NEW RELEASES - MATT ULERY, C ROBERT WALKER, DAORA

MATT ULERY - WAKE AN ECHO

Really great stuff from bassist Matt Ulery – a player with an imagination as rich as his sound, and an artist who's really becoming a force on the scene here in Chicago! Matt works here in that mix of arrangements and freedom used by some of his contemporaries on the left side of the scene – but he's also got a wider vision, too – one that has the longer pieces stretching out with a compositional vision that goes way beyond just small combo jazz – a really wonderful sense of tones, timings, and layers – served up by a quintet that includes Geoff Bradfield on bass clarinet, Marquis Hill on trumpet, Rob Clearfield on piano and accordion, and Jon Dellemyer on drums. The mix of bass clarinet and trumpet is wonderful – all fluttery and shimmery over the blocky rhythms of the group – and the record has a bold sense of energy that never lets up. Titles include "In Every Lonely Chamber", "Coriander", "Over Under Other", "My Favorite Stranger", "Carefree", and "All The Riven". ~ Dusty Groove

C ROBERT WALKER - SOMETHING'S GOING ON

Sweet jazzy soul from C Robert Walker – a really old school sort of vocalist, of the sort we haven't heard emerge this strongly in years! Walker's done work with other groups, and has appeared on some remixes too – but this full album is really a great step forward, and has the vocalist coming across with a classy, sophisticated vibe right from the start – really the kind of depth you might have expected from a major label debut many years back – at a time when the big labels were still dedicated to discovering soul music this great! In addition to mellower moments, Walker's also got a great way with a groover – and really stretches out with a strong sort of charm on the album's upbeat tracks – not really club numbers, but paced at a level that definitely keeps the record fresh. Titles include "Something's Going On", "How Can I", "One Night Stand", "Touch Me", "How Was It For You", "Mind Travelling", "I Can't Get Enough", and "Shame". ~ Dusty Groove

DAORA - UNDERGROUND SOUNDS OF URBAN BRAZIL, HIP=HOP, BEATS, AFRO & DUB

A really excellent little compilation – one filled with great sounds from the Brazilian underground, and a really rich blend of music that goes way beyond the straighter booty-shaking beats you'll find on other collections of this nature! The music here is often much deeper than some of the straight bass and hip hop coming out of the Brazilian charts – and although lots of these cuts do draw on American production influences, the overall presentation is much rootsier – with echoes of the samba soul generation and other great stretches of Brazilian grooves – even when things are somewhat electric overall. The whole thing's a very much-needed push deeper into the contemporary underground in Rio and Sao Paulo – and titles include "Obrigahh" by Doncesao, "Talarico" by Ogi & Stereodubs, "Cada Um Cada Um" by Espiao, "Balboa Da Silva" by Bixiga 70, "Mulato" by Iconili, "Sou De Salvador" by Rodrigo Campos, "Etiopia" by Sambanzo, and "Cala Boca Menino" by Afroelectrico. 2CDs, and 32 cuts in all!  ~ Dusty Groove

KAISER & SEMIH - COMPOSER DUO MUSIC

The Duo started at the end of 2006, when first arranging the original compositions for Sax and Guitar trying experimental visions. Beside being invited to Jazz festivals in Istanbul (2007), Frankfurt a.M. (2008) and Regensburg (2007, 2009) the program was also performed with international guest musicians during small club tours in Germany, Turkey (2007-2010) and Spain (2008).

Matthias Kaiser stayed after finishing music- and music therapy- diploma studies in Munich (1988) and Würzburg (1994) for two years in Boston, USA, where he continued his jazzstudies. For this, he was decorated before with one of the highest scholarships for german applicants at the "European Scholarship Tour 1994" of the Berklee College, Boston, USA.  Numberless performances since 1986, diverse compositions, arranging- and teaching activities, as well as personal lections from sax giants such as f.e. Rick Keller and George Garzone enable him to create from a variety of musical funds.

Semih Yanyali works with many different groups and projects where he realizes influences of his oriental and western musical background in an astonishing new manner. Both the respected turkish jazz critic Sevin Okyay and also the famous bass player Benny Rietvelt (Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, John Lee Hooker) mentioned him as one of the outrageous guitarists of the young turkish music scene. Semih Yanyali also performs with CazYapJazz, Tobias Regner and Projektil.

KENNY GARRETT - PUSHING THE WORLD AWAY

For his third Mack Avenue Records release, Pushing the World Away, alto/soprano saxophonist/composer/bandleader Kenny Garrett literally had to "push away" a steady flow of distractions to get to the inner core of the album, shifting priorities in his schedule, and diving deep into the essence of the music.

 

"I'm always writing, so coming up with the music wasn't a problem," says Garrett, who is arguably the most imitated alto saxophone player in jazz. "But I had been traveling a lot with my band, and I don't rehearse new material on tour. Yet to record an album requires a lot of preparation and to conceptualize the music I had to push away to receive the blessings and gifts from these songs."

 

On Pushing the World Away, Garrett continues to mature as a composer. As the late Mulgrew Miller, his close friend for many years, noted in a DownBeat feature on the saxophonist last year: "Kenny has always had a great sound from the beginning. He had his own unique sound, but [thanks to his compositions] that sound has transformed into a more captivating and lyrical voice."

 

Garrett, in turn, nods to the pianist who he had known for more than 30 years on the jaunty, upbeat and at times explosive opening track of the album, "A Side Order of Hijiki," which is decidedly not about the hijiki culinary seaweed. "No seaweed," says Garrett who takes an expansive alto flight on this track. "It's actually the word that Mulgrew used to describe my playing style. He would say, "I hear you playing that hijiki."

 

While not directly paying homage to Miller, Garrett does pay tribute to a number of other friends and heroes - Chick Corea, Chucho Valdés, Sonny Rollins, Donald Brown - on Pushing the World Away, which connects the album to Garrett's 2012 critically acclaimed gem, Seeds From The Underground. "I wasn't thinking of continuing the tribute idea like I had on Seeds and before that [in 1997] on Songbook," Garrett says. "I was just writing. For example, during one of my trips to Guadeloupe, I was composing an upbeat, happy piece about the Caribbean islands, and that made me think of Sonny. I call it 'J'ouvert,' which is the Creole name for Carnival. It's my 'St. Thomas.' I hope Sonny likes it."

 

"Hey, Chick" is an elegant, graceful dance with Garrett's expressive alto solo. "It captures that Spain, Eastern Spanish, Moroccan vibe," says Garrett, "and it's something I imagined Chick playing, something interesting, something he could really blow on."

 

The spirited, dance-oriented "Chucho's Mambo," with spicy percussion by Rudy Bird and party trumpeting by Ravi Best, is Garrett's Cuban salsa interpretation of what a collaboration with Valdés could have been like. "We were trying to get together, but I couldn't get a visa to get to Cuba," Garrett says. "We had been writing for each other." He proudly adds, "Chucho and I have the same birthday."

