NEW RELEASES - SANTE PALUMBO, BILLY HARPER, ALFIE SILAS

SANTE PALUMBO - STASERA IN CASA SEDUTI IN POLTRONA CON LA LUCE DIFFUSA: COMPLESSO DI SANTE PALUMBO

A wonderful little set from Italian pianist Sante Palumbo – one that reflects his important work in the Rai studios, but which also really shows his work in jazz as well! The album's a relaxed small group outing – delivered with a breezy blend of bossa nova and other lyrical modes – of the sort that really show the special sound of the Italian scene at the time, and which draws a definite link to some of the soundtrack styles of the period too. Sante plays mostly acoustic piano – although some keys seem to be electric too – and the group features really wonderful flute from Gianni Bedori, who also plays some tenor too – plus guitar from Sergio Farina, bass from Marco Ratti, and drums from Lino Liguori. The group get a bit funky at points – making for some great energy alongside the more laidback tunes – and titles include "Sbam", "Dixi Samba", "Oriental Dog", "Saxoscopio", "Bossa Kiss", "Cartavetrata", and "Swingin Bossa". (Limited to 300 copies – in a beautiful package with very faithful cover reproduction, special sleeve, and insert too!) ~ Dusty Groove

BILLY HARPER - THE AWAKENING

A wonderful little set from Italian pianist Sante Palumbo – one that reflects his important work in the Rai studios, but which also really shows his work in jazz as well! The album's a relaxed small group outing – delivered with a breezy blend of bossa nova and other lyrical modes – of the sort that really show the special sound of the Italian scene at the time, and which draws a definite link to some of the soundtrack styles of the period too. Sante plays mostly acoustic piano – although some keys seem to be electric too – and the group features really wonderful flute from Gianni Bedori, who also plays some tenor too – plus guitar from Sergio Farina, bass from Marco Ratti, and drums from Lino Liguori. The group get a bit funky at points – making for some great energy alongside the more laidback tunes – and titles include "Sbam", "Dixi Samba", "Oriental Dog", "Saxoscopio", "Bossa Kiss", "Cartavetrata", and "Swingin Bossa". (Limited to 300 copies – in a beautiful package with very faithful cover reproduction, special sleeve, and insert too!) ~ Dusty Groove
 

ALFIE SILAS - ALFIE / BE YOURSELF   A pair of Alfie Silas albums for RCA – back to back on a single CD! First up is Alfie – filled with sweet crossover grooves from Alfie Silas – a singer with the same hook-heavy approach used by other 80s female singers like Denice Williams or Cheryl Lynn – set up here with some great grooves to match! The tunes are all pretty upbeat and catchy – playful tunes that never try too hard for the charts, yet have an instantly appealing sound that should have made this album way bigger than it was. Rhythms are straightforward, never too overdone – and Alfie surprises us with some deeper tones on a few of the album's hipper tracks. The album contains the singles "There I Go" and "A Puppet To You" – plus the tracks "Put The Freeze On", "Body Heat", and "Can't We Do It All Again". CD also features bonus tracks "A Puppet To You (12" mix)", and "A Puppet To You (inst)". Be Yourself is a shorter album than usual – part of the "mini LP" format that RCA was trying out in the early 80s – but a set that steps forward strongly with some great studio help from Larry Graham – who produced, wrote all tracks, and also plays drums, bass, and keyboards. Alfie's catchy vocals get just the right sort of focus from Graham's grooves – and titles include "Be Yourself", "Just A Little Bit", "You Put The L In Love", "Stay With Me", and "I'm Available". Also features the bonus track "You Put The L In Love (12" mix)". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - THE GARY BURTON QUARTET, THE WILLIE JONES III SEXTET, SCOTT WALKER

THE GARY BURTON QUARTET - LIVE IN TOKYO

A wonderful live set from Gary Burton – originally issued only in Japan, but a wonderful record that stands strongly with Gary's classic early 70s work for Atlantic and ECM Records! The group's a quartet – and has Gary's vibes alongside warm guitar lines from Sam Brown – a player whose sense of tone and timing really echoes that of Burton – cascading fresh sounds one minute, laying back in waves the next – always hitting the right balance of space and tone to keep things right. Other players include Tony Levin on electric bass and Bill Goodwin on drums – and tracks are nice and long, with that sort of extra-imaginative quality that always seems to happen with American jazzmen working in Japan at this time. Titles include "Ballet", "On The Third Day", "Sunset Bell", "Portsmouth Figurations", and "The Green Mountains". ~ Dusty Groove

THE WILLIE JONES III SEXTEXT - PLAYS THE MAX ROACH SONGBOOK: LIVE AT DIZZY'S CLUB COCA-COLA

Drummer Willie Jones takes on the music of Max Roach – and not just songs composed by Max, but his whole overall aesthetic too – served up here in a smoking sextet that's especially strong on the righteous elements of Roach's late 50s Mercury years, and his important groups of the 60s on records for labels like Impulse, Atlantic, and Candid! Jones picks just the right songs as standouts – a few penned by Roach, but others by Stanley Cowell, Gary Bartz, and some of the key young talents who helped Max really grow as an artist during the 60s – served up here with a wicked lineup that includes Steve Davis on trombone, Stacy Dillard on tenor, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, Eric Reed on piano, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The set was recorded live, and all tracks are long – and titles include "Libra", "Equipose", "To Lady", "Freedom Day", "Mr X", and "Ezz Thetic". ~ Dusty Groove

SCOTT WALKER - SCOTT: THE COLLECTION 1967-1970 (5 ALBUMS)

Some of the greatest music ever recorded – seminal sounds from one of the most enigmatic artists to ever walk into a recording studio! This wonderful set brings together the five key albums in the early career of Scott Walker – Scott 1, Scott 2, Scott 3, Scott 4, and Til The Band Comes In – music that's beyond description, and which came as a real surprise to folks who'd only known Walker as a poppish act just a few years before! Scott draws from a few key moments of mid-century pop music – with an especially strong influence from Jacques Brel – but he also adds in plenty of his own words and darkly complex themes – all set to lavish orchestrations that feel like mainstream music, but which are something deeper and much spookier underneath! The balance is amazing – a mixture of modes that comes off with the same sort of edge you'd get in a classic Ingmar Bergman film, or a vintage episode of The Prisoner – one of those weird once-in-a-lifetime pieces of work that comes forth with a compelling aesthetic that's all its own. We love these records to death, and have done so for decades – and this LP set features all 5 albums in indivudal packages with artwork, plus a booklet that has new notes on each record, and really puts the music in context.  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, MILES DAVIS, HUGH LAURIE

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS - TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS

This record represents the first recorded incarnation of the Doobies part II, the edition of the band featuring gravel-voiced keyboardist Michael MacDonald. It's clearly a transitional album, and a pretty big departure from the band's original style. You can hear the new direction most clearly on the album's two hit singles--the title tune and "It Keeps You Running." The closing track "Carry Me Away" marks the first appearance of the see-saw keyboard riffs later immortalized in "What A Fool Believes" (and later ripped off to good commercial effect by various MacDonald wannabes like Robbie Dupree). ... Full Description The rest of the album deals in various forms of funk. Japanese only SHM paper sleeve pressing. Features 2009 remastering. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC & Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Warner.2009. Recorded at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California. The Memphis Horns: Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love, James Mitchell, Lewis Collins, Jack Hale. The Doobie Brothers: Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons (vocals, guitar); Michael McDonald (vocals, keyboards); Tiran Porter (vocals, bass); Keith Knudsen (vocals, drums); Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (guitar); John Hartman (drums). Additional personnel: Maria Muldaur (vocals); Novi (viola); Jesse Butler (organ); Richie Hayward (drums); Bobby LaKind (congas). ~cduniverse.com

