Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet
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Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet

Portland, Oregon, United States

Portland, Oregon, United States
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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Willamette Week"

Regular working bands in jazz are a rarity. Tightly coiled, muscular units that rev and handle with the momentum of a Galaxie 500���that's another thing altogether. Trumpeter Farnell Newton (a veritable hitman for Afincando, Klezmocracy, Liv Warfield, et al.) co-leads this excellent quintet with fleet-fingered pianist Marcus Reynolds, and the result is a joyfully swinging update of the two-horn front line. This group's live performances are off the chain: Expect the same from their newly released debut.

TIM DUROCHE. - TIM DUROCHE


"Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet"

Trumpet player Farnell Newton and pianist Marcus Reynolds recently released Sense of Direction, an album of immaculate, classic-sounding jazz originals that turns the clock back decades.
In fact, listening to the album conjures up images of nightclubs populated with men in dapper suits, women dressed to the nines and a cocktail in every hand.
If you’re craving something sophisticated and refined but not stuffy, you’re in good hands with Newton, Reynold and the rest of their quintet. - Portland Tribune


"The Oregonian"

On first listen, you might think that "Sense of Direction," the debut disc from the Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet, is a remastered recording from the post-bop 1960s. Trumpeter Newton and pianist-composer Reynolds probably wouldn't mind the comparison.

But while the sound may court earlier generations, it's not derivative, sounding both retro and contemporary. The musicianship is superb, and the original compositions are on par with what's happening at the national level.

Each tune is a mini-journey in jazz, ebbing and flowing in a tide of chordal and rhythmic activity. It kicks off with "The Two Larrys," a double horn melody with Newton and saxophonist Tim Wilcox sharing an angular melody that flows across the ear with a sense of relaxed adventure. Newton's trumpet is fluid and mellifluous, and the restrained backing by Reynolds, drummer Jason Brown and bassist Ameen Saleem gives the two soloists plenty of room to explore.

The disc travels through a roving jazz waltz, a multi-tempo, upbeat bopper, a slinky-slow swinger and a modal groover, "The Bluest Eyes," which deftly pulls and releases tension. Reynolds is a fine pianist with an ear for avant-garde-leaning melodic sensibilities. His compositions have a sense of exploration.

While the textures and musicianship are at high levels, there is a sense of too much restraint. A touch more zing would bring a greater sense of emotion to the disc.

The album, which recalls such artists as Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver and Wayne Shorter, marks locals Newton and Reynolds as a rising force.

Artist: Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet
Grade: B+
Label: Diatic Records
- Jazz Journeys by: Kyle O'Brien


Discography

Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet
"Sense of Direction"
Diatic Records 2006

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Farnell Newton

Farnell Newton Composer/Trumpeter was born on March 21, 1977, in Miami, Fl where he was exposed to many forms of music from jazz, salsa, funk, and hip-hop. Moving to Philadelphia he attended the High School of Creative and Performing C.A.P.A. Farnell gained more exposure and experience into the music he truly loves "jazz". While in Philadelphia, Farnell learned a lot from his Uncle saxophonist/arranger Conny Murray and from his Uncle Sunny Murray "the father of avant-garde drumming".

Re-locating to Denver Farnell graduating from Denver School of the Arts in Denver,Farnell moved to Ohio to study at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. At Oberlin, Farnell studied Music Performance with an emphasis in jazz with Wendell Logan and trumpeter Kenny Davis. During his stay at Oberlin, Farnell Performed with many musicians from Aretha Franklin, James Moody, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Hugh Ragin.

Graduating from Oberlin Farnell decided to move to Portland, Oregon. In Portland, Farnell performs regularly with Klezmocracy, Mel Brown, Thara Memory, Cana Son, Conjunto Allegre and Darrell Grant to name a few. Farnell has recently recorded his debut CD which is co-led with pianist Marcus Reynolds.

Marcus Reynolds

Portland, Oregon based pianist and composer Marcus Reynolds has begun to make his mark on contemporary jazz as a solo pianist, leader of his own groups and as co-leader of the Farnell Newton-Marcus Reynolds Quartet. His high energy live performances are notable for his angular, rhythmic playing and dedication to presenting original music and contemporary, unique treatments of the standard jazz repertoire. Influenced by modern pianistic figures such as Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell, and Fred Hersch.

Marcus is also informed as a composer by European 20th Century classical harmony and the Afro-Caribbean rhythmic tradition. Marcus has opened for jazz giants Betty Carter and Mel Torme in festival settings, and has performed with singers ranging from Michigan vocalist Sunny Wilkinson to cabaret artist Lorna Luft. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University where he majored in Classical Piano Perfomance and Jazz Studies (with Dr. Stephen Zegree), and also studied composition with C.Curtis-Smith and Richard Adams. He often performs in duo with his wife (jazz vocalist Jessica Schultz) at such venues as the Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon. In addition to performing, Marcus maintains a private piano teaching studio in West Linn, Oregon where he advocates a healthy, tension free approach to playing the instrument.