Friday, May 30, 2014

JUA RELEASES SECOND CD - COLORS OF LIFE

Colors of Life, the second CD by Raleigh, North Carolina-based vocalist Jua, marks an artistic rebirth for the 35-year-old singer. His 2007 debut, Anticipation, had enjoyed attention from smooth-jazz and R&B stations, but Jua was having second thoughts about his direction and soon found his way to Berkeley's Jazzschool Institute. There he devoted a year to intensive jazz studies and was the first recipient of the school's annual Mark Murphy Vocal Jazz Scholarship. His musical goals came into sharp focus. 

Jua now emerges as a unique and highly emotive jazz vocal stylist with the remarkable 10-song CD Colors of Life, which will be released by his Chocolate Chi Music on June 24. Produced by Onaje Allan Gumbs, the veteran New York pianist, arranger, and producer noted for his work with Norman Connors, Nat Adderley, Woody Shaw, and many others, the album showcases Jua in the company of Gumbs on piano and (on one track) Hammond B-3 organ, guitarist Shan Kenner, bassist Gregory M. Jones, drummer Vince Ector, percussionist Gary Fritz, and tenor and soprano saxophonist Roger Byam. 

The disc features four original compositions by Jua (three written in collaboration with his former Jazzschool instructor, pianist Matt Clark, the other with Kenner), along with the standard "Old Devil Moon" and tunes by Abbey Lincoln ("Bird Alone"), Bob Dorough ("Love Came on Stealthy Fingers"), Bill Withers ("Let Me Be the One"), and James Williams ("You're My Alter Ego"). Jua also added lyrics to Rivers's 1964 ballad "Beatrice," which opens the album. Arrangements were handled by Gumbs, Kenner, and Clark.
  
"Colors of Life is an honest expression of my life and the world around me," says Jua. "The process of planning and recording this project with world-class-talent musicians taught me a great deal about my developing voice as an artist. I am eager for listeners to learn more about me through this music."
  
While growing up in Chicago, Jua Howard was involved in the gamut of athletic activities, but veered toward music after moving with his mother to Lanett, Alabama. He began playing trumpet in the fifth grade, joined the youth choir (and was frequently called upon to solo) at a local Baptist church, and was selected for the Alabama All-State Boys Choir, an ensemble of some 70 voices that focused on European classical music. He and his mother spent two years as members of the All-Atlanta Choir, and Jua then enrolled at Emory University in Atlanta, where he sang in the gospel choir and graduated with a B.A. in English.
  
He put his singing on hold for two years after graduation, but back in Chicago vocal coach Sondra Davis encouraged him to resume applying his richly rounded multi-octave pipes to song. He relocated to Washington, DC. and worked for a time as a background vocalist with the Blackbyrds. "Jazz was clearly a big part of their foundation," says Jua, "and singing with them made me think about pursuing jazz as a career."

As did Nancy Wilson, whom he saw perform in Atlanta. "She had such presence," he recalls. "It just kinda made me change my way of thinking."

Jua "Jazz," he adds, "which is based on improvisation, is about being a part of an ensemble and everyone communicating with each other to get the musical statement across. Even though I'm standing in front, I'm just one of the instruments telling a story to the audience. It's about the story and the music, and paying respect and credence to the music."

Jua, who uses only his first name professionally (it's Swahili for "sun"), cites Vandross, Hathaway, Al Jarreau, Johnny Mathis, Mark Murphy, and gospel great Daryl Coley as influences on his style. Yet, as evidenced throughout Colors of Life, Jua has developed a distinctive, emotion-gripping approach to song that's quite wonderfully his own.

In addition to taking his new music to several North Carolina venues in the next month (5/31 Irregardless Café, Raleigh; 6/7 Unvined Wine Bar &Tapas, Cary; 6/28 Sharp Nine Gallery, Durham), Jua has booked a 7/11 appearance at New York's Cornelia Street Café. "I am wholeheartedly excited about my upcoming gigs to support the release of Colors of Life," says Jua. "It's always a lot of fun to tell my story and connect with the audience."


DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS SUMMER HORNS TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Dave Koz and friends, otherwise known as Summer Horns are set to embark on a U.S. tour where they plan on presenting some new arrangements to classic songs of the 60s and 70s. Summer Horns bandmates Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Mindi Abair are scheduiled to take the stage in Newport Beach, CA tomorrow at the Hyatt Newport Beach Jazz Festival.

MAY 2014
Saturday, May 31 - Newport Beach, CA - Hyatt Newport Beach Jazz Festival

JUNE 2014
Thursday, June 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
Friday, June 27 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Saturday, June 28 - Cleveland, OH - Tri-C JazzFest
Sunday, June 29 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Jazz Festival - Hampton Coliseum

JULY 2014
Friday, July 4 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival
Saturday, July 5 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavillion for the Performing Arts
Sunday, July 6 - Prior Lake, MN - Mystic Lake Casino
Friday, July 18 - Oakville, CA - Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Concert Series
Saturday, July 19 - San Dimas, CA - JazzFest West

AUGUST 2014
Friday, August 1 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts By The Bay
Saturday, August 2 - Las Vegas, NV - The Smith Center - Reynolds Hall
Saturday, August 9 - Austin, TX - One World Theatre
Sunday, August 10 - Dallas, TX - Music Hall at Fair Park
Thursday, August 14 - New York, NY - Hornblower Infinity
Saturday, August 16 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Friday, August 22 - Saratoga, CA - Villa Montalvo - Montalvo Arts Center
Saturday, August 23 - Sacramento, CA - Red Lion Hotel Woodlake

