MILES DAVIS QUINTET - LIVE IN EUROPE 1967: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 1

The explosive transformation of Miles Davis’ “second great Quintet” with Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums) is laid bare on Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1. Culled from original state-owned television and radio sources in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and Sweden, the program spans five northern European festival performances over the course of nine days in October-November 1967. The audio shows consist entirely of previously unreleased or previously only bootlegged material. The 3-CD + DVD package, an 8-panel digipak with 28-page booklet, will be available everywhere starting September 20th through the Columbia/Legacy label. On the same date, a single-disc overview of the box set will be released. Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 1 will feature nine tracks from the box set.

Miles’ Quintet lineup of 1965 to ’68 is acknowledged as one of the high reference points in 20th century jazz, and its influence continues to reverberate in small group jazz today. Their Columbia recordings represent a litany of jazz at its best – E.S.P. (1965), Miles Smiles (1966), Sorcerer (1967), Nefertiti (1967), Miles In the Sky (1968), and Filles De Kilimanjaro (1968). But it was the quintet’s live performances, as they evolved into Miles’ ideal of a “leaderless” jamming ensemble, that truly immortalized them. The European tour dates brought the Quintet to Antwerp, Belgium (October 28th); Stockholm, Sweden (October 31st); Copenhagen, Denmark (November 2nd); Paris, France (November 6th); and Karlsruhe, Germany (November 7th). The tour was organized and promoted by Newport Jazz Festival impresario George Wein and also starred Sarah Vaughan, the Archie Shepp Quintet (with Roswell Rudd, Grachan Moncur III, Jimmy Garrison, and Beaver Harris), the Thelonious Monk Quartet (with Charlie Rouse), the Gary Burton Quartet (with Larry Coryell, Steve Swallow, and Bobby Moses), and Wein’s own Newport All-Stars with Buddy Tate.

The paradox of Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 is the fact that all five concerts were recorded by state-owned radio and television outlets – a case of European bureaucracies preserving our American jazz heritage. Of the audio performances on CD, Belgium (an hour-plus set), Denmark and France are all full-length concert sets that are now seeing their first authorized release(s). Denmark is the rarest of the three, never released commercially (not even as a bootleg) so it is a particularly valuable 50 minutes of music. The Paris concert is the longest of the shows in this collection, running 90 minutes across CD Two and CD Three. It includes the very rare versions of “Agitation” and “Footprints” which are not found on the unauthorized bootlegs that have circulated up until now.

The DVD contained in Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 presents two concert sets by the Quintet, one from Stockholm on October 31st, and one from Karlsruhe, Germany on November 7th (although they are sequenced in reverse chronological order). This is the only known video documentation of the “second great Quintet” from the 1965 to ’68 period. The only previous authorized release of this video was as a bonus disc on the commemorative 70-CD + DVD Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection, released in 2009 on Columbia/Legacy.

The enthusiastic reception for the Miles Davis Quintet is partly credited to George Wein’s belief that Europe could support a wide-ranging program of jazz festivals. Since the inception of Newport in 1954, Wein worked towards that goal in Europe, which took the better part of a decade to organize. These October-November 1967 festival dates were only the second or third season of Wein’s European programs. (Sidebar: This was also the tour in which director Charlotte Zwerin shot the black-and-white footage of Monk that is seen in the documentary film completed 20 years later, Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser. The Monk composition “’Round Midnight” – heard on all four discs of Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol.  – was a Miles Davis performance staple since the early 1950s.)

Putting Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 1 into historical perspective are the illuminating liner notes by Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (DaCapo Press, 2000). In addition to serving as a contributor to National Public Radio and teaching music history and journalism at New York University, Kahn is also the author of A Love Supreme: The Making of John Coltrane's Masterpiece (Viking, 2002), and The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records (Norton, 2007).

In preparing his liner notes for Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1, Kahn’s extensive research included articles that ran during the concert tour, and multiple interviews, including various surviving Quintet members; indefatigable concert promoter George Wein and his long-time co-producer and tour manager Bob Jones; and tour mates Archie Shepp, Roswell Rudd, and Gary Burton. They all provide eyewitness commentary, musical insights, and priceless anecdotes. As Kahn’s liner notes point out, the end of 1967 was a landmark moment for Miles Davis, as he was preparing to say goodbye to this Quintet lineup. They had started out three years before, playing the standards that Miles enjoyed, and many of those chestnuts could still be heard, such as “On Green Dolphin Street,” “I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “’Round Midnight” and “Walkin’.”

But as the sound structures of the Quintet opened up and were pulled apart, the musical forms were reinventing themselves on stage every night. This was reflected in the original compositions from their recent albums, which framed their sets, among them Miles’ “Agitation” (from E.S.P.), Wayne’s “Footprints” (from Miles Smiles) and “Masquelero” (from Sorcerer), and Herbie’s “Riot” (from Nefertiti). This was also the period (starting in 1967) when Miles began to play his sets as one long jam with very little beyond opening melodic statements separating one tune from the next. This lay the groundwork for the revolutionary and scene-changing music that he would produce over the next decade, until his retreat in 1975.

Everything was driven by the aggressive, iconoclastic style of drummer Tony Williams, probably the one most responsible for opening up Miles to the possibilities that lay beyond traditional jazz. It was a way of thinking that was also being explored at the time by John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and others. One thing is certain: the “second great Quintet” was the best and most satisfying band since the great Quintet lineup of the ’50s.

This box set was co-produced by Grammy Award®-winning producers Richard Seidel and Michael Cuscuna. Cuscuna and Seidel also co-produced last year's award-winning Miles Davis: Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition and Cuscuna has produced all of the Columbia/Legacy Miles Davis boxed sets since 1995. Seidel produced the 2009 Grammy Award®-nominated RCA/Legacy boxed set To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story and the 2010 award-winning Ella Fitzgerald: Twelve Nights In Hollywood (Verve) box set.

Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1
CD One – Selections:
1. Agitation
2. Footprints
3. ’Round Midnight
4. No Blues
5. Riot
6. On Green Dolphin Street
7. Masqualero
8. Gingerbread Boy
9. Theme. (Recorded on October 28, 1967 at the Konigin Elizabethzaal, Antwerp, Belgium by Belgian Radio and Television [BRT].)

CD Two – Selections:
1. Agitation
2. Footprints
3. ’Round Midnight
4. No Blues
5. Masqualero
6. Agitation
7. Footprints. (Tracks 1-5 recorded on November 2, 1967 at the Tivoli Konsertsal, Copenhagen, Denmark by Danish Radio; tracks 6 & 7 recorded and broadcast on November 6, 1967 at the Paris Jazz Festival, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France on France Inter [ORTF]. Radio Program Producer: André Francis.)

CD Three – Selections:
1. ’Round Midnight
2. No Blues
3. Masqualero
4. I Fall In Love Too Easily
5. Riot
6. Walkin’
7. On Green Dolphin Street
8. The Theme. (Recorded and broadcast on November 6, 1967 at the Paris Jazz Festival, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France on France Inter [ORTF]. Radio Program Producer: André Francis.)

DVD – Selections:
1. Agitation
2. Footprints
3. I Fall In Love Too Easily
4. Gingerbread Boy
5. The Theme
6. Agitation
7. Footprints
8. ’Round Midnight
9. Gingerbread Boy
10. The Theme. (Tracks 1-6 recorded on November 7, 1967 at the Stadthalle, Karlsruhe, Germany by Südwestfunk TV; tracks 7-11 recorded on October 31, 1967 at the Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden by Sveriges Radio TV.)

Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Best Of The Bootleg Series Vol. 1
Selections:

1. Agitation [A]

2. On Green Dolphin Street [A]

3. ‘Round Midnight [B]

4. No Blues [B]

5. Masqualero [C]

6. Gingerbread Boy [A]

7. The Theme [C]

[A]: October 28, 1967 at the Konigin Elizabethzaal, Antwerp, Belgium

[B]: November 2, 1967 at the Tivoli Konsertsal, Copenhagen, Denmark

[C]: November 6, 1967 at the Paris Jazz Festival, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France

U-NAM – WEEKEND IN L.A (A GEORGE BENSON TRIBUTE)

Chart topping jazz artist U-Nam (best known for his #1 hit “Street Life") has been in the studio recording and producing his next project. Paying tribute to his hero and favorite artist George Benson, U-Nam will be releasing the album Weekend In L.A. (A George Benson Tribute ) as U-Nam & Friends sometime in the fall. The album includes a mega all-star line up of artists and musicians including but not limited to Patrice Rushen, Tim Owens, Mike White, Ricky Lawson, Matt Rohde, Jeff Lacey, Franck Sitbon, Denis Benarrosh, Darryl Williams, Andreas Oberg , Marva King, Najee, Stokley ( Mint Condition ) and many more artists who will be revealed later, and according to U-Nam, there are many surprises to be expected. U-Nam, with this new project, one can, “Expect the Unexpected!!!" He also added that, “Before I even started to record any music on this project, my first thought was to call George [Benson], let him know about the project and ask for his blessing. I got more than I expected when he told me this, ‘Man, for sure you have my blessing and anyway whatever you’re gonna do it’s gonna sounds fantastic.’ After that I felt relieved and incredibly motivated to do a great hommage to GB!" The album is going to follow in the footsteps of George Benson; a mix of Jazz, R’n’B, Pop, Soul and full of innovation. The full album is due to be released in the fall of 2011. The first single released is “Weekend in L.A.” and it is available now at all digital outlets.

What’s interesting about this new recording is that artists nowadays (including U-Nam), are now reaching out to their fans to raise money for their recording sessions. According to U-Nam, “Record labels can’t dictate my artist integrity any longer – even after the opportunity to have a #1 Billboard chart position in the US in 2007 with “Street Life” and 3 solo albums with a major label, and touring the world. Now, my only goal in these ever-changing days is to do GREAT MUSIC, passionately and with all my heart and share it directly with you , the fans . That’s why I’m paying tribute to my hero, mentor and friend George Benson! It’s also the first ever tribute album to George Benson that includes already famous guests such as George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Najee, Phil Perry, Mike White, Tim Owens and many more to be confirmed (artists that you might help me convince)!!!” He goes on to say…”And here is the best part… the maestro himself is going to write the liner notes!!! Right now, you and I together need to raise more money to complete the project, so I’m counting on you and you George Benson fans to help me to reach that goal!!! I will keep you informed and will update as soon as I can throughout the creative and recording process with news such as sneak peaks, revealing new guests, uploading pictures, etc…”

If you’re interested in contributing check out http://www.atributetogeorgebenson.com/ and http://www.unamprod.com/ for more information

KASSAV' AT TERMINAL 5 IN NEW YORK CITY

Kassav', the Zouk band par excellence credited with inventing zouk music was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus (a long-time professional musician who had worked with Freddy Marshall) and Paris studio musician Jacob F. Desvarieux. Together and under the influence of well-known Guadeloupean combo Experience 7, they decided to make Guadeloupean carnival music and record it in a more fully-orchestrated yet modern and polished style. In the 1980’s they took Caribbean music to another level by recording in the new digital format. Kassav' was the leading band to emerge from the formative years of zouk; most authors credit Décimus, his brother Georges, the band's bassist and Desvarieux as its inventors. The music evolved from kadans, and the cadence-lypso of Dominica, as popularized by Grammacks and Exile One. They gave the style a pan-Caribbean sound by taking elements from Haitian compas, Jamaican reggae, Nuevo Rican salsa, and Republic of Cameroon's rhythm Makossa, and the result became world-famous. Their first album, Love And Ka Dance (1980), established the new sound of zouk, a Parisian concoction unlike anything else, island-based or otherwise to come onto the global scene. The band gained popularity in their much-heralded live performances in Paris's Club Zenith and toured widely. For a band ostensibly operating in a "narrowly focused" Caribbean dance-based 'recently arrived' new genre, their success and influence on other artists was remarkable, although they were most influenced by a veritable 'cornucopia' of other styles as noted above.

Kassav' continued to gain popularity both as a group and by several members' solo recordings, eventually peaking in 1985 with Yélélé, which featured the international hit "Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni" (meaning "Zouk is the only medicine we have" in French Antillean Creole). With this hit song, zouk rapidly became a widespread dance craze in Latin America and the Caribbean, and was popular in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Zouk performers became known for wildly theatrical concerts featuring special effects, stage spectacles and colorful costumes. One important contribution of Kassav' in concert was the appearance of featured dancers on stage with the band; these dancers were in many ways as much a part of the band as any musician. Kassav' has been noted by its acolytes and aficionados as a dance band par excellence. Among Kassav' strengths that helped lead to its success were and are its members' superior musicianship, songwriting and production skills, and worldwide audiences eager for lively dance music more sophisticated than the sort of disco/techno-based styles that otherwise dominated dance music charts in that era. The especially-gravely singing voice of Desvarieux, Décimus's driving bass, Naimro's and Joseph's inventive keyboards and superior drum-machine-based and Vamur's solid jazz-inflected live percussion, along with dance party-inspiring simple French-creole lyrics are among unique Kassav' 'trademarks'. During his tenure with Kassav', St. Eloi's soaring vocals were another unique ingredient, and the romantic vocals of Marthely and Naimro's as well as Béroard's very strong vocals, a plethora of fun songs, and significant guest appearances including Stevie Wonder and others are important parts of the Kassav' mix. Kassav performs at Terminal 5 in New York City on July 30 along with co-headliners T-Vice.

NEWSBITS FROM BOB BALDWIN, NICK COLIONNE, MELBA MOORE, CHUCK LOEB, SLY STONE, THIEVERY CORPORATION, CARMEN CUESTA & MORE…

Singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn has returned with her follow-up to her debut A Good Day, which featured the sleeper hit "Dream." Her new album When You Grow Up was produced by Ethan Johns (Ray LaMontagne, Laura Marling) and features songwriting collaborations with Sia Furler, Inara George, Eleni Mandell, Jake Blanton and Charlie Wadhams, as well as a cover of Benji Hughes' frolicsome love call "Vibe So Hot." Growth emerges as the central theme, with the songs threading a loose storyline through life's ups and downs with Ahn's angelic voice narrating experiences beginning with childhood, progressing through cycles of romance and heartbreak, and concluding with the wise, reflective "Torch Song."

Melba Moore is an amazing and versatile singer who has been a success on record, on stage and just about everywhere else.  Last year she recorded an album of duets with Phil Perry. And she is getting ready to release a new solo album that has her fans talking.  Her new single to look out for is entitled “Lovs Is.”

After winning a Grammy Award in 2011 and backing the Tony Award winning broadway show “Fela!” with their respective bands Grupo Fantasma and Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Adrian Quesada and Martin Perna return to their sun-soaked Latin-psychedelia project Ocote Soul Sounds with their fourth studio album, Taurus. Like its bullish namesake, their latest album smashes through sonic barriers with a heavy and dynamic mix of pan-Latin flavor, conscious political attitude, afrobeat and hip-hop rhythms.  Taurus was produced by Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation at the Washington DC based ESL Music Studios and features vocal collaborations with fellow ESL Music regulars Natalia Clavier, Sitali, Verny Varela and Chico Mann. With soaring vocal anthems like “Primavera,” bass-bin rattling groovers like “En El Temblor,” red-hot Latin jams like “Contigo Jamas,” and even pensive Italian folk excursions like “Nessuno”, Taurus is Ocote Soul Sounds’ most expansive and complete album to date!

