NEW RELEASES - AFROBEAT MAKERS, AFRICAN BROTHERS BAND, JOE MCPHEE

AFROBEAT MAKERS - AFROBEAT MAKERS - TONY ALLEN RHYTHMS REVISITED

A reworked version of rhythms from Tony Allen – put together by a trio of European percussionist/producers with a very sharp sound! The core energy of Allen is definitely heard throughout – that style of being funky, yet offbeat too – which Tony's definitely explored even more strongly in recent years. Yet the contributions of the trio also really focus the groove too – almost creating tracks that are tighter and more rhythm heavy than before – without as much instrumental interplay over the top, almost as if they're break tracks, but from an Afro Funk perspective! Titles include "Demon Nights", "Deeper", "Africa Walk", "Mister Cool T", "After Hours Jump", "Long Ride", "African Heat", "Bag Of Breaks", and "Ikeja Roads". ~ Dusty Groove

AFRICAN BROTHERS BAND - TRIBUTE TO DK

A rare treasure from 70s Ghana – a record that's incredibly hypnotic right from the start – and a set that may well be the best album ever from the African Brothers Band! The rhythms intertwine with the guitar lines in this really beautiful way – flowing and bubbling, with a pulsing quality throughout – yet a groove that's also gentler than some other African work you may know of this vintage. The vocals provide another layer of magic – themselves dipping, turning, and changing with the rhythms in really complicated ways – yet coming off with this incredibly "right" feel that makes this modern music feel extremely organic! Tremendous stuff throughout – with tracks that include "Kyeremirekuku", "Ma Me Nsu Ma Wo", "DK Nyarko", and "Owuo Nye". ~ Dusty Groove

JOE MCPHEE - LONLIEST WOMAN

A previously-unissued performance from Joe McPhee – recorded in the early 80s, and a searing ensemble take on Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman"! The arrangements are beautiful – as the track retains some of the haunting melody of the original composition, yet has a loose, creative approach that also allows for lots of improvisation in the middle – stunning performances from Joe McPhee on pocket cornet, Andre Jaume on tenor, Daniel Bourquin on baritone, Michael Overhage on cello, Radu Malfatti on trombone, Raymond Boni on guitar, Irene Schweizer on piano, Francois Mechali on bass, and Pierre Favre on percussion – plus a bit of vocals from Tamia at one spot. The track only runs for 13 minutes, making this a mini-album of sorts – but it's a true treasure, finally unearthed! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - 100 ANOS DE MUSICA POPULAR BRASILEIRA, ANDRE SOLOMKO, UPPERGROUND ORCHESTRA

100 ANOS DE MUSICA POPULAR BRASILEIRA (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A pretty amazing little package – one that traces the evolution of 100 years of Brazilian music – with an especially strong focus on the best styles of the 20th Century! The performance is a live one – and features a host of talents, both famous and lesser-known – all very well suited to the genres they've chosen to tackle here – which includes a wide range of music from choro through bossa and samba – and even some of the more popular lyrical modes of the postwar years. Most numbers have a relatively earthy feel – almost like some of the Discos Marcos Pereira projects of the time – and artists include Luiza Gonzaga, Johnny Alf, As Gatas, Cauby Piexoto, Jackson Do Pandeiro, Alaide Costa, Doris Monteiro, Pery Ribeiro, Lucio Alves, Beth Carvalho, Cartola, Elza Soares, Paulina Da Viola, Roberto Silva, and many others. Box set features all of the 8 original albums – packaged together in one sweet collection! ~ Dusty Groove

ANDRE SOLOMKO - OU ES-TU MAINTENEMANT? - ORIGINAL SCANDINAVIAN GROOVE SERIES VOLUME 1

A contemporary album, but one that feels like some lost Euro fusion gem from the end of the 70s – a wonderfully old school session from Finnish reedman Andre Solomko – cut in a real back to basics style! The group here is super-tight, but never slick at all – balanced wonderfully between their own sharp instrumental skills and the need to come together in a groove – all in a style that's somewhere between the American fusion underground of the late 70s, and some of the funky electric work from Germany and Scandinavia in the early 80s. Instrumentation includes loads of great keyboards next to Andre's alto, flute, and soprano sax – and although there's a bit of vocals on the record, there's also an equal focus on strong instrumental solos too. Titles include "Summer 77", "Grooving With Grover In Paradise", "I Recall", "We Had Some Good Years Together", and "Ou Es Tu Maintenant". ~ Dusty Groove

UPPERGROUND ORCHESTRA - THE EUPEN TAKES

Sublime spacey jazz from the Upperground Orchestra – a record that has some of the spiritual undertones of the 70s generation, but also moves into some of the freer elements of a more contemporary scene as well! The instrumentation here is totally great – lots of moogy electronics, yet used with a strong sense of focus to match the compelling percussion that drives most of the tunes along into cosmic territory – with a vibe that's almost Sun Ra space-like at times! The group also features electric bass, plus alto and flute – both of which are usually used in ways that take second place to the rhythms. Titles include "We Travel The Lands Of Stars & Dust", "Born Again", "Memory Shark", "Distorted Spread", and "Kamanja". ~ Dusty Groove

WARD DARBY - OLD GOSPEL GUITAR

Guitarist Ward Darby has spent six decades immersed in a range of styles that touch virtually every corner of the American roots musical landscape. Since his teenage years in the 1950s, he has demonstrated a high level of songwriting and instrumental talent in country and western, rock and roll, jazz, rhythm and blues and beyond.  But even before Darby's teenage years, it was the stirring gospel sounds of the church in his hometown of War, West Virginia that made the first – and perhaps most enduring – imprint on his musical sensibilities. It was here that he discovered the emotional and spiritual power of music for the first time.

Darby revisits the traditional songs of those early days on Old Gospel Guitar, a collection of 16 instrumental electric guitar tracks – pure and unaccompanied, simple and direct – set for release on November 27th, 2012, and available at www.warddarby.com. "These are the songs that I remember from my youth," says Darby, who currently works in and around Branson, Missouri, his home for more than a decade. "I've had many requests over the years from friends and fans to play guitar on some of these songs. It was suggested that I record them, so I did. I have a small recording system in my home. I did it, and people received it very well, so we decided to go ahead and do it with a more polished production."

The 16 tracks on Old Gospel Guitar include several titles that are familiar to all – even those with only a casual acquaintance with the gospel tradition. The songs are deceptive in their arrangements – seemingly simple, but actually built on complex but carefully balanced combinations of melody, harmony and bass lines.
From the opening notes of the hushed "The Old Rugged Cross," his quiet but earnest sense of spirituality shines through. The slightly more upbeat follow up track, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," is built on a steady backbeat that gives it a decidedly country flavor.

The melancholy "Mansion Over the Hilltop" is slightly more elastic in tempo, while the children's classic, "Jesus Loves Me," is delivered in harmonic intervals that resemble those of an old but trusty church organ.
Further into the set, the tunes grow even more universal and familiar, with a steady and consistent rendition of "Shall We Gather at the River," a stirring reading of "Amazing Grace," and a rousing delivery of "When the Saints Go Marching In" that starts out with minimal fingerwork but evolves into something more intricate and orchestrated.

