NEW RELEASES: NOLA SOUL EXPLOSION; THE JAZZ CRUSADERS - LOOKIN' AHEAD; PETER BERNSTEIN - SOLO GUITAR LIVE AT SMALLS

FUNKY NEW ORLEANS: NOLA SOUL EXPLOSION

Fuel's FUNKY NEW ORLEANS series of releases really define the unique sound of New Orleans. New Orleans long musical journey begins at Congo Square with the creation of jazz, the original Creole culture clash of African heritage and European instrumentation. The syncopated beat of the second line jazz parade bands, the secret language and dances of the Mardi Gras Indians, the mambo and Latin rhythms of Professor Longhair, and the joyous funeral processions all help make New Orleans a unique musical melting pot. In the 1960s and early 1970s the creative powerhouses of Allen Toussaint, The Meters, Lee Dorsey and others made New Orleans the birthplace of the original sound of Funk. Here a seemingly endless line of amazing singers - Lee Dorsey, Aaron Neville, Willie West and Eldridge Holmes, amongst many others - released a constant stream of stunning 45s, backed by the super funky Meters and produced by Allen Toussaint. In the 1960s and early 70s, limited local record distribution meant that many of these artists' releases remained unknown outside of the city borders and, as a consequence, many of these records are serious collector's items today. Amazon

THE JAZZ CRUSADERS - LOOKIN' AHEAD

The Jazz Crusaders second album for Pacific Jazz, Lookin Ahead features the core four members of the group (Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson, Wilton Felder and Stix Hooper), with bassist Jimmy Bond rounding out the sound. Lookin Ahead showcases what was already a signature sound for the group, with the tenor saxophone and trombone leading many of the songs, although Joe Samples piano playing holds much of the material together. The group wrote seven of the albums nine cuts, including The Young Rabbits, which would become something of a staple for the Jazz Crusaders during the 1960s, being much revered at their live shows. The two covers include Tonight, from the musical West Side Story, and Song Of India, a classical piece by Rimsky-Korsakov arranged by Joe Sample. Along with their debut album Freedom Sound (also available on Hallmark as 713822) the Jazz Crusaders were at the forefront of the soul jazz scene in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. Their relevance and importance continued to grow throughout the rest of the decade. ~ Amazon

PETER BERNSTEIN - SOLO GUITAR LIVE AT SMALLS

This is the first solo album from Peter Bernstein, hailed by Downbeat as one of the 15 Best Jazz Guitarists in the World. Recorded over two nights in October, 2012, the album highlights Bernstein's arrangements of Porter, Monk, Coltrane, Vernon Duke and more. Discovered early in his career by Lou Donaldson, Bernstein has performed and recorded with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz and Gregory Hutchinson. ~ Amazon