Rain Music started as a session combining Timothy's prepared piano and Niño's percussion at the former composer's south London studio. Work continued remotely, at their homes in London and California, at which point Niño brought in the extra players-also including double bassist Michael Alvidrez, saxophonist Darius Jones, and woodwind all-rounder Aaron Shaw-and sequenced the record.
Flipping through the jazz section on a visit to his local record store a few years ago, artist Kye Potter found a battered tape by American pianist and composer Jessica Williams. It looked every bit the quintessential DIY release. The labels had come off the tape, he says. It was home-dubbed, with photocopied notes, a little bit of highlighter to accentuate the artwork, and released on her own label, Ear Art.
Co-founded by arranger, bassist, composer, producer and trombonist Adam Theis, Jazz Mafia is a Bay Area collective of top players, singers, composers, arrangers and even MCs. Launched in 2000, Jazz Mafia has been incredibly prolific, releasing more than 40 albums. The versatile ensemble has the chops and drive to tackle most any style, from the most out-there experimental jazz to traditional holiday favorites.
The album unfolds with the patience of a long tracking shot, fostering the illusion of being swallowed up by darkness. Opener "Moon" begins with a rich, buzzing synthesizer drone and the huff of naked breath through a horn; as the chord expands, revealing new frequencies, Williams sketches the tentative outline of a minor-key melody before he's joined by the searching cries of his bandmates.