NEW RELEASES - SYREETA, THE THREE DEGREES, ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS

SYREETA - ONE TO ONE

An amazing little record from the lovely Syreeta – our favorite album from the singer, next to her seminal debut – and a soaring set that's put together with sublime production from Leon Ware! Leon grooves things up a bit more than before – which really helps Syreeta's amazing vocals take off strongly, and still hit the spacey heights of her previous work with Stevie Wonder! Ware's right at the top of his game – with killer grooves that rival his work for Marvin Gaye on I Want You, or his own Musical Massage album for Motown – and at some level, we'd easily rank this one up there as part of that heavenly 70s trilogy for the label. There's some sweet electric bits that work perfectly for Syreeta – and titles include "Don't Cry", "Harmour Love", "I Don't Know", "Rest Yourself", "One To One", and "Tiki Tiki Donga". ~ Dusty Groove

THE THREE DEGREES - MAYBE / SO MUCH LOVE

A killer package – two full albums, plus bonus tracks too! First up is Maybe – amazing early work from the Three Degrees – tracks cut before their more famous disco years in the 70s – but already showing a whole new approach to girl group soul! At some level, the trio take off strongly from the best late 60s styles of The Supremes – taking the most righteous elements, and working them into a hip new take on female soul – often using slight undercurrents of funk, in ways that are a bit like Honeycone, but even groovier! Arrangements are by Sammy Lowe and Steve Swanson – who bring in a nice east coast bite – and titles include "Sugar On Sunday", "Rosegarden", "You're The One", "The Magic Door", "Collage", "Maybe", and "You're The Fool". Next is So Much Love – a great illustration of the way the female trio could really take off – even without the disco grooves that would later bring them fame! There's a bouncy sound to most numbers here – a bit of Northern Soul here, some 60s mod there – and the girls' vocals are even more amazing than we remember them in later years – really at the top of the girl group pack for the time. Arrangements are by Hutch Davie, Tony Camillo, and Bert DeCoteaux – and titles include "Maybe", "Trade Winds", "I Do Take You", "Who Is She (And What Is She To You)", and "Magic Mirror". 2CD set features a whopping 23 bonus tracks – including "Handle With Care", "Shades Of Green", "Requiem", "Isn't It A Pity", "Yours (long single version)", "There's So Much Love All Around Me (mono)", "Through Misty Eyes (mono)", and mono takes of many album tracks! ~ Dusty Groove

ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS - THERE'S GONNA BE A SHOWDOWN

A stormer from Archie Bell & The Drells – one of our favorite soul albums ever, and a masterpiece of mid-tempo soul! Archie Bell & The Drells sound amazing here – light years from the rougher funk of their earlier years, yet still with a groove that's undeniable – an incredible meeting of soul music scenes handled by the young Gamble & Huff team – who not only produce most of the record, but also wrote most of the tracks on the set! The groove is lightly lilting, and totally on the money – a sound that's incredible, and hard to describe in words – but which really grabs us from the get-go. All tracks are great, and totally fresh – and tunes include "I Love My Baby", "Houston Texas", "Showdown", "My Balloon's Going Up", "Giving Up Dancing", "Girl You're Too Young", and "Green Power". ~ Dusty Groove

JULIA HUFF - MEET JULIA HUFF

When a gifted singer spends well over a decade honing her craft, all the while wrestling with the sweet-n-sour sauce of life, it makes an exceptionally stunning story for a debut recording. Julia Huff and her understatedly titled first offering Meet…Julia Huff, are just such entities. The Chicago-based chanteuse sacrificed a budding career as a hard news journalist to return to the path of singing she was born to strut with high favor and love power. With music produced, arranged and largely composed by the legendary Jerry Peters (Phyllis Hyman, Earth Wind & Fire), Meet…Julia Huff introduces the listener to a 5-star talent as comfortable with cabaret jazz as she is with high gloss soul-pop. Make no mistake – Julia Huff is a singer whose time has finally arrived.

Julia Huff has been steadily and faithfully working what’s left of the fabled Chicago nightclub circuit 3 to 4 nights a week gigging the old fashioned way with her group Julia Huff & The Company Band. She’s played every venue from the sadly closed Jilly’s and The Back Room to festivals such as “Taste of Chicago” and the Main Stage of “Juneteenth,” to headlining a host of private V.I.P. receptions and corporate industrials. She also made Detroit a home away from home with frequent visits to all of its casinos and, of course, Baker’s. She is best known for her loving “A Tribute to Phyllis Hyman” which packed houses in many cities. Ms. Huff also took her act overseas for acclaimed extended engagements.

“I’ve played prestigious clubs in Russia, including Moscow, promoted with radio and television interviews,” Julia shares with pride. “Before that, Japan was my first time out of the country. I was in Gion and Kyoto at Select Repos where I played for a month…amongst the real geishas! I had everybody from a big time Sumo wrestler to the President of Toyota in attendance to see me.”

Singing began for Chicago-born Julia Huff when she belted out The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun”…at her kindergarten graduation! From that point until college, she sang everywhere from church to talent shows. Once at university level, however, Julia pursued another burning dream to be a news journalist. After earning her broadcasting degree, she landed at City News Bureau, covering many top local and national political stories, and was also an on-air reporter at NBC affiliate WICD-TV in Champaign, Illinois. But the reality of that grind had Julia rethinking her career. Besides, the Chicago nightlife was calling…one of the last cities a girl can make a living in singing.

"It was a hard choice but I decided to make the arduous journey back to performing,” Julia shares. “I don’t play an instrument and don’t have a degree in music, but I went ahead and started singing in clubs anyway.” Starting as a featured singer with The Gentlemen of Leisure (a.k.a. The Gents), Julia did shows and industrials at key spots across the country, including Las Vegas. The last of these types of ensembles for her was The Steve Edwards Orchestra with whom she still sits in occasionally. She eventually started her own group then hit upon the idea to do a show based around the music of Phyllis Hyman.

“There were several singers that influenced me but Phyllis had a tremendous impact because my father was a huge fan. When he passed away 5 years ago, I decided to do the tribute shows…to Phyllis and in his honor. Over two sets I sang 25 songs with a 13 piece band, background vocalists, costume changes, some narrative – the whole thing. I started out doing the tributes as V.I.P. receptions with dinner on Mother’s Day at the Dusable Museum. They completely sold out. So I started doing them at different spots all over town.”

One man that began following her over many of those shows is Adrian Rosser who, via Infinite Strategies, began shaping the direction of Julia’s career. Rosser invited Jerry Peters to check her out. Almost immediately a mutual admiration society began and it became clear he would be perfect to produce her long- anticipated first recording. “Jerry is on fire for The Lord so that was the first thing we clicked on,” Julia testifies. “He helped me to realize that my gift is from God and that I am being an obedient servant to follow this call as my life’s purpose. I was also drawn by Jerry’s need to be excellent. That he personally worked with Phyllis Hyman in the `70s only made it sweeter. Going from 0 to 90 in 5 seconds – that’s how I describe our recording experience. He really pushed me.”

Jerry Peters recalls, “When I first went to hear Julia, I saw this girl lugging in all this equipment herself – a real do it your self-er. I could tell she’d paid a lot of local dues and had a lot of local fans to show for it. I was impressed. She sang a myriad of songs –from Michael Jackson to standards – and she was quite adept. For her record, one of the challenges we met was carving out her own projection of identity. It was clear she established her initial direction as a student of jazz vocals but I was amazed by how many dresses she could pull off the rack of her musical dress shop that fit just perfectly. I was trying to create the right garment for her based on where her life was at this moment. Songwriting was my entry into this business (via The Friends of Distinction’s 1969 soul classic ‘Going in Circles’ with lyricist Anita Poree). A lot of my music had not been heard. My philosophy:

If you don’t write it, find it! I played her one song after another and one by one she said, ‘That’s my life.’ She validated the music by identifying so strongly with it.”

