DiverseAlbum

In winning the 2008 Origin Records / Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition, Diverse proved to be a creative and dynamic musical powerhouse. Beating out 10 other very original groups from across the country, the quintet opened for Roy Haynes’ “Birds of a Feather” band at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and were awarded a deal to record this album of original music. Mentored by the great Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, saxophonist William Sanders, pianist John Brewer, bassist Ben Leifer, and drummer Ryan Lee possess a fearless approach to creating and performing and aspire to expand the jazz demographic, garnering increased appreciation from younger audiences for the music.

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Track Listing:

  1. BUSY SUNDAY 5:43
  2. SOJOURNER 4:32
  3. TIME WELL SPENT 6:44
  4. EVERY NOW AND THEN 5:13
  5. BED WRITING 5:03
  6. B-DAY SONG 6:15
  7. WHERE IT LIVES 5:40
  8. FOR KIM 1:30
  9. UNTITLED HIT TUNE 5:55
  10. VITALITY 5:18
  11. LOST IN DARKNESS 5:40
  12. BOISE 5:35

Performers:

  • HERMON MEHARI trumpet
  • WILLIAM SANDERS tenor saxophone
  • JOHN BREWER piano and rhodes
  • BEN LEIFER bass
  • RYAN LEE drums
  • BOBBY WATSON saxophone (7)

Production:

  • Produced by Bobby Watson
  • Bill Crain – Assistant Producer
  • Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at:
  • BRC Audio Productions, Kansas City, USA
  • www.brcaudio.com (913) 621-2300
  • on January 2 & 3, 2009
  • Bill Crain – head engineer
  • Josh Williams – assistant engineer
  • Photography by Philip Koenig
  • Cover design by John Bishop