BLACK COFFEE & JOAQUIN "JOE" CLAUSSELL – THE DJOON EXPERIENCE

Djoon is nestled in a vibrant ‘new’ district of eastern Paris and for near 10 years has played host to known and unknown local and international talents from the soulful New Yorker to the afro deep South African, from the pioneers of Chicago and Detroit to Berlin’s deep tech or eclectic London artists… Always seeking talent, of yesterday of today and of tomorrow, this temple of encounters between dancers and music lovers has seen its wooden dance floor trodden by clubbers from all over the world.

Any attempt ‘to bottle’ a night at such a special place is a fraught journey, one which we have taken and now as this musical church beckons its loyal flock to a very special evening of ‘worship’, we bring on one album, a night at the Djoon celebrating 10 years of dance floor joy, hosted by The legendary Joaquin Joe Claussell on a very rare mix CD outing – and South African superstar Black Coffee.

“People don’t come here to show off, they have a natural style and they wanna enjoy themselves” Djoon owner and DJ, Afshin Assadian and his artistic director Lionel Marciano tell us. Afshin’s apprenticeship was as a promoter and club manager and it wasn’t long before he realized that commercial pressure always prevailed over quality of music. Locating an empty space in a deserted district away from the main party places in Paris he developed an instant crush! Djoon was conceived.

Grown up and mature like the very best French wine…. music with soul is what you get there and what the album reflects. Joe’s mix was recorded in a hotel room in Tokyo, his hectic global schedule led him, on a Far Eastern stop over to put together a party in his room. Friends came and vibed with Joe as he worked the turntables, tape machines, … a mix “not about the perfect beat…. but The Soul and The Funk”. Even though “its all over the place” it has a natural musical flow and as he eloquently describes it “ is a collage of Joaquin Joe Claussell at that time.”

South Africans are the biggest consumers of house music in the world, and Johannesburg is the beating heart of their scene. If you’re looking for proof, there is no need to visit a nightclub. In turning on a television, listening to the radio or walking down the street, it’s clear that a 4/4 pulse is the metronome of everyday life. In this beautiful Southern Hemisphere oasis …fighting to shake its torrid Apartheid history House producers are bigger than The Madonnas and Coldplays so revered by music buyers north of the equator. Bring to the stage Black Coffee a household name and champion of Johannesburg’s preferred sound—vocal- led, percussive, melodic— a sound largely at odds with what’s popular in other international markets;

~ bbemusic

NEW RELEASES - MFSB, PEGGY LEE, MIKE PRIDE

MFSB- MFSB


A seminal album by this legendary Philly instrumental group – essentially the house band at Sigma Studios, and an incredible ensemble filled with top-shelf musicians! The sound here is virtually the blueprint for Philly soul of the 70s – a blend of wickedly tight rhythms and fuller orchestrations – served up in a way that's never sleepy, never overdone – and which has a careful balance that none of the group's imitators could match! Production is by the team of Gamble & Huff – already well-known associates of the group of musicians that includes Bobby Eli, Lenny Pakula, Leon Huff, Norman Harris, Vince Montana, and many more! Most of the titles here are instrumental remakes of familiar tunes – all given a Philly soul sound, and one heck of a groove! Titles include "Family Affair", "Freddie's Dead", "Back Stabbers", "Something For Nothing", and "Poinciana". CD also features a bonus track – "Family Affair (7" single version)". ~ Dusty Groove

PEGGY LEE – I LIKE MEN!

A pretty bold assertion from Peggy Lee on the title – but she backs it up nicely in this obscure album of "guy" songs from the end of the 50s! There's a playful feel to the music that fits Lee's vocals very well – as do the bouncy arrangements from Jack Marshall, who turns out to be one of the best musical partners that Peggy could ever hope for! The set's got that nice jazzy groove that really makes Lee's return to Capitol Records so great – and titles include "Good For Nothing Joe", "Charley My Boy", "Jim", "Bill", and "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around the House". ~ Dusty Groove

MIKE PRIDE – DRUMMER’S CORPSE

No drummer's corpse here – as, if anything, the sound of the album is more than enough to keep the drummer alive and well – thanks to work from percussionist Mike Pride, and an array of other guest players too! The title track takes up the whole first half of the album – and features Pride on drums, gongs, organ, and more – with help from an array of other percussionists who include Bobby Previte, Oran Canfield, Russell Greenberg, Tyshawn Sorey, Ches Smith, and John McLellan – all working in a very layered approach to sound that almost feels like a drum-based take on a Glen Branca score once it gets going. There's a bit of vocals layered somewhere in the mix – and on the second track, "Some Will Die Animals", the percussion is much more spare, just handled by Pride, with guitar from Chris Welcome, bass from Eivind Opsvik, and some added recitations too. ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW & DUDLY PERKINS, FAMILY ATLANTICA, SALLIE BLAIR

GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW & DUDLEY PERKINS - LIGHTHOUSE


A lighthouse of soul and spirit from the duo of Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins – coming together here in a mode that has both artists at the top of their game! The album's got a dense, layered feel that really lives up to the image on the cover – and definitely has the sort of political bent you'd expect from the pairing – served up over skittish cosmic beats and fuzzy freaky keyboards, with some distortion on the lyrics that really makes the whole thing crackle with energy right from the start! Titles include "Lighthouse", "Stand", "Power", "No More War", "Popstopper", "What", "Emo Funk", and "Muthadear". ~ Dusty Groove

FAMILY ATLANTICA – FAMILY ATLANTICA

A brilliant criss-crossing of group from this cool trans-global group – a set recorded in London, but with roots in Venezuela, LA, and Ghana – served up with a sound that's even greater than the sum of its parts! Malcolm Catto recorded the record – and really helps bring a funky energy to the record, by working alongside lead studio help from Jack Yglesias of The Heliocentrics – pushing here into a space that's even more offbeat than the grooves of that group! There's loads of rich acoustic instrumentation – especially percussion – and Mulatu joins the record at one spot, furthering the exotic appeal of the set. Some tracks have an almost ethnographic vibes, while others are a bit more contemporary – although the overall sound is more than worthy of placement on the Soundway label. Titles incude "Arena", "Cumbacutiri", "Fly Through The Lightning To Speak With The Sun", "El Negrero", "Escape To The Palenque", "Manicero", "La Familia", and "Speak To The Spirit Of The Sea". (Includes a bonus download of the album!) ~ Dusty Groove

SALLIE BLAIR – SQUEEZE ME

Sallie Blair never cut many records back in the day – but she's a hell of a great singer, and one with a really memorable approach! As you might guess from the image on the cover, Sallie's got a fair bit of personality – a way of putting over a tune that's really compelling, and a lot more charming than some of her more cool-voiced contemporaries – especially on the Bethlehem label. Her vocals are great, but her sense of individuality is even better – and there's a quality to the record that really makes it stand out from the pack. Richard Wess handles the arrangements – some with a small combo of Bethlehem players – Sal Salvador on guitar, Sanford Gold on piano, and Milt Hinton on bas – some with larger groups that expand the sound without losing the intimacy of the vocals. Titles include "Similau", "Better Luck Next Time", "Squeeze Me", "Come By Sunday", and "How Long Has This Been Going On". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - GEORGE BENSON, DECOY & JOY MCPHEE, JOAO GILBERTO REVISTED BY BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR PROJECT

GEORGE BENSON – INSPIRATION: A TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE


