BRANDI DISTERHEFT - GRATITUDE

"She has the same lope or ryhthmical pulse as my late bass player, Ray Brown. She is what we call serious ." - Oscar Peterson

From her deep, resonating upright bass lines and potent improvisations, it is clear that 27-year-old Brandi Disterheft, an accomplished musician hailing from Vancouver and currently residing in New York City, has a healthy respect for the jazz tradition. A quick check of her bass mentors - Canada's Don Thompson (renowned for his collaborations with jazz guitar greats Lenny Breau, Sonny Greenwich and Jim Hall), Rufus Reid, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Rodney Whitaker and, more recently, Ron Carter - gives an indication of her low-end pedigree. "I really do like that low end," says Brandi, "whether it's from Mingus playing so raw and passionately or the beautiful walking solos from Monk's bass player Larry Gales or Jimmy Blanton with Ellington and Sam Woodyard. I just love all that stuff. It feels good to listen to and feels good to play."

But to better understand where this talent deserving of wider recognition is truly coming from, you'd have to listen to her compositions. Which brings us to Gratitude, her third release as a leader and most accomplished outing to date. Accompanied by an all-star crew featuring fellow Canadian Renee Rosnes on piano along with alto sax burner Vincent Herring (a longtime member of Cedar Walton's group), flutist Anne Drummond, trumpeter Sean Jones and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, Disterheft reveals her abundant chops and infinite capacity to swing on this superb Justin Time Records release.

Few bassists this young have such a mature approach to the instrument or such a deep appreciation of jazz icons like Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington or revered songwriters like George Gershwin and Jimmy Van Heusen. But that's where Disterheft lives as a budding jazz musician-composer.

Her startling solo bass interpretation of Gershwin's "The Man I Love" is an instant indication of her commitment to the jazz tradition while her adventurous interpretation of Gene McDaniel's "Compared to What" (popularized by the classic Les McCann-Eddie Harris album, The Swiss Movement) has her updating that politically-tinged anthem to fit modern times. "I actually know that song from the Roberta Flack version (from her 1969 debut, First Take), which my teacher, Mr. Ron Carter, played on. That's why someone passed that song to me a few years ago. And I think it really corresponds to what's going on today with all the violence and all the controversy about the war in Afghanistan and how far do we want to go and to what degree do we want to go and nation-build in view of what's happening here with the economy. That song even has resonance in Canada, what with the pipelines and all the drilling going on up there and the potential environmental damage. The world is changing a lot right now and this song really relates to that sentiment. It raises the question, "Who are we trusting and who's in power?"

Elsewhere on Gratitude, Disterheft reveals her accomplished arco work on the relaxed "Blues for Nelson Mandela," then showcases her adeptness at writing horn harmonies along with her forcefully swinging bass lines on the title track, which she dedicates to her cousin David Jahns, who recently died following a bout with cancer. The briskly swinging "Portrait of Duke" was inspired by Ellington's Far East Suite while the gentle "Kissing the Cheek of Providence" straddles that line between rawness and elegance that Mingus regularly crossed. Disterheft shows a distinctive bounce on the swaggering quintet number "Open," then reveals a hauntingly beautiful vocal style on Van Heusen's oft-covered "But Beautiful." She also swings out on Rosnes' harmonically potent "Mizmahta" whispers her way through the dramatic and alluring "Le Regarder La Rencontrer Encore (Rendez-vous Indésirable)," sung in French. "It's basically a song about unrequited love," says Disterheft. "I'm singing: 'I'm here on the sixth floor and my fireplace is smoldering. I've woken up really early in the morning, I can't sleep. I'm shivering from my heart being broken.' And then I'm saying, 'Don't you remember making love under the branches? Can't you see that I'm dedicated to you? Please believe me that I love you. Come back to me. I'm crazy about you.'"

"I love singing in French," she adds. "It's almost like a different persona or different character when I'm singing. And for some reason, it feels very free. You can get as dramatic as you want when you sing in another language. Sometimes in English, maybe I would be quite bashful, but it seems like French is quite a romantic language and you have a lot of artistic freedom in that language. Growing up on the West Coast in Vancouver, you're not exposed to French that much. But I studied French in school and whenever I perform in Quebec, I always make sure to sing at least a few tunes in French. It's just part of the culture there."

Says Disterheft of her accomplished sidemen on Gratitude: "Renee Rosnes is from my high school...North Vancouver, Canada. We had the same band teacher. So I met her years ago and grew up listening to her music. Renee is one of my favorite players. She's got that beautiful touch and she swings so hard. Greg Hutchinson is someone I actually wrote a song for many years ago. He's always been one of my favorite drummers. I've been doing sessions at Vincent Herring's house for the last year and a half. I just love his playing in Cedar Walton's band. I just played with his band actually two weekends ago up at Smoke. He has this big, beautiful sound that has so much tradition, so much fire. And Sean Jones, who played with Wynton's band for years, is someone I met at jazz camp years ago. He's one of my favorite trumpeters. He always talks about how when you play music it's supposed to be about love. You're supposed to emulate love or portray love in music. That's an incredible message. And Anne Drummond is one of my best friends. We met back at the Sisters in Jazz Competition and she introduced me to a lot of people here in New York because she recorded with Stefon Harris and Kenny Barron and so many others. She's quite a composer and can play anything. She's on alto flute, bass flute and regular flute on this album."

Gratitude stands as an increment leap from Disterheft's 2007 Juno Award-winning Debut and 2009's Second Side. It heralds the arrival of a promising new talent from the North with a healthy respect for the bottom.

Gratitude - Track Listing/Personnel:
1. Blues for Nelson Mandela (Brandi Disterheft) - 7:46
2. Gratitude (For David Jahns) (Brandi Disterheft) - 3:01
3. Mizmahta (Ranee Rosnes) - 4:11
4. But Beautiful (Van Heusen/Burke) - 5:53
5. Portrait of Duke (Brandi Disterheft) - 5:48
6. Kissing the Cheek of Providence (Brandi Disterheft) - 8:17
7. Le Regarder La Rencontrer Encore (Rendez-vous Indésirable) (Brandi Disterheft) - 4:49
8. Open (Brandi Disterheft) - 6:48
9. The Man I Love (George and Ira Gershwin) - 2:16
10. Compared to What (Bonus Track) (Gene McDaniels) - 2:53

Brandi Disterheft: bass
Ranee Rosnes: piano
Vincent Herring: alto sax
Gregory Hutchinson: drums
Sean Jones: trumpet
Anne Drummond: flute

brandidisterheft.com

BOB BELDEN – TRANSPARENT HEART

Following on the heels of Animation's 2010 RareNoiseRecords debut, Asiento, and 2011's Agemo, saxophonist-composer-bandleader Bob Belden tells his own story on Transparent Heart. With his new Animation lineup consisting of young musicians hired from his alma mater, the University of North Texas (23-year-old keyboardist Roberto Verastegui, 24-year-old bassist Jacob Smith, 29-year-old trumpeter Pete Clagett and 20-year-old drummer Matt Young), Belden unveils a dark narrative as heard through the musical diary he has composed over 29 years of living in Manhattan.

