 |
 |
|||||||||||
|
|
Bill Anschell/Brent Jensen Duo Available for concerts, clinics and masterclasses The Bill Anschell/Brent Jensen duo is now touring in support of their critically acclaimed CD, "We Couldn't Agree More." Both are experienced touring artists and educators, and they are happy to augment their concerts with clinics and masterclasses to share their unique perspectives on duo performance with students and interested audience members. Pianist Bill Anschell has performed in premiere jazz festivals and clubs throughout the U.S. and abroad, including five South American tours leading his own trio and six European tours as pianist/musical director for vocalist Nnenna Freelon. Anschell’s composing and piano work are prominently featured on Freelon’s 1996 Grammy-nominated recording “Shaking Free,” and his own CDs have all enjoyed critical acclaim and extensive stays on the national jazz radio charts. Anschell, a Seattle native, returned to the Emerald City in 2002 after a long residency in Atlanta, Georgia. He received a Golden Ear Award as the “Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year” in 2005, and his trio was named “Northwest Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the Year” in 2006. Saxophonist Brent Jensen studied with Lee Konitz in New York City in 1986-87 on a grant awarded to him by the Idaho Commission on the Arts. He was a winner of the "Woodwinds on Fire" international talent search conducted by "Jazziz" magazine in 1996. Jensen’s debut release on Origin records, “The Sound of a Dry Martini: Remembering Paul Desmond” was featured on JazzWeek's Top 100 and NPR's JazzWorks' Top 25 lists in 2002. His recording, "One More Mile" (also on Origin) features Bill Anschell on piano and was named one of the "Top 50 Jazz CDs of 2007" by the "Village Voice." Jensen is an Assistant Professor of Music at the College of Southern Idaho.
Reviews of "We Couldn't Agree More": "Anschell and Jensen make music that is startlingly beautiful, surprising, and powerful. Listeners... should investigate this beautifully-recorded CD, a transforming experience." --Michael Steinman, Cadence "They are in such command of their respective instruments that, instinctively, at a millisecond's notice, they can duplicate each other's phrases and harmonic detours; anticipate changes in tempo or dynamics; and know when and how to end a track... Theirs is a superb duo." --Harvey Siders, JazzTimes "We Couldn't Agree More consistently throws sparks at the listener and comes with about as high a recommendation as I can give an album." Full review --Chris Robinson, Earshot Jazz The jazz duet is alive and well with Anschell and Jensen. This is a most pleasant example of the power of jazz when played in close places." Full review --C. Michael Bailey, allaboutjazz.com "This is the jazz version of two people sharing a tightrope -- beautifully in sync." Full review --Ken Frankling, Jazz Notes
Listen to sample tracks from "We Couldn't Agree More": You and the Night and the Music On the Sunny Side of the Street
|
Anschell/Jensen RevieWs
"Best of" Lists 10/09: We Couldn't Agree More is selected as a "Critic's Choice" CD for 2009 by Jazziz magazine. 12/09: We Couldn't Agree More is selected as one of the "Best Northwest Jazz CDs of 2009" by syndicated radio host Jim Wilke.
University Residencies "Brent & Bill provided a very informative and entertaining clinic on duo playing. The concert that followed was absolutely wonderful! The communication and musicality of these two talented musicians made a huge impression on Whitman's jazz students and the Walla Walla community members in attendance. It was truly a great evening of jazz!" Dave Glenn, Director of Jazz Studies, Whitman College
"The Anschell-Jensen Duo presented a sensational concert. Bill and Brent are masterful improvisers with a captivating, unique sound and their masterclass for our students was stimulating and inspirational. Highly recommended!" Gregory W. Yasinitsky, Coordinator of Jazz Studies, Washington State University _________________________________ "Your clinic was engaging and informative and I heard many positive comments from the students. It was particularly beneficial for the students to hear two professionals playing on such a high level in a duo format. I also appreciated the intentional way you strove to "never play a tune the same way." Your willingness to take on unconventional roles and explore new approaches to standards was inspiring and is a good reminder that jazz can be performed on a variety of instruments in innumerable configurations." Brent Edstrom, Professor of Jazz Studies, Whitworth College
In Concert "The recent CD by pianist Bill Anschell and soprano saxophonist Brent Jensen is called We Couldn't Agree More. The title is inaccurate. In an intimate concert last weekend at The Seasons, they were in even greater agreement, with more daring and more complexity.... It was glorious." Award-winning critic Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
Contact Bill Anschell: billanschell@mindspring.com Brent Jensen: bjensen@csi.edu
|
