ABOUT
It seems like this …
“Wonderful Times” is a little musical miracle worked by a group of musicians from different parts of the world: Stan Zaslavsky (Russia) on piano, Cheryl Pyle (New York) on flute, Hans P. Salentin (Cologne, Germany) on trumpet, Max Ridgway (Oklahoma) on guitar; Brian M. Brody (Oklahoma) on saxophone, Tony Cimorosi (New York) on bass, Sean O Bryan Smith (Tennessee) on electric bass and Papa Z (Russia) on drums. Most of them never met face to face – and yet the result of this international collaboration is one of the finest modern jazz albums I’ve listened to so far!
The thousands of miles between the continents where are they? Resolved into a dew, into nothing but the here and now, not a physical face-to-face, but quasi a “face to face-state” of like-mindedness in music. Cheryl’s poetry in spoken words in “Other constellations” and “Irene was here”, framed only by light, swift flute runs and piano are the beautiful serious counterpoint to the wonderfully serene title track “Wonderful Times”, the other tunes lined up like pearls on a chain between those poles, a spectrum from joyful to poetic that embraces all colours.
Although there is quite some music of which I could say that it made me serene and happy by listening, this album definitely adds its own quality to it by the sheer joy of making music that just bursts out of every note and by its outstanding, highly artistic approach. It is one thing to have outstanding musical ideas – but to transform them into reality with musical means in the perfection shown here, yet warm and full of life is an achievement
that is a class of its own! Congratulations!"
C .von Hinte feb 9, 2012
reviews by jazz lovers-cdbaby
Kazhargan. a word of open gestures
a word with no specific translation
open values in the meaning for us all to
-seek out - find your own way ..
in songs of worlds born in
heart sound jazz.
Cheryl Pyle
The poem sets the scene for the entire story. Through the open gestures of talented artists from around the globe Kazhargan World is born. With a love for unity and the furthering of jazz, a unique combination of musical talents took on the distinct challenge of creating world class jazz while never being able to interact in the same room. For generations this concept seemed futile but in truth it was only waiting for the right people to accept the challenge. From Russia to Germany to across the United States of America the artists laid out their hearts and their souls for music that was bigger than them and all about heart and sounds and jazz. As the residents of Kazhargan World we invite you in and we hope you enjoy.
Sean O'Bryan Smith
" If you haven`t heard these guys, you should make a point of checking their music out especially if you are into jazz and free form. their musical expression is like a refreshing breeze on a humid day innovative, imaginative, skillfully weaving a tapestry of colours and sounds soothing and confortable like a favourite chair, familiar yet promising new horizons with every bar they play. "
Adam Goodman
"I express my gratitude and admiration for my wonderful friends and excellent musicians: Hans Peter Salentin from Germany, Cheryl Pyle and Tony Cimorosi from New York, Sean O'Bryan Smith from Tennessee, Max Ridgway and Brian Mitchell Brody from Oklahoma. thanks for their skill and devotion to music, good sensitivity, patience and love."
Stan Z
Review by Brent Black - January 29, 2012
Kazhargan World CD "Wonderful Times" Dewey Records 2012
WONDERFUL TIMES -dewey records/kazhargan-2012- "This excellent new jazz release is the happy result of cross-national internet file sharing -- often a recipe for clunky step-on-each-other's-foot instrumental interplay but you wouldn't know it from the seamless results to be heard here. Among the many multi-talents on display is trumpet from Cologne (Hans Peter Salentin), saxophone and guitar from Oklahoma (Brian Mitchell Brody, Max Ridgway), flute and bass from New York (Cheryl Pyle, Tony Cimorosi), electro bass from Tennessee (Sean O'Bryan Smith) -- all under the benign leadership of keyboardist Stan Zaslavsky (from Russia), who has dubbed the whole project Kazhargan World. Drummer and percussionist Papa Z (Stan's father) provides the supple rhythms which hold the whole thing together. In some ways this is a sunlit version of an intriguing, noirish ECM session from a few years back called NEW YORK DAYS, released under Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava's name but which also included a even-handed mix of American and European musicians. Likewise the sound on WONDERFUL TIMES is a post-fusion melange of late-Miles themes and other contemporary jazz tropes. But it's never overly abstract or typically avant-garde or, worse, second-hand. Instead there's a happy, dancing quality to the whole bright affair. Hans Peter Salentin's strong trumpet work (alternating on mute) predominates but it is Cheryl Pyle's fluent flute work which truly shines in the mix. Pyle also contributes some evocative spoken word interludes ("Invisible Celebration," "Irene Was Here"), her unmistakable American accent grounding this ostensible world project in some ideal, imaginary USA of the ear. Throughout Zaslavsky provides sympathetic support on acoustic and electric keys, giving ample room to his selected group of soloists, and never once hogging the proceedings.
