This intergenerational collaboration between Grammy© Award winning trumpeter Brian Lynch and new piano star on the modern jazz horizon Emmet Cohen combines new school excitement and exuberant swing. In the quartet setting, joined by legendary drummer Billy Hart and master bassist Boris Kozlov, Lynch and Cohen present a program of their own searching and often epic original music, bridging traditional and contemporary sounds with virtuosity, passion and swinging aplomb. And as a duo, they essay and recast jazz classics and standards (both classic and contemporary) with warmth, intelligence and lack of cliche, often journeying into uncharted territory only bound by their searching imagination and desire to swing.
The musical lock between Lynch and Cohen has roots that go beyond the work they've put in towards crafting a distinctive sound in both quartet and duo formats. Their common ground in committing to grounded, yet contemporary and uncliched playing and composing, coupled with the mixture of Lynch's magisterial command and Cohen's poised beyond his years musicality, has resulted in a original and compelling new group sound tailored for today's listener.
released July 31, 2014
Questioned Answer
Brian Lynch and Emmet Cohen in quartet and duo
featuring Billy Hart & Boris Kozlov
Brian Lynch trumpet and flugelhorn
Emmet Cohen piano
Boris Kozlov bass
Billy Hart drums
Cambios 7:40 (Brian Lynch) Hollistic Music BMI
Dark Passenger 7:33 (Emmet Cohen)
How Deep Is The Ocean 8:26 (Irving Berlin) EMI Music Publishing
Buddy 9:08 (Brian Lynch) Hollistic Music BMI
Distant Hallow 8:33 (Emmet Cohen)
I Wish I Knew 7:20 (Harry Warren/Mack Gordon) WB Music Corp,
Petty Theft 11:21 (Emmet Cohen)
Just In Time 6:07 (Sammy Cahn) Stratford Music Corp.
Questioned Answer 7:43 (Brian Lynch) Hollistic Music BMI
bonus track: Blues By Four 5:51 (Lynch/Cohen/Kozlov/Hart) Hollistic Music BMI
Quartet recorded September 29, 2012 at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY (Engineer: Max Ross)
Duo recorded September 15 and October 20, 2012 at Hirsch Studio, New York, NY (Engineer: Armand Hirsch)
Mixing: Brian Lynch
(Hollistic MusicWorks Studios, Miami, FL / New York, NY)
Mix Consultants: Tyler McDiarmid, Tom Dambly
Mastering: Katsuhiko Naito, Avatar Studios, New York, NY
Design: Brian Lynch and Christian Ericson
Photography: Marla Cohen
Hollistic MusicWorks HMW 12
© Hollistic MusicWorks and Brian Lynch 2014
I first had the pleasure of making Emmet Cohen’s acquaintance in January 2011 on that year’s Jazz Cruise, where I was playing as a soloist and he was showcased with his trio from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he was then a student. I was really impressed with his playing, and I dug the young man’s personality, enthusiasm and knowledge of the jazz tradition. Fast forward a few months, and I found myself in Miami as the new Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Frost (through a series of events precipitated on that cruise, a story for another time), and in proximity to Emmet on a daily basis as he finished his last year of undergraduate work. We were able to take advantage of the educational environment to schedule weekly playing sessions (“lessons”) where we could explore a lot of music in a duo format; at the same time I was more fully exposed to the breadth of his talent as a player and composer through frequent sessions and performance situations. He checked out my music and picked up a few tips from me at the same time
The recording that you hold in your hands is an outgrowth of this fruitful year of playing, talking about, and listening to music. I think we have developed a very nice musical bond and this recording is both a significant objet d’art in itself and a point of departure for what I think will be a lot of great music to come. Emmet is going to be a significant force in our music in the time
to come, and I’m proud to have this opportunity to present him as my valued collaborator and musical partner. Thanks for being present for the inception!
Brian Lynch
In the current jazz environment, musical “information” is more easily accessible than ever before. However, the true source of knowledge and information has and always will be a mentor/mentee relationship. I have been fortunate enough to have serendipitously crossed paths with Brian Lynch, whose own illustrious legacy has afforded me just that element of authenticity in my musical journey.
Brian’s caring stewardship and wry sense of humor have contributed mightily to the development of our personal and musical rapport. We added to the mix the legendary drummer Billy Hart, a neighbor of mine and another mentor figure growing up, who’s home and studio I was always welcomed into. Also, we are joined by Boris Kozlov on bass who’s musicality, vision, and sensitivity provided for the perfect anchor for the band. You can understand some of our own excitement about this project and why I feel so honored to be a part of it.
Emmet Cohen
Kickstarter Elite Contributors:
Executive Producer Contributor: Anonymous
Super Cat Contributor: Roger Townsend
Platinum Level Contributors: Mark Waldman, Peter Straub
Super Fan Contributors: Edie Ellis, Bibi Green, Philip Tauber, Linda Blume, Gary S. Cohn, Greg Marcus
Gold Level Contributors: Ellen Leone, Herbert H Stenson, Waidy Lee, Jeannette C. Pina, Michael & Ellen Brooks, Lisa Leone, John Softness and Carol Blades, Della Gunning, Billie Lim, Jeff Adolph, Michael Hurt, Bryan Davis, David Cantrell, Dennis Gonzalez, David Kofke
For the complete list of Kickstarter contributors, see our project web page at
hollisticmusicworks.com
Emmet and Brian would like to dedicate this recording to the National YoungArts Foundation, in recognition of their important work safeguarding our cultural future through investing in the development of talented young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts. Emmet Cohen is a past YoungArts winner (2009) and Brian Lynch is a YoungArts Master Teacher.
Brian Lynch is a Yamaha Performing Artist
www.brianlynchjazz.com
www.EmmetCohen.com
hollisticmusicworks.com