MILES DAVIS - ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS (5 ALBUMS)

These five-disc box sets issued by the German arm of Sony BMG are for the most part a fine way to reissue original recordings en masse -- unlike their American counterparts who do the sloppiest job possible. If you already have these classic '50s sides by Miles Davis with his first great quintet and with Gil Evans, then don't bother reading further. If you don't, pick up these sides with Kind of Blue and Sketches of Spain (the only complaint is that these weren't in this set instead of 58 Sessions and Miles Ahead, but there were reasons for that and some of them have to do with commerce).  ... Full Description In any case, these are the extended versions of the albums when they were reissued definitively on CD in the 1990s and early 2000s. They contain bonus cuts not on the original CDs, the sound is warm and balanced, and each disc comes in its own case. The other cool thing is for the consumer: if you look around online, you can find these boxes dirt cheap, for about six or seven dollars a disc, which is cheaper than their domestic counterparts would be. ~ Thom Jurek / cduniverse.com

HUGH LAURIE - DIDN'T IT RAIN

His blues bona fides buttressed by his 2011 debut album Let Them Talk, Hugh Laurie returns with Didn't It Rain, another collection of jazz and blues standards, usually of the New Orleans variety but not always (his heart will sometimes stray to Kansas City), produced by Joe Henry. If Let Them Talk had a slightly burnished, rich veneer, Didn't It Rain is a bit lighter, with Laurie content to let himself slip into the background as both pianist and vocalist, which is odd as he has considerably fewer guests here than he did on his debut. Apart from Taj Mahal, this is pretty self-contained, Laurie playing the boogie with his band, sometimes lying back and letting his backing singers steal the spotlight, which they do with ease. Nobody is concerned with reinterpreting the songs or surprising a listener, they just want to enjoy re-creating sounds and tunes they've loved, an attitude that's rarely alienating although it's never quite infectious, either. All involved love the boogie and love the swing, happy to hit the accents hard and draw out the eighth notes, and if there's never a compelling reason to listen to Laurie and crew tackle these well-loved tunes, nobody involved embarrasses themselves, and it's a pretty enjoyable way to while away a lazy Sunday afternoon. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine / cduniverse.com

NEW RELEASES - BOZ SCAGGS, DAVID PORTER, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

BOZ SCAGGS - ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS (5 ALBUMS)

This Sony UK entry in the Original Albums Classics series contains five Boz Scaggs recordings; one of which is a true classic, two more which should be, and two more middling albums. These are the remastered versions of these recordings. The inarguable standout in the pack is the legendary Silk Degrees album from 1976, which includes, as bonus cuts, three live versions of tunes on the album's track list: "What Can I Say," It's Over," and "Jump Street." Two very important recordings in Scaggs' catalog that are included here both preceded Silk Degrees: Moments, issued in 1971, reveals (whether he admits it or not) Van Morrison's influence on the singer and songwriter.  Scaggs is moving more directly into blue-eyed soul as evidenced by the stellar title cut, "We Were Always Sweethearts," and "Near You." Slow Dancer, issued in 1975, immediately preceded Silk Degrees and finds Scaggs digging deeper into the blue-eyed soul vein while actively seeking a bigger, more polished, and richer palette of sounds in his production. The tunes here somehow bridge the gap between the rootsier and grittier Morrison and the theatrical, sultry, groove master Isaac Hayes. Stand-out tracks include "You Make It So Hard (To Say No)," the title cut, and a killer cover of Allen Toussaint's "Hercules." The two albums issued after Silk Degrees, 1977's Down Two Then Left, and 1979's Middle Man (his last album for eight years), are slick disco and post-disco soul workouts with some rock tinges. While they are less successful than their monumental predecessor, they still contain more than their share of fine tunes, and as albums, are better appreciated in the 21st century than they were in the 20th. Stand-out tracks include "Still Fallin' for You," "Hollywood," and "1993" on the former, and "Jojo" and "Breakdown Dead Ahead" on the latter. In all, this Boz Scaggs entry in the Original Album Classics series is a fine value. ~ Thom Jurek / cduniverse.com

DAVID PORTER - GRITTY, GROOVY & GETTIN' IT

Digitally remastered and expanded edition. Gritty, Groovy And Gettin' It was the first of three album releases by Grammy award-winning songwriter David Porter, a singer before teaming up with Isaac Hayes to write songs including 'Soul Man', 'Hold On, I'm Comin' and 'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby' . Porter's debut album was released in the wake of Hayes massive success with Hot Buttered Soul. Although it was not as commercially successful, it proved that anything Hayes could do, David Porter could do as well, if not better, by taking mostly familiar Soul songs all personal favourites and rearranging (and sometimes extending) them creatively. The album gave Porter a Top 30 hit with 'Can't See You When I Want To' , a song he had recorded in very different form for Stax in the mid-60s. The rare earlier version is also included here, as one of five bonus songs, two of which have never been issued before. Recorded with many of the same musicians who played on Isaac Hayes best-selling albums, this album has never been reissued in the UK until now. ~ cdunverse.com

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD - LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

This live date, recorded in 1979, shows British blue-eyed soul vocalist Dusty Springfield at the height of her powers. Not only was Springfield's voice in top shape, but she had also achieved an iconic status as England's premiere diva (as the rapturous response of the audience indicates). Energetic, polished, and full of professional flair, LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL contains many of Springfield's best-known songs, including "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and "Son of a Preacher Man." A stirring set. ... Full Description Filmed in 1979, this audio-visual package captures Britain's Dusty at the height of her powers, performing a show packed with her signature songs - and not a few delightful surprises - in the presence of royalty - HRH Princess Margaret, Countess Of Snowdon. Indeed, it would be no exaggeration to say that Dusty herself was also royalty, pop royalty. The convent school-educated, blue-eyed soul singer with the uniquely affecting, longing timbre inspired a fervour that is almost palpable throughout this historic concert, filmed for British television by Mike Mansfield, with several audience members invading the stage to get even closer to their heroine towards the end of the show. ~ cduniverse.com

NEW RELEASES - BOB BALDWIN, ELVIS PRESLEY, JACQUES LESURE

BOB BALDWIN - TWENTY

Twenty celebrates a humble milestone in the career of New York native, arranger, producer, and entrepreneur Bob Baldwin and represents 20 discs in 25 years, which has been a great journey for Baldwin, also radio host of NewUrbanJazz Lounge, now over 453,000 listeners weekly. “I remember growing up listening to great records by Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones, then actually meeting Herbie (in LA) and Mr. Hubbard (at the Blue Note/NYC) back in the late '70's, this has a profound impact on my career, and as a result, I wanted to salute them both on a couple of pieces “Butterfly” and “Chameleon” (Hancock) and “Red Clay” (Hubbard). “For me, it's always been about pushing that envelope because I don't really think it's possible to be totally original anymore because of the huge mass of music in the universe,” says Baldwin, “however, the challenge is still to maintain your own voice so that when people hear your music, they say, 'Oh, that's Herbie or Quincy,' or hopefully, 'that's Bob Baldwin on the keys. The disc is part of that evolution of honing your voice, and using great musicians to bring the best out of you, and vice versa.'
The album, which features Marion Meadows, Joey Sommervile, and Ragan Whiteside, among others, is chock-full of drummers ike Lil' John Roberts, Poogie Bell and PFunk drummer Benjamin Cowan, which adds a cool dose of jazz funk drumming. Ballads like “Music Changed My Life” and “On and On” urge you to turn up the blue light, while party tracks “Turn the Club Up,” and the anointed 100 Million+ viewer YouTube sensation Sweet Brown who joins on the theme song “Ain't Nobody Got Time Fo' Dat.” Baldwin elaborates, “That track is funny AND funky!” Twenty is a must-have for your Baldwin collection, and if this is your first taste of this artist, there's plenty of catalog with which to familiarize yourself!  ~ amazon.com

