NEW MUSIC: MAX MERSENY - WORLD TRAVELLER; DJANGO BATES AND FRANKFURT RADIO BIG BAND – SALUTING SGT. PEPPER; MARK MURPHY - MILESTONES

MAX MERSENY - WORLD TRAVELLER

A good five years ago alto saxophonist Max Merseny had a sensational debut at age 23. His first album 'Thank Ya' All' was presented and praised in the major German press, and nominated for the Jazz Echo prize, as was the follow-up album 'Everlasting' (comparable to the US Grammy). Something of a German David Sanborn, Max Merseny revitalised American Soul jazz of the Eighties, modernized with elements of Rhythm & Blues and hip-Hop - his other two musical passions. And this with a virtuosity and a groove which nobody had expected from a German. His CD 'Word Traveller' follows this line rigorously, this time with the help of keyboard player Federico Gonzàlez Pena, who came on board as producer, co-author of three titles and as ingenious sound creator on diverse keyboards and synthesizers. The group is completed by well-versed guitarist Ferdinand Kirner, plus guests such as Grammy nominated rapper Phonte, vocalist Tami Samantha Hayes, guitarists Mike Scott and Wah Wah Watson, percussionist Alfredo Mojica and drummer Gene Lake. Rapper/turntablist Roger Reckless is at the turntables.

DJANGO BATES AND FRANKFURT RADIO BIG BAND – SALUTING SGT. PEPPER

Django Bates, in collaboration with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and Eggs Laid By Tigers, reimagines the seminal Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of an album that is a landmark musically and culturally was a challenge Bates couldn't resist. Holding on to the original structures and keys, he gracefully folds his own colors, rhythms and sound into the music, resulting in a thoroughly kaleidoscopic examination of this iconic album.

MARK MURPHY - MILESTONES

Mark Murphy was the finest, hippest male jazz singer I ever heard. And I heard him a lot. Okay don't take my word for it. Dusty Springfield, Scott Walker, Peggy Lee, Betty Carter, Sammy Davis Jr and Matt Monro can also be listed among his close admirers, while Ella Fitzgerald was moved to declare: "He is my equal". The recipient of the 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2001 Down Beat magazine readers jazz poll for Best Male Vocalist of the Year, the six-time Grammy nominee was also popular with the British record-buying public, and in the world section of the annual Melody Maker poll, Mark was voted runner-up to Sinatra in 1965 and 1966. Enjoy this superb 2CD compilation including Milestones, My Favourite Things and Why Don't You Do Right?