Liner notes by Scott Yanow.
In his
prolific and wide-ranging career, saxophonist-keyboardist-arranger-composer
Aaron Liddard has contributed to many different musical experiences including
working with Amy Winehouse, Prince, and Maceo Parker, and in genres ranging
from hip hop and rock to Latin music and gospel. But jazz has always been the
closest music to his heart. “Jazz is the only living musical art-form that is not defined
by its exclusions,” says Aaron. “At its truest, jazz is an evolving aural
tradition. As a musician with myriad musical influences, jazz is the only home
that allows me to fully explore.”
He describes Nylon Man as “roughly 12 years
in the making” and a summation of his career to this point. 42 musicians in all
appear on this project. Five (singer Giulia Marelli, guitarist Harry Greene,
bassist Paul Michael, drummer Jimmy Norden, and percussionist Eric Young) are
members of his band Aaron and the Argonauts and appear on many of this
release’s selections. Of Giulia Marelli, who is prominent on four numbers,
Aaron says “She is able to tackle every detail and edge with precision and
deliver performances with charisma. Giulia comes to my music with the best
attitude, capability and emotional energy.”
Nylon Man, which is named after the three
cities that most influenced Aaron (New York, London and Manchester), begins
with a tribute to the late Chick Corea, “Corean Castaway.” It was composed
years ago with Joan Viskant writing the lyrics in more recent times. Giulia
Marelli has the vocal and handles the wide intervals flawlessly, the strings
make a gradual but memorable entrance, and the complex drum solo is played with
expertise by Marc Parnell. One could imagine Chick Corea and Flora Purim
enjoying performing this piece.
“Frisco” was written during Aaron’s first
visit to the U.S. One night, he was walking home to his hotel in San Francisco
after attending a stirring rap opera and the song suddenly appeared in his
mind; he wrote the entire piece that night. Carleen Anderson, who Aaron met
while appearing with Norman Connors and Michael Henderson in a London show, is
featured. Her singing in a lovely operatic voice recalls Kay Davis with Duke
Ellington in the 1940s although the groove is quite contemporary.
The joyful “Apples & Pears,” which was
recorded in one take, includes prominent spots for guitarist Greene and Aaron’s
tenor over a bluesy and funky groove. A real change of pace, “My Kinda” is
described by Aaron as being about “an affair that starts out with butterflies
and ends in emotional torture. It travels from rock to hip hop to electro to highlife
to acid jazz and back to rock; it always surprises audiences.” The rollicking
“Catfood” is also a bit unique for it has Aaron joined by two different rhythm
sections (British funk and Cuban) for a brief bit of excitement. The
medium-tempo ballad “Snowdrops” begins with hints of the Yellowjackets and
includes a particularly warm vocal by Giulia Marelli and inventive playing by
the leader.
Aaron switches to flute for some lively
Latin jazz on “Manana” which has infectious percussion work from Eric Young and
is highlighted by colorful solos in the tradition by violinist Omar Puente and
Harry Greene on acoustic guitar. “Beautiful” is a calming ballad sung
beautifully by Miss Baby Sol with Aaron on piano. Nylon Man, a set filled with
more than its share of variety, concludes with the political anti-corruption
song “One Million Children.” The episodic and unpredictable performance is
about the sins of the world being viewed through the eyes of the youth, and of
a temple in Thailand in which one million school children gather once a year to
meditate for world peace.
Aaron Liddard, who was born in
Hertfordshire, started out on the euphonium, spent time playing piano and
guitar, and then settled on the tenor-sax as his main instrument. While
classically trained, as a teenager he found that the freedom of jazz was more
inspiring. He spent a decade living and working in Manchester, developing into
a very busy musician who at one point was playing regularly with 15 different
bands including his Latin hip hop group Nylon Jungle. Aaron spent a long period
as a regular member of Amy Winehouse’s band, toured with singer Beverley
Knight, performed with Maceo Parker and Prince, and played rock with the
Stargazers and the Boomtown Rats. He also contributed to over 30 albums,
performed jazz with Sheila Tracey’s big band, blues with the Sugaray Rayford
Band, and toured in three continents with his group Aaron and the Argonauts.
Aaron Liddard sums up his new release which
defines his career up to this point. “Nylon Man is how I hear music and its
possibilities. I hope that listeners will be happily surprised by what they
experience.”
Your Eyes,” which is about the long demise
of a relationship, features a dreamy and eerie vocal from Giulia Marelli over
an electronic ensemble playing in 19/8 time.
The joyful “Apples & Pears,” which was
recorded in one take, includes prominent spots for guitarist Greene and Aaron’s
tenor over a bluesy and funky groove. A real change of pace, “My Kinda” is
described by Aaron as being about “an affair that starts out with butterflies
and ends in emotional torture. It travels from rock to hip hop to electro to highlife
to acid jazz and back to rock; it always surprises audiences.” The rollicking
“Catfood” is also a bit unique for it has Aaron joined by two different rhythm
sections (British funk and Cuban) for a brief bit of excitement. The
medium-tempo ballad “Snowdrops” begins with hints of the Yellowjackets and
includes a particularly warm vocal by Giulia Marelli and inventive playing by
the leader.
Aaron switches to flute for some lively
Latin jazz on “Manana” which has infectious percussion work from Eric Young and
is highlighted by colorful solos in the tradition by violinist Omar Puente and
Harry Greene on acoustic guitar. “Beautiful” is a calming ballad sung
beautifully by Miss Baby Sol with Aaron on piano. Nylon Man, a set filled with
more than its share of variety, concludes with the political anti-corruption
song “One Million Children.” The episodic and unpredictable performance is
about the sins of the world being viewed through the eyes of the youth, and of
a temple in Thailand in which one million school children gather once a year to
meditate for world peace.
Aaron Liddard, who was born in
Hertfordshire, started out on the euphonium, spent time playing piano and
guitar, and then settled on the tenor-sax as his main instrument. While
classically trained, as a teenager he found that the freedom of jazz was more
inspiring. He spent a decade living and working in Manchester, developing into
a very busy musician who at one point was playing regularly with 15 different
bands including his Latin hip hop group Nylon Jungle. Aaron spent a long period
as a regular member of Amy Winehouse’s band, toured with singer Beverley
Knight, performed with Maceo Parker and Prince, and played rock with the
Stargazers and the Boomtown Rats. He also contributed to over 30 albums,
performed jazz with Sheila Tracey’s big band, blues with the Sugaray Rayford
Band, and toured in three continents with his group Aaron and the Argonauts.
Aaron Liddard sums up his new release which
defines his career up to this point. “Nylon Man is how I hear music and its
possibilities. I hope that listeners will be happily surprised by what they
experience.” Scott Yanow
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