When Julia met Jerry, she was coming out of a very heavy time. “I had been divorced 6 months… still a very emotional time for me. Jerry and I talked about where I was in my life and career then he pulled some songs from his stash. One was ‘I’ve Come Too Far to Turn Around’ which I embraced as all about my journey in music, stepping out on faith. ‘All Because of You’ was originally a gospel song before they gave it to me – Lord before boy. I like the music and the way I sang it. Then ‘Who’s Gonna Hold Me Now’ has that Chicago steppers beat. It feels good to have a song that associates me with the city in which I got my start. I’ll never forget how much love these people have given me…the peace, joy and happiness of using the gifts God has given you for a living is awesome.”

Interestingly, Jerry originally wrote “That’s Not Gonna Get It” years ago for Anita Baker but it never got to her. “Julia is a 2nd soprano with a deep round sound,” Jerry explains, “so you hear a lot of Sarah Vaughan inspiration who, in turn, inspired Anita Baker. Now, Julia Huff may be added to that list.” For her debut’s one cover, Julia picked the great Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Brazilian ballad classic “Dindi.” “I’m a frustrated jazz vocalist,” Julia laughs. “I mean I am that girl! I’ve always been a fan of Latin rhythms…Latin everything! And ‘Dindi’ is simply a beautiful song. I love Carmen McRae’s version and what El DeBarge did with it. And every time I perform it, I get an amazing response.”

Julia Huff has already recorded enough music for at least another e.p. She wants to introduce herself slowly and surely. She’s continuing to hone her vocal skills with A-1 singing coach Stephanie Spruill. And Julia’s immediate goals are to travel farther and wider – perhaps as the opening artist for a major artist – and expand her brand by spreading love through song.

“I saw an interview with Lionel Richie conducted by Pierce Morgan,” Julia Huff concludes. “Lionel said one secret of his success is, ‘I write about this one timeless thing called love.’ I kept that in mind for my first CD – not just the physical act of love but love in all its emotional colors and deeper dimensions.”

:::: SOURCE: juliahuff.com ::::

ERIC CLAPTON'S SLOWHAND - 35TH ANNIVERSARY MULTI-FORMAT RELEASES

Eric Clapton has been in the spotlight for close on fifty years and the portrait of his artistry is a complex one -- from his early days as a guitar icon to a songwriter of great sensitivity, as well as an interpreter of everything from blues and jazz to rock and country music. He has fashioned albums in many different styles and with many different themes, yet few have the sense of oneness that pervades Slowhand.

Slowhand was recorded at Olympic Studios in South West London in May 1977 and was produced by Glyn Johns. Released in November 1977, Slowhand was the most successful album of Clapton's '70s studio recordings. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart, where it stayed for five weeks, spending a total of seventy-four weeks on the American album chart.

Slowhand features "Wonderful Tonight," "Lay Down Sally" and "Cocaine" -- songs that are still heard regularly on radio and at Eric Clapton's live shows. So long after its release is a great recommendation and testimony to its place in Clapton's canon. The album includes cover versions of songs written by some of his favorite songwriters (JJ Cale, John Martyn, Don Williams, Arthur Crudup) along with original compositions by Eric Clapton.

Both the Super Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Edition feature four Slowhand session outtakes (three of them previously unreleased): "Looking At The Rain," "Alberta," "Greyhound Bus" and "Stars, Strays And Ashtrays."
A week before the Slowhand sessions commenced, the band performed at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The Super Deluxe Edition captures the complete 14 track Hammersmith Odeon, April 27, 1977 concert on two CDs, while the Deluxe Edition features 9 tracks from the Hammersmith Odeon concert. Songs featured at the Hammersmith Odeon show include "Tell The Truth," "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," "Can't Find My Way Home," "Stormy Monday," "Badge," "I Shot The Sheriff" and "Layla."

ERIC CLAPTON's "SLOWHAND 35th ANNIVERSARY" comes in five different formats:

1. SUPER DELUXE EDITION - 3 CD / 1 DVD (audio only) / 1 LP
•Slowhand remastered from the original Olympic Studios 1/4" flat analog master tapes, plus four album session outtakes. The unreleased tracks have been newly mixed from the original Olympic Studios 2" analog masters by Kevin Reeves at Sterling Sound.

•Complete Live At The Hammersmith Odeon Concert, April 27, 1977 (2CDs, 14 tracks including 10 previously unreleased). The tracks have been newly mixed from the original 2" analog masters by Kevin Reeves at Sterling Sound.

•Slowhand remastered in 24/96 Hi-Resolution Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound (audio only DVD)

•Slowhand remastered vinyl LP on 180g heavyweight vinyl

•Including 3 replica tour programmes from the time & a book featuring a behind-the-scene look at the recording

•Packaging replicates the original Fender amplifier tweet used on the recording

2. DELUXE EDITION - 2 Disc Set
•Slowhand remastered from the original Olympic Studios 1/4" flat analog master tapes, plus four album session outtakes

•Live At The Hammersmith Odeon Concert, April 27, 1977 (9 tracks including 5 unreleased)

3. SINGLE CD

•the original album, remastered from the original analog masters

4. VINYL LP

•the original album, remastered from the original analog masters

5. DIGITAL VERSION

•the original album, remastered from the original analogue masters pus four album session outtakes

TRACK-LISTINGS:
SUPER DELUXE EDITION:
DISC ONE: SLOWHAND REMASTERED AND EXPANDED:
1 COCAINE 3.42
2 WONDERFUL TONIGHT 3.42
3 LAY DOWN SALLY 3.52
4 NEXT TIME YOU SEE HER 4.02
5 WE'RE ALL THE WAY 2.31
6 THE CORE 8.42
7 MAY YOU NEVER 3.00
8 MEAN OLD FRISCO 4.38
9 PEACHES AND DIESEL 4.50
bonus tracks:
10 LOOKING AT THE RAIN 3.39 *
11 ALBERTA 2.40
12 GREYHOUND BUS 2.57 *
13 STARS, STRAYS AND ASHTRAYS 4.36 *

DISC TWO: SLOWHAND: HI-RES STEREO and 5.1 SURROUND SOUND DVD (audio only):
1 COCAINE 3.42
2 WONDERFUL TONIGHT 3.42
3 LAY DOWN SALLY 3.52/4.14
4 NEXT TIME YOU SEE HER 4.02
5 WE'RE ALL THE WAY 2.31
6 THE CORE 8.42
7 MAY YOU NEVER 3.00/3.58
8 MEAN OLD FRISCO 4.38
9 PEACHES AND DIESEL 4.30

DISC THREE: LIVE AT THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON, April 27, 1977:
1 HELLO OLD FRIEND 3.58 *
2 SIGN LANGUAGE 3.58 *
3 ALBERTA 4.06 *
4 TELL THE TRUTH 9.00
5 KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR 5.18
6 STEADY ROLLING MAN 6.55 *
7 CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME 6.06 *
8 FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD 6.35
9 STORMY MONDAY 12.42

DISC FOUR: LIVE AT THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON, April 27, 1977 continued:
1 BADGE 8.37 *
2 NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU"RE DOWN AND OUT 4.00 *
3 I SHOT THE SHERIFF 14.04 *
4 LAYLA 6.02 *
5 KEY TO THE HIGHWAY 7.28 *