A great old school session from George Benson – and maybe one of his best albums in years! The setting of the album is just what you'd expect from the title – a tribute to the late, great Nat King Cole – with vocals by George that have an uncanny way of matching Cole's phrasing, yet which also have that warm, raspy sound we love so much from Benson – and some of his excellent scat work too! Arrangements are by Randy Waldman and Nelson Riddle – and have this classic blend of strings and jazz that works perfectly for the set – and Benson gets help from guests who include Wynton Marsalis and Til Bronner on trumpets, plus Indina Menzel and Judith Hill too. Titles include "Route 66", "Nature Boy", "Ballerina", "Smile", "Walkin My Baby Back Home", "Unforgettable", "Too Young", and "Straighten Up & Fly Right". ~ Dusty Groove

DECOY & JOY MCPHEE – SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

Joe McPhee plays here with a Hammond organ trio – a setting that partially gets him back to the soulful sound of his roots, but which still keeps things in the freer mode of later years too! Joe starts out the performance with some wonderful solo work on pocket trumpet – played with these offbeat notes and inventive phrasing that might only be matched by Don Cherry's work on the instrument. The drums from Steve Noble come into the mix slowly, while the Hammond from Alexander Hawkins rolls in on these bold waves of sound – almost more forceful than any organ player of the headiest 70s years – spurred on by some rolling bass from John Edwards. Hammond dominates for the rest of side one – but then Joe switches to tenor, and gets some intimate, soulful space – before the organ comes rolling into the mix again! (Nice heavy sleeve and vinyl – and limited too!) ~ Dusty Groove

BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR – VOCE E EU – JOAO GILBERTO REVISITED BY BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR PROJECT

A sweet set of contemporary bossa gems – all older numbers made famous by Joao Gilberto in his early days – spun out with a very fresh finish here by the Brazilian Love Affair combo! The group work in a mostly live jazz mode, with just a bit of programming on the rhythms – and the album's especially heavy on Fender Rhodes, which updates an older bossa sound nicely – amidst older-styled instrumentation on acoustic guitar, Hammond, trombone, and flute. The vocals are great – with the same raspy charm of Joao's early recordings – that very human, very honest quality that made his singing so different from other vocalists of his generation – and titles include "Rosa Morena", "Desafinado", "Voce E Eu", "O Barquinho", "Saudade Fez Um Samba", "Ho Ba La La", and "Chega De Saudade". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - BEST OF BRUNSWICK: MELLOW & SOUL, ORQUESTA EL MACABEO, SAO PAULO UNDERGROUND

BEST OF BRUNSWICK: MELLOW & SOUL (VARIOUS ARTISTS)


The mellower side of Brunswick Records – that slow-stepping, mid-tempo mode that worked perfectly for the hipper side of Chicago soul at the end of the 60s! The tunes here aren't as laidback as soul ballads from other labels – as Brunswick always found a great way to give things a groove, even when moving slow – a quality that really put the label years ahead of other soul imprints, and which really helped focus that loping style of Chicago rhythm that really set the Windy City apart from Detroit, Philly, and other soul scenes. The package features some key illustrations of this mode – plus a few slightly more uptempo numbers, too – all wrapped up in one mighty nice collection! Titles include "Light My Fire" by Erma Franklin, "Seven Days Of Night" by Barbara Acklin, "Because Of You" by Jackie Wilson, "Hope We Have" by The Artistics, "This Is The Lost Generation" by Lost Generation, "From The Teacher To The Preacher" by Gene Chandler & Barbara Acklin, "I'm Gonna Get You" by Lavern Baker, "Stoned Out Of My Mind" by Maryanna Farra & Satin Soul, and "Honey Babe" by Ginji James. ~ Dusty Groove

ORQUESTA EL MACABEO - LLUVIA CON SOL

These guys just keep getting better and better – and this time around, they've got such a tight groove, it's hard not to compare the group with some of the best of the 70s salsa generation! Rhythms are right on the money, and the instrumentation is completely sublime – very jazzy, with lots of rich inflections – yet also able to hone to the groove at all the right moments, especially on the trombone and trumpet parts that give the record so much soul! Vocals are strong, too – and the use of tenor sax at just the right points almost acts like a second "voice" for the record – furthering the richness of the whole set. Titles include "Me Repito", "La Sensacion", "Boda", "No Te Debo Nada", "Macacoa", "Olvidame", and "Lluvia Con Sol". ~ Dusty Groove

SAO PAULO UNDERGROUND – BEIJA FLORS VELHO E SUJO

Bold grooves from Rob Mazurek – a man of two continents, with a range of talents that's deep enough to match! This set's by Rob's Sao Paulo Underground trio – a group who work here with heady styles that mix free jazz improvisation with electronics and even a bit of proggish jamming – all in this blend of electric and acoustic modes that's mighty nice! Rob's cornet soars out over a really hip brew that includes lots of keyboards, ring modulator, Evolver, harmonium, and other electronics – plus great acoustic elements on percussion and cavaquinho – used in a rich blend that makes for some of Mazurek's most complicated music to date – yet also some of his most powerful too. Tracks are short enough to avoid too much noodling – and although experimental, the set's also got a strong sense of focus, too – and always moves forward in a great way. Titles include "Basilio's Crazy Wedding Song", "Six Handed Casino", "Evetch", "The Love I Feel For You Is More Real Than Ever", "Over The Rainbow", "Into The Rising Sun", and "Taking Back The Sea Is No Easy Task". ~ Dusty Groove

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ROOTS TO RELEASE "WISE UP GHOST" ON SEPT. 17

Elvis Costello and The Roots have announced today that a collaborative album entitled Wise Up Ghost will be exclusively released by Blue Note Records on Tuesday, September 17, 2013.

The existence of the record was first revealed by ?uestlove as an aside during an interview with Billboard in January. A small number of test pressings were distributed as white labels on Record Store Day on April 20 but the full release will follow later in the year.

Most of the sessions took place in secret at Feliz Habitat Studios in the dead of night, while others were in plain sight at Costello’s Hookery Crookery Studios. Elvis described the record as “the shortest distance between here and there” and containing “both rhythm and what is read”. Ahmir says, “It's a moody, brooding affair, cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies. I went stark and dark on the music, Elvis went HAM on some ole Ezra Pound shit.”

The solitary star announcing vacancy burnt out as we arrived

They'd throw us back across the border if they knew that we survived

It promises to be one of the most unexpected and surprising releases of 2013.

In addition to the fabulous Roots crew and friends, the record features a guest vocal appearance on “Cinco Minutos Con Vos” from La Marisoul, lead singer of the Los Angeles group, La Santa Cecilia.

The album was produced by longtime Roots associate, Steven Mandel together with Elvis Costello, and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson.

~ Blue Note Records

NEW RELEASES - CHIP STEPHENS TRIO, WAYNE WALLACE LATIN JAZZ QUINTET, TONY ADAMO

CHIP STEPHENS TRIO - RELEVANCY

Stephens, with trusted teammates Dennis Carroll on bass and Joel Spencer on drums, takes on a spectrum of material that touches on outstanding work by Carla Bley, Bill Evans, Sammy Cahn, and the acclaimed songwriting teams of Rodgers and Hart, and Van Heusen and Burke, as well as three Stephens originals that reveal his gift for lyricism and vivacious swing. The result is an album that celebrates the durable joys of the mainstream piano trio tradition while also asserting the in-the-moment creativity and intensity that can be brought to it. Relevancy is set for release on June 18 on Capri Records.

WAYNE WALLACE LATIN JAZZ QUINTET - lATIN JAZZ JAZZ LATIN

Wayne Wallace's new CD revamps traditional Cuban and Caribbean sounds as every tune reflects the inexorable flow of rhythmic currents between Caribbean and African-American communities, a diaspora communion responsible for unprecedented creative ferment.  Joining Wallace and his Latin Jazz Quintet are special guest percussion greats Pete Escovedo and Michael Spiro, violinists Mads Tolling and Jeremy Cohen and 17-year-old flute star Elene Pinderhughes. Wallace is a five-time Grammy Award nominee and is one of his generation's most eloquent trombonists and has been repeatedly named as a leading force on the horn in DownBeat polls. He's collaborated with a dazzling array of artists including Count Basie, Ray Charles, Joe Henderson, Carlos Santana, Lionel Hampton, Earth Wind & Fire, Sonny Rollins, Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, Earl "Fatha" Hines and cellist Jean Jeanrenaud, and is revered as an educator, player, composer, arranger, and producer with his label, Patois Records.

