VETERAN REED PLAYER, COMPOSER JAY RODRIGUEZ SIERRA RELEASES “MUTHAFLOWER”

On his sprawling and fearless double-length Magnum Opus titled MUTHAFLOWER, the veteran reed play, composer, arranger, bandleader, Grammy-nominee and visionary JAY RODRIGUEZ SIERRA draws inspiration from his Afro-Latino roots, Soul, Freedom and Afro-Futurism. Also, he envisions a place where “Debussy, Webern, and Ravel meet African and Indigenous people, and healing, empowerment, and truth exist.”

The title is a play on the words “Motherf…” a term used in the 60s to describe a great musician or virtuoso whose prowess elicited responses such as “That motherf… can play!” And Flower, a healing and rejuvenating force.

“As a musician growing up in New York, I was privy to being around and performed with many of my musical heroes,” says Jay Rodriguez. “Growing up in that environment nurtured and inspired me to evolve into an artist who draws from infinite genres, colors, and tones. Also, I am guided by the spirit of universal consciousness and the fact I often fell apart, seemingly ‘broken,’ and flowered again.”

“Muthaflower’s music streams out as if a dam had burst, and even the double-length format could barely the wave of soulfulness, energy, and lyrical creativity that rushes out,” writes publicist Tom Pryor.

MUTHA Volume 1 consists of thirteen songs that run the gamut, some of them covers such as Giacomo Puccini’s “Nessum Dorma,” Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston’s “You are so Beautiful,” and Procul Harums “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” among others and features the bassist Alex Blake and drummer Victor Jones.

“FLOWER” Volume 2 consists of twelve original, exploratory tracks that Jay describes as “A deep spell and an incantation from the God within me to the God within you and a sonic and sacred space where I practice daily as a human being and artist.”

In addition to his work as a leader, Jay is part of the frontline for the iconic trombonist Fred Wesley and the JB’s (formerly James Brown’s band) and is carrying on the legacy of Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker.

As the Colombian newspaper El Heraldo writes, Jay Rodriguez Sierra’s music is “defined with versatility, humor, and heart. His jazz playing is full of blues and soul. It is one of those voices that is hard to describe with words, and that is much closer to the spirit.”

MUTHAFLOWER INFO

ARTISTS

Alex Blake – Acoustic Bass, Victor Jones – Drums, Marvin Sewell – Guitar- Giovanni Hidalgo – Percussion, Fred Wesley -Trombone, Julie Patton – Spoken Word, Ehab Omar – percussion, Chris, Andrew, and Misha Theberge – Percussion, Jay Rodriguez Sierra – woodwinds, composer, and arranger.

Produced by Jay Rodriguez Sierra and Ehab Omar.

Recorded at Bunker Studios, and Loove Labs.

Mixed by (Mutha) Aaron Nevezie and (Flower) Ehab Omar.

MUTHA TRACKS

1. Nessum Dorma – (Puccini) – Alex Blake- Bass, Victor Jones -Drums, J Rodríguez Sierra -Tenor Saxophone.  

2. A Gardener’s Song – (Rodríguez Sierra) – J Rodríguez Sierra- flute, Alex Blake-A. Bass, Víctor Jones – drums.

3. When I Get to Old to Dream – (Sigmund Romberg) – J. Rodriguez Sierra – T Saxophone, Marvin Sewell – Guitar, Alex Blake and Victor Jones – Drums.

4. Sacred Head Now Wounded– (JS Bach) – J Rodriguez Sierra -T Saxophone, Marvin Sewell-Guitar, Alex Blake, and Victor Jones -drums. 

5. Soul Inflections (Rodriguez Sierra) – J Rodriguez Sierra -soprano, Julie Patton – Spoken Word, Marvin Sewell-guitar, Victor Jones, and Alex Blake.

6. Hello Like Before– (Withers/Collins) – J Rodriguez Sierra – Bass flute, Marvin Sewell-Guitar, Alex Blake- A. Bass and Victor Jones – Drums.

7. Free – (Rodríguez- Sierra) – J Rodríguez Sierra -Bari Sax, Fred Wesley – Trombone, Julie Patton – Spoken Word, Alex Blake, and Victor Jones.  

8. Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan) J. Rodriguez-Sierra T Sax, Marvin Sewell G, Alex Blake and Victor Jones – Drums.

9. You are So Beautiful (Billy Preston and Fisher) J Rodriguez – T Saxophone, Alex Blake and Victor Jones – Drums.

10. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – (Hilliard and Mann) – J Rodriguez Sierra – Bass Clarinet, Alex Blake and Victor Jones – Drums.

11. March 30th (Rodriguez-Sierra).

12. I Will Wait For You (Legrand, Demy and Gimbel) – J Rodriguez Sierra – Flute, Alex Blake and Victor Jones – Drums.

13. A Whiter Shade of Pale (Reid, Brooker, Fisher) – J Rodriguez Sierra – Tenor Sax, Alex Blake and Victor Jones – Drums.

FLOWER TRACKS

1. In-Between the Raindrops (Rodriguez Sierra) – j Rodriguez – Bass clarinet /flutes, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys. 

2. Desert Flower – (Rodriguez-Sierra) – j rodriguez Alto Flute, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys. 

3. Love Song – (Rodríguez Sierra) -Muthaflower Choir, J Rodriguez Sierra – Bass Clarinet, Saxophones, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – Drums. 

4. Winds of the North – (Rodriguez-Sierra) j Rodriguez – Bass clarinet /Tenor Saxophone,mPercussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys. 

5. If I were the Earth (Rodriguez Sierra) J Rodirguez Sierra -Flutes, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys.  

6. Outstretched Prayers – (Rodriguez Sierra) Jay Rodriguez Sierra -Bass Flute, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys. 

7. A Mutha’s Story (Rodríguez Sierra) J. Rodríguez Sierra – saxophones, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys.

8. Of Flowers and Things (Rodriguez Sierra) J Rodriguez Sierra – saxophones, Percussionist- Giovanni Hidalgo, Chris Theberge, Misha Theberge, Andrew Theberge, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys. 

9. The Inexplicable suite of Love and Devotion (Rodriguez Sierra)- J Rodriguez Sierra -flutes, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys.

10. Dragonchild – (Rodríguez Sierra) – j Rodríguez Sierra – soprano saxophone, Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys.

11. Querida Madre (Rodriguez Sierra) – j Rodriguez Sierra – flutes , Xavier Hill – drums and Henry Jeria -Piano and Keys. 

12. Neven (Rodríguez Sierra) – J Rodríguez Sierra – tenor saxophone, Barney Mcall – Piano, John Benitez – Acoustic Bass and Victor Jones – drums.

ABOUT JAY RODRIGUEZ SIERRA

JAY RODRIGUEZ SIERRA plays with unreserved flexibility on the tenor, alto, soprano saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet. He moves between idioms and energies as quickly as he switches instruments. – Giovanni Russonello, THE NEW YORK TIMES.

Grammy-nominated music veteran reed player Jay Rodriguez Sierra has played an essential part in New York City’s sonic and creative tapestry. For decades, his pantheon of significant musical contributions has been a part of the international music scene as a composer, arranger, and soloist. Also, Jay co-founded New York City’s Groove Collective, bringing his mastery and musical experiences to many genres and generations.

Over the years Jay has worked with Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, Randy Brecker, Miles Davis, Eddie Palmieri, the Gil Evans Band, Mike Clark, Giovanni Hidalgo, Vernon Reid, Marshall Allen, Craig Harris, Prince, Chucho Valdez, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Roy Nathanson, Wil Calhoun, Nona Hendryx, Roy Hargrove, Bernie Worrell, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Marc Ribot, The Wu-Tang Clan, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, David Murray, David Krakauer, the Roots, Elvis Costello, Jason Miles, Teruo Nakamura, The Mingus Big Band, Miley Cyrus, Mike Snow and with iconic music producers Andrew Wyatt, and Gary Katz. 

Jay’s solo works include “Your Sound,” recorded live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center). Also, he participated in film director Harris Craig’s score for Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Jay’s achievements can be found in Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler’s “Encyclopedia of Jazz.”

ARTIST WEBSITE

PRESS AND OTHER INQUIRIES: jayrodri@gmail.com

FEATURED IMAGE: Lisa Maxwell Studio