DISC FIVE: SLOWHAND VINYL LP:
SIDE ONE
1 COCAINE 3.42
2 WONDERFUL TONIGHT 3.42
3 LAY DOWN SALLY 3.52
4 NEXT TIME YOU SEE HER 4.02
5 WE'RE ALL THE WAY 2.31
SIDE TWO
1 THE CORE 8.42
2 MAY YOU NEVER 3.00
3 MEAN OLD FRISCO 4.38
4 PEACHES AND DIESEL 4.50
* previously unreleased

DELUXE EDITION:
DISC ONE: SLOWHAND REMASTERED AND EXPANDED:
1 COCAINE 3.42
2 WONDERFUL TONIGHT 3.42
3 LAY DOWN SALLY 3.52
4 NEXT TIME YOU SEE HER 4.02
5 WE'RE ALL THE WAY 2.31
6 THE CORE 8.42
7 MAY YOU NEVER 3.00
8 MEAN OLD FRISCO 4.38
9 PEACHES AND DIESEL 4.50
bonus tracks:
10 LOOKING AT THE RAIN 3.39 *
11 ALBERTA 2.40
12 GREYHOUND BUS 2.57 *
13 STARS, STRAYS AND ASHTRAYS 4.36 *

DISC TWO: LIVE AT THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON, April 27, 1977:
1 TELL THE TRUTH 9.00
2 KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR 5.18
3 STEADY ROLLING MAN 6.55 *
4 CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME 6.06 *
5 FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD 6.35
6 STORMY MONDAY 12.42
7 BADGE 8.37 *
8 I SHOT THE SHERIFF 14.04 *
9 LAYLA 6.02 *
* previously unreleased

THE GONZALO RUBALCABA TRIO BRINGS "CUBAN FIRE" TO SOUTH FLORIDA NOVEMBER 24, 2012

South Florida JAZZ, the principal purveyors of modern jazz in the region since its founding in 1991, celebrates its 21st anniversary Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. with the four-time Grammy-awarded Cuban-born pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. The internationally renowned and dazzling virtuoso will perform with his touring trio featuring bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Marcus Gilmore. The venue is the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd on the Nova Southeastern University campus in Davie.

The focus of the South Florida JAZZ remains steadfastly on presenting artists of national and international repute under the aegis of Artistic Director Ron Weber and gently guided by the world-acclaimed vibraphonist/educator Gary Burton, Artistic Advisor, who believe this season’s lineup is among the strongest in the organization’s storied history.

VIP ticket holders will be treated to a special celebratory Cuban theme reception commencing at 6:00 p.m. in the DeSantis Building’s Courtyard Atrium, across the plaza from the Miniaci Performing Arts Center. Along with great food, the New World School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble will treat guests to live Latin jazz. There will also be a raffle with elegant items from local establishments.

VIP tickets are $150 or $99 (without South Florida JAZZ membership) and $50 general admission, and can be purchased from the Broward Center box office at 954-462-0222; toll-free at 877-311-SHOW; and online at SouthFloridaJazz.org or BrowardCenter.org.

“Gonzalo Rubalcaba, a pianist of almost supernatural abilities …” Ben Ratliff, New York Times

Gonzalo Julio Gonzalez Fonseca was born in post-revolutionary Havana, Cuba, May 27, 1963, into a musical family rich in the traditions of the country’s artistic past. During his childhood, Gonzalo played piano and drums, while absorbing his Cuban musical heritage primarily from his father, pianist Guillermo Rubalcaba, his two brothers, and leading local musicians who frequented the household. Through scarce and treasured jazz recordings, he also assimilated the music of Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey. He began his classical training at age nine, focusing on the piano, ultimately earning a degree in music composition from Havana’s Institute of Fine Arts. By that time he had become entrenched in the Havana club scene as a jazz player.

The conservatory-trained master pianist has integrated huge swaths of the European classical and jazz traditions, while maintaining deep ties to the rhythmic currents of his Cuban homeland. Initially coming to international prominence under the aegis of American bassist Charlie Haden with whom he recorded extensively, Gonzalo Rubalcaba has now earned 15 Grammy nominations, winning two Grammys and two Latin Grammys. At first, Mr. Rubalcaba distinguished himself primarily with his virtuoso technique and rhythmic prowess. With maturity, he has become a more introspective composer and improviser, while continuing to dazzle audiences as he explores the rich history of Cuban music. His most recent recordings, Fé and XXI Century, were released on Mr Rubalcaba’s personal label, 5Passion.

ARTISTIC PERSONNEL
Gonzalo Rubalcaba – piano
Matt Brewer – double bass
Marcus Gilmore – drums

Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Board of Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Division, the Bernie Bercuson Trust, the Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, and JAZZIZ Magazine.

NEW RELEASES - GILBERTO GIL, PAULINHO & PACIFICO MASCARENHAS, LUIZ CARLOS DA VILA

GILBERTO GIL - COPACABANA MON AMOUR

An incredible bit of soundtrack work by Gilberto Gil – and one of his best albums! The record was originally recorded to accompany the work of director Rogerio Szanzerla, and it's a wonderful mix of samba, jazz, and post-Tropicalia psychedelia – all recorded in a warm intimate style that's similar to Gil's legendary London recording from 1971! The tracks are some of the most pioneering that Gil ever recorded – and they break free of the time and space constraints of some of his studio albums, stretching songs out into long open-ended explorations, 4 of which are over seven minutes long. Gil's vocals are extremely soulful, and his guitar playing is free and jazzy, often interspersed with some nice funky flute and percussion work. Titles include "Diga A Ela" in two versions – plus "Mr. Sganzeria", "Blind Faith", "Yeh Yeh Yah Yah", and "Tomorrow Vai Ser Bacana". ~ Dusty Groove

PAULINHO & PACIFICO MASCARENHAS - UM PASSEIO MUSICAL

A really obscure little set from late 50s Brazil – and a record that's a key link between jazz and bossa nova! Singer Paulinho's got a style that's definitely rooted in jazz – as is the Pacifico Mascarenhas combo, which uses great piano lines to underscore the light rhythms on drums and percussion – but there's also an early bossa vibe going on here – one that borrows a bit from Latin piano combos from New York and Havana, but tunes them down and mellows them out – creating a sense of spaciousness that's perfect for the vocals. Paulinho's also got this light style that's more bossa than most Brazilian singers of the time – and titles include "Foi Assim", "Em Teus Bracos", "Vieram Me Contar", "Pam Pam Pam", "Por Favor Amor", and "Juras De Amor". ~ Dusty Groove

LUIZ CARLOS DA VILA - PRA ESFRIAR A CABECA

An overlooked gem from 80s Brazil – a rare bit of indie samba work from Luiz Carlos Da Vila – and a record that's definitely a cut above the usual material in the genre! There's a wonderfully rich sound to the record right from the start – soulful vocals from Luiz Carlos, and some rootsy percussion – but also these warmer backings that almost have jazzy changes at times – of the sort that you might get if Joao Donato ever arranged a samba record. The original was issued on the small Arca label – so has escaped the attention of global ears for years – but the set's a record well worth seeking out. Titles include "Morro Molhado", "Diamante", "Das Origens", "Bracos De La", "Notavel Amiga", "A Flor Da Esperanca", and "Tudo Se Ilumina". ~ Dusty Groove

NICOLE WILLIS AND THE SOUL INVESTIGATORS - TELL ME WHEN (WE CAN START OUR LOVE THING ONCE AGAIN) B/W IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU

Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators are back with a brand new single on 7-inch vinyl and digital download formats set for release via Finland's Timmion Records on 29 October.

