Josh Groban to Release New Album STAGES Featuring Special Guests Audra McDonald and Chris Botti

Multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban announced today on ABC's Good Morning America that he will release a new album, entitled Stages, on April 28th, 2015, via Reprise Records. The album is a collection of some of the greatest musical theater songs of all time, which Groban describes as "gorgeously arranged songs that have stood the test of time," and which he was drawn to because of their combination of "incredible melody with an incredible story." The album is available for pre-order at all participating retailers and JoshGroban.com. An exclusive edition of the album will be available at Target containing 2 extra tracks.

"Nothing has inspired me more in my life than the energy that is shared in a theater when great songs and great art are on the stage," he says. "I wanted this album to pay tribute to those inspirations and memories."

Recorded with producers Humberto Gatica and Bernie Herms in both Los Angeles and London's Abbey Road (with a 75-piece orchestra), Stages features songs from Les Misérables ("Bring Him Home"); Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel ("You'll Never Walk Alone"); Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George ("Finishing the Hat"), Sweeney Todd ("Not While I'm Around"), and Into the Woods ("Children Will Listen"); The Fantasticks ("Try to Remember"); A Chorus Line ("What I Did For Love"); Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera ("All I Ask of You"), The Wizard of Oz ("Over the Rainbow"), and others.

Another highlight is "Pure Imagination," originally sung by Gene Wilder in the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which though best known as a film, is also a West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "It's a tiny bit of a cheat because it was from a film originally, but I really wanted to sing it," Groban says. "The fans wanted me to as well. It's one of my most requested songs to record ever. I am a huge fan of the original film, it was a part of my childhood. Gene Wilder will always be number one for me with this song. There's a tenderness to the way he sang it that is just the essence of Wilder. It's something in his soul that will never be duplicated."

"Stages is an album I've wanted to make since I signed to Reprise/Warner Bros. Records during my freshman year as a Musical Theater student at Carnegie Mellon," Groban says. "I knew in my heart that, at some point, I would visit the songs I love from that world as an album. Having lived in New York City the last few years, seeing as much theater as I could see, and having so many great friends in the theater community, it became really inspiring to take this on. It was time."

Groban says the title was inspired by his lifetime love for the musicals represented on the album, as well as "the countless stages, both physical and metaphorical, it has taken for me to get to a place where I have the opportunity to record an album like this in the way we did it, with the great orchestra at Abbey Road. It was an extraordinary 'pinch me' opportunity. There was a great freedom to go big with these songs because the world of musical theater welcomes that. It's all about big stories, big emotions, and big vocals. Every arrangement on this album is its own work of art. Standing in the room and listening to the orchestra was just breathtaking. And Both Humberto and Bernie are producers who think about the warmth and clarity and emotion of the voice. What I love about them is the vocal, the arrangement, the quality is key."

Stages features three duets: Kelly Clarkson is featured on "All I Ask of You" ("she can, quite simply, do anything"); Audra McDonald sings on "If I Loved You" ("in my head I heard her on this and to sing it in the room with her was a dream come true"); and trumpeter Chris Botti plays on "Old Devil Moon" ("he plays with such control and expressiveness"). "All of these duets have great meaning to me and I'm honored to have them on this album," Groban says.

  

The track-listing for Stages is as follows:

"Pure Imagination" (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

"What I Did For Love" (from A Chorus Line)

"Bring Him Home" (from Les Misérables)

"Le Temps Des Cathédrales" (from Notre Dame de Paris)

"All I Ask Of You" (from The Phantom of the Opera) (feat. Kelly Clarkson)

"Try To Remember" (from The Fantasticks)

"Over the Rainbow" (from The Wizard of Oz)

"Children Will Listen"/"Not While I'm Around" (from Sweeney Todd/Into the Woods)

"You'll Never Walk Alone" (from Carousel)

"Old Devil Moon" (from Finian's Rainbow) (feat. Chris Botti)

 "Finishing the Hat" (from Sunday in the Park with George)

"If I Loved You" (from Carousel) (feat. Audra McDonald)

"Anthem" (from Chess)

Boz Scaggs New Studio Album 'A Fool To Care' Features duets with Bonnie Raitt & Lucinda Williams; Released on 429 Records March 31, 2015

Boz Scaggs is gearing up for the release of his new studio album A Fool To Care on March 31, 2015, via 429 Records. A Fool To Care is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2013 album Memphis, which Rolling Stone described as 'sublime' and hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Blues Chart and the Top 20 on the Billboard 200.

A Fool To Care is a new collection of songs boasting Scaggs' pioneering blend of rock, soul, jazz and blues and features guest appearances by Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams. And fans will get the chance to see Boz perform the week the record is released as he has been confirmed as a guest on The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon on April 3rd. 

A special bonus CD version of A Fool To Care featuring three bonus tracks ("Gypsy Woman," "MPB," and "Talk to Me, Talk to Me") will be available exclusively at Best Buy and can be pre-ordered now. In addition, fans who pre-order the digital album on iTunes will now receive 3 Immediate Gratification tracks with every preorder.