ELVIS PRESLEY - ELVIS AT STAX: DELUXE EDITON  

Chronicles the 40th Anniversary of Elvis' historic hometown studio sessions of July and December 1973. Deluxe 3-CD Box Set marks the first gathering of 28 masters and 27 outtakes in one comprehensive package. The last major studio sessions in the career of Elvis Presley have finally been gathered together for the first time in one comprehensive package, as Elvis At Stax: Deluxe Edition. The deluxe 3-CD box set, a 40th anniversary chronicle of a dozen nights that Presley spent at Stax Recording Studios in his hometown of Memphis in July and December 1973. Elvis At Stax; Deluxe Edition bristles with energy and dynamism. The proof is in the six consecutive singles that the Stax sessions produced, all of which skirted the Top 40 from 1973 to 1975. In effect, they rivaled some of the hottest streaks that Presley had charted a decade earlier. The Stax singles still resonate today: "Raised On Rock" b/w "For Ol' Time Sake" (Hot 100 #41, country #42); "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" b/w "Take Good Care Of Her" (Hot 100 #39, country #4); "Promised Land" b/w "It's Midnight" (Hot 100 #14, country #9); "If You Talk In Your Sleep" b/w "Help Me" (Hot 100 #17, country #6); "My Boy" b/w Thinking About You (Hot 100 #20, country #14); and "Mr. Songman" (B-side of "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," Hot 100 #35, country #11). ~ amazon.com

JACQUES LESURE - WHEN SHE SMILES

Jacques Lesure, one of the premier jazz guitarists on the west coast, releases his debut CD When She Smiles on WJ3 Records. This recording showcases his interpretations of jazz classics such as Horace Silver's Gregory Is Here, Miles Davis' Blue and Green and Sonny Rollins' Sonnymoon For Two, and Lesure's own composition, When She Smiles. Lesure is joined on this CD by Eric Reed (piano), Willie Jones III (drums) and Mike Gurrola (bass). Lesure has shared the stage with jazz icons including Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine and Les McCann. ~ amazon.com

JOHN ALCORN / MICHAEL MASSARO - BEATITUDE IN BLUE

The history behind this recording is that it was originally recorded in 2006 with piano, bass and drums with a guitar intro and solo. Dave then approached John Alcorn to do the vocals. After he recorded the vocals, the recording sat for a few years. Then last year Mike Massaro was asked to record a sax line as well as guitarist Kevin Barrett to record a Freddie Green type strumming guitar to finish off the recording. This whole process was somewhat unconventional but in this case it worked rather well. The premise of the lyric is that generic spirituality is its own reward.

Vocalist John Acorn brings a soulful rendition of the song; The Toronto Star calls him "one of our finest interpreters of the ‘great American songbook,’ an artist who always knows how to walk the fine line between respecting the material and offering an original interpretation."

Michael Massaro is no stranger to the Canadian air waves as he is one of Canada’s premier musicians. His talents were heard on a Redmond Broadcasting compilation recording with some of Canada’s foremost instrumental performers including David Foster, Liona Boyd, Moe Koffman, Andre Gagnon, and Frank Mills to name only a few.

Ostrovsky had fun producing the music video consisting of Charlie Chaplin silent movie clips humorously depicting the lyrics in this new jazz song which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utGbqeYtrhQ.

The major promotional thrust is to have jazz journalists give this recording a nod so that this single will be given a chance to be discovered by record labels that enjoy the premise and feel of the music. The caliber of producers being sought are Jorge Calandrelli and Andre Fischer as well as the vocal stylings of jazz artist Steve Tyrell to name a few.

"I truly enjoyed ‘Beatitude in Blue’; it had a rhythmic shuffle-beat groove as a toe-tapping backdrop to uplifting lyrics that exemplify the true meaning of ‘seeing love through’ in life. I believe it being featured on The Jazz Network Worldwide will open the ears of vocalists, instrumentalists and producers globally that are looking for creative, original material to be used for their upcoming projects," says Jaijai Jackson, Owner and creator of The Jazz Network Worldwide.

2013 NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL® CELEBRATES THE 35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND

Showcasing the powerful and enduring excitement and influence of New Orleans brass band music on American culture, the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management is celebrating the 35th Anniversary of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Sunday, August 4, at 1:25 pm on the Harbor Stage. The festival, which celebrates its 60th anniversary next year, takes over Newport beginning August 2 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino and August 3 and 4 at historic Fort Adams State Park.

"When the Dirty Dozen swings into Newport, jazz fans are in for a treat," said George Wein, producer and creator of the Newport Jazz Festival. "We go back together since their beginning and I am always excited to hear their special magic. In fact, I recorded their first album through the George Wein Collection on Concord Records. They ushered in a bold new sound then, and they continue to make their mark on new audiences around the world."

The now seven-piece ensemble, which revolutionized the traditional New Orleans brass band style by incorporating funk and bebop into the mix, has been a major influence on many Crescent City based brass bands over the ensuing decades. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's success inspired a resurgence of New Orleans' brass band music, both in the city and nationwide. The band was most influential in the 1980s, when they demonstrated by example that brass band music could be successful by moving beyond a type of music that risked becoming known as simply a tourist attraction.

Established in 1977 by bass drummer Benny Jones, with members of the Tornado Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band has brought to its global travels a strong appetite for musical adventure, a commitment to honor tradition while not being constrained by it, and a healthy sense of humor.

To describe how the group arrived at its 35th anniversary, trumpet player Gregory Davis employs a tried-and true New Orleans-centric analogy: "It ends up being like a pot of gumbo - you drop in a little okra, drop in a little shrimp, you drop in some crabs. Before you know it, you've mixed in all these different ingredients and you've got a beautiful soup. That was our approach to music early on and it still is today."

Baritone sax player Roger Lewis -- who, like Davis, has been with the band since its inception in 1977 -- echoes that sentiment: "It's a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans. It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag."

To celebrate its 35th Anniversary, which was technically in 2012, the band released Twenty Dozen, its first studio release in six years. Cut at the Music Shed in New Orleans, the collection reunited the Dirty Dozen Brass Band with producer Scott Billington, who helmed their first major label release Voodoo in 1989. The set offers a blend of R&B, jazz, funk, Afro-Latino grooves, Caribbean flavors, a Rihanna cover - and a high spirited rendering of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Produced by Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™, the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, is set for August 2 - 4 featuring Natalie Cole, Wayne Shorter with special guest Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, Eddie Palmieri, Marcus Miller and many more.

SARAH VAUGHAN - SOPHISTICATED LADY: THE DUKE ELLINGTON SONGBOOK COLLECTION

Concord Music Group will release the two-CD Sarah Vaughan set Sophisticated Lady: The Duke Ellington Songbook Collection on August 20, 2013 (international release dates vary). Featuring six previously unreleased tracks and new liner notes, the compilation celebrates the 40th anniversary of Pablo Records, the jazz label founded by Norman Granz in 1973.