An imposing electronic noir masterwork, Transparent Heart travels from Belden's initial awestruck impressions of New York City ("Terra Incognito") to his feelings of foreboding ("Urbanoia") and hope ("Cry in the Wind") as a city dweller on Manhattan's Upper West Side, to the pervasive angst of post-9/11 Manhattan ("Seven Towers," "Provocatism"). He also addresses the mass exodus of artists from the city ("Vanishment") and concludes his musical memoir with the clash of the social classes manifested in the Occupy Wall Street movement ("Occupy!"). Belden has concocted a powerful, provocative suite of music that is charged by the intensely driving, highly intuitive playing of his young energetic Animation band mates.

"This record is not a jazz record, it's about my life in Manhattan," says the Grammy® Award-winning composer-arranger-producer. "In essence, the music on Transparent Heart is a reflection of the lingering tension since 9/11. It's an honest look at Manhattan through music."

The concept for Transparent Heart has been in the making for more than 30 years. "I first visited Manhattan in 1979 when I was with Woody Herman's band. I'll never forget seeing the dark shadows, steam rising from the streets, crowds of strange people lingering in Times Square well past midnight, all the tall buildings and how they created a post-gothic canyon effect. That's 'Terra Incognito,' a term used by local residents to describe Central Park above 96th street. Darwinistic Urban Gentrification. The uncertain outcome of riding the subway late at night. Alphabet City. Bonfire of the Vanities. AIDS. Subway Gunman. Guardian Angels. Central Park jogger. Preppie murder. Sparks Steakhouse. That's 'Urbanoia.'"

"Cry in the Wind," with Clagett's muted trumpet carrying the melancholy theme reflects another Manhattan experience, "One night from inside my ground-floor studio apartment I heard the voice of a woman crying for help faintly mixed with the sound of the wind and rustling tree leaves. Bringing my phone outside, I saw this woman who had just been stabbed, and called 911. She reached up, grabbed my hand, and didn't let go until the ambulance got there. I helped this woman live because I cared. This tune is about hearing the cries in the wind of extreme loneliness and helplessness that are heard all the time throughout the city."

The darkly propulsive title track echoes the hard-hitting production that Bill Laswell brought to Herbie Hancock's 1983 hit single "Rock It." To listen to Transparent Heart is to think about Manhattan's self-reflective nature exemplified by extreme conflicts between physical/corporatist and social/humanist structures and the perpetual sense of energy that is created and dissipated illogically in light and shadow.

"Seven Towers" is Belden's reaction to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. As Belden reflects, "9/11 is a reaction to the power and influence that capital, centered in Manhattan and symbolically the World Trade Center, has on parts of the world, in the form of abject terrorism. I watched it happen from Chambers street in Lower Manhattan. This tune recreates my own autobiographical timeline of 9/11. It starts with the NORAD radio broadcast finding out a plane hit the North Tower; followed by the NYPD and NYFD responding. It's very haunting. I believe that this moment has defined the course of history for Manhattan as well as the world at large. This album is offered in deep respect to those who lost their lives that morning of September 11, 2001 and to the families that have to live with this loss forever."

"Provocatism" reflects the immediate aftermath of 9/11. "People fled the city as companies anticipated an economic downturn, laying off thousands upon thousands of workers. For years there were constant alerts, color-coded like a crayon book. Many small business, dependent on the World Trade Center complex, died after 9/11-replaced by the ubiquitous chain store, coffee shop, and branch-bank. The intense build up of the New York Police Department to the point of having one of the largest standing armies in the world, placing citizens under surveillance on the streets and in the subways-'stop and frisk' developed from this Quasi-military policing initiative."

""Vanishment" refers to the exodus of artists and musicians who couldn't afford to live in Manhattan anymore to a point where the localized creative culture is now gone. Musicians work here in the clubs, but don't live here. And you have this influx of college student musicians who have no real attachment to the city-it becomes a line on a resume. Thus, Manhattan post-9/11 is very different from the Manhattan that existed when I moved here in 1983."

The final track, "Occupy!" is the most intense and harrowing of Belden's musical memoir. His turbulent ode to the Occupy Wall Street movement is imbued with the sounds of screams and violence in the streets during clashes between protesters and police. "The Occupy movement is based on a psychological philosophy rather than political or industrial. These people are angry and frustrated with nowhere else to address their grievances, so they take to the streets-essentially declaring a philosophical war on Manhattan."

The musicians on Transparent Heart are the most talented of their generation, performing complex operatic improvisations, sounds, and textures. They are serious musicians deep into the subtle and not-so-subtle nature of this music. That they are virtually unknown to the jazz public is a blessing, as you will hear them tabula rasa, with no conditions on what to expect. From this point on you will expect greatness from each one of them.

For Belden, Transparent Heart is a musical tool to get people to think about social issues. "Music must be returned to its place as a social engineer; provoking thought amongst society. This record is not about tunes, solos, and arrangements, it's a way of telling a story that has something to do with my life, OUR lives, and for anyone who has ever landed with excitement, wonder, fear, and hope on this tiny island off of the coast of the United States. It's not being a musician, but rather a citizen."

Transparent Heart Track/Personnel Listing:
Produced by Bob Belden
All compositions by Bob Belden

1. Terra Incognito - 3:18
2. Urbanoia - 14:29
3. Cry In The Wind - 2:43
4. Transparent Heart - 7:27
5. Seven Towers - 16:32
6. Provocatism - 12:45
7. Vanishment - 3:52
8. Occupy! - 15:48

Bob Belden: soprano saxophone and alto flute
Pete Clagett: trumpet and effects
Jacob Smith: bass
Roberto Verastegui: keyboards and samplers
Matt Young: drums

ULI GEISSENDOERFER - COLORS

COLORS was founded in 2011 by Uli Geissendoerfer as an amalgam of his two earlier Las Vegas projects RED, A Latin Jazz powerhouse sextet and BLUE, a World Music quartet to octet. It is geared towards spanning the globe of Jazz, with a special emphasis on vocalist Pascale Elia and her interplay with saxophonist Charles McNeal. Ryan Rose and Derek Jones complete the high-energy rhythm section. The group features many original compositions by Mr. Geissendoerfer and highly creative arrangements from various styles; from The Beatles to Sergio Mendez.

Pianist and composer Uli Geissendoerfer is a very creative and outstanding musician. Originally from Munich, Geissendoerfer’s life long musical journey contains a central theme of exploring rhythms and melodies across many styles of music, with a special emphasis on World, Jazz and improvisation. Uli’s deep understanding of various musical styles is demonstrated by the various musicians he has worked with: William Cepeda (awarded a Grammy nomination), Groove Collective, Giovanni Hidalgo, Tito Puente, Blood Sweat & Tears, Leslie Uggams, Cirque du Soleil, Kofo the Wonderman and Ute Lemper.

Uli’s current projects, also diverse in style and texture, include: Colors (a World Jazz Quintet), with their debut CD entitled, Colors, featuring Pascale Elia. The Beregovsky Project, a duo with violin virtuoso Alicia Svigals. Bangalore Breakdown, and an Indian World Jazz project featuring Premik Russell Tubbs. Premik and Uli just finished recording a Duo CD entitled Passport, which is due out in September. Uli has previously released two albums as a leader: The Extension and Transformation 9/11 (on the Caramella d’Oro label). The Extension features some of New York’s finest Latin Jazz artists and Transformation 9/11 is a highly emotional, completely improvised solo piano CD dealing with events and emotions of September 11.

