Brooklyn Jazz Underground

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Brooklyn Jazz Underground is an association of independent artists with a shared commitment to creativity and community. Through cooperative efforts, the BJU aims to build a greater awareness of original music emerging from Brooklyn, NY.       

Current BJU members are: Anne Mette Iversen (bass), David Smith (trumpet), Adam Kolker (tenor saxophone), Rob Garcia (drums), Owen Howard (drums), Tammy Scheffer (voice) & David Cook (piano)  

Former members include: Dan Pratt (tenor saxophone) , Alan Ferber (trombone), Alexis Cuadrado (bass), Sunny Jain (drums), Shane Endsley (trumpet), Jerome Sabbagh (tenor saxophone), Tanya Kalmanovitch (viola), Ted Poor (drums), Benny Lackner (piano).

7x7 (Seven by Seven) FROM AUG 2014

Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Anne Mette Iversen, David Smith, Adam Kolker, Rob Garcia, Owen Howard, Tammy Scheffer & David Cook

Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Anne Mette Iversen, David Smith, Adam Kolker, Rob Garcia, Owen Howard, Tammy Scheffer & David Cook

From its inception the BJU, a highly influential group that inspired the formation of other artist collectives around the world, including The Paris Jazz Underground, The Queens Jazz Overground and The LA Jazz Collective, has always placed a premium on original composition. The band's much-anticipated second recording, 7 x 7, offers a collection of seven compelling works conceived by each member of the septet, featuring David Smith (trumpet), Adam Kolker (tenor sax, bass clarinet), Anne Mette Iversen (bass), Rob Garcia (drums), and also featuring the addition of vocalist Tammy Scheffer, who plays a shifting role here as a vocalist and as a third "horn", pianist David Cook & drummer Owen Howard, empowering the ensemble alongside Rob Garcia with a dual drummer thrust.

While each piece exemplifies the character of the individual composer, the ensemble devised a cohesive element to lend unity to the entire recording: "The Shorty," a brief composition derived from each of the seven original works. The creative twist was that these variations were to be composed by a fellow BJU artist. "We literally drew names from a hat to pick which composition was to be our 'assignment.' Whether inspired by a melodic phrase, a harmonic structure or simply the vibe of the initial work, each 'Shorty' in turn, found its own character," explained Owen Howard (from the liner notes).

 

A Portrait of Brooklyn

BJU members: Rob Garcia, Dan Pratt, Anne Mette Iversen, David Smith & Adam Kolker

BJU members: Rob Garcia, Dan Pratt, Anne Mette Iversen, David Smith & Adam Kolker

The Brooklyn Jazz Underground, featured in the March 2012 issue of DownBeat Magazine, is an artist run association that is in constant motion and evolvement. They are pleased to announce the release of the first Brooklyn Jazz Underground Ensemble recording, A Portrait of Brooklyn, initiated by a grant from the Brooklyn Arts Council, and featuring David Smith (trumpet), Adam Kolker (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute), Dan Pratt (tenor sax, clarinet, flute), Anne Mette Iversen (bass) and Rob Garcia (drums). The CD was released on June 26, 2012.

In 2011 the members of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground composed new music for their first collaborative effort, A Portrait of Brooklyn, for the premiere in May 2011 at Sycamore in Brooklyn (where the BJU, in collaboration with Connection Works, curates a weekly concert series). These performances marked the first time that the BJU members came together as an ensemble (previously they have only operated as an association of bandleaders performing independently with their own groups). "Performing together proved to be such a wonderful experience for us that we unanimously decided to record and release this collection of music. The CD, featuring two compositions from each member, that are reflective of our experiences living in Brooklyn, is not an attempt at defining or representing Brooklyn, it is simply A Portrait", said bassist/composer Iversen.

brooklynjazz.org

BJUR 046 Brooklyn Jazz Underground - 7x7 (CD)
$14.99

Tammy Scheffer - voice
David Smith - trumpet
Adam Kolker - tenor sax & bass clarinet
David Cook - piano
Anne Mette Iversen - bass
Rob Garcia - drums
Owen Howard - drums

Compositions by everyone

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BJUR 035 Brooklyn Jazz Underground Ensemble - A Portrait of Brooklyn (CD)
$14.99

David Smith - trumpet
Dan Pratt - saxophone, flute, clarinet
Adam Kolker - saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute
Anne Mette Iversen - bass
Rob Garcia - drums

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BJU CD Samplers Volume 1-4

BJU members anno 2007.

BJU members anno 2007.

From 2008-2011 released BJU each year a CD Sampler with one track from each member.  The CD samplers presented the bandleaders and what they were working on at the time. Some tracks have not been released on any other publicly available CD, and they also is great documentation of the BJU's on-going growth and development. 

 

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BJUR 005 Brooklyn Jazz Underground Vol. 3 (320k mp3 download)
$5.99

Brooklyn Jazz Underground members anno 2010. 

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BJUR 005 Brooklyn Jazz Underground Vol. 3 (320k mp3 download)
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Brooklyn Jazz Underground members anno 2010. 

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BJUR 001 Brooklyn Jazz Underground Vol. 2 (320k mp3 download)
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Brooklyn Jazz Underground members anno 2008.

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