The story of Pablo Records is a story of one veteran producer’s return to the music he loved best. Norman Granz, founder of Jazz at the Philharmonic, so missed the recording aspect of the music business — which he’d abandoned in 1962 when he sold his Clef, Norgran, and Verve labels to MGM — that a little more than a decade later he decided to take the plunge and start up yet another label. Based in Beverly Hills, California, at the time, Granz secured a distribution deal and launched Pablo Records in 1973, quickly building a world-class catalog of albums by legendary artists Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass, and Oscar Peterson — all of whom Granz managed — as well as Count Basie, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Sarah Vaughan, and many others. After releasing more than 350 albums in a span of less than 15 years, Granz sold Pablo to Fantasy in 1987, which in turn merged with Concord Records in 2004 to form Concord Music Group.

Recorded between August 1979 and January 1980, Sophisticated Lady: The Duke Ellington Collection is a two-disc set that features six previously unreleased recordings along with classic tracks originally from Vaughan’s 1980 albums of Duke’s music, Duke Ellington Song Book One and Duke Ellington Song Book Two.

“What makes this reissue especially significant,” says Tad Hershorn, archivist at the Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies and author of the collection’s liner notes, “is a rare confluence of what I have come to think of as ‘late breaking history’ and late-breaking news: this collection is both. In this case, it is the inclusion of six previously unreleased recordings of arrangements by the peerless Benny Carter which opens this collection of the Vaughan-Ellington recordings, presented chronologically by recording date.”

The six Carter-arranged tracks — “Sophisticated Lady,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Lush Life,” "Solitude,” “Day Dream,” and “Tonight I Shall Sleep (With a Smile on My Face)” — include what Hershorn calls “a lush orchestral backdrop” of big band and string arrangements, along with shining solo work by Zoot Sims on tenor saxophone. “These are not alternate takes. They are recordings of entirely different arrangements of the songs than those that were released on the original Ellington Songbook albums,” says compilation producer Nick Phillips. “It’s fascinating now to not only hear, for the first time, each of these six newly discovered arrangements and recordings and appreciate them on their own merits, but also to be able to compare and contrast the very different arranging approaches to the same songs.”

Regardless of the song arrangements, one fact about Sarah Vaughan remains perfectly clear while listening to Sophisticated Lady: “She’s one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time,” says Phillips. “Her singing throughout this collection certainly underscores that.”

NEW RELEASES - JIMMY SCOTT, NICOLE WILLIS & JIMMY TENOR, BOBBY WHITLOCK

JIMMY SCOTT - THE SOURCE

A unique moment from the legendary Jimmy Scott – a one-off album cut for Atlantic Records – recorded after his initial 50s fame, and decades before he'd finally get his due, much later in his life! The album's got a style that's a bit more mature than Scott's initial sides – a bit more grown up in approach, even though Jimmy's still got that really unique light tone to his vocals – and arranged by Arif Mardin and William Fischer in a hip blend of jazz and strings – with a slow-moving vibe that's completely mesmerizing. The core instrumentation is by a group that includes Junior Mance on piano, Billy Butler on guitar, and Ron Carter on bass – and titles include "Our Day Will Come", "I Wish I Knew", "This Love Of Mine", and a very moody version of "Exodus". ~ Dusty Groove

NICOLE WILLIS & JIMMY TENOR - COLA & JIMMU: ENIGMATIC

Enigmatic dancefloor grooves from the duo of Cola and Jimmu – actually funky soul singer Nicole Willis and Finnish jazz funk player Jimmy Tenor! As Cola and Jimmu, Nicole and Jimmy are working in a mode that's inspired by dawn of the 90s soulful house music – a nice mix of earthy instrumentation and spacier textures. Sputtering beats are blended with hand percussion, swirling keyboard textures float over Jimmy's sax and Nicole's beautiful voice brings in all home. Nice! Includes "369º Grind", "Enigmatic", Transcend Our Love", "Tombstone", "So Refined", "I Made Up My Mind", "Satyricon", "Wild Honey", "Brooklyn Girl" and "Classified". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY WHITLOCK - WHERE THERE'A A WILL THERE'S A WAY: THE ABC- DUNHILL RECORDINGS

Bobby Whitlock finally gets his due – in a massive set that reissues the first two solo albums of this key player who worked on the albums Layla and All Things Must Pass! The self-titled Bobby Whitlock is a lost landmark in early 70s roots rock – the first solo album from Bobby Whitlock – an artist who'd previously played with Derek & The Dominoes, George Harrison, and Delaney & Bonnie – and who's getting a bit of help here from both Harrison and Eric Clapton in the studio! Yet the set's definitely Bobby's own – rooted in his Memphis background, and fusing together rock and soul with the same sort of core charm you might hear from Delaney & Bonnie – a quality that's almost color-blind at times, and which has the same sort of new southern appeal as music from The Allman Brothers or some of Bobby's bigger contemporaries. Titles include "Where There's A Will", "Song For Paula", "A Game Called Life", "Back In My Life Again", "Back Home In England", and "The Dreams Of A Hobo". On Raw Velvet, Bobby Whitlock really comes into his own – working in a style that's tighter and more confident than his debut – yet which is also still drenched in all the best southern styles of his roots! Production is rich, but never too commercial – and the album shows some of the growth in roots rock that was taking place with other acts of the same nature at the time – a space that's not far from The Band or Little Feat, but which also echoes more of Whitlock's Tennessee background overall. Eric Clapton plays on one track – and titles include "Tell The Truth", "Write You A Letter", "Hello LA Bye Bye Birmingham", "Think About It", "Satisfied", and "Dearest I Wonder". Features very detailed notes – and some great photos and recollections from Whitlock! ~ Dusty Groove

CHOP - ILLUMINATE

Mr. Chop’s debut EP for Now-Again in 2009, Lightworlds, drew together anthemic synth-rock, the jagged sound of Italian prog monsters Goblin, and musique concrète, with surprisingly accessible results. Since then, the artist known to friends as Coz Littler has rid himself of the Mister and returns with renewed focus for his first Now-Again full length release. The path that took him here was winding indeed. Isolating himself in his Cheshire, UK studio in late 2009, Chop decided to try his hand at the nearly fifty year old – and rarely successful – quest to musically merge the organic and the electronic. Three years later, surrounded by hours of ideas, his music started falling into itself. Enter his friend Joe Fearon, A&R for the likes of Liverpool bands The Coral and The Zutons. With Fearon’s help, Chop whittled down hours of recordings to a selection of the most inspired moments. It became clear that while each stood up on its own, they lacked a unifying theme. Chop discovered a solution in the processed sound of his own voice. And then everything fell into place: Heliocentrics drummer Malcolm Catto’s rhythm tracks were edited off-the-grid until they became more Neu than James Brown, more driving than syncopated; Bill Ryder Jones from The Coral stepped in for the lead guitar parts, which lent a powerful psychedelic 60s rock sound to the proceedings; Chop repurposed a range of obsolete musical gear to renewed ends, in line with his desire to search for a future imbued with the innocence of the past.

The result is Illuminate, an album equally inspired by the retro-futurism of the still-sputtering 19th century power station in Northern Wales, across the estuary from Chop’s studio, the events of his life, and Chop’s collection of hip-hop, disco, new wave and minimal synth records. Unsurprisingly, Illuminate traverses a number of moods. The jackhammer pounding of ‘Building Blocks’ segues into the moody but serene ‘Picture Box’. The futuristic soundscape ‘Arcane Future’ takes an uplifting melodic turn, revealing Chop’s hopes for a more perfect tomorrow. Though it’s the most intellectual approach Chop has taken with his music to date, it retains a spontaneous feel throughout, and despite its technical accomplishments, Illuminate is Chop’s most intimate and personal album yet.

www.nowagainrecords.com

Tracklisting:
01. Building Blocks
02. Illuminate All Voltages
03. Picture Box
04. Airhead
05. Future Past AD
06. Re-Program The Man/Illuminist Garden
07. The Electronic Brain
08. Sleeper
09. Feedback
10. You Want More Life
11. Rendezvous
12. Feedback Reprise
13. Bow Down To The Mutant
14. Arcane Future

The album Chop “Illuminate” (Now Again) is going to be released August 9, 2013.