 

"Brother Brown," a slow, emotive beauty that Garrett delivers on piano with a three-person string section, is a salute to Donald Brown, Garrett's musical confidant and album co-producer. "I wanted this piece to be soulful and represent Donald's personality," Garrett says. "I also wanted to raise the bar for myself compositionally. Donald told me, you wrote it, and you know how it should sound. So you should play the piano. The other two pianists I used in these sessions - Vernell Brown and Benito Gonzalez - were there and giving me the thumbs up."

 

Vernell and Benito are two of Garrett's go-to band members, who are both graduates of the informal Kenny Garrett School of Music. "When I think about Art Blakey being a mentor for so many years, and how Miles mentored me as well, I like to give back in my own way," he says. Kenny points out that his band was the first marquee stop for such drummers as Brian Blade, Chris Dave, Ronald Bruner, and Jamire Williams. On Pushing the World Away the drummers include McClenty Hunter, Marcus Baylor and Mark Whitfield Jr.. "They come through, and then there are people always waiting to get them for their own bands," he says. "I'm just happy that I'm able to help them find their voices."

 

Presently, Garrett's core working/touring band is comprised of pianist Brown, bassist Corcoran Holt and Hunter on drums. Gonzalez subs on piano when he's free. And Garrett has expanded his basic quartet to quintet with percussionist Bird. "Rudy adds a lot to the band," Garrett says. "He too used to play with Miles and he adds so much to the music."

 

The band members figure prominently on the new album, ranging from Brown's charged run through the cool and refined tune "Lincoln Center" and his harmonic exhilaration on "Alpha Man" (a tune Garrett wrote for him, thinking about how he plays) to Gonzalez setting down the graceful melody on the ballad "Homma San" (which the band convinced Garrett had to be on the album) and being showcased on the romantic "That's It," which also includes Hunter delivering wordless vocals as part of the rhythm section.

Just like he did with Seeds, Garrett renders a variety of music on Pushing the World Away, stretching out on two pieces in particular: the expansive, journey - like title tune that clocks in at over nine minutes with song - like chanting and a gong and the swinging end song, "Rotation," which features both Brown and Gonzalez on pianos and his three drummers: Hunter, Baylor and Whitfield. Of the latter tune, Garrett says that he likes hearing the pianistic contrasts (he almost joined in at the prodding of his band, but decided to romp on his alto) and invited all the drummers to let them play off each other - all moving in playful rotation.

On the sublime "Pushing the World Away," Garrett explores the theme of the album, undergirding the tune on charging and whinnying soprano. He says he wanted to write a simple piece like "Take Five" or "My Favorite Things." "But I couldn't force it, so I let the song be," he says. "I wanted this tune to be powerful. I had the image of Atlas pushing the world and at the end there was light. I thought, 'I'm going to need a little help with this,' so I asked Vernell to chant. He chants as a Buddhist and I chant as a Christian - both voices accomplishing the same goal of pushing the world away to get to the light."

 

In all, Pushing the World Away features twelve tunes, all of which were composed by Garrett except for one cover, a superb, lyrical, odd-metered take on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "I Say a Little Prayer" (put on the musical map in 1967 as a huge AM-radio pop hit for Dionne Warwick). "We played it at sound check while touring in Europe," Garrett says. "And the people who were working in the venues always applauded. So we knew we had to include this on the album. It feels right."

 

In last year's DownBeat article, Garrett said, "You want to see growth in each album you record." That's certainly the case with Pushing the World Away, his 17th album as a leader, which captures the 52-year-old artist at the peak of his creative abilities, both as a saxophonist and as a composer who is committed to clearing the path so that he can delve deeply into his indelible art.

NEW RELEASES - ALBOROSIE, THE IMPRESSIONS, BOHANNOON

ALBOROSIE - SOUND THE SYSTEM

After the eclecticism of third vocal solo album ’2 Times Revolution’, Sicilian reggae star Alborosie has been signposting a return to roots and culture. This summer his European followers can find out if new long-playing release ‘Sound The System’ is it. Bearing a striking cover photograph of Albo in a striped jacket shouting to a crowd through a megaphone, ‘Sound The System’ will be distributed by Greensleeves.
The guest list extends to the Abyssinians, Ky-Mani Marley and Italian singer Nina Zilli.. Tracks include: Play Fool (To Catch Wise); Rock The Dancehall; Zion Train feat. Ky-Mani Marley; To Whom It May Concern; Who Run The Dance; Goodbye feat. Nina Zilli; U Got To Be Mine; Love Is The Way;There Is A Place feat. Kemar; Positiveness; Don’t Pressure It; Warrior feat. Nature; Give Thanks feat. The Abyssinians. ~ grooveattack.com

THE IMPRESSIONS - RHYTHM! / STAR BRIGHT

Amazing stuff  – a revived version of The Impressions, working here with original trio members Fred Cash and Sam Gooden – alongside arrangements from the legendary Johnny Pate! Pate handled the group's great work in the old days – and producer Binky Griptite really knows how to recreate the magic that made The Impressions so great during their years at ABC – that heartbreaking approach to swinging soul that managed to sound deeply personal while still hitting a groove! Both cuts are great – the sort that will really appeal to any fan of the group's great work in the 60s – so much so, you won't even notice that Curtis Mayfield is missing. ~ Dusty Groove

BOHANNON - KEEP ON DANCIN'

Massive grooves from the mighty Hamilton Bohannon – the kind of skittish, nervous rhythms that made his funk unlike any other artist of the 70s! There's a sense of rhythmic progression here that's super-tight, but often quite subtle in its inflections – a mode that went onto have a huge influence on many generations after the disco era – especially house from Chicago and Detroit! Yet heard here in its original form, the approach is almost even more mindblowing – played live, with a hypnotic feel that's completely compelling – as the grooves shift slowly with subtle phases that often move independently of the vocals – which themselves are often just added to the mix as an afterthought. Bohannon wrote, arranged, and produced – and the record's a sublime blend of guitar, bass, and drums used in mighty fresh ways! Tracks include "Have A Good Day", "Dance With Your Parno", "South African Man", "The Fat Man", "Red Bone", "Truck Stop", and "Rap On Mr. DJ".  ~ Dusty Groove

RICHIE STEPHENS - REAL REGGAE MUSIC

Refreshingly authentic is the phrase that comes to mind when listening to “Real Reggae Music” the latest offering from Richie Stephens. When Richie Stephens set out to make this album he knew exactly what it would take to make this as authentic as possible. It would mean collaborating with some of reggae music’s most renowned musicians, artistes and producers and this he did!

