THE MUSIC OF JOHN LEE HOOKER TO BE CELEBRATED WITH CAREER-SPANNING BOX SET

Craft Recordings, the Catalog division of Concord Bicycle Music, is proud to announce the release of King Of The Boogie, a career-spanning retrospective, honoring blues icon John Lee Hooker. Due out September 29th, the five-CD set delves deep into the catalog of the influential artist, featuring not only his iconic hits, but also rarities, live recordings and several previously unreleased tracks. Housed in a 56-page book, the collection includes a wide selection of photos, taken throughout the musician’s life, plus new liner notes by writer and John Lee Hooker historian Jas Obrecht, as well as by the artist’s longtime manager and friend, Mike Kappus.

  

John Lee Hooker (1917-2001) was born 100 years ago today, near Clarksdale, Mississippi to a sharecropping family. Throughout the years, there has been some academic debate about his original birth year. However, The Hooker family maintains 1917 as the de facto date. Says daughter Zakiya Hooker, “As we all know there was no great push for accuracy back then in that portion of the community. But we just stick to what my father told us, which was what he was told by his mother.” 

As a young man, Hooker worked his way up north to Detroit to pursue his passion of music. By 1948, the artist had a hit on his hands with one of his earliest recordings, “Boogie Chillun’.” From there, Hooker would record over 100 albums throughout the course of his six-decade-long career, building a diverse collection of fans along the way: from folk musicians and beatniks, to the stars of the British Invasion. The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana are among those who cite Hooker as a major influence. In his liner notes, Mike Kappus recalls that, “Everyone who knew John Lee Hooker loved him and felt privileged to be in his presence. While he influenced generations of musicians with his incomparable style, that impact on musicians stepped up to yet another level once they got to know and, universally, love him.” 

In his later years, as the bluesman found himself in one of the busiest, most productive eras of his career, Hooker was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame and Memphis Music Hall of Fame; was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and took home four GRAMMY® awards, plus a coveted Lifetime Achievement award in 2000. 

Tasked with narrowing down Hooker’s vast catalog into five CDs, box set producer Mason Williams curated the collection to narrate the artist’s story. “Even at 100 songs, this set is just a snapshot of John Lee Hooker’s incredible and influential career,” says Williams, “but one that takes you on the long journey he took from his early days in Detroit, to his time in Chicago recording for Vee-Jay Records and up through his later collaborations with Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt and Santana, among others.” 

King Of The Boogie will be released as part of a year-long, multi-partner centennial

celebration, honoring the music and influence of John Lee Hooker, and will be a companion piece to an exhibit of the same name, which kicks off today at the GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi.  John Lee Hooker: King Of The Boogie includes Hooker’s performance outfits, guitars, photos, awards and, of course, his music. The exhibit will be on display through February 2018, before traveling west to the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE. Additional centennial partners include The Blues Foundation, The Delta Blues Museum, Living Blues, Oxford American, the John Lee Hooker Estate, and Epiphone Guitars, who are currently planning the release of a limited-edition John Lee Hooker Zephyr Outfit sometime in early 2018. John Lee’s daughter, Zakiya, has worked closely with all partners on her father’s centennial events, and affirms, “Today, on what would have been my father’s 100th birthday, I am so thrilled to see him celebrated—both with the exhibit, as well as with the announcement of this special collection of music. I know that his fans will be excited to hear rare performances, and to read the touching words of his longtime manager, Mike Kappus, as well as those of the wonderful Jas Obrecht. It was a pleasure to watch this box set come together, and I can’t wait to see it shared with the world.” 

  

JOHN LEE HOOKER – KING OF THE BOOGIE TRACK LIST:

Disc 1:

1. Boogie Chillen’ – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

2. Sally May – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

3. Hobo Blues – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

4. Crawlin’ King Snake – John Lee Hooker & His Guitar

5. Black Man Blues – Texas Slim

6. Goin’ Mad Blues – Delta John

7. Who’s Been Jivin’ You – Texas Slim

8. (Miss Sadie Mae) Curl My Baby’s Hair

9. Hoogie Boogie – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

10. Burnin’ Hell – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

11. Weeping Willow Boogie

12. Moaning Blues – Texas Slim

13. Huckle Up Baby – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

14. Goin’ On Highway #51 – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

15. John L’s House Rent Boogie

16. I’m In The Mood

17. Two White Horses

18. 33 Blues

19. Sugar Mama

20. Wobbling Baby

21. Stuttering Blues – John Lee Booker

22. I’m A Boogie Man – Johnny Lee

23. Down Child

24. Odds Against Me (Backbiters And Syndicaters)

25. Shake, Holler And Run

Disc 2:

1. Unfriendly Woman [Aka Stop Now]*

2. Mambo Chillun

3. Time Is Marching

4. Dimples

5. Little Wheel

6. I Love You Honey

7. Drive Me Away

8. Maudie

9. When I Lay My Burden Down*

10. Tupelo Blues

11. Good Mornin’ Lil’ School Girl

12. I Rolled And Turned And Cried The Whole Night Long

13. No More Doggin’

14. Dusty Road

15. No Shoes

16. My First Wife Left Me

17. Crazy About That Walk - Sir John Lee Hooker

18. Want Ad Blues

19. Will The Circle Be Unbroken

20. I’m Going Upstairs

21. I Lost My Job

22. Don’t Turn Me From Your Door

23. Grinder Man

24. Meat Shakes On Her Bone*

Disc 3:

