KAT EDMONSON - THE BIG PICTURE
Kat
Edmonson announces October tour dates in support of her third album, The Big
Picture out September 30 via Sony Music Masterworks. A full tour will follow in
early 2015. The album is her label debut
and was recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Mitchell Froom (Paul McCartney)
in his Los Angeles studio. Of the album, Edmonson states, "There's no
particular theme, but there are some commonalities, one of which is my
ever-underlying influence from motion pictures and film scores. I have always
felt that music and film go hand in hand, because that was how I was first
exposed to music-from old movies and musicals-and to me there wasn't a
separation between an actor acting, dancing and singing." See full tour
dates below. This album follows her 2012 release, Way Down Low, her first
collection that included original material. The New York Times hailed the album
as "fresh as a spring bouquet," and The Boston Globe called it
"one of the greatest vocal albums I've ever heard." Edmonson
performed on Austin City Limits made her Prairie Home Companion debut, and was
featured on NPR an impressive five times that same year. The songstress also
found herself touring with several well-established acts such as Chris Isaak,
Gary Clark Jr. and Michael Kiwanuka.
ALICE COLTRANE – A MONASTIC TRIO
Early
work by Alice Coltrane – somewhat under the shadow of her late husband, as
you'd guess from the use of his name on the front cover – but really stepping
out here with a voice of her own! The Monastic Trio of the set features Alice
on harp and piano – alongside bass from Jimmy Garrison and drums by either Ben
Riley or Rashied Ali – both really fluid players who open up nicely in this way
that's never to far out, at least in the way that John Coltrane was using
rhythms at the time – but which allow Alice to really take the lead as a bold
musical visionary of her own! Perhaps most exciting, Pharoah Sanders sits in on
one of the album's longest tracks – blowing tenor with a force that's enough to
bring back The Great One – but the real charm of the set is Alice's piano work,
bubbling out here with a sensitivity that we never would have expected from the
harder-edge sessions cut with Coltrane – that new level of spirituality she
instantly brought to her own solo sessions. Titles include
"Ohnedaruth", "Lovely Sky Boat", and "Atomic
Peace". ~ Dusty Groove
DARIUS
JONES – THE OVERSOUL MANUAL
One of
the most unusual projects we've ever heard from Darius Jones – so much so that
the record doesn't feature the instrumentalist at all – just his own ideas and
compositions performed by a very unique vocal quartet! The album is dedicated
to all the singers who've influenced Jones over the years – from Nina Simone to
Leontyne Price, Andy Bey, and Betty Carter – but the compositions are way
different than any of those references might make you expect, and are based
around a created language for spiritual rituals from the planet Or'gen – with
word shapes instead of actual lyrics, performed by a quartet of female singers
with a very enigmatic sound! The work is far more experimental than straight
jazz vocals, but still has a very haunting, captivating feel – and the 15
tracks on the album are all listed with a variety of different symbols in the
notes. ~ Dusty Groove
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