BRUBECK BROTHERS QUARTET - LIFETIMES

New CD by Brubeck Brothers Quartet, To Be Released by Blue Forest Records July 24

Since the early 1970s, Chris and Dan Brubeck have performed and recorded frequently with their father Dave in Two Generations of Brubeck, the New Brubeck Quartet, and Trio Brubeck. Now, on the Brubeck Brothers Quartet's new CD LifeTimes, they and "honorary brothers" Mike DeMicco (guitar) and Chuck Lamb (piano) have chosen to honor Brubeck père by reimagining a number of his best-known songs.

"Dave Brubeck's music is rich with challenging chord progressions and beautiful melodies," says Chris. "Dave is one of the biggest inspirations in all our lives, and we all thought it was time to salute his compositions, adding the BBQ's fresh approach to some of his most enduring tunes."

Those would be "Jazzanians," which first appeared on Trio Brubeck (1993) and was written in honor of the like-named multiracial South African student band led by eldest brother Darius Brubeck; "Kathy's Waltz," introduced on Dave's Time Out (1959) and named for his only daughter; "My One Bad Habit," inspired by a remark Ella Fitzgerald made to Dave ("My one bad habit is falling in love") and first sung by Carmen McRae on Dave and Iola Brubeck's 1961 all-star album The Real Ambassadors; and "The Duke," an Ellington tribute first recorded by Dave in 1955 and heard here in an arrangement with "a little bit of half time and double time from the first bar," says Dan, "with those grooves alternating throughout the track."

Also included is Dave's biggest hit "Take Five" (composed by Paul Desmond), which Dan kicks off with a second-line New Orleans groove in 5/4, along with two originals by pianist Lamb ("Go Round," "The Girl from Massapequa") and one by guitarist DeMicco ("Prezcence").

LifeTimes, BBQ's fourth CD and their first since 2008's Classified, is the latest chapter in the brothers' near-lifelong series of collaborations. Chris (b. 1952) and Dan (b. 1955) benefited from early exposure to the family business: the Brubeck Quartet regularly rehearsed at the Brubecks' Connecticut home, and drummer Joe Morello would leave his practice set behind. "He let me bang around on 'em," Dan recalls. "I used his drums all through high school."

Chris, who started on piano at age 5 and trombone in fourth grade, met Trummy Young, Louis Armstrong's trombonist, while Young and Armstrong were working with his parents on The Real Ambassadors and years later, as an adult, got to know Young. "He and Paul Desmond really shaped my ears," says Chris.

In addition to recordings and performances over the years with their illustrious father, Chris and Dan have recorded together with pianist Andy LaVerne (for Blackhawk); made two albums with brother Darius featuring Larry Coryell; and pursued their own very different individual paths. Chris, a self-taught arranger and composer, has had compositions commissioned and performed by orchestras around the world, including the Boston Pops, Baltimore Symphony, and Czech National Symphony Orchestra; he also tours and records with the blues-roots group Triple Play. Dan's résumé includes work with Coryell, Roy Buchanan, the Band, and the Dolphins, a group he co-founded with Mike DeMicco. Mike and Chuck Lamb first played together 30 years ago in Chuck's fusion group, Dry Jack. The intertwining pasts of the BBQ have helped them to forge a unique musical bond.

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is touring this summer in support of LifeTimes, with shows scheduled as follows: 7/24 Gate House Cafe, Southbury, CT; 7/26 View Arts Center, Old Forge, NY; 7/27 Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT; 7/28 Summer Arts Festival, Huntington, NY; 7/29 Oswego (NY) Harborfest; 7/31 Machias Bay Chamber Concerts, Machias, ME; 8/1 Strand Theater, Rockland, ME; 8/2 Rockport (ME) Opera House (second half of concert: BBQ will perform Chris's Vignettes for Nonet with the Bay Chamber Concerts woodwind quintet); 8/25 Vancouver (WA) Wine & Jazz Festival; and 10/5 Fredfest, Fredericksburg, VA. (Photo of Chris and Dan by Stephane Colbert.)
On 9/12, the Quartet will embark on a two-week tour of Russia, co-sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The group will be performing by themselves as well as with the Russian National Orchestra (at Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow) and with various guest artists including saxophonist Igor Butman, flutist Maxim Rubstov, and trumpeter Vladislav Lavrik.

At the Tchaikovsky Hall concert, on 9/17, the group will perform selected tunes with the Orchestra, and Chris Brubeck and Vladislav Lavrik will play Chris's trumpet and trombone concerto, From the Blues to Beyond. Other dates include: 9/14 Igor Butman Jazz Club, Moscow; 9/19 Town Hall concert, Efremov; 9/21 Music School concert, Samar; 9/22 Moscow Conservatory Great Hall; 9/25 Mariinsky Concert Hall, St. Petersburg.

http://www.brubeckbrothers.com/

NEW RELEASES - PAULO MOURA & ANDRE SACHS, SERGIO SAMPAIO, MAURO SENISE

PAULO MOURA & ANDRE SACHS – FRUTO MADURO

One of the most creative settings we've heard in years for the reed work of Paulo Moura – thanks to a collaboration here with guitarist Andre Sachs, who helps provide some really fresh sounds and different rhythms than we might normally hear on some of Moura's other later work! The style here almost takes us back to Moura's most creative modes of the 70s – still rootsy at the core, with echoes of older choro styles, yet also inflected with some great jazzy touches too – especially on the warmer shadings of the tunes from other instrumentation – which really helps make Moura's clarinet sound rich and expansive. Titles include "Coquetel", "Macunaima", "Andina", "Trem Do Moura", "Obstinado", "Chroma 2", and "Mulatas Etc E Tal". ~ Dusty Groove

SERGIO SAMPAIO – TEM QUE ACONTECER

Soulful samba from the great Sergio Sampaio – stepping out here on one of his better-remembered records from the 70s! The album's got a really unique approach – in that it's not always all-out rhythm and energy – but occasionally hits these mellower moments that are really nice – laidback and feeling, yet still in the same spirit of the rest of the music too – and hardly ballads or love songs at all, just these thoughtful passages that really expand the sound of the album way past the obvious! Instrumentation changes to fit the mood of the tunes, which also adds to the depth – and titles include "Ate Outro Dia", "A Luz E A Semente", "O Filho Do Ovo", "Velho Bode", and "Que Loucura". CD features 3 bonus tracks – "O Teto Da Minha Casa", "Ninguem Vive Por Mim", and "Historia De Boemio". ~ Dusty Groove

MAURO SENISE - AFETIVO

Beautiful reed work from Mauro Senise – spun out over some really creative arrangements that have him sounding even more fluid and expansive than ever – and recorded with help from great guests who include Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, Wagner Tiso, Edu Lobo, and Gilson Peranzzetta! Given that Mauro's helped out most of these artists over the years, the sense of collaboration here is really warm and rich – that great Brazilian instrumental way of sounding expressive, yet never in an overly-emotive or cloying sort of way – easily moving through some classic references, but always with a sense of fresh discovery too. Titles include "Choro Bandido", "Ondine", "Choro Sim Porque Nao", "Tie Sangue", "Bodas De Prata", and "Mauro E Ana". ~ Dusty Groove

THE BRECKER BROTHERS - THE COMPLETE ARISTA ALBUMS COLLECTION

 •The Brecker Brothers -- Michael and Randy -- were one of the most successful of the jazz/fusion groups that arose in the 1970s, recording 6 best-selling albums for Arista between 1975 and 1981.

•None of these albums have ever been released on CD in the U.S.

•Randy Brecker contributes liner notes to the set also which includes full discographical info. and rare photos.

•The band will be playing major jazz festivals in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

•Randy’s own profile at the moment is very high. He received 3 Grammy nominations this year.

Trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Michael Brecker had already shared the bandstand and logged plenty of studio time together before they formed The Brecker Brothers. The siblings stood as a team with Horace Silver’s hard bop ensemble, the proto-fusion unit Dreams, and Billy Cobham’s early Crosswinds band, as well as on myriad studio dates for a panoply of artists from James Taylor to Parliament.

By 1975 it was time for them to make their own mark. Gathering together some of the cream of the studio players that they were spending considerable time with, including saxophonist David Sanborn and bassist Will Lee, the brothers formed a tight combo that would integrate their taste for jazz, fusion, R&B, funk and pop. Right out of the box, they garnered a hit single, “Sneakin’ Up Behind You,” from their debut recording, Brecker Brothers, which also included the emblematic “Some Skunk Funk.”

Subsequent albums saw name players like guitarists Steve Khan and Hiram Bullock, keyboardist George Duke, bassist Marcus Miller and vocalist Luther Vandross making vital contributions. No matter how commercially oriented the music might veer, the solid playing of both Randy and Michael could be heard. On such albums as the live recordings, Heavy Metal Bebop and the special project Blue Montreux, the brothers fully displayed their extraordinary technical skills and gutsy phrasing. Combining jazz chops and R&B seasoning, both of the Breckers became important stylistic influences on their respective horns.

In retrospect, the Brecker Brothers can be seen as dashing heroes, unafraid to follow wherever their muse lead them no matter what straight-laced critics objected to. From today’s eclectic viewpoint, their up front blend of jazz and outright pop sounds was not only ahead of the curve, it was right up to the minute.

•Musicians on the records make a jazz/fusion hall of fame including David Sanborn, Steve Gadd, Will Lee, Harvey Mason, Marcus Miller, George Duke, and many more.

•In 1979 they also participated in all-star shows at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The band was Steve Khan, Tony Levin, Mike Mainieri and Steve Jordan. These two albums are included here as bonuses.

•The Brecker Bros. have reunited as The Brecker Brothers Reunion Band-- with excellent Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti keeping it in the family (she is Randy’s wife) and ably filling the late Michael’s role -- for an all-new studio recording of all new material, featuring David Sanborn, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, and Will Lee (to be released in September).

•A new Brecker Bros. Reunion live DVD from the Blue Note jazz club will also be released. Both new releases are on Half Note Records, the label of The Blue Note Jazz club in New York, who will sponsor a record release show the week of Sept. 11-18 in New York.

Albums included:
1.The Brecker Brothers
2.Back to Back
3.Don't Stop the Music
4.Heavy Metal Be-Bop
5.Detente
6.Straphangin'
7.Blue Montreux
8.Blue Montreux II

CAETANO VELOSO TO BE CELEBRATED AS 2012 LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY PERSON OF THE YEAR

An eight-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and two-time GRAMMY® winner, Brazil's Caetano Veloso will be celebrated as the 2012 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, it was announced on July 10 by Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy®(www.latingrammy.com).

Songs from Veloso's catalog will be performed by an impressive array of notable artists and friends of the honoree. A portion of the net proceeds from the gala will benefit Veloso's chosen charity, Fundacion Viva Cazuza in Brazil — a not-for-profit HIV prevention and treatment organization for children and young people — as well as The Latin Recording Academy's outreach and education programs. The celebration will precede the XIII Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.

"Caetano Veloso has become the preeminent ambassador of Brazilian music and culture," said Abaroa. "It is difficult to find a man with such immense talent, passion and dedication to his creative projects — whether in music, writing or activism — and it is The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees' great pleasure to celebrate a man of limitless talent and commitment. By celebrating Caetano, we celebrate Brazil, and we look forward to honoring his amazing career and music."

A musician, producer, arranger, writer, painter, and political activist, Veloso is considered one of the most influential Brazilians since the '60s. He first became known for his participation in the Brazilian music movement Tropicalia, which signaled a new generation of politically outspoken artists who recreated the face of popular Brazilian music. Veloso was forced into exile in London from 1968–1972, and during this time he developed great musical sensitivity reaching unimaginable heights. It was then that Veloso became a citizen of the world. The '80s gave Veloso his largest audience and recognition as he began touring internationally. Throughout his illustrious career, he has recorded more than 40 albums, published five books, directed a film and has won numerous awards. In 2003 he participated in the 75th Annual Academy Awards, where he and Lila Downs performed "Burn It Blue" from the film Frida, which received a Best Original Song nomination.

Hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, Veloso consistently tours and produces albums. This year, he released Live At Carnegie Hall — which documented a special collaborative concert with friend David Byrne in 2004 — and Especial, an album with fellow Brazilians Gilberto Gil and Ivete Sangalo.

As the 2012 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree, Veloso joins a list of past recipients that includes Placido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Carlos Santana, and Shakira among many others.

NEW RELEASES - JOAO BOSCO, MARCOS VALLE, ANA COSTA

JOAO BOSCO – 40 ANOS DEPOIS (DVD)

A beautiful tribute to the legendary Joao Bosco – a celebration of his forty years in Brazilian music – put together with help from a host of guests who include Joao Donato, Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta, and Chico Buarque! The presence of these equal legends is a great reminder of the way that Bosco's music has influenced generations of MPB – perhaps not as famous on a global scale as these other artists, but always very well-respected by his peers – who often recorded many of Joao's compositions, and made them their own. The music's got all the acoustic charm of Bosco's best 70s recordings – and with some of his other recent sets, there's a sense of depth and growth that really shows his tremendous evolution as an artist over the years. Titles include "Agnus Sei", "Tanajura", "Fotografia", "Plataforma", "Jimbo No Jazz", "Drume Negrita", "Tarde", and "Caca A Raposa". DVD features four more tracks than the CD – and has a bonus "making of feature" (All region.) ~ Dusty Groove

MARCOS VALLE – ENSAOI (DVD)

A great Marcos Valle appearance – from some years when he really wasn't recording that much at all! This 1992 TV set comes right before Marcos' big rediscovery by the global scene, via his recordings for Far Out – and it offers a deeply personal retrospective of Valle's years of music in Brazil – in a setting that has him speaking often between the tunes, usually with these great camera closeups – then performing mostly unplugged versions of his tunes on piano and guitar. Titles include "Mustang Cor De Sangue", "Escape", "Moshi Moshi", "Alegria Da Vida", "Azimuth", "Black Is Beautiful", and "Com Mais De 30". (All region.) ~ Dusty Groove

ANA COSTA – HOJE E O MELHOR LUGAR

One of the rootsiest albums we've ever heard from the lovely Ana Costa – quite different than her earlier funk and soul sides in Brazil, and done in a really great samba mode overall! Instrumentation is mostly acoustic – with excellent percussion and guitar – and Costa's vocals really open up in the setting, with a crackling charm that grabs us right away! Titles include "Peso E Medida", "Que Me Dera", "Sou O Samba", "Filosofia De Vida", "O Que E O Que E", and "Cantador De Felicidade". ~ Dusty Groove

SARAH VAUGHAN - THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTIONS

•The albums in this collection serve as bookends to Sarah’s long and illustrious career as one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century, in any genre. The first two contain recordings from 1949-1953 when she was first signed to a major label -- Columbia. And Gershwin Live! and Brazilian Romance are two of her last and best albums, recorded as special projects for CBS/Columbia in 1982 and 1987.

•After Hours With Sarah Vaughan has never been on CD. This CD edition contains four bonus tracks not on the original LP.

•Sarah Vaughan In Hi-Fi features Miles Davis in a rare role accompanying a vocalist and contains 9 bonus tracks not on the original LP.

•None of these albums are presently available on CD.