As film composer, Uli has collaborated with Emmy nominated composer Steve Sandberg for the critically acclaimed short film, “Climbing Miss Sophie,” winner of the NYU film festival 2002, along with an invitation to Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival among other prestigious festivals worldwide. Bill Plympton’s new cartoon “Idiots and Angels” features three works of Uli’s and Nicole Renaud’s. Uli was awarded best sound design at the 48 hour film festival earlier this year and one of his and Nicole’s songs, “Red,” made it to the short list for the Oscars.

Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

JOHNNY BASSETT 1936 - 2012



Photo: Cybelle Codish



Johnnie Bassett, the celebrated Detroit blues guitarist and vocalist, died from complications of liver cancer on Saturday, August 4 at Saint John Hospital in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He was 76 years old.

Gretchen Valade, owner of Mack Avenue Records, reflects, "Johnnie Bassett was a wonderful musician and a good friend. Whenever I walked into a room where he was playing, he would start singing 'Georgia,' my all time favorite. He was sympathetic and loyal to his friends, and had a good sense of humor. He was a heck of a blues singer who wasn't appreciated as much as he should have been, and didn't have as many gigs as he should have had, but he never complained about anything. Johnnie was one in a million, and I will miss him terribly."



Mack Avenue Records president Denny Stilwell laments the passing of one of the last few truly impactful blues musicians. "This is of course a sad day for us. Johnnie was the second artist signed to our Sly Dog imprint and we will miss his gritty vocals, raw guitar sound and mostly his gentlemanly ways."

In 1944, Bassett relocated with his family from his hometown in Marianna, Florida to Detroit, Michigan, where his legacy flourished as he held his own in the fast company of luminaries such as Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Smokey Robinson, Dinah Washington, former neighbor John Lee Hooker, and a young guitar fledgling named Jimi Hendrix. Even as a young boy in Florida, Bassett was surrounded by music. His mother, sisters, and aunts took him to church and surrounded him with gospel spirituals, and he spent the summers at his grandmother's fish fries where the likes of Tampa Red, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Lonnie Johnson and others would play while people ate and danced. It was years before Bassett realized these people he was meeting as a young teenager were big names.

While attending Northwestern High School, Bassett's brother gave him his first guitar. After much practice, the young teenager went on to perform in talent shows, theaters, and nightclubs with pianist Joe Weaver, a close friend, as Joe Weaver & The Blue Notes. The group, which was performing in some of Detroit's greatest nightclubs before they were old enough to drink, became the house band for Frolic Showbar in the mid-50s after just three weeks performing there. It was unlikely that Bassett knew at the time that this was what would lead him to performing with legendary vocalist Dinah Washington when she made it to the gig and her band didn't. The band was eventually playing gigs with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, and Eddie Burns and a tenure as the house band for Detroit's Fortune Records label. He also spent a bit of time with Chicago's Chess Records and appeared on the first sessions for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles before Motown's existence.

In the mid-60s, after a six year run in the United States Army, Bassett decided to remain in Seattle, Washington. During his stay, he hosted a Sunday night jam session which was frequented by a prodigious young guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix usually hung around to pick up licks and tricks, and also to develop an understanding of the tuning of Bassett's guitar. He achieved his signature sound by using a style of tuning he referred to as Vestapol (open E flat), which he recently joked in an interview that no one under 70-years-old knows about. During this time, he was also backing John Lee Hooker, Little Willie John, and even backed Tina Turner on one occasion. It was the late 60's when Bassett made his return to Detroit.

It wasn't until the early-90s that Bassett emerged as a leader and formed his own band, The Blues Insurgents, with encouragement from drummer RJ Spangler who rallied the guitarist after catching his set on a side-stage at the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival. During this time, Bassett recorded a series of albums starting with The Heid/Bassett Blues Insurgents (with keyboardist Bill Heid and the late saxophonist Scott Petersen), I Gave My Life To The Blues (recorded in The Netherlands), Bassett Hound (also with Bill Heid), Cadillac Blues (nominated for five W.C. Handy Awards and included in DownBeat magazine's best albums of the 90s) and Party My Blues Away, but his last label, Cannonball Records, went out of business. He kept working and eventually became a hometown legend and treasure, receiving a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit Blues Society in 1994. He has also earned five Detroit Music Awards, as well as many other nominations. Jim Gallert, Detroit music historian, says, "Johnnie Bassett took the sounds of the Delta, the Basie band, and Funk, and made them into a personal dynamic style. He was a unique and special person."

Years later, during a four-night residency at Dirty Dog Jazz Café in Grosse Pointe, Bassett found himself speaking with Valade during a break. When Valade asked if Bassett had a label and he said no, she replied with, "Well, you do now." Bassett soon after signed a deal with Sly Dog Records, a Mack Avenue imprint, where he released 2009's The Gentleman is Back. His most recent album, I Can Make That Happen, also released on Sly Dog, was released on June 19, 2012. Both albums were produced by his longtime sidemen, organist/pianist Chris Codish and saxophonist Keith Kaminski, and feature their Detroit bands The Brothers Groove and The Motor City Horns, respectively. Codish and Kaminski toured, recorded, and performed regularly with Bassett and helped to guide his career for almost 20 years.

Bassett is survived by his wife Deborah, daughter Benita Litt, and his wife's children, Lynn Tolbert, Courtney Campbell and Kenneth Pringle. Funeral arrangements and a memorial service are pending.

www.johnniebassett.net

AARON NEVILLE ANNOUNCES A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION TOUR

NEVILLE TO RELEASE ALBUM THIS WINTER ON BLUE NOTE RECORDS

Iconic soul/R&B vocalist Aaron Neville announces A Christmas Celebration tour traveling across the south and southwest of the U.S. this December. Neville is currently on the road until August 11th and will continue to tour the states this December kicking off the holiday tour in Robinsonville, MS with stops in Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. See full list of tour dates below.

The Christmas Celebration tour will include performances of new songs from Aaron Neville’s upcoming full-length album set to be released this Winter on EMI’s Blue Note Records. The record, produced by Keith Richards and Blue Note Records President Don Was, finds Neville revitalizing some of his favorite songs from the doo-wop era and beyond. “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.”

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.

AARON NEVILLE QUINTET TOUR DATES:
August 4 Charleston, WV - Multi-Fest WV
August 5 Washington, DC - The Howard Theatre
August 7 Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
August 8 Orlando, FL - The Plaza Theatre Live
August 10 Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre
August 11 Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Botanical Gardens

AARON NEVILLE CHRISTMAS TOUR DATES:
December 1 Robinsonville, MS - Fitzgerald's
December 4 Baton Rouge, LA - Manship Theatre
December 6 San Antonio, TX - Carver Comm. Cultural Center
December 7 Corsicana, TX - Palace Theatre
December 8 Salina, KS - Stiefel Theatre
December 10 Sante Fe, NM - Lensic
December 11 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
December 12 San Diego, CA - Anthology
December 14 Turlock, CA - Center for the Arts
December 15 Stateline, CA - Harrah's
December 16 San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
December 18 Los Angeles, CA - Disney Hall

~ Blue Note Records

DIANA KRALL'S NEW ABLUM ' GLAD RAG DOLL' DUE SEPT 25

Diana Krall's extraordinary new album, Glad Rag Doll (9/25, Verve Records) is an exhilarating and adventurous exploration of new sounds, new instrumentation and new musicians. It stars a singer and piano player, filled with mischief, humour and a renewed sense of tenderness and intimacy.The record reveals itself at that remarkable vanishing point in time where all music; swinging, rocking and taboo, collide with songs of longing, solace and regret. All are made new again in a vaudeville of Krall's own imagining. It is at once a major departure and a natural progression for the gifted musician. Diana simply calls the album, "a song and dance record".