1. Boom Boom

2. Blues Before Sunrise

3. She’s Mine

4. Frisco Blues

5. Good Rockin’ Mama

6. I’m Leaving

7. Birmingham Blues

8. Don’t Look Back

9. Big Legs,Tight Skirt

10. It Serves Me Right

11. Money

12. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

13. The Motor City Is Burning

14. Mean, Mean Woman

15. Doin’ The Shout

16. Homework

17. Early One Morning

18. Rocking Chair

19. Hittin’ The Bottle Again

20. Deep Blue Sea

21. Spellbound

Disc 4: LIVE

1. Hobo Blues – Live

2. Maudie – Live

3. Shake It Baby – Live

4. Boogie Chillun – Live

5. Bottle Up And Go – Live

6. Crawlin’ King Snake – Live

7. The Mighty Fire – Live

8. You’ve Got To Walk Yourself – Live

9. I’m Bad Like Jesse James – Live

10. Boogie Everywhere I Go – Live

11.She’s Gone*– Live

12.It Serves Me Right To Suffer*– Live

13. Boom Boom* – Live

14. Hi-Heel Sneakers* – Live

15. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer* – Live

Disc 5: FRIENDS

1. I Got Eyes For You – With “Little” Eddie Kirkland

2. Mai Lee – With The Groundhogs

3. Peavine – With Canned Heat

4. Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive – With Van Morrison

5. Five Long Years – With Joe Cocker

6. The Healer – With Carlos Santana

7. I’m In The Mood – With Bonnie Raitt

8. Sally Mae – With George Thorogood

9. Mr. Lucky – With Robert Cray

10. Up And Down – With Warren Haynes

11. Boom Boom – With Jimmie Vaughan

12. You Shook Me – With B.B. King

13. Don’t Look Back – With Van Morrison

14. Dimples – With Los Lobos

15. Boogie Chillen’ – With Eric Clapton

*previously unreleased

Jazz Artist Bob Holz To Release Album featuring bassist Stanley Clarke

Jazz fusion composer and drummer Bob Holz will begin recording with bassist Stanley Clarke in September for his next album due out Spring of 2018. "This collaboration with the jazz star and Return to Forever bassist and composer, Stanley Clarke will involve the recording of new compositions I wrote that will take from my roots in jazz, classical, blues and rock music," says Holz. Joining Holz and Clarke will be former Mahavishnu Orchestra bassist Ralphe Armstrong who currently plays in Holz's touring band, Bob Holz and A Vision Forward featuring Chet Catallo and Ralphe Armstrong. "My compositions have plenty of room for interplay between electric bass and acoustic bass," adds Holz. Bob Holz is presently managed by Roy Holland Productions and is signed to MVD Entertainment Group. 

"I'm really honored to record with Stanley Clarke as his music has been a strong influence on me," added Holz. Clarke has written the music for over 70 major motion pictures in addition to his successful solo career and long tenure as a member of Return To Forever with Chick Corea, Al Di Meola and Lenny White.

The recording will take place in Los Angeles with famed sound engineer, Dennis Moody recording, mixing and mastering the performances. "Dennis mixed my last album and really knows how to create a world class record," continued Holz. Moody also helped out with mixing Holz's band live last May at Catalina Bar and Grill Jazz Club in Hollywood, California. Stanley Clarke also attended that concert which led to the upcoming recording session for Holz's next album. Additionally, Executive Producer Rob Stathis will once again contribute his production skills to the making of the record. Rob Stathis has been involved with producing Holz's past collaborations with guitarist/composer the late Larry Coryell. "The loss of Larry Coryell last February was really rough. Bob and I want to continue in the tradition which Larry excelled in," says Stathis.

Since the February 2017 release of Holz's second album, Visions and Friends, Holz's touring band, Bob Holz and A Vision Forward featuring Chet Catallo and Ralphe Armstrong has played numerous live concerts from New York to California. The band features guitar guru Chet Catallo (Spyro Gyra, Chet Catallo and the Cats) and bass virtuoso Ralphe Armstrong (Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra). Los Angeles based keyboardist Billy Steinway has been an integral contributor to Holz's efforts playing both live shows and recording sessions. Steinway will join Holz, Clarke and Armstrong at the upcoming recording session in September.

Additionally, Bob Holz and A Vision Forward featuring Chet Catallo and Ralphe Armstrong are getting ready to perform a show in New York City in early November 2017.

http://www.bobholzband.com

Guitarist H Allan rocks “Stiletto Heels”

He struts with confidence on his debut release that reimagines the Richard Elliot sax classic as a searing guitar jam. The single goes for radio adds on Monday.

Like most guitar players who came of age in the 80s, H Allan was an Eddie Van Halen disciple and he loved to shred. The wannabe rocker never would have imagined that one day he would release a cover version of a tune by smooth jazz sax star Richard Elliot as his debut single, but that’s what will happen on Monday when his version of “Stiletto Heels” goes for radio adds.

Allan’s first job out of college was with the LA Sax Company, the maker of color-coated saxes used by an array of artists in all genres of music, including Elliot. His duties required that he attend shows whenever the musicians played Chicago thus Allan attended all of Elliot’s local gigs in the early 90s. A dynamic, high-energy performer, Elliot plays sax aggressively with power, passion and pyrotechnics much like the way Van Halen plays guitar, which quickly impressed Allan and won his respect and admiration. One song in Elliot’s set, the funky “Stiletto Heels” from the 1991 album “On The Town,” never fails to whip audiences into a boisterous frenzy. The tune and the way Elliot attacks it - well, simply put, it’s got balls - the kind that would make a lasting impression on Allan, who had the privilege of working with the saxman for nearly a decade.

A few years ago, long after he moved on from the LA Sax Company, Allan’s own dream of being a recording artist was rekindled. He recorded a few original demos and decided to convert “Stiletto Heels” from a powerhouse sax joint into a raucous guitar-led number.

“I was always blown away by Richard’s playing skills, musicality and ability to connect with his audience. I thought it would be cool to hear a guitar version of this saxophone classic (“Stiletto Heels”),” said Allan, who was named H at birth when his parents couldn’t agree on what name beginning with the letter h to give him.

He began recording demos on which he played all the lead sax, rhythm guitar and keyboard parts on guitar. Allan decided to send the tracks to Elliot’s longtime keyboardist Ron Reinhardt who was so impressed that he offered to record the keyboard parts for the reboot. Then, after seeing a Facebook post from Elliot’s drummer, Eric Valentine Jr., offering his services as a session player, he landed a drum track from a second core member of Elliot’s band. Another prominent role on the “Stiletto Heels” rhythm track is the elastic basslines for which he recruited fellow Chicago native Mike “Funktastic” Zabrin to handle.

