ALAN PASQUA: San Michele (with Michael Brecker)

“…wonderfully fresh…” – The Wall Street Journal “4.5 STARS! …a program of glowing, thoughtful tunes. Pasqua’s playing is warm and introspective throughout…” – Down Beat Magazine San Michele captures pianist/composer Alan Pasqua, who has worked in bands with Quincy Jones and Bob Dylan, in this masterful recording session. Centered around Pasqua’s lyrical writing and architectural sense of form, the music opens into wide spaces of atmosphere, motion, and deep ensemble conversation. This album features Michael Brecker’s tenor saxophone lines cutting cleanly through the harmonies. Pasqua assembled two ensembles, one with NEA Jazz Master, Jack DeJohnette, and the other with renowned drummer Paul Motian. These drummer’s rhythmic imagination shaped the music’s energy in real time, while NEA Jazz Master Dave Holland’s bass grounds the harmonic flow which anchors the performance. San Michele unfolds as a richly textured statement of contemporary instrumental jazz — expansive, emotionally resonant, and relentlessly alive. “Leader and sidemen alike perform the music at an exceptional level… A fine recording.” – JazzTimes Song Selection: San Michele – 6:44 The Law of Diminishing Returns – 5:38 Rio Grande – 6:32 L’Inverno – 5:20 Alan Pasqua: Piano Michael Brecker: Tenor Saxophone Dave Holland: Upright Bass Jack DeJohnette: Drums (on 2, 3 and 4) Paul Motian: Drums (on 1) Willie Olenick: Trumpet (on 3) Roger Rosenberg: Flute (on 3) Jack Schatz: Trombone (on 3)