~ grooveattack.com

VALERIE JUNE - PUSHIN' AGAINST A STONE

Valerie June will release her debut album, 'Pushin' Against A Stone,' August 13 in the US via Concord Music Group. The album--which brings together the talents of acclaimed producers Kevin Augunas (Edward Sharpe, Florence + The Machine), Dan Auerbach, and Peter Sabak, along with an all-star cast of musicians ranging from Booker T. and Jimbo Mathus to some of Hungary's top session players--was recorded at Easy Eye in Nashville, Fairfax Recording in Van Nuys, CA, and Studio H in Budapest. June, whose voice percolates somewhere between Dolly Parton and Billie Holiday, wrote or co-wrote all but one of the record's 11 tracks, blending rural roots, country, rock, and blues into an astonishing and singular sound that bridges Alan Lomax and Jack White. See below for full track listing.

June grew up in the small town of Humboldt, TN, before moving to Memphis, and she pays tribute to her home with charismatic Southern charm on "Tennessee Time." She spent years honing a distinctive sound that effortlessly shifts between eras and genres: from the indie-blues slide guitar shuffle of "Can't Be Told" and the heavenly harmonies of traditional spiritual "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations," to the stark, acoustic "Workin' Woman Blues" and the uncanny darkness of "Twined and Twisted." June can be haunting and melancholy, singing of loneliness on "Somebody To Love," or fiery and defiant, taking a life to save her own on "You Can't Be Told." At one moment seductive in a sensual come-on, fragile and vulnerable the next in a display of naked honesty, June's voice transports you to another world the moment she opens her mouth.

Valerie counts Booker T. and Eric Church among her fans. The former performs on two tracks on the album, the mesmerizing "Somebody To Love" and "On My Way," which he also co-wrote, and June recently performed a stunning duet of "Like Jesus Does" with Church at the 2013 ACM Awards.

The album's US release follows June's breakout year in the UK, where she has performed on Jools Holland, toured with Jake Bugg, and earned critical raves, with the London Evening Standard calling her "a major star in waiting" and The Sunday Times hailing her as "this year's big new voice."

'Pushin' Against A Stone' Track list:
1. Workin' Woman Blues
2. Somebody To Love
3. The Hour
4. Twined And Twisted
5. Wanna Be On Your Mind
6. Tennessee Time
7. Pushin' Against A Stone
8. Trials, Troubles, Tribulations
9. You Can't Be Told
10. Shotgun
11. On My Way

www.valeriejune.com
www.twitter.com/thevaleriejune
www.facebook.com/valeriejunemusic

KNEEBODY - THE LINE

Kneebody releases their fourth album, The Line, as their debut recording on Concord Records, September 24, 2013. Their sound is...... explosive rock energy balanced with high level nuanced chamber ensemble playing, highly wrought compositions balanced with adventurous no holds barred improvising. All genre and "sounds like" references can be set aside as this band has created a style all its own. This project explodes with rock and jazz influences through engrossing improvisational instrumentals, includes 12 original compositions, and contributions from various members of the group.

The album, produced by Chris Dunn, Sr. Director of A&R, and Kneebody, features the band’s five players; keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, electric bassist Kaveh Rastegar, saxophonist Ben Wendel and drummer Nate Wood. Kneebody bassist Rastegar says, “Personally, I think calling Kneebody "jazz" or "electric jazz" is fantastic because then we can move on from that hang up and play our music -- and alter expectations of what ‘jazz’ is.”

The Line opens with a dark rock tune titled “Lowell,” then moves to a lighter mood with Cha Cha, a contrapuntal number with an engaging swing beat. “Trite” embodies the non-linear approach the band gives to compositions and “Sleeveless” provides a slow-moving feel with dark undertones. Still Play has a twisty, technically challenging horn line that is complemented by the other players’ musicianship. The title track from the album, “The Line,” is hard-hitting, embracing the rock energy of the band. “E and E,” is a lush, improvised intro to “Pushed Away” with three basses. Keyboardist Adam Benjamin describes Work Hard, Play Hard, Towel Hard as “a tribute to those of us who don't want to dial it down,” and “Greenblatt” as “a song about open space and subtle transformations.” “What Was” has jarring drum beats matched with a flowing melodic line. “Ready Set Go” manifests their industrious indie rock side and is the final piece on the album.

Kneebody draws upon influences spanning D’Angelo’s Voodoo to music by Elliot Smith, Bill Frisell, and Miles Davis. Their live shows are known for intense sonic landscapes of the Radiohead ilk, for the rhythmic bombast of a Squarepusher or Queens of the Stone Age show, and the harmonic depth and improvisational freedom experienced at a Brad Mehldau concert.

The quintet met in their late teens while at The Eastman School of Music and Cal Arts, became fast friends, and converged together as Kneebody amid the vibrant and eclectic music scene of Los Angeles in 2001. Since then, each band member has amassed an impressive list of credits and accomplishments over the years all while the band has continued to thrive and grow in reputation, solidifying a fan base around the world. Tour dates include Japan, Europe and North America.

Complete Track List Includes:
Lowell (4:42)
Cha-Cha (5:08)
Trite (6:24)
Sleeveless (5:29)
Still Play (4:51)
The Line (6:23)
E and E (1:26)
Pushed Away (3:20)
Work Hard, Play Hard, Towel Hard (5:25)
Greenblatt (4:20)

CLAUDIA LENNEAR - CD DEBUT OF HER ONLY SOLO ALBUM RELEASED

Calling Claudia Lennear’s appearance in 20 Feet from Stardom, the documentary about the great unsung backup singers in rock ‘n’ roll, a “star turn” may be a contradiction in terms, but if you find her riveting on screen you’re in good company—not only did she inspire Mick Jagger to write “Brown Sugar” (and David Bowie to write “Lady Grinning Soul”), but Jagger calls her “very hot” and a “beautiful girl” in the film!

Claudia made her reputation singing as one of the “Shelter People” that Leon Russell used as session musicians on his Shelter label; she also sang on Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and on George Harrison’s Concert for Bangla Desh among many other projects (there was also that, ahem, photo spread in Playboy).

But for those seeking a pure taste of her singular talent, this 1973 album, her only solo release, is the place to be; side one features her with members of Jim Dickinson’s Dixie Flyers and Ry Cooder, side two finds her singing songs written and arranged by the great Allen Toussaint, with such legends as Jim Keltner and Spooner Oldham along for the funky ride. Our Real Gone reissue features notes by Pat Thomas featuring quotes from Claudia herself and, yes, photos from her private archive. CD debut and an extremely timely one!1. It Ain’t Easy

Tracks include: It Ain't Easy; Sing with the Children; Sister Angela; Not Atall; Casey Jones; Goin’ Down; From a Whisper to a Scream; Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky; What’d I Do Wrong; and Goin’ Down