Piece by piece, it was coming together, but Allan struggled to find his unique guitar voice. He tried out a number of guitars and different approaches – some pure rock with lots of distortion that were true to his roots and some purposely smooth jazz. Eventually he settled on a vintage 1980s Gibson ES-175 guitar with Benedetto pickups and flat wound strings that has the type of clean electric jazz guitar sound that “Wes Montgomery himself would be proud of,” Allan said about the missing link.  

A longtime Frank Zappa acolyte, Allan tapped Zappa band member Robert Martin to mix and master the single. When Elliot heard Allan’s reimagined rendition, he said, “I freaking love it!”

Allan’s hopes for “Stiletto Heels” are clear. “The goal of this project is to get the single onto the charts and try to open some doors to playing shows as a solo artist as well as gigging with other artists.” He’s begun plotting his next recording project, but is keeping the details close to the vest for now.

www.HAllan.info.

ISAAC HAYES TO BE HONORED WITH NEW RETROSPECTIVE - THE SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS (1962-1976) CELEBRATES THE ARTIST’S ENDURING LEGACY AS A PRODUCER, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN, ARTIST, AND CULTURAL ICON

Craft Recordings is proud to announce the forthcoming release of The Spirit of Memphis (1962-1976), chronicling the ascension of one of the most influential creative talents in music history, Isaac Hayes, who would have turned 75 this year. Due out September 22nd, the four-cd collection examines the various avenues of Hayes’ prolific career; each disc offering an in-depth look at his distinct musical contributions to both Memphis-based Stax Records and to the world at large: from his foundational presence as a songwriter and producer at Stax, to his artistic metamorphosis and subsequent rise to stardom. The set also includes a wide range of previously-unreleased material, as well as a replica 7” vinyl single of the artist’s first commercially-released recordings. Housed in a 60-page hardcover book, the retrospective incorporates a wealth of archival photos and ephemera, as well as an essay by author Robert Gordon (Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion) which includes new interviews with Stax luminaries Deanie Parker and Jim Stewart. Contributions from Floyd Newman, Mickey Gregory, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), and compilation producer Joe McEwen round out the package. 

From his humble beginnings as an orphaned sharecropper to his rise as a session musician, house songwriter, and producer for Stax Records, to his arrival as a star in his own right, Isaac Hayes (1942-2008) became a symbol of what was possible for Black America. Dubbed “Black Moses” during the height of his popularity, Hayes revolutionized soul music, leading it out of the era of the three-minute single and into new territory: that of the fully-orchestrated concept album, complete with extended cuts that, in some cases, spanned nearly the entire side of an LP. The artist also broke barriers in the film industry, scoring the 1971 film Shaft. The soundtrack became Hayes’ fourth consecutive platinum LP, and also earned him an Academy Award® for Best Original Song (“Theme From Shaft”). The musician became the first African American to win the Oscar in a non-acting category, and was also the first recipient of the Best Original Song category to both write and perform the winning track. Hayes’ success opened the door for other artists and composers, like Curtis Mayfield and Norman Whitfield, to score music for the screen. 

Each disc of The Spirit of Memphis (1962-1976) examines a different facet of Hayes’ career. Disc one covers his early work as a songwriter and producer at Stax, including many of his legendary collaborations with David Porter, such as Carla Thomas’ “B-A-B-Y” recently featured in the hit film Baby Driver, and Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man,” which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year.

Disc two spotlights Isaac Hayes as a solo artist, featuring his singles recorded for the Volt and Enterprise imprints; from his breakthrough track “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” off Hot Buttered Soul, to his subsequent chartbusters, including “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “Do Your Thing” and the iconic, ubiquitous chart-topping hit, “Theme from Shaft.”

The third disc, aptly titled “Cover Man,” examines Isaac’s uncanny ability to transform tunes by songwriting greats such as Burt Bacharach and Hal David and make them entirely his own. This disc also includes previously unreleased material, including a studio version of “Windows of the World” and live covers of “Stormy Monday,” “I Stand Accused,” and “The Ten Commandments of Love,” all recorded at a 1972 concert in Chicago.

The final disc, entitled “Jam Master,” offers fans a seat in the studio with Isaac Hayes, showcasing extended jams from his classic LPs, including a full, 33-minute freeform psychedelic Bar-Kays jam on “Do Your Thing.” This disc also includes unreleased work-in-progress versions of “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” the Bill Withers-penned classic “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and a never-before-heard composition from the Shaft soundtrack entitled “Black Militant’s Place.” 

This collection marks a cornerstone in a year-long initiative celebrating Stax Records’ 60th anniversary and comes on the heels of a recent digital release of Hayes’ Enterprise albums re-mastered from the original analog tapes by renowned engineer Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters earlier this year. LP reissues cut from these new masters, including the best-selling Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses, and Shaft will be available later this year. 

The cross-label collaboration between Concord Music Group and Rhino Entertainment has highlighted the hits, deep cuts and rare tracks from the Memphis label’s heyday of the '60s and ‘70s. Indeed, Isaac Hayes was an integral part of “The Memphis Sound,” and helped to not only shape the sound of a genre, but also helped it explode into mainstream pop culture. 75 years after Hayes’ birth, and nearly a decade after his passing, his music, style and influence still live on today. Many of the most recognizable Hip-Hop beats and drops have been born from Hayes’ original tracks and a collaboration with WhoSampled.com launching in connection with the release of the box set will showcase his lasting effect on popular music.

