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photo/permission of Steve Slagle
Steve Slagle
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…..You just never know what you’ll run into in the midst of a crazed world – sometimes even a calm beauty has a way of unexpectedly showing up, and when it does, you want to rejoice in it and share it.
…..When I discovered saxophonist Steve Slagle’s six-minute video “Warmin’ Up Coldbrook,” I was instantly mesmerized by it, visually and musically. The gorgeous location is shot from various angles and includes the use of a Drone Camera, and the result is as warm, rich and comfortable an experience as the setting in which it was filmed.
…..Slagle has performed professionally since the 1970’s, along the way accompanying a legion of diverse artists, including Cab Calloway, Woody Herman, Carla Bley, Lionel Hampton, the Mingus Big Band, Dave Stryker, Milton Nascimento, Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden, Joe Jackson, Steve Kuhn, Elvis Costello and Dr. John. He has also recorded 16 albums as a leader.
…..Filmed in the woods of Woodstock, New York during a family retreat last month, Slagle describes the film, as well as an upcoming recording entitled “Nascentia”:
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Very glad that everyone has enjoyed the video ‘Warmin Up Coldbrook’ which I made with filmmaker Youli Avramov while my family took a break from living in New York City and rented a beautiful house in the woods of Woodstock, New York this Christmas season. We did it the afternoon of December 27th, 2020 and I wrote the song for it that morning. The night before I had thought I would improvise, but the Latin-ish song came as I woke that morning! So I am playing the song form and then a Montuno Vamp to extend the improvisation. Along with two cameras inside, Youli also had a flying Drone camera for the outside shots. This was a first for me to experience!
.Since the lockdown in March of 2020 I have had more chances than ever to compose, and Rick Simpson, the producer of my last four recordings, asked me mid-summer if I could do something for three horns and record in fall of 2020. At the time we all thought the “coast would be clear” by then but it was not, and an open recording studio was hard to find. Luckily we got Sear Sound NYC on 48th Street studio A, a very big room with a concert grand Steinway! The recording, which will come out in spring of 2021 is called “Nascentia,” which means “birth” and features a Suite in 3-parts that I composed for three horns. I am looking forward to “springing” this on the weary world! We were lucky to get some of the greatest musicians in New York, all eager to play in these times.
The personnel on “Nascentia”:
Steve Slagle–Alto Sax,Flute ( Leader)
Jeremy Pelt–Trumpet
Clark Gayton–Trombone
Bruce Barth-Piano
Ugonna Okegwo-Bass
Jason Tiemann–Drums
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Watch “Warmin’ Up Coldbrook”
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