GA Russell Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 (edited) Resonance Records to Release "Tommy Flanagan/Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2," April 9 Previously Unreleased 1982 Live Session Is the Second in the Label's Keystone Korner Live Discoveries Series Produced by Keystone Impresario Todd Barkan & Resonance General Manager Zev Feldman, The Music Is Available as Deluxe CD Package, Digital Download, & Limited Edition 2-LP Set February 18, 2013 Two titans of jazz piano are captured in flight on the new Resonance Records album, Tommy Flanagan/Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2. Scheduled for April 9 release as a CD with 24-page booklet, a digital download with digital booklet, and a deluxe limited edition 2-LP set, The Magic of 2 presents a 1980 concert recorded at San Francisco's celebrated Keystone Korner and the second entry in Resonance's Keystone Discoveries series. "It's a revelation, how well they played together," says Keystone's owner Todd Barkan, who co-produced the CD with Resonance Records' Executive Vice President and General Manager Zev Feldman. "They had quite disparate styles, but they share such an incredibly large vocabulary and frame of reference that it makes their language coherent. They're both referring to the same knowledge and experience of the history of jazz piano." The music is a "gift [from the past that] is both unique and stupendous," says jazz historian Dan Morgenstern, one of seven annotators in the CD package's 24-page illustrated booklet. " . . . Alone and especially together, Tommy and Jaki show us what spontaneous creation is all about." When Resonance started working with Barkan, says Feldman, on the lauded 2011 release of Pinnacle, a magnificent 1980 performance by Freddie Hubbard and the first Keystone Discoveries title, "We became aware that the Flanagan-Byard session was something Todd was absolutely passionate about." Over the past few years, Resonance has established itself as a home for such notable rediscoveries through acclaimed releases like Hubbard's Pinnacle, Bill Evans's Live at Art D'Lugoff's Top of the Gate, and Wes Montgomery's Echoes of Indiana Avenue. Each of these releases has boasted vivid sound quality and an attention to detail that attests to the label's respect and admiration for the musicians. "Resonance is trying to become a leader in historical jazz recordings and this totally fits the bill," Feldman says. "We're putting out this music because we really believe in it -- we believe in Jaki Byard, we believe in Tommy Flanagan, and we want to celebrate both of these artists for their contributions to this music. And we also want to celebrate Todd Barkan's vision." Five of the eleven tracks find Flanagan and Byard melding their encyclopedic knowledge of jazz piano history in festive fashion: "Scrapple from the Apple," "Just One of Those Things," "Satin Doll," "Our Delight," and "The Theme." The disc also features six solo pieces, split evenly between the two pianists. All three of Flanagan's three unaccompanied contributions come from the pen of Billy Strayhorn ("Something to Live For," "Chelsea Bridge," "All Day Long"). Byard leads with Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love," and also places his stamp on the Jule Styne standard "Sunday" and Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe." The Magic of 2 brings the listener back to that night through the loving sound restoration of label president George Klabin and Resonance's engineer Fran Gala (from cassette tapes, no less). The CD comes with a 24-page booklet annotated by Barkan, Feldman, and Morgenstern as well as jazz critic Howard Mandel, pianists Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap, and Jaki's daughter Diane Byard. Iconic images from the archive of Keystone staff photographer Tom Copi, some being published for the first time, illustrate the booklet, along with work by photographers Brian McMillen and Kathy Sloane. The new album is also available as a digital download with digital booklet (where available), and as a limited edition 2-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl at 45-RPM by audiophile leaders R.T.I., with a deluxe gatefold, hard-stock jacket by Stoughton Press. Art direction and design was handled by industry veteran Burton Yount (Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall; Wes Montgomery/Echoes of Indiana Avenue). Additionally, in the LP edition only is a special commemorative set of Keystone Korner postcards by Tom Copi, along with a retro reproduction of a Keystone Korner punch card (which regular patrons used when attending the club). The LP edition was mastered by Bernie Grundman (Sonny Rollins/Way Out West; Michael Jackson's Thriller). All in support of the "dynamic piano duo" of Flanagan and Byard, Barkan writes, which is "heard here in psychedelic terpsichore, evoking the chemistry of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers." Tommy Flanagan b. March 16, 1930, Detroit, MI d. Nov. 16, 2001, New York, NY Jaki Byard b. June 15, 1922, Worcester, MA d. Feb. 11, 1999, New York, NY Edited February 18, 2013 by GA Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Wow. I'd love to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Both did a number of piano duos, so I'm expecting great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirdtry Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 For those of you who can't wait both the CD and LP are now available and 'in-stock' at: http://www.allegro-music.com I just got my copy in the mail today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I just received this from Resonance Records and you can it directly from them for $18.98. Tommy