Friday, March 09, 2018

NEW RELEASES: HOPES & DREAMS: THE LULLABY PROJECT; ATOMIC – SIX EASY PIECES; MEMPHIS RENT PARTY - THE BLUES, ROCK & SOUL IN MUSIC'S HOMETOWN

HOPES & DREAMS: THE LULLABY PROJECT

The Lullaby Project, a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, pairs expectant and new mothers with professional artists to write personal lullabies for their babies, supporting maternal health, aiding child development, and strengthening the bond between parent and child. Now operating nationwide with partner organizations, the Lullaby Project began in New York City, reaching mothers in hospitals, homeless shelters, schools, and at correctional facilities. Born of this program, Hopes & Dreams: The Lullaby Project features a selection of these original lullabies as recorded by a range of artists representing a variety of genres and styles, including Fiona Apple, the Brentano String Quartet, Lawrence Brownlee, Roseanne Cash, Joyce DiDonato, Janice Freeman, Rhiannon Giddens, Angélique Kidjo, Patti Lupone, Natalie Merchant, Dianne Reeves, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Pretty Yende, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Pre-order the album and instantly receive a lullaby from Janice Freeman (as seen on NBC’s The Voice).

ATOMIC – SIX EASY PIECES

Fantastic work from this avant jazz supergroup – their first album away from the Jazzland label, and a set that maybe seems to show a whole new direction for the quintet! Some of the music here has a stronger set of arrangement at the core – balanced between the completely incredible individual strengths of the members – a bit, maybe, like the way that Charles Mingus could strike that rare balance in his prime – even if there's nothing Mingus-like about this music at all! The interwoven spirits of the players is completely sublime – as much a lead feature as the breakout solos – which include work by Fredrik Ljungkvist on tenor and clarinet, Magnus Broo on trumpet, Havard Wilk on piano, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten on bass, and Hans Hulboekmo on drums. Titles include "Stuck In Stockholm", "Falt Strid", "Be Wafted", "Sinusoidal Arches", and "Ten Years".  ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

MEMPHIS RENT PARTY - THE BLUES, ROCK & SOUL IN MUSIC'S HOMETOWN

A pretty great little collection – put together by Memphis music expert Robert Gordon in support of his book of the same name! The sounds here aren't overdone Memphis cliches – no Elvis hits or Stax Records standards – and instead, the record showcases those criss-crossing modes that have always been the most interesting thing about the city – rural bluesmen going urban, country singers going rock, and even rockers picking up all the earlier elements to craft something very different and personal. The tracks are pulled from recordings that span the early 60s to the present, and many of them are previously unreleased and provided to Gordon by the artists themselves – making the whole thing a completely essential set, even if you already love some of these performers. Titles include "Chevrolet" by Luther Dickinson & Sharde Thomas, All Night Long" by Junior Kimbrough, "Desperados Waiting For A Train" by Jerry McGill, "Johnny Too Bad" by Alex Chilton, Harbor Lights" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Little Bluebird" by The Fieldstones, "Same Thing On My Mind" by Mose Vinson, "Defrost Your Heart" by Charlie Feathers, "I'd Love To Be A Hippie" by Jim Dickinson, "Frame For The Blues" by Calvin Newborn, "Why Don't You Come Home Blues" by Furry Lewis, and "Drop Your Mask" by The Panther Burns. (Indie exclusive "rent money" green vinyl pressing – with download!)  ~ Dusty Groove


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