NEW INSTRUCTIONAL DVD FOR 2013 BY JASON "MALLETMAN" TAYLOR‏

Jason “Malletman” Taylor grew up in Brooklyn, NY listening to Lionel Hampton’s music. His curiosity was sparked by his mother, who was a fan of Hampton’s and would go see him perform at the Apollo Theater. This made Taylor interested in finding out more. However, he played the drums and xylophone before he eventually went on to play the vibraphone, which he describes as being “the most beautiful sounding instrument.” He became dedicated to mastering the “vibe” just like the late Hampton, who was so impressed during his first meeting with Taylor in 1981 that he took the young “Malletman” as his protégé and became his mentor. In addition to touring with the legendary Hampton and his 18-piece band, Taylor also lived with Hampton and received the kind of personal training and experience that can only be described as “priceless.” Taylor toured the U.S. and Europe with Hampton, which ended with the two of them playing at President Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Gala and Disneyland in 1985. It was during that time when Malletman formed Mallet Records, a record company dedicated to its mission of “Keeping Real Music Alive.”


1985 was also the year that Malletman flew away from Hampton’s nest and began promoting his first recording, Once Upon a Mallet (1984) which caught the attention of quite a few people. In 1986, Malletman released his sophomore recording, Good Grief/My Destiny after which, Taylor returned to his true love - performing. Over the years to follow, he developed his unique live show into one that awed audiences and critics alike. As the 1980’s ended, Taylor released the successful Love Attack which featured the singles, “Love Attack” and “Pick Me Up.” “Love Attack” (The Remix) was number 24 on the Let’s Dance! Record Pool Urban Chart in December 2000, placing higher than singles by artists such as Outkast, Lil’ Kim, Eminem and Erykah Badu. Malletman went on to record other releases. Taylor is a five-time Grammy ballot-nominee. His nominations include Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for “The Christmas Song” (1998). His CD single, Live at Mallet’s Place (2005) features “Once Upon a Mallet,” a lively original composition, along with a seductive version of the jazz standard, “Misty.” He is currently working his next release, which will offer at least 10 tunes.

Malletman is known for his unique presentation of Jazz, R&B and Swing, creating a signature sound that is all his own, which he calls “Vibrafunk.” He has been in the company of such greats as Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, George Clinton, James Brown, Branford Marsalis, Steve Washington, B.B. King, Slide Hampton and Bill Cosby, who is a well-known jazz fan. Taylor has opened up for Earth Wind and Fire (2003), Isaac Hayes (2002), Pancho Sanchez (2000), The Manhattans (1996), Najee (1996), Paquito D’Rivera (1996), Pieces of a Dream (1996), Diana Reeves (1995).

Malletman has a new instructional DVD coming out in 2013 entitled "The Mallet Code".

Source: sonicbids.com

CLARINETIST ANAT COHEN, DRUMMER MATT WILSON & DOUBLE-BASSIST MARTIN WIND - NEW TRIO FRESHLY DUBBED NY3 - PLAY GREENWICH HOUSE MUSIC SCHOOL

"Anat does what all authentic musicians do: She tells stories from her own experiences that are so deeply felt that they are likely to connect listeners to their own dreams, desires and longings." - Nat Hentoff

The Sound It Out series presents NY3 - the all-star trio of clarinetist/saxophonist Anat Cohen, drummer Matt Wilson and double-bassist Martin Wind - in a very rare performance at 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 1, 2012, at the Greenwich House Music School in New York City's West Village. Cohen has won hearts and minds the world over, with her expressive virtuosity and delightful stage presence having earned her top spots on both the critics and readers polls in DownBeat magazine several years running. Reviewing Cohen's 2008 headlining set with her quartet at the North See Jazz Festival, DownBeat said: "Cohen not only proved to be a woodwind revelation of dark tones and delicious lyricism, but also a dynamic bandleader who danced and shouted out encouragement to her group. . . With her dark, curly, shoulder-length hair swaying to the beat of the music as she danced, she was a picture of joy." The irrepressible Wilson is a first-call drummer for sessions ranging from straight-ahead jazz to the avant-garde, as well as bandleader in his own right with such groups as the popular Arts & Crafts. Wind has played with the top European jazz orchestras and with icons from Phil Woods to Pat Metheny, as well as leading his own bands. Tickets for NY3 are $20 ($15 for students), available at the door; go to www.greenwichhouse.org for more information.

This will be only the second show to date by NY3, so sparks are sure to fly as the trio airs fresh takes on standards and a brace of new originals. Cohen, who will be playing both clarinet and tenor saxophone, says: "The music we perform as a trio comes from the jazz tradition, but it's very playful - we have fun with sounds and melodies, following our instincts, without overanalyzing. Matt Wilson is like a kid onstage, and that's what I like to be - it's great to have a partner in crime like him. Matt gets these incredible sounds from the drums, and Martin has this deep, round, almost classical sound on the bass, using his bow in such a musical way. And not having a traditionally harmonic instrument in the band, no piano or guitar, it frees us from pre-assigned roles, so we can really explore the music - so we can play in every sense of the word."

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, and now a citizen of the U.S., Anat Cohen has been voted Clarinetist of the Year six years in a row by the Jazz Journalists Association, as well as 2012's Multi-Reeds Player of the Year. Anat has toured the world with her quartet, headlining at the Newport, Umbria, SF Jazz and North Sea jazz festivals as well as at such hallowed clubs as the Village Vanguard. This fall, Anzic Records released her sixth album as a bandleader, Claroscuro, which ranges from buoyant dances to lyrical ballads as it showcases Anat's fluency in a global set of styles - from New Orleans and New York to Africa and Brazil. For more information, go to www.anatcohen.com.

Matt Wilson, born and raised in Illinois, has performed on some of the world's top stages, from Jazz at Lincoln Center to the White House. He has played on more than 250 recording sessions as a sideman, as well as released nine albums as a leader for Palmetto Records and recorded five more as a co-leader of such projects as Trio M with Myra Melford and Mark Dresser. For more info, go to www.mattwilsonjazz.com. As a composer and bandleader, Martin Wind has a long-running quartet with Scott Robinson, Bill Cunliffe and Tim Horner, as well as a duo with a fellow native of north Germany, guitarist Ulf Meyer; for more info, go to www.martinwind.com.

Events in the Sound It Out series at Greenwich House Music School include a post-show meet-and-greet for performers and listeners with refreshments provided by Greenwich House. Tickets for NY3 are $20 ($15 for students and seniors), available at the door. The Greenwich House Music School is located at 46 Barrow Street, half a block west of Seventh Avenue South (212-242-4770, www.greenwichhouse.org). Upcoming performances in the Sound It Out series at Greenwich House include Kris Davis & Tim Berne on December 6; and the Darius Jones Quartet on December 20, with Matt Mitchell, Trevor Dunn and Ches Smith. For additional coming attractions, see the Sound It Out concert schedule below; and there are more exciting shows being added - go to www.facebook.com/sounditoutnyc.

Established in 1905, Greenwich House Music has long been a focal point of the downtown arts scene, with pivotal figures from Henry Cowell, Edgar Varèse and John Cage to Meredith Monk, Joan La Barbara and Morton Subotnick linked with the institution. Singer-songwriter Steve Earle and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen have performed at Greenwich House, and jazz has a history there, too: Varèse and composer Earle Brown, collaborating with saxophonist-producer Teo Macero, hosted an improvisation session in 1957 with a group that included such players Art Farmer and Charles Mingus. More recently, the Jazz Composers Collective held important concerts at Greenwich House in the '90s. Curated by Bradley Bambarger, the Sound It Out series aims to continue this tradition by hosting musicians from jazz and other venturesome genres, further binding Greenwich House Music with progressive scenes across New York City.