In the home stretch, "Precious Memories" is quiet and contemplative – just as the title suggests – but the closing track, "Farther Along," brings the set to an end with a smoldering undercurrent that promises joy and redemption somewhere in the distance.  "The songs on this album are very well known, not just here in the United States, but in churches all over the world," says Darby. "They've been around for a long, long time, and they've brought a lot of joy and spiritual uplifting to a lot of people. I made this record as a way of giving praise to the Lord and to pay tribute to the great tradition of this kind of music."

www.warddarby.com

YELENA ECKENOFF TRIO - GLASS SONG

"If Eckemoff demonstrates anything, it lies in her artistry as an inquisitive, slow-paced, and free-of-sentimentality pianist able to express special emotional qualities." - DownBeat

On her new album, Glass Song, Moscow-born pianist/composer Yelena Eckemoff celebrates the season of renewal that ushers winter into spring with a mesmerizing set of crystalline beauty, available February 19, 2013 on L & H Production. In crafting this, the latest expression of her gorgeously delicate blend of classical intricacy and jazz invention, Eckemoff brings together two of modern music's greatest improvisers for the first time: bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Peter Erskine.

Eckemoff herself is no stranger to rebirth. Classically trained, she has successfully transitioned into a strikingly assured jazz composer; raised in the Soviet Union, she fled her repressive homeland and has lived in the United States for the past two decades. Her evocations on spring's rejuvenating thaw vividly illustrate her life experiences, as she hints in her liner notes.

"The same way as spring is always certain to replace even the most severe winter," she writes, "hope is eternally present in the least favorable situations and in all circumstances of life."

Eckemoff frequently turns to images of nature when composing, from the wintry landscapes of Cold Sun to the serene breezes of Grass Catching the Wind. But as she explains, the seasons suggest the constant change and evolution in life, which is even more important to her music. "I get inspired by nature a lot, because everything comes from nature," she says. "But the observation of nature isn't really my priority. I've had very, very rich experiences in my life, and the music I write expresses those feelings."

Glass Song conjures images of sun glinting off of ice and frost melting away from windowpanes. It is also quite literal on the title track, which begins with the sound of Eckemoff playing water-filled glasses. But those concepts are equally present in the airy chill that opens the first track, "Melting Ice," or in the shimmering rhythms of "Dripping Icicles."

The trio that Eckemoff has assembled to help realize these reflective visions is composed of two of jazz's most creative minds--who remarkably had not worked together prior to this recording. The legendary Erskine played with Weather Report and Steps Ahead in the early years of a career that has now spanned four decades and includes recordings and performances with everyone from Steely Dan to John Abercrombie, Joni Mitchell to Gary Burton and Pat Metheny. Norwegian bassist, Andersen, has an equally impressive resume, encompassing a six-year stint in the Jan Garbarek Quartet and more than a dozen albums as a leader for ECM.

Erskine had worked with Eckemoff on two earlier CDs, but the pianist had been searching for an opportunity to work with Andersen for a number of years, and Glass Song provided the perfect collection of material. "I was really excited about having the opportunity to put together those two giants for the first time," Eckemoff says.

The combination works spectacularly, three distinctive voices seeming to breathe as one. The sensitivity of Erskine and Andersen serves Eckemoff's fragile compositions with an airy but sure touch. The lush serenity of the leader's piano is matched by the singing caress of Andersen's bass and the hushed precision of Erskine's percussion. The trio shares a deep intimacy while remaining attuned to the spaciousness of the pieces, all captured in the wondrously lush sound of the recording.

Eckemoff herself began playing piano at the age of four, studying first with her mother Olga, a professional pianist, then at the prestigious Gnessins Academy of Music and the Moscow State Conservatory. Despite the repressive atmosphere in the Soviet Union at the time, she began to explore rock and jazz music with other like-minded musicians. "Everything from the west was prohibited at that time," she recalls, "and jazz was one of those things. But there was a jazz studio formed by some activists who were also professional musicians and we studied traditional jazz. I used jazz principles in my composing, which put me on a different path from other musicians."

Eckemoff stepped away from her life as a concert pianist for several years to concentrate on raising her children. She finally left the Soviet Union with her husband, momentarily leaving her three children behind. "That was the hardest thing I ever did," she says, "but we had the drive to leave Russia. It was a very hard and scary thing to do, but it worked out and we never regretted it. It ended up helping me in my musical development because I had much deeper spiritual experiences because of it."

That sense of spiritual comes vividly to life in pieces like the sun-dappled "Sunny Day in the Woods" or the tender, evanescent "Sweet Dreams." While the titles are accurate depictions, they're almost unnecessary given the illustrative, purely emotional music itself. Once resettled in the States, Eckemoff returned to recording, taking advantage of modern recording techniques. Since then she has been stunningly prolific, first with classically oriented recordings and then with her reinvention as an elegant jazz musician in the past several years.
"Some people dance, some people sing, some people write," Eckemoff explains. "When I feel something, I compose. It's almost like I can't stop it. My head is always filled with music. If I couldn't write music I think I would just explode. Life is sometimes sad, but I find escape in writing music. I'm happy because I can do it."

Glass Song Personnel & Track Listing:
Yelena Eckemoff / piano
Arild Andersen / bass
Peter Erskine / drums

1. Melting Ice - 7:30
2. Glass Song - 9:32
3. Cloud Break - 5:47
4. Polarity - 7:07
5. Dripping Circles - 7:41
6. Sweet Dreams - 5:35
7. Whistle Song - 6:32
8. Sunny Day in the Woods - 7:22
9. Elegy - 7:43
10. March Rain - 7:56

yelenamusic.com

2010 THELONIOUS MONK COMPETITION WINNER, CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT SIGNS WITH MACK AVENUE RECORDS

Photo Credit: John Abbott

Debut Album Set For Mid-2013 Release

"Cécile McLorin Salvant, who recently turned 23 and is still mostly unknown to jazz audiences, though not for much longer...Ms. Salvant is as serious as a library, and never corny...she radiates authority and delivers a set with almost a dramatic arc." - The New York Times

She has poise, elegance, soul, humor, sensuality, power, virtuosity, range, insight, intelligence, depth and grace. Yeah." - Wynton Marsalis

"I've never heard a singer of her generation who has such a command of styles ranging from Bessie Smith to Betty Carter. To have an artist with such a handle on jazz vocabulary while being extremely expressive and soulful, that's very rare." - Aaron Diehl

Mack Avenue Records is proud to announce the signing of Cécile McLorin Salvant, winner of the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. The announcement comes as the 23-year-old prepares for her debut album in 2013, titled Woman Child.

"Recording for Mack Avenue has been a truly wonderful experience," reflects Salvant. "As a young artist, I have found the support and encouragement that is paramount in this stage of my development."

