REBECA VALLEJO - AZUCAR CANELA
Madrid born vocalist and composer Rebeca Vallejo is a most
versatile and innovative performer. Known for combining her ancestral Flamenco
roots, her deep love and understanding of Brazilian music, with the language of
Jazz, Rebeca Vallejo deftly weaves all these elements into a sound that is
truly unique. Rebeca's third studio
album entitled "Azucar Canela" is a collection of 8 original
compositions, two unique adaptations of Jazz standards and a
"Buleria" interpretation of a Milton Nascimento's classic "Cravo
e Canela. The album is being brought to life under the direction of Grammy
Award Winning producer John Seymour (Santana, U2, Dave Matthews Band).
"Azucar Canela" reaches beyond what's purely "entertaining"
creating a unifying journey where three musical cultures, three countries
(Spain, Brazil, US), and three different types of "blues" converge. Among the internationally sought-after
musicians who participated in the recording of this album are Spanish Flamenco
pianist Ariadna Castellanos, Brazilian percussionist Ze Mauricio, Argentinian
pianist Emillio Solla, Spanish "cajonero" Jose Antonio Montana and
Chilean percussionist Yayo Serka.
GRUVORIA - THE SIXTH KNUCKLE
In early
2007, Gruvoria attracted the attention of some of Canada's top musical
tastemakers with their acclaimed second album Dirty Fuel. Now, guitarist &
composer Blair Purdy and his 6-piece jazz-funk powerhouse are back with their
third full-length album, The Sixth Knuckle. Gruvoria is a fascinating study in contrasts -- full of musical muscle, creative
testosterone and edge, yet also playful and accessible to a wide range of music
lovers. The band is comprised of some of the finest cross-genre players in
Toronto, including: Purdy (guitar, composition & vocals), Ashot Grigorian
(alto sax), Marcus Ali (tenor & baritone sax), Eric Boucher (keyboards),
Ross MacIntyre (bass) and Vladimir Mladenovic (drums). The
title of the new record references both Purdy's unique guitar style and his
experience as a highly trained karate sensei and educator; the sixth knuckle is
below the baby finger where the hand meets the wrist, and is one of the
strongest and most resilient places from which to strike an opponent. The album
was recorded live off the floor over a two-day span at Purdy's BPM Studios in
King Township, Ontario; the music studio doubles as his dojo. In addition to
the original songs, the album features covers of 'Times Like These' by Dave
Grohl (Foo Fighters), the Headhunters classic 'Daffy's Dance' and 'Friar
Laurence' by legendary classical composer Sergei Prokofiev. Yes, you read that
correctly -- a jazz-funk version of Prokofiev! Griuvoria's
club and festival resume includes the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Beaches
Jazz Festival, the Festival of Friends (Hamilton), Lula Lounge, Trane Studio,
and Supermarket. They have shared the stage with the likes of Elizabeth
Shepherd, Souljazz Orchestra, Burnt Sugar: The Arkestra Chamber and Kobo Town.
The band is also highly in-demand for private parties and events, particularly
in the film industry.
GEORGE BENSON - GIBLET GRAVY
This
reissue of Benson's 1968 Verve LP is worth the price of admission just for
three of the small-group cuts. "Billie's Bounce," "Low Down and
Dirty," and "Thunder Walk" find the guitarist stretching out in
the company of Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Billy Cobham on an uptempo
Charlie Parker blues, a gutbucket slow blues and a deeply blue hard-bop groove
tune, respectively. This recording sits right between Benson's early small-combo
records as a leader (COOKBOOK and IT'S UPTOWN) and his move to even more
heavily produced recordings for CTI. The grooves are groovy, the horns are
punchy, and the then-future of jazz guitar makes his way through the charts as
feature artist, laying down the head, shadow boxing with the swaggering
arrangements for a chorus or two, and getting out in a radio-friendly two
minute and fifty-nine seconds. Plus you get to hear Benson and Hancock duking
it out like they mean it on "Low Down and Dirty." All tracks have
been digitally remastered. This is part of Verve's By Request series. Recorded
at A&R Recording Studios and Capitol Recording Studios, New York, New York
from February 5-7, 1968. Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff. Reissue producer:
Bryan Koniarz. Personnel: George Benson (guitar); Tom McIntosh (conductor);
Eileen Gilbert, Albertine Robinson, Lois Winter (vocals); Pepper Adams
(baritone saxophone); Jimmy Owens (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ernie Royal, Snooky
Young (trumpet); Alan Raph (bass trombone); Herbie Hancock (piano); Eric Gale,
Carl Lynch (guitar); Ron Carter, Bob Cranshaw (bass); Billy Cobham (drums);
Johnny Pacheco (congas, tambourine). Producer: Esmond Edwards. Q (1/01, p. 122)
- 3 out of 5 stars - "... There's a soul element here.... Go straight to
be-bop blues classic 'Billie's Bounce' or the 'What's New' alternate takes for
modern jazz guitar at its finest."
~ cduniverse
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