Ed Neumeister 'Covers' His Musical Journey
Trombonist Ed Neumeister, a fixture in the jazz world for over four decades, is set to release "Covers," an album that revisits the soundtrack of his youth.
The collection, available on Bandcamp now and outlets everywhere on September 20th via MeisteroMusic Records, reimagines classic tunes from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and even Taylor Swift through Neumeister's distinctive lens.
Neumeister's core quartet features Gary Versace on piano and organ, Drew Gress on bass, and Tom Rainey on drums. The album expands this lineup with a "Covers Horn Section" comprising Billy Drewes, Caroline Davis, and Ingrid Laubrock, delivering and expansive sound that breathes new life into these familiar tracks.
The genesis of Covers came from a simple suggestion: why not tackle some rock, pop, and R&B tunes from Neumeister's early years? The result is a deeply personal journey through musical memory. Neumeister recalls, "I grew up with the Beatles and vividly remember when the White Album was released." This connection to the material shines through in his interpretations of "Rocky Raccoon," "Dear Prudence," and "Blackbird."
Neumeister's arrangement of "Dear Prudence" holds special significance, harkening back to his days playing with Jerry Garcia in the Bay Area band Reconstruction. The album also features Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" and "Stairway to Heaven," nods to Neumeister's high school days attending shows at the Fillmore West.
It's not all ancient history, though, as Neumeister includes Taylor Swift's "The Last Great American Dynasty" from her 2020 album Folklore showcasing his ability to identify compelling material regardless of generation.
Throughout Covers, Neumeister's trombone takes center stage as the "voice" of these classic songs. His use of plungers and mutes, combined with his advanced techniques, gives each melody a clever and distinctive sound. Neumeister's approach to these covers balances respect for the original material with his own creativity, resulting in arrangements that are both familiar and surprisingly new.
Neumeister's career spans an impressive range of collaborations and achievements. From his early days in the Bay Area backing artists like Chuck Berry and Frank Sinatra to his tenure with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Neumeister has always pushed the boundaries of his instrument and its traditional role.
Covers represents a return to melody for Neumeister, who in recent years has focused on more abstract and experimental approaches. However, as he notes, "Whether free form or structured, the groove is always the master, or should be, and melody is always of prime concern."
Lawrence Peryer
Check out the Spotlight On interview with Dave McMurray, who explored the music of the Grateful Dead on his own covers album.
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