In Light of a New Moon is the new album from New York-based tenor saxophonist Asaf Yuria.
Five years ago he released the remarkable Exorcisms, leading a sextet through a repertoire of his own compositions. In Light of a New Moon charts a different course: a band of masters, a set of tunes he has carried with him for years (several of them written by the men playing alongside him) and two days at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs. Pianist George Cables and drummer Billy Hart were both his teachers, and both play here as they always did, with passion and inspiration. Bassist Omer Avital, whose quintet Yuria has been part of for years, completes the band, with trumpeter Joe Magnarelli guesting on two tracks.

Every tune on this record has a personal history with Yuria. "After the Morning," by pianist John Hicks, has been in his book since his very first gigs. "Circle" and "EVC" are both George Cables compositions, and Yuria first played "EVC" decades ago at the pianist's house, back when Cables was still his teacher. "Praise of Shadows" is Asaf’s own composition. Around them stand Hank Mobley, Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmy Van Heusen… The hard bop tradition Yuria has made entirely his own, played by musicians who have every reason to trust each other.

"Together, this band creates an almost physical sense of movement, the illusion of musicians not just playing instruments together but dancing together — something that Asaf says could not happen without the 'love, respect and even awe' that existed between these musicians."
T.J. English, New York Times best-selling author and jazz aficionado

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A
1 · After the Morning (John Hicks) 7'16
2 · Hipsippy Blues (Hank Mobley) 6'41
3 · Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Jimmy Van Heusen) 4'32

SIDE B
4 · Circle (George Cables) 4'59
5 · Praise of Shadows (Asaf Yuria) 6'11
6 · EVC (George Cables) 5'38
7 · Con Alma (Dizzy Gillespie) 5'36

CREDITS

Personnel
Asaf Yuria, Tenor Saxophone
Joe Magnarelli, Trumpet (A2, B2)
George Cables, Piano
Omer Avital, Bass
Billy Hart, Drums

Produced by Simon Belelty for Jojo Records

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs (New Jersey)

Recording Engineer – Maureen Sickler
Mixing Engineer – Nancy Conforti
Mastering Engineer – Andreas K. Meyer & Shane Carroll
Mixing & Mastering at Swan Studios NYC

Photographs & Design by Dan Balilty
Additional Design by Stéphanie Desjeunes

George Cables appears courtesy of HighNote Records
George Cables exclusive management by Joanne Klein