1st May 2014: Announcing the signing of Slovenian pianist Marko Churnchetz, to release ‘Devotion’ July 7, 2014, ft. Mark Shim, Chris Tordini & Justin Brown
Announcing the signing of Slovenian pianist Marko Churnchetz – Worldwide release date: July 7, 2014 Check the Devotion page to hear sound samples.
Devotion is the debut WWR release from pianist and composer Marko Churnchetz (Črnčec), one of Slovenia’s brightest young stars who currently spends time living between his home country and New York City. Still in his twenties, he’s building a strong reputation as a formidable multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer who easily works across genres.
Devotion is a shining example of how many contemporary musicians are throwing genre restrictions out the window. Boasting an exciting stew of influences, the album features a no-holds-barred program of skillfully written music from Churnchetz, performed by some of New York’s finest younger generation improvisers in saxophonist Mark Shim, bassist Chris Tordini and first call drummer Justin Brown. The music races across an eclectic sonic landscape featuring intricate rhythms, virtuosic passages, introspective ballads and free improvisations.
The writing on Devotion is seeded in the influence of Miles Davis’ ‘Bitches Brew’, Herbie Hancock’s ‘Headhunters’, Joe Zawinul’s ‘Weather Report’ and Chick Corea’s ‘Return to Forever’; however, the album is thoroughly contemporary in its delivery, with nods to the latest in rock, soul, hip hop and drum ‘n bass, as well as an appreciation for the contemporary bands fronted by Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Steve Lehman. Marko’s writing is also highly personal (the album is a dedication to his Mother, recently deceased) offering the listener strong anthem-like melodies alongside an attention to deep groove and pulse, ranging from breakbeat to hard swing.
Marko explains some of the concepts behind the songs on the album:
“I consider myself to be a composer who aspires to balance intellect with emotion, while never forgetting that music can make people move, dance, and smile. I try to explore many different moods within a piece that directly translates my musical tastes. For example, ‘Schizo’ is a tune that features a flamenco intro with modern classical style technique and phrasing mixed with a rhythmical approach that was influenced from Indian Classical Music as a result of my studies with the great Guru Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. It also features Mark on the electric midi controller which offers some different sounds compared to the traditional saxophone. For me it is about coming up with the most accurate representation of where I am as a person who loves and has studied a great deal of music.”
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Marko Churnchetz (Slovenian spelling Črnčec) is one of Slovenia’s most heralded contemporary musicians and renowned exports, currently spending time living between his home country and New York City. On the international scene he is known as a formidable young multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer who easily works across genres and in particular jazz and popular music.
Churnchetz was born May 15, 1986 in Maribor, Slovenia and by the age of age six his musical path began by studying classical music on accordion and then piano at the age of ten. A prodigious talent, by his teens he was a multiple award-winner in both national and international competitions, and he earned a classical piano degree in 2005 as well as jazz piano degree at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria in 2009.
Churnchetz has released two albums as a leader, Signature and Moral Interchange (both released in 2010 on B.A.S.E.). His third album, Devotion, featuring Mark Shim (saxophone), Chris Tordini (double bass) and Justin Brown (drums) is due for release on Whirlwind Recordings, the prolific London-based imprint.
Marko has performed or recorded with the following notable musicians: Bob Mintzer, Don Menza, Michael Phillip Mossman, Ron McClure, Luis Bonilla, Gary Chaffee, Damion Reid, Mark Shim, Chris Tordini, Justin Brown, Marco Minnemann, Stjepko Gut, Marcus Gilmore, Armando Gola, Suresh Talwalkar, Jonathan Powell, John Thomas, Chris Jennings, Kenny Grohowski, Gwen Hughes, Stefan Milenkovich, Boško Petrovic, Martin Belic, Andy Hunter, Karmina Silec, Sharat Shrivastava, Gyan Syngh, Bernhard Schimpelsberger, Karlheinz Miklin, Ewald Oberleitner, Bajsa Arifovska, Stanko Arnold.