QUOTES
/ PRESS:
"Rites of Ascension
[...] is a tribute to Herbie Hancock’s elemental 1960s Blue Note era recordings,
and a daring original musical statement on its own. ... These four musicians
[...] have a great synergy and drive, and some serious chops. Their renditions
of Hancock’s four classics are full of energy and forward momentum while
managing to retain the unhurried character of the earlier compositions.
Maclean’s creative mind and aesthetics are obvious in every aspect of this
album, his piano solos both lyrical and invigorating, supported by a stellar
rhythm section. The album features fiercely strong trumpet solos from Brownman
Ali, indicative of Freddie Hubbard’s style at times and distinctively unique."
-- Ivana Popovic,
The WholeNote (Toronto, Canada)
“Rites Of
Ascension ... here’s a hot CD by a Canadian-based jazz group playing four
pieces by Herbie Hancock mixed in with a plethora of original tunes by
the leader (Nick Maclean) and trumpeter Brownman Ali... this band is like
a tonic; they wake you up and put some pep in your step! An outstanding
album, one that should put the Maclean Quartet firmly on the musical map.
No two ways about it, the Nick Maclean Quartet has staked out its claim
in the jazz world and intends to stick around.”
-- Lynn Rene Bayley,
The Art Music Lounge (Cincinnati, USA)
“From Canada
comes this updated soul jazz in the vein of the Blue Note acid jazz compilations.
Fresh and youthfully joyful reworkings of three Herbie Hancock standards
lead the disc off before we settle into several of pianist Maclean's own
compositions. Key to the sound is the gloriously expressive trumpeter Brownman
Ali, who contributes one of his own tunes here, the funky "Madness of Nero",
as well as producing.”
-- Hobart Taylor,
KUCI 88.9FM (California, USA)
“Rites Of
Ascension is one of the best [recordings] I have heard this year (and I
receive about 60 + per month). Well above average, and that Brownman
Ali is just fantastic and sure rings a bell for me! Nick Maclean's
compositions and renditions of Herbie's stuff is of the highest standard.
Bring them to Montreal please!”
-- Richard Therien,
CKVL 101.1 FM (Montreal, Canada)
"Pianist and composer
Nick Maclean, 26 years old at the time of this recording, is in very much
the spirit of Hancock, which is to say that this album is very much about
Maclean's artistic voice (and those of his carefully chosen colleagues)...
inspired by Hancock while also presenting a highly individual and distinct
evolution from the source material."
-- Dave Restivo,
Canadian Jazz piano giant (Toronto, Canada)
About
NICK MACLEAN QUARTET:
This
contemplative and often thrilling quartet's explorations of modern, original
repertoire is led by a fast-rising star in Toronto's jazz piano community,
26 year old NICK MACLEAN. Formed in 2016, Maclean's foursome delivers
jazz between the two poles of thoughtful introspection and powerhouse conveyance,
taking influences from Herbie Hancock's primordial 1960's Blue Note era
recordings, while paying tribute to some of the greatest improvisers in
jazz history.
Repeatedly
regarded as a modern take on the ferocious and hard-swinging post-bop era,
the group has been busy in the Ontario jazz club circuit and featured in
numerous festivals and concert series including multiple appearances at
the Toronto Jazz Festival both as a featured ensemble and an often requested
backing band. In addition to their original material, the ensemble has
also mounted several popular tribute series to jazz masters including Herbie
Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry &
Cole Porter.
The
group is frequently lauded for the strength of their collective improvisatory
vision and features one of Canada's most provocative improvising trumpet-playing
iconoclasts Brownman Ali, standing shoulder to shoulder with Maclean &
two of Toronto's top-tier rhythm section 20-somethings: Jesse Dietschi
on bass and Tyler Goertzen on drums. The synergy of the 4 is always palpable
in concert.
The
quartet's debut 11-track full-length album "Rites Of Ascension" features
6 Maclean-penned compositions, 1 Brownman original and 4 re-imagined Herbie
Hancock classics, all recorded at the renowned Canterbury Studios in Toronto.
Produced by Brownman Ali, this disc was released on October 31st, 2017.
