LEE HAZLEWOOD BOX SET TO INCLUDE 17 ALBUMS DUE IN NOVEMBER

After 7 intense years in the making, Light In The Attic have announced their most expansive and lavishly packaged project to date: There’s A Dream I’ve Been Saving, commemorating the complete legacy of Lee Hazlewood Industries from 1966-1971. For more than a year now, Light In The Attic has been reissuing the solo work of this true American moustachioed maverick. Beyond restored versions of Lee’s debut Trouble is a Lonesome Town and the soundtrack A House Safe for Tigers, the lid has also been lifted on the rich, little-explored archives of the label Lee Hazlewood Industries (LHI), when Hazlewood was svengali and super-producer to a stable full of brilliant artists.

This landmark box set is the ultimate artifact for Lee Hazlewood heads new and old, containing a lavishly packaged, expansive 172-page LP sized hard cover book. But every good book deserves a soundtrack and in this case it comes in the form of a four-CD anthology of the LHI label, along with the never-before-released 1970 film Cowboy in Sweden on DVD. The CDs feature Hazlewood songs familiar and less so; surprising covers, doleful duets and little heard LHI gold.

One of the most impressive aspects of the LHI box set is the gorgeous 12”x12” LP sized book , packed with rare beautiful pictures of Lee, his artists (and the occasional horse). The pages roll out the full story of the LHI label, including interviews with Lee and Suzi Jane Hokum, re-assessments of key Hazlewood albums, and artist profiles for the label’s roster, lovingly written by renowned L.A. music journalist/novelist Jessica Hundley. In the illuminating text, a picture of Hazlewood emerges – fiercely talented, brutally independent, a rare, ornery, ruthless and visionary man.

A Deluxe Edition of the box set contains all of the above housed in a cloth-bound clamshell box with reproductions of LHI-era artifacts including press photos and a reproduction plane ticket used by Hazlewood back in ‘70. But the true icing on the cake is three data discs which include just about every 45 single and every LP ever released on LHI — in both WAVand MP3 formats. At around 17 albums and 72 singles (totaling 305 songs!), that’s a whole lot of Lee.

The set includes:

A 172 Page Hard Cover Book with over 150 rare and unseen photos, plus in depth essays,

LHI history, album breakdowns, 27 artist profiles, LHI timeline, and interviews with Lee & dozens of label alum.

Cowboy in Sweden The Film, on DVD (1970, 60 mIns): first time available. New digital transfer from the original 16mm master negative at the Swedish Broadcasting Co. Fully restored in HD with re-mastered sound. Region Free.

4 CDs (107 Tracks): all meticulously Re-mastered. Analog transfers captured at 24-bit/96-kHz. 95% of transfers from original analog master tapes (remainder transferred from mint vinyl).

- DISCS 1 & 2: Everything Lee recorded for LHI, including every 45 single and album (Cowboy in Sweden, Forty, The Cowboy & The Lady, and Requiem For an Almost Lady), plus a handful of unreleased tracks.

- DISCS 3 & 4: Key tracks from the LHI stable
 of artists, including Suzi Jane Hokom, The Kitchen Cinq, Ann-Margret, Honey Ltd., The International Submarine Band, Arthur, The Aggregation, Sanford Clark, Lynn Castle, The Surprise Package, Virgil Warner, and Hamilton Streetcar, amongst many others.

- 14 unreleased tracks

From Lee’s Personal ‘Stache:

- Flexi disc featuring unheard Lee ‘studio chatter’ (“Play it like a cowboy song”)

- Reproduction of Lee’s original embossed LHI business card

- 5 random copies include a “Golden Ticket” for a free subscription to Light In The Attic’s Lee Hazlewood Archive Series

DELUXE EDITION EXTRAS:

(Note: Deluxe Edition includes everything above from Standard Edition plus the below extras)

3 DVDs (305 Tracks):

- LHI catalog as both WAVs & MP3s (320 Kbps) – covering 17 albums and 140 A&B sides. DVDs exclude The International Submarine Band.

- Meticulously re-mastered

- DISC 1: LHI catalog (MP3 w/ cover art)

- DISC 2: LHI LPs (WAV w/ cover art)

- DISC 3: LHI 45 Singles (WAV w/ label art)

Cloth Bound Clamshell Box:

- Gold foil stamped and debossed silhouette of Lee

From The LHI Vault:

- 6 glossy LHI promo photos


- 1970 Hazlewood Airlines ticket

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER/SONGWRITER MELISSA MANCHESTER TO RECORD 20TH ALBUM VIA INDIEGOGO CROWDFUNDING

