Thursday, July 06, 2017

NEW MUSIC: JOAN OSBORNE – SONGS OF BOB DYLAN; AARON ABERNATHY - MONOLOGUE; KENNY WELLINGTON – FREE SPIRIT

JOAN OSBORNE – SONGS OF BOB DYLAN

Multi-platinum singer and songwriter, Joan Osborne announces the release of her ninth studio album, Songs of Bob Dylan, set for release on September 1, 2017. On Songs of Bob Dylan, Joan Osborne unleashes her sizable gifts as a vocalist and interpreter upon Dylan's celebrated canon with performances honed by Osborne's time spent performing "Joan Osborne Sings The Songs Of Bob Dylan," two critically acclaimed two-week residencies at New York City's Cafe Carlyle in March 2016 and 2017.Osborne felt free to play with the songs' arrangements, a process that was also enabled by the virtuosity of Osborne's collaborators, guitarist Jack Petruzzelli (Patti Smith, The Fab Faux) and keyboardist Keith Cotton (Idina Menzel, Chris Cornell), who performed with her at Cafe Carlyle, and with whom she co-produced the album.

AARON ABERNATHY - MONOLOGUE

Monologue plays out like a novel, where the Abernathy's expand the perception of family over Ab's expansion of the stripped down Soul and R&B music we're used to hearing. Whether he's playing piano, wurlitzer, synths, guitar, programming drums, live drums, or arranging strings and horn lines, Ab's mastery of musicianship is on full display through Monologue's array of colorful, complex compositions, coupled with his rich, layered vocals. The album opens with him honoring his parents on the whimsical, Parliament-influenced selection Son Of Larry, followed by the melodic up-tempo Favorite Girl. On both records, he praises his father and mother and touches on their influence, words of wisdom and bold love. On the groovy Bachelorette, where we’re introduced to Ab's pursuit of his high school love interest, the track gets an assist from long-time collaborators and hip hop heavyweights Phonte and Black Milk. Ab displays his sultry edge on the Prince-inspired soul-pop records I See You and Pretty Kind, which showcase his raw and playful vocal lead. Doubt creeps in on the soulful mid-tempo Play It Cool, where he questions if he should profess his love or take the approach of the track's title. The landmark moment in his story comes from the wisdom in his father's advice to be vulnerable, which leads us into the brilliant composition and standout ballad I Need To Know. Ab delivers his monologue on the title track, where he acknowledges his mistakes and revels in his spirituality and newfound wisdom in love. Monologue is a touching and refreshing album about family, love, purpose and music. Ab has the ability to make listeners feel connected, each song taking audiophiles on a trip back to their childhood and the nostalgic feeling of young love.


KENNY WELLINGTON – FREE SPIRIT

Trumpet player Kenny Wellington was an original founder member of the groups Light Of The World and Beggar & Co and continues to write, arrange, produce and perform. As well as performing and recording with those groups he has recorded, arranged and played live dates with many artists from the different genres of soul, jazz funk, rock and pop. These artists include fine artists such as Tina Turner, Spandau Ballet, Paul Weller, and many others. The inspiration for this album was to really tip the hat to all those great horn players over the years that have entranced us with the beauty of their music, Donald Byrd, Jimmy Owens, Chuck Mangione, Eddie Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Miles of course and so many others, the sound of the tenor voices, the flute, trumpet, flugelhorn, vibraphone a touch of strings all in the mix. Kenny has tried to find the balance within, to be able to listen and enjoy, to dance and to chill, to enjoy.

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