BOBBY BELFRY & THE DAVID BUDWAY TRIO - ONE LUCKY DAY

Bobby Belfry is an award winning singer/songwriter whose latest album, entitled One Lucky Day, is a collection of pop classics set to the thrilling jazz virtuosity of The David Budway Trio.

Born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, Belfry’s work on “Day” has been greatly influenced by The Big Apple’s immeasurable wealth of culture, which can be felt and heard on all 13 tracks.

Bobby can also be heard (and seen) on his first two albums, LIVE:In The Heart of The Universe (a CD/DVD) and Imperfect Rhymes which have both received great critical notice: "Bobby Belfry is one to savor, embrace and lend the hand of fame to...smooth jazz outlets will have a ball with this shrewd offering" said Chuck Taylor of Billboard Magazine. Two cuts from Rhymes have been included on a popular jazz compilation, "In Love With Jazz", released in Europe and Asia. He also appears on Broadway:Unplugged 2 and Chip Deffaa’s “The Johnny Mercer Jamboree”.

A mainstay at Feinstein’s, The Metropolitan Club, and Brandy's, Bobby has also performed at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, The Russian Tea Room, The Rainbow Room, Bitter End, China Club, CBGB’s, Smoke, The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Cinegrill in Hollywood.

Bobby has also appeared on national television on "The Morning Blend", a news/talk show on MSNBC (interviewed by Soledad O’Brian), and was a frequent guest on WOR Radio's The Joey Reynolds Show, whose theme song, penned by Bobby, was played for an audience of 5 million listeners, nightly.

Bobby has been the recipient of the Back Stage Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist. Imperfect Rhymes and "So What", a cut off the album, were 2nd and 3rd place finalists for the Just Plain Folks Independent Music Awards, in a field of 10,000 submissions. He has also received the MAC Award for outstanding Pop/R&B Vocalist and several Critics Choice Vocalist Awards.

Filmmaker, Victor Mignatti (R Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet", The Real World) has included Bobby in his documentary "This Time", which follows the careers of diverse artists in the music industry (including the legendary Sweet Inspirations & Cissy Houston) by weaving their music-filled stories, exploring the relationship between faith and persistence to longevity and the process of making music against all odds. The film is currently available on DVD and iTunes.

~ bobbybelfry.com

WENSO ASHBY - SIGNATURE

Wenso Ashby is not a new-be on the music scene. Early on in his career his best work was found behind the scenes, composing and producing for others while spawning the nudge to turn the spotlight on himself. Audiences from coast to coast enjoy the lip-biting groove- based rhythms and timeless melodies that Wenso so effortlessly exudes. Signature signifies another level in his career, stepping out to endless possibilities. His current focus is to lend his talent to touring with his own band as well contributing to other artists for selected performances, songwriting and production collaborations.

Ashby brandishes quality artistry of the first order from network television appearances to worldwide radio play to prove it. Wenso’s band has opened for national recording artists like Saxophonist Kim Waters, Bassist Gerald Veasley, Songwriter/Singer Kenny Lattimore, Jason "Malletman" Taylor, Idol winner Ruben Studdard, and Paris Bennett. With six strong CD projects under his belt, Midnite Walkin (2002), Wenso Live (2004), Love Is So Amazing (2008), After Dark (Love Is So Amazing packaged & released under Butterfly label 2009), The Moment of Truth (2011) and his current release Signature (2012) its apparent that his gateway to flourished recognition is at hand. His purposed steps are destined to be a soulful backdrop to live stages big and small all over the world.

“Who am I?" says Ashby. "First and foremost I am a child of GOD who created me to be who I am. As a creative being I am an Artist, producer, songwriter and composer. My background and first love is songwriting and producing which led me to becoming an ‘Artist’. My primary focus is to share my musical gifts and talents with the world using the piano and keyboard as my main instrument to express the music inside of me. Signature represents the musical direction as a keyboardist that I want to go. I will continue to produce and write while expressing my thoughts, vision and inner self through the touch of my fingertips, being able to share my gifts is a true blessing”, says Ashby.

“It feels good to my heart to feel the excitement Wenso had when he was offered the featured spot on The Jazz Network Worldwide. He sincerely was reverent to the amazing networking potential this platform could provide for his artistry worldwide” says Jaijai Jackson, creator of The Jazz Network Worldwide social network. “His perseverance and tenacity will take him far on any highway he chooses to journey on, for he is at a maximum speed of artistic growth” continues Jackson.
Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

CLARENCE CARTER REISSUES - TESTIFYIN', PATCHES, THIS IS CLARENCE CARTER

CLARENCE CARTER - TESTIFYIN'

Excellent early work from Clarence Carter – recording here with production and arrangements by Rick Hall – in that sweet Muscle Shoals style that never sounded better than it did with Clarence! Carter had a way of working with Hall that was really beyond some of the cliches that crept into the scene at the time – a blend of bluesier roots and leaner soul that was totally great – and which was always touched by Clarence's keen sense of wit and personality! The record's got a slightly funky sound in parts – especially on the great cut "Snatching It Back" – and the rest of the titles are all killer southern soul material, with classics that include "Making Love (At The Dark End Of The Street)", "Soul Deep", "Doin' Our Thing", "I Smell a Rat", and "I Can't Do Without You". ~ Dusty Groove

CLARENCE CARTER - PATCHES

The album that very firmly put Clarence Carter on the mainstream soul map – thanks to his brilliant version of the title tune! By the time of this set, Carter was already one hell of a soul singer – and really brought amazing sounds to play with classic production from Rick Hall and the Fame Studios gang. But when he pointed those talents towards the country soul story "Patches", he really found his groove – mixing southern roots from both sides of the fence into one really unique groove – and following it up with a host of other well-chosen tunes that really helped establish Carter's unique place in music. George Jackson co-wrote a number of the best tunes – a few with Clarence – and titles include "Patches", "I'm Just A Prisoner", "Till I Can't Take It Anymore", "Changes", "Say Man", "Willie & Laura Mae Jones", "CC Blues", and "Getting the Bills (But No Merchandise)". ~ Dusty Groove
 

CLARENCE CARTER - THIS IS CLARENCE CARTER

A seminal debut from the great Clarence Carter – proof that there was still a lot of genius to be heard in southern soul at the time! The 60s were just about over when Clarence appeared on the recording scene – and it seemed that most of the big names in soul had already grabbed most of the thrones in the kingdom. Clarence was a real comer, though – and his sweet style of southern soul was immediately popular, filling a void promptly after the death of Otis Redding, and setting a bit more fire than some of the other Atlantic male singers, who were waning a bit at the time. Of course, it certainly helps that that lil' ol' genius Rick Hall was behind Clarence's move – arranging and producing this album with some of the strongest, least cliched Muscle Shoals backings of the time. Titles include "Slip Away", "Funk Fever", "Thread The Needle", "Do What You Gotta Do", "Looking For A Fox", and "Slippin' Around". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - ELOISE LAWS, MICHAEL PAULO, WILLIE MITCHELL

ELOISE LAWS - AIN'T IT A GOOD FEELING

A classic deep soul set from Eloise Laws – an early album recorded for Invictus Records, and done with stellar production from Brian Holland! The title cut's a monster, one of the best tracks on the label from the 70s – with some wonderfully spacey keyboards, funky drums and bass grooving! But there's loads of other strong cuts too – all with that great Invictus blend of masterfully produced, tight dancefloor soul – yet also served up with more than enough grit in the grooves to make the album a great one for funk fans too! Tracks include "Ain't It Good Feeling Good", "Where Did We Go Wrong", "I Believe In You Baby", "Love Goes Deeper Than That", "Put A Little Love Into It", "Camouflage", and "Make It Last Forever". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Love Factory", "You Made Me An Offer I Can't Refuse", "Tighten Him Up", "Touch Me", "Stay With Me", "Love Goes Deeper Than That (12" version)", and "Put A Little Love Into It (12" version)". ~ Dusty Groove