Stanislav Zaslavsky - Stan Z
Modern jazz pianist composer and producer from Russia with amazing compositions, beautiful sound on the piano with contemporary jazz ideas incorporating the history of jazz within the unique music he plays.
Stan currently is a sound-producer on the radio and runs on several fm radio stations in russia with more than 12 years experience and has a vast creative knowledge of mixing and composition with musicians in europe and online projects worldwide.
In 2008, Stan created his own studio KAZHARGAN, which focused first on video shooting and editing music videos. The first collaboration was with Barbara Meyer from Germany. She plays the Indian national instruments in the soundtrack to film: WELCOME ON KAZHARGAN, Guitar & Sax by Aleksandr Pyshmintsev. Soon this developed into projects worldwide with his own music videos, and composing his original music using the Roland piano.
Stan's favorite musicians include Brad Mehldau, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Danilo Perez, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Horace Silver and others plan an important influence in his unique sound.
In 2010, Stan met a remarkable German jazz trumpeter Hans Peter Salentin, and has now recorded music together with piano and trumpet. first songrelease is called MILES TIMES .
The group sound and personal began to take shape and soon they were joined by an amazing jazz bassist from New Jersey , Tony Cimorosi . Together with Tony, Stan and Hans recorded a couple more tunes adding Stan's father, Alexander to help them with some amazing drums and jazz percussion.
In 2011, Stan met with the magic of jazz flutist - Cheryl Pyle from NYC. Their story goes on with the group recording more original jazz and unique music from the heart.
Hans Peter Salentin - Trumpeter
What to say about somebody who is playin his Instrument for more than 30 years now?
Trumpeter Hans Peter Salentin started playin the Instrument when he was 11 years old. He was deeply influenced by his first teacher, Jon Eardly, a former member of the Gerry Mulligan Group. That`s why HPS is always searching for nice and great melodies. As a Jazz Guy, he is a real time Composer. That helped him a lot to work as a Composer ( Originals, Movie Scores, Music for String Quartett) as well as Producer (Lounge Music) HPS released more than 12 CD,s on his own, Mainstream, Improvised - and Wave Music. (Amazon, I-tunes, CD Baby)
Whatever HP is playin: he sounds unique.
Bill Dobbins (Rochester New York): ,,He is one of the best European Trumpeters.’’
German Jazz-Podium: ,,HPS developed to an important European Trumpeter’’
The American Jazzmagazine: ,,Salentin furthermore uses every electronic possibility available today to make his trumpet create sounds previously unheard, without relinquishing the basic sounds. His playing and improvising are excellent, with some Miles references in it, also indebted to Nils Petter-Molvaer or Markus Stockhausen.
Over 20 years , he is teaching at the University of Würzburg and became a Professor for Jazz Trumpet, Combo and Big Band. Several Originals are arranged for Big Band.
Since 2005–2010 he was a Yamaha rec Artist. He works now since July 2010 for the Dutch Company ADAMS and HpS plays exclusively Adams Trumpets and Flgh.
