18th August 2014: NYSQ Press Update for ‘The New Straight Ahead’: 4 Star review + Taking Off Feature from Jazzwise, 4 Star Review from The Guardian & Praising Reviews from Bebop Spoken Here, London Jazz News, Midwest Record, The Jazz Breakfast, AP Reviews and Jazz Life + new promo video
We’re delighted to share some great news about our recent release The New Straight Ahead by the NYSQ. We have a 4 star review from both The Guardian and Jazzwise, with Jazzwise including a Taking Off Feature PLUS glowing reviews from Bebop Spoken Here, Jazz Life (via Japan), London Jazz News, 4 Stars in the Scotsmen, The Jazz Breakfast, AP Reviews, Midwest Record as well as a new promo video.
The 4 star review from The Guardian (UK) says that the album contains “familiar songs, but transformed by this set’s live feel and energy” and that “most 21st-century jazz musicians still playing American Songbook material want to bring freshness and surprise to those old classics. The New York Standards Quartet do so with the sheer verve and character of their playing, rather than by deconstructing the original pieces out of recognition.”
Jazzwise say, in their glowing 4 star review, that “each song re-voiced with today’s vocabulary very much in mind, modern mainstream if you will, the group interplay exhilarating all in typical New York fashion.” Jazzwise have also published a taking off feature for the release, which you can view in it’s entirety below (click image to zoom). It’s featured alongside another Whirlwind Recordings release, Ollie Howell’s ‘Sultures and Stitches’.
Bebop Spoken Here announce that “Armacost can do lyrical on both horns caressing and embracing a melody. Equally, he can roll up his sleeves and strip the paint off your deck with a blistering chorus or six. Beckman likewise contributes meaningful solos and comps sympathetically. Yasukagawa is outstanding – with Michael Janisch as executive producer – I’d expect nothing less!”
London Jazz News describes the album as “wonderful modern jazz, played with profound love for the tradition, brilliance and humour.” And AP Reviews and The Jazz Breakfast weigh in as well.
We also have a review from the Midwest Record who say that “turning chestnuts on their heads and having an infectiously good time doing it, this is one of those tasty things that makes the familiar new again and makes you offer them a renewed welcome. It’s one of those wonderful fun things that simply works throughout and brings you back for more. Check it out.”
The album has also been reviewed very favorably in Jazz Life (Japan).
Check out samples of the new release here, and featured below we have a brand new promo video that accompanies the release. To purchase please visit the Whirlwind store.