MICHAEL PAULO - TATS IN THE RAINBOW

A wicked fusion set from saxophonist Michael Paulo – noteworthy not just for the efforts of the leader, but for the album's sweet keyboards from Herbie Hancock too! The style's relatively stripped-down – electric, but never too polished, nor too jamming – often with the kind of gentle groove we love in the best late 70s Japanese fusion sessions. Paulo plays alto, tenor, soprano sax, and flute – and Herbie Hancock plays piano and prophet, alongside additional keyboards from Kimo Cornwell, guitar from Ray Obiedo and Ron Yuen, and drums from Alvin Fejarang. Titles include "Mr Spock's Revenge", "My Favorite Cousins", "Merry Go Round", "Eclipse Of The Full Moon", and "Rainbow Island". (HQ – Hi Quality CD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

WILLIE MITCHELL - IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENIN'

A mod little record from trumpeter Willie Mitchell – a set that's as groovy as it is soulful, with a vibe that's somewhere between 60s instrumental outings on Verve and Atlantic Records! Tunes are a mix of soul and pop numbers, handled by Mitchell's combo with some mighty tight drums and good use of organ on most numbers – which creates a fluid feel that really takes off with the album's fresh and inventive arrangements! Even familiar tunes are transformed nicely by Mitchell's great touch in the studio – as you'll hear on cuts that include "634-5789", "Taste Of Honey", "Secret Agent Man", "Bad Eye", "Wooly Bully", "Java", "Shadow Of Your Smile", and "Hot Cha". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - SILVETTI, ALI GREEN, BARBARA LEWIS

SILVETI - SPRING RAIN

This is the kind of Italian disco we can get our ears around! Bebu Silvetti is on keyboards, and at the helm of the orchestra – working here like an Italian Barry White, on a groove that's very similar to the best work of the Love Unlimited Orchestra. The tracks have a harder focus on the drums and beats than you'd expect – which punches things up nicely, and is a perfect complement to the breathy vocals and smooth Euro grooving over the top of the mix. Great stuff – a real treasure, and with a lot more soul than you'd expect! Titles include "Primitive Man", "Spring Rain", "Two Cups Of Coffee", "Voyage Of No Return", "Coconut Rain", and "Contigo". CD also features a bonus track – a Joe Cain edit of "Spring Rain". ~ Dusty Groove

AL GREEN - TOKYO... LIVE!

A tasty double-live set from Al Green – one that has him working through longer versions of tunes than you'd hear on his studio albums, and really doing great in front of an appreciative Japanese crowd! The overall approach here is a bit more modern than on some of his older Hi albums – as the band uses the extra space to make things a bit more uptempo and really push the groove – but Al's vocals still hold the whole set together nicely, especially on the numbers where he lets loose a bit more. Linda Jones is one of the backup singers on the set – and titles include "Belle", "Let's Get Married", "Love & Happiness", "I Feel Good", "Dream", "God Blessed Our Love", "You Ought To Be With Me", and "Tired Of Being Alone". ~ Dusty Groove

BARBARA LEWIS - WORKIN' ON A GROOVY THING

A record that was issued quite a few years after Barbara Lewis' debut for Atlantic, but a set that's equally great – thanks to some impeccable production from the great Ollie McLaughlin! The set's got a sound that's a bit more upbeat and soaring than some of Lewis' earlier work – a groove that's clearly picked up the Detroit styles of the late 60s, but which still retains all the careful classic that Barbara brought to her music. Titles include "Workin On A Groovy Thing", "I Remember The Feeling", "I'll Make Him Love Me", "Thankful", "Make Me Belong To You", "Sho-Nuff", "I'll Keep Believin'", and "Make Me Your Baby". Very sweet, very soulful, and an essential piece of 60's soul. ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - NOSTALGIA AND THE MONTERS. FABRIZIO BOSSO & JAVIER GIROTTO LATIN MOOD, GREG FOAT GROUP

NOSTALGIA AND THE MONTERS - THE TAXIDERMIST

The most spiritual album from Nostalgia 77 in years – a real return to some of the modes he was exploring with his octet a few years ago – especially some of the more jazz-based styles that really made those records sparkle! The album's all instrumental – quite a change from the previous highly vocal record from Nostalgia 77 – and instrumentation is a very righteous blend of the leader's bass, plus reeds, trumpet, percussion, and lots of Hammond and Fender Rhodes – used in these mellow-flowing styles that really further the exploratory style of the music. As before, Riaan Vosloo's got a really expressive style to his writing – rich colors that are completely sublime in the hands of the group – on titles that include "Algernon", "Zippy Slipper", "Angels & Demons At Play", "Sunrise In Mexico", and "The Taxidermist". ~ Dusty Groove

 FABRIZIO BOSSA & JAVIER GROTTO LATIN MOOD - VAMOS

A sparkling set of Latin jazz, done the Schema way – which means that the team of Favrizio Bosso and Javier Girotto are even tighter than on their previous release for Blue Note! The best tracks here bristle with an upbeat sense of rhythm that's undeniable – grooves that roll out beautifully from the sextet, spurred on with unified energy that's way more than the usual Latin style – very unique, and wonderfully groovy! Bosso's trumpet is as top-shelf as always, a great solo vehicle for the group – and Girotto plays both soprano and baritone sax with a deft touch – alongside drums from Lorenzo Tucci, plus keyboards, bass, and percussion too – all live instrumentation that puts this one more firmly on the jazz side of the Schema spectrum. Titles include "Sophia", "Vamos", "Waltz Del Clavel", "Algo Contigo", "El Mastropiero", "Mathias", "Africa Es", and a surprisingly great version of "In A Sentimental Mood". ~ Dusty Groove

GREG FOAT GROUP - GIRL AND ROBOT WITH FLOWERS

Amazing sounds from this very hip group – a contemporary combo, but one who play with a depth of sound to warrant their inclusion on the Jazzman label! The style is almost spiritual jazz, but a bit more laidback too – sounds that are cosmic, yet never soaring to the skies – and almost more content to contemplate their own existence in these cool little rhythmic progressions – a very hip approach that draws a lot of power from its minimalism! Instrumentation is a bit trippy at points – but mostly in the way the players fold things together – so that tinkling piano tipples over brooding basslines, or organ lines hum softly to encourage string sounds to start too – a beautifully poetic style that only gets better as the album moves along! This limited EP features four songs that won't be on the vinyl pressing of the full album – "Girl & Robot With Flowers" parts 1, 2, and 3 – and "Have Spacesuit Will Travel (part 1)". (Limited pressing of 1000 hand numbered copies!) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - THE IPANEMAS, DOMENICO, NAT REEVES

THE IPANEMAS - QUE BELEZA

Brazil’s greatest Afro-bossa band conjure up wickedly rich and charm laden vintage sambas on this fifth recording for Far Out. Three generations of Rio de Janeiro musicians combine to evoke a nostalgic and raw tribute to their diverse musical city. Wilson Das Neves’ crooning, melancholic notes combine with special guest diva Aurea Martins’ hypnotic vocal while glorious trombone and afro percussion add to the deep pleasures. Five decades after Brazilian music was transformed with cult debut ‘Os Ipanemas’ Das Neves and the Ipanemas return to honour the memory of genius guitarist Neco in the only way they know – playing samba from the heart. ~ Far Out Records

