Summit Records

27/02/2023

RIP Carl Saunders. Thank you for all the beautiful sounds and compositions you provided to the world

12/02/2023

Here is a review from an upcoming release by Marina Pacowski:

The lastest review from my CD “ Inner Urge” is in! Thank you so much for your great writing, and wonderful words, C Michael Bailey!! And as always many thanks to Holly Cooper for spreading the news! CD’s out on March 10th on Summit Records !😊🎤💚
Wild Mercury Rhythm by C. Michael Bailey

“Pacowski's voice is the thing: on up-tempo s**t pieces, she roars with a command that is almost frightening. On the ballads like "My Foolish Heart" and "I'm Old Fashioned," her voice folds in on itself, becoming almost coy and coquettish, wholesomely teasing the listener with its mystery, and that, is what makes this most unusual voice work. Pacowski brings momentum to a breakneck "Donna Lee," demonstrating her laser-sharp command of the chord changes as well as her fertile improvisational mind.”
https://www.wildmercuryrhythm.com/post/heard-marina-pacowski-inner-urge?fbclid=IwAR1XVkP5X-O_7ZaRjzp9lxY5zdyi6ICJSKr8nRRhO-p7bEonN6A08N3HvZg

Heard: Marina Pacowski - Inner Urge
Marina Pacowski
Inner Urge
Summit Records
2022
Powerful are the forces that French-born, Angeleno Marina Pacowski brings to the music arena. A classically-trained pianist bitten by the jazz vocals bug, Pacowski moved from her native France to Los Angeles in 2017, where she immediately became a part of the thriving jazz scene.

For her debut jazz recording (Pacowski was the featured soloist with Ensemble Sans Frontière beneath the baton of Michael Chertock on Frank Proto: Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra (Liben Music Publishers, 2021), Pacowski assembles an impressive band that includes, saxophonist Joel Frahm, bassist John Clayton, guitarist Larry Koonse, trombonist Scott Whitfield, and drummers Roy McCurdy and Peter Erskine, among others. Pacowski assembles an inspired and provocative program for Inner Urge.

From the opening title piece, a Joe Henderson composition from his 1965 recording of the same title, Pacowski sets a high bar for s**t singing/vocalese. A spit-fire duet with Frahm introduces the piece before the tenor saxophonist takes the first solo out of the head. Pacowski follows with a gradual and dramatic building to a s**t counterpoint to Henderson's original melody.
Pacowski brings this same momentum to a breakneck "Donna Lee," demonstrating her laser-sharp command of the chord changes as well as her fertile improvisational mind. But s**t singing is not all the singer has to offer. Pacowski arranges all songs save for "East Of The Sun." Her arrangements impress, especially on her breezy interpretation of Clare Fischer's "Pensativa" and Miles Davis' "Solar" replete with the singer's French lyrics. She takes on Edith Piaf's "La Vie En Rose" straight down the mainstream of performance. Her voice is perfect for this song. Pacowski's voice is the thing: on up-tempo s**t pieces, she roars with a command that is almost frightening. On the ballads like "My Foolish Heart" and "I'm Old Fashioned," her voice folds in on itself, becoming almost coy and coquettish, wholesomely teasing the listener with its mystery, and that, is what makes this most unusual voice work. It will be interesting to hear what is next for Pacowski.

Marina Pacowski Inner Urge Summit Records 2022 Powerful are the forces that French-born, Angelno Marina Pacowski brings to the music arena. A classically-trained pianist bitten by the jazz vocals bug, Pacowski moved from her native France to Los Angeles in 2017, where she immediately became a part o...

15/07/2021

If you want to learn about the roots of Summit Brass, tune into YouTube at 8:00pm Eastern on Thursday, July 15th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeWStbp5jxA

15/07/2021

Have you ever wanted to tour the Rafael Mendez library, but find yourself NOT in Arizona? Well catch a virtual tour today (Thursday July 15) at 5:00pm Eastern https://youtu.be/NFHRMbHKJ_o

18/09/2020

Win new releases from Summit at AllAboutJazz.com

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/contest_giveaway.php?id=31

All About Jazz Contest Giveaway: Summit Records Contest Giveaway

14/08/2020

Tony Monaco has been regularly doing live 'Happy Hour' presentations. Tony Monaco Live Events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tDZjG0cYic

So grateful you're here! Tips greatly appreciated ! https://www.paypal.me/MonacoProductions Give by CC at: https://b3monaco.com/donors.html Venmo: -Mona...

