NEW RELEASES - ANALOG PLAYERS SOCIETY, NOEL POINTER, TUCCI AND MANNUTZA

ANALOG PLAYERS SOCIETY - HURRICANE SEASON IN BROOKLYN

"Amon's most audacious stroke is reworking three cheesy dance-rock hits from the '80s into the most successful reggae-style tracks in years." – Milo Miles (Fresh Air/NPR)

The Analog Players Society (APS) is a collective and community of musicians rooted at The Hook Studio in Brooklyn, NY and led by Producer, Engineer, and Percussionist – Amon. APS features a large cast of musicians including players from such heavyweights as TV On The Radio, Tortured Soul, Escort, Beirut, Si*Se, Blitz the Ambassador and Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble. The core of the project is eclectic by nature but carries serious strains of the Dub, Funk, Afrobeat, and Soul variety within it.

Things kick off on Hurricane Season In Brooklyn with “Free”, a driving horn fueled joint that’s hungrily swallowed the 90s Acid Jazz sound and spit it back out as something so much more live & funky. Next up, the album’s title track bounces willfully to its House & West London influences, with Cecilia Stalin (Koop) vocally soaring above the clouds. Other highlights include three 80s classic covers; No-Shooz’s “I Can’t Wait”, Shannon’s “Let The Music Play”, and Wang Chung’s “Dancehall Days”– reversioned in classic APS dub style. The nostalgic downtempo vibe of “Moments Combine” rounds out the album nicely. Hurricane Season In Brooklyn is currently #1 on iTunes World music charts. ~ Giant Step

NOEL POINTER - PHANTAZIA / HOLD ON

A pair of great pair of records from electric fusion violinist Noel Pointer – Phantazia from '77 and Hold On from '78 – in a 2CD set! Like others of the 70s generation, Pointer plays the violin in a way that's clearly heavily influenced by keyboards of the time – electric in amplification, and worked in a mode that uses the instrument to create waves of sound that flow out amongst the tighter fusion rhythms of the set. Dave Grusin arranged and produced the Phantazia set – in his best lean soulful mode of the time – and other players include Earl Klugh, Ralph MacDonald, Steve Gadd, and Grusin himself. Titles include "Mirabella", "Night Song", "Living For The City", "Phantazia", and "Wafaring Stranger". Hold On was recorded in a smooth, soulful mode – and once again has Pointer working with Grusin! Noel's sweet work on electric violin is set up nicely with keyboards from Dave, guitar from Eric Gale, drums from Steve Gadd, and percussion from Ralph MacDonald. Noel sings a bit on the set, but even better are the vocals from Patti Austin, Gwen Guthrie, Yolanda McCullough, and others – who flesh out the backgrounds on some tunes. Titles include "Staying With You", "Movin In", "Superwoman", "Stardust Lady", "Hold On", and the extended "Roots Suite", based on Quincy Jones music for the show! ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

LORENZO TUCCI / LUCXA MANNUTZA - LUNAR   Pretty great work from the team of Lorenzo Tucci and Lucxa Mannutza – two artists we normally associate with much straighter jazz material, but who really take off here together! The format is still definitely jazz, but the energy is quite free a times – just drums and effects from Tucci, and shifting piano, Fender Rhodes, and Hammond from Luca Mannutza – played in these really flowing lines that sparkle amidst Lorenzo's energy on the drums – all in ways that are inside enough to swing, but in ways that really go beyond conventional jazz! The format is a wonderful development for both players – and really helps us appreciate their rich talents even more than before – hardly a trick or gimmick, and instead a compelling collaboration that almost makes us feel like ECM has collided with Schema Records. Titles include "Jet Lag", "Jungle & Space", "Lunar", "Moon Boots", "The Voyager", "Avaria", and "Inception". ~ Dusty Groove