SEPTEMBER 2014
Saturday, September 27 - Temecula, CA - Thornton Winery Champagne Concert Series
Sunday, September 28 - Temecula, CA - Thornton Winery Champagne Concert Series




NEW RELEASES: MARC RIBOT TRIO - LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD; ALEX PUDU - THE GOLDEN AGE OF DANISH PORNOGRAPHY VOL. 2; RODRIGO AMADO MOTION TRIO & PETER EVANS - THE FREEDOM PRINCIPLE

MARC RIBOT TRIO / HENRY GRIMES / CHAD TAYLOR - LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD

One of the greatest recordings we've heard from guitarist Marc Ribot in years – but that's mostly because of the presence of the great Henry Grimes on bass and violin! The best cuts are the mellower ones – of which there are many – long numbers that let Ribot's tones resonate beautifully with Grimes' spacious sense of his instrument – played with a depth and thoughtfulness that's grown tremendously over the years – and to which the sensitive drumming of Chad Taylor proves to be a great accompaniment. Titles include "The Wizard", "Dearly Beloved", "Bells", "Sun Ship", and "Old Man River". ~ Dusty Groove

ALEX PUDU - THE GOLDEN AGE OF DANISH PORNOGRAPHY VOL. 2

A really beautiful little set of tracks – music composed to accompany vintage porn films from the 70s – played to perfection by the great Alex Puddu! The story behind the project is great – a friend was involved in rescuing and issuing rare porn from the underground – most of which no longer had any sort of soundtrack. Puddu was called in because of his skills with vintage-styled grooves – and stepped up perfectly with the sweet instrumentals you'll hear in this wet – tracks that are heavy on sweet keyboards, slinky basslines, and funky guitars – often served up with tighter, funkier styles than you'd hear in the original films – even though the overall sound is still very vintage. There's lots of Fender Rhodes on the set – and titles include "Hot Mouth", "Horny At The Office", "Boys & Girls & Danish Hot Dogs", "She Wants It Black", "After Party", and "Bad Love". ~ Dusty Groove

RODRIGO AMADO MOTION TRIO & PETER EVANS - THE FREEDOM PRINCIPLE

The title definitely lives up to the sound of the record – a really loose, free session from a quartet that includes strong work from both trumpeter Peter Evans and tenorist Rodrigo Amado – the latter of whom leads the group! All tracks are long, and build with a nice degree of energy – one that gets back to the "freedom principle" generation between the ESP and loft jazz years – when spontaneous creativity like this was really in action. All four members contribute equally to shape the sound of the performance – and the group also features Miguel Mira on cello and Garbirel Ferrandini on drums. Titles include "Pepper Packed", "Shadows", and "The Freedom Principle". ~ Dusty Groove


NEW RELEASES: THE IMPELLERS FEATURING CLAIR WITCHER - MY CERTAINTY; TOCO - MEMORIA; NATE WOOLEY / HUGO ANTUNES / CHRIS CORSANO - MALUS

THE IMPELLERS FEATURING CLAIR WITCHER - MY CERTAINTY 

“My Certainty” is the third album by The Impellers and according to the band, their most accomplished yet. With their previous releases “Robot Legs" (Freestyle) and “This Is Not A Drill” (Légère/Mocambo) this group from Brighton have established themselves as a tight and authentic raw funk unit. With “My Certainty” the band - featuring vocalist Clair Witcher and composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Glenn Fallows - explore fresh territory. “We wanted this album to be different to other material we’ve produced, but still keeping the big and heavy sound which people have liked about us.  There’s a couple of reasons why we hope this album will surprise people,” Clair Witcher explains. With "My Certainty" there's no question that The Impellers have re-invented their sound. "We've used different musical styles which match the stories and sentiments in each of the songs. There's a couple of soulful ballads, some acoustic folky soul, a bit of R&B-inspired stuff. Having said that, there's a load of influences from individual band members too, which seem to bleed through into the overall sound," Glenn Fallows explains.  

TOCO - MEMORIA

Toco just gets better and better with each new record – to a point where it's almost impossible to separate the sound of this recent release with Brazilian classics from the 70s! The vibe is great – not a bossa rehash, but kind of a post-bossa style that's almost more in the territory of Caetano Veloso or Gal Costa in the 70s – more sophisticated, and with a deep sense of songwriting – but still served up with a sense of economy learned from the bossa generation – which comes to play in the light instrumentation used on most tracks. Fender Rhodes is expertly blended with acoustic guitar and percussion – and a few numbers featre slight sweetening with strings, but just in a gentle way. Most numbers have Toco's vocals with some slight harmony backing on the chorus – in a way that recalls some of Marcos Valle's laidback music from the early 70s. Titles include "Cigana", "Breque Bom", "O Tempo E Aqui", "Divino", "Rainha", "Minas", "Mane", "Meu Rio", "Bate", and "Vendaval".  ~  Dusty Groove


NATE WOOLEY / HUGO ANTUNES / CHRIS CORSANO - MALUS

Nate Wooley's turning out to be one of the most powerful voices on the trumpet of his generation – a player in the left side of the spectrum, but one who can also evoke a classic sense of tone as well – used in a spacious, majestic way that's very commanding! This set's a great illustration of Wooley's growing power as a player – working here in an improvisational format in a trio with Hugo Antunes on bass and Chris Corsano on drums – but with a sense of vision and focus that's really amazing – almost like Ted Curson at his most out, but with an even greater sensitivity to his members in the trio. Titles include "Sawbuck", "4 Cornered", "Gentleman Of Four Outs", "Sewn", and "Seven Miles From The Moon". (Limited edition of 300 copies.)  ~ Dusty Groove


