The Squid's Ear Magazine


George, Kazemde: I Insist (Greenleaf Music)

A solid modern jazz album in the Blue Note tradition with a Latin angle, the title a reference to Max Roach's 1960 protest album We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, evoked through strongly melodic tunes composed by Brooklyn saxophonist Kazemde George and performed with vocalist Sami Stevens, keyboardist Isaac Wilson, bassist Tyrone Allen II, and drummer Adam Arruda.
 

Price: $13.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 2.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Kazemde George-tenor saxophone

Sami Stevens-vocals

Isaac Wilson-Wurlitzer, piano

Tyrone Allen II-acoustic bass

Adam Arruda-drums


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




Packaging: CD 4-Panel Digipak

UPC: 186980000879

Label: Greenleaf Music
Catalog ID: CD-GRE-1087
Squidco Product Code: 31095

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2021
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Big Orange Sheep, in Brooklyn, New York, on December 11th and 12th, 2019, by Christopher Benham.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"I Insist is the debut album from Brooklyn-based saxophonist and composer Kazemde George. The title is a shout-out to Max Roach's landmark 1960 protest album We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, a statement of George's own determined disposition as a Black American, and an acknowledgement of our turbulent times.

Leading a quintet of stellar New York players - vocalist Sami Stevens, keyboardist Isaac Wilson, bassist Tyrone Allen II, and drummer Adam Arruda - the record is a vibrant collection of ten original compositions inspired by George's interest in music of the African diaspora. 'Understanding' features a Cuban changüí-inspired groove. 'Haiti' originates from one of George's own looped electronic beats. Stevens contributes lyrics to the laid-back 'Skylight' and the somewhat sorrowful 'Happy Birthday,' as well as wordless vocals to three others.

The music is unapologetically swinging and fully engaged, whether simmering on a low flame or reaching climactic heights of intensity."-Greenleaf Music


Packaging: CD 4-Panel Digipak

Artist Biographies

"Kazemde George is an African American jazz saxophonist, composer, and beat-maker based in Brooklyn who exhibits a gift for streamlined, emotionally direct melodies, articulated with a warm tone and a certain guiding restraint. Raised by Caribbean parents in Berkeley, California, Kaz was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, and has been playing Piano, Saxophone, and Percussion from an early age.

During high school, Kazemde developed a passion for Jazz while studying the oral tradition under the tutelage of Khalil Shaheed, Charles McNeal and Susan Muscarella. He also began to make electronic music under the moniker "KG,B". KG,B's beats are inspired by Hip-Hop producers such as J Dilla, Madlib, and Flying Lotus, who he sees as modern the counterparts of early Jazz innovators.

In 2007, Kazemde moved to Boston to attend school, and in 2014, Kazemde completed the Harvard/New England Conservatory (NEC) Joint program, receiving his Bachelors in Neurobiology (Harvard) and his Masters in Jazz Composition (NEC). At NEC, Kazemde studied privately with Jerry Bergonzi, Cecil McBee, Donny McCaslin, John McNeil, Jason Moran, Danilo Pérez, and Miguel Zenón. In 2012, he received Harvard's George Peabody Gardener Fellowship to study traditional music in La Habana, Cuba for ten months. Through his travels, Kaz has expanded his focus from Hip-Hop and Jazz to the full spectrum of musical styles which blossomed from the African Diaspora, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, and African-American traditions. As he sees it, the study of these musical styles serves as a way to regain cultural histories that where lost through the processes of African-American Slavery.

Today, his focus is aligned towards music, but Kazemde is also a biologist at heart, and his quest to understand this wide breadth of styles is driven by an analytical mind with a scientific approach.

Kazemde has performed with Solange Knowles and Saint Heron, David Murray, Román Filiú, and Jason Moran, at venues and festivals such as, Dizzy's Coca-Cola Club, Zinc Bar, The Bitter End, Irving Plaza, Yoshi's, Black Cat, Cafe Stritch, The David Rubinstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, Panama Jazz Festival, Made In America Festival, AfroPunk, and Panorama NYC Music Festival."

