Music
Press
"I received this CD last week and upon 1st listening it grabbed me. The musicianship on the CD is first class as is the production. The alto playing of Taku Akiyama is bright and clear and some of his bop lines remind me of players such as Richie Cole, Phil Woods, and Jackie McLean. All the band members are allowed to breathe freely on all tracks, showcasing their sublime technical ability. Musical styles (always jazz of course) move effortlessly from quirky "free" improvisation through straight ahead swing to peaceful laid back sounds.
Highly recommended."
-Mark Robinson - KFM Radio 106.9FM-Auckland, New Zealand
Listening to Human Motion is a lot like visiting an art gallery – the CD gives us an array of “sonic landscapes,” as one critic puts it. Making up these “musical paintings” are contemporary explorations, never leaving straight-ahead jazz far behind. It’s perfectly clear these artists were well grounded in the basics before venturing beyond. The ensemble consists of a group of talented young Chicago musicians playing compositions by bass player, Jeff Greene, namely Taku Akiyama on alto sax, Matt Holman on trumpet and flugelhorn, Jordan Baskin on piano and Fender Rhodes and Jon Deitemyer on drums. Greene’s imagination often carries him into free-form with instruments conversing back and forth, trading bars, becoming increasingly animated, reaching a voluble climax before tension is quietly released. This device, changing mood mid song, is effectively displayed in several tracks. In “Flown,” for example, Akiyama’s alto engages discourse with Holman’s trumpet. They calmly start, exchanging bars, becoming increasingly dissonant before Baskin’s soothing piano comes in, moderating the swirling sound with the aid of Deitemyer’s steady background drumming. Again, using art for comparison, Munch’s “The Scream” comes to mind, with its streams of color–red sky, blue water – in the background. Impressionistic is the label for “Places.” Its calm ruminative opening leads into a spatial solo by trumpeter Holman, evoking open fields. In contrast the lively “2+1-1" features fast-paced improvisation by Holman, followed by Baskin’s brisk piano – all suggesting a Renoir party scene, if you will. A highlight track, “Peace of Mind,” is aptly titled. This time a melodic duo between trumpet and sax is followed by a subtle relaxed piano solo. (You can hear the influence of Bill Evans on Baskin here.) A bucolic Monet nature scene is hereby evoked. Browsing through the catalogue of selections on the CD, modern art comes to mind in “Spoken.” A subdued, contemplative ensemble opening soon gives way to jagged piano chords, driven by Deitemyer’s propulsive beat. Soon the horns interject themselves becoming squawks and beeps. Within this cacophony, a recognizable melody runs through. Here, Jackson Pollack's method emerges, his dripping paint on canvas in a seemingly chaotic but organized way. Don’t let these descriptions lead you to think the album doesn’t swing. This is particularly proven in the up-tempo “November.” Akiyama’s alto is featured in unison with Homan’s trumpet. This brings to mind one of William Gottlieb’s art photos of a relaxed Dizzy and Bird in a session. This CD is not a masterpiece but well worth listening to.
-Larry Taylor
- Jazz Review.com
Youth is here on a mission in motion to make a vivid impression to post hard bop with all due respect to the masters, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Gap and Chuck Mangione, Joe Henderson and Dr Eddie Henderson for this is melodic acoustic cherubic if there's such heavenly music as in hard bop heaven. No doubt it's true. Jeff Greene is the leader and double bass player here for this Chicago band. Jordan Baskin no relation to Robbins plays magic on Rhodes in “Things As They Are.” Woody Shaw used to pop a Rhodes into his music, I swear it was George Cables, once in awhile.
That's what you have here with HUMAN MOTION, all head nodding and everyone in the band wearing Ray Bans.
This is the advent of the Post Modern, loose and on message for hours, this band of men will captivate all the ghosts in your bop soul. It has to be because Jeff Greene has a feel-script for the music and settles it down for a nice sweet jam.
Human Motion with Jeff Greene, bass, Taku Akiyama, alto saxophone, Jordan Baskin, piano, Jon DeiteDimyer, drums and Mat Holman, trumpet/ flugelhorn.
You never heard of these guys outside the Chicago scene, so pay attention -- coming to your neighborhood soon.