A Fool To Care showcases the patchwork of influences and innovations that make up a Boz Scaggs album…and sees Scaggs letting loose and having some fun. You can hear that sense of fun, as well as his ability and willingness to wander in any musical direction throughout these twelve tracks. The inspirational heart of the album lies in the sounds of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma that played such a vital role in shaping Scaggs' musical sensibility, but they venture forth boldly from there. Scaggs brings a sly drawl to a funky workout like Li'l Millet and the Creoles' "Rich Woman" and an elegant delicacy to the Impressions' "I'm So Proud." He easily negotiates the Latin flavoring of "Last Tango on 16th Street" and "I Want to See You," both written by San Francisco bluesman (and longtime Scaggs compatriot) Jack Walroth.

Produced by Steve Jordan (Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, John Mayer) and recorded over four days at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, A Fool To Care features two very special guests – Bonnie Raitt contributes slide guitar and sassy vocals on the original song "Hell To Pay" and Lucinda Williams trades vocal lines with Scaggs as a kind of prayer for deliverance on The Band's "Whispering Pines."

Raised in Texas with an abiding respect for a wide spectrum of American roots music, William Royce "Boz" Scaggs began a long and storied career in 1965 with the release of his first solo recording Boz. After cutting his teeth playing with Steve Miller and honing his rock and R&B chops with the likes of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Duane Allman, Scaggs achieved multi-platinum success with Silk Degrees in 1976. He has continued on a lauded and multi-genre musical journey to the present day. With a trademark voice, a rich catalogue and many accolades, Scaggs continues to establish himself as one of music's most creative and original artists.

A Fool To Care Tracklisting:

1.Rich Woman

2.I'm A Fool To Care

3.Hell To Pay

4.Small Town Talk

5.Last Tango on 16th Street

6.There's A Storm A' Comin'

7.I'm So Proud

8.I Want To See You

9.High Blood Pressure

10.Full Of Fire

11.Love Don't Love Nobody

12.Whispering Pines

JACKIE DESHANNON: All the Love—The Lost Atlantic Recordings CD, Includes Duets With Van Morrison

After a sterling 1960s stint recording for Liberty Records with such era-defining hits as “What The World Needs Now Is Love” and “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon was signed to Atlantic Records in 1972 by famed producer and DeShannon fan Jerry Wexler. That year, she recorded and released her first album (Jackie) for the label, and then cut sessions for a second album in early 1973 with producer Tom Dowd (Eric Clapton, Allman Bros., etc.). However, only one of the 14 tracks ("Speak Out To Me") she recorded with Dowd came out on a single in 1973; the other 13 tracks remained in the vaults until 2003, when seven of the tracks from the sessions were added as bonus tunes on a limited edition Rhino Handmade reissue of the Jackie album.

Later in 1973, DeShannon recorded four tracks for Atlantic that she wrote with Van Morrison. However, as was the case with the songs she recorded with Tom Dowd, only one of these tracks, “Sweet Sixteen,” was originally released as a single. Now, All the Love—The Lost Atlantic Recordings brings together  DeShannon's entire 1973 Atlantic Records material in one place for the first time, featuring seven previously unreleased tracks along with her rendition of “Drift Away” that was intended for a single before the Dobie Gray cover version. Liner notes by Joe Marchese feature quotes from Jackie, who is thrilled to have these songs finally heard together in full, proper context after forty years. Rare photos, too…a major addition to Grammy Award-winning, Songwriter Hall of Fame member Jackie DeShannon’s discography!

Songs:

1. When I'm Gone

2. Drift Away

3. All The Love That's In You

4. Speak Out To Me

5. Hydra

6. Your Old Lady's Leaving

7. Grand Canyon Blues

8. Sweet Soul Singer (Unreleased)

9. Good Old Song (Unreleased)

10. Easy Evil (Unreleased)

11. If You Like My Music (Unreleased)

12. Free The People (Unreleased)

13. Spare Me A Little of Your Love (Unreleased)

14. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Unreleased)

Bonus tracks with Van Morrison:

15. Sweet Sixteen

16. Flamingos Fly

17. Santa Fe

18. The Wonder Of You

GRACE JONES - HER FIRST THREE ALBUMS (PORTFOLIO, FAME & MUSE) RELEASED ON VINYL

Signed to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records, Jones’ three albums Portfolio, Fame and Muse were produced by none other than Tom Moulton, ‘the father of the disco mix,’ who earned his title by assembling the first continuous mix side of an album in 1974 with Gloria Gaynor’s Never Can Say Goodbye. After working with the Three Degrees, MFSB and Trammps, he was hot property, and Jones seemed a natural choice for him to work with.

‘The Disco Years’ is a beguiling time capsule, bringing together Ms Jones’s three pivotal, era-defining albums recorded for Island Records from the late-‘70s, Studio 54 disco epoch. Produced by Tom Moulton, the undisputed ‘father of the disco mix’, and recorded at Sigma Sound studios in Philadelphia, ‘Portfolio’, ‘Fame’ and ‘Muse’ are three of the most disco-sounding records of all time. Scarcely available on vinyl for many years, ‘The Disco Box’ re-presents the three albums as a single collection over four 180GM vinyl LPs, lovingly remastered and with a bonus LP containing the hard-to-find singles and B-sides from the era.

Tracklisting

VINYL ONE: PORTFOLIO, Island ILPS 9470, released December 9, 1977

Side A

1. Send In The Clowns

2. What I Did For Love

3. Tomorrow

Side B

1. La Vie En Rose

2. Sorry

3. That’s The Trouble

4. I Need A Man

VINYL TWO: FAME, Island ILPS 9525, released August 4, 1978.

