New Album News, New Roads & Codes Review, Takoyaki 3 & Circus Shows

Hi folks, long time no etc. It's been a busy musical summer so far for me, with shows by Takoyaki 3 (at Yoshi's Lounge), Circus Bella (all over the bay), and even my shortest gig ever: a 3-minute obligatto for a groom-to-bride dedication of "All the Things You Are."Gig news: This Friday (7/19), Takoyaki 3 (Adam Shulman on organ, Jon Arkin on drums, & myself on trumpet) will be playing at Rose Pistola in North Beach from 9-11:30p. No cover! Then Sunday (7/21) at noon, Circus Bella (you can hear some live audio of the great original soundtrack here) comes to Oakland's Dimond Park. Also free!Also, I'm pleased to announce the next appearance for my Quintet+1, which will be Friday, September 13 at a secret venue in the East Bay. If you're on my email list, you'll get all the info beforehand; if not, why not sign up? (It's easy-on, easy-off, I swear.)New Review: Roads & Codes has been out for a while, but some nice reviews are still trickling in--this week the multi-talented instrumentalist and educator Michael Smolens named the album his "Must Have CD Pick" of the month, with this very kind and thoughtful review:

Ian Carey is a direct artist. Honest, informed, inventive. The pieces never scream “Look at me!”, but rather, “Come with me.” Unlike many jazz recordings, the length of each piece feels beautifully and organically proportioned, whether they are nearly 12 minutes or just over two – they never plead for airplay with artificial brevity, or feel indulgent with endless solos. Carey incorporates many influences, from the lush worlds of Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider, the kickin' sounds of Joe Henderson and John Coltrane, to adaptations of classical 20th-century composers Igor Stravinsky and Charles Ives, to a Neil Young film score. Yet his sound and compositional approach is always very personal. This sextet of three horns and piano/bass/drums actually feels more like a seven or eight piece band because of how much motion he puts into the horn writing, each horn sharing in the melodic and accompanying roles. Carey's group has at once a very unified sound (remarkably, recorded in just one day), yet each member has a distinct voice as a soloist, always commenting on the piece at hand. Most affecting, though, is his visual art for the project. Carey directs his masterful illustrations to address the concerns that face most jazz artists in this country receive, from bewildering comments by critics, to the public's lack of understanding of jazz, to the select jazz audience's need for reassuring tribute albums. And he does so without the slightest hint of resentment. In fact, it is his child-like honesty in these artistic liner notes that is most breathtaking. (His comments on each of his tunes are informative, as well). Without a doubt, this is an artist you need to hear.

New Album News: In a few weeks, the great pianist Ben Stolorow and I will be mixing the duo project we recorded last month in Oakland. The as-yet-untitled album features 12 intimate tunes from the familiar to the rarely-heard, and we're hoping to release it this fall. Stay tuned!