NEW RELEASES - MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS, GEORGE LEWIS, DAVE DOUGLAS

MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS - THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS OF BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE: SIPHUMONESTY / MAMA AND DADDY / BLUES FOREVER / REJOICING WITH THE LIGHT / VIEW FROM WITHIN / THE HEARNGA SUITE / BLE BLU BLU / THIN ALL FOCUS ONE

Some of our favorite albums ever from pianist Muhal Richard Abrams – an amazing run of eight records for the Black Saint/Soul Note label – rich in fresh colors, tones, and new musical ideas! There's a sensitivity to some of these records that you don't always get with Abrams – a personal feeling that brings in a much-needed warmth to his complex compositional forms – often in collaboration with other players on the Chicago scene, but also with a wider range of avant players, especially from New York – where Abrams would have a great influence in the 80s. The lineup of musicians here is wonderful – a virtual who's-who of the jazz left at the time, at least from an American perspective – with performances from George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell, Amina Myers, Thurman Barker, Baikida Carroll, Andrew Cyrille, Craig Harris, Stanton Davis, Marty Erlich, Dick Griffin, Cecil Bridgewater, Fred Hopkins, Dierdre Murray, and so many others. The set features 8 full albums, each in a tiny LP-styled sleeve – and titles include Siphumonesty, Mama & Daddy, Blues Forever, Rejoicing With The Light, View From Within, Hearinga Suite, Blu Blu Blu, and Think All Focus One. ~ Dusty Groove

GEORGE LEWIS - COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & BLUE NOTE: SHADOWGRAPH / IMAGINARY SUITE / HOMAGE TO / CHANGE OF SEASON / DUTCH MASTERS

Amazing music from trombonist George Lewis – five different albums that each show a different side of his talents! First up is Shadowgraph 5 – a great early Black Saint, and a key example of the way the AACM spirit thrived overseas, thanks to the efforts of labels like this! The work is quite serious and experimental – almost compositional in nature, and definitely heading towards the AACM promise of "Great Black Music" – and other players include Roscoe Mitchell on saxes, Leroy Jenkins on violin, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, Douglas Ewart on bass clarinet and other reeds, and Abdul Wadud on cello. One track even has Lewis playing the Moog in addition to trombone and tuba! Imaginary Suite is a duet with Douglas Ewart – and features Lewis both on trombone and electronics – and even his trombone at times is "electronically modified", making it a really cool-sounding instrument. Ewart plays a bit of percussion – plus bass clarinet and flute – and often hits some electronically-sensitive sounds with his reeds, making the album a really compelling interplay between acoustic and electric elements. Homage to Charlie Parker is hardly the bebop outing you might expect from the title, and instead a set of complicated work that's heavily in the AACM tradition! Side one features "Blues" – an investigation of older blues harmonics, but done in a very freeform, experimental way – with tenor trombone from Lewis, piano from Anthony Davis, bass clarinet from Doug Ewart, and moog from Richard Teitelbaum. Change Of Season is a killer tribute to the music of Herbie Nichols – played by a committed batch of modernists who are clearly inspired by his genius – including Misha Mengelberg on piano, Steve Lacy on soprano sax, and Han Bennink on drums. The set's completed by Dutch Masters – Lewis' last album for the label, done with a compelling lineup that includes Misha Mengelberg on piano, Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Ernst Reyseger on bass, and Han Bennink on drums – but in a style that's very different than the previous Change Of Season album. ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE DOUGLAS - COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & BLUE NOTE: PARALLEL WORLDS / FIVE / CONVERGENCE / JOHN COLTRANE'S ASCENSION / BOUNCE / FORCE GREEN

Seminal work from trumpeter Dave Douglas – a half dozen albums recorded for the Black Saint/Soul Note labels, all of which show his depth and diversity – some with Douglas as a leader, some as a key player in other groups! Even at the start, Douglas showed a tremendous ability to step out into new settings and explore new ideas – which he certainly does on the albums in this set – each of which represents a different facet of his abilities, in ways that together make the package one hell of a collection! Albums include Parallel Worlds, which features a quartet with Mark Feldman on violin and Mark Dresser on bass; Force Green, led by bassist Mark Dresser, and featuring very interesting work on voice by Theo Bleckman; Bounce, a record by the John Lindberg Ensemble – led by bassist Lindberg, and also featuring saxes from Larry Ochs, and great drums from Ed Thigpen; Rova's 1995 recording of John Coltrane's Ascension, with three tenor saxes, two altos, two trumpets, two bassists, piano, and drums; Convergence, which features a group with Fedman on violin and Erik Friedlander on cello; and Dave Douglas Five, which has a quintet with Mark Feldman on violin, Erik Friedlander on cello, Drew Dress on bass, and Michael Sarin on drums. 6 albums in all – all in tiny LP-styled sleeves. ~ Dusty Groove

LARRY CARLTON - THEN & NOW: FOUR HANDS & A HEART VOLUME ONE

Though his multifaceted four-decade solo recording career should have merited a proper box set long before, jazz guitar great Larry Carlton finally got around to releasing a unique three-CD set -- on the same day he put out the third disc, Four Hands & A Heart, Vol. 1, as a stand-alone project. As its simple title implies, Then & Now is less a typical comprehensive compilation than a unique window into the different approaches Carlton took to his axes during his breakthrough years of the late '70s-early '80s and the 2010s -- with the 1978 live album Mr. 335 Live in Japan (never before released in the U.S.) beautifully sandwiched in the middle. Truly a set created for Carlton's most die-hard longtime fans -- but certainly enjoyable for any fan of melodic jazz fusion -- Then & Now offers some inevitably fun time-traveling, because the first thing the listener will want to do is listen to the songs culled from Larry Carlton (1978), Sleepwalk (1982), and Strikes Twice (1980) one by one and see how they match up with the more intimate, stripped-down versions (featuring mostly electric or acoustic guitars and essential percussion) that were recorded more recently.

For the most part, the new arrangements show a delightful mellowing with age, a more laid-back style (sometimes favoring acoustic over the electric) compared to the frenetic flurry of notes on the originals. On what is perhaps the most familiar and enduring of these, "Sleepwalk," none of the original emotion is lost -- but the simplicity and sound purity of the new rendering make it essential. Although some of the retro instrumentation and production are crucial to understand the original tracks as products of their time, it's great to hear the melodic and rhythmic essence of these melodies without the time-stamped bells and whistles. The classic, high-energy "young" Carlton sound also comes across powerfully on the seven-track live CD, which had only been officially available in Japan till now. There is some overlap here as well, with three live performances of songs that appear on the other CDs of the set. Although the focus is on the guitarist's personal evolution, the first two discs allow listeners to re-experience supporting performances by some of the best musicians Carlton has ever worked with, including the late Jeff Porcaro, Abraham Laboriel, Greg Mathieson, Robert "Pops" Popwell, and Terry Trotter. ~ Jonathan Widran

This is a once in a lifetime project! Larry Carlton has taken 21 tracks from albums he has previously recorded (Larry Carlton 1978, Sleepwalk 1982, and Strikes Twice 1980) and is re-releasing them along with 14 NEW versions of original songs which features Larry recording electric and acoustic guitars to his classic songs and is titled "Four Hands & a Heart Volume One". ~ CD Universe