This fourteen-track album comprises songs produced by veteran producers Donovan Germain, Steelie and Clevie, Danny Brownie and collaborations with Bunny “Striker” Lee. Tracks like “I Found Heaven”, “Murdah”, “Set It Off”, “Jah Will Be Done” were taken from original authentic multitrack tapes of tracks produced by Bunny Lee during the late sixties into the early and late seventies. Producer Danny Brownie was able to transfer these tracks to a digital format and enhance the sound quality.

Some of the other tracks, which were recreations of some traditional reggae rhythms, are so authentically reproduced that it is almost impossible to tell that they have been redone. Additionally there is a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” produced by German newcomers Radiation Squad. The collaboration between Danny Brownie and Richie Stephens in writing most of the songs on the album has brought new life to the tracks. “Real Reggae Music” also features collaborations between Richie Stephens and internationally renowned reggae icons such as Daddy U Roy, Gentleman, Alborosie and Richie Campbell. This is a must have CD for all reggae enthusiast. Certainly “Real Reggae Music” at its best!

www.kingstone.de

Tracklisting:
01. Real Reggae Music feat. Daddy U Roy
02. Murdah
03. Tougher Than Before
04. Knock Knock Knock
05. Set It Off
06. World Gone Mad feat. Gentleman and Alborosie
07. No Woman Nuh Cry
08. He’s Blocking Me
09. Loving You Means Everything
10. Where Are You
11. Rescue Me
12. True Believer in Love feat. Richie Campbell
13. I Found Heaven
14. Let Jah Will Be Done

~ grooveattack.com

MYRON & E WITH THE SOUL INVESTIGATORS - BROADWAY

The vocal duo is something of a rarity. There have been countless solo stars, trios, quartets and quintets, but the pairing of equally talented singers isn’t nearly as common. Sam and Dave, Ashford and Simpson, the Righteous Brothers and the Everly Brothers comprise a short list of standouts. Enter Myron & E.

Myron (Myron Glasper) was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He sang in choirs and played piano growing up, and was a star athlete in football and track, but found his calling as a dancer. Working with Rosie Perez landed him on the early ’90s sketch comedy show In Living Color. During those years, however, the streets of South Central were no place to foster creativity, so Myron moved to the Bay and began touring as a backup singer, which is where he met E (Eric “E da Boss” Cooke).

E, a native of Newark, New Jersey, got his first taste of music by playing records during family card games and fish frys. As a teen, he began collecting records of his own and DJing, hanging at the Music Factory and Rock and Soul in New York City. After relocating to southwest Virginia, he graduated high school and began DJing parties, which allowed him to invest in an Ensoniq ASR-10 keyboard, two Technics turntables and an eight-track recorder.

The two began working together while on the road with the Bay Area’s Blackalicious, and shortly after, E released an independent record as E da Boss. While touring in Finland behind his solo project, E found himself in an impromptu jam session with members of The Soul Investigators, whose work with singer Nicole Willis helped define them as one of Europe’s foremost retro-soul bands.

Investigators producer Didier Selin was impressed enough to leave E with several unfinished tracks. Back in the U.S., E recruited Myron as a singing and songwriting partner, and Myron & E was born.
Myron & E and the Soul Investigators released a string of excellent funk 45s on the Timmion label-starting with 2008′s “Cold Game”/”I Can’t Let You Get Away”-before signing with Stones Throw last year. Since then, Myron & E have been focused on building their live performance, which includes sold-out shows before even having a full-length release and a stellar showing at SXSW. “We showed up to show out and that’s what we did,” E says of their SXSW appearance.

Myron & E are proud to be releasing their debut album, Broadway, this summer. For the album, the Soul Investigators provided demos from overseas with the duo stationed on the west coast writing the lyrics and singing all the vocals. E, in particular, has a practice of sending YouTube links of classic soul and R&B songs to the band to provide inspiration for recreating that vibe. One such link was to Edwin Starr’s “Running Back and Forth.” The Soul Investigators responded with “Everyday Love.”
“I don’t really think there’s anybody else that can do it as good as they can,” E says about the band. “They do it like none other.”

- Ronnie Reese, Spring 2013
www.stonesthrow.com

Tracklisting:
01. Turn Back
02. Broadway
03. If I Gave You My Love
04. Everyday Love
05. I Can’t Let You Get Away
06. Cold Game
07. Do It Do It Disco
08. Back N’ Forth
09. Going In Circles
10. They Don’t Know

~ grooveattack,com

NEW RELEASES - CORNELL CAMPBELL MEETS SOOTHSAYERS, THE BEST OF BRUNSWICK, ESTHER PHILLIPS

CORNELL CAMPBELL MEETS SOOTHSAYERS - NOTHING CAN STOP US

A brilliant meeting of two top talents – reggae legend Cornell Campbell and underground funk combo The Soothsayers – working here together on a set that feels like it could have been pulled from the vaults of Studio One! The Soothsayers have already demonstrated their global leanings on albums of their own – and here, they display a remarkable ear for classic sounds from Kingston – working together with the tightness of some legendary reggae backing group, and really giving Campbell some of the best sonic settings he's had in years! Cornell's vocals are wonderful throughout – crackling and soulful, at a level that really lives up to his legendary status – and the production is just the right sort of laidback to make the whole thing work perfectly. Titles include "Jah Jah Me No Born Yah", "Nothing Can Stop Us", "Conqueror", "I'll Never Leave", "Ode To Joy", "With You My Heart Belongs", and "Never Give Up".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE BEST OF BRUNSWICK - GROOVE& SOUL

Soaring grooves from the mighty Brunswick Records – cuts pulled together from a time when the label was easily one of the greatest sources around for Windy City soul! The package features some of the bigger names from Brunswick, plus a few non-Chicago artists from later years too – all wrapped up in a collection that really gets at the charm and undeniably positive energy that Brunswick had when they were working at their best! Titles include "Higher & Higher" and "Let's Love Again" by Jackie Wilson, "Something You've Got" by Tyrone Davis, "There Was A Time" by Gene Chandler, "Funky Chicken" by Willie Henderson, "The Lovomaniacs" by Boobie Knight, "Keep On Dancin" and "Bohannon's Beat" by Bohannon, "I Like What You're Doing To Me" by Young & Co, "Are You My Woman" and "Too Good To Be Forgotten" by The Chi-Lites. ~ Dusty Groove

ESTHER PHILLIPS - FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM

One of our favorite-ever albums from Esther Phillips – an album that really helped her transform her sound for the 70s! The approach here is a lot more jazzy than before – served up with a good dose of funk, thanks to arrangements from Pee Wee Ellis – fresh from his work with James Brown, but even more electrically-oriented here! The groove is great – and the album's one of the best Kudu sides from the early 70s – a perfect blend of soul, jazz, and funk – all wrapped up with a new level of sophistication that benefits all parties involved. Other players include Richard Tee on keyboards, Eric Gale on guitar, Bernard Purdie on drums, Airto on percussion, and Hank Crawford on alto sax. Titles include an incredible cover of Gil Scott Heron's "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", plus "From A Whisper To A Scream", "Till My Back Ain't Got No Bone", "Your Love Is So Doggone Good", Scarred Knees", and "Baby, I'm For Real".  ~ Dusty Groove

