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Scenes

The trio of guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop were first heard together on the 2001 release "Scenes" along with tenor saxophonist Rick Mandyck. Now returning as a trio under the name Scenes, they continue their exploration of free flowing yet highly melodic ensemble playing.

Their latest album, "Along The Way" is a set of all original music. Touching on burning swing with "Studio City," haunting ballads with "Haiku" and "I Wish," and new country with "When Jasper Grows Up," the trio sculpts an uncompromising yet very accessible soundtrack.

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9
Album Review

Scenes: Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival

Read "Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival" reviewed by Paul Rauch


Scenes'' first album dates back to 2001, but the origins of the band dates back to the early 1990s, when saxophonist Rick Mandyck, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop initiated a trio gig. On occasion guitarist John Stowell would drop in if he was off the road and in Seattle. The band that began as a trio reverted back to that format after that inaugural recording, this time Stowell in tow as Mandyck slipped into a decade-long hiatus from ...

6
Album Review

Scenes: Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival

Read "Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The group Scenes has released seven excellent albums over two decades of recording together, beginning with their eponymous debut (Origin Records, 2001). All of those are studio efforts. The group's 2022 outing, Variable Clouds is a first for Scenes--their first album recorded live in front of an audience, in 2021 at the Earshot Jazz Festival. This is a return to the group's original line-up. Saxophonist Rick Mandyck sat out for a time due to health problems, leaving Scenes ...

6
Album Review

Scenes: Trapeze

Read "Trapeze" reviewed by Paul Rauch


The storyline for the Pacific Northwest-based band Scenes began in 1983, when drummer John Bishop and guitarist John Stowell began playing together in Portland and Seattle. When bassist Jeff Johnson arrived in Seattle in 1989, he began playing a weekly trio gig with Bishop and tenor saxophonist Rick Mandyck. Stowell, already frequently traveling abroad to play and teach, would drop by every so often to play.The quartet wouldn't get around to record until 2001, releasing Scenes on the ...

8
Album Review

Scenes: Destinations

Read "Destinations" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


There are wondrous stories to be found in everything the eye can see, the ear can hear, and the imagination can dream up. Scenes--the trio of guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop--has been readily and steadily making that point for more than fifteen years, harnessing natural beauty and concocting chimerical designs that extol the virtues of elasticity, mutability, and high-level communication. The Pacific Northwest knows no greater champion of its beyond-words beauty than this outfit.

3
Album Review

Scenes: ...but not heard

Read "...but not heard" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


ECM Records has been noted for its “Nordic Cool," school, from its many recordings of Scandinavian artists, with pianist Tord Gustavsen coming most readily to mind. Seattle's Origin Records has what can be called its “Northwest U.S. Cool" with recordings from bassist Jeff Johnson, saxophonist Hans Teuber, and the collective trio Scenes, with guitarist John Stowell, drummer John Bishop and, again, Jeff Johnson on bass. Scenes' eponymous debut disc in 2001 featured the core trio and saxophonist Rick ...

182
Album Review

Scenes: Along the Way

Read "Along the Way" reviewed by Bill Bennett


The scenes along the way here are generally bucolic ones, awash with that distinctive just after the sundown light celebrated by photographers. It's a contemplative journey--"no hurry, no worry," as the cliché goes. The tempos are relaxed, the timbres unfailingly warm. Subtlety is the key word. This amiable, polished music never clamors for your attention; however, a little deep listening will yield many aural delights.

Guitarist John Stowell plays with a full, rich, bottom heavy tone and possesses a strikingly ...

253
Album Review

Scenes: Along the Way

Read "Along the Way" reviewed by John Kelman


It's easier to impress listeners with virtuosity than subtlety and nuance, but thankfully there are those who take the road less traveled. Along the Way, the second release by Scenes, is the result of three musicians being comfortable in their own skins and having nothing to prove. The vibe may be relaxed and the delivery spacious, but this music proves that one should never mistake comfort for complacency.

Guitarist John Stowell has had a lengthy career with a series of ...

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Radio

THE PITCH: VuHaus - A View Into America's Most Vibrant Music Scenes

THE PITCH: VuHaus - A View Into America's Most Vibrant Music Scenes

Source: HypeBot

Music discovery is a code that many are trying to crack. VuHaus's approach is curation. From NYC's WFUV to LA's KCRW, some of the most influential public radio stations have joined together to share video of their best in studio music performances. In the latest in our ongoing series, here in 100 words or less is THE PITCH from Vuhaus. VuHaus.com is a brand new view into America’s most vibrant music scenes.  Watch emerging and established artists perform in rare and intimate settings from leading public ...

Music Industry

Positive Changes in Chinese Music Industry Happening Behind the Scenes

Positive Changes in Chinese Music Industry Happening Behind the Scenes

Source: HypeBot

This is an excerpt from China music market specialist Ed Peto's article on the China Music Business site. It originally ran as a feature in the March 5th edition of the Music Ally report. In March 2013, Gao Xiaosong – a famous Chinese music composer, producer and TV talent judge – announced that on 1st July of the same year “the Chinese online music market will step into an era of legal copies”. Of course, the 1st July came and ...