NEW RELEASES - CORINNE CHATEL, CRIOLO, ANDREA BOCELLI

CORINNE CHATEL - METAMORPHOSES

Really beautiful vocal work from Corinne Chatel – spare tunes that mostly feature overdubbed vocal passages, sung wordlessly, often with a very musical feel – yet one that's quite offbeat too! There's a quality here that really reminds us of some of our favorite Meredith Monk work from years back – really imaginative, and never gimmicky at all – with an approach that's very abstract, yet somehow all makes complete sense too – logic that's all its own, yet really beautiful overall! Titles include "Call", "Les Sirenes", "Heartbeats", "Berceuse", "Angels Vocalizing", "Awakening The Goddess", and "South India". ~ Dusty Groove

CRIOLO - NO NA ORELHA

A really compelling blend of sounds – and a set that's billed as a hip hop album, but which is way way more than that – more a wonderful hybrid of global styles, all wrapped up with the crispness of the contemporary Brazilian underground! The set begins with a number that's straight out Afro Funk, the rolls into tracks that really run the gamut – a hip hop number or two, other African styles, and most especially, some of those cool genre-defying moments that we've really come to love from Brazil in recent years. Criolo's vocals are wonderful, especially when he's singing – with a warmth that takes us back to singers of the samba soul generation – and titles include "Bogota", "Mario", "Subirusdoistiozin", "Linha De Frente", "Lion Man", "Sucrilhos", and "Samba Sambei". ~ Dusty Groove

ANDREA BOCELLI - PASSIONE

International superstar Andrea Bocelli will release his new studio album, Passione on January 29. Filled with romance and beauty, Passione is a lush collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with global pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and the late Edith Piaf. The album reunites Bocelli with 16-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster, who produced Bocelli's 2006 release Amore, which sold more than 4.2 million copies. Passione is in essence the second volume of Amore, with a "fil rouge" which ideally connects the albums. As with Amore, which featured timeless masterworks, Passione includes several beloved classics such as "Love Me Tender," "Girl From Ipanema," and "Sarà Settembre," (better known to English-speaking audiences as Neil Diamond's "September Morn"). Jennifer Lopez is featured on the soft and sensual track "Quizás Quizás Quizás" and Nelly Furtado joins Bocelli on "Corcovado." The album also features a duet with the late French chanteuse Edith Piaf on the song "La Vie En Rose." On the album, Bocelli sings in six languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Neapolitan) with his unmistakable voice, as Foster accompanies him on piano, along with Peruvian guitarist Ramon Stagnaro. The sensual sound is rounded out by Cuban, Brazilian, and Portuguese rhythms and a 63-piece orchestra recorded in London.

THE PYRAMIDS 1973-1976 - THEY PLAY TO MAKE MUSIC FIRE: LABILELA / KING OF KINGS / BIRTH SPEED

A full three albums by the legendary Pyramids – all packaged together in one complete set, with a bonus video too! The Pyramids recorded three key records during the 70s – each of them an underground classic, all served up in a wonderful bit of spiritual soul jazz with a really cosmic feel! The group are heavy on percussion and reeds – blending congas and assorted other percussion instruments with soprano sax, alto, and flute – all in a captivating sound that builds up nicely over the course of the album's two long tracks! The music is very organic – never too forced, nor never too far out – and there's a majestic quality to the whole thing, one that really lives up to the group's name and image on the cover.

And although the ensemble hail from Ohio – hardly a spot you'd peg for spiritual jazz in the 70s – they're a key link between the early 70s avant movements in Chicago and St Louis, some of the hip grooves in Detroit's Tribe Records scene, and the growing loft jazz movement in New York. The reeds are especially nice – alto sax from Idris Ackamoor and flute from Margo Ackamoor – and all other group members play percussion, and vocalize too – singing along with some of the tunes in chanting, chorus formation, which adds an even further element of soul to the mix. Includes the full albums Lalibela, King Of Kings, and Birth Speed Merging – with bonus video content of The Pyramids Live On KQED in 1975. ~ Dusty Groove

THEANO & CHUCK LAMB - AS ABOVE SO BELOW

Chuck Lamb pianist andcomposer started the jazz fusion group Dry Jack, (cited in the Rolling Stone History), with which he released two internationally acclaimed albums on the Inner City Label..all original music primarilly composed by Chuvk Lamb, a native of upstate New York. He joined forces with vocalist/composer Theano, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who appeared in the film, WOMEN in JAZZ, (hosted by Carmen MacCrae) and voted Best Jazz Musician in WestWord/1994.

Together they have produced ninerecordings to date. Still in the arms of privilege - being music channelers -they built a strawbale music sanctuary in Crestone, Colorado, replete witha small performance/workshop space. Chuck , as well, performs (for the last 7 years) and records ('Classified'/2008. on the Koch label) with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Theano created her unique (free form) vocal workshop, One Voice Choir, nine years ago. They have gratefully garnered acclaim from Downbeat, Jazziz, Keyboard, The NY & the LA Times and countless other publications and media sources.

They travel insanely - hither, thither and yon ... and have enjoyed and relished greatly their musical interactions withmany gifted artists including Bela Fleck, Paul McCandless,Tuck & Patti, Woody Herman Orchestra, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Ursula Dudiak, Michael Moore, Dave Weckl, Ginger Baker, Joey Baron, Riffs, Ernie Watts, Jay Clayton, Eddie Daniels, Michael Murphy, Paul Pomaine, Ron Miles, Nelson Rangell....Yeah, the grateful kids have fun! ~ CD Universe

NEW RELEASES - BATIDA, BLO, B.B. KING

BATIDA - ALEGRA

Lots of earthy percussion here – especially on the leadoff 12" mix of "Alegria" – a flurry of bumping basslines and heady rhythms, peppered here and there with these echoes of older African grooves – almost drifting into the mix as if they're coming from a radio in the next room! The tune's also featured in a radio edit – and the flipside features the very percussion "Cuca (Manga Bo rmx)", which is almost a batucada cut at points – plus the heavier "Puxa (Beat Laden rmx)". (Limited pressing – with bonus download too!) ~ Dusty Groove

BLO - PHASE II

A 70s Afro Funk classic from Blo – really trippy grooves from this legendary Nigerian trio – and arguably their greatest album ever! Rhythms here are tremendous – not the usual sort of Afro style, and instead tightly focused at the roots, and coming off with this blistering blend that really drives the tunes strongly – jamming, but without ever jamming too much – kind of a steady fire that really sounds great underneath the vocals! The core elements of the trio are augmented by keyboards from Joni Haastrum and Segun Bucknor – each important Afro Funk players in their own right, who both really help add a nice sort of psych element alongside the skittish grooving of the guitar, bass, and drums. Titles include "Blo", "It's Gonna Be A Good Day", "Native Doctor", "Do It You'll Like It", "Atide", and "Whole Lot Of Sh*t". (Limited edition – with heavy vinyl and cover, and insert too!) ~ Dusty Groove

B.B. KING - BLUES IS KING

A 60s set from Memphis bluesman BB King – but one put together with a very distinct Chicago touch as well! The set's produced by Johnny Pate, and recorded live with a vibe that's similar to King's classic recording at The Regal – but it's almost got even more of a soulful punch, thanks to backing from a cool small combo that includes Bobby Forte on tenor, Kenneth Sands on trumpet, Duke Jethro on Hammond, and Louis Satterfield on bass! BB's vocals are great – in his best early form – and the tunes are bluesy, but also smoke with a nice degree of soul – and almost some jazzy touches at times from the tenor and organ. Titles include "Don't Answer The Door", "Blind Love", "Tired Of Your Jive", "Night Life", "Buzz Me", and "Waitin On You". CD features two bonus tracks – "Goin Down Slow" and "Sweet Sixteen (parts 1 & 2)" – both additional live numbers. ~ Dusty Groove

LUCAS SADER PROJECT - APOLLO: TRIBUTE TO THE MILES DAVID QUINTET

Here are the liner notes from "Apollo: Tribute to the Miles Davis Quintet", written by Lucas Sader.