DOMENICO - CINE PRIVE

A groovy little record from Domenico – one that's got the same best elements of his music with Moreno Veloso and Kassin, but which almost has a more intimate feel overall! Most tunes here have a relatively tight song structure – almost always with lyrics by Domenico, although Moreno joins in and sings a bit too – and backed with small combo instrumentation that's mostly played live, but occasionally inflected with the kinds of subtle production twists we've always loved in the music of Domenico! It's always hard to describe the exact charm of Domenico's music – but if you've heard him before – or frequent partners Kassin and Moreno Veloso – then you'll know exactly why we like this one so much. Titles include "Cine Prive", "Receita", "Su Di Te", "Sua Beleza", "Zona Portuaria", "Pedra A Areia", "Hugo Carvana" and more. 13 in all. ~ Dusty Groove

NAT REEVES - STATE OF EMERGENCY

A tremendous set from bassist Nat Reeves – a player who doesn't always record as a leader, but one whose talents have graced countless great groups over the years! The album's got a tight, elegant sort of sound – rooted strongly in Nat's soulful basslines, which step out front all the time – a bit like Ray Brown in his best small combo work – yet still leave plenty of space for sparkling trumpet lines from Joshua Bruneau, warm-rolling piano lines from Rich Germanson, and drums from Jonathan Barber. The strength of the bass gives the album a soulful depth right from the start – which the other instruments only improve on – and titles include "Fungii Mama", "Moon River", "So Tired", "Little Waltaz", "Brick's Blues", and "Laverne Walk".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - RUBENS BASSINI Y LOS LATINOS, TATHAM, MENSAH, LORD & RANKS, RAY STEPHEN OCHE AND HIS MATUMBO

RUBENS BASSINI Y LOS LATINOS - LATINO FANTASTICO

Far Out begin their classic re-issue series with a much sought after Brazilian rarity. Rubens Bassini was one of Brazil’s finest and most respected percussionists and a vital component of the original Os Ipanemas and Sergio Mendes’ Brazil 66, plus later 77 and 88 incarnations. This 1963 solo outing, originally released as a limited vinyl LP, is full of deep traditional African, Brazilian, Cuban and South American rhythms and moments of unexpected blissful folk and hypnotic psychedelia. Wind and strings provide unusual arrangements for Bassini’s pulsating bongos and endless exotic percussion to explode through. Featuring an all-star team of ‘60s Rio players this vivid percussion dream can finally be heard in all its mythical glory. ~ Far Out Records

TATHAM, MENSAH, LORD & RANKS - TATHAM, MENSAH, LORD & RANKS

Bristling sounds from a killer lineup – a 4Hero-related project done by the quartet of Kaidi Tatham, Akwasi Mensah, Matt Lord, and Dego Ranks – music that definitely explores the next level of expression for the 2000 Black generation! All the best London touches are firmly in place here, but the groove's also fresher than before, too – wonderfully cosmic, yet nicely abstract in a few places too – showing the kind of complication that Tatham's brought to his rhythms in recent years – yet still maintaining all the soulful, righteous focus we could have hoped for! The album features guest work by Eric Lau, Sarina Leah, Bembe Segue, and Nadine Charles. ~ Dusty Groove

RAY STEPHEN OCHE AND HIS MATUMBO - NO DISCRIMINATION

Pan-African rhythms from Ray Stephen Oche – topped with some great jazzy elements as well! The set's one of Ray's classics from the Paris scene – a set that draws heavily from his Nigerian roots, yet also takes full advantage of the wider cultural vibe going on in France at the time – echoes of free jazz in the instrumentation, righteous soulful elements in the vocals, and a complicated rhythmic approach that brings in plenty of funk from the other side of the Atlantic as well! The album's a killer all the way through – and tracks include "Kano City Sky", "Ayipe Assa", "At The Jazz Fountain", "Ada Ode", "Trumpet Calls The People Of Nigeria", "Peace Upon Kenemaland", and "Down Beat Special". ~ Dusty Groove

DENNIS ANGEL'S LATEST RELEASE 'TIMELESS GROOVES' - A MIX OF MODERN AND RETRO JAZZ PRODUCED BY JASON MILES

After having released a half dozen singles over the past few years that landed on the contemporary jazz radio charts, Dennis Angel released his debut album, Timeless Grooves, on Tuesday (November 13). Angel wrote or co-wrote 8 new songs for the set produced by Jason Miles (Marcus Miller, Miles Davis, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross) that fondly recalls the 1960s and 70s when the evolution of jazz-funk spawned a dynamic genre that swirled jazzy instrumental riffs, R&B beats and catchy pop hooks into commercial success. “Forever Funk,” the deep-pocketed album opener featuring Angel trading tasty licks with saxophonist Gottfried Stoger on the track brushed with vintage gloss dispensed from Miles’ keyboards and organ, is garnering airplay around the globe.

Angel entered the studio to record Timeless Grooves with the goal of contributing something fresh to contemporary jazz by keeping the memorable melodies simple, selflessly maintaining the focus on the songs, and utilizing a live soundscape constructed by some of New York City’s finest musicians. Collaborating with Miles helped take the music to the next level and added a new dimension: Miles urged Angel to play flugelhorn in addition to trumpet on the 10-track disc, which the horn man did for the first time.

Along with worldwide airplay, the early reviews have been encouraging. Critical Jazz wrote “From the opening funkalicious grooves of ‘Forever Funk’ to a more retro theatrical throwback to ‘I Did All This’ we find trumpet and flugelhorn virtuoso as the real deal. A legit jazz triple threat as instrumentalist, lyricist and composer with the chameleon like ability to change sonic colors, dynamics and harmonics at will. Dennis Angel goes all in with this release and the potential that is shown here alone is worth 5 stars. An artist I want to hear more from. Incredibly entertaining and one of those rare heartfelt releases that makes the sonic transfer with ease.” The Smooth Jazz Ride concurred declaring “Angel’s smooth handling of the trumpet and flugelhorn coupled with long-time collaborator Gottfried Stoger on saxes on this project, not to mention Angel’s 16-year-old daughter Rebecca on vocals on a track she co-wrote with her dad, are all bound to propel this project to a comfortable place on the charts for a while…Rebecca Angel’s vocals on the very, very jazzy ‘A Song in Harmony,’ are most riveting…Overall, one smooth, cool debut with an attractive retro slant and one that should set the stage for Angel’s return again and again.”

www.dennisangelband.com.

RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA - GAMAK

"[one] of the finest saxophonists going . . . jaw-dropping" - Pitchfork

"...a tornado of a saxophonist and a jazz composer who has never limited himself by that descriptor." - NPR "A Blog Supreme"

"a leading figure in innovative jazz circles . . . jazz improvisation of a global kind, as universal in its appeal as it was international in its inspiration"  - Chicago Tribune

Stream Tracks From Gamak

The idea of hybridity has been central to the music of alto saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa throughout his career. Most prominent, of course, has been his highly original fusion of east and west, jazz mixed with the sounds of his Indian heritage. But that's too easy and linear a depiction of this open-eared and inventive composer, who has absorbed an enormous variety of music into his thinking and amalgamated it into a singular vision.

On his new ACT release, Gamak, Mahanthappa continues that multi-directional evolution with a bold, striking set of music that melds leading-edge jazz with innovative reinterpretations of traditional Indian and Middle Eastern approaches, shot through with an electric jolt of prog-rock complexity. Mahanthappa's distinctly personal sound hybridizes progressive jazz and South Indian classical music in a fluid and forward-looking form that reflects the composer's own experience growing up a second-generation Indian-American. Just as his personal experience is never wholly lived on one side of the hyphenate or the other, his music speaks in a voice dedicated to forging a new path forward.

