STEVE COLE - PULSE

Rather apropos that saxophonist Steve Cole covered the soul classic “Going In Circles” on his forthcoming “Pulse” album, his 7th solo disc, which he produced and wrote with fellow sax player David Mann. Honest and organic are vital qualities to Cole, whose creative muse has gone full-circle in the 15 years since he burst onto the contemporary jazz scene with an award-winning debut disc that spawned a pair of #1 singles. The tenor saxman “returns to the basics” on the new 10-song set that will be released September 17th by Artistry Music.


“Pulse” comes out swinging with knockout punch hooks, a muscular horn section and soul-powered grooves. In contrast to his divergent 2011 album, “Moonlight,” that placed the classically-trained Cole in a lavish orchestral setting, the new record is a bounty of R&B, soul, funk, blues, gospel and hip hop jams. Cole makes concise statements constructed of big buoyant melodies and taut rhythms. No notes are wasted as the impassioned artist rides grooves tailor-fit by Mann (section saxes, flute, keyboards, synth bass, programming), noted keyboard veteran Ricky Peterson (Hammond B3), wunderkind Nicholas Cole (keyboardist, synth bass, programming), Khari Parker (drums), Paul Peterson (electric bass), Rico McFarland (guitar, lead & background vocals), Bernd Schoenhart (guitar) and Nicki Richards (background vocals). Trevor Neumann (trumpet) and Dan Levine (trombone) cement the wall of horns anchored by Steve Cole and Mann.

"Pulse" is about finding an audience and really honoring them. I have a voice and an instrument, but my job is to entertain. It's simple in a way: if you focus on those people right in front of you and what excites them, you win every time. My work is about moving people. If you can figure out how to do that, the rest falls into place,” said Cole about the album that is chock-a-block full of crowd pleasers and potential radio favorites.

Radio listeners will get a feel of “Pulse” when the single “With You All The Way” is serviced to programmers next month. Cole describes the tune’s warm and empowering hook as a stylistic snapshot of his hallmark sound.

The Chicago, Illinois native emerged in 1998 with the Brian Culbertson-produced “Stay Awhile,” which heralded the arrival of a hitmaker. On subsequent albums, Cole continued to crank out chart-topping singles with the reliability of a slugger. Live performances as a solo artist and high-profile sideman appearances with Culbertson, Boz Scaggs, Peter White, Jeff Lorber, Rick Braun and Larry Carlton helped make him a magnetic concert draw. Today, Cole tours as a headliner and for the past 10 years as a member of Sax Pack, a stellar sax trio completed by Marcus Anderson and Jeff Kashiwa. To support “Pulse,” he will lead his band out on the road for shows in the U.S. and abroad with dates booked into November. For more information, please visit www.stevecole.net.

The songs contained on Cole’s “Pulse” album are:
“Pulse”
“Do Your Thing”
“With You All The Way”
“Slinky”
“Going In Circles”
“Looking Up”
“Maximum Cool”
“Minty Fresh”
“Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”
“Believe”

Catch Cole in concert on the following dates:
August 1 San Francisco, Calif. Yoshi’s
August 7 Annapolis, Maryland Rams Head On Stage
August 8 Boston, Mass. Sculler’s
August 10 Chicago, Illinois Montrose Room – IC Hotel O’Hare
August 11 Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
August 18 Peconic, New York Jazz in the Vineyards Concert Series
September 13 Augsburg, Germany Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg
September 28 Denver, Colorado Soiled Dove Underground
September 29 Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Festival
October 6 Avalon, Calif. Catalina JazzTrax Festival
October 19 & 20 Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
November 8 Seal Beach, Calif. Spaghettini
November 9 Rancho Mirage, Calif. Rancho Mirage Art Affaire

JEFF GOLUB WITH BRIAN AUGER - TRAIN KEEPS A ROLLING

It’s been a helluva two years since guitarist Jeff Golub released his last album, “Three Kings,” which paid tribute to blues legends B.B., Freddie & Albert King. As the record was released, the optic nerves in Golub’s eyes inexplicably collapsed leaving him blind. Adjusting to his new life meant adopting Luke, a guide dog. While attempting to catch a New York City subway last September, Golub fell onto the tracks as a train rapidly approached. He was clipped and dragged by the train as Luke and bystanders frantically attempted to help. Miraculously Golub escaped the harrowing and what could have been a fatal ordeal with only minor scrapes and bruises. Undaunted and as boisterous as ever, Golub stands defiantly, toting his guitar with Luke perched at his feet, at the crossroads of train tracks on the cover of his aptly titled new album, “Train Keeps A Rolling,” which will be released August 13th by Entertainment One Music.

Golub’s 12th solo album had to be something special and have a lot of soul. At the suggestion of his manager, Bud Harner, he teamed with British keyboard great Brian Auger for a rollicking 11-song collection of soul, jazz, blues and rock combining Golub’s raw bluesy guitar licks with Auger’s hallmark Hammond B-3 organ. Golub produced the set with Harner, a Grammy-nominated producer who shared production duties with Golub on the guitarist’s five most recent records. Anchoring the grooves were steady-as-a-rock drummer Steve Ferrone, who was an original member of the acclaimed jazz-rock ensemble Brian Auger & The Oblivion Express, and bassist Derek Frank, who also had a history playing with Auger. Augmenting the tracks were percussionist Luis Conte and a lively horn section comprised of Mindi Abair (alto sax), Nick Lane (trombone), Dave Woodford (baritone sax, flute) and Steve Madaio (trumpet). Making guest appearances on the vocal selections were Christopher Cross, Ambrosia’s David Pack and Alex Ligertwood, who was also an original member of The Oblivion Express.

“When I was about 15 years-old, I picked up a copy of ‘Closer To It’ by Brian Auger's Oblivion Express and it changed my life. That is why I was looking forward to doing this record. It was the first time I heard rock musicians playing jazz and it was the first time I knew you didn't have to be a jazz musician to play jazz,” explained Golub. “The vibe of the new record is soul-jazz. It has a lot of Latin grooves - a lot of grooves period. My last couple of records have been blues records, especially the last record was straight ahead blues, but now I’m kind of going back to what I did before that with soul-jazz. No matter what I do is blues-oriented guitar, but the record itself is music that is more jazz oriented.”

The material they elected to record consists of a couple classic cuts Auger recorded with The Oblivion Express (“Happiness Is Just Around The Bend” and “Whenever You’re Ready”), a new Auger tune penned specifically for the Golub project (“Shepherds Bush Market”) and a previous unreleased Auger composition (“Isola Natale”), a pair of new songs co-written by Golub (the title track and “J&B”) and a fistful of fun covers, including Lalo Schifrin’s frisky “The Cat,” Willie Dixon’s “I Love The Life I Live,” Paul Carrack’s “How Long” spotlighting Cross, The Police’s spacy reggae dusted “Walking On The Moon” with vocals by Pack, and Curtis Mayfield’s gritty street life anthem “Pusherman,” which is the first radio single from “Train Keeps A Rolling.”

Harner said, “The whole thing with the Hammond B-3 and the guitar and the Fender Rhodes, it’s got a retro kind of funky groove type vibe. Jeff (Golub) is one of the best blues guitar players out there so this definitely has a bluesy edge to it, but it’s got more of a funky groove than the standard blues approach.”

A Copley, Ohio native who has called New York City home ever since he launched his career in the early 1980s, Golub began as an in-demand sideman who enjoyed long stints touring and recording with Billy Squier and Rod Stewart as well as Tina Turner, Peter Wolf, John Waite, Vanessa Williams, Gato Barbieri and Bill Evans. He released his debut album as a band leader in 1988 and went on to record an impressive string of chart-topping albums and radio hits with Avenue Blue and as a solo artist that made Golub a radio staple, perennial fan favorite and consistently strong concert draw in the contemporary jazz stratosphere. Additional information and a list of tour dates that Golub will play with Auger in support of “Train Keeps A Rolling” are available at www.jeffgolub.com.