For more information about Sound It Out, contact Bradley: 917-805-8747; bradleyb3@earthlink.net.
Greenwich House Music School: 46 Barrow Street, New York City, www.greenwichhouse.org, 212-242-4770

8TH ANNUAL JAZZ IN THE GARDENS MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF ARTIST LINEUP



Earth Wind & Fire

 Miami Gardens’ 8th annual two-day Jazz in the Gardens music festival at Sun Life Stadium is proud to announce its first round of artists. Earth Wind & Fire, Charlie Wilson, Najee, Mary Mary and Rachelle Ferrell will take the stage for the March 16 and 17, 2013 festival. The City of Miami Gardens is thrilled to announce UPTOWN Magazine as its presenting sponsor for the festival, a perfect partnership as this popular national brand is known for celebrating the luxury lifestyle of professional and influential urban consumers. Nationally syndicated radio personality Michael Baisden, known for his love of great entertainment, has joined the line up as the festival’s host.

“This is the 8th year of Jazz in the Gardens and we’re hitting our stride. We want to make this the best entertainment experience anyone could ever attend in the U.S. It’s gonna be an all the way live weekend”

Jazz in the Gardens success is attributed to the list of legends that grace the stage each year along with its incredible food, affordable tickets and Miami Gardens’ amazing March weather. For the past seven years, the festival has enjoyed unprecedented growth and has consistently delivered increases in attendance. More than 50,000 music lovers from the Caribbean, United States and all over Florida attended the 2012 festival.

“This is the 8th year of Jazz in the Gardens and we’re hitting our stride. We want to make this the best entertainment experience anyone could ever attend in the U.S. It’s gonna be an all the way live weekend,” said Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. “And with our first round of performers, I’m very thrilled with this show already and there are more acts to announce! Once the full lineup is revealed, this will be the best festival we’ve ever had."

The 2012 "Jazz in the Gardens" featured performances from legendary artists including Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Patti LaBelle, KEM, Kenny G, Doug E Fresh, Kevin Eubanks, Ramsey Lewis and Nicole Henry. Previous years have included celebrated artists such as Erykah Badu, John Legend, Robin Thicke, the late Teena Marie, Wyclef, Babyface, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Chaka Khan, Chrisette Michele, Common, Anthony Hamilton, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Al Jarreau, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, EnVogue, Lalah Hathaway, Branford Marsalis and Roy Ayers.

For more information about the 8th Annual "Jazz in the Gardens," please call the general hotline at (877) 640-5299 or visit www.jazzinthegardens.com. Like at www.facebook.com/jazzinthegardens, follow @jazzgardens and use the Twitter/Instagram hashtag #JIG8.

Sponsorship requests should be directed to Roane Consulting Group at (804) 506-4020 or sponsorships@jazzinthegardens.com. Food and merchandise vendor requests should be sent to vendors@jazzinthegardens.com.

EMMY ROSSUM RELEASES ALBUM OF CLASSIC SONGS - SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

Warner Bros. Records has announced that it has signed vocalist and award-winning actress Emmy Rossum to its roster. The New York City native will release her first album for the label, a collection of covers of classic songs that span the '20s to the '60s entitled Sentimental Journey, on January 29th, 2013.

The album's highlights include its title track, which was a No. 1 hit for Les Brown and His Band of Renown with Doris Day as the vocalist in 1945; "These Foolish Things," a '30s standard that has been recorded by everyone from Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby to Rod Stewart and Michael Bublé; "Summer Wind," which was popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1966; and "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time," which was a Top 5 hit for the Andrews Sisters in 1941.

"I grew up surrounded by classical music singing in the Children's Chorus at The Metropolitan Opera and when I would come home, the house was filled with the voices of Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, and Judy Garland," Rossum says. "For as long as I can remember, my mother would sing 'Apple Blossom Time' to me as a bedtime lullaby. Classics, jazz, and standards really infused my childhood and so it felt quite natural to finally make this record."

Last winter, Rossum hit upon the idea to make an album that felt like a musical calendar, an album that would take listeners on an emotional journey through the 12 months of the year. "Each song needed to either lyrically or emotionally reflect the corresponding month," Rossum explains. "Some songs were obvious fits, like 'Summer Wind' for June, 'Apple Blossom Time' for May, 'Autumn Leaves' for October, and 'Pretty Paper' for December. Others songs were less literal fits. I chose 'Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)' for September because, to me, the plaintive melody and lyric emotionally reflect the cold weather creeping in and the sense of melancholy we can get in the fall months."

Recorded over three days at The Village in Los Angeles, Sentimental Journey was produced by Rossum's friend Stuart Brawley, who also co-wrote and produced her 2007 album Inside Out. "I wanted the record to sound authentically of the era, which is why I had all the musicians play live together in one room while I sang on a vintage mic in the vocal booth," Rossum says. "I love the sound of 1920's records, like the Bessie Smith songs I grew up listening to, which is why we mastered to tape. I wanted the record to have the harmonic influences of The Andrews Sisters and the swing of Sinatra records, but wanted it to also feel authentically me."

Rossum is also an acclaimed actress who currently stars in the Showtime dark comedy series Shameless with William H. Macy. She also stars alongside Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons, and Viola Davis in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures feature film Beautiful Creatures, which hits theaters on February 13th, 2013. Rossum's other film credits include Poseidon, Mystic River, The Phantom of the Opera (for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination), and Songcatcher (which earned her an Independent Spirit nomination). But even with her busy acting career, making Sentimental Journey is a project that is close to Rossum's heart.

"Whenever I have an artistic compulsion, I follow it," she says. "For a while I had been feeling a strong desire to make music again and a strong desire to make this kind of music -- songs written and recorded before music became synthesized and computerized-sounding, when it was just simple, beautiful songs and someone standing up and singing them. I know there are generations that are familiar with this music and the original versions, but there's also a whole generation that isn't and I really want to share these songs with that younger generation as well. I've always gravitated towards a more classic vocal approach, which likely stems from my training as a child, so I feel incredibly comfortable and happy singing these songs."

The track-listing for Sentimental Journey is as follows:
"Sentimental Journey" (Les Brown, Ben Homer, Arthur Green)
"The Object Of My Affection" (Pinky Tomlin)
"I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover "(Mort Dixon, Harry M. Woods)
"These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)" (Eric Maschwitz, Jack Strachey)
"(I'll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time" (Albert Von Tilzer, Neville Fleeson)
"Summer Wind" (Heinz Meier, Johnny Mercer)
"Many Tears Ago" (Winfield Scott)
"All I Do Is Dream Of You" (Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed)
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" (Jimmy Cox)
"Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert)
"Things" (Bobby Darin)
"Pretty Paper" (Willie Nelson)

Bonus Track:
Keep Young and Beautiful (Harry Warren, Al Dubin)

You can pre-order Emmy Rossum's Sentimental Journey Fan Edition at www.emmyrossum.com and receive a physical CD, a calendar featuring exclusive photos capturing the album's 12 month musical journey, and an instant download of the song "Pretty Paper."

JIMI HENDRIX'S PEOPLE, HELL & ANGELS COMING MARCH 5, 2013!

Previously Unreleased Completed Studio Recordings from 1968-70 Reveal Post-Experience Experimental Dimensions of Legendary Guitarist

Experience Hendrix LLC and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, proudly announce the release of People, Hell & Angels, an essential new album premiering twelve previously unreleased studio recordings completed by guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

People, Hell & Angels showcases the legendary guitarist working outside of the original Jimi Hendrix Experience trio. Beginning in 1968, Jimi Hendrix grew restless, eager to develop new material with old friends and new ensembles. Outside the view of a massive audience that had established the Experience as rock's largest grossing concert act and simultaneously placed two of his albums in the US Top 10 sales chart, Jimi was busy working behind the scenes to craft his next musical statement.

These twelve recordings encompass a variety of unique sounds and styles incorporating many of the elements—horns, keyboards, percussion and second guitar—Jimi wanted to incorporate within his new music. People, Hell & Angels presents some of the finest Jimi Hendrix guitar work ever issued and provides a compelling window into his growth as a songwriter, musician and producer.

People, Hell & Angels will be available Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

With an album title coined by Jimi Hendrix, People, Hell & Angels reveals some of Hendrix's post-Experience ambitions and directions as he worked with new musicians--including the Buffalo Springfield's Stephen Stills, drummer Buddy Miles, Billy Cox (with whom Hendrix had served in the 101st US Army Airborne and later played on the famed R & B 'chitlin circuit' together) and others--creating fresh and exciting sounds for the next chapter in his extraordinary career.