The Storm and The Calm

Leaders are born somewhere between the storm and the calm, the seeds of unrealized change and the blossoms of a new reality. Trumpeter Miles Davis is widely recognized as both a musical and cultural icon. Miles led many paradigm shifts within jazz, through the unrelenting innovation of himself and his music, the effects of which have yet to be fully realized. Above anything else, Miles was a leader. Time and time again he acted as an artistic beacon, guiding music safely through many foggy mornings and torrential storms. Within the ancient labyrinth of Greek mythology there were twelve principal deities who made their home atop Mount Olympus. Apollo was one of these Twelve Olympians and represented a litany of virtues within their culture, including music. He was director of The Muses, a group of goddesses who oversaw the arts and sciences, and the lyre was his instrument of choice. I titled this album after Apollo because both he and Miles are iconic symbols who embody the power, beauty, and grace which music possesses. Miles constantly innovated throughout his career. His first groundbreaking project as a leader, the 1949 record Birth of the Cool, broke down racial barriers and epitomized the sound of cool jazz. Miles popularized the use of modes within jazz through the title track on his legendary 1958 album Milestones, and in 1969 he recorded Bitches' Brew, which was a critical stepping-stone toward the jazz-rock/fusion movement of the 1970's. Many of his records actually have the phrase "Directions in Music by Miles Davis" on their cover.

This record pays homage to Miles' legendary "Second Great" Quintet of the 1960's, which featured tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and young drumming phenom Tony Williams Individually, each musician is widely considered to be one of the most influential artists to ever play their instrument, but as a musical unit they were able to achieve something greater. Their extraordinarily high level of interaction, relentless creativity, and amazingly organic overall sound redefined the quintessential sound of a small jazz group and changed the landscape of music forever.

The Lucas Sader Project is dedicated to providing it's own unique perspective on music while honoring those who have walked before us. This recording features world-renowned trumpeter Derrick Gardner, alto and tenor saxophonist Paul Balcain, pianist Paul De Gurse, and bassist Karl Kohut. Each member of the group brought their own musical concept and sound to the music while capturing the spirit of Miles' Quintet. It was an honor to share this incredible experience with four musicians who are professionals and people of the highest caliber.

Musically, Miles was always moving forward. I felt it was essential to do the same in selecting and interpreting the diverse mosaic of material that comprises this album, through including works that Miles' group performed and recorded along with my own original compositions and arrangements. Our interpretations of jazz standards which Miles' group arranged, Cole Porter's All of You and Victor Young's Stella By Starlight, are featured here along with tunes written by members of Miles' group, including Eighty-One by Ron Carter, Victor Feldman's Joshua, and The Sorcerer by Herbie Hancock. My arrangement of Miles' classic ballad Blue in Green and three of my original compositions, the title track I penned in Miles' memory, Apollo, our theme for the album, Blues for Wynton Kelly, and Moonrise, round out the recording's material.

Battle born and battle worn, leaders are the product of many victories, and many more defeats. They view falling not as a setback, but as an opportunity to grow; to learn how to pick themselves back up. I believe that, while growth is at the root of leadership, leadership lies at the root of progress. ... Full Description I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to this album. I know that we had an incredible time recording it for you. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continuing support. Always remember that there is a leader within all of us.

Carpe diem,
- Lucas Sader, October 2012

At 21 years of age, Lucas Sader has established himself as a drummer, bandleader, composer, arranger, educator, and journalist.

Sader leads The Lucas Sader Project, a Winnipeg-based group committed to producing a fresh outlook on jazz music, which also features world-renowned trumpeter Derrick Gardner, alto/tenor saxophonist Paul Balcain, pianist Paul De Gurse and bassist Karl Kohut. Balcain, Kohut, and De Gurse are in-demand artists throughout Canada, while Gardner has worked with a litany of artists, including the Count Basie Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., Dizzy Gillespie and Tony Bennett. The group's debut album, titled "Apollo: Tribute to the Miles Davis Quintet", pays homage to one of the most innovative groups and bandleaders in the history of music; trumpeter Miles Davis and his legendary 1960's Quintet.

The album is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Paper using vegetable-based links to limit it's environmental footprint. The album also supports Winnipeg's arts community and economy as every aspect of production, including recording, mixing, mastering, design, printing, and packaging, was done locally. Recorded and mixed by Larry Roy at Musirex Productions. Mastered by Jordan Jackiew at Resosound Productions. Designed by John Funk at Underscorefunk Design.

Lucas Sader Music would also like to acknowledge the support of Manitoba Film and Music, FACTOR Canada, the Government of Canada through the department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund), and of Canada' Private Radio Broadcasters in the production of the album.

Sader is currently enrolled in the last year of his Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree in the University of Manitoba Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music, where he has had the privilege of studying with many world-class artists. He is currently a pupil of Quincy Davis and has also studied with Terreon Gully and George Colligan. Other teachers and mentors include David Schnieder of The Music Cellar, Bill Kristjanson, and Curtis Nowosad.

Lucas has had the great fortune of performing and recording with many different artists in a variety of settings, including Jimmy Greene, Steve Kirby's Jazz on Wheels, Larry Roy, Anna-Lisa Kirby, the Paul De Gurse Quartet (as part of the 2011 TD International Winnipeg Jazz Festival), Will Bonness, Erin Propp, and both the University of Manitoba Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Orchestra. For over two years, Sader was a member of Winnipeg-based rock group Departures. They embarked on a cross-Canada tour in the summer of 2010 following the release of their debut EP, titled "Kino-Pravda".

NEW RELEASES - THE JEFF PERRY QUARTET, PAUL ZABORAC TRIO, THE ARCH STANTON QUARTET

THE JEFF PERRY QUARTET - ABOUT TIME

Jazz guitarist Jeff Perry has a been called a "fusion guitarist in the best sense of the word" with a "personal voice that encompasses the intelligence of jazz with the emotion of the blues and the romanticism of Brazilian music" (Blues News Magazine) The nationally-known jazz club the Dakot calls him "Fabulous...one of the Twin Cities' Best". Perry has been recognized for his composing skills by jazz legend and Grammy-winner Dave Holland and by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Schooled both "on the street" and at the country's top music schools - Berklee College of Music, Boston MA and the American Conservatory, Chicago, IL - the guitarist has been influenced by a wide variety of music including Dixieland, swing, Bossa Nova, be bop, cool jazz and pop and rock music. He skillfully combines these influences to create a unique and inviting sound. ~ CD Universe

