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Bandleader, Sideman, Songwriter, Educator  

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Two Parts is just the ticket to bring their music to the eyes and ears of jazz music fans worldwide.

-Robert Silverstein (Roots Music Reviews, 2020)

"O terceiro álbum dos Irmãos Tucker [Tucker Brothers], Two Parts [2019], é considerado uma fusão aventureira, estonteante e eclética. O título do disco (Duas Partes, em português)  é um pouco irônico, já que os irmãos, o guitarrista Joel e o baixista Nick(também conhecidos como as "duas partes"), criam uma infinidade de variações de humor e tempo nas improvisações que executam ao lado do saxofonista Sean Imboden e do baterista Brian Yarde. O álbum é profundamente expressivo, lúdico, curioso e coloca ênfase única na composição e improvisação."

-André Amaro (Esquina Do Jazz, 2020 - Brazil)

"Fresh and interesting, often relaxed and buoyant, this is an intriguing album indeed."

- Kev Rowland (House of Prog, 2020)


"The compositions appear to be conceived from the ground up to make each player essential. No one fades even momentarily across the nine pieces."  

-Jay Harvey (Upstage, 2020)

“Two Parts is ethereal and artful”

 -Dodie Miller-Gould (Lemonwire, 2019)

"...they create a gracious collection of impressionistic moods."

-George W. Harris (Jazzweekly.com, 2019)

"This third release will put the group on the map!"

-Patrick Van De Wiele (keysandchords.com, 2019)

As always, I am extremely grateful for your support <3

Jazz Artistry Now - "Best of Jazz 2019"
2019 
 

“Fresh, enchanting, elegant, and exquisite musicality throughout …”

Jazz Artistry Now

http://jazzartistrynow.com/

The JW Vibe
2019
 

Individually and collectively important parts of the Indianapolis jazz scene, guitarist Joel and bassist Nick Tucker – collectively known as the Tucker Brothers – are instructors of Jazz Studies at Ball State University and have distinctive resumes boasting performances with and alongside greats ranging from Pat Martino and Russell Malone to Randy Brecker and Stefan Harris.

 

The title of the third album, the adventurous and dazzlingly eclectic fusion date Two Parts, is a bit ironic, since the brothers (aka the “two parts”) are in full ensemble action throughout, creating a multitude of mood swings and tempo variations and improvisational jam magic with the two guys rounding out their quartet, Sean Imboden (saxophone) and Brian Yarde (drums) and a dynamic cadre of guests. Wordless vocalist Elena Escudero turns the silky, easy flowing opener “Warm Heart” into a soulful dreamscape, while saxophonist Walter Smith III creates a fiery horn conversation/duality with Imboden on the increasingly rambunctious “When Souls Meet.”

There’s also pianist Ellie Pruneau, who creates a steady, elegantly hypnotic underscore for the multi-movement, rhythmically varied title track; and saxophonist Amanda Gardener, who brings fresh whimsy to the perfectly titled “Sundancing.”

While the Tuckers enjoy engaging their high-end company for the most part, they also dazzle here and there with powerful solos, most prominently with Nick’s plucky bass intro to “Heavy Drop” and Joel’s cool fire electric guitar solo on “Lifely.”  -Jonathan Widran

 

 

 

Braća Tucker - gitarist Joel i kontrabasist Nick - obrazovani su glazbenici i sveučilišni profesori koji su iskustvo stjecali svirajući s poznatim glazbenicima u različitim žanrovima, od jazza preko latina do rocka. Joel je svirao sa Shipwreckom Karpathosom i Eliotom Biggerom, sastavima Ghost Museum i Ritmos Unidos te orkestrom Matta Nowlina, a Nick s Randyjem Breckerom, Bobbyjem Watsonom, Stefonom Harrisom, Richom Perryjem i Alanom Pasquom. No, najviše vole svirati zajedno, posebice ako su oni vođe sastava. Njihov novi album nosi znakovit naziv. Naime, glazbom su se željeli referirati na dualnost u raznim pogledima, od života, bratskog zajedništva i različitosti, preko umjetnosti, iskazu poštovanja prema tradiciji i budućnosti... Ovaj CD donosi nastavak glazbenih istraživanja koja su započeli albumom “Nine Is the Magic Number” iz 2015., a nastavili albumom “Writing Prompts” iz 2017. kojim su odali počast glazbenicima što su ostavili neizbrisiv trag u povijesti jazza, a potječu iz istog okružja u kojem i oni djeluju - Indianapolisa - između ostalih Wesu Montgomeryju i Freddieu Hubbardu. Braća su među sobom podijelila skladateljski dio posla, a radi se isključio o novim djelima. Šest ih je napisao Joel, a tri Nick. Uz njih dvojicu, članovi njihova kvarteta su saksofonist Sean Imboden i bubnjar Brian Yarde. Četiri su izvedbe odlučili zvukovno obogatiti te su angažirali suradnike, svakog u jednoj: pjevačicu Elenu Escudero u “Warm Heart”, tenor saksofonista Waltera Smitha trećeg u “When Souls Meet”, pijanisticu Ellie Pruneau u “Two Parts” i alt saksofonisticu Amandu Gardier u “Sundancing”.

Davor Hrvoj

Как вы понимаете. Индиана – далеко не главный джазовый центр США. Но в искусстве, на мой взгляд, понятие провинциальности неуместно. Если человек талантлив, он даже в самом медвежьем углу может создавать шедевры, особенно сегодня, когда Сеть стерла все границы и открыла доступ к любым источникам и позволяет быть в курсе всех современных тенденций. Я не хочу сказать, что Two Parts, новый (уже третий по счету) альбом ансамбля Tucker Brothers из Индианаполиса – это шедевр, но это интересная и достойная музыка, которая заслуживает вашего внимания. 