Legendary recording artist Melissa Manchester has begun work on her 20th album, with an entirely new twist for the singer/songwriter; rather than working through a major record label as she has always done, Melissa is producing the album herself, and releasing via a fan funding effort. She is assisted on several songs by jazz guitarist and WAVE radio favorite Terry Wollman. This is Melissa's first crowd funding project in a career that spans some 40 years. Fans can be a part of the new project by contributing via Indiegogo at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/melissa-manchester-you-gotta-love-the-life. Contributors can select premiums ranging from hand-written lyrics to Manchester hits to an in-home concert by the artist

"I had no idea what fan funding was or how to go about it until some of my students turned me on to the idea," said Manchester, who teaches at USC's Thornton School of Music, and is Artist in Residence at Citrus College in Southern California. "I have students bringing in their own CDs for me to hear, and I'm thinking 'how are these kids getting this done without a label behind them?' I am thrilled to be diving headfirst into these waters with my first new album in nine years, and with the support of loyal fans, I can't wait to share what we've accomplished together."

After graduating from New York's High School of the Performing Arts, Melissa enrolled in a songwriting class at NYU that was taught by Paul Simon. She then landed a staff writing job at Chappell Music and performed as a solo singer/pianist in the Greenwich Village club scene. There, she met Barry Manilow, who introduced her to Bette Midler, and Melissa became one of the founding members of Bette's backup group, the Harlettes.

A brilliant solo career followed, with more than 200 recorded songs spanning 19 albums and various film and television soundtracks, multiple Grammy nominations and the 1982 Grammy Award for Best Female Vocalist, Oscar nominations for her movie themes, and recordings of her compositions by such noted artists as Barbra Streisand, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Kathy Mattea, Peabo Bryson, Cleo Laine and Barbara Cook, among others. She has composed for numerous films, including "Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure" and "Dirty Girl." She collaborated with Kenny Loggins to co-write his 1978 hit duet with Stevie Nicks, "Whenever I Call You Friend."

As an actress, Melissa was a series regular in the TV hit "Blossom," and performed with Bette Midler in the film "For The Boys." She co-wrote the stage musical "I Sent a Letter to My Love," co-starred with Kelsey Grammer in Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd," and starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Song and Dance."

NEW RELEASES - THE RIDES, STEVE DALACHINSKY / JOELLE LEANDRE, NANA, DORI & DANILO CAYMMI

THE RIDES - CAN'T GET ENOUGH

The Rides, the new blues-rock supergroup featuring legendary songwriter Stephen Stills, guitar slinger Kenny Wayne Shepherd and venerable Electric Flag keyboardist Barry Goldberg, are celebrating their stellar first week chart debut @ #42 of their album "Can’t Get Enough" on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The album is also dominating several blues charts with a #2 debuts on Billboard and Amazon's blues charts and #1 at iTunes. They have built an amazing buzz with phenomenal radio support, rave reviews, exclusive premieres and national touring.  Says American Songwriter Magazine: "The unbridled energy that shoots out of this live in-studio recording…is obvious from the opening swampy riff." which The multi-generational outfit's debut album, "Can't Get Enough"  on CD, digital, and vinyl was released August 27 on 429 Records.  Featuring four co-written originals, a handful of covers, and a vintage, previously unrecorded Stills gem, Can't Get Enough was inspired by—and is an homage to—the now-classic 1968 album Super Session, which featured Stills on guitar on one side, and the late Mike Bloomfield on the other (Bloomfield had founded Electric Flag with Goldberg, who also played on Super Session, as did Blood, Sweat & Tears keyboardist Al Kooper). The Rides "Can't Get Enough" landing at #42 is 429 Records third Billboard Top 200 debut release this year. It follows the smash success of Boz Scaggs' "Memphis" and LL Cool J's "Authentic."  

STEVE DALACHINSKY / JOELLE LEANDRE - THE BILL HAS BEEN PAID

A strong pairing of the voice of Steve Dalachinsky and bass of Joelle Leandre – laid out here in a spare setting that may well make the album one of Steve's best so far! Dalachinsky is way more than just your regular jazz singer – more of a writer and a speaker, yet still with a sense of timing that makes his place in the recording studio really necessary – as his words really have a sense of illumination on the space of a record, one that takes them way past their presence on a page! Steve's presentation of the words is never overdone, and makes for a great pairing with Leandre's always-sensitive work on bass – and the set features a few instrumental passages that have Joelle stepping out on her own. Titles include "Vocalise", "Interlude 1", "Son Of The Sun", "Sweet & Low", and "Interlude 3".  ~ Dusty Groove