People, Hell & Angels is co-produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott. Kramer first met Hendrix at Olympic Studios in London in January 1967. Hendrix, who would have turned 70 on November 27 this year, developed a unique rapport with Kramer. As a result, Kramer engineered every album issued by the guitarist in his lifetime and recorded such famous Hendrix concerts as the Woodstock festival in August 1969. Since 1997, Kramer has teamed with Janie Hendrix and John McDermott to oversee the release of each Jimi Hendrix album issued by Experience Hendrix.

The dozen previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix performances premiering on People, Hell & Angels include "Earth Blues," "Somewhere," "Hear My Train A Comin'," "Bleeding Heart," "Baby Let Me Move You," "Izabella," "Easy Blues," "Crash Landing," "Inside Out," "Hey Gypsy Boy," "Mojo Man" and "Villanova Junction Blues."

A musical companion piece and successor to 2010's Valleys Of Neptune, the critically acclaimed album showcasing the artist's final recordings with the original Jimi Hendrix Experience, People, Hell & Angels offers tantalizing new clues as to the direction Hendrix was considering for First Rays Of The New Rising Sun, his planned double album sequel to 1968's groundbreaking Electric Ladyland.

Unlike contemporaries such as the Beatles or Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix owned his songs and master recordings. He did not have to record his music at recording studios owned and operated by his record company. Hendrix spent countless hours recording his new music at new, independent music studios such as New York's Record Plant and the Hit Factory. Hendrix was so focused on recording his music that, concurrent with nearly all of the sessions featured as part of People, Hell & Angels, he was underwriting the construction of his own recording facility--the state of the art Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village.

Janie L. Hendrix, President/CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC, commented, "We're thrilled to be able to release People, Hell & Angels during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of my brother's birth. The brilliance of the album serves to underscore what we've known all along: that there has never been and never will be a musical force equal to his and that we cherish and take inspiration of what he left us both now and for many generations to come...simply eternity."

"People, Hell & Angels provides us with further insight into the genius of Jimi Hendrix," said Adam Block, President, Legacy Recordings. "Working with new rhythm sections and instrumentation, Jimi Hendrix was opening up the horizons of his music, creating new sounds filled with endless possibilities."

People, Hell & Angels - Track by Track

Earth Blues:
Totally unlike the version first issued as part of Rainbow Bridge in 1971, this December 19, 1969 master take features just Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles--stripped down funk at its very origin.

Somewhere:
This newly discovered gem was recorded in March 1968 and features Buddy Miles on drums and Stephen Stills on bass. Entirely different from any previous version fans have ever heard.

Hear My Train A Comin':
This superb recording was drawn from Jimi's first ever recording session with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles--the powerhouse rhythm section with whom he would later record the groundbreaking album Band Of Gypsys.  Jimi shared a deep love for the blues with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Both musicians understood Jimi's desire to create what he described as a 'new type of blues'. Jimi's menacing lead guitar is the centerpiece of this dramatic addition to his remarkable legacy.

Bleeding Heart:
This Elmore James masterwork had long been a favorite of Jimi's. He had performed the song earlier that year with the Experience in concert at the Royal Albert Hall and had attempted to capture the song in New York studio sessions during the weeks that followed. Recorded at the same May 1969 session as "Hear My Train A Coming," the track conveys Jimi's firm understanding of the arrangement and tempo he desired. Before they began, Jimi instructed Cox and Miles that he wanted to establish a totally different beat than the standard arrangement. He then kicked off this amazing rendition that was nothing like any other he had ever attempted.

Let Me Move You:
In March 1969, Jimi reached back to another old friend, saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood. Before he was discovered by Chas Chandler in the summer of 1966, Jimi had contributed guitar as a nondescript studio sideman for Youngblood and such infectious rhythm and blues styled singles such as "Soul Food". This March 1969 session features Hendrix and Youngblood trading licks throughout this never before heard, high velocity rock and soul classic.

Izabella:
In the aftermath of the Woodstock festival, Jimi gathered his new ensemble, Gypsy Sun & Rainbows, at the Hit Factory in August 1969 with engineer Eddie Kramer. "Izabella" had been one of the new songs the guitarist introduced at the Woodstock festival and Jimi was eager to perfect a studio version. This new version is markedly different from the Band Of Gypsys 45 rpm single master issued by Reprise Records in 1970 and features Larry Lee, Jimi's old friend from the famed rhythm & blues 'chitin' circuit', on rhythm guitar.

Easy Blues:
An edited extract of this gorgeous, free flowing instrumental was briefly issued as part of the long-out-of-print 1981 album Nine To The Universe. Now nearly twice as long, the track offers fans the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic interplay between Jimi, second guitarist Larry Lee, Billy Cox and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

Crash Landing:
Perhaps known as the title song for the controversial 1975 album that featured Hendrix master recordings posthumously overdubbed by session musicians, this April 1969 original recording has never been heard before. Jimi is joined here by Billy Cox and drummer Rocky Isaac of the Cherry People to record this thinly veiled warning to his girlfriend Devon Wilson.

Inside Out:
Jimi was fascinated by the rhythm pattern that would ultimately take form as "Ezy Ryder". Joined here by Mitch Mitchell, Jimi recorded all of the bass and guitar parts for this fascinating song--including a dramatic lead guitar part amplified through a Leslie organ speaker.

Hey Gypsy Boy:
The roots of Jimi's majestic "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" trace themselves to this March 1969 recording. Unlike the posthumously overdubbed version briefly issued as part of Midnight Lightning in 1975, this is original recording that features Jimi joined by Buddy Miles.

Mojo Man:
Jimi would lend a hand to Albert & Arthur Allen, the vocalists known as the Ghetto Fighters, whom he had befriended in Harlem long before he achieved fame with the Experience. When the two recorded this inspired, previously unreleased master at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama they took it back to Hendrix at Electric Lady Studios. Jimi knew just what to do to elevate the recording beyond contemporary R & B to the new hybrid of rock, rhythm and blues he was celebrated for.

Villanova Junction Blues:
Long before his famous performance of this song at Woodstock, Jimi recorded this studio version with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles at the same May 1969 session which yielded "Hear My Train A Comin'" and "Bleeding Heart" also featured on this album. Never fully finished, the song stands as an example of the fertile ideas he hoped to harness and bring to fruition.

jimihendrix.com
SOURCE Legacy Recordings

TONY BENNETT & TOP LATIN MUSIC ARTISTS STAR IN UNIVISION'S HOLIDAY SPECIAL 'FELIZ NAVIDAD CON LOS NUESTROS...TONY BENNETT Y SUS AMIGOS"

Legendary entertainer and 17-time Grammy Winner Tony Bennett will become the first non-Hispanic celebrity personality to star in a primetime broadcast special on Univision - the country's leading Hispanic television network. Set to air on Sunday, December 9th at 10:00pm ET, "Feliz Navidad Con Los Nuestros...Tony Bennett y Sus Amigos" is a unique mix of live performances and filmed vignettes related to Bennett's newly released CD, Viva Duets - which features the singer performing his greatest hits with today's top Latin music artists.

Hosted by Univision's Giselle Blondet, the hour-long special will share exclusive behind-the scenes footage from the recording of Viva Duets - including studio performances and Segments with Marc Anthony, Romeo Santos, Gloria Estefan, Vicente Fernandez, Thalia, Juan Luis Guerra, Chayanne & more of today's leading Latin music figures. Tony Bennett will also treat audiences to solo performances of his classic hits "I Wanna Be Around" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," and unveil new duet performances with Latin stars Shaila Durcal and Armando Manzanero. Bennett will join Manzanero on a special rendition of the famed composer's "Yesterday I Heard The Rain," and collaborate with Durcal on "Steppin' Out (With My Baby)," and a heartfelt performance of "Silent Night" to usher in the holiday season.