The Spirit of Memphis (1962-1976) “is an attempt to frame a career that doesn’t always fit neatly together. This box set is a little idiosyncratic, like its subject and the desire is to tell a story, put together in chapters,” writes box set producer Joe McEwen in his Producer’s Note, “hopefully to give context to a visionary talent who came of age in Memphis, Tennessee among a generational eruption of musicians that moved mountains…” 

TRACK LISTING:

 *Denotes previously unreleased material

  

DISC ONE

Soul Songwriter, Soul Producer

1. Floyd Newman – Sassy

2. David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To

3. Carla Thomas – How Do You Quit (Someone You Love)

4. Booker T and the MGs – Boot-leg

5. The Astors – Candy

6. Danny White – Can’t Do Nothing Without You

7. Johnnie Taylor – I Had A Dream

8. Sam & Dave – Hold On! I’m A Comin’

9. Ruby Johnson – I’ll Run Your Hurt Away

10. Carla Thomas – Let Me Be Good To You

11. Mable John – Your Good Thing (Is About To End)

12. Homer Banks – Fighting To Win

13. Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y

14. William Bell – Never Like This Before

15. The Mad Lads – Patch My Heart

16. Johnnie Taylor – Little Bluebird

17. Charlie Rich – When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

18. Charlie Rich – Love Is After Me

19. Judy Clay – You Can’t Run Away From Your Heart

20. Sam & Dave – Soul Man

21. The Charmels – As Long As I’ve Got You

22. Sam & Dave – I Thank You

23. The Soul Children – The Sweeter He Is (Parts I & II)

24. Billy Eckstine – Stormy

25. David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To

26. The Emotions – Show Me How

DISC TWO

Volt & Enterprise Singles

1. Sir Isaac and The Do-Dads – The Big Dipper

2. Sir Isaac and The Do-Dads – Blue Groove

3. Isaac Hayes – Precious, Precious

4. Isaac Hayes – By The Time I Get To Phoenix

5. Isaac Hayes – The Mistletoe & Me

6. Isaac Hayes – Winter Snow

7. Isaac Hayes – I Stand Accused

8. Isaac Hayes – The Look Of Love

9. Isaac Hayes – Never Can Say Goodbye

10. Isaac Hayes – Theme From “Shaft”

11. Isaac Hayes – Do Your Thing

12. Isaac Hayes – Let’s Stay Together

13. Isaac Hayes and David Porter – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)

14. Isaac Hayes and David Porter – Baby I’m-A Want You

15. Isaac Hayes – Theme From “The Men”

16. Isaac Hayes – Rolling Down A Mountainside

17. Isaac Hayes – Joy (Part 1)

18. Isaac Hayes – Wonderful

19. Isaac Hayes – Someone Made You For Me

20. Isaac Hayes – Title Theme (From “Three Tough Guys”)

21. Radio Spot – “You Gotta Have It To Really Be In”

22. Radio Spot – “The Rapper Is Back”

DISC THREE

Cover Man

1. Isaac Hayes – When I Fall In Love

2. Isaac Hayes – Walk On By

3. Isaac Hayes – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself

4. Isaac Hayes – Man’s Temptation

5. Isaac Hayes – Never Gonna Give You Up

6. Isaac Hayes – Windows Of The World*

7. Isaac Hayes – The Ten Commandments of Love*

8. Isaac Hayes – Just Want To Make Love To You / Rock Me Baby*

9. Isaac Hayes – Stormy Monday*

10. Isaac Hayes – I Stand Accused*

11. Isaac Hayes – If Loving You Is Wrong

12. Isaac Hayes – His Eye Is On The Sparrow

DISC FOUR

Jam Master

1. Isaac Hayes – Ike’s Mood I

2. Isaac Hayes – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy*

3. Isaac Hayes – Black Militant’s Place*

4. Isaac Hayes – Ain’t No Sunshine*

5. Isaac Hayes – Hung Up On My Baby* (Extended Jam)

6. Isaac Hayes – Groove-A-Thon* (Extended Jam)

7. Isaac Hayes – Do Your Thing (Extended Jam)

7” Single

SIDE A

Laura, We’re On Our Last Go-Round

SIDE B

C.C. Rider

NEW RELEASES: CHRIS STANDRING - LIVE IN LONDON; BLACK IVORY - ANTHOLOGY; LARRY CARLTON / SWR BIG BAND - LIGHTS OUT

CHRIS STANDRING - LIVE IN LONDON

Chris Standring's new album is Live In London and was recorded earlier this year at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. The album includes soul superstar Mica Paris along with an eight piece string orchestra and a world class London rhythm section. The album was recorded in one sitting. The official release is September 15th, but the album is now available to pre order. You can pre order it direct from Chris Standring here, where he will personally sign it for you. Also, when you order this album, you can stream the entire 90 minute concert in HD video. Look for a link in the CD jacket when it arrives.

BLACK IVORY - ANTHOLOGY

Amazing music from one of the coolest vocal groups of the 70s – a hip New York trio who never hit the heights of the Jackson 5 or Chi-Lites, but who are maybe even more important to our ears overall! Black Ivory started young – with a harmony style that was incredible for their age, and which was perfect for both funky numbers and late nite ballads, in a way that was similar to The Whatnauts – and as the 70s moved on, they also grew up and found a style that worked well for clubbier material – which they crafted in a way that was surprisingly strong, and far different from any of the disco cliches of the period. Even in the early 80s, they could hang around the farther reaches of the soul scene – keeping an indie harmony vibe strong when others were losing steam. All the best aspects of the group's sound are collected here – in an overstuffed, double-length package that includes the cuts "Walking Downtown", "Big Apple Rock", "Surrender", "I Keep Asking Questions", "Just Leave Me Some", "Wishful Thinking", "You & I", "Don't Turn Around", "Find The One Who Loves You", "I'll Find A Way", "Spinning Around", "We Made It", "Love Won't You Stay", "Mainline", "White Wind", and "You Are My Lover". CD also features "I Got My Eye On You (ext 12" version)", the 1984 version of "You & I", "Longer Ride", "No One Else", "What Goes Around", and "Our Future". ~ Dusty Groove

LARRY CARLTON / SWR BIG BAND - LIGHTS OUT

Combining his roots in blues and jazz with a crossover pop rock sensibility, Carlton's unmistakable sound is marked by his signature warm tone, bright melodies and soulful guitar solos. Four time Grammy winner, Titan of Tone award recipient and legendary guitar great, Larry Carlton is one of the most influential, prolific and original guitarists in the industry Carlton established himself from his first recording, A Little Help From My Friends. His studio credits include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. For the past 60 years the 17 members of the SWR Big Band have thrilled audiences throughout Europe with a hugely varied repertoire and consistently excellent quality of music. It is indisputable that they are one of the best big bands in the world. Since 2002, they have received four Grammy nominations, which is credited to the outstanding soloists of the band, the extraordinary interplay of the musicians and great arrangements of new and classic songs alike.

