PROJECT GRAND SLAM - SPRING DANCE

When is the last time a jazz ensemble named after the nefarious scheme of a James Bond villain packed such a solidly melodic and grooving punch? Project Grand Slam, named by leader Robert Miller as a play on “Goldfinger’s” plan to steal all the gold from Fort Knox, is probably the first—and he and PGS are up to plenty of melodic and grooving wonder this summer on Spring Dance, their explosive new album on Cakewalk Records.

The collection’s lead track is its title tune, an upbeat, feel-good, winner penned by Miller. Miller’s other songs include the Joe Zawinal tribute “Joe Z,” a high energy blast that brings to mind the fiery fusion magic of Weather Report, complete with exotic chanting and old school keyboards; the sensual and elegant soprano sax led ballad “Ma Petite Fleur,” a piece Miller dedicates to his wife and that he calls his favorite on the collection; the brass-fired, classic blues-funk explosion “Catch You Later”; and “Flat Busted,” an in-the-pocket, mid tempo grooving urban jazz tune featuring Gilad Ronen’s hypnotic flute runs.

Ronen and Joye Hennessey’s “Remember” is featured first as a dramatic and soulful, longing romantic vocal (highlighted by strings and an emotional sax solo) and, as a coda to Spring Dance, a thoughtful and reflective instrumental that evolves into a percussive, easy rolling, rhythmically engaging samba. Ronen also composed the ambient, slightly melancholy ballad “The Turn,” which featured a smoky sax melody and soaring horn textures.

The band also covered the old Hollie’s hit, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”. Says Miller: “Joye did an incredible job with the song, almost like Mariah Carey singing jazz!”.

The eclectic nine-track collection is the follow-up release to PGS’ critically acclaimed 2008 debut, Play, which included the Top 20 jazz radio hit “The Captain Of Her Heart” (sung by Judie Tzuke). Five of the tracks from Play, along with the band itself (with Miller having a speaking part), were prominently featured in an episode of the hit NBC-TV series “Lipstick Jungle,” starring Brooke Shields. PGS did several live performances at clubs in NYC in addition to a charity show for the Ronald McDonald House.
For the new album Miller invited Mike Eckroth, keyboardist for guitar legend John Scofield, and alto sax man Danny Lerman to complement the core trio. After a few days of rehearsal, the new lineup of PGS convened in the studio and nailed the basic tracks in a week, with most songs done in two or three takes. After some overdubs, Justin Smith was brought in to sweeten some of the tracks with strings. And Joye Hennessey added her soaring vocals.

Miller is a renowned solo artist. His debut project, Child’s Play (Wildcat Records 1994) included performances by Randy Brecker, Jon Lucien and Anton Fig; his follow up, Prisoners of Love (1996) was released on 32 Records, a label Miller co-founded that became famous in the late ‘90s for a series of “Jazz For…” compilation recordings (Jazz For a Rainy Afternoon, Jazz For The Quiet Time, etc.) that dominated the Billboard Jazz charts and sold well over one million units. His band, The Robert Miller Group, played at many major New York area clubs, graduating to the national festival circuit where they appeared with artists like Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck and Kenny Barron.

NEW RELEASES - BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BOSSA NOVA, FANIA ALL STARS, EL BARRIO: SOUNDS FROM THE SPANISH HARLEM STREETS

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BOSSA NOVA – VARIOUS ARTISTS

Way more than just an introduction – and instead, an amazing collection of bossa nova gems – 48 tracks pulled from the vaults of the legendary EMI/Odeon label – home to some of the best bossa work ever recorded in Brazil! The package is a treasure through and through – filled with key classics, overlooked gems, and the kind of weird and wonderful bossa numbers that never made it here to the US – but which have made digging for Brazilian records a favorite pastime of ours for decades. Most tracks here are from the 60s, and the set runs from straight bossa numbers to others that use bossa as a starting point, then take off into great new territory. Titles include "Ao Amigo Tom" by Doris Monteiro, "A Resposta" by Marcos Valle, "Voce" by Milton Banana Trio, "Deixa Eu Dizer" by Claudia, "A Ra" by Joao Donato, "Eh Mundo Bom Tai" by Johnny Alf, "Agua De Beber" by Neco, "Onde Anda O Meu Amor" by Bossa Tres, "Fotografia" by Sylvia Telles, "Por Causa De Voce" by Marisa, "Outra Vez" by Elizeth Cardoso, "Inutil Paisagem" by Dick Farney, "Ho Ba La La" by Norma Benguell, "Estamos Ai" by Leny Andrade, "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce" by Eumir Deodato, and "Misturada" by Quarteto Novo. ~ Dusty Groove

FANIA ALL STARS – LIVE IN AFRICA (CD/DVD)

A key 70s moment of pride for the New York Latin scene – and one of a number of crucial live sets cut by the legendary Fania All Stars! The group were invited to play a three day music festival in Zaire in 1974 – timed to coincide with the Rumble In The Jungle Ali/Foreman fight – and after blowing the crowd away on the first night of the festival, they took the stage again for a massive encore on the last night – recorded here in all its glory! The energy of the set is amazing – as some of New York's greatest Latin artists of the time rock the house in front of a crowd of 80,000 Africans – creating a cultural exchange that should have made the State Department blush. Numbers include "En Orbita", "Guantanamera", "Quimbara", "El Raton", "Mi Gente", and "Ponte Duro". Package includes the full original film, plus lots of bonus footage that's extra-cool – including some great location shots in Zaire! Also features the full album on CD - but with more cuts than the film! ~ Dusty Groove

EL BARRIO – SOUNDS FROM THE SPANISH HARLEM STREETS

A killer batch of boogaloo and Latin Soul – and a set that even features 2 unissued gems from the vaults of Fania Records! As with the previous entry in this series, the sound here is plenty darn soulful throughout – lyrics that are often in English, and rhythms that borrow heavily from American funk and soul of the late 60s – mixing African-American musical styles with Puerto Rican and Cuban elements – all to come up with a groove that's as fresh today as it was back in the Spanish Harlem scene of the time! Previously unreleased tracks include "Evil Ways" by Pete & Louie, and the full length version of "O Elefante" by Ray Barretto – and other tunes include "Rise Up" by Orchestra Harlow, "Safari" by Tito Puente, "Revolucionando" by New Swing Sextet, "Times Are Changing" by Jimmy Sabater, "MC2" by Willie Colon, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Joe Bataan, "Musica Del Alma" by TNT Boys, "Here Comes The Judge" by Pete Rodriguez, "Ape Walk" by Al Escobar, and "Rat Race" by Ralfi Pagan. ~ Dusty Groove

NENEH CHERRY & THE THING - THE CHERRY THING

A mindblowing collaboration – one that brings the soulful vocals of Nenah Cherry into play with the avant jazz sounds of The Thing – but all in a mode that's unlike anything either artist has recorded before! The mix of talents is no surprise – given that Nenah's dad is Don Cherry, whose own European work helped to set the tone for a generation – and also given that group members Mats Gustafsson, Paal Nilssen Love, and Ingebrigt Haker Flaten all have ears for styles that go way beyond jazz – including a surprisingly great taste for offbeat funk, which really comes to the forefront on this unusual set!