TONY ADAMO - MILES OF BLU

With Miles of Blu Tony Adamo has created a new genre: "HipSpokenWord." His powerful, relevant inventions float over groove concocted by master drummer and producer Mike Clark and supported by a host of stellar musicians.  Miles of Blu illuminates  the path to true hipness!. Tracks include JB; Miles of Blu; Funkin’ at the Chickn’ Shack; America R We Free?; BBQ; The Power of Funky Madness; Soul Vaccination; Don’t Change Horses; Ain’t That a Groove; Jack Kerouac, Jack!; Sun-Ra Rockets to Mars; What is Hip?; The Other Side of Time; and Tickn’ Clock.

NEW RELEASES - ESSENTIAL BRAZILIAN CLASSICS, NATHAN HAINES, LUCAS ARRUDA

20 ESSENTIAL BRAZILIAN CLASSICS - VARIOUS ARTISTS

Far Out has put together a refined collection of songs from an all-star ensemble of Brazilian legends such as Marcos Valle, Joyce and Azymuth. A perfect introduction to Brazilian music in all its facets and the sound of Far Out. Tracks include - The Ipanemas - Imperial; Joyce - Cidade Maravilhosa; Heidi Vogel - Modinha
Leila Pinheiro & Nelson Faria - Bala com Bala; Marcos Valle - Summer Samba So Nice (Samba de Verao) (Live in Rio de Janeiro); Azymuth - Linha do Horizonte; Ile Aye - Batmacumba; Grupo Batuque - Na Cadencia Do Samba; Rubens Bassini - Samba (Samba No Congo); Maria Moita - Maria Lucia; Clara Moreno - Pourquoi? (Nega Sem Sandalia); Myrzo Barroso - Consolacao; Banda Black Rio, Elza Soares & Cesar Carmargo Mariano - Isabela; Leila Pinheiro & Nelson Faria - Doce Presenca; Joyce - Berimbau; Clara Moreno - Vem Morena Vem; Trio Maraya - Canto de Ossanha; Banda Black Rio feat. Caetano Veloso - Aos Pes do Redentor; Leo Gandelman - Reza; and Victor Assis Brazil - Wave. ~ Far Out

NATHAN HAINES - THE POET'S EMBRACE

A really great change for saxophonist Nathan Haines – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given how much we already liked him before! The set's a straight jazz outing – of the kind that really lets Haines' strengths on reeds shine forth beautifully – soaring out soulfully in ways that are quite different than his more groove-oriented recordings – yet still equally soulful! Nathan's tenor is wonderful – as deep in tone and rich in feeling as some of the greats of the 60s generation – yet informed with a slight spiritual sense of phrasing as well, even though the overall production and setting is downright classic. The group's a quartet – with Kevin Field on piano, Alain Koetsier on drums, and Thomas Botting on bass – and titles include the Haines' originals "Realisation", "Universal Man", "Ancestral Dance", "The Poet's Embrace", and "Consequence" – plus a version of Roy Brooks' "Eboness". ~ Dusty Groove

LUCAS ARRUDA - SAMBADI

A contemporary set, but one that sparkles with all the best brilliance of the 70s scene in Brazil – and that includes such heady company as Marcos Valle, Azymuth, and Joao Donato! As with all those artists at the time, Lucas Arruda has a groove that's strongly based on Fender Rhodes – warm keys that are underscored with some great acoustic percussion that gives the whole thing an earthy core at the bottom, and a vibe that's quite different than any American fusion of the time! The music is completely sublime throughout – very jazzy in its inflections, but also with a more freewheeling approach – as you'd hear on classic keys from Jose Roberto Bertrami. The set's got a bit of vocals, but really focuses on the keyboards – and titles include "Physis", "Rio Afternoon", "Batuque", "Alma Nova", "Sambadi", "Carnival", and a sweet cover of "Who's That Lady". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MAURICE JOHNSON, CHIELI MINUCCI & SPECIAL EFX, JOE LOCKE

MAURICE JOHNSON - PEACE LOVE & JAZZ

Peace, Love & Jazz is a new album from guitarist Maurice Johnson. With this release, Johnson ambitiously explores the diverse realm of artistic expression as composer, arranger and guitarist, ideally and uniquely evolving into his own signature sound. On Peace, Love & Jazz Maurice is joined by a host of musician peers of veteran status along with some extremely talented young newcomers as well. Immersed in a plethora of musical textures, Johnson’s guitar remains firmly intact as the centerpiece of each composition with distinct, bold and majestic appeal. Always the first to admit, a lot of his sound is hinged on jazz, but when asked what style he plays, there’s an obvious reluctance to supply a generic response defining only a single genre. “But if jazz is what you hear, that’s okay.” says Johnson. The album’s title, which Johnson embraces as his personal mantra is a mere reflection of his own self journeying through pivotal points of personal serenity, love of family and a strong common bond to deep seated jazz roots. ~ www.mauricejohnson.com

CHIELI MINUCCI & SPECIAL EFX - GENESIS

Special EFX and its award winning leader, guitar virtuoso Chieli Minucci have sold close to a million albums. Chieli Minucci & Special EFX virtually define the Smooth Jazz genre. Genesis brings together some of Special EFX's all time favorite collaborators such as Mino Cinelu and Omar Hakiem (of Sting and Miles Davis fame) and virtuoso violinist Karen Biggs (Yanni) to collaborate on 11 thrilling originals that combine the magic of the last 30 years with the freshness of today. The album kicks off with the funky Crazy 8s the first of many hit singles to come from this brilliant album. Other highlights include the mystical vocal Mirage sung by up and coming Shanghai vocalist Feiya Xu, the romantic Blue Lagoon featuring keyboardist Lao Tizer. ~ amazon.com

JOE LOCKE - LAY DOWN YOUR HEART

Following his two highly acclaimed recent releases Signing and Wish Upon A Star, vibraphonist extraordinaire Joe Locke goes for the three-peat with his most personable and accessible quartet recording to date, with gorgeous renditions of blues and ballads from Bill Withers to Bonnie Raitt. Recent releases garnered much critical acclaim, including a five-star review in Jazz Journal, a four-star review in JazzWise, and rave reviews from All About Jazz, All Music Guide, eMusic, and more. One of the most respected vibraphonists in jazz, as well as one of the most exciting live performers to watch! His stellar reputation as a must-see live act, combined with the promo campaign for this stellar disc, is sure to stimulate a lively touring schedule. ~ amazon.com

JIMMY CLIFF - THE KCRW SESSION SET FOR RELEASE IN JUNE

Last June, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff visited Los Angeles’ KCRW for a live acoustic performance of nine songs on the public radio station’s acclaimed program, “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” hosted by KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley. The recording of the live broadcast, titled The KCRW Session, will be released on June 25 by Universal Music Enterprises.

“This session is one of my fondest memories from the KCRW studios”.

Broadcast live on June 28, 2012, The KCRW Session features selected songs from Cliff’s acclaimed, GRAMMY®-winning (Best Reggae Album) 2012 album, REBIRTH, as well as classics from the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s catalog. The KCRW Session includes “Trapped,” Cliff’s cover of The Clash’s “Guns Of Brixton,” “World Upside Down,” “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Children’s Bread,” “Many Rivers To Cross,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” and “One More.” All of the session’s songs were performed by Jimmy Cliff on guitar and vocal.