Al Pryor, Mack Avenue Record's Executive Vice President of A&R, said, "Cécile has the preternatural ability to delve deeply into the core of a song and then serve it up to an audience. Calling on the vocal techniques of Ella, Sarah and Betty Carter, together with the intelligence of Billie Holiday's phrasing and the wisdom of Bessie Smith's lyricism, she heralds a new generation of female jazz vocalists. We are thrilled to partner with Cécile as she adds the vocation of recording artist to her journey as a jazz singer and performing artist who will undoubtedly contribute to the legacy of those artists who came before her."

Salvant was born and raised in Miami, Florida of a French mother and a Haitian father. She began classical piano studies at age five, and began singing in the Miami Choral Society at age eight. Early on, she developed an interest in classical voice, began studying with private instructors, and later with Edward Walker, vocal teacher at the University of Miami.

In 2007, Salvant moved to Aix-en-Provence, France, to study law as well as classical and baroque voice at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory. It was in Aix-en-Provence, with reedist and teacher Jean-François Bonnel, that she began learning about improvisation, instrumental and vocal repertoire ranging from the 1910s on, and sang with her first band. In 2009, after a series of concerts in Paris, she recorded her first project Cécile (self-released), with Jean-François Bonnel's Paris Quintet. A year later, she won the Thelonious Monk Competition in Washington D.C., judged by Patti Austin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Al Jarreau and Dianne Reeves.

With performance experience in Europe as well as the United States, Salvant has been accompanied by renowned musicians such as Jean-Francois Bonnel, Rodney Whitaker, Aaron Diehl, Dan Nimmer, Sadao Watanabe, Jacky Terrasson (with a noted collaboration on his latest album, Gouache), Archie Shepp, and Jonathan Batiste, among others. She has performed at numerous festivals, including Jazz à Vienne, Ascona, Whitley Bay, Montauban, Foix, the Spoleto Jazz Festival, and the Detroit Jazz Festival; with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in New York's Rose Hall and Chicago's Symphony Center; and with her own band at the Kennedy Center. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, her sole voice can be heard backing the CHANEL® "Chance" ad campaign.

On her forthcoming album, Woman Child, Salvant continues her approach in performing unique interpretations of unknown and scarcely recorded jazz and blues compositions (with a theatrical execution). The project features label mates Aaron Diehl and Rodney Whitaker (Diehl's Mack Avenue debut is set for February 19 release) as well as Herlin Riley and James Chirillo. The project is slated for mid-2013 release (exact time frame to be announced).

Upcoming Cécile McLorin Salvant Appearances:
Nov.16 / Ritz Kinam - w/Aaron Diehl / Petion-Ville, Haiti
Nov.20 / Pierre Hotel - 2012 History Makers Gala w/Jonathan Batiste / New York, NY
Dec. 7 / l'Olympia of Paris w/Jacky Terrasson / Paris, France
Dec. 29 / The Kings Arts Complex - Jazz on the Ave - The Holidays - w/Aaron Diehl / Columbus, OH
Feb. 2, 2013 / Allen Room - Lincoln Center's American Songbook / New York, NY

cecilemclorinsalvant.com

ETHAN FARMER - WINE & STRINGS

Ethan Farmer aka E-Bassman is a celebrated bass player and is no stranger to the music scene playing and touring with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Darius Rucker, Lionel Richie. Ethan was introduced to his instrument of choice…the bass at the age of five and then became the youngest member of the family group The Amazing Farmer Singers at the age of eight. From that early introduction, it has been a relationship that has only grown and evolved.


Ethan Farmer is truly changing the way we hear music today. He has crafted and honed his talent to make the listening experience a journey. Farmer has blurred the lines and taken in the influences of jazz, funk, soul, and rock & roll to create his eclectic sound. E-Bassman shares, “I want people to walk away from my show feeling like they did during Woodstock. Just a good feeling that people remember for generations and it was all about the music.”

Now, E-Bassman is focused on his solo career with the launch of his single “Watch.” From the first note, he hooks the listener with its up-tempo rhythm. The single can be found on his seven song EP Wine & Strings, which is currently available online at iTunes and will be followed up with the full-length album in February 2013.

Ethan is currently touring Europe with the legendary Lionel Richie and will be wrapping up the world-wide jaunt in December. After the back to back tours with NKOTB and Richie, he is finally able to focus full-time on his on his solo efforts and promotions for his upcoming full length release courtesy of Good People Club Music Group.

Be sure to follow Ethan Farmer as he prepares the full-length album Wine & Strings 2.0 for release in February of 2013.

TOUR DATES
November 2, 2012 Opéra Garnier de Monte-Carlo Monte-Carlo, Monaco
November 3, 2012 Salle Des Etoiles – Sporting Monte Carlo Monte-Carlo, Monaco
November 6, 2012 Hallenstadion Zuric, Switzerland
November 7, 2012 Rockhall Luxemborg, Luxembourg
November 10, 2012 Liverpool Echo Arena Liverpool, Great Britain, U.K.
November 11, 2012 Manchester Arena Manchester, Great Britain, U.K.
November 14, 2012 Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Great Britain, U.K.
November 16, 2012 Metro Radio Arena Newcastle, Great Britain, U.K.
November 17, 2012 Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Great Britain, U.K.
November 21, 2012 Arena Budapest, Hungary
November 22, 2012 Wiener Stadthalle Vienna, Austria
November 24, 2012 Schleyerhalle Stuttgart, Germany
November 26, 2012 O2 Arena Berlin, Germany
November 28, 2012 Zenith Paris, France
December 1, 2012 KoPi Oberhausen, Germany
December 3, 2012 O2 World Hamburg, Germany
December 4, 2012 Forum Horsens, Denmark
December 6, 2012 Lanxess Arena Koln, Germany
December 10, 2012 The O2 Dublin, Ireland
December 11, 2012 Odyssey Arena Belfast, U.K.
December 13, 2012 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Aberdeen, U.K.
December 14, 2012 Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Glasgow, U.K.
December 15, 2012 Nottingham Capital FM Arena Nottingham, U.K.

http://ethan-farmer.com/
http://www.facebook.com/EbassmanFarmer
http://www.youtube.com/ebassman1

70s SOUL JAZZ FROM WALTER BISHOP JR., RUDOLPH JOHNSON, CALVIN KEYS, GENE RUSSELL, DOUG CARN, HENRY FRANKLIN, CHESTER THOMPSON

WALTER BISHOP JR. - CORAL KEYS

The keys are coral, and the sound is sublime – one of the greatest albums ever from pianist Walter Bishop Jr, and proof that he can really stretch out, given the right setting! The piano here is all acoustic, but there's an almost-electric vibe to the date – long, open tracks that sway and swell with some great spiritual energy – made even more wonderful by work from reedman Harold Vick, who plays tenor, flute, and soprano sax on the record – and makes it one of his best recordings ever! The reedwork alone is worth the price of admission – but the rhythms are also great too – a mix of soulful, modal, and some slight funky bits – handled by Reggie Johnson on bass, and either Idris Muhammad or Alan Benger on drums. Woody Shaw plays trumpet on some cuts, too – and titles include "Coral Keys", "Soul Turn Around", "Freedom Suite", "Track Down", "Waltz For Zweetie", and "Three Loves". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes.) ~ Dusty Groove