RICK BRAUN RETURNS WITH FIRST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM IN FIVE YEARS - CAN YOU FEEL IT

Chart-topping trumpeter Rick Braun returns July 8 with “Can You Feel It,” his first contemporary jazz album in five years; “Get Up and Dance” starts the party at radio. It’s been five years since trumpeter-flugelhorn player Rick Braun released an album full of the funky R&B contemporary jazz grooves that made him one of the genre’s most consistent hitmakers over the past twenty years, but the award-winning musician, producer and songwriter returns to his signature sound July 8 with the release of his sixteenth album, “Can You Feel It,” which will be issued by Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Records. A bona fide contender as the feel good anthem for the summer of 2014, Braun’s “Get Up And Dance,” a collaboration with tenor sax sensation Dave Koz, is already collecting radio playlist adds. 

After scratching a creative itch to croon jazz standards on his two most recent releases, “Sings with Strings” and the holiday-themed “Swingin’ in the Snow,” Braun had a very specific direction he wanted to pursue for “Can You Feel It” for which he wrote or co-wrote nine tunes along with helming the production.

“When I started working on this album, which was about a year in the making, there were two goals that I had in mind. I wanted it to be really organic and have a lot of my friends playing on it. Young players melding together with the old faithful,” explained Braun. So he reached out to a bunch of his friends, colleagues and collaborators and dialed back the time machine twenty years ago to the era of his breakthrough disc, “Beat Street,” to help chart the course for “Can You Feel It.” 

“It’s a return to the sound and style of “Beat Street,” which essentially was a tribute to my years playing in War. I took out all of the sequencing with one exception and made the record like a garage band using great live players. It was a lot of fun making the record. It’s energetic and earthy. We hit it hard—kind of like Tower of Power—capturing the energetic, funky horn band sound. I wanted lots of horn section parts on the album.”

Braun added a new weapon to his arsenal: valve trombone. And he stacked the tracks with layers of horns section parts adding power, punch and potency. His friends were eager to join the festivities enabling Braun to toss the ball around the horn with Koz, Brian Culbertson, Philippe Saisse, Jeff Lorber, Euge Groove, Elliott Yamin and a retinue of ace players such as Frank “Third” Richardson, Nathaniel Kearney Jr., Randy Jacobs, Nate Phillips, Adam Hawley, Sergio Gonzalez, Brandon Fields, Tony Moore, Phil Davis, Ramon Islas and more. Bud Harner, who co-wrote the first single with Braun, helped shepherd the album as associate producer.  

A popular and dynamic performer who draws material for his set lists from his vast catalogue of No. 1 chart hits, radio playlist staples and fan favorites, Braun is touring nationally in support of “Can You Feel It” as a member of Jazz Attack with fellow contemporary jazz titans Peter White and Groove. Sprinkled in his concert calendar are dates with BWB, the all-star trio made up of Braun and Grammy winners Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown. The Allentown, Pennsylvania native entered the professional ranks by co-writing a Top 20 pop hit for REO Speedwagon (“Here With Me”) before becoming a first-call sideman touring and recording with Rod Stewart, Sade, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole and Tom Petty. Braun released his solo debut, “Intimate Secrets,” in 1992, but it was the success of “Beat Street” that forced the horn man to choose between continuing as a sideman and taking center stage as an artist. The decision came easily and Braun has never looked back on the path to stardom.

The songs contained on “Can You Feel It” are:
“Can You Feel It”
“Back To Back”
“Take Me To The River”
“Mallorca”
“Get Up And Dance”
“Another Kind Of Blue”
“Delta”
“Silk”
“Radar”
“The Dream”

“Dr. Funkenstein”


NEW RELEASES - QUARTETTO DI LUCCA - QUARTETTO 4; DARRYL ALEXANDER - TRANSITIONS; MADELAINE - WHO IS SHE...

QUARTETTO DI LUCCA - QUARTETTO 4

A bracingly fresh combination of vibes, piano, bass, and drums – and a real standout set of modern jazz from the Italian postwar years! At first glance, the lineup of the group is relatively conventional – forged with the same instrumentation as the Modern Jazz Quartet or George Shearing group – but from the very first note of the record, you know that the sound is something quite different indeed – a bold new musical vision, carried off perfectly! The rhythms here are especially unique – often chopped up and slightly skittish – so that the vibes and piano are often handling rhythmic duties as often as melodic ones – rolling along with the bass and drums in a set of beautiful changes and timings that explode with color and life. Players include Vito Tommaso on piano, Giovanni Tommaso on bass, Antonello Vannucchi on vibes, and an unknown drummer – and titles include "Quartetto", "Soft Winds", "Estate 61", "Gabry", "Blues For Carole No 2", and "Like Someone In Love". ~ Dusty Groove.