Flanagan And Jaki ByardRelease Date: Apr. 9, 2013Format: Deluxe digi-pack with 23 page booklet Deluxe digi-pack with 23 page booklet: $18.98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I'm opening mine up Easter Sunday as a present from the Easter bunny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasstrack Posted March 12, 2013 Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 (edited) I had the incredible experience of sharing the bandstand for a year and a half in the mid-'80s with Jaki. It was a big band but he played a lot of solo. His knowledge of jazz piano history and classical music too was encyclopedic, and he put it all together-all these disperate influences-with great humor. Sometimes he'd turn to the audience, grinning, and say 'I'm showing off, ladies and gentlemen!' I can hardly wait to hear him and Flanagan, one of my all time favorites, together. Resonance is such a class act.. Edited March 12, 2013 by fasstrack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Friedman Posted March 12, 2013 Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 Looking forward to comments from those who have a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted April 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I'm opening mine up Easter Sunday as a present from the Easter bunny. I'm really enjoying this one. A gem. Not only is the playing terrific, but so is the selection of songs as well. I could do without Chuck Mangione's Land of Make Believe, however. I see this one as an Album of the Year candidate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILLYQ Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I had the incredible experience of sharing the bandstand for a year and a half in the mid-'80s with Jaki. It was a big band but he played a lot of solo. His knowledge of jazz piano history and classical music too was encyclopedic, and he put it all together-all these disperate influences-with great humor. Sometimes he'd turn to the audience, grinning, and say 'I'm showing off, ladies and gentlemen!' I can hardly wait to hear him and Flanagan, one of my all time favorites, together. Resonance is such a class act.. I saw Byard once at some benefit concert where he played solo. He started out with something really out, played a solo off that and then proceeded to go backwards until he was playing ragtime. He did the historyof jazz piano in about 20 minutes. It was stunning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted April 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 Strangely, Amazon says that the album will be shipped in 11 to 12 days, but the Marketplace Sellers have it for $11.83. http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Two-Tommy-Flanagan/dp/B00BG4CTPS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1365527584&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Magic+of+2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted April 9, 2013 Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 I never liked two-piano albums. Too confusing; can't tell who's doing what to whom; like an orgy gone bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted April 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 Just got this press release in... Early press reaction to The Magic of 2: "High on the list [of unexpected and inspired shows at Keystone Korner] you'd have to put the February 1982 pairing of Tommy Flanagan and Jaki Byard, two great pianists with very different styles. Playing opposite each other at grand pianos on the small Keystone stage. They set the place spinning with their propulsive swing, interplay and invention. The joy of those performances and the exuberant vibe of that place come across wonderfully on The Magic of 2: Live at Keystone Korner." --Jesse Hamlin, San Francisco Chronicle "On a new duet recording with Tommy Flanagan, The Magic of 2: Live at Keystone Korner, [Jaki Byard] sounds better than ever." --Chris Barton, Los Angeles Times "This release keeps memory of these departed masters alive by the care and attention to details the producers exhibit. Their music making continues to give joy and pleasure, and Resonance once more have made a big contribution to curating jazz from yesteryear." --Stephen Graham, Marlbank.net "The latest jazz gem to be unearthed by the folks at Resonance Records... is an instant classic. . . . The entire program is played with give-and-take, laughter and love. The album itself was crafted with the same kind of care. . . . This is one of those recordings that's easy to love -- again and again." --Frank Alkyer, Down Beat Editor's Pick "The Magic of 2 clearly speaks to the skills of two dearly departed, high profile ivory ticklers, and the importance of the club that hosted them, but it also speaks to the vision of a label. In just a few years' time, Resonance Records has become one of the leading lights in historical jazz recordings. . . . It's safe to say that the jazz community is waiting with bated breath to see what they'll unearth next." --Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz.com "On The Magic of 2, two exemplary piano modernists, Tommy Flanagan & Jaki Byard, are captured in duo performance at San Francisco's famed Keystone Korner back in the winter of 1982. While it may not be the performing situation you might think of for either man, they sound really happy to be swapping licks from either end of the stage, and the spirit of the music reflects that enthusiasm. . . . Utterly recommended." --Stuart Kremsky, Mr. Stu's Record Room The Magic of 2 on iTunes Web Site: www.resonancerecords.orgFollow Resonance Records: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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