NANA, DORI & DANILO CAYMMI - CAYMMI 

The Caymmis do a great job of summing up their family legacy here – working on a set of tunes mostly written by the elder Dorival Caymmi, but given a set of youthful arrangements by Dori Caymmi – and sung beautifully by all three members of the family! Vocals alternate nicely – so that Nana's dusky style is in the lead at some times, Danilo's jazzier approach dominates at others, and Dori's soulful sound holds the whole thing together. Dori produced and arranged the set, and also plays acoustic guitar – and titles include "Retirantes", "Acaca", "Cantiga De Cego", "Fiz Uma Fiagem", "Roda Piao", "Historia Pro Sinhozinho", "Caminhos Do Mar", and a few "pot pourri" tracks".  ~ Dusty Groove

MILES DAVIS - THE ORIGINAL MONO RECORDINGS, A COLLECTION OF NINE ALBUMS SET FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 12, 2013

Nine of Miles Davis' earliest albums on Columbia Records, encompassing music that he recorded for the label in monaural sound from 1956 to 1961 (and released from 1957 to 1964), will be issued together on CD for the first time as Miles Davis: The Original Mono Recordings.  

This box set, comprising nine CDs in mini-LP replica jackets, will be available everywhere November 12, 2013. On November 29th in celebration of Record Store Day, Columbia/Legacy will follow up with vinyl mono editions of Kind Of Blue, Miles & Monk At Newport, and Jazz Track—capping a series of recently released mono LPs including 'Round About Midnight, Miles Ahead, Milestones, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, and Someday My Prince Will Come.

Miles Davis: The Original Mono Recordings is a true landmark collection, with every album newly remastered in 2012-13, from the original analog master tapes.  CD consumers will be able to hear Miles' early music in mono, the way virtually all popular music was recorded, marketed and intended to be heard in the 1950s and early 1960s.  Mono was the norm before the home, broadcast and film stereo era began to develop fully in the mid-'60s, leading to stereo's all-encompassing takeover by the early '70s.

The Original Mono Recordings by Miles Davis includes:

•The six albums that trace the development of Miles' "first great quintet" at Columbia, all notably featuring John Coltrane, namely 'Round About Midnight, Milestones, Jazz Track, Kind Of Blue (at 4-times RIAA platinum, the greatest selling jazz album of all time), Someday My Prince Will Come, and Miles And Monk At Newport; and

•The three albums that placed Miles (and various group members) in sophisticated orchestral settings at Columbia, all notably arranged and conducted by Gil Evans, namely Miles Ahead, Porgy And Bess, and Sketches Of Spain.

Two of the albums included in The Original Mono Recordings are exciting rare editions that have never appeared in any Miles Davis CD collection in the U.S., and have not been generally available for many years:

•Jazz Track, presenting 10 improvised tracks that Miles recorded in Paris with European musicians in 1957, for director Louis Malle's film Ascenseur pour l'echafaud (Elevator To the Gallows), combined with three tracks by Miles' own sextet in New York—featuring Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb—from their only other studio recordings of 1958, prior to the Kind Of Blue sessions in '59; and

•Miles And Monk At Newport, featuring four jazz classics recorded live by the Miles Davis Sextet at the jazz festival in 1958, followed by two classics recorded at the festival in 1963 by Columbia's newly-signed Thelonious Monk Quartet.

The Original Mono Recordings will be housed in a slipcase similar to Bob Dylan's The Original Mono Recordings box released in 2012.  The new box will contain a fully-annotated 40-page booklet with complete discographic information including personnel and production details, plus a 2,000-word essay by author and Wall Street Journal writer Marc Myers.  The liner notes add in-depth, album-by-album comments on the new remastering processes, as told to Myers by three-time Grammy Award®-winning mastering engineer Mark Wilder.

Over the course of these nine albums, whose principal recording spanned barely a half decade (from June 1956 to March 1961), The Original Mono Recordings presents a clear vision of Miles' evolution as musician and bandleader, and as a composer graduating from hardbop to modal creations.  He was famously signed to Columbia Records by George Avakian in the summer of 1955, after the A&R staff producer witnessed Miles' showstopping solo on a jam session of "'Round Midnight" at the Newport Jazz Festival.  Jazz critics acclaimed the performance as the "return of Miles," who was considered a difficult artist to work with, who did not even have a regular working group at the time.

Taking Avakian seriously, Miles assembled a group around bassist Paul Chambers and drummer "Philly" Joe Jones, with Red Garland on piano and, after several early contenders (Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley), Philadelphian John Coltrane on tenor saxophone.  This lineup cut four LPs' worth of material in late '55 and '56 to satisfy Miles' contractual obligations to Prestige Records.  They also began to record the first Columbia LP, 'Round About Midnight, named for the paraphrased Monk title tune.  The LP, produced by Avakian, consisted of jazz and popular standards done in Miles' inimitable style.