•Booklet contains full discographical info., rare photos, and liner notes by award-winning vocalist scholar/author and Wall Street Journal jazz columnist Will Friedwald.

Some called her “Sassy” or “The Divine One,” but for most, Sarah Vaughan was known as only one thing: the ultimate jazz vocalist of the 20th-Century. Now, a quartet of classic albums have been brought together as Sarah Vaughan: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection; a four-CD set that further enhances the legacy of this magisterial singer. The recordings included span nearly 40 years and bookend her first major label signing -- to Columbia in 1949 -- and her return to the label as a world-renowned diva for two special projects in 1982 and 1987.

After Hours With Sarah Vaughan captures the sumptuous 1949-1952 sessions that set Vaughan's luscious tones off of arrangements for strings. Complemented by orchestra leaders including Percy Faith and Mitch Miller, Vaughan delivers top notch interpretations of "Just Friends," "I Cried For You," "Street Of Dreams,” her hit, "Black Coffee”, and other standards. Four bonus tracks not found on the original album are included here.

Sarah Vaughan In Hi-Fi, features her mostly from1949 and 1950 in a more jazz-oriented setting with none other than a young Miles Davis, in one of the only times he accompanied a singer on record. Nine bonus tracks highlight this disc.

Recorded at the Hollywood Bowl in 1982, Michael Tilson Thomas / Sarah Vaughan: Gershwin Live! unites the now fully matured singer, still in peak vocal condition, with the renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas in a program of beloved Gershwin tunes that includes "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," as well as a “Porgy and Bess” medley. This album won Vaughan the 1982 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. One fascinating aspect of this box is the opportunity it presents to compare Sarah’s interpretations of the same Gershwin material -- “Summertime” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It” -- from both early and late periods in her career.

Sarah Vaughan: Brazilian Romance, Vaughan’s last complete album, finds her in a personal comfort zone. A longtime fan of Brazilian popular music, Vaughan takes to such gorgeous tunes as “So Many Stars,” “Photograph” and “Nothing Will Be As It Was” with passion and her trademark artistry -- a fitting farewell.

•Gershwin Live! took home the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female in 1982.

•Song highlights contained on the four CDs include both early (1949-1950) and late (1982) versions of “Summertime” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It” plus her hits and favorites “Black Coffee,” “You’re Mine You,” “The Nearness Of You,” “So Many Stars,” “Nothing Will Be As It Was,” and many more.

Albums included:
1.After Hours With Sarah Vaughan
2.Sarah Vaughan In Hi-Fi
3.Michael Tilson Thomas / Sarah Vaughan: Gershwin Live!
4.Sarah Vaughan: Brazilian Romance

ETTA JAMES - THE COMPLETE PRIVATE MUSIC BLUES, ROCK 'N' SOUL ALBUMS COLLECTION

•Etta James is an iconic American vocalist who, like Ray Charles, could basically sing any style and make it her own. This collection of albums -- drawn from the 13 she released for Private Music and RCA between 1997 and 2006 -- contains both her most blues oriented work as well as soul, rock and even country material. A projected subsequent Etta box will include her more jazz-oriented material done for Private.

•Two of the albums included here, Burnin Down The House and Live From San Francisco, contain versions of her greatest hits including “Tell Mama," “Something’s Got A Hold On Me,” ’d Rather Be Blind” and, of course, “At Last."

•Booklet contains full discographical info., rare photos, and liner notes by Grammy-winning jazz, blues and soul music authority/writer/NPR radio personality Bob Porter.

•Only two of these albums are presently available on CD.

Rightfully acknowledged as an icon of rhythm and blues, Etta James could, and did, sing an extraordinarily wide variety of music with equal amounts of heart and soul. The 7-CD set, Etta James: The Complete Blues, Rock ’N Soul Private Music Albums Collection, covers 6 of the 12 acclaimed recordings she made for Private Music and RCA between 1997 and 2006. The emphasis in these albums is on the more earthy blues, R&B, rock and occasional country material that this vocal dynamo put her inimitable stamp on. (The more jazz-oriented work that James cut for Private will find its way onto a projected box set in this series.) This set, which includes Love’s Been Rough On Me; Life, Love And The Blues; Matriarch Of The Blues; Burnin’ Down The House; Let’s Roll; Blues To The Bone; and the bonus disc: Live From San Francisco (recorded in 1981) returns five of these prized albums to CD.

At the time of her passing in 2012 -- after a career that stretched more than a half-century -- James was acclaimed as the musical titan she surely was. A Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame member, and a three-time Grammy winner who also received a Grammy Hall Of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award, James was an inspiration for generations of musicians, as demonstrated by the 2012 Grammy Awards tribute to her featuring Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys.

Stocked with blues staples, R&B standards, and interpretations of rock tunes from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Eagles and Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Complete Blues, Rock ’N ’Soul Private Music Albums Collection also includes lives versions of such James’s classics as “Tell Mama,” “Something’s Got A Hold On Me,” “I’d Rather Go Blind” and, her signature song and wedding favorite, “At Last.”

•"At Last" may be the most played “first dance” wedding song of all time.

•When Etta died earlier this year she received unprecedented media coverage including many front page stories. She was paid tribute on the Grammys by Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys.

•Etta has had 12 Grammy nominations, won three Grammys, and has received Grammy Hall Of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Awards, and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Albums included:
1.Love’s Been Rough On Me (1997)
2.Life, Love And The Blues (1998)
3.Matriarch Of The Blues (2000)
4.Burnin’ Down The House (2002)
5.Let’s Roll (2003)
6.Blues To The Bone (2004)
7.Live From San Francisco (1981) On The Spot

SWEET SOUL RECORDS RELEASES WORLD SOUL COLLECTIVE VOL. 1

With this latest release, Sweet Soul Records again demonstrates their total commitment to bringing soul music listeners good quality music. This compilation covers a range of musical styles like soul, neo-soul, jazzy soul, R&B, and funk, with all songs easily fitting into the “organic music” description.

“Since the release of our “Soul Over The Race” series, which have gone on to achieve both domestic and international popularity, we have been fortunate enough to garner attention from some very talented independent artists from numerous different countries. By having the opportunity to release top international soul artists here in Japan, we have been able to carefully select and compile some of the best independent soul music on offer and include that music on “World Soul Collective Vol.1.” This compilation covers a range of musical styles like soul, neo-soul, jazzy soul, R&B, and funk, with the pre-release response being overwhelmingly positive.” says Michael Harris, Senior Manager at Sweet Soul Records.

Also included on this release is the track “Make the Change,” the first original music recorded by Sweet Soul Records and sung by Nao Yoshioka, the very talented Japanese soul singer who placed second at the Apollo Amateur Night competition in May 2011. Nao joins a number of talented independent soul artists and musicians from the US, Mexico, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. Tracks include “Who’s In the Mirror” by Nik West; “Imagine” by Jeremy James; “ This Time” ORLY; and “The Best Is Yet to Come “ by Mr President.

