Kurt Rosenwinkel’s The Next Step
feat. Mark Turner, Ben Street, Jeff Ballard
This quartet shows a very high artistic level: it is perfectly set in contemporary jazz and can give great charm. This all-star ensemble has been active for many years and includes true masters of their instruments.
Besides being a composer and multi-instrumentalist, Kurt Rosenwinkel is among the most innovative guitarists of the last 30 years. His fluidity in phrasing, harmonic richness and unique sound make him a leading artist in the guitar scene. After being introduced to the “major” jazz world by Gary Burton, Paul Motian and Joe Henderson in the early 90s, the Philadelphia-based guitarist defined his identity, especially with the albums under his name. Verve Records released his first records in the early 2000s. Recently, Rosenwinkel has formed his label, Heartcore, to promote promising young musicians.
Saxophonist Mark Turner and drummer Jeff Ballard are also members of the fantastic trio called Fly and the SFJAZZ Collective; Ben Street is nowadays one of the most sought-after bassists: he has performed with many artists, including Billy Hart, Danilo Pérez, Tom Harrell and Sam Rivers. All three are long-time collaborators of Rosenwinkel, and the quartet can boast the added value of incredible cohesion.
