The Tower of Power are celebrating their 40th year together and have set a series of tour dates to commemorate the occasion. Here’s a listing of where you can catch them between now and mid-December.
September 13 - Kansas City, MO - Ameristar Casino
September 18 - Bakersfield, CA - Kern County Fair
September 19 - Las Vegas, NV - Sun Coast Hotel Casino
September 20 - Las Vegas, NV - Sun Coast Hotel Casino
September 21 - Las Vegas, NV - Sun Coast Hotel Casino
September 26 - Tucson, AZ - Fox Tucson Theatre
September 27 - Coachella, CA - Spotlight 29 Casino
October 8 - Fresno, CA - Paul Paul Theater
October 9 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove of Anaheim
October 11 - Wendover, NV - Peppermill Casino Concert Hall
October 18 - San Francisco, CA -The Fillmore
November 5 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Dave Koz Jazz Cruise
November 7 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino
November 8 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino
November 9 - Providence, RI - The Hi Hat
November 11 - Buffalo, NY - The Tralf
November 13 - Waterbury, CT - The Palace Theater
November 14 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
November 15 - New York, NY - B.B. Kings
November 16 - New York, NY - B.B. Kings
November 18 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head On Stage
November 20 - Boston, MA - Scullers Jazz Club
December 5 - Oroville, CA - Feather Falls Casino
December 6 - Brooks, CA - Cache Creek Casino - Club 88
December 11 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
December 12 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
December 13 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
December 14 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
WJJZ 97.5 FM DROPS SMOOTH JAZZ FORMAT
Greater Media has decided to change formats on Smooth Jazz WJJZ/Philadelphia, and spent this past weekend stunting the station format as they eventually flip to an as-yet-unspecified new format on Monday at 9 a.m. Greater Media switched to Smooth Jazz on WJJZ at 97.5 in 2006, after the format and call letters spent 13 years with Clear Channel, at 106.1. A note on the WJJZ station website says, "For nearly two years we have committed substantial resources to this program. Unfortunately, we have had limited success with Smooth Jazz as judged by the marketplaces. We are grateful for your loyalty and support, and we appreciate your understanding." The site says a "powerful new choice" for radio listeners will begin airing Monday. The fact of the matter is that the Smooth Jazz format was ended again due to low ratings. At this time it is not known whether Smooth Jazz will return on HD radio at 97.5-HD2, although there is a strong possibility of this happening, now that WISX has dropped the Smooth Jazz format from its 106.1-HD2 subchannel. WJJZ's move follows the flips of Lincoln Financial's KJCD, now Sports, Emmis' WQCD/New York, now Triple A, and WJZW/Washington, now an Oldies outlet, as well as several other stations around the country who have decided to abandon the Smooth Jazz format.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
MP3TUNES MUSIC LOCKER
MP3tunes has announced that the MP3tunes Music Locker is now available with the new Logitech(R) Squeezebox(TM) Boom all-in-one network music player. The Squeezebox Boom is an in-home, fully networked music player that features an integrated amplifier, high-performance speakers and a simplified setup. When combined with the MP3tunes Music Locker that stores your music library in a cloud, the Squeezebox Boom lets you listen to your digital music in the kitchen, the bedroom or any other room in your house-- without running your computer or docking your iPod.
"When you own music, it should be forever, and you should be able to enjoy it wherever you go, which is why we developed the MP3tunes MusicLocker to securely keep music in a cloud," commented Michael Robertson, CEO of MP3tunes. "With the Squeezebox Boom, a truly snazzy audio device, all it takes is a common Internet connection and your Music Locker can go anywhere you go."
Through September 30, anyone can experience a free virtual Squeezebox Boom, an online replica that gives visitors the opportunity to experience the look, layout and function of the Squeezebox Boom in an interactive way. Each virtual Squeezebox Boom is preloaded with music, pre-selected andprovided by Jamendo, under Creative Commons license. For an interactivedemo and more information, visit http://www.mp3tunes.com/boom.
"MP3tunes is the perfect complement to the Squeezebox Boom because aMusic Locker truly sets your personal music collection free from your PC,"said Robin Selden, vice president and general manager of Logitech's Streaming Media business unit. "With just a few simple clicks, you cane asily create your personal Music Locker on MP3tunes.com and upload yourmusic. Now your music is available to be played on the Squeezebox Boom,without your PC on, wherever you like."
MP3tunes and Logitech will be giving away three complete music systems,comprised of a Logitech Squeezebox Boom and the MP3tunes Premium 50 MusicLocker (estimated retail value U.S. $339.94).
"When you own music, it should be forever, and you should be able to enjoy it wherever you go, which is why we developed the MP3tunes MusicLocker to securely keep music in a cloud," commented Michael Robertson, CEO of MP3tunes. "With the Squeezebox Boom, a truly snazzy audio device, all it takes is a common Internet connection and your Music Locker can go anywhere you go."
Through September 30, anyone can experience a free virtual Squeezebox Boom, an online replica that gives visitors the opportunity to experience the look, layout and function of the Squeezebox Boom in an interactive way. Each virtual Squeezebox Boom is preloaded with music, pre-selected andprovided by Jamendo, under Creative Commons license. For an interactivedemo and more information, visit http://www.mp3tunes.com/boom.
"MP3tunes is the perfect complement to the Squeezebox Boom because aMusic Locker truly sets your personal music collection free from your PC,"said Robin Selden, vice president and general manager of Logitech's Streaming Media business unit. "With just a few simple clicks, you cane asily create your personal Music Locker on MP3tunes.com and upload yourmusic. Now your music is available to be played on the Squeezebox Boom,without your PC on, wherever you like."
MP3tunes and Logitech will be giving away three complete music systems,comprised of a Logitech Squeezebox Boom and the MP3tunes Premium 50 MusicLocker (estimated retail value U.S. $339.94).
Monday, September 01, 2008
MILES DAVIS - KIND OF BLUE: 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S EDITION
Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition is an expansive and lavishly-designed box set. The contents of the box include: two CDs (running time over two hours); a newly-produced black-and-white documentary DVD (55 minutes); a full-size 60-page book of critical essays, annotations and photography; and an envelope chockfull of memorabilia. The box also includes the 12-inch LP package pressed on 180-gram blue vinyl and an enormous 22x33 fold-out poster of Miles. The box will be released on September 30th by Columbia/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
Of special importance to Miles Davis aficionados around the globe is the DVD, Celebrating a Masterpiece: Kind of Blue. The new DVD incorporates material from the 2004 mini-documentary, Made In Heaven, including black-and-white still photography of the recording sessions and the voicesof Miles (at the sessions), as well as excerpts of radio interviews with the late Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley. There are interviews with musicians and luminaries including composer/performer David Amram, the late Ed Bradley, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Cosby, Herbie Hancock (who demonstrates "So What" at the piano), Eddie Henderson, Shirley Horn, Dave Liebman, the late Jackie McLean, funk-rocker Me'Shell Ndege'Ocello, hip-hop's Q-Tip, Carlos Santana, John Scofield, Horace Silver, and many others.
The DVD also unearths the group's entire 26-minute appearance on"Robert Herridge Theatre: The Sound of Miles Davis," a CBS television program recorded in 1959 and broadcast in 1960. Another bonus feature is the gallery of images captured by Columbia staff photographer Don Hunstein, covering the original recording sessions, as well as a key performance at New York's Plaza Hotel in September 1958. In conjunction with the latter, an unprecedented four-week exhibit of Miles Davis photography will be mounted at New York's downtown Morrison Hotel Gallery in November-December 2008. The exhibit will then travel to other Morrison Hotel locations andStarwood Hotels in 2009.
At the absolute core of the box set is the original 45-minute album program, whose five titles -- "So What," "Freddie Freeloader," "Blue in Green," "All Blues," and "Flamenco Sketches" -- are indelibly etched in our contemporary musical DNA, be it jazz, rock, third through fifth stream classical, or beyond. They are familiar old acquaintances on the LP as it existed in the marketplace for nearly three decades: the first three numbers occupying side one (which happened to have been cut on the firstday of recording, two three-hour sessions on Monday, March 2, 1959); and the last two numbers on side two (recorded at the final three-hour session of Wednesday, April 22, 1959).
On CD One of the box set, after the original five tunes are presented, there is the alternate take of "Flamenco Sketches," the only complete alternate take from the original recording sessions (a track first unveiled on the 5-LP/4-CD box set of 1988, Miles Davis: The Columbia Years 1955-1985, the first Miles Davis box set ever issued by Columbia). Following the alternate take, there are "studio sequences" (ranging from 11 seconds to nearly two minutes) for every one of the five titles, and one"false start." As transcribed and fleshed out by Ashley Kahn, these short tracks are eye-opening revelations into the studio relationship between Miles, the musicians, Columbia staff producer Irving Townsend, and recording engineer Fred Plaut, at this still-early stage in Miles' career as a leader (though he had been making records since 1945).
The 1959 sessions occupy CD One -- and then CD Two turns back the calendar to May 26, 1958. The five completed tracks from that session with producer Cal Lampley -- "On Green Dolphin Street," "Fran-Dance" (with analternate take), "Stella by Starlight," and "Love for Sale" -- are the only other studio recordings of the sextet with Adderley, Coltrane, Evans, Chambers, and Cobb (though live recordings exist from the Newport JazzFestival in July, and the Plaza in September).
The five 1958 studio tracks, scattered on various LP through the years,were united in one place for the first time on the double GrammyAward-winning 6-CD box set issued in 2000, Miles Davis & John Coltrane: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961. Now, for the first time, the five 1958 studio tracks are rightfully coupled -- at last -- with the five sextet tracks of Kind of Blue. The final track on CD Two is a mesmerizing 17-minute live concert version of "So What" (without Adderley, with Kelly), recorded in Holland, April 1960.
In late 1958, after some eight months, Bill Evans left the lineup and was replaced by Wynton Kelly. As Miles began to formulate his next studiorecording, Evans was invited back for the sessions and became an integral spark on the album's concept. Cobb bears witness to the fact that "the concept behind Kind of Blue grew out of the way the two (Miles and Evans) played together," as Francis Davis writes. "Evans and Davis were certainly on the same wavelength, and the pianist certainly contributes more than a sideman's share of Kind of Blue's air of pensive melancholy. In addition to which, his eloquent liner notes -- titled 'Improvisation in Jazz' -- cued listeners to hear the album as the very essence of jazz, an unmediated exercise in spontaneity."
The session-by-session transcripts compiled and expounded by Ashley Kahn are an indication of the quantum advance in scholarly exegesis that has grown up around Miles Davis in general and Kind of Blue in particular.This intellectual pursuit is given full exposure in the course of the boxset's 60-page book. Kahn's 3,000-word section, titled "Between The Takes,"reflects the full scope of research that went into his book Kind of Blue:The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (DaCapo Press, 2000; updated edition, Perseus, 2007, foreword by Jimmy Cobb).
Kahn's section is preceded by two major in-depth studies from writers who have also studied their subject for their entire careers. The book's opening essay is a 4,000-word overview written by Francis Davis, contributing editor of The Atlantic Monthly, jazz columnist for The VillageVoice, and winner of five ASCAP-Deems Taylor Awards for Excellence in Music Journalism. In addition to writing many books (among them The History ofthe Blues, Hyperion, 1995; and Jazz and Its Discontents: A Francis Davis Reader, Perseus, 2004), he has also written liner notes for over 60 jazz and pop albums, including titles by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and BillEvans.
"The two recording sessions for Kind of Blue," Francis Davis writes,"took place in the nick of time: it's impossible to imagine Davis, Evans,Coltrane, and Adderley coming together so harmoniously a year or two later, by which point each had become not just leader of his band but practically founder of his own school." The second essay, "The Last King Of America: How Miles Davis InventedModernity," is a 3,000-word study by Professor Gerald Early of Washington University in St. Louis. Early, who has served as consultant on numerous Ken Burns documentary projects (Baseball, Jazz, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, The War), is a widely published author whohas written about subjects diverse as Negro baseball, Motown, Sammy Davis Jr., Muhammad Ali -- and Miles Davis. Early was the editor of Miles Davisand American Culture (2001), a compendium of essays.
"Kind of Blue would not have been possible if the LP did not exist,"Early says. "It was jazz conceived for the record album, not only because of the playing times of the tunes but also because of how the album createsan overall mood. Kind of Blue is not simply a series of tracks as the standard small group jazz album of the day was. Kind of Blue was one of thefew jazz records of its time that had a sense of narrative, a cohesive inter-relation between the tunes. It was a work, not a bunch of disparatetunes used to pace a small group jazz album: one fast-tempo piece, one ballad, one blues, one or two standards, a bop-oriented original. The sense of the album as an organic whole added to its appeal." Even so, the Kind of Blue LP was possessed by another kind of voodoo for decades.
Musicians who tried to "play along" with the first three tracks (side one) were perplexed because the music always sounded slightly sharper than pitch. In 1995, the problem was traced back to the old Columbia 30th Street Studio, and a 3-track tape machine that was running slightly slow during the March recording sessions. As a result, after the mastering process, those first three tunes always sounded sharp. In 1995, this pitch problem was finally corrected. At the same time, it was decided to remix the original 3-track tapes on a Presto all-tube recorder, similarto the one used in 1959. The mixes were brought back to "real life." The rich, full instrumental sound was restored, rendering every previous configuration obsolete.
Listening to Kind of Blue today, the ground rules come quickly: This was an exercise in solo and group improvisation, a break from the conventions of chordal complexity, "improvising on the sparest and starkest of scales as an alternative to bebop's dense thickets of chord changes," as Francis Davis writes. It was a "return to emphasis on melodic rather than harmonic variation," as Miles told The Jazz Review the year before. The works were composed (as it were) just hours before the sessions, so there could be no rehearsals as such. Once the group got past the "studio sequences" described earlier, the results were all first takes; only"Flamenco Sketches" was given an alternate take. Moreover, as Davis and Early and many other writers and musicians have openly discussed -- and Miles would frequently accede -- the five works allhad their roots in other sources. Kind of Blue was the first Miles Davis album comprised entirely of songs credited to his name, even though at least two of its themes were provided by Evans: "Flamenco Sketches" (whosepiano intro derived from Evans' "Peace Piece," itself based on LeonardBernstein's "Some Other Time" from On The Town); and "Blue in Green," which (writes Davis) "sprang verbatim from [Evans'] introduction to 'AloneTogether' on an earlier recording of that standard by Chet Baker."