Make no mistake, there's still plenty of jazz-based instrumentation – sharp reeds from Mats Gustafersson, heavy drums from Paal Nilssen Love, and those magical moody basslines that we love so much from Ingebrigt Haker Flatern – but they often get a bit more directed, and are augmented with slight added instrumentation at points – to provide a perfect foil for Cherry's righteous vocals – all with results that easily make the album one of the most unusual soul projects we've heard in years – on a par with equally creative efforts from artists like Meshell Ndegeocello, Erykah Badu, or Georgia Anne Muldrow. Titles include "Cashback", "Dream Baby Dream", "Too Tough To Die", "What Reason Could I Give", "Dirt", "Accordion", and "Sudden Moment". ~ Dusty Groove

ALBERT KING - I'LL PLAY THE BLUES FOR YOU

Concord Music Group has releaseed Albert King's I'll Play the Blues for You as part of its Stax Remasters series. Enhanced by 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino, four previously unreleased bonus tracks, and newly written liner notes by music journalist and roots music historian Bill Dahl, the reissue not only spotlights one of the most entertaining and influential blues recordings of the 1970s, but also underscores the album's enduring nature four decades after its original release.

In addition to King's brilliant guitar and vocal work, the album also features a rhythm section made up of members of the Bar-Kays and the Movement - the former a new lineup following the tragic Otis Redding plane crash that wiped out most of the original band, and the latter group Isaac Hayes's funk-driven outfit, with guitarist Michael Toles, bassist and Bar-Kays co-founder James Alexander, and drummer Willie Hall members of both bands. Rounding out the backup unit is the Memphis Horns, featuring longtime Stax mainstays Wayne Jackson on trumpet and Andrew Love on tenor saxophone.
Recorded in Memphis in 1972 and released in the fall of that same year, I'll Play the Blues for You "was a typically brilliant mixture of pile-driving blues and hot Memphis soul grooves that dented Billboard's pop album survey at #140," says Dahl in his liner notes. "Producers Allen Jones and Henry Bush kept King contemporary while simultaneously emphasizing his inherent strengths. The result was one of Albert's best long-players."

"This album was originally recorded and released in 1972, at the very end of an era when a variety of musical genres - blues, rock, pop, soul and funk, to name a few - could still coexist on a single radio station playlist or on a single tour bill," says Chris Clough, Concord's Manager of Catalog Development and producer of this reissue. "Albert King was versatile enough, and had a broad enough appeal in the early '70s, to pull in audiences that were dialed into every one of these styles. He successfully walked a tightrope that connected so many different kinds of music and so many different audiences. This versatility is partly why he's so influential four decades after this recording was originally issued."

In addition to the LP's eight tracks, I'll Play the Blues for You includes four previously unreleased titles - two of which are alternate takes of songs in the main sequence. "A stripped-down ‘Don't Burn Down the Bridge' minus the horns crackles with excitement," says Dahl, "while a freshly discovered alternate of ‘I'll Play the Blues for You' sports a contrasting horn arrangement and has no spoken interlude yet stands quite tall on its own, even with King playing right over an elegant sax solo (he really tears it up on the extended vamp out, spinning chorus after chorus of hair-raising licks").

The other two of the four bonus tracks are "splendid additions to King's Stax canon," says Dahl. "It's hard to understand why ‘I Need a Love' laid unissued; the upbeat scorcher comes complete with full-blast horns, Albert's smoky vocal bearing an ominous edge. ‘Albert's Stomp' is a funk-soaked instrumental that finds King working Lucy [his trademark flying V guitar] over fatback organ and Toles's wah-wah."

Dahl sums up this 1972 tour de force accurately and succinctly: "When Albert King gave us I'll Play the Blues for You, he fulfilled his promise and then some."

~ Concord Music Group

CLARENCE MILTON BEKKER - OLD SOUL

Producer Mark Johnson's Playing for Change: Songs from Around the World, released in 2009, established a forum for street musicians from around the globe, the invisible army of raw talent that exists outside the conventional margins of the music business. Among those raw talents was vocalist Clarence Milton Bekker, a native of Suriname who developed his craft in his adopted homeland of Holland and eventually crossed paths with Johnson on the streets of Barcelona.

Propelled by the strength of his performances on Playing for Change - and his subsequent performances as part of the internationally touring Playing for Change Band - Bekker steps into the spotlight for a solo album -- Old Soul.

Recorded in Santa Monica, California, Old Soul captures the vintage American soul music that awakened Bekker's musical consciousness when he was still a young boy in Holland in the 1970s and early ‘80s. Producers Reggie McBride and Mark Johnson, assisted by a crew of veteran soul musicians directly connected to that seminal period, take Bekker on a trip back in time to revisit the powerful sounds originally crafted by iconic figures like Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam and Dave, and many others.

Bekker's worldly wisdom is evident on every track in Old Soul. The album opens with the uptempo "Any Other Way," a testament to the inner strength that it takes to keep your head up after a breakup. Bekker and his crew shift gears into a slower, funkier groove for Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can," a heartfelt call for unity and harmony in a desperate and broken world.

Further in, Bekker digs a swampy groove that underscores Bill Withers' suspicious and confrontational "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)," then does a quick detour into the rousing devotional "Try a Little Tenderness," the anthem that became Otis Redding's signature song shortly after he recorded it in 1966. "Of course, Otis owns that song," says Bekker. "His version is fantastic, something no one can touch. But we did it in one take in the studio, and it felt so good. When I listened to the playback, it just gave me goosebumps."

A longtime fan of Al Green, Bekker considers "Tomorrow's Dream" one of his favorite tracks on the album. While the arrangement here is a bit leaner than the big sound that defines many of the other tracks, the emotional impact is just as powerful here as anywhere else in the set.

In the home stretch, "Shine On Me," Bekker's one original contribution to the album, fits seamlessly with the balance of the material, thanks in large part to the sincerity of his lyrics combined with an arrangement that takes all the right cues from the old school. "Hold On, I'm Coming" written by Isaac Hayes and made famous by Sam and Dave, is the rousing closer.

"I'm amazed by the road my life has taken and how it has changed along the way," he says. "It's really difficult for a European artist to have an impact outside of his own continent or even his own country, but by the grace of God, I've been given a chance. It's up to me now to make the best of that chance. I just want to make music for anybody who wants to listen to it." Bekker has experienced enough of the world that he's not afraid to take charge of his corner of it. Old Soul is a reverent tribute to the past, by an artist who keeps one eye fixed on the future.

~ Concord Music Group

GRADY NICHOLS - DESTINATIONS

Saxophonist Grady Nichols’ new CD, Destinations, is a musical vacation. You can visit the beach (“Beachside”), explore the streets of London (“London Baby!”), go a little country (“Tulsa”), hit the west coast (“You With Me”), spend time daydreaming (“Walk Thru My Dreams”) and come back home again (“Coming Home”). After listening to the CD, you realize you have embarked on a musical journey touring various genres without any layovers.

Grady steps into new territory by peppering this project with a driving banjo, pedal steel guitar, steel drums, and string section which are woven seamlessly into a cohesive contemporary jazz / pop setting. It’s always more fun traveling with your friends and joining Grady on his journey are Grammy winner Bill Champlin who lends his voice and Hammond B-3 chops on “You Know Me.” Grammy nominee Jeff Lorber continues his collaboration with Grady on “You With Me” with LA session king Michael Thompson on guitar.

“When I first met with producer Chris Rodriguez, I explained my passion for the saxophone and how I felt it was a ‘voice’ that could ‘sing’ a lot of styles. I also felt that the sax was a key part in some of the most memorable songs in pop music over the last 30 years. I wanted to tap into all of that with this record. Chris understood how to bring it all together and give me a project that was an absolute blast to make. He and I both listen to a lot of different kinds of music and Chris’s experience performing with Keith Urban, Kenny Loggins, Amy Grant, and Faith Hill brought a bunch of ingredients together and yet stayed true to my voice.”

Grady’s many influences are evident on Destinations. A native of Arkansas, Grady’s main exposure to any type of jazz as a teenager was through the Weather Channel. (He even wrote the network to get a copy of their playlist and began learning about the artists played during the local forecast.) Some of his early influences were David Sanborn, David Foster, Chicago and a myriad of classical film scores.