Some "BIG NAMES" he played with:
James Carter( Leverkusener Jazzfestival), Chick Corea ( Frankfurt
Musikmesse), Bob Mintzer, Simon Phillips (Toto), Brandford Marsalis,
Jeff Hamilton, John Scofield (Leverkusener Jazzfestival), Miroslav
Vitous, Roland Höppner, Bill Dobbins (YVP CD"Live im Stadtgarten" and
Trio Projekt "The Music of Bill Evans"), Decibal Badila, John Goldsby,
Thomas Alkier, Mathias Schubert, Mike Herting, Frank Möbus, Peter
Weniger (YVP CD "My funky Salentin(e)"),Kuba Stankiewicz, Z Namyslowski
(Festivals and Tours in Germany and Poland ), Charlie Mariano, Frank
Köllges (Moers Jazzfestival), Susan und Martin Weinert, Mirek Honzak,
John Riley und John Di Martino (YVP CD " All John") Sylwia Bialas,
Andrea Centazzo (,,AC Voyagers'')CD, Tato Gomez( Lounge and Wave CD,s)
et al.
Cheryl Pyle - Jazz flutist
Since moving to New York in the fall of 1980, Ms. Pyle has been heard in a variety of settings. She has appeared at such jazz clubs as the Blue Note, Seventh Avenue South, Angry Squire, Kave Haz, the Garage, Cornelia Street Café, CBGB's Art Gallery, St. Peter's Church, Amazonas, Fat Baby's, Bar on A and Birdland. She was also heard at the Annual Women's Jazz Festival as well as the Mount Vernon Jazz Festival in New York. She is a member of the world flute orchestra and NY Jazz Flutet. Her jazz composition, Dalle Alle, was awarded in 1989 by the Billboard Song Contest, and her lyrics have received numerous poetry awards such as the Gold Poet Award in 1989 for Me, Myself and I and in 1990 for Tropic Painted Dusk Sky. Her lyrics have been recorded by such fine jazz singers as Janis Siegel (of Manhattan Transfer), Roseanna Vitro, Jeri Brown, Judi Silvano and Sheila Jordan. her lyrics have been recorded on Atlantic, Justin time , Muse and Concord records. She has performed her solo flute compositions at Kitty Brazelton's Real Music Festival in 1993, continues to compose works for jazz flute. In 1996, she performed in the opera premier of The Other Wiseman by Stephanie de Kennessey with the Golden Fleece Opera company in New York. Her first classical recording was the Frostiana song cycle with the composer, Randall Thompson conducting and cheryl pyle as flute soloist.
Ms Pyle has performed and played with such fine musicians as Joe Lovano, Andy LaVerne, Fred Hersch, Tom Harrell, Mark Soskin, Billy Bang, Danilo Perez, Mike Holober, Nick Gianni, David Phelps, Chuck Loeb, Mark Cohen, Steve LaSpina, Michael Cochrane, Ron McClure, Billy Hart, Ben Monder, Sergio Brandao, Max Ridgway, Randall Colbourne, Billy Hart, Adam Nussbaum, Duduka Fonseca, Charlie Haden, Arthur Kell, Lucy Galliher, Bele Beledo, Premik Tubbs, Frank Burrows, Neil Alexander, Danny Gottlieb, James Williams, John Abercrombie, Paul Motian, Peter Washington, Joop Wolters, Stephan Crump, Rez Abassi, Stomu Takeshi & others. She has recorded on Contemporary and Chesky Records with Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, Danilo Perez, Charlie Haden and Paul Motion. Her lyrics have been recorded on Atlantic, Justin Time, Muse and Concord Records.