GENE CHANDLER - CHI-SOUND SESSIONS 1978-1982

Gene Chandler's one of those artists who never fails to surprise us – and this wonderful package is a great illustration of one of the best chapters in his career! Gene's first known for his big early hits for Vee Jay – including "Duke Of Earl" – and stayed strong over many many years, shifting labels from time to time, continuing to grow as a singer and move through a range of different styles all handled quite well. This set offers an oft-lost side of Gene's career – his later recordings for Carl Davis' Chi-Sound label, home to a number of older Chicago soul artists who worked with Davis earlier at other labels. As with other singers on the label – such as Walter Jackson – Gene here moves into a smooth modern soul vein, mixing uptempo and midtempo tunes with ease, showing a sophisticated vocal style that you'd hardly ever expect from his earlier work! There's some real gems on this set – which features not only all three albums that Chandler recorded for the label, but also 9 more bonus tracks from singles as well – a massive 31 track package that's the first full look at this side of Gene's career. Titles include "Does She Have A Friend", "That Funky Disco Rhythm", "I'm Attracted To You", "For The Sake Of The Memories", "God Send", "Almost Daylight", "I Keep Coming Back", "I'll Make The Living If You'll Make The Living Worth While", "Skate", "Time Is A Thief", "Where Have You Been", "Get Down (demo)", "Let Me Make Love To You (long version)", "All About The Paper", "Rainbow 80", "You've Been So Sweet To Me", and "When You're #1".   ~ Dusty Groove

LES MCCANN - THE GOSPEL TRUTH / SOUL HITS / MCCANNA

A trio of early 60s gems from pianist Les McCann – all wrapped up here in a single set! First up is The Gospel Truth – a solid 60s smoker in which Les McCann really gets back to the roots of soul jazz – serving up the gospel-tinged truth promised in the title – and really linking his piano back to the pulpit in the process! Les has a wonderfully firm touch on the left end of the keyboard – which makes for a rollicking groove on just about every track, augmented by super-tight drum work from the great Paul Humphrey, who almost gets a tambourine vibe out of his snare and cymbal! Stanley Gilbert plays bass, and Charles Kynard plays guest Hammond on a few tracks – and titles include "Get That Soul", "The Preacher", "The Gospel Truth", "Oh The Joy", and "Didn't It Rain".

Soul Hits is a really hard-hitting groover from the great 60s trio of Les McCann – a set that adds in some extra guitar from Joe Pass, who definitely sounds his most soulful on the set! Joe grooves perfectly with Les' piano – and has almost a Kenny Burrell-like depth in tone throughout – one that we're not as likely to hear on other Pass sessions of this vintage, possibly because of the excellent rhythms from Paul Chambers on bass and Paul Humphrey on drums! Tunes are definitely the soul hits promised in the title – mostly numbers that were brimming up big in the soul jazz generation of the time, but given a particular Les McCann twist. Titles include "Sister Sadie", "Bag's Groove", "Back At The Chicken Shack", "Work Song", "Sonnymoon For Two", "Groove Yard", and "Sack O Woe".

McCanna is filled with a great Latin groove from the mighty Les McCann – a smoking set that adds in extra percussion from Willie Correa – who gives the record a sound that's quite a change from the usual McCann groove! The percussion is wonderful throughout – and given that the great Paul Humphrey is already playing drums in the trio, the whole thing's got a rhythmic zest that never lets up – way different than just the usual "with conga" style you'd hear on a Prestige Records piano trio record – and instead a groove that's definitely dedicated to the boldest Latin piano modes of the time! The track list includes a lot of originals, such as "McCanna", "Zulu", "Bastuto Baby", "Shaam-Pu II", and "Narobi Nights" – plus versions of "Que Rico" and "It Had Better Be Tonight".  ~  Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JOHN ELLISON, REVA DEVITO / ROANE NAMUH, CHARLES WRIGHT & THE 103RD STREET RHYTHM BAND

JOHN ELLISON - UP FROM FUNK

 

A deep deep retrospective on soul singer John Ellison – best known for his work in the group Soul Brother Six – but a heck of a great talent on his own! The set's an unusual one – in that it features a fair bit of old recordings from the vaults of Jamie Records, mixed with new recordings and remixes of older classics – including some of John's best with his famous group! Modern instrumental styles dominate most of the record, but Ellison's vocals are definitely old school – and have this crackling quality that shows his continued commitment to soul. The one thing missing from the package is a full set of dates, which might help us understand the recording history a bit more – but in their place are some surprisingly great notes from Ellison, which certainly makes up for that loss. Titles include "Leave Me Alone", "Sex Is Sex", "Magic Touch", "Wild & Free", "She's Hot She's Some Kind Of Wonderful", "A Kiss In The Wind", "Let Your Hair Hang Down", and "Spend The Rest Of My Life Making Love To You" – plus remakes of "I Need You Yes I Do", "I Don't Want To Cry", and "You Better Check Yourself" – and remixes of "See You Later Baby", "Play With Fire", and "Keep On Making Love To Me".  ~ Dusty Groove

 

REVA DEVITO / ROANE NAMUH - CLOUDSHINE

 

Beautiful grooves from the team of Reva DeVito and Roane Namuh – singer and beatmaker, respectively – working here with a lean sound that's mighty nice, and which really brings up a chunky vibe around the edges! The tunes bristle with a low-down groove that really grabs us from the get-go – no commercial posturing, and instead a street-influenced style that's topped with these vocals from Reva that rock back and forth over the rhythms – working together as a great partnership throughout. Titles include "Frozen", "Candy", "Cloudshine", "Go There", "Lavender", "Should Have Known", "Should Have Known (Tall Black Guy rmx)", and "Cloudshine (Tony Ozier rmx)". ~ Dusty Groove

 

CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103RD STREET RHYTHM BAND - PUCKEY PUCKY JAMES & OUTAKES 1970-1971

 

Rare funk doesn't get any better than this – massive music, all of it unreleased – recorded by Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band at the tail end of their classic years for Warner Brothers! This is the kind of stuff you read about in history books, but hardly ever get to hear on record – the full, unedited studio work of a hard-jamming funk group in all its glory – no edits, no overdubs, just live funky energy! Some of the key cuts here run for over 20 minutes in length – showing the Rhythm Band to be every bit as creative in long form format as the JBs were at the time – and the shorter tracks have a nicely gritty edge that takes us back to the best early 45 years of the group. The vocals are secondary here to the instrumentation, but that's ok with us, given the grooves! Titles include "Puckey Puckey", "Jam #3", "Watts Towers", "Brothers & Sisters", "Hard To Handle", "Sagittarius", "I Love You Girl", "Wine (early version)", "Gemini", "Jam #2", "Express Yourself (alt version)", "Till You Get Enough/Do Your Thing (alt)", and "Jam #1". (Individually numbered limited edition of 5000 Copies.)  ~ Dusty Groove

 

If you've been paying any attention to the world of funky breakbeats then you've no doubt heard of Basement Freaks - the brainchild of George Fotiadis, a major force in the scene for well over ten years. Not only do his DJ sets elevate sold out crowds, he produces more music than almost any other DJ in the scene and is the label boss for the infamous label Bombastic Jam.

