Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini Unveil Their Vibrant Ode GUINGA, Featuring the Titular Brazilian Artist and Composer – out April 12, 2024 via GroundUP Listen to the first single, “Lavagem de Conceição”, featuring Guinga, here. Traveling through the lush paradise of Brazilian music, there are few more scenic byways than música popular brasileira – the … Read More
The 70th Annual Downbeat Critics Poll is out now, highlighting several albums and artists repped from May 2021-April 2022 at Lydia Liebman Promotions. See the full list below! Rising Star Large Ensemble 1. Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band Rising Star Soprano Sax 1. Roxy Coss Jazz Artist of the Year 17. Dave Liebman Jazz Album … Read More
Masterful Musical Duo Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini Uncover New Shades on AUBURN WHISPER due out April 15, 2022 via GroundUP! Watch the video for “Afoxé Pra Oxum” here Auburn Whisper—the latest album from trombonist, singer, and songwriter Natalie Cressman and guitarist, composer, and vocalist Ian Faquini—not only serves as a testament to the couple’s … Read More
By Jason Crane, The Jazz Session Trombonist and vocalist Natalie Cressman has released an album and a single with Brazilian guitarist Ian Faquini, and a second album is nearly complete. In this interview, Cressman talks about immersing herself in the Portuguese language; the subtlety of her duo playing with Faquini; virtual music during the pandemic; … Read More
by Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini, “Setting Rays of Summer” (Cressman Music): San Francisco-reared New York trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman and Brazilian-born Berkeley guitarist/composer Ian Faquini sound more like a quartet then a duo on this ravishing set of originals songs inspired by Brazil’s omnivorously cosmopolitan popular music tradition.
By Andrew Gilbert, East Bay Express Setting Rays of Summer At its best MPB (musica popular brasileira) is an inordinately gorgeous tradition that’s both deeply rooted and expansively cosmopolitan. It might seem strange that one of the year’s best MPB albums is a Bay Area production, but the extraordinary duo of San Francisco-reared trombonist/vocalist Natalie … Read More
By: Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz This is a duo recording in the true sense because the only sounds on this disc come from the trombone and voice of Natalie Cressman and the guitar and voice of Ian Faquini. The resulting blend carries a powerful intimacy in the sound of their harmonized voices sailing over supple acoustic guitar … Read More
by Stephanie Jones, Downbeat
By: Andrew Gilbert, Jazztimes Some albums arrive without precedent, a world unto themselves. While bringing to mind the sophisticated, jazz-infused post-Tropicalia songs of Brazilian composers like Guinga, Milton Nascimento, and Marcos Valle, Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini’s unusual duo album Setting Rays of Summer sounds as fresh and revivifying as a clear mountain stream. A guitarist, vocalist, … Read More
Chris Walker, L.A Jazz Scene Duet Natalie Cressman-trombone/vocals and Ian Faquini guitar/vocals based in New York with roots in the San Francisco Bay Area showcased songs from their recently released Setting Rays of Summer CD at the downtown LA adjacent Mayfair Hotel. The venue with a bar about 15 feet from the performance area provided a noisy backdrop … Read More