Tony Cimorosi is a Bassist, Composer, Producer, Writer and Educator who has been on the NYC music scene for over 30 years playing, recording and touring with internationally acclaimed artists including: Randy Brecker, Baba Olatunji, Michael Wolff, Frank Colon, Walter Bishop Jr., Mike Clark, The Temptations, The Drifters, Bobby Rydell, and Michael Urbaniak. He recently returned from a successful tour to Russia and Siberia sponsored by the US state department and Exxon Mobil with his band Tony Cimorosi NY International. He also toured Russia with world renowned percussionist Frank Colon and the Wild Shamans Band. The Moscow premier performance center Tchaikovsky Hall was the first stop, Siberian cities included; Novosibirsk Academtown, House of Scientist, Barnaul Philharmonic Concert Hall, Kemerove Philharmonic Concert Hall, Novokuznetsk, Tomisk and finally showcasing for Exxon Mobil in Moscow.
Tony Holds a Masters Degree in composition from Purchase College S.U.N.Y. He has been a columnist and contributing writer for BASSICS Magazine since 1991. His Hal Leonard publication “World Beat Grooves For Bass” has sold over ten thousand copies internationally and continues to do well in the music reference catalog.
His background as a musician started at the age of 6 on piano and slowly gravitated towards guitar and bass in his teenage years. At 15 years of age, Tony began his professional career playing at clubs and local functions in the Philadelphia area with artist including; Chuck Jackson, Lee Andrews and The hearts and other R&B acts. After moving to Boston, he attended Berklee School of Music Studying Acoustic Bass with Professor John Neves. Tony furthered his studies in jazz with world renowned teacher “Charles Banacos” He received his Bachelors of Music Degree from the Contemporary School of Music, Brookline Mass and was an adjunct professor there instructing students in jazz improvisation at an undergraduate level.
As a college professor Tony taught at Purchase College S.U.N.Y. 1991-2000, Iona College NY 2000-2003 and Ramapo college NJ 2003-2005 teaching Intro to music, Jazz history, Music appreciation, World Music and private studies in Jazz Improvisation chord scale techniques.
Tony continues with his busy schedule in the NYC area performing at local Jazz Clubs and Music Festivals.
Max Ridgway - Jazz guitarist
Max Ridgway is a 1990 graduate of Berklee College of Music, Summa Cum Laude, and holds a Masters degree in Music Education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he currently teaches as an adjunct music instructor. He performs in a variety of musical contexts ranging from jazz standards to avant-garde free improvisation.
Brian Mitchell Brody - Saxophonist
Brian Mitchell Brody is a professional saxophonist (soprano, alto and tenor) who has been playing live on stages around the globe since 1979.
As a member of the the U.S. Navy music program he was able to realize his dreams of playing music and seeing the world.
He now calls Oklahoma City, Oklahoma U.S.A. his home-base while forging a path for his unique compositions and playing style.
Sean O'Bryan Smith - Jazz Bassist
Sean O’Bryan Smith has made a career of transcending every nuance of the music industry. Throughout his nearly three decade career he has gained International acclaim as a bassist, composer, producer, clinician, and writer. All of these opportunities have led Sean on a journey that has resulted in a successful and blessed career. His career paths lead him all over and his love for making friends and making music come out in all of his performances whether live or recorded.
Sean is somewhat of an enigma in the industry. He is a household name to some and unknown to others but always present in some form of the music industry. As a solo artist, Sean can be seen at any time all over the US performing at some of the Nation’s premiere jazz festivals and clubs. His freshman CD, Tapestry gained worldwide acclaim including rave reviews from major publications such as All About Jazz, Bass Player magazine, 20th Century Guitar magazine, and many more. The all original Tapestry also had Sean in the composer and producer’s chair working with friends and musical legends Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Jerry Marotta, and Ken Rarick.
Since the release of Tapestry, Sean has tirelessly been recording and touring both as a solo artist and highly sought after session musician. In 2010 alone he has recorded and/or performed with jazz legends like Randy Brecker, Larry Carlton, Brian Bromberg, Victor Wooten, Rick Braun, and Gerald Albright as well as Grammy Award winning artists Chuck Loeb, Esperanza Spalding, and Frank Catalano. These are all a precursor to the release of his second CD entitled Reflection tentatively due out in late Fall 2010.
"sure we all come to kazhargan" Joe Cox.