“This session is one of my fondest memories from the KCRW studios,” says Bentley. “Jimmy Cliff sat right down with his guitar and gave 110% on every song, and then proved himself a gentleman in thoughtful conversation. We all felt graced by a living legend that day, and we witnessed a truly special performance that I'm proud to say lives on through this recording.”

Jimmy Cliff’s entire “Morning Becomes Eclectic” performance is available for video streaming on KCRW.com: http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb120628jimmy_cliff/hd-showcase.

REBIRTH paired Jimmy Cliff with the award-winning producer and punk legend Tim Armstrong, who produced the 13-track album. Armstrong also produced Cliff’s Sacred Fire EP, released late in 2011. Rolling Stone magazine hailed Cliff’s hotly anticipated return to form as his “best music in decades” and named REBIRTH one of 2012’s top albums. REBIRTH debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Reggae chart and held the top position for five weeks straight.

www.jimmycliff.com
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JIMMY CLIFF: The KCRW Session
1. Trapped / 2. Guns Of Brixton / 3. World Upside Down / 4. Wonderful World, Beautiful People / 5. You Can Get It If You Really Want / 6. Children’s Bread / 7. Many Rivers To Cross / 8. I Can See Clearly Now / 9. One More

NEW RELEASES - BRAZUCA! - SAMBA ROCK & BRAZILIAN GROOVES, YATHA BHUTA JAZZ COMBO, PAT METHENY

BRAZUCA! - SAMBA ROCK & BRAZILIAN GROOVES FROM THE GOLDEN YEARS 1966 TO 1978

Amazing sounds from one of the greatest periods in Brazilian music – that heady late 60s/early 70s stretch when it seemed like everything was up for grabs – and new genres, new sounds, and new styles were being created all the time! This cooker of a collection focuses on the unique hybrid of funk and samba that took place at the time – a sound also known as Samba Soul, but served up here with a really well-selected batch of tracks that goes way past the obvious – to really reinscribe a whole new version of this musical generation, pulled together from rare wax of the 70s! The groove is bouncy and upbeat, but often has some cool unexpected twists and turns too – with titles that include "Mister Brown" by Bebeto, "Quem Vem La" by Marisa Rossi, "Turma Do Pole" by Arnaud Rodriguez, "16 Toneladas" by Moriel Vilela, "Sou Negro" by Toni Tornado, and "Tatarue" by Giovana. ~ Dusty Groove

YATHA BHUTA JAZZ COMBO - YATHA BHUTA JAZZ COMBO

A surprisingly spiritual collaboration between Onra and and Buddy Sativa – one that's filled with lots of rich acoustic sounds that recall the glory days of the 70s spiritual jazz scene and the post-Coltrane years on Impulse Records! Most of the music is handled just by the two musicians, working with overdubs – and laying down bits of flute, kalimba, electric piano, Arp, harp, vibes, bass, and plenty of percussion – a very heady brew that stretches out with a deep, organic vibe that's mighty nice! Despite it's contemporary origin, the set feels a lot like some lost indie pressing from the 70s – with tracks that include "Wandering Wondering", "Endangered Species", "Universe Is Love", "UFO Paradise", "Dark Karma", and "Honey Hash Rose". ~ Dusty Groove

PAT METHENY - TAP: THE BOOK OF ANGELS VOLUME 20

A pretty wonderful little concept – Pat Metheny plays music composed by John Zorn – all at a level that resonates both with the wonderful modes we've been hearing from Zorn of late, and with the most adventurous modes of Metheny's early years! Pat's virtually solo on the set – save for some help from Antonio Sanchez on drums – and plays a range of different electric and acoustic guitars, plus sitar, piano, keyboards, bandoneon, percussion, and even a bit of flugelhorn too – instruments that create a rich tapestry of sounds and textures, often with these exotic musical moments that are a real change for Metheny! The album's a delightful surprise all the way through – and titles include "Albim", "Phanuel", "Hurmiz", and "Sariel". ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE LIEBMAN / MICHAEL STEPHANS - LINEAGE: ROCK AND POP CLASSICS REVISITED

Since he began to seriously pursue a career as a jazz artist back in the 1960s, Dave Liebman has been on a transformative journey towards becoming a true original in the genre. After assuming sideman slots with the likes of Miles Davis , Elvin Jones , and Chick Corea, to name but a few, he has certainly earned his stripes. Those who've followed him more closely understand that he has become a deep and soulful storyteller in jazz in a way few others have.

So what would you say to a trailblazer like Liebman when you discover he's taken a batch of beloved pop songs-sweet, memorable, hummable "chestnuts" in the popular lexicon-and completely deconstructed it?

Liebman has, over the years, proved to be a risk-taker, a challenger, someone who purposely defies convention in a way that every iconoclast, especially musical ones, dare to every chance they get. After such an illustrious career, it's evident that Liebman has earned the right to cherry pick his projects and challenges. Lineage is just that kind of project.

Billed as "rock and pop classics revisited," Lineage is actually a project long in coming. Liebman and drummer Michael Stephans talked about the idea a few years ago and started compiling a wish list of possible songs. Given the trajectory and complexity of Lieb's career, they never got the chance to pull it off. Still it hung around and never really faded out of view.

In 2010, the idea resurfaced. Lieb, with Stephans, guitarist Vic Juris , Bobby Avey on keys, Evan Gregor on bass, and woodwinds guru Matt Vashlishan began working on them the way a baker kneads hunks of dough. The list of potential covers, begun years back by Lieb included several of their favorite songs from the 50s and 60s by artists like Elvis, the Ventures, and, of course, the Beatles.

Produced by Liebman and Stephans, recorded at Tommy Tedesco's Tedesco Studio and mixed by Marty Mellinger at Cross Keys, the recording, on the Whaling City Sound imprint, falls at a beautiful and logical crossroads of Liebman's career…in which he is comfortable enough to go "pop," inventive and mature enough to deconstruct songs with wit and imagination, and entertaining enough to make sure he doesn't leave listeners on either the pop or the jazz sides behind in the process.

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE NEW DELUXE 4-CD BOX SET, HIGHER!

The music of Sly & The Family Stone is celebrated with a new 4-CD box set, Higher!, available everywhere August 27th through Epic/Legacy, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Released in celebration of Sly Stone's 70th birthday, Higher! is the first career-spanning anthology to celebrate the musician whose funk has influenced everyone from Miles Davis and Michael Jackson to Public Enemy and the Roots. Housed in a colorful slipcase with a lavishly-illustrated 104-page book, the box set will feature 77 tracks, 17 of them previously unreleased.

Spotlighted throughout the first three CDs of Higher! are rare mono single masters of every classic Sly & The Family Stone signature hit like they've never been heard before in the digital era. Paying homage to the golden age of transistor radios are mono versions of "Dance To the Music," "Everyday People," "Stand!," "I Want To Take You Higher," "Hot Fun In the Summertime," "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)," and many others, more than 30 mono single masters and mono album cuts that were a call-out to get up and dance, dance, dance. Decades after the chart debut of Sly & The Family Stone with the game-changing "Dance To The Music," fans and newcomers will have the opportunity to dig into this far-reaching anthology, covering the recording career of Sylvester Stewart starting in 1964, and the band he master­minded from 1966 to 1977 on Epic Records.

Higher! pays tribute to the unique style of Sly & The Family Stone with its innovative ten-inch square package design, which houses the CDs in its interior pockets. The middle compartment contains a painstakingly detailed 104-page book featuring a liner notes essay, a beautifully-illustrated timeline of Sly's career, track-by-track annotations, rare and uncirculated photography, 45 rpm label and picture sleeve repros, eye-popping vintage concert posters and ticket stubs from Sly & The Family Stone shows, and more.

