ATLANTA, GA. (Justin Time Records ) - From the inventive mind of trumpeter/composer Russell Gunn comes the last album in his two-time Grammy-nominated Ethnomusicology series, a comprehensive body of music rich in variety, vision, and virtuosity. Recorded live in Atlanta last March, Ethnomusicology Volume 4 will be released on October 26th by Justin Time Records, which is distributed nationally by IDN, a division of the Alliance Corporation. Gunn authored three of the five compositions on the collection and selected classics from masters
George Gershwin ("
Summertime") and Bill Evans and Miles Davis ("Blue In Green"). Three of the album's selections had never been recorded before by Gunn & his Ethnomusicology co-conspirators; "Shiva (The Destroyer)" originally appeared on Volume 1 and "Lyne's Joint" was taken from Volume 2. Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 received Grammy nominations.
Ethnomusicology Volume 4 is the eleventh album release in the past ten years from the prolific Gunn. His audacious approach to music with African roots, from which he believes all music has emerged, has received praise from critics and earned the respect of musicians in virtually all genres. The artist first drew attention a decade ago for his performances with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and he went on to play and record with musicians as diverse as Wynton and Branford Marsalis and
Oliver Lake to Maxwell, D'Angelo,
Cee-Lo and Lou Reed. Born in
Chicago and raised in East St. Louis, Gunn's first love was hip hop. He deftly incorporates the rhythms and rhymes of the streets into his unique sonicscapes, which crash, clash and collide with classical jazz, R&B, blues, rock, dance and a variety of ethnic music. At times, Gunn allows his trumpet to sing naturally and at others, he imaginatively mutes or electronically manipulates the instrument's voice almost beyond recognition. The energy and passion with which he plays varies from urgent to patient, from frenetic to chill, and from edgy to refine.
"My goal with the Ethnomusicology series was to bring together various forms of music to demonstrate that you can create fresh melodies and grooves by being inclusive instead of exclusive. Why categorize and separate things unnecessarily?" asked Gunn. "I think we've done all that we can with it (the series) and now it's time to focus my music in new directions. I'm not exactly sure what that will be yet, but I do know that there won't be anything predictable or simple about it."
After having recently wrapped up a successful concert tour of Israel, Gunn will take his Ethnomusicology posse on the road this fall to perform in major U.S. cities, including
Boston (Regatta Bar on Nov. 24), New York City (The Jazz Standard from Nov. 26-28), St. Louis (Jazz at the Bistro from Dec. 1-4), and
Chicago (Hot House on Dec. 5). Additional dates and cities will be announced.
Performing on Ethnomusicology Volume 4 are Gunn (electric trumpet, flugel horn), Nick Rolfe (piano, keyboards),
Carlos Henderson (electric bass), Carl Burnett (electric guitar), Kahlil Kwame Bell (percussion), Rocky Bryant (drums) and DJ Neil Armstrong (turntables).
