Javier Red’s Imagery Converter

Description

Javier Red’s Imagery Converter

NPR Jazz Critics Best Of 2019 Debut Albums
"...Red has named his quartet Imagery Converter, and the group does create sublime sonic abstractions. Ephemeral Certainties is absorbing and attractive thanks to its cohesive nature and sophisticated grace. Red’s creative vision and his synergy with his sidemen gives the record its superlative attributes"; Chicago Jazz Magazine
"...the group plays with disciplined energy and a respect for the unexpected, always leaving room for new directions...points to a promising future to these four Chicagoans.."; All About Jazz


This music invited a different set of assumptions and insights to be discovered, manifested, and woven into my band’s sound. We’ve had to explore an organic rhythmic approach not tied to conventional meters or recognizable jazz grooves. Achieved through several years of dedicated collective studying, the result is music that is intuitive but also, seductively puzzling. It is like re-discovering musical intuition, that is what makes listening to this band so exciting.

Work Sample

Title:Javier Red’s Imagery Converter; Ephemeral Certainties. Date of completion: 2019
Portion to be reviewed: Balancing Fragments, whole tune. Roles: 1) Band: Javier Red’s Imagery Converter (Myself Piano, Gustavo Cortinas Drums, Jake Wark Tenor Sax, Ben Dillinger Bass). 2) Myself as Band leader and co-producer 2) Co-producer label: Delmark Records.  3) Recording site) Studiomedia Recording Chicago/ Recording Engineer: Scott Steinman/ This album was selected as Debut Album by NPR Jazz Critics Writers, and had a very positive review from Chicago Jazz Magazine. Type: Album/CD.

Title: Video Life recording-Stretched Particle. Date of Completion: 2019
Portion to be reviewed: all the video. Roles: 1) Band: Javier Red’s Imagery Converter (Myself Piano, Gustavo Cortinas Drums, Jake Wark Tenor Sax, Ben Dillinger Bass). 2) Myself as Band leader and producer. 3) Video and Sound recorder: Brian Schwab.

Title: Imaginary Friend /Live concert @ Fulton Street Collective, Chicago November, 2021
Portion to be reviewed: 32:12- 40:08. (The video link will start at 32:12) Roles: 1) Band: Javier Red’s Imagery Converter (Myself Piano, Gustavo Cortinas Drums, Jake Wark Tenor Sax, Ben Dillinger Bass).

The three samples I am sending are related to my current band, as I am applying as a band for the Illinois roster.

Work Sample 1: Balancing fragments. This tune is part of my first band’s album Ephemeral Certainties, which was selected as debut album by NPR Jazz Critics poll in 2019. This tune is composed by highlighting the role of the bass drum and snare as core of the rhythmic balance of music. I can highlight the material and activity balance with Jake’s (Tenor Sax) Solo.  

Work Sample 2: Stretched Particle. This is a video recorded live at Constellation Chicago, as part of my first album release. Stretched Particle resembles influences from contemporary jazz together with my main influence of classical contemporary music; Stravinsky. I can highlight Gustavo’s (Drums) solo at the end of the tune.

Work Sample 3: Imaginary Friend. This is a video recorded live at Fulton Street Collective Chicago in 2021. Imaginary Friend is part of the material we will be recording in April of 2022 for my band;s second album, Life & Umbrella, which is related to the challenges and emotional portrait of a kid with autism.  

History

​Throughout my career I have played in some of the most important venues in Mexico, such as Palacio de Bellas Artes and CENART, as well as important venues around the world such as Beijing Haidan Centre, Washington Kennedy Center, and Notre Dame University DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. I have also been invited for multiple festivals such as Eurojazz, Festival Cervantino, Havana-Cuba Jazz Festival, and Lima Jazz Festival among others.
With my band Imagery Converter: We have performed within Chicago and several other venues in the Midwest, having a very positive reception from the audience. Our first album “Ephemeral Certainties” was selected in NPR Jazz Critics Best of 2019, within the debut category. We had our first tours scheduled for this past 2020 to the Midwest area as well as to Mexico, however, both were postponed due to COVID. Nowadays we are working on our next Album titled “Life & Umbrella”, which will be released in 2022, with tours being planned in US, Mexico and France.

Artistic Vision

I believe that creative music inspires, motivates, and connects people with themselves, with each other, and is a never-ending journey of self-discovery, exploration, challenges, creativity, and growth. 

Composition. It is imperative for me to strive for innovative compositions; never formulaic or academic, although at the same time, rooted in my beloved musical influences. I compose my music around a central topic, which is commonly linked to my life; experiences, emotions, thoughts, and searches. I usually compose starting with rhythmic ideas that I write, feel, and connect. Regardless of the time signature. Harmony comes at the and as a result of melodic combinations.

Improvisation. The improvisation recreates the whole concept I composed. My collective music-making conception is based on a deep understanding of the musicians with each other. My most important work nowadays is based upon my band Imagery Converter. While all my band musicians have master’s degrees in music, (De Paul and Northwestern), we all needed to change our conception of music toward an organic approach based on rhythm in order to be able to improvise musically within my compositions.

Nowadays I am working towards my band’s second album; Life & Umbrella, whose main topic is about autism in kids. 

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

We can provide a workshop of our music composition and improvisation to middle/high-school level students enrolled in music programs. Three of my band members are active music teachers in music schools and public schools, and that has provided insight on how to put together a workshop for kids.