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Robin Goodie

by Zhenya Strigalev

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    High quality, 4 panel digipack with a machine varnish finish

    Includes unlimited streaming of Robin Goodie via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Comes with album artwork PDF + album cover photo as a jpg
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
Kuku 09:25 video
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Sharp Night 06:38
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Pinch 05:13
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Stake 04:22
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Robin Goodie 08:11
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Lorton 06:37
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Renduta 06:27

about

PERSONNEL

Zhenya Strigalev - alto saxophone
Ambrose Akinmusire - trumpet
Taylor Eigsti - piano
Tim Lefebvre - electric bass
Larry Grenadier - double bass
Eric Harland - drums

ALBUM CREDITS

Recorded at Tedesco Studios
Engineer - Tom Tedesco
Produced by Zhenya Strigalev & Eric Harland
Mixed by Alex Bonney
Mastered by Peter Beckman
Executive Producer - Michael Janisch

credits

released February 2, 2015

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Russian alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev returns with his acclaimed fusion-edged six-piece Smiling Organizm and their second album, Robin Goodie, his second release for Whirlwind Recordings. Following their much-praised debut – described as having “all the knife-edge momentum and skilled improvisatory abandon of its leader” by Jazzwise Magazine and “a real sense of a band in the making” by the Financial Times – Strigalev's band includes Blue Note-signed trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, double bassist Larry Grenadier (known for his work with Brad Mehldau and Pat Metheny), electric bassist Tim Lefebvre (sideman to Wayne Krantz and Michael Wollny), pianist Taylor Eigsti (whose many credits include Joshua Redman and Christian McBride) and high-profile drummer Eric Harland (whose recent work includes being a member of bassist Dave Holland’s band Prism, as well as work with Charles Lloyd and McCoy Tyner).

Smiling Organizm frequently subvert the standard sounds and roles of soloist and rhythm section, with Lefebvre’s subtle electronic effects and wiry guitar-like sounds layered between Grenadier’s emphatic swing, Eigsti’s lush yet angular harmonies and finely poised solos from Akinmusire and Strigalev. Harland meanwhile deftly maps out the rhythmic terrain, cleverly morphing simple grooves into multi-layered percussive landscapes. Robin Goodie was co-produced by Strigalev and Harland and is a powerful mix of the saxophonist’s many musical loves, the heart of which is high-octane, hard-swinging post bop. This is an ensemble work that showcases Strigalev’s razor-sharp instincts as composer and arranger, as well as the depth of his knowledge of a wide range of musical styles, from free improv to funky fusion, out-and-out swing and extended harmonically rich melodies.

St Petersburg-born Strigalev – who is known for his virtuosic alto sax work on both the London and New York jazz scenes – led the first US/European incarnation of the band on a sold-out tour across Europe, performing at prestigious venues such as Ronnie Scott’s in London; Bimhuis in Amsterdam; A-Trane in Berlin; Porgy & Bess in Vienna and the Sunset in Paris among many others. On these dates the band featured a revolving cast of world-class musicians such as pianist Liam Noble, bassists including ex-Miles Davis sideman Foley, Dany Noel, ex-Zawinul firebrand Linley Marthe, Michael Janisch and Matt Penman, leading drummers Jochen Rueckert and Gregory Hutchinson and trumpeter Alex Sipiagin.

If Smiling Organizm’s debut album introduced the world to Strigalev’s highly personal musical vision, then Robin Goodie finds the band stepping up a gear, increasingly comfortable as a unit, growing to become more than the sum of its considerably talented parts. Matching quirky humor with serious musical intent, delicate melodic hooks with heavyweight rhythmic muscle, this is a band and an album that leaves a vivid impression.

