Exclusive Live Album from Clam City (Tim Lefebvre, Mark Guiliana & Jeff Babko) Out Now

Album Release Performance at LAโ€™s Sam First Tomorrow, Saturday, April 13, 2024

Exclusive Live Album from Clam City (Tim Lefebvre, Mark Guiliana & Jeff Babko) Out Now

Album Release Performance at LAโ€™s Sam First Tomorrow, Saturday, April 13, 2024

Qobuz, the music loversโ€™ high-quality music streaming and download platform, is partnering with Los Angelesโ€™s 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 Cityโ€™s three GRAMMY-nominated virtuosos are known for their work in Guilianaโ€™s โ€œBeat Music L.A.โ€ ensemble. Individually, Babko, Lefebvre, and Guilianaโ€™s credits span from David Bowieโ€™s Blackstar album and Donny McCaslinโ€™s band, to performances with Brad Mehldau, Steely Dan, James Taylor and Toto.

โ€œThe 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. โ€œTo the casual listener and avid music participant alike, the music heard on this record should reflect the magic that happens in a โ€˜real-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 โ€œBoutique 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 Anthemโ€™s 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.


โ€œWe are excited to partner with Qobuz in this innovative way,โ€ says owner Paul Solomon and producer David Robaire. โ€œThe 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 โ€œWe 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 Booโ€™s Birthday 7:58 (Thelonious Monk)
06 Fugue Robotique 18:59 (Jeff Babko)
07 Chongoโ€™s Song 14:56 (Jeff Babko)
08 Return To Jerz 1:41 (Mark Guiliana)
Already a subscriber? Log in here.

This story is free for you

Create a free account and get more of the Bass Magazine's top stories directly to your inbox.

Or, subscribe for unlimited access
Bass Magazine   By: Bass Magazine