Recording

French-Brazilian Guitar Virtuoso Marcelo Paganini To Release Two Behind The Scenes Videos Featuring Jazz Legends Deodato And Gary Husband In Support Of Forthcoming CD

French-Brazilian Guitar Virtuoso Marcelo Paganini To Release Two Behind The Scenes Videos Featuring Jazz Legends Deodato And Gary Husband In Support Of Forthcoming CD

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France - It took 35 years to finally make the album French- Brazilian guitar virtuoso Marcelo Paganini dreamed about in 1979, when he wrote the song “Lost Secrets”. The album 2012 Space Traffic Jam, which will be released on January 25, 2014, was written in the stars and had to happen, no matter how impossible it seemed to be. To make the impossible possible is Marcelo Paganini's full time job. He was called a crazy man, a fool, a ...

1

TV / Film

A Behind The Scenes Look At Billy Taylor's JazzMobile!

A Behind The Scenes Look At Billy Taylor's JazzMobile!

Source: Patricia DeArcy

We are pleased to announce that Patricia DeArcy, Director of the documentary “The Harlem Cultural Council,” a behind the scenes look at the formation of Billy Taylor's JazzMobile as well as other Harlem Cultural Council endeavors like the DanceMobile, is in post production and taking a giant leap forward producing a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.com. After interviewing key members of the founding branch of the Harlem Cultural Council like jazz pianist Billy Taylor, Barbara Ann Teer, Ademola Olegubefola, Woody King ...

Opinion

Music Scenes: The Benefit of Focusing at the Local Level

Music Scenes: The Benefit of Focusing at the Local Level

Source: HypeBot

Guest post by Richard Pulvino (@rpulvino) for sidewinder.fm, a music and tech think tank.  From the late 90's to early 2000's, I immersed myself in the local hardcore music scene in Rochester, NY. I wasn't in any of the bands, but attended shows regularly and would go support friends of mine who were in bands that ranged from first acts to local headliners.  Music scenes like this were usually pretty incestuous with bands often sharing members. It wasn't uncommon to ...

Radio

Dancehalls, Dives And Bordellos: Early New Orleans Jazz Scenes This Week On Riverwalk Jazz

Dancehalls, Dives And Bordellos: Early New Orleans Jazz Scenes This Week On Riverwalk Jazz

Source: Don Mopsick

This week on Riverwalk Jazz, New Orleans natives Vernel Bagneris and Topsy Chapman join The Jim Cullum Jazz Band to bring to life in narrative and music the atmosphere of turn-of-the-century New Orleans, where strains of early jazz were heard. The program is distributed in the US by Public Radio International, on Sirius/XM satellite radio and can be streamed on-demand from the Riverwalk Jazz website. You can also drop in on a continuous stream of shows at the Stanford Archive ...

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Book / Magazine

Stve Slagle "Scenes, Songs & Solos"

Stve Slagle "Scenes, Songs & Solos"

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

Scenes, Songs & Solos: A Composition and Improvisation Workbook for the Creative Musician by Steve Slagle “Steve Slagle speaks of things that need to be heard."—Joe Lovano “Full of fresh, original, and inspirational ideas about music and life."— Randy Brecker “I loved this book! And I'm not even a professional musician."—Sue Mingus Master jazz saxophonist, educator (Manhattan School of Music), award-winning composer and arranger Steve Slagle draws on years of experience to create—in one song-packed, illustrated workbook—an original guide to ...

99

Recording

A New Recording of Schumann's Scenes from Faust

A New Recording of Schumann's Scenes from Faust

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

Classical music acolytes will know that Robert Schumann (1810-1856) fashioned a cornerstone of the romantic era repertoire primarily via his four symphonies, his concerto for piano and the one for cello, his lieder, his solo piano music and his chamber works. Compositions for vocal soloists, choir and orchestra are rather few and for the most part underperformed. So when a new recording of his Scenes from Goethe's Faust (2-CD Naxos 8.572430-31) becomes available, it is an occasion. The version at ...

63

Performance / Tour

Video: Behind the Scenes on the DJ Shadow Tour

Video: Behind the Scenes on the DJ Shadow Tour

Source: HypeBot

Over the last few months during the extensive DJ Shadow tour, Michael Fiebach, the tour's Project, Marketing & Merchandise Manager have Hypebot readers an exclusive look inside they market and stay connected to fans. The 5 part series is a must read for anyone interested in the hands on challenges of modern music marketing (read , Part 4, Part 5) In this end of tour video postcard, DJ Shadow and Michael share a behind stage look and introduce the gang ...

162

Festival

Behind the Scenes at Monterey, Part 2: The Hard-Working Staff and All That Jazz

Behind the Scenes at Monterey, Part 2: The Hard-Working Staff and All That Jazz

Source: Michael Ricci

Yesterday, I posted the first of a two-part interview with Timothy Orr. Monterey Jazz Festival marketing associate since 2006, Orr oversees much of the media/publicity effort surrounding the event, which is set for Sept. 18-20 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. If you’ve never attended the festival, make 2009 the year. As I’ve previously noted, there is more to the Monterey experience than just seeing the world’s top jazz artists in one of North America’s most scenic locales. There is also ...

“... They are all masterful players, and even better listeners...” -All About Jazz

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Trapeze

Origin Records
2020

buy

Destinations

Origin Records
2017

buy

...but not heard

Origin Records
2014

buy

Silent Photographer

Origin Records
2011

buy

Rinnova

Origin Records
2010

buy

Along the Way

Origin Records
2006

buy

Long Prairie

From: Destinations
By Scenes

Three French Nuns

From: Silent Photographer
By Scenes

Lonely Blue Angel

From: Along the Way
By Scenes

Videos

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