Tell Me When (We Can Start Our Love Thing Once Again) b/w It's All Because Of You is the simmering first double-side single from their upcoming LP, Tortured Soul, set for release on Helsinki-based Timmion Records in February 2013. On their sophomore effort, Nicole and the Soul Investigators signature soul sound is clearly audible, but it also unearths rhythm & blues tainted licks and the pleas of unrequited love.

Tell Me When, with its commanding chorus, serves as a perfect vehicle over the aching eight years between the group's release of the critically acclaimed Keep Reachin' Up and the upcoming Tortured Soul. Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators have evolved sound-wise, with brooding verses and exquisite, instrumental delivery. The flip-side, It's All Because Of You, is filled with equal measures of intensity and melancholy, and this A-side/B-side single reeks of instant classic. Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators have taken their expressive approach to composition to the next stratum. It's hard to compare them to any other group - vintage or current.

Their debut LP, Keep Reachin' Up, was released in 2005, and it was a massive success, especially amongst vinyl enthusiasts both domestically and abroad. It was a seminal contribution to the list of records at the start of the retro-soul movement. The album was selected as the "Urban Album of the Year" by Mojo Magazine and their track, Feeling Free, won "Track Of The Year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards, just to name a couple of acknowledgments from several high appraisals it received. In addition to the release of Tortured Soul, Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators will be appearing back on stages across Europe and beyond, performing songs not only from the new LP, but also from their debut effort.

NEW RELEASES - JOE BATAAN, CHROME CANYON, PAUL BASCOMB

JOE BATAAN - MR. NEW YORK AND THE EAST SIDE KIDS

Amazing work from the Spanish Harlem underground of the late 60s! From the title, to the cover, to the beautiful blend of songs, this album perfectly sums up the rich energy and raw power bubbling in the NuYorican scene of the time – effortlessly blending together soul, Latin, jazz, and funk – making the whole thing work perfectly because that's the way it was! These cats didn't know anything about rules – at least not until the big bad older Latin mafia snapped them in place – and the result is a freewheeling album of hard grooving jammers and sweetly emotive soul tunes! Tracks include "Puerto Rico Me Llama", "Make Me Smile", "Es Tu Cosa", "The Prayer", "Aguanta La Lengua", and "Chili Beans". ~ Dusty Groove

CHROME CANYON - ELEMENTAL THEMES

A pretty sweet set of retro futurist synth from Chrome Canyon – which is essentially the solo project of Morgan Z and guests – and a mix of late 70s Krautrock-era synthy bombast and early 80s electro soundtracky styles! Overall, it's got sort of a Euro disco-tinged soundtrack vibe – think Giorgio Moroder, Wendy Carlos and 80s soundtrack-era Tangerine Dream – along with more starkly minimal tones and key, though used to maximum effect! There's also some twists and turns – like the cosmic post-fusion sax on the title track, bits of guitar, drums and other instrumentation. It's a very well structured batch of instrumentals – with a focused, song-based approach – as opposed to looser synthy experimentation. A leftfied win for Stones Throw! Includes "Beginnings", "Pluze", "Legends", "Branches", "Elemental Themes", "Cave Of Light", "Generations", "Chasing The Dead", "Sacred Mountain", "Signs From An Old World", "Carfire On The Highway" and more. (Includes MP3 download card.) ~ Dusty Groove

PAUL BASCOMB - BAD BASCOMB!

A tremendous tribute to the tenor talents of Paul Bascomb – pulled together here from rare 78rpm sides for United Records – including more than a few that were never issued at the time! Bascomb's got a rich and soulful tone – easily one of the best of the postwar generation, even though Paul never got the same sort of due as tenorists on big labels like King, Chess, or Savoy! The set features most of the same players on all tracks – Bascomb on tenor, Eddie Lewis on trumpet, Frank Porter and Tommy Waters on alto, and Duke Jordan on piano – and Porter sings on a few tracks too. Titles include "Mumbles Blues", "Blues & The Beat", "Black Out", "Nona", "Love's An Old Story", "Liza's Blues", and "Soul & Body". 17 tracks in all!  ~Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - SEAN HAEFELI, LAVERNE BUTLER, HOUSTON PERSON

SEAN HAEFELI - RISE

Berlin based pianist, vocalist, lyricist, and composer Sean Haefeli mesmerized us with his vocal jazz that’s sprinkled with welcome notes of Jose James and Gil Scott-Heron. Others have referenced Last Poets, Roberta Flack, Michael Franti, Bobby McFerrin, and Gregory Porter when speaking about his music. Looks like dude has a pretty fail proof thing going on as far as many are concerned. Sean’s sound blends jazz, soul, hip hop, and spoken word to birth warm, honest, and intimate music perfect for cozying up to as winter approaches. RISE marks his third album, which similar to his previous two is self-produced and released. Touring will begin in late October through November of this year. Go here to stream the album and to download the title track for free http://www.giantstep.net/ . ~ Giant Step

LAVERNE BUTLER - LOVE LOST AND FOUND AGAIN

A beautiful, sweetly jazz-based set from LaVerne Butler – and we can't imagine why you'd lose the love for her voice and style, if you've ever found it in the first place – but this is great place to find it! Bruce Barth is on piano and handles the arrangements, with the great Houston Person on tenor for over half the set – and the group is rounded out by bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Rudy Royston. That intimate, though elegant small combo approach works really well! Includes "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home", "Be A Sweet Pumpkin", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "The Bluest Blues", "Travelin' Light", "In My Own Little Corner", "I'll Never Be Free", "Smile" and more.  ~ Dusty Groove

HOUSTON PERSON - NATURALLY

Naturally great work from soul jazz legend Houston Person – who's still going strong – and delivers one of the best of his High Note records to date! Person has always had an easygoing approach, which is probably something of a recipe for graceful aging – but whatever his secret may be, Naturally is a remarkably strong record – and he makes it sound easy! It's a timeless quartet jazz set – featuring fellow legend Cedar Walton on piano, Ray "Bulldog" Drummond on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. Includes a nice take on Milt Jackson's classic "Bag's Groove", plus "That's All", "Namely You", "My Foolish Heart"", "Red Sails In The Sunset", "Don' Cha Go 'Way Mad", "It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream" and "Sunday". ~ Dusty Groove

EGYPTIAN PROJECT - YA AMAR

With all the news that’s been coming out of Egypt over the last year, it’s surprising that more music has not been circulating. Years before the term ‘Arab Spring’ was coined, French producer Jérôme Ettinger devoted himself to exploring, preserving and spreading the sound of the North African country he fell in love with. Assembling world-class musicians and layering in tasteful electronic rhythms beneath virtuosic playing, his Egyptian Project debut, Ya Amar (Six Degrees Records), is the most potent album to arise from this country since the political upheaval began.


More of an infusion than a fusion, Egyptian Project is the result of a long and commited collaboration between the defenders of Egyptian musical tradition and a young French musician who mix the sounds of the Nile delta and Cairo with the ambiances of trip-hop, electro, hip-hop, and even classical music. « The fluvial meeting of oriental fragrances and minimalist electronic sounds » makes for a journey into unexplored territories.

‘My idea was to mix electronic and Egyptian music,’ he says. ‘I chose one string instrument player, one singer, one percussionist and one rababa player. They are all my family now—I manage and organize everything for all of them.’

As his passion for Egyptian culture and music grew, Ettinger assembled a team of renowned artists for a touring band: percussionist Ragab Sadek, rababa player/violinist Salama Metwally, oud player Ihad Radwan and singer Sayed Eman, whose epic vocals decorate many of this album’s 10 songs. With all musicians between the ages of 50 and 60, Ettinger has played an important role in introducing these incredible artists to the world beyond the Nile.