Side A

1. Do Or Die

2. Pride

3. Fame

Side B

1. Autumn Leaves

2. All On A Summer’s Night

3. Am I Ever Gonna Fall In Love In New York City

4. Below The Belt

VINYL THREE: MUSE, Island ILPS 9538, released September 7, 1979.

Side A

1. Sinning

2. Suffer

3. Repentance (Forgive Me)

4. Saved

Side B

1. Atlantic City Gambler

2. I’ll Find My Way To You

3. Don’t Mess With The Messer

4. On Your Knees

VINYL LP FOUR: SINGLES

Side A

1. Sorry (Long Version)

Released as the a-side of Beam Junction 12” single 12-BJ 1001 (US).

2. That’s The Trouble (Long Version)

Released as the b-side of Beam Junction 12” single 12-BJ 1001 (US).

3. I Need A Man (Long Version)

Released as the a-side of Beam Junction 12” single 12-BJ 1004 (US).

4. La Vie En Rose (Short Version)

Released as the a-side of Island 7” single IS-098 (US) and WIP 6415 (UK).

Side B

1. Do Or Die (12” Disco Version)

Released as the a-side of Island 12” single IS 1008 (US) and 12 WIP 6450 (UK).

2. Comme Un Oiseau Qui S’Envole (Long Version)

Released as the b-side of Island 12” single IS 1008 (US) and 12 WIP 6450 (UK).

3. On Your Knees (12” Disco Version)

Released as the a-side of Island 12” single DISD 8869 (US) and 12X WIP 6511 (UK).

4. Don’t Mess With The Messer (Long Version)

Released as the b-side of Island 12” single DISD 8869 (US) and 12X WIP 6511 (UK).

JORGE BEN: BEN (EXPANDED EDITION)

If there was one thing that all the movements that swept Brazilian popular music during the ‘60s and ‘70s—bossa nova, Jovem Guarda, Tropicalia, Música Popular Brasileira, samba soul, Black Rio—had in common, it was that they all revered Jorge Ben. That’s because Ben incorporated aspects of all their styles without compromising his own; as Caetano Veloso put it, “Jorge Ben, without attempting an artificial or homogenizing ‘fusion,’ came through with a strong, original sound, confronting a body of issues from the opposite end, that of the finished treatment, while we were groping and coming up with varied and incomplete solutions.” Now, Real Gone Music and Dusty Groove are embarking on a long-awaited tour through Ben’s catalog, starting with his 1972 masterpiece, Ben. This is the album that made Jorge Ben a superstar in Brazil, a lean marvel of rhythmic and melodic concision that contains some of his most indelible, durable songs, like the first version of “Taj Mahal” and his ode to his favorite soccer player, “Fio Maravilha.” Even better, we’ve added seven rare bonus tracks, including a fast-paced 1972 version of his first big hit “Mas Que Nada” and a super rare single with Gilberto Gil, “Jazz Potatoes.” Peter Margasak’s notes place Ben’s career and album in historical context. Peerless Brazilian pop, out on CD for the first time outside of Brazil.

SONGS:

1.   Morre o Burro, Fica o Homem

2.   O Circo Chegou

3.   Paz e Arroz

4.   Moça

5.   Domingo 23

6,   Fio Maravilha

7.   Quem Cochicha o Rabo Espicha

8.   Caramba!...Galileu da Gaililéia

9.   Que Nega é Essa

10. As Rosas Eram Todas Amarelas

11. Taj Mahal

Bonus tracks

12. Caramba!... Galileu da Galiléia

13. Jazz Potatoes Jorge Ben & Gilberto Gil

14. Maria Luiza (em Castelhano)

15. Mas Que Nada (Com Mais Swing)

16. Sai de Mim Mulher” (Versão Mas Acelerada)

17. Sai de Mim Mulher (Versão Mais Suave)

18. Salve América  (Inédita)

~ Real Gone Music

THE MARVIN GAYE COLLECTION: 1961-1965

USM are pleased to announce the release of Marvin Gaye: 1961-1965, a collection of his first seven studio albums on 180g vinyl in one fantastic box. This includes the stereo mixes of The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye, That Stubborn Kind Of Fellow and When I’m Alone I Cry released as LPs for the first time ever.

Marvin Gaye was originally a member of The Marquees, later known as The New Moonglows under co-founder Harvey Fuqua’s direction. The group recorded several sides for Chess in 1959, including the song "Mama Loocie", which was Marvin's first lead vocal recording. The group found work as session singers for established acts such as Chuck Berry, singing on the hits "Back in the U.S.A." and "Almost Grown". In 1960 the group disbanded and Marvin relocated to Detroit with Fuqua where he signed with Tri-Phi Records as a session musician. Impressed by the singer, Motown president Berry Gordy fought Fuqua on his contract with Marvin and shortly afterwards, Marvin signed with Motown subsidiary Tamla.

In 1962, he found success as co-writer of the Marvelettes hit, "Beechwood 4-5789". His first solo hit, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", was later released that September, reaching number 8 on the R&B chart and number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. He reached the top 50 with the dance song, "Hitch Hike", speaking at number 30 on the Hot 100. "Pride and Joy" became his first top ten single after its release in 1963.

In 1964, he recorded a successful duet album with singer Mary Wells titled Together, which reached 42 on the pop album chart. The album's two-sided single, including "Once Upon a Time" and "What's the Matter With You Baby", each reached the top 20. Marvin’s next solo hit, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", written for him by Holland-Dozier-Holland, reached number 6 on the Hot 100 and reached the top 50 in the UK.

