The other day I was reviewing the Weekly Jazz Chart and there at No 19 just below Dr Lonnie Smith was an Brian Lynch and his latest album Unsung Heroes Vol. 2. The tagline on the album is “a tribute to underappreciated trumpet masters” sounds like my kind of album! I went to Spotify found the album sat back and listened to some damn good trumpet playing. So now I needed to find out some more about Brian Lynch a trumpeter that I have not come across yet! From Wikipedia…
Brian Lynch (September 12, 1956, Urbana, Illinois) is a Grammy Award-winning New York-based jazz trumpeter,he has toured and recorded as a member of the Phil Woods Quintet and Eddie Palmieri’s Afro-Caribbean Jazz group, as well as leading his own groups and appearing with various other bands including the “Latin Side Of Miles” project he co-leads with trombonist Conrad Herwig.
In recent years Lynch has worked with Buena Vista Social Club alumnus Barbarito Torres, recorded with dance remixers Joe Claussell, Little Louie Vega and the influential Latin alternative group Yerba Buena. He arranged for Japanese pop star Mika Nakashima and producer Shinichi Osawa, has written string charts for Phil Woods, and has played with such pop luminaries as Maxwell, Prince, and Sheila E.
On February 11, 2007, Brian Lynch earned the Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year Grammy for his album, “The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Recording Project – Simpatico,” at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Read more
Reading his biography at his website I learned that:
Lynch’s musical abilities have allowed him to play both hard-core straight ahead jazz as well as Latin Jazz. As such he is comfortable working with either Afro-Caribbean pioneer Eddie Palmieri or bebop maestro Phil Woods.
He relocated to New York from his home in Milwaukee in 1981 and started out working with George Russell, From 1982 to 1985 he worked with Horace Silver, and the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, in addition to freelancing. In 1987, he was with Frank Wess’ Quintet and started playing with Eddie Palmieri. Lynch was the last trumpeter to be a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1988 to 1990.And since 1992 he has been in the Phil Woods Quintet. Lynch has also worked with Latin music icons like Hector LaVoe and Lila Downs; and even pop artist like Prince.
Over his career he has released 19 albums featuring his distinctive composing and arranging, and toured the world with various ensembles reflecting the wide sweep of his music. Currently he is Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Frost School Of Music, University of Miami and conducts clinics, residencies and workshops at schools all over the world.
in 2011 he was #3 Trumpet 2011 Downbeat Critic’s Poll and had a high finish in the Readers Polls He music constantly receives rave reviews from Downbeat, Jazziz and Jazz Times. In 2005 and 2007 Lynch received Grammy award nominations, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Chamber Music America, and Meet The Composer!
After listening and enjoying Unsung Heroes Vol. 2. I listened tonight to Unsung Heroes Vol 1. Both albums are really good. Vol 1 features three Brian Lynch compositions, one “Further Arrivals” is dedicated to Kamau Adilifu/Charles Sullivan, another “RoditiSamba” is dedicated to Claudio Roditi, the third is just plain old ” Unsung Blues”. The remaining tracks feature compositions by Joe Gordon, two by Tommy Turrentine, and one each from Idrees Sulieman, Charles Tolliver, and Louis Smith (musicians that all need to be explored.
Lynch’s surrounds himself with some great musicians on the album and their interplay is marvelous the supporting cast includes:Vincent Herring (alto sax) hum, I met him over the last week or so) “Herring is one of today’s most pre-eminent jazz alto saxophonists”, Alex Hoffman (tenor sax) “A genuine new star on the modern jazz horizon, 21-year-old Alex Hoffman has already made a name for himself on the NY jazz scene” (hum, a name to be investigated). Rob Schneiderman (piano) “A close colleague and friend of Brian for almost 30 years, Rob Schneiderman is not only a world-class jazz pianist but also a world-class mathematician and professor of mathematics at Lehman College in New York City”. David Wong (bass) “The new first call bassist on the NY scene”Pete Van Nostrand (drums) “A member of the prestigious Julliard Jazz Ensemble, Pete Van Nostrand is an in demand drummer on the NY jazz scene, playing and recording with various artists including Kenny Barron, Jeremy Pelt, and Steve Davis.” and on two tracks Little Johnny Rivero (conga, on “Further Arrivals” and “RoditiSamba”) “Eddie Palmieri bandmate and a big part of the success of Brian’s Grammy Award winning Latin jazz CD Simpático” , Like I said they all are terrific!!
So check out both albums!! As for me I have some more musicians to check out!!
Sources and Links
BRIAN LYNCH “UNSUNG HEROES” PROJECT
iTunes: Brian Lynch<
Biography: Brian Lynch
Wikipedia: Brian Lynch
JazzWeek Charts: December 16,2013
Here’s Brian and the band with “Wetu” y Louis Smith and the closing track on Unsung Heroes Vol. 1
