“The seed for the creation of the 12 Houses was planted in a series of discussions I had with Ornette Coleman. In one important conversation, he pointed out to me that, instrumentation aside, what most traditional large ensembles were missing was the balance in male and female energy. I still am not aware of any large group in jazz history which has pursued this elemental balance. In another discussion, I recall wondering out loud what it might be like to have a large ensemble in which you could hear every individual color at the same time. Ornette smiled when he said, ‘There’s only one way to find out.'”
… Matt Lavelle

Matt Lavelle’s 12 Houses is making major waves on the New York jazz scene. Lavelle’s jazz orchestra is a showcase for virtuoso bravado, melodic color,  intense rhythmic impact, and probing, imaginative improvisation — inspired by the spiritual underpinnings of the signs (houses) of the zodiac, a drive for adventurous sound, and commitment to social change and transformation.

END TIMES

OC DC BC
BLOODSTREAMS
DANIEL CARTER
END TIMES
SLEEPY HARLEM
SUE
DARKLIGHT

all songs by Matt Lavelle

Matt Lavelle’s 12 Houses

Matt Lavelle, cornet, flugelhorn, alto clarinet, conduction
Lee Odom, soprano saxophone, clarinet
Charles Waters, alto saxophone, clarinet
Ras Moshe Burnett, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, bells
Tim Stocker, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Mary Cherney, flute, piccolo
Claire de Brunner, bassoon
Chris Forbes, piano
Laura Ortman, violin
Gil Selinger, cello
Anders Nilsson, guitar
Jack DeSalvo, banjo, mandola
John Pietaro, vibraphone, percussion
François Grillot, double bass
Ryan Sawyer, drums
Anaïs Maviel, voice

Recorded at System Two Recording Studio, Brooklyn, NY during November 2014
Mixed, mastered, and additional recording by Jim DeSalvo, Beanstudio, Wayne, NJ
Photos by Jeff Evans and Gil Selinger
Design by Qua’s Eye Graphix

Produced by Jack DeSalvo

UR9945