Sly & The Family Stone laid down a template that not only inspired an era of youthful rebellion and independence as the '60s turned into the '70s, but also had (and continues to have) a potent effect on the course of modern music in general. Sly's DNA is traceable to every cell of the musical stratosphere.

"Sly Stone's music is relevant because he was able to take from all the influencing genres before him and along side him, and combine it like gumbo," said Public Enemy frontman Chuck D. "Then inside the band, having women, having it mixed race and ethnic background − I mean, come on now. You really couldn't point and say 'well, this is the reason why it's funky,' it's all this together like gumbo that's making this happen. And Sly & The Family Stone was the epitome of a group playing the music, saying the lyrics, and also backing with the words."

Sly & The Family Stone have been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and the Grammy Hall Of Fame, and have received the R&B Foundation Pioneer Award, among many other recognitions of their importance and enduring influence.

Higher! is a tribute to the far-reaching horizons of Sly & The Family Stone. Their repertoire, every composition penned by Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone, kept the Pop and R&B charts jumping for seven glorious years from 1968 to 1975. There are the three career-defining RIAA gold Billboard #1 Pop/#1 R&B hits, "Everyday People," "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)" and "Family Affair." Their signature Top 40 hits began with "Dance To the Music" and went on to include "Stand!," "I Want To Take You Higher," "Hot Fun In the Summer­time," "Runnin' Away," "If You Want Me To Stay," "Time For Livin'," and more. Their top-charted RIAA gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums include Stand! (1969), Greatest Hits (1970), There's A Riot Goin' On (1971), and Fresh (1973), every one a must-have.

In addition to those durable numbers (all of which are in mono up through 1969's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", Higher! opens CD One with seven pre-Epic Records tracks. These include five rare solo sides by 'Sly Stewart' during his time as A&R-producer-song­writer-staff musician circa 1964-'65 at San Francisco's Autumn Records . These include both sides of the rare (and widely bootlegged in the U.S. and Europe) Loadstone Records single of January 1967 by Sly & The Family Stone, which helped win the band their Epic Records deal. One of these sides is a cover of Otis Redding 's "I Can't Turn You Loose." The Epic story begins with the mono single master of "Higher" in May 1967 (Disc One, track 8).

Of the many impossibly rare and fascinating inclusions on Higher! special attention is paid to the four tracks that close CD Three. They were recorded live at the Isle of Wight Festival in the UK, early Sunday morning, August 30, 1970, one year after Sly's memorable wee hours performance at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair . Two of the Isle of Wight numbers, "Stand!" and "You Can Make It If You Try," were subsequently issued on the Columbia three-LP release from 1971, The First Great Rock Festivals Of The Seventies. (The big multi-artist package coupled Isle of Wight performances with others at the first Atlantic Pop Festival of July 1970.) The two other numbers by Sly & The Family Stone at Isle of Wight, namely "Dance To The Music" and the medley of "Music Lover / I Want To Take You Higher / Music Lover" (a variation on their medley from the Woodstock soundtrack album), are both previously unissued until now.

Higher! serves as a new model for the most diligent and imaginative efforts that can go into a vintage collection of this nature. The box set was produced by Legacy Recordings veteran and Sundazed Records owner Bob Irwin , with Project A&R by Rob Santos at Legacy. All music was mastered by Vic Anesini at Battery Studios in New York.

Three major elements are central to the 104-page book. There is the authoritative liner notes essay written by Jeff Kaliss , author of I Want To Take You Higher: The Life And Times Of Sly & The Family Stone, the group's only authorized biography. The booklet also contains a comprehensive, lavishly-illustrated timeline compiled by Dutch authorities Edwin & Arno Konings . Nearly 100 entries span from March 15, 1943 (" Sylvester Stewart is born in Denton, Texas. Six months later, the family moves to Vallejo, California") to a final update in late-2012. The Koningses have also contributed track-by-track annotations for all 77 cuts in Higher! The notes contain excerpts from Thank You, the Koningses' own forthcoming biography of Sly & The Family Stone. (Go to www.slystonebook.com).

Every track-by-track annotation contains at least one revelation, as told to the writers by original Sly & The Family Stone band members Greg Errico, Larry Graham, Jerry Martini, Cynthia Robinson, and Sly Stone himself, as well as such figures as Rachel Donahue (widow of Tom Donahue ), managers Rich Romanello (1967) and David Kapralik (1967-1972), Epic A&R man Stephen Paley , bassist Rustee Allen (who succeeded Graham in 1973), all three drummers who succeeded Errico post-1971 ( Gerry Gibson , Andy Newmark , Bill Lordan ), various background vocalists, saxophonists, bassists, and so on. All their collective statements and observations, as transcribed by the Koningses, add to the value of Higher! as a valuable memoir in and of itself.

"Refracted in these treasures," Kaliss says of the kaleidoscopic delights on Higher! "are colors you may be unused to seeing in Sly: old R&B, jazz, nursery rhymes, gospel, and even country, fused and transformed by a precious visionary and his fellow musical alchemists."

In addition to Jeff Kaliss , and Edwin & Arno Konings , other essential reading includes: Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History by Joel Selvin (HarperCollins, 1998); and There's A Riot Going On by Miles Marshall Lewis (Bloomsbury "33 1/3" series, 2006).

Higher! by Sly & The Family Stone
Disc One (1964-1967):
1. I Just Learned How To Swim by Sly Stewart ( Autumn Records single, 1964)
2. Scat Swim by Sly Stewart (Autumn single, 1964)
3. Buttermilk (Part 1) by Sly (Autumn single, 1965)
4. Dance All Night by Sly and Freddie (1965, originally unissued)
5. Temptation Walk by Sly (Autumn single, 1965)
6. I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real) (Loadstone single, 1967)
7. I Can't Turn You Loose (Loadstone single, 1967)
8. Higher (mono Epic single master, promo only, 1967)
9. Underdog (mono Epic single master, 1967)
10. Bad Risk (mono Epic single master, 1967)
11. Let Me Hear It From You (mono Epic single master, 1967)
12. Advice (A)
13. If This Room Could Talk (A)
14. I Cannot Make It (A)
15. Trip To Your Heart (A)
16. I Hate To Love Her (A)
17. Silent Communications (1967, previously unissued)
18. I Get High On You (version one, 1967, previously unissued)
19. I Remember (1967, previously unissued)
20. My Woman's Head (instrumental demo, 1967, previously unissued)

Disc Two (1967-1968):
1. What's That Got To Do With Me (1967, previously unissued)
2. Fortune And Fame (1967, previously unissued)
3. What Would I Do (1967, originally unissued, B)
4. Only One Way Out Of This Mess (1967, originally unissued, B)
5. I Know What You Came To Say (1967, previously unissued)
6. Dance To The Music (mono Epic single master, 1967)
7. Ride The Rhythm (C)
8. Color Me True (C)
9. Are You Ready (C)
10. Don't Burn Baby (C)
11. We Love All (D)
12. Danse A La Musique by The French Fries (mono Epic single, 1968)
13. Small Fries by The French Fries (mono Epic single, 1968)
14. Chicken (mono Epic single master, 1968)
15. Into My Own Thing (E)
16. Life (mono Epic single master, 1968)
17. Love City (1968, previously unissued mono mix)
18. M'Lady (mono Epic single master, 1968)
19. Dynamite! featuring Johnny Robinson on vocals (1968, previously unissued)
20. Undercat (instrumental, 1967, previously unissued)