The band has already performed numerous times to tremendous acclaim in Egypt and throughout Europe, including a recent show at the famed Paleo festival in Switzerland. Expect a U.S. tour in early 2013.

:::: SOURCE: Six Degrees Records ::::

AARON NEVILLE ANNOUNCES JANUARY 22 RELEASE FOR HIS BLUE NOTE DEBUT MY TRUE STORY

ALBUM FEATURES NEW VERSIONS OF HIS FAVORITE DOO-WOP SONGS PRODUCED BY KEITH RICHARDS & DON WAS

Iconic soul/R&B vocalist Aaron Neville has announced a January 22, 2013 release date for My True Story, his debut for 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.”

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

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

The track listing for My True Story is as follows:
1. Money Honey (Jesse A. Stone)
2. My True Story (Eugene Pitt & Oscar Waltzer)
3. Ruby Baby (Jerry Leiber & Michael Stoller)
4. Gypsy Woman (Curtis Mayfield)
5. Ting a Ling (Nugetre)
6. Be My Baby (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich & Phillip Spector)
7. Little Bitty Pretty One (Robert J. Byrd)
8. Tears On My Pillow (Sylvester Bradford & Al Lewis)
9. Under The Boardwalk (Arthur Resnick & Kenny Young)
10. Work With Me Annie (Hank Ballard)
11. This Magic Moment / True Love (Medley) (Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman)
12. Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams) (John S. Marascalco & George Motola)

:::: SOURCE: Blue Note Records ::::

EASY STAR'S THRILLAH - A REGGAE ADAPTATION OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER

Following up on the hugely successful reggae tribute albums of Dub Side of the Moon, Radiodread and Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band comes the reggae adaptation of the greatest selling record of all time – Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The album titled Easy Star’s Thrillah brings back several of the reggae stars from previous albums, such as vocalists Michael Rose, Steel Pulse, Luciano, Mojo Morgan, alongside the diverse playing of guests Yossi Fine, Joe Tomino, Andy Farag, and horn tracks courtesy of Israel’s highly-acclaimed funk/hip-hop band Hadag Nachash.

In selecting Thriller, Easy Star Records co-founder Lem Oppenheimer says, "We've always tackled the greats - The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead - but while we wanted to take on another huge album, we also wanted to blaze new trails. In Thriller we found those new trails in a number of firsts for the series: the first album by an American artist, the first non-concept album, the first R&B/soul record, as well as the first release from the 80s.”

“For me, I was most excited for Thriller,” says producer/arranger/guitarist Michael Goldwasser. “I was always more of an R&B/soul and reggae kid growing up and I have an intense personal connection to Michael Jackson’s music.” As usual, the process initially involved Goldwasser spending a few months on arranging the songs. “Writing the arrangements for this album was a cool challenge. I didn’t have to try to make non-dance music into dance music as on our previous albums because the original Thriller is so danceable already, but I needed to find ways to make each song groove in a different way from the original version. I didn’t want any of the arrangements to be obvious in that regard.” In the end, Goldwasser’s arrangements are some of the most interesting in his career.

Now that the hard work in the studio is done, the band is looking forward to bringing this music on the road, adding some dance/pop songs to their already varied sets. The band’s live show, which was nominated for a UK Festy Award in 2009, already features tracks from the band’s previous three tribute albums, along with original material. An extensive fall tour of the US and UK is already set up (US dates listed below), with more to come over the next year. As the original Thriller album comes up on its 30-year anniversary in November, what better way to celebrate this timeless album than to catch the Easy Star All-Stars perform their reggae-infused versions of this pop masterpiece.   :::: SOURCE: GiantStep.net ::::

NEW RELEASES - BIRELI LANGRENE, THE PYRAMIDS, JIMI TENOR AND KABUKABU

BIRELI LANGRENE - MOUVEMENTS

Blues with a little bit of harmony is how French guitarist and bassist Bireli Langrene describes his latest release Mouvements. On Mouvements he's joined by fellow musicians Franck Wolf saxophones), Jean-Yves Jung (Hammond organ), and Jean-Marc Robin (drums). Besides the blues, you also get a bit of jazz and rock mixed in to give it a sound that is decidedly eclectic and electric both at the same time. Among the tracks, the title track "Movements") appears to be a real gem. This is indeed harmony! The tracklisting also includes "Jay", Maybe Tomorrow", "Oleo", Where's Frankie:, plus six more. Mouvements is available on the Universal Music France label. Bireli Lagrene will be in concert in Paris, Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Trianon.

THE PYRAMIDS - OTHERWORLDLY

The long-awaited return of The Pyramids – easily one of the hippest spiritual jazz ensembles of the 70s! This new recording has all the earthy brilliance of the group's classics – with leadership from reedman Idris Ackamoor, who's continued a dedication to righteous sounds on his own during the past few decades – which means he's hardly coming out of retirement here, just re-focusing his ongoing energy towards the classic Pyramids sound! Instrumentation is heavy on percussion and organic elements – and the tunes do a great job of blending freewheeling performance with more focused grooves – an Afro-avant mode that really lives up to the group's legacy, carried off here by players who include Kenneth Nash on drums and percussion, Kimathi Asante on bass, Kash Killion on bass and cello, Bradie Speller on congas and electronics. Titles include "Memory Ritual", "Time Capsule", "What The World Needs Now", "Nebulosity", "Otherworldly", "Boundless Eternities", "Cloud Rider", "Uttering Sacred Words", and "They Came From Chicago". ~ Dusty Groove.

JIMI TENOR AND KABUKABU - THE MYSTERY OF AETHER

Anyone familiar with Jimi Tenor will already know that his esoteric style has already earnt him a unique place somewhere between the worlds of jazz, techno, afrobeat, latin and many other cosmic ensembles. But with this latest LP Aether, Jimi delves even deeper to bring us one of his most expansive visionary records yet. Aether has come together over the course of a couple of years, and illustrates some of the different projects that Jimi’s been working on. One of the main seeds was planted after Jimi collaborated with OG afro-beat originator Tony Allen, after the sessions for their LP for Strut’s ‘Inspiration Information’ series. Others songs were developed from Jimi’s long-running tete-a-tete with Berlin-based afro ensemble Kabu Kabu. Throw in a touch of Martin Denny-esque exotica, some Arkestra-inspired space waltzes, and a few of Jimi’s homemade instruments, and the result is a collection of tracks bristling with percussive energy, big band arrangements, inter-galactic spirituality.

Tracks like ‘Dance Of The Planets’, ‘Eternal Mystery’, and the opener ‘Selvanakija’, clearly owe a debt to Sun Ra, condensing the Arkestra’s galactic space-walks into taut afro-cuban work-outs underpinning Jimi’s trademark melodies and brass harmonics. But it’s not just musically that the Arkestra has inspired the sounds on Aether. “I read about Pat Patrick making his own bass marimbas, so I went and got a book from the library about making your own instruments,” said Jimi. “Making your own instruments is good, you can find your own unusual tunings and overtones. It’s a bit like when Sonic Youth make their own tunings on their guitars. It’s all about making something a bit different from the usual temperate scale. That just doesn’t sound interesting anymore. “

The track ‘Universal Love’ is one example of Jimi’s home-made sound coming through, with an epic build-up climaxing with an instrument that sounds like an elephant had wandered into the recording session at Berlin’s Lovelite studio. “I just went into the forest and chopped down a big branch. I carved it myself, like one of those alpine horns or something.” This DIY approach is Jimi’s way of bringing people together. “I hope that when people see it live, they feel like they’re a part of a sort of unprofessional group, like a hippy family or something. Sometimes when I see the latin percussion set-ups on stage, it all just looks so polished and clean. I’m often making my own claves for the whole band, just to get a bit of a different sound.”

