Top-notch Contemporary Jazz

 

Bill Carrothers, one of the most important piano players in the international Jazz scene and two of the greatest jazz musicians in Mexico, acoustic bassist Agustin Bernal and drum player Hernan Hecht have formed a trio so full of stories, colors and surprises that they have decided to continue performing together after their successful tour through Mexico in April-May 2006. Actually they are working for the 2008 concerts tours, that are programed for january & February in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay as well in May starts in Europe.
.

 

 

 

 

Bill Carrothers has been a professional pianist for over 20 years. He has played many venues throughout the U.S. and Europe including the Village Gate, Knitting Factory, Birdland, Blues Alley, New Morning (Paris), the Audi Jazz Festival in Brussels, the Nevers Jazz Festival (where he shared the bill with Abbey Lincoln), the Montreal Jazz Festival, Jazz Middelheim, and the Marciac Festival in France. In October of 2000, Mr. Carrothers headlined the prestigious Rising Star Tour throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He has been a leader on twelve recordings, all of which have received critical acclaim. His sideman credits have included some of the greatest names in jazz, including Joe Beck, Scott Colley, Buddy DeFranco, Dave Douglas, Curtis Fuller, Eric Gravatt, Drew Gress, Tim Hagans, Billy Higgins, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Gary Peacock, Dewey Redman, Charlie Rouse, James Spaulding, Bill Stewart, Ira Sullivan, Toots Thielemans, and Benny Wallace.

 

 

 

 

Discography

 

As a Leader

-        A Band In All Hope - Ye Who Enter Here (Bridge Boy)

-        The Blues And The Greys (Bridge Boy)

-        After Hours (GoJazz)

-        The Artful Dodger (Bridge Boy)

-        The Language Of Crows (Bridge Boy)

-        Duets with Bill Stewart (Birdology)

-        Swing Sing Songs (Birdology)

-        The Electric Bill (Birdology)

-        Ghost Ships (Sketch)

-        Armistice 1918 (Sketch)

-        I Love Paris (Pirouet)

-        Civil War Diaries (Illusions)

-        Shine Ball (Fresh Sounds)

 

As a Side Man

-        Bill Stewart - Telepathy (Blue Note)

-        Bill Stewart - Snide Remarks (Blue Note)

-        Dave Douglas - Moving Portrait (DIW)

-        Jay Epstein - Long Ago (IGMOD)

-        Scott Colley - Subliminal (Criss Cross)

-        Ira Sullivan - After Hours (GoJazz)

-        Peg Carrothers - Blue Skies (Bridge Boy)

-        Phil Grenadier - Playful Intentions (FSNT)

 

 

Awards

 

Bill Carrothers - Armistice 1918:

-        2004 Grand Prix de l'acadŽmie Charles Cros

-        Jazz Magazine - Top 10 de 2004

-        JazzMan Magazine - Top 10 de 2004

-        Le Monde - Top 10 de 2004

-        Montreal Mirror - Top 10 de 2004

-        Liberation - Top 3 de 2004

-        JAZZIZ Magazine - Critics Choice, 2004

-        Inrockuptibles - Top 10 de 2004

 

Bill Carrothers – Duet con Bill Stewart:

-        Winner of the French Diapason d'Or de l'annŽe (2000)

-        Winner of a German Schallplatten

-        A Top 10 disc de 1999 en Jazzman Magazine

 

Bill Carrothers - After Hours:

-        Top 10 Disc de 1999 (Jazz Magazine)

 

Wendy Lewis/Bill Carrothers - The Language of Crows:

-        Top 10 Disc de 1999 (Jazz Magazine)

 

 

 

Press

 

-        Les Inrockuptibles - A phenomenon, a poet of the keyboard, fundamental and inspiring, a true revelation.

-        LibŽration - The pianist of the 21st century.

-        TŽlŽrama - The new monster of the piano.

-        Le Monde - The most exciting discovery of the year.

 

New York Times (USA), October 25, 2004

Critic's Choice by Ben Ratliff

The pianist Bill Carrothers had a false start in the New York jazz scene in the late 1980's and early 90's, and retreated young to live and work in the upper peninsula of Michigan. There he makes records and, apparently, studies history. For his new album, "Armistice 1918" (Sketch Music), he studied the music of World War I and fashioned a two-disc narrative about prewar optimism, life on the front, trench warfare and the destruction of ideals and families. It is an ambitious work of repertory and imagination.

The trio at the album's core is Mr. Carrothers, with the bassist Drew Gress and the drummer Bill Stewart, who together explore a series of moods, including an orderly free jazz. The songs include "Hello Ma Baby" and "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," as well as Mr. Carrothers's own suggestive sketches of wartime life. But he plays solo piano for tracks like "Roses of Picardy," meditative, improvisational and flecked with dissonance.

His wife, Peg, who has a gentle, strong theater voice, sings familiar songs of the time, and interacts with the music in other ways as well. In the version of "On Moonlight Bay," Ms. Carrothers sings the melody wordlessly over the band's monotone march.