Most significantly, in terms of The Original Mono Recordings, Myers writes, "the word 'mono' did not appear on the cover.  Instead, the jacket announced that the music inside was '360º Sound, Guaranteed High Fidelity.'  Stereo technology wouldn't be in place at Columbia until 1958, so there was no need to add the word 'mono' to delineate a difference. 'Mono has always been truer to the studio sound and the original intent,' said Avakian.  'Mono featured less audio trickery and fewer audio distractions, so you can actually hear the musical conversation between Miles and the other musicians as it occurred in the studio.'"

For the second album, Avakian realized his intention to feature Miles in the presence of a jazz orchestra: horns, trumpets, trombones, bass trombone, tuba, alto sax, bass clarinet, flutes, and clarinets, along with bassist Chambers and drummer Art Taylor.  Most significantly, Miles Ahead by Miles Davis + 19 reunited Miles with his late-1940s Birth of the Cool collaborator, arranger Gil Evans.  With the exception of the title track, composed by Miles and Evans, the program again consisted of jazz and popular standards done Miles' way.

Although the third album, Milestones, was recorded in two productive days of sessions in February and March 1958, it proved to be Avakian's final LP with Miles.  It reintroduced the quintet (Coltrane, Garland, Chambers, Jones) along with a new member from Florida, former schoolteacher Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on alto sax.  Some of Miles' most iconic music is heard on Milestones: the quintet (sextet's) versions of Jackie McLean's "Dr. Jekyll," Dizzy Gillespie's "Two Bass Hit," and Monk's closing "Straight, No Chaser."  At the same time, the album upped the ante of Miles' originals with two, "Miles" and the 13-minute "Sid's Ahead," which hinted at things to come from the inspired young (32-year old) artist.

Two months after the Milestones sessions, the quintet (sextet) was back in the studio for a day of recording with a new Columbia staff producer, Cal Lampley.  The session yielded four classics, three of which, due to length, made Side B of Jazz Track: Miles' original "Fran-Dance," and two American Songbook standards, "On Green Dolphin Street" and "Stella by Starlight." (The fourth, "Love for Sale," running over 11 minutes, is included on Columbia/Legacy's Kind Of Blue 50th Anniversary sets.)  The year before (December 1957), Miles had temporarily disbanded his group and gone to Paris to perform.  There he was hired to create a soundtrack for French film director Louis Malle's suspenseful murder mystery Ascenseur pour l'echafaud (Elevator To the Gallows in the U.S.).  Miles and several European jazz musicians improvised the music while seeing the film on a screen.  The music, barely 25 minutes, was issued on LP in France in 1958, and was subsequently coupled with the three Lampley tracks on Columbia as the cleverly titled Jazz Track, one of Miles' most elusive and collectible LPs.

In between, Miles got back together with Gil Evans in July and August 1958, for the jazz orchestral masterpiece, the Gershwins' Porgy And Bess, the final LP with Lampley.  The scene was then set for the March-April 1959 Kind Of Blue sessions, with Columbia's Irving Townsend historically attributed as having overseen the recording, with a slightly revamped quintet (sextet) lineup, as Jones was replaced by Jimmy Cobb on drums, and Garland was replaced on piano by Bill Evans (on "So What," "Blue In Green," "All Blues," and "Flamenco Sketches") and by Wynton Kelly ("Freddie Freeloader").  The impact of Kind Of Blue, not only on jazz but on popular (even classical) music in general, continues to reverberate.  It is part of the Library Of Congress National Recording Registry, it is #12 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and it was even honored by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009, the album's 50th anniversary.

Kind Of Blue's closing track, "Flamenco Sketches," might have hinted at the next project, the jazz orchestral Latin-tinged modal masterwork, Sketches Of Spain, the third of Miles' collaborations with Gil Evans.  Under Columbia's staff producer Teo Macero (who would remain Miles' exclusive producer at Columbia through the 1980s), two standards of the Spanish national repertoire, Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" and de Falla's Will o' the Wisp (from "El amor brujo") were juxtaposed with three Evans originals, "The Pan Piper," "Saeta" and "Solea."  Myers characterizes the conceptual framework as, "Davis' piercing, crying solos supported by Evans' sighing, sophisticated orchestrations that both provoked and mirrored Davis' lines." 

The quintet lineup was again fine-tuned in 1961 for Someday My Prince Will Come, Coltrane's final Columbia recording with Miles (on the opening title track, from Disney's Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, and a Miles original, "Teo").  Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley actually doubles with Trane on the title track, but has the tenor chair to himself on the other tracks, Miles originals ("Pfrancing," "Drad-Dog"), and American Songbook staples "Old Folks" and Johnny Mercer's closing "I Thought About You." 

Though separated in time by five summers, the Newport Jazz Festival performances by Miles' sextet in 1958 (Adderley, Coltrane, Evans, Chambers, Cobb), and Thelonious Monk's quartet in 1963, as heard on Miles And Monk At Newport, are remarkably seamless.  As Mark Wilder told Myers, "I originally assumed that this album was going to need the most work to capture the original mono sound.  After all, the Davis cuts were recorded in 1958, Monk's in 1963, and both were recorded outdoors.  Surprisingly, though, the master tapes were exactly like the original LP pressing and needed no fine-tuning."