This mayhave been business-as-usual in the jazz scene, but the financial impact of Miles not crediting anyone else certainly hastened the departure of Evans from the group. How and why has Kind of Blue held on to its status as an album that crosses genres, speaks to generations, and is one of the first (if not the first) album that any new jazz acolyte purchases? It "was one of those records," Early concludes, "along with Dave Brubeck's Time Out, another Columbia jazz record released in 1959, that made jazz a middlebrow music, a respectable music for middle-class, educated people who felt they hadrefined taste. This was enormously important for Davis both commerciallyand artistically for the rest of his career. As jazz ceased to be dancemusic, it needed middle brow status in order to survive as art music. Davis was essential in making this transformation possible."
Of special importance to Miles Davis aficionados around the globe is the DVD, Celebrating a Masterpiece: Kind of Blue. The new DVD incorporates material from the 2004 mini-documentary, Made In Heaven, including black-and-white still photography of the recording sessions and the voicesof Miles (at the sessions), as well as excerpts of radio interviews with the late Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley. There are interviews with musicians and luminaries including composer/performer David Amram, the late Ed Bradley, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Cosby, Herbie Hancock (who demonstrates "So What" at the piano), Eddie Henderson, Shirley Horn, Dave Liebman, the late Jackie McLean, funk-rocker Me'Shell Ndege'Ocello, hip-hop's Q-Tip, Carlos Santana, John Scofield, Horace Silver, and many others.
The DVD also unearths the group's entire 26-minute appearance on"Robert Herridge Theatre: The Sound of Miles Davis," a CBS television program recorded in 1959 and broadcast in 1960. Another bonus feature is the gallery of images captured by Columbia staff photographer Don Hunstein, covering the original recording sessions, as well as a key performance at New York's Plaza Hotel in September 1958. In conjunction with the latter, an unprecedented four-week exhibit of Miles Davis photography will be mounted at New York's downtown Morrison Hotel Gallery in November-December 2008. The exhibit will then travel to other Morrison Hotel locations andStarwood Hotels in 2009.
At the absolute core of the box set is the original 45-minute album program, whose five titles -- "So What," "Freddie Freeloader," "Blue in Green," "All Blues," and "Flamenco Sketches" -- are indelibly etched in our contemporary musical DNA, be it jazz, rock, third through fifth stream classical, or beyond. They are familiar old acquaintances on the LP as it existed in the marketplace for nearly three decades: the first three numbers occupying side one (which happened to have been cut on the firstday of recording, two three-hour sessions on Monday, March 2, 1959); and the last two numbers on side two (recorded at the final three-hour session of Wednesday, April 22, 1959).
On CD One of the box set, after the original five tunes are presented, there is the alternate take of "Flamenco Sketches," the only complete alternate take from the original recording sessions (a track first unveiled on the 5-LP/4-CD box set of 1988, Miles Davis: The Columbia Years 1955-1985, the first Miles Davis box set ever issued by Columbia). Following the alternate take, there are "studio sequences" (ranging from 11 seconds to nearly two minutes) for every one of the five titles, and one"false start." As transcribed and fleshed out by Ashley Kahn, these short tracks are eye-opening revelations into the studio relationship between Miles, the musicians, Columbia staff producer Irving Townsend, and recording engineer Fred Plaut, at this still-early stage in Miles' career as a leader (though he had been making records since 1945).
The 1959 sessions occupy CD One -- and then CD Two turns back the calendar to May 26, 1958. The five completed tracks from that session with producer Cal Lampley -- "On Green Dolphin Street," "Fran-Dance" (with analternate take), "Stella by Starlight," and "Love for Sale" -- are the only other studio recordings of the sextet with Adderley, Coltrane, Evans, Chambers, and Cobb (though live recordings exist from the Newport JazzFestival in July, and the Plaza in September).
The five 1958 studio tracks, scattered on various LP through the years,were united in one place for the first time on the double GrammyAward-winning 6-CD box set issued in 2000, Miles Davis & John Coltrane: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961. Now, for the first time, the five 1958 studio tracks are rightfully coupled -- at last -- with the five sextet tracks of Kind of Blue. The final track on CD Two is a mesmerizing 17-minute live concert version of "So What" (without Adderley, with Kelly), recorded in Holland, April 1960.
In late 1958, after some eight months, Bill Evans left the lineup and was replaced by Wynton Kelly. As Miles began to formulate his next studiorecording, Evans was invited back for the sessions and became an integral spark on the album's concept. Cobb bears witness to the fact that "the concept behind Kind of Blue grew out of the way the two (Miles and Evans) played together," as Francis Davis writes. "Evans and Davis were certainly on the same wavelength, and the pianist certainly contributes more than a sideman's share of Kind of Blue's air of pensive melancholy. In addition to which, his eloquent liner notes -- titled 'Improvisation in Jazz' -- cued listeners to hear the album as the very essence of jazz, an unmediated exercise in spontaneity."
The session-by-session transcripts compiled and expounded by Ashley Kahn are an indication of the quantum advance in scholarly exegesis that has grown up around Miles Davis in general and Kind of Blue in particular.This intellectual pursuit is given full exposure in the course of the boxset's 60-page book. Kahn's 3,000-word section, titled "Between The Takes,"reflects the full scope of research that went into his book Kind of Blue:The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (DaCapo Press, 2000; updated edition, Perseus, 2007, foreword by Jimmy Cobb).
Kahn's section is preceded by two major in-depth studies from writers who have also studied their subject for their entire careers. The book's opening essay is a 4,000-word overview written by Francis Davis, contributing editor of The Atlantic Monthly, jazz columnist for The VillageVoice, and winner of five ASCAP-Deems Taylor Awards for Excellence in Music Journalism. In addition to writing many books (among them The History ofthe Blues, Hyperion, 1995; and Jazz and Its Discontents: A Francis Davis Reader, Perseus, 2004), he has also written liner notes for over 60 jazz and pop albums, including titles by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and BillEvans.
"The two recording sessions for Kind of Blue," Francis Davis writes,"took place in the nick of time: it's impossible to imagine Davis, Evans,Coltrane, and Adderley coming together so harmoniously a year or two later, by which point each had become not just leader of his band but practically founder of his own school." The second essay, "The Last King Of America: How Miles Davis InventedModernity," is a 3,000-word study by Professor Gerald Early of Washington University in St. Louis. Early, who has served as consultant on numerous Ken Burns documentary projects (Baseball, Jazz, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, The War), is a widely published author whohas written about subjects diverse as Negro baseball, Motown, Sammy Davis Jr., Muhammad Ali -- and Miles Davis. Early was the editor of Miles Davisand American Culture (2001), a compendium of essays.
"Kind of Blue would not have been possible if the LP did not exist,"Early says. "It was jazz conceived for the record album, not only because of the playing times of the tunes but also because of how the album createsan overall mood. Kind of Blue is not simply a series of tracks as the standard small group jazz album of the day was. Kind of Blue was one of thefew jazz records of its time that had a sense of narrative, a cohesive inter-relation between the tunes. It was a work, not a bunch of disparatetunes used to pace a small group jazz album: one fast-tempo piece, one ballad, one blues, one or two standards, a bop-oriented original. The sense of the album as an organic whole added to its appeal." Even so, the Kind of Blue LP was possessed by another kind of voodoo for decades.
Musicians who tried to "play along" with the first three tracks (side one) were perplexed because the music always sounded slightly sharper than pitch. In 1995, the problem was traced back to the old Columbia 30th Street Studio, and a 3-track tape machine that was running slightly slow during the March recording sessions. As a result, after the mastering process, those first three tunes always sounded sharp. In 1995, this pitch problem was finally corrected. At the same time, it was decided to remix the original 3-track tapes on a Presto all-tube recorder, similarto the one used in 1959. The mixes were brought back to "real life." The rich, full instrumental sound was restored, rendering every previous configuration obsolete.
Listening to Kind of Blue today, the ground rules come quickly: This was an exercise in solo and group improvisation, a break from the conventions of chordal complexity, "improvising on the sparest and starkest of scales as an alternative to bebop's dense thickets of chord changes," as Francis Davis writes. It was a "return to emphasis on melodic rather than harmonic variation," as Miles told The Jazz Review the year before. The works were composed (as it were) just hours before the sessions, so there could be no rehearsals as such. Once the group got past the "studio sequences" described earlier, the results were all first takes; only"Flamenco Sketches" was given an alternate take. Moreover, as Davis and Early and many other writers and musicians have openly discussed -- and Miles would frequently accede -- the five works allhad their roots in other sources. Kind of Blue was the first Miles Davis album comprised entirely of songs credited to his name, even though at least two of its themes were provided by Evans: "Flamenco Sketches" (whosepiano intro derived from Evans' "Peace Piece," itself based on LeonardBernstein's "Some Other Time" from On The Town); and "Blue in Green," which (writes Davis) "sprang verbatim from [Evans'] introduction to 'AloneTogether' on an earlier recording of that standard by Chet Baker."
This mayhave been business-as-usual in the jazz scene, but the financial impact of Miles not crediting anyone else certainly hastened the departure of Evans from the group. How and why has Kind of Blue held on to its status as an album that crosses genres, speaks to generations, and is one of the first (if not the first) album that any new jazz acolyte purchases? It "was one of those records," Early concludes, "along with Dave Brubeck's Time Out, another Columbia jazz record released in 1959, that made jazz a middlebrow music, a respectable music for middle-class, educated people who felt they hadrefined taste. This was enormously important for Davis both commerciallyand artistically for the rest of his career. As jazz ceased to be dancemusic, it needed middle brow status in order to survive as art music. Davis was essential in making this transformation possible."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
DENA TAYLOR - ROUND MIDNIGHT
Dena Taylor will debut a selection of vocal jazz arrangements as featured artist July 13-21, on the exciting virtual jazz community "The Jazz Network" created by Jaijai Jackson, daughter of jazz bassist "Chubby Jackson." Dena's resounding voice premieres itself with her new release "Round Midnight." On this solo effort, Dena rounded up some very impressive musicians for her debut recording with keyboardist Ron Teixeira, bassist Ron Pirtle, and drummer Dave Dunscombe. Displaying a great respect for jazz standards Dena's debut CD is a heartwarming expression of her true nature and shows her spirit as a soulful storyteller. "The strong-voiced, yet sweet singing Taylor chose the 9 tracks based on her appreciation of the lyrics and emotional attachment to the melodies."She is a jazz and blues vocalist extraordinaire! Has a huge repertoire of songs from both genres of music and sings all of them very well. Is very professional, has great back up musicians, garners fans wherever she performs, and audiences feel she is singing to them. All in all, Dena Taylor is a joy to watch as well as to listen to her vocals." ~ Sandi Hall, Development Executive, WFIT 89.5FM-Brevards only Public Radio Station "Dena's voice is strong and seasoned. It captures the essence of the jazz standards by making them all her own." ~ Jaijai Jackson"This vocalist has an intensely strong, rich and mellow voice and she draws you into the jazz songs she sings." ~ CD Baby reviewAfter many years of building her musical talent singing locally in any venue she could find, she continued honing her skills after entering into the military where she remained from 1970 to 1982, mostly in Greece, Spain and Germany. Dena was able to utilize her vocal talents jamming with friends as well as performing in USO shows and local events in nearby hotels and clubs.Blending her theater and acting training with her lifelong love of the standard jazz repertoire, Dena's latest project is being heralded as a newcomer on the scene who surely has a message to express.
With musical influences like Rosemary Clooney, early Barbra Striesand, Dusty Springfeild and gospel artist CeCe Winans, Dena found her own voice and what feels good to her in her new CD "Round Midnight". Dena primarily performs in the central Florida area but is certainly open to taking her talents to wherever audiences want to hear what she has to share. Be it small intimate performances to large fund-raisers that lend her voice to those areas of charity that lies close to her heart. "I love it when the audience is in my song with me" says Dena.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
SARAH MCLACHLAN – CLOSER: THE BEST OF SARAH MCLACHLAN
On October 7th, 2008, multi-platinum Arista recording artist Sarah McLachlan will release the first best-of collection of her long and illustrious career. Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan contains 14 classic tracks personally selected by the artist from her award-winning catalog, as well as two newly recorded and previously unreleased songs, "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up On Us," working with her longtime producer Pierre Marchand. Additionally, a deluxe 2-CD version will be available, which will include the 16-song album plus a bonus disc of additional songs from Sarah's discography.
Since joining Arista two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan's studio and live albums and videos have been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA, starting with Touch (1988) and Solace (1991), both gold sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (triple-platinum) was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of The Freedom Sessions (1995, gold). Sarah's landmark fifth album, the 8x-platinum Surfacing (1997), contained two Grammy Award-winning tracks, as "Building a Mystery" won for Best Female Pop Vocal, and "Last Dance" was voted Best Pop Instrumental. 1999's triple-platinum Mirrorball, and its platinum long-form video counterpart, were both culled from that year's Lilith Fair tour, and spun off Sarah's third Grammy-winning performance, as "I Will Remember You" won for Best Female Pop Vocal. The double-platinum Afterglow followed in 2003, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album, while its opening track, "Fallen" was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal. 2007's Wintersong, was the #1 best seller on the Holiday Album charts that year, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and was certified Platinum, marking her 15th release to be certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA.
Here are some of the highlights of Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan:
-- "Good Enough," "Possession" - Both tracks are culled from Sarah McLachlan's third Arista album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (released 10/22/1993), her commercial breakthrough and first Billboard Top 50 chart entry. "... McLachlan never flinches, never takes the easy route of cliché and formula. This care and attention given to her art allows each song to stand strong individually, making the whole an extraordinary collection." (AllMusic.com)
-- "Building A Mystery" -- Taken from the Diamond-certified (10X-platinum) album Surfacing (released 7/15/1997), which entered the Billboard chart at Number Two, "Building A Mystery" won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal. ("Last Dance," a second track from Surfacing not included on the new collection, was voted Best Pop Instrumental.)
-- "I Will Remember You" -- Sarah McLachlan founded the legendary Lilith Tour in 1997 and her quadruple-platinum album, Mirrorball (released 6/15/1999), was recorded live during the 1999 tour. "I Will Remember You" from Mirrorball earned Sarah her third career Grammy Award, again in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal.
-- "Fallen" -- The opening track from Sarah's double-platinum album Afterglow (released 11/4/2003), which reached Number Two on the Billboard Top 200. "Fallen" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal. In addition, Afterglow was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.
-- "U Want Me 2," "Don't Give Up On Us" -- Composed by Sarah McLachlan and co-produced by Sarah and Pierre Marchand, these new recordings will be a special treat for fans who eagerly await the follow-up to Afterglow, Sarah's last album of all-original material.