NEW RELEASES - ARCHIVES, ANN PEEBLES, HENRI GUEDON

ARCHIVES

A contemporary group, but one with a very vintage reggae vibe – one that's put together here by producer Eric Hilton, who's got a well-trained ear for the classic, thanks to his work in Thievery Corporation! There's a warm, soulful feel to the record – a vibe that's somewhere between mid 70s Kingston, and London reggae from a decade later – all handled with a stripped-down, no-nonsense approach that features soulful horns, stepping basslines, and just the right sort of dubbish production to make the whole thing gel together – yet survive on its own without any studio tricks or gimmicks. Vocals are by Ras Puma, Lenny Kurlou, Sleepy Wonder, and Ichelle Cole – and titles include "Who's Correct", "Nuff A Dem", "Crime", "Blasting Through The City", "Sensibility", "Music Is My Prayer", and "Boof Baff". ~ Dusty Groove

ANN PEEBLES – THE ORIGINAL SOUL SISTER

An amazing amount of greatness from the legendary Ann Peebles – easily one of the most important southern female soul singers of the 70s! Peebles was a seminal force on the Memphis soul scene, especially in the early part of the decade – working famously here for Hi Records, with lots of help from studio genius Willie Mitchell. Ann's work for Hi was second only to labelmate Al Green – and like Green, she worked in a similar slow-burning style that set a whole new sound for southern soul – one that updated an older Memphis mode into a more sophisticated, more adult groove that made tremendous use of Peebles' magnificent vocals! This 44 track package features some of the best tunes from those years – a great overview that includes "I Can't Let You Go", "I Can't Stand The Rain", "Do I Need You", "Put Yourself In My Place", "Part Time Love", "I Pity The Fool", "Breaking Up Somebody's Home", "I'll Get Along", "Generation Gap Between Us", "Heartaches", "If You Got The Time", "Mon Belle Amour", "Waiting", "Good Day For Lovin", "Beware", "Dr Love Power", and "Come To Mama". ~ Dusty Groove

HENRI GUEDON – COSMOZOUK PERCUSSION

The coolest grooves we've ever heard from percussionist Henri Guedon – a really wonderful blend of Latin, Caribbean, and jazz-based influences – all filtered into a very special sound! There's plenty of percussion at the core, but there's also some sweet keyboards too – used sparely, so that the album's not a funky electric one – but in just the right ways to bring in a cool sort of 70s funk touch to the whole record – almost in some of the ways you'd find with Nuyorican funk of the same time! Vocals are great, too – mostly in French – but the instrumental element is what really moves us – and it moves us plenty! Titles include "Brujeira", "Tou Patou Feme", "Guajira Contestation", "Bomba Miscien", "Vulcano", and "Marcel Song". (Beautiful pressing – super heavy cover and vinyl!) ~ Dusty Groove

JIMMY SMITH - SIT ON IT / UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Great late 70s work from Jimmy Smith – two albums back to back on a single CD! One of our favorite later albums from organist Jimmy Smith – and a set that cooks heavily in a wicked blend of jazz, funk, and soul! The style's a bit like the groove that Johnny Hammond hit during his Gears period – arranged by Eugene McDaniels and Alan Silvestri, with an approach that's somewhere between Larry Mizell and Skip Scarborough – tight grooves, bits of vocals, yet plenty of room for Smith's keyboard solos to take off over the top! Players include Herbie Hancock on piano, Alan Silvestri on guitar, and Lenny White on drums – but the main star is Jimmy – who's grooving massively over the top of the album, with soaring solos that are some of his best work from the late 70s.

Our favorite track on here is a masterful take of "Can't Hide Love", but there's a lot of other nice funky tracks like "Slippery Hips", "My Place In Space", and "Give Up the Booty". Unfinished Business is mighty soulful business from the great Jimmy Smith – a set for Mercury Records that updates his sound slightly, yet also hits some classic Hammond lines too! Jimmy plays a bit of acoustic piano and keyboards in addition to his classic organ – and works here in a setting that's tightly arranged, yet mostly small combo – with work from Ray Crawford on guitar, Nolan Phillips on tenor and flute, and added percussion from Buck Clarke and Stephanie Spruill. Rhythms step along nicely in kind of a 70s take on 60s soul jazz modes – leaving lots of room for Jimmy to open up on his solos – but there's also a few other more ambitious moments, including a great take on "Serpentine Fire" arranged by Ronnie Foster – and a warmly wonderful "Stevie" – which is a suite of tracks dedicated to Stevie Wonder. Other titles include "8 Counts For Rita", "Blues For Charlie", "Until It's Time For You To Go", and "Norristown PA". ~ Dusty Groove 

RANDY CRAWFORD & JOE SAMPLE LIVE

Randy Crawford and Joe Sample have been making music together in one form or another for nearly 36 years. From their first hit together in 1979, "Street Life" (which Randy sang with Joe and The Crusaders) to "One Day I'll Fly Away," "When Your Life Was Low" and "Last Night at Danceland," to their recent duo collaborations on the GRAMMY®-nominated CDs - Feeling Good (2006) and No Regrets (2008), they've made music that people remember. They remember the songs. They remember the melodies. But above all, they remember Randy's incredible voice - and Randy's voice is truly one of the most memorable of all the singers today.

Recorded on tour in Europe with Joe on the piano joined by his son Nicklas Sample on upright bass and the incomparable Steve Gadd on drums, Live is a true gem. The album contains Randy's and Joe's classics "Street Life," "Almaz" and "One Day I'll Fly Away," as well as choice tracks from their recent duo studio releases Feeling Good and No Regrets - "Everyday I Have the Blues," "Me, Myself and I" and Randy's rendition of the Edith Piaf classic "No Regrets."

Randy Crawford & Joe Sample Live Tracklist
1. Every Day I Have The Blues
2. Feeling Good
3. Tell Me More and More and Then Some
4. Rainy Night In Georgia 5.
5. This Bitter Earth
6. Me, Myself and I 
7. No Regrets
8. One Day I'll Fly Away
9. Almaz
10. Street Life
11. Last Night In Danceland

HALIE LOREN - STAGES

"Her songwriting abilities continue to demonstrate a laudable maturity."
- Chris Loudon, JazzTimes

"Though vocalist Halie Loren has made a name for herself by bringing her warm and inviting alto to bear on a mixture of pop and jazz classics, she has received far too little recognition in the United States."
- Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

A story is always better when sung through the lips of someone like Halie Loren. Her live re-release album Stages creates a captivating story, each song leaving the listener's ears insatiate, yearning to hear, "what happens next?" In this live recording, Loren's sultry delivery of perfectly articulated melodies, naturally warm in tone, touches her listeners note by note, creating a symphonic experience to be remembered. Stages captures the intimate essence of two of Loren's most revered live performances -- constantly calling listeners all over the world back for more.

Originally released in 2010, Stages is Loren's first-ever live album. By popular demand, the album is being re-issued, with two never-before-released live bonus tracks, by Justin Time Records on July 10, 2012.

Recorded in 2009 at two different Oregon performances, Stages seamlessly fuses standards like "Summertime" and a sassy "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" with pop tunes like U2's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Interlacing these tunes are Loren's own original compositions, folky-pop tune "Free To Be Loved By Me" and, "They Oughta Write a Song," title track of her 2008 release. In addition, this newly enhanced release features two bonus tracks, "I'd Rather Go Blind," and "Nearness of You."

Stages features the complementary musical craftsmanship of Loren's longtime collaborators: pianist Matt Treder, bassist Mark Schneider, drummer and percussionist Brian West, and trumpeter Tim McLaughlin.

Our live shows are quite eclectic, and feature songs from even further outside the generally jazzier genre that is represented on our studio albums... we take chances, and some of these songs were examples of that," recalls Loren. "The rendition of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was the product of my coming to Matt Treder (piano) and saying, 'what if we try it as a ballad?'. We rehearsed it through one time, and then performed it on stage. Now it's on an album for the whole world to hear. The same is true for several of the original songs on Stages -- It was our first time performing them as a band outside of our rehearsal space. Sometimes things go right the first time around, and have their own kind of magic, and it's great to capture that when it happens."

Ultimately it is Loren's warm and playful delivery of these melodies that grants her the freedom to seemingly effortlessly join these eclectic genres together into one complete album. Stages thus, is the result of Loren's gifted ability to capture the intimate ambiance of a live performance into a timeless recording.