"We all just went in there as if the songs were written yesterday. I didn't want to make a period piece or nostalgia record," said Krall.In fact, these are songs that Krall has spent a lifetime contemplating. Both her childhood home and her current address are stacked with 78rpm records and song folios filled with precious and unpolished gems, songs that have not worn out their lustre from repetition. If any of these songs could be identified as "20's or 30's music", then they are 20's or 30's songs as imagined for the 21st Century.

The same could be said for a startling rendition of the Pomus classic, "Lonely Avenue", first cut in the 1950s. The contemplative, contemporary reading of the old Gene Austin recording of "Let It Rain" finds a sympathetic echo in Krall's exquisite rendition of Buddy and Julie Miller's more recent ballad of spiritual longing, "Wide River To Cross".

Working for the first time with renowned producer T Bone Burnett and engineer Mike Piersante, Krall revels in a fresh sonic playground captured in the vivid grain and deep resonant focus of analog tape. Burnett has assembled a distinguished cast of remarkable men to complement Krall's piano contribution at an 1890s Steinway upright. From the hushed to the howling, Marc Ribot's poised and sympathetic solo guitar accompaniment on the title track contrasts beautifully with a range of surprising sounds and colors.

As ever with a Diana Krall record, her distinctive feel and unique sense of time is crucial. She has established a new and exciting rhythmic rapport with drummer Jay Bellerose and bassist Dennis Crouch that has let loose some of her most joyous piano playing heard on record to date. Among the new elements brought into the spontaneous arrangement process are the mysterious, sometimes comedic commentaries coming from the keyboards of Keefus Green.

The album will be released worldwide on Verve Records September 25th

Musicians:
Marc Ribot (Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, 6 String Bass and Banjo),
T Bone Burnett (Guitars),
Howard Coward (Ukulele, Mandola, Tenor Guitar, Harmony Vocals),
Jay Bellerose (Drums),
Dennis Crouch (Bass),
Bryan Sutton (Guitars),
Colin Linden (Guitars, Dobro)
Keefus Green (Keyboards, Mellotron).

Track Listing:
1. We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye (Woods)
2. There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth the Salt of My Tears (Fisher)
3. Just Like a Butterfly That's Caught in the Rain (Dixon/Woods)
4. You Know I Know Ev'rything's Made for Love (Sherman/Tobias/Johnson)
5. Glad Rag Doll (Ager/Dougherty/Yellen)
6. I'm A Little Mixed Up (James/Johnson)
7. Prairie Lullaby (Hill)
8. Here Lies Love (Rainger/Robin)
9. I Used to Love You But It's All Over Now (von Tilzer/Brown)
10. Let it Rain (Kendis/Dyson)
11. Lonely Avenue (Pomus)
12. Wide River to Cross (Miller/Miller)
13. When the Curtain Comes Down (Hoefle/Lewis/Sherman)

~ Verve Music

LUCIANA SOUZA - THE BOOK OF CHET

The Book Of Chet is Luciana Souza's inspired interpretation of trumpet player and singer Chet Baker.  An iconoclastic musical figure, Chet has a unique and lyrical approach to singing - informed by his superb musicianship, his singing was heartfelt, yet detached. " It is a well known fact that musicians like Joao Gilberto were listening alot to Chet Baker and the sounds coming out of the West Coast of the US.  That kind of quiet, introspective singing was started by Chet while Miles' was playing, tone and sensibility ended up influencing many musicians in Brazil."

On this recording (Luciana's first exclusive recording of American standards), Luciana reveals why she has been considered on of the most important Jazz singers of her generation - able to unveil the drama of the lyric and allow for intimacy with the listener, all the while creating an inventive and deeply personal recording.  Her collaborators on this collection are West Coast greats Larry Koonse on guitar, David Piltch on bass, and Jay Bellerose on drums.  Included on the CD are such unforgettable Baker-inspired tracks as "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "The Thrill Is Gone", "He Was Too Good To Me" and "Forgetful".

The Grammy winning Souza is on of Jazz's leading singers and interpreters.  Born in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in the last 60s, she grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators - her father, a singer and songwriter, her mother, a poet and lyricist.  Luciana's work as a performer transcends traditional boundaries around musical styles, offering solid roots in jazz, sophisticated lineage in world music, and an enlightened approach to classical repertoire and new music. 

The Book Of Chet will be released on August 28.

ISLES OF WONDER - MUSIC FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

A stirring selection of the music created and curated for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is available digitally now, and will be released physically in the U.S. on August 28th.

From the moment the specially-commissioned 23-ton bell (the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world) chimed, the Olympic Stadium came to life with music. The emotional punch and strength of two brand new compositions from Music Directors Underworld provided two of the most stirring moments of the night. From the majestic beauty of the LSO's On Track Orchestra's performing Elgar's 'Nimrod' to performances from Mike Oldfield, Frank Turner, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Emeli Sande and Sir Paul McCartney, the entire Opening Ceremony celebrated the global impact of British music.

The music for Danny Boyle's Opening Ceremony was overseen by Music Director Rick Smith, of the electronic duo Underworld. Smith composed two original pieces of music for the Ceremony as well as producing all the music elements of the three-hour extravaganza.

The two new Underworld compositions were 'And I Will Kiss', which accompanied the sequence 'Pandemonium' celebrating the industrial revolution, lasting 15 minutes, and 'Caliban's Dream' which announced the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the stadium, and the subsequent lighting of the cauldron.

Rick Smith said: "Music is Britain's cultural heartbeat; it's a perpetual act of revolutionary thought. From William Blake to the Beatles via The Clash and The Chemical brothers, the soundtrack to our lives fizzes and hums all around us like a stray signal from a radio dial that your internal antenna just can't help but tune into."

The Opening Ceremony also featured performances from Emeli Sande with 'Abide With Me', Dizzee Rascal performing 'Bonkers', Arctic Monkeys with 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' and a cover of The Beatles 'Come Together' and Sir Paul McCartney with 'The End' plus an inspired accompaniment to the army of NHS nurses and children from Great Ormond Street Hospital by Mike Oldfield. His live reworking of the classic 'Tubular Bells' and 'In Dulci Jubilo' was yet another uniquely British showstopper.

Danny Boyle, Artistic Director of the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, revealed in January that the Ceremony theme had been inspired by The Tempest's 'Isles of Wonder' speech – from which the title of the album has been taken, and starred cast of more than 10,000 performers.

