Home » Jazz Musicians » Brooklyn Jazz Underground

Brooklyn Jazz Underground

The Brooklyn Jazz Underground is a new collective conceived in the spirit of a new, do-it-yourself music industry, and the emergence of myriad independent artists and record labels, spawning a creative boom which counts Brooklyn as one of its bastions of innovation and artistry. The Brooklyn Jazz Underground is a shining example of a vibrant, thriving, creative group that keeps jazz and improvised music perpetually evolving. Individually and collectively, they serve an important role in our culture and society by providing a bustle of composing, playing and teaching that enriches, delights, provokes, inspires and educates. By pooling their resources, and through cooperative effort, the members hope to create a greater awareness of their work.

From January 11th through the 14th at Smalls in Greenwich Village, NYC the group will present their first annual festival to officially launch The Brooklyn Jazz Underground, featuring all ten members leading their own ensembles in performances of original music. The Underground's first annual compilation CD will also be issued at this time. Other ambitions of the collective include becoming a charitable organization (plans are in the works to contribute to funds to benefit public school music programs), and to present a weekly residency in a NYC club featuring members' bands.

Tags

1
Album Review

Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Seven by Seven

Read "Seven by Seven" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Settetto molto compatto, solido, il Brooklyn Jazz Underground pratica un jazz non particolarmente avventuroso ma comunque ben congegnato e condotto, col ruolo-guida che passa dalla voce (persino iperpresente nella prima parte dell'album) alla tromba, al sax tenore. Ci sono delle ripetizioni e un asservimento al canto a volte persino eccessivo, quasi supino, tuttavia il lavoro prende corpo via via, e la sua notevole coesione, la coerenza intestina pur con qualche carenza di dinamiche, di dialettica tra i ruoli, finisce per ...

301
Multiple Reviews

Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Revolution on the F Train

Read "Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Revolution on the F Train" reviewed by J Hunter


Some of 2009's jazz is being made far from Manhattan Island, home to a number of the genre's biggest labels. However, the revolution is also happening on the other side of the East River, where the artist collective Brooklyn Jazz Underground is making its own breaks and its own discs. BJU just released their second brace of CDs, and there's no sophomore slump to be heard anywhere.

Arthur Kell Quartet Victoria (Live in Germany)

175
Multiple Reviews

Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Puzzles & Best of the West and Many Places

Read "Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Puzzles & Best of the West and Many Places" reviewed by Donald Elfman


Alexis Cuadrado Puzzles BJU Records 2007 Anne Mette Iversen Best of the West + Many Places BJU Records 2007

Brooklyn continues to be a beautifully complementary alternative to the New York scene. The music that comes out of this borough is bold and audacious yet also eminently listenable and highly engaging. ...

229
Album Review

Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Volume 1

Read "Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Volume 1" reviewed by Jon Ross


The second track on Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Volume 1, a compilation from Brooklyn's collective of independent musicians, is a shock. Sandwiched between the winding melody of bassist Alexis Cuadrado's “El Gran Profeta" and the addictive creativity of trombonist Alan Ferber's “Filin"--both tracks steeped in a contemporary jazz sound--"Jim White" seems out of place. At first listen, the chorale composed by trumpeter Shane Endsley seems antithetical to the Underground's aesthetic. The CD starts with heads and solos entrenched in bebop and ...

460
Megaphone

Alexis Cuadrado: A Jazz Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Read "Alexis Cuadrado: A Jazz Tree Grows in Brooklyn" reviewed by AAJ Staff


By Alexis CuadradoIt had been too many conversations; after gigs, on the subway, in airplanes, at the park. Always about similar subjects: Our struggles as bandleaders; how we set up a tour and it drained all of our energies; how we would have loved to have advance warning about that lousy club owner in France; how it would be so cool to figure out a way to open more doors for our own creative projects; how we really ...

Read more articles
5

Recording

The Neal Kirkwood Big Band's 'Night City' Available February 23, 2024 On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

The Neal Kirkwood Big Band's 'Night City' Available February 23, 2024 On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Available February 23, 2024 on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Featuring: Matt Hong (alto sax, soprano sax, flute, piccolo), Bruce Williamson (alto sax, clarinet), Dan Block (tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet on “Night City”), Adam Kolker (tenor sax, flute, alto flute), Patience Higgins (baritone sax, bass clarinet, oboe)/Andy Gravish, Ron Horton, David Smith, James Zollar (trumpet)/Willie Applewhite, Art Baron, Nick Grinder, Ed Neumeister, James Rogers (trombone)/Neal Kirkwood (piano, conductor, compositions), Rob Garcia (drums), Jennifer Vincent (bass), Diana Herold (vibraphone and marimba), ...

1

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Proudly Releases "Spirit Forward" From Bassist/Composer Michael Blanco - Available October 7

Brooklyn Jazz Underground  Records Proudly Releases "Spirit Forward" From Bassist/Composer Michael Blanco - Available October 7

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

NYC CD Release Celebration: October 9 at The Cornelia Street Cafe, sets at 8:30 & 10 PM Michael Blanco Quartet: John Ellis: tenor saxophone; Lage Lund: guitar; Clarence Penn: Drums; Michael Blanco: bass/compositions. “Michael Blanco is a resourceful young bassist with two albums to his name, and a reputation confirmed by the caliber of his partners."—Nate Chinen, The New York Times The story of bassist/composer Michael Blanco's third album as a leader, Spirit Forward, available on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records ...