Grady realizes many fans are not “locked” into one genre and with the digital world, listeners can easily explore an array of music. “Like my audience, I enjoy different styles of music. I try to push the envelope a bit in concert to see how the fans will react. I also attend many concerts and realize a John Mayer or Keith Urban fan may also like my music. So I was inspired to write in the style of a singer-songwriter with the saxophone as the lead voice (“You Know Me”). I re-interpreted Keith Urban’s “Only You Could Love Me This Way” as an instrumental. And my cover of Journey’s “Faithfully” has been a hit in concert for some time now.”

On Grady’s last three projects, he has worked with producers that are also writers/artists/performers. One of the key advantages is the collaborations result in songs that can go from studio to stage. “Chris is a consummate musician and performer. He knows how to get on stage night after night in front of rock, pop, Christian and country audiences and deliver great performances. The songs we developed will work live in front of an audience as well as on the CD.”

Destinations is Grady’s sixth CD. His last project Take Me With You, was produced by artist/writer Zac Maloy (Daughtry, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood), featured a guest appearance from Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer and a house remix tune from Andy Caldwell. Fusion/Smooth Jazz Jeff Lorber produced Sophistication with Paul Brown mixing and Chris Botti making a guest appearance. The CD had two national charting singles. In The Fullness of Time was recorded live with Chicago’s Bill Champlin contributing his vocals on a couple of tunes. Grady’s earlier releases were Mysterious Intentions and Between You And Me.
 
~ gradynichols.com

NEW RELEASES - CARLOS NINO & FRIENDS, RALPH CONDE, JUICY

CARLOS NINO & FRIENDS – AQUARIUSSSSSSS

Carlos Nino builds near-orchestral grandeur out of samples, loops, acoustic strings, voice and nature sounds – with assistance from fellow Build An Ark sailors and other guests – breezy, laidback and engaging all the way! The album is constructed from recordings Carlos made of himself and the guests, free flowing mood music that takes flight with nature sounds – crashing waves and more. The musicians in his circle are incredible, and while the music is ambient at times, it's also got a dexterous sweep that's mighty nice too! Players include Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Jesse Peterson, Dntel, and Daedelus – and titles include "Mezame (Awakening)", "Sailing In Concentric Circles", "Bath Of Breath Crystal Crescendo", "Listening To The Conversation Of The Birds", "Trance Elation Of Transformance", and "Tears Of Transcendence". (Vinyl limited to just 500 copies. Includes download with bonus track.) ~ Dusty Groove

RALPH CONDE - RESPE

From smooth jazz to blues with a Caribbean twist, guitarist Ralph Conde has produced a wonderful introduction to the sounds of Haitian music. Conde was formerly a member of super-Haitian group Tabou Combo, having spent seven years recording and touring with the band. Throughout his career, Conde recorded solo albums like Ralph Conde & Friends (1997); collaborated with the group Kassav, as well as with other zouk artists. In 2004, Henry Debbs produced Ralph’s album that produced the French Caribbean hit song “Gwada”. More recently he recorded Akoustikreyol – which featured a more mellow and smooth sound, such as in this one. Respe features titles such as "Tu Peux Metre" (originally recorded by Coupe Cloue); "Bebe Paramount" (from Tabou Combo), "Bouki Ak Malice "(from Les Freres Dejean); and "Adoration" (by the Magnum Band.)

JUICY

An 80s soul classic – and one of those records that never seems to get old! The set's the first album from Juicy – recorded when they were more of a group than a studio duo, and working here with production from Deodato – who gives their sound some nice jazzy touches! That's no surprise, though, as Deodato's also playing a bit of clavinet and synth on the album – matching the keyboards of lead vocalist Katie Barnes, and hitting the 80s groove sound that was the group's strongest suit – a tightly stepping style that's mighty nice throughout! Titles include "You're Number One", "I've Got Something", "Don't Cha Wanna", "Love's A Merry Go Round", "Our Love Is Stronger", "Sing The Message", and "The Night Is Still Young". CD features bonus tracks – "Don't Cha Wanna (inst)", and "I've Got Something (ext)". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - FRED LONBERG-HOLM, DAVE KIKOWSKI, BILLY MARTIN, WILL BLADES

FRED LONBERG-HOLM - FAST CITIZEN'S GATHER

Fred Lonberg-Holm at his collaborative best – working with a great group of Chicago citizens, each of whom shape the others' sound in the set! Parts of the record have Lonberg-Holm's older style of arch avant energy – an almost academic mode that comes across with thoughtfully expressive passages. Yet other sides of the music are much more freewheeling – and almost swinging, which is quite a change for Fred – but a welcome one too! Things never get too conventional, as the older modes grab back the newer ones from time to time – making for a rich set of sounds that come from Lonberg-Holm on cello and guitar, Aram Shelton on alto and clarinet, Keefe Jackson on tenor and bass clarinet, Josh Berman on cornet, Anton Hatwich on bass, and Frank Rosaly on drums – and, oddly, at some point nearly every band member plays some form of trumpet, too. Titles include "Infra Pass", "It's A Tough Grid", "Later News", "Lazy Day", "Roses", and "Simpler Days". ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE KIKOWSKI / CHRISTIAN McBRIDE / JEFF 'TAIN' WATTS - CONSEQUENCES

A beautifully-balanced trio effort from pianist Dave Kikoski – one that's still strongly directed by his work on the keys of the piano, but which also draws equal energy from the bass of Christian McBride and drums of Jeff Tain Watts! With two players like that along for the ride, you can bet that the music here's got a well put-together sound – never too over the top, nor ever too forced – this really rich organic approach to piano trio modes that sparkles with all of Dave's years of experience! The set's overflowing with great original compositions – and titles include "Russian Roulette", "Drama", "Placidity", "Mr JJ", "Glimmer Of Hope", and "Consequences (parts 1 & 2)". ~ Dusty Groove

BILLY MARTIN / WILL BLADES - SHIMMY

A funky funky shimmy from Billy Martin and Wil Blades – a very spare, stripped-down set that's heavy on drums from Martin, and lots of great Hammond and clavinet from Blades! The groove is a lot more focuses, and decidedly more gritty than we've heard from either player of late – almost a return back to 60s soul jazz roots than inspired them both – but touched with some tight 70s funk on the rhythms as well! Tracks include "Deep In A Fried Pickle", "Les & Eddie", "Pick Pocket", "Mean Greens", "Brother Bru", "Toe Thumb", and "Little Shimmy". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JESSE DAVIS, SONNY STITT, GIOVANNI IMPARATO

JESSE DAVIS – LIVE AT SMALLS

One of the best albums in years from altoist Jesse Davis – recorded in a relaxed, open-ended style that really unlocks some new magic in his horn! Davis' studio records are all quite nice, but this live date really takes him to places we've never heard before – a really old school exploration of alto modes that brings us back to Stitt or Criss, and shows a long-winded creativity we hardly knew that Jesse had. The rhythm section really helps the feel of the record, too – with a lot of humanity in the piano of Spike Wilner, mixed with the impeccable work of Peter Washington on bass and Billy Drummond on drums. Ryan Kisor's trumpet adds one more horn to the mix – and titles include "I'll Close My Eyes", "Piece Of The Apple", "Pray Thee/Beyond The Storm", "Journey From The Lighthouse", and "Body & Soul". ~ Dusty Groove

SONNY STITT – HARD SWING

Sublime Sonny Stitt for Verve – a near-perfect record in just about every way from start to finish! Sonny's tone is amazing here – crisp, but still with a great deal of warmth – and focused, but never in a way that's hackneyed or cliched – really showing the brilliance of jazz in a simple, straight ahead way that still leaves us breathless! The trio's an unusual one – LA players who include Amos Trice on piano, George Morrow on bass, and Lenny McBrownie on drums – but even they can't dislodge the classic Stitt quality of the album! Titles include "Blues For Lester", "What's New", "Subito", "Tune Up", "Presto", and a great reading of "The Way You Look Tonight". ~ Dusty Groove

