Segment - Volume One (EP) The John Goldsby Trio

• 1 Things That Go Bump 06:07
• 2 Spinning 05:45
• 3 Cinema Paradiso 05:45
• 4 Sergio 07:09
• 5 Segment 06:38
• Total Runtime 31:24

Info for Segment - Volume One (EP)

Segment, a Goldsby/Test/Dekker collaboration, comes directly from the heart of the legendary WDR Big Band. Recorded in June 2020, as part of the WDR celebration of small group music, the album offers a broad range of big-hearted, focused, joyful music from one of the world’s busiest jazz rhythm sections. The trio displays an uncanny clairvoyance—the kind only heard in groups who perform together regularly. Sensitive, swinging, and grounded by the many years they’ve spent accompanying members of the international jazz scene, Goldsby/Dekker/Test capture the wonderful, wild pulse of the jazz tradition, while adding innovative touches of color, light, and groove.

Goldsby’s bass career has shaped a wide arc of music, holding down the low end for everyone from Jay McShann to Louie Bellson. His work as solo bassist with the Grammy- winning WDR Big Band since 1994 has encompassed the entire spectrum of the modern jazz tradition—from Eddie Harris, Johnny Griffin and James Moody to Roy Hargrove, Take Six, Chucho Valdes, Gary Burton and Knower. The smooth transition from sideman to bandleader surprises to no one; Goldsby’s natural magnetism, attention to detail, and passion for the jazz genre have steered him front and center on several occasions: Tale of the Fingers Viewpoint, and Space for the Bass.

Goldsby, diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in the fall of 2019, views the planning and recording of Segment as fundamental to his current state of remission. “A true musician plays through all stages of life,” says Goldsby. “My illness gave me time to reflect on my relationship to everything that is important and meaningful to me: my family and my music.” Pianist Billy Test says, “This record felt like a bit of a hurrah in a lot of ways—like a return to being a musician after the first corona lockdown. We were back making music together after months of being apart, and that made everything feel super fresh. We were revisiting each other after lots of practice time at home. It also felt like a ‘John Goldsby is back and really ok’ week. He kicked my ass on this recording!”

Acknowledging the transformative nature of music, he steers his trio through a rhapsodic set. At times romping (“Things that Go Bump,” “Sergio”), at times reflective (“Fall Calls,” “Blue Dahlia”), the players reveal a jubilant sense of gratitude for their musical friendship. The trio puts their creative energy to good use on a burning gambol through Charlie Parker’s “Segment,” and a wistful, lilting performance of Mingus’s “Goodbye, Pork-Pie Hat.” Test’s compositions “Spinning,” “Shadows of Change”, and “Coming Down Roses” reflect the beautiful, complex meaning found in the mind of a young composer.

“Billy, Hans and I are playing together constantly. It’s a joy to watch and experience the trio growing in depth and breadth,” says Goldsby. “We act and breathe together.” Dekker says, “Playing with John & Billy is like drinking a great cup of coffee, I look forward to it every day!”

Lately, Goldsby—healthy, strong, and lifting the trio with his usual verve—has been saying he views Segment as the culmination of four decades in the jazz business. “Now, more than ever, music is an essential part of life.” Segment, abundant with gratitude, respect, and friendship, captures Goldsby/Dekker/Test in a bright, white light—an unprecedented performance by a unique rhythm section with a glorious past.

“If you want to hear some warm, exciting bass playing, dig John Goldsby.” (Marc Myers, JazzWax.com)

“Goldsby’s music gleefully evokes those old dim clubs of the Mad Men years, when respectable folks were still wary of that whole jazz thing.” (Louisville Metromix Magazine)

John Goldsby, double bass
Hans Dekker, drums
Billy Test, piano

John Goldsby
Since 1994, John Goldsby has held the position of solo bassist with the Grammy Award-winning Westdeutscher Rundfunk Big Band (Cologne Radio Big Band). From 1980 to 1994, Goldsby was a fixture on the New York jazz scene. He is currently active as a bassist, bandleader, composer, teacher, clinician and author.

Goldsby’s recent recordings as a bandleader include Segment [Bass Lion, 2020], featuring Billy Test and Hans Dekker—the trio and backbone of the WDR Big Band— The Innkeeper’s Gun [Bass Lion, 2010], a powerful sax-bass-drums trio with Jacob Duncan and Jason Tiemann, Space for the Bass [Bass Lion, 2009], featuring duo, trio and quartet formations, Live at the Nachbar (Bass Lion, 2008), also with Duncan and Tiemann, and The Visit [Bass Lion, 2009], a duo with pianist Bill Dobbins. The John Goldsby, Peter Erskine, Bill Dobbins Trio are featured on the highly-acclaimed recording Cologne [Fuzzy Music].

With the WDR Big Band, Goldsby plays on current releases such as: Homecoming [Vince Mendoza], Blue Soul [Dave Stryker / Bob Mintzer], Bombella [Abdullah Ibrahim], Symphonica [Joe Lovano], the Grammy-winning Avant Gershwin and For Ella [Patti Austin], Roots and Grooves [Maceo Parker], Channels of Energy [Antonio Sanchez] and Big Band Time [Paquito D'Rivera].

Mr. Goldsby has authored The Jazz Bass Book, Jazz Bowing Techniques for the Improvising Bassist, and Bass Notes. He teaches at Conservatorium Maastricht (NL), and his new video lesson series is available at Discover Double Bass, and he contributes regularly to Bass Magazine.

This album contains no booklet.