In the Moment (Self-produced)
Larnell Lewis
Released June 2018
Juno Award Nominee Jazz Album of the Year: Solo 2019
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mlczdqzN0c2iHgU4ts7aZIFe3HbMi-iE0
Spotify:
About:
LARNELL LEWIS is a Grammy Award winning musician, composer, producer, and educator. Based in Toronto, has established himself among the most diverse and in-demand drummers in the world.
Since 2012, Larnell has been playing with three time Grammy Award winning band, Snarky Puppy. Larnell leads successful ensembles of his own and has toured the globe with highly reputable contemporary musicians, including Quincy Jones, Laila Biali, Jeremy Ledbetter, Etienne Charles, Gregory Porter, Benny Golson, Lalah Hathaway, Jacob Collier, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Lisa Fisher, Kurt Elling, Gary Burton, and more. Larnell’s immense talent, fierce creativity, and evolving musical style keep him in-demand as a collaborator for artists internationally.
In June 2018, Larnell independently released his debut album, In The Moment. This project explores Larnell’s deep connection to jazz, fusion, and his Afro-Caribbean roots. The album features performances from a wide range of musicians such as fellow Snarky Puppy band mates Shaun Martin, Mark Lettieri, Juno Award winners Mike Downes, Robi Botos, and many others. His latest release, Relive The Moment, (Nov. 2020) is a reimagining of his compositions from In The Moment, with new drum performances, recorded at Jukasa Studios. In addition to his success as recording artist, performer, and director, Larnell is a dedicated Music Educator. He is a Professor of Music at Humber College, Canada’s most respected institution for post-secondary music education.
Whether performing on the world stage with internationally acclaimed artists, or playing local gigs in Toronto, Larnell Lewis is consistently a passionate and joyful creator, as well as one of the most skilled, musical drummers today.
Track Listing:
1. Rejoice (Larnell Lewis) 05:31
2. Beignets (Larnell Lewis) 04:33
3. Coconuts (Larnell Lewis) 05:57
4. The Promise (Larnell Lewis) 04:07
5. No Access? (Larnell Lewis) 05:40
6. The City Lights (Larnell Lewis) 06:29
7. Circles and Pendulums (Larnell Lewis) 01:36
8. Essence of Joy (Larnell Lewis / Michael Shand) 07:07
9. In the Moment (Larnell Lewis) 02:03
10. Change Your Mind (Larnell Lewis) 05:36
Personell:
Alexis Baro: trumpet (1, 10)
William Sperandei: trumpet (2, 5, 6, 10)
Neil Brathwaite: tenor sax (1)
Rob Christian: tenor sax (2, 5, 6, 10), Flute (3, 8)
Courtenay Frazer: synth lead solo (1)
Samuel Williams: keys & electric bass (1)
Joel Chambers: organ (2)
Shaun Martin: synth/synth lead/solo (10)
Eddie Bullen: auxiliary keys (10)
Robi Botos: piano (5, 6), melodica (8)
Michael Shand: piano/rhodes (2, 3, 8)
Dionne Wilson: vocals (8)
Rich Brown: bass (3)
Mike Downes: acoustic bass (5, 6)
Andrew Stewart: electric bass (2, 8, 10)
Mark Lettieri: guitar/solo (10)
Elmer Ferrer: guitar (1, 2, 8, 10)
Marito Marques: kalimbas (8)
Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo: percussion (3, 8, 10)
Larnell Lewis: drums, percussion (2, 8),
keys/synth (3, 6, 8, 10), vocals (8), synth bass (10)
Produced & Arranged by Larnell Lewis & Eddie Bullen
All compositions written by Larnell Lewis (except ‘Essence of Joy’ co-written by Larnell Lewis & Michael Shand)
Recorded at Canterbury Music Company (Jeremy Darby),
Thunder Dome Sound (Eddie Bullen), Sam Sound Productions (Samuel Williams), LLMusic Studios (Larnell Lewis),
& RTT Studio (Otis Williams)
Mixed by John ‘Beetle’ Bailey at The Drive Shed
Mastered by Peter Letros for Wreckhouse Mastering
Photography by Koko at Soloteam Design & Photography
Art Direction & Design by Janine Stoll
Clothing/Fashion Consultant through Val Andrews at Stylin’ by Val
Review:
Born and raised here in Toronto, internationally famed drummer Larnell Lewis has released a scintillatingly snazzy new album of funk and neo-soul goodness that has the power to bring any listener right out of the day-to-day rut brought on by everything that’s going on in the world right now. Featuring legends such as fellow Snarky Puppy band members Mark Lettieri and Shaun Martin, as well as renowned names like Robi Botos and Rich Brown, the album has a star-studded lineup that carries Lewis’ compositions to new heights. The record acts as a “reimagining of six compositions from [his] debut album In The Moment,” in Lewis’ own words, with most pieces having updated drum tracks recorded and only one composition being completely new.
Right off the bat, the first track, Rejoice, starts the listener off on a funk-filled journey with Andrew Stewart’s catchy bass line and Lettieri’s soulful guitar riffs taking us to a higher musical dimension. No Access takes a different turn, diving full force into modern jazz with soaring trumpet melodies courtesy of William Sperandei and Botos’ pianistic skills being brought clearly to the forefront throughout the fast-paced piece. Closing out the album is the aforementioned new composition, The Forgotten Ones, a piece that is essentially one long drum solo showcasing the drummer’s percussive talents and highlighting an Afro-Caribbean drum groove that serves as a fitting end to a stunning collection of compositions.
Kati Kiilaspea (The WholeNote)