GIOVANNI IMPARATO – BOMBA CUBA

Acclaimed Afro-Cuban percussionist and vocalist Giovanni Imparato reveals his stunning new album recording venture 'Bomba Cuba', Recorded in Havana @ Cuban national radio's Recording Studio. The prodigious performer gathered 12 of the greatest musicians on the local scene to take part in this remarkable live album project, combining his intense life story of Santeria with the traditional & popular rhythms of Havana. ~ bagpak.net

NEW RELEASES - NINA SIMONE. FRANK McCOMB, AKI TAKASE

NINA SIMONE - BALTIMORE

A real standout 70s set from Nina Simone – a one-off date for CTI Records, done with a sound that's different than her earlier work for RCA, Philips, and Colpix! The groove here is often as soul-based as it is vocal jazz – thanks to arrangements from David Matthews, who brings a similar sound here to his other work with Esther Phillips in the decade – another older singer who'd hit some very hip territory at the time. The groove here is very much like Phillips' best for Kudu – smooth and soulful, but in ways that still retain all the rasp and character of the lead vocals. Titles include a sublime reading of Randy Newman's excellent "Baltimore", plus "The Family", "My Father", "Music For Lovers", "Rich Girl", and "Balm In Gilead". ~ Dusty Groove

FRANK McCOMB – THE LIVING ROOM

A brilliant setting for the soulful Frank McComb – a stretched out live performance that unlocks a whole new side of Frank's talents, and makes us love him even more than before! The tunes are very laidback – and McComb accompanies himself on Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano with an easygoing vibe that has plenty of jazzy touches – all in a mode that's right up there with Donny Hathaway's legendary live recordings of the 70s – yet with all the personal, upfront style we've always loved in Frank's music! There's only bass and drums to back him up – which gives his keyboard lines and tremendous vocals plenty of room to fly – and although we've loved his studio work, this set may well be our favorite album ever from Frank. Titles include "Love Natural", "Future Love", "All You Need Is Love", "Superstition", "Do You Remember Love", "Gotta Find A Way", and "Cupid's Arrow/Contact". (This is Frank McComb's own version – a self produced CDR in a slimline case, with color copy cover.) ~ Dusty Groove

AKI TAKASE – NEW BLUES

New blues, but with some definite rootsy elements too – yet all turned around in really weird ways, by an ensemble that features some key contributions from Eugene Chadbourne! The set's half originals by pianist Aki Takase, and half old classics by Fats Waller, WC Handy, and Jelly Roll Morton – served up in a very playfully avant approach – with the sort of freshness we remember from Chadbourne's great recordings in the 80s. Takase plays piano and handles all arrangements – and the group features Chadbourne on banjo, guitar, and a bit of vocals – plus Rudi Mahall on bass clarinet, Nils Wogram on trombone, and Paul Lovens on drums – plus guest trumpet from Alex Von Schlippenbach on one track. Titles include "Dr Jazz", "So Long Kurt", "New Blues", "Joint Is Jumpin", "Mr Jelly Lord", "Memphis Blues", "Take The U Train", and "Dead Man Blues". ~ Dusty Groove

BONAFIDE - START N' STOP

Critically acclaimed reggae band Bonafide as released their highly anticipated title track “Start N’ Stop” to iTunes. This will be the third track off the album and has been highly anticipated world wide. The two driving forces behind this anticipation is the star power of Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s three verses on the track and the prior two singles released that have garnered notable success in Jamaica. “Leaving Come the Morning,” ft. Vybz Kartel was the first single to be released and quickly climbed to #1, holding that spot for 4 weeks. Currently, “I Wanna Be The One,” featuring Etana is in the #2 slot and has been on the charts for 16 weeks. The album which is due to be released in late July also will feature Sean Paul, Busy Signal and Luciano. “The band is just blessed to have the Marley bloodlines grace this new album. With Damian on the song “Start N’ Stop,” we really are excited to share this track with the world. It’s been a year in the making and the final product will be up to the fans to embrace.

We are also in the process of finalizing details for the music video shoot. Actor/Producer/Director Eric Martinez and his team will be heading this project. We are still deciding to shoot in Las Vegas or Jamaica. But, I promise you, where ever we do it, our fans will be invited to be a part of the video with us. Big ups and much respect to everyone for all your support! The Bonafide Movement is coming!” – Jr. Roots.

Bonafide consists of four members, Jr. Rootz (vocals/drums), Bass Wayne (bass/vocals), Ricky Dread (keyboards/vocals) and Kerry Ranks (DJ). The band hails from Montego Bay and Clarendon though currently residing in Las Vegas, NV. Bonafide loves its adopted home town and shows this by giving proceeds of each album and or track sold in Nevada to benefit the Help of Southern Nevada Organization.

Bonafide & The Amibug Group have teamed up to take over the world by taking reggae music to places it’s never been before. “In 2012 we’re looking to do bigger things with our music by reaching out and lending assistance to families in need. Just think what would this world be like if we all helped one another reach our potential. That’s what Bonafide stands for. If my life’s purpose is just to make me happy, then it’s a wasted life.” – Junior Roots.

JOHN BEASLEY / DARRYL JONES / NDUGU CHANCLER - 3 BRAVE SOULS

Three generations of Miles Davis alumni having fun playing progressive roots music – keyboardist John Beasley, bassist Darryl Jones and master drummer Ndugu Chancler – join forces in a formidable new funk trio called 3 Brave Souls. Harnessing Beasley and Ndugu’s hometown earthy undertones of New Orleans and Jones’ Chicago street-funk 3 Brave Souls are knee-deep in the groove on their self-titled debut for BFM Jazz.

From the revved-up, rootsy Meters romp “Wanna Get Away” and the downhome “Nothing Left to Say,” both featuring the remarkably soulful vocals of Sy Smith, to the hard-hitting Fela Kuti like instrumental “Yabis,” 3 Brave Souls make a potent statement on this debut outing. The aptly titled “Nail it Down” is a thick pocket groover with spoken words of wisdom by Ndugu. The mellow ballad “Come and Gone” is a showcase for Jones’ melodic penchant on the bass while Beasley conjures a hypnotic world music vibe on the exotic “Ayala.” Guest harmonica ace Gregoire Maret is featured on the lovely and lyrical “N2U,” Daryl Jones showcases his vocal ability on “Stay” with a Sly Stone-ish sound; and Sy Smith returns for the gorgeous ballad “Love’s Graces,” which Beasley wrote.

John Beasley who is the consummate musician, composer, and music director has worked with Chaka Khan, James Brown, Steely Dan, Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, and is currently the MD for ABC-TV “Duets” (featuring judges John Legend, Robin Thicke, Jennifer Nettles and Kelly Clarkson). Beasley wrote infectious songs that leave your foot tapping. His jazz background includes eight years with Freddie Hubbard and an eye-opening year (1989) with Miles Davis. Beasley’s previous record, Positootly! was nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award.

Bassist extraordinaire Darryl Jones is one half of the funky rhythm tandem in 3 Brave Souls. With his rock, jazz, blues experience playing with Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, and since 1993 touring with the Rolling Stones, groovemeister of the highest order, Jones’ credits include work with such pop stars as Cher, Madonna, Sting, Lionel Richie, Eric Clapton and Peter Gabriel.

The distinctive drums on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” could only be Leon “Ndugu” Chancler. With a list of studio recording credits as long as the Dead Sea Scrolls, inventive drummer and consummate timekeeper, Ndugu has recorded and toured with Santana, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock, George Duke and Weather Report.