Golub’s “Train Keeps A Rolling” album contains the following songs:
“The Cat”
“Isola Natale”
“Train Keeps A Rolling”
“I Love The Life I Live”
“Pusherman”
“How Long”
“J&B”
“Happiness Is Just Around The Bend”
“Shepherds Bush Market”
“Whenever You’re Ready”
“Walking On The Moon”

NEW RELEASES - NO BS BRASS BAND, ECCENTRIC SOUL - THE BANDIT LABEL, KEN FOWSER / BEHN GILLECE

NO BS BRASS BAND - RVA ALL DAY

Definitely no BS here – as the group really works in a tight approach to brass band grooving – using just one drum and plenty of horns for rhythm – while still managing to serve up some tasty solos over the top! There's a style here that really links up generation – a mode that's heavy in classic Crescent City grooving, but which also brings in a bit of contemporary funk too – especially on the lyrics, which often crackle with the vibrancy of hip hop – yet aren't really bounce-type lyrics at all. The lineup features four trombones, three trumpets, alto sax, and drums – and titles include a cover of "Thriller", plus the tunes "Jalapenos On The Side", "Run Around", "RVA All Day", "Get It Awn", "Meat Wagon", and "Love Seat". (Nice textured cover – and includes bonus download too!) ~ Dusty Groove

ECCENTRIC SOUL - THE BANDIT LABEL (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

An incredible peek into a near-lost chapter of Chicago soul – the tiny Bandit label, home to The Majestic Arrows, one of the greatest indie harmony groups of the midwest in the 70s – plus a few other excellent soul artists! As with the other Eccentric Soul volume from Numero, this one offers far more than just an assortment of rare singles – and instead really digs deep to tell the true story of this tiny indie soul label. The music alone is totally great – as the set features a wealth of harmony soul tracks by The Majestic Arrows, plus other funk and soul tracks by Johnny Davis, Altyrone Deno Brown, and Linda Balintine – but the package is equally noteworthy – filled with the storied details of the unusual and exotic practices and lifestyles of the Bandit Records posse. Titles include "One More Time Around", "Another Day", "Doing It For Us", "Love Is All I Need", "Going To Make A Time Machine", "We Love Together", "The Magic Of Your Love", and "I'll Never Cry For Another Boy" by The Majestic Arrows; "We Have Love" and "Bring Back The One I Love" by The Arrows; "If You Love Me" and "Sweet Pea" by Altyrone Deno Brown; "You're A Habit Hard To Break" and "Glad About That" by Linda Balintine; and "You've Got To Crawl To Me" and "Boogedy Boogedy" by Johnny Davis. Plus, the set also features 3 rehearsal takes of tunes by the Majestic Arrows! This massive 3LP package is way bigger than the CD version – features every song recorded by Arrow Brown, 36 tracks in all – in a heavy box, with a greatly-expanded book that contains the long and sordid story of the label. ~ Dusty Groove

KEN FOWSER / BEHN GILLECE - TOP SHELF

An incredible peek into a near-lost chapter of Chicago soul – the tiny Bandit label, home to The Majestic Arrows, one of the greatest indie harmony groups of the midwest in the 70s – plus a few other excellent soul artists! As with the other Eccentric Soul volume from Numero, this one offers far more than just an assortment of rare singles – and instead really digs deep to tell the true story of this tiny indie soul label. The music alone is totally great – as the set features a wealth of harmony soul tracks by The Majestic Arrows, plus other funk and soul tracks by Johnny Davis, Altyrone Deno Brown, and Linda Balintine – but the package is equally noteworthy – filled with the storied details of the unusual and exotic practices and lifestyles of the Bandit Records posse. Titles include "One More Time Around", "Another Day", "Doing It For Us", "Love Is All I Need", "Going To Make A Time Machine", "We Love Together", "The Magic Of Your Love", and "I'll Never Cry For Another Boy" by The Majestic Arrows; "We Have Love" and "Bring Back The One I Love" by The Arrows; "If You Love Me" and "Sweet Pea" by Altyrone Deno Brown; "You're A Habit Hard To Break" and "Glad About That" by Linda Balintine; and "You've Got To Crawl To Me" and "Boogedy Boogedy" by Johnny Davis. Plus, the set also features 3 rehearsal takes of tunes by the Majestic Arrows! This massive 3LP package is way bigger than the CD version – features every song recorded by Arrow Brown, 36 tracks in all – in a heavy box, with a greatly-expanded book that contains the long and sordid story of the label. ~ Dusty Groove

ALEXIS CUADRADO - A LORCA SOUNDSCAPE

Long before terms like "1 percenters" and "Occupy" entered our current vernacular, the great Spanish playwright and poet, Federico García Lorca, was writing in 1929 about the inequality he witnessed while in New York City. Bassist and composer Alexis Cuadrado now presents, A Lorca Soundscape, a brand new cycle of original jazz protest songs drawn from Lorca's poetry, to be released on Sunnyside Records on September 24. "In a moment like the one we're living in now, with the world economic crisis and movements like Occupy Wall Street, getting back to Poet in New York is my way of forming a protest. Even though the book was written over eighty years ago, it baffles me to see how the inequality, racism and injustice that Lorca describes are still present in our daily narrative. The characters may have changed, but the plot line is the same," says Cuadrado.   With an exceptional band, featuring Claudia Acuña, Miguel Zenón, Dan Tepfer, Mark Ferber and Gilmar Gomes, Cuadrado creates a groundbreaking dialogue across time utilizing a unique marriage of jazz, flamenco and new music. Cuadrado is very pleased to present this project at the CD Release Celebration at The Jazz Gallery, September 20 & 21, 2013.
The author and literary critic Melcion Mateu elaborates in the album's liner notes: "Alexis Cuadrado is an artist in pursuit of lyricism, a lyricism that functions as a necessary contrast to the schizophrenic logic of a sick city and society; like the voice that prevails against chaos and injustice so as to make its message heard. Perhaps it's for this reason that A Lorca Soundscape is an album both clear and complex at once: complex like the city depicted by Lorca, by means of his accumulation of discordant images, his rhythms and sounds; and clear by means of the sheer power of his words. On Cuadrado's A Lorca Soundscape, the rhythms of the city-which move from swing to bolero, passing through flamenco and new music, livetogether with the exigency to express his message (...) And, there is always an emotion, an "ecstatic truth", to put it in the words of the filmmaker Werner Herzog, words that Cuadrado often repeats, that reveals immediately the moment in which an individual recognizes him or herself before the agitating great metropolis."

Advance praise for A Lorca Soundscape:
"Alexis Cuadrado has produced a masterwork of jazz protest that links the excruciating travails of the Great Depression in New York as viewed through the eyes of poet Federico García Lorca to today's cultural inequalities and injustices. What makes Cuadrado's creative action so compelling is how he and his fellow musicians and vocalists deliver his original music-not as a cerebral or technical exercise but with the deep, soulful wonder of duende, which in the poet's notion conjures up a surging of truth and spirit that emanates from the soles of the feet." - Dan Ouellette (author of Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes and the forthcoming Bruce Lundvall: Playing by Ear)

"Ever inventive and searching, bassist Alexis Cuadrado fearlessly navigates crosscurrents of modern jazz, Latin and world music to underscore the relation between today's economic disparities with those of the past on 'A Lorca Soundscape,' based on Federico Garcia Lorca's poems about 1929 New York. Vocalist Claudia Acuña gives the poet's words a robust and emotional reading that surge with feeling and an appreciated efficacy. But the heavy lift is accomplished by Cuadrado, along with a band of sharp-eared and extremely talented musicians, who gives resounding shape to the material by translating the fire and passion of Lorca's language into a work that's resonant and sonically engaging." - Nick Bewsey, ICON, Jazz In Space Blog

"The chaotic times that fed the creation of the poems Federico Garcia Lorca wrote in 'Poet in New York' echoes in the dramatic and compelling music Alexis Cuadrado constructed for 'A Lorca Soundscape'. His music surrounds, caresses and pushes against the harsh, brooding yet often magical images. Like the words and person that inspired the project, 'A Lorca Soundscape' is both contemporary and timeless." - Richard Kamins, Step Tempest

"His new protest song cycle A Lorca Soundscape sets García Lorca's all-too relevant words to a seductively dark blend of modern jazz and flamenco . . ." - Shaun Brady, The Philadelphia City Paper

Alexis Cuadrado is an award-winning composer, solid bassist, and renowned educator; Barcelona-born Alexis Cuadrado has become one of the most sought-after musicians on the New York jazz scene. Cuadrado's compositions show a unique voice that draws from the crossover of jazz, flamenco and new music.

