The Sky Below
Miles Okazaki
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Miles Okazaki's "The Sky Below" Out now
The Sky Below is guitarist Miles Okazaki‘s fifth album of original compositions, and his second album for Pi Recordings. It is a sequel to Trickster, which was described by the New York Times as “tenacious futurism,” by The Wall Street Journal as “a true concept album,” and by Pitchfork as “obviously complex, the work of virtuosi. But the resulting beauty is easy to appreciate.” In the liner notes for The Sky Below Okazaki writes,“If Trickster was the introduction to the characters, the songs on this album are their children, bearing their features but finding their own way.”
“Trickster, a four-piece band led by guitarist Miles Okazaki, is best understood in both cerebral and visceral terms. On the one hand, it’s a delivery system for some proudly intricate and idiosyncratic compositions, the byproduct of a deeply rigorous mind. On the other hand, it’s a go-for-broke quartet, capable of shifting the ground underfoot without ever losing its balance.” – Nate Chinen, “Take Five” (WBGO)
“the music is strongly related to what came before, because Okazaki is actually telling a story. (…) very beautiful, intricate music.” – Stereogum
Upcoming Tour Dates
- 11/03/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Berlin at Berlin Jazz Fest
- 11/04/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Vienna at Porgy and Bess
- 11/05/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Ljubjana at Klub CD
- 11/06/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Ghent, Belgium at Hendelsbeurs
- 11/08/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Sarajevo at Jazz Fest Sarajevo
- 11/10/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Strasbourg at Jazz D’Or
- 11/12/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Rekjavik at TBA
- 11/13/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Olso at Victoria Teater
- 11/14/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Cologne at Stadtgarten
- 11/15/19 Miles Okazaki – WORK (Solo Monk) in Amsterdam at Bimhuis
- 11/23/19 TRICKSTER – THE SKY BELOW Album Release Show in Brooklyn, NY at The Owl
Celebrating the Life of Kadri Gopalnath
We are writing somberly to inform everyone of the passing of Kadri Gopalnoth at Age 69 (December 11, 1949—October 11, 2019). Born into a musical family, Gopalnath initially followed his father’s footsteps and played the nadhaswaram, an Indian instrument similar to the clarinet. He also studied vocal music for five years in Mangalore. “(Gopalnath’s) soft, legato, flurries meshed perfectly in an unusual grouping of violin, Jew’s harp and mridangam drum”. The Illustrated Weekly Of India took a similar view, claiming “(Gopalnath’s) music would make a stone melt”. Gopalnath’s first major break came when he was invited to compose and perform on the soundtrack of a highly successful film, Duet. In 1994, Gopalnath became the first South Indian classical musician to perform in the BBC Promenade concert. We met Kadri during the recording of Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Kinsmen and were blown away by his musicality and his kindness. He is survived by his wife and two sons, whom we send our best wishes to during their bereavement.
Upcoming Events
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November 22, 2019
Anna Webber Septet
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CY
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November 23, 2019
The Art Ensemble of Chicago
London Jazz Festival, England