Gamak, Mahanthappa's thirteenth album as leader or co-leader, marks the debut of a new band that is both a reprise and a reinvention. The album reunites the saxophonist with bassist François Moutin and drummer Dan Weiss, the rhythm section from his long-running quartet, which was last recorded for the 2006 album, Codebook. But the group takes on a radically different sound with the addition of David "Fuze" Fiuczynski, a master of microtonal guitar whose eclectic virtuosity offered Mahanthappa a vast new territory to explore.

"Dave has checked out so much music," Mahanthappa says of Fiuczynski. "A lot of eastern music, whether it's Chinese or Indian or Arabic, and a lot of 20th and 21st century classical music. Not to mention that he has this rock/punk aesthetic that's evident in his band the Screaming Headless Torsos. And Dan and Francois come from a really wide perspective as well. Dan is just as much into Rush as he is Max Roach or Zakir Hussain. So I knew those guys were going to really bring this stuff to life."
The name Gamak is derived from the word for ornamentation in Indian classical music, an element that is far more central to that culture than the English word implies. "In South Indian music particularly," Mahanthappa explains, "melodic ornamentation isn't random. It's very specific and stylized and studied." As for the word's relevance to his current ensemble he says, "In recontextualizing these things, Gamak can refer to any sort of melodic ornamentation. It's as applicable to Indian classical music as it is to R&B singers riffing or anything in between."

While his quartet had always been completed by a pianist, most notably longtime compatriot Vijay Iyer, most of Mahanthappa's recent projects have utilized guitar, from the Dakshina Ensemble that recorded his groundbreaking 2008 album, Kinsmen, to the collective Indo-Pak Coalition to his most recent ensemble, the electro-acoustic ensemble Samdhi. The instrument's fluidity is key to his current compositional approach. "I was looking to get back to that quartet setting with Dan and Francois again," Mahanthappa explains. "But doing something with piano was out of the question, because of the way that I've been thinking about melody and ornamentation and the fact that I wanted to delve into the use of alternate tunings."

Fiuczynski offered an idiosyncratic versatility different from any other guitarist, formed over years of studying wildly disparate forms of music and bringing them together in his own blend of shrieking rock, burning jazz, multi-cultural fusion and head-scratching complexity. He and Mahanthappa had been discussing a potential collaboration for years when they were both hired for legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette's most recent band, a gig that not only afforded them the opportunity to play with one of jazz's giants, but to forge their own partnership on stage night after night. "Dave and I got a chance to play a lot together and develop something within Jack's group that gave me a better insight into how I wanted to write for this group," Mahanthappa says.

The album kicks off with the wiry prog-rock tension of "Waiting Is Forbidden" and ends with the hurtling punk screamer "Majesty of the Blues." Fiuczynski is at his slipperiest on "Aboghi," based on a raga that Mahanthappa describes as "one of the rare ragas that's treated in very similar ways in both North and South India." In the quartet's interpretation, it's transformed into a rubbery, feel-good boogaloo. Gamak as recorded ten years after Mahanthappa's breakthrough sophomore release, Black Water, which he revisits directly and indirectly on two tracks. "Are There Clouds In India" was originally recorded on that album, and recently arranged for big band by Jim McNeely, which revived Mahanthappa's own interest in the piece. "We'll Make More" is a new piece built upon the same raga and beat cycle as "Balancing Act," the opening track from Black Water.

Most of the titles stem from Mahanthappa's love of language, a theme that has arisen repeatedly in his work - most memorably on his 2004 album Mother Tongue, which was inspired by the many languages of India. Here, many of the titles were simply evocative combinations of words that the composer saw or heard: "Waiting Is Forbidden" came from a piece in the Brooklyn Museum, while "Wrathful Wisdom" is a concept from Buddhist philosophy. The piece to which it's attached is one of Mahanthappa's most challenging inventions, requiring awkward, counterintuitive alternate fingerings.

Perhaps the most profound title on the album came from an accident of roadside disrepair - a sign on the New Jersey Turnpike where "Stay In Lane" had been truncated to the koan-like "Stay I." Mahanthappa was struck by the phrase, interpreting it to mean, "Make sure you always try to be yourself and remember your individuality. Which is very difficult to do. I think it's been difficult across history, but maybe even more so now because we have so much information at our fingertips."

Despite the depth and breadth of his influences and his restless imagination, one thing which Mahanthappa has managed to do throughout his career is remember to "Stay I." It's a lesson that has continually resulted in strikingly individual statements, and Gamak is certainly no exception.

Gamak - Track Listing/Personnel
Rudresh Mahanthappa / alto saxophone
David Fiuczynski / electric guitar
François Moutin / acoustic bass
Dan Weiss / drums

1. Waiting Is Forbidden (8:56)
2. Abhogi (7:11)
3. Stay I (2:22)
4. We'll Make More (6:06)
5. Are There Clouds In India? (5:56)
6. Lots Of Interest (7:38)
7. F (2:22)
8. Copernicus - 19 (1:25)
9. Wrathful Wisdom (8:24)
10. Ballad For Troubled Times 5:52
11. Majesty Of The Blues (1:43)

All tracks composed by Rudresh K. Mahanthappa
Produced by Rudresh K. Mahanthappa

Upcoming Rudresh Mahanthappa Appearances:
All dates to feature "Gamak" unless otherwise noted.
Personnel for each date varies.

January 12 / Winter JazzFest - (Le) Poisson Rouge / New York, NY
January 27 / Albright Knox / Buffalo, NY
January 31 / WDR 3 Jazzfest / Köln, Germany
February 1 / Bim-Huis / Amsterdam, Netherlands
February 2 / Birdland / Neuburg, Germany
February 7 / Wexner Performing Arts / Columbus, OH
February 9 / Fontana Chamber Arts / Kalamazoo, MI
February 22 / Yale University - Sprague Hall / New Haven, CT
February 26 & 27 / Dazzle / Denver, CO
February 28 & March 1 / Outpost Performance Space / Albuquerque, NM
* March 2 / Royce Hall / Los Angeles, CA
March 3 / Athenaeum Music and Arts Library / La Jolla, CA
March 12 / Hnita Club / Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium
March 13 / CC Maasmechelen / Maasmechelen, Belgium
March 14 / Unterfahrt / München, Germany
March 15 / Spielboden / Dornbirn, Austria
March 16 / Treibhaus / Innsbruck, Austria
March 17 / Porgy & Bess / Wien, Austria
March 19 / Château Palmier / Cenon, France
March 20 / Paradox / Tilburg, Netherlands
March 21 / Café Shuitershof / Middelburg, Netherlands
March 22 / JazzIt / Salzburg, Austria
March 23 / Alte Kaserne / Winterthur, Switzerland
March 24 / Cheval Blanc / Schiltigheim, France
April 4 & 5 / Blues Alley / Washington, D.C.
April 6 / Montgomery County Community College / Blue Bell, PA

*Gamak + Indo-Pak Coalition

rudreshm.com
actmusic.com

JOE LOVANO TO RELEASE 23RD BLUE NOTE ALBUM CROSS CULTURE JAN. 8

On January 8, 2013, living legend saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano will release Cross Culture, his 23rd Blue Note recording and the third consecutive release by his critically acclaimed quintet, Us Five. The album is an 11-track tour de force that presents 10 of Lovano’s original compositions along with a stunning interpretation of the Billy Strayhorn ballad “Star Crossed Lovers.”

Augmenting his core group (pianist James Weidman, bassists Esperanza Spalding or Peter Slavov, and drummers Otis Brown III and Francisco Mela) with the daring West African guitarist—and fellow Blue Note artist—Lionel Loueke, Lovano delivers his most fully realized representation of a career-long quest to explore the notion of universal musical language.

