Ted Piltzecker marries engaging rhythmic interplay to crisp compositions that ring true for their melodic inventiveness and accessibility.
For his first larger ensemble recording, New York vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker made a trip to Denver and rekindled relationships developed years ago during his tenure as director of the Aspen Music Festival. Originally a trumpet player, Piltzecker continually seeks the organic connection between breath and musical expression as it relates to the vibraphone. Vibes on a Breath allows him to phrase with the septet's horn players, Brad Goode, Paul McKee, John Gunther & Wil Swindler, and to provide counterpoint as the only harmony instrument in the rhythm section with drummer Paul Romaine and bassist Gonzalo Teppa. The eight reimagined jazz classics, along with three originals, unveil new twists & turns to a classic sound. The intimacy of the approach along with the addition of bass clarinet and flugelhorn doubles adds an extra layer of richness and color to the already mesmerizing arrangements. Piltzecker's work transports to an alluring musical world where every note is infused with a personal touch.
Track Listing:
1. If I Only Had A Brain 7:00
2. Nature Boy 6:48
3. Roaring Fork Closure 4:26
4. We'll Get Through This 3:59
5. Stolen Moments 8:36
6. Subconscious Lee 5:01
7. New Orleans 5:28
8. It Could Happen To You 4:37
9. In Your Quiet Place 7:42
10. Seven Steps To Heaven 3:39
11. Bus 4:45
Performers:
Ted Piltzecker - vibraphone
Brad Goode - trumpet
Paul McKee - trombone
John Gunther - tenor sax / bass clarinet
Wil Swindler - baritone sax
Paul Romaine - drums
Gonzalo Teppa - bass
Judith Leclair - bassoon (11)
Javier Diaz - percussion (5,11)
Production Info:
Produced by Ted Piltzecker
Recorded by Kevin Lee at Mighty Fine Productions, Denver CO
October 17-18, 2022
Mixed & mastered by Fernando Martinez at Estudio Moma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photographs by Phil Cantor.
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Vibes on a Breath
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Ted Piltzecker keeps the vibes light with a not too big band of Brad Goode/tp, Paul McKee/tb, John Gunther/ts-bcl, Wil Swindler/ts-as, Paul Romaine/dr, Gonzalo Teppa/ba, Javier Diaz/perc and Judith LeClair/bassoon on this textured collection of standards and originals. The team charges and jabs along with Swindler's baritone on a sleek read of "Sev ...
KUVO (Denver) (Arturo Gomez)
The dress rehearsal for this recording took place in KUVO Jazz's Bonfils-Stanton Performance when Ted and the band played to a pack who enjoyed every song played! The next day the ensemble went into Mighty Fine Studios here in Denver and recorded this album that is on the OA2 Records label out of Seattle. Ted is an accomplished New York City based ...
WTJU (Russell Perry)
While vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker's name is on the marque, his is a light tough and this is a team effort with four horns upfront on a sweet collection of tunes by Oliver Nelson, Hoagy Carmichael, Lee Konitz and Miles Davis among others (plus three originals). George Harris wrote on Jazz Weekly, "The team charges and jabs along with [Wil] Swindler' ...
All About Jazz (Jack Bowers)
4 1/2 STARS Even though Ted Piltzecker is a splendid vibraphonist and ushers a group of Colorado's leading jazz musicians through its paces on Vibes on a Breath, it is his sparkling arrangements that carry the day on this delightful new album. Several members of Piltzecker's septet double, and he makes the most of that versatility, writing charts ...