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Why the Caged Bird Sings

from Convergence by Nick Maclean Quartet

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about

Originally appearing on Maclean's double-CD solo piano recording “Can You Hear Me?" (Browntasauras, 2021), this tune has clear gospel influences. When Brown, in the producer's chair of the solo piano record in 2020, first heard it - he loved it, and asked if it could be later adapted for the quartet, and 3 years later we now see the results of that adaptation. But in 2020 the tune was still unnamed, so Brown asked if Maclean had ever investigated the work of Maya Angelou, whom the song continued to bring to mind for him. After spending some time with her poetry and performances Maclean agreed that her fullness of life and striking optimism were cornerstones of both Angelou and this tune. Brown and Maclean both felt her spirit and manner were so well captured that they named it "Why The Caged Bird Sings", after one of her iconic books and poems. The addition of hip-hop influences to the bridge, coupled with some very specific Jacob Wutzke driven J-Dilla phrasing was something the group had been experimenting with under Brown's knowledgeable tutelage (as the former Guru's Jazzmatazz trumpet player, his knowledge of hip-hop is encyclopedic and a resource Maclean has been tapping for some time now). This is the first time Brown's electronic effects pedals ever make an appearance in this quartet, which provides a foil to Maclean's acoustic grand piano sound. The group delivers short but engaging solos, with Wutzke putting his Brian Blade influences on display during drum trading, before this Maclean Quartet church tune comes to its reverent close.

credits

from Convergence, released October 27, 2023
Composed by Nick Maclean
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Nick Maclean -- piano
Brownman Ali -- trumpet, producer
Ben Duff -- bass
Jacob Wutzke -- drums
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Revolution Recording -- recording studio (Kim Cooke, booker)
Stephen Koszler -- head tracking engineer
Luke Schindler -- assistant tracking engineer
Wayne Ferguson -- piano tuner
Josh Bowman -- mix engineer
Justin Gray -- mastering engineer
Dean Shu -- cover art
Daryl Angier -- liner notes
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Thomas Varey -- director of photography
Brittany Farhat -- camera crew
Matthew Fong -- camera crew
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Canada Council for the Arts -- funding
Ontario Arts Council -- funding
Toronto Arts Council -- funding
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Browntasauras Records -- record label
Steve Danic (Browntasauras Records) -- publicist

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Nick Maclean Quartet Toronto, Ontario

This contemplative and often thrilling quartet's explorations of modern, original repertoire delivers jazz between the two poles of thoughtful introspection and powerhouse conveyance, taking influences from Herbie Hancock's primordial 1960's Blue Note era recordings featuring Freddie Hubbard, while simultaneously paying apt tribute to some of the greatest improvisers in jazz history. ... more

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