In December 2011 it was announced that LOCOG had appointed Underworld, the British electronic music duo, as Music Directors of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Underworld's Rick Smith and Karl Hyde had previously worked with filmmaker Danny Boyle on film soundtracks such as 'Trainspotting', 'The Beach' and 'Sunshine', and most recently on the Olivier-nominated music for 'Frankenstein' at the National Theatre.

The Olympic Games is regarded as the world's foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate. The celebration of the Games encompasses many protocols, symbols, such as the Olympic Flag and Flame, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. As the Host City, London has showcased itself to the world, with an estimated viewing audience of up to 1 billion people.

Full Tracklisting:
CD1 - Isles of Wonder
1. Frank Turner - I Still Believe
2 .Four Nations Choirs - Jerusalem, Flower of Scotland, Danny Boy, Bread of Heaven
3. LSO On Track Orchestra & Francois-Xavier Roth - Nimrod
4. Underworld feat. Dame Evelyn Glennie and the Pandemonium Drummers - And I Will Kiss
5. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells / In Dulci Jubilo
6. LSO - Chariots of Fire
7. Blanck Mass & LSO - Sundowner
8. Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers - Radio Edit
9. A.R. Rahman feat. Jaspreet Jasz - Nimma Nimma
10. Emeli Sande - Heaven
11. Emeli Sande - Abide With Me
12. Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (Live)
13. Arctic Monkeys - Come Together (Live)
14. Underworld feat. Dockhead Choir, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Only Men Aloud, Elizabeth Roberts, Esme Smith and Alex Trimble - Caliban's Dream

CD2 - Welcome
1. Chemical Brothers - Galvanize
2. High Contrast - Moon Watcher
3. Underworld - Always Loved A Film – Instrumental
4. Underworld - Dark & Long (Dark Train) (Remix)
5. Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
6. Underworld - Minneapolis (High Contrast Remix)
7. High Contrast - Reach
8. High Contrast - Ghost Dance
9. Underworld - Confusion The Waitress (Darren Price & High Contrast Remix)
10. Wretch 32 feat. L - Traktor
11. F Buttons - Olympians (High Contrast Remix)
12. High Contrast - Can't Stop This Fire
13. Underworld - Moon In Water (Instrumental Remix)
14. Underworld - Crocodile (High Contrast Remix)
15. U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name (High Contrast Remix)
16. High Contrast - For Years
17. Underworld - Dirty Epic (Darren Price & High Contrast Remix)
18. High Contrast - The Long Way Home
19. Underworld - Dark & Long (Darren Price & High Contrast Remix)
20. Underworld - Rez (High Contrast Remix)
21. David Bowie - Heroes
22. Chemical Brothers - Galvanize

The album is released by Decca Records, housed within Universal Music (official music licensee for the London 2012 Olympic Games) with the support of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

KURT ELLING - 1619 BROADWAY - THE BRILL BUILDING PROJECT

Concord Jazz has announced the release of 1619 Broadway ‒ The Brill Building Project, the new album from the foremost jazz male vocalist, Kurt Elling. With 1619 Broadway ‒ The Brill Building Project, Elling honors the legendary location that the London Telegraph called "the most important generator of popular songs in the Western world." Even for the ceaselessly inventive GRAMMY®-winning singer-lyricist, it’s a hugely unexpected step, and one guaranteed to further solidify his reputation for bold innovation and superb craftsmanship. The 11-track collection features renditions of classic songs that came out of the Brill Building and is available September 25, 2012.

“Having done so many projects about my love for Chicago,” Elling says, “I wanted to make something that spoke of my love for New York.” The two cities define his career. Elling developed his craft in Chicago, and recorded several of his early albums there – including his debut, Close Your Eyes, which catapulted him onto the national stage and earned the first of his many GRAMMY® nominations. (All told, every one of Elling’s nine albums has been nominated for at least one jazz GRAMMY® – a streak unequalled in GRAMMY history.)

But in fact, Elling and his family have lived in Manhattan since 2008, and 1619 Broadway – The Brill Building Project is his response to that experience.A honeycomb of offices and claustrophobic studios at 1619 Broadway, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, the fabled Brill Building at its peak served as the creative home for more than 160 tenants associated with the pop-music industry.

“I didn’t want to cover any of the New York songwriters jazz people usually go to: the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, all of whom I love; I wanted to reach out for something different. The vast collection of songs coming out of The Brill Building seemed like a gold mine.”

Some of the tunes on 1619 Broadway – The Brill Building Project were actually written years after their composers had left the Brill entirely. For example, Elling explains, “Carole King, like many other signatories to ‘The Brill Sound,’ never had an actual office at the Brill. So it doesn’t pay to be too didactic about any of this. The Brill is both a physical reality and a mental construct; and because of that, I felt comfortable casting a wide net.”

Track after track, Elling and longtime collaborator/arranger, Laurence Hobgood, illustrate the creative fireworks that have marked their work together from the start. Some tracks, such as “On Broadway” and “You Send Me,” glow with atmospheric reharmonizations (either audacious or subtle), unexpected rhythms, and jazz sensibility. Others, such as “I’m Satisfied” and “A House Is Not A Home,” artfully distill the essence of the original through a jazz filter. But all of them manage to strike a balance of tradition and modernity that will by now be familiar to Elling’s longstanding admirers, on a program of songs guaranteed to bring new fans to the party.

Tracklisting:
1.On Broadway (Jerry Leiber-Barry Mann-Mike Stoller-Cynthia Weil)
2.Come Fly With Me (Sammy Cahn-James Van Heusen)
3.You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
4.I Only Have Eyes For You (Al Dublin-Harry Warren)
5.I’m Satisfied (Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil-Ernie Freeman)
6.A House Is Not A Home (Burt Bacharach-Hal David)
7.Shoppin’ For Clothes (Jerry Leiber-Mike Stoller-Kent Harris)
8.So Far Away (Carole King)
9.Pleasant Valley Sunday (Gerry Goffin-Carole King)
10.American Tune (Paul Simon)
11.Tutti For Cootie (Duke Ellington-Jimmy Hamilton)

NEW RELEASES - PAUL HARDCASTLE, FUNKSHONE, DANNY GRISSETT

PAUL HARDCASTLE - THE CHILL LOUNGE VOLUME 1

Having long been the purveyor of laidback atmospheric sensuous sides, once again Paul Hardcastle beckons you to follow him to places where swaying palms, crystalline water and picturesque sunsets await with The Chill Lounge, a collection of adventurous head and body trips slightly chilled and ready for transport. This is where Hardcastle is at his very best, creating sonic soundscapes that allow you to be taken to a place where you want to go to devoid of your worldy cares, where mood and relaxation are the key components. Nobody does it better. "Lounge" digs deep into the vast Hardcastle archive and combines classic mood altering favorites from the past dotted with a few re-mixes and a pair of fresh new sides like "East to West" one of the albums high points and "Ibiza Dub", with its strong reggae undertones, making for a multi-ethnic full spectrum multisensory experience par excellence. Melt into your favorite lounger, pour your favorite beverage, add a few cubes of ice and prepare to be chilled, the Hardcastle way. Not shaken, but stirred. ~ Amazon

