Greg Ward debut album coming soon!!

2010-08-05

"I'm thinking of Greg Ward, whose long and searching alto saxophone solo in 'Third Option' is one of the best things I've heard on record this year."

- Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

19/8 Records To Release SOUTH SIDE STORY, The Debut Recording from Saxophonist/Composer GREG WARD'S FITTED SHARDS. Available September 28, 2010.

Greg Ward's Fitted Shards South Side Story Features:

Greg Ward - Alto saxophone, compositions

Rob Clearfield - Keyboards, piano, synth

Jeff Greene - Upright/Electric bass

Quin Kirchener - Drums/percussion

Chicago saxophonist/composer Greg Ward (now based in NYC) is an integral player in a number of distinct coteries of the contemporary music scene. In addition to leading his bands, Fitted Shards and The Greg Ward Sextet, Ward recently recorded with electronica artist Prefuse 73, arranged and conducted orchestra for Lupe Fiasco, received a commission from the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra (for a concerto for jazz quartet and string orchestra), and will be recording and performing with renowned rock group Tortoise. In 2002, the late saxophone legend Fred Anderson hand-picked Ward to curate the Wednesday night jam sessions at his club The Velvet Lounge. Ward has also worked with artists such as Von Freeman, Frank Wess, Al Jarreau, Carl Allen, Rufus Reid, Jeff Parker, Brian McNight and Hamid Drake, performing extensively at major venues and festivals in the States and abroad. He is currently a member of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Mike Reed's People, Places, and Things, Blink, Loose Assembly, The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Hamid Drake's Bindu, and Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls. He has recorded for the Roguart, 482 Music, Thirsty Ear, Clean Feed, and Delmark labels.

Ward's diverse musical interests have led him to explore the world of classical and crossover music as a composer and performer. Recent commissions include a chamber work for ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble), a new ballet for the Peoria Ballet Company, and a septet for Gallery 37's Downtown Sound Gallery Composer's Series. In June of 2007, he composed a quartet for sax, cello, guitar, and percussion (Infatuation With the Flame) that was performed as a part of the International Contemporary Ensemble's ICE Fest 2007 and as part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series.

The path to recording his debut CD, South Side Story (available on 19/8 Records on September 28, 2010), began after an intense period of study of composition and orchestration with some of the best teachers in the world (Ward studied orchestration with Cliff Colnot and composition with Sebastian Huydts), and the subsequent explorations with contrasting genres and sounds, discovering unique ways of combining them, and ultimately arriving at a true representation of himself; all that he is as a person and an artist; and all that he loves. "I'm convinced that this is the only way you can really speak to people", said Ward. "I composed a set of music that soulfully combined some of the many sounds and styles that have influenced my musical development while still leaving room for my bandmates to interpret the music through their own experiences. Then I assembled the band which features Jeff Greene (bass) and Quin Kirchner (drums) from the band Blink, and rounded out the quartet with Rob Clearfield (keys/synth/guitar). We are Fitted Shards, which, I believe, is a term that describes what all music is: many ideas, sounds, and experiences all fitted together to create something unique and beautiful." After a full year of developing the sound in the jazz/avant-garde scenes of Chicago, Ward felt it was time to record.

Another vital element in the conceptualization and realization of South Side Story is represented on the composition "All In". Ward explains, "This piece, and really the entire recording, is about a point in my life when I realized that the only way that I would reach people through my music and achieve my goals was to go all the way, or to be 'all in', concerning every aspect of my life, especially music. So I've put everything into my career and my life and entered into an all-or-nothing world. If I don't live this, my ideas won't be clear and the music begins to sound hesitant, and that's the opposite of what I want."

The result is a staggering juxtaposition of styles and moods that tells Ward's and Fitted Shards' collective story of their time on the South Side of Chicago. A story, a composition, and a recording, that is sometimes exciting, sad, or beautiful, but always real.