"Capturing the energy and spontaneity of a live performance is always one of my goals when recording in the studio," says Loren. "The innate quality of the 'live' sound and sparkle is my favorite part of creating a live CD... it's like inviting listeners from all over the world to attend a concert playing exclusively for them through their stereos or iPods. It makes the concert experience accessible to all. I'm thrilled to be able to share the newest version of Stages with fans around the globe."

Loren's sound has been compared to those of Diana Krall and Norah Jones. These comparisons are a reflection of Loren's cross-genre success. Her musical career started when Loren was just a teenager, winning first place at national songwriting contests in jazz, inspirational, and country music. Her mastery of diverse genres blends musical boundaries into a seamless sound that only Loren can deliver.

Although still in her twenties, Loren's voice has been inviting listeners into her intimate sound worldwide long before her release of Stages. Since 2005, she has released five albums. Loren's debut jazz album, They Oughta Write a Song (2008), awarded her "Best Vocal Jazz Album" at the 2009 JPF Music Awards. With distribution in Asia through JVC/Victor Entertainment, it became Japan's No. 2-selling jazz album of the year.

"Thirsty," Loren's original song from her album After Dark (2010), won the listener-determined Vox Pop award for best jazz song at the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards. After Dark awarded Loren "Artist of the Year," by online reviewer Wildy's World.

Heart First (2012), Loren's most recent release, showcases her craftsmanship for eclectic balance of jazz standards, re-imagined pop classics, as well as Loren's own original compositions. Heart First won Jazz Critique Magazine's "Golden (top) prize" for Best Vocal Album in its annual Jazz Audio Disc Awards 2011.

Collaborating with Grammy® Award-winning and chart-topping musicians and songwriters since she was a teenager, Stages is the manifestation of Loren's musical maturation. Her diverse musical background thus allows Loren to take creative liberties musically and vocally, depending on how she chooses to tell each story. As one reviewer comments, "her respect for the past is undeniable, while her finger on the pulse of modern music gives her songs a wide appeal that reaches far beyond jazz clubs." And that's just it, Loren doesn't appeal to merely one specific genre of like-minded listeners, she accomplishes something deeper, touching directly the hearts and souls of sentient beings throughout the world.

Loren's genre-crossing albums have reached No. 1 on Amazon Japan's jazz chart and are consistent top-ten contenders on jazz and pop radio. Success has brought Loren's music to ever-widening audiences, including sellout concerts at the Blue Note and the Cotton Club in Tokyo, headlining the Ginza Festival in 2010, and several consecutive tours in the US, Europe, and Asia.

A well-revered singer, songwriter, and musician, and also storyteller, Loren has finely crafted a live album that grants listeners all over the world intimate access to Loren's stage. Stages unites Loren and her listeners through one very sentient heartstring.

halieloren.com

THE PRESERVATION HALL 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION BOX SET

Fifty years after a former art gallery on St. Peter Street became a haven and platform for the surviving musicians who made New Orleans the birthplace of jazz, The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection box set celebrates their contributions. This deluxe 4-CD, 58-track collection will be available September 25 through Legacy Recordings.

The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection includes five previously unissued tracks that were recorded at Allen Toussaint's Sea-Saint Studios over the years: "In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)" (1967); "Precious Lord" (1970); "C. C. Rider" (1981); and "I Get The Blues When It Rains" and "Nellie Grey" (both 1986). After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the state-of-the-art studios in 2005, Preservation Hall producer and musician Ben Jaffe (son of original producer, Preservation Hall Jazz Band member and founder Allan Jaffe) was able to recover many of the tapes and restore a portion of the music.

In presenting its comprehensive history, The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection draws from 19 albums (and one bonus CD) that were recorded and released between 1962 and 2010, on the Atlantic Records, CBS Records, Sony Music, and Preservation Hall Recordings labels. Tracks are sequenced in non-chronological order, so the listener can appreciate the seamless transitions of the music and the musicians' lineups from decade to decade.

For example, on disc two, the 1995 recording of "(True) You Don't Love Me" (originally popularized by Little Miss Cornshucks), featuring Wendell Brunious on trumpet and vocal, and Narvin Kimball on banjo, is followed by 1962's "In The Sweet Bye And Bye," featuring George Lewis on clarinet and trombonist Big Jim Robinson. The latter is from the Atlantic sessions of July 1962, produced by Nesuhi Ertegun and engineered by Cosimo Matassa (inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012, the man responsible for the career-defining hits of Fats Domino, Little Richard, Lee Dorsey, and many others).

They are followed by the venerable "I'll Fly Away" from American Legacies, the 2010 collaboration between Preservation Hall musicians and the Del McCoury Band; and then the 2001 PHJB lineup's version of "That Bucket's Got A Hole In It" with 'Tuba Fats' on vocals. Then it's back to the 1962 Atlantic sessions for "Love Song Of The Nile" with Billie Pierce on piano and vocals, De De Pierce on trumpet, bassist 'Papa' John Joseph, and George Lewis. Next comes a 2009 cover of Jimmie Rodgers' "Blue Yodel #9" by trumpeter Mark Braud, singer Clint Maedgen, and producer Ben Jaffe on tuba (as Jaffe reminds the reader that Rodgers' recording of the song with Louis Armstrong "was one of the first times a white artist and an African-American artist collaborated on record"). Then it's back to the 1962 lineup for their version of Armstrong's "Shine," and so on throughout the box set, as decades cojoin and the ultimate dream radio playlist evolves.

Moving the proceedings along and providing invaluable documentation are Ben Jaffe's song-by-song annotations. "Billie and De De Pierce were two of my favorite people," Jaffe notes of "Eh La Bas," the box set's first song. "They were incredibly sweet and generous with their time. I remember De De's leathery hands and Billie's short, stubby fingers. I was 5 years old when they gave me a Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robot for Christmas. I thought it was the coolest thing ever, the kind of gift you receive from your grandparents... 'Eh La Bas' is one of my favorite tunes... De De sings it in Creole... He spoke Creole to Billie... I could pick up every other word. It was like going to my grandparents' house and hearing them speak Yiddish... Even if you couldn't pick up the words, you knew what they meant!"

In 2009, on a break from the Jazz & Heritage Festival, Pete Seeger and his grandson Tao (with his bandmates in the Mammals, Michael Merenda and Ruth Ungar) showed up at the Hall to record "We Shall Overcome" with the PHJB.

As Jaffe notes: "Mr. Seeger was a hero to my parents. He was an inspiration to them, a guiding light, and acted as a steadfast moral gauge. I remember meeting Mr. Seeger for the first time almost 30 years ago late at night, down on the Canal Street wharf on the Spanish Plaza right where the U.S.S. President used to dock. During Jazz Fest, there used to be late night shows on the President. Mr. Seeger was sitting by the dock. He and our Dad exchanged a few niceties. I remember Mr. Seeger putting me on his lap and singing me a lullaby. It felt like being back in the womb. Being at Preservation Hall, playing 'We Shall Overcome' with Mr. Seeger and his grandson Tao, was one of the most beautiful and proudest moments of my life. I think our Dad would have really enjoyed being there that day."

In many ways, The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection is a family's story, and a tribute to Allan Jaffe (1935-1987). A trained musician from Pennsylvania, Jaffe frequently visited New Orleans when he served as a GI in the 1950s at Fort Polk, about four hours northwest of the Crescent City. He and his newlywed wife emigrated there in 1961, and fell into the second line of a parade that wound up at an art gallery. The owner actively promoted jam sessions at his gallery by the elder founding fathers of jazz. Most of them were born in the late 19th century, and had few outlets for their pure jazz (not Dixieland!) in the postwar era of the 1950s.