Since joining Arista two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan's studio and live albums and videos have been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA, starting with Touch (1988) and Solace (1991), both gold sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (triple-platinum) was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of The Freedom Sessions (1995, gold). Sarah's landmark fifth album, the 8x-platinum Surfacing (1997), contained two Grammy Award-winning tracks, as "Building a Mystery" won for Best Female Pop Vocal, and "Last Dance" was voted Best Pop Instrumental. 1999's triple-platinum Mirrorball, and its platinum long-form video counterpart, were both culled from that year's Lilith Fair tour, and spun off Sarah's third Grammy-winning performance, as "I Will Remember You" won for Best Female Pop Vocal. The double-platinum Afterglow followed in 2003, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album, while its opening track, "Fallen" was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal. 2007's Wintersong, was the #1 best seller on the Holiday Album charts that year, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and was certified Platinum, marking her 15th release to be certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA.
Here are some of the highlights of Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan:
-- "Good Enough," "Possession" - Both tracks are culled from Sarah McLachlan's third Arista album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (released 10/22/1993), her commercial breakthrough and first Billboard Top 50 chart entry. "... McLachlan never flinches, never takes the easy route of cliché and formula. This care and attention given to her art allows each song to stand strong individually, making the whole an extraordinary collection." (AllMusic.com)
-- "Building A Mystery" -- Taken from the Diamond-certified (10X-platinum) album Surfacing (released 7/15/1997), which entered the Billboard chart at Number Two, "Building A Mystery" won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal. ("Last Dance," a second track from Surfacing not included on the new collection, was voted Best Pop Instrumental.)
-- "I Will Remember You" -- Sarah McLachlan founded the legendary Lilith Tour in 1997 and her quadruple-platinum album, Mirrorball (released 6/15/1999), was recorded live during the 1999 tour. "I Will Remember You" from Mirrorball earned Sarah her third career Grammy Award, again in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal.
-- "Fallen" -- The opening track from Sarah's double-platinum album Afterglow (released 11/4/2003), which reached Number Two on the Billboard Top 200. "Fallen" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal. In addition, Afterglow was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.
-- "U Want Me 2," "Don't Give Up On Us" -- Composed by Sarah McLachlan and co-produced by Sarah and Pierre Marchand, these new recordings will be a special treat for fans who eagerly await the follow-up to Afterglow, Sarah's last album of all-original material.
UPCOMING NEW RELEASES FROM VAN MORRISON, VERVE REMIXED, SANTANA & OTHERS...
Cal Tjader – Ca; Tjader Plays The Contemporary Music of Mexico & Brazil (Verve, Sept 23)
The Crusaders – Pass The Plat (Verve, Sept 23)
George Duke – Feel (Verve, Sept 23)
Herbie Hancock – The Definitive Herbie Hancock (Verve, Sept 23)
Luiz Bonfa – Luiz Bonfa Plays & Sings Bossa Nova (Verve, Sept 23)
Roy Ayers – You Send Me (Verve, Sept 23)
Stan Getz – Big Band Bossa Nova (Verve, Sept 23)
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks (Vinyl LP, Sept. 23)
Van Morrison – Moondance (Vinyl LP, Sept. 23)
Van Morrison - His Band & Street Choir (Vinyl LP, Sept 23)
Verve Remixed Holiday (Various Artists, Sept 23)
Verve Unmixed Holiday (Various Artists, Sept 23)
Linda Eder – The Other Side of Me (Verve, Sept 23)
Van Morrison – A Period of Transition (Polydor, Sept. 30)
Van Morrison - How Long Has This Been Going On (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Hymns to the Silence (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Poetic Champions Compose (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Saint Dominic’s Preview (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Tell Me Something (Polydor, Sept 30)
Santana – Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2CD, Sept 30)
Nina Simone – TO Be Free: The Nina Simone Story (3CD/DVD, RCA, Sept 30)
Billy Paul – 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul (Legacy, Oct 14)
Eliane Elias - Bossa Nova Stories (Blue Note, Oct 14)
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody (Legacy, Oct 14)
Leon Huff – How To Create Music (Legacy, Oct 14)
The O’Jays – Back Stabbers (Legacy, Oct 14)
Teddy Pendergrass – Teddy Pendergrass (Legacy, Oct 14)
Teddy Pendergrass – Life Is A Song Worth Singing (Legacy, Oct 14)
Love Train: The Sound Of Philadelphia (4CD, Various Artists, Legacy, Oct 21)
The Crusaders – Pass The Plat (Verve, Sept 23)
George Duke – Feel (Verve, Sept 23)
Herbie Hancock – The Definitive Herbie Hancock (Verve, Sept 23)
Luiz Bonfa – Luiz Bonfa Plays & Sings Bossa Nova (Verve, Sept 23)
Roy Ayers – You Send Me (Verve, Sept 23)
Stan Getz – Big Band Bossa Nova (Verve, Sept 23)
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks (Vinyl LP, Sept. 23)
Van Morrison – Moondance (Vinyl LP, Sept. 23)
Van Morrison - His Band & Street Choir (Vinyl LP, Sept 23)
Verve Remixed Holiday (Various Artists, Sept 23)
Verve Unmixed Holiday (Various Artists, Sept 23)
Linda Eder – The Other Side of Me (Verve, Sept 23)
Van Morrison – A Period of Transition (Polydor, Sept. 30)
Van Morrison - How Long Has This Been Going On (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Hymns to the Silence (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Poetic Champions Compose (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Saint Dominic’s Preview (Polydor, Sept 30)
Van Morrison - Tell Me Something (Polydor, Sept 30)
Santana – Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2CD, Sept 30)
Nina Simone – TO Be Free: The Nina Simone Story (3CD/DVD, RCA, Sept 30)
Billy Paul – 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul (Legacy, Oct 14)
Eliane Elias - Bossa Nova Stories (Blue Note, Oct 14)
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody (Legacy, Oct 14)
Leon Huff – How To Create Music (Legacy, Oct 14)
The O’Jays – Back Stabbers (Legacy, Oct 14)
Teddy Pendergrass – Teddy Pendergrass (Legacy, Oct 14)
Teddy Pendergrass – Life Is A Song Worth Singing (Legacy, Oct 14)
Love Train: The Sound Of Philadelphia (4CD, Various Artists, Legacy, Oct 21)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
NEW RELEASES FROM BRAZILIAN GIRLS, DAVID SANBORN, EDDIE FLOYD, LEON WARE & MORE...
Afronaut – African Lounge Experience (African Cream)
Airto – Promises Of The Sun (Arista)
Airto – Identify (Mercyry)
Alicia Meyers – Alicia (MCA)
Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band – La Diablesse EP (Heavenly Sweetness)
Bar-Kays – Propositions (Mercury)
Brazilian Girls – New York City (Verve Forecast)
Cal Tjader – The Best Of Cal Tjader: Live At The Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-1980 (Monteray Jazz Fest/UME)
Curtis Haywood – Curtis Haywood (MegaWave)
David Sanborn – Here And Gone (Decca)
Eastside Connection – Brand Spanking New (Rampart/Barrio Gold)
Eddie Floyd – Eddie Love You So (Stax/Concord)
Ella Fitzgerald – Miss Ella’s Playhouse (Verve)
Evelyn Champagne King – Open Book (Thumb)
Falcon People – Duden (Falcon People)
Fanga – Natural Juice (Underdog)
Ivana Satilli – Tony (Do Right)
Jards Macale – Macao (Biscoito Fino)
John Pizzarelli – With A Song In My Heart (Telarc)
Junior – Ji (Mercury)
Klique – Let’s Wear It Out! (MCA)
Klique – It’s Winning Time (MCA)
Kool & The Gang – Celebrate! (De-Lite/Polygram)
LTD – Love Magic (A&M)
Lalo Shifrin – Mannix Original Sounstrack
Lamont Dozier – Working On You (CBS/Expansion)
Laura Nyro – Season Of Light…Laura Nyro In Concert (Iconoclassic)
Leon Ware – Moonride (Stax)
The Manhattans – Sweet Talking Soul: The Manhattans 1965-1990 (Shout! Factory)
Naruyoshi Kikuchi Dub Sextet (East Works)
Phil Perry – Ready For Love (Shanachie)
Phyllis Hyman – Prime Of My Live (Zoo)
SMV: Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten – Thunder (Heads Up)
Shirelles – Tonight’s The Night/Sing To Trumpets & Strings (Scepter/Ace)
Richie Havens – Nobody Left To Crown (Verve Forecast)
Roy Hargrove Quintet – Earfood (Groovin’ High)
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere – Nudge It Up A Notch (Stax/Concord)
Sun – Wanna Lake Love (Capitol/Vivid)
Yamama’nym – Soularevolution (Outta Control)
Airto – Promises Of The Sun (Arista)
Airto – Identify (Mercyry)
Alicia Meyers – Alicia (MCA)
Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band – La Diablesse EP (Heavenly Sweetness)
Bar-Kays – Propositions (Mercury)
Brazilian Girls – New York City (Verve Forecast)
Cal Tjader – The Best Of Cal Tjader: Live At The Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-1980 (Monteray Jazz Fest/UME)
Curtis Haywood – Curtis Haywood (MegaWave)
David Sanborn – Here And Gone (Decca)
Eastside Connection – Brand Spanking New (Rampart/Barrio Gold)
Eddie Floyd – Eddie Love You So (Stax/Concord)
Ella Fitzgerald – Miss Ella’s Playhouse (Verve)
Evelyn Champagne King – Open Book (Thumb)
Falcon People – Duden (Falcon People)
Fanga – Natural Juice (Underdog)
Ivana Satilli – Tony (Do Right)
Jards Macale – Macao (Biscoito Fino)
John Pizzarelli – With A Song In My Heart (Telarc)
Junior – Ji (Mercury)
Klique – Let’s Wear It Out! (MCA)
Klique – It’s Winning Time (MCA)
Kool & The Gang – Celebrate! (De-Lite/Polygram)
LTD – Love Magic (A&M)
Lalo Shifrin – Mannix Original Sounstrack
Lamont Dozier – Working On You (CBS/Expansion)
Laura Nyro – Season Of Light…Laura Nyro In Concert (Iconoclassic)
Leon Ware – Moonride (Stax)
The Manhattans – Sweet Talking Soul: The Manhattans 1965-1990 (Shout! Factory)
Naruyoshi Kikuchi Dub Sextet (East Works)
Phil Perry – Ready For Love (Shanachie)
Phyllis Hyman – Prime Of My Live (Zoo)
SMV: Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten – Thunder (Heads Up)
Shirelles – Tonight’s The Night/Sing To Trumpets & Strings (Scepter/Ace)
Richie Havens – Nobody Left To Crown (Verve Forecast)
Roy Hargrove Quintet – Earfood (Groovin’ High)
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere – Nudge It Up A Notch (Stax/Concord)
Sun – Wanna Lake Love (Capitol/Vivid)
Yamama’nym – Soularevolution (Outta Control)
SADAO WATANABE – BASIE’S AT NIGHT
Japanese jazz saxophonist Sadao Watanabe is set to release a new, double-disc album and perform on rare select dates in the United States. The new CD, "Basie's At Night" will be released on September 2, 2008 and features some of Watanabe's best songs recorded at Basie's in Ichinoseki, Iwati on April 14, 2007. Sadao Watanabe learned clarinet and alto in high school, and moved to Tokyo in the '50s, where he joined Toshiko Akiyoshi's bop-oriented group. When the pianist moved to the U.S. in 1956, Watanabe took over the band. Watanabe has remained mostly based in Japan throughout his career, but when he attended Berklee in the early '60s, he was able to work with Gary McFarland, Chico Hamilton, and Gabor Szabo.
The tracklisting for "Basie's At Night" is:
Disc 1
1. One For You
2. Plum Island
3. I’m Old Fashioned
4. Alake – Lopin’
5. Tembea
6. Deep In A Dream
7. Maji
Disc 2
1. Bye Bye Babe
2. Basie’s At Bight
3. Life Is All Like That (For Snoopy & his friends)
4. See What Happens
5. Call Me
6. Manha De Carnaval
7. Episode
8. Karibu
9. Harambee
10. Carinhoso
Sadao Watanabe will perform on select U.S. dates in August and September.
The U.S. dates are:
August 29 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
August 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
August 31 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
September 2 - Los Angeles, CA @ Catalina Jazz Club
September 3 - Los Angeles, CA @ Catalina Jazz Club
September 5 - Washington, D.C. @ Blues Alley
September 6 - Washington, D.C. @ Blues Alley
September 8 - New York, NY @ Blue Note
September 9 - Boston, MA @ Regatta Bar
September 10 - Chicago, IL @ TBD
The tracklisting for "Basie's At Night" is:
Disc 1
1. One For You
2. Plum Island
3. I’m Old Fashioned
4. Alake – Lopin’
5. Tembea
6. Deep In A Dream
7. Maji
Disc 2
1. Bye Bye Babe
2. Basie’s At Bight
3. Life Is All Like That (For Snoopy & his friends)
4. See What Happens
5. Call Me
6. Manha De Carnaval
7. Episode
8. Karibu
9. Harambee
10. Carinhoso
Sadao Watanabe will perform on select U.S. dates in August and September.
The U.S. dates are:
August 29 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
August 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
August 31 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
September 2 - Los Angeles, CA @ Catalina Jazz Club
September 3 - Los Angeles, CA @ Catalina Jazz Club
September 5 - Washington, D.C. @ Blues Alley
September 6 - Washington, D.C. @ Blues Alley
September 8 - New York, NY @ Blue Note
September 9 - Boston, MA @ Regatta Bar
September 10 - Chicago, IL @ TBD
Monday, August 25, 2008
STEELY DAN SUMER TOUR 2008
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen will soon be wrapping up their THINK FAST, STEELY DAN SUMMER TOUR 2008, but not before two last blow-out concerts in the Sonoma Wine Country! Becker and Fagen have decided to end their critically and popularly-acclaimed tour in Santa Rosa, August 26 and 27. Tickets are still available for the Sonoma County concerts, which went on-sale in June. The concerts represent one of the most intimate opportunities ever to experience the iconic music of Steely Dan in the bands' 30+ year performance history. Presented in the 1600 seat Ruth Finley Person Theater at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, the concerts will feature Steely Dan's incredible roster of hits, with no seat further than 75-feet from the stage!
Becker and Fagen will draw from their deep, powerful, three-decade-plus catalog of signature hits and album favorites. The dapper duo will be supported, as always, by their tight, sophisticated and of world-class R&B and jazz players. Set lists may also sample from Fagen's just released Nightfly Trilogy, and Becker's newly released solo album, Circus Money.