After more than 10 successful vinyl releases, 2 full albums, over 15 remixes and countless digital EPs, George has been called "The hardest working man in Funk". His music has been praised by MixMag, I-DJ Mag and even the Godfather of Nu-Skool Breaks - Rennie Pilgrem. In fact, every respectable funk DJ on the planet includes a Basement Freaks tune in their set.

George exploded into the world of breaks with his remix of Beggarman by Smoove and Turrell. Jalapeno records got wind of this and sought out George to produce a follow-up album - "Something Freaky" - which has been played on BBC's Radio1 and written about in Knowledge Magazine. In 2011 Georges Perin a long time collaborator and vocalist of “Something Freaky LP” becomes an active member of Basement Freaks project and perfroms with the soundsystem. His previous album - "Debut" - was part of his side project,Smokey Bandits, and showcases George's multitalented skills as he plays guitar, bass and drums. Since then,George has released music for Goodgroove,Wack,Breakbeat Paradise, ESL, Air Recordings, Bombstrikes and, of course, Bombastic Jam.

Basement Freaks has toured extensively throughout Europe - dropping funk at the renowned Glastonbury Festival,the Fabric & Cable Nightclubs in London and the Exit & Reworks Festivals. In the summer of 2011, Basement Freaks headlined the world's largest and best breakbeat festival - Shambhala - in Canada.Late 2012 the freaks hit Brazil with 2 massive performances on D.Edge Club & NaveGroove#9 Festival.

CONCORD MUSIC GROUP RELEASES FIVE NEW TITLES IN ORIGINAL JAZZ CLASSICS REMASTERS SERIES FEATURING THELONIUS MONK & GERRY MULLIGAN, THE BILL EVANS TRIO, WES MONTGOMERY, CANNONBALL ADDERLY & MILT JACKSON, AND CHET BAKER

Concord Music Group will release five new titles in its Original Jazz Classics Remasters series on July 23, 2013. Enhanced by 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino, several bonus tracks on nearly each disc (some previously unreleased) and new liner notes providing historical context to the original material, the series celebrates the 60th anniversary of Riverside Records, the prolific New York-based label that showcased some of the most influential jazz artists and recordings of the 1950s and ’60s.

The five titles are:
•Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan: Mulligan Meets Monk
•Bill Evans Trio: How My Heart Sings!
•Wes Montgomery: So Much Guitar!
•Cannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson: Things Are Getting Better
•Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe

Riverside was launched in 1953 in New York on a shoestring budget by traditional-jazz enthusiasts Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews as a platform to reissue jazz and blues recordings from the 1920s by King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Ma Rainey, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and others. Over the next decade, the label evolved into one of the premier purveyors of modern jazz. With Keepnews producing the sessions (and often writing the liner notes), Riverside brought jazz giants like Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery to the forefront of American music. Despite successes with these and other jazz and blues artists — including Sonny Rollins, Abbey Lincoln, Art Blakey, Mongo Santamaria, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Heath, Charlie Byrd, and the Staple Singers — Riverside folded in 1964, a year after Grauer’s death. The catalog was acquired by Fantasy in 1972, and Fantasy was in turn acquired by Concord Music Group in late 2004.

All five Riverside titles in the current round of reissues were originally produced by Keepnews and include his original liner notes. All reflect the ambitious depth and scope of influential jazz captured in the Riverside catalog over the relatively short span of 11 years.

THELONIOUS MONK & GERRY MULLIGAN - MULLIGAN MEETS MONK

Recorded in mid August 1957, Mulligan Meets Monk is a summit of two artists from two very different and distinct worlds — Monk representing what was then known as East Coast jazz, and Mulligan deeply rooted in a West Coast sound. Rounding out the quartet are bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Shadow Wilson. Even with the two frontmen’s disparate styles, the unlikely pairing resulted in an engaging and enduring recording, according to Neil Tesser’s new liner notes.

“Despite their radically different personalities, and their almost antipodal approach to improvising, Monk and Mulligan found common ground in composition,” says Tesser. “Not in the songs themselves — no one would ever mistake one of Monk’s for one of Mulligan’s — but in their devotion to the craft, and their admiration for the balanced, well-turned tune. That devotion manifested itself quite differently in their individual musics, but it provided the foundation for their unimagined friendship . . . and allowed them to join in this unexpectedly successful venture.”

Bonus tracks on the Mulligan Meets Monk reissue are alternate takes of the Mulligan composition “Decidedly” and Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser,” along with two alternate takes of the Monk/Coleman Hawkins piece “I Mean You.”

BILL EVANS TRIO - HOW MY HEART SINGS!

Recorded in New York on three separate days in May and June 1962, How My Heart Sings! features Bill Evans accompanied by bassist Chuck Israels (replacing Scott Lofaro, who had died in an automobile accident less than a year earlier) and drummer Paul Motian. The album is actually the second of two to emerge from the 1962 sessions; the first was Moonbeams, a collection of ballads. How My Heart Sings! is, by design, a bit more lively and energetic.

“The selections represented here are primarily of a more ‘moving’ kind,” says Doug Ramsey in his new liner notes to the reissue, “though there is in the trio’s approach to all material a desire to present a singing sound. Hence, the title of the album, despite its intended program of faster swinging vehicles.”

How My Heart Sings! includes three bonus tracks: an alternate take of “In Your Own Sweet Way,” and previously unreleased renditions of “34 Skidoo” and “Ev’rything I Love.”

WES MONTGOMERY - SO MUCH GUITAR!

So Much Guitar! was recorded in August 1961, with Wes Montgomery fronting a stellar lineup that includes Hank Jones on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Lex Humphries on drums and Ray Baretto on congas. The album was a turning point, not only for Wes but for bassist Ron Carter as well, says Marc Myers, author of the reissue’s new liner notes.

“While Montgomery’s previous release on Riverside in 1960, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, put the guitarist in play with critics, So Much Guitar! caught the ear of poll-voting jazz fans and established him as a soulful force,” says Myers. “The album also marked Carter’s first opportunity to show his stuff on the fly — transforming the formally trained 24-year-old into a first-call session player. Today he is one of the most prolific recording artists in jazz history.”

