GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH – MID CENTURY MODERN, VOL. 1 Windtunnel Records
Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, trumpet/flute/flugelhorn/valve ‘bone/vocals; Miles Black, piano; Laurence Mollerup, bass; Joel Fountain, drums; Ernie Watts & Cory Weeds, tenor saxophone; Mike Taylor, vocals; Olaf deShield, guitar.
Once again, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach has produced an album of fine jazz, combining the straight-ahead style with modern jazz and what he refers to as Mid-Century music, all woven together like the lovely, colorful threads of a Canadian poncho. You can wrap yourself up in his music and feel warm and satisfied.
There is a beautiful vocal on “Nature Boy” sung by Mike Taylor. His voice is smooth and sweet as warmed caramel candy. It was a nice surprise to hear a vocal on Hasselbach’s normally all instrumental project.
The third tune, “Blues on My Mind,” features Cory Weeds on tenor saxophone. He swings hard, along with pianist Miles Black. This tune moves from a moderate blues into a straight-ahead double-time tempo. There’s a horn refrain that harmonically pulls the piece together, as a comfortable reference point throughout. “Terra Firma Irma” is another one of my favorite compositions on this album and it features the great Ernie Watts on tenor saxophone. However, it’s the fiery Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, on trumpet, (sometimes flute), that brings this project to a boil. He keeps the music alive and swinging throughout. Hasselbach always manages to insert bold funk and lovely melodies into productions that make you want to dance, sing and swing.
The week before that I was at the New Orleans Jazz Fest where I did 3 cd release shows (including the New Orleans Jazz Museum), and played on the bill with other stars. http://gabrieljazz.posthaven.com/gabriel-in-new-orleans
After the sold out CD release concert for MidCentury Modern at Blue Frog Studios Concert Stage on May 11, all heck broke loose. I was asked right away to bring a regular Wednesday Jazz Series to www.Bin101.ca and also on a few other special nights. I hope you can make it out to beautiful White Rock for one of these shows- the patio and food are stellar and the drive is a joyous breeze. Head out before traffic gets thick and enjoy the waterfront and pier, too.
On another note, if you wanted to catch my interview on Margaret Gallagher’s May 12 CBC Hot Air Show but missed it, there is a link to the podcast on my website www.GabrielJazz.com
The interview touches on my recent series of shows during the New Orleans Jazz Fest (including the New Orleans Jazz Museum), and also my past history with Michael Buble, Powder Blues, and how I came to be here in Canada.
You can check out my new MCM recording on any digital provider, including CDBaby, or reach out to me for a nicely packaged CD. $16 ppd.
~ I just returned from several performances during the New Orleans Jazz Fest (including a concert at The New Orleans Jazz Museum), where I did the US cd release for my brand new album MIDCENTURY MODERN which features local stars like Miles Black, Cory Weeds, Olaf deShield, Joel Fountain, Mike Taylor, Laurence Mollerup, and the iconic sax giant Ernie Watts. Check it out here or any digital provider (contact me for physical cds):
~ TODAY May 11 will be my Canadian cd release show at Blue Frog Studios Concert Stage. Featured are my cd personnel, Cory Weeds, Miles Black, Joel Fountain, and Laurence Mollerup. It is a SOLD OUT show, but you can enjoy the Live Stream video shot in 4K and available right to your phone, tablet, laptop, or tv for only $3.99. Live tweet, too @gabrieljazz
~ Also, I taped an hour long interview for the CBC Radio Hot Air show and they have interspersed some salient tracks from my new album as well as some of my jazz influences. It will be aired this Saturday May 12, at 5-6 pm PT (88.1 FM in Vancouver) and online also at 5 pm at http://cbc.ca/hotair.
~ And JUST ANNOUNCED, I’ll be hosting and performing a new weekly Jazz Series in White Rock every Wednesday at 7 pm starting May 16 at www.BIN101.ca. A great place to hang with a great patio.....
~ On another note, save the date! I have a very fun ‘New Orleans Street Party’ performance scheduled for the Harmony Arts Festival August 4 from 5:45 –7:30pm as part of the Garden Stage Series at 15th & Argyle West Vancouver. Hope you can make it.
~ MidCentury Modern is starting to get added to over 200 US and Canadian radio stations playlists, so onward and upward!
~ I just returned from several performances during the New Orleans Jazz Fest (including the New Orleans Jazz Museum), where I did the US cd release for my brand new album MIDCENTURY MODERN which features local stars like Miles Black, Cory Weeds, Olaf deShield, Joel Fountain, Mike Taylor, Laurence Mollerup, and the iconic sax giant Ernie Watts.
~ May 11 will be my Canadian cd release show at Blue Frog Studios Concert Stage. It is a sold out show, but you’ll enjoy the Live Stream video shot in 4K and available right to your phone, tablet, laptop, or tv.
~ Nothing for me regarding Vancouver Jazz Fest gigs this year - the cobbler’s kids go without shoes...
~ I have been asked to give an hour long interview on CBC Radio Hot Air show and to provide some tracks of my jazz influences, which will be aired next Saturday May 12 at 5 pm PT (88.1 FM) and online also at 5 pm at http://cbc.ca/hotair.
~ On another note, save the date! I have a very fun ‘New Orleans Street Party’ performance scheduled for the Harmony Arts Festival August 4 from 5:45 –7:30pm as part of the Garden Stage Series at 15th & Argyle West Van. Hope you can make it!
Award-winning hornmeister Gabriel Mark Hasselbach aims for a jazz trifecta with his new album MidCentury Modern Vol. 1, a decidedly mainstream jazz juggernaut.