City Parks Foundation announces 25th Anniversary Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Presented by Capital One Bank August 23 - August 27

City Parks Foundation is proud to announce the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The festival is New York City's annual salute to the legendary late saxophonist, featuring storied veteran players as well as young jazz musicians who continue to shape and drive the art form. This year's festival runs August 23 through August 27 at parks and venues around Manhattan and will include free concerts, artist discussions, a film screening, and for the first time in the festival's history, a dedicated evening of dance.

"We are thrilled to celebrate 25 years of the beloved Charlie Parker Jazz Festival," said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation. "In honor of this milestone we have expanded the program to 5 days, partnered with local institutions on family jazz events and open jam sessions, and are presenting a full evening of dance on the lineup for the first time. We hope all New Yorkers, young and old, jazz aficionados and new fans alike will join us in honoring the legacy of Charlie Parker and jazz in New York City."

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, August 23 at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music with "Bird With Strings," a tribute performance featuring an ensemble of students and veteran jazz players honoring Parker's 1950 recording, Charlie Parker With Strings.

On Thursday, August 24, the festival heads uptown to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem for Jason Samuels Smith's Chasin' The Bird Remixed, an added evening of programming in honor of the 25th Anniversary, and the first full evening of dance in the festival's history. Emmy award-winning tap dance virtuoso, Jason Samuels Smith, and Broadway veterans, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards and Derick K. Grant, bring Parker's music to life through dance in this special performance featuring live music.

The festival continues in Marcus Garvey Park on Friday, August 25 with world-renowned clarinet player & saxophonist Anat Cohen, who will lead a consortium of strings, horns, percussion, and keyboards with her jazz-folk troupe, and Camille Thurman, a multi-talented saxophonist, flutist and vocalist.

On Saturday afternoon, veteran alto-saxophonist player Lee Konitz, a contemporary of Charlie Parker when bebop came on the scene, will perform with his quartet in Marcus Garvey Park joined by drumming prodigy and pioneering female percussionist Terri Lyne Carrington, one of the most recorded jazz drummers of all time Louis Hayes (who has played with the likes of John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Cannonball Adderley), and rising vocalist Charenee Wade, a brave new voice on the modern jazz frontier intent on using her gift to address social change.

On Sunday, August 27, the festival travels back downtown to the place where it all began, Tompkins Square Park, home to the inaugural Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in 1993, and located just blocks away from Charlie Parker's home in the East Village. Joshua Redman, one of the most important contemporary horn players and widely considered to be the top sax man of his generation, will make his Charlie Parker Jazz Festival debut. NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson, revered by many as one the greatest alto saxophonists of all time; saxophone virtuosa Tia Fuller, one of the world's best jazz multi-instrumentalists, full-time professor and one-time member of the all-female band that toured with Beyoncé; and vocalist Alicia Olatuja, who performed with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir at President Obama's second inauguration and has been in high demand ever since, will also perform to close out the final day of the festival.

In honor of the 25th Anniversary, City Parks Foundation has also partnered with local institutions to present free and open-to-the-public jazz events around the city. Events include an all ages Family Jazz Party with Festival performer Charenee Wade and a "Harlem Speaks" interview with Lee Konitz at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, a screening at The New School of the 2016 film, I Called Him Morgan, about the life and tragic death of jazz musician Lee Morgan, live jazz in the gardens at The Harlem Rose Garden and 6BC Botanical Garden, and jam sessions at Gin Fizz Harlem and Ginny's Supper Club.

The complete Charlie Parker Jazz Festival schedule follows or can be found on the City Parks Foundation website here: Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

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City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. At CPF, we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community development and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs and community building initiatives — located in more than 350 parks, recreation centers and public schools across New York City — reach 425,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

Israeli-born, New York-based Saxophonist Uri Gurvich Proudly Announces the Release of His 3rd album, KINSHIP

Uri Gurvich's new album,  Kinship (now available for pre-order, and available in its entirety on September 8 on the Jazz Family label), presents original work influenced by Gurvich's multicultural heritage as the son of Argentinian immigrants in Israel, and by his global quartet featuring musicians from around the world. A celebration of many traditions,Kinship deals with tribal and familial connections between different cultures and individuals, representing "kinship" in various forms.

The quartet, which has been performing together for the past decade, features some of the most prominent voices on the international jazz scene: Argentinian pianist Leo Genovese, known for his work with Esperanza Spalding; Bulgarian bassist Peter Slavov, a member of Joe Lovano's Us Five; and the Cuban drummer Francisco Mela, who holds the much-coveted drum chair in the McCoy Tyner's trio.

On the song "El Chubut," Gurvich invited Bernardo Palombo, an Argentinian folklore master and torchbearer of Latin culture and arts in New York City since the 70's, who has worked with Mercedes Sosa, Phillip Glass and Pete Seeger, among others, to sing and write lyrics to Gurvich's theme.

This album finds the quartet recording at its peak after performing at venues such as the Village Vanguard, Town Hall and numerous festivals in the U.S. and abroad, sharing their message of global unity.

The music on the albumdeals with the different meanings of "kinship", whether celebrating family and folkloric traditions ("Song for Kate", "Im Tirzti", "Kinship", "Ha'im Ha'im") or reflecting on various aspects of kin relations ("El Chubut"). In addition, the music deals with differences, divisions or uniqueness in society due to belonging to a certain group or tribe ("Dance of the Nanigos", "Twelve Tribes", "Go Down Moses", "Blue Nomad").

Song for Kate- the album opener, and a song that Gurvich wrote for his wife celebrating marriage and the bond between two people.