The bonus tracks here essentially make up an entire second album, capturing eight songs recorded earlier in 1961 at the Cellar, a club in Vancouver, British Columbia. This Canadian set — originally issued on Fantasy as The Montgomery Brothers in Canada, includes Buddy Montgomery on vibes, Monk Montgomery on bass, and Paul Humphrey on drums

CANNONBALL ADDERLY & MILT JACKSON - THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER

Recorded in a single day in October 1958, Things Are Getting Better showcases the brilliant impromptu interplay of Cannonball Adderley and Milt Jackson, with assistance from Wynton Kelly on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums.

While Keepnews’s original liner notes referred to the recording as “fundamentally a blowing date in the best sense of that much abused term,” the set is clearly much more than that, according to Willard Jenkins’s new notes. “The album’s groove stems primarily from the successful partnership formed by the blues firm of Adderley and Jackson,” says Jenkins, “each of whom were hall of fame representatives of the essence of the groove factor during their time as the respective histories of each have borne out.”

The reissue of Things Are Getting Better includes two bonus tracks not found on the original LP: alternate takes of Buddy Johnson’s “Serves Me Right” and Lawlor and Blake’s “Sidewalks of New York” (the latter arranged by Adderley).

CHET BAKER PLAYS THE BEST OF LERNER AND LOEWE

Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe is exactly what the title suggests — a set of eight innovative renditions of compositions by one of the most prolific and recognizable theatrical teams of the mid-20th century. Baker’s supporting cast on this July 1959 date includes Herbie Mann on flute, piccolo, alto flute, and tenor sax; Zoot Sims on alto and tenor saxophones; Pepper Adams on bari sax; Bill Evans and Bob Corwin trading off piano duties on various tracks; Earl May on bass; and Clifford Jarvis on drums.

The album “is easily heard as a sequel to the popular Chet (also on Riverside) album of standards released earlier that same great-jazz year of 1959,” says James Rozzi in his liner notes to the reissue. “The mix of personnel throughout the set provides the recording “with a similar timbre while adding uptempo fare to the previously released, slow and relaxed ballad set of Chet.”

JIMMY CLIFF ANNOUNCES 2013 MANY RIVERS CROSSED TOUR DATES

This September, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff will visit several U.S. cities, performing in intimate theater and club settings on his “2013 Many Rivers Crossed Tour.” The 17-date tour begins September 6 at the Interlocken Music Festival in Arrington, VA and continues to other cities including New York (Webster Hall), Los Angeles (Santa Monica Pier), San Francisco (The Fillmore), Chicago (Concord Music Hall), Boston (House Of Blues), Washington, DC (The Howard Theatre), and Seattle (Neptune), before concluding in Glenside, PA (Keswick Theatre) on September 29. Jimmy Cliff Community ticket pre-sales begin tomorrow and vary by market; general on-sales for all shows begin this Friday, June 28.

Says Jimmy Cliff, "With my recent GRAMMY® win and the 40th anniversary of The Harder They Come, I want to give fans something different, a rare and intimate look at Jimmy Cliff. Through the years, I've been blessed with memorable experiences that accompany the songs I've created and I am excited to share these stories on my ‘Many Rivers Crossed Tour’."

In addition to classics including “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” “Many Rivers To Cross,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “The Harder They Come,” and “Breakout,” Cliff will perform songs from his acclaimed, GRAMMY®-winning (Best Reggae Album) 2012 album, REBIRTH.

In conjunction with the “Many Rivers Crossed Tour,” film distributor Syndctd Entertainment (www.syndctd-entertainment.com) and International Films Management will re-release the classic film The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff, as a special, one-night-only theatrical event across North America on September 5, 2013. This year marks the film’s 40th anniversary, and to commemorate the milestone, Syndctd has invited fans from around the world to participate in a theatrical poster redesign contest. Movie theatre and contest information can be found on the film's official website, www.thehardertheycome.com.

In addition, Jimmy Cliff and Talenthouse have teamed up to create a video contest for up and coming directors. Directors are invited to download green screen footage of Cliff performing his song, “Reggae Music,” and come up with their own vision for the video. The winning director will be rewarded with a five-day, all expenses paid trip to Jamaica courtesy of The Jamaican Tourist Board. For complete contest details and to enter, visit www.talenthouse.com.

REBIRTH paired Jimmy Cliff with the award-winning producer and punk legend Tim Armstrong, who produced the album, as well as Cliff’s 2011 “Sacred Fire” EP. 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.

Last June, 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 tomorrow (June 25) by Universal Music Enterprises.

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Jimmy Cliff “2013 Many Rivers Crossed Tour”
SEPTEMBER
06 Arrington, VA Interlocken Music Festival
08 Seattle, WA Neptune
09 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
10 Arcata, CA John Van Duzer Theatre
11 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
12 Santa Monica, CA Santa Monica Pier
13 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
15 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
17 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
19 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
20 Chicago, IL Concord Music Hall
22 Columbia, MO Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival
24 Ridgefield, CT The Ridgefield Playhouse
25 Boston, MA House Of Blues
27 Washington, DC The Howard Theatre
28 New York, NY Webster Hall
29 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre

NEW RELEASES - JOHN A LEWIS TRIO, STONE ALLIANCE, THE JAZZ CRUSADERS

JOHN A. LEWIS TRIO - COALESCENCE

The Trio consists of composer/pianist John A Lewis, bassist Jordon Schug and drummer Merik Gillett. The music was recorded in 2003 while the trio was performing at Sullivans Steakhouse in Dallas, Texas, where they have been performing for over three years. The CD is a collection of twelve tunes - six originals and six standards. The recording displays a wide range of styles that includes straight ahead swing, latin tinged tunes, blues and rock flavored tunes. The Trio presents a cohesive and balanced sound that shows fluency and lucidity and yet each group member displays a unique voice. Darryl Thomas, the owner and director of Sandaga 813, a music emporium in Dallas Texas writes "Coalesence is a wonderful collection of fine originals and standards. It is also obvious this group of musicians enjoy playing together. John A Lewis is an excellent composer and is very direct in his sense of groove. This CD is truly a joy to listen to. Track number four, the Cedar Walton arrangement of 'The Meaning of the Blues' touches my soul. This CD is just great music."