3 Brave Souls, Beasley, Ndugu, & Jones, came together to write listenable, danceable melodic music bringing the funk and plenty of downhome soul, with an undercurrent of jazz sensibility to move you to the dance floor!

http://www.bfmjazz.com/

SOULFOOD MUSIC RELEASES YOGI CHILL

Yogi Chill, the latest release from leader in the yoga-chill music market Soulfood Music founder and producer DJ Free will be available digitally June 12th. Combining electronic beats, chill grooves and ambience with organic percussion, piano, bamboo flutes, sitar, sax and vocal samples and chants. Yogi Chill is ten tracks and 60 minutes of hip, stylistic trance chill music designed for a vinyasa or flow yoga class.

Produced by DJ Free and engineered by Michael Chavez, Yogi Chill was mixed and mastered by John Kurzweg at Soulfood Studios in Santa Fe, NM. Soulfood Music founder DJ Free came up with the concept for rhythmic, chill based music for yoga while guest teaching at noted center for humanistic alternative education the Esalen Institute in Bug Sur, California. There he began collaborating with musicians and yoga professionals who saw a need for rhythmic music that would work for fitness styles of yoga. DJ Free continued the concept and while spinning at music festivals such as Burning Man, he was able to further collaborate with DJ’s, artists, musicians, dance instructors and Yoga professionals from around the world. Yogi Chill is the intersection of the place where Yoga meets chill.

“This release is a hypnotic musical journey of what I call Transglobal Electronica – music that bridges chill, down tempo feel with organic percussion, flutes and chants,” says Soulfood Music founder, DJ Free.

Soulfood Music’s founder DJ Free is an award winning producer/composer who scored soundtracks for IMAX® "Extreme", PBS/National Geographic special "Condition Black" and the ESPN series "Making of Extreme". His DJ roots, along with the world’s indigenous cultures, influence his music. He has charted on Billboard and several international DJ and Dance charts. He works with award winning artists from a variety of cultural and musical backgrounds to create a fresh mix of music for yoga, spas and just chilling. Soulfood’s Yoga Music has been licensed for fitness – yoga compilations and on numerous yoga videos worldwide including the UK, Germany and the US companies such as Gaiam and Power Music and the 2006 release Yoga Groove was a top 10 on iTunes in its genre.

“This is music that goes beyond the yoga studio – while it’s great for flow yoga, I love to listen to it while relaxing with friends or hosting a dinner party,” says Heidi Schaeffer, COO Soulfood Music.
DJ Free will be touring in the “Buddha Lounge”, a mobile DJ “club” in a stylized airstream trailer to several Music/Art/Yoga Festivals in support of the release of Yogi Chill including Sonic Bloom, June 21st – 24th, Vail, CO and Burning Man, August 27th – September 3rd, Black Rock Desert, NV.

CRATES: REMIX FUNDAMENTALS VOLUME 1 OF 3 - REMIXES OF THE MUSICAL STYLINGS OF JILL SCOTT

Hidden Beach kicks off the summer with the launch of a new remix compilation series entitled Crates: Remix Fundamentals. The first volumes will be an eclectic collection of Jill Scott hits remixed and re-grooved by some of the music industry’s best DJ’s and Producer/Remixers. Crates: Remix Fundamentals Volume 1 (Spring Summer Feeling), the first of three remix volumes for Jill Scott from her former label home, captures the spirit of summer with upbeat tempos and catchy dance beats capturing that perfect Summer feeling. Crates: Remix Fundamentals Volume 1 is available June 26, 2012.

Jill Scott’s original vocals were paired with some of music’s most influential DJs and Producer/Remixers including Ron Trent, Ca$e Boogie, and Mr. Mig transforming her soulful vocals to be enjoyed by new audiences worldwide. DJ Jazzy Jeff, the architect of Scott’s multi-platinum debut “Who Is Jill Scott?,” was the only producer to work directly with Jill Scott. His Jazzy Jeff Redux of “A Long Walk” appears for the first time on CD on Volume 1.

The centerpiece of Crates: Volume 1 is "Spring Summer Feeling - The Ron Trent Mix" a lush ten minute plus House music re-tooling of Jill Scott’s homage to Minnie Ripperton that will transport audiences poolside in Miami. Ron Trent offers “Voices like Jill's are a credit to the expansive legacy of our culture. We need more like her.” He continues, “It was an honor to have offered my rendition of "Spring Summer Feeling." I paid close attention to the integrity of her voice also keeping with the uptempo roots of R&B and Afro-Beat flavor. The misconception is dance music is something divorced from R&B when it is historically one in the same. Hopefully this version will remain a classic amongst other listening ears as has been claimed by the top underground dance music DJ's and Dancers around the world.”

Besides Ron Trent and DJ Jazzy Jeff, on Crates: Volume 1.  fans will be treated to new versions of their favorite Jill Scott songs by Mr Mig (Beyoncé, Diddy, Kristine W), Ca$e Boogie (Young Money, Jamie Foxx), and Jaymes”Th3ree Fourteen” Ball (Trick Daddy, Maybach Music) among others.

Tracklisting
1. Can’t Explain (The Ca$e Boogie Mix)
2. Bedda At Home (The Rivera Mix)
3. Talk To Me (The 314 Mix)
4. Whatever (The Mr. Mig Powerful Love Radio Edit)
5. Spring Summer Feeling (The Ron Trent Mix)
6. Come See Me (The B-Sharp Clubin Mix)
7. Slowly Surely (The Teddy Vee Remix)
8. Golden (B-Sharp Afro Centric Mix)
9. Brotha (The Inferno Mix)
10. A Long Walk (The Jazzy Jeff Redux)
11. Love Rain (The Key West Mix)

While club remixes of many Jill Scott and other Hidden Beach artist’s songs circulated in underground circles for years, Crates: Remix Fundamentals represents the first time Hidden Beach has created a remix collection targeting the club market. To Introduce the inaugural collection, the CRATES/CHOSEN FEW MIXTAPE with DJ Alan King is available starting today at http://www.CRATESREMIX.com. Crates: Remix Fundamentals Volume 1 is in-stores June 26th.

VERONNEAU - JAZZ SAMBA PROJECT

Véronneau is an acoustic, song-based group playing Latin Jazz, Gypsy Swing and much more. At home in an intimate jazz club, world music or folk festival, Véronneau are audience favorites performing in English, French and Spanish. Lynn Véronneau lights up the stage, engaging the audience with her vocal interpretations. The acoustic guitars of Ken Avis and David Rosenblatt and percussion of Pete Walby provide the rhythm, harmony and energy to propel the music from Brazilian samba, to French chanson to standards of The American Songbook.

Véronneau's first album release Joie de Vivre (Joy of Living) quickly climbed into the top of Jazz Week's World Music chart and reached Top 10 status in a number of North American stations. It enjoyed airplay in Canada, England and Scotland where the band toured in 2011 playing festivals and club dates supported with live radio performances and interviews on BBC Radio and Radio Canada.

Canadian jazz critic and audiophile Jordan Richardson commented on the debut recording, "The album is a cultural compendium of musical styles surrounding an astonishing voice - an exciting offering for those thirsting for something unique and beautiful."

Since forming in 2010 Véronneau's multi-national musicians, currently based in Northern Virginia, have delighted audiences at clubs concerts and festivals in the US, Canada and Europe.

Veronneau consists of Quebecoise vocalist Lynn Véronneau who is well-known for her gentle, compelling, warm voice and her love of powerful melodies. Her solo album, Something Cool -- a collection of jazz standards, pop, and blues -- attracted kudos from critics, radio stations and public alike. As a classically trained singer, Lynn brings an effortless technique to her heartfelt interpretations in the jazz style. Lynn has performed throughout Canada, Europe and the US and recorded in her own right and as a session vocalist for others.

