| “New
Code” is the fourth release by The Peggy Lee Band
and the first that sees the band expanded from a sextet to an octet. The
three horns blend beautifully for a warm, full sound and the two guitars
take turns at covering written parts leaving the other free to colour
the music with abstract textures or full out soloing.
Peggy has written seven new compositions
for the album which have been interspersed with three small group improvisations––two
trios and one duo. She has ‘book-ended’ the whole set of music
with two covers, Bob Dylan’s “All I Really
Want To Do” and Kurt Weill’s “Lost In
The Stars.” The album opens with a full and joyous sound and travels
through many moods: from agitated to defiant; from reflective to jubilant.
The band plays with complete commitment, honesty and inspiration throughout.
Vancouver-based cellist Peggy Lee plays the field between
jazz and new music, currently receiving international recognition as one
of Vancouver's finest improvisers. Upon arriving in Vancouver in 1989,
Peggy Lee has participated in numerous creative projects. She is a member
of Talking Pictures and Standing Wave, a new music ensemble dedicated
to performing new written works by Canadian composers. Other performance
collaborations include work with keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, trumpeter
Dave Douglas, guitarist Nels Cline (Wilco) and guitarist Bill Frisell.
The Peggy Lee Band was
formed in 1998 as a vehicle to explore different strategies of improvisation
within the context of Peggy’s compositions. Although initially formed
as a sextet, Peggy decided to expand the group in 2007 by adding tenor
saxophone and another electric guitar. This is a group in which the unique
contribution of each player is crucial to the ensemble’s overall
sound. The sextet has released three cd’s on the Spool
label and has toured nationally and internationally. "New
Code" is the first album as an octet.
With: Brad Turner - trumpet;
Jon Bentley - tenor sax; Jeremy Berkman
- trombone; Peggy Lee - cello; Ron Samworth
- guitar; Tony Wilson, guitar; André Lachance
- electric bass and Dylan van der Schyff - drums.
Press:
"Beautifully abstract, and magnificently
composed..." - Panpot.ca
"...an atmosphere of slow-motion weirdness
heavy with desire and stray thoughts." - Paris Transatlantic
Magazine
"...a CD that exemplifies the strength
and maturity of the Vancouver jazz and improvised music scene." -
Down Beat (**** 1/2 stars)
"...always flowing organically from
one thing to the next." - The New York Times
"A very full-grown going together
of eight fantastic musicians departing from a strong musical vision by
Peggy Lee.." - Vital Weekly
"Lee’s acute sense of musical
direction prevails with the captivating balance of freak-outs and float-aways."
- Eye Weekly
"...one of the finest Canadian jazz
releases of the year." - Panpot.ca
"...the music lies between the pull
of influence and inspiration." - Hour (Montreal)
"Another exceptional jazz album from
The Peggy Lee Band featuring an all-star cast of top Vancouver jazz players."
- Left Hip Magazine
Album
Review: New York Times
Feature:
Pop Matters
Album
Review: Down Beat
Album
Review: Foxy Digitalis
Album
Review: Tokafi
Album
Review: Textura
Album
Review: Hour
Album
Review: Clouds and Clocks
Album
Review: FFWD
Album
Review: Exclaim!
Album
Review: Paris Transatlantic Magazine (Scroll Down!)
Album
Review: Free Jazz
Album
Review: Left Hip Magazine
Interview:
Clouds and Clocks
Press
Quotes
Links:
Peggy
Lee Band
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