Ben Solomon Debuts Two Albums with Giant Step Arts
Giant Step Arts expands its Modern Masters and New Horizons series with two albums by saxophonist Ben Solomon, out September 20.
Ben Solomon's musical journey began with inspiration from John Coltrane and Miles Davis. He studied in New York and joined Wallace Roney's group for five years, working with musicians like Buster Williams, Lenny White, and Ron Carter.
Both of his new albums were conceived during the pandemic. Echolocation explores the concept of a band as a living organism, using instrument sounds to define space and time. High concept, sure, but audible in the music. Chromatophores Book II demonstrates how musicians can use small technical changes for outsized musical effect.
Echolocation is Solomon's debut as a leader, featuring pianist Davis Whitfield, bassist Rashaan Carter, and drummer Kush Abadey. The album was recorded at Hunter College's Ida K. Lang Hall as part of Giant Step Arts' Open Recording Session/Concert series. It features six new compositions, harkening the sounds of Coltrane at his most blue.
Chromatophores Book II presents Solomon's classical études for solo saxophone, based on his second volume of works meant as tools for musicians to use in building their sense of harmony and technique on any instrument, though ideal for exploring key modulation and the saxophone's capabilities.
These albums are part of Giant Step Arts' Modern Masters and New Horizons series, curated by Jason Palmer and Nasheet Waits. The series features established and rising jazz artists.
Giant Step Arts, founded by Jimmy and Dena Katz in 2018, supports jazz musicians by providing performance opportunities, recordings, and promotional support. Artists retain full ownership of their music.
Jimmy Katz, an award-winning photographer and recording engineer, has contributed to over 600 recording projects and photographed more than 200 magazine covers, capturing many jazz legends in his work.
Some bands burn bright and fast, leaving behind only tantalizing fragments of legacy. Afterimage, a post-punk group that briefly lit up the Los Angeles scene in the early '80s, is a case in point.
Inspired by the conversation between Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman Andy McCluskey and Spotlight On producer and guest host Michael Donaldson.
Ed Neumeister is a trombonist, composer, arranger and educator operating at the forefront of creative music for more than forty years, including work with Jerry Garcia (in the band, Reconstruction), backing up the likes of Chuck Berry, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Frank Sinatra.
Başak Günak, the Istanbul-born, Berlin-based sound artist also known as AH! KOSMOS, has a new album, Rewilding, set to drop on September 20th via Subtext Recordings.
Ben Solomon's musical journey began with inspiration from John Coltrane and Miles Davis. He studied in New York and joined Wallace Roney's group for five years, working with musicians like Buster Williams, Lenny White, and Ron Carter.
Both of his new albums were conceived during the pandemic. Echolocation explores the concept of a band as a living organism, using instrument sounds to define space and time. High concept, sure, but audible in the music. Chromatophores Book II demonstrates how musicians can use small technical changes for outsized musical effect.
Echolocation is Solomon's debut as a leader, featuring pianist Davis Whitfield, bassist Rashaan Carter, and drummer Kush Abadey. The album was recorded at Hunter College's Ida K. Lang Hall as part of Giant Step Arts' Open Recording Session/Concert series. It features six new compositions, harkening the sounds of Coltrane at his most blue.
Chromatophores Book II presents Solomon's classical études for solo saxophone, based on his second volume of works meant as tools for musicians to use in building their sense of harmony and technique on any instrument, though ideal for exploring key modulation and the saxophone's capabilities.
These albums are part of Giant Step Arts' Modern Masters and New Horizons series, curated by Jason Palmer and Nasheet Waits. The series features established and rising jazz artists.
Giant Step Arts, founded by Jimmy and Dena Katz in 2018, supports jazz musicians by providing performance opportunities, recordings, and promotional support. Artists retain full ownership of their music.
Jimmy Katz, an award-winning photographer and recording engineer, has contributed to over 600 recording projects and photographed more than 200 magazine covers, capturing many jazz legends in his work.
In addition to the music being available through Bandcamp, print and PDF copies of Chromatophores Book II are available through the artist's website.
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