Tuesday, March 03, 2015

NEW RELEASES: BOZ SCAGGS [ORIGINAL 1969 VERSION + 1977 REMIXED VERSION]; DENNIS CHAMBERS - GROOVE AND MORE; COURTNEY PINE - SONG (THE BALLAD BOOK)

BOZ SCAGGS [ORIGINAL 1969 VERSION + 1977 REMIXED VERSION]

After making major contributions to the first two albums by the Steve Miller Band, Boz Scaggs left for a solo career. He signed to Atlantic Records and recorded this album at Muscle Shoals in 1969, with Duane Allman on stunning form on guitar, slide and dobro, plus the Muscle Shoals rhythm section and the Memphis Horns. Originally mixed by Stax Records' engineer Terry Manning, Boz Scaggs was well reviewed but sold slowly. The record was given a second chance in 1977, when it was remixed by Tom Perry and reissued in the wake of Scaggs' breakthrough success. This Edsel release brings together both mixes together for the first time in one package. The record remains a timeless snapshot of man finally in control of his destiny, and a wonderful testament to Scaggs' unique vocal style and R&B heritage.For this 2015 unique pairing, notewriter Paul Myers managed to secure an exclusive interview with the album’s producer (and founder of Rolling Stone magazine) Jann Wenner. The booklet also features the lyrics. ~ Amazon

DENNIS CHAMBERS - GROOVE AND MORE

Groove and More is an energetic & well-finished record, which features many prominent guests, including Scott Henderson & Jeff Berlin. Henderson s guitar gives the record vigorous solos & a unique sound, particularly leaving a mark on Virtual Life & Time to Time, whereas bassist Jeff Berlin s phrasing & blending with Patti Austin s vocals on Practice What You Preaching is also outstanding. Also noteworthy is the eclectic guitarist Stanley Jordan s solo on Past & Future & Dora Nicolosi s interpretation of We Don t Know. The Afro touch of Osibisa s Gregg Kofi Brown on Fall Out & the 70s energy of Brian Auger s Hammond organ on Aircraft & Running on Line are also notable. ~ Amazon

COURTNEY PINE - SONG (THE BALLAD BOOK)

'Song (The Ballad Book)' is Courtney Pine's sixteenth studio album to date and it sees him strip everything right back for the most intimate album of his long and celebrated career. He performs an album of ballads on bass clarinet, accompanied only by fellow Mercury nominee and MOBO Award winning pianist, Zoe Rahman. In the 1980's Courtney Pine was one of the first black British jazz artists to make a serious mark on the resurgent jazz scene, when his first album charted and some twenty plus years on (now with an OBE and CBE for services to music) he continues to break new ground with a string of highly acclaimed recordings and numerous, prestigious, Industry awards. In April 2014 he joined Herbie Hancock and a dazzling line- up of Jazz all-stars for UNESCO's globally televised concert in Osaka to celebrate International Jazz Day, and his name regularly appears on the list of Most Influential Black Britons.  Described in The Observer as "a remarkable pianist by any standard", Zoe Rahman has firmly established herself as one of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene. A vibrant and highly individual pianist/composer, her style is deeply rooted in jazz yet it reflects her classical background, her British/Bengali heritage and her very broad musical taste. Courtney explained the motivation behind the album, "I have always wanted to record a collection of my favourite ballads and there is nothing like performing in a duet for bringing out the intimacy of great songs". These songs includes a mixture of originals by Pine and compositions by Donny Hathaway and Edward Howard, Duke Ellington, Sam Rivers, Thad Jones and the Brian McKnight hit "One Last Cry". ~ Amazon


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