~ Real Gone Music

NEW RELEASES - MICHAEL ROSCIGLIONE TRIO, GIANLUCA LUIS & JOEL HOLMES, MARCO ACQUARELLI QUARTET FEATURING ALICE RICCIARDI

MICHAEL ROSCIGLIONE TRIO - MOON AND SAND

“Moon and Sand”, the second record release of the young label Tosky Records. An Italian-French delicate and passionate project with perfectly balanced sonorities evoking dreamy atmosphere, “moony” precisely. Michel Rosciglione, an excellent double bass player, presents a variegated repertoire of nine tracks, masterly chosen to pay homage to the greatest jazz tradition (Kenny Kirkland, John Coltrane, Billy Strayhorn...). The interaction and mutual listening desire dominate. He is accompanied in this adventure by the drummer Remi Vignolo author of the last track “Hollygram”, which elegantly controls its rhytmic strenght in favour of a melodic harmony and the soft but firm touch of the pianist Vincent Bourgeyx author of the track “Shoes Now” and the ‘burning’ arrangement of “Giant Steps”. Different colours with two exceptional guests in two tracks (Shade of the Cedar Tree e Johnny Come Lately) with the excellent musicians David Sauzay playing tenor sax and Renaud Gensane playing the trumpet. A disc where cohesion and tuning rule and where sometimes everything seems romantically suspended in a moony, rough, magic, landscape. ~ toskyrecords.com

GIANLUCA LUIS / JOEL HOLMES - LOOSE

A new great duo faces the International scene. The talent of two excellent musicians who work togetherto create something new: a repertoire of original and standard compositions. Gianluca Lusi worked withseveral famous artists: Danilo Rea, Maurizio Giammarco, Paolo Damiani, Massimo Moriconi, Massimo Manzi,Giovanni Amato, Riccardo Fassi, Pino Jodice, Giorgio Rosciglione, Gianluigi Goglia, Claudio Filippini, BillCarrothers, Peter Epstein, Larry Panella, Darrian Douglas, Russell Welch, Andy Gravish, Heinrich Kobberling,Thomas Siffling, Pietro Iodice. He graduated at the Conservatories of Santa Cecilia di Roma and at the Caselladell’Aquila. He has done two albums: “Gotha 17” and “Rune”. Joel Holmes studied at the School forthe Performing Arts in Baltimora at first, then he took a degree in Jazz Performance at the John Hopkins University.He won several prizes as pianist and composer in the United States. He’s a member of the quintet ofRoy Hargrove since 2009 and he did tours in some of the most famous festivals and clubs of the world. He collaboratedalso with some stars of Jazz music such as Roberta Gambarini and Nnenna Freelon with whom herecorded an album nominated for a Grammy Award. Joel has done two albums which had a lot of successtrough the critics: “Ethernal Vision” in a trio and “African Skies” as a quartet featuring the saxophonist GaryThomas. He is now considered one of the best emerging pianist in the world. ~ toskyrecords.com

MARCO ACQUARELLI QUARTET FEATURING ALICE RICCIARDI - THEY SAY IT'S SPRING


This young and talented charismatic Roman has collaborated with numerous other artists, including MaurizioGiammarco, Daniele Tittarelli, Claudio Corvini, Massimo Manzi and Sandro Deidda, to cite just a few. Healternates an intense learning path with live activity, perfecting his study with artists of such calibre as Jim Kelly,Bill Pierce, Peter Bernstein, Barry Harris, Agostino Di Giorgio, Adam Rogers, Mark Turner, Matt Renzi, DominicMiller and Tuck Andress. In 2010, his first record project as a leading musician was released, “Too High”, whichincluded the participation of tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen. He has collaborated with various composers anddirectors in numerous projects for music for the theatre, television and film (Germano Mazzocchetti, NicolaPiovani, Lucio Gregoretti, Stefano Reali, the Orchestra of Rome, the Orchestra of the S. Cecilia Conservatoryand the Orchestra of Roberto Pregadio). In the band, musicians of exceptionally high level already active foryears in the Roman jazz scene. The splendid voice of Alice Ricciardi embellishes this record project, remindingus once again just how much Roman jazz is a source of pride all over the world. ~ toskyrecords.com

NEW RELEASES - RUN IT RED - MICK HUCKNALL SELECTS FROM 10 YEARS OF BLOOD AND FIRE CLASSICS, THE GREG FOAT GROUP, ENNIO MORRICONE

RUN IT RED - MICK HUCKNALL SELECTS FROM 10 YEARS OF BLOOD AND FIRE CLASSICS

This one is not really a new release, having been originally released back in 2005.  Nevertheless, it's new to us and worth checking out. Includes: Big Youth - Wolf In Sheep Clothing; King Tubby - Guidance Dub; Junior Byles - Pitchy Patchy; Prince Jammy - Chapter Of Money; Jackie Mittoo - Darker Shade Of Black; Prince Jammy - Dub Ites Green & Gold; Gregory Isaacs - Mr Know It All;  Prince Jammy - Higher Ranking; Glen Brown - Wicked Tumbling Version; Sylford Walker - Deuteronomy; King Tubby - Dub Of Rights; The Congos - Bring The Mackaback; King Tubby - A Heavy Dub; Prince Jammy - A Stalawatt Version; King Tubby - Tubby Get Smart; Horace Andy & Prince Jammy - Mr Bassie Dub; King Tubby - King Tubby's In Fine Style; Horace Andy & Prince Jammy - Music Dub; and Yabby You & King Tubby - Rock Vibration.

THE GREG FOAT GROUP - GIRL AND ROBOT WITH FLOWERS REMIX EP

A great addendum to Greg Foat's excellent Girl & Robots album – a set that's billed as a remix album, but which actually offers up much much more! The set's got less the feel of reworked material from another record, then a vibe that feels like a continuation of the great trippy jazz that Greg cooked up in the studio – almost as if the label uncovered more tapes that have the group jamming on alternate versions that sound even sweeter than the originals! Loads of keyboards, vibes, and spacey drums – and titles include "Girl & Robot With Flowers Part 5 (with Lumiarja)", "Have Spacesuit Will Travel Part 2 (Linkwood rmx)", "Clear Skies Select Stick (Vakula rmx)", "For A Breath I Tarry (Francis Dosoo's borrowed breath)", and "Girl & Robot With Flowers Part 4 (Cherrystones rmx)". (Pressed on very cool lime green vinyl!) ~ Dusty Groove

ENNIO MORRICONE - RENE LA CANNE / 122 RUE DE PROVENCE

A pair of great Ennio Morricone soundtracks from the late 70s – both done for French films, with that different quality he would often bring to his non-Italian work of the time! Rene La Canne has some great light moments that come as a real surprise – playful melodies that pop out here and there alongside some of the moodier, sparer sounds that we usually expect from Morricone. Part of the tracks are in a period mood, suiting the story – but others have a bouncing whimsical feel, one that's quite different from Morricone's usual bag. The best tracks have these weird sounds – made in a way that's partly electric, but in a way that's magically puzzling to our ears! Titles include "Rene La Canne", "La Poupee", "Les Paris Stupides", "Le Jour De Gloire", "Madame Krista", and "Passeport Pour Le Plaisir". 122 Rue De Provence is the real charmer here, though – a sublime score that shows off some of Morricone's classical elements, but in ways that really come through with a great deal of warmth – that personal, evocative approach to music that makes his soundtrack scoring way different than serious music – and which also makes this soundtrack a real standout in his late 70s work! The strings are incredible – spare, but hypnotic – and isolated instrumentation on woodwinds or piano rings out in rhythmic melodies that twist and turn, repeat and dissolve – really creating as magical feel as the music moves on. Titles include "One Two Two", "Encore Loin", "Premiere Experience", "Au Deauville", and "Melodie Populaire". (Limited to 500 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove

JEFF LORBER FUSION - HACIENDA - FEATURES JIMMY HASLIP, ERIC MARIENTHAL, JEAN-LUC PONTY, PAUL JACKSON JR, LENNY CASTRO & OTHERS

August 27, 2013 release features Jimmy Haslip, Eric Marienthal, Jean-Luc Ponty, Larry Koonse, Paul Jackson, Jr., Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Lenny Castro, David Mann and more (international release dates may vary)

Keyboardist, composer, and producer Jeff Lorber, heralded as “one of the founding fathers of fusion” (Keyboard), returns with his GRAMMY®-nominated power trio the Jeff Lorber Fusion, featuring bassist/co-producer Jimmy Haslip and saxophonist Eric Marienthal. Since the late 1970s, this contemporary jazz collective has blended elements of jazz, funk, rock, R&B and world music into a distinctive sound that has connected with audiences from a variety of continents, cultures and generations. In more recent years, the group’s studio efforts such as their 2010 release, Now Is the Time (2010) and Galaxy (2012), influenced by extensive touring throughout Europe and Asia, have been colored with vibrant shades of dance and house music.