STONE ALLIANCE - STONE ALLIANCE

An amazing little group – and one of the real standouts in indie jazz during the 70s! Stone Alliance are a killer power trio made up of players who'd previously worked for Elvin Jones – and all three of them have inherited a frenzied sense of rhythm from Jones – and that great sharp edge he brought to his initial early recordings in the post-Coltrane years! But there's also a deeper sound going on here, too – a bit of funk, and definitely a bit of Latin in the percussion and basslines – which makes for these grooves that are as complicated as they are infectious – often given some sweet spiritual tones from the reeds on top! The lineup features Steve Grossman on tenor and soprano sax, Gene Perla on bass, and Don Alias on drums and percussion – all working together with tremendous energy, but a great focus too – always soulful, and never too jamming at all. Titles include the insane break track "Sweetie Pie", plus Stevie Wonder's "Creepin", "Duet", "King Tut", "Samba De Negro" and "Vaya Mulatto". (Part of the Deep Jazz Reality series!) ~ Dusty Groove

THE JAZZ CRUSADERS - GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

The Jazz Crusaders at the start of the 70s – taking on a bit of The Beatles and some great grooves of their own – and picking up a fair bit of funk in the process! The album still has the group working in the best modes of their late 60s Liberty years – more jazz than fusion, with the core group honed to a solid "t" – able to slide effortlessly over slinky rhythms with soaring solos – a marvelous combination of music that comes from the efforts of Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor, Stix Hooper on drums, Buster Williams on bass, and Joe Sample on both acoustic and electric piano. Beatles tunes include "Give Peace A Chance" and "Black Bird" – but the rest of the album is original material from the group – really showing them hipping up their vibe with some righteous funky energy of the late 60s. Titles include "Anita's New Dance", "Space Settlement", "All The Lonely Years", "Another Blues", and "I Think It Was A Dream". ~ Dusty Groove

2013 DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL "IMPORTED FROM DETROIT" ANNOUNCES WORLD-CLASS LINEUP

The 34th annual Detroit Jazz Festival "Imported from Detroit," the world's largest entirely free jazz festival, is proud to announce the headlining performers for its Labor Day weekend festival (Aug. 30 through Sept. 2). Spread over four days and four stages, headliners include: 2013 Artist in Residence Danilo Pérez, David Murray Big Band withMacy Gray, Ahmad Jamal, Charles Lloyd and Friends featuring Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman Quartet with string orchestra, John Scofield Überjam, McCoy Tyner Trio with special guest Savion Glover, Yellowjackets, Gregory Porter, and Robert Glasper, among others. Hundreds of Detroit regional artists are performing within national groups this year as well as headlining their own sets.

"We strive to make the Detroit Jazz Festival's Labor Day weekend concerts more exceptional every year, and continue to show people from around the world what our great city has to offer," says Gretchen Valade, chair of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation board of directors. "Everything we do at the Detroit Jazz Festival is meant to enrich the lives of music lovers everywhere. We want to make it possible for them to see their favorite jazz artists all in one place, and most importantly, offering these performances for free. It's not just about amazing music; it's about making it available for anyone that wants to listen."

"This year's lineup was again carefully selected. We want to represent real jazz in all its forms. This year, we're focusing on all dimensions and the different generations of jazz music. The creative artists we're bringing together are pushing boundaries to create new, unique approaches that explore the true nature of jazz music," said Chris Collins, artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival. "Making an impact in the jazz world, but also creating meaningful experiences for the audience, is what the Detroit Jazz Festival is all about."

GRAMMY® Award-winner and Mack Avenue Records pianist/composer/educator Danilo Pérez, one of the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time, will serve as this year's Artist in Residence, performing material from his upcoming album, Panama 500, as well as the Panama Suite, with other works for large ensemble. The Panamanian pianist also will join Detroit native Geri Allen in an acoustic duo piano performance. Also performing as a piano duo are husband and wife, Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes.

Several Detroit luminaries are also returning to their beloved hometown for special performances. Aside from her duo performance with Pérez, Geri Allen will serve as the musical director of this year's Detroit Homecoming Band which will include vocalist Sheila Jordan, saxophonists JD Allen and David McMurray, trombonist George Bohanon, bassist Robert Hurst, and drummer Karriem Riggins. Gary Smulyan, Howard Johnson, and Frank Basile also will pay tribute to Detroit's own late Pepper Adams. Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave will return for his second consecutive year with a program titled "Trumpet Call."Saxophonist James Carter is presenting a tribute to Don Byas, and JD Allen also will return to perform at this year's festival with his trio.

This year's lineup features an array of piano masters and sax legends, including NEA Jazz Master Ahmad Jamal, who will perform with his quartet. The pianist recently received a GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category last year for his Blue Moon album. NEA Jazz Master McCoy Tyner also will perform with his long-standing trio with special guest Savion Glover. Another cross-medium combination this year is clarinetist Eddie Daniels, pianist Roger Kellaway, and cellist James Holland, who will be joined by painter Doug Coffin. Coffin will create new works based on the music by Kellaway and Daniels. Aaron Diehl, a 2011 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz from the American Pianists Association, will perform in support of The Bespoke Man's Narrative, his recent debut on Mack Avenue Records.

A rare U.S. festival appearance by the acclaimed Saxophone Summit, which includes  Joe Lovano, David Liebman, and Ravi Coltrane, is scheduled. Saxophonist Charles Lloyd has assembled an exclusive project billed as Charles Lloyd and Friends featuring Bill Frisell performing in selected markets only in 2013. Frisell is also scheduled separately with his working band recasting the music of John Lennon. NEA Jazz Master Lee Konitz will perform with his quartet including 2007 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz from the American Pianists Association, Dan Tepfer. The prolific Paris-based saxophonist David Murray will bring his big band, which features vocalist Macy Gray, in support of their recently released album, Be My Monster Love.

The 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, an all-star Detroit big band under the musical direction of Chris Collins, will perform newly commissioned arrangements from arrangers including Bob Mintzer, Bill Cunliffe, David Berger, and Chuck Israels based on Dave Brubeck compositions and featuring guest soloists from throughout this year's festival. The DJFO returns to the stage on Monday to honor the works of Duke Ellington under the direction of Ellington Scholar, Berger.

The festival will present an exclusive Dave Brubeck Tribute Series, which will be comprised of four separate performances, starting with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet on Saturday. The Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra Brubeck Commission Project with newly commissioned arrangements of Dave Brubeck compositions will be presented on Sunday, as well as The Real Ambassadors - a recasting of Dave and Iola Brubeck's dramatic masterpiece with conductor Bill Meyer. The series will conclude on Monday with TO HOPE, A Celebration: Dave Brubeck's Historic Mass, a stunning masterpiece which will feature a 65 voice choir, string orchestra, and the Brubeck Brothers Quartet with saxophonist Rick Margitza.

Saxophonist Joshua Redman and vocalist Sheila Jordan are also slated to perform this year in respective orchestral programs. The Joshua Redman Quartet with Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Gregory Hutchinson will be joined by an orchestra and will be performing selections from the new album Walking Shadows. Jordan's performance also will feature the Alan Broadbent Trio and a Detroit-based 18-piece string orchestra.

