Rebecca Martin's "The Growing Season"

Rebecca Martin's latest recording of all original compositions entitled 'The Growing Season' (Sunnyside Records) is slated to be released on August 12th. The recording features Rebecca (Acoustic Guitar/Vocals), Kurt Rosenwinkel (Guitar and all other chordal instruments and sounds), Larry Grenadier (Acoustic Bass) and Brian Blade (Drums). Kurt Rosenwinkel produced. Recorded and Mixed by James Farber.

It's an album whose perfect marriage of words and music impacts the listener for a long time. And one of the top records of 2008, thus far. Ms. Martin wrote all the songs, which deal with living in both the world and your body. There is an ease and effortlessness in the music, gently pushed by the subtle rhythms of drummer Brian Blade, the supple bass lines of Larry Grenadier, and perfect addition of criminally over-looked guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, and his other-worldly voicings. It's all anchored by Martin's elegant songs, lovely guitar and smokey voice. "It's a voice that seems to leave nothing out: sex and death and breakfast and wind in the trees and tax forms and laughter and night. All at once." (Brian Cullman, 2008)

I asked Rebecca recently to share her thoughts and reflections regarding the new recording, and her music in general. She was wonderfully gracious to offer the following:
My recordings are all documents of where I am creatively and emotionally at the time they are made... 'The Growing Season.' A blessing of a record. I knew that Kurt, Brian and Larry were the only ones to help me to relay where I am at now – but you are never able to know how close you will come to it. You can only work to iron out all the details so to give yourself the very best chance at succeeding. The outcome is, unknown. In this record, there is a maturity and a gentle strength in the songs and performances. The groove is so in the pocket throughout – and that is as pleasing as can be. It’s like seeing anything perfectly symmetric. The work of Brian and Larry gives The Growing Season...an addicting quality. Kurt Rosenwinkel is magic. It’s not something that everyone doesn’t already know through his work. I’ve had the opportunity to make music with him on and off for the last 13 or so years. This is our fourth recording together – but the first where he acts as producer along with everything else. Kurt is a powerful, natural force. A natural resource. He makes everything move swiftly forward and he’s inspiring to be around. A lot of fun, too. Finally, an important aspect of my records that I could not do without is the artistry of engineer James Farber. Since 'Middlehope,' he is an integral part of the sound. If there is actually one thing a musician can count on as an outcome, it’s that working with him guarantees a great sounding record.
'The Growing Season' is a great sounding record, and one the listener will be listening to for a long time, I suspect. On August 12th, I know many will look for this wonderful, new shared artistry from Rebecca Martin.