The debut recording of saxophonist and composer Jesse Ryan entitled Bridges, is an eclectic and honest offering that straddles both jazz and Afro-Caribbean traditions - A true celebration of the cultural, rhythmic and expressive connections between North America and the islands of the Caribbean.
His Bridges project was formed in 2016 to explore his passion for composing, performing, and recording music that celebrated his Trinbagonian heritage and love for the jazz tradition. The album features nine tracks that are either an idiomatic bridge between musical traditions or was written to present an idea in the form of an anecdotal narrative that encourages the listener to evolve by bridging the gap between their former and future selves.
Three of the tracks on the album feature Tambrin drumming, performed by members of the Mt. Cullane Tambrin Band - a drumming tradition from Jesse’s homeland that is unique to the island of Tobago and has remained largely unchanged from when it began in colonial times. A Tambrin band normally includes five musicians playing three frame drums (three shallow goatskin drums, one triangle and one violin or harmonica. The first of the three is the opening track of the album, Big Ole Shoes, a medium-tempo Jig. The second, Right To Be Wrong, a slow, ballad-like rhythm referred to as the Brush Back, and the third, Sons Of The Soil, (S.O.T.S) an up-tempo Reel.
In keeping with the goal of bridging cultures, this project brings together some of the finest young musicians from Toronto, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago and was co-produce by the Grammy Award winning drummer, musician Larnell Lewis.
credits
released December 4, 2020
MUSICIANS
Jesse Ryan - Saxophones, Composer, Percussion (track 2)
Joanna Majoko - Voice (tracks 3, 6)
Lucian Gray - Guitar (tracks 6,7)
Sean Clarey - Guitar (tracks 2, 3)
Andrew Marzotto - Guitar (tracks 1, 9)
Ewen Farncombe - Piano, Fender Rhodes
Marc Rogers - Bass (all tracks}
David Richards - Drums (all tracks)
Nicolas Frangini-Salvo - Congas (track 7)
Mt. Cullane Tambrin Band (tracks 1, 5, 9, 10)
PRODUCTION TEAM
Dave Darlington - Mixing & Mastering
Larnell Lewis - Co-Producer
All tracks recorded by Jeremey Darby and Julian Decorte at The Canterbury Music Company, Toronto, March 6 & November 18, 2019
Joanna Majoko Recorded by Marito Marques at GMP Studios, Toronto, June 6, 2019
TAMBRIN SESSION
Robin Foster - Recording Engineer
Recorded at Shaw Park cultural Complex, Tobago, June 15 2019
Leonardo De Silver, Tangerine 868 Co. Ltd. Photography & Videography
John Arnold - Session Coordinator
DESIGN & ART DIRECTION - Fwé Culture (Design)
CROWD FUNDERS
Mark Promane, Bill Sunberg, Jeremy McIntosh, Aidan Farrell, Nicole Henry, Keegan Cornwall, Lauren Roy, Patrick Smith, Jeremy Ledbetter, Daron Roberts, Ron Clarke, Miles Mungo, William Lazoratto, Daniel Ryan, Teri Parker, Mark Santourdjian, Luis Deniz, Joshua Roebuck, Lena Nicholson, Alexis Gibbons, Scott Harris, Anistasia Taylor, Carol Pearce, Dwight Nicholson
Trinidadian-born saxophonist and composer Jesse Ryan has been praised as a fresh new voice, with a unique perspective on the
music of today. His Bridges project is an emerging, eclectic quintet that bridges both the jazz and Afro-Caribbean traditions - A true celebration of the cultural, rhythmic and expressive connections between North America and the islands....more
Best of 2021. A bold artistic statement: beautiful orchestrations, amazing compositions, and an all-star cast of musicians. A deep listening experience that rewards revisiting! Love it! carmanj72
I was brought here after listening to a live performance of Makaya's on you tube. I instantly loved the song Holy Lands so much that I had to see if the album version was the same rendition as the live one. Then I listened to the whole album! Universal Beings is a just a groove... It's a mix of traditional and something new, very nice. pandr1900