This CD offers new and complex compositions, very melodic soloing, infectious grooves and a sense style which illustrates that the future of jazz is in good hands.
Recipient of the 2009 Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, Chicago pianist Josh Moshier and saxophonist Mike Lebrun explore their modern jazz soundscapes with a great ensemble of like-minded musicians. Each contributing nearly half of the compositions, Moshier and Lebrun lead the band through eleven highly organized yet free-flowing originals. Also featured as a special guest is the fleet and sublime guitarist John Moulder.
Track Listing:
1 KING'S ROAD 6:35
2 JAMBO 6:16
3 SATURNINE 5:06
4 THE SECOND HANDERS 6:41
5 ELEVEN TOE WAGGLE 7:10
6 AVOCADO SOUL 4:22
7 FINALLY DONE STILL FRUSTRATED 6:01
8 KNOWN UNKNOWNS 7:06
9 SLEEPWALKING 6:59
10 MISFORTUNATELY PLEASANT 5:27
11 WHO SHALL EXCEL THEM 8:06
Performers:
MIKE LEBRUN - tenor saxophone
JOSH MOSHIER - piano, rhodes, wurlitzer
ROBERT MEIER - double bass
MAX KRUCOFF - drums
JOHN MOULDER - guitar (2,3,4,8)
Production Info:
Executive producer: Bob Ravenscroft
Produced by Josh Moshier and Mike Lebrun
Co-produced by Max Krucoff
Recorded by Vijay Tellis-Nayak and Steve Gillis
Recorded at Transient Sound, Chicago on April 4 & 5, 2009
Mixed by Brian Schwab at Curried Bagel, Chicago
Mastered by Danny Leake at Urban Guerilla, Chicago
Photography by Nelson Fitch
Cover design by John Bishop
Reviews of Joy Not Jaded
All Music Guide (Adam Greenberg)
Young jazz tends to go one of two directions in common form -- it can hold strictly to playing through classic ideas as the players get the music of the greats ingrained into them, or it can spin wildly out of control as the players show off their instrumental mastery with little regard for a strong, original melody. The Chicago quartet led by Josh ...
Chicago Jazz Magazine (Philip Davia)
This new recording, which features all new compositions by highly talented musician/composers Josh Moshier and Mike Lebrun, opens with "Kings Road." The piano figure is mysterious and sparse and there is great use of space and rhythm in this piece. At certain points it has a very hip, avant-garde feel.
"Jambo" features a playful melody performe ...
All About Jazz (Dan McClenaghan)
The Millennials are here.
Keyboardist Josh Moshier and saxophonist Michael Lebrun, a pair of Chicago-based jazz artists born in the 1980s, delve deeply into the jazz world with Joy Not Jaded. On this fine, high-energy set, the pair and their band craft a modern-leaning sound that remains true to the post-bop tradition.
The set of all original ...
Jazz Society of Oregon (Kyle O'Brien)
Northwestern grads, pianist Moshier and saxophonist Lebrun have kept the musical collaboration going past the classroom. Their tunes are sharp modern jazz pieces, giving each the opportunity to say what they want musically. Harmonically and rhythmically rich, as on Lebrun's polyrhythmic "Jambo," these are two musically mature players. They're not c ...