (tracks 6-10)
Justin Smith - trumpet, flugelhorn
Ben Torres - alto sax, clarinet
Oscar Pangilinan - tenor & soprano sax, clarinet
Kevin Bryson - trombone
Alex Murzyn - bari sax, bass clarinet, clarinet

Production Info:

Produced by Mason Razavi
Recorded, mixed and mastered by John Schimpf
at 25th Street Recording, Oakland, CA
December 28-30, 2016
Cover paintings by Laurin Rinder
Mason photo by MOYAfotografx
Cover design & layout by John Bishop


Reviews of Quartet Plus, Volume 2

Midwest Record (Chris Spector )
The interesting thing Razavi does on this second ‘quartet' outing is show that you can be a classically styled guitar jazzbo without having to show that you can chase the ghost of Wes and catch him. Firmly his own cat, this solid program of mostly originals is right in the pocket of great playing making for great listening. A real winner of a ...

All About Jazz (Jack Bowers)
The "plus" in San Francisco Bay area-based guitarist Mason Razavi's CD Quartet Plus, Volume 2 is a front line consisting of trumpet, trombone and three reeds, which on the second half of the album more than doubles the size of Razavi's quartet. There are many ways that could be done. For example, the nonet tracks might have been interspersed at ran ...

Republic of Jazz (Domi)
The interesting thing Razavi does on this second 'quartet' outing is show that you can be a classically styled guitar jazzbo without having to show that you can chase the ghost of Wes and catch him. Firmly his own cat, this solid program of mostly originals is right in the pocket of great playing making for great listening. A real winner of a set, ...

Jazz Weekly (George W. Harris)
Rich sounding Mason Razavi splits his album up with half the songs performed in a quartet setting with Bennett Ruth-Newell/p-key, Dan Robbins/b and Cody Rhodes/dr with a supplement on the last half by Justin Smith/tp-fh, Ben Torres/as-cl, Kevin Bryson/tb and Alex Murzyn/bs-bcl-cl. Except for the 70s rock version of Duke Ellington's "Caravan" with T ...

WTJU, Richmond (Dave Rogers)
Guitarist/composer Mason Razavi offers nine original tunes and a cover of "Caravan" on this augmented quartet performance. The remaining quartet members are Bennett Roth-Newell (piano, keys), Dan Robbins (acoustic, electric bass), and Cody Rhodes (drums). The group is expanded to a nonet for the second half of the program with additional players Ju ...

CD Hotlist (Rick Anderson)
Guitarist and composer Mason Razavi has put together a very interesting program on his latest album. The first five tracks are straight-ahead quartet recordings (with the exception of the fusion-inflected "With the Wind at My Back"), while the second half of the album consists of pieces arranged for a nonet that sounds like a big band. I assume tha ...

KUCI - Irvine, CA (Hobart Taylor)
This is two records in one. The first five cuts are straight guitar jazz quartet melodies full of winsomeness and pleasantness. On the fast tunes, trills and runs abound as the tempos and dynamics accordion. The ballads like "Looking Forward, Looking Back" are rich and gently mind expanding. The last five cuts where brass and reeds join the mix are ...









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