My New Record: "Each Step" | Information and Quotes
The Album Description:
The path of artist has always been a quest for legitimacy. As we pave our own way, we find the route lit by the masters before us. Each Step is a musical coming of age album that embodies the development of a professional musician though the lens of the mid-western bebop guitar style that was popularized by my idols, Wes Montgomery, and Grant Green. The incomparable mastery of these artists inspires my mentor Randy Napoleon and in turn my own personal development and journey. Tracks like, “The More I See You” and “Just One of Those Things,” showcase classic jazz guitar traditions (such as solo guitar playing and block chord soloing) flavored with subtle themes reminiscent of my upbringing. The original compositions of this album are built on this framework but are embossed with the trimmings of modern jazz. You can hear this on tracks like “Each Step,” which takes cues from The Montgomery Brothers arrangement style, and “What Now?”, which builds off Grant Green’s rhythm-based melodies. This record is grounded by a band consisting of some of my musical heroes and mentors Xavier Davis, Rodney Whitaker, Keith Hall, as well as special guest appearances from Diego Rivera and Chris Glassman. Illuminated by visionaries and constructed by mentors, the road to Each Step has always been clear, I merely needed to follow it.
-Nathan Borton
TRACK LISTING:
1 Each Step (Nathan Borton) 5:48
2 Just One of Those Things (Cole Porter) 5:34
3 The More I See You (Harry Warren and Mack Gordon) 5:24
4 Milestones (Miles Davis) 4:37
5 What Now? (Nathan Borton) 4:37
6 These Are the Things We Throw Away (Randy Napoleon) 5:10
7 Change (Nathan Borton) 6:56
8 Grantstand (Grant Green) 3:51
9 Grant's Groove (Nathan Borton) 4:22
Quotes About The Record
“Borton makes being a hip, swinging, soulful guitar player, relevant again.”
“Nathan has the patience and maturity of a player many years his senior. His phrasing is excellent and he isn’t afraid to let his beautiful tone ring out. The future of this music is in good hands if Nathan is any indication.”
“Nathan Borton is a rare talent who has mastered jazz pedagogy, technique, tone and that oh-so-hard-to-capture feel that makes him a complete guitarist. His new record is both tasteful and filled with enthusiasm, and his accompanists are world class. Nathan is exactly the kind of young guitarist that Benedetto seeks to usher in the next generation jazz guitarist. Bravo!”
Liner Notes By Michael Dease
As the Summer of 2021 looks to the Fall, we find ourselves in the grips of a global
political polarization, destabilizing climate-change, and an ongoing pandemic. The latest
tech that provides us the ability of instant communication and data sharing has given rise
to Social Media platforms that cram performances into Tik-Tok© videos, Instagram©
stories and 280 character limits competing for likes and approval. Much like the
tumultuous times of WWI and WWII helped sow the seeds for Swing and Bebop, these
debilitating challenges can allow for the most fertile artistic fields to flourish. A recent
hotspot of development is the Jazz Studies program at Michigan State University where
you will find the celebrated jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon mentoring the finest emerging
jazz guitarists in the world. Under Napoleon’s wing is where composer, guitarist and
Wichita’s own Nathan Borton has been honing his craft, and his expertly-crafted debut
recording is the subject of attention at the moment.
“As we pave our own way, we find the route lit by the masters before us.” says
Borton. “Each Step is a musical coming of age album that embodies the development of a
professional musician though the lens of the mid-western bebop guitar style that was
popularized by my idols, Wes Montgomery, and Grant Green. The incomparable mastery
of these artists inspires my own personal development and journey.”
Randy Napoleon serves as producer for this recording. With his long list of
recording credits and a sparkling discography as a leader, he brings an informed
perspective to the personnel, repertoire, and the direction of the recording’s atmosphere.
We don’t just hear a tribute to evergreen jazz guitar purism, but rather a complete,
satisfying journey through the rich tradition of straight-ahead jazz, with sparks of
Borton’s musical daring in the mix. For example, Borton’s look at “Just One Of Those
Things” is equal parts unapologetic swing and a hardcore study in developing excitement.
The seemingly lost art of solo guitar is joyfully rediscovered and displayed during his
rendition of Harry Warren’s “The More I See You”. Borton’s compositions show a love
for theme and orchestration. The title track offers an inviting glimpse into the
composer’s use of melodic efficiency as well as counterpoint to make the most out of
each note and rhythm. Napoleon continues to be a supporter in the production seat.
“Nathan took loving care of every step of this recording.” says Napoleon. “He
practiced and prepared thoroughly and played with passion and intensity on every take.