 

 

JAZZIZ Magazine, January 2005

Critic's Choice – 2004 by Alexander Gelfand

Carrothers' two disc tone poem to WW1, inspired by the work of Great War poets and partially funded by a war museum in the Somme region of France, is by turns jubilant and haunting. Carefully researched and thoughtfully constructed, it evokes a depth of feeling and reflection worthy of the event that inspired it.

 

 

Le Monde (FR), September 20, 2004

Sylvain Siclier, Pick of the week

Le pianiste Bill Carrothers dans les horreurs de 14-18

NŽ en 1964 ˆ Minneapolis, le pianiste de jazz Bill Carrothers s'Žtait fait conna”tre ˆ la fin des annŽes 1990 avec deux enregistrements : l'un, A Band in All Hope (Bridge Boy Music), partiellement inspirŽ par la lecture de La Divine ComŽdie, en trio avec le saxophoniste Anton Denner et le batteur Bill Stewart ; l'autre, Duets with Bill Stewart (Birdology) qui mettait en relief la fŽconde relation artistique entre les deux hommes.

Et puis il y avait eu l'Žtrange, poignant ˆ de nombreux moments, The Blues and the Greys (Bridge Boy Music) en piano solo. Les soldats bleus au nord et ceux en gris au sud lors de la guerre de SŽcession amŽricaine entre 1861 et 1865 ŽvoquŽs par des airs et chansons de l'Žpoque. PassionnŽ d'histoire, Carrothers y revient aujourd'hui avec le double CD Armistice 1918. On est en Europe lors de la premire guerre mondiale de 1914 ˆ 1918, celle qui marque selon certains la vŽritable entrŽe dans le XXe sicle.

Carrothers puise dans un rŽpertoire mlŽ. Celui des dŽbuts du jazz, qui, pour cause d'implication des Etats-Unis dans le conflit, va sortir de sa terre d'origine. Celui des chansons que les soldats se sifflent ˆ la veillŽe. Pas d'hymnes guerriers, mais des mŽlodies que l'on veut retenir avant la plongŽe dans l'horreur. C'est plut™t la matire du premier CD. Le deuxime serait plus le regard que porte Carrothers sur son sujet. Ses compositions dominent. Il quitte plus franchement les repres d'un thme pour avancer dans l'improvisation. Le ton est plus sombre.

Cet Armistice 1918, Carrothers ne l'aborde pas seul. Drew Gress ˆ la contrebasse et Bill Stewart ˆ la batterie forment avec lui le trio de base. Matt Turner est au violoncelle, parfaitement intŽgrŽ (Let me Call You Sweetheart), comme Peg Carrothers au chant. Franche, limpide, vibrante. Enfin une femme de musicien qui est lˆ parce qu'elle a du talent. Il y a parfois un chÏur avec les musiciens, le preneur de son, le producteur. Un percussionniste et un clarinettiste sont aussi dŽlicatement mis en jeu. Le tout sous pochette somptueuse et livret Žpais, en accord total avec la gravitŽ du thme et l'Žvidence de la musique.

 

 

For more Press visit:

http://www.bridgeboymusic.com/carrothers_press.txt

 

 

 

 

Agust’n Bernal

Born in MŽxico. He studied double bass with maestro Andrzej Kalarus. He studied with Jazz Bassist Rufus Reid in New York City and attended courses with Bertram Turetzky and Entcho Radukanov.He studied Harmony,Counterpoint and musical form with renowned mexican composer Humberto Hern‡ndez Medrano.He was a member of Mexico«s National Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz musician, he ha collaborated with several groups such as: Jade Visions, Atril 5, Antrop—leo, Tr’o Nery, Bernal, C‡rdenas, Eugenio Toussaint, Viva Fidel, Tr’o C‡rdenas,Bernal,Castel‡n, Iraida Noriega, La Banda de Moebius, Gil Gutierrez Tr’o, Coyoac‡n Jazz Quartet, Cuarteto de HŽctor Infanz—n, Aanderud,Bernal Puentes tr’o, Bernal,Villica–a,Puentes tr’o, Diego Maroto Sextet and his own trio.

 

 He has also played with several international figures such as: Cuban drummer Ignacio Berroa (Gonzalo Rubalcava tr’o)japanese pianist Makoto Ozone,New York saxophonists Ralph Lalama (Vanguard Orchestra),Arnie Lawrence and Paul McCandless (Oregon),mexican drummer Antonio S‡nchez (Pat Metheny,John Patitucci,David Sanchez,Danilo PŽrez),New York trumpet player Jerry Gonz‡lez (Fort Apache Band), famous french flute virtuoso Jean Pierre Rampal and pianist Bill Carrothers, among others.

 

 He has performed at several jazz festivals such as: Jazz Plaza in Havana (Cuba), Festival Internacional Cervantino, International World Expo in Lisbon (Portugal), Vancouver Folk Music Fest, Festival Internacional de la Ciudad de MŽxico, El Z—calo es Jazz, Festival de Jazz de Irapuato, Arte 01 and Arte 02, Festival Internacional de Jazz San Miguel de Allende, Festival de jazz del ¬Habito¬,EuroJazz etc.

