The idea of recording About Time grew out of recent performances with pianist Enrique Haneine which are always spontaneous and engaging. I wanted to document our musical interactions. Playing with Enrique has created some of my favorite musical moments.

As I continued conceptualizing and curating tunes for the album, I imagined it expanding beyond a trio to include horns and also vocals. I also wanted to assemble a group of musicians that not only played great but would have compatible musical approaches and would sound like they had played together for years.

I first heard bassist Sean Conly playing with drummer Richie Morales. Sean’s playing is masterful, grooving and melodic. He is comfortable playing everything from classic jazz standards to avant-garde and beyond.

Shunzo Ohno has played as a sideman with jazz masters such as Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gil Evans and Buster Williams just to name a few and many more as a bandleader. Shunzo always brings a musical energy to stage or studio and his playing is tonally rich, genuine and exciting.

Matt Garrison is a first call saxophonist with a mature, beautiful tone and a wonderfully melodic approach to everything he plays. He is equally adept at tenor and soprano.

Ruby Pucillo is a talented vocalist who really understands both her instrument as well as the genre. Ruby brings a refined fresh style to her vocals as well as a nod to the classic jazz vocal masters.

I have always liked albums that are “epic” with the music taking you on a journey and not just presenting tunes in a random order.  I wanted a musically balanced performance in terms of varied arrangements, tempos, solos and energy. Sonic quality and acoustic reproduction is also a very important part of this recording and Samurai Hotel Recording Studio really came through with creating a beautiful soundstage as well as an environment that fosters creativity.

The music that I have selected are composed by some very recognizable names like Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter, but also some composers you might not know. Billy Drummond, Fred Hersch and Alan Pasqua. They are all very well known musicians in modern jazz and I think their compositions are destined to be classics. 

I wanted About Time to be an album that is not a one-play wonder but rather one that encourages repeated listening and makes the listener feel good. I hope you enjoy!

John Clay