Thursday, April 22, 2021

New Music Releases: Calle Sur, Reza Khan, Brettina

Calle Sur - Cancun

Sometimes a concert is much more than music.  Sometimes it’s a celebration of a special milestone, in this case the 20-year trajectory of Calle Sur, a Latin duo based in the Midwest, comprised of Panamanian Edgar East (vocals, Latin percussion, guitar, flute, trumpet, Venezuelan quitiplás bamboo tubes) and Colombian Karin Stein (vocals, guitar, Andean zampoña pan flutes, Colombian gaita flutes, Venezuelan cuatro). The COVID-19 pandemic nearly halted their 20th anniversary celebration plans, but Karin and Ed decided to start 2021 with renewed hope and the release of a 20th anniversary album, “Cancún,” an exciting variation on their usual repertoire of Latin folk and popular music infused with jazz piano.

Reza Khan - Imaginary Road

A socially conscious force in global jazz fusion for over 10 years, Bangladesh born, NYC based composer/guitarist Reza Khan taps into the exotic-meet-melodic aesthetic of one of his major influences, Pat Metheny in his adventurous approach to blending pop, jazz, soul and world music influences. On his multi-faceted and wildly groove intensive album Imaginary Road, Khan uses a wide array of musical textures to express his emotions about the pandemic and our political culture. Vibing with top genre musicians like Philippe Saisse and Miles Gilderdale (Acoustic Alchemy) as well as fusion great Mark Egan (bass) and trad jazz pianist Matt King, he leads us along an ultimately hopeful path filled with sunshine, sizzling soul, seductive light funk and exquisite free flowing balladry. ~ www.smoothjazz.com

Brettina - New Day

After a year in quarantine, nothing says sunshine like the music of the islands – and no Smooth Jazz artist these days better captures that spirit of a NEW DAY than Brettina. The Nassau, Bahamas born singer releases her new EP and showcases her equal facility for dreamy, sensual romantic soul/jazz along with breezy vocalese and harmonies, danceable grooves and dynamic percussion patterns of her homeland – the latter vibe infused with folk acoustic guitar and vibrant steel pans! Brettina collaborated on this sexy, feel good project with multi-platinum Grammy nominated producer G’harah Degeddingseze. ~ www.smoothjazz.com

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