RUDOLPH JOHNSON - SPRING RAIN

One of the few albums ever cut by reedman Rudolph Johnson – a hell of a saxophonist, and one with a great ability to combine the spiritual with the searing – a bit like Joe Farrell at his CTI best, but not as freewheeling – nicely focused, and a little bit funky in all the right parts – in ways that make this album one of the real standouts on the legendary Black Jazz label! The groove is nice and hard, and plenty dark – with lots of sharp edges around the offbeat rhythms, and a "bite" that makes the album one of the heaviest titles on the label. Other players include John Barnes on piano, Reggie Johnson on bass, and Ray Pounds on drums – and titles include the great "Diswa", which has sort of of a tight jazzy hip hop sample feel to it, plus "Mr TJ", "Little Daphne", and "Spring Rain". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes.)~ Dusty Groove

CALVIN KEYS - SHAWN-NEEQ

A stone classic on the Black Jazz label – and one of the most unique guitar albums ever! We're not sure what the title meant originally – but over the past few decades, it's come to stand for some heavy heavy guitar work from the legendary Calvin Keys – a record that's really stood the test of the time, continually rediscovered by new generations of diggers! Keys has a very unique touch here – a mix of open chords and tighter lines – beautifully wrapping up a history of soul jazz guitar that stretches back to the early 60s – then propelling things forward with loads of righteous 70s spiritual jazz energy. The set also features loads of sweet keyboards – played by Larry Nash, and mixed with flute and "hose-a-phone" from Owen Marshall – set to grooves from Lawrence Evans on bass and Bob Braye on drums. A stone classic from the Black Jazz label – and titles include "Gee Gee", "BK.", "BE", and "Shawn-Neeq". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes.) ~ Dusty Groove

GENE RUSSELL - NEW DIRECTION

Sweet funky jazz from pianist Gene Russell – one of the hippest albums he ever recorded! Russell's a pianist with a wonderfully fluid touch – used here to near perfection in a small combo date that really stands out from most of his other albums – just the kind of effort we'd have to expect at the time, given that Gene was the head of the Black Jazz label! The sound is acoustic, but has a definite sense of electricity to Russell's phrasing on the piano – a bit like work from Vince Guaraldi from the time, when he was shifting between acoustic and electric – as if the latter instrument held on and helped shape the acoustic sound. The rest of the group features Henry Franklin on bass, Steve Glover on drums, and Tony William on congas – and the groove is kind of a soulful extrapolation of a core piano trio vibe – 60s soul jazz taken to hipper 70s territory. Titles include a great cover of "Listen Here", plus "Black Orchid", "Hitting the Jug", "Making Bread", and a version of "Silver's Serenade". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes.) ~ Dusty Groove

DOUG CARN - INFANT EYES

An undisputed 70s soul jazz classic – and arguably the best album that Doug Carn ever cut for the Black Jazz label! The set is a masterpiece of spiritual jazz – with Carn on keyboards setting up the groove, and wife Jean singing some incredible vocals – very different than her later soul work as a solo act, and with a vibe that's like Dee Dee Bridgewater at her soulful 70s best. Jean does a killer job with the album's classic vocal version of Bobby Hutcherson's "Little B's Poem" – done here with sweet lyrics that really open the song up a lot, and make it into an anthem of love and joy that we'd be hard pressed to match with any other tune! And all other tracks are great too – with titles that include "Moon Child", "Passion Dance", and a great version of Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes.) ~ Dusty Groove

HENRY FRANKLIN - SKIPPER

One of the greatest moments ever from west coast bassman Henry Franklin – a set of soaring, spiritual power – and a key demonstration of his rich energy as a leader! Franklin heads a wicked lineup here – playing both Fender and acoustic bass amidst other players who include Bill Henderson on electric piano, Charles Owens on tenor and soprano sax, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, Kenny Climax on guitar, and Michael Carvin on drums – all coming together with a mix of spiritual vibes and soulful undercurrents, in ways that almost give the record a Strata East sort of vibe! The whole thing is certainly one of the most memorable sessions on the Black Jazz label – and titles include "Outbreak", "Little Miss Laurie", "Theme For Jojo", and "Plastic Creek Stomp". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes.) ~ Dusty Groove

CHESTER THOMPSON - POWERHOUSE

One of the few solo albums ever cut by organist Chester Thompson – a player who's known to most as the keyboardist in Tower Of Power, but one who's also remembered by a select funky few for this killer record for the Black Jazz label! The album's a stripped-down quartet session – with labelmate Rudolph Johnson on tenor, blowing some beautiful lines alongside long, drawn-out Hammond solos from Thompson! The overall feel is similar to some of the great late 60s Prestige sessions – especially Don Patterson dates – with the group free swinging away in a very live format, just like you might have heard if you caught them in some hip southside club. Other players include All Hall Jr on bass and Ray Pounds on drums – and the album features four long jamming tracks, with titles that include "Mr T", "Trip One", "Weird Harold", and "Powerhouse". (Remastered with updated artwork and new liner notes!) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - STREETWIZE, DJ MITSU, HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE TASTEMAKERS

STREETWIZE - FEELIN' SEXY

Streetwize is well-known for delivering slick Smooth Urban Jazz versions of today’s hottest grooves from the world of R&;B and Hip-Hop, delighting a loyal audience that wants their Urban hits smoothed out for that chilltime vibe! Feelin’ Sexy continues the Streetwize tradition, with sexy Urban Jazz interpretations of recent smashes from R. Kelly (“Feelin' Single”), Usher (“Climax”), Ledisi (“Pieces Of Me”), John Legend (“Tonight/The Best You Ever Had” - also heard in the Steve Harvey movie “Think Like A Man”) and many more - all re-imagined in the Smooth Urban Jazz style made famous by Streetwize! Smooth Jazz superstar saxophonist and producer Kim Waters and hit making producer Chris “Big Dog” Davis (Will Downing, Maysa, Kim Burrell) along with the Streetwize all-stars make all the right moves creating a non-stop sensuous listening experience. ~ shanachie.com

DJ MITSU THE BEATS - SOLID BLACK

DJ Mitsu takes on the legendary Black Jazz label from the 70s – and serves up a sublime mix of spiritual and funky jazz classics from some of the company's greatest records! Mitsu's one of the few cats we could trust with a project like this – and as with his Fender Rhodes mixes from a few years back, this one really respects the core essence of the tunes – yet also finds a way to make them flow beautifully into one another – a 28 track blend of magical music that stands as a great testament to the soulful, spiritual depth of the Black Jazz catalog! There's no tricks or gimmicks at all – just sweet sounds galore – and titles include "Listen Here" and "For Heaven's Sake" by Gene Russell, "Soft Spirit" and "Plastic Creek Stomp" by Henry Franklin, "Infant Eyes" and "Revelation" by Doug Carn, "Little Dance" and "Time & Space" by Rudolph Johnson, "Aunt Lovely" and "Shaw Neeq" by Calvin Keys, "Magic Wand Of Love" and "Maiden Voyage" by Kellee Patterson, "Mode For DD" and "Slinky" by The Awakening, "Trip One" and "Power House" by Chester Thompson and "Funky Mama Moose" by Roland Haynes. ~ Dusty Groove

HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE TASTEMAKERS - A HILL OF FEATHERS

Surprisingly deep soul from Hannah Williams – a singer who seems like just your run of the mill local talent on the cover – but who comes across with the smoking sound of some legendary southern soul diva on the record! The band and the backing is pretty great too – way more than just a rehash of older soul modes – and instead a contemporary approach that has subtle strains of some of the more interesting funk elements that have percolated globally of late – all fused together by Diesler, who's kind of the "artistic director" of the set – and who gives the music a Tru Thoughts sort of complexity. Titles include "The Kitchen Strut", "Work It Out", "Washed Up", "Don't Tell Me", "Things To Come", "Get It", and "Do Whatever Makes You Feel Hot". ~ Dusty Groove

ALFIE ZAPPACOSTA - LIVE FROM BLUE FROG STUDIOS

It can be difficult for music fans to let go of music styles or arrangements that helped shape their generation. Zappacosta knows all about it and how challenging it can be to break through to new audiences even with, or maybe because of, a legacy of success. The 80’s were good to Zappacosta. He became a chart topping artist, a JUNO award winner, twice, and an American Music Award Winner for his contribution of “Overload” to the platinum selling Dirty Dancing soundtrack which is set to be re-released for its 30th anniversary in the coming year.

“I enjoyed my younger pop years. Sometimes my children will play the music, videos or the Danger Bay episode and have a great laugh at my expense”, grins a playful Zappacosta, “but honestly, it has been both a curse and a blessing. I love the stability that the hits provided for my family; however Zappacosta in spandex, screaming over monitors would be a dreadful sight at my age! It was a very long time ago. I have enjoyed the evolution of my music and career and the opportunities it has afforded me – live theatre, movie roles and such. I hope for many more.”

Zappacosta’s seven recordings and countless live performances since 1996 reflect his true calling - his mastery at romance, his heartfelt lyrics, his incomparable voice and his advanced knowledge of music. His latest CD and DVD Live From Blue Frog Studios shatters the stereotype of Zappacosta in the 1980’s. Produced brilliantly by Alfie Zappacosta and Pat Glover, in front of an intimate audience at the Blue Frog Studios & Performance Centre in White Rock BC, the DVD delivers an authentic look at Zappacosta today – Adorned in an Armani suit and white hair, he skillfully takes command of the presentation that showcases his songwriting, his vocal prowess, his guitar mastery and the nuances in his emotive stage delivery that will have you engaged from beginning to end. The DVD is engineered by the impressive Pat Glover and edited by Scott White with Shinobi Creative Productions.

Live From Blue Frog Studios’ music and arrangements are supported by a remarkable group of musicians from across Canada – the consummate Claudio Vena on viola and accordion, Edmonton’s Andrew Glover on keyboards, The Heartbroken’s Blake Manning on drums and percussion, David Babcock wailing on all saxes and BC’s John Taylor on bass. The music grooves and sways to soulful. And the hits that brought Zappacosta to the world's attention? “When I Fall in Love Again”, “Passion”, “Start Again” and “Spread Myself Too Thin” all make appearances on the CD and DVD. The songs are timeless and fit effortlessly into his new music and arrangements. No trends, no hype -This is pure music…pure art…pure Zappacosta.

Above all, one of the elite pleasures of this live recording and DVD has to be the brilliant engineering. Pat Glover has delivered a rich, full-bodied recording. Recorded, mixed and mastered for a listening experience, the mix is airy allowing for all instrumentation to come through while still highlighting the shades in Zappacosta’s seductive vocal performance. You can hear every instrument and subtle melody. It is highly recommended that you enjoy this project on great headphones or quality speakers for a maximum listening experience. Zappacosta’s vocals are transmitted through a KMS 105 Neumann microphone.

NEW RELEASES - MLT, BARA BROST, BODDHI SATVA

MLT - FULL CIRCLE

Officially born on 10th March 2011 when their east London debut gig effortlessly sold out, London- based acoustic 3-piece More Like Trees have been creating a buzz on the London music scene and beyond with their exciting new genre, dubbed “Strum & Bass”. Seamlessly combining elements of flamenco, drum & bass, classical, hip hop, indie, dance and folk, More Like Trees make their own musical rules to create a fresh new sound that has been capturing the ears and imaginations of many already established and acclaimed musicians, including world no. 1 female drum & bass MC, Tali with whom they recorded an acoustic reworking of her current Drum & Bass/Dupstep album, Dark Days, High Nights. More Like Trees have been welcomed into collaborations with The Local Posse, a collective of like-minded! musicians from varied backgrounds, led by US loop-pedaller Joe Driscoll, and they are now regulars at The Local Posse sessions. Through this they met John Hendicott, the producer behind their debut EP, Full Circle and forthcoming album, Roots, Shoots & Leaves. Release date: 26th Nov 2012. ~ BBE Music

 

BARA BROST - KOKOLORES REMIXES

The single Tony Curtis b/w My Mess Part 1 by Bara Bröst features remixes by Mario Aureo and Kotelett & Zadak. Following releases on labels such as Bouq, OFF and Soulfooled, Mario Aureo now delivered two remixes of Bara Bröst's "My Mess Part 1". Both are wonderful deep and groovy House versions. A constantly pushing bassline combined with chord sounds and dizzying pads will make every listener dance for sure! Furthermore the sound is completed with snippets of Igid Pop's vocals taken from Bara Br&ou! ml;st's original track version. Kotelett & Zadak did a rough, dry remix of "Tony Curtis" that is more tekky and percussive than the original. The remix is pumping and pushing forward - straight ahead to the dancefloor! Release date: 19th Nov 2012. ~ BBE Music

BODDHI SATVA - NANKOUMANDJAN

Nankoumandjan is a beautiful track taken from Boddhi Satva's album "Invocation" released on BBE earlier this year. The single comes with remixes by Boddhi Satva himself and Rancido. The song features the late singer Mangala Camara, a real superstar in Mali. The legendary Salif Kéita noticed his talent very early and made sure he became a member of "The Ambassadors" as a drummer and back vocalist. Later on he went to France, where he continued to pursue his musical career and was awarded the Great "Discovery" Price of Radio France International. After 18 years abroad and 5 albums he returned to Mali in 2001. Boddhi Satva had the chance to meet Ma! ngala in Bamako in 2009 and together they recorded "Nankoumandjan" at Mangala's house. A mutual respect and friendship came to life but a year later Mangala passed suddenly leaving behind music that will last the taste of time. Nankoumandjan is a song dedicated to the children victim of wars and most of the time enrolled as child soldiers by force. ~ BBE Music