Disc Three (1968-1970):
1. Everyday People (mono Epic single master, 1968)
2. Sing A Simple Song (mono Epic single master, 1968)
3. I Get High On You (version two, 1968, previously unissued)
4. Wonderful World Of Color (instrumental, 1968, previously unissued)
5. Pressure (originally unissued, F)
6. I Want To Take You Higher (mono Epic single master, 1969)
7. Seven More Days (originally unissued, F)
8. Feathers (instrumental, 1968, previously unissued)
9. Somebody's Watching You (G)
10. Sex Machine (G)
11. Hot Fun In The Summertime (mono Epic single master, 1969)
12. Everybody Is A Star (mono Epic single master, 1969)
13. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (mono Epic single master, 1969)
14. Stand! (LIVE at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 30, 1970, H)
15. You Can Make It If You Try (LIVE, same as track 14, H)
16. Dance To The Music (LIVE, same as track 14, previously unissued)
17. MEDLEY: Music Lover / I Want To Take You Higher / Music Lover (LIVE, same as track 14, previously unissued)

Disc Four (1971-1977):
1. Luv N' Haight (Epic single master, 1971)
2. Family Affair (I)
3. Brave & Strong (Epic single master, 1971)
4. Runnin' Away (Epic single master, 1971)
5. (You Caught Me) Smilin' (Epic single master, 1971)
6. Spaced Cowboy (I)
7. You're The One featuring Little Sister (LIVE on Don Kirshner 's Rock Concert, September 1973, peviously unissued)
8. In Time (J)
9. If You Want Me To Stay (Epic single master, 1973)
10. Frisky (Epic single master, 1973)
11. Skin I'm In (J)
12. If It Were Left Up To Me (Epic single master, 1973)
13. Time For Livin' (Epic single master, 1974)
14. Can't Strain My Brain (Epic single master, 1974)
15. Loose Booty (K)
16. Le Lo Li (Epic single master, 1975)
17. Crossword Puzzle (Epic single master, 1975)
18. Family Again (Epic single, 1976)
19. Hoboken by Sly Stone (originally unissued, 1975-1977)
20. High by Sly Stone (1975, previously unissued)

Epic Records album index:
A – from A Whole New Thing (originally released November 1967, as Epic LN 24324, mono)
B – from A Whole New Thing (Expanded Edition) (originally released April 2007, as Epic/ Legacy 82796 90277 2)
C – from Dance To The Music (originally released April 1968, as Epic BN 26371)
D – from Dance To The Music (Expanded Edition) (originally released April 2007, as Epic/Legacy 82796 90274 2)
E – from Life (originally released November 1968, as Epic BN 26397)
F – from Life (Expanded Edition) (originally rel. April 2007, as Epic/Legacy 82876 83945 2)
G – from Stand! (originally released April 1969, as Epic BN 26456)
H – from The First Great Rock Festivals Of The Seventies (originally released August 1971, as Columbia C 30807)
I – from There's A Riot Goin' On (originally released October 1971, as Epic KE 30986)
J – from Fresh (originally released June 1973, as Epic KE 32134)
K – from Small Talk (originally released July 1974, as Epic PE 32930)

Source: Legacy Recordings

DAFT PUNK'S RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES #1 AROUND THE WORLD - SELLS OVER A MILLION COPIES AROUND THE WORLD

Internationally, the album hit the #1 spot on digital charts in 97 countries, dominated UK charts to become the fastest selling album of 2013 and had the biggest first week album sales in France since 2007, where the album is already triple platinum. Daft Punk also earned their first official #1 album in multiple countries, including the US, Germany, Australia & Japan. The album is also officially #1 in France, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Mexico, Italy, Belgium, Spain and others. In the US, Random Access Memories sold 339,000 copies, with the vinyl version becoming the biggest selling vinyl album in SoundScan's LP Vinyl chart history. Random Access Memories is the first album in Billboard's Electronic/Dance Song chart history to have every song debut simultaneously.

Incredible public demand for the album not only led to unprecedented album sales and radio charting, but also to a steady stream of critical acclaim from media worldwide including features in The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, The New York Times, NME, Rolling Stone, Time, The New Yorker and many more.

"Get Lucky," the first single from Random Access Memories immediately shot to the top of charts all over the world- selling 2.5 million digital tracks worldwide to date. It is the biggest selling single of 2013 in the UK, and the song is #1 on national airplay charts across the globe. In the US, "Get Lucky" has garnered airplay across 7 different formats of radio. The new 13 track album from the French duo, their first since 2005's Human After All, features collaborations with Pharrell Williams , Julian Casablancas, Panda Bear, Nile Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder , Paul Williams , Todd Edwards , Chilly Gonzales, and DJ Falcon, amongst others. ~ Columbia Records

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND - MADE UP MIND

How can a band that's merely three years old sound so timeless? That's a question you will undoubtedly ask yourself when listening to the Tedeschi Trucks Band's Made Up Mind, due from Sony Masterworks August 20th. Their third full-length release, Made Up Mind is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2011's Grammy-winning debut Revelator and last year's scorching live collection, Everybody's Talkin'.


But the answer to the above question is simple: When the dynamic vocalist and guitarist Susan Tedeschi and her guitar virtuoso husband Derek Trucks merged their talents and constructed a new, 11-piece juggernaut, they were pooling many years of experience and collective musical knowledge. Derek—who has also been a mainstay of the legendary Allman Brothers Band for more than a decade, and leader of The Derek Trucks Band—first slung a guitar over his shoulders at age 9 and is currently ranked number 16 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. Susan is a roots music powerhouse who was nominated for five Grammys on her own, including Best New Artist in 2000, before the formation of TTB (as their fans have come to know them). Made Up Mind is where all of the instrumental, vocal and songwriting prowess of music's greatest power couple—and that of their superb bandmates—truly meshes in a big way.

"We knew we wanted to be a little bit bolder with this record, not be afraid to do whatever we felt was really great," says Tedeschi, who first met Derek in New Orleans in 1999 when her previous band was opening for an Allman Brothers Band tour. "We're all friends and family. Now we're finally making the music we want to make. It's really an exciting time."

Adds Trucks, "What I noticed most while making this record was there was more confidence. On Revelator everyone was still feeling each other out. Then, after a few years on the road, with a live record along the way, everyone unleashed and played a little freer. We didn't want to force the sound and tell it what it was going to be. We wanted to see where it took us. Once we hit the studio for Made Up Mind, we didn't even have to think about it."

Made Up Mind is nothing less than a quantum leap forward for TTB. If Revelator and Everybody's Talkin' were all about finding their way, the new effort is where they emerge as a fully formed band for the ages. Throughout the course of the album it becomes increasingly apparent that Susan Tedeschi has evolved into one of the most dauntingly commanding vocalists in contemporary music, her serious lung power exploding on standout tracks such as the uber-funky "Misunderstood" and just as convincingly digging into the core of poignant, tender acoustic ballads like "Calling Out to You" and "Idle Wind". Derek Trucks has indisputably matured into one of the monster guitarists of our time, tearing up barnburners like the title track "Made Up Mind" with his masterful slide and lead licks while showcasing his easier, more subtle touch on the bluesy "Do I Look Worried".

Co-produced by Jim Scott ( Johnny Cash , Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco) and Trucks—Made Up Mind was recorded in the band's home base of Jacksonville at Derek and Susan's Swamp Raga Studios. Working closely with Scott, who also engineered and mixed the album—and with whom Derek co-produced Revelator—Trucks' ever-expanding expertise as a studio production whiz is displayed continually and definitively in the choices he made throughout the sessions. For Trucks, the studio has become another instrument to master, and Made Up Mind leaves no doubt that his skills as a producer now rank right alongside his expertise as a player and songwriter.