DARRY ALEXANDER SR. - TRANSITIONS

“Transitions,” the new record from Darryl Alexander features performances by Kenny Blake, Ken Karsh, Brett Williams, Pete Tokar, Wilber Krebs, Fred Ervin, Joe Graziosi, John Madgett, and Brandon Howard. “Transitions,” is scheduled for release in June and spotlights 11 original songs. “What I enjoy working with this group is there is a lightheartedness in their soul, and it comes out in their performances,” says Darryl. I remember Kenny Blake saying one day in the studio that EMS personnel see some pretty horrific things every day. As artists we have an opportunity to make someone’s day just a little bit lighter, little bit easier, even if just for a moment. Wilber has a wonderful garden which kept us well fed, and the big surprise was finding out who Brett’s grandfather is. “Transitions” opens with “On E. Street” which is a hip, fun song that is very danceable. Hey Senorita is a modern samba selection that really grooves and is a salute to the Latino culture. No Turning Back is a driving, funky tune that captures the essence of contemporary jazz. The blending of jazz with funk, hip hop, latin, rock and r&b are what made the songs on this record fun to record.

MADELAINE - WHO IS SHE...

An overlooked record, but one with a strong Chicago soul pedigree – thanks to arrangements from Johnny Pate and production from the great Carl Davis! In anyone else's hands Madelaine might sound more like an adult contemporary singer – but Pate's grooves and Davis' polish really swing things into all the right territory – similar to the same sophisticated soul vibe of Carl's own Chi-Soul projects from the same time. Madelaine seems most comfortable in midtempo groovers, which are the real standouts here – and include the sweet "Don't It Drive You Crazy", plus "It's In Your Eyes", "Who What When Where Why", and a nice cover of "Who Is She & What Is She To You". Other tracks include the groovy "I Love Makin Love To You", plus "You Are Day You Are Night", and "In Love We Grow". ~ Dusty Groove


NEW RUBEN BLADES CD, "TANGOS," SET FOR RELEASE JUNE 24TH

Tangos, the stunning new CD from Ruben Blades, is set for release via Sunnyside Records on June 24th.

The best songs are those that provide messages that reach beyond the genre into which they are born. There are lyrics that can move people deeply, even when the composer and listener are separated by oceans.

The tremendous poet, composer and actor Rubén Blades is the sort who can plumb the depths of human emotion. Over his industrious and varied career, Blades has been a voice of passion, awareness and social consciousness throughout the Spanish-speaking world. He also possesses a wide-ranging interest in ideas and art, which has led to his involvement in projects with intriguing musical blends, including his new recording Tangos, a fascinating partnership of Blades’s classic salsa compositions with Argentinean tango.

Blades’s interest in tango music led him to reach out to his long time friend and collaborator Carlos Franzetti. Both were intimately involved in the New York Latin jazz and salsa scenes of the late 1970s and early 1980s and they befriended each other while working on a number of recordings, including the massive releases of Siembra (1978) and Maestra Vida (1980) and the music for the films Beat Street (1984) and Q&A (1990).

The initial idea for a collaboration using tango material was proposed nearly a decade ago but plans were delayed while Blades served as the Minister of Tourism for his native Panama from 2004 to 2009. Blades never forgot the idea and he began to hint at a possible tango project with Franzetti while touring Latin America shortly after his term ended.

Blades’s hints led to an invitation from Gustavo Mozi for the two to close the World Tango Festival in Buenos Aires during the summer of 2010. The Festival gave Blades and Franzetti the perfect opportunity to tackle the project.

Franzetti began by arranging five of Blades’s compositions for their performance: “Pablo Pueblo,” “Ligia Elena,” “Ella,” “Paula C” and “Pedro Navaja.” At the Festival, Blades and Franzetti were accompanied by the fantastic Leopoldo Federico Orchestra, which also recorded the pieces shortly thereafter. Once they returned to New York, Blades and Franzetti worked on arranging another six compositions, which were recorded with a tango quintet, with the strings and woodwinds recorded later in Prague.

Ruben Blades has proven himself to be one of the greatest lyricists and songwriters of our time. The idea to frame his lyrics with the tremendous arrangements of Carlos Franzetti in the tango idiom only increases the drama of his poetry. Tangos will prove to cement the legacy of this master songwriter and the ability of his songs to transcend musical borders.
Tangos is set for release June 24th on Sunnyside Records

NEW RELEASES: SIX DEGREES OF: BRAZIL VOLUME 2; PARTY KNULLERS MEETS JIM BAKER: FOUR IMAGES OF WANK; BUDDY RICH - THE SOLOS

SIX DEGREES OF: BRAZIL VOLUME 2

In celebration of the upcoming World Cup Fever in 2014, all eyes will be on Brazil.  Once again, Six Degrees Records will be focusing all ears on the amazingly deep and diverse musical legacy of that part of the world. Six Degrees has now put out a compilation that includes the following tracks: Dom La Nena - Batuque (Jeremy Sole & Atropolis Remix); Da Cruz - Boom Boom Boom; Curumin – Afoxoque; BossaCucaNova - Balança (Não Pode Parar!) (Adam Popowitz Mix);  Zuco 103 - Nunca Mais (DJ Patife Remix); Céu - Ave Cruz; Bebel Gilberto - Bring Back The Love (Shrift Mix); and Beto Villares - Nação Postal

JIM BAKER / FRED LONBERG HOLM / STALE SOLBERG – PARTY KNULLERS MEETS JIM BAKER: FOUR IMAGES OF WANK

Jim Baker plays some pretty great analog synth here – which is mixed with both electronics and cello from Fred Lonberg-Holm – with similar acoustic-sounding elements that really link the players' performances together nicely! The music is improvised with a rich sense of texture and tone – one that's subtle and never hits you over the head with the possible variations of the instrumentation – and as usual, drummer Stale Liavik Solberg proves himself to be a careful participant in such a setting. Titles include "Muhldorfl", "Wallgau", "Krun", and "Schlattan Hofle". ~ Dusty Groove