His output as a composer has peaked in recent years, with new works such as Noneto Ibérico, A Lorca Soundscape, Jazz Miniatures for Double Quartet and Hispalis. Cuadrado has published four CDs as a leader: Noneto Ibérico (BJURecords, 2011), his most recent recording, and a seminal work that has received massive critical acclaim. His previous albums, Puzzles (BJURecords, 2008), Visual (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2004) and Metro (FSNT, 2001), document his compositions and have received excellent reactions from critics, presenters and fans alike.

Alexis has also exceptional credits as a performer, and has collaborated with such greats as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour, Dianne Reeves, Omara Portuondo, Steve Wilson or Seamus Blake amongst many others, and he keeps his sideman calendar busy freelancing with different bands around the world. Cuadrado is a devoted educator and a current faculty member at the New School in NYC. He also regularly teaches worldwide as a guest lecturer.

CHARLES EVANS - SUBLIMINAL LEAPS

Charles Evans' Subliminal Leaps - to be released September 10 on More is More Records - presents the seasoned baritone saxophone artist as a unique voice in the creative music community. On this audacious new project, written specifically for soprano saxophone great David Liebman, Evans has devised methods of combining chromatic harmony, serial writing, and free improvisation employing the rare combination of the baritone and soprano saxophones.

It is widely known that Liebman put down the tenor saxophone for fifteen years to fully actualize his desire for a personal soprano voice. Evans, the apprentice, has followed Liebman's lead in many ways. Spec
ifically, the exclusive devotion to the soprano's distant lower relative, the baritone, for over fifteen years has rendered him ready for profound creation with the premiere living soprano master.

The baritonist has worked diligently to broaden the expressive range of his instrument, with specific care towards the difficult altissimo register as well as the application of chromatic improvisation/composition on the big horn. This is strengthened by the use of freely associated triads, intervals, and chromatic lines in polyphonic improvisation with the other members of the group. As Evans notes in the liner-notes, the quartet members truly leave their egos at the door, beautifully expressing and understanding the composer's musical vision.

Accompanying the saxophonists are two musicians that are masters in their own right. Bassist Tony Marino, through his longtime tenure in various Liebman groups, brings a level of artistry on the upright that is rarely matched. His experience, and ability to adapt to the challenges of both the improvisational and written material, was indispensable in this undertaking. Pianist Ron Stabinsky proves to be the glue to the ensemble, bringing an incredible precision to the notation, along with a creative versatility to each movement of the piece.

Evans' music is genre nonspecific and avoids employing the traditional jazz vocabulary. The combination of jazz instruments, 20th century classical techniques and harmonies, and free improvisation demonstrate Evans' refusal to be limited or allow his music to be pigeonholed. Compositionally, the music grew from very strict 12-tone serialism (the specific row can be heard in the bass on the outset of "Certain Soprano.") Other then the poly-chord progressions used, all melodic material in the piece, from the dreamy sonorities of "Dreamed-Out March" to the subtle and intentionally hidden piano and baritone unisons in "Subliminal Leaps," were constructed through Webern-inspired 12-tone strictness. Indeed, the combination of the structural cohesion of Schoenberg's compositional rigidities with the looseness of spontaneous improvisation has created a work of profound meaning and expression.

"Subliminal Leaps," a composition written for Liebman's specific instrumental voice, utilizes devices with him in mind, many of which were cultivated and refined in past years by the innovative saxophonist. Several poly-chord progressions are featured in the piece. "Mahler Method" is another fine example of the actualization of Evans' writing within Liebman's personal unique language, with all parties demonstrating profound and introspective improvisations.

Subliminal Leaps was recorded at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where Live at St. Stephens, Evans' duo album with pianist Neil Shah, was also recorded.

Charles Evans was raised in a small town named Factoryville, Pennsylvania. He began intensive baritone saxophone study with the late Bill Zaccagni at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. During this time he also studied with David Liebman, who instilled an artistic mindset in the young baritonist and inspired him to pursue music to his fullest potential. Following Liebman's cue, Evans moved to New York, where he received a master's degree in jazz performance while studying with Antonio Hart. Shortly thereafter, he completed the Music Education program at Queens College for state certification.

Evans began his recording career with a widely sought-after reading of classic Ballads (GreatBend) ten years ago. He subsequently formed a critically acclaimed microtonal bebop band called The Language Of. Featuring trumpeter Peter Evans and Mostly Other People Do the Killing's bandleader/bassist, Moppa Elliott, the group has released two recordings, It Needs It (Hot Cup) and No Relation (GreatBend.) Evans calls their style of improvisation (rapidly oscillating between bebop vernacular and extended-techniques) "light-switch bebop."

Evans' March 2009 multi-layered solo baritone saxophone release, "The King of All Instruments" earned wide praise including 5 stars in DownBeat Magazine and helped catapult Evans to a place on the 57th Annual Critics Poll as a "Rising Star" of the baritone saxophone. As Hank Shteamer said in his Time Out New York review: "Evans is dead serious about getting the most out of his regal horn. Hypnotic and, in spots, powerfully creepy, it's a singular statement from a composer expressing profound art." And in jazzreview.com Susan Frances noted: "In Charles Evans' hands, the baritone saxophone is truly capable of creating works of art that mesmerize audiences."

Perhaps it could be said that the baritone saxophone has a new leader, one who sees possibilities previously unexplored. As Jakob Baekgaard (NY Jazz Record) said about Evans' duo release with Shah, "Š(music) of otherworldly beauty that both references and transcends the room in which it was played. Not only an artifact, a souvenir of a long forgotten event, Live at St. Stephens (HotCup) is a timeless work of art." Sublime, subtle yet soaring, Charles Evans has used the very same atmosphere to create a unique and expressive work of art once again, with the release of Subliminal Leaps (MIM 132).

charlesevansmusic.com

MARK DRESSER QUARTET - NOURISHMENTS

A singularly accomplished bass innovator in the fields of jazz, free improvisation and new music, Mark Dresser has devoted himself in recent years to pushing the capacities of solo bass performance even further. In "Nourishments," his first quintet recording in almost two decades, he shifts his attention back to another longtime creative commitment, ensemble exploration with a team of master improvisers possessing unmistakable sounds.

Featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa, Michael Dessen, Denman Maroney, and, in turns, Tom Rainey or Michael Sarin--all leaders in their own right and players deeply versed in Dresser's music--the quintet delves headlong into his richly suggestive compositions. More than anything, Dresser creates vehicles for beautifully modulated interaction via counterpoint, cyclical organization, timbre sculpting, and all the unexpected combinations of pitch and noise or meter and texture. He developed several pieces with trombonist Michael Dessen while they were in different cities through telematics, fiber optic-facilitated remote performances that have opened up new astounding new possibilities for international collaborations.

By whatever means, "Nourishments" is the work of artists who connect musically, emotionally and intellectually with unusual power and grace.