1

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Proudly Releases "Of Water And Ghosts" From Bassist/Composer Daniel Foose, CD Release Celebration - Rockwood Music Hall On November 22

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Proudly Releases "Of Water And Ghosts" From Bassist/Composer Daniel Foose, CD Release Celebration - Rockwood Music Hall On November 22

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Available October 7, 2016 CD Release Celebration at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 November 22, 2016, 8:30 PM ($10, 2 drink minimum) Featuring Sebastian Noelle: guitar; Tomoko Omura: violin; Maria Im: violin; Allyson Clare: viola; Jennifer Devore: cello; Keita Ogawa: percussion; Daniel Foose: bass. In 2015 bassist/composer Daniel Foose returned to his ancestral home of the Mississippi Delta to write an album of music at the crossroads of history, race, and the natural world. Joining Foose ...

1

Festival

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Presents The 10th Annual BJU Festival @ Smalls & Shapeshifter Lab!

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Presents The 10th Annual BJU Festival @ Smalls & Shapeshifter Lab!

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

BROOKLYN JAZZ UNDERGROUND Presents The 10th Annual Brooklyn Jazz Underground Festival @ Smalls & Shapeshifter on August 17 & 18! The Brooklyn Jazz Underground is an association of independent artists with a shared commitment to creativity and community. Through cooperative efforts, the BJU aims to build a greater awareness of original music emerging from Brooklyn, NY. January, 2007 saw the birth of The Brooklyn Jazz Underground, a collective conceived in the spirit of an entrepreneurial, do-it- ...

1

Recording

Rob Garcia Presents: Finding Love In An Oligarchy On A Dying Planet On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records - April 29, 2016

Rob Garcia Presents: Finding Love In An Oligarchy On A Dying Planet On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records - April 29, 2016

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

ROB GARCIA PRESENTS: FINDING LOVE IN AN OLIGARCHY ON A DYING PLANET ON BROOKLYN JAZZ UNDERGROUND RECORDS APRIL 29, 2016 Featuring the Rob Garcia 4: Rob Garcia (drums & compositions), Noah Preminger (tenor saxophone), Gary Versace (piano), Masa Kamaguchi (bass), with special guests Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone), Kate McGarry (vocals) & Brendan Burke (spoken word) CD Release Concerts/Celebrations: Wed, 4/6- Taller de Músicos, Gijon, Spain Thurs, 4/7- Bilbaina, Bilboa, Spain Sat, 4/9- Sunset, Girona, Spain

3

Recording

Sam Sadigursky Debuts New Band And Album "Follow The Stick" To Be Released On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

Sam Sadigursky Debuts New Band And Album "Follow The Stick" To Be Released On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

The spirit of the organization is firmly rooted in Brooklyn. All of the members reside there, and they wanted to give a nod to the vitality of its scene. —The Wall Street Journals Follow The Stick Features Sam Sadigursky (clarinet/bass clarinet) Chris Dingman (vibes, marimba) Bobby Avey (piano) Jordan Perlson (drums, percussion) Jason Palmer (trumpet on trks 2,5,9,13) Ljova (viola, trk 7) Available November 6, 2015 (North America), November 27 ...

1

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Releases New Recordings From: Rob Garcia, John Chin & Gianni Gagliardi

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Releases New Recordings From: Rob Garcia, John Chin & Gianni Gagliardi

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

BROOKLYN JAZZ UNDERGROUND RECORDS Releases New Recordings From: ROB GARCIA, JOHN CHIN & GIANNI GAGLIARDI Available TODAY, May 27, 2014 BJURecords CD Release Celebrations: ROB GARCIA: May 31, Toronto, Canada @The Rex June 1 - Rochester, NY @Lovin' Cup June 4 - Boston, MA @The Bee Hive June 5 - Cambridge, MA @Beat Hotel June 19 - NYC @The Cornelia Street Cafe July 10 - Old Lyme, CT @The Side ...

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release New Recordings From: Rob Garcia, John Chin & Gianni Gagliardi

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records  To Release New Recordings From: Rob Garcia, John Chin & Gianni Gagliardi

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

"Brooklyn jazz is happening and those who venture across the bridge will be delighted by the hard-edged ethnically-flavored jazz that they find on the other side." —All About Jazz “...The spirit of the organization is firmly rooted in Brooklyn. All of the members reside there, and they wanted to give a nod to the vitality of its scene." —The Wall Street Journal BROOKLYN JAZZ UNDERGROUND RECORDS To Release New Recordings From: ROB GARCIA, JOHN CHIN & ...

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Proudly Releases Rush From Guitarist/Composer Tom Guarna

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Proudly Releases Rush From Guitarist/Composer Tom Guarna

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

To be released worldwide on February 25, 2014, Rush is Guarna's sixth album as a leader, and the first featuring his remarkable new quartet CD Release Celebration - February 23 @ The 55 Bar Featuring: Jon Cowherd-piano, E.J. Strickland-drums, Orlando le Fleming-bass, TBA - saxophones “This is perhaps Tom's best recording to date! The level of playing and compositions are astounding" —Vic Juris “ As I listen to Tom's music , the first 2 things that come to mind are, ...

6

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release Jester From Bassist/composer Arthur Kell

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release Jester From Bassist/composer Arthur Kell

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Jester features Arthur Kell (bass, compositions), Loren Stillman (alto saxophone), Brad Shepik (guitar) & Mark Ferber (drums) CD RELEASE CELEBRATION! Tuesday, June 19 @ 8:30 PM Arthur Kell Quartet +1 @ The Cornelia Street Cafe Featuring Michael Blake, tenor sax; Loren Stillman, alto sax; Brad Shepik, guitar; Arthur Kell, bass; Mark Ferber, drums Bassist/composer Arthur Kell is one of the most original voices on today's New York jazz scene. For the past twenty plus ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Seven by Seven

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
2015

buy

A Portrait Of Brooklyn

Frankie Boy Records
2012

buy

Brooklyn Jazz...

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
2007

buy

North

Fresh Sound Records
0

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.