Masters Return

CHRISTIAN FABIAN and the FABIAN ZONE TRIO On bassist Christian Fabian's new recording, The Masters Return! Featuring the Fabian Zone Trio and special guests, it's like jazz's quantum theory (the transformation of radiant energy) where each of the talented individuals shine, but the collective mass is heaviest when all the elements come together. Fabian looks at each of his recording sessions and concerts as a unique jazz experiment where he never knows exactly what is going to happen during the improvisation, but counts on the creativity of the musicians to bring forth musical magic. As on his previous recordings, Fabian started with a complimentary core of first-class musicians -- in this case, pianist Mike Longo and drummer Lewis Nash. On a few tracks the trio is supplemented by trumpet and flugelhorn player Jimmy Owens and tenor saxophonist Andres Boiarsky. Christian selected several jazz classics to re-work with the new band including Charlie Parker's Billies Bounce, Dizzy Gillespie's Bebop, Miles Davis's All Blues and Milestones, Herbie Hancock's Chameleon, and the standard Willow Weep For Me. In addition, Fabian contributed three originals and invited bandmembers Longo and Owens to each bring in an original composition. Then they went into the studio without rehearsals and recorded live-to-two-track (with the mix happening at the same time and no overdubs). Most of the tunes on the CD are first takes. If I am put on the spot to improvise as a musician, the best music comes out, explains Fabian. These are all marvelous musicians and all feel comfortable playing 'in the moment.' When you only play a piece once or twice, there is a certain energy connected to it that the listener senses. Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra were both strong believers in first takes. John Coltrane didn't even show Tommy Flanagan the changes to 'Giant Steps' until the recording session. It's an attempt to get to a different level of music through spontaneous creative interaction between the musicians. The Fabian Zone Trio CDs are available at Christian Fabian's website (christianfabian.com), the CAP record company site (jazzbeat.com), online webstores (including cdbaby.com), and various digital downloads locations such as iTunes. I called the album The Masters Return! For three reasons, explains Fabian. Many of the songs were written by some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. The players I chose to work with are all master musicians themselves and all played with some of the legends. The third reason is based on spiritualism and the belief that there will be a time when 'The Ancient Masters' return to our planet and show us how to live in peaceful harmony. Currently considered to be a strong youthful presence in the New York City jazz scene, Fabian was born in Sweden, raised from the age of six in Germany and began his college studies in The Netherlands. He came to the United States to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He was Lionel Hampton's bassist for many years and still performs in the Lionel Hampton Big Band. Fabian also has performed onstage with Gary Burton, Elvin Jones, Hank Jones, Joe Lovano, Roy Hargrove, Al Gray, David Sanchez, John Stowell, Lou Rawls, New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble (Mike Longo's big band), Jon Hendricks, Chaka Kahn, and Cheryl Bentyne of Manhattan Transfer. Christian's own band, the Fabian Zone Trio, has released three CDs. The musicians on The Masters Return! Bring a wealth of experience to the recording. Mike Longo played piano with Dizzy Gillespie for 25 years (and served as his Music Director). Longo's other credits include Cannonball Adderley, Coleman Hawkins, Gene Krupa, Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Paul Chambers, Lee Konitz, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, Roy Eldridge, Astrud Gilberto, James Moody and Buddy Rich. Drummer Lewis Nash, who has served on the faculty of the Juilliard School of Music, also played with Dizzy Gillespie as well as the Tommy Flanagan Trio, Betty Carter, Sonny Rollins, Osca