Viva Duets recently debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart, giving Bennett his third consecutive top five album during his '80's (including the multi-platinum Duets and Duets II releases). Hailed by press as "a sublime & jovial meeting of cultures... a bilingual beauty and musical masterpiece," Viva Duets also hit #1 on iTunes charts in the U.S. and several Latin-American countries - including Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and El Salvador.

Tony Bennett commented, "It has been a heartwarming journey to meet and record with all the artists from the Latin music world and I have been overwhelmed by their generous spirit and musicality. I am truly honored to have been welcomed into this community of artists."

"We are honored to have a musical legend like Tony Bennett on our air," " said Alberto Ciurana, president of Programming & Content, Univision Networks. "His music transcends cultures and speaks to our commitment to celebrate our culture and connect America, which is why we are proud to bring this event alongside an A-list line up of guests to our viewers."

SOURCE: RPM/Columbia Records

NEW RELEASES - ROBERTA FLACK, TATHAM, MENSAH, LORD & RANKS, RAUL DE SOUZA

ROBERTA FLACK - CHRISTMAS SONGS

A great remake of Roberta Flack's Christmas album from 1997 – one that remixes the whole record from scratch, and comes up with a sound that's even warmer than before! Flack's voice is wonderful for these Christmas tunes – filled with raspy soul and personal charm that really sends things home – especially on some of the less-iconic Holiday tunes, which Roberta really makes her own. Instrumentation is mellow, and really draws a deeper sound in this new mix – just the right vibe for the laidback, late night Christmas mood. Titles include "25th Of Last December", "There's Still My Joy", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", "The Christmas Song", "When There's Love", and "Because The Child Was Born". CD also features a bonus track – "Cherry Tree Carol". ~ Dusty Groove

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 – and titles include "THB", "Kenny", "Naive", "Seven4", "Mind Skies", "Badly Persuaded", "Stars Shine For You", "Quantum Shift", "You Know It's Like That", and "Mr Pickles". ~ Dusty Groove

RAUL DE SOUZA - UNIVERSO MUSICAL DE RAUL DE SOUZA (CD/DVD)

A wonderful tribute to the mighty talents of trombonist Raul De Souza – a package that features individual DVD and CD performances by the musician, brought together in one cool little set! Both formats feature recent material, ostensibly recorded for this package – and all tracks on the CD are not on the DVD – and vice versa – which means that you'll get an even broader picture of Raul than you might expect! The performances are great, too – very jazzy, with a style that focuses heavily on De Souza's lead trombone lines and solos – without much other instrumentation getting in the way. Given the many styles that Raul's used over the years, it's great to hear such a back to basics jazz-based set – echoed by guest work on the DVD from Joao Donato on piano and Hector Costita on tenor sax. DVD titles include "Spiritual", "A Vontade Mesmo", "St Remy", "Funky Man", "Bossa Eterna", "Jumping Street", and "Violao Quebrado" – and CD titles include "Alibi", "Ligia", "10 Minutos", "Voila", "Viva O Rio", "Up Jumped Spring", and "Todas As Tribos". Comes in an oversize package – with notes in English and Portuguese! (All Region, NTSC coded.) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - GILBERTO GIL, OLIVIA & FRANCIS HIME, JOAO NOGUEIRA

GILBERTO GIL - EXPRESSO 2222

Gilberto Gil's first album after a few years exile in England – and a really explosive record that recalls the brilliance of his Tropicalia years! The record's an incredible blend of rootsy percussion, raspy guitar, and tripped-out production – all delivered with an instrumental sensibility that's even more sophisticated than before, and a lyrical interplay that's really amazing – extremely poetic at points, even if you can't understand the language! As with Gal Costa in the early 70s, Gilberto Gil manages to keep some of the best experimental elements of his music burning bright, even after the collapse of the Tropicalia movement – and as with some earlier Tropicalia gems, this album features some great work on bass and guitar from Lanny Gordin, not to mention drums and percussion from Tutty Moreno, who's better known for his later work with Joyce. Tracks include "Back In Bahia", "Expresso 2222", "Oriente", "Chiclete Com Banana", "Pipoca Moderna", and "O Sonho Acabou". (Great fold-out artwork inside the jewel case – replicating the design of the original LP!) ~ Dusty Groove

OLIVIA & FRANCIS HIME - ALMA MUSICA SONS & SILENCIO - AO VIVO (DVD)

A really lovely performance from Olivia and Francis Hime – and one of the most intimate we've ever heard from the pair, too! Olivia sings with just piano accompaniment from Francis – in a way that still has all the majesty of the latter's full arrangements, yet which comes across in this subtle, spare way that's mighty nice – especially when Francis joins Olivia a bit on vocals, too! The format really allows a strong showcase of the maturing talents of both artists – the kind of masterful performance we might have heard from MPB legends a few decades back – on titles that include "Canta Maria", "Minas Geraes", "Saudade De Amar", "Versos Soltos No Mar", "Cancao De Pedroca", "Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce", "Trocando Em Miudos", and "Risque". DVD features bonus tracks and "making of" material too! (There is no indication, but we are assuming this is an All Region DVD.) ~ Dusty Groove

JOAO NOGUEIRA - BAMBA DO SAMBA

A sweet live performance from Joao Nogueira – originally done for the Ensaio TV program in Brazil – with all the up-close qualities that always make that show so great! The set's actually a bit more electric than other Ensaio sets – a surprising change, given the sometimes rootsy feel of Nogueira's music – yet the group is small, and the performance definitely has a nice spontaneous feel – almost off the tracks at times, which brings even more urgency to Joao's vocals than usual. Titles include "Espelho", "Um Ser De Luz", "Mineira", "Boteco Do Arlindo", "Clube Do Samba", and "Minha Missao". ~ Dusty Groove

MAYSA - DOIS TONS DE MAYSA / ANDO SAO NUMA MULTIDAO DE

A smashing 2CD set – one that features two very compelling albums from the lovely Maysa! First up is a self-titled album from 1964 – one of Maysa's first efforts ever, and done in the sweet style of the legendary Elenco label! The set's a live one, and features light bossa arrangements by Eumir Deodato – played by a combo that includes Deodato himself on organ and piano, plus vibes by the engimatic Ugo! Maysa's vocal tone still has some of the drama of later years, but the bossa arrangements really give the whole thing a lighter, livelier feel – one that we really love!

Titles include "Demais", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Dindi", "Bouquet De Izabel", "Fim De Noite", and "Bom De Tristeza". Ando So Numa Multidao De Amores is a great one from 1970 – a record that features some great arrangements by Luiz Eca and Roberto Menescal, both of whom give the album a gentle glide that offsets the emotive quality of Maysa's vocals nicely. Titles include "Que Eu Canse E Descanse", "As Praias Desertas", "Quando Chegares", "Bonita", "Suas Maos", "Eu", "Assim Na Terra Como No Ceu", "Molambo", and "Yo Sin Ti". Plus, the CD also features a number of bonus tracks too – including "Historia De Amor", "Homem De Bem", "Depois De Tanto Tempo", "Tema De Simone", and "Nosso Caminho". ~ Dusty Groove

SANTANA ANNOUNCES THE SENTIENT TOUR 2013

Santana has announced the The Sentient Tour 2013, as Carlos and the band are heading to Australia, Asia and New Zealand, as well as multiple shows at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Here are the announced dates but stay tuned as more dates are being scheduled.

1/19/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
1/20/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
1/23/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
1/25/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
1/26/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
1/27/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
1/30/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
2/01/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
2/02/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
3/11/2013 - Osaka Castle Hall, Osaka, Japan
3/12/2013 - Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
3/17/2013 - AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
3/19/2013 - Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
3/21/2013 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
3/22/2013 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
3/24/2013 - West Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Fremantle, Australia
3/27/2013 - Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
3/28/2013 - Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
3/29/2013 - Bluesfest, Byron Bay, Australia
3/31/2013 - Deni Blues & Roots, Deniliquin, Australia
5/01/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/03/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/04/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/05/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/08/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/10/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/11/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/12/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/22/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/24/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/25/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/26/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/29/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
5/31/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
6/01/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
6/02/2013 - House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV

ERIN O'LUANAIGH - HONEYSUCKLE ROSE

Erin O'Luanaigh's voice has a depth and maturity that belies her twenty-one years, and a style that hearkens back to such jazz greats as Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Anita O'Day. This vocalist from Cheshire, Connecticut is new on the scene, but has already garnered attention and accolades with the October release of her debut album, Honeysuckle Rose.

