RELEASE: "Lighter Skies" by WECC via iTunes

“Lighter Skies” from the album DOWNSTREAM by West End Composers Collective [WECC] is available on iTunes.

Founded by trumpeter/composer Laura Kahle and pianist/arranger Steve Newcomb, the West End Composers Collective began in 2003 as a monthly gathering of Brisbane’s creative improvising musicians, composers and arrangers to workshop original works at the Tongue and Groove café, West End.

With the success of these monthly gatherings, the growth in repertoire and a grant from Arts Queensland, they launched their debut album “Downstream” on February 11th, 2004 at Brisbane’s famous The Zoo music venue. The launch supported internationally acclaimed artists Ingrid Jensen (Trumpet) and Jon Wikan (Drums), on tour from the USA.

Recorded by Dave Neil 8th Dec, 2003
Mixed by Geoff McGahan
Mastered by Dave Neil at Jumpstart Studios, Brisbane, Australia
Cover painting by Kimba Fatiaki
Tech assistance & photos by Mark Winters
Produced by Laura Kahle & Steve Newcomb

Laura Kahle - composer, flugel (9, 10)
Kristin Berardi - vocals
Shannon Marshall - trumpet/flugel (all except 4)
Shane Hooten - trumpet (4, 9)
Mikael Strand - trombone (all except 5)
Sam Denning - trombone (5, 6, 9)
Phil Noy - alto sax
Isaac Hurren - tenor sax
Graeme Norris - baritone sax
Steve Newcomb - piano
James Sherlock - guitar
Eugene Romaniuk - double bass
Joe Marchisella - drums

RELEASE: VNMG "Down Homeless" via iTunes

Down Homeless is the second studio album recording released by the multinational quartet VNMG, comprised of Will Vinson - saxophone, myself on piano, Thomas Morgan - bass, and Peter Gabis - drums. In 2002 while touring Europe we spent a day in Organic Music studio in Obing, Germany to put down some tracks that each of us had freshly penned.

Here’s a beautiful version of Thomas’ tune “Pearl” with Bill Frisell that went up on YouTube recently.

Track list:

  1. Pearl (Thomas Morgan)

  2. Adventures of Bagpuss (Will Vinson)

  3. Theory and Practice (Thomas Morgan)

  4. The Sheik of Diwanistan (Peter Gabis)

  5. Promises (Will Vinson)

  6. Elevenation (Steve Newcomb) *sheet music available

  7. Voyager (Steve Newcomb) *sheet music available

  8. Down Homeless (Will Vinson)

VNMG formed while we were all students at Manhattan School of Music. Our first studio album Short Stories (people, places, times) was recorded in 2001 at Peter Karl studios in Brooklyn, NYC and is currently out of print … a limited run and I believe there are a few hard copies floating around among die hard fans - dammit I think I only kept one!

SHEET MUSIC IS AVAILABLE FOR MY VNMG COMPOSITIONS

REVIEW: "Trace" - John McBeath in The Australian

JAZZ

Trace

Rafael Karlen

Pinnacle

4 stars

This third album from award-winning Brisbane-based saxophonist Rafael Karlen with pianist Steve Newcomb adds guitarist Toby Wren for an intimate trio project. Five of the 10 tracks are Karlen originals and there are traditional pieces, plus compositions by Wren and Newcomb.

Karlen says he doesn’t see much difference in using a piece by Schubert or playing a tune from the Great American Songbook. That idea is demonstrated by including an arrangement of Schubert’s Serenade where the classical-sounding guitar intro prefaces the arrival of Karlen’s laconic sax, soon to improvise melodically on Schubert’s classic composition as piano and guitar lay out a gentle accompaniment.

Ten Ten, a composition by Wren, has a relaxed, bluesy feel. Newcomb’s composition Driftwood features some fine piano accompaniment for Karlen’s tranquilly floating sax, while Wren’s guitar solo reaches into the upper register as the piece moves serenely along. The religious folk song Kyrie is treated reverently and fits well into the album’s moody atmosphere.

