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The Territory | Darrell Grant

Darrell Grant

Darrell Grant

Hi-Res Photo available here.

Since being introduced to international audiences in1988 as the pianist in vocalist Betty Carter’s trio, Darrell Grant has built an international reputation performing with jazz luminaries including Frank Morgan, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Greg Osby, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, and Esperanza Spalding among many others.  He has been featured on National Public Radio, and has toured as a bandleader and solo artist throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe.  His critically acclaimed albums as a leader include his 1994 debut CD, Black Art, selected as one of the year’s top ten jazz CD’s by the New York Times, The New Bop, Twilight Stories, Smokin’ Java, and Truth and Reconciliation.  Locally, Darrell performs as a member of The Bridge Quartetwith whom he recorded two CD’s, and fronting his own contemporary trio project All 4 Naught.  Darrell was inducted into the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame in 2009, and in 2011 was the first recipient of the Kamelia Massih Outstanding Faculty Prize in the Arts from Portland State University, where he is a Professor of Music and directs the Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Institute.  He is a recipient of a 2015 Individual Artist Grant from the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC). This is Darrell’s debut recording for PJCE Records.

About The Territory

“The Territory” marks Darrell ’s seventh CD as a leader and his first since 2007’s critically acclaimed “Truth and Reconciliation,” which was selected one of the top 10 CDs’ of the year by The Village Voice jazz critic’s poll. Featuring a nine-member ensemble that includes Darrell’s long-time collaborators Grammy-winning drummer Brian Blade, Grammy-winning saxophonist Steve Wilson and celebrated vibraphonist Joe Locke, as well as renowned cellist Hamilton Cheifetz, Chicago bassist Clark Sommers, Portland vocalist Marilyn Keller, trumpeter Thomas Barber, and bass clarinetist Kirt Peterson, “The Territory” captures Darrell in an exciting 2013 world premiere performance presented by Chamber Music Northwest in front a sell-out audience at Portland’s Kaul Auditorium.

In 2012, Darrell was one of 11 artists to be awarded a prestigious New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America to support the commission and premiere of a new work for jazz chamber ensemble.  His extended suite “The Territory” uses both improvisation and composition to ponder the unique Oregon experience, reflecting on the state’s historical heritage as well as the incredible and diverse landscapes of the region.

“The original idea for this piece came from my interest in the concept of ‘terroir,’ Darrell describes, “and the connections between art and place,”  One aspect of place that Darrell chose to highlight in “The Territory” is Oregon’s uneven history in relation to people of color.  “As an African-American, I can’t dismiss the irony of my claiming connection to a place whose constitution once expressly prohibited people like myself from living here,” Darrell says.

Invoking the spirit of Oregon’s native peoples in its opening movement “Hymn to the Four Winds,” and “Chief Joseph’s Lament,” which is based on the historic Nez Perce leader’s controversial surrender to the U.S. Army, Darrell’s view of the territory draws on the contrast between the utopian myth of Oregon that persists in shows like ‘Portlandia,‘ and the more conflicted truth of our history.  A movement called “Stones into Blossoms” looks at the forced internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II through the eyes of a small child, while the joyous “Sunday’s at the Golden West” celebrates a historic landmark in the heart of Portland’s early African-American community.

 

Partnership with the community

Exploring a connection to place led to develop a partnership with the Oregon Historical Society, which will receive a donation from the sale of each CD and digital download of The Territory. In Darrell’s words: “As a steward of our stories, OHS serves a vital role in maintaining our sense of place. I hope this CD can help in a small way to spread the word about the work that they do, and to encourage all of us to know and share our stories.”

Track listing

introduction

Mvt.1 hymn to the four winds

Mvt.2 daybreak at fort rock

Mvt.3 missoula flloods pt. 1

missoula floods pt. 2

Mvt.4 rivers

Mvt.5 chief joseph’s lament

Mvt.6 stones into blossoms

Mvt.7 sundays at the golden west

Mvt.8 the aftermath

Mvt. 9 new land

Personnel 

Darrell Grant, piano

Joe Locke, vibraphone & marimba

Steve Wilson, flute, alto flute, soprano & alto saxophone

Brian Blade, drums

Clark Sommers, bass

Marilyn Keller, vocals

Hamilton Cheifetz, cello

Thomas Barber, trumpet

Kirt Peterson, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone

Recorded Live at Kaul Auditorium, Reed College, July 6 & 7,2013

Recorded by Matthew Snyder

Mixed and Mastered by Dean Baskerville @ Baskerville Recording

Photography by Seth Mower & Jim Leisy

Graphic Design by Tiny Little Hammers

All lyrics and music are by Darrell Grant except Chief Joseph’s Lament uses text attributed to Tuekakas, commonly known as Old Chief Joseph of the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce.

Hymn to the Four Winds is based on a traditional Nez Perce chant

Stones into Blossoms is dedicated to Nola Sugai Bogle

Sundays at the Golden West is dedicated to Dick Bogle

The Territory has been made possible with support from Chamber Music America’s 2012 New Jazz Works: Commissioning & Ensemble

Development program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

This project was funded in part by a grant from Regional Arts and Culture Council