Erin was introduced to jazz at the age of twelve by her grandfather, who pulled out a Frank Sinatra album from his impressive record collection and unwittingly changed her life. Within weeks, she was memorizing Ella's scat solos and singing "Fever" into a hairbrush. Yet, her first opportunity to sing jazz in earnest came in 2008, as a student at Hillsdale College in Michigan. There, she majored in English Literature, but spent most of her time in the College's jazz studio, studying, rehearsing, and jamming under the direction of department head Chris McCourry. Within the first week of her freshman year, she became the sole student member of The HillCats, Hillsdale College's Faculty Jazz Band. With The HillCats, she performed in concerts, fundraisers, and master classes throughout Michigan for the duration of her college years. In 2009, she became the vocalist of the Hillsdale College Big Band. During her senior year, the Big Band participated in the 2012 Liberal Arts Jazz Festival, adjudicated by Jim Rupp, David Jensen, and Brienn Perry, in which Erin was named "outstanding soloist."

At Hillsdale, Erin also sang with the student jazz combo "Rob Roy," which performed in clubs and coffeehouses throughout southern Michigan. She was a member of the international music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota, and received the Buhrer-True Scholarship for excellence in music.

Her first album, entitled Honeysuckle Rose, was Erin's parting gift from the Hillsdale College Music Department. It was recorded at Solid Sound Studios in Ann Arbor, Michigan shortly before her graduation in May 2012. The album is accompanied by both The HillCats and the College Big Band, and derives much of its source material from a tribute concert to Anita O'Day, performed during Erin's sophomore year. The majority of the album was recorded live.
Erin's music has been featured on the internationally syndicated “Dick Robinson’s American Standards By the Sea,” and "The Don Kennedy Show." Mr. Kennedy spoke ecstatically of "Honeysuckle Rose," claiming, “Erin's voice made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. She sings with great expression and a depth that you just can’t hear— you've got to feel.”

She currently teaches English and history at a private school in Hartford, Connecticut, and tutors part-time in English and SAT prep. Erin is occasionally seen in local musical theater productions, most recently playing "Betty Schaefer" in the Warner Theatre Stage Company's production of "Sunset Boulevard" in Torrington, Connecticut.

But her first and greatest love is jazz. She is currently performing in venues throughout Connecticut with masterful pianist John Brighenti, who has toured throughout the U.S. with the Glenn Miller and Eddy Howard Orchestras, among others. She hopes she will one day have the great fortune to pursue her passion for jazz singing full-time.

Her album may be purchased through the Hillsdale College Bookstore at the following website: http://bookstore.hillsdale.edu/MerchDetail.aspx?MerchID=723926. It will soon be released on iTunes.

To learn more about Erin's music, please visit her website: http://flavors.me/erin_oluanaigh.
Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

VISIONARY SONGWRITER OTIS TAYLOR RETURNS WITH 'MY WORLD IS GONE ' HIS POWERFUL AND UNIQUE BLEND OF ROOTS MUSIC AND NARRATIVE POETRY

Roots music visionary Otis Taylor’s 13th album, My World Is Gone, set for release February 12, 2013 (international release dates may vary) on Telarc, a division of Concord Music Group, is a lightning bolt of musical creativity and social commentary. Its songs crackle with poetic intelligence and a unique, adventurous sound that balances the modern world with echoes of ancient Africa, Appalachia and more.

To call Taylor a cutting edge artist is an understatement. Although his music is based in the blues and folk realm, his meticulously crafted recordings crash the barriers of jazz, rock, funk, Americana and myriad other genres to create a hybrid that Taylor labels “trance blues.” And that signature style serves as a backbone for his frank tales of struggle, freedom, desire, conflict and, of course, love.

The central theme of My World Is Gone was fueled by Taylor’s friend Mato Nanji, the singer-guitarist and cornerstone of the band Indigenous. “Mato inspired the entire direction of this album,” Taylor relates. “We were talking about history backstage at a Jimi Hendrix tribute concert that Mato had just played, and, in reference to his people, the Native American Nakota Nation, he said ‘My world is gone.’ The simplicity and honesty of those four words was so heavy, I knew what I had to write about.”

Taylor had already begun composing new tunes with other themes for his follow-up to 2012’s critically heralded Contraband. Three of those — “Green Apples,” “Gangster and Iztatoz Chauffeur” and “Coming With Crosses” — appear on My World Is Gone.

But inspired by Nanji — who plays electric and acoustic guitars on six tracks and joins Taylor on vocals for several songs — and by his own understanding of Native American culture developed in part through dealing in Indian art as a young man, Taylor embarked on a soul-searching journey into the past and present, and into the psyche, of America’s indigenous people.

“I’ve written songs about slavery, but here in America that’s considered part of the past,” Taylor explains. “What’s happened and what’s happening to Native Americans is still going on. A lot of people forget that. This is a reminder.”

With his customary brevity, power and grace, Taylor conveys his stories in intimate detail and uses his rich baritone voice to give his characters breath and humanity. The album starts on point with “My World Is Gone,” portraying how the gilded seductions of the white man’s culture undermined the Native American way of life. The melancholy in Taylor’s and Nanji’s vocal performance, as they sing from the perspective of an Indian tormented by temptation and loss, is buoyed by the gentle melodies of Anne Harris’ fiddle and Nanji’s electric and acoustic guitars — the acoustic six-string an Otis Taylor signature model, with only 14 frets, built by the premier instrument makers at Santa Cruz Guitars.

Taylor revisits his song “Lost My Horse,” which originally appeared on 2001’s White African, with a new arrangement that features him and Nanji trading guitar and mandolin lines.

“In the days of the frontier, having a horse could be a matter of life or death, or comfort or poverty, and the horse has been an important part of Native American culture in the west, so the song fit perfectly,” he explains.

“Sand Creek Massacre Mourning,” which recounts the murder of 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho victims by Col. John Chivington’s cavalry in 1864, rests on the backbone of Taylor’s banjo, his primary instrument. He’s played mostly electric banjos on previous albums, save for 2008’s roots-focused Recapturing the Banjo, but on My World Is Gone Taylor employs four-, five- and six-string acoustic models. “I wanted to get back to that organic sound, because the banjo’s spoken to me since I was a kid,” he says. “Its voice instantly brings you back in time, and so much of My World Is Gone is about history and tradition that its sound is perfect for these songs.”

Nanji again shares vocals with Taylor on “Blue Rain in Africa,” in which a Native American reflects on the survival of his culture, despite the odds, after seeing the birth of a white buffalo — a rare and highly sacred event — on TV. The song’s threads of hope are a striking contrast to “Never Been to the Reservation,” with its lyrics about “babies sleeping on the ground,” although both numbers benefit from Nanji’s burnished blues licks.

While Taylor’s vision can be dark and ominous — the title “Coming With Crosses” is self-explanatory — his songs often celebrate hope and beauty in poignant ways. “Jae Jae Waltz” uses its spare construction of banjo, drums, bass and guest Ron Miles’ cornet to tell a story of a widow’s search for new love, and “Sit Across Your Table” celebrates the comfort and joy a workingman takes in his marriage. The song is also a surprising foray into untempered rock ’n’ roll, with a wailing guitar solo by Shawn Starski.

Starski and Taylor are versatile musicians who make their six-strings sound like an African kora on both “Green Apples” and the quirky Elmore Leonard-like tale “Gangster and Iztatoz Chauffeur.” Starski is the latest addition to Taylor’s touring band, which also includes Anne Harris on fiddle, Larry Thompson on drums and bassist Todd Edmunds, who has replaced Taylor’s daughter Cassie, a fixture of his earlier albums and groups. She now leads her own band, Cassie Taylor & the Soul Cavalry.

