For those not in the know, JMI Recordings is proud to announce the release of rising star bassist Max Gerl’s self-titled album. A daring and venturesome solo record featuring the visionary player on both acoustic double and electric bass, this adventurous 11-track collection, which was recorded straight to 2-track tape, will be available as an LP and digitally on July 28th, 2023.

Produced by legendary bassist Stanley Clarke alongside associate producer Steven Mandel (The Roots, Elvis Costello), Max Gerl’s first solo enterprise is an ambitious musical work that stretches the instrument to its limits.

“My aims were to perform musically, to compose FOR the bass, and to demonstrate the breadth of sonic diversity available to this instrument,” Gerl says on his intentions behind his sophomore album. JMI Recordings founder Jake Cohn first became aware of Gerl in 2019, when he was on a recording session for the fiery drummer Mike “Blaque Dynamite” Mitchell.

Cohn was so taken by the young bassist that he extended an invitation to him to record his own project for the label. The session finally came to fruition this past December, yielding spellbinding results.

1. Patience To Find The Start of the Journey’s Path
2. Jimmy’s House Painting
3. For Rinat
4. Contradiction (Improvisation)
5. Allegro (Improvisation)
6. Lento (Improvisation)
7. Language Of The Unheard
8. Choice (Improvisation)
9. Elegy (Improvisation)
10. Let’s Cool One
11. Postlude (Improvisation)

This diligently sculpted work of musical art opens on the gently fervent Patience To Find The Start of the Journey’s Path and the playfully perky Jimmy’s House Painting, and then we are brought forth the aching yearn found within For Rinat (which is dedicated to Russian bassist Rinat Ibragimov, who passed away during COVID), and then comes the dutiful Contradiction (Improvisation) and the bass-fed Allegro (Improvisation).

Next up is the impassioned Lento (Improvisation) and the atmospheric Language Of The Unheard, and that is itself backed by the diligent Choice (Improvisation), the swooning, jazz guitar-hued Elegy (Improvisation), the album rounding out on the assiduous Let’s Cool One, concluding on the stoically fused Postlude (Improvisation).

Max Gerl is produced by bass legend Stanley Clarke, who has served as a musical mentor for Gerl since his move to Los Angeles in 2019. “When JMI offered the opportunity, I called Stanley first, as he is a pioneer of solo jazz double bass.” In the studio, Clarke played a hands-on role contributing to the compositions, as well as the execution.

In the control room, he was especially helpful when it came to mic-ing the instrument, and the overall sound of the project. “Max is one of my favorites of all the young bass players today,” Clarke proclaims. “The most important thing to me was that I wanted to be assured that whatever Max played could be heard clearly on all listening formats. I think people will be surprised at how well Max’s performances come across sonically.”

www.maxgerl.com