Dance of the Ñañigos- A song dedicated to Cuban culture influenced also by Gurvich's drummer, Francisco Mela. The ñañigos are members of the secret Afro-Cuban Abakuá society. Ñañigos was also a word used to describe the street dancers of the society. The Abakuá was a secret and hermetic society for 160 years till some of their secrets were revealed in the 19th century.

El Chubut - "I wrote this composition for my grandmothers who were born in Argentina and immigrated to Israel in the 70's. Chubut is a desert province in southern Argentina," said Gurvich. Chubut was also the home to one of the most famous prisons for political prisoners during the dictatorship (late 70's-mid 80's). The poem, 'Vamos Andando' (meaning - "we keep going") starting the song is written by one of the prisoners and was found in a notebook that was smuggled out by a visitor. Additional lyrics were written and sung by special guest Bernardo Palumbo.

Twelve Tribes- is a Middle Eastern and Balkan influenced composition inspired by Gurvich's bassist, Peter Slavov. Humans have come together to form tribes since the ancient past, celebrating common lineage, traditions, language, way of life, etc. The name comes from the twelve tribes of Israel.

Im Tirtzi- a love song by one's of Israel most important folk composers, Sasha Argov. (Translation - 'if you would like an orange', or 'can I offer you an orange?'). "Im Tirtzi" is a well-known song in Israel, especially popular during the 70's-80's. "For me, it is an optimistic song I grew up hearing on the radio and TV and celebrates bonding with family," commented Gurvich.

Go Down Moses- "a song celebrating multiple traditions," said Gurvich. "First off as an African-American spiritual describing the struggle from slavery to freedom, and also for me it's a song sung during Passover telling the story of the Israelites in the land of Egypt, from slavery to freedom. I found common ground in these two histories, dealing with oppression and division based on race and religion. Of course this story is very relevant in today's society as well."

Kinship- the title track of the album explores a play on major and minor keys, dealing with both ends of the emotional spectrum associated with kin relationships - happy/sad, bright/dark, positive/negative, etc. - but ultimately prioritizing the warmth and calmness one feels once they're part of a family, tribe, etc.

Blue Nomad- the melody is influenced by Middle Eastern modes while the groove is influenced by Latin rhythms. Gurvich explains, "I was trying to connect these cultures that are both central to my own identity. In addition, the form is based on the Blues, so ultimately I was trying to create an affinity between these three different worlds."

Hermetos- influenced by the music of Brazil's Hermeto Pascoal, who among other great national composers captures the sound of their culture/region (similar to Sasha Argov). "I think that these composers are able to beautifully transmit the connections between music and their local culture/heritage in their compositions," said Gurvich.

Ha'im Ha'im- another song by Sasha Argov. This is a classic song of the 'old Israel'. Gurvich elaborated, "I tried to give it a twist influenced by the John Coltrane composition, 'Spiritual'. I find some of Argov's music to have the same folk, blues and gospel sensibilities of the music that Coltrane was influenced by during the early 60's."

Uri Gurvich's Other Upcoming Tour Dates:

September 11, 2017 @ B-Flat, Berlin

Uri Gurvich Quartet

September 14th, 2017 @ Jaffa Jazz Festival, Jaffa, Israel

with Billy Cobham Ensemble

October 21st, 2017 @ Puffin Cultural Forum, Teaneck, NJ

Uri Gurvich Quartet

October 25th - November 5th, 2017 - European Tour

With Kenneth Dhal Knudsen's Téte

Oct. 25th - Zmiana Klimatu, Bialystok, Poland

Oct. 26th - 12on14, Warsaw, Poland

Oct. 27th - B-flat, Berlin, Germany

Oct. 28th - Jazztochowa, Czestochowa, Poland

Oct. 30th - Drewsens, Silkeborg, Denmark

Oct. 31st - Utzon Center, Aalborg, Denmark

Nov. 1st - Master class, Koge, Denmark

Nov. 2nd - Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen, Denmark

Nov. 3rd - Pashkevich Jazzclub, Riga, Latvia

Nov. 4th - The Jazz Cellar, Vilnius, Latvia

Nov. 5th - Recording - Republica, Lubzka, Poland

 

November 7th, 2017 @ Sunset/Sunside, Paris, France

Uri Gurvich Quartet - Parisian CD release celebration!

January 9th - 14th, 2018 @ The Stone

Uri Gurvich's Residency at The Stone, feat. various bands

www.UriGurvich.com

Guitarist Rez Abbasi Melds Jazz and South Indian Music with a Bold, Original Vision on Unfiltered Universe

It seems natural to refer to the music of Rez Abbasi as a hybrid, given the guitarist/composer's penchant for combining the traditions of South Asian music with his own modern jazz voice. That description ceases to fit as soon as one hears the music, however. In Abbasi's singular approach, this merging of influences feels less like a chimera, a patchwork of distinctive yet still identifiable parts; it is instead an evolution, a wholly new creature that bears distinctive traces of its antecedents yet has a form and beauty all its own.

Such is the case with Abbasi's 12th album, Unfiltered Universe (due out October 6, 2017 on Whirlwind Recordings), the third album in a trilogy exploring different South Asian musics with his stellar quintet Invocation. The band brings together five leading voices in forward-looking jazz, all of whom have extensively studied diverse South Asian traditions, often in collaboration with one another: Abbasi, saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, pianist Vijay Iyer, bassist Johannes Weidenmueller, and drummer Dan Weiss.

Where Invocation's 2008 debut Things To Come highlighted the influences of North Indian Hindustani music with guest vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia, and their 2011 follow-up Suno Suno, the Qawwali music of Abbasi's native Pakistan, Unfiltered Universe takes as its point of departure the Carnatic music of South India. Abbasi's experience with Carnatic music can be traced back at least to Mahanthappa's 2008 release Kinsmen, a collaboration with South Indian saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath that merged jazz and Carnatic musicians, and continued through a 2015 project with the Indian-American Ragamala Dance Company. His studies and listening have persisted throughout the intervening years, allowing him to absorb its influence and create new music under its sway that is far from a literal interpretation of its surface qualities.