A sense of togetherness is at the heart of Aether, and not just in the concert hall. It permeates Jimi’s whole world-view, even embracing other worlds. Lyrically, the song ‘Resonate And Be’ captures what the LP is about, exploring the drama of the cosmos for our own spiritual and material well-being. Jimi explains, “in our view there is only aether. Everything material is the resonance of the aether. We are, because our particles resonate the song of cosmos. We are all one.” ~ KindredSpirits.nl

FELA – NEW 6-LP BOX SET FEATURING FELA AND GINGER BAKER LIVE / ROFOROFO FIGHT / CONFUSION / ALAGBON CLOSE / HE MISS ROAD / NA POI

A killer array of funky grooves from Fela Kuti – served up in a 6LP box set, with records chosen by Ginger Baker! Baker's a key choice to work on the set – given his famous recordings with Fela, heard here on the album's leadoff record – Fela & Ginger Baker Live!

Next up is Roforofo Fight – an early full-length Fela LP, filled with 4 tight groovers that stand with his best work! "Go Slow" begins with this mad trumpet solo that you'll recognize from a famous sample, especially as it mixes in with keyboards; "Roforofo Fight" is a fast-time groover that has the drums working overtime to keep up with the political power of the cut.

Confusion features a monster 26 minute track – and it begins with Sun Ra Arkestra-like washes of sound and spaciness, before leaping into a bass-heavy groove that provides a perfect platform for heavy jamming and vamping by the band.

Alagbon Close is a lesser-known 70s session from Fela – but a great one too, and a record that captures the Africa 70 group at all their early raw best! Tracks are both very long – stretching for a side of the record apiece – and the title track "Alagbon Close" features some amazing keyboard lines on the intro, all tinny and thin – and done with this other-worldly almost Sun Ra-like quality! The other tune, "I Get No Eye For Back", also has some amazing electric piano too – but intertwined with some very strong horn work from the group!

He Miss Road brings back Ginger Baker – who's producing the group, and gives them a sweet progressive vibe. Titles include "He Miss Road", "Monday Morning In Lagos", and "It's No Possible".

Last up is the Na Poi album, with two long cuts cuts – "Na Poi" and "You No Go Die Unless"! Both have a freer feel than usual, with heavy percussion added into the usual mix of keyboards and sax solos. All records in original cover art, too! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO, VIVIAN GREEN, SWING OUT SISTER

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO – POUR UNE AME SOUVERAINE: A DEDICATION TO NINA SIMONE

Continuing proof that Meshell Ndegeocello is one of the most compelling soul singers of the past few decades – as she steps forth here in a tribute to Nina Simone, all with a rich criss-crossing of styles that's unlike any of her previous work! Meshell's vocals are right on the money – with a slight rasp that really suits Nina's spirit well – and the instrumental backings are mighty fresh, and really different than the straighter jazz you might expect from a staid Simone tribute – more in the mix of folk, rock, blues, and jazz elements that Nina used during some of her hippest sides for Philips Records in the 60s! Yet there's also a sparkle that's definitely Meshell's own, too – and the album also features guests work from Cody Chestnutt, Lizz Wright, Toshi Reagon, and others. Titles include "Suzanne", "House Of The Rising Sun", "Turn Me On", "Feeling Good", "Either Way I Lose", "Four Women", "To Be Young Gifted & Black", "See Line Woman", and "Be My Husband". ~ Dusty Groove

VIVIAN GREEN – GREEN ROOM

Vivian's in the green room, and more than ready to step out on the stage – sounding tighter, smoother, and more confident than ever – easily one of the strongest leading lights in contemporary soul today! The set's got a nice sort of crackle right from the start – a crispness that we didn't always hear on the last few releases – almost as if she's going back to basics, yet still hanging onto all the poise and class she's developed over the years. Guests include Algebra Bessett, Freeway, and Brian Culbertson – and titles include "Anything Out There", "Free As A Bird", "X", "Forever", "I'm Not Prepared", "Heaven", "Still Here", and "Light The Universe". ~ Dusty Groove

SWING OUT SISTER – PRIVATE VIEW

We've loved Swing Out Sister for more than a few years – and over that time, the duo's only gotten better! It's records like this that keep us coming back again and again – a brilliant blend of soul currents and hook-heavy arrangements that feel like a blend of late 60s UK and the best of the contemporary global Neo Soul underground! Corinne Drewery's vocals grab us right away with their depth and upfront sense of personality – and the sweet keyboards of Andy Connell hold the whole thing together with the kind of jazzy undercurrents the group has had since their start. The set includes some sweet remakes of older tunes – and titles include "You On My Mind", "Incomplete Without You", "Notgonnachange", "Am I The Same Girl", "Breakout (fabulous party mix)", "Mama Didn't Raise No Fool", and "Now You're Not Here (Taj Calder inst)". ~ Dusty Groove

RICK BRAUN - SWINGIN' IN THE SNOW

“Swingin’ In The Snow” showcases a stellar cast on timeless seasonal classics with album sales benefiting the Autism Society of America

As cool as a winter’s eve, as warm as a holiday dinner with loved ones, and as beautiful as an exquisitely ornamented Christmas tree , Rick Braun’s Swingin’ In The Snow is a celebration of “the most wonderful time of the year” featuring some of the contemporary jazz star’s talented friends. Braun produced the elegant 11-song set that will be released by Brauntosoarus Music on October 16th. The merry band of musical elves who joined the trumpeter-vocalist in his workshop include Mindi Abair, David Benoit, Gregg Karukas, Dave Koz, Philippe Saisse, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, a string quartet and a gospel choir led by R&B crooner Jeffrey Osborne. Braun will donate one dollar from each album sale to the Autism Society of America.

“Since I was a kid, I spent every Christmas enjoying classic holiday recordings by artists like Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald, which inspired Swingin' In The Snow. I had a blast recording these great tunes and am honored that so many of my dearest friends, who happen to be incredible musicians, shared their talent with me to create this wonderful project. This is real music being played by real musicians and my hope is that you will enjoy listening to us as much as we enjoyed making the record,” said Braun, who will again be touring this holiday season as part of A Peter White Christmas with White and Abair, an 18-city U.S. trek that begins the day after Thanksgiving (November 23) in Austin, Texas and concludes December 22nd in San Diego.

Counting off with a dose of big band bombast, the album opens in full swing on “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.” Wide-eyed with excitement, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” is as enchanting as ever. The flugelhorn and piano intro for “Oh Tannenbaum” adds a moment of seasonal solemnity before a pitter patter beat sets the stage for Braun’s suave and sophisticated vocals and a children’s chorus. Braun and Abair’s charming voices flirtingly frolic on “Baby Its Cold Outside.” Saisse crafted a traditional arrangement for “The Christmas Song” whereas Braun and White’s fresh take on “Sleigh Ride” is a cheerful acoustic guitar and percussion powered jaunt. Braun bewitches on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” with an assist from an embracing Koz sax solo. The Allentown, Pennsylvania native gives a shout out to his home state on “No Place Like Home For The Holidays” followed by a mesmerizing rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” In an imaginative tribute to The Drifters, “White Christmas” becomes a finger-popping doo-wop number. “Silent Night” is beatified by a celestial choir and inspired offerings from Braun’s flugelhorn and Whalum’s sax.

Stylistically, Swingin’ In The Snow is a continuation of Braun’s mid-career reinvention that began with last year’s Sings With Strings disc. After 18 years as an instrumentalist who repeatedly topped the contemporary jazz albums and singles charts both as a recording artist and as an in demand producer, songwriter and featured guest musician, the suburban Los Angeles resident realized a dream by stepping up to the microphone to sing standards. Although he sung backup for Rod Stewart, Sade and others earlier in his career, the horn man had never sung before as a frontman on a gorgeously orchestrated project. His consistently growing catalogue of radio hits and years of performing on the concert stage has made Braun an enduring fan favorite. For more information, please visit www.rickbraun.com.

