Into the Daybreak (Self-released)
Mike Freedman
Released March 5, 2021
JAZZ FM 25 Best Jazz Albums of 2021
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l9zj5B_WmLbueYWHLkRftwhkTS1YhquS0
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4rwIggcAyZuCqh8ZwRtPCF?si=xIabl6GySrSx22m_6Rz6aQ
About:
Into The Daybreak is Mike Freedman’s debut album as a jazz instrumentalist. Inspired by 30 years of performing and writing in the Toronto music scene, as well as touring extensively in the US and Europe with other artists, Mike took to the studio to record some of his original songs and channel his creative energies.
The CD features 9 of Mike’s tunes which blend his love of many different styles of music, ranging from jazz, latin, to blues and ambient music. These 9 contrasting and colorful tunes glimmer with inspired performances and vibrancy. The thread that runs through these contrasting tunes is the strong melodic content. The tunes have a depth and feel that is both natural and familiar but also unique and memorable.
Using a traditional jazz quartet lineup of piano (Jeremy Ledbetter), drums (Max Senitt), bass (Kobi Hass) and Mike on guitar, Mike and his band recorded the bed tracks over two days, live off the floor at the world class Canterbury Studios in Toronto. By recording live off the floor, the band was able to keep the performances interactive and inspired. Additional instrumentation of Saxophone (Chris Gale), trumpet (Alexis Baros) and melodica (Jeremy Ledbetter) helped to add depth to the tunes and solos. With the assistance of Jeremy Darby’s masterful mixing and recording capabilities, Mike was able to capture a clear yet natural snapshot of these inspired tunes, filled with memorable melodies, beautiful solos, and heartfelt playing. Into The Daybreak is a very listenable CD, with a radio friendly sound, stellar performances and a polished production. Mike manages to walk the balance between accessibility and originality with this gem of an album, which shines brightly into the year 2021.
Track Listing:
1. Day of Change (Mike Freedman) 04:31
2. May the 4th Be With You (Mike Freedman) 06:00
3. Lamentation Revelation (Mike Freedman) 05:10
4. Samba on the Sand (Mike Freedman) 04:51
5. Snake in the Grass (Mike Freedman) 05:15
6. Into the Daybreak (Mike Freedman) 04:23
7. Tomorrow Is Yesterday (Mike Freedman) 05:02
8. Journey Beyond Seven (Mike Freedman) 06:16
Personnel:
Mike Freedman: electric and nylon string guitar
Max Senitt: drums and percussion
Jeremy Ledbetter: piano
Jeremy Ledbetter: melodica (4, 7)
Kobi Hass: electric and acoustic bass
Chris Gale: tenor saxophone
Alexis Baro: trumpet
Curtis Freeman: fretless bass (7, 9)
Louis Simão: cuica (4)
Recorded and mixed at The Canterbury Music Company Toronto, by Jeremy Darby and Julian Decourt
Front Cover Photo: Matt Molloy
Photography: Jane Decle Photography
Graphic Design: Kevin Ball
Review:
Guitarist Mike Freedman has been a staple on the Toronto scene for decades. The Berklee grad is known for the ease with which he can take on any style required of him, making him a go-to sideperson. After more than 30 years, he finally released his first album as a leader — and the results were well worth the wait. The playing is stellar, with pianist Jeremy Ledbetter, drummer Max Senitt and bassist Kobi Hass anchoring the recording. But the true star here is the material. Freedman wrote nine tunes for the album that have shades of Latin jazz, blues and ambient music, each sounding distinctly like a Mike Freedman original: melodic, and with a story to tell.
Brad Barker (JAZZ.FM91)