"For the producers and engineers who toiled on Davis' albums between 1955 and 1963, mono was considered the purest and most unadulterated recorded expression of the trumpeter's genius," Myers writes.  "Stereo versions of Davis' albums weren't made available until Kind of Blue in August 1959, and even then mono continued to be a priority since stereo LPs were marketed initially only to the small number of upscale consumers with stereo systems."

The Original Mono Recordings follows in the tradition of the eight-time Grammy Award®-winning Miles Davis Series of multiple-CD box sets that began in 1996.  The series culminated in the 2009 box set of 52 mini-LP replica jacketed albums, The Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection, whose contents were all heard in stereo.

The Original Mono Recordings was produced for release by multiple Grammy Award®-winners Steve Berkowitz and mastering engineer Mark Wilder, who have overseen the Miles Davis Series since its inception more than 18 years ago, and the Miles Davis Bootleg Series since it was introduced in 2011.

The Original Mono Recordings by Miles Davis:

Disc One:

'Round About Midnight by The Miles Davis Quintet (originally issued March 4, 1957, as Columbia CL 949)  Selections:  1. 'Round Midnight (recorded 9/10/56) * 2. Ah-Leu-Cha (10/27/55) * 3. All of You (9/10/56) * 4. Bye Bye Blackbird (6/5/56) * 5. Tadd's Delight (6/5/56) * 6. Dear Old Stockholm (6/5/56).

Disc Two:

Miles Ahead by Miles Davis + 19 (originally issued October 14, 1957, as Columbia CL 1041)  Selections:  1. Springsville (recorded 5/23/57) * 2. The Maids of Cadiz (5/6/57) * 3. The Duke (5/6/57) * 4. My Ship (5/10/57, from the Broadway musical, Lady in the Dark) * 5. Miles Ahead (5/10/57) * 6. Blues for Pablo (5/23/57) * 7. New Rhumba (5/23/57) * 8. The Meaning of the Blues (5/27/57) * 9. Lament (5/27/57) * 10. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (5/27/57).

Disc Three:

Milestones by Miles Davis (originally issued December 1, 1958, as Columbia CL 1193)  Selections:  1. Dr. Jekyll (recorded 3/4/58) * 2. Sid's Ahead (3/4/58) * 3. Two Bass Hit (2/4/58) * 4. Miles (2/4/58) * 5. Billy Boy (2/4/58) * 6. Straight, No Chaser (2/4/58).

Disc Four:

Jazz Track by Miles Davis (originally issued October 19, 1959, as Columbia CL 1268)  Selections:  1. Generique * 2. L'assassinat de Carala * 3. Sur l'autoroute * 4. Julien dans l'ascenseur * 5. Florence sur les Champs-Elysees * 6. Diner au motel * 7. Evasion de Julien * 8. Visite du vigile * 9. Au bar du Petit-Bac * 10. Chez le photographe du motel * 11. On Green Dolphin Street (recorded 5/26/58) * 12. Fran-Dance (5/26/58) * 13. Stella By Starlight (5/26/58).  (Tracks 1-10, music from the Louis Malle film, Ascenseur pour l'echafaud, recorded in Paris, 12/4 & 5/57.)

Disc Five:

Porgy And Bess by Miles Davis (originally issued March 9, 1959, as Columbia CL 1274)  Selections:  1. The Buzzard Song (recorded 8/4/58) * 2. Bess You Is My Woman Now (7/29/58) * 3. Gone (7/22/58) * 4. Gone, Gone, Gone (7/22/58) * 5. Summertime (8/18/58) * 6. Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (8/4/58) * 7. Prayer (Oh, Doctor Jesus) (8/4/58) * 8. Fishermen, Strawberry and Devil Crab (7/29/58) * 9. My Man's Gone Now (7/22/58) * 10. It Ain't Necessarily So (7/29/58) * 11. Here Come de Honey Man (7/29/58) * 12. I Loves You, Porgy (8/18/58) * 13. There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York (8/18/58).

Disc Six:

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis (originally issued August 17, 1959, as Columbia CL 1355)  Selections:  1. So What (recorded 3/2/59) * 2. Freddie Freeloader (3/2/59) * 3. Blue In Green (3/2/59) * 4. All Blues (3/2/59) * 5. Flamenco Sketches (4/22/59).