Braun’s “Swingin’ In The Snow” contains the following holiday chestnuts:
“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm”
“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
“Oh Tannenbaum”
“Baby Its Cold Outside”
“The Christmas Song”
“Sleigh Ride”
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
“No Place Like Home For The Holidays”
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
“White Christmas”
“Silent Night”

NEW RELEASES - FAY HALLAM & BONGOLIAN, STAFF BENDI BILILI, MICHEL LEGRAND

FAY HALLAM & BONGOLIAN

One of the coolest projects we've heard from Bongolian in years – a great collaboration with vocalist Fay Hallam, who really helps his grooves find a great sense of focus! Unlike other efforts of this nature – the usual "soul diva with funk group" outing – Fay and Bongolian have gone for a sweet approach that's somewhere in the best mod modes of the 60s, but which also have some nice early 80s touches too – almost the kind of mod revival energy you'd find filtered through the London scene in the years after punk – but put together with the kind of deeper contemporary sound we'd expect from Bongolian – a real respect for the right recording styles for Hammond organ, bongo beats, and other key instrumental touches. Fay is great, too – with a vocal approach that almost has a Swing Out Sister kind of ear for really classic inflections, but without ever sounding like a copycat style at all – a rare balance that really makes the music sparkle! Titles include "Shallow Moon", "Lost In Sound", "Freefall", "Dancing", "Lights Are Coming Down", "Get Off The Bus", "I Can't Cry", and "Gathering". (Limited numbered edition of 500 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove

STAFF BENDA BILILI - BOUGER LE MONDE

A real smoker from Staff Benda Bilili – a record that really grooves right from the start, and which more than holds its own as a musical text – even away from the group's unique stature! Tracks are mostly upbeat, and filled with a frenzy of percussion and guitar – and vocals that leap into the fray boldly, often stating political messages with a misleadingly catchy quality. Titles include "Osali Mabe", "Sopeka", "Bilanga", "Tangu I Fueni", "Kuluna Gangs", "Souci", "Djambula", and "Ne Me Quitte Pas". ~ Dusty Groove
 

MICHEL LEGRAND - MICHEL LEGRAND RECORDED LIVE AT JIMMY'S

One of a few key efforts done by Michel Legrand for RCA in the 70s – sessions that stand out as some of his best jazz work from the decade, and which present Legrand in unfettered brilliance, both as a player and arranger! This live date still has the original compositions and sense of arrangement that we love so much in Legrand's soundtrack work – but it's also looser and freer, with more room for improvisation to expand upon the gentle warmth of Michel's imagination. Legrand is on piano – both electric and acoustic – and other players include Phil Woods on alto, Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums, and George Davis on guitars. Legrand sings a bit, in his beautiful sort of way – scatting wonderfully on a version of "Orson's Theme", and performing the lyrics on the haunting "Blue Green Grey & Gone". Other titles include "Organ Eyes", "I Will Wait For You", and "Watch What Happens". (Blu Spec CD.) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - THE MUSIC OF LAURA NYRO, ART ENSEMBLE, CHARLES EARLAND

SASSAFRAS & MOONSHINE – THE MUSIC OF LAURA NYRO (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A great tribute to the songwriting skills of Laura Nyro – presented here in a package that features key covers from some of Nyro's contemporaries, and which also includes a surprising amount of soul music too! Laura's one of those key 60s talents who started writing for others, then got the chance to spread her wings on her own – and while her own recordings have really continued to reach new audiences over the decades, it's great to have a package like this to remind us of Nyro's songwriting roots! The set's mostly heavy on material from the late 60s and early 70s – with a fair bit of female soul tunes in the mix – and it also includes a few more contemporary numbers that come as a nice surprise. Like others in Ace's "songwriter" series, the production and packaging is great – and titles include "Stoney End" by The Blossoms, "Time & Love" by The Supremes, "Wedding Bell Blues" by Bobby Gentry, "Captain St Lucifer" by Melba Moore, "Save The Country" by Thelma Houston, "Lazy Susan" by Liane Carroll, "He's A Runner" by Mama Cass, "Buy & Sell" by Nnena Freelon, "Lonely Women" by Linda Hoyle, "Eli's Coming" by Friends Of Distinction, and "Stoned Soul Picnic" by Staple Singers. ~ Dusty Groove

ART ENSEMBLE – EARLY COMBINATIONS

An important pre-Art Ensemble Of Chicago moment – one that has most of the group coming together in a pair of rare recordings in the home of Lester Bowie – already sounding amazingly creative as a unit! The sound is almost freer than later work by the group – or certainly at the fierceness they hit right at the start of the 70s – and the lineup here includes both Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman on a range of reed instruments, Lester Bowie on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Malachi Favors on bass – plus strong input from Thurman Barker on drums, and an appearance on one track from Curtis Clark on bass! The sound is wonderfully raw, and surprisingly clear for a home recording – and the power of the music is undeniable. Both tracks – "A To Ericka" and "Quintet" – were previously part of the Art Ensemble box set on Nessa – but that's been out of print for years, and together these compositions work wonderfully as a full album! ~ Dusty Groove

CHARLES EARLAND – EARLAND’S JAM

Stellar grooves from Charles Earland – a great mix of jazz, soul, and funk – put together in a way that's quite different from his previous records on Prestige or Mercury Records! The sound here is tight 80s soul – put together by Tom Tom Washington, who gives the whole thing a sophisticated Chicago vibe – and one that matches Charles' sweet keyboard solos with wickedly sharp rhythms, and some occasional vocal bits too. Singers include Larry Blackmon, TC Campell, and Charles himself – but there's still a focus that seems to be more on the instrumentation overall – served up with some mighty nice organ lines from Earland. Titles include "The Only One", "Marcia's Waltz", "You Belong To Me", "Never Knew Love Like This Before", "Guilty", "Laser Lips", "Earland's Jam", and "Animal". CD features "Never Knew Love Like This Before (single)", "Guilty (single)", "Animal (12" version)", and "The Only One (12" version)". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JESSE COOK, GRP 30TH ANNIVERSARY, VICTOR WOOTEN

JESSE COOK – THE BLUE GUITAR SESSIONS

Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook released his eighth studio album last week entitled The Blue Guitar Sessions. Inspired by Adele’s blockbuster album 21, Jesse says that what impressed him about her album was the simplicity of it. “For me it was amazing that an album, where many of the tracks were just voice and piano, was a pop record. I loved it.” He spent the summer of 2011 writing the songs for The Blue Guitar Sessions which was released on September 25. The project is a big departure from his previous flamenco inspired work. Jesse specifically searched for vintage microphones to replicate the mood and sound of the recordings of the Miles Davis era. The Juno Award winning guitarist will be on tour in Canada beginning in November and will kick off a U.S. tour in January 2013. ~ smoothjazztop20.com

GRP 30: THE DIGITAL MASTER COMPANY 30TH ANNIVERSARY (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Universal Music has released a two-CD compilation entitled GRP 30: The Digital Master Company 30th Anniversary. GRP Records was founded by artists Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen and was often referred to as the Digital Master Company. They were the first record company to adopt digital recording technology for all its releases, launch every release on CD world-wide, and one of the earliest to market itself as a lifestyle brand. The albums will feature music from Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Patti Austin, George Benson, Ramsey Lewis, Diane Schuur, Larry Carlton, Yellowjackets and Spyro Gyra, among others. A special anniversary show will take place at the famed jazz club, the Blue Note in New York City on October 9-14. The line-up includes GRP alumni Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, John Patitucci, Will Kennedy (Yellowjackets) and Diane Schuur. ~ smoothjazztop20.com

VICTOR WOOTEN - SWORD AND STONE / WORDS AND TONES

Legendary bassist and five time Grammy winner Victor Wooten returns to the Compass Records family via his Vix Records imprint. Vix Records bows with a simultaneous, two album release, including Sword And Stone, an all instrumental affair, and Words And Tones, featuring female vocalists in collaboration with Wooten, with both albums showcasing Wooten's multi-faceted approach to music, performance and songwriting. The albums were produced, engineered and mixed by Wooten and feature him on a variety of fretless, electric and acoustic bass guitars, cello, keyboards, percussion and strings, as well as vocals, with plenty of jaw-dropping bass solos to satisfy those who thrive on Wooten's amazing technical skills.