Otis Taylor’s own parents were an important part of his musical foundation. His father was a passionate jazz fan who encouraged his son to become a musician. His mother has become the subject of several of Taylor’s songs. Although he was born in Chicago in 1948, his parents relocated their family to Denver when Taylor was a small child in part to protect their son from the harsh realities of urban living. In addition to listening to jazz in his father’s record collection, he fell deeply under the spell of the Mississippi Delta legend John Lee Hooker, whose spare, almost mystical sound still resonates in Taylor’s own work.

“I get a lot of my sense of space and my vocal phrasing from John Lee Hooker, whose music, especially his solo recordings, is so heavy and has so much space that it sounds like it’s alive,” Taylor explains. His other vocal totem is James Brown, whose shouts and howls inspire the thunderous vocal declamations that punctuate many of Taylor’s own recordings.

As a young man, Taylor mastered the banjo and moved on to the harmonica and guitar. He performed with electric guitar virtuoso Tommy Bolin as T&O Short Line, and by 1974-76, he was playing bass as part of the Boulder-based rock group Zephyr. Taylor even jammed with Jimi Hendrix once and pursued his muse to Europe, but frustrations with the music business led him to retire from performing in 1977. He became a dealer in art and antiques, and pursued another of his passions, bicycle racing, as a coach.

In the ’90s, the door to Taylor’s musical past was pried open by friends in the Boulder area, and in 1996, he independently released his debut album, Blue Eyed Monster. With the release of his next two discs, When Negroes Walked the Earth and White African, he began to shake up the blues world with his marvelously original music and his unflinching tales about racism, struggle and heritage. Over the years, Taylor has garnered more than a dozen Blues Music Awards nominations, and White African won Best Debut Album. He is also regularly nominated as an instrumentalist, and won a Blues Music Award for his imaginative banjo playing in 2009. Also, his albums Double V, Definition of a Circle and Recapturing the Banjo took Downbeat’s Best Blues CD awards in 2005, 2007 and 2008, respectively. In all, Taylor has won five DownBeat awards. He has also been nominated twice for the prestigious Académie Charles Cros award in France.

His 2009 recording, Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs, was released in the same week that two of Taylor’s songs were heard by millions in Michael Mann’s blockbuster movie Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.

In 2010, Taylor started his own annual Trance Blues Festival in Boulder, Colorado, which brings a broad cast of professional and amateur musicians together for three days of performances, jams and workshops.

“The thing about music is that it’s not just a spectator sport,” Taylor says. “In a world where there’s a lot of misunderstanding, music can help people communicate and break down barriers, and start to really see each other for who they are.

“I write songs about people remembering, bearing witness,” Taylor continues. “I’ve learned that if you write about things that are important, people will listen. That’s one of the reasons why I wrote the songs that I did for My World Is Gone.

“I push myself to be prolific and to make every new album better than the last one for personal reasons, too,” he relates. “A few years ago I had a cyst removed that was attached to my liver and spine. It was a life-threatening situation — really painful. I didn’t know if I was going to survive the surgery. I came to grips with the idea that the albums I’m making are going to be my legacy. And I want the people who love me — my family, my friends — to be proud.”

JUKEBOX MAMBO - RUMBA & AFRO-LATIN ACCENTED RHYTHM & BLUES 1949 - 1960 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

An amazing document of a short-lived, but really incredible genre – the 50s mix of R&B and Latin-inspired rhythms – particularly the heavy piano of a mambo-styled groove! The sound seems an unlikely mix, but it's one that you've no doubt heard on a few famous Atlantic Records singles from the time – taken up here by a host of much more obscure artists, who really know how to make the rhythms leap along with the grooves!

The approach has definite echoes of New Orleans R&B, particularly in its use of the piano in heavy comping lines – but there's also a much wider sound going on too, especially in the way the percussion often drives the tunes in really unusual ways.

The album's overflowing with amazing tracks – and titles include "Salty Dog" by Marvin Phillips, "Big Joe Mambo" by Fay Simmons, "Mambo Mexicana" by Gerald Wilson, "Snake Charmer" by Mad Man Jones, "Boppin With The Mambo" by The Sultans, "Honeydripper Mambo" by Alfredito, "A Dream" by Billy Red Love, "Pu Chun Ga" by Elene Madera, "Cozy & Bossa" by Cozy Cole, "Shrinking Up Fast" by Camille Howard, "Take A Chance On Me" by Annisteen Allen, "Eee Ooo Voodoo" by Red Callender, and "Down To The Bottom" by Larry Dale. AMAZING PACKAGE – One of the coolest sets we've ever seen – put together with six 10" LPs, in a folder that looks and feels like a vintage 78rpm package – complete with a booklet on the music – and also 4 tracks not on the other versious! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - BUDDY GUY, DEXTER GORDON, THE BRECKER BROTHERS BAND

BUDDY GUY - LIVE AT LEGENDS

Live music and blues lovers alike, will appreciate another chapter of Buddy Guy’s musical magic with Live at Legends, a new live record to be released on December 18th! Live at Legends features Guy’s last live recordings from his original Legends blues club in Chicago, captured during his 2010 residency. The album includes two amazing medleys: John Lee Hooker’s "Boom Boom" into Cream’s "Strange Brew;" and Jimi Hendrix’s "Voodoo Child" into Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love." It also features three previously unreleased studio recordings from Guy’s critically acclaimed Living Proof album sessions: "Polka Dot Love," "Coming For You," and "Country Boy."  ~ buddyguy.net

DEXTER GORDON - BOTH SIDES OF MIDNIGHT

One of the first great European statements from tenorist Dexter Gordon – a 1967 live recording that really lets Dexter stretch out, and show an even deeper side of his talents than on his 60s albums for Blue Note! The rhythm section here is rock solid – Kenny Drew on piano, Neils Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums – a unit that still retains the sharpness of the Blue Note dates, but also has the energy to "go long" as Gordon pushes a few of the numbers on the set well past the ten minute mark. Gordon's solos are wonderfully imaginative and expressive – and titles include "Devilette", "For All We Know", "Doxy", and "Sonnymoon For Two". Material previously issued on LP under the title Montmartre Collection Vol 1. ~ Dusty Groove

THE BRECKER BROTHERS BAND - BACK TO BACK

Soulful fusion from The Brecker Brothers – a set that's one of their standout efforts from the 70s – and a record that went onto influence a whole generation of jazz musicians too! The album features the twin horns of Randy & Michael Brecker, along with alto by David Sanborn, keyboards by Don Grolnick, and guitar by Steve Khan – but one of the things that really makes the album great is the vocal arrangements, which were handled by Luther Vandross, who also sings on the album along with Patti Austin! The set's got a great soulful feel – with some wonderful mellow groovers that have a sweet 70s sound – titles that include "Lovely Lady", "Night Flight", "Slick Stuff", "What A Miracle Can Do", "I Love Wastin Time With You", "Keep It Steady", "Grease Piece", and "Dig A Little Deeper". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "If You Wanna Boogie (single version)", and "Slick Stuff (single version)". ~  Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MAYER HAWTORNE, RONNIE FOSTER, ALEXANDER HAWKINS / LOUIS MOHOLO-MOHOLO



MAYER HAWTHORNE - KCRW'S MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC

A limited edition slice of goodness from Mayer Hawthorne – a live performance recorded for the Morning Becomes Eclectic program on KCRW in LA! The material's a nice addition to the studio Hawthorne we already love – and shows a new sort of warmth that comes through not just in the performance, but in some of the interview bits too. The band is a small combo, and titles include "No Strings", "Love In Motion", "Dreaming", "The Walk", "Shiny & New", and "I Wish It Would Rain". (Limited edition indie store exclusive for Black Friday 2012. Includes mp3 download.) ~ Dusty Groove

RONNIE FOSTER - LIVE AT MONTREUX

A really amazing album from keyboardist Ronnie Foster – one of his hippest of the 70s, and even quite different from his other work for Blue Note! The album features Foster on organ, in a really open, fluid live setting – working on these stretched-out tracks with a small combo – all in ways that are as completely sublime as his Two-Headed Freap album – yet with a very different groove! The sounds from Foster's fingers are amazing – spacey and soulful, yet with this cosmic sort of beauty – soaring to the skies with Larry Young-ish energy at points, but kicking back with a gentle groove at others. The trio features work by Greg Miller on guitar and Marvin Chappell on drums – and titles include an incredible take on Seals & Crofts' "East Of Ginger Trees" – plus the cuts "Chunky", "Boogie Juice", and "Sameness". ~ Dusty Groove