These same colors are at the forefront of Hacienda, the new album from the Jeff Lorber Fusion scheduled for release August 27, 2013 on Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group. Co-produced by Lorber and Haslip, Hacienda spotlights eleven tracks, including a brilliant take on the Frank Zappa composition “King Kong,” with Jean-Luc Ponty on violin. Other guests include Larry Koonse, Paul Jackson, Jr., Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Lenny Castro, David Mann, and more.

The album title – the Spanish word for house – is partly inspired by the club in Manchester, England, with the same name that fostered an exciting dance music scene that eventually came to be known as house music. Lorber, who explored the style earlier in his career, revisits it in various places on Hacienda.

“Eric and Jimmy and I had done a lot of touring in 2011 and 2012,” says Lorber. “By the time we were back in the States in the fall of 2012, and we realized that Vinnie Colaiuta was available, the whole thing came together very spontaneously. Hacienda takes what we started on some of our previous records and puts it into a tighter focus. It also reflects the excitement of doing a lot of touring and discovering what really worked – funky rhythms, unusual chord changes – for international audiences that really understood where we were coming from.”

The offbeat and funky are immediately evident in “Corinaldo,” the complex opening track that consists of multiple sections. “It’s not simple at all,” says Lorber. “It’s unusual, and it goes to some unlikely places – which is what helps the track maintain a level of excitement. Eric, who is known primarily as an alto sax player, takes a tenor solo on that song that is just incredible.”

“Solar Wind” features an L.A.-based guitarist named Larry Koonse, who “kind of takes it outside a little bit, but in a way that the average listener can still enjoy,” says Lorber. Koonse reappears several tracks later in the midtempo “Playa Del Falco,” a melodic ballad in 6/8 which Haslip describes as “very modal, very polyrhythmic, with a little bit of a Latin vibe.”

Lorber and company’s intriguing rendition of Frank Zappa’s “King Kong” – featuring Jean-Luc Ponty and Ed Mann on marimba – is the only cover on the record. “It’s a song I’ve always loved,” says Lorber. “What you hear on the record is actually just a really quick arrangement that I put together, but a lot of stuff happened spontaneously in the studio that became part of the arrangement. It was almost an accident, but it came out great, and it became one of my favorite songs on the record when Jean-Luc Ponty, who also used to work with Frank Zappa, and Ed Mann, who was a member of the Mothers of Invention, both agreed to play on it.”

Unlike the uptempo tracks at the front end of the album, “The Steppe” settles into a quieter groove that focuses more on melody than intensity, with the help of a fine sax solo from Marienthal that rounds out the track. “That was Eric’s first take,” says Lorber. “He’s the kind of guy who likes to play things over and over again until they’re perfect, but I told him, ‘Man, that first take, that was it. Don’t waste your time playing any more solos.’ He insisted on recording it several more times, but eventually we went back to the first take.”

The swing-flavored “Raptor” was one of the first tunes that Lorber played for Haslip and Marienthal when the idea for the album was just beginning to take shape. “It was just a loose jam at the time,” says Haslip, “but I thought, ‘Wow, what a cool tune.’ I knew it was an indication of what was to come, because I could see that Jeff was on a roll. He was inspired, and I could see that he was writing a lot of material.”

The set closes with “Dragonfly,” a track written by Haslip that features guest drummer Dave Weckl. “We knew we wanted to do something kind of special with this track, so we got Dave,” says Lorber. “He played an incredible drum part on that song. Also, Dave Mann, who does a lot of the horn parts and horn arranging for this record, stepped up on this track and delivered a really interesting bass clarinet solo.”

In the end, Hacienda is the culmination of several years’ worth of exploration in the studio along with several thousand miles worth of self discovery in live performances around the globe. At the end of that journey, Jeff Lorber Fusion is exactly where it should be – in the house, and deep in the groove.

“Hacienda is a bit more focused than some of our previous projects,” says Lorber. “The writing is more original, the playing is better, the overall vibe is more exciting. And we had a blast bringing it all together. In the end, that’s what it’s all about. If you want people to enjoy the music, you have to put the good vibes in when you make it so people can get the good vibes out when they hear it.”

NEW RELEASES - DUB CLUB, HIATUS KAIYOTE, NiVO DEUX

DUB CLUB - FOUNDATION COME AGAIN (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Jamaican sound system titans team up with LA's Dub Club for this mighty compilation on Stones Throw – with instrumentation laid down by the Dub Club team and vocals by legends that include Ranking Joe, Josey Wales, Lone Ranger, Tristan Palma, Tippa Lee, Kojak, Prince Jazzbo, Big Youth and more! We were primed for the set by the vinyl dub versions that preceded the proper set – so we knew it was going to be solid stuff – but it's ultimately even great than we expected! Classic, timeless sounds laid down by drummer Ras Benjy, bass player Eddie Ruscha, guitarists Mark Lightcap and Freddy Flint, keys by Roger Rivas and Kiof, and percussion by Bongo Herman and Benky. Includes "Paper & Pen" by Ranking Trevor, "Hard Times" by Josey Wales, "Revolution" by Little Harry", "Every Herbsman Is A Star" by Danny Dread, "Around The World" by Dillinger, "Hey Mr. Big Man" by Tippa Lee, "Here Me Now Start" by Kojak, "Black Shadow" by Prince Jazzbo, ""Satta" by Robert Mystic, "Healing Of The Nation" by Big Youth and more. ~ Dusty Groove

HIATUS KAIYOTE - TAWK TOMAHAWK

Hiatus Kaiyote is the sound of serendipity. On their debut album Tawk Tomahawk, the band strikes the perfect note merging poetry and polyrhythms. Singer songwriter Nai Palm was the gravitational force that crystallized the vision for Hiatus Kaiyote's brand of future soul, and this influence is evident on the track "Nakamarra," which references the majestic red earth that Nai Palm roamed as a child. "Lace Skull" explores what it is to be vulnerable. "To have courage to share is a powerful thing," says Palm, and "that song lyrically was about the celebration of showing flaws and inner most vulnerability." Q-Tip lends his voice for a collaborative verse on the track that is featured exclusively on the re-released album. ~ Giant Step

NiVO DEUX - LOVE'S NO DISTANCE

NiVO DEUX is a French-American duo based in Los Angeles. The band's 80's New Wave and Electro-Pop influences are apparent, but the band also hints at the influence of the Smooth Jazz, Funk, Rock FM, Electropop, and Nu-Disco styles in their music. The group's core members comprise of Platinum French R&B/Pop Producer and Chart-Topping Guitarist U-Nam and up and coming Saxophonist and Vocalist Shannon Kennedy. NiVO DEUX's music continues in the tradition of a number of extraordinary bands such as Blondie, New Order, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, Level 42, Depeche Mode, Chic, Foreigner and even David Sanborn and George Howard. Their origins and style may seem eclectic but the clever ways in which they bring together these diverse influences is what makes their music interesting and even addictive. The band's name, NiVO DEUX is derived from the French translation of "Level 2" (the correct French spelling is Niveau Deux). The name pays homage to one of the duo's favorite bands, Level 42. NiVO DEUX is the perfect marriage of 80's Pop, Smooth Jazz and Electro-Funk, organized by a husband and wife duo.~ nivodeux.com

DAVE HOLLAND - PRISM FEATURING ERIC HOLLAND, CRAIG TABORN, KEVIN EUBANKS

In the 40 years since Dave Holland's recording debut as a leader, with his landmark album, Conference of the Birds, the bassist, composer, and bandleader has produced a remarkable series of recordings and groups documenting his eclectic musical journey. On Prism, his latest album set for September 3, 2013 release on Dare2 Records (Holland's imprint, with distribution from Redeye), he introduces his latest working band (of the same name) to the world: an all-star quartet comprised of Kevin Eubanks on guitar, Craig Taborn on piano and Fender Rhodes and Eric Harland on drums. With each band member contributing distinctive compositions, Prism sets forth a new musical direction for Holland - a horn-less quartet with an explosive and visceral edge, while maintaining an organic approach overall.