HURRICANE SANDY JAZZ BENEFIT CONCERT - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2012 AT LE POISSON ROUGE

SPONSORED BY TRUTH REVOLUTION RECORDS, REVIVE MUSIC GROUP, MOTÉMA MUSIC AND DL MEDIA

Truth Revolution Records, Revive Music Group, Motéma Music and DL Media are proud to join forces to bring the jazz community together for one night to raise much needed funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy in the outer boroughs. The concert is being sponsored by the Jazz Foundation of America to offer support to the many jazz musicians that have been directly affected. Please join us at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleeker St., between Sullivan & 5th Ave.) this Thursday, November 8, 2012 from 9PM to 2AM where a number of musicians from the New York community and beyond, including David Weiss & Point of Departure, Julian Lage, Gregory Hutchinson, Jesse Fischer, Philip Dizack, Manner Effect, Richie Barshay and many others, will come together in an evening filled with music that will inspire and touch many to give generously for Hurricane Sandy victims.

The support from the jazz community was overwhelming and collectively these organizations have set out to raise $100,000 both in person and online via a live video feed provided by Le Poisson Rouge. Viewers who are not able to participate in person will be able to call in and donate in real time as well as make donations online. The suggested donation for this event starts at $20, with 100% of the contributions going directly to the fund. For those who double their donation and above will also receive a digital download of the event.

Since the recovery has only begun, this evening will serve as a catalyst for ongoing donations. These organizations are also using this opportunity to partner with corporations and local businesses to match donations dollar for dollar. The outpour of support from the five New York boroughs to the affected community is unprecedented. Coming together for a night of music and solidarity is another way to provide more assistance to those in need.

Musicians and music appreciators alike are welcome to join a very special jam session immediately following the performances. Again, the suggested donation for this event starts at $20 and for those who double their donation and above will also receive a digital download of the event. Live video streaming will be available online for those not able to be with us in person.

Hurricane Sandy Jazz Benefit Concert at Le Poisson Rouge - Thursday, November 8
158 Bleeker St. New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 505-3474
Web: www.lepoissonrouge.com

Performances from 9PM to 2AM - $20 suggested donation at the door.
Walk up and future donations can be made to Jazz Foundation of America's "Hurricane Sandy Fund"

Featured Artists:
David Weiss & Point of Departure
Jay Rodriguez
Julian Lage
Richie Barshay
Raydar Ellis
Marcus Strickland
Gregory Hutchinson
Brianna Thomas Quartet
John Davis
Jonathan Michel - LXG
Jorge Roeder
Joe Blaxx Grissett
Johnny Rivero
Steven Oquendo
Joe Dyson Darryl Yokley - Sound Reformation
Philip Dizack
Jesse Fischer
Reinaldo DeJesus
Jarrett Cherner
Brandee Younger
Michela Marino Lerman
Ryan Berg Retrospective
Sarah Elizabeth Charles Quartet
Marianne Solivan
Darwin Noguera Trio
Manner Effect
Amaury Acosta
Alex Hernandez

... And many more SPECIAL GUESTS!

For general information, please contact: Truth Revolution Records / (201) 430-5047 or info@truthrevolutionrecords.com

For media information, please contact:
DL Media - Jordy Freed
(610) 667-0501 or jordy@dlmediamusic.com

COLUMBIA RECORDS CELEBRATES 125 YEARS BY RELEASING 360 SOUND: THE COLUMBIA RECORDS STORY AND 360 SOUND: THE COLUMBIA RECORDS STORY: LEGENDS AND LEGACY ON APPLE'S iBOOKSTORE

Columbia Records is celebrating its 125th anniversary with the release of a book entitled 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story about the great American label and its role in initiating recorded music, cultivating great artists, and igniting cultural change. Written by Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy-nominated author and historian Sean Wilentz, the book provides a journey through Columbia Records' storied past and its contributions to entertainment from the invention of commercial recording through the present day. The Columbia Records Story is available for purchase exclusively on the iBookstore for $14.99.

The second book is available for free and is also exclusive to Apple's iBookstore. It includes over 300 photos and 263 audio clips to enhance celebrated music journalist Dave Marsh's 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story: Legends and Legacy. Readers can tap to watch videos of artists including Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, and Adele. Audio clips of all 263 songs in the Marsh book are playable from each song listing in the book. This innovative multi-media offering brings the artists and their music to life in an unprecedented way.

360 Sound includes 300 rare and intimate photographs from the Columbia archives and sidebar discussions of crucial developments and performers written by eminent music historians Dave Marsh and Colin Escott. The book offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing Columbia's pivotal technological as well as business innovations, not least its invention of the LP. It also reflects on the connection between Columbia's artists and music and sweeping cultural and political changes, from the emergence of mass commercial culture to the rise of the civil rights movement and beyond.

Download both 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story and 360 Sound: Legends and Legacy from the iBookstore on iPad or at www.iTunes.com/iBookstore.

Source: Columbia Records

REGGAE GOLDEN JUBILEE - ORIGINS OF JAMAICA MUSIC - 50TH ANNIVERSARY (VAROUS ARTISTS)

A sprawling set that commemorates the Reggae Golden Jubilee– one that's beautifully put together by VP – and featuring 100 pivotal tracks from the early 60s to the late 00s! Selector Mr. Seaga does a pretty terrific job on the tracklist – which focuses as much on tracks that proved to be among the most trailblazing as it does on big hits. It touches on the styles and subgenres from throughout reggae's history – from ska, to rocksteady, reggae, dub, deejay, dancehall and beyond – with bellwether material by Theophilus Beckford, Higgs & Wilson, Skatalites, U-Roy, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Yellowman, Third World, Dennis Brown, Maxi Priest, Sugar Minott, Beres Hammond, Sizzla, Shaggy and many, many more. "Dumplins" by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, "They Got To Go" by Prince Buster, "Bring Home" by Justin Hines & The Dominoes, "Rough And Tough" by Stranger Cole, "Hypocrite" by The Heptones, "Occupation" by Don Drummond & The Skatalites, "Wear You To The Ball" by U-Roy & The Paragons, "The A Fi Get A Beatin'" by Peter Tosh, "Police And Thieves" by Junior Murvin, "Uptown Ranking" by Althea & Donna, "Over Me" by Yellowman, "Pass The Dutchie" by Musical Youth, "Try Jah Love" by Third World, "Wild World" by Maxie Priest, "One Blood" by Junior Reid, "Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus & Pliers, "Putting Up Resistance", by Beres Hammond, "You Don't Love Me (No No No)" by Dawn Penn, "Untold Stories" by Buju Banton, "Black Woman And Child" by Sizzla, "Gimme The Light" by Sean Paul, "Pon De River, Pon De Bank" by Elephant Man, "Welcome To Jamrock" by Damian "Jr Gong" Marley, "The Harder They Come" by Jimmy Cliff and more. (Limited edition version with a pretty great 64-page booklet of notes and vintage photos.)~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - BOOKER T & THE MG'S, PATTI LABELLE & THE BLUEBELLES, TAMI LYNN

