Today I will speak about a great bassist, bandleader, composer and music director for jazz at Saint Peter's Church (the "jazz church"), in Manhattan, New York City: Ike Sturm.
Ike Sturm is a graduate (with distinction) of the prestigious Eastman School of Music with a Master of Music degree in jazz bass performance and a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz bass performance and music education (instrumental). He has received various honors for his academic work, among them the Ossia music grant, George Eastman and Lois Rogers Scholarships, the Xerox Scholar Award for Humanities/Social Sciences, and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
Ike Sturm is a very active sacred jazz musician who has three interesting projects: Reflect (2003), Spirit (2004) and his recent last project Jazz Mass (2009). On this ocasion I will share with you two tracks of his second album, Spirit. In words of Ike:
During a trip through the fjords of Norway, I was overwhelmed by the strength of God's presence and the beauty of his creation. My inspiration in that place served as the conception for "Spirit".Musically, this project is a richly textured original work for ten musicians, fusing jazz and world rhythms into a beautiful, contemporary style. It consists of three different movements, and each one represent a different aspects of Holy Spirit; plus a final movement.
I. Spirit (in Creation), Genesis 1:2
II. Acts (Spirit in Christ), Acts 17:28
III. Everduring (Everlasting Nature of the Spirit), Revelation 1:8
IV. Together
This is exceptionally beautiful music played by wonderful musicians displaying a maturity way beyond their years. I'm impressed! -- Maria Schneider
Ike Sturm's 'Spirit' is, to my ears, a deeply touching piece of music. In the often harsh world that we live in today, it is refreshing to hear jazz-based music that is so open and vulnerable. -- John Hollenbeck
Ike Sturm's official website: http://ikesturm.com
