AVAILABLE NOW:
Rising Star WARREN WOLF Showcases the Beauty
of the Vibes Through Classical and Blues Influences on
New Mack Avenue Records Release, Wolfgang
Wolfgang Receives Critical Acclaim:
DownBeat Editor's Pick, Examiner Review, among others
Album Features Benny Green, Christian McBride,
Lewis Nash, Aaron Goldberg, Kris Funn, Billy Williams Jr.,
Aaron Diehl, and Special Guest Vocalist Darryl Tookes
Wolf Follows in the Footsteps of Bobby Hutcherson
and Stefon Harris by Joining SFJAZZ Collective -
Currently Celebrating 10th Anniversary
and Gearing up for Fall Tour
Throughout its history,
jazz has been revitalized with a continual evolution of style, fresh
transformations in expression, bold leaps into the free improvisational
sphere of the unknown, and most importantly, the arrival of young
artists who, while steeped in the past, have an eye to the future of the
idiom. Jazz aficionados welcome the dawning of the next generations of
talented musicians who boldly stride into progressive territory. Among
the most important young jazz stars in that vein is vibraphonist Warren Wolf who delivers his remarkable sophomore album, Wolfgang, on Mack Avenue Records.
Wolf, a multi-instrumentalist who has also honed his chops on drums and
piano since age three, is also following in the footsteps of vibes
masters Bobby Hutcherson and Stefon Harris by becoming a member of the
SFJAZZ Collective (both of whom precede him in the vibes chair).
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Photo Credit: Jimmy Katz
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Wolfgang, available now, features two different three-man rhythm sections (pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride, drummer Lewis Nash; and pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Kris Funn, drummer Billy Williams Jr.) as well as two noteworthy duo pieces with pianist/label-mate Aaron Diehl. Wolf and Diehl are both building their careers as young (each under age 35) musicians keeping the jazz tradition alive. One track, "Setembro," also features vocalist Darryl Tookes.
Comprising nine tunes (six of which are originals), Wolfgang spotlights
Wolf taking a different, more laid-back take than his volcanic
eponymous debut album on Mack Avenue. "The last record was a means of
introducing myself as a leader," says the 33-year-old Baltimore-based
vibraphonist. "This time I set out to showcase my writing skills with
compositions that have melodies people can remember."
On
his first album, which was produced by mentor/label-mate McBride (who
Wolf has been performing with since 2007 after the pair met at Jazz
Aspen seven years before that), Wolf placed himself in the context of a
quintet and sextet (with saxophonist Tim Green and, on two tracks,
trumpeter Jeremy Pelt). This time out he largely focuses on the quartet
setting. "I wanted to display the beauty of the vibes," he says. "In a
quintet, you're limited. With a quartet, you can hear me more. A lot of
times the vibes is played in support of others. I'm showing here that I
can hold the ball by myself." Wolfgang sets out to showcase Wolf's classical and blues influences, as well as his compositions.
A smart, fun, blues-to-swing-to-classical collection of indelible melodies, Wolfgang
ups the ante in Wolf's young career. Even though he's still developing
his voice and his vision (he says he has several new projects he's
thinking of), he has been given high praise, including from Blue Note
Records' Chairman Emeritus, Bruce Lundvall. When asked about whom Lundvall is impressed with on the scene today, the legendary label chief immediately responded: Warren Wolf.
"Warren is very different," he said. "He has a sense of swing and a
percussive style. He has great dynamics, excellent compositions and is
very exciting." He called Wolf's deal with Mack Avenue to be a very
important signing.
Upcoming Warren Wolf Appearances:
Warren Wolf's WOLFPACK
August 29 / Fifth Third Bank, It's Commonly Jazz Series / Cincinnati, OH
September 2 / Detroit Jazz Festival (Album Release w/ Warren Wolf Quartet) / Detroit, MI
September 12 / Little Gem Saloon / New Orleans, LA
September 13 / The Acadiana Center / Lafayette, LA
September 19 - 22 / Jazz Standard / New York, NY
September 27 / Strathmore Music Center / Rockville, MD
November 2 / Miller Theater, Columbia University / New York, NY
November 9 - December 1 / Jazz at Lincoln Center - Doha / Doha, Qatar
March 5 / Berklee College of Music, Checkout Series / Boston, MA
Warren Wolf w/ Christian McBride + Inside Straight
December 26 - January 1 / Umbria Jazz Festival / Umbria, Italy
Warren Wolf w/ Aaron Diehl
August 25 / Charlie Parker Jazz Festival / New York, NY
September 3 / Detroit Jazz Festival / Detroit, MI
December 26 - January 1 / Umbria Jazz Festival / Umbria, Italy
Miscellaneous Warren Wolf Performances
September 1 / Detroit Jazz Festival (w/ Mack Avenue SuperBand) / Detroit, MI
September 28 / Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival (w/ Mike Tucker Group) / Boston, MA
October 1 - 31 / SFJAZZ Collective Fall Tour - Various Venues / Various Cities
Warren Wolf· Wolfgang
Mack Avenue Records · Release Date: August 20, 2013
For media information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Maureen McFadden · maureen@dlmediamusic.com
For press materials on Warren Wolf, please visit warrenwolfmusic.com
MACK AVENUE · the road to great music · mackavenue.com
Information and press materials (including album covers, promotional photos and bios)
on all DL Media artists can be found at our new website: dlmediamusic.com
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