Smalls NYC

The first reviews of Smalls NYC are there. One of the major online jazz magazines in the Netherlands, Jazzflits praises the band’s relaxed and swinging performance and the modern approach of bebop. Rinus van der Heijden states in Jazzenzo that although the music is not revolutionary new, the level of playing is high and we all challenge each other to play exciting solos.

In the meanwhile we have been on the radio already a few times: Radio6 – Jazz in the morning, De Concertzender – Holland Jazz, Sublime FM – Dutch Jazz and several local radio stations.

Also curious how the cd sounds? You can stream the whole cd for free on the bottom of the product page and buy it if you decide you like it.

Look at this nice review!

I shall try and translate:

This Saturday evening the quartet of trumpettist Ellister van der Molen played in Café Bacchus. Together with drummer Thorsten Grau and bassplayer Jos Machtel they played work by pianist Jeremy Manasia, who completes the quartet.
The visitors got a surprise of elegant themes, reminding of the sounds of the Miles Davis Quartet in the ’50s, Jeremy Manasia replaced all by himself both Cannonball Adderley and Coltrane behind the piano.
His playing is connected to that of Monk: deliberately dissonant and carefully next to the dominant tempo and by doing so of a sometimes overwhelming beauty. That makes Manasias work not only elegant, but thrilling as well, because the music is not predictable.
Ellister and her band will be playing several venues in the Netherlands and Belgium. The tour schedule can be found at ellister.com. Whoever has the chance…

In dutch:

AALSMEER – Afgelopen zaterdagavond stond het kwartet rond trompettiste Ellister van der Molen in Café Bacchus. Zij speelde met slagwerker Thorsten Grau en bassist Jos Machtel werk van pianist en componist Jeremy Manasia, die het kwartet completeert.

De bezoekers werden verrast met elegante thema’s die deden denken aan het geluid van Miles Davis Quintet uit de jaren ’50. Jeremy Manasie verving in zijn eentje Canonball Adderly en Coltrane achter de piano.

Zijn spel is verwant aan dat van Monk: weloverwogen dissonant en zorgvuldig naast het dominante tempo en daardoor van een soms verbijsterende schoonheid. Dit maakt het werk van Manasia niet alleen elegant, maar ook spannend, omdat de de muziek niet voorspelbaar is.

Ellister en haar band spelen in de komende tijd in verschillende zalen in Nederland en België. Het tourschema staat op www.ellister.com. Wie de kans heeft …

Amstelland Dichtbij May 27th, 2013