ESL Music has announced the release of the debut album from DC's own, The Funk Ark. Recorded at ESL Music Studios in Washington DC by Thievery Corporation’s sound engineer Christopher “Stone” Garrett, From the Rooftops is the funk-tastic debut album from ESL Music’s newest artist signing The Funk Ark!  Fronted by keyboard savant and long-time ESL Music session player Will Rast, the album delivers a healthy dose of vintage afrobeat, Latin, and funk stylings.  Recalling the best of Afrika 70, the JB’s and the Fania Allstars all at once, rooftops!   

Bob Baldwin fans will rejoice at the arrival of this his finest work to date and the early buzz on the streets indicates that this NewUrbanJazz.com 2/ Re-Vibe will re-invigorate not only his massive following but continue to build upon it. Over more than two decades and 16 records, Bob Baldwin has carved out and more than solidified his place as one of the chief progenitors of true urban jazz. When you listen to Baldwin’s cuts, more than just hearing, you feel them as he has long had a way of digging deep into your soul and touching that inner sweet spot. New Urban Jazz.com 2/ Re-Vibe showcases Baldwin in the thick of his element fusing funky contemporary jazz with gospel, hip-hop and Brazilian all with a strong dose of heavy urban flavoring. 2 carries the torch where the first edition left off, featuring Baldwin’s urban jazz influences, where strains of Stevie Wonder co-exist nicely with rich lush full bodied vibes reminiscent of a Quincy Jones.

Nick Colionne’s Feel The Heat is his latest offering and first for Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records that contains all of the elements that have come to make Nick's stage performances so dynamic and in demand - funky R&B infused jazz, blues, smooth vocals and his sense of humor. No “One Size Fits All” here as Feel The Heat reflects the multiplicity of different styles and flavors that have come to define this feel good artist with a natural flair and charisma that has endeared him to multitudes worldwide.

Chuck Loeb’s new CD Plain 'n' Simple will be released on July 26th is a mix of soulful swing, funky grooves, and Brazilian beats. It’s his first release on Tweety Records and the CD features his Fourplay band-mate Harvey Mason on drums, and rising star Pat Bianchi on organ. The guests include some familiar friends and new faces: Eric Marienthal on sax, Till Brönner and Nathan Eklund on trumpet, David Charles and Mauricio Zottarelli on percussion.

Thievery Corporation returns with their sixth original studio album Culture of Fear! Following up their incendiary and bombastic call to arms Radio Retaliation from 2008, this time around Eric Hilton and Rob Garza craft a simmering and hazy collection of atmospheric gems that recalls their early production work but reflects a thoroughly contemporary zeitgeist of socio-political angst and unease. Utilizing a team of skilled session players from their acclaimed live show and beyond, Culture of Fear finds the duo easing into expansive multipart space-jams like “Tower Seven” and jazzy instrumental b-boy breaks like “Light Flares.” Not only are usual suspects like multilingual chanteuse Lou Lou and dancehall toaster Sleepy Wonder back to lend their haunting vocals, but several new contributors also join the Corporation.

Carmen Cuesta’s latest CD Mi Bossa Nova has been out f#or several months and has been receiving some glowing reviews and wonderful response from her fans. Several weeks ago she was interviewed on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition" by Scott Simon - and just a few hours after it was aired her CD jumped right up to the #1 spot on the iTunes and Amazon.com's Jazz Chart, and moved right up to the top 50 overall on Amazon. After several weeks the CD is still hanging tough at #6 on Amazon.com's Jazz chart.

After a great deal of time, Jazz master Paul Hardcastle has finally gained the approval for his latest release which is gaining lots of airplay round the globe. Just released is the 6th project from the critically acclaimed jazz artist and his endeavor "The Jazzmasters" appropriately titled, VI. And on this new deal comes a special track for the ages: a mix entitled, "Rainforest/What's Going On" featuring soul music legend Marvin Gaye. You must check this one out.

MRI Records has released Live In Stockholm DVD featuring Rickie Lee Jones.

Omnivore Recordings have penciled in Live In Japan featuring Leon Russell, scheduled on CD for August 9.

Mobile Fidelity have the 1994 debut Keb’ Mo’ album originally released by Epic Records, on tap for re-emergence as an SACD, planned for August 16.

Warner Brothers will re-release MoodSwing (1994) by the Joshua Redman Quartet on August 16.

Nonesuch Records will re-release Still Life (Talking), a 1987 Pat Metheny Group album on August 16. Several other low-cost Nonesuch re-releases include Blue Dreams (2001) by Bill Frisell, Largo (2002) from Brad Mehldau, and Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (1989) featuring Dawn Upshaw, and the collected effort Music From the Films of Francois Truffaut featuring Georges Delerue.  All share the same August 16 CD release date.

I’m Back! Family & Friends is an interesting set of re-recorded classics from Sly Stone set for release on August 16.  The album revisits treasured tracks with guests.  Here’s a look at the track-listing:
1. Dance to the Music featuring Ray Manzarek
2. Everyday People featuring Ann Wilson
3. Family Affair
4. Stand! featuring Carmine Appice and Ernie Watts
5. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) featuring Johnny Winter
6. (I Want To Take You) Higher featuring Jeff Beck
7. Hot Fun In The Summertime featuring Bootsy Collins
8. Dance To The Music
8. Plain Jane
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
11. Get Away
Bonus CD Only includes
12. Dance To The Music (Club Mix)
13. Family Affair (Dubstep Mix)
14. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Electro Club Mix)

Eagle Rock will release Live At Montreux featuring Average White Band on August 23.

Heads Up Records will release Hot Sauce, the new album from Jessy J scheduled for September 6.

Fantasy Records plan the re-release of Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (1972) by The Dramatics on September 13.

Amherst Records plan to release the latest Spyro Gyra album on September 13.  The new album will be called A Foreign Affair.

Verve Records have Movin’: The Complete Verve Studio Recordings featuring the albums of Wes Montgomery, planned for September 27 in both CD and DD configurations.

Concord Records have Essential Albums CD packages scheduled for October 4 of John Coltrane titles that include Lush Life/Soultrane/Stardust/Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane, and Miles Davis titles that include Cookin’/Relaxin’/Workin’/Steamin’.


Concord Records will release an Essential Albums package for Isaac Hayes on October 4 that will gather Hot Buttered Soul / Black Moses / Shaft.

Future releases to look out for: Joss Stone - LP 1 (July 28); Rick Braun - Sings with Strings (August 2); Steve Cropper - Dedicated (August 9); and Joe - The Good, the Bad and the Sexy (August 23).

ADELE'S RESCHEDULED TOUR DATES

Adele's record breaking sophomore album 21 is the fastest digital selling album in the U.S. to surpass 1 million units. Released slightly over four months ago, Adele's 21 has already sold 2.5 million units in the U.S. Adele's single "Rolling In The Deep" was recently certified quadruple platinum for digital sales in excess of 4 million tracks. Adele's 21 has sold over 9 million albums around the world and has spent more time at #1 than any other female artist in UK chart history. Adele recently rescheduled tour dates in the U.S. over the months of August and October. The new tour will include stops in 6 additional cities including Las Vegas, NV, Atlantic City, NJ, Durham, NC, Orlando, FL, Miami, FL and Spring, TX. The first round of rescheduled dates kicks off on August 9 in Vancouver, BC and runs through August 24 in Saint Paul, MN. The second round of dates kicks off on October 7 in Atlantic City, NJ and runs through October 21 in Grand Prairie, TX (see below for full itinerary and ticket information).