-Kazemde George Website (https://www.kazemdegeorge.com/bio)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"NYC artist Sami Stevens harnesses Jazz, Singer-Songwriter, and classic RnB influences to create truly intimate original music. Singing and accompanying herself on keyboard, she crafts a musical world based in silence, delivering dynamic, personal performances. Though performing solo is where she takes complete control of the stage, Sami is also an avid collaborator. Her latest releases include the Make Your Mind EP with producer KG,B, And I'm Right by Sami Stevens and the Man I Love, and Amore Per Tutti with Tredici Bacci. Upcoming releases include a solo album entitled Morning (2022), and an album with Jazz saxophonist Kazemde George entitled I Insist (Oct 2021).

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, Sami has performed with Genius Grant recipient Jason Moran and 6-time Grammy nominee Fred Hersch, recorded with "King of Treme" Shannon Powell, and underground legend Gary Wilson, toured opening for SoCal favorites Pinback, opened for Grammy nominated folk singer Greg Brown and Black Star MC Talib Kweli, sang for the premiere of Ty Segall's "Emotional Mugger," and appeared on various soundtracks, including Archer (FX; J.G. Thirlwell), It's Personal with Amy Hoggart (TruTV), and Fils de Plouc (Sundance 2021; Tredici Bacci). Her projects have been lauded by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and the New York Times, and featured on relevant Spotify playlists.

Sami has toured North America, Europe, and Australia with various projects, appearing at NYC venues the Cutting Room, Brooklyn Bowl, Smalls, Roulette, and National Sawdust, and at music festivals Sydney Fest, SXSW, O+ Festival, Phoenicia Intl. Festival of the Voice, and Meltasia. Stevens has led the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, and sang the national anthem at Fenway Park at age 16. She produced and hosted Space is the Place, a music and science radio program on Silent Barn's Bel-Air, and served as a fellow for Teach to Learn, a global arts education network.

Sami studied privately with Dominique Eade and John McNeil at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she graduated with a BM in Vocal Jazz Performance in the fall of 2014. The same year she received a BA in Psychology from Tufts University. Sami grew up in East Winthrop, Maine, and is currently living in Brooklyn, NY."

-Sami Stevens Website (http://www.samistevensvoice.com/bio)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Isaac Wilson is a pianist and composer. Isaac performs regularly as both a leader and as a sideman around the greater Boston area, and graduated in the spring of 2015 with a Bachelors degree in Jazz Performance; he currently attends Berklee College of Music as a member of the inaugural class of Masters Jazz Program candidates. His teachers include Ran Blake, Frank Carlberg, Fred Hersch, Cecil McBee, Alan Pasqua and Edward Simon, and he has studied classical piano with Stephen Drury, Jeffrey Lavner, and Sophia Rosoff."

-Great on Paper (https://www.endectomorph.com/great-on-paper.html)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Allen grew up in Temple Hills, Maryland and began playing the recorder when he was three; his father teaches in Washington DC public schools. At first he listened to R&B and rock'n'roll, which led him to learn guitar. After taking lessons, his guitar teacher introduced him to music by Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton . Eventually he started playing the occasional electric bass and double bass that his father owned, and he soon became more drawn to the bass. In high school he played in the string orchestra, jazz ensemble, and in his local parish. Later he also played in the wind ensemble and djembé in the African dance and music program.

During his studies at the Eastman School of Music , where he studied with James VanDemark and Jeff Campbell, he worked with various groups in Rochester, New York. In 2016, Allen received the Rochester Links Scholarship Award; In 2017 he obtained a Bachelor of Music in classical bass and jazz bass. He then continued his studies at Berklee College of Music , where he received his Master of Arts. In Boston he played among other things. with Ralph Peterson , George Garzone and Jerry Bergonzi , later in New York with Rodney Green , Kyle Benford and David Weiss . He also performs regularly in Washington DC and Baltimore, including. in clubs like Blues Alley , Twins Jazz Club, Bohemian Caverns and the Kennedy Center . At the end of 2019 he released the album The Bond: Chants of the Political Prisoner with his own compositions under his own name ; further recordings have been made so far with Luke Norris ( Northern song) and Jennifer Bellor ( Stay ). Allen lives in Brooklyn."

