Josh Ginsburg: "Koan"

Bassist Josh Ginsburg will be celebrating the release of his debut album, Zembla Variations (Brooklyn Jazz Underground), at The Jazz Gallery on Thursday, January 12th. This performance, which is part of our Thursday Night Debut Series, will be Josh's first as a bandleader at The Gallery. However, he has played here in the past, including appearances in the bands of pianists Robert Glasper and Helen Sung. Josh will be joined by the same set of musicians featured on his new release - saxophonist Eli Degibri, pianist Danny Grissett, and drummer Rudy Royston - all of whom have also previously led bands at The Gallery.To give you a taste of what you can expect to hear on Thursday, we've posted "Koan", which is the fourth piece on the album. More from Josh:

"Koan" is a simple melody based primarily on one harmonic minor scale. My music often balances out - complex meters usually end up with simpler harmonies and melodies, and vice versa. In this one the meters change quite a bit; the primary change is between 3/2 and 3/4. The 3/2 is spacious and relaxed, while the 3/4 is busy and driving. Making this transition so quickly feels like a huge mental shift, especially at first. That's the idea of it being a "Koan", the first time you play (or hear) it, it seems like a riddle, but once you feel it in your bones, it seems like the most obvious thing in the world.

Listen to "Koan" below:Hungry for more? Although the official release date for Zembla Variations is February 7, 2012, you can stream the album in its entirety, and purchase both regular and audiophile editions, via Bandcamp.