"When we first decided to make an offer to Steely Dan, it was a long shot because our theater is much smaller than the 4,000+ seat venues the band normally plays," said Rick Bartalini who oversees talent booking for the Arts Center's entertainment programs. "But, when we learned the band was heading west again for a private show in Las Vegas (after having played the Bay Area in July), we decided to put together our best offer possible for two nights. We didn't realize then that they would be extending their tour to come here ... or that we would get to host the finale, which is a big honor! It's the chance of a lifetime for fans to see the band in such an intimate setting, and the fact that it's the tour finale makes it even more incredible."
Becker and Fagen will draw from their deep, powerful, three-decade-plus catalog of signature hits and album favorites. The dapper duo will be supported, as always, by their tight, sophisticated and of world-class R&B and jazz players. Set lists may also sample from Fagen's just released Nightfly Trilogy, and Becker's newly released solo album, Circus Money.
"When we first decided to make an offer to Steely Dan, it was a long shot because our theater is much smaller than the 4,000+ seat venues the band normally plays," said Rick Bartalini who oversees talent booking for the Arts Center's entertainment programs. "But, when we learned the band was heading west again for a private show in Las Vegas (after having played the Bay Area in July), we decided to put together our best offer possible for two nights. We didn't realize then that they would be extending their tour to come here ... or that we would get to host the finale, which is a big honor! It's the chance of a lifetime for fans to see the band in such an intimate setting, and the fact that it's the tour finale makes it even more incredible."
LALO SHIFRIN – MUSIC IMPOSSIBLE: MY LIFE IN MUSIC
If you love the music of Lalo Schifrin as much as I do, then you will be please to know that Scarecrow Press will release the autobiography of six-time Academy Award(R) nominated composer Lalo Schifrin this summer. Mission Impossible: My Life in Music, edited by Richard Palmer, is a journey from Schifrin's formative years in Argentina to the classical and jazz atmospheres in Paris in the 1950s; from his jazz career with Dizzy Gillespie to his development as a film composer. Schifrin has written over 100 film and television scores including Mission Impossible, Mannix, Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt, The Cincinnati Kid, Amityville Horror, four of the Dirty Harry films, and more recently Abominable and the Rush Hour trilogy. To date, Lalo Schifrin has won four Grammys(R) (twenty-one nominations), one Cable ACE Award, and six Academy Award(R) nominations.
Organized in eight parts, the book reflects on Schifrin's cosmopolitan experience providing impressions and vignettes of the extraordinary people with whom he worked. His music bridges three styles -- jazz, classical, and film/TV -- his autobiography offers insights on all three genres, as well as politics, literature, and travel. It includes over 30 photos, appendixes listing Schifrin's works, a discography, and an audio CD featuring some of Schifrin's greatest compositions.
Schifrin's career has taken him in many directions. As a jazz musician he performed and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Count Basie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and George Benson. His classical activities include Zubin Mehta, The Three Tenors, Rostropovich, Barenboim, and others. His longtime involvement in both the jazz and symphonic worlds came together in 1993 as pianist and conductor for his on-going series of "Jazz Meets the Symphony" recordings, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and jazz stars like Ray Brown, Grady Tate, Jon Faddis, Paquito D'Rivera and James Morrison.
Organized in eight parts, the book reflects on Schifrin's cosmopolitan experience providing impressions and vignettes of the extraordinary people with whom he worked. His music bridges three styles -- jazz, classical, and film/TV -- his autobiography offers insights on all three genres, as well as politics, literature, and travel. It includes over 30 photos, appendixes listing Schifrin's works, a discography, and an audio CD featuring some of Schifrin's greatest compositions.
Schifrin's career has taken him in many directions. As a jazz musician he performed and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Count Basie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and George Benson. His classical activities include Zubin Mehta, The Three Tenors, Rostropovich, Barenboim, and others. His longtime involvement in both the jazz and symphonic worlds came together in 1993 as pianist and conductor for his on-going series of "Jazz Meets the Symphony" recordings, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and jazz stars like Ray Brown, Grady Tate, Jon Faddis, Paquito D'Rivera and James Morrison.
Friday, August 22, 2008
SONY'S NEW XROSS FADE
Sony today introduced a DJ-style shelf system with a dual dock for iPod(R) devices called XROSS FADE(TM). It's perfect for mixing and playing music from iPod players, CDs and other music sources, XROSS FADE helps create the ultimate party soundtrack. Part of the Muteki(TM) series of stereo systems, the XROSS FADE (model LBT-DJ2i) has an imposing presence and massive output that can fill nearly any room with sound, whether it's in a home, a dorm, or even powering a block party.
This music system has 450 watts of total power output (wow!), so all you aspiring DJs can crank up the volume while still maintaining high quality sound. As its name implies, the XROSS FADE system comes with DJ-style features, including a cross-fader with monitor cue and a built-in two-channel mixer. With this feature, an upcoming track can be checked through headphones to be sure it's cued properly before playing it aloud. DJs can mix two songs or fade into the next song without missing a beat. With an interface and two scroll wheel mechanisms that allow for easy menu navigation similar to that of iPod players, users never need to touch their iPod players while scanning for the next track. The XROSS FADE system even has a USB recording function that saves mixing sessions to a USB device in the MP3 format without a PC.
For MP3 files, the system's MP3 Booster+ feature improves audio quality by restoring sound that is lost during compression. For extra thump, the beat blend feature adds a layer of pre-programmed percussion, drum sounds and drum loops over the mix. The XROSS FADE system includes traditional shelf system features, such as a CD player, an AM/FM tuner, and a line-in jack for listening to MP3 players. Users can mix music from these sources as well as their iPod players. The system converts CDs and AM/FM radio to MP3 files as well. With its matte black and chrome finish and appearance similar to a DJ mixing board, the XROSS FADE system is designed to be a statement piece for the bedroom, dorm room or living room. It produces a booming, high-impact sound through a pair of two-way bass reflex speakers and a dual 7-inch
subwoofer enclosure.
How much and when will it be available? The LBT-DJ2i XROSS FADE music system will be available in September for about $500 direct from select retailers nationwide. For more information about the XROSS FADE system and the entire Muteki line of shelf systems, click to http://www.sony.com/muteki.
This music system has 450 watts of total power output (wow!), so all you aspiring DJs can crank up the volume while still maintaining high quality sound. As its name implies, the XROSS FADE system comes with DJ-style features, including a cross-fader with monitor cue and a built-in two-channel mixer. With this feature, an upcoming track can be checked through headphones to be sure it's cued properly before playing it aloud. DJs can mix two songs or fade into the next song without missing a beat. With an interface and two scroll wheel mechanisms that allow for easy menu navigation similar to that of iPod players, users never need to touch their iPod players while scanning for the next track. The XROSS FADE system even has a USB recording function that saves mixing sessions to a USB device in the MP3 format without a PC.
For MP3 files, the system's MP3 Booster+ feature improves audio quality by restoring sound that is lost during compression. For extra thump, the beat blend feature adds a layer of pre-programmed percussion, drum sounds and drum loops over the mix. The XROSS FADE system includes traditional shelf system features, such as a CD player, an AM/FM tuner, and a line-in jack for listening to MP3 players. Users can mix music from these sources as well as their iPod players. The system converts CDs and AM/FM radio to MP3 files as well. With its matte black and chrome finish and appearance similar to a DJ mixing board, the XROSS FADE system is designed to be a statement piece for the bedroom, dorm room or living room. It produces a booming, high-impact sound through a pair of two-way bass reflex speakers and a dual 7-inch
subwoofer enclosure.
How much and when will it be available? The LBT-DJ2i XROSS FADE music system will be available in September for about $500 direct from select retailers nationwide. For more information about the XROSS FADE system and the entire Muteki line of shelf systems, click to http://www.sony.com/muteki.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
ENIGMA - SEVEN LIVES MANY FACES
Created and produced by ENIGMA mastermind Michael Cretu, Seven Lives Many Faces debuts 18 years after ENIGMA's spectacular global debut in the fall of 1990 with "Sadeness, Part 1." An omni-cultural trip traversed in 12 chapters, Seven Lives Many Faces is an aural expedition that moves well beyond the scope of the familiar range of sound, broadening listeners' sonic horizon and challenging the musical status quo. How popular is ENIGMA you say? Well with more than 40 million albums sold, 50 number one chart positions, and approximately 100 platinum sales awards around the world, ENIGMA is Germany's most successful musical export of the past 20 years. ENIGMA's seventh studio album, Seven Lives Many Faces, will be released by Virgin/EMI on September 30 in two physical and digital configurations: a single CD and digital album, and an expanded Special Edition with five additional new tracks, available in a deluxe 2-CD package and digitally."The idea behind ENIGMA is to make the impossible possible," says Cretu. "As long as I don't repeat myself, I won't get bored. That's why I always have to start something new, invent things!" To create Seven Lives Many Faces, Cretu drew from his vast digital archive of more than 400,000 different sounds. "Technology has never been a surrogate for a good idea, but even a good idea can never replace instinct," he says. "What I choose from this archive and how I combine the different elements is frequently difficult to follow, even for people who are involved in music." The new album (Seven Lives Many Faces) is driven, in part, by string arrangements paired with aggressive drums and percussion, bringing together traditional and modern musical elements. "Figuratively speaking, it was my intention to combine the dirtiest Bronx hip-hop beats with the purity of the London Symphony Orchestra."
Cretu has always looked for new ways to combine music and language, instrumentation and lyrics. Seven Lives Many Faces's final track, "The Language of Sound," a post-dadaist sonic collage of vocal fragments and human sounds, is representative of his broader creative vision for ENIGMA. Cretu explains, "Language produces barriers; music, on the other hand, is limitless. It is indispensable for the human race because it produces vibrations, tremors, emotions."
ENGIMA: Seven Lives Many Faces [CD, digital album]
Encounters
Seven Lives
Touchness
The Same Parents
Fata Morgana
Hell’s Heaven
La Puerta Del Cielo
Distorted Love
Je T’aime Till My Dying Day
Déjà vu
Between Generations
The Language of Sound
ENIGMA: Seven Lives Many Faces (Special Edition) [2-CD and Digital Collection]
Disc 1:
Encounters
Seven Lives
Touchness
The Same Parents
Fata Morgana
Hell’s Heaven
La Puerta Del Cielo
Distorted Love
Je T’aime Till My Dying Day
Déjà vu
Between Generations
The Language of Sound
Disc 2:
Superficial
We Are Nature
Downtown Silence
Sunrise
The Language of Sound (Slow Edit)
THE SEPTEMBER CONCERT CALENDAR
Adele, Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival, Seattle, WA, Sept 1
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Visual Arts Collective/Knitting Factory, Boise, ID, Sept 2
Sadao Watanabe @ Catalina Jazz Club, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 2-3
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin,
Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Whiskey, Jacques Ketchum, ID, Sept 3
Adele @ Webster Hall, New York, NY, Sept 3
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ The Knotty Pine, Victor, ID, Sept 4
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Mangy Moose, Teton Village, Wyoming, Sept 5
Sadao Watanabe @ Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Sept 5-6
Adele @ Somerville, Theatre, Somerville, MA, Sept 6
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ The Other Side, Misoula, MT, Sept 6
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Rosslyn Jazz Festival, Arlington, VA, Sept 6
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ TBA, Boseman, MT, Sept 7
Sadao Watanabe @ The Blue Note, NewYork, NY, Sept 8
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ John’s Alley, Moscow, ID, Sept 9
Sadao Watanabe @ Regatta Bar, Boston, MA, Sept 9
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Shoebox, Seattle, WA, Sept 10
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Lola’s Room, Portland, OR, Sept 11
Mindi Abiar @ The Wave Summer Jazz Series, Newport Beach, CA, Sept 12
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Domino Room, Bend, OR, Sept 12
Mindi Abair @ Palmdale Jazz & Wine Festival, Palmdale, CA, Sept 13
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz, CA, Sept 13
Brian Culberton, Average White Band @ Keswick Theatre, Glendale, PA, Sept 13
Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, KEM, Bobby Caldwell, Euge Groove, Leela James, Kool & The Gang, Brian Culbertson, Roy Ayers, Gil Parris @ Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival, Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NY, Sept 13-14
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ West Beach Music & Arts, Santa Barbara, CA, Sept 14
Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Steven Tyler @ Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, Sept 18-19
Mindi Abair @ Tower Theatre, Fresno, CA, Sept 26
Bobby Caldwell @ Discovery Meadow, San Jose, CA, Sept 27
Mindi Abair @ Bob Hope Theatre, Stockton, CA, Sept 27
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Lerner Hall, New York, NY, Sept 27
Dave Koz @ The Greek, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 27
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Visual Arts Collective/Knitting Factory, Boise, ID, Sept 2
Sadao Watanabe @ Catalina Jazz Club, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 2-3
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin,
Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Whiskey, Jacques Ketchum, ID, Sept 3
Adele @ Webster Hall, New York, NY, Sept 3
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ The Knotty Pine, Victor, ID, Sept 4
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Mangy Moose, Teton Village, Wyoming, Sept 5
Sadao Watanabe @ Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Sept 5-6
Adele @ Somerville, Theatre, Somerville, MA, Sept 6
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ The Other Side, Misoula, MT, Sept 6
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Rosslyn Jazz Festival, Arlington, VA, Sept 6
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ TBA, Boseman, MT, Sept 7
Sadao Watanabe @ The Blue Note, NewYork, NY, Sept 8
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ John’s Alley, Moscow, ID, Sept 9
Sadao Watanabe @ Regatta Bar, Boston, MA, Sept 9
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Shoebox, Seattle, WA, Sept 10
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Lola’s Room, Portland, OR, Sept 11
Mindi Abiar @ The Wave Summer Jazz Series, Newport Beach, CA, Sept 12
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Domino Room, Bend, OR, Sept 12
Mindi Abair @ Palmdale Jazz & Wine Festival, Palmdale, CA, Sept 13
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz, CA, Sept 13
Brian Culberton, Average White Band @ Keswick Theatre, Glendale, PA, Sept 13
Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, KEM, Bobby Caldwell, Euge Groove, Leela James, Kool & The Gang, Brian Culbertson, Roy Ayers, Gil Parris @ Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival, Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NY, Sept 13-14
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ West Beach Music & Arts, Santa Barbara, CA, Sept 14
Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Steven Tyler @ Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, Sept 18-19
Mindi Abair @ Tower Theatre, Fresno, CA, Sept 26
Bobby Caldwell @ Discovery Meadow, San Jose, CA, Sept 27
Mindi Abair @ Bob Hope Theatre, Stockton, CA, Sept 27
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Lerner Hall, New York, NY, Sept 27
Dave Koz @ The Greek, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 27
BETTE MIDLER - BEST BETTE
Bette Midler is an artist of stunning versatility who can leave you in tears with a funny story or a sad song. A gifted actress and natural comedian, Midler is best known as an exceptional interpreter of song, winning four Grammy® Awards since her 1972 debut with Atlantic Records. As Midler continues to charm Sin City with her ongoing concert show at Caesars Palace, The Showgirl Must Go On, Rhino pays tribute to the Divine Miss M with a career-spanning collection of her biggest hits and an unreleased demo. JACKPOT -- THE BEST BETTE will be available on September 23 from Rhino Records at all physical and digital outlets.