The aging gallery owner took a chance on the Jaffes, suggesting they take over the gallery lease, "with the idea," as Ben writes, "of our young parents formalizing the jam sessions into organized, nightly performances by the living legends of New Orleans Music, most of which had been forgotten, locked out by changes in the social landscape and the bottom line hustle of Bourbon Street." Allan Jaffe relished his role, not only as impresario but as tuba player (in lieu of string bass) at sessions.

Atlantic Records co-founder Nesuhi Ertegun's field trip of July 1962 was immortalized on the four Jazz At Preservation Hall LPs recorded there: Volume 1: The Eureka Brass Band of New Orleans; Volume 2: Billie & De De Pierce/ Jim Robinson's New Orleans Band; Volume 3: Paul Barbarin's Band/ Punch Miller's Bunch & George Lewis; and Volume 4: The George Lewis Band Of New Orleans. Six tunes from those LPs are heard on the 50th Anniverary Collection. The ages of the musicians at those seminal dates tell a story, among them 'Papa' John Joseph (85), Alcide 'Slow Drag' Pavageau (74), George Lewis (62), Punch Miller (68), Big Jim Robinson (69), and 'youngsters' Emanuel Sayles (55), Billie (55) and De De Pierce (58), and Louis Nelson (59). In connection with the Atlantic releases, newsman David Brinkley featured the Preservation Hall on the old NBC Nightly News.

Jaffe then took over as producer, and launched the Preservation Hall Recordings label. The first LPs were released in 1964, Sweet Emma And Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (pianist Sweet Emma Barrett was 67 at the time); and in 1966, New Orleans' Billie And De De And Their Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

A decade later in 1976, the PHJB signed with CBS Records. Four LPs were issued over the next ten years, all produced by Jaffe, and simply titled New Orleans Volume I (1976), New Orleans Volume II (1981), New Orleans Volume III (1983, subtitled When The Saints Go Marchin' In, whence comes the version of the classic song heard on this box set), and New Orleans Volume IV (1986).

When Allan Jaffe died from melanoma in 1986, at age 51, Ben writes "It left a wide open hole in our immediate family and at Preservation Hall." A trained bassist whose life was inextricably bound up with the band, Ben went off to Oberlin College in 1989. Upon his graduation four years later, "I returned to New Orleans to manage the Hall and tour and record with the band on string bass. I was 22."

The following year, the band recorded the first of two albums for the Sony Music Masterworks division. From In The Sweet Bye And Bye (1994), produced by Ben (who played bass) and engineered by Delfeayo Marsalis, comes "Do Lord," featuring Ellis Marsalis on piano, Dr. Michael White on clarinet, and elder statesman Narvin Kimball (age 85) on banjo; and "Sing On" with young Wendell Brunious on trumpet, son of the band's great trumpeter John Brunious. The second Sony Music album was Because Of You (1995), again produced by Ben Jaffe (on bass) and (co-) engineered by Delfeayo Marsalis. From that album comes the aforementioned "(True) You Don't Love Me," a showcase for Wendell, who led the band for many years in the '90s.

Under Ben's guidance, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band flourished in the '90s and the '00s, continuing to release new albums, and becoming a worldwide touring attraction. They perform some 100 shows a year, bringing traditional New Orleans jazz to old and new audiences in the U.S. and on foreign soil. Ben lamented the passing of two childhood heroes, Percy Humphrey in 1994 (age 89) and his brother Willie Humphrey in 1995 (age 95). Banjo mentor Narvin Kimball passed away not long after Katrina; and the great John Brunious died in 2008 (age 67).

In 2010, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band released a landmark double-CD entitled Preservation: An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program. Musicians from every strata flocked to the sessions, among those being the five who are featured on this new box set: Pete Seeger and clan on the aforementioned "We Shall Overcome"; Andrew Bird on "Shake It And Break It"; Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket on "Louisiana Fairytale"; Tom Waits on "Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing"; and Richie Havens on "Trouble In Mind." Among the many artists who collaborated on separate tracks for this project were Terence Blanchard, Brandi Carlile, Ani DiFranco, Dr. John, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Jason Isbell of Drive-By Truckers, Angelique Kidjo, Amy LaVere, Buddy Miller, Italy's Paolo Nutini, and others.

Among those 'others' was contemporary bluegrass star Del McCoury, who appeared on three tracks. The collaboration was so enjoyable that Del signed up his group the following year for a full album collaboration with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, entitled American Legacies. Two songs from that album, "I'll Fly Away" and "A Good Gal Is Hard To Find" are among the many highlights of this new set.

I get great pleasure," Ben writes, "out of a song that has been interpreted, reinterpreted and performed for years and is still as fresh and new as the day it was born... That's something music does... stretch time, overlap traditions, change history... New Orleans Music is meaningful... It is vital and full of life. It can be happy and joyous. It can be sad and mournful. It has no language barrier. It delivers a universal message we, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, carry with us everywhere we travel."

THE PRESERVATION HALL 50th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND

Disc One – Selections: 1. Band introduction by Allan Jaffe (live, 1972) * 2. Eh La Bas (E) * 3. Oh, Didn't He Ramble (I) * 4. I Get The Blues When It Rains (1986, previously unissued) * 5. St. James Infirmary (King Britt Remix) (P) * 6. Ice Cream (Q) * 7. In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) (1967, previously unissued) * 8. Down By The Riverside (C) * 9. Corinna, Corinna (L) * 10. I'm Alone Because I Love You (D) * 11. El Manicero (Q) * 12. Do Lord (J) * 13. St. James Infirmary (E) * 14. Just A Little While To Stay Here (G) * 15. Complicated Life (O) * 16. We Shall Overcome (S).

Disc Two – Selections: 1. His Eye Is On The Sparrow (N) * 2. Shake It And Break It (R) * 3. Nellie Grey (1986, previously unissued) * 4. When The Saints Go Marchin' In (H) * 5. Little Liza Jane (N) * 6. (True) You Don't Love Me (K) * 7. In The Sweet Bye And Bye (C) * 8. I'll Fly Away (T) * 9. That Bucket's Got A Hole In It (N) * 10. Love Song Of The Nile (A) * 11. Blue Yodel #9 (Q) * 12. Shine (A) * 13. Burgundy Street Blues (C) * 14. I Want A Little Girl (live, 1972) * 15. Chimes Blues (D).

Disc Three – Selections: 1. Whenever You're Lonesome (D) * 2. Lord, Lord, Lord, You Sure Been Good To Me (H) * 3. Sing On (J) * 4. Joe Avery (F) * 5. Louisiana Fairytale (R) * 6. Shake That Thing (N) * 7. Short Dressed Gal (Q) * 8. Freight Train Blues (E) * 9. Over In The Gloryland (O) * 10. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (D) * 11. Nobody Knows The Way I Feel This Morning (B) * 12. I Ain't Got Nobody (G) * 13. Amen (F).

Disc Four – Selections: 1. Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing (R) * 2. Bourbon Street Parade (I) * 3. I'm Confessin' (L) * 4. Le Petit Fleur (P) * 5. One More 'Fore I Die (T) * 6. Shake It And Break It (G) * 7. C. C. Rider (1981, previously unissued) * 8. That's A Plenty (M) * 9. Westlawn Dirge (Q) * 10. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well? (O) * 11. Peanut Vendor (E) * 12. Trouble In Mind (R) * 13. A Good Gal Is Hard To Find (T) * 14. Precious Lord (1970, previously unissued).

