Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band

In 2007 Mark Isaacs released Resurgence, an Australian/American collaboration recorded in Los Angeles featuring Mark's compositions and musicians such as guitarist James Muller, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and saxophonist Bob Sheppard. It was nominated for an ARIA Award (Australian "Grammy") for Best Jazz Album and the opening track "Walk a Golden Mile" was awarded "Instrumental Work of the Year" at the 2008 Australia Classical Music Awards. The all-Australian Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band was formed in the wake of the release. With a brand new repertoire it has toured extensively in Japan, Korea, Thailand and Australia, including major festivals. The band has recorded a new CD entitled Tell It Like It Is which will be released on ABC in May 2009 followed by an extensive Australian tour and a program of broadcast-quality multi-camera footage of the performance that generated the CD has been positioned as a TV program and DVD.
The musicians are:
Mark Isaacs: piano James Muller: electric guitar Matt Keegan: soprano, alto & tenor saxophones Brett Hirst: bass Tim Firth: drums.
RESURGENCE REVIEWS
“Isaacs, with every release, has refined his systematic approach to post-modernity jazz to the point that his sound defines what jazz should sound like at the advent of the 21st Century in the same way Joe King Oliver, Satch, and Bix defined New Orleans/Chicago, Basie and Ellington defined the swing era, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie defined be bop and Miles Davis defined everything else”
C. Michael Bailey ALL ABOUT JAZZ (USA)
“James Muller’s lack of visibility isn’t just curious, it’s downright criminal. As is also true for Isaacs. With Resurgence the pianist makes it clear that he’s a writer who understands balance and a player who knows the meaning of context and development. There’s no posturing or meaningless displays on Resurgence—just fine writing, compelling playing and a group sound that’s all the more remarkable for it being a one-time event”
John Kelman ALL ABOUT JAZZ (USA)
“The success of Isaacs’ venture lies in, not only the unique accessibility of his compositions, but even more so in unspoken communication that allows for such immersion in, and expression of, music”
Don Williamson JAZZ REVIEW (USA)
“The original program is full of brightness and energy, harmonised by thoughtful composition…most impressive”
Takafumi Mimori SWING JOURNAL (JAPAN)
“An excellent CD of quality and substance”
Brent Keefe DRUMMER MAGAZINE (UK)
“Some of the finest solos come from Isaacs himself, chiselled from the bones of the songs”
John Shand SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“The album is an absolute gem…. this is one of the best jazz recordings to have been made by an Australian jazz artist in the last few years. It is essential listening”
Peter Kenyon JAZZREVIEW (PERTH JAZZ SOCIETY)
“Everything that is good about music is present; careful consideration of dynamics and texture with strong composition, improvisation and group interaction”
Aaron Searle MUSIC FORUM MAGAZINE (AUSTRALIA)
“Isaacs’ compositions are reminiscent of Chick Corea’s tunefulness, but with a more laid back groove….recognisable for [his] trademark lyricism and craftsmanship”
Rosalind Appleby THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
“Bigger than any big band on the night was the emotion pianist Mark Isaacs brought to the Wangaratta Town Hall at 11pm…..Isaacs felt every nuance and played it” Roger Mitchell HERALD SUN (MELBOURNE)
“The intensity of the collective belief in the project was evident immediately, the leader's first solo having an almost frightening intensity to it, while still exuding a tangible and effecting beauty….This band must be heard”
“Mark Isaacs's Resurgence Band framed not only the leader's tender piano stories but also Matt Keegan's big scrawling tenor and James Muller's guitar playing, so gritty as to threaten gravel rash”
John Shand SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“Mark Isaacs led his Resurgence band through an all-new original repertoire that coaxed some superb playing from all five musicians”
Jessica Nicholas THE AGE (MELBOURNE)
“Magnificent originals penned by Isaacs…each one was a pearl”
JAZZ ACTION SOCIETY MAGAZINE (AUSTRALIA)
BiographyMark Isaacs has given concerts in Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Israel, Turkey, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Phillipines, Burma, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. He has performed and/or recorded with leading international jazz artists Dave Holland, Roy Haynes, Kenny Wheeler, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum, Bob Sheppard, Steve Tavaglione and Jay Anderson and released several CDs to international acclaim. As a classical concert hall composer he has composed around 80 major works ranging across orchestral, chamber, choral and solo pieces. He is a recipient of an Australia Council Fellowship, a prize-winner in the Tokyo International Competition for Chamber Music Composition, the winner of the inaugural Miriam Hyde Composer-Pianist Award and the 2007 Albert H. Maggs Composition Award from the University of Melbourne and his most recent CD “Resurgence” was nominated for an ARIA award for Best Jazz Album and the opening track Walk a Golden Mile was declared “Instrumental Work of the Year” at the 2008 Australian Classical Music Awards. He is the Curator of the Brisbane Jazz Festival, has performed as a classical pianist and conducted his compositions.
For further info please visit www.markisaacs.com