August 9 - Vancouver, BC, Orpheum Theatre*
August 11 - Troutdale, OR, Edgefield**
August 12 - Seattle, WA, Paramount Theatre*

August 14 - Berkeley, CA, The Greek Theatre*

August 15 - Los Angeles, CA, The Greek Theatre*

August 17 - Los Angeles, CA, The Palladium*

August 18 - San Diego, CA, Open Air Theater***

August 20 - Las Vegas, NV, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas****

August 21 - Salt Lake City, UT, Gallivan Center**

August 24 - Saint Paul, MN, Theater at Xcel Energy Center**

October 7 - Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata Spa & Resort****

October 8 - Durham, NC, Durham Performing Arts Center****

October 10 - Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium*

October 11 - Asheville, NC, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium*

October 13 - Orlando, FL, Hard Rock Live****

October 14 - Miami, FL, Waterfront Theater at American Airlines Arena****

October 16 - Atlanta, GA, Fox Theatre***

October 18 - Spring, TX, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion****

October 19 - Austin, TX, Frank Erwin Center***

October 21 - Grand Prairie, TX, Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie**

*All original tickets honored

**Venue change, original tickets honored

***Venue change, check with point of purchase for ticket information

****Newly added show

TERRI LYNN CARRINGTON - THE MOSAIC PROJECT

For more than two decades, drummer, producer and vocalist Terri Lyne Carrington has crafted an eclectic brand of jazz that incorporates elements of bebop, soul, funk and much more. Since her debut in 1989, the Grammy-nominated artist has established a reputation for assembling artists of varying styles and perspectives to create music that adheres to the traditions of jazz yet speaks to a much broader and more diverse audience. Carrington brings this same diverse sensibility to her new recording The Mosaic Project, an album that once again gathers a myriad of voices and crystallizes them into a multi-faceted whole that far outweighs the sum of its parts. "Everything about this recording is about making a larger picture out of many various elements," says Carrington, who produced the 14-song set. "I assembled several friends - most of whom I've performed with in the past, and all of whom bring their own individual story - to help me create the big picture. For as talented as each of them are as individuals, when I put them all together, I have a much greater musical story - one that can be told in an interesting and compelling way." Included on that list of friends are some of the most prominent female jazz artists of the last few decades: Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sheila E., Nona Hendryx, Cassandra Wilson, Geri Allen and several others. Carrington says the emergence of so many great female jazz artists is what finally makes an album like The Mosaic Project possible, more so now than in decades past. "If I had tried to do something like this in the past - like when I started playing 25 years ago - I might have felt limited by the pool of available musicians," she says. "But now there are so many talented women whom I've been playing with anyway - not just because they're women but because I love the way they play. So it has become easier to do a special project that celebrates the artistry and the musicality of these women." Clearly, Carrington's picture is never quite what it seems. With so many individual voices and perspectives in the mix, the results are often eye-opening and ear-opening. "There's one part of me that's kind of a jazz head who likes complex, thought provoking melodies and harmonies," she says. "And then there's another part of me that really likes funk and pop and things that are accessible. This record is another chance for me to assemble all of these great musicians to help me combine those different aspects of myself - those different pieces - and create something special in the process.

The Mosaic Project Track List
1. Transformation 5:33
2. I Got Lost In His Arms 4:58
3. Michelle 6:52
4. Magic And Music 3:45
5. Echo 7:14
6. Simply Beautiful 4:30
7. Unconditional Love 5:56
8. Wistful 4:48

9. Crayola 4:29

10. Soul Talk 5:56

11. Mosaic Triad 5:59

12. Insomniac 5:13
13. Show Me A Sign 2:24
14. Sisters On The Rise (A Transformation) 3:59

Source: Concord Music Group

BOOKER T. & THE MG'S - MCLEMORE AVENUE

Released in January 1970, McLemore Avenue is a tribute to Abbey Road, the landmark recording released by the Beatles the prior summer. McLemore Avenue sets up an interesting cause-and-effect loop by putting an R&B spin on songs by a profoundly innovative British pop-rock band that, ironically, emerged years earlier from the most basic elements of American R&B. McLemore Avenue was inspired by “my pure fascination and admiration of the work that [the Beatles] had done,” says keyboardist Booker T. Jones in the reissue liner notes by music historian Ashley Kahn. “I didn’t know their inner workings. I found out later. I had a picture of those guys as a perfect unit. I didn’t know that they fought, had arguments, or that they needed referees. When you listen to that music, you think it comes from a perfect union, you know?” The tribute album “represents a fascinating and musically compelling intersection,” says Phillips. “On one hand, you can look at the strength of the Beatles’ songs, and how they’re such strong songs that they can be successfully adapted — in the right hands — to soulful instrumental versions. At the same time, it is of course a testament to Booker T. & the MGs’ creativity and soulfulness and groove. It’s not only a very interesting musical intersection, but it’s also a very deep and at the same time a very fun listen.” Clearly, Booker T. & the MGs had had plenty of their own opportunities to flex their creative muscles in the studio, having recorded with artists like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. “But on a record like this,” says Clough, “where all the songs were already written and it was just a matter of interpretation, it wasn’t work for them. It was an opportunity to put their spin on the songs and just have some fun.” The bonus tracks include seven additional Beatles covers, recorded in sessions separate from those for the McLemore Avenue album. “We figured it made good sense to expand this edition by adding other tracks that Booker T. & the MGs had recorded of Beatles songs over the years,” says Phillips. “So the Stax Remasters reissue is not only an expanded edition of McLemore Avenue, it’s also a de facto ‘Booker T. & the MGs Play the Beatles’ collection.”

McLemore Avenue Track List
1. Medley: Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End / Here Comes The Sun / Come Together 15:51
2. Something 4:11
3. Medley: Because / You Never Give Me Your Money 7:28
4. Medley: Sun King / Mean Mr. Mustard / Polythene Pam / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window / I Wa 10:41
5. You Can't Do That 2:47
6. Day Tripper 2:53
7. Michelle 2:52
8. Eleanor Rigby 3:41
9. Lady Madonna 3:36
10. You Can't Do That 4:57

Source: Concord Music Group

NEW RELEASES: HAVANA, OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS, GEORGE BENSON, COLIE WILLIAMS, AZYMUTH & MORE...

HAVANA - ENTERVENTION

The long-awaited second album from Havana – the soulful Cali singer and songwriter who delivered a knockout debut on the Skoolcraft label a few years back – and her Entervention is just as strong! One of the things we love about Havana is her way of embracing a modern sound without falling into trendiness – with production by Brook D'Leau, GB and Trackademicks that's a great mix of upbeat beatcraft and bubbling atmospherics that are well paired with Havana's lovely, soulful voice and storytelling. Titles include "It Ain't New", "Nitelife", "Shoulda Walked Away", "Daylight", "Not Affected", "Repeat Offender", "Heartache", "In Touch", "Journal" and "Higher".

MOTOWN'S MOWEST STORY 1971-1973

The first ever compilation of the best music made for MoWest – the eclectic, but still soulful cuts made when Berry Gordy Jr. relocated from Motown to the west coast in the early 70s – releasing cool and sometimes strange music with a soul background, yet toasted by LA sunshine! The MoWest subsidiary lasted just a few years, and gets overlooked in the canonization of Motown at it's most classic and revolutionary – but the legacy is pretty incredible. Funk, sunshine rock and soul fused adventurously by a stunningly diverse roster – late period Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (who's comp-opening track is a slept on sunshine pop-soul classic), breezy-jazzy-soul from Odyssey, the sister funk of Sisters Love, a stunning solo left turn from Spinners singer GC Cameron and more great stuff from Syreeta, The Commodores, Suzee Ikeda, Thelma Houston and others. We've been dying for a well selected MoWest comp like this for years, and Light In The Attic stepped to the plate and knock it right out of the park. The songs choices are great, the notes are great. . .everything about it is a win. Essential! Includes "You're A Song (That I Can't Sing)" and "The Night" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, "Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love" and "Broken Road" by Odyssey, "Don't You Be Worried" by The Commodores, "A Heart Is A House" Nu Page, "I Ain't Going Nowhere" by Thelma Houston, "I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You" by Suzee Ikeda, "You've Got To Make The Choice" and "Give Me Your Love" by The Sisters Love and more.

OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS - TAURUS

Latin funk and other diverse sounds from the increasingly great Ocote Soul Sounds lead by Martin Perna and Adrian Quesada – a group that's been one of the more far reaching, stylistically panoramic collectives for years – and Taurus may be the best yet! From gritty & funky live Latin dancefloor grooves to more richly global soundscapes – blending earthy instrumentation in a way that feels fully modern, but wholy informed by classic Latin, African and otherwise sun toasted sounds of decades past. Loads of excellent percussion – plus flutes, saxes, piano, organ, guitars and ocasional vocals. Include "Primavera", "Pirata", "En El Temblor", "Pathways", "STTP (Speak Truth To Power)", "Cumbia La Magdalena", "Pan Y Circo", "Agua Santa", "Tumba Del Payaso", "Contigo Jamas", "Guantanamo" and more.  

COLIE WILLIAMS - LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS

Colie Williams shines brightly on Light Up The Darkness – great stuff that starts out with her calling out to the jazzy soul legends that influence her – Ella, Billie and others – quite appropriately, as she truly honors that legacy nicely while delivering a modern soul sound that's ultimately all her own! She's also doing her thing with an affirming, spiritual resonance that helps her soar even higher. She's backed by keys, drums, percussion on most tunes and she works takes some stylistic detours, bits of hip hop and reggae, but ultimately it stays on course, help tight by her voice and spirit. "Ol' Soul For A New Day", "Passing Day", "You/Reggae Love", "Everywhere I Go", "All U Need", "In And Out Of Love", "Black Love" and the bonus tracks "You/Reggae Love – The Remix" and "Angel". 

JUNGLE BY NIGHT - JUNGLE BY NIGHT

Warm modern Afro-inspired funk & soul from Amsterdam's Jungle By Night – whose promising earlier 45 primed us pretty well – and this self-titled set of live-in-the-studio grooves for Kindred Spirits more than delivers on it! The set is described simply as "highlights from a recent studio session", which is a classic under-sell. It's solid, soulful and stylistically diverse grooves that roll from classic Afro Funk instrumentals to more of a highlife guitar sound and back again with style to spare. They're calling it a precursor to their first album, which again, is a promise of some pretty incredible work to come! Includes "Hot Mama Hot", "Termite", "Afro Blue", "Get 5", "Great Wide Open", "Camel" and the CD bonus track "ET" (one of the 45 cuts). 7 tracks, running 5 to 7 minutes in length on most of 'em. Mini album? Generously furnished EP? It's 40+ minutes of grooves, however you want to file it.

 

GEORGE BENSON - BODY TALK (REMASTERED)

A sweet funky classic from George Benson – featuring dope arrangements by Pee Wee Ellis, all with a groovy Kudu-type sound! George is the main soloist – but the group is super-hip, with Harold Mabern on electric piano, Frank Foster on tenor, and a little bit of extra guitar from Earl Klugh. George is pulling no punches on this one – really hitting hard on his solos with a freer approach than he used on most of his other records from the time. Titles include "Dance", "Plum", "Body Talk" (plus an alternate take), and "Top Of The World" – and most tracks are looong!

AZYMUTH - AURORA

Heavy Fender Rhodes from Azymuth – sounding almost better here than we've heard them for years! There's a stripped-down, all-classic feel that takes us right back to the group's best work of the 70s – partly because Jose Roberto Bertrami sticks to Fender Rhodes exclusively on the set – using the classic keyboards with a righteous vibe that really brings a hell of a lot of soul to play! And there's also a bit of Incognito help on the production, which helps ensure just the right sound – nothing too modern, nor too gimmicky – just pure Brazilian fusion all the way through – proof that the old ways are still often the best. Titles include "In My Treehouse", "Isso E Partido Alto", "Diz No Pe", "Meu Mengo", "Crazy Clock", and "Aurora". 8 tracks on the vinyl version.

 

Surce: Dusty Groove America

GABRIEL BELLO DEBUTS AT #1 WITH HIS PREMIER JAZZ RELEASE

On June 21st 2011 Gabriel Bello released his first album self titled Gabriel Bello (which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts) and immediately many Jazz radio stations and fans were excited. The airplay for his singles "Ice Box" and "Crazy" initially grew most rapidly in Europe and Asia and then grew at a fast rate in the United States. Once the fans heard the music, they could not wait to buy the album and began writing to try and get it as a pre order. It’s being described as soul infused, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop with a Pop twist. He was born into a musical family in Lawrence, MA, (his family is originally from the Dominican Republic). Gabriel's family relocated in his youth to the quiet college town of DeLand, FL. Here he spent most of his young adult life singing in church choirs and learning to play the saxophone. He was accepted at Lee University in Cleveland, TN and began a promising career in music. While attending college, he was feeling sick one day and was shocked to find out from his doctors that it was more serious than he had thought. Gabriel was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease (lymphoma) and had to leave school in order to endure six months of chemotherapy. In the midst of his treatment he was invited to play for Ron Kenoly, during this event he was miraculously healed and has been in remission ever since. Gabriel continues his pursuit of music in all its forms: producer, songwriter, vocalist, programmer, saxophones, keyboards, flute, drums, guitar and he arranges vocals and instruments. Bello has performed with Alvin Slaughter, Gary Oliver, Ron Kenoly, Geron Davis, Christ Church Choir, Jentzen Franklin, and Rascal Flatts just to name a few, and his musical influences include Michael Jackson/Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Brian Mcknight, Tower of Power, Grover Washington Jr., Fred Hammond, John Willams and many more. Gabriel Bellos is available on ECMD / Fontana /Universal Music and Video Distribution (UMVD).

twitter.com/GabrielBello1

www.reverbnation.com/gabrielbello

GLOBAL NOIZE FT. JASON MILES, DJ LOGIC, FALU – A PRAYER FOR THE PLANET

The second release from Global Noize featuring Jason Miles, DJ Logic and Falu is A Prayer For The Planet – set for U.S. release on August 23, 2011 on the Lightyear/EMI imprint. The CD has already been released in Europe. This being their sophomore effort, is being described as Global Noize’s declaration on the state of our world in the 21st century, and it features appearances by Karl Denson, Mocean Worker, Jeff Coffin, Oz Noy, Jay Rodriguez, Mailka Zarra, Lica Cecata, and others. Jason Miles, DJ Logic and Falu have crafted a truly imaginative and compelling album without sacrificing the global groove, melody and innovation that made up the first Global Noize release. As described by DJ Logic, Global Noize is “a hip and electric musical journey crossing all boundaries,” and is an organic, free-spirited sonic brew of some of the best elements of jazz, funk, electronica and world fusion – it is music without borders. The group has performed at a number of venues and festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Aspen Jazz, the Berks Jazz Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, among others. Over the years, many innovative and world-class musicians have performed with Global Noize, including Fred Wesley, Eric Krasno, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, Jeff Coffin, Ian Neville, Bernie Worrell, Me’shell Ndgeocello, Oteil Burbridge, Karl Denson, John Popper, Adam Deitch, George Porter Jr., & Christian Scott, among others.