Album index:
(A) – Jazz At Preservation Hall – Volume Two: Billie & De De Pierce/Jim Robinson's New Orleans Band (Atlantic Records, recorded 1962)

(B) from Jazz At Preservation Hall – Volume Three: Paul Barbarin's Band/Punch Miller's Bunch & George Lewis (Atlantic Records, rec. 1962)

(C) from Jazz At Preservation Hall – Volume Four: The George Lewis Band Of New Orleans (Atlantic Records, rec. 1962)

(D) from Sweet Emma And Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 1964)

(E) from New Orleans' Billie And De De And Their Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 1966)

(F) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band – New Orleans Volume I (CBS Records, rec. 1976)

(G) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band – New Orleans Volume II (CBS Records, rec. 1981)

(H) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band – When The Saints Go Marchin' In - New Orleans Volume III (CBS Records, rec. 1983)

(I) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band – New Orleans Volume IV (CBS Records, rec. 1986)

(J) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band – In The Sweet Bye And Bye (Sony Music, rec. 1994)

(K) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Because Of You (Sony Music, rec. 1995)

(L) from Preservation Hall Hot 4 with Duke Dejan (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 1996)

(M) from Songs Of New Orleans (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 1999)

(N) from Shake That Thing (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2001)

(O) from Hurricane Sessions (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2005, 2006)

(P) from Preservation Hot 4 – St. Peter Street Serenade (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2008)

(Q) from New Orleans Preservation Volume 1 (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2009)

(R) from PRESERVATION (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2009)

(S) from PRESERVATION (Bonus Disc) (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2009)

(T) from Preservation Hall Jazz Band & The Del McCoury Band – American Legacies (Preservation Hall Recordings, rec. 2010)

NEW RELEASES - THE BAHAMA SOUL CLUB, THE SONGS OF DON COVAY, THE CHEEBACABRA

THE BAHAMA SOUL CLUB – RHYTHM IS WHAT MAKES JAZZ JAZZ

Following the smashing success of The Juju Orchestra, the creative team around Oliver Belz has come up with the next step ... a delicious clash of Soul, Jazz and Bossa Nova with that unique vintage feel. So what do you expect from one of the brains behind the Juju’s brilliant ‘Bossa Nova Is Not A Crime’? … “Right”, you’ll get an impressive demonstration of the latest defining of superb dancefloor-jazz which makes this music welcome to DJ’s worldwide. Rhythm Is What Makes Jazz Jazz the long awaited debut-album with great vocal co-ops like charming Isabelle Antenna/Nouvelle Vague, exciting Pat Appleton/DePhazz, new Freestyle signing Malena and the incredible voice from Vienna Mrs. Bella Wagner - The massive appearance on playlists around the globe - from radio stations as well as established clubs - gave kudos to the producers. ~ beatport.com

HAVE MERCY! THE SONGS OF DON COVAY - VARIOUS ARTISTS

A wonderful testament to songwriting mastery of Don Covay – one of greatest singing and songwriting double threats ever – and if you didn't already know that, this excellent compilation will set you straight! No tribute to Covay the songwriter would be complete without Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools" – but the set actually goes a lot deeper, with straight-up classic soul treasures, raucous R&B, stirring vocal tunes, some funk and funky rock. The reach is impressive, with the aforementioned Aretha hit, plus songs recorded by Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Joe Tex, The Staple Singers, Wanda Jackson, The Wailers, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Dee Clark, Connie Francis and more! 26 tracks in all, completed by a great set of notes: with "Three Time Loser" by Wilson Pickett, "You’re Good For Me" by Lena Horne, "Don't Drive Me Away" by Ben E King, the funky gem "Sookie Sookie" by Tina Britt, "She Said Yeah" by Joe Tex, "Watch The One Who Brings You The News" by Millie Jackson, "Long Tall Shorty" by The Graham Bond Originization, "Mon Cherie Au Revoir" by Arlene Smith and more. ~ Dusty Groove

THE CHEEBACABRA - PASS THE INFORMATION

The first record from Cheeba in many years – and definitely his funkiest so far! The production of this one is right on the money – filled with sharp, funky, 70s-styled riffs – very much in the best blacksploitation style from back in the day! Years back, we'd always like Cheeba's records, but sometimes found them rough around the edges – yet this time around, he's totally got it right – perfect production, just the right amount of space in between the grooves, and key help from some younger session players who really make the whole thing come out right – like a recreation of some hip 70s studio band. Titles include "Paisley Garden", "Looing For My Brother", "Message Force Multipliers", "Extend The Knowledge", "The Denunciation", "Return From Exile", and "2nd & Cedar". (Vinyl limited to 500 copies – with download too!) ~ Dusty Groove

CLASSICS REISSUED - GEORGE DUKE, MELBA MOORE, KOOL & THE GANG

GEORGE DUKE – GUARDIAN OF THE LIGHT

A funky concept album from George Duke! Guardians Of The Light is a full-on "musical fantasy" – with the story line laid out in the liner notes, yet still a bit difficult to follow – but we can't fault him for that when it's done in his masterful R&B-fusion-funk approach! George sings on all cuts, but he also gets some stellar vocal assistance from Jeffrey Osborne, Portia Griffin, and Patti Austin. The record also has some surprisingly sweet mellow moments that bring a deeper level of spacey soul to the out-there concept! Titles include "Born To Love You", "You Are The Light", "Reach Out", "Give Me Your Love", "Stand", "Soon", and "Fly Away". 3 bonus tracks on this FTG CD edition: "Reach Out (12" Version)", "Celebrate (Instrumental)" and "Brazilian Love Affair". ~ Dusty Groove

MELBA MOORE - BURN

Melba Moore is on fire here – eschewing ballads altogether for the first time – and lighting up a scorching late disco vibe! Burn is a tight, club-ready soul set from '79 that finds Melba with more input on the songwriting than she had on previous records. It's also a nice step in a slightly different direction, working here with producer Pete Bellotte – one of the creative engines that drove disco deeply into the mainstream! What's great, though, is that Melba is right up there sharing the driver's seat – she's not just the voice – she co-wrote each track on the album. That said, it's her voice that burns the most brightly, on songs that include "Burn", "Hot And Tasty", "If You Believe In Love", "Night People", "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love", "Can't Give It Up", "Miss Thing" and "Need Love". 3 bonus tracks on this FTG CD edition: "Miss Thing (7" Version)", "Hot And Tasty (7" Version)" and "Burn (7" Version)". ~ Dusty Groove

KOOL & THE GANG – EVERYBODY’S DANCIN’

A nice one from Kool & The Gang – and kind of a transitional record for the group – falling directly between the hard funk and spacey jazz inspired earlier work and the chart-ready grooves that would follow soon after! They weren't about to abandon the heavy horn lines and some grittier grooves just yet – but they seem to know where the commercial winds are blowing – and they work a bit harder on the sweeter group vocals and some string-backed dancefloor soul sounds. Includes the slow-building title track, plus "Dancin' Shoes", "Big Chief's Funkum", "I Like Music" "It's All You Need", "Peace To The Universe" and "At The Party". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - THE SOUL REVOLUTION, KONKOMA, LOS CHARLY'S ORCHESTRA

THE SOUL REVOLUTION 2 – VARIOUS ARTISTS

The Soul Revolution 2 is a lovely compilation of uplifting soul music. The selected tracks comes from SouLab's catalogue and other innovative labels as Broadcite and Further Out. It's absolutly essential future soul business! Incl. tracks & remixes by Kaidi Tatham, T.Roy, Richard E, Slow Motion Replay, Allen Hoist & more. Includes tracks from Dan Electro, Allen Hoist, Isaac Aesili featuring Aaradhna & Buff1, Uptown Funk Empire, Slow Motion Replay, T. Roy, Richard E featuring Jennifer Moore, and Weeland & the Urban Soul Collective.