Disc Seven:

Sketches Of Spain by Miles Davis (originally issued July 18, 1960, as Columbia CL 1480)  Selections:  1. Concierto de Aranjuez (recorded 11/20/59) * 2. Will o' the Wisp (3/11/60, from "El amor brujo") * 3. The Pan Piper (3/10/60) * 4. Saeta (3/11/60) * 5. Solea (3/11/60).

Disc Eight:

Someday My Prince Will Come by Miles Davis (originally issued December 11, 1961, as Columbia CL 1656)  Selections:  1. Someday My Prince Will Come (recorded 3/20/61, from the Walt Disney film, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs) * 2. Old Folks (3/20/61) * 3. Pfranc­ing (3/7/61) * 4. Drad-Dog (3/7/61) * 5. Teo (3/21/61) * 6. I Thought About You (3/21/61).

Disc Nine:

Miles And Monk At Newport (originally issued May 11, 1964, as Columbia CL 2178)  Selections:  1. Ah-Leu-Cha * 2. Straight, No Chaser * 3. Fran-Dance * 4. Two Bass Hit (tracks 1-4 by the Miles Davis Sextet, recorded 7/4/58) * 5. Nutty * 6. Blue Monk (tracks 5-6 by the Thelonious Monk Quartet, recorded 7/4/63).

MilesDavis.com

NEW RELEASES - STEVE GADD BAND, JANIS SIEGEL, PATRICK YANDALL

STEVE GADD BAND - FADDITUDE

2013 album from the legendary drummer. For Gadditude, his tenth outing as a leading and second for BFM Jazz, Steve Gadd got a little help from his distinguished friends - guitarist Michael Landau, keyboardist Larry Goldings, trumpeter Walt Fowler and bassist Jimmy Johnson. Together they had already established a high degree of bandstand chemistry as the touring band for superstar singer-songwriter James Taylor. That goes a long way in explaining the sense of comfort and ease from track to track on this relaxed session recorded in just one week at Landau's home studio. ~ amazon.com

JANIS SIEGEL - NIGHT SONGS

Over the years, Janis has sung lead on many of the Manhattan Transfer's biggest hits, including 'Operator,' 'Twilight Zone,' 'The Boy from New York City,' 'Mystery,' 'Spice of Life,' 'Shaker Song,' 'Birdland,' 'Ray's Rockhouse,' and the 5-million selling 'Chanson D'Amour.' Her first solo album, Experiment in White, was released in 1981. At Home, her second solo effort, garnered Janis a Grammy nomination for Best Female Jazz Vocal.  The second album with Fred Hersch, Slow Hot Wind, was released in 1995 on Varese/Sarabande Records. Janis and Fred have toured extensively in the U.S. and Japan, and have also done radio concerts, T.V. and private dates. Her fifth solo album entitled The Tender Trap was released by Monarch Records in 1999, was produced and arranged by Fred Hersch, and featured Russell Malone, Matt Wilson, Victor Lewis, Michael Brecker and Hank Crawford. I Wish You Love, released in 2002, marked her first CD for the Telarc label and a return to working with longtime collaborator and friend Joel Dorn.
Friday Night Special followed in 2003 featuring soul jazz and bluesy grooves with a first-rate organ and tenor ensemble consisting of Joey DeFrancesco and Houston Person. Her most recent Telarc release, 2004's Sketches of Broadway, was produced and arranged by longtime friend Gil Goldstein. Janis will be touring on Night Songs in 2013. ~ amazon.com

PATRICK YANDALL - SOUL GRIND

2013 release, the 15th album from the Smooth Jazz guitarist. Produced and engineered by Yandall (who also writes 11 of the 14 tracks), this is very much his own project and a resounding showcase for his art. Yandall's music is typified by an easy grooving San Diego vibe that is consistently to die for. Despite a mellow introduction, 'It's Time' quickly takes on something of a Steely Dan attitude and, talking of Steely Dan, Patrick takes time out for a sumptuous reimagining of the band's 'Josie.' One of only three covers it is in the good company of a handsome take on the timeless 'Human Nature' and an immaculate rendition of Larry Carlton's 'Room 335' from his 1977 self-titled debut. ~ amazon.com

GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA - BOOK OF RHAPSODIES

Book of Rhapsodies is Ghost Train Orchestra's second album, following their highly acclaimed debut Hothouse Stomp (2011). In this adventurous installment, Ghost Train Orchestra plus a six-member choir perform bandleader Brian Carpenter's modernistic reimaginings of four unusual ensembles from the late 1930s: The Alec Wilder Octet, The John Kirby Sextet, The Raymond Scott Quintette, and Reginald Foresythe and His New Music. Produced by Grammy award winner Danny Blume and featuring Carpenter's surreal arrangements for 12-member orchestra plus choir, Book of Rhapsodies delivers the rich experience of transporting the listener to the past and using that past to transform the future.

