USA: David Ake-Humanities(Posi-Tone Records 2018)

new music release: David Ake "Humanities"   Pianist, composer, and scholar David Ake's latest musical work is titled "Humanities," his fifth release for Posi-Tone. This album musically reflects Ake's latest chapter of his life, as well as his ruminations on the importance of critical thinking in the current “post-truth” political climate. In addition to his extensive perfomance credits, Ake is an award-winning musicologist and educator, serving as professor and chair of the Department of Musicology at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music. Much of my “other job,” as a musicologist, involves exploring how meanings, identities, and values are shaped through music. Despite that fact—or perhaps because of it—I tend not to talk much about my own compositions or performances, preferring to let others bring to and take from their listening experiences what they will. As with his last two Posi-Tone releases "Bridges" (2013) and "Lake Effect" (2015), Ake collaborates with the some of jazz's highest caliber musicians: Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Ben Monder on guitar, Drew Gress on bass, and Mark Ferber on drums. I’d like to think that "Humanities" gives voice to the entire context in which it was made, including not only the difficulties...but also the remarkable joy and optimism humans can feel when creating in a spirit of mutual trust, respect, and openness. Thank you for listening.  - David Ake   links to music: