{"product_id":"okonski-entrance-music","title":"OKONSKI - Entrance Music","description":"\u003cp\u003e12\" LP - Black Vinyl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter nearly two years, Okonski returns with \u003cem\u003eEntrance Music\u003c\/em\u003e — an album that finds the trio at the height of their improvisational prowess and celebrating the spontaneous and meditative. On the heels of 2023’s debut \u003cem\u003eMagnolia\u003c\/em\u003e, pianist and leader Steve Okonski has reconvened long-time musical collaborators (Durand Jones and the Indications bandmate Aaron Frazer on drums and bassist Michael Isvara “Ish” Montgomery) for another session in the spirit of artists like the Bad Plus, Gerald Clayton, and The Breathing Effect. Ultimately \u003cem\u003eEntrance Music\u003c\/em\u003e serves as an invitation to early hours, where songs linger in the doorway, announcing their presence before returning to the air, in a meticulous drift into the next. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eRecorded over a five day session, \u003cem\u003eEntrance Music\u003c\/em\u003e was one of the first albums committed to tape at Portage Lounge, Terry Cole’s studio in Loveland, OH. “It was a new setup, but with Terry behind the dials it was very familiar,” says Okonski. “I can’t emphasize enough how much Terry feels like a fourth member [of the band] because of the space he’s curating, the energy he is bringing, and the production ideas.” The energy and sound created with the Colemine labelhead at the helm makes for a listening experience equally at home with ECM or Stones Throw catalogs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the rippling notes of the pastoral opener, “October,” \u003cem\u003eEntrance Music\u003c\/em\u003e is lush with anticipation, both band and listener feeling the tension in the tranquility — where the interplay of jazz improvisation and boom bap beats never shortchanges the musicianship but the talent is ever in service of the song. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the band does not play together as often as they would like, not much time is needed for the three to lock in. Montgomery’s bass opening to “Passing Through” bends and moves with a singular meditative grace before piano and percussion joins the daylight filling a room with breath and light. If \u003cem\u003eMagnolia\u003c\/em\u003e resonated with last calls and late nights, \u003cem\u003eEntrance Music\u003c\/em\u003e counters with early mornings and first cups of coffee. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhereas much of the debut resonates with his time in New York, \u003cem\u003eEntrance Music\u003c\/em\u003e “feels a little less ‘on the streets at 2 A.M.’ and a little more nature-based…a little more ethereal,” says Okonski. “It’s definitely age, environment, and family — all of that does come through in the music.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colemine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50224777429185,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0541\/5734\/4961\/files\/CLMN12063_digart_2_1200x_jpg.webp?v=1778788889","url":"https:\/\/www.fspotrecords.com\/products\/okonski-entrance-music","provider":"F-Spot Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}