Decades before composer/conductor Gunther Schuller coined the term Third Stream to describe a genre straddling the line between jazz and classical music, New York became the epicenter of a new movement of composers whose work seemed to exist outside the margins. In the late 1930s, a small cadre of forward-thinking composers began creating small ensembles with unorthodox instrumentation to realize some of the strangest and most evocative music of the period. With Book of Rhapsodies, Ghost Train Orchestra travels ten years ahead from Hothouse Stomp to tackle Brian Carpenter's new rearrangements of late 1930s chamber jazz by four seminal bandleader/composers: Alec Wilder, John Kirby, Raymond Scott, and Reginald Foresythe.

The Ghost Train Orchestra's debut album Hothouse Stomp  listed on several 2011 top ten lists: NPR, New York Jazz Record, Boston Globe, JazzTimes, The Sound Room, and Stereophile Magazine. Brian Carpenter was featured on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross and the album reached the top 10 of the Billboard Jazz charts. Downbeat Magazine raved "Carpenter and his little big band don't just recreate musical museum pieces; they breathe fire and life into this amazing musicŠthe only thing better than hearing this recording would be seeing the band live."

The Ghost Train Orchestra was formed in 2006 after Carpenter was selected as the musical director for an event marking the 90th anniversary of the historic Regent Theater in Arlington, MA. Since then the band has performed regularly in New York City, home of all its members except the leader, a Boston resident. Book of Rhapsodies was recorded at Brooklyn Recording Studio after a string of monthly shows at Brooklyn's colorful Jalopy Theater. Carpenter rearranged the music for orchestra, adding strings, low brass, guitar, and a six-member choir featuring members of the Philip Glass/Robert Wilson opera Einstein on the Beach. Acclaimed artist Noah Woods created the cover and booklet artwork inspired by the strange and descriptive song titles of the original composers.

In 2001, Carpenter moved to Boston to direct a film documentary on the life and legacy of Albert Ayler. He subsequently founded the sprawling Boston-based band Beat Circus and composed an acclaimed "Weird American Gothic" trilogy of dark Americana albums. He also leads Brian Carpenter & the Confessions, whose music is primarily song-oriented, with Carpenter as lead singer and lyricist. He was recently commissioned by the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California as composer and lyricist for "true crime" musical The Barbary Coast, based on the book by Herbert Asbury. In addition, he produces radio programs on WZBC-FM at Boston College, including recent documentaries on Sam Rivers, Raymond Scott, and film sound design. His Ghost Train Orchestra features an outstanding roster of talent: alto saxophonist Andy Laster (Satoko Fujii), clarinetist Dennis Lichtman (Mona's Hot Four, Nation Beat), tenor saxophonist Petr Cancura (Joe Morris), trombonist Curtis Hasselbring (Ballin' the Jack), tubist Ron Caswell (Slavic Soul Party), violinist Mazz Swift (Burnt Sugar), guitarist Avi Bortnick (John Scofield), bassist Michael Bates, and drummer Rob Garcia (Joseph Jarman, Vince Giordano).

Book of Rhapsodies will be released on October 8, 2013.

NEW RELEASES - STACEY KENT, RANDY BRECKER, KATHY SANBORN

STACEY KENT - THE CHANGING LIGHTS

A multi-award winner (2001 British Jazz Award, 2002 BBC Jazz Award Best Vocalist, etc) and Grammy nominee, Stacey has built a huge fanbase for her cool, classy interpretations of the Great American Songbook, all recorded with husband, arranger, producer and now songwriter Jim Tomlinson (himself a winner of the 2006 Album of the Year British Jazz Award). Her new album, The Changing Lights is a musical journey through jazz, bossa nova and chanson, including a mixture of Bossa Nova classics from Tom Jobim, Marcos Valle, and also Roberto Menescal, who appears as a featured guest on the album. There are also new songs written especially for Stacey by Jim Tomlinson. The title track, 'The Changing Lights', is written by Jim Tomlinson and novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, the songwriting team that have been writing for her since her first album for EMI, the Grammy-nominated Breakfast On The Morning Tram. Stacey tours constantly, and as well as the Ronnie Scott's dates in late September / early October, she will play a significant number of dates in the UK this year (see the left of this presenter). We will be focusing our promotion and marketing push then as a preview to the forthcoming residency at Ronnie Scotts from Sep 30th to October 4th. We will also target such obvious music shows as Later With Jools and the full range of daytime and arts TV shows - including Richard & Judy, Breakfast shows, Loose Women, The Culture Show, Newsnight, etc. Stacey is a staple for all jazz radio in the UK. We will be focussing on 'One Note Samba' and 'The Changing Lights'. She will be doing interviews and sessions on everything across the BBC and jazz radio stations. We will also be going for Album of the Week, as well as plays right across the spread of jazz radio and more adult-oriented stations and shows. ~ cduniverse