BOOKER T & THE MG'S - DOIN' OUR THING

Booker T & The MGs – definitely doing their thing on this late 60s cooker – and moving their instrumental sound into a whole new range than before! The album has a very groovy feel – nice and tight, with especially great organ and guitar lines – often tuned towards 60s hits by other soul artists, but reworked strongly by the group's wonderful rhythms, and turned into a really cooking batch of Memphis soul instrumentals! There's a few key original tunes on the set – like the title track "Doin Our Thing" – and the cuts "I Can Dig It" and "Blue On Green" – but the covers are equally great, and include versions of "Ode To Billie Joe", "You Keep Me Hangin On", "Expressway To Your Heart", and "Let's Go Get Stoned". ~ Dusty Groove

BOOKER T & THE MG'S - HIP HUG HER

Booker T's definitely getting a bit funky with this one – stepping off with the incredible title cut, a tune which really complicates the groove from the earlier years! The sound is still solid Memphis soul, with a raw instrumental vibe – but the grooves are even better than before, and the set includes loads of great original number written by the group – the kind of cool tunes they most likely cooked up while jamming live in the studio! These gems include the seminal "Hip Hug Her" – plus "Carnaby Street", "Booker's Notion", "Soul Sanction", "Double Or Nothing", and "Slim Jenkins' Place". But the covers are groovy too – and include a version of "Pigmy", plus "Groovin" and "Sunny". ~ Dusty Groove

PATTI LABELLE & THE BLUEBELLES - OVER THE RAINBOW

Very early work by Patti LaBelle – working here with the young Bluebelles group, but in a setting that still points the way towards the Labelle sound of the 70s – given that the quartet also features vocals from Cindy Birdsong, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx! The style is a great mix of female doo wop and uptown soul – harmony styles really maturing strongly for the 60s, and already taking strong advantage of the amazing vocals of Patti LaBelle! Things are sweet, but have a nice edge too – and even the familiar tunes take on a new life in the hands of the group – as you'll hear on "Over The Rainbow", "People", "More", "Groovy Kind Of Love", "He", "Patti's Prayer", and "Unchained Melody".  ~ Dusty Groove

TAMI LYNN - LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU'RE GONE

An incredibly captivating album of female soul – unlike anything else we can think of! Side one features a suite of tracks that details an ill-fated love affair in 4 modes: Introduction, Hoping, Final Attempt, and The Next Time – all done in a mode that mixes standard southern soul with these deeper monologues delivered by Tami in between each track! Lynn performs the work in a starkly intimate style that sends chills down our spine – and which makes you feel like you're listening in on her talking to her best friend – very cool, very personal, and deeper than most other work of its type. Side two is back on the regular tip – with shorter songs overall – but Tami does a pretty good job its range of mellow southern ballads and a few more uptempo numbers. Titles include a version of Andre Williams "Mojo Hanna", plus "Ain't No Soul", "One Night Of Sin", "Love Is Here & Now You're Gone", and "That's Understanding". ~ Dusty Groove

SOLOMON BURKE RE-ISSUES - I WISH I KNEW, THE SOUL SOUNDS OF SOLOMON BURKE: KING SOLOMON, IF YOU NEED ME

SOLOMON BURKE - I WISH I KNEW

One of our favorite albums ever from Solomon Burke – a great little set that draws on all of his deep soul roots for Atlantic, but also gets a little bit funky too! There's a growing maturity in Solomon's music here that we really love – a quality that gets past the churchy cliches, and starts to explore some of the new territory opening up to soul artists at the end of the 60s – influences from all points south, wrapped up in a slightly tighter New York presentation. Titles include Solomon's great version of the hard break classic "Get Out Of My Life, Woman", an amazing remake of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", and the tracks "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free", "Meet Me In Church", "Since I Met You Baby", "Shame On Me", "Why Why Why", and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye". ~ Dusty Groove

SOLOMON BURKE - THE SOUL SOUNDS OF SOLOMON BURKE: KING SOLOMON

Solomon Burke's years at Atlantic just kept getting better and better! He started out very strong at the beginning of the 60s – and by the time of a record like this, he was in strong command of his vocal talents and emotion, such that he could do a fantastic job with just about any song. Proof is in the set here – as Solomon works with a host of New York and southern soul arrangements, on tracks that include versions of "Detroit City", "Presents For Christmas", "Party People", "Woman, How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do", "It's Just A Matter Of Time", "Time Is A Thief", and "It's Been A Change". Great stuff all around! ~ Dusty Groove

SOLOMON BURKE - IF YOU NEED ME

Seminal sounds from Solomon Burke – and a record that already has the young singer hitting the full heights of his greatness! There's a vibe here that's unlike anything else – even any of Burke's heavy-hitting contemporaries on Atlantic Records – and the album's key proof that Solomon's easily one of the greatest soul singers who ever lived! His vocals have roots that go very deep, but the strength of his vocals also help bring a new focus to 60s soul as well – a raw power that so many others would try to emulate, yet maybe never hit as well as Burke. A number of cuts here are great originals penned by Solomon, and every number's a gem – with titles that include "Stupidity", "Words", "If You Need Me", "Home In Your Heart", "Tonight My Heart She Is Crying", "I Really Don't Want To Know", and "Send Me Some Loving". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - THE PERSUADERS, SAM COOKE, BETTY WRIGHT

THE PERSUADERS - BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

One of the best things to ever happen to The Persuaders – a wonderfully rich album that has the group still sparkling strongly, long after their early hits! The harmonies are wonderful – very much on par with the bigger names at Philly International at the time – and recorded with sweet Sigma Sound production, and arrangements by Tony (not Thom) Bell that are a perfect blend of sweet and soulful – strings at some points, but a bassy bottom at others – so that the group manage to hit some even more righteous moments than before. Tunes are great, too – with some killer originals by Phil Hurtt – and the whole set's a no-filler gem that's kept us coming back for years! Titles include "Some Guys Have All The Luck", "Hold On (Just A Little Bit Longer)", "All Strung Out On You", "Stay With Me", "That's The Way She Is", and "We're Just Trying To Make It". ~ Dusty Groove

THE PERSUADERS - THE PERSUADERS

The second album by this sublime 70s soul harmony group – and a real treasure trove of under-discovered soul numbers all the way through! Most tracks are written by group member Bobby Poindexter – making for a fresh, unified batch of tunes – handled by the quartet in a style that's even more mature than their previous work – really hitting some heights that should have made them huge! Yet despite that lack of fame to score again with the same big hit as "Thin Line" from their debut – or maybe because of it – the record's a great fresh discovery – the kind of treasure you'll love if you dig east coast group soul as much as we do – especially work along the Philly/New Jersey side of the spectrum. Titles include "Peace In The Valley Of Love", "Bad Bold & Beautiful Girl", "Love Goes Good When Things Go Bad", "What Is The Definition Of Love", and "Trying Girls Out". ~ Dusty Groove