BUDDY RICH - THE SOLOS

An unusual album for sure, but one that should hold special interest for Buddy Rich fanatics, the 2014 compilation The Solos, features live recordings made of Rich during various concert dates in the 1970s. Rather than include complete tracks, however, The Solos showcases only Rich's solo improvisations. Perhaps not the best album for background listening or casual enjoyment, The Solos will certainly appeal to fans and music students fascinated by Rich's frenetic, virtuosic swing drumming style. ~ Matt Collar Tracks: Solo 1: Toronto CAN 1977; Solo 2: Germany 1977; Solo 3: Disneyland CA 1976; Solo 4: Sacramento CA 1977; Solo 5: Germany 1977; Solo 6: Binghamton NY 1976; Solo 7: Orlando FL 1976; Solo 8: Montreal CAN 1976; and Solo 9: Boston Globe JazzFest 1976.


NEW RELEASES: MR PRESIDENT – HIPS SHAKING; BROWNSWOOD ELECTRIC 4; KAVERI SPECIAL

MR PRESIDENT – HIPS SHAKING

The coolest work we've heard so far from this Patchworks side project – a record that fuses together equal parts 70s jazz, funk, and soul – with just the right smattering of global influences as well! There's a tightness to the set that we really love – careful instrumentation and production that make the whole thing feel like a Fantasy Records jazz funk project that might have happened down in Rio or Lagos – with slight Afro or Brazilian elements sifting in next to a core groove that comes from really classic basslines, keyboards, and drums! There's some vocals on a few tracks – mostly chorus-type that flow along with the grooves – and tracks include "City Rocking", "Candyman", "Hips Shaking", "Gimme All What You Got", "South Street Walk", "I Get So Crazy", and a surprisingly great cover of "I Can't Go For That". ~ Dusty Groove

BROWNSWOOD ELECTRIC 4

A solid entry in the Brownswood Electric series – this one compiled by Alex Stevenson – and featuring a hypnotic batch of abstract electro-steeped cuts by an up-and-coming roster of underground talent! The thing we love most about the series is the forum it gives some truly unbridled creative spirits out there – from artists/combos to beatmakers and producers – who defy trends and deftly mix styles. The selections feature elements of classic and futuristic house, footwork, tripped out hip hop, club soul and well beyond. Volume 4 is heavy on the instrumentals, but it's not without some moody vocal turns – and the tracks include "Shoulda Known (GANZ Remix)" by Louis Fulton, "Radiated Light" by Nikitch, "L" by Monk, "We Killed Our Probation Worker" by Glenn Astro, "Breakdown" by Deft, "Green Eyes" by Adam Elemental bfeat Ravdeep Singh, "Rollercoaster" by Feral, "Four Days Alone" by B Lewis, "Youth Group" by Brrd and more. ~ Dusty Groove

KAVERI SPECIAL

A unique Afro Funk group from Finland – and one who work in territory that's a bit different than most of their contemporaries! The guitars here take center stage instead of the usual horns – and criss-cross in this really beautiful way that's complex, yet rhythmically intense – like some of the more obscure funk rarities from the West African scene of the 70s – served up with a lean, powerful sound throughout! The whole thing's got a very exotic feel – from the cover to the instrumentation to the Finnish language lyrics – an appeal that's similar to some of the trippier African work reissued in recent years, but very different than the originals too. Titles include "Suksee", "Sunnuntaibrunssi", "Pikajuna", "Taaksepain", "Avarusshissi", and "Hei Suomenmaa". ~ Dusty Groove


NEW RELEASES: JOE HENDERSON – THE STANDARD JOE; CATERINA ZAPPONI - ROMANTICA; LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS FRIENDS

JOE HENDERSON – THE STANDARD JOE

There's nothing standard about this set – as Joe Henderson always brings something special to a recording session – especially at this point in his career! The album has a wonderful format – Joe's unique tenor tone set up beautifully alongside the bass of Rufus Reid and drums of Al Foster – no piano or other horns at all, just an open, swinging combo with a really great sense of energy! Joe's bold lead really sets the tone for most numbers – and a few tracks are compositions that Henderson recorded famously early in his career, recast here with a whole new sound and heightened sense of maturity. Titles include "Blues In F (aka In N Out)", "Blue Bossa", "Inner Urge", "Body & Soul", and "Take The A Train". Also features a bonus alternate of "Body & Soul". ~ Dusty Groove

CATERINA ZAPPONI - ROMANTICA

Zapponi was born and raised in Rome, the daughter of celebrated screenwriter Bernardino Zapponi, a collaborator and longtime friend of Federico Fellini, and Françoise Rambert, a French-born chanteuse who instilled in Caterina her love of the French repertoire. Growing up amidst her parents’ collaborators and friends helped introduce Zapponi to jazz and the American Songbook while fueling her desire to move to the United States, which she did upon receiving a scholarship from Berklee College of Music. Here she presents a multilingual collection of jazz, cabaret and international standards, Romantica showcases Zapponi's unique sensibility, at once measured and emotional, cinematic, and especially fluent in the nuanced interplay of American jazz and European classics. A mesmerizing soundscape that exudes old-world charm. Featuring Monty Alexander, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Etienne Charles and Martin Pizzarelli.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG – LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS FRIENDS

