| Fresh from two triumphant evenings where his Danjam Orchestra thrilled hometown crowds in Toronto, saxophonist/composer/educator Daniel Jamieson celebrates the May debut of SUDDEN APPEARANCE with a New York City CD release party at Miles’ Café on May 15th, ‘11. Produced by esteemed pianist/composer/educator Jim McNeely, the disc features Jamieson’s wide-ranging compositions and well-honed arranging skills, which in the hands of his handpicked jazz orchestra swing, inspire and challenge listeners with a program of emotional depth and stylistic diversity. The album features the track "Song for Anna" for which Jamieson was awarded an ASCAP young jazz composer award.
Jamieson is pleased to announce that the New York date will feature not only jazz heavyweight John Riley from the recording band on drums, but one of Daniel’s mentors, renowned saxophonist Tim Ries. Ries’s years as a soloist with Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra as well as his diverse resume with everyone from the Rolling Stones and Sheryl Crow to Joe Henderson and Maynard Ferguson, and his own groundbreaking work as a leader makes Ries one of the most in demand players on the jazz and studio scene over the past two decades.
Influenced early on by the legendary Canadian composer and arranger Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass and Tentet recordings, the young Jamieson saw himself driven to a career in music. He began studying composition and three years later recorded this ambitious project. “It is an honor and privilege to be able to write for such a diverse group of high level artists. They all bring their unique voices to the band, and I look forward to making music with them for many years to come. I arranged the compositions on this CD specifically for this group of musicians, and their personalities really come across in the music.”
New York based musician Daniel Jamieson grew up in Toronto, Canada. Dan has appeared as a guest artist in various jazz festivals across Canada and has performed as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Daniel has performed with artists such as Ingrid Jensen, Tony Malaby, Tim Ries, Guido Basso, and Dave Young to name a few. Daniel was awarded the Rising Young Star Award at the 2008 Prince Edward County Jazz Festival. Currently Daniel works as a freelance performer, composer and educator in the New York area and writes for his own 10 piece jazz ensemble the “Daniel Jamieson Tentet” and his own big band the “Danjam Orchestra”. Jamieson attended Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School and participated in the Humber College Community Music School Program. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto where he studied with Tim Ries. Daniel also holds a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Jim McNeely.
Calling on McNeely, his former teacher to produce this album was a wonderful move for Jamieson who knew he’d be busy conducting and playing on the session. “It was terrific to hear the music he had written finally come to life in the rehearsals and the recording sessions,” McNeely enthusiastically notes. “Dan assembled a talented ensemble of mostly young players who are starting to make their mark on the New York and Toronto jazz scenes. He brought in the great John Riley on drums (my old colleague from the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra) to help steer the rhythm section and add his years of experience to the music. Dan’s writing covers a broad spectrum: standards and originals ranging from the more traditionally constructed ‘Smile’ to the darting, dissonant treatment of ‘Alone Together’. The band does a great job with all of it. One of the most impressive things for me is the solo playing throughout the recording.”
From the energy of the piece, “Chance Encounter” to the chiaroscuro atmospherics of “Ballad for Hope” the young composer has brought a decidedly cinematic richness to the arrangements on this project. Moments of surprise and contrast abound throughout as the soloists rise to music composed with their particular talents in mind. Of note are the award-winning “Song for Anna” penned for the extraordinary flautist Anna Webber and the Charlie Chaplin composition, “Smile” which concludes the program and features the leader on the saxophone.
SUDDEN APPEARANCE is a formidable debut from a major new composing talent. In the words of producer McNeely, “I really enjoyed being a part of this recording. It announces the arrival of a new, vital force in the big band world. Let’s hope that we can all hear a lot more in the future from Daniel Jamieson!”
DANIEL JAMIESON’S DANJAM ORCHESTRA OA2 Records / International release: May 2011 The CD, digital download, and scored & parts of SUDDEN APPEARANCE are available for purchase at www.danjam.ca
Watch Daniel Jamieson’s video introduction to the recording of
SUDDEN APPEARANCE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex0jznsc8
CATCH DANIEL JAMIESON’S DANJAM ORCHESTRA Featuring Tim Ries and John Riley NYC CD RELEASE PARTY
Sunday May 15th – 10pm-11:30pm Miles' Cafe 212 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022-6201
(212) 371-7657
http://www.milescafe.com/ny/
Daniel Jamieson - conductor/composer
Andrew Gould, Alex LoRe, Tim Ries, Mike Ruby, Sam Dillon - woodwinds
Dan Urness, Jon Challoner, Mat Jodrell, Nadje Noordhuis - trumpets
Sara Jacovino, Eric Miller, Heather Segger, Max Seigel - trombones
Melissa Stylianou - voice Matt Davis – guitar / Florian Höfner - piano
Sam Anning – bass / John Riley – drums
CD PERSONNEL Andrew Gould, Alex LoRe, Anna Webber, Mike Ruby, Sam Dillon - woodwinds
Dan Urness, Matt Holman, Mat Jodrell, Philip Dizack - trumpets
Sara Jacovino, Eric Miller, Heather Segger, Max Seigel - trombones
Jihye Kim - voice Nils Weinhold – guitar / Sam Harris - piano
Justin Gray – bass / John Riley – drums Eddy Hackett - percussion
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