Leo Richardson and Quentin Collins clean up in October’s issue!
REVIEW: Quentin Collins Sextet: Road Warrior – trumpeter's dream band
The Guardian/Observer’s Dave Gelly writes, “The combination of virtuosity, togetherness and sheer spirit that emerges from these nine tracks is quite remarkable.”
For the full review, please click on the image, above.
QC6 is Seeing Stars (five, to be exact!)
BBC Music writes, “An absorbing album.”
Another Rave Review for QC6's 'Road Warrior'!
Matthew Ruddick writes, “This is an excellent album, that impresses from the outset, and reveals new layers on each listen.”
Jazz Views Gives QC6 A Big Hand!
Eddie Myer writes, “a real player’s album, and a real treat for connoisseurs of the contemporary mainstream.”
For the full review, please click on the image, above.
★★★★★ Jazz in Europe LOVES 'Road Warrior! ★★★★★
Erminia YArdley writes, “Can I give it a 6-stars?”
For the full review, please click on the image, above.
Quentin Collins Sextet / 'Road Warrior' Rave Review!
Bebop Spoken Here’s Lance Liddle writes, “They don't come any better than this! It's Jazz Messenger territory but these jazz posties aren't walkin' the streets they're running, they're flying - this isn't snail mail it's superfast broadband and what a band!”
REVIEW--Quentin Collins Sextet: 'Road Warrior' ★★★★
All About Jazz’s Chris May writes, “Road Warrior adheres to the American post-bop tradition and various historic milestones are evoked during the course of the album.”
For the full review, please click on the image, above.
Quentin Collins: New Sextet Album, 'Road Warrior', and Tour
Quentin Collins releases a new album, Road Warrior, on Friday 13 September. It’s an album that reflects on the trumpeter’s 25 years playing jazz and celebrates all the musicians out there who try to maintain some sort of normality while doing a job they might love but which doesn’t make normality easy. Rob Adams spoke to him:
For the full article, please click on the image, above.
Ubuntu Music Signs Quentin Collins Sextet for Collins' Second Album on Label
Quentin Collins Sextet
Road Warrior
UBU0027 / CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats
Release Date: 13th September 2019
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of Quentin Collins for his second album on Ubuntu Music. Road Warrior will be released worldwide on 13th September.
As one of the hardest working and in-demand internationally renowned jazz trumpet players, Collins has formed an all-star band which is a progression of his quintet with alto sax ace, Tom Harrison, which gave birth to the Quentin Collins Sextet.
Collins’ overarching ambition was to record an album, consisting of original material, with the joint collaboration of a select US-based rhythm section and an established UK-based horn section. The end result is a collection of straight-ahead contemporary bop, composed equally by Collins and Harrison.
Quentin Collins (photograph: Goat Noise Photography)
As background, Collins met in-demand US pianist Dan Nimmer (Wynton Marsalis) while touring with Kyle Eastwood, a band Collins has been a regular with for years. Collins was so impressed with Nimmer’s playing that he invited him to be a part of the new project. Nimmer graciously accepted the offer, and suggested that the incredible drummer, Willie Jones III from New York City, joined the line-up. In addition, one of Nimmer’s close friends from high school, NY bassist Joe Sanders, rounded out this most impressive roster.
Quentin Collins and Dan Nimmer (photograph: Goat Noise Photography)
Collins further decided to stretch the front line with young tenor sax sensation, Leo Richardson, whose debut album Quentin produced on the Ubuntu Music record label. By chance, Tom Harrison also went to music college with Richardson, which made the ensemble that much more synchronistic. Meilana Gillard (who was drafted in to play alto on four days’ notice, when injury left Tom Harrison unable to make the recording) completes the line-up.
Leo Richardson and Tom Harrison (photograph: Goat Noise Photography)
Harrison asked the iconic Jazz Messenger’s legend, sax titan Jean Toussaint, to join the project in performing on two tracks and to produce the album. Collins, by contrast, asked the multi-talented composer/arranger/musician Troy Miller (Laura Mvula) to mix the album.
Quentin Collins (photograph: Darren Gerrish)
As Collins explains, “This music has been a personal journey of self-discovery. It is also a significant collaboration with my great friend, Tom Harrison. Each of our compositions represents a journey--be it spiritual or physical--and all the great wisdom gained along the way. I hope the love that went into the composing and recording process for ‘Road Warrior’ will be equally embraced by all who listen.”
Regarding his relationship with Ubuntu Music, Collins elaborates, “Releasing Road Warrior on Ubuntu is, for me, the perfect next step in my journey with the Label. Having been Artistic Director for its first three years, I know intimately how much care, attention and love Martin Hummel puts into each project. This comes from a deep and long-standing appreciation for music and music makers and makes working together on this album a real joy and thrill.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, sums up the project, saying, “Quentin and I have shared a special relationship, as friends and as business partners with a deep mutual respect for the other. I started the Label with Quentin, and Ubuntu’s second release featured Quentin and Brandon Allen in a terrific album. It gives me great joy to extend the relationship further with ‘Road Warrior’, an absolute killer of an album created by Quentin and another good friend, Tom Harrison. This is a must-hear album that brings Quentin to a new level in his career that is much anticipated and long overdue.”
Left to Right: Willie Jones III, Leo Richardson, Quentin Collins, Joe Sanders, Meilana Gillard, Dan Nimmer, Jean Toussaint, Tom Harrison (photograph: Goat Noise Photography)