The 19-song retrospective paints a vibrant portrait of Midler's uncanny ability to inhabit any style of music and make it her own. Taken from nine studio albums, this eclectic selection touches on girl group ("Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"), Top 40 ("Friends"), soul ("When A Man Loves A Woman"), standards ("This Ole House"), holiday ("Cool Yule") and rock ("Beast Of Burden").
JACKPOT also spotlights two of Midler's most important musical milestones. The first is "Wind Beneath My Wings," her first #1 hit and winner of the 1989 Grammy® Award for Record of the Year. The second is "From A Distance," winner of the 1990 Grammy® for Song of the Year and a #2 hit for Midler from her platinum-certified album Some People's Lives.
Alongside the familiar melodies on JACKPOT is "Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me," an unreleased demo Midler recorded in the summer of 1984 with renowned songwriters Robert Kraft and Barry Reynolds. Kraft recalls cutting the track at Atlantic Studios: "I always thought there was some magic in those sessions, because the songs seemed to acquire a haunting, almost bittersweet quality as we laid down the tracks. Roberta Flack recorded this song several years later, but I have always been a fan of Bette's original vocal on this version."
JACKPOT -- THE BEST BETTE
Track Listing
1. "In The Mood"
2. "This Ole House"
3. "Beast Of Burden"
4. "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)"
5. "The Rose"
6. "When A Man Loves A Woman"
7. "I've Still Got My Health"
8. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"
9. "Hello In There"
10. "The Glory Of Love"
11. "Tenderly"
12. "Wind Beneath My Wings"
13. "Do You Want To Dance?"
14. "Baby Mine"
15. "From A Distance"
16. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" -- Single Version
17. "Friends"
18. "Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me" *
19. "Cool Yule"
* Previously unreleased
The 19-song retrospective paints a vibrant portrait of Midler's uncanny ability to inhabit any style of music and make it her own. Taken from nine studio albums, this eclectic selection touches on girl group ("Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"), Top 40 ("Friends"), soul ("When A Man Loves A Woman"), standards ("This Ole House"), holiday ("Cool Yule") and rock ("Beast Of Burden").
JACKPOT also spotlights two of Midler's most important musical milestones. The first is "Wind Beneath My Wings," her first #1 hit and winner of the 1989 Grammy® Award for Record of the Year. The second is "From A Distance," winner of the 1990 Grammy® for Song of the Year and a #2 hit for Midler from her platinum-certified album Some People's Lives.
Alongside the familiar melodies on JACKPOT is "Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me," an unreleased demo Midler recorded in the summer of 1984 with renowned songwriters Robert Kraft and Barry Reynolds. Kraft recalls cutting the track at Atlantic Studios: "I always thought there was some magic in those sessions, because the songs seemed to acquire a haunting, almost bittersweet quality as we laid down the tracks. Roberta Flack recorded this song several years later, but I have always been a fan of Bette's original vocal on this version."
JACKPOT -- THE BEST BETTE
Track Listing
1. "In The Mood"
2. "This Ole House"
3. "Beast Of Burden"
4. "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)"
5. "The Rose"
6. "When A Man Loves A Woman"
7. "I've Still Got My Health"
8. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"
9. "Hello In There"
10. "The Glory Of Love"
11. "Tenderly"
12. "Wind Beneath My Wings"
13. "Do You Want To Dance?"
14. "Baby Mine"
15. "From A Distance"
16. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" -- Single Version
17. "Friends"
18. "Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me" *
19. "Cool Yule"
* Previously unreleased
JERRY WEXLER - VISIONARY MUSIC PRODUCER
Jerry Wexler, one of the prime architects of Atlantic Records -- as a visionary producer as well as a senior executive -- passed away earlier this week at his home in Florida at the age of 91. A passionate jazz fan and record collector, Jerry Wexler joined Atlantic in 1953, six years after the company's formation. He had previously been a writer at Billboard -- where he coined the term "Rhythm and Blues" for the genre then known as "Race Music." Hired by co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, Wexler entered Atlantic as a partner, remaining as an executive until 1975, when he left his post as Vice Chairman to focus on producing and writing.
Together with Ertegun, Wexler revolutionized R&B music and the music business itself in the '50s and '60s. A true renaissance man, Jerry brought a rare combination of creativity, intelligence, wit, artistic sensibility, and business savvy to the evolution of Atlantic from a small independent label into a major industry force. He understood music and musicians in a way few label executives did, and was able to inspire them to do their best and most original work.
In his early days at Atlantic, Wexler worked alongside Ertegun to produce groundbreaking records by such artists as Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, Big Joe Turner, and Ruth Brown. He subsequently produced such soul stars as Aretha Franklin -- whom he personally signed to the label -- Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, King Curtis, Donny Hathaway, and many others. Wexler pioneered Atlantic's move into Southern Soul music and forged the hugely successful partnership with the Memphis-based Stax Records -- the home of Otis Redding -- and the label's rhythm section (comprised primarily of the members of Booker T. & The MG's). He went on to produce landmark records at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and Criteria Studios in Miami.
Along with Ertegun, Wexler was instrumental in signing Led Zeppelin to Atlantic, and he brought in the Allman Brothers by helping their manager, Phil Walden, set up Capricorn Records. Numerous other Atlantic artists benefited from Jerry's guidance and inspiration, and he produced classic records by Dusty Springfield, Esther Phillips, Willie Nelson, Dr. John, and many more. Wexler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
In describing his producing style, Wexler once noted that he was "the guy in the middle who is neither an engineer nor a musician, but an ear to hear what is happening and reshape it... the role becomes one of director. You keep it rolling; you know the choices that must be made. In my analysis, the final determination is that if you can't go out and change the music, you aren't a producer. You are merely presiding at a happening."
The history of Atlantic Records and of the sound of contemporary music would be very different without the impact that Jerry's great ears, uncanny intuition, and true genius had on countless artists and their music. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him and, more importantly, by the millions who -- knowingly or unknowingly -- have heard his phenomenal body of work. He remains inspiration to all of us as we strive to build on Atlantic's legacy in the 21st Century. Our condolences go out to Jerry's family and friends during this sad and difficult time.
Together with Ertegun, Wexler revolutionized R&B music and the music business itself in the '50s and '60s. A true renaissance man, Jerry brought a rare combination of creativity, intelligence, wit, artistic sensibility, and business savvy to the evolution of Atlantic from a small independent label into a major industry force. He understood music and musicians in a way few label executives did, and was able to inspire them to do their best and most original work.
In his early days at Atlantic, Wexler worked alongside Ertegun to produce groundbreaking records by such artists as Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, Big Joe Turner, and Ruth Brown. He subsequently produced such soul stars as Aretha Franklin -- whom he personally signed to the label -- Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, King Curtis, Donny Hathaway, and many others. Wexler pioneered Atlantic's move into Southern Soul music and forged the hugely successful partnership with the Memphis-based Stax Records -- the home of Otis Redding -- and the label's rhythm section (comprised primarily of the members of Booker T. & The MG's). He went on to produce landmark records at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and Criteria Studios in Miami.
Along with Ertegun, Wexler was instrumental in signing Led Zeppelin to Atlantic, and he brought in the Allman Brothers by helping their manager, Phil Walden, set up Capricorn Records. Numerous other Atlantic artists benefited from Jerry's guidance and inspiration, and he produced classic records by Dusty Springfield, Esther Phillips, Willie Nelson, Dr. John, and many more. Wexler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
In describing his producing style, Wexler once noted that he was "the guy in the middle who is neither an engineer nor a musician, but an ear to hear what is happening and reshape it... the role becomes one of director. You keep it rolling; you know the choices that must be made. In my analysis, the final determination is that if you can't go out and change the music, you aren't a producer. You are merely presiding at a happening."
The history of Atlantic Records and of the sound of contemporary music would be very different without the impact that Jerry's great ears, uncanny intuition, and true genius had on countless artists and their music. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him and, more importantly, by the millions who -- knowingly or unknowingly -- have heard his phenomenal body of work. He remains inspiration to all of us as we strive to build on Atlantic's legacy in the 21st Century. Our condolences go out to Jerry's family and friends during this sad and difficult time.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
UB40 - GREATEST HITS
For more than 25 years, UB40 has been one of the world's premiere pop-reggae acts, with severalinternational chart-topping singles and global sales totaling more than 70 million albums. On September 30, Virgin/EMI will release UB40: Greatest Hits, a new CD and digital collection of 21 hits and standout tracks spanning the influential group's career. In 1983, UB40 released the album Labour of Love, a direct tribute to the musicians who had inspired and influenced them. The phenomenally popular 'Red Red Wine' was the album's first single, and it went straight to #1 on the UK charts upon its release, remaining on the British charts for two years. In 1984, the song became UB40's first U.S. #1 and went on to be a worldwide hit for the group.Included on UB40: Greatest Hits are the group's first #1 smash, 1984's "Red Red Wine," and their reggae-splashed hit versions of "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," "(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You," and "The Way You Do The Things You Do." Also included are two songs featuring The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, "I Got You Babe" and "Breakfast In Bed." "Swing Low", the official anthem for the England rugby team's triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign in Australia, was the group's 49th UK chart single.
After many years performing live and developing a name for themselves, UB40's fortunes changed at the beginning of 1980, when they were asked to support The Pretenders on a UK tour. The cover art for UB40's first album, released that year, was a reproduction of the UK's unemployment benefit card, with the title Signing Off rubber-stamped in red. It referred to "signing off" the dole and getting a job, both an acknowledgement of the launch of the band and a celebration of their new status.
Because they were from the West Midlands and they were a large multicultural group playing music of Jamaican origin, UB40 were initially thought to be part of the two-tone music scene which had burst out of nearby Coventry. Rooted in Caribbean ska, rock steady and reggae, the two-tone style was popularized by Coventry bands including The Specials and The Selecter. Signing Off made it clear that UB40 were not part of the two-tone movement. While they were part of the same social and political tendency, their musical approach was quite different. Their sound was more relaxed, sophisticated and sultry.
UB40: Greatest Hits (CD, Digital Album)
1. (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You
2. One In Ten
3. Red Red Wine
4. If It Happens Again
5. Here I Am (Come And Take Me)
6. Sing Our Own Song
7. I Got You Babe [featuring Chrissie Hynde]
8. Groovin' (Out On Life)
9. My Way Of Thinking
10. The Way You Do The Things You Do
11. Higher Ground
12. Please Don't Make Me Cry
13. Kingston Town
14. Come Back Darling
15. Don't Break My Heart
16. Cherry Oh Baby
17. Breakfast In Bed [featuring Chrissie Hynde]
18. Rat In Mi Kitchen
19. Homely Girl
20. Until My Dying Day
21. Swing Low [featuring The United Colors Of Sound]
TINA TURNER - TURNER!
With sales totaling more than 170 million albums worldwide and a phenomenal number of hit records throughout her career, Tina Turner is the most successful female rock artist of all time and the undisputed Queen of Rock 'N' Roll. Turner made headlines around the world in May when she announced that she would tour this fall and winter. To complement the eight-time Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's long-awaited return to arenas throughout North America, Capitol/EMI will release Tina! on September 30, a new 18-track CD and digital collection of Turner's top hits, rare live recordings and two exclusive new tracks. In addition to featuring all of the career-spanning hits Turner will perform at her concerts, including "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Private Dancer," "Better Be Good To Me," "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)," "Proud Mar
y" (1993 version), "Nutbush City Limits," and "River Deep Mountain High," among others, Tina! features two new, exclusive tracks, titled "It Would Be A Crime" and "I'm Ready." Four concert recordings are also featured, including "I Can't Stand The Rain," recorded live at Amsterdam Arena (1996), "Addicted To Love," recorded live at London's Camden Palace (1986), and two that have never before been released on CD, "The Best," recorded live at London's Wembley Arena (2000) and "Let's Stay Together," recorded live at Amsterdam Arena (1996).
y" (1993 version), "Nutbush City Limits," and "River Deep Mountain High," among others, Tina! features two new, exclusive tracks, titled "It Would Be A Crime" and "I'm Ready." Four concert recordings are also featured, including "I Can't Stand The Rain," recorded live at Amsterdam Arena (1996), "Addicted To Love," recorded live at London's Camden Palace (1986), and two that have never before been released on CD, "The Best," recorded live at London's Wembley Arena (2000) and "Let's Stay Together," recorded live at Amsterdam Arena (1996).Tina Turner's May 12 tour announcement and captivating live performance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was the talk of the entertainment world. The program will re-air prior to the release of Tina! and Turner's tour-opening show in Kansas City, MO on October 1. The tour will take Turner to major cities across North America for 28 concerts from October 1 to December 12, including Newark, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, DC, Toronto, and Montreal. 31 European dates will follow, from January 14 to April 3, including four nights of shows in Cologne, London, Manchester and Munich, three in Hamburg and Antwerp, two in Vienna, Paris and Arnhem and single dates in Paris, Berlin, Hannover and Zurich.
The brand new stage show will feature hit after hit spanning Turner's entire career, with a spectacular production including the singer's top-notch band, innovative choreography, hi-tech lighting and much more. With sensual, soulful and powerful vocals that have been part of music history for over four decades, the singer's explosive live set will include everything from early career singles through solo superstar smashes, as well as '90s comeback hits including "I Don't Wanna Fight" and the theme song to the James Bond film Goldeneye. The set, the production, the songs, and Turner's unique stage presence will delight her legions of fans who have followed the legendary diva's extraordinary creative journey, while seducing new admirers and proving that her vocal majesty still continues its reign to this day. Before the tour begins, People magazine and "Entertainment Tonight" will showcase Turner with looks behind the curtain in special previews of what fans will enjoy at the concerts.
