For those not in the know, based in Jacksonville, FL. Madre Vaca is a collective of artists focused on making creative music whose core members include: Benjamin Shorstein, Jonah Pierre, and Jarrett Carter.

Almost 200 years ago, Franz Schubert was in the throes of a disease that would ultimately claim his life as he penned the gorgeous and haunting song cycle, Winterreise.

Winterreise is a story of a young man who takes leave from the home of his beloved in the middle of the night, in the dead of winter, unlikely to ever see her again.

Arranged for jazz octet, Madre Vaca's interpretation of Winterreise - out June 4th, 2020 via MVR, and pronounced Vin-Tuh-Rize-Uh - is also the German word meaning Winter Journey and magnifies the timelessness and versatility of Schubert's music.

1. 'Good Night' (7:01)
2. 'The Weathervane' (3:54)
3. 'Frozen' (4:23)
4. 'Loneliness' (5:04)
5. 'The Gray Head' (4:34)
6. 'The Crow' (6:55)
7. 'Last Hope' (4:12)
8. 'The Stormy Morning' (3:30)
9. 'The Sun Dogs' (2:24)
10. 'The Hurdy-Gurdy Man' (3:42)

Arranged from 10 of Schubert's 24 songs comprising the Winterreise song cycle and dedicated to Franz Schubert and Nicole Nissim Shorstein, the band open with the highly emotive brilliance of 'Good Night' and back that up with both the perky dancefloor turn of 'The Weathervane' and then the slightly sterner, more precise and dedicated 'Frozen.'

Up next is the gentle Latin hipsway of 'Loneliness' which is followed by the lo-fi, late night piano, smoky jazz club appeal of 'The Gray Head,' the upbeat and melodic wonderment of 'The Crow,' and then the dulcet, yet orchestrated jam session 'Last Hope.'

This quite vibrantly brilliant new album then rounds out with the euphoric jazz swaying of the trumpet-led 'The Stormy Morning,' the quietly, even stoic at times, German-sung to a crisp piano backing 'The Sun Dogs,' before coming to a close with the finger-snappin' jazz and blues elegance of 'The Hurdy-Gurdy Man.'

Personnel:
Juan Rollan – saxophone
Steve Strawley – trumpet
Lance Reed – trombone
Jonah Pierre - piano
Jarrett Carter - guitar
Mike Perez – bass
Benjamin Shorstein – drums
Milan Algood – percussion

Official Purchase Link

www.MadreVaca.org