“Since I started to tour in the late ‘70s, I’ve collected instruments from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, and North and South America,” says Lovano, who, in addition to his instantly recognizable tenor saxophone, improvises on G-mezzo soprano, tarogato, and aulochrome, and plays an array of percussion—bells and shakers, an Israeli paddle drum, and a Nigerian slit drum called an oborom. “I’ve spent a lifetime feeling the passion of experiencing the spirits in the sounds of the collective ancestors in these instruments, creating music but feeling like the earth. It’s coming through in my compositions and in the way we play together.”

Loueke, who himself combines exhaustive knowledge of harmony and folk forms, contributes seamlessly and egolessly to six pieces. “Lionel doesn’t just play the guitar,” Lovano says. “He freely integrates himself with the rhythm section and with me in the front line, and shares the space in a personal way.”

The album ends with an expansive performance of Lovano’s original “PM,” inspired by master drummer-composer Paul Motian, his frequent collaborator from 1981 until his death two months before the recording. Like everything that has preceded it, the performance, in Lovano’s words, “combines the harmonic and rhythmic structures of modern jazz in a free-flowing way, with a tribal energy, tying together things about the world of music, beyond just categories of jazz.”

The track listing for Cross Culture is as follows:
1. Blessings In May
2. Myths And Legends
3. Cross Culture
4. In A Spin
5. Star Crossed Lovers
6. Journey Within
7. Drum Chant
8. Golden Horn
9. Royal Roost
10. Modern Man
11. PM

www.bluenote.com

WAYNE SHORTER RETURNS TO BLUE NOTE RECORDS

Legendary Saxophonist & Composer Wayne Shorter Returns To Blue Note Records After 43 Years With Feb. 5 Release Of His New Quartet Album Without A Net

The legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter has re-signed to Blue Note Records, and will release his first album as a leader for the iconic label in 43 years with the February 5, 2013 release of Without A Net, his searing new album with his long-running quartet featuring pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade.

Shorter—who will be entering his 80th year in 2013—first recorded for Blue Note in 1959 as the precocious 26-year-old tenor saxophonist (and prolific composer) in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, which brought him to the attention of label founder Alfred Lion who eventually signed him to his own recording deal. Shorter went on to make a spectacular run of classic albums for Blue Note between 1964-1970 including Night Dreamer, Juju, Speak No Evil, Adam’s Apple, Schizophrenia, and Super Nova during a period of time that also paralleled Shorter’s years with Miles Davis, first as a member of the trumpeter’s trailblazing quintet, and later as a part of Davis’ early fusion masterpieces.

“Wayne Shorter is one of the greatest musicians and composers of our time,” said Don Was, President of Blue Note Records. “At age 80, we witness him at the height of his powers and performing with one of the most incredible bands he's ever assembled. Although welcoming him back to Blue Note Records after 43 years is a romantic notion, Wayne's enduring appeal is rooted in his steadfast refusal to trade in such nostalgia. In fact, it is Mr. Shorter's determination to constantly move forward that makes his new album, Without A Net, such an essential listening experience.”

Reflecting upon his perpetual path of musical discovery, Shorter expounded that "The challenge we as artists face today is to create a ‘singularity’ or an ‘event horizon’ so that as human beings we will break the cycle of ego dominated actions which through repetition keep us bound to stagnation which denies us entrance to the Portal of Life's Ultimate Adventure!"

Without A Net is a 9-track musical thrill ride that consists of live recordings from the Wayne Shorter Quartet’s European tour in late 2011, the one exception being the 23-minute tone poem “Pegasus” which features the quartet with The Imani Winds recorded at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The album features six new Shorter compositions, as well as new versions of his tunes “Orbits” (from Miles Davis’ Miles Smiles album) and “Plaza Real” (from the Weather Report album Procession). The quartet also reinvents the title song from the 1933 musical film Flying Down To Rio, which film buffs (such as Shorter) know as the first on-screen pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The track listing for Without A Net is as follows:
1. Orbits (4:49)
2. Starry Night (8:48)
3. S. S. Golden Mean (5:17)
4. Plaza Real (6:56)
5. Myrrh (3:03)
6. Pegasus (23:06)
7. Flying Down to Rio (12:44)
8. Zero Gravity (8:13)
9. UFO (4:12)

www.bluenote.com

ART BASEL MIAMI TO FEATURE MUSIC FROM FANIA RECORDS

The famed Latin music label Fania Records will be showcasing its music during the 2012 Art Basel weeklong event in Miami. The Armada Fania Club & Pop-Up Store is a four night event slated for PAX Miami and will feature eight top DJs from Miami, Boston and NYC, who will be playing the original and remix sounds the label that is often referred to as the “Motown” of Latin music.

An alternative to the “laser & smoke” events held in the Miami at this time, the Armada Fania will bring together the best components of Latin music, “música para bailar,” combined with a Pop-Up store for attendees to buy Fania merchandise ranging from CDs to T-Shirts. In addition to the music, the Armada Fania will feature the LIVE art of Santiago, a New York based pin up/portrait artist.

FREE W/RSVP

Armada Fania Club & Pop-Up Store Line Up:
Dec. 5th: Bobbito Garcia (aka Kool Bob Love) & The Brass King
Dec. 6th : Rice & Beans Sound System
Dec. 7th : Whiskey Barons & Mr. Pauer
Dec. 8th : Radio Rios & DJ Africa

PAX / 337 S.W. 8 St. Miami FL, 33130 / 8 PM

Founded by gallerists in 1970, Art Basel stages the world's premier art shows for modern and contemporary works, sited in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, the artworks on display and the parallel content programming produced in collaboration with the local institutions. In addition to ambitious stands featuring leading galleries from around the globe, each show's singular exhibition sectors and artistic events spotlight the latest developments in the visual arts, offering visitors new ideas, new inspiration and new contacts in the artworld.  

giantstep.net
basel.arbasel.com

TRIBECASTAN - THE TWISTED CHRISTMAS

When you hitch a ride with Tribecastan, you never know where you're going to land. Drawing liberally from jazz, world music, and Americana, their new holiday EP, The Twisted Christmas, is a collection of your favorite Christmas songs, merrily reinterpreted with exotic cheer, unexpected instrumentations, and mischievous smirks. On their first single, “God Rest Ye Three Kings,” Tribecastan takes us on a midnight joyride across the desert sands with a figgy pudding of hand drums, sitar, sarod, mandocello, brass and bulbul tarang. This tongue in cheek amalgam of yule tide spirit and holiday chutzpah is a change of pace from the standard seasonal-tunes of old.

Even though there’s no easy way to describe the distinctive sound of Tribecastan, it hasn’t prevented people from trying! The Washington Post, for example, describes Tribecastan as sounding like “an international jazz and folk festival unto itself, fusing Balkan, Middle Eastern, Indian, Latin American, and African musical elements to bold and dazzling effect.” However you describe it, the final package is the result of an exuberant, and sometimes irreverent, collaborative effort of some of New York’s finest world music and jazz veterans. With Tribecastan's members having played with everyone from James Brown and Ornette Coleman, to Patti Smith and The Violent Femmes, the tribe combines an almost unprecedented diversity of styles into a singularly adventurous music that is legitimately global, virtuosic, and infectious. Tracks include: Do You Hear the Silent Night; Joy to the Angles; Noel Ye Faithful; and God Rest Ye 3 Kings

Stream link:
http://soundcloud.com/evergreene/sets/the-twisted-christmas
Purchase link:
http://evergreene.bandcamp.com/album/the-twisted-christmas

ROYAL GROOVES - FUNK AND GROOVY SOUL FROM THE KING RECORDS VAULTS

In the late 60s King Records was in the midst of a funk revolution. This upheaval was spearheaded by James Brown who, on his return to the label in 1965, after a couple of years away, had changed the course of music with the groundbreaking single ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag’. This may not have been pure funk but it was certainly a large step towards it. Over the course of the next two years he honed the style until he stormed to an R&B #1 position (and Top 10 Pop) with ‘Cold Sweat’, the opening salvo in a torrent of hits that marked him indelibly as Soul Brother #1. He became the only artist that really counted at the label. If King wasn’t releasing records by Brown himself, they were releasing the work of his entourage, or records that were trying to sound like him. King became the home of funk with a healthy dose of soul and the label never really recovered when he left to join Polydor.