FUNKSHONE - 2

British retro groove merchants Funkshone’s second album (functionally titled 2) doesn’t try to reinvent the tone wheel where funk is concerned. Yet there is a sure progression in the group's own musical journey: away from the roughness of debut Shining, towards increasingly cinematic, orchestral sounds. Soul-funk vocals like Darling Dear and Heaven Shine (utilizing lyrically light but tonally delightful new vocalist Jaelee Small) bump hips with swaggering, no-frills workouts such as Getting It Together. More intriguingly, however, a crate digger’s love of filmic instrumentals inspired by the scores of Lalo Schifrin, Roy Budd and Quincy Jones (and even long-forgotten library tracks) is brought into play. Imaginary cops enter opium dens to the heady wooziness of Persuasion. Chase the Dream's dulcimer intro starts an aggressive battle: the horn section, comprising Patrick Kenny, Tom Mcleod and Alex Bezzina, wheels and swoops in aerial dogfights with guest flautist Kaidi Tatham and some vicious strings. Drummer, foundation, and former Mother Earth member Mike Bandoni (who co-produces with keyboardist Nino Aurrichio and bassist Danny Huckridge) is omnipresent yet seems happier to lead from behind. ~ Angus Taylor

DANNY GRISSETT - STRIDE

On Stride, his fourth Criss Cross leader date, pianist Danny Grissett returns to the trio format he navigated with such panache and imagination on his first two outings for the label. Longtime bass partner Vicente Archer and top-of-the-class drummer Marcus Gilmore join Grissett in a fluent three-way conversation on a reflective program that incorporates the American Songbook, the European canon, original tunes by trumpeters Nicholas Payton and (his current employer) Tom Harrell, and three heady Grissett originals. As always, the leader's playing is melody-driven, harmonically acute, swinging and focused; he again proves himself one of the major voices on his instrument among the under-40 crowd. ~ Amazon

NEW RELEASES - LEELA JAMES, GETATCHEW MEKURIA & THE EX, CHRIS BYARS OCTET

LEELA JAMES – LOVING YOU MORE...IN THE SPIRIT OF ETTA JAMES

A set done in the spirit of Etta James, but with a vibe that's definitely Leela James all the way through! There's definitely a rasp to the album that echoes the spirit of James' generation – enforced by a crispy sound of a stylus hitting a record at the start of the CD – but the backings are definitely contemporary, and in that bouncy, bubbly style that makes Leela's vocals slide out soulfully! Leela may not sound like Etta – but honestly, the results are much better than if she was just doing some sort of Etta remake record. Titles include "It Hurts Me So Much", "I Want To Ta Ta You Baby", "At Last", "Sunday Kind Of Love", "It Hurts Me So Much", "Something's Got A Hold On Me", and "Soul Will Never Die". ~ Dusty Groove

GETATCHEW MEKURIA & THE EX – Y’ANBESSAW TEZETA

A brilliant meeting of talents – legendary Ethiopian saxophonist Getatchew Mekuria, and the ever-amazing Ex – paired together in a set of work that's even better than their previous collaboration! This time around, it The Ex feel even more like an Ethio-inspired group – often serving up spare but complicated rhythm patterns that are a perfect fit for Mekuria's tenor – letting him really stretch out in the lead, and direct most of the energy of the music with a tone and sense of timing that are soulful in ways that go beyond expectations! Titles include "Aha Gedawo", "Ambassel", "Tezeta", "Bati", "Ene Eskemot Derese", and "Zerafewa/Eregedawo" – and package also features a full bonus CD, with live material by The Ex with Mekuria and the ICP Orchestra! ~ Dusty Groove

CHRIS BYARS OCTET – MUSIC FOREVER

The songs of Freddie Redd – re-arranged wonderfully by tenorist Chris Byars – and played by an octet who really make some new magic with the music! Redd's one of our favorite talents from the late 50s/early 60s scene – a budding modernist who also never failed to swing – a quality that Byars clearly admires too, and shows strongly in the way he opens up and grooves these great tunes! Even the larger lineup of trumpet, trombone, alto, and baritone can't hold things back – and instead, give the tunes more punch than we remember – strong leads that explode into tight solos – driven on nicely by the comping piano work of Sacha Perry. Titles include "The Thespian", "Old Spice", "Emily Reno","Just A Ballad For My Baby", "Minor Interlude", and "Somewhere/Music Forever". ~ Dusty Groove

BRECON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2012

The world-famous Brecon Jazz Festival, set in the Brecon Beacons in beautiful mid-Wales, returns between the 10th-12th August. This year’s fantastic line-up combines top UK talent such as Ginger Baker, Gwilym Simcock, The Neil Cowley Trio, Claire Martin, Stan Tracey, Andy Sheppard, YolanDa Brown, Kit Downes and Soweto Kinch with some major international names including Dionne Warwick and Roy Ayers.

Here are some of the festival highlights:

Huw Warren, Thomas Strønen, Peter Herbert

Friday 10th August: 18.00: Brecon Cathedral: WOMEX

A unique international collaboration devised by Brecon Jazz 2012 artist in residence Huw Warren, one of the most eclectic composers / musicians in the UK, with the Welsh pianist teaming up with some of the most creative and innovative players on the international jazz scene. Thomas Strønen is at the forefront of the vibrant Norwegian scene on drums, percussion and electronics, working solo and with Meadow, Humcrush and Food (duo with UK saxophonist Iain Ballamy on Saturday at Brecon), and eclectic Austrian bassist Peter Herbert

Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion: Friday 10th August: 18.30: Theatr Brycheiniog

Legendary rock drummer, Ginger Baker, renowned for his work with Cream and Blind Faith, teams up with tenor saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, bassist Alec Dankworth, and African percussionist Abass Dodoo for some progressive jazz originals in a Thelonious Monk style with exciting African rhythms.

Neil Yates: Five Countries Friday 10th August: 20.00: Brecon Guildhall

Trumpeter Neil’s music has been described by Jazz UK as “fresh, vibrant and original,” as “a rare sound innovator” and “a discreet virtuoso” by The Guardian. Five Countries was released in 2011 on Cardiff’s Edition Records to great acclaim. Brecon Jazz 2012 will see Yates performs evocative music from the album in an intimate trio with Hungarian/Romanian acoustic guitarist Zsolt Bende and Jim Hart on vibraphone and percussion.

Kit Downes Quintet Friday 10th August: 21.00: Brecon Cathedral

Described by The Observer as ‘Everyone’s favourite young pianist… unpretentiously brilliant and full of subtle touches,’ Kit’s debut album ‘Golden’ received a Mercury Prize nomination, he is a gifted composer and sparkling improviser, whose music has a cinematic, storytelling quality that draws the listener in.

Dionne Warwick Friday 10th August 2012 : 20.30 : Brecon Market Hall

‘Scintillating’, ‘soothing’ and ‘sensual’ best describe the familiar and legendary voice of this cornerstone of American pop music and culture. Warwick’s career this year celebrates 50 years, and has established her as an international music icon and concert act, with more than sixty charted hit songs and over 100 million records sold. She began singing professionally in 1961 after being discovered by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. She had her first hit in 1962 with ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ and followed up with classics such as ‘Walk On By’, ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’ and ‘Say A Little Prayer’.

