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Nomadic

by Tomas Janzon

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Aggie Damron
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Aggie Damron I could listen to this album all day long...so uplifting, inspiring...not an inharmonious moment throughout....Light filled!!!!
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dansdans
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Gloria Krolak
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a 6-panel digipak with a collage of photos from nomadic travels by the artist.

    All compositions by Tomas Janzon (Changes Music ASCAP/STIM)
    except Vasle Hot (S. Rollins), Search for Peace (M. Tyner), SubconsciousLee-Hot House (L. Konitz / T. Dameron).

    Graphic design by Christopher Drukker.
    Photos by Tomas Janzon & Janice Johnson, Eva Ekelöf (cover)

    Includes unlimited streaming of Nomadic via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 3 Tomas Janzon releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Nomadic, 130th & Lenox, and Experiences. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $24 USD or more (20% OFF)

     

1.
Out Door Valley 04:41
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2.
Rob's Piano 06:11
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3.
Night Watch 04:56
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4.
Letter from JSB 03:50
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5.
Search for Peace 03:47
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6.
Valse Hot 03:15
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7.
SubconsciousLee-Hot House 03:35
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8.
Ascending 03:37
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9.
Uncovering 03:14
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10.
Blue Frog Return 03:36
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11.
Pressing Forward 04:07
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about

All compositions by Tomas Janzon (Changes Music ASCAP/STIM)
except Vasle Hot (S. Rollins), Search for Peace (M. Tyner), SubconsciousLee-Hot House (L. Konitz / T. Dameron).

Graphic design by Christopher Drukker.
Photos by Tomas Janzon & Janice Johnson, Eva Ekelöf (cover)


NOMADIC – Track Stories

From diary March 13, 2022:
Not being held down by time and place. Seeing possibilities. Going for movement and not being landlocked. Things keep evolving by allowing for different perspectives. It also put the focus on the ideas and the music itself, when different players put their unique style on it. Keeping it expansive and reflecting on where we are right (now). This is a snapshot on what’s going on, what’s been going on 2020-21.

Out Door Valley
It started in Los Angeles with a musical idea that was only for myself. I was working on expanding my vocabulary by using wider spaces (intervals) between the notes. I just called it Intervallic as something to relate to. Then I kept adding to my first few bars and soon it started sounding melodic in some way. Then I thought oh this is kind of Outervallic, and later on the landscape of canyons and open space that is always present in LA gave me Out Door Valley.
So I found this old tune in one of my piles and it came back to life now in 2022.

Valse Hot
I spent a lot of time transcribing jazz compositions by Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery and others. This was a great way for me to get close to the music and once I had done this I never forget it. So here is one my transcriptions that has been with me for many years. The 3/4 meter or waltz is more common in European styles, and was not so common in jazz in 1956 when Sonny wrote this. I love everything written and played by Sonny Rollins so this is a tribute to him.

Night Watch
This was going on night time during the pandemic. I would wake up and wonder where I was, who I was and where I was heading. As most of the time the cure (and maybe the answer) was to go right into the music. Daytime I was looking at new ways of writing and one of my favorite composers, Messiaen, had some symmetric ideas that appealed to me. Especially ideas around the number nine. So in the middle of the night this would come back and haunt me and this line became a carrier of something, a vessel on its way. I tried to stay firm behind the wheel and make adjustments to the course so it made sense and kept moving forward. What started as Nine Lambs became Awake and then ended as Night Watch.

Letter from JSB
I do have a background including JS Bach’s music, especially since I grew up playing the cello. This is derived from a piece that I always come back to in one way or the other.

Search for Peace
I was playing with the late Juini Booth at a small venue uptown Manhattan when he suggested this tune. It felt like something for the piano but to play with Juini was such a great experience so everything we played made sense. And here we go with melodic Jeff Littleton filling in and Tony keeping the brushes in perfect precision. Maybe the guitar leaves space for peace to get in there.

Rob ’s Piano

I was over at a friend’s house having coffee when his old piano (out of tune) called for some playing. So this little thing came up. As Chuck said it’s a Buhaina shuffle (Art Blakey).

SubconsciousLee/Hot House
I had been playing the late Lee Konitz’ tune for a while. After talking to him about the music at Jazz Gallery in New York I felt encouraged to record it. Tad Dameron’s Hot House is such a strong melodic statement so I wanted to pair them, as two sides over there same basic harmony (What is This Thing Called Loved).

Ascending
One small idea over a pedal tone in the bass and then let it all move upwards slowly but surely.
That was my approach to being locked up with most activities on standby. Keep at it, slow and steady.

Uncovering
It is such an experience to work with Steve Nelson. It feels like nothing is impossible. This composition was one of those cases when I wasn’t sure how to do it. But no problem. We just played and here it is. Hilliard’s steady approach is leading and Chuck takes on rubato, playing more around the sound than playing time. This time.

Blue Frog Return
I have a statement about the Blue Frog already on my first album (X-Changes), later on came something I titled The Croak, so now it was time to follow up with this. Hoping this is it.

Pressing Forward
Working on ideas for playing trio, this tune evolved in the recording studio. Tony’s energy and inventiveness coupled with Jeff’s sound and groove brought it all together. The title is a tribute to Harlem, New York.

credits

released May 1, 2023

Tomas Janzon-guitar
Steve Nelson-vibrapone
Hilliard Greene-bass
Chuck McPherson-drums
Jeff Littleton-bass
Tony Austin-drums

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Tomas Janzon New York, New York

Since driving from Los Angeles to New York, Tomas Janzon has been growing a strong profile in The Big Apple, playing venues such as Smalls, Fat Cat and Bar Next Door. His new release 130th & Lenox, created out of his location in Harlem, received 4 stars in Downbeat 2020. – Hobart Taylor writes:
"There’s an authority to Tomas Janzon’s playing,
but it’s generous, open, masterful and gracious." ... more

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