PAUL ZABORAC TRIO - ACTUALIZE

On the album Actualize, the Paul Zaborac Trio, featuring Bill Williams on bass and Deva Permana on drums, explores the concept of using the saxophone as an accompaniment instrument through the various extended techniques available to the saxophone. By using the saxophone in such a way, the ensemble explores and pushes the boundaries of the traditional tenor trio format. This novel approach to the saxophone is also juxtaposed with more traditional approaches to the instrument and ensemble, creating a music rich in contrasts and textures. The inspiration for exploring the concept of using the saxophone as accompaniment came from listening to jazz piano trios. In this ensemble a wide variety of textures can be created despite the limited instrumentation because of the piano's ability to provide both accompaniment and melodic material. This affords the ensemble a large degree of flexibility that is not as easily achieved in a jazz saxophone trio due to the saxophone's limited comping ability. This led one to explore using the vast array of extended techniques available to the saxophone as a means for it to function as an accompaniment instrument and provide more diverse textures. Inspiration for how to effectively utilize these extended techniques was largely drawn from the classical contemporary saxophone idiom, where there are examples of them being applied in a virtuosic and musical fashion. ~ CD Universe

THE ARCH STANTON QUARTET - ALONG FOR THE RIDE

The Arch Stanton Quartet, based in upstate New York, is putting a new spin on bop and post-bop jazz, with angular funk and latin grooves, expansive improvisation and inventive original tunes steeped in the post-bop tradition.


"Recorded live, this pianoless group offers up a magnificent seven originals and one classic cover. A highly eclectic CD, the material ranges from straight-ahead harder bop ('Along for the Ride') to more cerebral Monk-flavored rock-tinged fare ('Modest Sleuthing'). 'Della Royale' struts a Cajun-flavor and 'Flying Gurnard' exhibits freer expressive tonalities on which the group shines brilliantly. 'Compared to What' (not the Les McCann-Eddie Harris classic) pounds a heavy beat and 'Estate' ('Summer') is a beautiful rendition that sends it all home." -Nick Mondello, review of "Along For The Ride" on CDBaby

NEW RELEASES - GILLES PETERSON, IRON FIST CHRONICLES, GEORGE ADAMS

GILLES PETERSON - BLACK JAZZ RADIO (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Gilles Peterson takes on the Black Jazz catalog – and the results are completely sublime! The set features Gilles P selecting and mixing his favorite cuts from the legendary label – and the package is a great reminder that, in the years before he dedicated himself more strongly to 21st Century grooves, Peterson was our main man to go to for spiritual jazz like this! There's definitely a special magic to the whole thing – a way of choosing and sequencing the cuts that really unlocks the music even more – even if, like us, you already own all the titles on the Black Jazz label. The whole thing's got a wonderfully righteous vibe – filled with power and soul – and tracks include "Aunt Lovey" by Calvin Keys, "Maiden Voyage" by Kellee Patterson, "Second Wave" by Roland Haynes, "All Your Lover All Day All Night" by Cleveland Eaton, "Beauty & The Electric Tub" by Henry Franklin, "Spring Thing" by The Awakening, "Ndugu's Prayer" by Walter Bishop, and "Awakening Epilogue" by The Awakening. ~ Dusty Groove

IRON FISTS CHRONICLES - EPISODE 1: DEEP SOUL (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

The RZA-curated Iron Fists Chronicles! This limited volume in the Man With The Iron Fists soundtrack series is a 2CD compilation of classic Stax deep soul – and it's not only the material that inspired the score for RZA's directorial debut – but also funky soul bedrock for his most legendary Wu Tang productions! It's got classics and relative rarities alike by The Dramatics, The Emotions, Soul Children, Mad Lads, Sweet Inspirations, Isaac Hayes, Mel & Tim, Booker T & The MGs, Johnnie Taylor, William Bell and many more! You know the RZA isn't compromising or messing around when he's including Isaac Hayes' 15+ minute "Joy" in the set list – and the whole thing is great – really a top-shelf compilation from the Stax vaults! Nearly 2 1/2 hours of music on 2CDs! Includes "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by The Mad Lads, "I Could Never Be Happy" by The Emotions, "All It Takes Is You And Me" by Sweet Inspirations, "Move Over" by Soul Children, "Steal Away" by Johnny Taylor, "Keep The Faith" by Mel & Tim, "Sing A Simple Song" and "LA Jazz Song" by Booker T & The MGs, "Poverty's Paradise" by 24-Carat Black and more. ~ Dusty Groove

GEORGE ADAMS - COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE: DON'T LOSE CONTROL / HAND TO HAND / GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT / LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD / LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD VOL. 2

Some of the greatest albums ever from tenorist George Adams – packaged together here in a sweet set that also features the CDs in tiny LP-styled covers! Much of the music here was done in collaboration with fellow members of Charles Mingus' group – three albums with pianist Don Pullen, and all with drummer Dannie Richmond – players who are very simpatico with Adams' vibe, as they all together find rich new ground after the passing of Mingus. There's a soulful swing to most of the records – that way that Adams and Pullen had of being sharply creative, yet still rooted in straighter jazz modes too – balancing both impulses perfectly, especially over the progression of albums in this set. The package includes tiny LP-styled reproductions of the records Don't Lose Control, Hand To Hand, Gentleman's Agreement, and Live At The Village Vanguard Volumes 1 & 2. ~ Dusty Groove

TONY BENNETT'S ENTIRE COLUMBIA RECORDS CATALOG NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES

37 Newly Added Titles Complete Digital Discography of Legendary Artist

Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings/RPM Records announce the recent addition of thirty-seven deep catalog album titles to the online discography of legendary recording artist Tony Bennett. Available now on iTunes: Tony Bennett 's entire Columbia Records catalog including his Columbia Records singles, outtakes, rarities and more.The newly remastered and digitized Tony Bennett album collection spans the entire career of the great American pop vocalist as documented in the albums and singles he's made for Columbia Records (beginning in 1952 through the present).  

In addition to all of Tony's original albums, each with its original jacket design and original sequencing and, in many cases, bonus material, fans have access to newly curated collections -- "Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights" (2 volumes) and "The Columbia Singles" (6 volumes)."The Columbia Singles" brings together for the first time all of the singles Bennett recorded for Columbia Records, the label he signed with in 1950. Most of them recorded in the early 1950s, "The Columbia Singles" includes the a-sides and b-sides that were not included on individual albums.  

"Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights" collects rare tracks, previously unreleased outtakes, guest appearances on other artist's albums, soundtrack songs and more beginning with the recently discovered 1946 V-Disc recording of "St. James Infirmary Blues" that "effervescent delight," which was Tony's very first known recording. Nestled among the "Rarities" are two tracks from another fabled concert Bennett gave at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia with the Count Basie Orchestra, which was recorded and never released.

Tony Bennett fans will rejoice at the first digitization of On The Glory Road, a mythic session recorded in June 1962, at the height of his early 1960s career. A lost Tony Bennett masterpiece, On The Glory Road had been recorded, assigned a catalog number and assembled, only to be left on the shelf when Tony's "(I Left My Heart In) San Francisco" (originally the b-side to "Once Upon A Time") became a national hit and a compilation album of the same name was released instead. A smattering of tracks from Glory Road have been released but this allows fans to hear the whole album presented in its originally intended form.

