Music
Press
SELECTED QUOTE:
"When young artists release their first album, it's always tempting to say they "show potential" or "are off to a good start," but those comments tend to be kindly veiled takes on "you get an A for effort, but should have waited a bit longer." Jonathan Saraga need not worry about having such pacifying comments thrown his way; the trumpeter's First Vision isn't the stuff of amateurs on the brink of musical maturity, it's a stand-up-and-take-notice offering." - All About Jazz
SELECTED QUOTE:
"When young artists release their first album, it's always tempting to say they "show potential" or "are off to a good start," but those comments tend to be kindly veiled takes on "you get an A for effort, but should have waited a bit longer." Jonathan Saraga need not worry about having such pacifying comments thrown his way; the trumpeter's First Vision isn't the stuff of amateurs on the brink of musical maturity, it's a stand-up-and-take-notice offering." - All About Jazz
SELECTED QUOTE:
"The music, all Saraga-penned, has an uncommon freshness coming from a 24 year-old artist who is well on his way to forming his own compositional voice." - All About Jazz
SELECTED QUOTE:
"The music, all Saraga-penned, has an uncommon freshness coming from a 24 year-old artist who is well on his way to forming his own compositional voice." - All About Jazz
SELECTED QUOTE:
"Award-winning trumpeter Jonathan Saraga's First Vision, is a skillfully conceived and exquisitely realized debut that brings to mind the edgy, envelope-pushing hard bop of many a Blue Note record in the early 1960s. The modal melodies are artfully orchestrated, allowing each musician the full breadth of his spontaneous creativity without resorting to unfettered clamor. Not a single note is wasted." - All About Jazz
SELECTED QUOTE:
"Award-winning trumpeter Jonathan Saraga's First Vision, is a skillfully conceived and exquisitely realized debut that brings to mind the edgy, envelope-pushing hard bop of many a Blue Note record in the early 1960s. The modal melodies are artfully orchestrated, allowing each musician the full breadth of his spontaneous creativity without resorting to unfettered clamor. Not a single note is wasted." - All About Jazz
Discography
First Vision by the Jonathan Saraga Quintet
released Sept. 1st, 2012 at Smalls Jazz Club (NYC)
recorded on January 8th, 2012 at the Cutting Room Studios in New York, NY. All Compositions by Jonathan Saraga. All artwork by Jonathan Saraga. Produced by Jonathan Saraga.
PERSONNEL
Jonathan Saraga - trumpet/flugelhorn
Colin Gordon - alto saxophone
Peter Park - guitar
Jeff Dingler - bass
Gusten Rudolph - drums
Photos
Bio
All the members of the SaragaQuintet have worked hard to become well versed in the rich tradition and roots of jazz, and many musical genres, both on their instruments and spiritually. We are constantly striving to improve and refine our abilities both individually and as a unit in order to better communicate with each other, and to better clarify the stories inherent within each song we play.
Since we are all rooted in the tradition of jazz music, our sound has been said to remind listeners of "...the Blue Note Records of the early 1960's..." All About Jazz has also said that "at times, Saraga's music can exhibit a wandering, nomadic, Klezmer-influenced sound that further cements the (Dave) Douglas connection via that trumpeter's work with John Zorn's flagship Masada."
All in all, our sound has many influences, but cements itself only in the every changing states of consciousness of ourselves and our audiences.
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