Aaron Koppel Quartet

#7 – Aaron Koppel Quartet, Falling Together Falling Apart (Chicago Sessions). This was guitarist Aaron Koppel’s second album. Produced by the ambitiously conceived and meticulously executed new label Chicago Sessions – represented his first opportunity to reach a larger audience. He didn’t disappoint. Koppel approached the recording in a way you’d have hardly expected from most guitarists in their mid-20s. Instead of taking the biggest baddest solos on every tune, Koppel stepped back away from the spotlight to showcase his own terrific compositions, as well the admirable interplay and creativity of his high-end associates. Koppel’s quartet features a spectacular young pianist named Matt Nelson, soon to record an album under his own name; he also brought in guest saxophonists Geof Bradfield and Greg Ward, two of the city’s most engaging and exciting soloists. The result: an exceptionally mature album by a young guitarist you’ll surely hear more from in this and coming years.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-26698-Chicago-Jazz-Music-Examiner~y2010m1d11-The-year-in-CHICAGO-jazz-Top-Ten-local-recordings-of-2009-pt-2 - Examiner.com, Jan 11, 2010

On Feb 5 2010 The Aaron Koppel Quartet was the featured guest on WGN-TV National Mid-day News.
Check out our WGN-TV appearance here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVP8ljtgH4g - WGN-TV National Mid-day News, Feb 5 2010

http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-19429.html
Aaron Koppel Quartet
The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker
2007
Independant
Musicians: Aaron Koppel (guitar), Robert Tucker (drums), Graham Czach (bass), Matt Nelson (piano).

Review:
Normally, a ten minute performance can drag on after about the sixth minute – not here. The Aaron Koppel Quartet takes us through eight self-penned performances that that may be here today but not gone tomorrow.

Formed in 2002 from the Chicago scene, the Aaron Koppel Quartet featuresleader Aaron Koppel on guitar, Matt Nelson on piano, Graham Czach on bass and Robert Tucker in drums.

The eight tracks as mentioned earlier are designed to be little suites. Each individual track can/could/does hold its own on the album titled The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker and if one was given radio play on its own, you would not need to hear the rest of the tracks to fully understand or back that individual one up.

The piano playing of Matt Nelson is subtle yet outstanding. On the opening track “Let’s Go” he plays a funk motive in the same way say Billy Preston played in the early 1970s.

The drumming of Robert Tucker brings some excellent quick fills. Relying on the high hat is essential when bringing an album of material like this.

The traditionally arranged "The Handsome Cabin Boy" is the ten minute standout on the album. Great outdoor effects with the birds flying off in the distance, and the opening chords by Koppel, and the drumming of Nelson again stand out.

The Aaron Koppel Quartet and their album The Wild Call of the Multi-Taker is a great album. One should not multi-task when this album is being played – stop what you are doing, relax and enjoy.

Reviewed by: Brenton Plourde - jazzreview.com

"'Falling Together Falling Apart' showcases guitarist Aaron Koppel's writing and arranging skills ahead of his playing. This translates into more solo time for what amounts to more then a quartet with pianist Matt Nelson, drummer Robert Tucker, and bassist Graham Czach being joined by alto saxophonist Greg Ward and tenor saxophonist Geof Bradfield on selected cuts... Across 10 originals, the emphasis is on group interplay, with active basslines and lively arrangements… Among the standouts is pianist Nelson, who gets the nod more often than not. His close connections with Czach form the basis of many songs, amoung them the serene ballad 'The Bad Decision' and the lively multi-layerd 'The Big Tease' which opens the album... There are a fair number of introspective moments on ‘Falling Together Falling Apart’, thanks again to Nelson’s knack for getting off the beaten path, but there is the occasional up tune that suggests these guys might be used to people dancing at their shows. ‘Electric Cowgirl Boogaloo’ is just such a number, featuring some bouncy funk swing with saucy playing from Ward along with lots of spritely lines from Czach, his bass playing a driving if delicate force. In the end, what makes this disc enjoyable is the way the 26-year-old Koppel takes a conventional form (mainstream jazz) and makes something of it, breaking up the material, avoiding the tendency to just write blowing vehicles...”
- John Ephland, Downbeat, December 2009. - John Ephland, Downbeat, December 2009

Great news for The Aaron Koppel Quartet! Our new CD "Falling Together Falling Apart" is on the 52nd Grammy Awards Nominating Ballot. "Falling Together Falling Apart" is in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category of the Nominating Ballot; category 47, voting number 122. - 52nd Annual Grammy Nominating Ballot, 2009

”… an emotionally charged excursion through the realm of modern jazz… The ensemble… reflects the best and brightest of the highly creative Chicago modern jazz scene… a cohesive band, strong soloing, well-crafted compositions/arrangements and gripping guitar playing… Koppel delivers a masterful performance on ‘Falling Together Falling Apart’. He is at the top of his game as a soloist, his writing shows a depth and understanding of modern jazz harmony that is as exciting as it is engaging…”

By Matthew Warnock
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=33261 - All About Jazz, June 2009

”…a veritable Who’s Who of Chicago’s young talent on the jazz scene. Featuring amazing saxophonists Greg Ward and Geof Bradfield, bassist Graham Czach and wunderkind pianist Matt Nelson, this is a band of heavyweights… the writing is varied, the arrangements are smart and the songs are clever… What makes Falling Together, Falling Apart so interesting is the fact that this really is a composer’s album. Unlike the vast number of discs that we’ve all heard that are made up of quick melodies meant to get to chord changes or to inspire finger-busting solos, this is an album of songs. Melodies are deliberate, and even the solo orders are shuffled around in order to serve the song first and foremost. That’s a sure mark of a mature leader, which Koppel proves himself to be… To put it simply and without hyperbole, Falling Together, Falling Apart is a fantastic album… This disc is easily recommended.”

By: Paul Abella
http://www.chicagojazz.com/cd-reviews.php?SEARCH=review&REV=67 - Chicago Jazz Magazine, Paul Abella, July 2009

“a group of stellar up-and-coming young Chicago jazz artists...some of the best young players (and composers) the city has to offer”

By Brad Walseth
http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/2009/AK.html - jazzchicago.net, Brad Walseth, 2009

"Koppel takes an un-Wes Montgomery approach and doesn’t dizzy you with his solos. He pops in when ready, and steps out of the spotlight with taste and grace." -Steve Forstneger

http://illinoisentertainer.com/2009/12/around-hear-december-2009/ - Illinois Entertainer

“On his quartet’s 2009 disc Falling Together Falling Apart (Chicago Sessions) mainstream guitarist Aaron Koppel established himself as an inventive composer and a surprisingly mature 20-something leader, unafraid to allot plenty of solo space to his sidemen. Inspired by the writing of Dave Holland and Avishai Cohen, the Chicago-area native studied guitar with Bobby Broom, which probably helps account for his tasty melodicism.”
-Neil Tesser, Jazziz, Fall 2009 - Jazziz, Neil Tesser, Fall 2009