Tony's latest album, the critically-acclaimed Viva Duets is available on iTunes, a one-stop spot to shop for all things Tony Bennett this holiday season. Alongside the digital editions of the complete Tony Bennett album collection, iTunes offers ebook and enhanced ebook editions of Tony's memoir "Life Is A Gift" and "The Zen of Bennett," the feature length documentary conceived and created by Danny Bennett , Tony's son and longtime manager.

When Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection was made available in a limited edition box set a year ago, Nate Chinen , reviewing the set for the New York Times (November 23, 2011), observed, "We aren't likely to see a recording career like this again."

Tony Bennett - The Complete Columbia Records Digital Collection
1.Rarities, vol. 1
2.Rarities, vol. 2
3.The Columbia singles, vol. 1
4.The Columbia singles, vol. 2
5.The Columbia singles, vol. 3
6.The Columbia singles, vol. 4
7.The Columbia singles, vol. 5
8.The Columbia singles, vol. 6
9.Cloud 7 – 2.7.55
10.Tony - 1.14.57
11.The Beat Of My Heart – 12.9.57
12.Long Ago And Far Away – 7.28.58
13.In Person! – 4.27.59
14.Hometown, My Town – 7.13.59
15.To My Wonderful One – 2.15.60
16.Alone Together – 7.11.60
17.A String Of Arlen – 10.24.60
18.Tony Sings For Two – 2.6.61
19.My Heart Sings – 8.7.61
20.Mr. Broadway – 3.19.62
21.On The Glory Road - 6.18.62
22.I Left My Heart In San Francisco – 6.18.62
23.Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall – 7.3.62
24.Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall – 7.3.62
25.I Wanna Be Around – 2.18.63
26.This Is All I Ask – 7.22.63
27.The Many Moods Of Tony – 1.20.64
28.When Lights Are Low – 4.20.64
29.Who Can I Turn To – 11.16.64
30.If I Ruled The World / Songs For The Jet Set – 4.19.65
31.The Movie Song Album – 1.31.66
32.A Time For Love – 8.20.66
33.Tony Makes It Happen – 3.20.67
34.For Once In My Life – 12.6.67
35.Yesterday I Heard The Rain – 7.22.68
36.Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album – 11.6.68
37.I've Gotta Be Me – 7.30.69
38.Tony Sings The Great Hits Of Today! – 1.7.70
39.Something – 10.14.70
40.Love Story – 2.10.71
41.Get Happy – 9.22.71
42.Summer Of '42 – 1.12.72
43.With Love – 5.24.72
44.Sunrise, Sunset – 6.22.73
45.The Art Of Excellence – 5.12.86
46.Bennett/Berlin – 11.10.87
47.Astoria – 5.31.90
48.Perfectly Frank – 9.15.92
49.Steppin' Out – 10.5.93
50.MTV Unplugged – 7.27.94
51.Here's To The Ladies – 10.24.95
52.Bennett On Holiday – 2.4.97
53.The Playground – 9.29.98
54.Bennett Sings Ellington – 9.28.99
55.Our Favorite Things – 10.23.01
56.Playin' With My Friends – 11.6.01
57.A Wonderful World (with k.d. lang) – 11.5.02
58.The Art Of Romance – 11.9.04
59.Duets – An American Classic – 10.11.06
60.Duets II - 09.20.11
61.A Swingin' Christmas – 10.14.08
62.Viva Duets - 10.23.12

NEW RELEASES - JAZZTRONIK, THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER, ALPHONSE MOUZON

JAZZTRONIK - STUDIO LIVE BEST

If you think you know Jazztronik, think again – because this beautiful set has the group working live in the studio – all spontaneous, without any overdubs or added programming – in a mode that's even more soulful than before, and which really represents a great progression for the Jazztronik style! As you'd guess from the name, there's always been plenty of jazz in their music – but this time around, the liveness really makes things crackle – and brings in an even deeper vibe and sense of humanity to their whole groove – whether the cuts are vocal numbers with a soulful finish, or some of the more cosmic instrumentals. Not really club jazz, but something even greater – and a tremendous achievement for Ryo Nozaki – one that's got us loving his music all over again! Titles include "Love Tribge", "Tiger Eyes", "Mista Swing", "Black Dragon", "Voyage", "Butterfly Dance", "Saumrai", and "Beauty Flow" – all done in new versions here. ~ Dusty Groove

THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER - LOVE IS ONLY EVERYTHING

Maybe the most smoking collaboration so far between The Dynamites and vocalist Charles Walker – a singer who only seems to sound younger and younger with each new record – driven on by the sharp funky sounds of the group! Walker's got a way of stretching out a note that's rooted in 60s deep soul styles – yet also has a compactness that fits in well with The Dynamites' hip blend of Hammond, trumpet, guitar, and saxes – all stepping out with a beautifully soulful vibe on the album's host of original tracks! Titles include "Wakie Wakie", "I Just Want To Know", "Love Is Only Everything", "Please Open Up The Door", "So Much More To Do", and "Yours & Mine", which features a guest appearance from Bettye Lavette! ~ Dusty Groove

ALPHONSE MOUZON - FUNKY SNAKE FOOT

A really unique album from funky drummer Alphonse Mouzon – a set that has him putting away some of the guitars used heavily on other Blue Note records, in exchange for a keyboard-heavy groove that almost sounds a bit like Gene Harris a the time! In addition to drums, Alphonse solos a fair bit on Arp, moog, and organ – alongside other keyboardists Harry Whitaker and Leon Pendarvis – both of whom contribute some really great work to the set. Tracks are shorter and more focused than before – and a number of them include vocals from Alphonse, sung in a rough-edged style that goes quite nice with his heavy drums on the set! Titles include the incredible break track "You Don't Know How Much I Love You" – worth the price of the album alone – and other tracks include the great "Funky Snakefoot", plus "Tara Tara", "Ism", "I've Given You My Love", "I Gotta Have You", "A Permanent Love", and "Where I'm Drumming From". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - RON MILES / BILL FRISELL / BRIAN BLADE, JERZY MILIAN, DEEP GROOVES VOL. 1

RON MILES / BILL FRISELL / BRIAN BLADE - QUIVER

A well-pointed trio really makes this set great – equal efforts from trumpeter Ron Miles, guitarist Bill Frisell, and drummer Brian Blade – all players who are more than comfortable with moving beyond the ordinary! The music is hardly just trumpet with rhythm – as each player seems to take the lead at different times – and they all work together beautifully to shape the music – more in an overall sound-based way that sometimes recalls 70s ECM. Production has some of the right echoey aspects to match this feel – and Miles also plays a bit of sattva on the set as well. Titles include "Bruise", "Queen B", "Mr Kevin", "Just Married", and "Doin The Voom Voom". ~ Dusty Groove

JERZY MILIAN - WHEN WHERE WHY

Great vibes from Jerzy Milian – a player who was easily one of the hippest cats to handle a vibraphone on the European continent in the 70s – heard here in a host of rare recordings from Berlin! Jerzy's Polish, and most of his work was done for the Polskie Nagrania label – but these tracks offer up a very different side of his talents than usual – some very cool, very groovy tunes that have a fantastic feel throughout – somewhere between late 60s Verve, hip Italian soundtracks, and some of the groovier projects on MPS – all reference points that really make this collection a treasure to our ears! All tunes were written and arranged by Milian – and many have a focus on the fuller ensemble instead of just his vibes – a very generous spirit to guide them. Titles include "Bagira", "Signor Cosmalino", "Wo Ist Die Socke", "Acht Und Dreizig", "Die Bunte Balkone", "Der Lustige Witwer", and "Mademoiselle Horror". ~ Dusty Groove