SAM COOKE - TRIBUTE TO THE LADY

An early gem from the great Sam Cooke – a pre-RCA session, but one that already has Sam showing a stronger jazzy side of his talents – as you might guess from the title! The Lady, in this case, is the late Billie Holiday – recently passed at the time of this recording, and lovingly paid tribute to by a young Sam Cooke – with vocals that have a perfect blend of sweet and raspy to really unlock the tension in Holiday's music – yet also deliver the sound with a much different vibe overall. The set's a great example of how strongly Cooke could sing in a sophisticated jazzy style – and he does a great job with Holiday standards like "God Bless The Child", "Solitude", "Lover Girl", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Rene Hall did the orchestrations – and the album's an interesting example of how Cooke, like Holiday, could work within conventional forms to work a subtly progressive agenda! CD features 21 numbers in all – lots of bonus tracks that include "Today I Sing The Blues", "The Gypsy", "All Of My Life", "I Cover The Waterfront", "When I Fall In Love", and "Oh Look At Me Now". (SHM-CD!) ~ Dusty Groove

BETTY WRIGHT - HARD TO STOP

A deep soul classic from Betty Wright – one of her earliest albums of the 70s, and a Miami soul landmark that was one of the greatest female southern soul records of the time! Although Betty was well known for her earlier hit "Clean Up Woman", she didn't give into that fame – and keeps things mighty real on this set by working in a slow-burning deep soul mode. The vibe is nice and laidback, with plenty of mellow keyboard touches, subdued horn passages, and round, full sound served up to perfection by producers Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke. Titles include "Sweet Wonder", "Gimme Back My Man", "Who'll Be the Fool", "If You Think You've Got Soul", "It's Hard to Stop", and "The Experts".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - OHIO PENITENTIARY 511 JAZZ ENSEMBLE, FREDDIE HUBBARD, BEN E. KING

OHIO PENITENTIARY 511 JAZZ ENSEMBLE - HARD LUCK SOUL

A beautiful lost relic, and a monster batch of long jazzy grooves! The album was recorded in the great tradition of "musicans in prison" albums, like those by The Escorts in the early 70s, and it features an incredibly soulful band made up of jazz musicians in lockdown at the Ohio State Penitentiary during the mid 70s! We don't recognize any of the names on the album, but the players work with a hell of a lot of soul and spirit – on longer tracks that almost have the feel of 70s work by The Pharoahs or Phil Cohran's Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Way better than anything you'd usually get of this nature – and definitely light years beyond any school or army band recording – and much more like a 70s underground spiritual jazz set. All of the material was written and arranged by Logan Rollins, and the tracks have a large group feel, with long drawn out grooves, and plenty of room for nice nice solos – and titles include "Psych City", "Mantra Dance", "Counterry Bosa Davan", and "Java Man". (Limited numbered edition of 1000 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove

FREDDIE HUBBARD - MISTRAL

An overlooked gem from Freddie Hubbard – a late fusion outing, done for the Japanese market at a time when most of his American work was returning to more acoustic modes! Freddie's trumpet sparkles brilliantly in the lead – hitting the same sort of soulful, stretching vibe as his best CTI recordings from the mid 70s – served up with an equally great mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation in the arrangements! The lineup of musicians is pretty unique, too – with Art Pepper on alto, George Cables on acoustic and electric piano, Phil Ranelin on trombone, and Roland Bautista on guitars – usually working in these gentle grooving rhythms that have a soulful stepping vibe – and which really let Freddie soar on his trumpet solos. Titles include "Eclipse", "Sunshine Lady", "I Love You", and "Bring It Back Home". ~ Dusty Groove

BEN E. KING - WHAT IS SOUL?

An overlooked later gem from Ben E King – and a record that goes way past the overplayed hits of the early years! Ben's always been a hell of a singer – but on a record like this, we can really rediscover his genius all over again – hearing him on a fresh batch of Atlantic recordings from the 60s – raspy charm fully intact, and set to some growing sophistication in the uptown backings – some of which even introduce a slight touch of funk to King's groove! The key cut in this respect is the amazing title cut – "What Is Soul" – worth the price of the album alone, but mixed with loads of other nice ones too – including "Teeny Weeny Little Bit", "Katherine", "There's No Place To Hide", 'Get In A Hurry", "Cry No More", and "The Record". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - HENRY 'SKIPPER' FRANKIN, HOT 8 BRASS BAND, VESTA

HENRY 'SKIPPER' FRANKLIN & CREW - JUNE NIGHT

Killer contemporary work from bassist Henry Franklin – an artist who's every bit as hip today as he was back in the 70s! This smoking set is one of Henry's recent gems on his own label – a soulful, soaring session that really shows that his energy hasn't dimmed a bit – and a record that's done with an underground, indie vibe that really lives up to the rest of Franklin's rich legacy! Most tracks here have a strongly spiritual quality – stretching forth wonderfully with performances by a group that includes Franklin on bass, Theo Saunders on piano, Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet, Chuck Manning on tenor, and Ryan Porter on trombone – the last three of whom are horn players who really make Henry's musical vision sparkle. Dwight Trible provides guest vocals on the track "Queen Of Tangents", Mon David sings on "A Love Song For Midori" – and other instrumental tracks include "Neko", "Four By Five", "Thump", "The Purple Gazelle", and "My Daddy's Jazz". ~ Dusty Groove

HOT 8 BRASS BAND - LIFE & TIMES OF THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND

A brilliant return from the Hot 8 Brass Band – a New Orleans combo who take tradition into some great funky new territory! As you'd guess from their name, the instrumentation is heavy on brass – played with a gritty, soulful edge – in the way you'd find during some street performance in a corner far from the mainstream Quarter – sometimes accompanied by ensemble vocals, and almost always driven by these great rhythms at the bottom – more than funky enough to set even the heaviest horns on fire with their energy. Titles include "Bingo Bango", "Fine Tuner", "Steamin Blues", "Can't Hide From The Truth", "New Orleans (After The City)", and a nice remake of The Specials' "Ghost Town". ~ Dusty Groove

VESTA - SEVEN

Extending a tradition that stretches from Aretha Franklin to Sarah Vaughn, singer, songwriter, Vesta Williams contributed to the soulful mix of musical era and genres during her career. Simply put, Vesta Williams is a musical legend. Before her death in September 22, 2011, Vesta released 6 studio albums that has produced “Congratulations” “Sweet Sweet Love” “4U” and “Special”. Her upcoming studio release “Seven” is completed and contains the wonderful vocals and arrangement that we have expected from her over the last 25 years. Vesta has sold over 2 million albums in her career that this effort will please all her fans. Vesta’s new single “Better Days” is available on Itunes. From Executive Producers Edwin Nicholas, Devon V. Collins and Kahlil I. Pedizisai, Vesta’s Album “Seven” will be available in Stores on March 12, 2013 from Stimuli Music. ~ urbanbridgez.com