Brooklyn Jazz Underground Redefines Contemporary Jazz Sound at Prospect Range

January 1, 2016 by Dominique M. Carson

BJU-Prospect Range _photo courtesy of Brooklyn Jazz Underground _11-17-15_01-01-16 version

Brooklyn Jazz Underground at Prospect Range / photo courtesy of Brooklyn Jazz Underground

Brooklyn Jazz Underground is back at it again!

The team launched their monthly musical series to highlight one of America’s original art forms: jazz. Their inaugural performance was at the Prospect Range in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Jazz Underground is an alluring and cooperative group of independent musicians from Brooklyn who are committed to their craft. The talented group started making a name for themselves in 2005 and believed Brooklyn was a great place to start on their musical journey. Audience members enjoyed listening to various musical pieces from BJU, while having a glass of wine provided by the Juice Box .

BJU started their segment with the David Smith Quintet, a dynamic group that has been playing together for some fifteen years. The quintet includes saxophonist, Dan Pratt, guitarist, Nate Radley, bassist, Matt Aronoff and drummer Anthony Pinciott.

As a solo trumpeter, Smith has also released three albums of original music and has contributed to fifty recordings with Columbia , EMI, Motown, Fresh Sound, New Talent and Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records.

The party continued with the second act of the evening, the Tammy Scheffer Sextet. Scheffer performed with saxophonists, Uri Gurvich and Dan Pratt, pianist Bilyl Test, bassist Peter Salvov and drummer Ronen Itzik. As international artists, the sextet has performed in China, England, Spain, and the United States. The audience was intrigued by Scheffer’s voice , which demonstrated why she is an eminent vocalist.

The original tempos from each of the performances were a combination of upbeat tempos and ballads that enriched the audience’s soul. Once the music started , it created a serene atmosphere , as BJU’s music exemplifies originality and creativity. The Brooklyn Jazz Underground’s performance reminded the concert attendees why jazz is one of the most significant and influential musical genres.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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