Below is a schedule of Dresser's tour dates with his East and West Coast quintets as well as in solo and other performances. One highlight is the November 9 performance at the Umbrella Festival in Chicago, during which Dresser will perform in a collective with Roswell Rudd and Bobby Bradford, the latter two performing together for the first time.

o Tues. Sept. 3 - Mark Dresser Solo - Le Poisson Rouge, NY, NY
o Thurs. Sept. 5 - Mark Dresser Solo - 61 Local, Brooklyn, NY
o Thurs. Sept 12 - Mark Dresser Solo - Greenwich House, NY, NY
o Fri. Sept 13 - Mark Dresser's East Coast Quintet - Cornelia Street Café, NY, NY
Featuring Marty Ehrlich, reeds; Michael Dessen, trombone; Denman Maroney, piano; Michael Sarin, drums;
Mark Dresser, bass and compositions.
o Fri. Oct. 4 - with Nicole Mitchell's Ensemble - Angel City Jazz Festival, LA, CA
o Wed. Oct. 23 - Mark Dresser West Coast Quintet - Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Featuring Ben Schacter, tenor sax; Michael Dessen, trombone; Joshua White, piano; Kjell Nordeson, drums; Mark Dresser, bass and compositions.
o Thurs. Oct. 24 - Mark Dresser's West Coast Quintet - Blue Whale, LA, CA
Same personnel as Oct. 23.
o Fri. Oct. 25 - Mark Dresser's West Coast Quintet - Dizzy's, San Diego, CA
Same personnel as Oct. 23.
o Sat. Nov. 9 - Mark Dresser, Roswell Rudd, Bobby Bradford - Umbrella Festival, Chicago, IL
Collective concert featuring three of the great improvisers of our time: Mark Dresser, Roswell Rudd and Bobby Bradford.
o December 13 - Mark Dresser's East Coast Quintet - Firehouse 12 - New Haven, CT
Featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa, reeds; Michael Dessen, trombone; Denman Maroney, piano; Michael Sarin, drums; Mark Dresser, bass and compositions.

JONNY LANG - FIGHT FOR MY SOUL

It’s been seven years since Jonny Lang released a new studio album, but the wait is almost over. Lang has signed a new recording deal with Concord Music Group and will release Fight For My Soul - the follow up to his Grammy Award Winning 2006 album “Turn Around”, in North America on September 17th. The album will be released on the Mascot Label Group in the UK and Europe on September 2nd.

“This particular record has taken quite a long time to finish for a lot of different reasons, Lang remarked. “Most of all, I started having kids a few years back. Between being with the family, and being out on the road touring, the last thing you want to do when home is to go make a record. I'm really happy with the body of work we have for this one. It's kind of hard to be excited and know what the record is going to be like when the process is extended over such a long period of time. Today, sitting here, I’m really proud of the recordings.” The first single from Fight For My Soul “Blew Up (The House)” is available today for fans to hear at USAToday.com

Lang has been working on the release for three years with Producer Tommy Sims, who co-wrote Eric Clapton’s Grammy winning “Change the World.” The duo collaborated on the project from the ground up.

Fight For My Soul truly defies categorization by a single genre. The textured arrangements, broad worldview, gorgeous vocal melodies, and expressive guitar playing are what defines the album. It is unequivocally what Lang aimed to achieve over the long period he has been working on reaching a realized vision. He offers, "Much of what I've experienced through music and life in general is in these songs. I really like reaching out and connecting with people. For me, this is what it's all about. It keeps it fresh with different experiences every day."

Since the release of his 1997 major label debut “Lie To Me”, the then 16 year-old Lang has built a reputation as one of the best live performers and guitarists of his generation. As always, Jonny Lang will be on the road leading up to and beyond the release date of Fight For My Soul. Along with a full North American tour schedule, in October Lang will embark on his first extended European tour in over a decade.

FIGHT FOR MY SOUL TRACKLISTING
Blew Up (The House)
Breakin’ In
We Are The Same
What You’re Looking For
Not Right
The Truth
River
Fight For My Soul
All Of A Sudden
Seasons
I’ll Always Be

JONNY LANG TOUR DATES
Jul-18 Spokane, Washington Bing Crosby Theatre
Jul-20 Brooks, California Cache Creek Casino
Jul-21 Saratoga, California Mountain Winery
Jul-23 San Diego, California Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
Jul-24 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
Jul-25 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon
Jul-27 Las Vegas, NV Boulder Station
Aug-02 Lockport, New York Labatt Canal Concert Series
Aug-03 Falls Church, VA State Theatre
Aug-10 Arlington, Washington Festival of The River
Aug-17 Thief River Falls, Minnesota Last Ride Blues Festival
Sep-05 Urbana, Illinois Elnora Guitar Fest @ Krannert Center
Sep-06 Bayfield, Wisconsin Big Top Chautauqua
Sep-07 St Charles, Illinois Arcada Theater
Sep-08 Des Moines, Iowa Val Air Ballroom
Sep-14 Durant, Oklahoma Choctaw Casino
Sep-15 Lincoln, NE Bourbon Theatre
Sep-17 Fargo, North Dakota Fargo Theatre
Sep-18 Minneapolis, Minnesota State Theatre
Sep-20 Rockford, Illinois Coronado PAC
Sep-21 Madison, Wisconsin Overture Center for the Arts
Sep-22 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
Sep-24 Cleveland, Ohio House Of Blues
Sep-26 Boston, Massachusetts Wilbur Theatre
Sep-27 Glenside, Pennsylvania Keswick Theatre
Sep-28 New York, New York Irving Plaza
Oct-01 Paris, France New Morning
Oct-03 London, England The Borderline
Oct-05 Avignon, France Avignon Blues Festival
Oct-06 Zurich, Switzerland X-tra
Oct-08 Hamburg, Germany Fabrik
Oct-09 Bochum, Germany Zeche Bochum
Oct-10 Munich, Germany Muffathalle
Oct-12 Nancy, France Nancy Jazz Pulsations
Oct-14 Amsterdam, Netherlands Melkweg
Oct-15 Brussels, Belgium Ancienne Belgique
Oct-18 Houston, Texas House Of Blues
Oct-19 New Orleans, Louisiana Crescent City Blues Fest
Oct-20 Dallas, Texas House Of Blues
Oct-22 Denver, Colorado Ogden Theatre
Oct-23 Durango, CO Fort Lewis College
Oct-25 Scottsdale, AZ Talking Stick
Oct-26 Beverly Hills, California Canyon Theater
Nov-05 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Casino
Nov-06 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Casino
Nov-08 Chicago, Illinois House Of Blues
Nov-09 Kalamazoo, MI State Theatre
Nov-10 Carmel, Indiana The Palladium
Nov-12 Greensburg, PA Palace Theatre
Nov-14 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury
Nov-15 Cranston, RI Park Theatre
Nov-16 Port Chester, New York Capitol Theatre
Nov-19 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov-20 West Palm Beach, FL Raymond F. Kravis PAC
Nov-21 Miami, FL Knight Concert Hall
Nov-23 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
Nov-24 Atlanta, GA Center Stage

www.jonnylang.com
www.facebook.com/JonnyLang
https://twitter.com/JONNYLANGBAND

REGGAE GOLD 2013 FEATURING SEAN PAUL, INA KAMOZE, BERES HAMMOND, DESMOND DEKKER & OTHERS...

The marvelous 2CD edition with the current hits and new tunes by Major Lazer, Snoop Lion, Sean Paul, Shaggy & Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Gyptian, Etana, Morgan Heritage, Konshens, Queen Ifrica and more – plus second disc with some big tunes from the past by Desmond Dekker, Ini Kamoze, Half Pint, Barrington Levy and others. A complete 27 track 2CD package for the price of one!

- Reggae Gold is the ultimate reggae music compilation with the big hits and crucial crossover tracks from the past 12 months. Disc two is a bonus disc containing 11 classic reggae hits from the past.
- Summertime means reggae music sales and the Reggae Gold series has been leading the pack with hot songs and great value for the past 18 years. The Reggae Gold series is the most widely recognized brand of reggae music compilations worldwide presenting an exciting line up of Dancehall, Lover’s Rock and Roots & Culture on two great CDs. Reggae Gold is the one compilation that covers it all!
- Reggae Gold 2013 features the talents of Shaggy & Beres Hammond, Gyptian, Konshens, Major Lazer featuring Johnny Osbourne and Snoop Lion featuring Mavado & Popcaan among others.

