...melodic arrangements, spontaneous interaction, and vibrant individual performances. Booming bass lines, crisp drumming, and guitar harmonies are in abundance and every tune has elements of swing and discovery.
With New York bassist Arthur Kell's latest release, his creative pursuits come full circle. Through the bar and music venue that he co-founded, LunÀtico has helped nurture the vibrant music scene in modern-day Brooklyn, which now in turn, has helped nurture his latest musical explorations. Long before his ubiquitous presence on LunÀtico's bandstand, many of Kell's earliest gigs were in the same Bed-Stuy neighborhood. This homecoming of sorts inspired the forming of this two-guitar quartet - featuring Brad Shepik & Nate Radley, along with the quickly ascending drummer, Allan Mednard - and affected the widely eclectic range of the music through the Afro-Brazilian-Arabic influences that can be found in LunÀtico's curated projects.
"...vibrant, challenging music from a band so tight within its group dynamic and so confident in its individualistic chops that every movement is a lively step forward."
Jazz Improv Magazine
Track Listing:
1 Speculation (Intro) 0:50
2 Haflat Zifaf 10:00
3 The Djado 9:55
4 Lullaby/Omi 7:28
5 Pisciotta Blue 6:50
6 Dry Delta 8:29
7 Dark Green No. 15 6:03
8 Regatta 8:49
9 Polyamorphous 8:49
10 Speculation 4:03
All compositions by Arthur Kell | Ténéré Music (BMI)
Performers:
Brad Shepik - guitar
Nate Radley - guitar
Arthur Kell - bass
Allan Mednard - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Arthur Kell
Recorded Live by Rob Badenoch
at Bar LunÀtico, Brooklyn, NY, February 15-16, 2022
Mixed & Edited by Rob Badenoch, South Orange, NJ
Mastered by Nate Wood
at Kerseboom Mastering, Ridgewood, NY
Cover photo by Kyra Kverno
Photo retouching by Katya Scarpulla
Interior photos by Luke Marantz (from video stills)
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Live at LunÀtico
Contemporary Fusion Reviews (Dick Metcalf)
Exciting eclectic jazz Arthur Kell Speculation Quartet – LIVE AT LUNÀTICO: Bassist Kell's upcoming release (17 November, 2023) is certainly among the best of the exciting eclectic jazz albums we've had the pleasure to review (yet) in 2023… first, here's a short clip of the group performing together…
In addition to Arthur's brilliant bass ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Bassist Arthur Kell puts together a two-guitar front line of Nate Radley and Brad Shepik along with drummer Allan Mednard for a pair of gigs recorded at Bar LunAtico in Brooklyn in 2022. The set is bookended with contemplative rubato of "Speculation" and closing with a more dramatic version. In between, the strings bop with delight around Kell's bo ...