The title Unfiltered Universe refers to the way in which a lifetime of globe-spanning influences were allowed to emerge directly from Abbasi's subconscious into his music. "The idea was to operate from my intuition first while creating these compositions and then later use the thought process to manipulate the music, he says. "It's unprocessed and unfiltered, shining a light on the universe within me. It really brought the fruits of my experiences to the forefront."

Such an intuitive approach to composition was a fresh experience for the guitarist, who likens the approach to Jackson Pollock's action painting. "I wanted to let the influences hit the empty canvas and allow that to speak to me as opposed to having a foundational idea of what I was going to create," Abbasi explains. "I didn't want to impose preconceived rhythms or ideas; I wanted to get the essence and energy of what I've taken away from playing with Carnatic musicians and dancers, and to tie that in with everything I've done previously."

To realize the music Abbasi reconvened his quintet Invocation, a supergroup of innovative jazz artists who have explored similar territory in disparate ways in their own work. Both American-born musicians of Indian descent, Mahanthappa and Iyer have both delved into South Asian traditions with highly acclaimed results. Weiss has brought intensive tabla studies to his inventive approach to the drum kit, while Weidenmueller has co-authored books on metric modulation via his studies in Carnatic percussion.

It's a rare group of musicians whose experiences and collaborations have made them uniquely prepared to seize on every nuance of Abbasi's compositions. "I chose these individuals because I knew that whatever I bring to the table, it's going to be supplemented by the wide-ranging history that each carries. With this group, that history contains a fortified education in Indian music and so we don't need to discuss anything Indian, per se - it's already there. For instance, if Dan plays a particular rhythmic idea from his tabla studies, all of us will be able to grab onto it intuitively. That's one reason why the communication is so stimulating within the ensemble."

Throughout Unfiltered Universe, the music surges with a uniquely propulsive groove, with sinuous melodies that follow surprising, exotic contours. The title track morphs from meditative to frenetic, while opener "Propensity" bristles with a darting, angular energy. "Thin-King" earns its play on words by managing to juggle the cerebral and the playful, while the 12-minute "Turn of Events" gathers from the abstract to the urgent and disintegrates back again, "Disagree to Agree" captures the tenor of discourse in our current moment in its teeth-gritting tension, and "Dance Number" closes the album with a buoyantly erratic groove that both tempts and challenges the listener to move.

The end result of these converging lifetimes of experience, creation, collaboration and study, (un)filtered through the lens of Abbasi's intuitive writing approach, is a strikingly individual voice that never explicitly references its influences but instead evokes the atmospheres and feelings inherent to them. "As a jazz listener you may not necessarily hear the Carnatic influence," Abbasi says, "but you'll definitely hear something different, and ultimately that's what counts."

Abbasi has received multiple composition grants in recent years. Unfiltered Universe was supported in part by a New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Foundation. It is the 2nd CMA grant he has received for his group Invocation. Most recently he was commissioned by the NY Guitar Festival to compose and perform a live score to the 1929 Indian silent film, A Throw of Dice. The premiere took place in NYC in May with a reprise performance scheduled for September 16th at the Ellnora Guitar Festival in Urbana, IL.

Guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi is an artist who continually pushes new boundaries. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, and raised in Southern California, he studied at the USC and the Manhattan School of Music in jazz and classical music, supplemented by a pilgrimage in India under the tutelage of master percussionist Ustad Alla Rakha. Abbasi's music is a vivid synthesis of all the above stated influences and genres. Voted #1 "Rising-Star Guitarist" in 2013's DownBeat Critics Poll and placed in the "Top-Ten Guitarists" in 2015 & 2016, guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi has become one of the most significant musicians on the current scene. Making New York home for the past 25 years, Abbasi has created a unique sound that is stimulated by his jazz pedigree and Indian-Pakistani upbringing. With twelve albums, multiple awards and composition commissions, Rez Abbasi continues to find creative ways to enrich diverse audiences with his musical projects.

Grammy Award-Winning Trumpeter Keyon Harrold's Upcoming Album 'The Mugician' Set for Release on September 29th

Grammy Award winner, Keyon Harrold, one of the world's most sought-after genre-bending trumpeters, will release 'The Mugician' on September 29th via Legacy Recordings/Mass Appeal Records.

Long known as the artist's artist – he has worked with Maxwell, Common, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Eminem and a long list of the world's top musical icons – The New York-based musician now takes center stage with a captivating LP that ponders the fears and frustrations of a divided country while yearning for justice and peace.

As the word "Mugician" is an impromptu hybrid of words, this album is an accumulation of Keyon's eclectic tastes, with stylistic twists and turns everywhere taking cues from jazz, hip-hop, blues, rock, reggae, and rap. The new LP features an all-star list of collaborators, including Gary Clark Jr., Big K.R.I.T., Bilal, Pharoahe Monch and Robert Glasper. From spiritual chants and soulful singing to bombastic expressions of frustration and melodic pleas for understanding, Keyon's arrangements color the different ways to hear the world in 2017.

If there are echoes of Miles Davis in Keyon's style and sound, it's no mere coincidence; Keyon played the trumpet sound of Don Cheadle playing Davis in his 2015 biopic Miles Ahead and on its Grammy-winning soundtrack.  Don reflects on this and the birth of "The Mugician", the nickname that came from that project, in the liner notes, which he contributed to the album.

Ferguson holds a large presence throughout 'The Mugician.' The instrumental "MB Lament" is a tribute to Michael Brown as strings echo a smoking gun while the bass line repeats over and over, reminiscent of the frequency of gun violence and systemic police brutality. "When Will It Stop" answers the calling of "MB Lament" as actor and comedian Guy Torry, also from the St. Louis area, uses humor to confront bigotry, sexism, racism, and more while Keyon leads a driving groove. And on "Circus Show," Keyon and Gary Clark Jr. trade verses and hooks while trying to make sense of America's "Broken" newscast over the repeated phrase "What's going on?."

