Music from Randal Despommier’s debut album Dio C'è. Co-produced by multi-Grammy winner Jimmy Haslip, Dio C'è presents lyrical, transporting originals, plus imaginative reinventions of a popular Italian film ballad and a top 10 mid-’90’s rock hit by Stone Temple Pilots, “Big Empty”. Contemporary jazz, Italian pop, alternative rock, Gregorian chant, and high-octane, gospel-infused grooves are all present in this bold display of artistry.
About the performers:
New York-based alto saxophonist and composer Randal Despommier “blends the suavity of Paul Desmond with the intensity of Dave Binney” (Musically Speaking). In February of 2021, Despommier, a native of New Orleans, released his first solo album Dio C'è, “impressive in his debut as leader”. (OffBeat Magazine) A melting pot of “cross-pollinated jazz” ranging from lyrical, transporting originals to imaginative reinventions of a popular Italian film ballad, the album presents “wildly ambitious, genre-mashing recordings that speak to Despommier’s wide-ranging influences.” (AllMusic) Dio C’è, which debuted at the Soapbox Gallery in Brooklyn via livestream, introduces his new quartet as well as guest artists including Grammy-winning artist and co-producer Jimmy Haslip, renowned avant-jazz figure Ben Monder, and internationally acclaimed vocalist Aubrey Johnson. It has also been featured on Italy’s RAI, France Musique, and the Bayerischer Rundfunk. In 2018, Despommier released and toured All At Onceness with kindred spirit Jason Yeager, “compelling” according to the Boston Globe. They performed at venues such as the Regattabar, Williamsburg Music Center, Cornelia Street Cafè, The Backroom, and the Qintai Concert Hall in China.
New York-based pianist and composer Jason Yeager creates music that is deeply expressive and multi-faceted, defying convention while reveling in the traditions of jazz, blues, 20th century classical music, and Latin American folk rhythms. An adroit and sensitive accompanist as well as an imaginative bandleader, Yeager has released five albums of original music, including All At Onceness (called a "compelling new album" by the Boston Globe) with musical polymath Randal Despommier; United (named a Best Album of 2017 by Downbeat Magazine) with violin virtuoso Jason Anick; and his latest, New Songs of Resistance, featuring reimagined nueva canción songs from Latin America and original compositions. The Boston Globe describes this most recent recording as a “musical reflection of troubled times and a search for affirmation nonetheless,” and the New York Music Daily hails it as “searingly relevant” and “one of the best albums of 2019 in any style of music.” A committed educator, Yeager also teaches piano at Berklee College of Music and the New York Jazz Academy. www.jasonyeager.com
Aaron Holthus is a bassist and musician in Brooklyn, NY. He is co-leader of Oak Trio and founder of Tasting Notes, a project bringing together musicians and culinary artists for unprecedented collaborations. Holthus constantly gains momentum as a young artist, performing and teaching around the world in festivals like Generations in Jazz (Australia), the Athens Jazz Festival, Chile Jazz por la Paz, the Panama Percussion Festival, FiJazz Costa Rica, and others. Holthus’ first album as a leader was Oak Trio’s Liminality, released in March of 2018, followed by the first release from Tasting Notes--Coffee Songs: Vol 1, an EP of original compositions by Holthus based on single-origin coffees from around the world.
Originally from Santiago de Chile, Rodrigo Recabarren moved to New York City in 2009, and since then demand for his services has grown rapidly and constantly in the Jazz world. Rodrigo holds a Masters in Music, Jazz performance from New York University and has performed/recorded with artists such as Guillermo Klein, Claudia Acuña, Camila Meza, Melissa Aldana, Angel Parra among many others. More information on www.rodrigorecabarren.com