Neil Stalnaker has been living and performing in and around Tokyo since 1998. During the 1980's, Neil was the jazz trumpet soloist with the US Navy's premier big band, "The Commodores". In the 90's, Neil found himself back in West Virginia recovering from throat cancer and later performing hundreds of concerts/clinics each year as well as playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival with his quartet and trio and touring Russia. Later, Neil moved to New York City and performed with saxophonist Arnie Lawrence and drummer Fukushi Tainaka. Since 1998, Neil has performed concerts all over Japan as well as recording CD's with the leading musicians in Japan. Presently, Neil is also teaching trumpet at the prestigious Senzoku University School of Music, in Yokohama, Japan. ***REVIEW*** ...And Now The Bad News March 12, 2006 Ilan Oz Jazz In Belgium Radio British philosopher Aldous Huxley once said that allowing 20 chimps to hit the keys of 20 typewriters at random could result in producing today’s newspaper. Much like, if you shake a box full of jazz titles and spread it randomly, you may be displaying a life story since jazz music describes any situation in life. In the case of Neil Stalnaker there is nothing left to random. « …And Now The Bad News » is a story referring to a particular unpleasant, to say the least, in his life. The album starts, though, with a harmonious peace « Sunrise » the beginning of a new day, the pristine clear air and the magnificent view a new days begins, life is ahead. This is shuttered by the « The Bad News » in fact the next close thing to a death sentence (?) that generates a flow of confused reflections, fear and doubt. A dark piece that conveys to the listener the initial shock. Indeed it is a tough reality but also a hard piece to swallow by the listeners. Nevertheless, despair mingles with hope and projection of happiness alternating « no Way Out of This » / « Louie@midfield ». Mr. Stalnaker is opening himself to us and through the music tells us about those dark days, the sleepless nights « 4am » the recovery where rather than manifesting an explosion of joy is expressing doubt, hesitation (this is not hitting the jackpot) « Why Me ? Why Now ? ». The circle that started with a sunrise is closed with a « Sunset ». Sunsets are always a delicate moment of some sadness (but not despair) colors and feelings, memories and longings it all comes out through the mind. And tomorrow there will be another sunrise… The story is touching but what we also judge here is the way it is told, via musical notes. The intensity of the events that are the basis for the album are matched by the musicianship of Mr. Stalnaker and his masterly handling of his horn. The rhythmic section has also got the message and is right behind him to match the intensity of it all. I believe that a quartet composed in equilibrium by Westerners and Orientals blends well into a story that goes for the essence of life. Ilan Oz (Jazz In Belgium)