"People and Places"
Street Date: April 15th, 2018
A consummate piano prodigy, Javitch first came to the instrument at age 3 after discovering that he had perfect pitch. A natural improviser, Javitch was drawn to jazz at an early age and has established himself as a unique and distinctive voice on the contemporary jazz scene. This is evidenced by his phenomenal debut solo piano effort Train to Nowhere (2014), by his many performances at renowned locales such as Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, 55 Bar, the Jazz Room at William Paterson University, and now, by the release of People and Places.
Featuring Adrian Moring on bass, Matt Niedbaski on drums, and the renowned Rich Perry, known for his association with Maria Schneider and George Mraz, on tenor saxophone, People and Places represents the enormous gratitude Javitch has for the many people and places that have shaped him into the musician and person he is today. People and Places serves as the perfect outlet for the Manhattan School of Music graduate, who has studied with Mulgrew Miller, James Weidman, Harold Mabern, and Cecil Bridgewater, to express his sincere appreciation. To celebrate the release, Javitch will be performing at Joe’s Pub on April 15th in New York City.
“I learned how much effort and perseverance it takes to turn a musical idea into a reality. There isn’t some button you can push or a lever to pull, but when it’s done, it is one of the most gratifying feelings in the world.”
People and Places, featuring seven original compositions, opens with “The Pitch To Rich”. Upon hearing Rich Perry play, Javitch envisioned the tenor saxophonist playing his compositions. When Perry agreed to appear on the album, the title to this song was born! Another stand-out track is “Honin Myo”; an ode to Javitch’s dear friend and practicing Buddhist, Sasha Ono. “Honin Myo” is a phrase that means “from this moment on”. This song speaks to the hope of starting anew each day no matter what adversity one may have faced before. “Parallel Modalites for Parallel Realities” speaks to all the choices we make in life that can lead to completely different paths. People and Places also includes “Lifted: a Song for Grew and Those Who Knew”, a tribute to his late mentor Mulgrew Miller, the great jazz pianist.
Javitch is truly honored to bring each of these tracks to life with Moring, Niedbaski and Perry. Each of these talented individuals, together in quartet form, truly brought their hearts, souls, and fire into every song on this album. He also expresses utmost appreciation to Cotton Coulson, the late award-winning National Geographic photographer responsible for the album cover. Javitch met Coulson on a trip to the Arctic, where the photograph which graces this album’s cover was captured. For Javitch, this significant image truly captures the intent of this album: “people and the journey we are all on together.”
Sam Javitch says: “I humbly invite you to take this journey with us into my world. If you’re ready, let’s go.”
MORE ABOUT SAM JAVITCH
Sam Javitch is a New York City based jazz pianist and composer who began improvising at age 3 and has been performing jazz since age 11. Sam regularly performs with various ensembles in and around New York City. He has studied with Mulgrew Miller, Garry Dial, James Weidman, Harold Mabern, Cecil Bridgewater, Russ Lossing, Andy Milne, Gerald Cleaver and Tony Malaby. He is a graduate of both William Paterson University and the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed at a number of highly respected venues including Dizzy’s Jazz Club Coca-Cola, Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, The Jazz Room at William Paterson University, 55 Bar, and others. He has opened for Lou Donaldson, and has played with Roy Hargrove, the New York Voices, Rhoda Scott, Oscar Hernandez, among others.
CHRIS SPECTOR
MIDWEST RECORD
"The kind of date you'll keep coming back to as the vibe is just right, this second session is powered by some real old soul stuff. A killer date throughout with right on contributions from all on board." Read the full feature here.
ARNALDO DESOUTEIRO
JAZZ STATION
Read the full feature here.
LEONID AUSKERN
JAZZ QUAD
“Sam Javich and his colleagues... show excellent mastery of the language of modern, mainstream jazz.” Read the full Russian review here.
WILLIAM KATES
MUSIC AND MORE
“People and Places by the Sam Javitch Quartet is a solid marriage of quality composition, performance, and production...To hear traditional jazz that sounds as good as this does is continually rewarding.” Read the full review here.
DEE DEE MCNEIL
MUSICAL MEMOIRS
"This pianist is someone to watch and enjoy. He’s assertive on his instrument and unafraid to color outside the proverbial lines." Read the full review here.
MIKE GREENBLATT
AQUARIAN WEEKLY
"...these seven originals are testament to his growth as a leader, composer and soloist. Wholeheartedly recommended." Read the full review here.
DAVID IZEN
UK VIBE
"This is a great jazz quartet album – it works really well, it has all the elements you need, and if you are looking for a pure hearted spirit, dedication, honesty, and good writing – you’ve found it." Read the full review here.
RON SCHEPPER
TEXTURA
"Whether playing block chords or elegant runs, Javitch enhances the material with a rich, resplendent tone, which is nicely complemented by Perry's full-throated attack and the solid support of Moring and Niedbaski, who make strong impressions on the material with well-chosen solo spots of their own." Read the full review here.
JON GARELICK
JAZZIZ
"But Javitch's most valuable assets are his own compositions. He knows that a song can be built from simple materials, as on "The Pitch to Rich", where punchy question-and-answer riffs between piano and tenor release into smooth uptempo swing." Read the full review here.
DAVE ROGERS
WTJU
"Javitch has a straight forward style that should appeal to many jazz fans, thanks to his solid playing and the interactions between him and Rich Perry (tenor sax) and the solid play of the rhythm section: Adrian Moring (bass) and Matt Nieldbalski (drums)." Read the full feature here.
D. OSCAR GROOMES
O'S PLACE
"Javitch stands out on “Lifted” and does a good job unifying the musicians on People and Places, his sophomore release as a leader. The groove is vibrant and will keep Mr. Javitch on our radar." Read the full review here.
GEORGE HARRIS
JAZZ WEEKLY
"The team shows how to dig a deep groove on the hip and sleek “Wiseman Weidman,” making this album rich in fresh ideas with a dash of tradition." Read the full review here.
MARCO CANGIANO
NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD
"...a very pleasant recording suggesting more to come from Javitch." Read full review here.