UPCOMING MUSIC NEWS

THE WOOD BROTHERS...Chris Wood of Medeski Martin & Wood has teamed up with his older brother Oliver to form the Wood Brothers. The Wood Brothers recently recorded at Allaire Studios in upstate New York. Chris Wood’s other musical brother, John Medeski, produced the session.

JACKIE ALLEN...Chicago-based vocalist, Jackie Allen, recorded her debut for Blue Note this past June in the windy city. Allen enlisted Chicago stalwart Eric Hochberg to produce the date which consists of a variety of love songs, standards, covers and originals. Additional recording and mixing took place recently.

BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES...Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will return with The Hidden Land on January 31, 2006, their first Columbia studio release since 2003’s Little Words. Bela Fleck is currently in the midst of a trio tour with bassist Stanley Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. He is planning to regroup with the Flecktones for a North American tour next year.

PAT MARTINO...Pat Martino has recorded his tribute to guitar hero Wes Montgomery in August in New York City. The band - comprised of pianist Dave Kikoski, bassist John Pattitucci and drummer Scott Robinson– tackled a mix of Montgomery originals and songs closely associated with Wes, all newly arranged by Martino. Some of the songs included are Four On Six, Groove Yard, God Bless The Child, and Besame Mucho.

STEFON HARRIS...Stefon Harris has recorded his fifth album as a leader for Blue Note earlier this month. The date included Duke Ellington’s often overlooked New Orleans Suite plus some better known Ellington pieces.

JOE LOVANO...Joe Lovano will record his latest installment for Blue Note this December. The date will consist, in part, of a re-exploration of Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool album to be orchestrated by the legendary Gunther Schuller. This recording will feature Lovano’s Nonet plus a larger orchestrated group and will reunite Lovano and Schuller for the first time on record since their modern classic Rush Hour which was released on Blue Note in 1995.

DON BYRON... Don Byron is set to embark on his latest recording adventure also this December. This time around Byron will be approaching the music of legendary bluesman Junior Walker. The date will feature vocalist Dean Bowman, guitarist David Gilmore, George Colligan on organ, bassist Brad Jones, and drummer Rodney Holmes.

LADY SINGS THE BLUES...Paramount Pictures and Motown are finally releasing the DVD edition of the 1972 Billie Holiday biopic Lady Sings The Blues. Film and TV producer Suzanne de Passe (an Oscar nominee for the "Lady" screenplay) recently explained the film's long-delayed Nov. 8 DVD was "because there were aspects of the deal that belonged to Paramount and also belonged to Mr. (Berry) Gordy. And I think it took all this time for people to read what they had and come together and make it happen."