Интерес к музыке у братьев Такеров возник довольно поздно. Они росли в семье, где музыка отнюдь не была наследственным делом. Оба брата увлеклись ею уже в школьные годы. Интерес к джазу возник еще позже. Для обоих братьев толчком здесь послужили прослушанные пластинки: для гитариста Джоэля – альбом гитариста Веса Монтгомери, для басиста Ника – альбом фортепьянного трио Билла Эванса. 

Джоэль и Ник накопили определенный опыт выступлений с разными коллективами, прежде, чем организовали свой ансамбль и выпустили в 2015 году первый альбом. В Two Parts помимо постоянного состава, в который входят тенор-саксофонист Шон Имбодин и ударник Брайан Джарде, участвует также целый ряд гостей. С вокалом без слов от Елены Эскудеро мы знакомимся уже в стартовом треке Warm Heart, задающем тон всему альбому: тонкой, атмосферичной пьесе, где нежному (можно сказать, ангельскому) голосу Эскудеро вторят столь же мягкие и действительно теплые, под стать названию пьесы, инструментальные партии. Музыка братьев Такер (все пьесы альбома – авторские) совсем не похожа на характерный американский straight-ahead jazz и в то же время в ней нет ничего авангардного. Это такой деликатный, приближенный к камерной музыке и очень симпатичный мэйнстрим, который хорошо слушать вдвоем с близким человеком или в одиночестве, предаваясь романтичным мечтам. В Sundancing звук альт-саксофона гостьи Аманды Грандье прорезает пространство, словно солнечный луч, а последующее гитарное соло Джоэла ярко расцвечивает очень «летнюю» атмосферу композиции. Приятное впечатление оставили и его сольные партии в Lifely, в титульной Two Parts и в финальной Return To Balance, но, пожалуй, это единственная пьеса, где гитарное интро несет ощущение тревоги, в целом не характерное для этого очень умиротворяющего альбома. https://jazzquad.ru/index.pl?act=PRODUCT&id=5328

The Sound Guardian (Croatia)
2019
 
NestorMedia (Russia)
2019
 

Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews

2019

Highly impressive jazz statements The Tucker Brothers – TWO PARTS:  This is another “first listen” for me… this wonderful album features The Tucker Brothers Joel Tucker guitar, Nick Tucker bass, with Sean Imboden tenor saxophone, Brian Yarde drums and several special guests – Elena Escudero voice, Walter Smith III tenor Saxophone, Ellie Pruneau piano & Amanda Gardier alto saxophone… a very well-produced and enjoyable video gives you clear insight for what they’re trying to accomplish…

I particularly like the gentle “swayed-back” aura of their playing… be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel, where you’ll find many more exciting videos… I did.

Tunes like “When Souls Meet“, featuring Walter’s tenor work, will hold you totally spellbound… you’ll definitely become an “instant believer” in The Tucker Brothers talent and energy as you listen to this one (over & over again)!

The vocals that Elena performs on the opener, “Warm Heart“, are simply magic… the song has a “mellowness” that few are able to achieve these days… some of the coolest jazz vocal work I’ve heard (yet) in 2019!

Joel’s guitar on “Lifely” is shimmering with the spirit of life & the living of it… I predict that this composition will garner MAJOR airplay on jazz stations ’round the globe… it certainly merits it, folks.

The bass intro from Nick on “Heavy Drop” is similar to what you might expect, but since the tune clocks in at 9:00, there is plenty of room for the other players to contribute to the conversation they’re having with you… this is my personal favorite of the nine songs offered up for this superb jazz adventure!

Truth be told, I haven’t been this impressed with a “new” group (new to me, anyway) in a while… I give these wonderful players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99.  - Rotcod Zzaj

NUVO
2017

"...this is no mere rehash of greatest hits from the Wes Montgomery or Freddie Hubbard songbook. Writing Prompts contains eight wonderfully crafted original pieces composed by Joel and Nick."

-Kyle Long

Indy Star
2016

"Indiana University graduate Tucker was awarded this summer a Musical Family Tree grant to help fund an album saluting Indianapolis jazz greats."

-David Lindquist

Musical Family Tree Amplify Indy Grant Recipient
2016

"The project will pay homage to the most prominent Indianapolis jazz musicians of the past who are remembered throughout the world as some of the best musicians that have ever lived. We are delighted to have the opportunity to support this celebration of Indiana music history."

-Erin Jeter

Upstage

2018

"Writing Prompts" continues to document the progress of a cohesive band that enjoys a lively fund of imaginative resources to draw upon in both composition and performance."

-Jay Harvey

As Told by Indy
2015

"Serving up a divine mixture of jazz, pop and indie rock on his forthcoming album, Nine is the Magic Number, Indy’s own Joel Tucker is gaining some serious attention these days."

"Many interesting and wonderful ideas and concepts have gone into Nine is the Magic Number, and it’s sure to be a hit around town with people of all generations!"

-Lynzi Stringer

Upstage

2015

"This is a band that never seems to coast. Too often you'll hear the outchorus of a standard played in a routine manner, but this one had some imaginative new ideas. None of the members, including the drummer,  shies away from attention to melody."

"This band consists of four individualists who seem thoroughly attuned to one another."

-Jay Harvey

Live Clip of the Week

I'll Be Seeing You 9/22/18 - Tucker Brothers Group
00:00 / 00:00
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