DEEP ENOUGH VOL. 1 DEEP JAZZ, DEEP FUNK & ALL KINDS OF DEEP GROOVES - VARIOUS ARTISTS

Rare grooves in many flavors – a wonderful collection of rare gems from the American 70s underground – and a set that's overflowing with cuts from some of the most valuable albums of the period! The core vibe here is jazz, but there's also a lot more going on too – bits of funk, some spiritual touches, and some downright soulful moments too – all presented in a set of tracks that really lives up to the "deep" in the title – a bit like Gilles Peterson pulling together music of this nature, but as if he dug even deeper than usual! Titles include "Shake Your Poo Poo (45 version)" by Earl Carter & The Fantastic 6, "Vaya Mulatto" by Stone Alliance, "Free Man" by George Freeman, "African Rhythms (45 version part 1)" by Oneness Of Juju, "Mr PC" by Mike Selesia, "Destroy The Nihilist Picnic" by London Experimental Jazz Quartet, "Intergalactic Love Song (alt mix)" by The Diddys with Paige Douglas, "Ain't Got No I Got Life" by Nina Simone, "Only Yesterday" by Weldon Irvine, "Afra Jum (alt take)" by Francisco Mora Catlett, and "Dream Come True (part 1)" by Three Of Us. (Includes bonus mix CD – done with tracks from the set!) ~ Dusty Groove

COOLER THAN ICE: ARTIC RECORDS AND THE RISE OF PHILLY SOUL

Cooler than ice – and cooler than just about any other label collection we've ever seen – a massive collection of work from the legendary Artic label, home to some of the best Philly grooves in the late 60s and early 70s! The package not only includes 6CDs, but also features 6 funky 45s as well – each of which features an unissued gem from the label – all wrapped up in a really well-done cover that comes with a 48 page booklet, and lots of vintage photos! There's never been a label overview like this one before – and the CDs feature every single issued by the company, both a and b-sides – a project that took the folks at Jamie many years to produce, but which has been well worth the wait.

The music is wonderful throughout – great female soul, some soaring group tracks, and even a few funky nuggets too – way more than we ever knew that Arctic ever recorded. In addition to early efforts from later stars like Barbara Mason or Kenny Gamble, the set also features music by Honey & The Bees, The Ambassadors, The Combo Kings, The Rotations, Teddy & The Fingerpoppers, Three Strangers, Billy Floyd, Jack & Jill, The Temptones, Kenny Hamber, Herb Johnson, Winfield Parker, Lane Relations, Volcanos, Della Humphrey, Royal Five, and many others. The set's six 7" singles are amazing too – a dozen tracks that have never been heard before – including "He's Got To Love Me" and "Catch Him Love" by Barbara Mason, "I'm At My Best When I'm Down" and "The Rock" by The Combo Kings, "It Takes Two" and "Fat Daddy" by Kenny Gamble, "No Doubt About It" and "Lover Boy" by The Tiffanys, "Doctor Love" and "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Ambassadors, and "I Love You Just The Same" and "Fallin Star" by Winfield Parker. ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - KENNY WESLEY, PAMELA WILLIAMS, JEFF SPARKS

KENNY WESLEY - TOYLAND

Mild. Awkward. Ear-piercing. Some call him a paradox: The soulful nerd with the huge voice. His name is Kenny Wesley. ”My mom said I came out the womb screaming, and I’ve been screaming every since!” he jests. The North Carolina born, D.C.-based artist has a voice that can shatter glass, lilt with the tenderness of a soul crooner, sing a Mexican lullaby, or bust out the stank. His love for music and other cultures has taken him around the world where he has performed before presidents, dignitaries, heads of state, and high-profile celebrities. He has shared the stage with several national recording artists such as Alice Smith, Stephanie Mills, Anthony David, Kindred, Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, N'Dambi, Yolanda Adams, Tamia, Zo! & Phonte (The Foreign Exchange), Vikter Duplaix, Mike Phillips, Gordon Chambers, Maya Azucena and Leela James. His songs have been featured on a number of media outlets and projects such as: FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance", ABC’s “The View”, Music Choice, Good Morning Arizona!, WBFF FOX45 Baltimore, soulbounce.com, The Contemporary Songbook 3 (Soulunsigned), The Soul Prototype (Kebomusic), Beautiful Weirdo (GreenTea)and Land of Sheep Ruled by Pigs (Wes Felton), et al. Now Kenny Wesley ushers in the Holiday season with his contemporary adaptation of "Toyland" - one of Victor Herbert's most famous songs from his Christmas-themed 1903 operetta "Babes in Toyland" based on characters from fairy tales and Mother Goose nursery rhymes. Featuring producer Carlton Hicks, Kenny delivers this song with sophisticated splendor taking the listener back to childhood memories of their own “mystic merry Toyland." ~ CD Baby

PAMELA WILLIAMS - CHRISTMS WITH THE SAXTRESS

Pamela Williams music and saxophone style has enchanted many listeners for years. Since she debuted her first CD in 1996, she has had Billboard-charting success with several of her nine CDs. Pamela Williams is undoubtedly, one of the most popular performers on today's smooth jazz scene. And now she has recorded a long-awaited Christmas CD. She adds her distinct sound and jazzy flavor to some of the most popular Christmas songs ever recorded. Pamela Williams is not only an incredible saxophonist, she plays flute, piano, as is a very well-respected producer, which definitely contributes to her unique style. Her fans have requested a CD like this from her for years and it is finally here! "Christmas With The Saxtress" is a must have in your music collection. ~ CD Baby

JEFF SPARKS - JAZZY CHRISTMAS

On Jazzy Christmas with Jeff Sparks, the versatile saxophonist expands on the infectious and powerful blend of gospel, funk and R&B that drove the success of his 2010 Arrow Records release Love.Life.Soul. He brings fanciful twists to five familiar Christmas classics, including a high octane horn driven funk/jazz/rock romp through "Carol of the Bells"; a fiery and percussive New Orleans-styled "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; the brassy gospel rocker "Mary Did You Know"; and colorful, exotic takes on "Feliz Navidad" and "Little Drummer Boy" (featuring vocals by Dria). Sparks complements these with two compelling original tunes, the gospel fired yet sensually romantic "This Christmas" (with lead vocals by Monique Dansby) and the soaring emotional ballad that closes the set, truly making Christmas a "Wonderful" experience. Sparks takes a fascinating and cool moodswing approach - with one of the freshest urban jazz arrangements ever - on the collection's sizzling lead single, an emotionally stirring rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear." The track opens with a bright, funky brass section and bubbling bass motif that burst in and set fire to the saxophonist's cool, laid back and soulful soprano lines between each verse. Later in the tune, Sparks lights up with some exciting, unpredictable improvisations that join the high energy brass for a major holiday jam session. Riffing on the song's title, yes, everyone's gonna want to hear this! ~ clevershoppers.com