Tracklisting:
CD1
01. Snoop Lion – Lighters Up feat. Mavado & Popcaan
02. Major Lazer – Jah No Partial feat. Johnny Osbourne
03. Sean Paul – Body
04. Aidonia – Fi Di Jockey
05. RDX – Kotch
06. Gyptian – Wine Slow
07. I-Octane – Gal Gimme Bun
08. Konshens – Bad Girl
09. Angela Hunte – One Shot
10. Shaggy and Beres Hammond- Fight This Feeling
11. Morgan Heritage – Perfect Love Song
12. Queen Ifrica – Let’s Get Silly
13. Tarrus Riley – Gimme Likkle One Drop
14. Busy Signal – You And Me
15. Kes The Band – Tuesday On The Rocks
16. Etana – Love, Love, Love feat. Busy Signal

CD2
01. Desmond Dekker – Israelites
02. Ini Kamoze – World Of Reggae
03. Half Pint – Greetings
04. Yellowman – Zungguzungguzungguzeng
05. Barrington Levy – Here I Come
06. Tanto & Devonte – Everyone Falls In Love
07. Shabba Ranks & Krystal – Twice My Age
08. Beenie Man – Maestro
09. Red Rat – Dwayne
10. General Degree – Pianist
11. Bounty Killer – Smoke The Herb

~ grooveattack.com

NEW RELEASES - MAYER HAWTHORNE, GUITARS UNLIMITED, KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS

MAYER HAWTHORNE - WHERE DOES THIS DOOR GO

A sweet little record from Mayer Hawthorne – put together with the kind of care and straightforward sound that so few folks have been using in recent years! Back at his start, you might have been tempted to think of Hawthorne as slightly ironic – an underground talent who could work at a level that rivaled some of the best blue-eyed soul singers of decades past, but who might have been doing the whole thing with a nod and a wink. Yet with a record like this, Mayer really comes across as a top-shelf talent – an artist with strength and confidence that really come through in his performance and overall presentation – less care for any posturing or the ways in which anyone might perceive him – and instead just a great dedication to reviving the kinds of sounds that used to make the west coast scene sparkle so much in the 70s! Production is wonderful – crisp enough to be contemporary, but full of plenty of old school touches on the instrumentation too – which really helps the lyrics resonate in a space between the fresh and the classic. Loads of hook-heavy numbers, and even if our kid cousins are downloading this one in years to come, we'll still be proud we were with Mayer from the start. Titles include "Back Seat Lover", "Allie Jones", "Wine Glass Woman", "Reach Out Richard", "Crime", "Corsican Rose", "Robot Love", "The Stars Are Ours", and "All Better". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

GUITARS UNLIMITED - QUIET NIGHTS & BRAZILIAN GUITARS

An excellent concept for a bossa album from the 60s – a set that mixes together a bunch of different great guitarists – all with some light and lovely rhythm backings that really hit a groove! Jack Marshall put the set together – and in addition to his own guitar, the record features work from Howard Roberts, Bob Bain, Tommy Tedesco, Laurindo Almeida, and Rosinha De Valenca – all of whom would be plenty great on their own, but who really sound special here together on the set! Backings have a bit of that bounce you'd hear on some of Howard Roberts' albums for Capitol at the same time – and no surprise, Roberts is really the main soloist on the date. Titles include "Girl From Ipanema", "Manha De Carnival", "Meditacao", "Here Lies Love", "Ho-Ba-La-La", "Bim-Bom", "Desafinado", "Corcovado", "One Note Samba", "These Are The Ways Of Love", and "O Barquinho". ~ Dusty Groove

KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS - NGUNGA YETI FOFA

Some of the most enigmatic work we've ever heard from Karl Hector & The Malcouns – still every bit as funky as before, but with a deeper, more organic approach overall – one that includes loads of sweet acoustic instrumentation and mighty nice percussion! There's a very vintage feel to the record – a vibe that almost makes us feel like we've dug up tracks from the back of some studio in Lagos, just waiting to find the light of day – done in a style that's got plenty of East African styles in the mix, yet a core funk-based approach that still shows the group's Whitefield Brothers heritage. Titles include "Can't Stand The Pressure", "Ngunga Yeti Fofa", "Circles", "Transition", and "Semai Thaqil". (Vinyl only release with hand silk screened cover by Anti Designs – limited to 1000 copies and Now Again promises it will not be repressed!!) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - RONALD ISLEY, MICKEY AND THE SOUL GENERATIONS, DENNY ZEITLIN

RONALD ISLEY - THIS SONG IS FOR YOU

Great great sounds from Ronald Isley – working here as a one man operation to hold up the rich legacy of the Isley Brothers! The tunes are laidback and mellow – but still groove with that gentle glide we love so much in the best 70s midtempo work by The Isleys – and the instrumentation is perhaps the most classic that Ronnie's used in years – just perfect for that majestic flow that's always made him so wonderful, and which hasn't faltered a bit. It's rare that we'll ever say that a contemporary effort by an older soul artist has all the greatness of the old days – so we're really speaking highly of this effort! Titles include "Let's Be Alone", "This Song Is For You", "Dinner & A Movie", "My Favorite Thing", "The Boss", "Bedtime", and "Another Night". ~ Dusty Groove

MICKEY AND THE SOUL GENERATIONS - MICKY AND THE SOUL GENERATIONS

Was funk ever this great again? Maybe not – as Mickey & The Soul Generation were one of the greatest groups of their generation – a completely polished gem, in the sometimes rough-edged funky 45 rockpile! The band never cut a full album, but their 7" singles from the early 70s are the stuff of legend – some of the first funky 45s that started passing amongst collectors, prized for their incredibly tight sound – right up there with the JBs, Meters, and other established funky acts for pure "in the pocket" action. Most of that rare early work's never been reissued – save for the occasional dodgy boot – which is why it's even more wonderful to have this double-length set of work by the group, complete with a fuller track listing than we'd ever imagined they recorded, and full notes on the music and band by Josh Davis, aka DJ Shadow! This insane 3LP set is bigger than any previous collection on the group – and has updated notes from Davis, plus a lot more tracks – including a previously unreleased LP, demo material, and live tracks too! Tracks include "Iron Leg", "Football", "Up The Stairs & Around The Bend", "Give Everybody Some", "Joint Session", "Chocolate", "Message From A Black Man", "Soulful Sickness", "UFO", "Hey Brother Man", "Southern Fried Funk", "How Good Is Good", and "We Got To Make A Change". ~ Dusty Groove

DENNY ZEITLIN - BOTH/AND SOLO ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC ADVENTURES

One of the coolest albums from Denny Zeitlin in years – a set that hearkens back to his electronic work of the 70s, and some of his spacier soundtracks too! The set features Zeitlin working alone, but on a mix of electric and acoustic keyboards – really stretching out and exploring a rich range of new sounds, but all with that sense of lyricism, mood, and timing that makes his straighter jazz material so great! Half the set was recorded in the studio of Pat Gleeson – another electronic wizard from the 70s – and at times, Denny shares Pat's older sense of raspiness in his tone, which really gives the album a surprising amount of depth and soul. Make no mistake – there's still plenty of jazz in the mix here, and the spirit of Zeitlin's other recent work greatly informs the set – on titles that include "Charango Dream", "Dystopiano Uprising", "Kathryn's Song", "Tiger Tiger", and the extended suite "Monk-Y Business Revisited". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - NINA SIMONE, SONNY ROLLINS, THELONIOUS MONK