The dual release concept is a window into Wooten's unique perspective on music and the interconnectivity between all things and all of us. The word play in the titles of the two albums hints at this underlying message (move the s from the end of both Words And Stones and place it in front of each to get Sword And Stone.) Wooten elaborates on that theme by including both vocal and instrumental renditions of many of the same songs on the albums, giving the listener at least two ways to experience the compositions. Wooten comments, 'There's something for everyone - music and messages for every age. I wrote about what was on my mind and in my heart. If the listener wants to learn, be entertained, or just casually listen, it's all available on these two CDs. Just figuring out the significance behind the two titles may be enough to make one smile.'

Featured vocalists on Words And Tones include Saundra Williams (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) and Divinty Roxx (Beyonce) as well as a collaboration with Me'shell Ndegeocello and a beautiful duet featuring Joey Kibble (Take 6) and Cheryl Morse. Sword And Stone is a predictably virtuosic set, with instrumental renditions of many of the songs from Words And Tones enhanced by different arrangements, solos, instrumentation and musicians (Ndegeocello, Kibble, Divinity, The Wooten Bros.). ~ amazon.com

NEW RELEASES - HAL RUSSELL, KARRIEM RIGGINS, MAX ROACH

HAL RUSSELL NRG ENSEMBLE

A mindblowing moment on the Chicago avant scene of the 80s – a key flowering of the talents of Hal Russell – a musician who'd been working the Windy City since the early 60s, yet who really came into his own in these later years! Hal challenges both the AACM and the European underground with this smoking little set – opening up with unbridled energy on a range of instruments – including drums, vibes, C melody sax, cornet, and even zither – and working with equally energetic younger players who include Chuck Burdelik on tenor, alto, clarinet, and flute; Brian Sandstrom on bass, trumpet, and gong; Curt Bley on bass; and Steve Hunt on vibes and drums, alternating the instruments with Russell from track to track. All tunes are originals, and sound incredibly fresh all these many years later – with titles that include "Uncontrollable Rages", "Kit Kat", "Linda Jazz Princess", and "Seven Spheres". CD features two previously unreleased tracks – "Lost Or" and "C Melody Mania". ~ Dusty Groove

KARRIEM RIGGINS - TOGETHER

The Together sides of the Alone Together project from producer, beatmaker and instrumentalist Karriem Riggins – who's a brilliant jazz drummer, when that's what he wants to do – and also a beat-heavy hip hop production guru when duty calls Together finds Karriem wearing his hip hop instrumentalist hat, and he wears it very well – in a way that reminds us a bit of fellow Detroit-raised maestro J Dilla. Karriem's pedigree as a live drummer informs his MPC 3000 experimentation very nicely, too – as he holds an insistent jazzy soul beat underneath boundless sampler atmosphere. Together titles include "Belle Isle Reprise", "Tom Toms", "Because", "Boy Is Doin It Right", "Back In Brazil", "Live At Berts", "Voyager 5000", "Matador", "Bring That Beat Back (Next Time)", "J Dilla The Greatest" and more. (Includes MP3 download.) ~ Dusty Groove

MAX ROACH - LOADSTAR

An amazing album – one of our favorite records ever from drummer Max Roach, and a set that also features some of the best 70s work by tenorist Billy Harper too! The session's a unique date done for the Horo label – and soars even farther than other Horo classics from the time – with a one-of-a-kind energy that makes it a really special record right from the start – even better than any other Roach/Harper pairings from the time. Max has a killer quartet here – no piano at all, just himself on drums, Billy on tenor, Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, and Reggie Workman on bass – a group that's filled with soulful spirit – and manages to stretch out without ever getting overindulgent, nor too free – that special kind of balance we're used to hearing on Harper's Japanese 70s sessions – which is carried through strongly here. The album only features two long tracks – "The Matyr" and "Six Bits Blues" – each of which strech out for both sides of a record! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - IDREES SULIEMAN & BENNY BAILEY, PHIL WOODS / EDDIE DANIELS / STUFF SMITH / LEO WRIGHT, KENNY WHELLER & ALAN SKIDMORE

SWISS RADIO DAYS VOLUME 25 – IDREES SULIEMAN & BENNY BAILEY

Two American trumpeters – both of whom hit some of their best work ever in European recordings like this! The album's a perfect showcase for both Benny Bailey and Idrees Sulieman – and really rivals any of their American sessions for range of imagination, depth of soul, and unbridled expression! Benny Bailey is up first – really soaring on two different sessions with the Jazz Live Trio of pianist Klaus Koenig – one from 1970, and the other from 1983 – with Benny sounding completely mindblowing on the long original "Sanza", then reminding us how he can really transform a tune on versions of "Summertime" and "Stella By Starlight". Sulieman's an equally great pleasure here – again on one 70s recording, and another from the early 80s – both with Jazz Live Trio – on titles that include "Wee", "Misty", "I Can't Get Started", and "Now's The Time". ~ Dusty Groove

SWISS RADIO DAYS VOLUME 27 – PHIL WOODS /  EDDIE DANIELS / STUFF SMITH / LEO WRIGHT

Great American soloists – presented here in rare European work from the late 60s! The album has each individual player delivering a small set with the Jazz Live Trio – a combo led by pianist Klaus Koenig, with a great ear for shifting modes to bring out the best in a strong-voiced guest soloist. Phil Wood's performance is definitely proof of that – worth the price of admission alone, as Phil snakes out beautifully on long, soulful alto lines that rival any of his other work of the time – on the tracks "Freedom Jazz Dance" and "I Remember Bird". Leo Wright is wonderful too – kicking into high gear on alto and flute, really showing off his association with Dizzy on "Groovin High", then sliding into a soulful style on "The Shadow Of Your Smile". The set also features Stuff Smith sliding nicely on "C Jam Blues" and "How High The Moon" – plus Eddie Daniels, back when he still had a bite, on "Some Day My Prince Will Come". ~ Dusty Groove

SWISS RADIO DAYS VOLUME 28 – KENNY WHEELER & ALAN SKIDMORE

Two British jazz giants, three different recordings, all of them wonderful! The set's a perfect showcase for both the trumpet of Kenny Wheeler and tenor of Alan Skidmore – as the recordings, done with the Jazz Live Trio of pianist Klaus Koenig, offer plenty of space for each soloist to stretch out and really do their thing – most importantly in the sort of straighter jazz setting that wasn't always recorded at this point in each player's career. Wheeler begins the album on long takes of "Come Sunday" and "A Simple Toon" – then Skidmore really smokes on "Would Jubilee Vit" and "K & A Blues" – and the last tracks feature work by both soloists together, on "Ruby Doo" and "Red Daffodil". ~ Dusty Groove