"You know that feeling of discovery you get when you hear an emerging artist who seems to be making that next step? That's Greg Ward. Ward has unusual command of his saxophone; his tone is burly and breathy, and it went everywhere he willed it to. . . . on a ballad that he said was inspired by a Daniel Barenboim-led performance of a Mozart symphony, the band (and Ward's alto) turned toward sincere beauty, and nailed it. That was my 'Eureka!' moment, anyway." - Patrick Jarenwattananon - A Blog Supreme, NPR

"Greg Ward is an amazing talent who was born to play the saxophone. He picked it up as a kid, worked hard and has risen through the ranks of Chicago jazz to thrill audiences around the world." - Tim Reardon, Jazz Cabaret SoTish creator

"Ward in particular sounds terrific, balancing gorgeous lyric shapes with tightly coiled multiphonic screams." - Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

"Ward has moved from talented newbie to forceful younger statesman as quickly as his mercurial style goes from liquid to edgy. He appears on more than a dozen albums and works in bands ranging from free jazz (TBD Improvisation Orchestra) to West African dance music (Occidental Brothers) to the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble to his eclectic new quartet Fitted Shards." - Neil Tesser, Jazziz

"Manages to fully invoke both backstreet grit and jazz sophistication." - David Whiteis, JazzTimes

Greg Ward's Fitted Shards CD Release Concerts for South Side Story:

September 17, 2010 - The Velvet Lounge

67 E. Cermak Road, Chicago, IL, tel 312 791 9050, www.velvetlounge.net

October 9, 2010 - The Green Mill

4802 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago, IL, tel 773 878 5552, www.greenmilljazz.com

November 7, 2010 - The Cornelia Street Cafe

29 Cornelia Street, NYC, tel 212 989 9319, www.corneliastreetcafe.com

Greg Ward will also be performing at The Jazz Gallery in NYC on September 16

with David Bryant (piano), Joe Sanders (bass) and Damon Reid (drums)

Press Enquiries on Greg Ward's Fitted Shards South Side Story:

Contact Jason Paul Harman Byrne @ Red Cat Publicity

Tel 347 578 7601, Email Redcatjazz@mac.com

Please Visit www.Redcatpublicity.com and www.Gregward.org

Nineteen-Eight Records announces Creative Music Festival in Toronto (February 2010)

2009-11-13

Toronto, which used to be an essential stop on any touring jazz musician's itinerary, has watched its jazz scene all but dry up in the last 5 years. The closing of the Top O' The Senator and Montreal Bistro was made even more difficult to bear when the clubs that opened in their place subsequently closed after barely making a dent. However, the one constant setting where jazz music flourishes in Toronto, is The Rex Hotel. Whether it's the veterans of the city's formerly world class jazz scene or young bands fresh from the city's several top notch university jazz programs, the Rex is a consistent source of comfort in this ever-changing music world. On rare occasion, the Rex brings touring groups from the United States, reminding Toronto that its jazz listeners are enthusiastic and loyal.

Rudder, a jazz/jam quartet made up of NYC's most sought-after session players, has made The Rex its second home in recent years, as have Vancouver-bred New York-based bassist Chris Tarry and his group. When these bands visit, the jazz illuminati rejoices. It's a long and daunting task to take a group of respected but relatively unknown international musicians and build an audience for them in Toronto-but once this legitimacy is established, T.O. fans are loyal and openly enthusiastic.

The music made at Nineteen-Eight Records is some of the most creative and inspiring in the jazz and fusion genres today. Rudder and The Chris Tarry Group are always warmly welcomed at the Rex; but the label's upcoming week-long festival also features the Toronto debut of Henry Hey's trio, Anthony Molinaro's project, Adam Klipple's band, Pete McCann's band, Orlando LeFleming's band, and Will Vinson's band.

Henry Hey, while already known via his work with Rudder and the Chris Tarry Group, shows a completely different side to his musical personality when playing with his trio. Just as powerful as any of the new young lions of jazz piano like Robert Glasper or Aaron Parks, Hey takes the piano trio format through many unexpected and creative twists and turns.

Pete McCann has also played in Toronto with the Chris Tarry Group. Performing everything from straight-up swing to modern jazz guitar burnouts on his new album "Extra Mile", Pete's diverse talents are due for wider recognition.

Will Vinson is a relatively new saxophonist for the Toronto scene, having emigrated from Great Britain to NYC five years ago. Having gigged with respected New York artists like Chris Potter and Geoffrey Keezer, Vinson is forming a unique voice on the alto and soprano saxophones that is sure to grow exponentially in scope over the next few years.

Equally at home in both the jazz and classical realms, pianist Anthony Molinaro is quickly becoming one of the world's most acclaimed young pianists. Anthony jumps from concerto engagements with symphonies to duo concerts with harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy, to solo concerts. His interpretations of George Gershwin's music are being described as unconventionally brilliant.

The Nineteen-Eight Records Festival is set to provide a Toronto springboard for some of the most exciting new talents in jazz. In time, all of these artists will find the success that Rudder and the Chris Tarry Group enjoy. It's sure to go down in local jazz lore as the week that many legendary artists made their Toronto debut.