Rutz's horn is warm and embracing in each setting, glistening on the more Spartan themes, making the various colors and textures presented here woven like a Raphael tapestry.
Figure Two: New Designs is the second volume from Chicago trumpeter and composer Markus Rutz's Blueprints series. While 2019's Figure One: Frameworks honored Markus' mentors, family and the musical greats who influenced his sound and career, New Designs looks to the future with new discoveries in personal and musical growth. Navigating diverse ensemble and stylistic directions through 6 original compositions and jazz standards by McCoy Tyner, Sam Rivers and Frank Foster, Rutz conjures intrigue, beauty and dynamism through his orchestrations which include sparkling ensemble passages and intimate duets. With saxophonist Brice Winston, bassist Marcos Varela, drummers Xavier Breaker and Marcus Evans, Adrian Ruiz on piano, guitarist Matt Gold and Heitor Garcia on percussion, the volumes of Blueprints capture a compelling moment in an artist's journey.
"...a big, dark tone and a fluid ease to his phrasing makes him seem relaxed even when unleashing a volley of 16th notes..." - DownBeat
Track Listing:
1. Passion Dance 8:20
2. East to West 3:52
3. Shipmates 7:10
4. A Cidade do Vento 6:46
5. Looking Out Windows 3:01
6. Simone 6:16
7. The Musicianer 4:53
8. Beatrice 4:53
9. Keppard's Kerchief 9:31
Composed by Markus Rutz, except:
(1) McCoy Tyner; (6) Frank Foster; (8) Sam Rivers
Performers:
Markus Rutz - trumpet
Brice Winston - saxophones, sop. (3)
Adrian Ruiz - piano
Matt Gold - guitar
Marcos Varela - bass
Xavier Breaker - drums (1,3,9)
Marcus Evans - drums (6,7)
Heitor Garcia - cu'ca, rebolo,
tamborim, pandeiro, shaker (4)
Production Info:
Produced by Markus Rutz & Marcos Varela
Recorded by Vijay Tellis-Nayak & Tyler Rice
at Transient Sound, Chicago, Il
on July 10, 30-31, December 10-11, 2018 & January 16, 2019
(9) Recorded by Jeremy Whetstone, live at
PianoForte, Chicago, on October 11, 2019
Mixed by David Stoller at The Samurai Hotel, Astoria, NY
Mastered by Kevin Blackler at Blackler Mastering, Brooklyn, NY
Blueprint: Gunnar Adolfson, 1936 patent application
Photos by John Nichols & Marie Chan
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Blueprints - Figure Two: New Designs
Midwest Record (Chris Spector)
A rising young Chicago trumpet man knows his notes. With a full crew in tow, he delivers a fine, well toned and intoned workout that shows him as a leader and a writer in fine form. Not afraid to really let the fur fly, this is one of those solid sets where a good time is had by all. ...
Chicago Jazz Magazine (Jeff Cebulski)
These days, sometimes people need something that entices them—no, forces them—to breathe deep and relax. Music is often one way to achieve that. In listening to trumpeter Markus Rutz's second Blueprints album, Figure Two: New Designs, I realized Rutz and his band have provided a pleasing soundtrack to my need to defuse and wind down from the an ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Markus Rutz displays the benefits of a warm horn in a mix of settings with Brice Winston on tenor/soprano sax, pianist Adrian Rutz, guitarist Matt Gold, Marcos Valera on bass and switching between drummers Xavier Breaker or Marcus Garcia, replacing them with percussionist Heitor Garcia or going without the trap set completely.
Of the latter, Rut ...