Themes of home and family loom large on 'The Mugician.' With nine brothers and seven sisters, several of whom are also accomplished musicians, Keyon considers family essential; the album opener "Voicemail" features Keyon's own mother encouraging her son to stay true to himself and to never give up in the face of trials and tribulations. 'The Mugician' is Keyon upholding his mother's wisdom.

Keyon Harrold has become one of the most sought-after trumpeters in the world having been featured on nearly 100 albums spanning jazz, R&B, pop, gospel, blues, and hip-hop. Harrold has recorded with the world's leading artists from Maxwell to Keith Richards and has toured with music's most bold-faced names including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Common, Maxwell, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, D'Angelo and the Vanguard, and more. In 2016, Keyon released "Running (Refugee Song)" in collaboration with songwriting partner Andrea Pizziconi as part of their initiative Compositions for a Cause. The song, also featuring Grammy Award-winning rapper Common and Grammy Award-winning singer Gregory Porter was included on Billboard's list of "6 Songs Offering Hope & Perspective During Immigration Ban" this past January.   

Legacy Recordings and Mass Appeal have combined their creative and marketing resources in a first-of-its-kind collaboration on behalf of Keyon Harrold's 'The Mugician.' "We couldn't be more proud of signing Keyon Harrold and of the album he's made," said Adam Block, President of Legacy Recordings."We're especially excited by the record's range of repertoire and the broadness of Keyon's appeal. Working with Mass Appeal, who've long been champions of Keyon's, exponentially expands our ability to reach fans with Key's music and the creativity and channels with which we'll do that."

'The Mugician' track list:

1. Voicemail (ft. Shirley Harrold)

2. The Mugician (ft. Josh David Barrett)

3. MB Lament

4. When Will It Stop? (ft. Guy Torry)

5. Wayfaring Traveler (ft. Jermaine Holmes, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Robert Glasper)

6. Stay This Way (ft. Bilal and Big K.R.I.T.)

7. Lullaby

8. Her Beauty Through My Eyes (ft. Pharoahe Monch)

9. Ethereal Souls

10. Broken News (ft. Andrea Pizziconi)

11. Circus Show (ft. Gary Clark Jr.)

12. Bubba Rides Again

Drummer CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA to Release New Summer Single “FUN, PARTY, SPLASH” Feat. CARLOS SANTANA & Produced by NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN

The past few months have been a blur for CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA, who is currently touring and performing with her husband Carlos Santana, is featured as a vocalist, drummer, and songwriter on “Power of Peace,” the new Santana/Isley Brothers collaboration, and has been busy touring with her own band and recording tracks in the studio with the legendary producer NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN. Together through Walden's Tarpan Records label they will release the new single “FUN, PARTY, SPLASH” featuring Carlos Santana on all digital platforms on August 25, 2017.

CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA is a virtuoso drummer whose artistry spans the realms of jazz and rock. As a bandleader and as a musician, Cindy is a sound innovator with a passion for pushing creative boundaries and exploring movement and change. She is as known for the nuances and colors she brings to her beats and fills as she is for the sheer power of her soulful playing. “Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA is among the few who can,” writes Mike Zwerin of the International Herald Tribune.

 

Among a handful of the most innovative, original and influential artists of our time, NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN'S stature as an authentic musical renaissance man is a matter of record. Producing hits for Artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin (including the platinum “Freeway of Love”), Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Sting, Elton John, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Ritchie, Lisa Fischer, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, and The Temptations, the EMMY and multi-GRAMMY winner (Producer, Album and Song of The Year) has been at the helm of hit music that spans decades.

CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA has been creating magnificent musical time and space since the beginning of her career as a busking street performer in New York City in the '80s through the present day, touring the globe and making albums at the top of her game—including the critically acclaimed Another Lifetime (2010). In addition to collaborating onstage and in-studio with her own group—also known as Another Lifetime—she has toured and recorded with artists including Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, Joe Henderson, Al B. Sure, Buckethead, Don Pullen, Hugh Masakela, Buster Williams, and Angela Bofill. Cindy was part of the Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Band called Spectrum Road with Jack Bruce, Vernon Reid, and John Medeski. From 1992 to 2007 and again in 2014 & 2015 she was the drummer in Lenny Kravitz's band, performing through multiple world tours and hit albums. In 2010, she was part of the all-star line-up performing “Bitches Brew,” a tribute to Miles Davis' seminal album staged at the San Francisco Jazz Festival and NYC Winter JazzFest.

More recently, Cindy has become the regular touring drummer for Santana. Having met several years earlier at a festival in Europe while she was touring with Kravitz, Cindy first played with Santana in spring 2010, when drummer Dennis Chambers had a previous commitment. “They have a great band vibe. It's nice to play with people who have grown together, built a sound together, and stayed together,” she says. “When that happens, you can create so many different levels of communication. That's what they've done, and I love reacting with it and being a part of it.”

Electricity onstage generated chemistry offstage—Carlos proposed to Cindy during a July 2010 concert, and they married in December. Looking ahead, they will collaborate artistically as well, on projects that will no doubt reflect their shared passion for improvisation, and belief in the transcendent nature of music. Cindy was an integral part of the new Santana/Isley Brothers release Power of Peace, featuring the song “I Remember,” which she wrote and sings. “To me,” she says, “music is completely spiritual, it's the way you connect with your higher self, with the universe. It's also a way to share light with millions of people. They don’t need to speak your language, have your beliefs, or be in the same place you are. The music speaks, it channels good energy, and makes a difference in people's lives. Carlos and I are both conscious of doing that.”

NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN started his storied career as a drummer with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Narada's music flows freely from pop, rock and soul, to the rarified realms of jazz, fusion, and world music. With Jeff Beck, Narada wrote and played drums on the seminal album Wired that earned them both their first Gold Album. Walden was an integral part of introducing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey to millions of fans worldwide, producing and writing their breakthrough hits. Billboard Magazine honored him as one of the Top Ten Producers of all time.

In 2016, Cindy connected with her fellow drummer and world-class producer NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN, and together the two have been working on new material ever since. CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA continues to build a body of work and artistic legacy that make her one of the finest drummers and recording artists of this or any generation.