Turner's last album was released in 2004, a collection of hits with the newly recorded single "Open Arms." It was a worldwide smash, debuting at #2 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. In 2005, she was honored as one of Oprah Winfrey's legends, African-American women who have broken barriers in their lives and work, and ended the year as a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, the highest form of recognition of excellence in the arts in the U.S.
Tina Turner: Tina! (CD and Digital Album)
1. Steamy Windows
2. River Deep Mountain High [different version on digital release]
3. Better Be Good To Me
4. The Acid Queen [different version on digital release]
5. What You Get Is What You See
6. What's Love Got To Do With It
7. Private Dancer
8. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
9. I Don't Wanna Fight
10. Let's Stay Together (live at Amsterdam Arena, 1996) [CD release debut]
11. I Can't Stand The Rain (live at Amsterdam Arena, 1996)
12. Goldeneye
13. Addicted To Love (live at Camden Palace, London, 1986)
14. The Best (live at Wembley Arena, London, 2000) [CD release debut]
15. Proud Mary (1993 Version)
16. Nutbush City Limits
BONUS TRACKS
17. It Would Be A Crime [NEW track, exclusive to this release]
18. I'm Ready [NEW track, exclusive to this release]
Tina Turner: Tina! (CD and Digital Album)
1. Steamy Windows
2. River Deep Mountain High [different version on digital release]
3. Better Be Good To Me
4. The Acid Queen [different version on digital release]
5. What You Get Is What You See
6. What's Love Got To Do With It
7. Private Dancer
8. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
9. I Don't Wanna Fight
10. Let's Stay Together (live at Amsterdam Arena, 1996) [CD release debut]
11. I Can't Stand The Rain (live at Amsterdam Arena, 1996)
12. Goldeneye
13. Addicted To Love (live at Camden Palace, London, 1986)
14. The Best (live at Wembley Arena, London, 2000) [CD release debut]
15. Proud Mary (1993 Version)
16. Nutbush City Limits
BONUS TRACKS
17. It Would Be A Crime [NEW track, exclusive to this release]
18. I'm Ready [NEW track, exclusive to this release]
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
ISAAC HAYES - WE WILL MISS YOU
On August 10, 2008 Hayes' wife, Adjowa, found him on the floor near a treadmill inside his home located just east of Memphis, Tennessee.. A Shelby County, Tennessee sheriff's deputy responded to Hayes' home. He was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, where he was pronounced dead at 2:08pm, at the age of 65. The cause of death was not immediately known, though the stroke he suffered in 2006 is considered a factor.Isaac Hayes was one of the main creative forces behind the music label Stax Records, where he served as both an in-house songwriter, producer, and session player. He co-wrote songs with songwriting partner David Porter that resulted in a string of hit songs including "You Don't Know Like I Know", “Soul Man”, “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby”. And “Hold On, I’m Comin" for Sam and Dave. In the late 1960s, Hayes became a recording artist, and recorded successful soul albums such as Hot Buttered Soulr (1969) and Black Moses (1971. Isaac Hayes was also an award winning songwriter for the film score to the 1971 blaxploitations film Shaft, as he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song (the first Academy Award received by an African-American in a non-acting category) and two Grammy Awards.
He received a third Grammy for the album Black Moses. In 1992, in recognition of his humanitarium work, he was crowned an honorary king of Ghana’s Ada district. From 1997 to 2006, he provided the voice for the character "Chef" on the Comedy Central animated TV series South Park. He also appeared in many film and television appearances. At the time of his death, he was preparing his first new studio album since 1995. Although Hayes had health problems in recent years he did had continue to tour and work occasionally in film (he had a role in “Soul Men,” a comedy set for release in November and starring Samuel L. Jackson and coincidentally, with Bernie Mac, the comedian who died this past Saturday). Isaac. Hayes had been married three times previously. In addition to his wife, he is survived by their son, Nana, and 11 other children.
ISAAC HAYES – A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
PRESENTING ISAAC HAYES (1967) • Precious, Precious 2:42 • When I Fall In Love 3:28 • Medley: 9:00 • I Just Want To Make Love To You • Rock Me Baby Medley: 9:45 • Going to Chicago Blues • Misty • You Don’t Know Like I Know 8:30 • Precious, Precious 19:05
HOT BUTTERED SOUL (1969) • Walk on By 12:00 • HYPERBOLICSYLLABICSESQUEDALYMISTIC 9:36 • One Woman 5:07 • By the Time I Get to Phoenix 18:40
THE ISAAC HAYES MOVEMENT (1970) • I Stand Accused 11:37 • One Big Unhappy Family 5:49 • I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself 7:00 • Something 11:52
ISAAC HAYES …TO BE CONTINUED (1970) • Monologue: Ike’s Rap I 3:57 • Our Day Will Come 5:20 • The Look Of Love 11:07 • Medley: Monologue: Ike’s Mood I 6:28 • You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin 8:55 • Runnin Out of Fools 5:49
BLACK MOSES (1971) • Disc 1 • Never Can Say Goodbye 5:07 • (They Long to Be) Close to You 8:58 • Nothing Takes The Place of You 5:29 • Man’s Temptation 4:59 • Part-Time Love 8:30 • Medley: • Ike’s Rap IV 2:10 • A Brand New Me 7:30 • Going In Circles 6:59 • Disc 2 • Never Gonna Give You Up 5:47 • Medley: • Ike’s Rap II 2:10 • Help me Love 5:21 • Need to Belong to Someone 5:15 • Good Love 5:15 • Medley: • Ike’s Rap III 1:35 • Your Love Is So Doggone Good 7:40 • For the Good Times 5:20 • I’ll Never Fall In Love Again 4:59
SHAFT (1971) • Theme from Shaft (Vocal) 4:37 • Bumpy’s Lament 1:49 • Walk from Regio’s 2:22 • Ellie’s Love Theme 3:15 • Shaft’s Cab Ride 1:07 • Café Regio’s 6:09 • Early Sunday Morning 3:47 • Be Yourself 4:27 • A Friend’s Place 3:21 • Soulsville (Vocal) 3:47 • No Name Bar 6:09 • Bumpy’s Blues 4:01 • Shaft Strikes Again 3:04 • Do Your Thing (Vocal) 19:38 • The End Theme 1:56
WATTSTAX — THE LIVING WORLD (1972) • Disc 1 • THE STAPLES SINGERS • Oh La De Da • I Like the Things About Me • Respect Yourself • I’ll Take You There • EDDIE FLOYD • Knock On Wood • Lay Your Loving on Me • CARLA THOMAS • I Like What You’re Doing (To Me) • Gee Whiz • I Have A God Who Loves • RUFUS THOMAS • The Breakdown • Do the Funky Chicken • Do the Funky Penguin • Disc 2 • THE BAR-KAYS • Son of Shaft/Feel It • I Can’t Turn You Loose • ALBERT KING • Killing Floor • I’ll Play the Blues For You • Angel of Mercy • THE SOUL CHILDREN • I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To • Hearsay • ISAAC HAYES • Ain’t No Sunshine
JOY (1973) • Joy 15:55 • I Love You That’s All 6:14 • A Man Will Be A Man 7:20 • The Feeling Keeps On Coming 6:28 • I’m Gonna Make It (Without You) 11:11
LIVE AT THE SAHARA TAHOE (1973) • Disc 1 • Theme from "Shaft" 4:38 • The Come On 4:35 • Light My Fire 3:16 • Ike’s Rap V 4:13 • Never Can Say Goodbye 3:54 • Windows of the World 7:40 • The Look Of Love 5:20 • Ellie’s Love Theme 4:58 • Use Me 6:29 • Theme from "The Men" 3:30 • Disc 2 • It’s Too Late 5:50 • Rock Me Baby 5:38 • Stormy Monday Blues 3:58 • Type Thang 3:37 • The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 4:59 • Ike’s Rap VI 6:39 • Ain’t No Sunshine 10:40 • Feelin’ Alright 5:46
CHOCOLATE CHIP (1975) • That Loving Feeling 6:36 • Body Language 5:31 • Chocolate Chip 5:30 • Chocolate Chip (Instrumental) 5:32 • I Want to Make Love to You So Bad 4:17 • Come Live With Me 6:35 • I Can’t Turn Around 6:32
U TURN (1986) If You Want My Lovin', Do Me Right • Flash Backs • You Turn Me On • Ike's Rap VIII • Hey Girl • Doesn't Rain in London • Can't Take My Eyes off You • Thing for You •Thank God for Love
THE BEST OF ISAAC HAYES — VOLUME 1 (1986) • Theme from "Shaft" • Café Reggio • Walk On By • Ain’t That Lovin’ You (For More Reasons Than One) • Do Your Thing • (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right • I Stand Accused
THE BEST OF ISAAC HAYES — VOLUME 2 (1986) • Never Can Say Goodbye • The Look of Love • Theme from "The Men" • Joy • Let’s Stay Together • Ike’s Mood • By the Time I Get to Phoenix
LOVE ATTACK (1988) • Love Attack • Let Me Be Your Everything • Showdown • Eye of the Storm • Accused Rap • I Stand Accused ’88 (Featuring Brenda Jones Williams) • Foreplay Rap • Love Won’t Let Me Wait (Featuring Yasmin Jones)
GREATEST HIT SINGLES (1991) • By the Time I Get to Phoenix 7:02 • Walk on By 4:32 • I Stand Accused 3:59 • The Look of Love 3:18 • Never Can Say Goodbye 3:32 • Theme From "Shaft" 3:15 • Do Your Thing 3:16 • Let’s Stay Together 3:32 • Ain’t That loving You (For More Reasons Than One) 4:22 • Theme From "The Men" 4:00 • (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right 4:45 • Joy (Part 1) 4:35
DOUBLE FEATURE — THREE TOUGH GUYS & TRUCK TURNER (1993) • Disc 1 -TOUGH GUYS • Title Theme 2:32 • Randolph & Dearborn 4:24 • The Red Rooster 4:04 • Joe Bell 4:57 • Hung up On My Baby 6:15 • Kidnapped 2:40 • Run Fay Run 2:45 • Bun’s O’Plenty 4:37 • The End Theme 1:13 • TRUCK TURNER • Main Title "Truck Turner" 2:43 • House of Beauty 3:05 • Blue’s Crib 5:15 • Driving In the Sun 6:07 • Disc 2 - • Breakthrough 3:07 • Now We’re One 2:25 • The Duke 2:34 • Dorinda’s Party 4:37 • Pursuit of the Pimpmobile 9:05 • We Need each Other Girl 3:21 • A House Full of Girls 3:56 • Hospital Shootout 2:34 • You’re in My Arms Again 4:50 • Give It To Me 4:36 • Drinking 3:34 • The Insurance Company 7:00 • End Theme 2:04
WONDERFUL (1994) • Ain’t No Sunshine 16:50 • Rolling Down a Mountainside 5:24 • I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You) 4:22 • Wonderful 3:47 • Someone Made You for Me 4:05 • Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) 4:22 • Baby I’m-A Want You 4:42 • The Mistletoe and Me 3:57 • Winter Snow 2:55
BRANDED ((1995) • Ike's Plea 1:32 • Life's Mood 2:52 • Fragile 6:21 • Life's Mood II 3:21 • Summer In the City 6:55 • Let Me Love You 4:42 • I'll Do Anything (To Turn You On) 7:45 • Thanks To the Fool 7:40 • Branded 7:02 • Soulsville 4:09 • HYPERBOLICSYLLABICSESQUEDALYMISTIC 12:00
RAW AND REFINED (1995) • Birth of Shaft 3:30 • Urban Nights 4:30 • Funkalicious 5:37 • Tahoe Spring 4:27 • The Night Before 4:38 • Memphis Trax 3:35 • Soul Fiddle 6:35 • Funky Junky 7:02 • You Make Me Live 3:45 • Making Love at the Ocean 5:42 • Southern Breeze 5:55 • Didn't Know Love Was So Good 3:50 • The 405 6:42
THE BEST OF ISAAC HAYES — THE POLYDOR YEARS (1996) • Moonlight Lovin’ (Menage A Trois) 9:58 • Zeke the Freak 4:18 • Out of the Ghetto 5:44 • Don’t Let Go 7:15 • What Does It Take 5:55 • A Few More Kisses To Go 6:05 • Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 6:45 • You Can’t Hold Your Woman 6:04 • It’s All In the Game 5:52 • Wherever You Are 5:39 • Lifetime Thing 5:32 • It’s Heaven To Me 4:18
THE BEST OF ISAAC HAYES (1998) • Theme from Shaft • Walk on By • The Look of Love • Never Can Say Goodbye • Do Your Thing • (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t To Be Right • I Stand Accused • I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself • Joy (Part 1) • Feel Like Making Love (Part 1) • Type Thang • Three Tough Guys (Title Theme)
ULTIMATE COLLECTION (2000) • Theme From Shaft • Never Can Say Goodbye • Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic • Do Your Thing • Walk On By • Joy - Pt.1 • Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight • Out Of The Ghetto • Chocolate Chip • A Few More Kisses To Go • Don't Let Go • Moonlight Lovin' (Menage a Trois) • It's Heaven To Me • Dark And Lovely (You Over There) • IKE'S Rap • Birth Of Shaft
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
BUDDY GUY - SKIN DEEP
Newsweek calls it "a highly personal affair that suggests this is his time after a while." His first-ever album of all original material, it features very special guest appearances from Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks. You can download Skin Deep now on Amazon! (see the Amazon link here at The Jazz Chill Corner).
See Buddy on tour in the USA this Summer:
08/12/08 Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville Pavilion
08/13/08 Vienna, VA Filene Center At Wolf Trap
08/14/08 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center
08/15/08 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
08/16/08 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
08/17/08 Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion
08/19/08 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Pavilion
08/20/08 Cincinnati, OH National City Pavilion
08/21/08 Rochester, MI Meadow Brook Music Festival
08/22/08 Elizabeth, IN Caesars Indiana
08/24/08 Saint Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
08/28/08 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival At Ravinia Park
08/30/08 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest Grounds
See Buddy on tour in the USA this Summer:
08/12/08 Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville Pavilion
08/13/08 Vienna, VA Filene Center At Wolf Trap
08/14/08 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center
08/15/08 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
08/16/08 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
08/17/08 Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion
08/19/08 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Pavilion
08/20/08 Cincinnati, OH National City Pavilion
08/21/08 Rochester, MI Meadow Brook Music Festival
08/22/08 Elizabeth, IN Caesars Indiana
08/24/08 Saint Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
08/28/08 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival At Ravinia Park
08/30/08 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest Grounds
NORAH JONES: LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TX
New West Records has announced Norah Jones: Live From Austin, TX, the latest DVD release from the acclaimed PBS Austin City Limits (ACL) television series. Taken from the full ACL concert that was then edited into the half hour TV show, the DVD contains previously unreleased performances. The 18 song disc was filmed in Hi-Definition and has DTS 5.1 Surround Sound. Norah Jones: Live From Austin, TX, will be the first release from the series available as a Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl record. Vinyl will be available on August 5, 2008 with the DVD in stores September 2, 2008. Other Live From Austin, TX titles available from New West Records this fall include Widespread Panic (11/11), Trace Adkins (10/28), Amos Lee (11/11) and Dierks Bentley (11/11) as well as second show releases from Lucinda Williams (11/11), Merle Haggard (10/28) and Waylon Jennings (10/28).