“Royal Grooves” examines this latter period of King’s existence, from the glorious point in the late 60s when the money from their most successful artist allowed a vast array of records to be made and released, to the desperate search for the next big thing in the early part of the next decade.

The collection contains James Brown productions by Wendy Lynn, Kay Robinson and Leon Austin which have had collectors salivating for years, and even harder to find unrelated 45s by artists such as Elaine Armstrong, whose ‘Sad But True’ has only recently made it onto the radar. We also have a spectacular single by the Brownettes (previously and subsequently known as the Jewels) and a couple of 45s from the Indiana funk-masters the Presidents. If you’ve heard King Coleman’s ‘Boo Boo Song’ and thought it was a mindless novelty, you have the chance to check out ‘Pt 2’ and change your mind.

From the post-James Brown period we have the Coasters with their latin-ised version of ‘Cool Jerk’ and the wonderful Texas soul of Gloria Edwards. Best of all is Barbara Burton & the Messengers who as the Messengers Unlimited and with Sonny Morrison as lead singer released the rare “Soulful Proclamation” album. For their one single on De Luxe Barbara was put upfront on ‘Love’s Sweet Water’, a smouldering funk masterpiece.

King was a label of many facets and we try to cover most of them here. This is high quality soul and funk.

By Dean Rudland / acerecords.co.uk

KENT 30: BEST OF KENT NORTHERN 1982-2012

This CD is a look at the Kent label’s Northern Soul history, heritage and future. There’s more to Kent than just Northern Soul, but that’s how we started in 1982 when Mary Love’s ‘You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet’ kicked off the “For Dancers Only” vinyl album. We covered the ballad side recently on “Deep Shadows: The Best Of Kent Ballads”

The “For Dancers Only” LP gets a nod with Gene & Gary’s duet of Danny Monday’s ‘Baby Without You’, here on CD for the first time. There is a host of exclusives, several not issued in any format before: Alexander Patton’s ‘True Love (Is In The Heart)’ will open traditional Northern fans’ eyes and ears the most, being from the same session and of a similar feel to his classic ‘A Lil Lovin’ Sometimes’, and Marva Holiday’s ‘Rising Higher’ is a fabulous Sherlie Matthews’ song that will be admired by progressive Northern fans.

Modern soul has been a part of the Kent landscape since 1984’s “Moving On Up” album. We celebrate that branch of our music with Darrow Fletcher’s ‘No Limit’ and the Paramount Four’s anthemic ‘Sorry Ain’t The Word’, both debuting on CD. 70s soul fans may well buy the CD for these two alone.

Our forthcoming Pied Piper spring range is launched with the original alternate take of Lorraine Chandler’s 60s Detroit opus ‘You Only Live Twice’; the song that gave birth to Yvonne Baker’s ‘You Didn’t Say A Word’. From the same stable comes the Pied Piper Players (aka Motown’s Funk Brothers) on ‘Ooh It Hurts Me’, a massive 60s newie of recent years as a stunning, unheard instrumental.

Representing the Dave Hamilton chapter are O.C. Tolbert and Little Ann’s rare soul classics, both presented in mixes different from our previous releases. Ben E King with ‘Gettin’ To Me’ heads our legendary discoveries section. Melba Moore, Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown’s unissued recordings that re-floated the grounded SS Northern Soul in the 80s are here, as are the Magicians, whose vocal to ‘Double Cookin’’ shook up the Northern nation.

There are vinyl-finding tales of two of the biggest big beat ballads of them all and a story concerning picking up a handful of sleeveless singles in a producer’s house and seeing an undocumented Wand label for Walter Wilson’s 60s stomper which had been assumed to exist as tape only. Luther Ingram supplies the mother of all R&B/Northern crossover numbers, while Bobby Wisdom preens over his potential price tag of £4000; if you can find one.

There are classy crowd-pleasers from Toni & the Showmen, Sugar & the Spices, the Fiestas and the Sweethearts that have been marooned on Kent label stories, neglected by all but the pure in heart.

Advances in technology mean that the audio is vastly improved on tracks we first released 10 or 15 years ago. On some titles we were able to access superior quality multi-track masters and in Melba Moore’s case we even found an alternative vocal take. It is the first time the 45 mix of Johnny Maestro’s dramatic ‘I’m Stepping Out Of The Picture’ has been reissued. The quality of Chuck Jackson’s ‘Millionaire’ in particular is awesome, while the Magicians now has a potentially life-threatening dynamic.

The booklet contains 9,000 words of wisdom, re-telling the Kent Northern saga for long-term inmates or explaining where it all came form for the more recent converts. That’s 30 stunning soul sounds; one for each glorious year. It is not only a celebration but a revelation too; we hope you enjoy the hyperbole.

By Ady Croasdell / acerecords.co.uk

HERE COMES THE HURT - SOUL BALLADS FROM KING, FEDERAL, & DELUXE

Here Comes The Hurt is a successor to the two volumes of “King’s Serious Soul” that John Ridley compiled for us about 10 years ago. This time, by not sticking strictly to southern soul origins or influences, we’ve been able to include many excellent tracks that weren’t eligible for those previous releases, although the south is still well represented.

James Duncan, Thomas Bailey and Billy Soul have many followers; their tracks, like most on here, appear on CD for the first time. Charles Spurling’s ‘Don’t Let Him Hurt You Baby’ is a great ballad from a man who lived and worked well north of the Mason-Dixon line and usually wrote and sang uptempo numbers. His second offering, ‘Buddy Boy’, also displays his command of all styles within the soul genre.

Ricky Lyons, June Sims and Lee Holland were one-shot artists but cut the mustard on their lone singles. Ricky Lyons’ 45 came out on both the Federal and King labels and has the authority of a soul standard, yet it seems to be his only recording. Toni Williams’ ‘Precious Minutes’ is a little-known southern masterpiece, as is Bobby Wade’s lushly produced ‘Blind Over You’. Bigger acts such as Earl Gaines, Marva Whitney and Pat Lundy sing lesser-known but terrific soul tracks.

Vocal group collectors will enjoy the early soul of the Snapshots and the King Pins and dig the later harmony of Dee Dee, Joseph & David. Lee Holland’s ‘Give Me Back My Heart’ features fabulous backing vocals too. Tony & Carol ‘Let’s Not Wait’ is a harmonious duet that builds to quite a crescendo.

Acts from an earlier era show how they could adapt to the brave new soul era; Hank Ballard and the Bobbettes give virtuoso demonstrations of how to deliver a soulful ballad. Lynn Davis is backed by a female chorus on ‘My New Love’ which, like the Bobbettes, will impress lovers of the girl group sound.

A great deep soul Federal recording, ‘Fall In These Arms Of Mine’ by Johnny Soul is released here for the first time ever. For those with a gospel bent, Christine Kittrell’s ‘Ain’t Never Seen So Much Rain Before’ is a tour-de-force and T.C. Lee & the Bricklayers’ ‘Get Away From Here’ features a preaching lead with chorus straight out of the church.

The sound quality is immaculate; all tracks are taken from the original master tapes. US soul enthusiast Bob Abrahamian provides informative and fascinating notes and there are some great new photos from the King archives. The recordings stretch from 1960 to 1971 and feature a wide range of soul styles on slow burning ballads.