Commonly referred to as the ‘Prince of Soul’, Marvin Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown Records during this period and was one of the greatest voices to emerge from the label. Here we celebrate his early years, the first of three vinyl boxed sets spanning his catalogue.

Tracklisting

THE SOULFUL MOODS OF MARVIN GAYE

SIDE A

1. MASQUERADE

2. FUNNY VALENTINE

3. WITCHCRAFT

4. EASY LIVING

5. HOW DEEP THE OCEAN

SIDE B

1. LOVE FOR SALE

2. ALWAYS

3. HOW HIGH THE MOON

4. LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE

5. NEVER LET YOU GO

6. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS

THAT STUBBORN KIND OF FELLOW

SIDE A

1. STUBBORN KIND OF FELLOW

2. PRIDE & JOY

3. HITCH HIKE

4. GET MY HANDS ON SOME LOVIN’

5. WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT

SIDE B

1. SOLDIER’S PLEA

2. IT HURT ME TOO

3. TAKING MY TIME

4. HELLO THERE ANGEL

5. I’M YOURS, YOU’RE MINE

WHEN I’M ALONE I CRY

SIDE A

1. YOU’VE CHANGED

2. I WAS TELLING HER ABOUT YOU

3. I WONDER

4. I’LL BE AROUND

5. BECAUSE OF YOU

SIDE B

1. I DON’T KNOW WHY

2. I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE

3. WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE

4. WHEN I’M ALONE I CRY

5. IF MY HEART COULD SING

HELLO BROADWAY....THIS IS MARVIN!

SIDE A

1. HELLO BROADWAY

2. PEOPLE

3. THE PARTY’S OVER

4. ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE

5. WHAT KIND OF FOOL I AM

6. MY KIND OF TOWN

SIDE B

1. THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES

2. THIS IS THE LIFE

3. MY WAY

4. HELLO DOLLY

5. WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

TOGETHER with Mary Wells

SIDE A

1. ONCE UPON A TIME

2. DEED I DO

3. UNTIL I MET YOU

4. TOGETHER

5. (I love you) FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS

SIDE B

1. THE LATE LATE SHOW

2. AFTER THE LIGHTS GO DOWN LOW

3. SQUEEZE ME

4. WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOU BABY

5. YOU CAME A LONG WAY FROM ST.LOUIS

HOW SWEAT IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU

SIDE A

1. YOU’RE A WONDERFUL ONE

2. HOW SWEET IT IS (TO BE LOVED BY YOU)

3. TRY IT BABY

4. BABY DON’T YOU DO IT

5. NEED YOUR LOVIN’ (WANT YOU BACK)

6. ONE OF THESE DAYS

SIDE B

1. NO GOOD WITHOUT YOU

2. STEPPING CLOSER TO YOUR HEART

3. NEED SOMEBODY

4. ME AND MY LONELY ROOM

5. NOW THAT YOU’VE WON ME

6. FOREVER

A TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE

SIDE A

1. NATURE BOY

2. RAMBLIN’ ROSE

3. TOO YOUNG

4. PRETEND

5. STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT

6. MONA LISA

SIDE B

1. UNFORGETTABLE

2. TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

3. SWEET LORRAINE

4. IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON

5. SEND FOR ME

6. CALYPSO BLUES

MAXWELL, ERYKAH BADU, R. KELLY, TONI BRAXTON, RUN-D.M.C., SHEILA E., JEFFREY OSBORNE, PEABO BRYSON, FREDDY JACKSON, BRIAN CULBERTSON & THE JAZZ IN THE GARDENS ALLSTARS HEADLINE THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS' 10TH ANNUAL JAZZ IN THE GARDENS MUSIC FESTIVAL

The City of Miami Gardens is proud to present the 10th Annual Jazz in the Gardens (JITG) music festival at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The two-day music festival from March 21-22, 2015, will feature: Maxwell, Toni Braxton, R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Run-D.M.C., Sheila E., Brian Culbertson, Men of Soul's Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, and Freddie Jackson, and Jazz in the Gardens All Stars Ronnie Laws, Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Tom Browne. Comedians and nationally-syndicated radio personalities D.L. Hughley and Rickey Smiley will co-host the festival.

Jazz in the Gardens will also feature local artists Valerie Tyson and Karina Iglesias of "The Voice" along with more than 40 exotic food vendors, an action-packed Vendor Marketplace, and the most anticipated lineup for the City's milestone 10th year of its signature event. On Saturday and Sunday, doors to the festival will open at 3 p.m. and the show will start at 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster or http://www.jazzinthegardens.com.

The Women's Impact Conference and Luncheon (WICL) will kick off the Jazz in the Gardens Weekend on Friday, March 20, at the Miramar Cultural Center with the theme "THERE'S NO 'S' ON MY CHEST BUT A HERO LIVES WITHIN." The event will feature keynote speaker reality show personality Omarosa Manigault and R&B vocalist Howard Hewett. Friday night Rickey Smiley and a few special guests from his morning show will host the Official Jazz in the Gardens Pre-Party featuring The D.M.C. Band, a comedy show, live entertainment and dancing.

