Friday, June 17, 2022

New Music: Robert Lee, Brothers Keeper, John Stein, Shelia Moore-Piper

Robert Lee - Cha-Ran

‘Cha-Ran’ is the sophomore album of bassist and composer Robert Lee. Robert continues to refine his artistic identity that is rooted in the emotional provocation of jazz and improvised music but pursues the exploration and implementation of new musical genres into one cohesive creative theatre. The album contains all original compositions inspired by Korean folk stories, spanning various fantasy and romantic narratives. The main goal of this music is to evoke the same emotion that is perceived from the narrative storytelling of Studio Ghibli films (i.e. Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle).  Robert strongly believes that music has the power to evoke visual imagery through auditory stimulation. The intention is for each composition to have this effect on the listener and transport them to an emotional realm outside of their presuppositions.  \The CD will be officially released on August 26th. There will also be a Canadian tour to help celebrate the release.  

Brothers Keeper - Gypsy King (Go MAPS Music Remaster)

“Gypsy King” takes listeners on a nomadic journey back to the 70s, to a musical era defined by prolific foundations of groove and lush vocal harmonies. Inspired by flagship bands of the time like Santana and The Eagles, Brothers Keeper marries strong lyrical content with tasteful organ work, memorable choruses, and refined solos. Producer, Eddie Roberts, and bandleader, Scott Rednor's shared vision is evident in this well-honed collaboration that has the ability to grace speakers for generations to come. The track has been remastered for a new digital single release to spark the launch of the Go MAPS MUSIC record label. Based in Vail, Colorado, MAPS (Mr. Anonymous Philanthropic Society) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers artists to promote unity and peace in their communities through music. In the same spirit, the Go MAPS MUSIC label is inspired by connection, collaboration, education, and integrity in the music they produce and the relationships they build.

John Stein - Lifeline

With the release of Lifeline, John Stein celebrates a musical career as one of the most diverse jazz guitarists of his generation. Selected highlights from Stein’s varied discography capture his eclectic spirit with his honey-toned guitar effortlessly guiding listeners across several decades of brilliance. After retiring from a longtime career at Berklee College of Music where he held a professorship since 1999, and upon recently contracting a rare autoimmune disease, the esteemed jazz veteran decided to synthesize his remarkable body of recorded work. The recorded output surveyed on this compilation spans more than twenty years, from Stein’s 1999’s Green Street to the most recent recording, 2021’s Serendipity. Throughout this assortment of releases, Stein has been consistently regaled for his expansiveness, turning heads with his emotive, subtle, grooving, and precise stylistic excursions. With dazzling guitar playing, notable contributions from the side musicians, creative arrangements, and compositions that are at once sophisticated and memorable, the full scope of John Stein’s instrumental and compositional prowess is on display on this prodigious, varied, and musically rewarding retrospective.

Shelia Moore-Piper - The Love/Soul Session Vol.1

As the dynamic, multi-faceted career of Christian soul singer and veteran musical minister Shelia Moore-Piper demonstrates, sometimes we can express our love of God with funky stomps and vocal swells – and other times, in more subtle but similarly impactful ways, as on her new single “Love Is A Beautiful Thing.” Featuring intimate, soulful vocalese throughout, the song’s subtle production of acoustic guitar, finger snap percussion and elevated musical atmospheres allows us to fully experience the cozier charms of her formidable voice. While the lyrics will resonate most powerfully with people of faith, the song’s overriding universal message of the power of love to heal and make the heart sing will surely resonate with everyone who loves music, especially R&B and contemporary jazz vocals.  www.smoothjazz.com

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