James Farm

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DescriptionExcerpt

On its debut album, James Farm—a collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland—uses traditional acoustic jazz quartet instrumentation for its song-based approach to jazz and incorporates the members’ myriad influences: rock, soul, folk, classical, electronica. The New York Times calls it "a model of dazzling proficiency."

Description

James Farm is a collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland. The band uses traditional acoustic jazz quartet instrumentation for its song-based approach to jazz and incorporates the members’ myriad influences: rock, soul, folk, classical, and electronica, among many others. Nonesuch releases the band's self-titled debut album on April 26, 2011.

Penman says of the group, “James Farm is where we pool our collective knowledge, let run the best of our ideas arising from our varied musical influences, while acknowledging substantial common ground—a love of jazz, a fascination with song and structure, an obsession with groove, and a receptivity to contemporary influences. A band where we can be creative composers and improvisers, in step with the rhythm of the times, constantly evolving.”

The quartet has received critical acclaim since its debut at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival, where they played to a packed house and rave reviews. “This much is clear: these are absolute professional musicians at the top of their game,” said All About Jazz

Although this is the first time the quartet members have performed and recorded in this exact configuration, the musicians were hardly strangers. Redman, Harland, and Penman performed together as part of the SFJAZZ Collective, and pianist Aaron Parks used the James Farm rhythm section on his debut recording for Blue Note records, Invisible Cinema (2008).

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by James Farm
Recorded by James Farber
Recording Assistant: Eli Walker
Recorded August 26-29, 2010 at The Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, New York
Additional Recording by Pete Rende
Edited by Joshua Redman, Eli Walker, and Dave Darlington
Mixed by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studios, New York, NY
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Production Coordinators: Maggie Lange and Courtney Hawkes

Design by John Gall
Cover Photograph by Aaron Parks
Band Photograph by Jimmy Katz
"Plowed Field with Blue Sky" Photograph by Blaise Howard, Getty Images / The Image Bank

Eric Harland uses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Vater sticks
Joshua Redman uses Alexander reeds

Nonesuch Selection Number

526294

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
Album Status
Artist Name
James Farm
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Joshua Redman, tenor saxophone (1-9), soprano saxophone (10)
Aaron Parks, piano; tack piano, Prophet-5 (1); pump organ, humming (2); Rhodes, Prophet-5, Hammond Home Organ (4); Celeste, Prophet-5 (6); Rhodes (8); pump organ, Hammond Home Organ (9)
Matt Penman, bass
Eric Harland, drums

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597977806BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597977790
  • 526294

News & Reviews

  • Happy International Jazz Day! Looking for a soundtrack to celebrate? Check out the Nonesuch: Jazz playlist on Spotify and Apple Music here, featuring new and classic songs from Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Tigran Hamasyan, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Allen Toussaint, James Farm, Rokia Traoré, Joni Mitchell, and others. And to hear new tracks as they’re added with music from new and upcoming releases, subscribe to the playlist today.

  • Congratulations to Brad Mehldau, James Farm, and Tigran Hamasyan, who are all winners of ECHO Jazz 2016 Awards. James Farm was named International Ensemble of the Year for City Folk; Tigran Hamasyan was named International Instrumentalist of the Year, Piano, for Mockroot; and Brad Mehldau will be given a Sonderpreis ("special prize") for his box set 10 Years Solo Live. The ECHO Jazz 2016 Awards ceremony will take place in Hamburg on May 26 and will be televised by NDR.

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    James Farm is a collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland. The band uses traditional acoustic jazz quartet instrumentation for its song-based approach to jazz and incorporates the members’ myriad influences: rock, soul, folk, classical, and electronica, among many others. Nonesuch releases the band's self-titled debut album on April 26, 2011.

    Penman says of the group, “James Farm is where we pool our collective knowledge, let run the best of our ideas arising from our varied musical influences, while acknowledging substantial common ground—a love of jazz, a fascination with song and structure, an obsession with groove, and a receptivity to contemporary influences. A band where we can be creative composers and improvisers, in step with the rhythm of the times, constantly evolving.”

    The quartet has received critical acclaim since its debut at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival, where they played to a packed house and rave reviews. “This much is clear: these are absolute professional musicians at the top of their game,” said All About Jazz

    Although this is the first time the quartet members have performed and recorded in this exact configuration, the musicians were hardly strangers. Redman, Harland, and Penman performed together as part of the SFJAZZ Collective, and pianist Aaron Parks used the James Farm rhythm section on his debut recording for Blue Note records, Invisible Cinema (2008).

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Joshua Redman, tenor saxophone (1-9), soprano saxophone (10)
    Aaron Parks, piano; tack piano, Prophet-5 (1); pump organ, humming (2); Rhodes, Prophet-5, Hammond Home Organ (4); Celeste, Prophet-5 (6); Rhodes (8); pump organ, Hammond Home Organ (9)
    Matt Penman, bass
    Eric Harland, drums

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by James Farm
    Recorded by James Farber
    Recording Assistant: Eli Walker
    Recorded August 26-29, 2010 at The Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, New York
    Additional Recording by Pete Rende
    Edited by Joshua Redman, Eli Walker, and Dave Darlington
    Mixed by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studios, New York, NY
    Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
    Production Coordinators: Maggie Lange and Courtney Hawkes

    Design by John Gall
    Cover Photograph by Aaron Parks
    Band Photograph by Jimmy Katz
    "Plowed Field with Blue Sky" Photograph by Blaise Howard, Getty Images / The Image Bank

    Eric Harland uses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Vater sticks
    Joshua Redman uses Alexander reeds

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