Louis Armstrong hits the Flying Dutchman label – and unlocks a whole new spiritual side of his talents – a mode that's quite different than some of his crossover pop of the 60s! The style here has a bit of righteous elements in the lyrics, and lots of spiritual jazz in the backings – with full arrangements from Oliver Nelson – who heads up a dream lineup that includes Billy Harper on tenor, and either Chico Hamilton or Pretty Purdie on drums! Even more amazing is a guest appearance from Leon Thomas – who sings on a version of "The Creator Has A Master Plan". Other tunes are just as hip – and include "The Black Cat Has 9 Lives", "His Father Wore Long Hair", "Give Peace A Chance", and "We Shall Overcome". Must be heard to be believed! ~ Dusty Groove

 

NEW RELEASES: DUSTY SPRINGFIELD – WHERE AM I GOING; PEABO BRYSON – DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE; TATA VEGA - TOTALLY TATA

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD – WHERE AM I GOING

One of the greatest of all Dusty Springfield albums – a gem of a record that mixes British pop, soul, and some very groovy orchestrations! The whole session has that kind of soaring, soulful bounce that Dusty had on her best records – but which was possibly never done nearly as well as on this one! Backings are conducted by Alan Tew, Peter Night, Arthur Greenslade, and Wally Stott – Brit Easy giants all of them – and tracks include sublime gems like "Bring Him Back", "Don't Let Me Lost This Dream", "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face", "Sunny", "Welcome Home", and "Broken Blossoms". CD features 3 bonus tracks too – "Don't Forget About Me", "Time After Time", and "I've Got A Good Thing". ~ Dusty Groove.

PEABO BRYSON – DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE

Tremendous work from Peabo Bryson – and a record that really has him coming on strong, and staying long! Bryson's vocals are sublime – rooted in gospel depth, but turned towards some warmer secular modes – all wrapped up in a style that's tight, but never slick – perfect production by Peabo himself, with a care and sensitivity that's quite different than some of his later, clunkier work. Bryson is still a mighty fresh talent at this point in his career – glowing with an inner light that really shines through – on tracks that include "Go For It", "We Don't Have To Talk", "Turn It On", "Words", "Let Me Be The One You Need", "Give Me Your Love", and "Don't Play With Fire". ~ Dusty Groove

TATA VEGA – TOTALLY TATA

Al Johnson's the man to thank for this one – as he's given Tata Vega a great mix of sophisticated soul and smooth modern arrangements that easily match his own great work at the time! The record's got a lot more depth than some of Tata's other work, and isn't afraid to slide into adult ballads if the mood is right – mixing the catchier side of Vega's career with some more intimate tunes that round out the album nicely. The best tracks are the mellow midtempo ones, and titles include "Love Comes From The Most Unexpected Places", "It's Too Late", "Deep Inside", "Come In Heaven Earth Is Calling", "Mr Trouble Maker", and "You'll Never Rock Alone". ~ Dusty Groove


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

NEW RELEASES: HELEN MERRILL & PIERO UMILIANI - PAROLE E MUSICA; THE FAR OUT MONSTER DISCO ORCHESTRA; THE ROOTS - AND THEN YOU SHOOT YOUR COUSIN

HELEN MERRILL & PIERO UMILIANI - PAROLE E MUSICA

A strange and obscure session that has the cool jazz vocals of American singer Helen Merrill backed by a small Italian combo led by soundtrack composer Piero Umiliani – a wonderful mix that really makes the album an unusual one for Helen! The music was originally recorded for a TV program in Italy, and each track is preceded by an Italian voice, reciting Italian versions of the lyrics over spare musical backing – then Merrill's voice comes in with a bigger jazz group, singing each track in English – a very nice level of presentation! And although the whole thing sounds crazy, it actually works well – and gives the album a compelling edge and kind of a sexy late-night quality. Tracks include "Solitude", "Everything Happens To Me", "Night & Day", "Why Don't You Do Right", and "Willow Weep For Me".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE FAR OUT MONSTER DISCO ORCHESTRA

A really wonderful project that was years in the making – a mix of American club and Brazilian elements – put together by a group that includes members of Azymuth and Banda Black Rio, as well as the legendary Arthur Verocai! Jose Roberto Bertrami's the strongest contributor here – and the music really echoes that great late 70s/early 80s point when the Azymuth fusion groove crossed over into tighter, funkier territory – coming off here with a sound that's got really universal appeal and a wickedly classic vibe overall – like some unusual cross-breeding of Brazilian grooves and Salsoul Records! Vocals are by Mia Mendes and Marcina Arnold, but the instrumentation is even better than the lyrics – filled with jazzy touches, blended with bits of strings, and perfectly produced all the way through. Really tremendous stuff – one of the freshest records we've heard from Far Out in years – with titles that include "Mystery", "Keep Believing", "Dead Dance", "The Last Carnival", "A Disco Supreme", "Vendetta", and "Don't Cha Know He's Alright". ~ Dusty Groove


THE ROOTS - AND THEN YOU SHOOT YOUR COUSIN

The Roots still delivering the goods after all these years! And Then You Shoot Your Cousin is seemingly one of their more uncompromising efforts, which is saying something for this crew. Their career arc to this point is as fascinating as ever – going from backing up and sharing credit with singers as varied as John Legend and Elvis Costello, to delivering their own deep, concept driven records like this one and the preceding Undun – they're never predictable. It seems like the financial security of a steady TV gig has really liberated The Roots to follow their creative ideals when it's time to work on a new record, and the world's better for that! Existentialist hip hop soul? Whatever you want to call it, it's deeply thoughtful, timeless stuff. It takes a little while to sink in, but once it does, it stays with you. Includes "Never" with Patty Crash, "The Devil", "Black Rock" feat Dice Raw, "Dies Irie", "The Coming" feat Mercedes Martinez, "The Dark (Trinity)" feat Dice Raw & Greg Porn, plus "The Unraveling" and "Tomorrow", both feat Raheem Devaughn.~ Dusty Groove