NINA SIMONE - NINA SIMONE AND PIANO

Recorded in September and October 1968. Includes original liner notes by Tom Reed and reissue liner notes by David Nathan. Her own best accompanist (especially during the crossover-happy '60s), Nina Simone sings and plays on this 1970 LP. With strident vocals and a thoughtful piano backing, Simone makes her own a pair of radically different (though similarly fatalistic) compositions, Blind Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault But Mine" and Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going to Rain Today." Her version of "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" leans dangerously close to avant-garde overkill, but she returns with good performances on "Compensation" and "Who Am I?" A great moment comes when a tambourine finally joins her midway through "Another Spring," and the lone jazz standard ("I Get Along Without You Very Well") is given a touching performance. In an era when Simone often veered from crossover to experimental, Nina Simone and Piano! is undeniably difficult, but frequently rewarding. ~ John Bush 2013 Japanese pressing BLU-SPECCD2 scheduled to include bonus material. Sony Digitally remastered by Mike Harty and Bill Lacey. Solo performer: Nina Simone (vocals, piano, organ, tambourine). Mojo (Publisher) (2/02, p.106) - "...The album she wanted to be remembered by....Astounding..." ~ CD Universe

SONNY ROLLINS - THE BRIDGE

The 1962 release of THE BRIDGE marked the end of Sonny Rollins's two year-plus hiatus from live performance and recording. An absolutely stunning comeback, the album clearly shows both the technical and spiritual benefits that can be gained from intense woodshedding. Sonny's tone, already legendary, is even more wonderfully full and mellow here. The whole band, especially the amazing Bob Cranshaw on bass, swings so breezily and blows so delicately, even on the up-tempo numbers, that "hard" bop almost seems a misnomer. The album's title refers to an actual bridge (the Willamsburg, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn), where Sonny spent long hours practicing alone, and the record possesses a deep, meditative quality which conjures perfectly the image of the city rushing by while a solitary man sits immersed in his music. Guitarist Jim Hall in particular seems to instinctively pick up on Sonny's vibe. On Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child," Hall unfolds long, lush lines that are a model of taste and restraint, perfectly complementing every note of Sonny's sexy, bluesy solos. One of Sonny Rollins's finest albums, THE BRIDGE gives the listener an overwhelming sense of rightness.2013 Japanese pressing BLU-SPECCD2. Audiophile BSCD2 uses phase transition mastering, the technology developed for mastering of Blu-ray discs. Playable on standard CD player. Sony Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, New York, New York on January 30 & February 13 & 14, 1962. Originally released on RCA (2527).  ... Full Description Includes liner notes by FRancis Davis and George Avakian. Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Jim Hall (guitar); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Ben Riley, Harry T. Saunders (drums). Down Beat (3/97, p. 59) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "Rollins' 'first comeback' from '62 has alreadcy appeared on CD (THE QUARTETS FEATURING JIM HALL), replete with extra material which is for some reason not included here. the music is unquestionably masterful, with the lean rhythm section... and Hall and Rollins working magic together..." Down Beat (7/5/62) - 5 Stars (out of 5).  ~ CD Universe

THELONIOUS MONK - SOLO MONK

Recorded between October 31, 1964 and February 23, 1965. Originally released on Columbia (9149). Includes liner notes by Martin Williams, Peter Keepnews. From the virtuosic stride of Art Tatum to Sun Ra's brand of outer-limits logic, these sides read like a holistic jazz piano guide. Recorded during a 1964 run at California's "It Club," the performances contained herein offer an intensely personal experience of the "mad genius" alone at the keyboard.  ... Full Description Most of the cuts clock in at less than three or four minutes. More than half of this material is standards, the Tin Pan Alley of Monk's youth. "Dinah" is a sweet 1925'er, rendered in fairly straight fashion. Monk's percussive emphasis gives his bass notes the oom-pah of a tuba as his right-hand dances gaily through the golden melody. "Ruby My Dear" is a lovely ballad, given an almost unsettling spaciousness here. The improvisation is relatively spare, with several rounds of the melody grounded in heavily-planted voicings and occasional lead-ins. "Monk's Point" has the simple insistency of many other Monk blues tunes, his left and right hands having a grand time tossing the spotlight back and forth in the solo.2013 Japanese pressing BLU-SPEC CD2 scheduled to include bonus material. Sony Solo performer: Thelonious Monk (piano). ~ CD Universe

NEW RELEASES - ELLA FITZGERALD, PLEASURE, JOHN PROULX

ELLA FITZGERALD - BEST OF THE BBC VAULTS: HER GREATEST HITS ON CD AND DVD

BBC archivists have uncovered a whole series of unreleased Ella Fitzgerald footage, which has been digitally re-mastered and presented here in a CD + DVD package. The CD features a selection of her best performances, while the DVD contains 4 full length shows, including her 1977 performance at Montreux, 2 TV appearances from 1965 and a performance at Ronnie Scotts' from 1974.  ... Full Description Record Collector (magazine) (p. 82) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With] a televised performance from the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival. Utterly enthralling."  Tracks include: Lady Is A Tramp, Mack The Knife, Manhattan, Here's That Rainy Day, Cheek To Cheek, and many others ~ CD Universe

PLEASURE - FUTURE NOW

Arguably, the members of Pleasure were among the unsung heroes of 1970s funk and soul. The band enjoyed a small but enthusiastic cult following, but one thing that it didn't have was a lot of major hits on R&B radio. For the most part, R&B radio ignored Pleasure, although quiet storm formats did play some of its more mellow album tracks. The exception to that rule came in 1979, when black radio proved to be quite receptive to "Glide." A pearl of a funk single, "Glide" is an infectious party jam that the African-American working class easily related to. The tune isn't really sociopolitical, although it isn't mindlessly fun either -- essentially, "Glide" is telling listeners to hang in there and be positive despite the challenges that life presents. And you don't have to be African-American to relate to the song's message. "Glide" was the only song on Future Now that could be called a major hit, although it isn't the album's only gem. Those who acquired this 1979 LP also found a lot to admire about jazz-influenced material that ranges from funk smokers like "Nothin' to It" and "Space Is the Place" to the smooth quiet storm offerings "Strong Love" and "Thoughts of Old Flames." Without question, Future Now is among Pleasure's most essential albums. ~ Alex Henderson Released in our Jazz & Funk Classics series, "Future Now" was Pleasure's penultimate album for Fantasy Records.  ... Full Description It saw the band experimenting with a new sci-fi influenced funk sound and gave them their biggest US hit 'Glide'.  ~ CD Universe

JOHN PROULX - THE BEST THING FOR YOU

With his third CD, vocalist/pianist John Proulx broadens his musical palette to include more contemporary pop and originals to complement favorite standards. Accompanied once more by veterans Chuck Berghofer on bass and drummer Joe La Barbera, along with several guests on selected tracks, Proulx's light but warm voice and intimate piano make the most of the music. He's an accomplished interpreter of standards, opening with a brisk treatment of Irving Berlin's "The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)" and a decidedly different bossa nova setting of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Bill Cunliffe sits in on piano as Proulx's sole accompanist for the bittersweet ballad "In the Days of Our Love," a touching composition by Marian McPartland with lyrics by Peggy Lee that deserves to be performed with more regularity.  ... Full Description Proulx scats in unison with trumpeter Ron Stout in a delightful take of Cannonball Adderley's rarely heard "Wabash." The difference between Proulx and many younger jazz artists who try a similar path is that he has a gift for finding new approaches to pop material, while also choosing songs that have strong melodies. A perfect example is "Sing," turned into a midtempo ballad with a bossa nova undercurrent, with understated solos by acoustic guitarist Larry Koonse, Proulx, and Berghofer. His loping rendition of Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" features a harmony vocal by Sara Gazarek and Jeremy Boersma's warm arco cello. The leader also uncovers a gem in Billy Joel's "And So It Goes," an excellent showcase for Bob Sheppard's soprano sax. Proulx contributed several originals, including the playful bop vehicle "Jogger Chronicles," featuring Sheppard on tenor sax and the leader's hip piano, while "Before We Say Goodnight" is another engaging bossa nova, with Sheppard adding a nice touch on flute. John Proulx's broad musical palette and ability to build upon the strengths of each song separate him from the pack of jazz artists of his generation. ~ Ken Dryden 'Vocalist/pianist John Proulx (pronounced Prue) presents 'The Best Thing For You,' his third MAXJAZZ recording. Proulx, a Grammy Award-winning composer, offers a fresh take on a number of standards as well as some original compositions. 'The Best Thing For You' features some stellar musicians including Chuck Berghofer on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums. Guest artists include vocalists Michael Feinstein and Sara Gazarek and saxophonist Bob Sheppard.  ~ CD Universe

