Here & Now

Langley proves throughout why he is one of the best hard bop and soul Jazz guitarists on the scene. All About Jazz Langley Soars with conviction and maturity Downbeat Guitarist Jake Langley has produced an exceptional recording of original music and jazz classics with Here And Now. He has enlisted two giants of the New York Modern Jazz Scene -B3 Organist Sam Yahel (Joshua Redman, Norah Jones) and drummer Ian Froman (Metalwood, Dave Leibman) to join him on this musical journey. A hard swinging modern Jazz recording with a distinct New York edge, Here and Now still remains true to the roots of Organ Trio Jazz with nods to the blues, funk and bop. Here and Now reached top 25 on Bob Parlocha's Dinner Jazz for 3 months as well as the top 10 on Canada's Galaxie charts. Recorded exclusively with vintage instruments and recording gear Langley gets a warm, yet funky tone from his 1950's Gibson guitars and amps and Sam Yahel delivers firey solos and finger popping bass lines from a 50's Vintage B3 organ and Fender Rhodes. Langley utilized old school recording techniques to record the music live to tape with vintage tube and ribbon mics to get that classic warm sound. This recording wraps around you like a old wool blanket reminiscent of the vibe of the classic Blue Note recordings by Grant Green and Larry Young yet remains refreshingly modern and original at the same time. Langley weaves bop based lines effortlessly throughout his solos never straying too far from the blues. His original tunes each take the listener on a different musical path. From the opening swinger Here And Now to the funky L-Train, the modal Singularity, and 2012 to the beautifully melodic The Ropers, Jake Langley shines as a composer as well as a world class guitarist. It is no wonder that he is considered one of the top of his generation. The Trio's interpretation of the Charles Mingus Classic Goodbye Pork Pie Hat creates a somber mood as Yahel plays a brilliant solo on Fender Rhodes. The group tackles the Gordon Lightfoot hit If You Could Read My Mind turning it into a modern jazz masterpiece. Then they spit out red hot blues lines on McOy Tyner's Blues on the Corner and peacefully end the recording with Langley's sensitive interpretation of Michelle Legrand's You Must Believe In Spring. This recording is really fun to listen to. After Langley's 4 year tenure with the great Joey Defrancesco trio, Here and Now is a perfect example of why an artist of this caliber needs to step out on his own. Fans of Grant Green, Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino will not be disappointed, and neither will be Modern Jazz enthusiasts who enjoy Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny and Medesky Martin and Wood. Here And Now is destined to become a classic in the Organ Jazz and Jazz Guitar genres. This is Organ Trio Jazz at it's best.