"Without a doubt, this is our most exciting lineup yet," said City of Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. "And by the reports on ticket sales, there's no denying it. There is no sunnier, breezier, or better place to enjoy your favorite exotic food, good friends and amazing live performances than in the Gardens in springtime. We welcome our guests who travel from all over the world to celebrate our milestone 10th year of the fastest growing jazz and R&B festival in America."

Predicted early on to break last year's record of 68,000 tickets sold, tracking a 15% increase in ticket sales, JITG '10 is well on its way to breaking its record for an anticipated 71,000 tickets sold.

Saxophonist Kamasi Washington Revolutionizes Modern Perception of Jazz with Highly Anticipated 3-Volume Set, The Epic

The story begins with a man on high. He is an old man, a warrior, and the guardian to the gates of a city. Two miles below his mountainous perch, he observes a dojo, where a group of young men train night and day. Eventually, the old man expects a challenger to emerge. He hopes for the day of his destruction, for this is the cycle of life. 

Finally the doors fly open and three young men burst forth to challenge the old master. The first man is quick, but not strong enough. The second is quick, and strong, but not wise enough. The third stands tall, and overtakes the master. The changing of the guard has at long last been achieved. 

But then the old man wakes up. He looks down at the dojo and realizes he's been daydreaming. The dojo below exists, but everyone in training is yet a child. By the time they grow old enough to challenge the old man, he has disappeared.

This is, in essence, a true story and a carefully constructed musical daydream, one that will further unfold on May 5, 2015 in a brazen release from young Los Angeles jazz giant, composer, bandleader, and saxophonist Kamasi Washington. The Epic is unlike anything jazz has seen, and not just because it emanates from the boundary-defying Brainfeeder, which isn't so much a label in the traditional sense as it is an unfurling experiment conducted by the underground producer Flying Lotus, who features Washington on his recent releases Cosmogramma and You're Dead!. ·

"He just plays the craziest shit, man. I mean, everything - the past, present, the future," Flying Lotus says, whose family lineage includes one of Washington's direct musical forebears, John Coltrane. "It's hard to find unique voices in this music. Especially in jazz, more so lately, everybody is trying to do the same shit. I don't want to hear 'My Favorite Things' anymore. What I am hearing is a leader among artists." 

The Epic is a 172-minute, three-record set that includes a 32-piece orchestra, a 20-person choir, and 17 songs overlaid with a compositional score written by Washington. Pulsing underneath is an otherworldly ten-piece band, each member of which is individually regarded as among the best young musicians on the planet - including bassist Thundercat and his brother, drummer Ronald Bruner Jr., bassist (yes, there are two) Miles Mosley, drummer Tony Austin (of course there are two), keyboard player Brandon Coleman, pianist Cameron Graves, and trombonist Ryan Porter. Patrice Quinn's ethereal vocals round out the ensemble.

The band are all from Los Angeles, mostly South Central, and its members -- who call themselves variously "The Next Step" and the "The West Coast Get Down" -- have been congregating since they were barely teenagers in a backyard shack in Inglewood. Washington, 32, has known Bruner since he was two. The rest met, at various stages, by the time they were in high school. The hours they have put into the music, playing together and practicing alone, total cumulatively in the tens of thousands. 

"Nothing compares to these guys," says Barbara Sealy, the former West Coast director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, who has championed Washington and his compatriots since they were barely teenagers. "Nobody. I challenge any group to go out on stage with them and see if they can keep up with it...Kamasi is at the top of his game, and only getting better."

And the story The Epic tells, without words but rather through some combination of magic, mastery, and sheer force of imagination, is the story of Kamasi Washington, the Next Step, and their collective mission: to remove jazz from the shelf of relics and make it new, unexpected, and dangerous again. They seek to both honor and alter tradition: as The Epic's opening track announces, they are the "Changing of the Guard." The sound can be felt like flames, sometimes waving in the coziness of a fireplace, in other moments sweeping everything around like a backdraft. But Washington is always in control of the burning. 

Kamasi Washington · The Epic 

Brainfeeder Records  ·  Release Date: May 5, 2015

www.KamasiWashington.com

NEW RELEASES: BONEY JAMES – FUTURESOUL; RINGO STARR – POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE; SLIM HARPO - BUZZIN' THE BLUES

BONEY JAMES – FUTURESOUL

4-time GRAMMY nominee and best-selling saxman Boney James continues his artistic evolution with the dynamic Futuresoul. Fusing his love for vintage soul music with his mastery of modern production, Boney has created another genre-bending work following on the heels of his 2014 GRAMMY nominated album The Beat. 10 original songs written or co-written by Boney, with special guests Stokley of Mint Condition on vocals and Thelonious Monk Competition winner Marquis Hill on trumpet. Futuresoul is retro music for the modern age. Includes: Drumline, Vinyl, A Little Attitude, Watchu Gon' Do About It?,. Either Way featuring Stokley, Hand in Hand, Fortuneteller, The Moment, futuresoul, and Far From Home featuring Marquis Hill. ~ Amazon

RINGO STARR – POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE

Ringo Starr's 18th studio release, Postcards From Paradise, includes 11 original tracks and is the first to include a song written and recorded by Ringo Starr and his current All Starr Band - Steve Lukather, Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Richard Page, Wally Palmer and Gregg Bissonette. Postcards From Paradise was produced by Ringo and recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles and, as always, features friends and family. As Ringo often says, 'If I am recording and you're in town and drop by, you're going to be on the record!' The album's guest artists include: Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Dave Stewart, Ann Marie Simpson, Richard Marx, Amy Keys, Peter Frampton, Nathan East, and Glen Ballard. ~ Amazon