Lynn met and performed with her musical soul mate, guitar player, singer/songwriter Ken Avis in Switzerland, before moving to the US. Now they add guitarist David Rosenblatt and drummer Pete Walby to the mix.

Rosenblatt developed his love of Brazilian acoustic guitar as a child living in Rio. He subsequently crafted his sound in Brazil and San Francisco with study and live performance. David's beautiful solo composition, "Opening of Summer," is featured on the new CD.

Ken Avis has devoted himself to exploring blues, jazz and roots music. Ken was the vocalist for five years with the renowned (WC Handy Award winning) Otis Grand blues band and has performed throughout the UK, Europe and the US with various bands.

Washington DC drummer Pete Walby, is steeped in bossa nova, jazz and sartorial elegance and completes the band. Originally from Monterey, California, Pete lived in the middle east before returning to the US and to the DC area.

~ www.veronneaumusic.com

35TH ANNIVERSARY OF FREIHOFER'S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL

Diana Krall / Chris Botti / Esperanza Spalding / Trombone Shorty 

A resolution commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the legendary Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival and proclaiming June as "Jazz Month" was adopted by the New York State Senate today. Senator Roy McDonald (43rd S.D.), who represents Saratoga County, was the lead sponsor of the measure. Present for the occasion were Marcia White, SPAC's President & Executive Director, SPAC Board Member Don McCormack, festival producer Danny Melnick, President of Absolutely Live Entertainment, and William Smith, Director of Sales for Freihofer's, the title sponsor of the festival.

"The success and continuing legacy of the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival represents one of the richest chapters in SPAC's history. Since its founding in 1978, this world-class musical event has showcased legends, superstars and rising stars for more than half a million enthusiastic fans," said Marcia J. White, SPAC's President & Executive Director. "Two days of incredible jazz paired with a sublime State Park setting of rolling lawns and tall pines has proven to be a winning formula. While numerous music festivals have come and gone over the years, ours is still going strong at 35.

"My thanks go out to Senator McDonald and his colleagues for this extraordinary acknowledgement of the festival and its 35-year milestone," said White.

The festival, originally titled the "Newport Jazz Festival - Saratoga," was founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, the creator of the celebrated Newport Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and several other nationally recognized music events. In his 2002 memoir, Myself Among Others: A Life in Music, Wein credits his decision to start the Saratoga festival as "one of the smartest moves I ever made." In the book, Wein notes that the festival was a huge success right from the start, and "most importantly, it captured the spirit of old Newport."

Artists who performed in the festival's inaugural year include Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon and Chick Corea. In the ensuing years, dozens of other jazz greats graced the festival's main Amphitheatre stage, including Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King, Wayne Shorter, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Pat Metheny, David Sanborn, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Diana Krall and Chris Botti, among others.

The resolution also recognized the role of the festival's title sponsor, Freihofer's Baking Company, citing the company's "partnership and support, which has enabled SPAC to consistently book and present the greatest jazz artists and ensembles in the world." Freihofer's has been the title sponsor of the festival since 1998.
Freihofer's Director of Marketing John Marcoux lauded the resolution, stating, "we are tremendously proud of our role as the longstanding sponsor of this iconic event, a partnership that recognizes the roots of the Freihofer brand as well as a broader commitment to investing in the quality of life of our communities."

Current festival producer Danny Melnick, a protégé of George Wein and the president of Absolutely Live Entertainment, noted, "Throughout all of these years, the two things that have consistently remained are high quality music and the audience's dedication and enthusiasm. This year's festival has been programmed to celebrate these two things."

The 35th festival at SPAC, June 30 and July 1, will feature a star-studded lineup of more than 20 acclaimed artists and ensembles on two stages. Headliners include Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Esperanza Spalding, the Hiromi Trio Project, the Yellowjackets, and Maceo Parker.

A special feature of this year's festival will be the "Encore Series at the Gazebo," a lineup of the most popular, most requested young artists ever to appear on the festival's Gazebo stage. The returning favorites include the Jeremy Pelt Quintet, Sachal Vasandani, Edmar Castaneda, Mario Abney, Catherine Russell and the Trio of Oz featuring Omar Hakim & Rachel Z, among others.

In addition to performances on SPAC's Amphitheatre and Gazebo stages, the festival features a fine arts and crafts fair, CD signings by artists, a full-service bar in the Hall of Springs, southern style barbeque and other food vendors, and a children's craft area. Guests may also bring in their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free.

"As it's been for 35 years, this festival is still all about 'the hang' - that fabulous vibe produced by the combination of amazing live music, dedicated fans and a laid-back atmosphere. That experience truly sets our festival apart and keeps people coming back year after year," said White. "It's the joy of summer at its very best."

Tickets for the jazz festival start at just $55 for the lawn; kids 12 and under are free. Visit spac.org for tickets, schedule and artist information.

CAROL SABOYA - BELEZAS: THE MUSIC OF IVAN LINS AND MILTON NASCIMENTO

Already established as a premier recording artist in her native Brazil and in Japan, with eight albums to her credit, vocalist Carol Saboya is poised to make her U.S. solo debut with the July 10 release of Belezas: The Music of Ivan Lins and Milton Nascimento. The CD, on the AAM Music label, features guest appearances by saxophonist Dave Liebman and harmonica master Hendrik Meurkens, and was produced and arranged by renowned pianist (and Saboya's father) Antonio Adolfo.

Having previously recorded an album based on the Antonio Carlos Jobim songbook, Saboya decided on a different tack for the new recording. "I thought about great Brazilian composers who are known in the States, and Ivan Lins and Milton Nascimento made sense," she says. "They're modern in a way that's not bossa nova. They have these great harmonies and beautiful melodies, and their music really lends itself to jazz."

On Belezas Saboya sings in both Portuguese and English, including a new translation of Lins's "Estrela Guia" -- a paean to Nascimento -- by the New York Voices' Kim Nazarian that was commissioned by the composer especially for this project. Other Lins songs on the CD include "Abre Alas," a 1970s-era song of protest against the Brazilian military dictatorship; "Doce Presença," with an English lyric by Jane Monheit; and "Soberana Rosa" (She Walks This Earth), which Carol sings in both English (lyric by Brenda Russell) and Portuguese.

Among the Nascimento songs are "Bola de Meia, Bola de Gude" (Sock Ball and Marbles), a lively baião/maracatu that dates from early in Nascimento's career; "Tarde," one of his most magnificent ballads (with Dave Liebman featured on tenor saxophone); "Três Pontas," inspired by the train station in the small Minas Gerais town of Três Pontas, where the composer grew up; and "Beleza e Canção" (Beauty and Song), presented here in a Brazilian afoxé style.

As for the arranger's tasks, "I tried to build this bridge between Milton and Ivan, so you can't tell one from another," Adolfo says. "I brought some of Ivan's harmony style to Milton and vice-versa, those intervals of fourths pioneered by McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea. And in one of Ivan's songs I use phrases from the first song that Milton presented at a festival in 1967. They have much in common. They came to the scene at the same moment, when there was a very strong musical movement."
Saboya is backed by a stellar quartet featuring Antonio Adolfo on piano; bassist Jorge Helder (often heard with Chico Buarque and Maria Bethânia); drummer Rafael Barata (Edu Lobo, Rosa Passos, Mônica Salmaso); and guitarist Claudio Spiewak, who's recorded with a wide range of Latin music stars from Nestor Torres to Elba Ramalho.

"Carol floats with the group with her supple dynamics and her soft, very energetic voice," Adolfo says. "I asked the band not to play grooves like bossa nova. I wanted them to play very freely, and she's like the fifth musician."

