Since meeting through the New York City jazz scene a decade ago, pianist Russell Kranes, bassist Sam Weber, guitarist Alex Levine, and drummer Jay Sawyer have performed together for thousands of hours across a multitude of musical contexts, developing chemistry and a deep collective musical identity. With their debut recording Anchor Points, they deliver a mix of originals and standards in two iterations of the group - through a trio set of piano/bass/guitar, a nod to the trios of Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole, as well as the instrumentation that initially brought them together, and the quartet, where Jay Sawyer adds his jubilant swing. Besides capturing and celebrating years of musical camaraderie and connection, the quartet pays homage to the masters and builds upon their profound tradition.
Track Listing:
1. Feint 5:57 Weber
2. Vivo Sonhando 6:38 A. C. Jobim, arr. Kranes
3. Anchor Points 7:42 Levine
4. Old Folks 5:31 Robison & Hill, arr. Levine
5. Two Sleepy People 5:58 Carmichael & Loesser, arr. Levine
6. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) 6:15 Ahlert & Turk, arr. Levine
7. Everybody Else But You 6:28 Kranes
8. And So It Goes 7:06 Billy Joel, arr. Weber
Performers:
Russell Kranes - piano
Alex Levine - guitar
Sam Weber - bass
Jay Sawyer - drums (1,3,4,7)
Production Info:
Produced by Russell Kranes, Alex Levine, Sam Weber, Jay Sawyer
Recorded & mixed by Bennett Paster at Benny's Wash & Dry, Brooklyn, NY
Recorded on February 18-19, 2022
Mastered by Eivind Opsvik at Greenwood Underground
Photos by JC Cancedda Photography
Cover design & layout by John Bishop