ALEXANDER HAWKINS / LOUIS MOHOLO-MOHOLO - KEEP YOUR HEART STRAIGHT

A smashing set of work from drummer Louis Moholo – a set that shows that after all these years, he's still a richly creative talent on his instrument! The album has Louis duetting with pianist Alexander Hawkins – a younger player who'd caught his ear a few years before, and who turns out to be a perfect partner for the record – graced with just the right kind of free-thinking, yet spiritual elements as Moholo's own music – able to stretch out strongly with a lot of freedom, yet never lose sight of the overarching goal! The tracks are all long and open – and almost recall some of the interplay between Moholo and Chris McGregor in years back – especially some of the freer work on the 70s London scene. The album's a beautiful extension of the Ogun Records tradition – and titles include "Lakutshon Ilanga", "Hear Our Hearts", "Heavy Manners", "Amaxesha Osizi", "If I Should Lose You", "Pure Vision", and "Catch You On The Rebound". ~ Dusty Groove

MILES DAVIS QUINTET - LIVE IN EUROPE 1969: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 2

"THIRD GREAT QUINTET,’ aka ‘THE LOST BAND’ OF 1969-’70, WITH MILES DAVIS, WAYNE SHORTER, CHICK COREA, DAVE HOLLAND, AND JACK DeJOHNETTE AT THEIR PEAK – NEVER RECORDED IN STUDIO

DELUXE 3-CD + DVD PACKAGE PRESENTS PREVIOUSLY ONLY BOOTLEGGED 1969 LIVE RECORDINGS FROM ANTIBES JAZZ FESTIVAL (FRANCE), STOCKHOLM, AND COLOR VIDEO RECORDING IN BERLIN ON DVD

Follows critically-acclaimed, award-winning box set of 2011, Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1, starring ‘second great quintet’ of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams

Columbia/Legacy again pays tribute to musical legend Miles Davis with the release of Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2, the second edition in the label’s widely-heralded Miles Davis Bootleg Series. The sequel to 2011’s critical and commercial blockbuster, Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1, this new set moves ahead two years and presents the ‘third great quintet’ of Miles, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette, a lineup of the world’s most highly-regarded jazz musicians, then and now. This 3-CD + DVD box set will be available everywhere January 29, 2013, through Columbia/Legacy.

Live In Europe 1967 (released September 2011), the debut entry in the Miles Davis Bootleg Series, was by far the most acclaimed historic jazz box set of 2011. It received a “5-star” review from Down Beat magazine, and was voted Historical Album of the Year in the Down Beat Readers and Critics Poll.

Live In Europe 1967 was ranked the #1 reissue in both the Critics and Readers polls of JazzTimes magazine, and the Jazz Journalists Association voted it Best Historical or Boxed Set. The package received an “A” from Entertainment Weekly, and Pitchfork.com said “At its heart, jazz thrives on bold, sensitive interaction in the moment, and Live In Europe 1967 represents the pinnacle of that practice.” Rave reviews appeared in a wide array of publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Nation, Slate, and many others.

In his Sunday “Arts & Leisure” rave review of Live In Europe 1967, New York Times critic Nate Chinen concluded: “It’s humbling to think that a release like Live in Europe 1967 might help illuminate jazz’s present as well as its past, but that’s what great archival work can do. So congratulations, Columbia/Legacy. Now, what’s next?” The answer to his question is: Live In Europe 1969.

“After we finished In a Silent Way,” Miles told his biographer Quincy Troupe (in the definitive Miles The Autobiography, Simon & Schuster, 1990), “I took the band out on the road; Wayne, Dave, Chick, and Jack DeJohnette were now my working band. Man, I wish this band had been recorded live because it was really a bad motherfucker. I think Chick Corea and a few other people recorded some of our performances live, but Columbia missed out on the whole fucking thing.”

Live In Europe 1969 lives up to the Miles Davis Bootleg Series mission of presenting live performances that are previously unreleased, have previously only been bootlegged, or are very rare. The new box represents the first major collection to be devoted exclusively to the short-lived ‘third great quintet,’ sometimes referred to as Miles’ ‘lost band’ of 1969-70: Shorter on soprano and tenor saxophones, Corea on electric piano (and occasionally acoustic piano), Holland on acoustic bass, and DeJohnette on drums.

The Miles-Shorter-Corea-Holland-DeJohnette lineup (in tandem with other players) began to solidify during the 1968-‘69 recording dates that became the Filles De Kilimanjaro and In a Silent Way albums. And they were at the core of the dozen or so musicians joined together by Miles in August 1969, for the principal sessions that became the landmark turning point of his Grammy Award®-winning Bitches Brew.

But the ‘third great quintet’ by itself was never documented in the recording studio. Their European tours of 1969, represented on this new package, are some of the only existing recordings of the group, and the first legitimately released audio recordings by this stellar lineup. Underscoring their official debut here, over 43 years later, is a superbly shot multi-camera color DVD of the band at its hottest in Berlin in November, 1969. Miles is seen in the best of health in 1969, eating a macrobiotic diet (along with the other band members), and avoiding drugs. As a result, his playing was never stronger than on these 1969 concerts, with his chops at an absolute peak.

Live In Europe 1969 captures the short-lived quintet in three separate concert settings, starting with two full-length (one hour-plus) sets at the Antibes Jazz Festival in France on CD One (July 25th) and CD Two (July 26th). The locale moves to Stockholm on November 5 for the program heard on CD Three. In Stockholm, the quintet performed as part of “The Newport Jazz Festival In Europe” and they are introduced (on the CD) by the festival’s producer and founder, George Wein.

The DVD is the complete 46-minute color performance of the quintet at the Berlin Philharmonie on November 7, 1969. As with Live In Europe 1967, the paradox of Live In Europe 1969 is the fact that the concerts were recorded by state-owned radio and television outlets – a case of European bureaucracies (thankfully) preserving our American jazz heritage. This has also enabled Legacy to have access to the best-sounding original masters in each case.

The audio and video sources of Live In Europe 1969 have been remastered from the best available masters, which Legacy has secured from the European broadcast centers who originally documented the material. As with all of Legacy’s Miles Davis historic projects over the past two decades, the remastering has been done by multi-Grammy Award®-winning Sony engineer Mark Wilder. The audio and video is far superior to any previous circulating [bootleg] versions of this material.

In the tradition of Legacy’s historic releases, Live In Europe 1969 will include a booklet with comprehensive liner notes. The box also includes full discographical data, as well as rare or uncirculated photography and memorabilia.

For this package, an expansive 3,000-word essay (“Field Recordings from a Future-Leaning Past”) has been written by noted journalist Josef Woodard, winner of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for jazz writing in 1998, best known for his jazz writing in the Los Angeles Times. The essay features quotes from an interview with Miles in 1989, and interviews at various times (up through 2012) with all of the surviving members of the band. Shorter, Corea, Holland, and DeJohnette, whose contributions to Miles’ bands are legendary, are among the most prominent and acclaimed living jazz artists, still recording classic music and touring all over the world.

Live In Europe was produced for release by multiple Grammy Award® winners Richard Seidel and Michael Cuscuna, and was co-produced by multiple Grammy Award® winner Steve Berkowitz, the same team responsible for Live In Europe 1967.

The tracklisting for Live In Europe 1969 reveals that the Quintet was playing an inspired, wide-ranging repertoire. Material ran the gamut from 1969’s In a Silent Way (“It’s About That Time”) and Bitches Brew sessions (“Miles Runs the Voodoo Down,” “Sanctuary,” “Spanish Key,” “Bitches Brew”) all the way back in time to standards like “I Fall in Love Too Easily” (from 1963’s Seven Steps To Heaven) and Thelonious Monk’s “’Round Midnight.”