ENNIO MORRICONE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS - DUELLO NEL TEXAS, TEPEPA, OPPOSTE ESPERIENZE

ENNIO MORRICONE - DUELLO NEL TEXAS

Sweet early western soundtrack from Ennio Morricone – scored with a bit more drama in later years, but already showing a magical sense of space and sound! The record begins with the excellent "A Gringo Like Me" – a totally catchy English language vocal number sung by Peter Tevis, and reprised later by Daicky Jones – then rolls into an all-instrumental batch of tracks that moves between a few period pieces and some other hipper styles – including a bit of jazz at times that feels a lot more crime than western! Reissue features a total of 20 tracks in all – including two versions of "A Gringo Like Me". (Limited edition.) ~ Dusty Groove

ENNIO MORRICONE - TEPEPA

A lost western score from Ennio Morricone – directed with some nice musical flourishes by the great Bruno Nicolai! The work's got the feel of some of Morricone's more famous spaghetti western scores – with some great moody passages that hint at the offbeat instrumentation of his horror work, coupled with more driving action-related tunes that have a more driving feel overall – and together, these tunes weave a very visual tapestry of sound – possibly even more compelling than the actual film! Titles include "Viva La Revolucion", "Tepepa E Price", "A Meta Strada", "Una Povera Casa", "Consegna Delle Armi", and "Tradimento Secondo". New CD version features a whopping 28 tracks in all – over 70 minutes of music! (Limited edition of 500 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove

ENNIO MORRICONE - OPPOSTE ESPERIENZE

Wonderful work from Ennio Morricone – an obscure soundtrack that we somehow missed for years and years – even though we've always been huge fans of his music! There's a quirky, offbeat feel to the record at the start – some playful elements that bounce along with a slight touch of whimsy, but which are also offset by some more languid, mellow Morricone moments too – those slow-moving sexy sounds that can really make some of his best ones sparkle! The story features a violinist, and there's a bit of lead violin at points – but it's the compressed orchestrations that we dig the most. Titles include "Grande Overture", "Adagio Primo", "Largo", "Adagio Secondo", and "Allegretto" – and the CD features loads of bonus tracks too! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - CHRISTMAS IN LOUNGE, SANTA'S FUNK & SOUL CHRISTMAS PARTY, RHONDA THOMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS IN LOUNGE - VARIOUS ARTISTS

A cool contemporary Christmas set from our friends at Irma Records – served up in a sweet jazzy style that features lots of sweet updates of older Holiday tunes, plus some great 80s numbers too! The approach is more jazz vocal than the "lounge" in the title might make you think – and the whole thing has that great blend of vintage and modern that we love in some of the best Irma projects – with a nice dose of bossa rhythms thrown in to sweeten up some of the best tracks. Tunes are all familiar, but the versions are all nice and fresh – and titles include "This Christmas" by Dario Daneluz, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Sara Pick, "Happy Xmas" by Andrea Nardinocchi, "Last Christmas" by Dario Daneluz, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Ely Bruna, "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Drika Scherlin, and "We Are The World" by Papik. ~ Dusty Groove

SANTA'S FUNK & SOUL CHRISTMAS PARTY - VARIOUS ARTISTS

One of the coolest Christmas compilations we've seen in years – a package that's filled with rare funk and soul singles from the 60s and 70s – all of which have a Holiday theme! Almost all the tunes on the set are original numbers – which means that the songs are totally fresh, and not just reworked versions of Christmas standards – and all the tracks come from tiny independent labels, which means there's an extra gritty edge to the whole thing – hardly the sort of sleepy Christmas record you might know from your youth! The funky 45 label Tramp put the whole thing together, with the same energy they usually bring to 7" vinyl – and titles include "Black Christmas" by Rose Graham, "Christmas Day" by Detroit Jr, "You Won't Have To Wait Till Xmas" by Lee Rogers, "Santa's Got A Brand New Bag" by Gary Walker, "Holiday Baby" by Fat Daddy, "Xmas Done Got Funky" by Jimmy Jules & The Nuclear Sound System, "Christmas Groove" by Vernon Garrett, "Soul Christmas" by Count Sidney & His Dukes, and "Stone Soul Christmas" by Binky Griptite. ~ Dusty Groove

RHONDA THOMAS - LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL

A really beautiful Christmas album from Rhonda Thomas – a singer we already love during the other seasons of the year – but one who's really won us over with this unique Holiday set! The record's easily one of the best Christmas records we've heard in years – and Rhonda does way more than just rehash Holiday classics – and instead reworks tunes with a vitally fresh sort of energy – proud, righteous, and solidly soulful – at a level that puts the record right up there with classic Christmas soul efforts from the likes of Donny Hathaway and Luther Vandross – the kind of record you'll be pulling out year after year in December – for decades to come! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JOHNNY MATHIS, PIPIK, HELIOCENTRIC COUNTERBLAST

JOHNNY MATHIS - A SPECIAL PART OF ME

A sweet 80s set from Johnny Mathis – one of those great later albums when he brought a good deal of soul into the mix! The feel here is almost more modern R&B than the vocal jazz mode that first brought Johnny fame – and it turns out that the Mathis mode is wonderful for such a setting – rich and full of feeling, and arguably better than some of his younger contemporaries on the charts! The ballads are beautiful, but there's also a few surprising midtempo numbers – and titles include a sublime remake of "Love Won't Let Me Wait", done with Deniece Williams – plus "Love Never Felt So Good", "Simple", "Priceless", "One Love", "Right Here & Now", and "Lead Me To Your Love" – plus "You're A Special Part Of Me", a duet with Angie Bofill. CD features two bonus tracks – "Simple (single vocal)" and "Simple (inst)". ~ Dusty Groove

PAPIK - PAPIK PRESENTS: COCTAIL MARTINO - A TRIBUTE TO BRUNO MARTINO

A warmly jazzy tribute to the music of Bruno Martino – the Italian songwriter who's best known for the famous "Estate" – but who also gave the world a host of other wonderful tunes over the years! The set's done in a sparkling Irma Records style – with backings from Papik that mix 60s retro modes with 21st Century production – often with instrumentation from a small jazzy combo that has great keyboards and horns. Most vocals are in Italian, although the set also features a few non-Martino numbers too – and singers vary from number to number, which adds a nice sense of variety to the set. Titles include "Estate", "Fai Male", "Che Peccato", "Al Di La", "Se Mai", "Cos'Hai Trovato In Lui", "Soli Tra La Gente", "Sabato Sera", and "Rimpiangerai". ~ Dusty Groove

HELIOCENTRIC COUNTERBLAST - A TRIBUTE TO SUN RA

A great contemporary tribute to Sun Ra – put together in ways that are a lot more sensitive than other projects of this nature! These young players really seem to get the sense of Ra's Arkestra as an ensemble – and work in ways here that really recall the best energy of the early Saturn recordings – even on a few original numbers by members of the group! We're not familiar with most of the players, but together they work wonderfully – in a lineup that includes Nikolaus Neuser on trumpet, Kathrin Lemke on alto, Dirk Steglich on tenor and flute, Gerhard Gschlossl on trombone,a nd Rui Gincel on piano and "spacekeys". Titles include "Future", "Images", "Ancient Aiethopia", "A Call For Demons", "Do To Voodoo", and "Watusa". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MARLENA SHAW, HORACE SILVER, NORENE TATE

