New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Peter Lin's new release New Age, Old Ways refers to many points. The recording process was done in a way to honor the beauty of old school recording techniques to capture the ensemble in a raw take setting, to focus on the beauty of the heritage, and the style, which is clearly be-bop and traditional jazz. Lin has constructed this album in a way that pays tribute to the great traditions of yesteryear from a sonic and composition standpoint. His originals are respectfully written to pay homage to the era of be-bop.
New Age, Old Ways is both a jazz album and comic book by
Peter Lin and illustrations by
Kelly Lin.
More info can be found at www.lintet.com/NAOW
PETER LIN
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Taiwanese-American trombonist
Peter Lin has been recently described by Downbeat Magazine as "solid, fluid, and smooth". He received his B.A.
Music from
William Paterson University and MM for Jazz Trombone Studies at Rutgers University. A Jazz House Kids faculty member, Lin continues to be a prominent trombonist and educator in the NJ/NYC jazz scene. He has studied with jazz legends such as Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig,
Robin Eubanks, Steve Davis, & Frank Lacy. He has performed with many notable artists including Slide Hampton, Winard Harper, Charli Persip, Kenny Barron,
Rufus Reid, Victor Lewis, JD Allen,
Valerie Ponomarev, & Radam Schwartz. He recently released an album with The Lintet called With Respect, which has peaked at #4 on the RMR Jazz Charts and #3 on the NACC charts.
JD ALLEN
Appears courtesy of HighNote Records After moving to New York City from Detroit, JD Allen played with
George Cables, Betty Carter, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Frank Foster,
Butch Morris,
David Murray, and Wallace Roney. Closer to his generation, he has played with Lucian Ban, Cindy Blackman, Gerald Cleaver, Dave Douglas, Orrin Evans, Duane Eubanks, Marcus Gilmore, Russell Gunn, Winard Harper, Elisabeth Kontomanou, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Revis. Allen's first solo album, In Search Of (Criss Cross, 1999), led to his selection as Best New Artist in Italy. In 2002, his second album was chosen a top ten album of the year by Jazziz magazine. Ten years later he was named best composer and best tenor saxophonist in the Critics' Poll at DownBeat magazine. A critic at NPR picked his album Victory (Sunnyside, 2011) for the number three spot in the top twenty albums of 2011.
IAN KENSELAAR
Bassist Ian Kenselaar is a proud NJ native. He studied with longtime mentor
James Buchanan of Maplewood, NJ, through high school, in addition to studying with Dutch bassist
Joris Teepe, saxophonist Bruce Williams, and pianist and organist Mike LeDonne, among others. Ian also studied with bassist
Rufus Reid through a fellowship at the Ravinia Steans
Music Institute in Illinois in 2017. This past year, Ian worked with saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa and vocalist Jay Clayton's ensembles at Princeton University. Currently living in Jersey City, Ian continues to work in his community and surrounding areas -- performing regularly with artists such as drummer Winard Harper and many more.
NIC CACIOPPO
Drummer and composer Nic Cacioppo grew up in a musical household (mother, father and brother all musicians/educators) As a teenager, he started early playing gigs in Philadelphia. After finishing high school, he moved to Northern New Jersey to attend
William Paterson University. Since migrating to New Jersey, Cacioppo has had the honor of working with world class musicians including Johnny O'Neal, Gene Perla, Slide Hampton, Tyshawn Sorey, and Wallace Roney.
A PATH TO UNDERSTANDING was composed during these tumultuous times in our political system. I believe one of the best solutions for unity is the process of understanding and respect: something that seems to be lacking in today's conversations. The composition is a reflection of this process.
CELESTIAL BEING is an homage to one of my favorite anime; Gundam
Mobile 00. In this particular series, Celestial Being refers to the main characters' organization bent on fighting against the 'evil' in the world. I wanted to represent the show's setting of mechanized warfare in outer space. I highly suggest checking out the anime!
NEW AGE, OLD WAYS refers to the musician's struggle to play an older style of music in a relevant way to communicate these new revelations in society. Yet, the methods and systems of music have been recycled for countless centuries. Musicians continue to write relevant music in the present age.
AKONG translates to 'grandfather' in Taiwanese. Composed as a send off for my own akong, who passed away this past year at the age of 90, I wanted to encapsulate his infectious positive aura he always emitted. An individual who achieved much in his lifetime as an accomplished chemist and professor in both Taiwan and America, he has left an undeniable mark in both the scientific and academic world. Most importantly, he instilled in us a passion for our own career paths.
The Amis is one of the more known Austronesian ethnic groups native to Taiwan. Their ceremonial songs and strong rhythmical sense in particular were an interest to me. You might even recognize their voices from Enigma's musical project which used an Ami chant in their song "Return to Innocence". SONG OF THE AMIS is a dedication to their cultural contributions.
TNT THEME is my effort to recreate the excitement of the 'two tenor blowing sessions' similar to
Sonny Stitt & Gene Ammons. Seeing how we usually start our gigs with a blues, I felt it was appropriate to call it our theme song.
The bandleader for a wedding gig, I felt the pressure to please both the bride & groom and the musicians. After drinking some free Johnnie Walker. RED LABEL, I remember one day in particular that stress had gotten the better part of me. I had a scotch whiskey at the gig, I felt immediately relieved; allowing me to continue my job in a relaxed manner. This blues features Ian Kenselaar on the bass.
If you have never seen a MANTIS SHRIMP before, I highly suggest taking what they call the "Youtube Spiral" and watching a couple of videos on this magnificent creature. What seems to be a harmless creature ends up being a terrifying underwater monster: breaking crab shells, eating fish whole, and creating temperatures that boil water. I wanted to see what song could possibly accompany the mantis shrimp.
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTS:
Peter Lin: trombone
JD Allen*: tenor sax
Ian Kenselaar: bass
Nic Cacioppo: drums
*Courtesy of HighNote Records
TRACKS AND TIMES:
1. A Path to Understanding 4:38
2. Celestial Being 5:34
3. New Age, Old Ways 7:02
4. Akong 5:52
5. Song of the Amis 5:21
6. TNT Theme 5:51
7. Red Label 7:32
8. Mantis Shrimp 4:48