By Ady Croasdell / acerecords.co.uk

ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES - THE ALLEN TOUSSAINT SONGBOOK

It should surprise no-one that Allen Toussaint has been added to Ace’s songwriter series. In a career that’s in its seventh decade, this quietly spoken, modest son of New Orleans has written some of the greatest hits ever to grace the Great American Songbook. And on his own, too – there can be very few black American composers who have written so many successful songs without the aid of a collaborator. Between 1960 and 1980, barely a week went by without his compositions appearing on the R&B or Hot 100 charts. Some were subsequently revived, in multiple versions, and often with renewed success. Most of them are the kind of popular music standards of which any songwriter would be proud.

Rolling With The Punches is a compilation that celebrates Allen’s glittering career in a rounded and highly appropriate manner. Other anthologies of his work as a songwriter have tended to be built around the numbers he wrote during the first 10 years of his career – and we couldn’t omit titles such as ‘Ride Your Pony’, ‘Fortune Teller’ and ‘Working In The Coal Mine’ here. However, rather than massively duplicate what those other collections have to offer, this one focuses primarily on the later songs Allen penned in a period when he was looking beyond the constraints of the 3-minute single and moving his writing in new directions.

Many of the tracks featured here are sung by some of Allen’s biggest musical admirers. Robert Palmer, Boz Scaggs, Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat’s Lowell George all recorded multiple of his songs, so we were often spoiled for choice as to whose versions of which songs to include. We also couldn’t omit Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Lee Dorsey or Ernie K-Doe, all of whom have career-long associations with Allen. No tribute to him could be complete without at least one contribution from each.

Neither could we leave out the man himself. The compilation features pristine examples of Allen’s work as a vocalist (‘Soul Sister’) and instrumentalist (the Rhine Oaks’ ‘Tampin’’). More than anything, these show that Allen Toussaint should have been as big a star as those whose careers he helped as a writer, arranger and/or producer, had he not been content to remain behind the scenes.

It’s always nice to get the approval of someone whose work we seek to anthologise. When we sent the proposed track listing for this compilation to Allen, his reply read as follows: “Absolutely wonderful choices. I’m looking forward to hearing this myself! Thank you very much.” Of course, it’s we who should be thanking him.

By Tony Rounce /  acerecords.co.uk

DAN PENN - THE FAME RECORDINGS

Dan Penn is recognised as one of the great songsmiths of the past 50 years. Music historian Peter Guralnick once described him as the “secret hero” of 60s R&B. For many, Penn’s material defines the essence of southern soul writing, but his catalogue also retains the ability to transcend musical barriers; classics such as ‘I’m Your Puppet’ and ‘Do Right Woman’ have scaled the pop and country charts in equal measure. With his principal collaborator Spooner Oldham, Penn lent R&B songwriting a class and eloquence that has rarely been bettered.

This much-anticipated collection, however, reveals the flowering of Dan Penn as an artist in his own right. It’s collated from the hard evidence of three amazing and educational years spent at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals as a staff writer – an apprenticeship that was as important in helping him find a voice as it was in forging the songcraft that made his name. Studio honcho Rick Hall issued a quartet of singles on Penn during the time the singer was in his employ but, while decent, these did not play to the strengths he displayed in the multitude of relaxed late-night sessions undertaken in this remarkably prolific period. The best moments are brought together on “The Fame Recordings”. With the enviable ambiance of the golden era FAME studio throughout, the combined performances approximate a great lost 60s soul album.

Penn was the real deal, an R&B-obsessed white teenager from rural Alabama who readily identified with the raw emotion of the black musical experience. Over several years of raucous fraternity gigs with the Nomads, Mark V and Pallbearers, Penn had sandblasted his vocal cords into an approximation of idols Ray Charles and Bobby Bland. He continued the treatment at FAME with a strict regimen of Kools and Marlboros, but the raspy, frosty cigarette touch in itself did not guarantee authenticity. Rather, it added a remarkable melisma to Penn’s developing technique, which perfectly matched the earnestness of delivery and performance. Soulful expression was easily and undeniably within his grasp.

For connoisseurs of southern soul, the finely tuned tracklisting will be a revelation, in that several future standards of the genre are presented in their original incarnation – often cut just hours after each song’s composition. ‘Uptight Good Woman’, ‘It Tears Me Up’ and ‘Feed The Flame’, along with tunes recorded by Fame stablemates such as Jimmy Hughes and James Barnett, all bear the agreeable glow of a familiar arrangement combined with an exciting, alternative interpretation. On the other hand, Penn’s templates for ‘Rainbow Road’ and ‘You Left The Water Running’ are considerably different from better-known versions by other artists. The personal brand of soul he delivers on cuts such ‘Long Ago’ and ‘Don’t Lose Your Good Thing’ is irresistible.

Most tracks date from 1964 and 1965 and all feature one or other of the renowned session crews Rick Hall employed at FAME during that time.Oldham, Hall and their associates Marlin Greene, Junior Lowe and Donnie Fritts all wax lyrical in the liner notes about Penn’s artistry and the man himself provides a lengthy and revelatory reminiscence of a signal time in his life and career. “The Fame Recordings” offers a fascinating peek at the emergence of a popular music great.

By Alec Palao / acerecords.co.uk

VERVE RECORDS SET TO RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SECOND ALBUM FROM THE TENORS - LEAD WITH YOUR HEART - JANUARY 15TH

Multi-platinum-selling vocal group The Tenors (formerly known as The Canadian Tenors), featuring Clifton Murray, Fraser Walters, Remigio Pereira and Victor Micallef, will release their highly anticipated second studio album, Lead With Your Heart, on January 15, 2013, via a U.S. deal with multi-Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster, Chairman of Verve Music Group, it was announced today.

"I'm thrilled to welcome The Tenors as members of the Verve family. These amazing performers have established themselves here and abroad, and are a true international success story," said Foster. "I am extremely proud to be associated with such great Canadian talent."

The group has already garnered a brilliant response in their native Canada, where Lead With Your Heart  powered to Top 3 on the Top Current Album Chart (behind Taylor Swift and Rod Stewart), #1 Classics/Crossover and #1 on Amazon.com following its October 30th debut. The Tenors will soon announce a 70-city North American tour -- to include 45 U.S. cities -- for Spring 2013. A PBS special on the group begins airing in December of this year.

Lead With Your Heart is a 12-track journey that stretches the boundaries of classical crossover music by combining classic songs, modern tunes, and Spanish and French world music. From much-loved covers such as Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" and Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," to the inspirational anthem "Amazing Grace," and one of the most recognizable and heroic Tenor arias, "Nessun Dorma," the diverse track list features an eclectic mix of pop favorites and classical staples, along with new compositions written and co-written by The Tenors.

"We are so proud of this album and of the response we are getting from audiences in Canada; we are excited to share this music with so many friends, new and old, on our upcoming tour in America," said The Tenors.

Collaborating on this exciting new album with The Tenors are world-renowned producers and co-writers including Walter Afanasieff (Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Jackson), Bob Ezrin (Rod Stewart, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd) and Marco Marinangeli (Josh Groban, Il Divo, Placido Domingo).

Lead With Your Heart is The Tenors' first album in over two years, following the international release of their debut album and an extensive touring schedule. Over the past few years, The Tenors have performed worldwide, sharing the stage with legendary artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion (on The Oprah Show), Sting and Paul McCartney. More recently, The Tenors were featured performers on two primetime international broadcasts: THE EMMY Awards live from Los Angeles and The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations from Windsor Castle in the UK, where The Tenors performed for Her Majesty.

