Qobuz, the music loversโ high-quality music streaming and download platform, is partnering with Los Angelesโs Sam First Jazz Club and its new home for high-fidelity recordings of select live performances,ย Sam First Records, to exclusively release a digital live album from jazz improv mastersย Clam City, out today. The trio, composed of long-time collaborators (and friends) pianist/keyboardist Jeff Babko, bassist Tim Lefebvre, and drummer Mark Guiliana, recorded the album during performances on April 29 and 30, 2022. To celebrate the release, the trio will perform two live-streamed sets at Sam First tomorrow, April 13th with free virtual admission for Qobuz users.
Listen to the Clam City album on Qobuzย HERE.
Together, Clam Cityโs three GRAMMY-nominated virtuosos are known for their work in Guilianaโs โBeat Music L.A.โ ensemble. Individually, Babko, Lefebvre, and Guilianaโs credits span from David Bowieโs Blackstar album and Donny McCaslinโs band, to performances with Brad Mehldau, Steely Dan, James Taylor and Toto.
โThe bond between Tim Lefebvre, Mark Guiliana, and I is palpable within the grooves of this disc.โ says Jeff Babko in the Clam City Liner Notes. โTo the casual listener and avid music participant alike, the music heard on this record should reflect the magic that happens in a โreal-timeโ moment with little prejudice, expectation or direction.โ
The live album was produced by Sam First owner Paul Solomon and Staff Producer David Robaire, and was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Nick Calapine, and features liner notes by Jeff Babko, design by Spencer Cole Porter, and cover photograph by Paul Solomon.
Keeping with its โBoutique in a Superstore Worldโ approach,ย Clam Cityย is the latest of Qobuzโ exclusive works for jazz fans and other hard-core music lovers. Previous exclusives include International Anthemโs Qobuz series (featuring live-to-record performances by Makaya McCraven, Alabaster DePlume with Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer, and Carlos Niรฑo with DJ-producer Photay); Qobuzโ live-to-EP SXSW showcases (featuring Yazmin Lacey, Shana Cleveland, Miss Grit, Cosmo Pyke, Caramelo Haze, and Barrie); and other exclusive releases from the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Circuit des Yeux, Christian McBride, Frank Zappa, Tower of Power, and many more.
โWe are excited to partner with Qobuz in this innovative way,โ says owner Paul Solomon and producer David Robaire. โThe musicians at Sam First represent the finest group of creative players in the jazz world. Qobuz curates Jazz and creative music unlike any other platform. Qobuzโ focus on quality, on artistry, and its bespoke approach to bringing music and an audience together is totally on point with Sam First Recordsโ approach. We are Qobuz users ourselves and we are excited and tremendously enthusiastic about this partnership, and look forward to ongoing collaborations.โ
Qobuz Managing Director Dan Mackta added โWe recognized Sam First as like-minded music lovers so this partnership made perfect sense. Qobuz is happy to be able to give this release the attention it deserves.โ
See below the tracklist for Clam City @ Sam First:
01 The Church of Bill Hilton 9:05 (Jeff Babko) 02 New Wave Theater 12:31 (Jeff Babko) 03 New Jersey Ballad 1:37 (Mark Guiliana) 04 This West 7:44 (Jeff Babko) 05 Boo Booโs Birthday 7:58 (Thelonious Monk) 06 Fugue Robotique 18:59 (Jeff Babko) 07 Chongoโs Song 14:56 (Jeff Babko) 08 Return To Jerz 1:41 (Mark Guiliana)
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