21st October 2013: BIG NEWS: Nick Vayenas releases 2nd WWR album ‘Some Other Time’ OCT 29th ft. Doug Wamble, Patrick Cornelius, Michael Janisch and Rudy Royston
Announcing the second WWR Release from Nick Vayenas:
Nick Vayenas – Trombone, Trumpet, Vocals
Doug Wamble – Guitars
Patrick Cornelius – Alto Saxophone
Dan Kaufman – Piano
Michael Janisch – Double & Electric Basses
Rudy Royston – Drums
Release Date: October 29, 2013: Worldwide Physical & Digital
“Nick Vayenas is one of those rare finds. A person who will redefine the role of the trombone not only in small ensemble playing, but also in the way we perceive that instrument in the music community. His melodic concept is gorgeous, and his technique is beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. I’m very proud to say that I’ve watched him grow. – Terence Blanchard, (Grammy Award Winning Trumpeter and Film Scorer)
Trombonist, trumpeter and vocalist Nick Vayenas presents his third release as a leader, Some Other Time, which is his second album for Whirlwind Recordings, the follow up to the self titled Nick Vayenas. The album is a truly eclectic set of music comprised of four original compositions by Vayenas (which range from multi-metered funk grooves to full on driving rock) and four expertly arranged covers: Michel Legrand (“You Must Believe In Spring”), Leonard Bernstein (“Some Other Time”), Cole Porter (“So In Love”) and Oscar Levant (“Blame It On My Youth”). Vayenas’ take on these four classics have virtually transformed them into new songs of their own.
“For my second release on Whirlwind Recordings, I wanted a balance of instrumental and vocal, originals and covers,” states Vayenas. “An album that is the most complete personal musical statement I can make. This meant incorporating many different styles, as I am a big fan of all kinds of music. For the songs with lyrics, I was very specific about choosing songs that meant something to me, and arrangements that would help bring out the meaning of the words.”
Some Other Time features a bumper-crop of the world’s finest creative musicians in special guest guitarist Doug Wamble, pianist Dan Kaufman, alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius, electric and double bassist Michael Janisch, drummer Rudy Royston and guests Joe Saylor (drums) & Peter Slavov (double bass).
Vayenas adds, “A band that had the versatility to make this album cohesive was a priority. Doug Wamble, Rudy Royston, Michael Janisch and Dan Kaufman are musicians who I have great respect for and feel very honored to have them take part in this project. They have roots in the jazz tradition, but are comfortable playing any style of music. Patrick Cornelius also showcases his talents, playing on several tunes and co-producing the album.”
Originally starting his music studies with trombone and piano at age 12, Nick Vayenas has since become an accomplished trumpeter and vocalist. In 2009, Nick Vayenas released his critically acclaimed debut album, Synesthesia, featuring pianist Aaron Parks, alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius and drummer Kendrick Scott. It was a blend of live acoustic performances with electronic sounds, and featured Vayenas’ virtuosic mastery of the trombone. His 2012 release, Nick Vayenas (also featuring Cornelius and Scott, along with guitarist Lionel Loueke, Dan Kaufman and bassist Vicente Archer), displayed his astonishing breadth of skills on vocals, trumpet and trombone, showing more sides of his personality and giving equal attention to jazz standards and original compositions.
Vayenas’ musical development at Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and The Thelonious Monk Institute were key in his technical development as a musician and composer. His bands feature an ensemble cast of musicians who came of age playing together in their late teens and early twenties in Boston. Kendrick Scott and Patrick Cornelius have been performing and recording with Vayenas since their days together at Berklee College of Music. Pianist Dan Kaufman and bassist Vicente Archer, who quickly became two of the busiest working musicians upon moving to New York, also attended school in Boston during those same years, and the five of them made music together often in various configurations. Jazz and world music guitarist Lionel Loueke also attended Berklee with Vayenas, Cornelius, and Scott.
Nick Vayenas seamlessly straddles both the commercial music industry and the creative jazz world, having worked comfortably with international pop superstars like Michael Bublé and Josh Groban, and respected New York jazz artists like Kendrick Scott, Dayna Stephens, and Patrick Cornelius alike. He is equally at home performing in intimate New York jazz clubs such as The Jazz Gallery and The Blue Note as well as in huge arenas around the world. All of these diverse music experiences that make up Vayenas’ colorful history have found their into the music of Some Other Time.