Keyboardist extraordinaire Jason Miles, is also a producer, arranger, and composer who has crafted music for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller, Gato Barbieri, David Sanborn, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, The Crusaders, Michael Brecker, among others. He has produced ambitious musical tributes to both Weather Report (Celebrating The Music Of Weather Report) and Ivan Lins (A Love Affair, The Music Of Ivan Lins), from which he won a Grammy award for his production of ‘She Walks This Earth.” Miles has also produced To Grover With Love, the acclaimed and visionary tribute to Grover Washington Jr. In 2004 he masterminded the Contemporary Jazz Collection Maximum Grooves – Coast To Coast, which earned him his fourth Grammy nomination. Miles’ production of Gato Barbieri’s CD, The Shadow Of The Cat, won the Billboard Latin Jazz Album of 2003, and also received a Latin Grammy nomination. 2005 saw the release of his forward thinking homage to Miles Davis entitled Miles to Miles, In The Spirit Of Miles, and in 2006 he re-imagined Marvin Gaye’s music with What’s Going On, The Songs Of Marvin Gaye. In 2008, Koch Entertainment released volume 2 of the highly successful tribute to Grover Washington Jr., To Grover With Love. Also released in 2008 on Shanachie Records was Soul Summit Live At The Berks Jazz Festival which brings together the ultimate mixture of Jazz and Soul with guest artists Steve Ferrone, Bob Babbitt, Reggie Young, Richard Elliot, Maysa, Susan Tedeschi, and others.

New York City based deejay, DJ Logic’s role as an electronic-music ambassador keeps him at the top of his game. Whether the scratch artists instructs tablas to flirt with drum ‘n’ bass (such as on his Nina Simone and Billie Holiday remixes found on Sony’s Remixed and Reimagined volumes), or while meshing free styling MC’s with Afro-Cuban rhythms (such as on Share Worldwide Funk), Logic an be found paying homage to his predecessors while contributing his visions to the deejay genre. Along the way he has amassed a veritable mountain of collaborations since the early nineties, including works with Medeski Martin & Wood, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Jack Johnson, Mos Def, Ben Harper, Charlie Hunter, John Mayer, and many others.

Vocalist Falu is widely recognized for a rare ability to seamlessly blend a signature modern innovative rock style with a formidable Indian classically-shaped vocal talent. In her early years she was trained vigorously in the Jaipur musical tradition, honing her talent for up to 16 hours a day at times. Her self-titled debut CD was produced by Palmyra Delran and engineered by Grammy winner Emery Dobyns and was released in 2007. She has performed as a soloist with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project and onstage at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the White House, and at Lincoln Center in New York where she performed with Slumdog Millionaire composer A.R. Rahman.

On July 30th they will perform at the Belleayre Music Festival in Highmount, NY, and on July 31st at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY.

This release is highly recommended so check it out!

A Prayer For The Planet Track List:
1. A Prayer For The Planet
2. 21st Century Preacherman
3. Tokyo Sunrise
4. Charismalove
5. Viva La Femme
6. Walking On Air
7. RIOS (A Riot In Outer Space)
8. Wanna B With U
9. Natuereza E Paz (Nature and Peace)
10. Cosmic Hug

THE RIPPINGTONS FEATURING RUSS FREEMAN - C'OTE D'AZUR

 The Rippingtons’ latest Peak Records recording Cote D’Azur - inspired by Freeman’s passion for the French people and the storied region of the French Riviera is more than simply the latest stamp on Freeman’s well traveled passport. Beyond simple wanderlust or a gathering of “musical postcards” from the Southern region of France, it taps into a spirit that’s deeper and more transcendent than any other group project to date. All of the songs on Cote D’Azur tell stories of Freeman’s extensive travels in France with his wife Yaredt Leon, a hit songwriter in her own right who contributed tracks to the Ripps Latin-themed Wild Card (2005) and Modern Art (2009). Cote D’Azur is bookended with songs they wrote together, the high energy title track and the beautiful “Mesmerized.” Yaredt has been Freeman’s consummate travel partner these past years. For a time, he couldn’t get enough of Italy, but the minute Leon (whose mixed heritage is Colombian-French) introduced him to her father’s homeland of France, Freeman was hooked.

“This is the best album I’ve ever written,” he says, “and unlike on any other Rippingtons recording, the music is a pristine crystallization of the way I first heard it in my head. I think the incredible cultural connection between France and America hit me one night in Nice when I was watching a show on the history of St. Tropez. Brigitte Bardot was so well known as a model and film actress, but in the 60s she also did hundreds of music videos of French remakes of songs that were big hits in America. Remakes of everything from Elvis to the Beatles were huge. Johnny Hallyday is a French music superstar who patterned himself after Elvis. All of this taught me how close our cultures really are. They also were big into American surf music in the early 60s, and that inspired the new song ‘Le Calypso.’ All of this, combined with Yaredt’s French heritage, really made me fall in love with the country.”

Cote D'Azur Track List:
1. Cote D'Azur 4:21

2. Le Calypso 3:32
3. Bandol 3:50
4. Sainte Maxime 4:15
5. Postcard From Cannes 4:22
6. Passage To Marseilles 3:40
7. Provence 4:25
8. Riviera Jam 3:25
9. Rue Paradis 4:34
10. Mesmerized 3:24

GREGG ALLMAN - LOW COUNTRY BLUES

As a founding member of the one and only Allman Brothers Band, and in his own storied solo career, Gregg Allman has long been a gifted natural interpreter of the blues, his soulful and distinctive voice one of the defining sounds in the history of American music. Low Country Blues is the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s seventh solo recording and his first in 14 years. Produced by T Bone Burnett, the album finds Allman putting his own stamp on songs by some of the blues giants whose work has long informed his own, from Muddy Waters and B.B. King to Bobby Bland and Magic Sam, plus one original, the soulful “Just Another Rider.” Named for the coastal Georgia region Allman calls home, Low Country Blues stands as a high water mark in an already remarkable body of work, rich with passion, verve, and the unerring confidence of a true survivor. Low Country Blues spotlights new and unique arrangements of classic blues songs that showcase the talents of an iconic artist who himself has generated a catalog of his own “classic” songs. From early 20th century progenitors like Sleepy John Estes (“Floating Bridge”) and Skip James (“Devil Got My Woman”) to 1950’s big band R&B by Bobby Bland (“Blind Man”) and Amos Milburn (“Tears, Tears, Tears”), from Muddy Waters’ 1948 Delta-infused Chicago blues classic single “I Cant’ Be Satisfied” to West Side soulman Magic Sam’s signature song “My Love Is Your Love,” from the almost chain-gang clang of the traditional “Rolling Stone” to the one original on the album, “Just Another Rider,” Gregg Allman stakes his claim to more than seventy-five years of American roots music history.

