Happy Friday,

Hope you're staying cool and feeling good. It's been a busy week over here -- overdubbing some solos for the new album in particular has been a highlight, we're really excited to start mixing it soon!

I loved this week's pairing as you'll read -- and hope you do too.

Juice

When I bought my first bottle of this 2023 trousseau gris from Two Shepherds of the Russian River Valley, I thought I purchased an enticing domestic rosé that promised intrigue (and delivered). Then I bought a second bottle. And this time I wasn’t sure exactly what I was buying: Was it even a rosé? An orange wine? Does it matter? Why are we categorizing wine by color anymore anyway?

These questions are fun to ask and more fun to ignore when what you’re sipping is so good. The wine is made of a grape that’s usually only found in the Jura region of France – and here is the only example of a dedicated planting of the grape from California. They call it a grey skinned grape (hence the “gris”) which denotes its dark but not quite red hue. All gris grapes, given enough time on the skins, will lend some color. While this is more pink in hue than skin-contact pinot gris/grigios I’ve seen, it’s the same idea.

The ambiguity of the wine’s color and the spectrum of character and taste make it paradoxically refreshing and rich; watermelon and pink grapefruit flavors both bring depth and zest. The ending texture speaks of the grape’s skins and sounds a lasting final note. A delicious wine that keeps me asking questions is one I’ll continue to come back to…

It was sold out last I checked at my NYC store (I guess I helped to do that) but I did find it at a great store in Jersey City, if you happen to be across the river.

Jazz

Rahsaan Roland Kirk is one of the greatest musicians in any genre, yet is an oft-overlooked name in most people’s lists of legends. His contributions go well beyond his unique talents as a mulit-instrumentalist: but let’s just say he made new recipes for the art form and was his own rare ingredient.

His tune “No Tonic Press” from Rip, Rig and Panic (Limelight, 1965) brings pure pleasure by way of some opening tonal ambiguity, freewheeling solos, and stylistic contrasts. Jaki Byard’s stride piano solo is simultaneously anachronistic and a breath of fresh air. When Kirk plays two horns at the same time coming out of the piano solo, it adds to the idiosyncrasy, swing, and fun of the whole track.

On a cut of this caliber, moments of wonder are directly followed by questions about what/how/why everything is happening. The best part is, the music is its own answer.

No Tonic Press Roland Kirk Quartet PREVIEW   ​

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Have a great week!

Truly,

Kristen

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