NEW RELEASES - NICOLE MERCEDES, BRYNDA, KIYA LACEY

NICOLE MERCEDES - BEAUTIFUL ALIGNMENT

Beautiful Alignment was recorded on what would be Billy Holiday's 88th birthday in a State Of The Art Recording Studio, Sophiahat in Seattle Washington. It is an Album rich with lush vocals with a splash of World rhythm! Mercedes moves the listener through a melodic journey of emotions ...being loved, loving, & letting go. The Pianist Marc Seales delicate, harmonic sweeps arouse intense emotions, yet at times is beautifully playful! Thomas Marriott's Trumpet solo's are so clear and riveting that they take you on an emotional journey, & you find yourself drifitng far away! The passionate playing of Bassist Evan Flory is deliciously seductive and the dexterity of Drummer D'Vonne Lewis will excite all your senses! Mercedes Nicole's sings with such tenderness & intensity that those classics from the Great American Songbook are nothing like you've ever heard before. Nicole's originals with her co- writer Peter Tomack capture the struggles of love & loving, mirroring I am sure just about every lovers soul! C. Michael Bailey says, "Mercedes's approach is simple, "Make simple, uncomplicated music with a distilled band playing refined arrangements.... "doing more with less to produce the infinite!" June 27th 2013 "All About Jazz Magazine Beautiful Alignment is truly the Soulful Face Of Acoustic Jazz!  ~ CD Universe

BRYNDA - FOLLOW MY HEART

According to Brynda, this album is her very first and a labour of love. It was produced by Jay Douglas and recorded by Side Door Records in Toronto, Ontario Canada with the Studio 2 Band. Brynda lives in the Windsor, Ontario area, and spent many hours on Via Rail or driving up the 401. She once I had to get up at 3:30 am to catch the 5 o'clock to Toronto. That was a real bummer! The making of this album was a long journey that began in July 2012 and culminated with an Album Release Party in the spring of 2013. She says that the day before, she drove for the last time down the 401 back to Windsor, the car loaded with boxes of CD's and a drum kit, no less. She just popped her newly minted creation into the CD player and sang all the way back to Windsor! Tracks include: Love Makes A Woman; I'm In Love With You' If I Follow My Heart; Take A Look; Good For You; Smooth Operator; I'd Rather Go Blind Memories' and Good Night My Love. ~ CD Universe

KIYA LACEY - KIYA LACEY

An Ella Fitzgerald Foundation award recipient, Kiya Lacey has opened for the likes of pop icon Brandy and performed to enthusiastic fans in venues both large and intimate. Her debut release represents a classic American jazz, R&B, rock, and roots side of Lacey, and she is backed by a veritable troupe of Nashville heavyweights-including John Jackson (Bob Dylan), Mark T. Jordan (Van Morrison), George Marinelli, (Bonnie Raitt), Marco Giovino (Robert Plant), Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil), Jack Pearson (Allman Brothers), Ken Coomer (Wilco), Kenny Vaughan (Lucinda Williams), Brian Harrison (Shelby Lynne), and Vince Santoro (Roseanne Cash). Covering a waterfront of topics-from love, departure, and renewal to social concerns- Lacey summons the ghosts of Etta James, Josephine Baker, and other American icons, all while making each song very much her own. ~ CD Universe

MARK KNOPFLER'S PRIVATEERING SET FOR RELEASE BY VERVE ON SEPTEMBER 10

Universal Music Group as announced a worldwide deal with legendary musician and songwriter Mark Knopfler. Knopfler's new record Privateering will debut on UMG's Verve Records  September 10 after a 35 year relationship with Warner Brother Records. Max Hole, Chairman and CEO UMG International comments, "Mark has long been one of the most innovative and successful artists in music and we're thrilled he's decided to sign to Verve so that we are now working with him everywhere across the world." The new music is Knopfler's first double album of new music in his entire recording career. "The older I get, the more I want to write," Knopfler notes. "I'm enjoying the process more than ever, writing, recording and playing live, I enjoy all of it. I'm almost tripping over songs."

 

Recorded at Knopfler's award-winning British Grove Studios in West London, Privateering is a collection of tough tales of real people, living hard lives in difficult times. The record features musicians Knopfler has been working with for years—Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Richard Bennett (guitar), Jim Cox (piano), Glenn Worf (bass), Mike McGoldrick (whistle and flute), John McCusker (fiddle) and the recent addition of Ian Thomas (drums). Special guests include Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Kim Wilson (harmonica), Tim O'Brien (mandolin), and rising singing star Ruth Moody, who is also a member of the leading roots group, The Wailin' Jennys.

 

Of the new release, Knopfler explains, "I chose to make a double album this time just because of the sheer volume of material. I didn't want to separate songs into genres and I didn't want to leave too many songs on the shelf. I just wanted it to be a reflection of the fantastic sessions we had. With a great bunch of players, it's the same as a great group of actors reading a script from the page, the thing can come alive in ways it just never has before. This is the band I have been working towards my whole life."

 

A multiple Grammy award winner as the lead singer/songwriter for Dire Straits, Knopfler combined his wry lyrics with his guitar prowess to create such major hits as "Money For Nothing," "Sultans Of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Walk of Life." He has collaborated with artists such as Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Emmylou Harris and Van Morrison, as well as scoring several films including Cal, Local Hero, Princess Bride and A Shot at Glory.

~ Universal Music Group

BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA ANNOUNCE NEW RELEASE - I'LL FIND A WAY - DUE IN OCTOBER 2013

Sony Masterworks has announced the release of the Blind Boys of Alabama's new album, I'll Find a Way, produced by Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver) and available on October 1^st, 2013.  A unique collaboration between one of popular music's longest-running acts and one of its fastest-rising stars, it is a powerful collection of gospel and spiritual songs new and old, featuring some of the Blind Boys' most fervent vocals as well as contributions by a new generation of Blind Boys fans - Sam Amidon, Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, Casey Dienel of White Hinterland, Patty Griffin, and Justin Vernon himself.

 

I'll Find a Way represents a strong new chapter for the Blind Boys of Alabama, whose career stretches back more than seventy years. Formed in the late 1930s at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega, the group has harmonized throughout the turbulent twentieth century and well into the twenty-first: from Jim Crow through Civil Rights and into the Obama era. They have, however, enjoyed some of their biggest and most rousing successes in the last ten years, during which they've won five Grammys, four Gospel Music Awards, and multiple invitations to sing at the White House.

 

For I'll Find a Way, their ninth studio album of the twenty-first century, the Blind Boys of Alabama - which includes Jimmy Carter, Eric 'Ricky' McKinnie, Joey Williams, Tracy Pierce, Ben Moore, and newest addition Paul Beasley - decamped to the wintry wild of rural Wisconsin to record at Vernon's April Base studio. Known primarily for his work in the indie and folk realms, the Bon Iver frontman proved a perfect fit to work with the Blind Boys, exhibiting a deep knowledge and appreciation of gospel music.

 

Vernon and old friend and band mate Phil Cook (Megafaun, The Shouting Matches) corralled a lively backing band for the album and hand-picked a range of songs for the Blind Boys to sing. Some numbers, such as "Take Your Burden to the Lord And Leave It There," have been sung for nearly a century now, while others, like "I Am Not Waiting Anymore," were penned only a year or two ago. The result of this unique collaboration is a collection of rousing tunes that address life's most desperate hours but also savor the triumphs and reassurances of faith.

