← more from
Adhyâropa Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Lingering

by Meg Okura & Kevin Hays

supported by
Tom Beckham
Tom Beckham thumbnail
darrellallan
darrellallan thumbnail
Donald Cohen
Donald Cohen thumbnail
Sam Sadigursky
Sam Sadigursky thumbnail
Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings thumbnail
apolinsky
apolinsky thumbnail
/

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes digital pre-order of Lingering. You get 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    shipping out on or around May 10, 2024
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Pre-order of Lingering. You get 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    Purchasable with gift card
    releases May 10, 2024

      $15 USD  or more

     

1.
Improvisation No. 1 04:06
buy track
2.
Without Words
3.
Again and Again 03:31
buy track
4.
Will You Hear My Voice
5.
Seven Short Pieces: I. Aleph
6.
Seven Short Pieces: II. Blues Kachol
7.
Seven Short Pieces: III. Mi is Who is He is She
8.
Seven Short Pieces: IV. Maim Korim
9.
Seven Short Pieces: V. Shamaim
10.
Seven Short Pieces: VI. Lilah
11.
Seven Short Pieces: VII. Hora Tarantella
12.
Waltz For Wollesen
13.
Improvisation No. 2
14.
Lingering

about

Some music defies easy classification and description, as do some musicians. Violinist Meg Okura has never played it safe. Fearlessly creative, she has long inhabited her own fresh and unpredictable world of music. Classically trained with degrees from Juilliard, she switched to jazz after graduation and has since worked with a long list of notables (including Lee Konitz, Michael Brecker, and Tom Harrell), led her Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, and recorded more than ten albums of her own. While Kevin Hays has had a very different life, his musical attitude and openness to new collaborations is similar to Meg’s. He has led over 20 albums since 1990 and has worked with everyone from Sonny Rollins, Joshua Redman and Chris Potter to Eddie Henderson, Lionel Loueke, and Brad Mehldau.

Meg and Kevin have performed together on an occasional basis during the past decade. Whenever they get together, they inspire each other, not by playing the obvious or repeating safe ideas but by challenging each other and traveling musically to surprising places.

All of the music on Lingering was recorded in four hours. Throughout the invigorating set, the two musicians consistently blur the differences between composition and improvisation, making the most spontaneous moments sound planned in advance while their melodic statements are free and loose. And although violin-piano duets are somewhat rare in jazz, one never misses the bass or drums during these fascinating encounters.

Two of the performances are free improvisations. “Improvisation No. 1” is a musical dialogue that sets the stage for what is to follow. The two musicians act as equal partners who react instantly to each other’s ideas. Their music evolves logically if unpredictably to its quiet conclusion during this free form but melodic number.

“Without Words” is a melancholy song about writing but not mailing a letter to one’s unrequited love. Its pretty melody is haunting as it musically portrays one’s dream of something that will never happen. “Again & Again” explores several moods and includes some fancy fiddling. “Can You Hear My Voice,” which Meg had previously recorded with her Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, is one of her most memorable and heartfelt melodies.

The centerpiece of Lingering is the violinist’s Jewish suite “Seven Short Pieces” which at times brings to mind Bartok’s “Romanian Folk Dances” and Eric Whitacre’s “Five Hebrew Love Songs.” Each listener will have their favorite moments. To mention a few highlights, “Aleph” includes an unusual rhythm in the bass line of the melody, “Blues Kachol” is an eccentric and somewhat demented blues, “Maim Korim” has a beautiful theme, and “Shamaim” features the duo effortlessly improvising off of an infectious riff in 14/8 time.

Kevin Hays’ “Waltz For Wollesen” was previously recorded on his albums New Day (in a quintet with Gregoire Maret on harmonica) and Where Are You (a trio with tenor-saxophonist Mark Turner). This new treatment is quite a bit different, a quietly emotional version during which Meg’s violin playing is quite beautiful. Concluding the project are the surprising “Improvisation No. 2” (usually free improvisations do not swing this much) and “Lingering,” a tender piece which at its end leaves one wanting more.

It may have taken a decade, but Lingering confirms the musical magic that Meg Okura and Kevin Hays both experienced during their first encounter, playing for the Shabbat service at a synagogue.

Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian

credits

releases May 10, 2024

Meg Okura: violin
Kevin Hays: piano

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Meg Okura & Kevin Hays image

Meg Okura & Kevin Hays New York, New York

contact / help

Contact Meg Okura & Kevin Hays

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Meg Okura & Kevin Hays, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now