Here's what Zhenya has to say about his new record:

"The album Robin Goodie is in some way dedicated to England and my time here. I haven't read the adventures of Robin Hood, but I’ve seen the film! There’s a lot of nature (I love nature), humour, heroism, strong personalities, love, rebelliousness and of course some stupidity... 'Robin Goodie' is a mixture of Robin Hood and Boogie Woogie. I thought of the name (which is also the name of one of the tunes). The name came up on its own when I finished composing the tune and wanted to call it something random. However not all of the names of my tunes are random. Many of them are chosen based on the combination of letters or words, their sound reflecting the feeling of the tune. Sometimes I arrive at the name of the tune, letter by letter, in the same I compose the tune, note by note...

The sketches/outlines of several tunes from this album were written while I was practicing in the abandoned house next to the river where I was camping with my father in Russia… Lots of forest, nature and no people. The picture on the album cover was taken there. This album is actually my first where double bass and bass guitar are playing together. The main idea behind that was to combine straight ahead jazz with groove/fusion beats. Take the best of both (for me) and put them together. Thanks to the amazing musicians who made it possible for me to do that."

PRESS HIGHLIGHTS

"At the root of it all is Strigalev, whose compositions are so strong that they live up to the talents of the musical titans who join him on this CD. This could be the kind of jazz album that has something for everyone... Universally appealing."
★★★★½ DownBeat Magazine

"Alto saxist Zhenya Strigalev juices up retro-minded postbop with cutting-edge grooves and madcap intensity on his excellent latest, Robin Goodie."
Time Out, NY

"The Russian has a refreshing indifference to what’s supposed to go with what in 21st-century jazz... He’s hired some of the classiest sidemen in the game... The music seems to draw out Akinmusire’s most impressionistic qualities, and Harland’s drumming is jaw-dropping throughout."
★★★★ The Guardian

"It can be fast and furious, tender and emotional and a whole lot of fun too, for the listener as well as the musicians. How many jazz recordings can you say that about these days?"
★★★★ Jazzwise Magazine

"One of the year's most interesting releases."
★★★★ UK Vibe

"Countless shades and colors, and new ones open up with each listening. Intoxicating!"
Jazz thing

"It is straight jazz with grooves, beats and cheek. As a composer and arranger, Strigalev subverts the roles of soloist and rhythm section but it's his sax playing that lingers."
★★★★ Evening Standard

"Strigalev has generated a veritable personal style while surfing through the entire history of jazz... The only certainty is that this music has humor and is highly musical."
Stereo

"Smiling Organizm is one of the most interesting formations in recent years."
Boblinger Bote

"A journey through the depths of jazz expressiveness combined with unpolished harmonies and quirky guitar runnings... A unique sound world of electronic effects, distorted noise and hectic swing styles... Exceedingly tasty!"
In Music

"Expands upon the promise exhibited by the first Smiling Organizm record. An album that is once again bursting with ideas."
★★★★ The Jazz Mann

"It's rare to find an ensemble recording that feels so well balanced—the considerable individual talents supporting the whole, rather than allowing one or two players to dominate."
★★★★ All About Jazz

"Where Strigalev’s compositions really stand out is in the blending of tonal color, which is in most cases strikingly attractive."
★★★★ The Arts Desk

"Exuberantly, madly creative."
The Jazz Breakfast

"An impassioned outpouring of the sax man’s quirky, raw, yet ultimately tuneful creations as composer and instrumentalist.... Crank it up."
AP Reviews

"Straight-ahead jazz melodiousness, pithy funk bass motifs and a delightful eccentricity."
★★★★ The Telegraph

"Robin Goodie is highly absorbing, and there is much magnificent music to savor."
London Jazz

"An album that has its rollercoaster qualities but surprising amounts of tenderness stitched in there too, Strigalev on a roll."
Marlbank

"Russian alto saxophonist is in serious company here, with monster electric bassist Tim Lefebvre and ex-Pat Metheny sideman Larry Grenadier on double bass... There's rarely a dull moment."
iBass Magazine

"As composer and arranger, Strigalev subverts the roles of soloist and rhythm section but it's his sax playing that lingers."
★★★★ Evening Standard

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Zhenya Strigalev Saint Petersburg, Russia

This is the Whirlwind artist page for Zhenya Strigalev, alto saxophonist & composer.

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