NEW RELEASES: STEVE LEHMAN OCTET - MISE EN ABIME; LOUIS PRIMA JR. & THE WITNESSES - BLOW; BILLY HART QUARTET - ONE IS THE OTHER

STEVE LEHMAN OCTET - MISE EN ABIME

Mise en Abîme is the highly anticipated return of the Steve Lehman Octet, and the follow-up to 2009’s Travail, Transformation, and Flow, which was named the #1 Jazz/Pop CD of 2009 by the New York Times and described as a breathtaking accomplishment for its unprecedented synthesis of spectral harmony, complex rhythms, and torrid soloing. It was also named one of the Top 10 Jazz CDs of the Year by over 30 media outlets, including ArtForum, Newsweek, Village Voice, and NPR, universally heralded as futuristic, funky, and engaging in both the jazz and new classical communities.

LOUIS PRIMA JR. AND THE WITNESSES - BLOW

Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses are bringing Prima music into the 21st century. Not content to sit on the legacy they so passionately protect, LPJ and the band are taking a page from his father’s playbook, by wailing Prima Swing for the new millennium. Building off of the success of their critically acclaimed debut CD, Return of the Wildest!, the band has injected many years of diverse musical tastes into their second offering, BLOW -- a collection of original music (save for a couple of surprises) as eclectic and unique as each member of this powerhouse band, co-produced by Warrior Records’ president, Jim Ervin, and Louis Prima Jr. From the first thunderous stomps of the title track, it is evident that this ain’t your daddy’s swing music, but a raucous roller coaster ride of tail-shakin’, foot-stampin’, horn-driven smiles. If you’ve seen them in concert, you know a bit about what to expect from the musical minds of the Witnesses. As energetic and over-the-top as the band’s live shows, BLOW continues the ever-changing musical journey that Prima Sr. began in the ‘30s. "With the band’s collective talents and diverse musical tastes, we wind up with a sound unique to this band, while staying true to the boisterous Prima style,” says Louis. “We didn’t set out to simply write music we thought the fans wanted to hear. We wanted to challenge ourselves musically and also challenge the listener. You can’t fool the fans by trying to force the word ‘daddy-o’ into every song. If music does not come honestly from your soul, it will ultimately be short lived.” ~ Amazon.com

BILLY HART QUARTET - ONE IS THE OTHER

The second ECM album by the Billy Hart Quartet is a major musical statement, and one of the outstanding jazz albums of the season. The groups reach already broad on 2011s widely-acclaimed All Our Reasons - is yet more expansive here. Strong compositions - by leader-drummer Hart, tenorist Mark Turner and pianist Ethan Iverson reflect upon a wide swathe of the musics history, and are distinguished by vivid and imaginative solos and wonderful interplay. A basic premise, that this should be a band in which the vastly-experienced Billy Hart gets to play everything he wants to play, has led to a sense of almost unlimited possibility for all participants. There is freedom and joy in this music, and tenderness, too, not least in the sets sole standard, a beautifully played version of Some Enchanted Evening. Recorded in New York in 2013, and produced by Manfred Eicher. ~ Amazon.com


NEW RELEASES: MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE - CHURCH; ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY - LIVE IN LONDON; LENNY PICKETT WITH THE UMO ORCHESTRA - THE PRESCRIPTION

MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE - CHURCH

Mark De Clive-Lowe takes us to church – with a set that's easily his most soulful, spiritual record ever! The album's got a lot more acoustic elements than usual – plenty of jazz elements on tenor, flute, trumpet, and percussion – mixed with Mark's own great Fender Rhodes and other keyboards – some of which shift the sound of the acoustic instruments in the process! The shift is a bit like that taken by Jimi Tenor with his own music in recent years, but the overall sound is still very much in the soaring, cosmic territory we've always loved from Mark – but there's also a much deeper connection to the planet as well. Wonderful throughout – a great step forward for an artist we already love so much – and titles include "Sketch For Miguel", "Now Or Never", "Nova Roda", "The Mission", "Distractions", "Mason's Galaxy", "Imam", and "Sun Up Sun Down". ~ Dusty Groove

ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY - LIVE IN LONDON

2014 two CD live release from the British instrumental/Smooth Jazz band. Acoustic Alchemy have spent over a quarter century making music and in that time they have not only received critical acclaim for their albums (including three Grammy nominations), but also have built a reputation for being one of the most exciting live bands in the business. For the last decade the band lineup has been made up of Greg Carmichael on nylon guitar, Miles Gilderdale on steel string acoustic and electric guitars, Fred White on keyboards and the powerhouse rhythm section of Greg Grainger on drums and his brother Gary Grainger on bass. The band were so happy with these live recordings that they quickly decided that they wanted to have as much of the show on the record as possible and so this will be Acoustic Alchemy's first ever double album, featuring songs from their most recent studio release Roseland along with classic tracks from the band's 16 album catalog. ~ Amazon.com

LENNY PICKETT WITH THE UMO ORCHESTRA - THE PRESCRIPTION

Pickett is a current member of the Saturday Night Live band and a long-time leader of the Tower of Power horn section. During the '70s, the Tower of Power was the dominant session horn group, cutting their own successful R&B/funk/pop records and backing a host of stars from Elton John to many soul and R&B acts. Pickett continued with the group until the mid-'80s, then made a solo release as a leader. He is a stirring, blues-laden player who functions best doing short, tart solos in the middle of R&B/blues/pop pieces, but not a jazz player in the conventional sense. ~ Ron Wynn


LUCKY PETERSON - THE SON OF A BLUESMAN

Lucky Peterson is the most dangerous triple threat working in the blues. He has gained a reputation as one of the most preeminent performers of the modern era as a searing lead guitarist, fantastic organist, and first-rate vocalist. His many talents are truly mind-boggling. 