At no other time did Miles perform compositions from his be-bop era (“’Round Midnight”), modal era (the 1958 “Milestones”), ballads and blues of the early ’60s era (“I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “No Blues”), material from the ‘Second Great Quintet’ mid-to-late ’60s era (“Footprints,” “Nefertiti”) and late ’60s-early ’70s electric era (“It’s About That Time,” “Spanish Key”), all in the same set program, as he did at Antibes.

It is crucial to note that the versions of “Miles Runs The Voodoo Down” and “Spanish Key” at Antibes were performed live in July, well before the historic August 1969 Bitches Brew sessions, where they were first recorded in the studio. Likewise, the versions of “Bitches Brew” from Stockholm and Berlin are heard here several months before the album was released on Columbia Records in April 1970. As with Live In Europe 1967, the interpretations of the compositions are not only strikingly different than the original studio versions by other configurations of Miles’ groups, but differ wildly even from night to night on these four shows, again demonstrating the extraordinarily high level of creativity among these musicians.

The box set also contains multiple examples of Wayne Shorter’s unparalleled composing skills, from “Footprints” (dating back to 1967’s Miles Smiles) to multiple performances of his gems, “Nefertiti” and “Masqualero.” On the extremely rare and mostly acoustic set from Stockholm, there is a bonus track version of “This,” a Chick Corea composition that was never officially recorded by Miles Davis. Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2 is an indispensable link between the work of our most important and influential jazz musician at the end of the ’60s, and the road ahead to what the ’70s would bring.

As Jack DeJohnette told Woodard a few months ago, “Miles just keeps growing and growing and growing,” a surprising thing to say about any musician more than 20 years after his passing. But with Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2, Legacy once again digs deep to reveal a little known period in the work of a giant, seen and heard performing with an amazing band, music that was unlike anything he recorded before or after.

“And so,” Woodard concludes, “these important ‘field recordings,’ from a mysterious past and unfolding future, take us to a place and a time between the cracks of the Miles Davis story as it is commonly understood. For that alone, never mind the rattling, exploratory poetry of this band’s sound, this is a significant cultural document for the ears and the ages, not just the archives.”

Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2
CD One – Selections:
1. Introduction by André Francis
2. Directions
3. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
4. Milestones
5. Footprints
6. ’Round Midnight
7. It’s About That Time
8. Sanctuary
9. The Theme
(Recorded 7/25/69 at Festival Mondial du Jazz d’Antibes, La Pinède, Juan-les-Pins, France.)

CD Two – Selections:
1. Introduction by André Francis
2. Directions
3. Spanish Key
4. I Fall In Love Too Easily
5. Masqualero
6. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
7. No Blues
8. Nefertiti
9. Sanctuary
10. The Theme
(Recorded 7/26/69 at Festival Mondial du Jazz d’Antibes, La Pinède, Juan-les-Pins, France.)

CD Three – Selections:
1. Introduction by George Wein
2. Bitches Brew
3. Paraphernalia
4. Nefertiti
5. Masqualero (incomplete)
6. This
(Recorded 11/5/69 at “The Newport Jazz Festival In Europe,” Folkets Hus, Stockholm.)

DVD – Selections:
1. Introduction by John O’Brien-Docker
2. Directions
3. Bitches Brew
4. It’s About That Time
5. I Fall In Love Too Easily
6. Sanctuary
7. The Theme
(Recorded 11/7/69 at Berliner Jazztage in the Berlin Philharmonie.)

ERIC CLAPTON'S 2013 U.S. TOUR CULMINATING IN CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL

Widely considered one of the world’s all time greatest guitarists and known amongst his peers as a great collaborator, Eric Clapton has announced a major U.S. tour culminating in his fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival presented by Chase. The Festival, which has become legendary in its own right for hosting performances and impromptu collaborations from the world’s most legendary guitar players, will take place April 12-13 for the first time at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden. See full listing below of artists performing.

Clapton and his band will visit more than a dozen cities across the U.S. beginning March 14, 2013 (see itinerary below). The tour will end with the two-night Festival where Clapton will gather the past, present and future of guitar music onto one stage for an unparalleled musical event. All profits from the Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons. The Festival is presented by Chase.

Since its inception, Clapton’s vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival has been to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and perform together for the benefit of a good cause. This year’s Festival will feature two-nights of musical performances with once-in-a-lifetime guitar collaborations. Known as pioneers in their field, the roster of artists spans old and new. The audience can expect unrivaled entertainment, brilliant guitar work, surprise guests and impromptu jams that are the hallmark of these performers.

The first Crossroads Guitar Festival, in June 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, was an unprecedented collection of guitar icons from blues, rock and contemporary music. The sold-out show was chronicled in a 2-disc DVD that has since gone on to become one of the world’s top-selling music DVD’s. The Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 and 2010 were the second and third such concerts by Clapton and were staged at Toyota Park in Chicago. Both Festival were filmed for DVDs and met similar acclaim and achieved multi-platinum status. This will be the Festival’s first-ever visit to New York and Madison Square Garden.

“The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,” said Clapton. “The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.”

In addition to the concerts, the “Guitar Center Road to Crossroads Exhibition” will be featured on the Terrace level @ Madison Square Garden and will excite fans with an incredible guitar-centric celebration of past Crossroads Guitar Festivals. This exhibition will feature the “Legends Guitar Walk”, with some of the most valuable guitars in the history of Rock and Blues, including historic guitars from Guitar Center’s Legends Collection featuring Eric Clapton’s two most famous Fender Stratocasters®, BLACKIE® and ‘Brownie,’ Gibson ES-335 as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Lenny’ Fender Stratocaster®, plus selections from Guitar Center, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Experience Music Project. Additionally, Fender, Gibson, Ernie Ball and Martin will host interactive exhibits where guitar lovers can plug in and play new products and classic favorites, while all visitors will be able to peruse memorabilia and watch archival footage of once-in-a-lifetime performances from prior Crossroads festivals on video walls throughout the exhibition. The “Road to Crossroads Exhibition” will open at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. Saturday, and is free to all ticket holders.

Tickets for the Crossroads Guitar Festival Presented By Chase will be offered as an advance sale to Chase customers beginning Monday, November 26 at 12pm EST via www.ticketmaster.com through Thursday, November 29 at 10pm. General Public On-Sale will begin Friday, November 30 at 12pm EST. Tickets for the Clapton 2013 U.S. Tour will go on-sale beginning November 30, 2012. Please check local venue listings for more detailed information.

For more information go to www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com

CURRENT CROSSROADS FESTIVAL ARTIST LISTING
(Note: Two Different Nights of Music. Not All Artists Will Perform Both Nights)
Albert Lee
Allan Holdsworth
Allman Brothers Band
Andy Fairweather Low
BB King
Blake Mills
Booker T
Brad Paisley
Buddy Guy
Citizen Cope
Dave Biller
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr.
Jeff Beck
Jimmie Vaughan
John Mayer
John Scofield
Jonny Lang
Keb Mo
Keith Urban
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Los Lobos
Quinn Sullivan
Robbie Robertson
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sonny Landreth
Taj Mahal
Vince Gill

ERIC CLAPTON 2013 TOUR and ITINERARY
Clapton has assembled an impressive band for the 2013 U.S. dates which will consist of long-time touring partners: Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Steve Jordan (drums), Chris Stainton (piano and keyboards), and Willie Weeks (bass), along with newcomers Paul Carrack (organ and keyboards) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). Michelle John and Sharon White will join the touring band again as backing vocalists. The tour will also feature special guests, The Wallflowers. Please check local listings for ticketing information.

Thursday, March 14 - Phoenix, AZ - U.S. Airways Center
Saturday, March 16 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Sunday, March 17 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
Tuesday, March 19 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Wednesday, March 20 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
Friday, March 22 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
Saturday, March 23 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
Tuesday, March 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Wednesday, March 27 - Atlanta, GA - Gwinnett Arena
Friday, March 29 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
Saturday, March 30 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
Tuesday, April 2 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
Wednesday, April 3 - Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena
Friday, April 5 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
Saturday, April 6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
Friday, April 12 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Saturday, April 13 - New York, NY - Madison Square GardenusAll