TRACK LISTING: LEAD WITH YOUR HEART
1. You and I (Vinceremo)
2. Lead With Your Heart
3. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
4. Me He Enamorado (Woman in Love)
5. World Stand Still
6. Journees d'innocence
7. Manana
8. Anchor Me
9. Viento
10. Amazing Grace featuring Natalie Grant
11. Forever Young
12. Lullaby (The Smile Upon Your Face) featuring Chris Botti
Bonus Track: Nessun Dorma

www.tenorsmusic.com

BOBBY MATOS AFRO LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE - MAMBO JAZZ DANCE

Mambo Jazz Dance is the latest from Bobby Matos Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble that features Theo Saunders -piano, John B. Williams-bass, Pablo Calogero-tenor sax & flute , Dan Weinsteintrombone & violin, Robertito Melendez-congas, Jud Matos-percussion, Bobby Matos -timbales & vocals, plus Special Guest Artists: Dr. Bobby Rodriguez-trumpet, Gabriel Rosati-trumpet & trombone, Harry Scorzo-violin, and Ismael Carlo- chorus.

Mambo Jazz Dance released on LifeForce Jazz Records was recorded live at two different Southern California concert venues, this recording also features strong contributions from some very special guest artists, in addition to the regular members of the ensemble. Well known jazz trumpeter Dr. Bobby Rodriguez is heard on all but one track, and three tracks also feature contributions from Italian/Brazilian trumpeter/trombonist Gabriel Rosati, chorus singer Ismael Carlo, and Jazz & Latin Jazz violinist Harry Scorzo (well known as an L.A. session regular and past member of cult Latin Jazz group Bongo Logic).

Charter members of the ensemble include arranger-multi instrumentalist Daniel Weinstein (trombone & violin). Dan's violin stretches out on the Charanga number Oiganlo, and he contributes two sparkling arrangements of two classic Latin tunes first heard in movies, Bahia & Anna (here recast as a Puerto Rican Bomba Sica).

Pianist Theo Saunders contributes two strong original Mambo Jazz tunes, Mambo Chris & Huevos Rancheros. Bassist John B. Williams stretches out on Mas Bajo part 2, a Tito Puente composition. Conguero Robertito Melendez lays down a fat tumbao throughout and explodes on the Charanga/Descarga No Me Diga' Na'. Weinstein, tenor & flute player Pablo Calogero, and Dr. Rodriguez demonstrate well honed jazz chops as well as a thorough knowledge of Afro Cuban and Afro Rican music.

Jud Matos lays down strong guiro and cowbell patterns, locking in well with Bobby's timbale grooves. Bobby Matos, the leader also contributes two originals; the "Mongo-esque" Mama Coolbeans and the modal spoken word mood piece The New Woman, where he blends English, Spanish, and Spanglish with the muted trumpet of Rodriguez.

This group easily transitions between a Latin Jazz horn oriented sound and a typical Cuban Charanga flute/violin/rhythm/ dance band sound, demonstrated so well on two examples of the sexy Cuban Guajira. Recuerdos, a Lalo Schiffrin tune first heard in the 1970's Hollywood film "Che", and Amanecer, a staple of Mongo Santamaria's book from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Recuerdos haunting beautiful melody is led through Theo Saunder's thoughtful and dynamic piano solo, while Pablo Calogero totally deconstructs the Cuban flute solo, introducing the very avant garde solo styling of this century.

Throughout this recording, you get the impression that Bobby Matos feels Mambo is one of the highest forms of musical expression, and that it is both true Jazz and true Afro Latin dance music (commonly known today as Salsa).

There is an art to producing a great studio recording but Jazz aficionados know full well that type of recording is not an accurate reflection of what a band really sounds like. Beyond the well assembled, edited, and manicured recordings, only a live session can give you the feel and excitement that you get from experiencing a group of talented and dedicated musicians deal with the creative risks that produce great performances.

On Mambo Jazz Dance, you can feel the joy and passion of musicians playing music that they clearly love. And you can hear that they have a great love, knowledge and respect for tradition but are not imprisoned by it. They are definitely unafraid of innovation and dare to mix elements of progressive and "avant garde" Jazz with traditional Latin dance elements to produce their unique and personal statements. Their virtuosity and experience come forth as the real sound of performance beyond a record producer's personal vision.

This is the real deal--seasoned Jazz and Latin Jazz musicians, great art, passionate rhythms and beautiful melodies resulting in music that is the real Mambo Jazz Dance!. The new CD is available now!!

GIL SCOTT-HERON - THE REVOLUTION BEGINS: THE FLYING DUTCHMAN MASTERS

The three albums Gil Scott-Heron recorded for Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman label are some of the most important in the history of black music. They show a multi-talented artist reaching maturity with his first recorded efforts. ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ transcended its place as an album track to become an aphorism, a slogan on a T-shirt, omnipresent shorthand for alternative culture. Over the years these recordings have been treated in a haphazard way, reissued in cheaply packaged collections that used edited versions of some of the most important tracks. “The Revolution Begins” gathers together every piece of music released by Gil on Flying Dutchman, including a track recorded with Bernard “Pretty” Purdie which has never been previously reissued. We have gone back to the original master tapes, bringing you sound that’s better than you’ll ever have heard and new clarity to Gil’s words and the musical performances. Access to those tapes has also enabled us to assemble an alternate version of Gil’s third album, “Free Will”.

Gil emerged in 1970 as the author of a novel, The Vulture, and a small book of poetry titled Small Talk at 125th and Lenox. Through a contact at his publishing company, he was introduced to producer Bob Thiele, who couldn’t afford to make an album of music, but agreed to make a spoken word record. Titled after his book of poems, and recorded with just Gil and three percussionists, the album opened with the coruscating ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’. Still enthralling over 40 years on, it’s often forgotten how good this version is in comparison to the recording Gil made with a full band for his second album. His performance is perfectly judged, bringing emphasis where it was needed, without ever resorting to histrionics. By the time he reaches the final “The revolution will be no rerun, brothers, the revolution will be live”, the listener is hooked as surely as if he was watching a weekly soap opera.

The rest of the album covered topics as diverse as the harsh conditions in the housing projects, music and a subway poster for a horror movie. Most of the work still stands up today, with Gil always retaining a sense of humour and humanity, however angry he is. “Small Talk at 125th and Lenox” did well enough for Thiele to commission a follow-up, to be recorded with a full band. Gil had been working up a number of songs with Brian Jackson, a fellow student at Lincoln University. It was Jackson who lifted Gil’s music out of the rudimentary – something Gil was always keen to point out: “Brian was integral.”

Pieces Of A Man is an astounding album. Recorded with a band of top session musicians, with Jacksonon piano, there isn’t a bad track. The title track is a beautiful and moving tale of the destruction of a man’s worth told from the viewpoint of his son, while ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ captures the hellish nature of drug addiction and the hypocrisy of those who criticise rather than help addicts. ‘Lady Day and John Coltrane’ is not just a tribute to the titular heroes but to the uplifting power of music itself.

The album sold well enough and Esther Phillips’ cover of ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ brought further attention to Gil. Thiele was keen to get a third album together and the resultant “Free Will” was Gil’s most political yet. The wondrous ‘Did You Hear What They Said?’ skewers the Vietnam War more effectively than any thousand-word polemic. The title track takes aim at those who talk about themselves rather than getting involved in helping the community. The second side is a return to the spoken-word style of the first album and in ‘No Knock’ and ‘The King Alfred Plan’ gives us vibrant attacks on the Nixon administration. The album was the final release on the label. The alternate version contained here gives us a wonderful insight into Gil’s way of working.

At the time of their release, these albums did OK, but didn’t sell a whole lot of copies. Today they are the basis for the laudatory essays that appeared at the time of his 2011 comeback album “I’m New Here” and on his death a few months later. This 3CD set contains the best from a career that was full of great records.

~ By Dean Rudland / acerecords.co.uk