Grammy(R) Award winning artist Norah Jones recorded this stunning ACL performance on June 14, 2007, the second time the young artist has graced ACL's stage. Jones' music has touches of smoky jazz, country twang and Memphis soul that permeate her original songs. Her emotional, seductive performance is captured on the intimate DVD whether she is playing guitar on "Come Away With Me" or piano on "Don't Know Why." In addition to her own songs, Norah also plays a few covers including "Hands On The Wheel," made famous by Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou." Norah shares the stage with The Handsome Band as well as special guests J. Walter Hawkes and M. Ward.
On-the-air since 1976, Austin City Limits has featured more than 500 different regional and internationally acclaimed artists on its stage, presenting the best of America's music from country, blues and folk to rock 'n' roll, bluegrass and zydeco. Since its inception, the Austin City Limits "Live from Austin, TX" series has shipped over 1 million units and yielded multiple Gold and Platinum-certified releases. The "Live From Austin, TX" series is comprised of intimate concert DVDs, re-mixed and re-mastered in 5.1 surround sound to provide the highest quality concert experience possible. Additionally, companion CDs remixed in Stereo from the original multi-track masters, are available from most of the artists in the series.
Norah Jones: Live From Austin, TX
1. Come Away With Me
2. Those Sweet Words
3. The Sun Doesn't Like You
4. Not My Friend
5. Thinking About You
6. Be My Somebody
7. Rosie's Lullaby
8. Sunrise
9. Sinkin' Soon (with J. Walter Hawkes)
10. Not Too Late
11. My Dear Country
12. Little Room
13. Broken
14. Long Way Home
15. Creepin' In (with M. Ward)
16. Hands On The Wheel (with M. Ward)
17. Blue Bayou (with M. Ward)
18. Don't Know Why
Grammy(R) Award winning artist Norah Jones recorded this stunning ACL performance on June 14, 2007, the second time the young artist has graced ACL's stage. Jones' music has touches of smoky jazz, country twang and Memphis soul that permeate her original songs. Her emotional, seductive performance is captured on the intimate DVD whether she is playing guitar on "Come Away With Me" or piano on "Don't Know Why." In addition to her own songs, Norah also plays a few covers including "Hands On The Wheel," made famous by Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou." Norah shares the stage with The Handsome Band as well as special guests J. Walter Hawkes and M. Ward.
On-the-air since 1976, Austin City Limits has featured more than 500 different regional and internationally acclaimed artists on its stage, presenting the best of America's music from country, blues and folk to rock 'n' roll, bluegrass and zydeco. Since its inception, the Austin City Limits "Live from Austin, TX" series has shipped over 1 million units and yielded multiple Gold and Platinum-certified releases. The "Live From Austin, TX" series is comprised of intimate concert DVDs, re-mixed and re-mastered in 5.1 surround sound to provide the highest quality concert experience possible. Additionally, companion CDs remixed in Stereo from the original multi-track masters, are available from most of the artists in the series.
Norah Jones: Live From Austin, TX
1. Come Away With Me
2. Those Sweet Words
3. The Sun Doesn't Like You
4. Not My Friend
5. Thinking About You
6. Be My Somebody
7. Rosie's Lullaby
8. Sunrise
9. Sinkin' Soon (with J. Walter Hawkes)
10. Not Too Late
11. My Dear Country
12. Little Room
13. Broken
14. Long Way Home
15. Creepin' In (with M. Ward)
16. Hands On The Wheel (with M. Ward)
17. Blue Bayou (with M. Ward)
18. Don't Know Why
Monday, August 11, 2008
TAJ MAHAL AT THE 2008 TELLURIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and two-time Grammy® winner Taj Mahal has been added to perform at the 2008 Telluride Festival Of The Arts. Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music. With a professional career that spans more than four decades, Taj Mahal's artistic scope extends beyond American Blues to include musical influences from around the world, including west Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Hawaiian islands. "We are excited to be announcing this special addition to the 2008 festival," said Mike Wisniewski, TMVOA president. "Taj Mahal is an amazing musical artist. Guests to this year's festival are in for an incredible performance and memorable evening."Taj Mahal has toured relentlessly over the last four decades, doing as many as 150 shows per year throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. The upcoming release of his new album Maestro, his first U.S. release in five years, marks the fortieth anniversary of Taj's rich and varied recording career by mixing original material, chestnuts borrowed from vintage sources and newcomers alike.
The Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association (TMVOA), sponsors and organizers of the Telluride Festival of the Arts (TFA) made the surprise announcement recently in citing that Taj Mahal and the Trio Band would appear on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. on Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village, Colo. The performance will be free and open to the public.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
FREDDY COLE
Lionel Frederick Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children. His three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (twelve years Freddy's senior) were all musicians. "I started playing piano at five or six," Freddy remembers. "Music was all around me." In the Chicago home of his youth, visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton. He also credits Billy Eckstine as a major influence.Freddy moved to New York in 1951, where he studied at the Juilliard School of Music and found himself profoundly influenced by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson. He got a Master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music and then spent several months on the road as a member of an Earl Bostic band that also included Johnny Coles and Benny Golson. It was back in New York that Freddy successfully laid the groundwork for a career that continues to flourish to this day. He developed a vast repertoire of songs in Manhattan bistros and concurrently began to supplement his live performances with television and radio commercial jingle work.
A resident of Atlanta since 1972, he currently leads a trio made up of himself, guitarist Randy Napoleon, drummer Curtis Boyd and bassist Elias Bailey that regularly tours the US, Europe, the Far East and South America. Freddy has been a recording artist since 1952, when his first single, "The Joke's on Me", was released on an obscure Chicago-based label.
Freddy recorded several albums for European and English companies during the 1970s that helped him develop a loyal overseas following. Cole believes that becoming an international favorite made him "widen my scope a little bit." He developed a stand-up act, a better rapport with audiences, and learned to sing in other languages. "It made me much more of a performer."
Cole doesn't apologize for sounding like his brother, Nat "King" Cole. There are certain unmistakable similarities.
He plays piano and sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass, just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier even. But he has emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his elder brother. In truth, his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother and his timing swings a little more. His vocals -- suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate -- are among the most respected in jazz. Cole's career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of America's homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own.
Freddy Cole’s upcoming appearances include a performance at the The OC Pavilion in Santa Ana, CA. He’ll appear there on August 29 at 8 p.m. The OC is located in historic downtown Santa Ana "the Golden City", the beautifully appointed theater with a capacity of only 528 seats assures you of an exceptional close up view of any event.
SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH…THE POLICE…
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... has announced that The Police will tape a television appearance for the new talk/performance series. The episode will air as part of Spectacle's debut season on Sundance Channel beginning December 3, 2008. It will also air on CTV in Canada and Channel 4 in the U.K. FremantleMedia Enterprises is distributing the series internationally. For this historic music television event, members of The Police - Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland - will perform and discuss with Elvis Costello their varied and respective interests in music as individuals, as well as the remarkable chemistry together that has made The Police one of the biggest bands in music history. This exclusive engagement with Elvis follows an exciting spring and summer for the host who has been touring with The Police on their massively successful reunion tour, to widespread acclaim.
The series of 13 one-hour episodes will feature everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and collaborations. Motown legend Smokey Robinson will also tape an episode of Spectacle in August, exploring with Elvis his extraordinary 50 year career as a songwriter, singer and guiding light of soul/R&B. The Canada/United Kingdom co-production will also feature Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, President Bill Clinton and Sir Elton John, who is also one of the program's Executive Producers. The remainder of Spectacle's inaugural season line-up will be announced later this summer.
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... is produced by Rocket Pictures, SpyBox Pictures, Prospero Pictures and reinvention entertainment, in association with Sundance Channel, CTV, Channel 4 and FremantleMedia Enterprises. Executive Producers are Sir Elton John, Elvis Costello, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw, Jordan Jacobs, Martin Katz and Stephen Warden. Co-Executive Producer is Alex Coletti.
· http://www.joinred.com
· http://www.sundancechannel.com
· http://www.theglobalfund.org
The series of 13 one-hour episodes will feature everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and collaborations. Motown legend Smokey Robinson will also tape an episode of Spectacle in August, exploring with Elvis his extraordinary 50 year career as a songwriter, singer and guiding light of soul/R&B. The Canada/United Kingdom co-production will also feature Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, President Bill Clinton and Sir Elton John, who is also one of the program's Executive Producers. The remainder of Spectacle's inaugural season line-up will be announced later this summer.
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... is produced by Rocket Pictures, SpyBox Pictures, Prospero Pictures and reinvention entertainment, in association with Sundance Channel, CTV, Channel 4 and FremantleMedia Enterprises. Executive Producers are Sir Elton John, Elvis Costello, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw, Jordan Jacobs, Martin Katz and Stephen Warden. Co-Executive Producer is Alex Coletti.
· http://www.joinred.com
· http://www.sundancechannel.com
· http://www.theglobalfund.org
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
DAVE KOZ - GREATEST HITS
Capitol Records is set to release Dave Koz - Greatest Hits on September 16th. It's a fitting time for a career retrospective of the renowned instrumentalist/composer, with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce recently announcing that Koz will be honored with a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame in 2009. Dave has had numerous No. 1 singles and No. 1 albums and been honored with six GRAMMY nominations and an NAACP Image award nod.Signed to Capitol by legendary music executive Bruce Lundvall, Koz has remained with the same label for nearly 20 years. His self-titled debut album was released in 1990 and yielded numerous hits, including his first No. 1 single, "Castle of Dreams," and "Emily," a track he co-wrote with Bobby Caldwell and Jeff Lorber. Both are included on Dave Koz – Greatest Hits. Other highlights include "You Make Me Smile," Koz's signature song, and "Faces of the Heart" from his first Gold album, 1993's Lucky Man. ("Faces of the Heart" was the theme song for ABC's "General Hospital" for 10 years.) His follow-up, Off the Beaten Path, was accompanied by a PBS special of the same name, and featured a more organic sound. The 1996 album's "Lullaby for a Rainy Night" is still one of Koz's all-time favorites. The swinging retro funk/hip-hop track "Can't Let You Go (Sha La Song)" featuring the late Luther Vandross on vocals was one of two No. 1 hits from 1999's The Dance, which, like Lucky Man, went Gold. Saxophonic, released in 2003, garnered Koz two GRAMMY nominations spanning two consecutive years. Like Lucky Man and The Dance before it, Saxophonic spent over 100 weeks on the charts. Included here are the breezy "Love Changes Everything" featuring Brian McKnight and the funk-inflected No. 1 singles "Honey-Dipped" and "All I See Is You."
Although Dave Koz - Greatest Hits is packed with Koz classics, documenting a career with incredible longevity and diversity, it also provides a sneak preview of Dave's next chapter with four brand new compositions. "Life In The Fast Lane," the first single, was most added for three consecutive weeks and is already at No. 12 on the charts. "I wrote it with Darren Rahn, one of the great up-and-coming writer/producers of today, and it reminds me of the pace my life has taken over the past 18 years," says Dave. "It certainly feels like I've been traveling in the fast lane... and absolutely enjoying every bit of the ride."
"And Then I Knew," another new song, was produced by his friend Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Alanis Morissette). Although the two have known each other since second grade, this marks the first time the GRAMMY-winning producer has produced one of Dave's songs -- and his first time producing an instrumental artist. Other new tunes include "I Can" featuring BeBe Winans and "Bada Bing" featuring Jeff Golub.
In addition to recording a string of successful albums, Dave has found the time to host a weekly syndicated radio show ("Dave Koz Radio Show," now in its tenth year, is heard in approximately 120 markets) and a daily afternoon radio show nationally distributed on the Smooth Jazz Radio Network, tour worldwide (his summer and fall shows are staples of the touring industry and his "Dave Koz & Friends at Sea" outing is in its fourth year) and co-found an independent record label, Rendezvous Entertainment. He is also a dedicated philanthropist, serving as longtime Global Ambassador for the Starlight Children's Foundation and as an ongoing member of the Board of Governors for the GRAMMY Foundation.
}An artist's career is a two-way street and I am grateful for my fans' help in navigating me through this adventure," says Dave, who will wrap up his summer tour on September 27th with a performance at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre. Thereafter he'll tour Japan before embarking on the fourth annual "Dave Koz & Friends At Sea" cruise on Holland America Line's m/s Westerdam. (click to http://www.davekozcruise.com for further details.)
Dates for the annual "Dave Koz and Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas" tour will be announced shortly.
The track listing for Dave Koz - Greatest Hits is as follows:
1. You Make Me Smile
2. All I See Is You
3. Can't Let You Go (The Sha La Song) (featuring Luther Vandross)
4. Faces Of The Heart
5. Together Again
6. Honey-Dipped
7. Emily
8. Life In The Fast Lane
9. Love Is On The Way (featuring Chris Botti)
10. I Can (featuring BeBe Winans)
11. Lullaby For A Rainy Night
12. Bada Bing (featuring Jeff Golub)
13. Love Changes Everything (featuring Brian McKnight)
14. And Then I Knew
15. Castle Of Dreams
THE ANNIE LENNOX COLLECTION
The Annie Lennox Collection paints a vivid portrait in song of the most successful female British artist in pop music history. Available September 16 from Arista Records, this 14-song retrospective brings together the acclaimed artist's finest solo work on a single disc for the first time, and includes a pair of new songs available exclusively with this release. Spanning 15 years, The Annie Lennox Collection also available in a Deluxe CD/DVD edition includes hits from her four top-selling solo albums Diva (1992), Medusa (1995), Bare (2003) and last year's highly praised Songs of Mass Destruction. The timeless music selected for this collection uniquely reflects the essence of the singer's instantly recognizable brand of soul music on tracks like "Why," "Walking on Broken Glass" and "No More 'I Love You's'" -- a song that earned Lennox one of her four Grammys.The retrospective also includes two new songs that Lennox recorded specially for this collection. The first, "Pattern of My Life," was written by Tom Chaplin of Keane, who allowed Lennox to change the title of his song for this collection. The second is a cover of "Shining Light," a song originally recorded by Ash in 2001. "I first discovered this song by Ash about six years ago, and I simply couldn't stop listening to it. It's so exultant that it virtually shimmers," Lennox says.