In many ways, Belezas is Saboya's reintroduction to America, as she spent several formative teenage years living in Los Angeles. The elder of Adolfo's two musical daughters, Saboya, now 37, made her first recording at eight, but began her professional career as an adult on Sergio Mendes's Grammy-winning 1992 album Brasileiro, recorded during the family's Southern California sojourn. When the family moved back to Rio, Saboya continued to study and refine her craft, releasing an impressive debut album in 1997, Dança da Voz, which won Brazil's Sharp Prêmio award for Best New Pop (MPB) Singer.


Saboya has released a series of acclaimed albums, including a 1999 session exploring the music of Jobim with guitarist Nelson Faria, Janelas Abertas. In 2007, father and daughter released the award-winning collaboration, Antonio Adolfo and Carol Saboya Ao Vivo/Live, a seductive set of Brazilian standards, and followed up with 2010's Lá e Cá (Here and There), a session devoted to classic jazz tunes and American Songbook gems. It's a Brazilian artist's love letter to American jazz, a passion that Adolfo passed on to his daughter. (She also guested on two tracks of Adolfo's 2011 CD, Chora Baião.)

"There are many, many, many great composers here [in Brazil], and it's an honor to be able to sing them," Saboya says. "I can do something different with these songs. It took me a while, but I always knew that Ivan and Milton were there, waiting for me someday."

http://www.carolsaboya.com/
http://www.carolsaboya.com.br/

AARON NEVILLE TO RELEASE DOO-WOP ALBUM



Aaron Neville, Don Was, Keith David
Photo: Sarah A. Friedman



Iconic soul/R&B vocalist Aaron Neville has announced a deal with EMI’s Blue Note Records and will release a full-length album this Fall. The record, produced by Keith Richards and Blue Note Records President Don Was, is a collection of classic material from the doo-wop era. “Aaron Neville is one of the most expressive and soulful artists of all time…it’s such a thrill to hear him sing,” Was says. “His vocals have a way of reaching into your heart and stirring something really deep inside. It’s a huge honor to welcome him to Blue Note Records and to be involved, along with the legendary Keith Richards, in the production of this album.”

All of the tracks were hand-picked by Neville himself as they are songs that have remained close to his heart since he was a child. “When I was a kid, doo-wop was like medicine to me,” Neville explains. “I didn’t care what else was goin’ on in the world as long as I could sing along with Pookie Hudson and The Spaniels, The Flamingos, The Clovers, Sonny Til and The Orioles, Clyde McPhatter—I was like a kid in a candy store.”

A stellar group of session players was assembled to lay down these tracks. In addition to Keith Richards on guitar other musicians include: Greg Leisz on guitar (Beck, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams), Benmont Tench on organ (founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), George G. Receli on drums (Bob Dylan, James Brown), and Tony Scherr on bass (Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright). Richards sheds some light on the atmosphere in the studio as he explains, “This was a dream session. The band fell right into the groove and Aaron sang like an angel. It was an honor!”

During Neville’s five decade recording career, he has displayed a chameleon-like ability to perform, collaborate and contribute to a wide range of genres. From the funky soul and R&B cuts with the Neville Brothers to a triple platinum, Grammy winning duet with Linda Ronstadt in 1989, “Don’t Know Much” (off an album the duo received two Grammys for), to the title track of 1993’s The Grand Tour which put Neville on the Country charts for the first time, to his several Gospel records including his most recent project, I Know I’ve Been Changed in 2010.

~ aaronneville.com

NEW RELEASES - MOLE, THE ASSOCIATION, DOUBLE TANDEM

MOLE - WHAT'S THE MEANING?

It was nearly eight years ago that Mexican-born pianist-composer Mark Aanderud joined forces with Argentinian drummer Hernan Hecht. Their chemistry was immediate and natural. From that initial encounter they have progressed to their recent formation of Mole, an exhilarating new quartet that is breaking new ground in its approach to contemporary jazz. The two kindred spirits are joined by Mexican upright bassist Jorge “Luri” Molina and New York guitarist David Gilmore, whose impressive list of credits includes tours and recordings with the likes of Wayne Shorter, Trilok Gurtu, Don Byron and Steve Coleman’s Five Elements. “When we decided to tour with someone else from New York, to have new sounds and pressure to work with someone already recognized internationally, someone from which to learn, with a shared philosophy and professionalism, we automatically thought of David Gilmore, “says Hecht. Adds Aanderud, “There is probably no other guitarist as diverse in groove, time and the free approach as him. So it was easy to know he was the one we were looking for.”
~ rarenoiserecords.com

THE ASSOCIATION - COMPLETE WARNER BROS. & VALIANT SINGLES COLLECTION
Mindblowing music from The Association – a heady double-length package that features every single the group ever cut for the Valiant and Warner Brothers label – which together make for an amazing evolution in sound! Although best remembered for their few soft rock hits, The Association were a hell of a group who never stopped growing back in the 60s – from sublime folksy harmonies at the start, to more complicated baroque pop as years went on, to some psych elements, and even a return to rootsier sounds they never had in the first place – always delivered with qualities that were head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries – and perfectly put together in the best LA studio styles, with help from giants like Curt Boettcher, Gary Paxton, Bones Howe, and others. The group also became quite skilled in the studio themselves – as you'll hear in the book's copious notes and comments from members themselves – all a perfect package for a set that features 37 mighty tunes that include "Six Man Band", "Goodbye Columbus", "Like Always", "No Fair At All", "Standing Still", "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies", "Looking Glass", "Birthday Morning", "Makes Me Cry", "PF Sloan", "Just About The Same", "Traveler's Guide", "I Am Up For Europe", "Hear In Here",a nd "Forty Times" – not to mention some bigger hits! ~ Dusty Groove

AB BAARS / KEN VANDERMARK / PAAL NILSSEN DOUBLE TANDEM - CEMENT
Fierce free work from a mighty trio – one that features Ken Vandermark and Ab Baars on reeds, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums and percussion! There's a staccato sound to the record right from the start – one that comes from Baars sharp lines, stepping out alongside the drums – but things mellow out a bit as the set moves on – with the players finding these tonal textures between themselves, settling nicely into a base before taking off again. Tracks are long – one runs for over 30 minutes – and titles include "Marl", "Skarn", and "Shale". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - INTERSTATIC, DOJO CUTS, MUCCA PAZZA

INTERSTATIC

Interstatic is a group that consists of veteran keyboardist-composer Roy Powell, guitarist Jacob Young and drummer Jarle Vespestad. This is only the second release overall, following their ambitious 2011 outing, Anthem. The album is available through Rare Noise Records and is available on CD and 24bit-Flac digital download.  Seamlessly combining elements of jazz, experimental, ambient and rock, the scintillating power trio stretches in typically intense fashion, extending the organ trio tradition established by Jimmy Smith and taken to realms beyond on such groundbreaking recordings as Tony Williams Lifetime’s Emergency! (with Larry Young and John McLaughlin) and John Abercrombie’s Timeless (with Jan Hammer and Jack DeJohnette.) InterStatic is the trio formed by Roy Powell (of Naked Truth) on Hammond Organ, Jacob Young (Mathias Eick, Trygve Seim) on guitar and Jarle Vespestad (SuperSilent, Tord Gustavsen) on drums - Psychedelic Nordic Jazzrock for the 21st century. ~ rarenoiserecords.com

DOJO CUTS FEATURING ROXI RAY - TAKE FROM ME
A tremendous step forward for Dojo Cuts – a record that has the funky ensemble from down-under really finding their own groove – and coming across with a sound that's a lot tighter than before! We liked these guys from the start – but this time around, they really win us over even more – with a funky focus on the rhythms that really sets the record on fire from the very first note – and helps provide a wonderful platform for the all-soul vocals of Roxie Ray – who herself sounds a lot deeper and more mature than before! There's nothing we love more than watching a group grow up over the years – and this sweet second set definitely has Dojo Cuts doing just that – returning all our previous faith in them with even greater grooves. Titles include "El Entro", "Mamacita", "In This Moment", "Sonny's Strut", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Take From Me", "What Do I Have To Do", and "Easy To Come Home". ~ Dusty Groove