 In 2001 he formed the tr’o Aanderud, Bernal, Puentes with whom he has recorded a CD called ¬Common Differences¬for his own recording company called Agave Jazz. With this tr’o he has travelled to Los Angeles California for the Paul Getty Museum Summer Sessions for an audience of 4000 people.

 

 Recently he travelled to th Czech Republic for concerts in three different festivals in the cities of Olomuc, Sumperk and Jezenic,as well as four clubs in Prague:Zelena Jazz Club,Agartha Jazz Club and Reduta Jazz Club,the latter considered one of the oldest jazz clubs in Europe founded in 1958,The group received several favorable reviews.

 

 He also performed with Eugenio Toussaint and Gabriel Puentes at Medell’n International Jazz Festival in Medell’n Colombia in 2003 as well as an appeareance at New York«s  Dizzy«s Club with the Diego Maroto Sextet in November of 2004.

 

 Some of his latest presentations were with his own trio sharing the stage with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on February 2006 and a tour as part of the Bill Carrothers trio in May 2006.

 

 

Hern‡n Hecht

He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 18, 1975. He studied Drums Performance in the Technological Institute of Contemporary Music (ITMC). He has also attended the Master classes and international seminars of musicians such as Alex Acuna , Will Kenedy , Bill Bruford , Pat Masteloto , Allan Holdsworth , Gary Husband , Danny Gotllieb , Mike Stern , Joey Heredia , Joe Zawinul , Alphonso Jhonson , Makoto Ozone, John Scofield, Giovani Hidalgo, Dave Weckl, Clarence Penn, Gene Lake y To–o S‡nchez, Dave Fuzinsky. He also studied at Berklee University in Argentina (1995) and in Mexico City (1997).

Professionally, he has been part of several jazz groups and participated in the projects of various musicians:: Bill Carrothers (USA), Dave Fuzcinsky (USA), Dean Bowman (USA), Frank Gambale (USA), Scott Henderson (USA), Gabriel Hern‡ndez (Cuba), Pere Soto (Espa–a), Statements Dœo (Alemania), Tyler Mitchell (USA), Jarry Singla (Germany), Dave McMurdo (Canad‡), Brent Jensen (USA), Randy Vincent (USA) , Rob Walker (USA), Ken Basman (Canad‡), Dave OÕHiggins (UK), Tom Cawley (UK), Jack De Keyzer (Canad‡), David Rotundo (Canad‡).
In Argentine Luis Salinas, Martin Negro Quartet, Queruza trio, Daniel Copquin, Santella-Jaime Hecht jazz trio, Alejandro Aranda Trio, Andres Fuhr, Rodrigo Dominguez, Juan Pablo Arredondo, Jeronimo Carmona
In Mexico: Francisco Lelo de Larrea, Mark Aanderud, Aar—n Cruz, Agust’n Bernal, Diego Maroto, Francisco Tellez, Germ‡n Bringas, Xel-Ha, Montage, Lury Molina, Magos Herrera, Emmanuel Mora, Crist—bal L—pez, Cr‡neo de Jade, Xul Quintet, Alejandro Campos Quartet, Eduardo Piastro tr’o & quintet, L’nea 3, Iraida Noriega, Enrique Nery, Alain Derbez, Santella/Cruz/Hecht jazz tr’o, Israel Cupich Quintet, GalZlochT trio, Sandra Cuevas, Hernan Hecht X-Pression Quartet

He has played all throughout Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Chile, Europe and the United States.

 

 

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ

 

Input List

 

CH.

INPUT

MICRO

F.O.H.

MON.

BASE

1.      

AMBIENT Drums

AKG D-112 /

RE20 / M88

 

 

SHORT /

BOOM

2.      

O.H. –L

SM-81

 

 

BOOM

3.      

O.H.-R

SM-81

 

 

BOOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.      

DOUBLE BASS

AKG D-112/RE 20

COMP

 

SHORT / BOOM

55.

DOUBLE BASS

DIRECT BOX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 PIANO

Condenser (Derecho)

COMP

 

BOOM

7

PIANO

Condenser (Izquierdo)

 

 

BOOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

Vocal

SM 58

Wireless

 

 

SUELTO

                                                

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ

 
Rider

 

1-     Acustic Piano Grand Concert (Tuned)

2-     Drums: Kick18Õ, Tom 12Õ , Floor Tom 14Õ, 3 Cymbal stands, 1 Snare stand, 1 HiHat Pedal, 1 Trone
Heads (Remo Ambassador o Remo Fiber Skin o  Evans)

3-     Bass Amp

4-     3 Audio monitors

5-     Catering whit Towels, Water, Red Wine, Pizza, Fruit & Cereal Bars

 

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stage Plot

 

 

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ

 

 

 

Contact

Hernan Hecht

info@hernanhecht.com

www.hernanhecht.com