Although Tedeschi Trucks Band bears the names of its co-leaders, each of its components— Kofi Burbridge (keyboards, flute), Tyler Greenwell (drums, percussion), J.J. Johnson (drums, percussion), Kebbi Williams (saxophone), Maurice Brown (trumpet), Saunders Sermons (trombone & vocals), Mike Mattison (harmony vocals) and Mark Rivers (harmony vocals)—is operating at full throttle on Made Up Mind. There are no weak links—everyone here is contributing equally. Those keeping count will notice that that adds up to 10 musicians—the new release marks the first time that TTB has recorded since the departure of its original bassist, Oteil Burbridge. Rather than replace him immediately, the group has utilized the services of several bass players on the album ( Pino Palladino , Bakithi Kumalo, George Reiff and Dave Monsey ), and has been rotating bassists at their gigs as well.

Most of the tracks on Made Up Mind were penned by Tedeschi and Trucks with various co-writers—including Doyle Bramhall II , Eric Krasno , Gary Louris and John Leventhal , all of whom also contributed to TTB's debut Revelator. The maiden single from the album, "Part of Me," a vocal duet between Susan and trombonist Sermons, stands out as a particular highlight, reminiscent of the classic R&B emanating from the Memphis and Muscle Shoals soul scenes of the '60s and '70s. The title track "Made Up Mind", authored by Tedeschi, Trucks and Oliver Wood , is a balls-out soul-rocker in the tradition of early Bonnie Raitt and Delaney & Bonnie. This one, says Susan, "is an empowerment song: I know you want to see me, you want to do this, but I'm on my own and I've branched out now. It could be anything from a child growing up and getting out to a woman moving on, or the kind of thing where this person has made a change. It's sort of a rebirth."

Or, as Derek adds, it could be about the current state of TTB: "It makes a statement that this band knows what it wants to do and is here to stay. Take it or leave it, this is what it is," he says.

With their increasingly articulate and affecting songcraft, unparalleled musicianship and an honest, gutsy sound that incorporates multiple stylistic influences and can only result from hard work and openness to ideas, it's a given that many more will make up their minds to take Made Up Mind than to leave it.

Tracklisting: 1 Made Up Mind / 2 Do I Look Worried / 3 Idle Wind / 4 Misunderstood / 5 Part of Me /
6 Whiskey Legs / 7 It's So Heavy / 8 All That I Need / 9 Sweet And Low / 10 The Storm / 11 Calling Out To You

Source: Sony Masterworks

NEW RELEASES - BENJAMIN TAUBKIN / ADRIANO ADEWALE, ROUGH GUIDE TO PSYCHEDELIC BRAZIL, HAMILTON DE HOLANDA / ANDRE MEHMARI

BENJAMIN TAUBKIN / ADRIANO ADEWALE - THE VORTEX SESSIONS

A set that's maybe a bit more subtle than you'd expect from the "vortex" in the title – but one that definitely has a compelling quality that really draws us in! The set features piano from Benjamin Taubkin and gentle percussion from Adriano Adewale – spun out over these long tracks that build slowly, almost with a sense of improvisation – save for the fact that Taubkin remains extremely melodic throughout, and really paints these lovely little pictures in sound – of the sort we've really come to appreciate in his playing over the years. Adewale's nicely restrained, too – and even drops out on one number – shading things in with deft touches that are almost more melodic than rhythmic too. Titles include "Blue In Green In Yellow", "Samba", "Berimbau", and "Landscapes Impressions of Ireland". ~ Dusty Groove.

ROUGH GUIDE TO PSYCHEDELIC BRAZIL (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
A killer collection of work that digs deep into the trippiest sounds of Brazilian music – that great wave of experimentation started in the Tropicalia years, carried on strongly well into the 70s – and even into more recent years as well! Brazilian music is a surprising wellspring of psych modes – and often, their take on the genre is quite different than American and Anglo modes – often a bit more subtle, less self-indulgent, and without any sort of rockish posturing – which really makes work like this a great revelation! Titles include "Cantando Ciranda Na Beira Do Mar" by Siba, "Nordeste Oriental" by Lula Cortes, "O Jarro" by Baby Do Brasil, "Renata" by Liverpool, "Mini Box Lunar" by Amarelasse, "Piri" by Reza Brava, "Ca Pra Nos" by Lucas Santtana, "Anthropologica II" by Marconi Notaro, "Lindo Toque" by Graveola, "Obnoxious" by Jose Mauro, "and "Alergico De Flores" by Laranjua Freak. Also features a full bonus album, too – the modern psych sounds of Jupter Maca – a full reissue of the album A Setima Enfervesencia from 1996. ~ Dusty Groove

HAMILTON DE HOLANDA / ANDRE MEHMARI - GISMONTI PASCOAL - THE MUSIC OF EGBERTO AND HERMETO

A beautiful tribute to the music of Egberto Gismonti and Hermeto Pascoal – but presented in a fresh style that's very different than the originals! Gismonti and Pascoal were two of Brazil's most inventive composer/musicians of the 70s – both very open to new sounds, new rhythms, and new ways of putting instrumentation together – often with complex larger arrangements that really moved past any sort of simple styles or genre conventions! Here, pianist Andre Mehmari and mandolinist Hamilton De Holanda take things back to basics – and offer up these beautifully intimate readings of tunes by both composers – but with really lively instrumentation that still recalls all the deftness you would have heard from either of the original musicians. Holanda's work on the strings has never been more complex – or more magical – and Mehmari's got a rhythmic pulse and way of serving up colors at the same time – a beautiful style that really comes through on tracks that include "Frevo", "Sao Jorge", "Sete Aneis", "Palhaco", "Fala Da Paixao", "Bebe", and "Loro" – plus a few original tribute numbers by the duo too! And as a special bonus, both Gismonti and Pascoal each guest on one number in the set! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - ALTHEA RENE, ABONICS, TONY ALLEN & ABAYOMY AFROBEAT ORQUESTRA FEATURING BNEGAO

ALTHEA RENE - IN THE FLOW

One of the most dynamic albums we've ever heard from flutist Althea Rene – a set that's still got all her sweet soulful solo work firmly in place, but one that also adds in a bit more groove at the bottom too! The album's done in close collaboration with Michael Broening – who plays keyboards and handles the rhythm tracks throughout – providing a fresh setting for Rene's well-crafted lines on both conventional and alto flute – both instruments she blows with a slinky, soulful depth that takes us back to Bobbi Humphrey in the 70s! Titles include "La Solstice", "Flutations", "Free", "In The Flow", "FM 1960", "Song For Wilhelmina", and "Used To Love You" ~ Dusty Groove

ZBONICS - TIME TO DO YOUR THING   The name's a bit unfamiliar, but the group's a great one – and an ensemble that features some major talents of recent years – including Gregory Porter on vocals, Robert Walter on keyboards, Karl Denson on saxes, and Melvin Sparks on guitar! The style's got all the classic modes you'd guess from such a lineup – a righteous blend of jazz, soul, and funk – with an instrumental groove that's already pretty darn great, but which really takes off once Gregory Porter's vocals come into the mix! Porter's one of our favorite jazz singers in recent years, and it's great to hear him in such a setting – and our hat's off to drummer Zak Najor for leading the group, and bringing Porter aboard for a few tracks. Titles include "She Danced Across The Floor", "Catchin Sparks", "Soul Good", "Wash Cloth", "He Said", "Issues Of Life", "Zak Attack", "Just IN Time", "Mystery", and "Scone Break". ~ Dusty Groove  

TONY ALLEN & ABAYOMY AFROBEAT ORQUESTRA FEATURING BNEGAO   A sweet little single – not just for the cool 10" format, but for the great grooves within! "Meus Filhos" is a classic funky track written by Jorge Ben – and delivered here in a tight Afro Funk mode that's way different than the original – lots of tight drums from Tony Allen at the core, great horns from the Abayomy Afrobeat Orquesta, and even a bit of vocals from BNegao! The flipside features a remix by Robin Leduc, but the sound is still very much in the best acoustic mode of the main cut – with mostly just a bit of change in the structure and a few sonic elements! ~ Dusty Groove

JOHN MCNEIL / JEREMY UDDEN - HUSH POINT

It takes time to develop a deep rapport within a jazz ensemble. Often in today's jazz community, this is not seen as cost effective, and as a result, jazz has become a scene of one-off gigs with minimal preparation and everyone reading the music.