Among the many highlights on The Annie Lennox Collection is "Sing," a song that references The SING Campaign, a humanitarian organization Lennox founded to raise awareness and support for the AIDS/HIV pandemic in Africa. "We're still in the early stages, but this is a lifelong commitment on my part," Lennox says. "I'm coming out from behind my singing voice to express myself in broader terms and help give a voice to those who don't have the same opportunities as I do."
A dynamic activist, Lennox recently received the Red Cross Services to Humanity Award, was named the 2008 Glamour Inspirational Woman of the Year and sang for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration this summer in London. Lennox will again take the stage for a very special cause September 9 in New York and September 21 in London, when she performs as part of Peace One Day's concerts to herald the organization's goal of fostering non-violence.
In her 26-year career, both as a member of the groundbreaking Eurythmics and as a solo artist, the Scottish lass born on Christmas Day has amassed sales of more than 78 million albums worldwide. Her towering achievements also include 34 hit singles, four Grammy Awards, 11 Brit Awards and five Ivor Novello Awards. The superstar has also won an Academy Award and one Golden Globe.
In her 26-year career, both as a member of the groundbreaking Eurythmics and as a solo artist, the Scottish lass born on Christmas Day has amassed sales of more than 78 million albums worldwide. Her towering achievements also include 34 hit singles, four Grammy Awards, 11 Brit Awards and five Ivor Novello Awards. The superstar has also won an Academy Award and one Golden Globe.
THE ANNIE LENNOX COLLECTION
Track Listing
1. "Little Bird"
2. "Walking on Broken Glass"
3. "Why"
4. "No More I Love You's"
5. "Precious"
6. "A Whiter Shade of Pale"
7. "A Thousand Beautiful Things"
8. "Sing"
9. "Pavement Cracks"
10. "Love Song for a Vampire"
11. "Cold"
12. "Dark Road"
13. "Pattern of My Life"
14. "Shining Light"
BOZ SCAGGS - SPEAK LOW
This fall, Decca will release renowned musician Boz Scaggs' 'Speak Low,' the silken-voiced singer's newest collection of standards and first studio album in five years, available on vinyl September 30 and in all other forms October 28. Co-produced with GRAMMY award-winning producer/arranger Gil Goldstein,Scaggs interprets Ellington, Mercer, Rodgers & Hart, and other classic writers and composers. In addition to Goldstein on piano/keyboards, the line up includes Alex Acuna (drums), Bob Sheppard (woodwinds), and Scott Colley (bass).
Scaggs began his distinguished career as a teenager and over a dozen records later, when Scaggs released 'But Beautiful,' the critical and fan response was tremendous, and the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts. The Boston Globe hailed that Scaggs had "made one of the year's best albums of jazz vocals" (6/28/03), while Jazz Times noted that the release marked "an enticing new chapter in an already dynamic career" (September 2003).
Scaggs once told the LA Times (6/12/03), "I'm going to be around this music for awhile. I love its melodic and harmonic qualities, and it's going to impact what I sing and what I write. The door's been opened."
'SPEAK LOW' TRACK LIST:
1. INVITATION (Bronislaw Kaper)
2. SHE WAS TOO GOOD TO ME (Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers)
3. I WISH I KNEW (Mark Gordon and Harry Warren)
4. SPEAK LOW (Ogden Nash and Kurt Weill)
5. DO NOTHING TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME (Edward Kennedy Ellington and Keith Sidney Russell)
6. I'LL REMEMBER APRIL (Gene De Paul, Patricia Johnson and Don Raye)
7. SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME (Buddy Woodrow Johnson)
8. BALLAD OF THE SAD YOUNG MEN (Frances Landesman and Thomas J. Wolf Jr.)
9. SKYLARK (Hoagy Carmichael and John H. Mercer)
10. SENZA FINE (Campos Cesarea, Gine Paoli, and Alec Wilder)
11. DINDI (Aloysio De Oliveira, Ray Gilbert, and Antonio Carlos Jobim)
12. THIS TIME THE DREAM'S ON ME (Harold Arlen and John H. Mercer)
http://www.bozscaggs.com/
Scaggs began his distinguished career as a teenager and over a dozen records later, when Scaggs released 'But Beautiful,' the critical and fan response was tremendous, and the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts. The Boston Globe hailed that Scaggs had "made one of the year's best albums of jazz vocals" (6/28/03), while Jazz Times noted that the release marked "an enticing new chapter in an already dynamic career" (September 2003).
Scaggs once told the LA Times (6/12/03), "I'm going to be around this music for awhile. I love its melodic and harmonic qualities, and it's going to impact what I sing and what I write. The door's been opened."
'SPEAK LOW' TRACK LIST:
1. INVITATION (Bronislaw Kaper)
2. SHE WAS TOO GOOD TO ME (Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers)
3. I WISH I KNEW (Mark Gordon and Harry Warren)
4. SPEAK LOW (Ogden Nash and Kurt Weill)
5. DO NOTHING TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME (Edward Kennedy Ellington and Keith Sidney Russell)
6. I'LL REMEMBER APRIL (Gene De Paul, Patricia Johnson and Don Raye)
7. SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME (Buddy Woodrow Johnson)
8. BALLAD OF THE SAD YOUNG MEN (Frances Landesman and Thomas J. Wolf Jr.)
9. SKYLARK (Hoagy Carmichael and John H. Mercer)
10. SENZA FINE (Campos Cesarea, Gine Paoli, and Alec Wilder)
11. DINDI (Aloysio De Oliveira, Ray Gilbert, and Antonio Carlos Jobim)
12. THIS TIME THE DREAM'S ON ME (Harold Arlen and John H. Mercer)
http://www.bozscaggs.com/
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN - THE SINATRA PROJECT
Four time Grammy nominee, singer/pianist Michael Feinstein is set to to release his 24th album, The Sinatra Project, through Concord Records September 2, 2008. The new album is a tribute to "The Chairman of the Board" himself, Frank Sinatra and is Feinstein's first recorded tribute to another performer. With the help of producer-arranger Bill Elliott, Feinstein realized he wanted to record an album of great romantic songs that had been sung by "Ol' Blue Eyes".
"For years I've had the desire to celebrate Sinatra's musical sensibilities, but I have no desire to copy the classic songs that he rendered better than anyone else. I wanted to create an album that would explore his style of singing and his style of music," comments Feinstein. To that end, the dynamic duo decided to record the album as they would have fifty years ago, in the famous last surviving recording studio from the days of stereo, Capital Studio A in Hollywood. "We set up the recording sessions the way they were done back in the day, with the entire band in one room, drums next to the trumpets and saxes, using only a handful of microphones to capture the warmth and depth of the music," added Elliott.
The album is comprised of classics such as "Fools Rush In," "I've Got a Crush on You," "At Last Love," "Exactly Like you," and many more. Feinstein not only pays homage to Sinatra, but to many of his contemporaries, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole, Rosemary Clooney and other great singers of the post-war, pre-rock years. They even called upon Sinatra's favorite songwriting duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman to consult as Feinstein recorded "The Same, Hello, the Same Goodbye" originally written for Sinatra.
Michael Feinstein started playing the piano by ear when he was five; he moved to Los Angeles when he was 20 and was introduced to the great lyricist Ira Gershwin by the widow of the legendary concert pianist-actor, Oscar Levant. Feinstein became Gershwin's assistant for six years, archiving the extensive Gershwin works and gaining unprecedented access to numerous unpublished Gershwin songs, which he has since performed and recorded. After launching his own career he was spotted by Liza Minnelli who was so impressed with the young musician, she helped launch his career.
Feinstein became a household name after his Broadway show, Isn't It Romantic, which opened in 1986. Through his live performances, recordings, film and TV appearances and his song writing (in collaboration with Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Lindy Robbins and Carole Bayer Sager), he has become one of the premiere interpreters of American popular song.
Dubbed "Ambassador of the Great American Songbook", Feinstein has played all around the world from Buckingham Palace to the White House. He will kick off the release of his new album with 6 special performances at his notable venue Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York City, September 2nd - September 6th, 2008.
"For years I've had the desire to celebrate Sinatra's musical sensibilities, but I have no desire to copy the classic songs that he rendered better than anyone else. I wanted to create an album that would explore his style of singing and his style of music," comments Feinstein. To that end, the dynamic duo decided to record the album as they would have fifty years ago, in the famous last surviving recording studio from the days of stereo, Capital Studio A in Hollywood. "We set up the recording sessions the way they were done back in the day, with the entire band in one room, drums next to the trumpets and saxes, using only a handful of microphones to capture the warmth and depth of the music," added Elliott.
The album is comprised of classics such as "Fools Rush In," "I've Got a Crush on You," "At Last Love," "Exactly Like you," and many more. Feinstein not only pays homage to Sinatra, but to many of his contemporaries, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole, Rosemary Clooney and other great singers of the post-war, pre-rock years. They even called upon Sinatra's favorite songwriting duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman to consult as Feinstein recorded "The Same, Hello, the Same Goodbye" originally written for Sinatra.
Michael Feinstein started playing the piano by ear when he was five; he moved to Los Angeles when he was 20 and was introduced to the great lyricist Ira Gershwin by the widow of the legendary concert pianist-actor, Oscar Levant. Feinstein became Gershwin's assistant for six years, archiving the extensive Gershwin works and gaining unprecedented access to numerous unpublished Gershwin songs, which he has since performed and recorded. After launching his own career he was spotted by Liza Minnelli who was so impressed with the young musician, she helped launch his career.
Feinstein became a household name after his Broadway show, Isn't It Romantic, which opened in 1986. Through his live performances, recordings, film and TV appearances and his song writing (in collaboration with Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Lindy Robbins and Carole Bayer Sager), he has become one of the premiere interpreters of American popular song.
Dubbed "Ambassador of the Great American Songbook", Feinstein has played all around the world from Buckingham Palace to the White House. He will kick off the release of his new album with 6 special performances at his notable venue Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York City, September 2nd - September 6th, 2008.
Monday, August 04, 2008
LIN ROUNDTREE - SUMPTHIN' GOOD
New from trumpeter/flugelhornist Lin Roundtree is "Sumthin’ Good". With this release Linn Rountree offers up a soulful collection of songs designed to warm even the coldest night. Lin Rountree and the production team of Billy Meadows and Dana Davis have scored another hit with this follow up to Rountree’s magical debut project "Groovetree".
As DJ Fazio of JazzMonthly.com said about his 2005 release, Groovetree. In talking about his new release, Lin Rountree said, "Sumthin’ Good was a great project to record because we didn’t stray too far from what made us successful on "Groovetree". Great grooves with great melodies played by great musicians. On "Sumthin’ Good", you will hear a progression, almost a maturation of sorts, in our sound and concepts. You will feel a little more punch on the mid-tempo songs and more soul on the easy grooves."
Punching grooves aren’t all that "Sumthin’ Good" serves up. According to Rountree, "There’s a beautiful ballad ("All The Way") co-written by Roberto Valley (bassist with Paul Brown). Mr. Carl Robinson contributed "She’s Just A Woman" for you reggae lovers. The legendary Perry Hughes (guitarist with Earl Klugh and Bob James) kicks in some lead guitar and a KILLER solo on "Chillin’ On." There’s even two vocal tracks this time, one featuring international soul sensation amp fiddler ("Kiss on Ya Soul"), and the other with up-and-coming R&B superstar 19-year-old Valencia ("Get Away"). All in all, we think "Sumthin’ Good" is indeed that. We hope you will too!"
During the past few years, Lin has received international acclaim for his music and performances and has been dubbed a member of the "new generation" of future smooth jazz stars. He has also shared the stage/studio with the likes of KEM, Dwele, Tim Bowman, George Benson, Peter White, Conya Doss Deitrick Hadden and a host of others. "For Your Love f/Tim Bowman," the first release from the 2005 "Groovetree", stayed on the SJ Charts for 15 weeks as Lin’s sound drew strong comparisons to Rick Braun and Chris Botti showing the world that Rountree is the real deal.
Through a partnership with industry moguls Hank Caldwell and Kendall Minter of NDN, LLC, Lin recently signed a national distribution deal with Ryko/Warner Bros. and is poised to release "Sumpthin’ Good", Lin’s sophomore effort. "Sumpthin’ Good" is scheduled to be released April 2008.
As DJ Fazio of JazzMonthly.com said about his 2005 release, Groovetree. In talking about his new release, Lin Rountree said, "Sumthin’ Good was a great project to record because we didn’t stray too far from what made us successful on "Groovetree". Great grooves with great melodies played by great musicians. On "Sumthin’ Good", you will hear a progression, almost a maturation of sorts, in our sound and concepts. You will feel a little more punch on the mid-tempo songs and more soul on the easy grooves."
Punching grooves aren’t all that "Sumthin’ Good" serves up. According to Rountree, "There’s a beautiful ballad ("All The Way") co-written by Roberto Valley (bassist with Paul Brown). Mr. Carl Robinson contributed "She’s Just A Woman" for you reggae lovers. The legendary Perry Hughes (guitarist with Earl Klugh and Bob James) kicks in some lead guitar and a KILLER solo on "Chillin’ On." There’s even two vocal tracks this time, one featuring international soul sensation amp fiddler ("Kiss on Ya Soul"), and the other with up-and-coming R&B superstar 19-year-old Valencia ("Get Away"). All in all, we think "Sumthin’ Good" is indeed that. We hope you will too!"
During the past few years, Lin has received international acclaim for his music and performances and has been dubbed a member of the "new generation" of future smooth jazz stars. He has also shared the stage/studio with the likes of KEM, Dwele, Tim Bowman, George Benson, Peter White, Conya Doss Deitrick Hadden and a host of others. "For Your Love f/Tim Bowman," the first release from the 2005 "Groovetree", stayed on the SJ Charts for 15 weeks as Lin’s sound drew strong comparisons to Rick Braun and Chris Botti showing the world that Rountree is the real deal.
Through a partnership with industry moguls Hank Caldwell and Kendall Minter of NDN, LLC, Lin recently signed a national distribution deal with Ryko/Warner Bros. and is poised to release "Sumpthin’ Good", Lin’s sophomore effort. "Sumpthin’ Good" is scheduled to be released April 2008.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