Low Country Blues Track Listing:

1. Floating Bridge 4:46

2. Little By Little 2:46

3. Devil Got My Woman 4:53
4. I Can't Be Satisfied 3:34
5. Blind Man 3:46
6. Just Another Rider 5:40
7. Please Accept My Love 3:07
8. I Believe I'll Go Back Home 3:50
9. Tears, Tears, Tears 4:55
10. My Love Is Your Love 4:14
11. Checking On My Baby 4:07
12. Rolling Stone 7:04

GERALD ALBRIGHT TOUR DATES

Gerald Albright has earned his reputation as a “musician’s musician.” Born in Los Angeles, he began piano lessons at an early age. During the ’80s, Albright became a highly requested session musician, playing on albums by a wide variety of artists – including Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations and Maurice White. After two of his albums hit the number one slot on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Chart, and were nominated for Grammy® Awards in 1989 and 1990, Phil Collins asked him to front a Big Band and they toured together. He also performed and toured with Les McCann, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Earl Klugh, Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela, Chaka Khan, and Rachelle Ferrell, Quincy Jones and Whitney Houston, among many others.  Over the years, Albright has appeared on numerous TV shows such as “A Different World” and “Melrose Place”. Albright was selected to play at President Clinton’s inauguration ceremony. Along the way, he has sold over a million albums in the U.S. alone and has appeared on nearly 200 albums by other artists. His latest three albums New Beginnings (2008), Sax for Stax (2009) and Pushing the Envelope (2010) were Grammy nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

July 15 -Sacramento, CA @ Radisson Hotel Sacramento
July 16 - Oceanside, CA @ Pier Amphitheater; KIFK Smooth Jazz 98.1
July 17 - San Dimas, CA @ Bonelli Park; Jazzfest West 16th Annual
July 20 - New York, NY @ Smooth Jazz Spirit Cruise Ship, Pier 63
July 21 - Reading, PA @ Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base; Sheraton Hotel
July 22 - Annapolis, MD @ Ramshead On Stage
July 28 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
July 20 - San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
July 30 - Portland, OR @ Spirit of Portland River Cruise
Aug 6 - Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theater (w/Alex Bugnon)
Aug 13 - Kettering, OH @ Fraze Center for the Peforming Arts (w/Fourplay)
Aug 14 - Richmond, VA @ Maymount Park
Aug 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Dell Music Center
Aug 26 - Copper Mountain, CO @ Copper Mtn. Big Horn Ballroom
Sept 3 - North Carleston, SC @ N. Charleston PAC
Sept 10 - St. Paul, MN @ Selby Jazz Fest
Sept 17 - Augsburg, Germany @ Parktheater im Kurhaus Goggingen
Sept 23 - Newport Beach, CA @South Coast Plaza
Sept 25 - Temecula, CA @ Thornton Winery
Oct 7 - Kampala, Uganda @ Kampala Serena Hotel: The Nile Gold Jazz Safari 2011
Oct 15 - Rehoboth, DE @ Rehoboth Beach Convention Center
Oct 16 - Phoenix, AZ @ JW Desert Ridge Jazz Festival-Sage Court
Oct 22 - Cincinnati, OH @ Aronoff Center
Oct 28 - Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
Dec 8 - Jackson, MS @ Alamo Theater
Dec 11 - Hayward, CA @ Palmceia Baptist Church
Jan 15 - 22, 2012 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Smooth Jazz Cruise

MICHEL CAMILO - MANO A MANO

The opening track of pianist and composer Michel Camilo's new release, Mano a Mano as he joins the Decca/EmArcy (Universal Music Group), is not only a scene setter but a declaration of principle. Optimistic, brimming with energy and understated virtuosity, "Yes," an original composition by Michel, hints at the sound of classic Cubop while celebrating modern Afro-Caribbean jazz. "'Yes' is a positive piece," says Michel. "It's an affirmation. It's saying that getting involved in this music, in this project, has been all worthwhile. The piece is in the mold of a 'Donna Lee,' or an 'Indiana,' and it was a way for us to say 'Yes, we know the jazz tradition. But we also know something else. And here there are two traditions.'" In Mano a Mano, Michel Camilo, returns to one of his most effective settings, the trio, but with a twist, using congas and small percussion, instead of trap drums. Featuring longtime friends, master conguero Giovanni Hidalgo and bassist Charles Flores, Michel's trio creates a lighter, more open sound, still powerful, yet also with a certain sweet mango-flavored lyricism that proves to be a perfect vehicle for a wide ranging repertoire that includes eight original compositions and three standards. It's a recording that speaks of an artist reaching maturity, connecting personal and professional moments of his past with a fresh, clear vision of the future. But it all started, however, on a chance encounter. "In June 2010 there was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico and the organizers invited back all the living 'highlights' in the history of the festival," recalls Michel. " I appeared with my trio, but as part of the event I was asked to also prepare a number for the festival's big band which could eventually become a great descarga (Latin-style jam session). I loved the idea and was already thinking about inviting Giovanni to join us, thinking of when we recorded One More Once (1995) And sure enough, it became a great jam ... but at one point, the band stopped and Giovanni and I were left playing as a duo and it reminded me of when we did Hands of Rhythm, 15 years ago, and I thought 'Hang on now, there is something here.'"

The idea of a possible duet album quickly evolved into a trio date. "I thought about it and realized that I had done a duo record. It was better to move on," explains Michel. And knowing the players, he knew it was a chance for something truly special. Giovanni Hidalgo is a "very mindful player, and very musical," he says. "He is a one of a kind conguero. He doesn't only hear rhythm but melody and harmony. For this recording he used five and six congas, and he tunes them to certain pitches and creates a scale. There is nothing random about it, it's well thought out, and that helped the melodies and harmonies." And for Mano a Mano, Michel, wearing the producer's hat, also asked Giovanni to play smaller percussion, something that has rarely been asked of him. The result is a subtly shaded tapestry of sound that adds colors and textures to the music. Meanwhile Charles Flores, Michel's long time collaborator, was the obvious choice on the bass."Charles has been with me for awhile now, I've seen him grow to become a tremendous bass player," offers Michel. "He not only has a great technique but also a great harmonic concept and this sense of space, of economy, in the Charlie Haden tradition." He says Hidalgo's and Flores's playing give him a "a great latitude of touch." Michel says his experiences playing in European classical music settings, performing standard repertoire and his own piano concertos as a soloist with symphony orchestras in the US, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, have made him a subtler, better pianist. Now, with this trio, he is able to "caress the keys, control the attack, the dynamics."

Moreover, the group represents not only a "meeting of the minds, each one of us with a rich musical baggage and our own rhythmic notions" but also, considering Michel is Dominican, Giovanni Puerto Rican, and Charles Cuban, the coming together of three potent Afro-Caribbean musical traditions. "I knew it was going to be a good combination," he says. With this trio in mind, Michel wrote the original music in the span of one week, last December. "It was a surreal experience," he recalls. "It was as if everything was ready and it was only a matter of sitting down and letting it flow out. It was truly magical."

He also decided to include three standards, two from the jazz tradition, the other one a Latin American classic - Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder," John Coltrane's "Naima," and Ariel Ramírez's "Alfonsina y el Mar." Musically, it's a demanding repertoire that cuts a wide swath. It includes Latin jazz barnburners (such as "Yes," and the title track) but also a nod to the sound of boogaloo and the 1960s Latin soul ("The Sidewinder"); a samba-choro ("No Left Turn"), and a sly, neo-traditional rumba ("Rumba Pa'Ti"). Moreover, in Mano a Mano, Michel explores two essential popular styles from the Dominican Republic. His take on bachata, a kind of ballad, results in the exquisite "You and Me," which Michel calls "a bachata in black tie." While in "Rice and Beans," he reworks merengue, a two-step dance style. It's a first for Michel. "I played it at a rehearsal, just for kicks, as a lark, and everybody jumped in 'Yes, yes, let's do that one.' So it stuck. It's actually merengue-jazz. It's in the merengue tradition (and you can feel the typical quintillo, a five-note rhythmic figure, throughout the piece) -- but with the type of harmonic changes you find in jazz." And just as this trio can groove and dance, "Alfonsina y El Mar," a song from the Great Latin American Songbook made famous by the late singer Mercedes Sosa, gets here a thoughtful, smart "three-way intimate conversation." It's not by chance. For Michel, Mano a Mano underscores the fact that Latin jazz "is not just a continuous jam session. Yes, we can bring high energy when it's called for, but we also can be subtle when we need to be." Mano a Mano will be released digitally on July 26 and to retailers on September 13.