Fortunately, you can still find bands that invest the time to evolve as a unit. Trumpeter John McNeil and saxophonist Jeremy Udden established Hush Point as a group that does just that. Also including bassist Aryeh Kobrinsky and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza, Hush Point is a working and rehearsing ensemble, and on their new self-titled album, Hush Point, the group shows a cohesiveness of concept that is only achieved through hours of practice, performance and experimentation. The wide stylistic range of their repertoire is immediately striking to the listener.

McNeil has had a long and varied career since his move to New York in the 1970s. He began subbing in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and was a member of the Horace Silver Quintet and Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band. Eventually he began leading his own groups, recording at least eighteen albums under his own name or in collaboration with other artists. In addition to performing, he works as a composer/arranger and producer.

Udden has developed a unique approach in both his playing and composing. The alto saxophonist has been involved in wide ranging projects - like the Either/Orchestra and Mulatu Astatke's ensemble - and has played and recorded with legendary musicians like Bob Brookmeyer and Steve Lacy. His ensembles have shown his vastly eclectic breadth, from Ethiopian music to folk-rock.

Though McNeil and Udden had long been familiar with each other on the New York jazz scene, their work together didn't begin until 2011 when they began to meet for informal practice sessions. McNeil hadn't been aware of the depth and maturity of Udden's writing, and the two found themselves sharing compositional ideas and improvising spontaneous complementary lines. Simpatico in many ways, their styles fit together naturally. For some time they talked of putting a band together and it became a priority after Udden subbed one night in McNeil's band, where they heard their work shine in a live setting.

They knew that if they put a group together, the drummer and bassist would need to be open to new concepts and willing to rehearse, discuss, and internalize the music.

The drummer would have to embrace the idea of using brushes only, which allows the two horn players to use a wider expressive dynamic range and still be easily heard. The drummer still needed to bring a lot of intensity, however, and Vinnie Sperrazza was up to the challenge. Vinnie enjoys a very busy freelance jazz career which has allowed him to play an astounding variety of music, so the idea of doing something new is just business as usual.

In Aryeh Kobrinsky, they found a bassist who is a strong, expressive player, ready for anything, and another good writer as well. Aryeh is more harmonically perceptive than most, and always thinks compositionally. Whatever direction a piece of music takes, he will naturally give it form and help the overall arc of the performance.

Though McNeil and Udden put the group together, it is now a truly cooperative venture. As a democracy, the ensemble enthusiastically focused on developing their concept. The overall ethic would be a high level of interplay and counterpoint, without traditionally defined roles for each instrument. Energy would be sustained without resorting to sheer volume, unlike the tendency of many contemporary ensembles.

The members of Hush Point disagree with the predominant feeling among jazz musicians that to discuss any aspect of creativity is to somehow make it less genuine. The workshop approach led to discussions that could become heated, but it also led them to develop a common direction and to respond instantly to any new idea.

The recording Hush Point provides a wonderful glimpse into their musical world.

The album begins with clarinetist/conceptualist Jimmy Giuffre's "Iranic," a programmatic work, which breaks down the roles of the band members with a series of duets. McNeil's "Peachful" is a joyous tune full of major chords and reggae rhythm. A tribute to mentor Bob Brookmeyer, Udden's "B. Remembered" is a subtle, swinging sax-led tune over the chord changes from "I Remember You." "Bar Talk" is an Udden composition inspired by Béla Bartók's Mikrocosmos while "Fathers and Sons" presents an older theme of Udden's that he felt fit McNeil's sound perfectly. The group improvises over an abstract version of the changes from "Long Ago and Far Away." McNeil's "Finely Done" is next, a minor blues with a bridge and a Gerry Mulligan / Chet Baker vibe.

Originally written for his band Plainville, Udden's "New Bolero" fits the sonic range of McNeil and this ensemble perfectly. "The Train and the River" is another piece by Giuffre, a standard bearer for the ensemble. The arrangement is by McNeil and remains tonal but with more dissonant harmony than the original. McNeil's "Get Out," roughly based on "Get Happy," is a stripped down composition in the mold of the Sonny Rollins and Don Cherry Quartet. The album concludes with Kobrinsky's "Cat Magnet," a sauntering country tune as expressive as anything in the genre.

Hush Point bucks many of the current trends in jazz in its concentration on developing innovative dynamics between band members, instant communication and an overall band sound in addition to repertoire. Their new CD is no doubt the first of many.

WADADO LEO SMITH & TUMO - OCCUPY THE WORLD

Occupy The World is an instant classic of creative orchestral music. Over five extended compositions, a total of almost two hours of music, composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith leads a new large ensemble, TUMO, to a unique sound world where composed elements meet with strong soloists and group improvisation.

Occupy The World features the legendary composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith with TUMO in its first appearance. The 21-member TUMO, a new improvising orchestra that was assembled specifically for each project, performs five extended compositions by Smith, including "Occupy The World For Life, Liberty and Justice," perhaps his most ambitious recorded composition to date. The four other compositions were also recorded for the first time for this double-CD and include "Queen Hatshepsut," that was inspired by this ancient ruler of Egypt, the first female leader of a major civilization in history; "The Bell - 2," which took Smith's first recorded composition, "The Bell" (included on Anthony Braxton's 3 compositions of new jazz in 1968), as its starting point; "Mount Kilimanjaro," a concerto for double bass and a large ensemble that Smith dedicated to its soloist John Lindberg; and "Crossing On A Southern Road," Smith's moving dedication to the late saxophonist Marion Brown. In addition to the principal soloists, Wadada Leo Smith on four compositions and John Lindberg on one, Occupy The World features trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, trombonist Jari Hongisto, saxophonists Mikko Innanen and Fredrik Ljungkvist, flutist Juhani Aaltonen, pianist Seppo Kantonen, harpist Iro Haarla, accordionist Veli Kujala, guitarists Kalle Kalima and Mikko Iivanainen and drummers Mika Kallio, Stefan Pasborg and Janne Tuomi, among others.

Wadada Leo Smith (b. 1941), whose roots are in the Delta blues and who was part of the first generation of musicians to come out of Chicago's AACM, has established himself as one of the leading composers and performers of creative contemporary music. Already in the late 1960s, Smith formed the Creative Construction Company together with saxophonist Anthony Braxton and violinist Leroy Jenkins and, since the early 1970s, he has mostly performed and recorded with his own groups. He currently leads four principal ensembles: the Golden Quartet, Mbira, Organic and the Silver Orchestra. In May 2012, Smith released his most extensive recording to date: Ten Freedom Summers, a four-CD collection of 19 compositions inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States, which was recently a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Music and has garnered wide praise and accolades.

TUMO, or Todella Uuden Musiikin Orkesteri (in English, the Really New Music Orchestra), is a new large ensemble that performed for the first time at TUMfest12 in Helsinki, Finland, in February 2012 under the leadership of Wadada Leo Smith. TUMO is not intended to become an institutionalized orchestra. Instead, it is a loose aggregation of musicians with a shared interest in creative improvised music, many of them among the leading improvisers in the Nordic region. The musicians performing in this first incarnation of TUMO come from different generations, different backgrounds and even different countries, but are all brought together by their interest in creative improvised music, with most coming from a background in jazz and improvised music and others from a background in classical music. Altogether, in this first appearance, TUMO is a unique, one-time-only meeting of a diverse group of high-caliber musicians.

The CD will be released on June 18, 2013.