NMQ's
Awards, Nominations & Accolades
2018
Toronto Independent Music Award nominee
2018
CJSF's Julian Award of Excellence nominee
2018
Jazz Weekly's "Ringer Of The Week" (Feb)
2018
American Song Competition Finalist -- "Madness Of Nero"
2018
Global Music Awards' 'Top 5 Albums of Spring 2018
2017
International Song Competition Semi-finalist -- "Madness Of Nero"
2017
3x Global Music Award winners -- 'jazz', 'band', and 'album' categories
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::
Official Band website: www.NicholasMaclean.com/nicholasmacleanquartet
::
Click
here to read the Waterloo Record's profile on the Nick Maclean Quartet
and their latest release RITES OF ASCENSION.
About
Bandleader NICK MACLEAN:
Born
in Ottawa, NICK MACLEAN is “one of the most gifted young Toronto pianists
to come along in the last few years ” (Adrean Farrugia, Juno winning jazz
pianist) and has quickly become one of the most in demand 20-something
piano players in that city’s bustling jazz scene. Nick holds a Bachelors
of Music from Humber College and a Masters of Jazz Performance from the
University of Toronto where he studied with some of Canada's leading jazz
musicians including David Restivo, Bernie Senensky, Nancy Walker, David
Occhipinti, Andrew Downing, Chris Donnelly, and David Braid. Among his
list of mentors Nick has studied and performed with "Canada's pre-eminent
jazz trumpet player" (NYC Village Voice), the highly decorated BROWNMAN
ALI who signed Maclean to his Brooklyn-based jazz label BROWNTASAURAS RECORDS
in 2016 and later brought him on board as a label manager. Nick leads two
multi award-winning ensembles, the hard-swinging NYC-style jazz ensemble
the NICK MACLEAN QUARTET - a foursome that delivers jazz between the two
poles of thoughtful introspection and powerhouse conveyance, taking influences
from Herbie Hancock’s primordial 1960’s Blue Note era recordings - and
the groove-based, electric jazz project SNAGGLE - a fearlessly muscular
yet introspective group likened to a cross between 'electric-era Miles
Davis' and 'Rage Against The Machine'. From Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock
to Weather Report & Snarky Puppy, Maclean’s musical influences are
diverse. Maclean is hard at work on a solo piano record taking influences
from his two divergent ensembles as well as some of the greatest jazz piano
players in history - Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, and Brad
Mehldau.
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::
Official Artist website: www.NicholasMaclean.com
::
Click
here to read acclaimed music journalist and scene-shaper Alayne McGregor
at OttawaJazzScene.ca and her exclusive interview with Nick Maclean discussing
Snaggle and the Nick Maclean Quartet.
About
BROWNMAN ALI & BROWNTASAURAS RECORDS:
Trinidadian-born,
NYC-schooled & heralded as “Canada’s preeminent Jazz trumpeter” by
NYC’s Village Voice, multi award-winning trumpet player Brownman Ali stands
at the forefront of innovation in the Canadian jazz community. A
2x National Jazz Award winner -- with a list of awards & accolades
being far too long to list here -- he is the protege to Grammy-winning
trumpet legend, RANDY BRECKER, and he tirelessly leads 8 unique ensembles
of his own including the internationally acclaimed, Miles Davis influenced,
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO. Now splitting his time between Toronto, Canada
& Brooklyn, New York, he spent 4 years as the featured trumpet player
with GURU's JAZZMATAZZ, doing 4 world tours, catapulting him into the hip-hop
history books. He has since worked with a wide assortment of A-list
artists such as Jay-z, Missy Elliot, Mos Def, Beyonce, Paul Simon and Quincy
Jones. In 2009 he launched his own record label: Browntasauras Records,
which saw the Electryc Trio's two now celebrated recordings garner a substantial
number of awards & press. The label is not only a home to all 8 of
Brownman's own ensembles, but now looks to sign the hottest 20-somethings
in jazz. The Browntasauras roster includes the NICK MACLEAN QUARTET,
SNAGGLE, MODUS FACTOR, ALI BROS, JASON WILSON & DIVISION ONE and CHELSEA
MCBRIDE'S SOCIALIST NIGHT SCHOOL. Now, using the label as a breeding
ground for new and visionary talent in the modern jazz realm, Browntasauras
and Brownman himself are widely regarded as vanguards for the evolution
of Jazz in Canada.
----
::
Official Artist website: www.Brownman.com
::
Official Label website: www.Browntasauras.com
::
Click
here to stream the entire Browntasauras Catalog on SPOTIFY
::
Click
here to read Brownman's full bio (PDF)
::
Click
here to read "Browntasauras Records
- As eclectic as it's founder"
by :: acclaimed music journalist and scene-shaper Terry Pender discussing
Browntasauras Records.