 

One of the band's own stories of trial and triumph involves Clarence Fountain, a founding member of the Blind Boys and the group's leader for many decades. Serious health problems requiring weekly kidney dialysis have prevented him from touring with the other members of the group. When he couldn't travel to the Wisconsin sessions, the Blind Boys found a way to include him on the album, recording his robust bass vocals in Birmingham and adding them to the mix.

 

"That's an important part, that bass under everything," explains Carter, the group's current leader and standout tenor. "He gave those songs a true Blind Boys bottom. We wouldn't want to do a Blind Boys project without including Clarence. He will always be a Blind Boy even if he's not out on the road with us."

 

A strikingly and confidently diverse album, I'll Find a Way features an array of guest vocalists representing a whole new generation of artists who find contemporary musical inspiration in America's gospel past. The daughter of two musicians who played in a Pentecostal church, Shara Worden of Detroit-based My Brightest Diamond lends her soaring voice to the title track (originally written and recorded by the Motown session musician Ted Lucas). Casey Dienel of White Hinterland sings lead on the Blind Boys' glorious cover of the Chi-Lites' "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)," whose luxuriant string arrangement has been replaced with a stoical beat, quietly ascending keyboard theme, and stirring saxophone solo courtesy of Minneapolis musician Mike Lewis.

 

In addition, I'll Find a Way features cameos by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs ("I've Been Searching," whose lilting reggae rhythms make it the album's most adventurous track), Patty Griffin (the barn-burning closer,"Jubilee"), and Sam Amidon (a spiritual version of the band Field Report's song, "I Am Not Waiting Anymore"). Another highlight is the cover of Bob Dylan's "Every Grain of Sand," which is recast as a soul-searching duet between Carter and Vernon. "Jimmy and I are coming from such different places," says Vernon, "and yet we're singing about the same thing. There are two perspectives in that song, and they're colliding."

 

Whether backing up a guest artist or tearing through an old gospel standard, the Blind Boys show their inimitable range throughout I'll Find a Way, starting with the very first track, a cover of "God Put a Rainbow in the Cloud." The song is a country music chestnut, best known as a hit for Kitty Wells, yet Carter, an avowed fan of country music, knows the song through legendary bluegrass picker Ralph Stanley. "I Shall Not Be Moved," an anthem during the Civil Rights movement and, in Cook's view, "the trunk of the gospel tree," stomps nimbly, thanks to the Blind Boys' spry vocals and the studio band's crackling country-gospel accompaniment. "Take Your Burden to the Lord And Leave It There," a tune penned by the African American minister and composer Charles A. Tindley, jogs by on a light shuffle, as though newly relieved of all woes and worries. It recounts not the arduous journey to salvation, but the ecstatic relief of finding it.

 

The centerpiece of I'll Find a Way, however, may just be "Take Me to the Water," featuring newest Blind Boy Paul Beasley. Based on a performance by Nina Simone (one of Vernon's favorite artists), this version features a steady pace and a rich bed of harmonies, as Beasley pleads and testifies gloriously in his stately falsetto. Just days before this recording, he had made his live debut with the Blind Boys, but initially had some trouble with this tune. After some encouraging words from Carter, Beasley not only nailed a heart-stopping performance, but reduced everyone in the control room to tears. What you can't hear on the final version is his small audience erupting into shouts and applause on the other side of the glass.

 

Just as "Take Me to the Water" moved the musicians to tears, so too will this album move the listener. This is the exuberant power of gospel music, which requires its performers to give themselves wholly to the songs. The Blind Boys have been doing that for nearly three-quarters of a century now, and even into their seventies and eighties - despite all obstacles - they don't plan to stop any time soon.

 

"It's not just singing," explains the 82-year-old Carter. "We're bringing the message to the people, and that message is the good news of God. We sing from the heart, and what comes from the heart reaches the heart. If you have any feeling in you, you will feel the Blind Boys."

 

Tracklisting:

1. God Put A Rainbow In The Cloud
2. I'll Find A Way (To Carry It All) feat. Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond
3. I Am Not Waiting Anymore feat. Sam Amidon
4. I Shall Not Be Moved
5. Take Me To The Water
6. I've Been Searching feat. Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs
7. There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table) feat. Casey Dienel of White Hinterland
8. Take your Burden To The Lord And Leave It There
9. Every Grain Of Sand feat. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver
10. My God Is Real
11. Jubilee feat. Patty Griffin

www.BlindBoys.com 
http://www.facebook.com/blindboysofalabama 
https://twitter.com/blindboys

NEW RELEASES - DJ NORI SALSOUL MIX, PHILLY REGROOVED 3, BAKER HARRIS YOUNG

DJ NORI SALSOUL MIX - BACK TO MY ROOTS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

DJ Nori's got some mighty hip roots – a rich array of funky inspiration provided by the legendary Salsoul label – served up here by Nori in a collection that includes a good number of rare mixes from the vaults! Nori leaves most tracks intact – never cuts them up too much, and allows some of these brilliant club mixes to really run their course before sliding into another tune – a good thing, too – given that some of these versions are ones you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere! The set features 13 cuts in all – including "Step Out Of My Dream (Shep Pettibone 12" dream version)" by The Strangers, "You've Got That Something (Greg Carmichael & John Morales 12" version)" by Logg, "Here's To You (12" version)" by Skyy, "By The Way You Dance (unreleased Larry Levan 12" mix)" by Bunny Sigler, "Sweet Dynamite (Tom Moulton version)" by Claudja Barry, ""We're Getting Stronger (Walter Gibbons 12" rmx)" by Loleatta Holloway, "Love Is Still Blue (orig 12" version)" by Paul Mauriat, "212 North 12th" by Salsoul Orchestra, "How High (orig 12") by Salsoul Orchestra, and "Boogie's Gonna Get Ya (Francois K 12" inst)" by Rafael Cameron. ~ Dusty Groove

PHILLY REGROOVED 3 TOM MOULTON REMIXES: MORE FROM THE MASTER (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Sublime sounds from the Philly master – a fantastic set of new mixes by the legendary Tom Moulton – all done with older tunes from the 70s, in a way that take the grooves even farther than before! Moulton was on hand when most of these tracks were released, so he's already got a mighty keen knowledge of their changes and charms – and here, he goes back to the tapes and completely recuts things in a way that almost offers up an alternate version of the 70s – not schlocky contemporary mixes, or attempts to modernize the music – but instead a style that makes you feel like you've unearthed a whole box of unissued tapes from the Sigma Sound Studios. The massive 2CD set features 18 gems that include new mixes of "Got To Get You Back" by Sons Of Robin Stone, "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Making Love Ain't No Fun" by The Ebonys, "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by The Spinners, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "When The Game Is Played On You" by Bettye Swann, "I Can't Fight Your Love" by The Modulations, "Look Me Up" by Blue Magic, "Babe" by Loose Change, and "Jack In The Box" by David Morris Jr. ~ Dusty Groove

RON BAKER / NORMAN HARRIS / EARL YOUNG - BHY

Ron Baker, Norman Harris, and Earl Young – one of the greatest rhythm sections in Philly soul of the 70s – stepping out here on an amazing album of their own! The record's got a great pedigree right out of the gate – given that Norman Harris had already arranged some of the best Philly grooves for other singers – and that the trio had played on countless sessions at Sigma Sound – and the group really live up to the strength of their legend by serving up some of the funkiest club of the Salsoul generation – tracks that really bristle strongly with all the right instrumental touches. There's a bit of vocals on the records, but mostly in a chorus mode – and the main focus is on the way the rhythms and instrumentation step and soar strongly. Titles include "Come As You Are", "Handle Me With Love & Care", "Touch Me While I'm Touching You", and "Opus BHY". CD features a bonus track – "Come As You Are (12" disco mix)".  ~ Dusty Groove