-Wikipedia (Translated by Google) (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrone_Allen)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Canadian drummer, born in Toronto, based in Brooklyn, New York. At the Brubeck Institute, Adam had the privilege of studying with Joe Gilman, Taylor Eigsti, Jeff Ballard, Geoffrey Keezer, Ray Drummond, Yosvanny Terry, and many others and got a chance to play Jazz Festivals across the U.S, such as Detroit with greats like Christian McBride. The '08/'09 Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet received Downbeat Magazine's Best College Combo twice. Shortly thereafter, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston until 2013 on scholarship. He collaborated with musicians as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Aaron Goldberg, Orlando Le Fleming, Matt Brewer, Harish Raghavan, Joel Ross, Greg Osby, Dayna Stephens, Gilad Hekselman, Charles Altura, Kevin Eubanks, Romain Collin, Phil Woods, Alita Moses, Matt Marantz, Jeremy Pelt, Will Vinson, Ralph Alessi, Jason Palmer, Kristiana Roemer, Jonathan Kreisberg, Yotam Silberstein and many more."

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/6119764-Adam-Arruda)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Things Line Up 4:21

2. Coasts 7:13

3. Balance 5:32

4. Skylight 6:36

5. Haiti 4:24

6. I Insist 9:01

7. Happy Birthday 6:01

8. Parkside 10:07

9. This Spring 6:59

10. Understanding 7:30

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Melodic and Lyrical Jazz
Song Based Music
Quintet Recordings
Last Copy of Items that will not be restocked...

Search for other titles on the label:
Greenleaf Music.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Other Recommended Releases:
Royston, Rudy
Day
(Greenleaf Music)
The second album from drummer Rudy Royston's chamber-like ensemble Flatbed Buggy, featuring John Ellis on woodwinds, Gary Versace on accordion, Hank Roberts on cello, and Joe Martin on bass, in a concept album of the typical ups and downs, joys and sadness, gratitude and dreads a typical day would bring, ultimately culminating in a celebration of life and healing.
Douglas, Dave and Elan Mehler
If There Are Mountains
(Greenleaf Music)
Originally released as an LP on the French Newvelle Records label co-founded by pianist Elan Mehler, here reissued with four additional recordings of beautifully lyrical jazz pivoting around Japanese haiku's, from the sextet led by Mehler and NY trumpeter Dave Douglas with vocalist Dominique Eade, reedist John Gunther, bassist Simon Willson, and drummer Dayeon Seok.
Carter, Daniel / Ayumi Ishito / Eric Plaks / Zach Swanson / Jon Panikkar
Open Question Vol. 1
(577 Records)
A wonderfully warm and innately lyrical free jazz quintet that grew organically from weekly jam sessions in Harlem starting in 2019, comprised of tenor saxophonist Ayumi Ishito, pianist Eric Plaks, bassist Zach Swanson, and drummer Jon Panikkar, and later, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter, Ishito the driving force in the project and this beautiful recording.
Douglas, Dave
Showing Up / The Power of the Vote [7" VINYL]
(Greenleaf Music)
2019 Record Store Day release, a 7" from trumpeter Dave Douglas in two different configurations: the lead track from his album "Engage" featuring guitarist Jeff Parker and cellist Tomeka Reid along with Anna Webber, Nick Dunston & Kate Gentile; and a B-Side from 2018's "Uplift" featuring Joe Lovano and Bill Laswell alongside Mary Halvorson, Julian Lage, and Ian Chang.
Lightcap, Chris Bigmouth
Epicenter
(Clean Feed)
Bassist Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth features 2 saxophonists--Chris Cheek and Tony Malaby, Craig Tabor on keys and Gerald Cleavers on drums, in 8 melodic tracks inspired by landmarks of NYC and influenced by jazz tradition, West African music, pop hooks, and more.
Hobson's Choice
Of The Waves
(Barnyard)
Canada's songwriting Hobson's Choice has developed into a tightly knit ensemble embracing elements of jazz, chamber, and singer-songwriter traditions, with sound-worlds ranging from midnight deep-woods marimba ballads to sunny cicada-sung anthems.
Sorey, Tyshawn
Oblique-I
(Pi Recordings)
10 compositions from drummer Tyshawn Sorey's creative quartet/quintet repertoire "41 Compositions", created as a series of platforms for improvisation, here performed with Loren Stillman, Todd Neufeld, John Escreet & Chris Tordini.



Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
Rempis, Dave / Avreeayl Ra
Bennu [VINYL]
(Aerophonic)
The first recorded document of longtime collaborators performing as a duo, Dave Rempis (alto & tenor saxophones) and Avreeayl Ra (drums & percussion), in a thoughtfully building and muscular sax/drum pairing of both meditative and joyful free playing, captured at Constellation in Chicago after months where both players were unable to perform in person; exceptional!
Dykstra, Jordan / Koen Nutters
In Better Shape Than You Found Me
(elsewhere)
The first album from the duo of American composer & violinist Jordan Dykstra and Dutch composer Koen Nutters, developed by exchanging material of ambient & spacious nature using slow chord development, field recordings, viola, pitch pipe, crotales, piano EBow and electronic programming, the resulting work diverse and constantly evolving through fascinating details.
Pisaro-Liu, Michael
Tombstones (performed by Barbara Dang & Muzzix)
(elsewhere)
Applying techniques that Michael Pisaro uses in his audio compositions to song formats, this album presents 11 new versions of songs from his 2013 Human Ear Music album, here reworked for clarity and recorded under the artistic direction of the Lille-based pianist Barbara Dang and six members of the Muzzix collective (Bellefont, Cruz, Orins, Pruvost & Pruvost).
Johansson / Fite / Grip
Swinging at Topsi's [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD]
(Astral Spirits)
An evening of free improvisation recorded in Berlin at au Topsi Pohl in 2020 from the Swedish trio of Euro Free Jazz legend Sven-Ake Johansson on drums, Niklas Fite on acoustic guitar and Joel Grip on double bass, performing two extended and dynamic improvisations, and then settling into jazz standard form for "Isn't It Romantic" and "Out of Nowhere" sung by by Johansson.
This Is It! (Fujii / Itani / Tamura)
Mosaic
(Libra)
Circumventing pandemic lockdowns, the trio of husband & wife, pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, recorded this album at their home in Kobe, Japan using an internet connection to perform in real time with drummer/percussionist Takashi Itani in Tokyo, their joyful and sophisticated improvisation a testament to close listening and magnificent communication.
McPhee, Joe
Route 84 Quarantine Blues (Black Cross Solo Sessions 2)
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
One of Corbett vs. Dempsey's Black Cross Solo Sessions, Joe McPhees approaches his album recorded during pandemic lockdown in his home through tenor sax, voice, water, objects and field recordings, the center of the album a cycle of compositions by Charles Mingus, alongside works by Carla Bley and influences by Joni Mitchell, and a virtual symphony of saxes on the title track.
Schvarzman, Pablo / Francois Carrier / Michel Lambert / Diego Calicedo
Glow
(FMR)
The longstanding Canadian duo of alto saxophonist Francois Carrier and drummer Michel Lambert recorded this expressively energetic album of five dynamic free improvisations at Soda Acustic in Barcelona in a quartet with two South American electric guitarists living in Spain: Argentinian guitarist Pablo Scvarzman and Colombian guitarist Diego Calicedo.
Schirmer, Brode Unit (w/ Jan Roder / Matthias Broede)
Berlin, Germany
(FMR)
Led by bass clarinetist Tobias Schirmer and harmonica player Matthias Broede, also on piano, with Jan Roder on bass and drummer Bernd Oezsevim, this German quartet blends contemporary jazz through four original Brode compositions and two collective improvisations, performed with melodic intent and tight, quick interaction as recorded live at Tito's Zentrifuge in Berlin.
Schindler, Udo / Etienne Rolin / Luc Laine
In Search Of Surprise
(FMR)
Unique voicing through the orchestration of saxophones, basset horn, glissotar (a modern continuous pitch wind instrument) and vibraphone, heard in this recording at the international artist house Villa Waldberta, in Feldafing-Munich, Germany, for seven recordings that blend free jazz forms with chamber jazz approaches with remarkable sophistication and composure.
Schindler, Udo / Wilbert De Joode
Participation & Interplay [LowToneStudies]
(FMR)