KONKOMA

A contemporary Afro combo, but one with a really unique twist – a focus on older Ghanaian styles of grooves, which makes them sound different than a lot of other groups of this nature! Unlike some of the more Nigerian-grooving groups out there these days, Konkoma take their inspiration from Ghana – and do a really good job of echoing the older funky styles we've been digging on compilations and reissues from the Soundway label – working here with a tight lineup of London musicians, and getting some sharp help in the studio from Nostalgia 77 and Prince Fatty! The sound is right in line with vintage work on Soundway – and honestly, the album could easily pass itself off as some under-discovered 70s rarity – just on the strength of its grooves. Titles include "Lie Lie", "Another Day", "Yoo Eh", "Jojo's Song", "Senture", "Me Kyin Kyin", "Sibashaya Woza", "Handkerchief", and "Accra Jump". ~ Dusty Groove

LOS CHARLY’S ORCHESTRA REMIXED BY CAPITAN FUTURO

Following the success of Los Charly’s Orchestra – The Latin Edition, the mighty Capitan Futuro has comes up with two monster remixes of the well acclaimed songs: “My Barrio & Jumping with Symphony Sid”.In contrast from the original sound of Los Charly’s Orchestra Mr Capitan Futuro has gone for cleaner sounding style, also adding some scratching and MCing to complete the NEO Latin-Funk formula. Capitan Futuro is Bruises n’ Cuts (Cast-A-Blast fame) and DJ Butcher (Chopshop fame). BnC is also the MC on Symphony Sid. Keyboards on My Barrio by Yannis Dimitriadis. He plays for Omar Faruk tekbilek amongst others and has a daily radio show on Cosmos radio Athens. ~ loscharlysmusic.com

CAETANO VELOSO CLASSIC ALBUMS REISSUED

CAETANO VELOSO - JOIA

A warm, wonderful and spare record from the mid 70s, with Caetano's voice out front, and minimal accompaniment by percussion, guitar, and keyboards. It's anything but a snoozer, though – it's got a deep rich sound, and excellent songs throughout – with even more of an emotional focus thanks to the ample spaces to be filled by Caetanos vocals! Nothing but great tracks, including "Joia", "Lua, Lua, Lua, Lua", "Minha Mulher", and his excellent cover of "Help", sung in a breathy ballad with a twist that's totally different than the Beatles' version! Great stuff – and a real fave around the DGA offices! 2 bonus tracks on this Japanese CD edition: "Let It Bleed" and "Encando (Nature Boy)". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

CAETANO VELOSA – MUITOS CARNAVAIS

A lively album that mixes Caetano's rich songwriting style with a hard percussive base, which gives the tracks a fast jumpy feel, and gives even more power to Caetano's strong voice. There's little psychedelic bits, with good guitars that get noisy in parts, but there's also a warm MPB feel to the LP. Kind of hard to describe, but another unique bit of brilliance from one of the true geniuses of pop music in the 20th century. Tracks include "Um Frevo Novo", "Chuva, Suor E Cerveja", "Cara a Cara", "Qual e, Baiana?", and "La Barca". This Japanese CD edition has 6 bonus tracks: ""Barao Beleza", "E Coisa Do Destino", "Frevo Do Trio Electrico", "O Bater Do Tambor" and "Samba Da Cabeca". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

CAETANO VELOSO - BICHO

Sweetly jazzy, funky, and soulful work from Caetano Veloso – a great departure from some of his headier work of the early 70s – and proof that he still sounds great, even when in sweetly melodic territory! The album's got some full backings from Perinho Albuquerque, but the sound is never commercial or slick – just more in the mode of some of Caetano's other 70s contemporaries, particularly some of the groovier artists over at Odeon/EMI! There's sweet keyboards, nice guitar riffs, and other somewhat soulful elements that really bring a warm glow to the best tracks here – and Caetano's vocals, although gentle at times, have a great way of fitting right in with the groove. Titles include "Gente", "Um Indio", "O Leaozinho", "Odara", and "Alguem Cantando". 2 bonus tracks on the Japanese CD edition: "A Ra" and "Diamante Verdadeiro". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

CAETANO VELOSO - MUITO

A late 70s gem from Caetano – masterfully understated, and handled in a mature "no tricks" mode, one that he began adopting strongly as he increased his abilities in songwriting and arranging. The tracks are less crazy than on earlier records, but they're also much more well-constructed, with freshly-selected instrumentation, great little hooks, and excellent vocals from Caetano. Titles include "Terra", "Quem Cochicha o Rabo Espicha", "Muito", "Sampa", and "Ca Ja". 2 bonus tracks on this Japanese CD edition: "Amante Amado" and "Pecado Original". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

CAETANO VELOSO - TRANSA

Some of the most beautiful work ever recorded by Caetano Veloso – an album that carries on the style of English language lyrics used on his session in exile in 1971, but which also introduces him back to the world of Brazilian popular music! The album's a great transition for Veloso – a set that's served up with some of the newly personal qualities his music developed in London, but which still has a good ear for experimentation and keeping things interesting. Titles include the wonderful "Nine Out Of Ten" – a haunting tune about his time in exile – plus "Neolithic Man", "Nostalgia", "Triste Bahia", "It's A Long Way", and "You Don't Know Me". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

CONCORD MUSIC RELEASES BOOKER T & THE MGs' 'GREEN ONIONS'

Concord Music Group will release Booker T. & the MGs' Green Onions as part of its Stax Remasters series. Enhanced by 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino, two live bonus tracks and newly written liner notes by Grammy Award-winning Stax historian Rob Bowman, the reissue not only spotlights one of the most entertaining and influential soul and R&B recordings of the 1960s, but also reaffirms the album's enduring nature a half-century after its original release.

Underscoring the historical significance of this 1962 recording is the recent decision by the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, to add the album's widely recognized title track to the National Recording Registry. The song was selected for preservation because it is "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant," according to a Library of Congress announcement at the end of May 2012.

"Green Onions," the leadoff track to the album of the same name, was a number one single on the Billboard R&B chart - a rare accomplishment for an instrumental track - and eventually climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. But the title track is just one song on a watershed album by the instrumental R&B combo that served as the house band for the Stax label and the backup unit for some of the most iconic soul and R&B artists to record there in the 1960s, says Nick Phillips, Concord's Vice President of Catalog A&R and a producer of the Stax Remasters series.

"Beyond ‘Green Onions,' which was their biggest hit single," says Phillips, "there are so many other great songs on this album which Booker T. & the MGs transformed into timeless R&B instrumental classics, like ‘Comin' Home Baby,' ‘Twist and Shout,' and Ray Charles's ‘I Got a Woman.' No matter what song they started with, by the time they were done with it, it was uniquely and unmistakably their own."
The album's original 12 tracks are executed by the lean but formidable roster of organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Lewis Steinberg, and drummer Al Jackson, Jr. The reissue also includes two bonus tracks - live renditions of "Green Onions" and "Can't Sit Down," both recorded at the 5/4 Ballroom in Los Angeles in August 1965. These extra tracks - which Bowman describes in his liner notes as "turbo-charged, extended, uber-muscular versions" - include Donald "Duck" Dunn replacing Steinberg on bass and joined by Packy Axton on saxophone on "Can't Sit Down."

"In the annals of American music, there have been only a handful of rhythm sections that have all but single-handedly set the course for a whole genre of music," says Bowman. "In the case of Booker T. & the MGs, the genre in question is Southern soul music. Although Southern soul has its roots in select 1950s recordings by James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles, the genre coalesced in the early and mid-'60s at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, where Booker T. & the MGs served as the ‘house band.'"
He concludes: "Together, Green Onions and the live cuts from the 5/4 Ballroom provide a good sense of the very early days of the incomparable Booker T. & the MGs . . . Soul simply doesn't get much better."

~ Concord Music