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Contact: Rick Scott 310.398.0260
October 26, 2004
Cutting-edge trumpeter Russell Gunn releases Ethnomusicology Volume 4,
a varied live collection of his jazz-hip hop hybrid
Nils Landgren Funk Unit funk-da-fies a dozen of Abba's pop gems
Montreal-based Justin Time Records released two new albums today that push the musical envelope and take creative risks. Trumpeter Russell Gunn unveiled the fourth and final chapter of his two-time Grammy-nominated Ethnomusicology series. Ethnomusicology Volume 4 is a live collection of the artist's visionary blend of jazz-hip hop that was recorded in Atlanta last March. With the permission of one of Abba's primary songwriters, Benny Andersson, The Nils Landgren Funk Unit re-imagined a dozen of the famed pop group's songs as R&B and hip hop jams on Funky Abba. Justin Time Records is distributed nationally by IDN, a division of the Alliance Corporation.
Ethnomusicology Volume 4 is the eleventh album in the past decade from the prolific Gunn, who produced the record and penned three of the five compositions and covered classics from masters George Gershwin ("Summertime") and Bill Evans and Miles Davis ("Blue In Green"). Three of the album's selections had never been recorded before by Gunn & his Ethnomusicology co-conspirators; "Shiva (The Destroyer)" originally appeared on Volume 1 and "Lyne's Joint" was taken from Volume 2. Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 received Grammy nominations.
Gunn's audacious approach to music with African roots, from which he believes all music has emerged, has been hailed by critics and has earned the respect of musicians in virtually all genres. The artist first drew attention a decade ago for his performances with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and he went on to play and record with musicians as diverse as Wynton and Branford Marsalis and Oliver Lake to Maxwell, D'Angelo, Cee-Lo and Lou Reed. Gunn's first love was hip hop and he incorporates the beats, turntables, rhythmic poetry and attitude into his tracks, which also utilize elements of classical jazz, R&B, blues, rock, dance and a variety of ethnic music. Yesterday (October 25), Gunn received a national performance activity award from performing rights organization SESAC at a ceremony in New York City. The award honors airplay over the past year on jazz radio. Along with his Ethnomusicology posse, Gunn will hit the road to support the new album with concert stops in major U.S. cities, including Boston (Regatta Bar on Nov. 24), New York City (The Jazz Standard from Nov. 26-28), St. Louis (Jazz at the Bistro from Dec. 1-4), and Chicago (Hot House on Dec. 5). Additional dates and cities will be announced.
A trombonist and vocalist from Sweden, Nils Landgren, who has played with such diverse artists as Ace of Base, Lalo Schifrin, and Oscar Brown Jr., recorded with Abba in 1979 and fell in love with the super group's sunny melodies. But he's a funkster at heart and along with The Funk Unit, they entirely rearranged the pop songs to the point that they are fresh new creations. Then they deep fried them in a greasy vat of old school funk, 70s soul and hip hop spice. Worldwide hits such as "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," and "Take A Chance On Me" have been funk-da-fied by a booty shakin' rhythm section, blown up by a fierce horn section and smoked by a microphone fiend.
Known as "The Man with the Red Horn" because of his signature trombone, Landgren produced Funky Abba with Magnum Coltrane Price, who appears on Janet Jackson's Damito Jo album. Price also contributed vocals, microphone poetry and synthesizers to Funky Abba. The album was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in Polar Studio A, the very same room where Abba recorded their albums. Landgren & Price kept the sound pure and organic by using real drums, horns, guitars, bass and keyboards. Abba's Andersson makes a special appearance on piano on "When All Is Said And Done," the poignant album closing ballad. The Nils Landgren Funk Unit frequently performs throughout Europe so it's no surprise that the disc has already hit the pop and jazz album charts in Germany and Sweden. Landgren & Company are excited about the initial buzz in the U.S. on the album and are exploring the possibility of doing a few tour dates in major American cities early next year.
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Contact: Rick Scott 310.398.0260
October 20, 2004
Inventive jazz-hip hop trumpeter Russell Gunn will receive a national performance activity award from performing rights organization SESAC in New York City at a luncheon on Monday, October 25. The award honors airplay over the past year on jazz radio. The timing is perfect as Gunn’s latest disc, Ethnomusicology Volume 4, will be released on October 26th by Justin Time Records. The album was recorded live in Atlanta and brings to a close Gunn’s Ethnomusicology series. Two of the albums in the cutting-edge series received Grammy nominations. The artist has received critical acclaim for his ability to deftly incorporate the rhythms and the rhymes of the streets into unique sonicscapes, which crash, clash and collide with classical jazz, R&B, blues, rock, dance and a variety of ethnic music.