SLIM HARPO - BUZZIN' THE BLUES

Slim Harpo made his impressive entrance into the world of blues recordings in 1957. Here was a man with an unforgettable name, a strong song - I'm A King Bee - and a finely-crafted minimalist style, at once familiar and novel. In 1961 Slim Harpo made a crossover entry into the American Rhythm 'n' Blues and Popular Music charts when Rainin' In My Heart became one of those barely-categorisable hits that just couldn't be ignored. Then came Baby, Scratch My Back, a soulful rhythmic number that led to tours with the rock elite. The story of Slim Harpo and his music is among the most fascinating in all blues and Rhythm 'n' Blues. Harpo's music had timeless and mellow qualities that made his sound both authentic and accessible. By many benchmarks he was a success, and for periods in his life he was in the spotlight, yet little, really, is known of him beyond his fading circle of musicians, friends, and family in Baton. Includes  5-CD boxed set (LP-size) with 104 page hardcover book, 142 tracks. Total playing time approx. 410 minutes. ~ Amazon

NEW RELEASES: VAN MORRISON - DUETS: RE-WORKING THE CATALOGUE; BAMALOVESOUL.COM PRESENTS ON DECK 3; KARIN KROG / STEVE KUHN – BREAK OF DAY

VAN MORRISON - DUETS: RE-WORKING THE CATALOGUE

On Duets: Re-Working The Catalogue, Van Morrison and the guests selected and recorded some of his songs from the catalog of 360 songs across his career. Deliberately steering away from his more well-known classics, Van enlisted some of the artists he most respects to perform these songs with him to re-craft and re-imagine them. The album was recorded in his home town of Belfast and London in the United Kingdom over the last year, using a variety of musicians and fresh arrangements. Produced by Van Morrison along with Don Was and Bob Rock, the album features duet performances with Bobby Womack, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Gregory Porter, Clare Teal, P.J. Proby, Joss Stone, Georgie Fame, Mick Hucknall, Chris Farlowe, and Van's daughter Shana Morrison. Van Morrison is considered one of the most prolific recording artists and extraordinary live performers of our time. He has received a multitude of awards and accolades including 6 Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, an OBE, an Ivor Novello, and has been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His visionary songwriting and mastery of many genres continues to shine on albums celebrating and re-exploring his blues, jazz, skiffle and country roots. With one of the most revered catalogues in music history, his talents as a composer, singer and performer are unmatched. ~ Amazon

BAMALOVESOUL PRESENTS ON DECK 3

On its way to becoming another much-loved series in the tradition of Stop and Listen, the Spectrum compilations, or perhaps more aptly Kon & Amir’s Off Track sets all from BBE, On Deck has been a music-format manifestation of the Birmingham, Alabama-based website BamaLoveSoul for the past couple of years.  For the third in the On Deck series, Rahdu introduces another scintillating taster for the more mature musical palette, featuring contemporary up-up-and-coming artists generally not too well-known on the international scene yet, with a bias towards artists sharing his own southern roots. Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy.  Due for release March 23, 2015.

KARIN KROG / STEVE KUHN – BREAK OF DAY

The already-great team of singer Karin Krog and pianist Steve Kuhn gets some extra special help here – thanks to the appearance of Eric Alexander on tenor and Lew Soloff on trumpet – each of whom guest on three different tracks apiece! The core of the record has Krog's dark, moody vocals alongside Kuhn's still-inventive piano lines – a match that has decades of work together, and which already makes the whole record exciting enough on its own – but the use of added horn soloists brings in this effective other voice to the proceedings, all without disturbing the gentle balance at the core. Alexander is especially great, but we like Soloff a lot too – and neither seeks to overwhelm, just bring a special voice to the tunes in which they appear. As always with Krog, the choice of tunes is perfect – and titles include "Scandia Skies", "Break Of Day In Molde", "How Do You Keep The Music Playing", "Love Came On Stealthy Fingers", "Time's Getting Tougher Than Tough", "Little Butterfly", and "Trane".  ~ Dusty Groove

LINES OF COLOR: Live at Jazz Standard, the sophomore album from composer/producer Ryan Truesdell's award-winning Gil Evans Project

LINES OF COLOR: Live at Jazz Standard, the sophomore album from composer/producer Ryan Truesdell's award-winning Gil Evans Project, will be released on March 17, 2015 on the newly-formed Blue Note/ArtistShare label (www.GilEvansProject.com). This highly anticipated release follows Truesdell's debut CD CENTENNIAL: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans, which won a posthumous Grammy Award for Gil Evans and the New York Times called "an extraordinary album."  LINES OF COLOR - the next step in Truesdell's endeavor to reveal hidden layers of Gil Evans' musical legacy - features some of New York's finest musicians including Lewis Nash, Donny McCaslin, Steve Wilson, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, and Scott Robinson. The CD was recorded by Grammy award-winning engineer James Farber with the live engineering team of Tyler McDiarmid and Geoff Countryman.

