In Celebration and Support of The Face Of Mount Molehill September 11, 2012 on Naim Jazz Records
New York, NY: The Iridium - Thursday, October 11
Columbus, OH: The Wexner Center for The Arts - Saturday, October 13
Franklin, TN: The Franklin Theatre - Sunday, October 14
Oakland, CA: Yoshi's - Oakland Monday, October 15
Los Angeles, CA: The Mint - Tuesday, October 16
October 10 - Tune in to hear the Neil Cowley Trio on WNYC's Soundcheck with John Schaefer
About Neil Cowley
Cementing his position as a dazzling composer of extraordinary talent, Cowley and his trio scale the gargantuan face of Mount Molehill where they explore the heights of everyday trivia, and score it to a soaring overture of epic proportions
The Face of Mount Molehill is the magnificent new album from the pioneers of the British “post-jazz" scene, the Neil Cowley Trio. Featuring soundtracks in search of a film, exploratory minimalist miniatures, power pop songs without words and the coolest TV theme tunes you'll ever hear, this new recording looks set to launch the music of Neil Cowley into the American public's consciousness, and pays testament to The Los Angeles Times endorsement that Cowley is a “Face To Watch in 2012".
Pianist Neil Cowley's music is defined by powerful rip-roaring riffs countered by tender passages of sheer delicacy and witty, whimsical romps; a jazz-meets-rock ethic that has earned him a BBC Jazz Award for Best Album (2007) and plaudits from across the musical spectrum.
Cowley's musical career spans across many genres, making him very different to most musicians on the jazz scene. Aside from time spent as a young boy at London's Royal Academy where his prodigious talent saw him performing a Shostakovitch piano concerto at the age of 10, he has not been schooled on any jazz course, rather his skills has been learned on the job. In past years he has become the go-to piano man for soul and pop acts that require a jazz technique and rhythmic suppleness to their artful pop hits, explaining perhaps his reluctance to be boxed in by the piano-trio convention. In fact, his work with Adele on her global chart topper, 21, the biggest selling album of the decade, and contributions to the forthcoming release from Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande, who was recently announced as the winner of the 2012 Brits Critics Choice award, plus recording sessions with its runner-up Michael Kiwanuka, make him quite literally 2011's most listened to pianist on the planet.
The Face of Mount Molehill is the Neil Cowley Trio's fourth recording. Nourishing his fondness for grand, commanding sounds, Cowley recorded his trio with a string ensemble for the first time. “I've always wanted to work with strings," says Cowley, “It's my chance to be big and dramatic, like those amazing John Barry soundtracks that I grew up listening to."Joining Neil Cowley in his trio is long time compatriot, drummer Evan Jenkins, and new recruit Rex Horan on bass. With co-arranger violinist Julian Ferraretto and Brian Eno sidekick Leo Abrahams providing subtle atmospheric soundscapes on guitar, this collection of original tracks presents music that is expansive, dynamic and deeply engaging.
The title track, “The Face of Mount Molehill", is a reference to the way in which Cowley takes mundane, everyday things and explodes them into something epic and romantic. “I am, basically, making musical mountains out of molehills. Little things become gargantuan." With its jabbering piano and strident strings, this quirky Madness-meets-Motown anthem is one of several rock gems on this album. Another is “Fable", a pulsating piece of power pop, peppered with odd time signatures. Then there's the wonderfully atmospheric “Rooster Was A Witness"; a sinister stomp called “Hope Machine", and the dramatic “La Porte", which resembles a track from Radiohead's Kid A. Cowley likes playing at volume. Though it's important not to ignore the delicacy and sensitivity that imbues much of this album - the achingly beautiful “Distance By Clockwork" and it's two bookends, the gorgeous piano solos - “Lament" and “Siren's Last Look Back" - which both recall the limpid minimalism of Michael Nyman or Steve Reich.
It would be far too simplistic to slot this thrilling music into the jazz pigeonhole; sure, it is instrumental but these songs without words have the power to break down standard perceptions of genre. Their sheer emotion and energy touch lovers of all music.
The Neil Cowley Trio are known for their remarkable and engaging live performances, which always maintain a quirky, English sense of humour and theatrical element at their core. This October 2012, the trio will embark on a U.S. tour.