13/08/2020

Last month, the Summit Brass undertook a virtual performance of a new work by Anthony (Tony) Plog. The Brass performance concluded a night of virtual presentations by the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute faculty including several Summit Records artists including Demondrae Thurman, Carl Lenthe, Joe Burgstaller, Scott Hartman, and Ronald Romm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiqhwEa0hhw

View Digital Program Here: https://www.mendezbrassinstitute.com/virtualrecitalprogram2020

25/08/2018

George Walker's "Lilacs" for Voice and Orchestra was premiered by the Boston Symphony with Faye Robinson in 1996. The first commercial recording was on the Summit Records release: "Lilacs the Music of George Walker"

George Walker -The first black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize in Music (for Lilacs). A 2000 inductee into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

25/08/2018

Rest in Peace George Walker, a really great guy. The first black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize in Music (for Lilacs). A 2000 inductee into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

The composer, whose music fused many styles with a singular voice, constantly broke new ground. He was the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.

15/08/2018

Randy Brecker says: “...absolutely no dull moments...the ride of a lifetime, so enjoy it and let me know when you come back to Earth!” BRAND NEW!

“I think you’ll really enjoy this CD there are absolutely no dull moments, you are going to be taken on the ride of a lifetime, so enjoy it and let me know when you come back to Earth!” – Randy Brecker. Randy Brecker is back in LEAD Large Jazz Ensemble form w/ Mats Holmquist’s incredible w...

15/08/2018

Pillow's Miles Davis "Celebration" -> PHILLY's WRTI-FM Jazz Album of the week: "'Electric Miles' is an homage to innovation that accomplishes its goal to such a high degree—it’s almost totally off the grid."

August 13, 2018. The title Electric Miles suggests you’ll hear instruments plugged into outlets. But when saxophonist, flutist and arranger Charles Pillow

16/07/2018

"...you simply won’t find a better trumpet CD released in 2018!...Listening to Rex on this recording is simply a joy and a pleasure!" -The Brass Herald

The BRASS HERALD: “…you simply won’t find a better trumpet CD released in 2018! Among the frequent fireworks, outstanding high register and sumptuous tone, it contains some of the finest vocal playing I have heard on disc. Listening to Rex on this recording is simply a joy and a pleasure!”

27/06/2018

Celebrating the music of Miles Davis from 1969-'72 in a BIG WAY: "ELECTRIC MILES" -> Charles Pillow Large Ensemble...

"...beautiful voicings...and a powerful punch..."

http://www.summitrecords.com/release/electric-miles-charles-pillow-large-ensemble/

Charles Pillow Large Ensemble "Electric Miles" MAMA Records charlespillow.com Over his long and varied career, Miles Davis recorded several seminal jazz orchestra albums in collaboration...

18/01/2018

Mike Vax & Ron Romm - A collaboration in the making for over 45 years! Mike, a Stan Kenton Orchestra alum, and Ron, a Canadian Brass alum finally have gotten together to do this project after 45 years of friendship and talk!

Connecting to Apple Music.

12/01/2018

SERAPH BRASS, America’s premiere all-woman brass ensemble (founded by international trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden) has just released their first studio album, “ASTERIA”...lots of interest at radio already!

Seraph Brass is a dynamic brass quintet drawing from a roster of America’s top female brass players. Committed to engaging audiences with captivating programming, Seraph Brass presents a diverse body of repertoire that includes original transcriptions, newly commissioned works, and well-known clas...

10/01/2018

Groovy "baby"!!!...The Great American 'Groove Book' from Louise Baranger (and a great band) - brand new...take a listen at the Summit site!

Produced and arranged by Tim Ouimette, an amazing composer and arranger who has worked with the likes of Ray Charles and Ben E. King….

28/11/2017

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whispers-on-the-wind/1280964635

Listen to songs from the album Whispers on the Wind, including "Warped Cowboy (feat. Sara Caswell & Tamara Danielsson)", "All Hat, No Saddle (feat. Corey Christiansen & Clay Jenkins)", "A Phares of the Heart (feat. Gregoire Maret, Rex Wertz & Clay Jenkins)", and many more. Buy the album for $9.99. S...

28/11/2017

...and TWO more GRAMMY finalists off of the same recording for: Chuck Owen's composition, "Warped Cowboy" and his arrangement of "All Hat No Saddle"...a Major achievement for Chuck Owen...FOUR Grammy finalists from the same recording...!!!....Go Chuck and Sara!!

“…an adventure communing with a different and far more primal and mysterious America–an America where there’s nothing out of place in the bent notes of guitarist Corey Christensen, the fiddling of Sara Caswell, the harmonica playing of Gregoire Maret and some guest trumpet by Randy Brecker. ...