Gunn wraps his
Grammy-nominated Ethnomusicology
series with a hot live
recording
Ethnomusicology Volume
4 to be released October 26;
tour plans underway
From the inventive mind of
trumpeter/composer Russell Gunn
comes the last album in his two-time Grammy-nominated Ethnomusicology
series, a comprehensive body of music rich in variety, vision, and
virtuosity. Recorded live in
Ethnomusicology Volume
4 is
the eleventh album release in the past ten years from the prolific Gunn. His audacious approach to music with
African roots, from which he believes all music has emerged, has received praise
from critics and earned the respect of musicians in virtually all genres. The artist first drew attention a decade
ago for his performances with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and he went on
to play and record with musicians as diverse as Wynton and Branford Marsalis and
Oliver Lake to Maxwell, D’Angelo, Cee-Lo and Lou Reed. Born in
“My goal with the Ethnomusicology series
was to bring together various forms of music to demonstrate that you can create
fresh melodies and grooves by being inclusive instead of exclusive. Why categorize and separate things
unnecessarily?” asked Gunn. “I
think we’ve done all that we can with it (the series) and now it’s time to focus
my music in new directions. I’m not
exactly sure what that will be yet, but I do know that there won’t be anything
predictable or simple about it.”
After having recently
wrapped up a successful concert tour of Israel, Gunn will take his
Ethnomusicology posse on the road this fall to perform in major U.S. cities,
including Boston (Regatta Bar on Nov. 24), New York City (The Jazz Standard from
Nov. 26-28), St. Louis (Jazz at the Bistro from Dec. 1-4), and Chicago (Hot
House on Dec. 5). Additional dates
and cities will be announced.
Performing on Ethnomusicology Volume 4
are Gunn (electric trumpet, flugel horn), Nick Rolfe (piano, keyboards),
Carlos Henderson (electric bass), Carl Burnett (electric guitar), Kahlil Kwame
Bell (percussion), Rocky Bryant (drums) and DJ Neil Armstrong (turntables). The album contains the following
songs:
“Blue In
Green”
“More Sybil’s
Blues”
“Summertime”
“Lyne’s
Joint”
“Shiva (The
Destroyer)”
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Contact: Rick Scott 310.398.0260
JULY 9, 2003
Prepare to be schooled. Trumpeter/composer Russell Gunn is at the mic and he's about to drop serious knowledge on you. "Ethnomusicology Volume 3" is a comprehensive body of music designed to educate, stimulate and communicate. This is music way beyond classification, categorization and separation. Armed with an extensive musical vocabulary, Gunn Fu is an eloquent rapper that flows through a jazz trumpet. He's a visionary artist who comfortably holds a place somewhere between the Marsalis family, Jay-Z and Moby. Forget what you know about music and open up your mind.
Released May 20th on Justin Time Records, "Ethnomusicology Volume 3" is the ninth album from the twice Grammy nominated artist ("Ethnomusicology Volume 1" and "Ethnomusicology Volume 2" were recognized by the Recording Academy). Gunn produced the collection and composed or collaborated on seven cuts for the album, which has already received props from the New York Times (5/20/03). The thesis of Gunn's syllabus for the third installment in this series is that much of today's music has been derived from African-American roots and that each of the diverse musical elements can be combined into a unique art form that is challenging, harmonious, provocative and passionate.
After an intro ("Celebrity Room Intro"), the lessons begin with "No Separation," which makes Gunn's point with an electronically altered trumpet, a piercing rock guitar riff and a turntable assassin. On the hip-hop/go-go track "The Critic's Song," Gunn declares that he's "making music for minds" and that he will not limit or restrict his muse because of predetermined boundaries. Vibraphonist Stefon Harris lends color to "Variations (on a conspiracy theory)," a majestic hip-hop orchestral composition sweetened with a beautiful melody. Jazz and a throbbing club groove dance on "East St. Louis," an aggressive, frenetic trumpet powered paean to the place where Gunn grew up. Guided by Gunn's soulful trumpet and acoustic guitar nuances, the ballad "John Wicks" is a fond tribute in memory of a longtime friend. "Yesterdays" is a multi-hued prism of sound including jazz, hip-hop, be-bop, funk and psychedelic rock. Delivered in an alternative rock sonicscape, "Strange Fruit" and "Stranger Fruit" are unsettling, eerie and dissonant vocal numbers designed to shine a spotlight on the issues of hate crimes and racial discrimination.
Taking his lesson plan to the masses, Gunn and his band have recently performed concerts at prestigious venues in New York City (The Village Underground), Los Angeles (UCLA Jazz & Reggae Festival), Oakland (Yoshi's) and Atlanta (Churchill Grounds) and at jazz festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Saratoga (NY). Catch Gunn in Atlanta on August 10th (Kennesaw State University), Los Angeles (Santa Monica Pier) on August 28 and at the Detroit Jazz Festival on August 31. Additional concert dates will be announced.