Peterson has blazed the blues trail since he was a little kid. At the young age of five he had a hit single in 1969 with "1-2-3-4" and subsequently appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show," "David Frost Show," "The Tonight Show" and others, performing that Willie Dixon-produced tune while seated at the hulking Hammond B-3 organ. Now approaching his 50th birthday, Peterson is back on the scene with a career-defining album for the Jazz Village label. With such titles as "Blues in My Blood," "I'm Still Here" and the autobiographical title track (penned by renowned Texas playwright Dianne Tucker), The Son of a Bluesman may be Peterson's most potent and personal recording in his extensive discography going back to his 1989 debut, Lucky Strikes!

As Peterson explains, "My wife and I were playing at Tucker's Blues in Deep Ellum, Texas, and the proprietor there, Dianne Tucker, is a close friend. Because she knew my story so well, she wrote the song 'The Son of a Bluesman' for me. Then my bass player (Timothy Waites) wrote 'I'm Still Here' because he's been with me for four years and we traveled down the highways together so he knew where I was coming from. When he delivered that song to me I was like, 'Man, you got me straight down to the T.' Another friend gave me 'Blues in My Blood.' And when I went into the studio to record those songs, it all came together and the emotions just flowed."

Elsewhere on The Son of a Bluesman, the Dallas-based bluesman covers Wilson Pickett's signature "Funky Broadway" and Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," which takes on special meaning given Peterson's recent recovery from his struggles with drugs. The blues master also pays tribute to his mentor Bobby "Blue" Bland with a rendition of his trademark tune, "I Pity the Fool."

"I love Bobby Bland," says Peterson. "I got a chance to be around him when I was young and he was very encouraging to me. Both Bobby Bland and Little Milton were great to me. I'm definitely lucky I got a chance to be around those cats and I appreciated them letting me do my thing and being supportive of it."

"Nana Jarnell" is dedicated to Peterson's mother and also the mother of his wife Tamara Stovall-Peterson. "My mother's name was Jarnell and we used to call her mother Nana, so I combined the two names in the title," he says.

Peterson's wife also penned the tune "Joy," which Peterson recorded at his Dallas home on dobro guitar and which features cameo appearances from his daughter Lucki Azariah Peterson and his son Tamaron Stovall. 'We set up in my kitchen," he explains. "We had microphones on the ceiling fan and I took an orange crush can and put some rocks out of the fish tank into the can, and that was my drums. My wife sang the first verse and then we woke my daughter up at two o'clock in the morning to come and sing on the second verse. And then I sent the tapes to my son and said, 'Hey man, since you like to rap, I'm sending you something and I want you to rap on it.' So that's all my family, it's all heartfelt stuff."

For sheer, unadulterated burn, the album's instrumental closer, "You Lucky Dog," can't be beat. A showcase of Peterson's blazing chops on organ and stinging guitar licks, it concludes The Son of a Bluesman on an exhilarating note.

"This is the first record that I ever produced myself, without having anybody watching me over my shoulder," says Peterson. "Everything went the way I wanted it to go and I'm really proud of what I came up with." He adds, "My father would've loved this record. He turned out to be my biggest fan."

Born in December of 1964 in Buffalo, New York, Peterson was immersed in music from a very early age. His father, James Peterson, was a guitarist and singer who performed regularly at Buffalo's jazz and blues club The Governor's Inn. It was at the foot of his father that he soaked up the spirit of the blues. Peterson, a child prodigy, showed a remarkable gift for playing the organ at an early age and was discovered by bassist, composer and Chess Records producer Willie Dixon in 1969. The young musician recorded his debut album, Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson, which included his hit single "1-2-3-4." At age 17, Peterson studied at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, where he learned how to play French horn. Shortly afterwards, he joined blues star Little Milton on the road and remained in his band for three years, at which point he hooked up with the soulful singer Bobby "Blue" Bland for a three-year stint.

In 1987, Peterson launched his solo career with Lucky Strikes! on Bob Greenlee's Florida-based King Snake Records. That debut album was subsequently picked up by Alligator Records, which led to 1989's Triple Play on the Chicago-based blues label. Peterson was picked up by Verve Records in 1992 and released the John Synder-produced I'm Ready. He followed with two other Snyder-produced records for the label including Beyond Cool (1994) and Lifetime (1996), the latter outing featuring bassist Bootsy Collins and drummer Dennis Chambers. In 1997 he recorded a tribute to iconic gospel singer Mahalia Jackson with Mavis Staples on vocals and Peterson on organ. Over the past decade, Peterson recorded a string of albums for a variety of labels, ultimately leading him to document his own life on the compelling, autobiographical The Son of a Bluesman.
  
Lucky Peterson · The Son of a Bluesman / Jazz Village  ·  Release Date: June 10, 2014