MARLENA SHAW - JUST A MATTER OF TIME

Soaring soul from Marlena Shaw – her last recording for Blue Note, and a set that points the way towards her bigger fame to come at Columbia Records! Like some of her previous sets, there's definitely still some jazzy elements in the mix – yet the overall sound is much more fully soulful, thanks to arrangements and production from Bert DeCoteaux and Tony Silvester, who both bring in a rich sound that's similar to some of the indie dancefloor soul coming out of Philly and New York at the time – with backings that are a great blend of funk and strings, perfect for Shaw's unique blend of the sophisticated and soulful. Marlena handles this mode better than anyone else, and we think this set's easily one of her strongest records ever – even more so than some of her later dates too. Titles include the wonderful "Think About Me", a solid stepping seventies soul track that is (or should have been) an instant classic – plus "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", "Take My Body", "No Hiding Place", "Love Has Gone Away", "You & Me", "It's Better Than Walkin Out", and "Be For Real". ~ Dusty Groove

HORACE SILVER - SILVER 'N BRASS

A beautifully soulful set from Horace Silver – hardly the "with brass" session you might guess from the title, and instead a well-integrated album that really showcases a new level of arranging genius from Horace! The set is heavy on hip horns – with work from Oscar Brashear, Bobby Bryant, and Tom Harrell on trumpets – plus Frank Rosolinon on trombone, Jerome Richardson on alto and soprano sax, Buddy Collette on flute, and Bob Berg on tenor – but these instruments are often wrapped up in this warmly rolling groove driven by the bass of Ron Carter and drums of Al Foster – inherently funky, but much more complicated from a rhythmic perspective – and rolling out beautifully with a really imaginative vibe! Tunes are all originals by Silver – wonderful little numbers filled with passion and life – almost painting in sound, with really rich tones and colors throughout. Titles include "The Sophisticated Hippie", "Dameron's Dance", "Barbara", "Adjustment", "Mysticism", and "Kissin Cousins". ~ Dusty Groove

NORENE TATE - TENDERLY

A very early session on Elektra – cut during a year when the label recorded a surprising amount of jazz! Norene Tate's a singer we only know from this album – a very moody vocalist with this mixture of blue notes and more trilling high spots – a mode that makes her surprisingly expressive in a very short space, with the kind of range you might be more likely to hear from some of the bigger vocal sets of the time. Yet the backings here are nice and lean, just trio accompaniment from a group led by pianist Isaac Royal – who himself has all these nice dark tones that really go great with the vocals! Titles include "Butterfly", "After My Laughter Came Tears", "I Cover The Waterfront", "The Wall", "One For My Baby", "I Was Doing All Right", "Every Now & Then", and "I've Had My Moments". ~ Dusty Groove

JOAN ARMATRADING SET TO RELEASES NEW ALBUM - STARLIGHT

429 Records is set to release Starlight, an all new collection of compositions by celebrated songstress Joan Armatrading. Starlight is a collection of 10 songs which emphasize her unequaled prowess as a singer and arranger. Always the consummate songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Armatrading explores new vocal phrasing technique with Starlight which add new emotional dimension and depth to her always incisive explorations of love and the human condition. The lively jazz-inflected musical arrangements serve to buoy the constantly shifting lyrical moods. As on her last 429 Records studio albums "Into the Blues" and "This Charming Life," Armatrading produced the album and plays every instrument to spectacular effect. Starlight will be released on 429 Records February 26th.

Long recognized as a pioneering force with a career spanning three decades, the Saint Kitts born Joan Armatrading has maintained an acclaimed and storied career. The three times Grammy nominated British artist has garnered countless accolades which include Top 10 albums and singles ("Love and Affection," "Willow," "Drop The Pilot," are but a few), not to mention a #1 debut atop the Billboard Blues chart in 2007 (a first for a female artist from the UK). She has made VH1's list of the 100 Most Influential Women in Rock, has been nominated for a Brit Award, gave a command performance for Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday at Wembley Stadium, received an Honorary Degree from Birmingham University.

Track Listing:
1.Single Life
2.Close to Me
3.Tell Me
4.Back On Track
5.I Want That Love
6.The Way I Think Of You
7.Always On My Mind
8.Starlight
9.Busy With You
10.Summer Kisses

NEW RELEASES - HORACE SILVER, BLUE NOTE LIVE AT THE ROXY 2, BOBBY HUTCHERSON

HORACE SILVER - SILVER N WOOD

Wonderful work from Horace Silver – part of a great run of late 70s sides for Blue Note that unlock a whole new side of his soulful talents! The vibe here is different than the previous United States trilogy – still very righteous, with an overt message too – but served up in these wonderfully warm tones – with loads of great woodwind passages over these wickedly angular rhythms – grooves that are somewhat like those Silver first started forging on his 27th Man album! The arrangements are sublime – and on some cuts handled by Silver, but orchestrated by Wade Marcus – with players who include Tom Harrell on trumpet, Bob Berg on tenor, Buddy Collette and Fred Jackson on flutes, and Jerome Richardson on soprano sax. The rhythm section is key, too – and features Ron Carter on bass and Al Foster on drums! Side one features "The Tranquilizer Suite" – with passages that icnlude "Keep On Getting Up", "Time & Effort", and "Perseverance & Endurance" – and side two includes the excellent "The Process Of Creation Suite" – with "Motivation", "Activation", and "Assimilation". ~ Dusty Groove

BLUE NOTE LIVE AT THE ROXY LIVE 2 - VARIOUS ARTISTS

An overlooked gem from Blue Note – a special live performance that brings together some of the label's funkiest and most soulful artists of the 70s! The set's somewhat unusual for Blue Note at the time – especially given the label's increasingly studio-driven approach to jazz, with projects by the Mizell Brothers and others – yet given that bent, the whole thing's a great illustration of the vibrancy of all these artists always from the studio – playing live and extremely funky! As the title implies, the set was recorded live at the Roxy in LA – with players who include Donald Byrd, Ronnie Laws, Gene Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, and Alphonse Mouzon – all coming together in warm unity to show that the spacious sounds of Blue Note could also be crafted in a live setting, and not just under closely-watched studio help arrangers and producers. Carmen McRae sings on a number of tracks, and the album overall does a good job of presenting the material in concert-like setting – and some of the longer tracks feature some mighty nice jamming solos. Titles on this second volume include "Music", "Them There Eyes", "You're Everything", and "Paint Your Pretty Picture" by Carmen McRae; a medley of Brazilian tracks by Earl Klugh – including "Like A Lover", "A Felicidade", "Manha De Carnaval", and "Samba De Orfeu"; and a long track that involves all the artists as the Blue Note All Stars, on "Blue Note 76". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY HUTCHERSON - LINGER LANE

A beautiful later Blue Note album from vibist Bobby Hutcherson – a set recorded after his famous association with Harold Land, but with a groove that's wonderfully soulful in a whole different way! Bobby plays marimbas instead of vibes this time around, and he's working with his own arrangements for a slightly larger group – one that has some sweet fusion overtones, and these wonderful mellow funk inflections – so that even the mellow cuts have this warmly glowing, ultra-soulful sound that's mighty nice – a bit like some of the work from Gene Harris around the same time. Other players include Jerry Peters on Fender Rhodes, who also helped out with the arrangements – plus Harvey Mason on drums and Ernie Watts on reeds – and a few tracks feature sweet backing vocals from The Waters. The highlight here is a nice moody extended version of "People Make The World Go Round", but all cuts are great, and titles include "Silver Rondo", "Manzanita", "NTU", and his dark cover of "Theme From MASH". ~ Dusty Groove