28/11/2017

GRAMMYs!!! Congratulations to Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge for TWO Grammy nominations off of "Whispers on the Wind"!!!...Best Large Jazz Ensemble and, Sara Caswell for her solo on "Can't Remember Why"!!!....Check out samples on the mastered for iTunes version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whispers-on-the-wind/1280964635

“…an adventure communing with a different and far more primal and mysterious America–an America where there’s nothing out of place in the bent notes of guitarist Corey Christensen, the fiddling of Sara Caswell, the harmonica playing of Gregoire Maret and some guest trumpet by Randy Brecker. ...

30/08/2017

From JAZZIZ (by Scott Yanow): Rising-star pianists bring creativity and individuality to crowded field…: “...The harmonically sophisticated music is frequently cinematic...Routenberg has found his own voice in the modern mainstream…”

A really incredible listen...Read the entire thing at the website!

JAZZIZ (Scott Yanow, writer): Rising-star pianists bring creativity and individuality to crowded field…read the feature here…:

04/08/2017

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra w/ Rich Perry & Ingrid Jensen...the reviews say it!

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra! w/ Ingrid Jensen & Rich Perry…13 Reviews Are In! HYESEON HONG JAZZ ORCHESTRA / EE-YA-GI REVIEWS May 19, 2017 All About Jazz by Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ee-ya-gi-stories-hyeseon-hong-mama-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php June 12, 2017 Midwest Re...

04/08/2017

Out Today!...Dave Potter, "...one of the most talented young drummers on the scene today…” (Jason Marsalis' drummer) offers up a tasty new jazz recording...!...watch for samples soon!

Having recorded four albums with Jason Marsalis, Dave Potter is a ‘budding’ jazz musician that ‘you may already know’…

31/03/2017

Happy Days...the TV Show...remember Donny Most, well, this 'aint' the Ralph you remember...SWINGING MADLY with a great LA big band (with Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, many more), Donny Most is the real deal! Listen at the site!

Donny Most, probably best known as “Ralph Malph” on the hit TV show Happy Days, returns to his first love…music. Donny has always sung and appreciated the swing and big band style of music and now he has finally recorded his incredible talent. He is currently delighting audiences with a unique show…

06/12/2016

GRAMMYs: Congratulations to Christian Jacob! A Grammy Finalist for his arrangement of Linus & Lucy from The Phil Norman Tentet recording, “Then & Now - Classic Sounds and Variations of 12 Jazz Legends”!! We Love The Grammys!!

The idea behind this incredible sounding project was to bring back some of the classic sounds of jazz history with a powerful new twist. Choosing cool west coast jazz sounds of the ’50s & ’60s (that found their way to the Top 100 Jazz tunes historically), Norman and his cast of premier musicians and...

05/12/2016

Top SEVEN Best Latin/Brazilian jazz recordings of 2016 - Congrats to Socrates Garcia's Latin Jazz Orchestra (MAMA) and Stephen Anderson’s Dominican Jazz Project (Summit) for making Ken Franckling’s List!!

02/11/2016

Out TODAY: “...Donny Most’s 'C’est Si Bon' (new single) and “Swinging Down the Chimney Tonight” Provide for Early Christmas Cheer and Delight; via Two Digital Release that are just Outta Sight!" -The Los Angeles Beat (headline of review)

21/10/2016

Grammy ballots are out! We wish all of our artists on the first-round ballot this year the very best of fortune!!! We LOVE the GRAMMYS!!!

As the only peer-recognized music award, the GRAMMY is the music industry’s highest honor. We’re counting on you in the music community to continue that legacy by participating in the process. But we’re not leaving you to figure it out alone. Here, you’ll find important information about everything…

12/10/2016

JazzTimes, October 2016: “...The charts, provided by Ruria Duprat’s Brasilian Orchestra (with guests including Randy Brecker on flugelhorn), are lush but never intrusive. Like Carter and his quartet, they are here for one real purpose—to expose the delicious likability of Vitoria Maldonado…” …full review at the website!

Ron Carter: baixo acústico (bass); Renee Rosnes: piano; Rolando Morales-Matos: percussão (percussion); Payton Crossley: bateria (drums)

05/10/2016

Reviews for Michika continue to roll in: Jazz Society of Oregon says, “...Her style is spare, her touch is lovely… if you are looking for some “Quality Time,” here is a nice place to find it...”

A dynamic, New York-based piano trio featuring extremely talented Japanese pianist Michika Fukumori on an incredibly enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing recording.

03/10/2016

Jazz Journal says: “…the arrangements are idiomatic and imaginative, and the playing is first-rate…Overall, this hovers between four and five stars.” Listen at the site!

One of the most distinguished saxophonists in the world of big band, Dick Oatts, teams with mastermind co-leader Mats Holmquist and his stunning arrangements of some of Herbie’s most intriguing and subsequently most famous tunes from the ’60s and ’70s. Throw in some of the best musicians New York ha...