His seriousness and dedication have yielded amazing results. It’s rare and moving to hear
a guitarist play with a great sound, clear ideas, and intelligent taste. I predict big things
for Mr. Borton.”
Simply put, the band is stellar. A current trend among the young generation is to
record with only peers, but Nathan Borton has surrounded himself with
bonafide experts that have the experience to lift his music to the next level. A Michigan
“dream-team” of pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and drumset artist Keith
Hall form a flexible and emotive rhythm section. The Michigan sound in Jazz is born
from the Blues and filtered through Bebop, a tradition shared by Detroit’s cousin city and
home of the Montgomery brothers; Indianapolis, Indiana. Guest saxophonist and Posi-
Tone recording artist Diego Rivera is in that lineage. Borton says of Diego, “… he also
taught me a lot about composing and how to make a song become the song that it needs
to be. It is only fitting that I have him play on the two original tunes that he helped to
create “What Now?” and “Change.” Denver-born bass trombonist Chris Glassman is a
frequent collaborator of Borton’s, and they share a close friendship from their MSU days.
“Chris was the first friend I made when I came to Michigan.” says Borton. “We’ve been
through the wringer together and have pushed each other to become better musicians. I’m
thrilled to have Chris on this recording.”
The stage is set, the tunes are rehearsed, the band is ready, and the audience is
eager… but what is it specifically about Borton that make the music really, REALLY
happening? I’ll tell you, and then you have a listen and see if I’m right. In today’s era
where most are trying to rewrite all of the rules and capture everyone’s attention with
“different for different’s sake”, Nathan Borton has flipped the script. He possesses a fat,
warm guitar tone and threads it through the cymbal beat with poetic patience. You feel
the blues coursing through his lines and rhythm, and his deep wellspring of ideas keeps
you guessing where he’s going next. My favorite jazz musicians sound secure in their
sense of artistry- not trying to impress anyone or win a gold sticker. They just play the
music in their hearts, and that makes them sound, and be, soulful. Borton makes being a
hip, swinging, soulful guitar player, relevant again.
Now it’s your turn. Have a listen and enjoy.
Notes by Michael Dease. East Lansing, MI August 2021
About the Band
- Rodney Whitaker
o Rodney is someone I look up to. I remember learning about him went I started at Michigan State and being terrified to talk to him because of all the things he’s done and people he has played with. Overtime however, I got to know how kind and giving a person he was. He has always helped me when I asked for it, providing me with mentorship and knowledge about music and life. Rodney has also been there throughout my musical development. I’ve played with him at the very beginning of my time in grad school, till the very end of my time, and beyond. When I decided to make this record, he was the first person I reached out to. This record is about my musical coming of age and Rodney played a huge part in that. It is only fitting that he is a part of this story.
- Xavier Davis
o Xavier was one of my teachers at Michigan State during my time in graduate school. I remember playing with him, when I subbed in for my teacher Randy Napoleon, at one of the school’s shows and thinking about how amazing a player he was. What really impressed me was his ability to hear anything on the band stand and react in a natural and musical way. I used his playing as a guide for my own development as a sideman. I’m very happy to have him on this recording as not only a band member, but as a musical becan for myself, and others, to strive for.
- Keith Hall
o I first played with Keith when I worked for a music institute in Kalamazoo, MI. We played together in a masterclass for the students, and I was blown away by how natural he made playing the drums sound. He could play at lighting fast tempos or super slow ballads and make it sound effortless. Since then, I have played with Keith at many venues across the Michigan area. He was even there at the inception of this record. Before COVID-19 hit the world, Keith performed a show with me were we played all Wes Montgomery and Grant Green tunes. This was the test run for this record. With that in mind I couldn’t record this album without him since he was a crucial part in the making of this recording.
- Diego Rivera
o Diego taught me how to be a music educator. A lot of my current practices when I teach music come from him. He was a critical part of me continuing my career path as a music educator. He also taught me a lot about composing and how to make a song become the song that it needs to be. It is only fitting that I have him play on the two original tunes that he helped to create “What Now?” and “Change.”
- Chris Glassman
o Chris was the first friend I made when I came to Michigan. We’ve been through the ringer together (through our time at Michigan State and beyond) and have pushed each other to become better musicians. Chris played a huge role in my development as a person and musician and so it was only natural to have him be a part of this record.
Credits
Produced by Randy Napoleon
Recorded by Corey DeRushia at
Troubadour Recording Studios, Lansing, MI
Recorded on June 2-3 2021
Assistant Engineer: Jim Alfredson
Mixed by Nathan Borton, Lansing, MI
Mastered by JJ Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA
Photos by Jessica D. Cowels
Cover design & layout by John Bishop