Indigo Kid: Saturday 11th August: 15.00: Brecon Guildhall

“An encounter between two generations of musicians that makes us think back to how much there is to discover in the British scene.” All About Jazz. Indigo Kid’s leader is guitarist/composer Dan Messore, a player with a warm, full, tone and a talent for moderately paced but fluid single note runs. He shares the frontline with tenor saxophonist Trish Clowes, whilst rhythmic foundations are provided by bassist Aidan Thorne and drummer James Maddren. The quartet has an acute sense of dynamics and pace, giving Messore’s compositions a vibrancy and emotional connection that heightens their impact.

Trio Libero: Sat 11th August: 18:00: Brecon Cathedral

‘The coolly moody tunes seep through your speakers like a series of poetic mists. Performing the graceful trick of being both airy and weighty, it’s a wintry treat’. The Metro. Trio Libero is British saxophonist Andy Sheppard, French bassist Michel Benita and British drummer Seb Rochford. From Rochford’s part in Polar Bear to Benita’s collaborations with Archie Shepp and Lee Konitz, Trio Libero is shaped by three leading individuals from today’s jazz scene.

Lighthouse: Saturday 11th August: 19:00: Theatr Brycheiniog Jazz4Jed

The FT said: ‘Three remarkable musicians with an uncanny unity of thought and feeling. Virtuosity may be taken for granted nowadays, but this music demands it.’ The hugely successful trio punch deep into exciting groove-based tunes, inspired Celtic rhythms and an eclectic mix of Chick Corea, Bill Bruford, Yellowjackets, John Coltrane, and DJ Carl Cox. Grammy winner Tim Garland and Mercury-nominated pianist Gwilym Simcock are two of the most outstanding composers of our time in both Jazz and classical genres and are regarded as among the very best in the world on their respective instruments. They are joined by Asaf Sirkis on drums and percussion. This concert is a tribute concert to Jed Williams, one of the founders and the long-time Artistic Director of the Brecon Jazz festival, and a fundraiser for Jazz4Jed, the bursary established in his name to help Jazz talent in Wales.

Paula Gardiner Trio: Saturday 11th August: 20.00: Brecon Guildhall

‘… a remarkably wide sonic palette for a trio’ The Jazzman.com One of Britain’s most lyrical and melodic bass players, Paula Gardiner is also an accomplished classical guitarist and flautist. Her presence on the Welsh Jazz scene and with Brecon in particular, has been an inspiring one, having played at Brecon Jazz since 1986, Paula also heads up the Jazz course at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and is the Honorary President of the Swansea-based organisation, Women in Jazz.

Roy Ayers: Saturday 11th August: 21.00: Market Hall

Vibraphonist/vocalist Roy Ayers is among the best-known, most-loved and respected jazz/R&B artists on the music-scene today. Now in his fourth decade in the music business, Ayers, known as the Godfather of Neo-soul, continues to bridge the gap between generations of music lovers. His music has been sampled by industry heavyweights including Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac and Ice Cube.

Claire Martin: Saturday 11th August: 21.30 : Brecon Cathedral

The New York Times said of Claire: ‘In an era when young jazz singers tend to sound far too much like their idols, there is no mistaking the voice of Claire Martin who combines a cool, burnished tone with the ear of a born musician’. Claire’s trademark cocktail of standards, sass and swing has her marked down as one of the finest female British jazz singer of her generation, and she is the voice of BBC Radio 3’s weekly Jazz show ‘Jazz Line Up’.

Food: Sunday 12th August: 14.00: Brecon Cathedral

Jazzwise called Food: ‘A stylistic match made in minimalist heaven’. The groundbreaking group features British saxophonist Iain Ballamy and Norwegian percussionist Thomas Strønen creating thought provoking improvised music of great depth and beauty, incorporating juxtapositions of sound, space and texture.

YolanDa Brown: Sunday 12th August 2012 : 14.30 : Theatr Brycheiniog

‘An animated saxophonist who sounds as if she listens to Sonny Rollins as much as to the soul-sax tradition, Brown has a big, lustrous sound and considerable subtlety.’ The Guardian. Double MOBO Award-winning saxophonist Yolanda is one of the most exciting, in-demand live performers, widely regarded as the emerging voice of mainstream Jazz in the UK. She has toured with The Temptations, Errol Brown, Courtney Pine and Diana Krall and collaborated with artists such as Mica Paris, Soweto Kinch and as part of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

The Joe Webb Trio: Sunday 12th August: 15.00: Brecon Guildhall

Fronted by young Welsh jazz pianist, Joe Webb, the band was formed in 2009 when Joe met bassist Huw V Williams and drummer Lloyd Haines whilst studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The band have played around the country through various different projects and earlier this year they recorded for the first time featuring all Joe’s compositions on an album called ‘Night Song’.

Alan Barnes Duo: Sunday 12th August 2012: 13.30: Brecon Cathedral

Jazz Review said of Alan: “Barnes underlines his position as a key figure on the UK scene. He is a fluent, inventive improviser on a number of horns who can swing with the best of them.” Alan came to our attention through the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, the Jazz Renegades, and for a decade ran the Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet with Gerard Prescencer and Dave O’Higgins. He has worked with the leading big bands, and is a member of Guy Barker’s Orchestra. In 2001 and 2006 he received the prestigious BBC Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year award. He appears at Brecon with long-time collaborator, the pianist and composer Dave Newton, who has been voted Best Jazz Pianist six times in the British Jazz Awards.

Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins Play Monk: Sunday 12th August: 16.30: Brecon Cathedral

“Stan really is a national treasure. In his 80s, he’s playing better than ever.” Jazzwise. The collaboration between Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins, which began in the early Sixties, has produced some of the finest jazz this country has ever heard, including the classics ‘Under Milk Wood Suite’, ‘Alice In Jazz Land’, and a host of other recordings since then. Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins, as part of a quartet featuring Andy Cleyndert and Clark Tracey, will perform the music of Thelonious Monk, a major influence on them, at the majestic Brecon Cathedral.

The Soweto Kinch Trio: Sunday 12th August: 18.30: Theatr Brycheiniog

The Guardian said of Soweto: “It’s a clever and entertaining juxtaposition of idioms that kicks pure Jazz and authentic rap into a brave new world.” Soweto Kinch is one of the most exciting and versatile young musicians to hit the British Jazz and Hip Hop scenes in recent years, whose appeal traverses the underground and mainstream audiences of both genres. Fortunate in counting Courtney Pine OBE and Gary Crosby as mentors, as a saxophone player, Soweto rapidly developed his own rich, energetic and dynamic sound. Soweto’s ‘Conversations With The Unseen’ was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize and he has earned a clutch of awards over the years, including the MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act 2003.

Black Mountain Jazz: Sunday August 12th: 20.00: Brecon Guildhall

Black Mountain Jazz presents The Sarah Gillespie Quartet featuring Kit Downes (piano), eclectic Jazz sounds with lyrics influenced by Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Bessie Smith. The quartet features pianist Kit Downes, who appears elsewhere on the Brecon programme. The quartet also has the versatile and creative Enzo Zirilli on drums and the great rhythmic drive of Ben Bastin on double bass.

