NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN - BILLIONAIRE ON SOUL STREET
Three-time Grammy and Emmy Award winning multi-platinum
artist / producer Narada Michael Walden is releasing Billionaire On Soul
Street, the first single from his upcoming full-length album Evolution! Producing
and co-writing hits over the years for iconic artists such as Whitney Houston,
Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Wynonna Judd, George
Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Ritchie, Lisa Fischer, Stevie
Wonder, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, The Temptations, and countless others, Narada has
been at the helm of hit music that spans decades. Marking his now 40th
Anniversary in the music industry, Narada was recently honored by Billboard
Magazine as one of the Top Ten Producers of All-Time, and now Billionaire On
Soul Street has already garnered rave reviews worldwide. Narada reveals,
"This song Billionaire on Soul Street means the world to me because it
reflects my personal feeling of spirituality and that feeling renewed for life
by having my children Kelly and Kaylah in my life and my wife Katie. Having
children now at this time in my life really has touched my heart to feel like
'WOW! Look how lucky and how blessed I am by God.' So I used this slogan,
cause' I feel so good, like a Billionaire on Soul Street!"
DARIUS JONAS QUARTET - LE BEBE DE BRIGITTE
Le Bébé de Brigitte (Lost in
Translation) is alto saxophonist-composer Darius Jones new album work, and the
5th installment in his expansive Man ish Boy epic. The highly acclaimed series
began in 2009 with Man ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing), and shall
eventually comprise nine albums. This release arrives soundly at the mid-way
point with aplomb, and is performed by the Darius Jones Quartet featuring
vocalist Emilie Lesbros. As ever with Jones work, the compositional palette
ranges widely here. From the new blues swagger of 'Universal Translator' to the
equally universal sense of great loss evoked in 'I Can t Keep From Weeping' (as
aching a ballad as Jones has yet written/recorded); from the infectiously
swinging & (finally) unhinged cabaret dialogue that is 'Chanteuse in Blue'
to perhaps the deepest essence of the album (and platforms of intent) which are
'Two Worlds, One Soul' & 'Beneath The Skin', a pair of extended works which
evolve with the utmost in careful consideration to timing and gesture by all
involved. French singer-lyricist Emilie Lesbros own composition, 'Quand Vient
la Nuit' (arr. by Darius Jones) closes and lyrically encapsulates the album:
espousing no fear, in life, in art. ~Amazon
KIRK KNUFFKE - LITTLE CROSS
Kirk Knuffke chose for this his sixth leader/co-leader album
somewhat special material (music that relates to spirituality and death) and
executed beautifully with superb support from B-3 organ player Jamie Saft and
legendary drummer Hamid Drake. The leader of this album Kirk Knuffke has been
voted "Rising Star (trumpet)" of 2015 by the prestigious DownBeat
Magazine's Critics Poll. Kirk moved to NYC just 10 years ago and he has firmly
established as one of the most sought after cornetist/composer on the scene.
Personnel: Kirk Knuffke (cornet), Jamie Saft (Hammond B3, syntheziser), Hamid
Drake (drums). ~ Amazon
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