New York, NY: The Iridium - Thursday, October 11
Columbus, OH: The Wexner Center for The Arts - Saturday, October 13
Franklin, TN: The Franklin Theatre - Sunday, October 14
Oakland, CA: Yoshi's - Oakland Monday, October 15
Los Angeles, CA: The Mint - Tuesday, October 16
October 10 - Tune in to hear the Neil Cowley Trio on WNYC's Soundcheck with John Schaefer
About Neil Cowley
Cementing his position as a dazzling composer of extraordinary talent, Cowley and his trio scale the gargantuan face of Mount Molehill where they explore the heights of everyday trivia, and score it to a soaring overture of epic proportions
The Face of Mount Molehill is the magnificent new album from the pioneers of the British “post-jazz" scene, the Neil Cowley Trio. Featuring soundtracks in search of a film, exploratory minimalist miniatures, power pop songs without words and the coolest TV theme tunes you'll ever hear, this new recording looks set to launch the music of Neil Cowley into the American public's consciousness, and pays testament to The Los Angeles Times endorsement that Cowley is a “Face To Watch in 2012".
Pianist Neil Cowley's music is defined by powerful rip-roaring riffs countered by tender passages of sheer delicacy and witty, whimsical romps; a jazz-meets-rock ethic that has earned him a BBC Jazz Award for Best Album (2007) and plaudits from across the musical spectrum.
Cowley's musical career spans across many genres, making him very different to most musicians on the jazz scene. Aside from time spent as a young boy at London's Royal Academy where his prodigious talent saw him performing a Shostakovitch piano concerto at the age of 10, he has not been schooled on any jazz course, rather his skills has been learned on the job. In past years he has become the go-to piano man for soul and pop acts that require a jazz technique and rhythmic suppleness to their artful pop hits, explaining perhaps his reluctance to be boxed in by the piano-trio convention. In fact, his work with Adele on her global chart topper, 21, the biggest selling album of the decade, and contributions to the forthcoming release from Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande, who was recently announced as the winner of the 2012 Brits Critics Choice award, plus recording sessions with its runner-up Michael Kiwanuka, make him quite literally 2011's most listened to pianist on the planet.
The Face of Mount Molehill is the Neil Cowley Trio's fourth recording. Nourishing his fondness for grand, commanding sounds, Cowley recorded his trio with a string ensemble for the first time. “I've always wanted to work with strings," says Cowley, “It's my chance to be big and dramatic, like those amazing John Barry soundtracks that I grew up listening to."Joining Neil Cowley in his trio is long time compatriot, drummer Evan Jenkins, and new recruit Rex Horan on bass. With co-arranger violinist Julian Ferraretto and Brian Eno sidekick Leo Abrahams providing subtle atmospheric soundscapes on guitar, this collection of original tracks presents music that is expansive, dynamic and deeply engaging.
The title track, “The Face of Mount Molehill", is a reference to the way in which Cowley takes mundane, everyday things and explodes them into something epic and romantic. “I am, basically, making musical mountains out of molehills. Little things become gargantuan." With its jabbering piano and strident strings, this quirky Madness-meets-Motown anthem is one of several rock gems on this album. Another is “Fable", a pulsating piece of power pop, peppered with odd time signatures. Then there's the wonderfully atmospheric “Rooster Was A Witness"; a sinister stomp called “Hope Machine", and the dramatic “La Porte", which resembles a track from Radiohead's Kid A. Cowley likes playing at volume. Though it's important not to ignore the delicacy and sensitivity that imbues much of this album - the achingly beautiful “Distance By Clockwork" and it's two bookends, the gorgeous piano solos - “Lament" and “Siren's Last Look Back" - which both recall the limpid minimalism of Michael Nyman or Steve Reich.
It would be far too simplistic to slot this thrilling music into the jazz pigeonhole; sure, it is instrumental but these songs without words have the power to break down standard perceptions of genre. Their sheer emotion and energy touch lovers of all music.
The Neil Cowley Trio are known for their remarkable and engaging live performances, which always maintain a quirky, English sense of humour and theatrical element at their core. This October 2012, the trio will embark on a U.S. tour.
For more information contact Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity.
