New World Jazz Composers Octet at Amazing Things Arts Center

The music is a kaleidoscope: shifting effortlessly from the intimacy of a piano trio to the shouting horns of a big band. The music conjures a range of feelings, from Jobim's melodic and harmonic warmth, to the spontaneity and excitement of Charles Mingus' groups, to the harmonic pastels of Herbie Hancock's explorations of the late 60's.

The New World Jazz Composers Octet has released its second CD, TRANSITIONS, on the Big and Phat Jazz Productions label. This exciting new CD features nine stylistically diverse compositions written by five of the most talented jazz composers on the scene today. Each piece is presented with a combination of precise ensemble performance and inspired solos....

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The music is a kaleidoscope: shifting effortlessly from the intimacy of a piano trio to the shouting horns of a big band. The music conjures a range of feelings, from Jobim's melodic and harmonic warmth, to the spontaneity and excitement of Charles Mingus' groups, to the harmonic pastels of Herbie Hancock's explorations of the late 60's.

The New World Jazz Composers Octet has released its second CD, TRANSITIONS, on the Big and Phat Jazz Productions label. This exciting new CD features nine stylistically diverse compositions written by five of the most talented jazz composers on the scene today. Each piece is presented with a combination of precise ensemble performance and inspired solos.

The New World Jazz Composers Octet is led by saxophonist/flutist Daniel Ian Smith, who organized the group in 1998. The featured composers and performers are part of a thriving jazz community based in the greater Boston area. Many are faculty members at either Berklee College of Music or New England Conservatory. All have extensive musical pedigrees.
The members of The New World Jazz Composers Octet are:
Daniel Ian Smith - leader and woodwinds
Felipe Salles - woodwinds
Ken Cervenka - trumpet and flugelhorn
Walter Platt - trumpet and flugelhorn
Tim Ray - piano
Keala Kaumeheiwa - bass
Steve Langone - drums
Ernesto Diaz - percussion
The five contributing composers are: Ted Pease, Edgar Dorantes, Matthew Nicholl, Ken Schaphorst, and Richard Grudzinski.

For TRANSITIONS, New World Jazz Composers Octet has expanded upon musical concepts featured on its debut CD, NO PLACE TO HIDE. Nine original compositions are connected musically by improvised interludes performed by individual soloists or duos from within the group. These interludes provide musical transitions that glue the compositions together into a seamless musical continuum. The result is a collaborative jazz suite - a complete seventy-plus minute musical statement that features jazz styles as diverse as be-bop, salsa, samba, funk, third stream, and New Orleans parade music. Daniel Ian Smith and Ted Pease produced both albums.

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