The Yellowjackets, who have been together almost as long as the Detroit Jazz Festival - 34 years and counting - are performing in support of A Rise In The Road, their new release on Mack Avenue Records. This serves as their debut project with new bassist Felix Pastorius. Guitarist John Scofield is set to perform with his Überjam group, bringing jam-oriented funk to this year's lineup. Also on the schedule is the the Robert Glasper Experiment, the GRAMMY® Award-winning group which transcends genre, drawing from jazz, hip-hop, R&B and rock.

Two impressive new talents are also set to perform. Exciting young vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant will perform in support of her recently released Mack Avenue debut record, WomanChild, which has received much critical acclaim already. New York luminary David Berger has written customized arrangements of McLorin Salvant's music to be performed by his own New York Big Band; this will serve as the young vocalists premier in a highly customized large ensemble setting. Also performing is vocalist Gregory Porter,who recently earned a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance, and is set to release Liquid Spirit, on Sept. 17 via Blue Note Records.

 The Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest entirely free jazz festival in the world, with attendees and artists alike gathering from all over the globe (with 25 percent of the audience coming from outside of Michigan). In addition to providing incredible opportunities to see jazz legends, the festival has an important economic impact, bringing in tens of millions of dollars and contributing greatly to the city of Detroit. The festival also was voted the number three jazz festival in North America in a reader's poll by JazzTimes, the world's leading jazz publication.

Now in its 34th year, the Detroit Jazz Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend (August 31 - September 2), in Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit. Attendees can see world-renowned artists on four stages: JP Morgan Chase Main Stage, Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage, Mack Avenue Records Waterfront Stage, and Absopure Pyramid Stage.

SHELEA RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM, LOVE FELL ON ME FEATURING BRIAN MCKNIGHT, STEVIE WONDER AND COLLABORATION WITH NARADA MICHALE WALDEN

Fresh off a spell-bounding performance at this year’s 44th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards, alongside other musical performances during the evening which included Sting, Allison Krauss, Wiz Khalifa, Nickelback, Foreigner, Aerosmith and Jordin Sparks, Sheléa honored legendary songwriter Hal David with her performance of “Anyone Who Had a Heart."

Sheléa’s debut Love Fell On Me boasts production from the legendary Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross). Together they co-wrote and co-produced the up-tempo song “Have I Ever Told You.” The album also features multi-platinum selling R&B singer, songwriter, producer Brian McKnight on “Can’t Play It Cool” and the iconic Stevie Wonder on harmonica for the title track “Love Fell On Me,” a song which was chosen as the musical theme for the film Jumping the Broom (Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Mike Epps). Love Fell On Me encompasses a classic blend of soul, R&B, and jazz, and captures the true essence of romance. The current single, “Love The Way You Love Me” is a soulful ballad which premiered on the award-winning site Singersroom.com, and showcases Sheléa’s “powerful voice,” as described by SoulBounce.com.

The talented songstress caught the attention of fans and music critics in 2012 for her astounding YouTube tribute to the legendary Whitney Houston, as well as one of Sheléa’s biggest supporters, Stevie Wonder, who was instrumental in booking her for a performance at the White House for President and Michelle Obama. There, she honored composers Burt Bacharach and Hal David with the Gershwin Prize. You can also hear Sheléa sing lead on “Break The Chains,” the official anthem for the global movement to stop violence against women with One Billion Rising (Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Jessica Alba, Debbie Allen).

Sheléa has performed on a number of top-rated morning shows including Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning San Diego, The Morning Blend Las Vegas and Studio Fox 11 in Los Angeles, and recently Sheléa was featured as Clear Channel’s NEW! Discover & Uncover artist on iheartradio.com.

NEW RELEASES - GABRIEL TAJEU, NINA SIMONE, ROTEM SIVAN

GABRIEL TAJEU - FINDING MY WAY

“I think that most of the content of my album is about searching. Searching for love, for my place in this world, for reasons why love goes bad, for my purpose – what it is and what it is not, for my path.” His debut album, ‘Finding My Way’, is available on iTunes and at the Amazon MP3 Store. In addition to the searching he does lyrically, Gabriel Tajeu is also searching for a new sound. He was raised listening to all types of music from Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. During his teenage years he started to listen to R&B legends from Luther Vandross to Brian McKnight. It is R&B that has had the largest influence on his vocal styling. The way he sings, phrases his vocals, and adds harmonies to his music are all influenced heavily by the genre. However, “It is the music that I found late in my college years and recently that has had the most profound impact on my current songwriting, chord progressions, and song structure. Musicians like Ben Harper, Ryan Adams, John Mayer, Van Hunt, Joni Mitchell, D’Angelo, Brett Dennen, and Elvis Costello have begun to creep into my consciousness. The way they write music is different in some ways than the artists I grew up listening to…Their lyrical sensibility, rock and roll affect, and sometimes unpredictable song structure is something that I am trying to incorporate into my music and aspire to as a songwriter.” ~4eentertainment.com

NINA SIMONE - VERY RARE EVENING

A very rare evening indeed – a sweet little live set recorded by Nina Simone during her soulful height at RCA – but issued years after that time, and only briefly on a small indie label! The setting here is wonderful – a small combo in the background with the great Weldon Irvine on Hammond, playing these soulful lines that are mighty lean and plenty powerful – spurred on by rhythms from Al Shackman on guitar, Gene Perla on bass, and Don Alias on drums! The record also features two female backup singers on a few cuts – giving the album an almost Sweet Inspirations like touch at moments – but overall, the feel is straight hip Nina – that unique blend of soul, folk, and jazz that pushed things to the next level at the end of the 60s! Includes the great original "Revolution", plus the track "The Other Woman", "In The Morning", "Ain't Go No/I Got Life", "Save Me", and "To Love Somebody". ~ Dusty Groove

ROTEM SIVAN - ENCHANTED SUN

Sivan is a recipient of Montreux Jazz Festival International Competition prize in 2009. While completing his studies at Tel Aviv University and NYC's New School University Sivan has already been a much sought-after young player in the international festivals and concerts circuit. The New Album entitled Enchanted Sun, was recorded in a live studio setting with Sam Anning on bass and Rajiv Jayaweera on drums. Through music, the trio members became close friends and they continue to collaborate in various projects. The album creation process was a collaboration and exchange of ideas that resulted in a collection of concepts, forms, and eventually compositions. Sivan's compositions and other materials used for this album represent a certain period of musical explorations that began with his relocation to New York City from Israel. The album includes original compositions written especially for trio, as well as two classic jazz standards. Sivan chose to include in his debut album two of his favorite jazz standards: How Long Has This Been Going On? (George Gershwin) and Isn't It Romantic? (Richard Rodgers). Scene #5 by Sivan, originally composed for solo piano, was heavily influenced by the great French composer, Erik Satie, and was later rearranged for trio. The Rodents Blues is a 12 bar form in which the melody is displaced by a quarter-note the second time in, resulting in a rhythmic tension resolved by the solo section.