Gabriel is a bit of an enigma, in that his lexicon is not limited to one style of jazz, nor one instrument. He plays trumpet, flute, flugelhorn, valve 'bone, and more. If you are a mainstream jazz lover, you would know Gabriel from his two mainstream JazzWeek charting albums, including Come Out Swingin', which included the debut of a young Michael Bublé, actually singing great jazz before his rise. Contemporary Jazz lovers will have heard many of his ubiquitous nine Billboard hits from a dozen albums, and know of his Album of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year awards.
To drive that mainstream message home, here he has enlisted iconic colleagues such as Ernie Watts, Cory Weeds, Miles Black, and Canada's answer to Gregory Porter, Mike Taylor, to craft a highly listenable project, that incorporates hard-swinging mainstream jazz sensibilities, a little succinct contemporary jazz clarity, and some rollicking New Orleans jazz panache. Trifecta accomplished!
Gabriel debuted this album in New Orleans during the New Orleans Jazz Fest, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
He continued his tour in Canada and the US for other dates.
The lead-off track Mississippi Jump, a remake of a Blue Mitchell classic, jumps hard like a 'sidewinder' but has also been remixed for Contemporary radio and is included as a bonus track. As the Jazz Crusaders once said, "Put it where you want it"!
Gabriel has performed at Montreux, North Sea, JVC, Chandler, and other festivals. He has performed in Japan and in Singapore (for the President!), and even in the home of Bill Gates. He has worked with artists such as Larry Coryell, George Benson, Chuck Loeb, Bob James, Brian Bromberg, Jeff Lorber, Warren Hill, Bob Baldwin, Cal Harris, and Paul Brown to name a few.
Gabriel has the chops for authentic mainstream fare, but also loves a funky groove (60's soul jazz influences), and incorporates them effortlessly into a punchy and seamless stage show, brimming with lyricism, color, and texture. His influences range from underserved classic artists like Blue Mitchell, Donald Byrd, Joe Gordon, to icons such as Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Chet Baker.
This is what the critics say about Gabriel's releases: MIDCENTURY MODERN, VOL. 1 (2018)
I just had a chance to listen to Gabriel Mark Hasselbach’s album “MidCentury Modern Vol. 1” and was astonished by all the great playing and great production values. Whether playing on a swing or funk tune, his great tone and impeccable phrasing comes through every time, like liquid gold. My favourite tracks are Mississippi Jump, Terra Firma where he and Ernie Watts swing their buns off and UberSmooth where Gabriel shows off his ability to make hearts melt. Gabriel Mark Hasselbach has outdone himself on this album.
Jeremy Monteiro - Singapore-based International jazz pianist/composer/author and EFG Bank International Arts Ambassador
___
Once again, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach has produced an album of fine jazz, combining the Straight-ahead style with modern jazz and what he refers to as MidCentury music, all woven together like the lovely, colorful threads of a Canadian poncho. You can wrap yourself up in his music and feel warm and satisfied. There is a beautiful vocal on “Nature Boy” sung by Mike Taylor. His voice is smooth and sweet as warmed caramel candy. It was a nice surprise to hear a vocal on Hasselbach’s normally all instrumental project. The third tune, “Blues on My Mind,” features Cory Weeds on tenor saxophone. He swings hard, along with pianist Miles Black. This tune moves from a moderate blues into a straight-ahead double-time tempo. There’s a horn refrain that harmonically pulls the piece together, as a comfortable reference point throughout. “Terra Firma Irma” is another one of my favorite compositions on this album and it features the great Ernie Watts on tenor saxophone. However, it’s the fiery Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, on trumpet, (sometimes flute), that brings this project to a boil. He keeps the music alive and swinging throughout. Hasselbach always manages to insert bold funk and lovely melodies into productions that make you want to dance, sing and swing.
JAZZIN’ IT UP By Dee Dee McNeil/Jazz Journalist
___
Very nicely done, adroitly performed and produced. Truly a high-level project.
Rick Scott, Great Scott P.R.oductions (unsolicited)
TONITE Hastings Racecourse & Casino launches racing season with a blowout party featuring the 8 pc band West Coast Chicago (a Chicago tribute band)! Win a 50” TV! Lots of food and drink! Free parking! No cover! Enter at Gate 6 by the Coliseum.
Come hang with me and Sylvia!
Occasionally I am asked to perform at an event for a really worthwhile cause, and April 14 is no exception!
Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. Membership: 134,000
An evening of music, deluxe wine, and a sumptuous menu is planned for April 14 at the Pinnacle at the Pier Hotel (one of my favourite venues), details below.
After expenses, funds go to the Mensa Scholarship Program which is open to full time students 18 and over - of any background - attending a Canadian post secondary institution. Parents take note, scholarships are being offered at the Mensa website.
Dinner and Wine Pairing Event
We warmly invite you to a special evening of food, wine, and live jazz. Join your fellow Mensa members and your guests to eat, socialize, and maybe even a little dancing. The notion is to enjoy ourselves while raising money for the Mensa Scholarship program.
Attendees will indulge in a great meal with each course paired with an appropriate fine wine. The restaurant has an excellent reputation. The menu is listed below.
The very popular jazz musician Gabriel Mark Hasselbach will be performing for the evening. He is a regular performer at the Pinnacle, and well regarded. http://gabrieljazz.com/
Back in 1997 when Michael was just starting out, he was a fixture with the Sassabrass Orchestra. Here is some rare footage shot by videographer Warren Magnuson! Personnel listed:
Gabriel Mark Hasselbach (trumpet /leader); Dave Say (tenor sax soloist); Bob McDonald (tenor sax); Jim Pinchin and Ingrid Stitt (alto sax); Rod Murray and Greg Farrugia (trombone), Ross Gregory, Derry Byrne, Alex Kundakcioglu (trumpet); Dave Neal (guitar); Lorne Kellett (piano); Phil Robertson (drums); Torben Oxbol (bass).
