Tuesday, April 14, 2015

NEW RELEASES: FRANK SINATRA – ULTIMATE SINATRA; PORTICO – LIVIING FIELDS; STEVE GADD BAND – 70 STRONG

FRANK SINATRA – ULTIMATE SINATRA

The defining voice of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra enjoyed a legendary recording career that spanned six decades, beginning with his earliest session in 1939 and culminating with his last in 1993, for his world-renowned, multi-platinum Duets and Duets II albums. Ultimate Sinatra presents key recordings spanning the Chairman of the Board s recordings for Columbia, Capitol and Reprise, together for the first time. Ultimate Sinatra opens with 'All Or Nothing At All,' recorded with Harry James and his Orchestra on August 31, 1939 during Sinatra's first studio session. Ultimate Sinatra's 4CD edition boasts 100 tracks celebrating 100 years (plus a never before released bonus track), including many more luminous recordings that reinforce Sinatra's well-deserved moniker, The Voice. The chronological collection dives deeper into Sinatra's musical world of iconic recordings, before closing with a previously unreleased rehearsal version of 'The Surrey With The Fringe On Top' recorded in 1979. The deluxe edition also features an 80-page booklet with a new essay by Sinatra historian and author Charles Pignone, as well as rare photos and quotes from Frank Sinatra and his children, Nancy, Tina and Frank Jr., as well as Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Quincy Jones, and others. ~ Amazon

PORTICO – LIVIING FIELDS

Where do you start talking about a suite of recordings so concerned with the commonalities between beginnings and ends? You could start by saying that 'Living Fields' is an album of catharsis and  redefinition, born of a desire to create newness out of loss and change. You could also say that the band Portico themselves have undergone a process of ending and re-beginning, but none of this quite captures what you will hear. The best thing you can do is listen. Portico make music which moves forward towards distant places while offering rare intimacy as well, arriving somewhere between structured pop songs and a disintegrating ambience, a unique blend of the sublunary and the celestial. Reverb drenched piano meshes with swathes of studio noise while vocals float high above a world of textural atmosphere. Drum machines crisply puncture the air around shimmering arpeggios of synth and electric bass.You can be untethered, detached in space only for a moment of detail to rush into focus. Melancholia and euphoria sunk into each other. The effect is profoundly emotional without ever needing to emote. Portico are Duncan Bellamy, Milo Fitzpatrick and Jack Wyllie. Previously they were three-quarters of the highly successful and critically-acclaimed Portico Quartet. But 'Living Fields' is no continuation under a shortened name. As far as the band are concerned this is a debut. There are three remarkable singers on this record: Jono McCleery, Joe Newman (Alt-J) and Jamie Woon. These are not just guest performances and it shows. Woon shared a house with Portico in East London when they were writing and recording the album that would become Isla and he was working on "Mirrorwriting." Joe Newman is a childhood friend of Wyllie's and Jono McCleery was introduced to Portico by Jamie Woon and has opened for them in the past. These existing relationships allowed for a consistency of thought and expression which makes this a truly remarkable record. ~ Amazon

STEVE GADD BAND – 70 STRONG


The follow-up to the same group’s Gadditude , this release celebrates drums master Steve Gadd s 70th birthday. The other members of this phenomenal instrumental dream quintet, with enviable CVs, are trumpeter Walt Fowler (Frank Zappa, Buddy Rich, George Duke, Billy Cobham), guitarist Michael Landau (Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd), keyboardist Larry Goldings (Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Maceo Parker, Jim Hall) and pioneering 5 string bassist Jimmy Johnson (Allan Holdsworth, Billy Childs, Stan Getz). A richly satisfying panoramic sound palette of groove and grace. Tracks include: Foam Home, Freedom Jazz Dance, Written in Stone, The Long Way Home, Sly Boots, Duke's Anthem, Elegant Squares, Desu, De Volta Ao Samba, Oh, Yeah?, and Blues For... ~ Amazon


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