LINES OF COLOR was recorded during the Gil Evans Project's annual week-long engagement at Jazz Standard in New York City from May 13-18, 2014. It consists of six newly discovered, never before recorded works (including "Avalon Town," "Can't We Talk It Over," and "Just One Of Those Things"), two arrangements with previously unheard sections ("Davenport Blues" and "Sunday Drivin'"), and three of Evans' well-known charts from his classic albums ("Time of the Barracudas," "Concorde," and "Greensleeves"). Throughout the engagement, the Gil Evans Project presented nearly fifty of Evans' works, most of which were performed live for the first time. Truesdell decided to record live for the Gil Evans Project's second album to honor the essence of Evans' music that craves live performance. "It allows Gil's colors and the overtones of the music to sound and blend in the room in a way that you can't get from a close-mic studio recording," says Truesdell. "Live recording captures this intangible energy that's created when music is performed for an audience. It gives listeners a sense of the magic that happens when the notes are lifted off the page by these amazing musicians."

The eleven selections that make up LINES OF COLOR represent everything you hope for in a live recording: a beautiful sound, a lively, involved audience, and precise and inspired performances of remarkable music. Of this collection, six of the charts were originally written during Evans' tenure with the Claude Thornhill orchestra, including never-before-heard arrangements of "How High the Moon," "Avalon Town," and a rare Evans original composition, "Gypsy Jump," written in 1942. A fun tune with an unusual 36-bar form, "Gypsy Jump" seems to show a slight influence from the "Arabian Dance" from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, also arranged by Evans for Thornhill during this time. "Can't We Talk It Over," a gorgeous ballad from the Thornhill Orchestra's late 1940s repertoire, illustrates Evans' strong bebop influences as evidenced by a direct musical quote from a Charlie

Parker solo. It is a wonderful feature for the Gil Evans Project's resident vocalist, Wendy Gilles. Bruce Lundvall, Chairman Emeritus of Blue Note Records said, "Wendy has an amazing voice which is a perfect fit for this music."

Two charts on the record represent the middle of Evans' career; one of which he and his band never recorded, and only performed once. In the spring of 1959, Evans and his orchestra played the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, sharing the billing with Dinah Washington and Thelonious Monk. For this concert, Evans chose to revisit a few charts from his past, including Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," which was based on the arrangement Evans did for his first album as a leader in 1957, Gil Evans + 10. Ever the reviser, Evans took the opportunity to do a bit of rearranging as well as re-orchestrating the chart to fit the instrumentation for the concert. The Gil Evans Project's first-time recording of this great Evans arrangement features incredible solos from Steve Wilson on soprano, trombonist Ryan Keberle, and pianist Frank Kimbrough. The other tune from this era is Evans' great adaptation of Bix Beiderbecke's "Davenport Blues," originally recorded on the 1959 album, Great Jazz Standards. "I was ecstatic when I discovered Gil's score to "Davenport," says Truesdell. "There were four pages in the middle of the score that were omitted from the original version. I'm thrilled we were able to record the entire chart as Gil first conceived it." Rather than imitating trumpet soloist Johnny Coles' definitive performance on Evans' Great Jazz Standards album, Truesdell decided to take a slightly different approach. The slower tempo and Lewis Nash's heavy, slightly dirty swing feel emphasizes the bluesy elements and perfectly articulates Gil's hard-swinging rhythms. "I was blown away by Mat Jodrell's performance; he poured every bit of his soul and personality into the solo and really made it his own," says Truesdell.

Rounding out LINES OF COLOR is a collection of tunes from Evans' output in the mid-1960s, including the Gil Evans Project's dynamic renderings of "Time of the Barracudas," and "Concorde," which both first appeared on the Individualism of Gil Evans recording. "Greensleeves," originally arranged for guitarist Kenny Burrell, receives a fresh take from trombonist Marshall Gilkes, whose unparalleled tone and inventive melodicism uplift this familiar tune and Gil's singular writing.

With LINES OF COLOR, Truesdell has solidified his reputation as one of the foremost Gil Evans scholars, while leading a band of industry giants in an historic and invaluable undertaking. Picking up where the Gil Evans Project's 2013 Grammy award-nominated album CENTENNIAL: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans left off, LINES OF COLOR is an exciting glimpse into how Truesdell and his critically acclaimed band are fulfilling the most crucial aspect of his vision: to bring Evans' music to new ears, and to extend his legacy into the 21st century.

  

UPCOMING GIL EVANS PROJECT PERFORMANCES:

Saturday, March 28, 2015

ROYAL CONSERVATORY-KOERNER HALL, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sunday, March 29, 2015

DRAKE UNIVERSITY-HARMON FINE ARTS CENTER, Des Moines, Iowa

Ryan Truesdell and the Gil Evans Project perform selections from LINES OF COLOR and CENTENNIAL, as well as other classic Gil Evans' arrangements.

Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17, 2015

LINES OF COLOR CD RELEASE, Jazz Standard, New York City

Fourth-annual residency at Jazz Standard, debuting selections from the new CD, as well as other rarely performed works from Gil's catalog - including music from the albums New Bottle Old Wine, Great Jazz Standards, Individualism of Gil Evans, and more.

www.GilEvansProject.com

www.RyanTruesdell.com

NEW RELEASES: FREDDIE REDD – MUSIC FOR YOU; CHARLES MCPHERSON – THE JOURNEY; JACK WALRATH – UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED

FREDDIE REDD – MUSIC FOR YOU

A great set from this under-recorded piano legend – a relaxed, easygoing session that has Freddie Redd set up in trio formation with Jay Anderson on bass and Billy Drummond on drums! All tracks are nice and long, and played with this open, flowing touch by Freddie – really stretching out on familiar tunes, at a level that's more lyrical and warm than some of his earliest bop material – and which really has a personal, expressive quality – even in some of the more subtle moments. Anderson and Drummond are a good team for the set – tight and swinging, but respectful too – and titles include "I'll Remember April", "Perdido", "Lover Man", "There Will Never Be Another You", "All The Things You Are", and the original "Blues For You".  ~ Dusty Groove

CHARLES MCPHERSON – THE JOURNEY

More of a collaborative effort than a solo journey by altoist Charles McPherson – as the saxophone legend works here with Denver pianist Chip Stephens, on a recording that may well be one of Charles' freshest in years! McPherson's always been a player to keep our ears on – great at the start, then evolving over the decades into a constantly changing, constantly growing artist – especially in the right setting. And the group here is definitely that setting – a quintet that also includes Keith Oxman on tenor, whose instrument seems to unlock some of McPherson's most tenor-like phrasing – that deeper than usual style that Charles brings to his instrument at the best moments, with a wonderfully expressive, soulful feel. Tunes include a lot of originals by members of the group – and titles include "The Decathexis From Youth", "Elena", "Manhattan Nocturne", "The Journey", "Tami's Tune", and "Bud Like".  ~ Dusty Groove

JACK WALRATH – UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED

Jack Walrath just keeps on growing and growing as a musician – a hell of a trumpeter for the past few decades, but also a great writer too – with a fresh approach to a tune that really keeps things interesting! This set may well be one of Walrath's best in years – a soulful quintet outing that has some especially nice tenor from Abraham Burton, who brings some darker tones to the record – and has this way of sharpening Walrath's horn too – as the pair step out in the lead over some of Jack's inventive compositions, then stretch out individually in well-phrased solos. The rhythm trio keeps just the right for each individual track – sometimes sprightly, but never too playful – sometimes more laidback, and nicely mellow. George Burton plays piano, Boris Kozlov plays bass, and Donald Edwards is on drums – and titles include "End The Beguine", "Why Not", "Bobby Timmons", "Unsafe At Any Speed", and "Happiness Really Is A Warm Puppy". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: ARCHIE SHEPP & THE NEW YORK CONTEMPORARY FIVE; LENNIE DALE WITH BOSSA TRES – UM SHOW DE BOSSA; WANDA SA – WANDA SA AO VIVO

ARCHIE SHEPP & THE NEW YORK CONTEMPORARY FIVE

Incredible work from one of the greatest groups of the New York avant scene of the 60s – the legendary New York Contemporary Five, a combo that features Archie Shepp on tenor, John Tchicai on alto, Don Cherry on cornet, Don Moore on bass, and JC Moses on drums! This 1963 recording, originally done in Copenhagen, is one of the group's most lasting statements – a bold, bracing bit of jazz that seems to pick up energy from Ornette Coleman's dimming flame, prefacing Albert Ayler inferno to come, wrapped up with some of the sensitivity of Eric Dolphy in his final years – a record that rivals the best that any of those three players had to offer. Shepp's got an intensity that almost blows away his Impulse sides, and Tchicai has hardly ever sounded better – and even Cherry seems to be unlocking a whole new side of his spirit in the process of the recording! This set features titles that include "Mick", "The Funeral", "When Will The Blues Leave", "Crepescule With Nellie", "OC", and "Consequences", "Wo Wo", "Trio", and "Emotions". ~ Dusty Groove

LENNIE DALE WITH BOSSA TRES – UM SHOW DE BOSSA

A live bit of bossa vocals from Lennie Dale – recording here with some cooking accompaniment from the Bossa Tres trio! The format is very spontaneous and relaxed – similar to an American live jazz vocal date of the time, but with a bossa groove instead – one that's a perfectly showcase for Dale's lively vocals and strong sense of showmanship – singing here in both English and Portuguese! Luis Carlos Vinhas' piano playing sparkles throughout, and although recorded in a club, the set has all the crystal clarity you'd expect from the Elenco studio sides of the time. Many tunes are done in pot-pourri fashion – shifting easily between themes of a few different tunes – and titles include "No Dollar Bills", "Day In Day Out", "Old Devil Moon", "O Samba Da Minha Terra", "Improvisacao Bossa Tres", "Bim Bom", and "Samba Do Aviao".  ~ Dusty Groove

WANDA SA – WANDA SA AO VIVO

Some of the coolest, most compelling work we've heard in years from Wanda Sa – a very spare, stripped-down session that really gets back to the roots of her music from the 60s! Wanda Sa has been reviving her bossa sound for the past decade or more, but most of those recordings often have a decidedly modern feel in some of the instrumental and production choices – while this album really goes for a classic vibe all the way through, as Wanda sings beautifully without any extra trappings, and plays guitar with this sublime sense of tone and color to really illuminate the lyrics! The music has some extra backings, too – but really in a light, small combo bossa mode – save for some points when Sa is joined by Marcos Valle, Joao Donato, and Carlos Lyra – all of whom approach the project in a similar way. Titles include "O Que E Amar", "Novo Acorde", "Vagamente", "Ciume", "Pra Sempre", "Minha Saudade/Bim Bom", and "E Nada Mais". Also features bonus tracks with appearances from Jane Monheit and Dori Caymmi!  ~ Dusty Groove