Early Press for Steve Lehman’s Selebeyone

Steve Lehman’s invigorating new recording Sélébéyone is receiving some fantastic pre-release press.

“If this is the direction jazz is heading, Lehman, as usual, is miles ahead.”-Downbeat

“Jazz purists, and even some more exploratory listeners, may have to open their ears a bit wider with Sélébéyone, but it will prove well worth it.”- All About Jazz’s Karl Ackerman

“Like all titanic hip-hop and jazz records theirs contains much to consider, lessons to be learned, poetry to contemplate, and new cultures to absorb.”- All About Jazz’s Mark Corroto

Sélébéyone is available for pre-order on bandcamp

More Press for The Inner Spectrum of Variables

Tyshawn Sorey’s The Inner Spectrum of Variables is continuing to get rave reviews in the press.

“This is an astonishing, indefinable work that drags jazz and modern composition into an entirely new realm.”-The Wire

“The Inner Spectrum Of Variables is a hugely impressive and often moving work, establishing Sorey as a worthy heir to creative composers like Anthony Braxton and Henry Threadgill”-The Quietus

“This is one of those rare releases where one can say with confidence that something new and exciting is taking place. Sorey is fast becoming one of the most intriguing musicians and composers of his generation, and if this music is any indication, it signals the opportunity for more creative work to be done in bringing the worlds of classical and improvised music into closer contact.”-Free Jazz Blog

Tyshawn Sorey will be premiering a new work for his Alloy Trio at The Newport Jazz Festival on July 29th. We hope to see you there.

Tyshawn Sorey at the Stone and Another Review for His New Recording

Tyshawn Sorey will be in residency at The Stone this week. Come through and check out what the New York Times calls “a rare performance” and one of “10 Things to Do Now in NYC”

Additionally, Tyshawn Sorey’s new album The Inner Spectrum of Variables has been called “a highlight of the year” by Burning Ambulance.

New Recording from Steve Lehman

Steve Lehman’s ambitious new project Sélébéyone featuring rappers HPrizm and Gaston Bandimic with composition and production from Maciek Lasserre is almost here.

The second track from this recording “Are You In Peace?” was recently featured in Pitchfork.

“In finessing this range of linguistic dexterity and instrumental expression, the worldliness of the band’s performance amounts to a startling new take on the posse cut.”-Pitchfork

Check out the Full Review at Pitchfork

Recent Press for Henry Threadgill

Henry Threadgill’s recently released Old Locks and Irregular Verbs has received a myriad of positive reviews!

“It’s all too much to think about, except for the fact that it’s not. Threadgill’s masterful blend of the independent and interdependent is alive and well in Old Locks and Irregular Verbs.”-All About Jazz

Full review at All About Jazz

“Henry Threadgill may be in his early 70s, but he continues to make music that sounds like no one else. Even when he branches out and doesn’t quite sound like himself, he remains inimitable to a startling degree.”-PopMatters

Full review at PopMatters

“Recent Pulitzer winner Henry Threadgill only makes important records. In the jazz avant-garde, he is both revered elder statesman and active agent provocateur.”-JazzTimes

Full review at JazzTimes

New Release From Tyshawn Sorey

Tyshawn Sorey’s The Inner Spectrum of Variables has also received some great press.

“The lyrical intricacies central to the suite are frequently intermingling their attributes as living entities would do in such close proximity. There is a spontaneity and natural flow in the mix of components that make up The Inner Spectrum of Variables and they belie the complexity and scope of Sorey’s vision; it is the vision of a modern master.”-All About Jazz

Full Review at All About Jazz

Additionally, “Movement II” from The Inner Spectrum of Variables has been featured on The Wire’s 23rd edition of it’s “Below the Radar” playlist

Vision Festival

Come join us at the Vision Festival running Tuesday through Sunday this week at Judson Memorial Church. Tons of great music but we are particularly looking forward to Tuesday’s Life Time Achievement tribute to Henry Grimes (Marc Ribot will be there), Wednesday with Jen Shyu’s incredible project Songs of Silver Geese and Saturday with Wadada Leo Smith. Added bonus! We will be selling Pi Recordings CDs in the marketplace. Stop by and say hi!

Praise for Henry Threadgill’s Pulitzer Win

“A composer and bandleader of intense, unyielding originality, nobody’s idea of a compromise”-New York Times

“A sonic tapestry that seems the very expression of modern American life”-Pulitzer Prize Jury

“The Pulitzer Prize has made a major statement, in recognizing my work and others’, that they have a bigger picture of creativity. Because that’s what we need as a country and as an artistic community, is to have everything recognized.”-Henry Threadgill (via NPR)

”[In for a Penny In For A Pound’s] triumph suggests the music Pulitzers are headed in the right direction”-Chicago Tribune

Pi Recordings is pleased to announce that we have shared copies of In For A Penny in For A Pound with Commander in Chief President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain, and the Disabled Veteran’s Association.

Henry Threadgill wins Pulitzer Prize!

In for a Penny, In for a Pound by Henry Threadgill was named the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for “distinguished musical composition by an American.” In awarding the prize, the Pulitzer committee call the release “a highly original work in which notated music and improvisation mesh in a sonic tapestry that seems the very expression of modern American life.” We could not be more ecstatic for Henry and are honored to have been able to help document his work these last 15 years.

Best Albums of 2015

We are very happy to announce that three of this year’s releases have made it into the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times best albums of 2015 lists!

No’ 1 for Nate Chinen: Steve Coleman and the Council of Balance – “Synovial Joints”.

No’ 3 for Ben Ratliff: Jen Shyu – “Sounds and Cries of the World”.

Check out the full New York Times Best Albums of 2015

Chris Barton of the Los Angeles Times listed Amir ElSaffar’s – “Crisis” as one of the best albums of 2015.

We are extremely proud to be working with these incredible artists who consistently push their music forward and produce unique work! Congratulations to all of you for receiving this recognition for your work!