MUCCA PAZZA - SAFETY FIFTH
Fantastic sounds from one of our city's greatest groups of the past decade – the mighty Mucca Pazza, a darn funky band who are heavy on horns, but move with an incredibly lean groove! The label describes the group as "the marching band that thinks it's a rock band" – but we've always found these guys to be even more playful than that – not rock, but kind of a multi-instrumental "happening" – especially when they crop up at street performances – which are always as visually stimulating as they are musically groovy! This full album represents the group even better than we might have imagined – with a great focus on the harder-romping sound of their music. Titles include "Sexy Bull", "Marcia Anormale", "Boss Taurus", "Monster Tango", "Rabbits & Trees", "Last Days", "Sunday Showing (part 1)", and "Coolashell". (Includes download card & bonus tracks.) ~ Dusty Groove 

DAVID FIUCZYNSKI - PLANET MICROJAM

Guitarist and Berklee School of Music educator. David “Fuze” Fiuczynski has arrived at the global crossroads on Planet MicroJam - which  combines jazz harmony, ethnic folk melodies and a delicious groove. While drawing on the influence of classical composers and microtonal pioneers like Julian Carrillo, Alois Haba and Ivan Wyschnagradsky, Fuze adds in his own unique flavors, inherent sense of groove and improvisational daring on fretless electric guitar on this audacious and mesmerizing release on RareNoise Records.

“I’m trying to be the Gaugin of fusion,” says Fiuczynski, director of the Microtonal Groove Institute at the Berklee College of Music. “I very much think in colors. That’s a big thing for me. I want to create music that sounds like a Gaugin painting…an extremely colorful mix of Eastern and Western elements. And for me, the music on this new record is that.” From American Delta blues to the Arabic call to prayer, Chinese and Moroccan melodies, jazzy improvisations and funkified grooves, Fuze has concocted a tasty non-tempered gumbo on Planet MicroJam. Accompanied by current and former students in his program at Berklee (bassists Evan Marien and David Ginyard, keyboardists Evgeny Lebedev and Takeru Yamazaki, drummers Jovol Bell and Eric Kerr, violinist David Radler), the maverick guitarist stakes out unprecedented territory on this provocative new release, his eighth overall as a leader. Drum masters Jack DeJohnette and Kenwood Dennard appear as special guests on four tracks.

The album will be released on June 25th on CD and 24 bit-Flac digital download.

http://www.rarenoiserecords.com/

KENNY G / RAHUL SHARMA - NAMASTE INDIA

Namaste is a collaborative album crafted by Rahul Sharma – a native of India’s Kashmir region and a third-generation master of the exotic, 100-string santoor – and saxophonist Kenny G, a multiple Grammy-winning titan on the contemporary jazz landscape for more than two decades. This unusual and daring project captures the best of these two musicians – with a chill ambiance set up by mixer/producer extraordinaire Kid Tricky, (along with Walter A. and Soul Seekerz) – is set for release on June 26th, 2012 by Concord Records.
The evolution of Namaste is a fascinating story of two artists transcending cultural boundaries, beginning when Sharma, who first learnt the santoor from his father the legendary santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, approached saxophonist Kenny G during the latter musician’s performance in Mumbai a few years ago. Sharma, who has developed a substantial domestic and international following since the late 1990s via more than 50 studio recordings and extensive touring, introduced himself to Kenny by presenting him with a few of his CDs during his visit. Some informal discussions ensued, and an idea quickly took shape to collaborate on a studio recording by emailing music files back and forth from opposite ends of the globe and two very diverse musical perspectives.

The result was Namaste India, released in India in 2011, a collection of seven tracks that were deeply rooted in the traditions of Indian folk and classical music, but were also finely embellished with saxophone solos and accompaniments of an unmistakably Western orientation. As musical and cultural marriages go, it was a thing of beauty.

“It was an experiment to see how the santoor and the saxophone would work together,” says Sharma. “I knew Kenny would add so much to the compositions. But when I listened to the final results, I thought, ‘Wow, this is even better than I expected.’ The way he ended many of the tracks with a few simple notes was such a beautiful complement to the entire composition. He would improvise in a way that was so unexpected, and then find a way to fit it back into a melody that wasn’t typical of the kind of music he has recorded in the past.”

Kenny G, for all of his artistic and commercial success over the past two decades as a composer and an improviser, admits that working his way into Sharma’s tracks was no routine task. “It wasn’t the usual formula of playing the melody, improvising, repeating the melody, and then doing an ending,” he says. “It was more a question of ‘Where do I fit in? What notes do I play that will best serve this piece of music?’ But it was fun. It was an opportunity to just experiment with the sounds and notes and phrases. Little by little, over the course of several months, we put together the first few songs, and we realized, ‘Hey, I think we have something going here…’”

John Burk, Executive Vice President of A&R at Concord, was immediately taken with the album’s seductive world beat, but wondered whether there might be a way to enhance the overall set with a chill mix to bring the subtle backbeat slightly more to the forefront without losing the music’s inherent mystical essence.

Enter mixer/producer Marc Burrows, also known as Marc JB of the UK dance music group Bimbo Jones, and operating on this project in the alternate guise of Kid Tricky. Burrows reconfigured the entire album with a shade more rhythmic presence, and isolated a couple songs – namely the title track and the otherworldly “Transcendental Consciousness” – for a full remix. “In some ways,” says Burk, “the album is actually a three-way collaboration – mostly between Kenny and Rahul, but with a little bit of additional production from Kid Tricky.”

The set opens with Kid Tricky’s remix of “Namaste,” a track that walks a fine line between a hypnotic Eastern groove and the melodic solo lines and accents crafted by Kenny’s tasteful sax work. The entire track is underscored by a rhythmic beat that carries the song without being overly obtrusive.
In “Brahma Vishnu Shiva,” Sharma sets up the kind of rich foundation that only 100 strings can provide, but the arrangement allows plenty of room for the saxophone to deliver a well-balanced counterpoint to the santoor.

Further in, “Lotus Lovers” opens with a gentle but persistent combination of drumbeat and shimmering keyboards – a configuration that serves as the backdrop to a pleasant and engaging conversation between Sharma and Kenny. Kid Tricky inserts a slightly offbeat rhythm underneath “Valley of Flowers” that forces the listener to engage with the song even before the saxophone and santoor come in.
“Om Shanti” borrows riffs, vocal chants and other elements from two earlier tracks – “Namaste” and “Brahma Vishnu Shiva” – and weaves them into a hybrid piece that is familiar and yet new at the same time.

The album closes with remixed tracks that don’t appear on the original Namaste India, including a stirring version of “Transcendental Consciousness,” as reimagined by Walter A, and a rendition of the tile track remixed by the Soul Seekerz.
Indian music and contemporary jazz saxophone piped through chill mixes may seem like a gamble, but Namaste comes with a significant payoff. “At first it seemed like an odd combination,” admits Burk. “But then we listened to it and we realized that it was two great masters of their respective instruments getting together and doing something very innovative and even very daring. And it’s going to force people to hear Kenny in a way they may not have heard him before. This record provides a fresh glimpse of his versatility that sometimes gets forgotten in the shadow of such major success.”

But regardless of his own range and versatility, Kenny knows that there’s always more to be learned by taking chances and reaching across cultures. “I think the most important thing to come out of this project is the idea that two musicians from very different backgrounds with two very different instruments can find common ground and really make something innovative and interesting in the process,” he says. “We each just spoke our own languages to each other, and in the process we developed a language of our own. In the end, we figured out how to make something very intriguing and beautiful.

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