Sir Rod Stewart and Jools Holland with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra present the exquisite Swing Fever – a 13-track sparkling salute to the timeless songs of the big band years, reignited by two true giants of their craft – out on Friday 23rd February 2024 on Warner Music. For the first time, Britain's new partners in swing have united on record to share their peerless dexterity on a tribute to such truly great songs as Ain't Misbehavin', Frankie And Johnny, Sentimental Journey and Lullaby Of Broadway – recorded at Jools' own studio in Greenwich. The first track to be released is a superb working of show tunes Almost Being In Love – written by Frederick Loewe, and made famous by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Other tracks include: Oh Marie; Pennies From Heaven; Night Train; Love Is The Sweetest Thing; Them There Eyes; Good Rockin' Tonight; Walkin' My Baby Back Home; Almost Like Being In Love; and Tennessee Waltz.
Vocalist and songwriter Lois Deloatch marks thirty years in music with her new recording, Love Always. Recognized internationally for her rich contralto voice, thought-provoking lyrics, and distinctive blend of jazz, folk, blues, and spirituals, Deloatch has shared the stage with Ellis Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, and Dr. Billy Taylor, among other luminaries. Her limited-edition release, Hymn to Freedom: Homage to Oscar Peterson, was selected as one of the Top 10 CDs of 2008 by JazzTimes Magazine’s music critic Owen Cordle. With this, her sixth recording as leader, Deloatch says, “I’m offering music I hope will resonate, inspire and unify. I want listeners to feel our connectedness and shared humanity.” Music reviewer, Joe Vanderford, says, “Deloatch’s voice is thick and wide. She and the rhythm section signed a pact to be equal partners. She is a vocalist cast as an instrumentalist, another improviser contributing to the whole.” Love Always was produced by and features pianist Ernest Turner, along with bassist John Brown and drummer Donovan Cheatham. The title track and Deloatch’s other original compositions, “Occasional Brilliance,” “Souls Remember,” “Forty First Cousins,” “In My Bones,” and “Friendly Fire” reflect her rural, Southern upbringing and expansive world view, while “Where We Find Ourselves offers listeners a textured, contemplative gem. Exuberant renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” round out this bold, stellar collection of music.
Award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader Rubim de Toledo continues to expand his fertile catalogue of original music with his exciting new release The Drip. On this beautiful new record, the Brazilian-Canadian musician delves deeper into his tropical roots, exploring sounds from Brazil, Cuba, the Caribbean, as well as Afrobeat, funk, and jazz music. De Toledo – a winner of multiple Western Canadian Music Awards (Jazz Artist of the Year 2018, Instrumental Artist of the Year 2021) – began his professional career in Edmonton, Alberta at the age of 17, performing with Albertan jazz legends Tommy Banks, PJ Perry and Clarence “Big” Miller. Since then, he has become a sought-after sideman and bandleader, releasing seven full-length recordings of original music and securing a position as one of Western Canada’s most celebrated musical artists. As a bassist, de Toledo has shared the stage with a long list of international jazz stars, including the likes of Mulgrew Miller, Terrell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Wycliffe Gordon, Peter Bernstein, Sean Jones, Jason Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, Ralph Bowen, and John Riley. For The Drip, Rubim has invited Edmonton-based songstress Karimah to join him as a collaborator on three songs alongside an all-star lineup of Western Canadian jazz stalwarts. The album features nine original world jazz pieces, each with its own unique story to tell.
Oh Mother was inspired by Vancouver vocalist and composer Andrea Superstein’s own experience as a mother. Between the trauma of birthing a baby and all of the physical changes a mother goes through, coupled with balancing a job, feeling out your new role and your place within the world: contrary to popular belief, mothering can be a very isolating experience. These dark times spurred a lot of questions that Superstein started asking. She wanted to know if the struggles she endured were universal: were they a sign of the times or just hers alone? Superstein interviewed close to 100 mothers to get at the root of motherhood. What were the common experiences, and why were people so afraid or unable to speak their truth? Based on these conversations she wrote music: some songs are one person’s story, others are of the collective consciousness. Some a stark look at loss, others describe the heart-exploding feeling a parent can have towards their child. The album represents how all of these opposing feelings can coexist and shines a true light on the complicated, delicate, beautiful, traumatic and messy journey that is motherhood. As a singer “redefining jazz,” Andrea is one of the most versatile voices in music today. Oh Mother is an ambitious tour de force highlighting her ever growing creativity and sensitivity as a songwriter and arranger. Expect powerful vocals, evoking the gentle and the strong, lithely navigating the colours of the emotional spectrum
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