This is a collection of rhythmless, colourful interpretations in unhurried settings where peaceful interplay between sax, guitar and piano is explored with ability and sensitivity.

John McBeath (January 21, 2017)

Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/revie...

BTS: The making of TRACE by Karlen/Newcomb/Wren

A neat little video capturing my first unique collaboration with Brisbane musicians Rafael Karlen (saxophone) and Toby Wren (guitar). From the upcoming album Trace. 

There is a pozible campaign underway if you are interested in supporting the project, and of course obtaining some extra goodies!

About Trace (notes by Rafael Karlen):

Trace was recorded over two mornings in June at the Queensland Multicultural Centre by Mark Smith. The record features beautiful album design by Sai Karlen and warm photographs by Michelle Secis. The album will be mastered by the renowned Dave Neil and will be released on the Brisbane-based label Pinnacles Music.

See us live at the Old Museum Building on Sunday December 11 from 6:30pm TICKETS

Shop launch

It's launch day for the shop on stevenewcomb.NET

A collection of lead sheets is among the work available for download as PDF. All lead sheet downloads include versions in concert key (treble & bass clef), Bb, and Eb transpositions.

Click through to the LEAD SHEET category

Click through to the LEAD SHEET category

 

Other shop categories include:

Big Band 

Big Band + voice 

Chamber ensemble 

Jazz ensemble

To narrow down a search for an instrument group, title, or category of work you can also use the search bar on the SHOP page.

Click through to the SEARCH BAR

Click through to the SEARCH BAR

There is of course FREE STUFF!

... like this transcription below.

Click through to FREE STUFF!

Click through to FREE STUFF!

 

Shop! Launching November 21

Counting down to the NOVEMBER 21 launch of the SHOP on www.stevenewcomb.net

It It will include pieces for chamber ensemble, small group, and big band, as well as various lead sheets from prior projects. 

Currently under construction but stay tuned ... there will be free stuff!

BTS: SNO 2.0 tracking in NYC

I've recently returned to Brisbane from six weeks in the USA where I spent time writing material for a new SNO album. At the end of the trip I had two inspiring days recording in Systems Two (Brooklyn) with an ensemble that included Desmond White (bass), Kush Abadey (drums), Kavita Shah (voice), Jonathan Goldberger (guitar), Kathryn Andrews (harp), Sam Sadigursky (bass clarinet), Jodie Rottle (flute), Leah Asher (viola), Meaghan Burke (cello). The session was engineered by the marvellous Mike Marciano, who runs the studio. 

Much editing and mixing is still in the works as the music is shaped!

SNO 1 IS AVAILABLE HERE. 

Recording in Systems Two. Photo by Jessica Carlton-Thomas

LIVE: Chris McNulty ETERNAL at Wangaratta

I'm very, very, excited to be appearing at the Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival with Chris McNulty and chamber ensemble on October 30. We'll be performing some really special music that Chris, John DiMartino and I developed for the ETERNAL project. 

The band will be: Chris McNulty (voice), Steve Newcomb (piano), Christopher Hale (bass), Hugh Harvey (drums), Jodie Rottle (flutes), Ed Fairlie (trumpet), Lizzie Welsh (viola), Ellie Walker (cello)

“A veteran performer on the international jazz scene, she has many gifts as a performer and a direct channel to the emotional core of a lyric. McNulty bares her soul, and one doesn’t dare look away.”
— 4 1/2 stars, DownBeat, June 2015

NEWS: SNO 2.0 creation in process

I'm currently in the US working on material for a new album. The ensemble will be a SNO 2.0 of sorts, made up of strings, winds, harp, voice, guitar and rhythm section. I'm delighted to be collaborating with some of my dear friends from SNO 1, including Kathryn Andrews, Kavita Shah, and John Goldberger. 

I'll post photos from the sessions on https://www.instagram.com/steve_newcomb_music so please follow along if that's your thing! We'll be recording in the world class Systems Two studio in Brooklyn mid-September. 

SNO 1 is available here.