Concentrating on the lower end of their instruments, Udo Schindler and double bassist Wilbert de Joode improvise live at DasKihotzky_wagnisARt and at the 99th Salon für Klang+Kunstover in Munich, for 10 parts of their "[LowToneStudies]", Schindler performing on bass clarinet, f-tuba and tubax (a contrabass saxophone), occasionally complementing their lower end with soprano sax.
Dunmall, Paul / Simon Thoumire / John Edwards / Phillip Gibbs
Brothers In Music
(FMR)
2021 reissue of this 2004 release on the DUNS label bringing together a uniquely voiced quartet with Paul Dunmall on tenor & soprano saxophones, virtuoso concertina player Simon Thoumire, John Edwards on double bass and Philip Gibbs on guitar, with both Dunmall & Thoumire performing on bagpipes on two tracks; a welcome reissue to a distinctive and thought-provoking album.
Dunmall, Paul / Jonathan Impett / Andrew Ball / Paul Rogers / Phillip Gibbs
Undistracted
(FMR)
A 2004 quintet recording from Victoria Rooms in Bristol with the core of long-time collaborators Paul Dunmall on tenor sax, Paul Rogers on bass and Philip Gibbs, performing with two improvisers also well known for their work in compositional forms--Jonathan Impett on trumpet and Andrew Ball on piano--bringing unique perspectives to their far-ranging, advanced improvisation.
Novak, Rebecca / Danny Kamins / Sandy Ewen / Damon Smith / Jerome Bryerton
Groundwater Recharge
(Balance Point Acoustics)
Explorative improvisation, from mysteriously quiet moments to scrabbling and determined conversation, configured as trios and quintets by Rebecca Novak on piano, cornet, radio & glassware, Danny Kamins on baritone saxophone, Sandy Ewen on guitar, Damon Smith on double bass and Jerome Bryerton on percussion, all bringing unique moments through extended techniques, objects & radio.
Sandell, Sten / Lisa Ullen
Double Music
(Clean Feed)
The first duo album by pianists Sten Sandell and Lisa Ullén, recorded in their home country of Sweden, performing eight freely improvised piano works which include the two-part "Double Music" and two-part "Onyx", each recording contrasting complex interplay of discord and harmony with beautiful passages of introspection and intellectual depth; a remarkable merging of masterful talent.
Hatcher / Maunu / Kirshner
Live at Splice Series
(Kettle Hole Records)
A trio of younger generation Chicago free improvisers from Gerrit Hatcher on tenor saxophone, Peter Maunu on guitar, violin & mandolin and Julian Kirshner on drums, performing at The Beat Kitchen as part of the Live at Splice Series, in two recordings from contemplative and darkly spacious to kinetically energetic, released in a limited edition CD.
Smith, Wadada Leo / Vijay Iyer / Jack Dejohnette
A Love Sonnet For Billie Holiday
(Tum)
One of two albums marking trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith's 80th birthday, and showing his creative and technical skills still in peak form, here in a trio for the first time uniting independent collaborators, pianist & keyboardist Vijay Iyer and drummer Jack DeJohnette, in compositions from each of the performers plus one collective improvisation.
Gratkowski, Frank / Elisabeth Harnik
Bullungga
(Klanggalerie)
Recordings from two European jazz festivals in 2020--Klangspuren festival in Austria and Moers Festival in Germany--from the duo of pianist Elisabeth Harnik and multi-wind & reedist Frank Gratkowski performing on alto & soprano saxophones, clarinet & bass flute, both of whom bring classical training to their spirited, diverse and far-ranging improvisations.
Ciao Ciao Cello
Quiero Ver A Ese Monstruo
(zOaR Records)
The Berlin-based trio of guitarist Beat Keller performing on feedbacker electric guitar & acoustic guitar, innovative tuba improviser Jack Adler-McKean and Spanish vocalist & performance artist Lorena Izquierdo Aparicio take on their monsters in five unique and disturbing improvisations recorded in the studio, as they "dance on the fine line between terror and joy".
Schwerdt, Oliver / Gunter Sommer
Dry Swing / Tandem Spaces
(Euphorium)
Three duos--"Tandem Spaces"--and two solos--"Dry Swing"(s)-between drummer Gunter Baby Sommer, who was celebrating his 70th birthday the year of this recording, and younger generation pianist and Euphorium label-leader Oliver Schwerdt, the duos an exciting set of exchanges often building to high speed, with Schwerdt's solo work engrossingly intricate and quick-witted.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC