Brighter Days by Juan Ortiz
Brighter Days is the emotional portrait of a moment of global uncertainty, a journey to the rediscovery of the most personal roots where the restriction of movement and the strength of emotional bonds gave rise to a work that acts as a true zeitgeist of a dark age, lived since hope, which precedes the light of days to come.
Bilbao-born musician Juan Ortiz flees artifice, and after his albums “Life is Too Short (2013), awarded “Best Jazz Record of the Year” at the BBK Jazz Awards, he toured the world and recorded “And the World is Large ” (2015) moving to Japan where he released his third album “Winter Tales” (2017) also awarded as “Best Jazz Album of the Year” at the Musika Bulegoa Sariak, now presents us “Brighter Days”, an honest album that reflects his personality live.
Accompanied by Hiroshi Takase on double bass and legendary Philadelphia drummer Gene Jackson, who has collaborated with artists such as Art Farmer, Christian McBride, Dianne Reeves, Kevin Eubanks, Eddie Gómez and Hugh Masekela, among others, the trio launches Brighter Days on CRU's first album, which will be released on June 3rd 2022.
Dedicated to my princesses Athena and Selene.
Dark days might cross your path, but don’t worry. It only means that there are brighter days awaiting for you in the future.
Juan was a student of mine at Musikene a few years back. Now I see how the talent that I witnessed then, made him become a great piano player. He knows the jazz tradition in depth and is a great composer. This album is a great example of that.
Perico Sambeat.
Tracklist
| 1. | Blues for the Queen | 7:34 |
| 2. | Song for Athena | 5:05 |
| 3. | Song for Selene (I'll Meet You in my Dreams) | 5:24 |
| 4. | Xoro | 5:29 |
| 5. | Christmas in Bilbao | 6:42 |
| 6. | Capsule | 5:10 |
| 7. | Brighter Days | 4:13 |
| 8. | Sweet Lorraine | 4:01 |
| 9. | Christmas in Bilbao (piano solo) | 2:54 |
Credits
Recorded by Naoto Sugahara at Orpheus Recording Studio, Tokyo JP
Mixed by Joan Lozano
Artwork by Aleix Font