The Neil Cowley Trio: Sunday 12th August: 20.30: Brecon Cathedral

“A smart splicing of punchy themes and chord–‐belting, rock–‐piano climaxes… it’s hard to resist its eager warmth, and invitation to dance.” The Guardian. A dazzling composer, pianist Cowley creates deeply engaging, and dynamic music that journeys between poetic and poignant, pomp and splendour to powerful rip-roaring riffs. It is instrumental music that references Debussy and Steve Reich as much as Spiritualized and Arcade Fire, and is powerful enough to break down standard perceptions of genre. Its sheer emotion and energy touch lovers of all music.

Tickets for all shows will be available from www.breconjazz.com from Saturday 9th June. The box office telephone number is 01874 611622 (Theatr Brycheiniog) and the 24-Hour telephone booking number is 0844 858 8521.

~ Jazz Fm HERE

NEW RELEASES - SOUL BRAZA, SAOCO!, FUNKCOMMUNITY

SOUL BRAZA: BRAZILIAN 60s & 80s SOUL PSYCH VOLUME 2 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Soul and psych from 60s & 70s Brazil – material that's for the most part quite obscure, though it does feature a few well known names –and songs that fuse the Brazilian eclecticism of this wildly creative period with global psych and soul! Includes numbers by O Incrivel Manito, Os Diagonais, Toni Tornado, The Youngsters, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Mendes, The Pops, Miguel De Deus, Red Snakes and more. As the title indicates, there's quite a bit of global soul at play, but it's a pretty diverse set! 16 tracks in all: "Teme De Kiko" by The Youngsters, "Atras Do Sorriso" by Os Diagonais, "Nao Ha Dinheiro Que Pague" by Roberto Carlos, "Represalia" by Parada, "Reginela" by Arnaut Rodrigues, "You Make Me A Fool" by Red Snakes, "Tucks Theme" by O Incrivel Manito and more. ~ Dusty Groove

SAOCO! THE BOMBA & PLENA EXPLOSION IN PUERTO RICO 1954-1966

A treasure trove of 50s and 60s music from Puerto Rico – and a killer compilation centered around the pioneering work of percussionist Rafael Cortijo and singer Ismael Rivera! Essentially, this a blueprint for the global salsa, tropical and Latin scenes to come – and it's invigorating, tightly grooving and wonderful stuff all the way! Wall-to-wall Afro and West Indian-indebted percussion and rhythms, with tight horns and incredible vocals. It's filled pioneering work, but this is hardly a history listen – it's a fun set, and a sprawling one at that! Includes "Cortaron a Elena" by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "En Orbita" by Baltazar Carrero, "Habla Cuembre" by Los Caballeros Del Ritmo, "El Plenero" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta, "Dejalo Que Suba" by by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "Belinda" by Chivirico, "Cucala" by Cortijo Y Su Combo con Ismael Rivera, "Ron Con Coco" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta and more. 30 tracks on 3LPs! ~ Dusty Groove

FUNKCOMMUNITY – CHEQUERED THOUGHTS

Kiwi funk and soul from Funkommunity – a modern collective that's anchored by the duo of producer Isaac Aesili and soulful singer Rachel Fraser – and they deliver a very promising debut here for Melting Pot! Funkommunity has a far more distinctly modern vibe than their more throwback-styled peers in the international funk scene – Rachel's vocals are purely soulful, but the overall sound features layers of synths and beats that range from boogie soul to spacey hip hop-styled. There's also quite a bit of live instrumentation in the mix – guitars, horns, bass and Rhodes in particular. Nice stuff! 9 tracks on the vinyl: "Pass It On", "What You Give", "The Light", "Dandelion", "Sorceress", "Yeah", "Liquefaction", "Make It That Way" and Start Again". (Vinyl version includes code for full album download.) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - NORTHERN SOUL COLLECTIONS & SOULFUL ANTHEMS

SOUL GALORE ! THE NORTHERN SOUL OF BRUNSWICK: 26 CLASSICS & RARITIES FROM CHICAGO’S FINEST (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Seller soul singles on Brunswick – nearly all of which come from the prime mid-to-late 60s period at the legendary Chicago label – with Jackie Wilson, Billy Butler, Barbara Acklin, Gene Chandler, Erma Franklin, Lavern Baker and many more! There's a tight focus here on mid-to-late 60s Brunswick – all of them great – and many are quite rare. There are some modest or regional hits in the set, but most might have been forgotten if not for the devotion of the Northern Soul scenes to come. It's got a number of uptempo stormers, midtempo groovers and some sweet surprises. Soul galore, indeed! Includes "Soul Galore" by Jackie Wilson, "Have More Time" by Marvin Smith, "Oh Linda" by Leroy Taylor, "I'll Bet You" by Billy Butler, "There Was A Time" by Gene Chandler, "Sweet, Sweet Revenge" by Alvin Valentine, "A Strange Way" by The Loreleis, "Just Ain't No Love" by Barbara Acklin, "I'm The Only One To Do It" by Lavern Baker, "California Montage" by Young-Holt Unlimited and many more. ~ Dusty Groove

FOR NORTHERN SOUL COLLECTORS VOLUME 1 (VARIOUS ARTSTS)

A sprawling, double-sized set of Northern Soul singles – compiled by Richard Searling and with a focus on the pivotal mid 60s period – from the vaults of labels/imprints both big and small! It's got great singles issued at the time on Roulette, Capitol, United Artists, Sue, Veep, Minit, Liberty and more – mostly from '65-'68 – with some fairly famous names and comparably forgotten ones. Most of these tunes became rarities quite soon after they appeared – and it's s a massive set, too – with 50 tracks on 2CDs! Includes "Better Use Your Head" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, "Dance Dance Dance" by The Casualeers, "I'll Do Anything" by Doris Troy, "He Always Comes Back To Me" by Clydie King, "Movin' Away" by Kenny Lynch, "The Drifter" by Ray Pollard, "Breakout" by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, "My Dear Heart" by Shawn Robinson, River Of Tears" by by Barbara Banks, "She Blew A Good Thing" by The Poets, "I'm On My Way" by Dean Parrish and more. ~ Dusty Groove

INSPIRED! 2012 BLOOD SWEAT & CHEERS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

An inspired set of soulful anthems put together by Harmless UK – one that's not so subtly inspired by the 2012 London Olympic Games – with a pretty deep selection of classic era Northern Soul, uptempo R&B, funk and otherwise driving, dancefloor-ready soul! The heart of the 2CD set is beating with old school sounds, but it's got a handful numbers from the past decade-or-so – and there are no clichéd jock jams to be found! Great stuff by Curtis Mayfield, Archie Bell & The Drells, Roscoe Shelton, Linda Jones, Alice Clark, The Inciters, LTG Exchange, Bettye Swann, Sly & The Family Stone, GQ, Kleeer, Aretha Franklin and more – plus more recent numbers by The Heavy, Des'Ree and others. 42 tracks on 2CDs! "Turnin' My Heartbeat Up" by The MVPs, "You Can't Take It" by Linda Jones, "Ride Your Pony" by Lee Dorsey, "Speed Up" by Betty Moorer, "Walk With A Winner" by Gene McDaniels, "Keep On Trying" by LTG Exchange, "Runnin' Away" by Sly & The Family Stone, "Standing Ovation: by GQ, "Jump To It" by Aretha Franklin, "Step By Step" by Joe Simon, "How You Like Me Now" by The Heavy and more. ~ Dusty Groove