-Dick Crockett
- "Still Another Jazz Show" KXJZ Sacramento, CA
Discography
"Human Motion"
Released September 2005 featuring ten original compositions
Available now on CD Baby! @ www.cdbaby.com/humanmotion and on Apple iTunes @ www.apple.com/itunes/
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
"The Human Motion jazz quintet creates the most uniquely exciting, swinging, profound music I've heard in many, many years."
Dominic Spera-
Professor Emeritus/Indiana University
"Listening to Human Motion is a lot like visiting an art gallery – the CD gives us an array of 'sonic landscapes'...making up these 'musical paintings' are contemporary explorations, never leaving straight-ahead jazz far behind."
Larry Taylor
CD Review (www.jazzreview.com)
"...upon first listening it grabbed me. The musicianship on the CD is first class...musical styles (always jazz of course) move effortlessly from quirky 'free' improvisation through straight ahead swing to peaceful laid back sounds. Highly recommended."
Mark Robinson
CD of the Week (June 2006)
KFM 106.9 FM Auckland, New Zealand
"This is the advent of the Post Modern, loose and on message for hours, this band of men will captivate all the ghosts in your bop soul."
Dick Crockett
KXJZ Sacramento, CA
“Human Motion…is a well-chosen group of musicians dedicated to playing original music that is in the time-honored tradition. This is a young band to watch.”
Don Henke
www.jazzadvocate.com
Human Motion, formed in the spring of 2005, is a Chicago-based jazz quintet dedicated to playing improvised music, focusing particularly on the original compositions of its members. Led by bassist/composer Jeff Greene, the quintet features trumpeter Matt Holman, saxophonist Doug Stone, pianist Jordan Baskin, and percussionist Jon Deitemyer. With widely varying influences from Charles Mingus and John Coltrane to Bjork and the Roots, each individual brings his life experiences and love of music to every performance to create a cohesive and inspired unit. Human Motion draws from tradition while looking toward the future. Their debut album, "Human Motion", was released in September of 2005. It features ten original compositions and is available now on CD Baby!, iTunes, and in select Chicago-land Tower Records. They are currently on tour in the midwest in support of "Human Motion" at such legendary jazz clubs as The Blue Wisp, Baker's Keyboard Lounge, The Jazz Factory, The Firefly, and The Artist's Quarter, as well as Millennium Music Conference 10 and the Midpoint Music Festival. For more information on Human Motion including upcoming shows and events, please visit www.jeffgreenemusic.com.
Booking/Info:
Jeff Greene
773-208-7313 (c)
773-338-5215 (h)
jeffgreenebass@hotmail.com
Jeff Greene-
Originally from Jonesboro, Georgia, Jeff Greene began playing the acoustic bass just before graduating from high school. He recently completed his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. During his four years there, he studied and played with a variety of faculty members including David Baker, Bruce Bransby, Pat Harbison, Steve Houghton, Luke Gillespie, Tom Walsh, and Joey Tartell, in addition to playing professionally in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Jeff’s musical experiences are varied. He has played with rock bands, jazz combos, big bands, and orchestras. Upon graduation in 2004, Jeff moved to Chicago to continue working as a professional musician. In June of 2004 he was invited to attend the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia in Chicago. There he studied closely with David Baker, Nathan Davis, James Moody, Rufus Reid, and Danilo Perez, in addition to fourteen of his peers. In April of 2006 he was selected to attend Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. where he studied with Curtis Fuller, George Cables, Winard Harper, and Billy Taylor. Since arriving in Chicago, Jeff has recorded albums with the James Davis and Greg Duncan quintets, as well as the Nick Fryer and Doug Stone Quartet. Jeff’s quintet, Human Motion, released their full-length, debut album in September of 2005, featuring ten of his original compositions. In 2007 The Illinois Arts Council awarded Jeff an Artists Fellowship in Music Composition to support the creation of new, original works. With the formation of blink., a new quartet, and the continued schedule of Human Motion, 2007 looks to be an exciting year. For his current schedule and other information, please visit www.jeffgreenemusic.com.
Jordan Baskin-
Jordan is a young, rising talent in the American music scene. Jazz has been his primary focus for several years, although he began his journey in classical music. After he completed high school, Jordan was offered scholarship to attend Indiana University’s School of Music. There he received guidance from noted jazz scholar Dr. David Baker, and classical training from Evelyne Brancart. Since college, Jordan has maintained a very active work schedule, and is solely supporting himself on his musical endeavors. He has four steady venues he performs at on a weekly basis and frequently makes appearances at Chic
Links
