Jason Yeager - Affirmation

An acclaimed artist's second recording as a leader shivers with expectation. Was all the promise heard so clearly on the debut album illusory, or is this nascent performer the real deal? Jason Yeager can rest easy. His sophomore recording, 'Affirmation' (to be released on Greg Osby's Inner Circle Music label), indeed affirms that the young New York-based pianist, composer and bandleader is expanding his individual voice as an artist while further developing the gifts first revealed on his 2011 album, 'Ruminations.' At the helm of a longstanding trio featuring the bassist Danny Weller and the drummer Matt Rousseau, Yeager explores the supple contours of ten original compositions, as well as The Beatles' "Julia" and an adaptation of excerpts from a movement of the "Quartet For The End Of Time" by the 20th century classical master, Olivier Messiaen. To enrich the sonic palette of the ensemble, Yeager carefully incorporates the talents of much-praised saxophonist Noah Preminger, vocalist Aubrey Johnson, and trumpeter Jean Caze. Affirmation boldly and persuasively displays Yeager's interest in blending his various jazz, classical, blues, pop and world music inspirations; the results speak of a deepening artistic vision that demands attention. Yeager's piano style embraces the past and present, with traces of such heroes as Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk mingling with a unique and contemporary approach to melody, harmony, rhythm and form. Featuring plenty of improvisation, his original tunes are indeed compelling compositions, pieces intended to impact listeners with their distinct melodies and aural appeal, rather than serve merely as springboards for the leader's pianistic wares, impressive as they may be. While Yeager's command and invention are heard throughout, each performance also demonstrates the integral nature of the supporting players: "Achi" and "Blues For Billy P" offer convincing displays of the awesome talents of bassist Weller, while "Stumblebop" and "Twelve Etude" give the impressive Rousseau a chance to shine. "Smiled First" makes exceptional use of Preminger's lyrical qualities; "Julia" takes on newly expressive contours through Johnson's vocalizing; and "Keep the Fire" captures fierce statements by Caze and Preminger. The extraordinarily sensitive interplay heard on excerpts from Messiaen's "Dance of Fury, For the Seven Trumpets" is yet more proof that a major, far-thinking piano trio is among us. Several of Yeager's originals are also dedications: 'Achi' is for Tal Gamlieli, 'Smiled First' is for Julie Benko, 'Keep the Fire' is for Danilo Perez, and 'Twelve Etude' is for Jerry Leake. 'Blues for Billy P' is for a fictitious character from a Kurt Vonnegut novel. Aurora was written in the wake of the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado in July 2012, and is dedicated to the victims and their families there and at Newtown, Connecticut. A New York-based pianist/composer, Yeager is an active sideman in a number of groups, performing throughout the Northeast and beyond. An honors graduate of the Tufts University/New England Conservatory Double Degree Program, where he studied with renowned pianists Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch, Ran Blake and others, Yeager is also one of the youngest faculty members at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, teaching in it's piano department. He has performed with several noteworthy artists, such as Greg Osby, Linda Oh, Sara Serpa, James Cammack, and Mark Walker, and appears on violin/mandolin virtuoso Jason Anick's album 'Tipping Point', among other recordings. Album personell: Jason Yeager - piano Danny Weller - bass Matt Rousseau - drums Jean Caze - trumpet (6) & flugelhorn (10) Aubrey Johnson - voice (5, 12) Noah Preminger - tenor sax (3, 6) On Jason Yeager: "An individualist with a high concept, his music contains grace and color and a great deal of depth." - Greg Osby "An incredible composer and musician...[who] surprises you like a thunderbolt." - Ran Blake "Plays a thoughtfully subtle, harmonically advanced sort of piano with a great touch." - Grego Edwards, All About Jazz.