Michel Camilo Tour Dates:
June 28 - Teatro Nacional - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
July 4 - Istanbul Jazz Festival - Sepetciler Palace - Istanbul, Turkey
July 8 - Festival Alhaurín de la Torre - Alhaurín de la Torre (Málaga), Spain
July 13 - Festival Veranos de la Villa - Escenario Puerta del Angel - Madrid, Spain
July 15 - 35 Festival de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz - Polideportivo de Mendizorrotza - Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain -
July 17 - Umbria Jazz - Perugia, Italy
August 2 - 34 Jazz in Marciac - Marciac, France
August 6 - 57th Newport Jazz Festival - Newport, RI
August 19 - National Concert Hall - Taipei, Taiwan
August 20 - National Concert Hall - Taipei, Taiwan
August 22 - Billboard Live! - Osaka, Japan
August 23 - Billboard Live! - Tokyo, Japan
August 24 - Billboard Live! - Tokyo, Japan
September 17 - Teatro del Pentagonito - Lima, Perú
September 27 - Blue Note Jazz Club New York - New York, NY
September 28 - Blue Note Jazz Club New York - New York, NY
September 29 -Blue Note Jazz Club New York - New York, NY
September 30 - Blue Note Jazz Club New York - New York, NY
October 1 - Blue Note Jazz Club New York - New York, NY
October 2 - Blue Note Jazz Club New York - New York, NY
October 8 - Max M Fischer Music Center - Detroit, MI
October 9 - Max M Fischer Music Center - Detroit, MI
October 20 -Auditorium - Orchestre National de Lyon - Lyon, France
October 21 -Auditorium - Orchestre National de Lyon - Lyon, France
October 22 - Auditorium -Orchestre National de Lyon - Lyon, France
October 27 - JazzNoJazz Festival - Theaterhaus Gessnerallee, Grosser Saal - Zurich, Switzerland
November 4 - Auditorio Nacional de Música - Sala Sinfónica - Madrid, Spain
November 5 - Auditorio Nacional de Música - Sala Sinfónica - Madrid, Spain
November 6 - Auditorio Nacional de Música - Sala Sinfónica - Madrid, Spain

michelcamilo.com.

JAZZ CLASSICS FROM DUKE ELLINGTON, COLEMAN HAWKINS, PHAROAH SANDERS, SONNY ROLLINS, ART BLAKELY, McCOY TYNER, AHMED JAMAL, MILT JACKSON, ALICE COLTRANE & OTHERS...

More than a dozen of the greatest modern jazz artists in history are heard on packages bringing together two classic Impulse! albums, largely from the 1960s, from each of them. Set for release on July 26, 2011, these Impulse/Verve two-for-one reissues reveal both the genius and the joy of these extraordinary purveyors of the art of jazz. Duke Ellington was Old School but he teamed with the New School for a pair of 1963 albums with bebop sax leviathans. His And John Coltrane found the Duke in a quartet with that sax legend while Meets Coleman Hawkins was tagged by The New York Times as "one of the great Ellington albums, one of the great Hawkins albums and one of the great albums of the 1960's." The pioneering Hawkins is represented by the 1962 albums Today And Now and Desafinado, while another sax god, Sonny Rollins is heard with On Impulse!/There Will Never Be Another You. Though both were recorded in 1965, only On Impulse! was released that year. The live There Will Never Be Another You, recorded at New York's Museum Of Modern Art, would finally be issued in 1978. Another resident in the sax pantheon, Pharaoh Sanders, contributes 1971's Village Of The Pharoahs teamed with 1972's Wisdom Through Music. Free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler once said "Trane was the Father, Pharoah was the Son, I am the Holy Ghost." Ayler's set combines 1967's Love Cry with his 1969 finale The Last Album. Also released in a single package is a pair of Afrocentric albums from saxman Archie Shepp, 1968's For Losers and the following year's Kwanza. Blowing a different horn is Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers' trombonist Curtis Fuller with Soul Trombone (1961)/Cabin In The Sky (1962).

Leading the albums featuring keyboard kings is the McCoy Tyner Trio with his 1962 debut Inception plus 1964's Reaching Forth. Innovative pianist Ahmad Jamal soars on Freeflight, recorded at the 1971 Montreux Jazz Festival, which joins 1972's Poinciana Revisited. Another sort of keyboard, the vibraphone, was the realm of Milt Jackson, with 1962's Statements/1964's Jazz 'n' Samba. On the distaff side are Alice Coltrane, who melded organ and harp, Eastern religion and Western music, for Universal Consciousness (1972)/Lord Of Lords (1973), and the Shirley Scott Trio, from the Queen of the Organ, with For Members Only (1963)/Great Scott!! (1964). The jazz guitar takes the spotlight via Gabor Szabo, with the Hungarian's live 1967 albums The Sorcerer and More Sorcery, recorded in Boston and at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Two acclaimed drummers also boast reissues: Elvin Jones, best known for his work with Coltrane, with Illumination! (1963)/Dear John C. (1965), and the enormously influential Art Blakey with Jazz Messengers!!!! (1961)/A Jazz Message (1963). Jazz, whether bebop, hard bop or post-bop--or simply modern--reached new heights in the '60s and early '70s through artists on Impulse! Now many of their albums return to once again celebrate a musical genre without boundaries.

CONCORD MUSIC GROUP OFFERS 18 STREAMING CHANNELS

AARP and Concord Music Group have teamed up to create a new multi-media, online resource designed to help adults find the music they love in the digital age. AARP Internet Radio, a free music player provided by Slacker, features 18 free streaming channels of handpicked music catering to the musical tastes of Americans age 50+ and is the initiative's centerpiece. Its aim: to make enjoying music intuitive and fun—especially for people who have been largely underserved by conventional music sources. "AARP and Concord Music are uniquely positioned to help adults connect with the artists they love and become engaged in the online community of music," said Hugh Delehanty, senior vice president of AARP's media properties. "Our internet radio is easy to use and makes new resources available to people who may not be used to getting their music online, as well as those who already are."

"Finding new music and even old favorites has become more complicated and difficult for so many people," stated Concord Music Group president and CEO, Glen Barros. "AARP is a trusted source of information and guidance. Working closely with them, we aim to help adults across the country reconnect with the enjoyment of music and the artists who create it." Recently launched on http://www.aarp.org/, the music player's channels include an array of genres featuring rock, blues, jazz, classical, R&B, coffeehouse, classic rock, oldies, country and vocals standards, just to name a few. Users seeking music from up-and-coming artists can check out the 'Fresh Sounds' channel providing the best of what's new in popular music. AARP Internet Radio also features a dedicated channel highlighting the music of one particular artist, which will change from month to month. The 'Artist' channel is currently streaming the music of legendary songwriter Paul Simon and AARP will also unveil new channels in the coming weeks and months, including a 'Members Choice' channel, which will allow AARP members to serve as guest DJs.

Visitors to the AARP website can open AARP Internet Radio in a separate window displaying the music player and a list of stations to choose from. Users will have the option to play, pause or skip songs, and easily change stations. In addition, the simplified radio player from Slacker (recently selected as PC Magazine's best streaming radio provider) allows users to multi-task, letting them stream their favorite station while working or playing online. In the future, AARP plans to make the music player available via AARP mobile apps on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. In addition to the music player, AARP is also enhancing editorial content on a new AARP online music page www.aarp.org/music. Drawing from sources across the music industry, this new portal offers a collection of informative music news, reviews, artist interviews, and how-to's specifically designed for grown-up music lovers. Registered users of www.aarp.org will have the added benefit of access to the site's music community chat room, where they can connect with music fans from around the country.