Debuting at the 2012 TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival last June, Prism brings together four musicians who are each forging their own musical path and together have created a unique and contemporary musical statement on this recording. Holland's groups have always reflected a collaborative spirit with the goal of creating a musical context that allows the musicians to express their creative individuality, a concept that is an underlying theme to the group's namesake and eclectic sound. "I liked the image of a prism dividing light into spectrum of colors," says Holland. "A visual symbol of the one becoming many. The music being a unification of diverse parts."

The resulting factor of these combined efforts on Prism, Holland's first album in nearly three years, is an electrifying outing that is equally groove-oriented as it is avant-garde. Jazzwise Magazine has already described the new project as Holland's "...most visceral recording for many years, recalling the uncompromising onslaught of his work with Miles [Davis] in 1970, and his own Extensions band in the late 1980s." Holland attributes a portion of this new musical direction to the instrumentation. "The sound of this group is different from other projects I've done previously," reflects Holland. "Most groups have featured horn players and I've rarely worked with keyboards in the band. But I wanted a different sound for this group and started thinking about a quartet with guitar, piano doubling on Fender Rhodes, bass and drums. That certainly has opened up some different musical directions."

In conceiving the band's personnel, Holland first looked to reunite with one of his oldest collaborators: guitarist Kevin Eubanks. The two began working together on various projects in the late 1980s, and Eubanks soon after led The Tonight Show Band from 1995-2010. "It's usual for me that the inspiration for putting a group together begins with the musicians that I want to play with. I'd felt a strong musical connection with Kevin when we'd played together previously and the time was right for us to get back together again." Craig Taborn and Eric Harland joined the group shortly thereafter, having both worked with Holland in different contexts over the past few years, and Prism was formed.

While Prism may have more of an electrically tinged focus on the surface (based in part by the instrumentation), Holland admits that the group's sound developed organically in various musical directions and that the compositions showcase a much wider range for the group than simply being classified as an "electric band." "It was part of the sound that I had imagined but it was only when we started rehearsing that the sound of the group really started to emerge," says Holland. "It was interesting how the compositions that each of us brought to the group reflected different ideas for the direction that the music could take and together made for a complimentary collection."

The album takes the listener through many musical landscapes starting with the infectious funky groove of the Eubanks' composition "The Watcher" followed by one of Holland's compositions, "The Empty Chair", a soulful blues that hints at references to the music of Jimi Hendrix. Taborn's "Spirals" creates an intriguing setting for the group that moves through a series of dramatically changing musical developments. Taborn is once again prominently featured with his dark intro to "The Color of Iris," setting a mood which is only slightly lifted with the entrance of Eubanks on guitar - the pair weave in and out of the spotlight throughout the song, breaking for a solo by Holland halfway through. The bassist plays unaccompanied for the first minute of "The True Meaning of Determination," before Taborn and Eubanks enter with a melody played in unison, with harmonic precision. Eric Harland's hauntingly beautiful composition "Breathe" provides a musical space that seems to suspend time (putting spotlight on Taborn with an introspective solo piano intro).

Combining the celebrated virtuosity of Taborn on electric and acoustic pianos and the soulful scorch of Eubanks in the front line with Harland's matchless finesse and expressiveness, this decidedly plugged-in quartet is an explosive outlet for Holland at his unbridled best.

Amid endless choices, the sound of a Dave Holland bass line compels attention. A master of tone and rhythm, the bassist, composer, and bandleader is now in his fifth decade as a performer and his music possesses a rich and kaleidoscopic history. His path has led him from the frontiers of free improvisation to his modern ensembles that fully embody the Sam Rivers-instilled philosophy of "playing all of it." The Wolverhampton, England, native got his big break from Miles Davis, with whom he played during the trumpet legend's epochal Bitches Brew period. Solo, and in collaboration, Holland became a dominant voice in the 1970s - partnering with Rivers, and working with folk and rock musicians such as Bonnie Raitt and John Hartford, and even had a passing encounter with Jimi Hendrix. He formed his first working quintet in 1983, and released Jumpin' In, and continued to develop other varied and fruitful relationships with artists such as Anthony Braxton, Stan Getz, Cassandra Wilson, Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Thelonious Monk, Betty Carter, Pat Metheny, Kenny Wheeler, Bill Frisell, Roy Haynes and Herbie Hancock over the course of his career. Holland has received Honorary Doctorates from the New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music in Boston and Birmingham University in the U.K., and he has received an Honorary Fellowship from the Guildhall School of Music in London.

In 2005, Holland formed Dare2 Records, after a long-standing relationship with ECM Records, the label where he had developed into a signature artist. Holland created Dare2 "to have more control over the entire process of releasing an album. But in the long term, there's a lot of promise in making music this way, especially with the changing environment in the recording industry." He has five albums on Dare2, including the GRAMMY®-award winning Overtime (2005), Critical Mass (2006) and Pass It On (2008). Holland also won GRAMMY® awards for his first big band project, What Goes Around (2002), and as part of the supergroup on Like Minds (1998), which featured Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, and Roy Haynes. He has consistently been nominated for GRAMMY® awards over the years, including on Pathways (2010), the debut of the Dave Holland Octet. Holland released Hands, a collaboration with Spanish flamenco guitar legend, Pepe Habichuela, in 2010.

Dave Holland's Prism
Upcoming U.S. Prism Appearances:
September 21 / Monterey Jazz Festival / Monterey, CA
September 28-29 / The Dakota / Minneapolis, MN
October 1 / Evanston Space / Evanston, IL
October 4 / MIM Music Theatre / Phoenix, IL
October 5 / Royce Hall, UCLA / Los Angeles, CA
October 6 / SFJazz Center / San Francisco, CA
October 8-9 / Jazz Alley / Seattle, WA
November 26-30 / Birdland / New York, NY

Upcoming International Prism Appearances:
October 16 / Basel, Switzerland
October 17 / Clermont-Ferrand, France
October 19 / Hradel Kralove, Czech Republic
October 20 / Vienna, Austria
October 21 / Skopje, Macedonia
October 23 / Toulouse, France
October 24 / Frankfurt, Germany
October 25 / Umea, Sweden
October 27 / Oslo, Norway
October 29 / Gorzow, Poland
October 30-31 / Amsterdam, The Netherlands
November 1 / Lausanne, Switzerland
November 3-4 / London, UK
November 5 / Elancourt, France
November 6 / Ales le Cratere, France
November 7 / Brescia, Italy
November 8 / Starsbourg / France
November 9 / Nevers, France