RANDY BRECKER - THE BRECKER BROTHERS BAND REUNION

Though saxophonist Michael Brecker passed away in 2007, his brother, trumpeter Randy Brecker, keeps the jazz-funk fusion of the Brecker Brothers alive with the Brecker Brothers Reunion Band. While not a strict reunion of the original ensemble, the band does feature many of the players who have performed with the Brecker Brothers over the years, such as guitarist Mike Stern, drummer Dave Weckl, and keyboardist George Whitty, as well as new members including Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti (Brecker's wife), and keyboardist Oli Rockberger. The band played several shows beginning in 2011, and in 2013 released this album, which also featured such former Brecker Brothers' associates as guitarists Dean Brown, Adam Rogers, and Mitch Stein, drummer Rodney Holmes, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and saxophonist David Sanborn. ~ Matt Collar

KATHY SANBORN - SULTRY NIGHT

Sultry Night is the steamy new release by American jazz singer and composer Kathy Sanborn. Sanborn's sizzling album has a film noir inspiration, where passion and sensuality rule the day.Sultry Night opens with the smoky and seductive title track, evocative of the age of film noir detectives Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. The album continues with songs honoring movie icon Cary Grant and jazz vocal legend Anita O'Day, both performers reaching their heyday in the age of film noir, the 1940s and '50s. The album features both ballads and upbeat songs, performed in Sanborn's inimitable smooth and sultry style. The singer composed all of the album's nine songs. In a reverential turn, Sanborn penned the song, "Angels Cry," in honor of the children who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook school tragedy. Based in northern California, the velvet-voiced jazz songstress and composer is of Nicaraguan descent. Bilingual and cosmopolitan, the exotic Sanborn combines sultry vocals with artistic originality. Besides composing, arranging, and producing the Sultry Night album, Sanborn provides the vocal and piano artistry. Trumpeter Wayne Ricci complements the album with full-bodied, film noir performances. 

NEW RELEASES - JOHN LEGEND, EDDIE GALE, CALDERA

JOHN LEGEND - LOVE IN THE FUTURE

Singer, songwriter, and producer John Legend is back and this time has definately taken a step forward on a record that should have that amazing voice reaching even more ears than ever before! By that, we don't necessarily mean that the set's commercial, just put together with a mode that goes way beyond conventional soul – still deep at the core, but richly expressive past barriers of age and style that few other pop artists could push this successfully! From start to finish the album displays a stripped-down urgency that melds perfectly with Legend's delivery.  Titles include "Who Do We Think We Are", "The Beginning", "Save The Night", "Tomorrow", "Hold On Longer", "All Of Me", "You & I", "Caught Up", and "Dreams". The standard version of the album features 16 tracks and the deluxe version includes 4 bonus tracks.

EDDIE GALE - BLACK RHYTHM HAPPENING

One of the most righteous albums of jazz ever recorded – a brilliant blend of soulful and avant garde styles, backed up by a chorus of voices that have a really soulful sound! The album's the second recorded for Blue Note by the Ghetto Music ensemble of trumpeter Eddie Gale – a lesser-known talent who recorded previously with Cecil Taylor, but who made a turn away from modernism at the end of the 60s, in order to express himself at a level that he felt was more clearly grounded in the people. The result of that effort is sheer brilliance – an album that sounds like nothing else you can imagine. Part of the style shares the energy of similar vocal/jazz projects by Max Roach and Billy Harper, but Gale's conception of the music is much more dynamic, and very carefully rooted in song structures – with a sound that's as powerful today as it was when it was recorded! Titles include "Ghetto Love Night", "Song Of Will", "Ghetto Summertime", "Black Rhythm Happening", and "Look At Teyonda". ~ Dusty Groove

CALDERA - CALDERA / SKY ISLANDS

A pair of killers from this jazzy Latin combo of the 70s! First up is the self-title Caldera album – a jazzy Latin fusion classic – and the first album by the border-crossing combo! The group features both North and South American players – coming together in a hard-riffing approach to fusion that rivals the best fusion combos of both the California and Brazilian scenes at the time. There's a few nice moments that really belie their more southern roots – and recall the choppy fusion of Airto, or the vocal scatting of Flora – but the set's also got a sunny west coast finish, thanks to some wonderful production from Wayne Henderson – who kicks things up in a way that the group hardly matched on later albums! Guest stars include Raul De Souza and Roberto Da Silva – and titles include the funk classic "Coastin", plus "Guanacaste", "Out Of The Blue", "El Juguete", and "Synesthesia". Nest is Sky Islands – a set that's recorded with a smooth soulful style that's right up there with the best of the Capitol Rare generation! Caldera mixes together nice jazzy saxes with guitars, percussion, and some great keyboard work by Eduardo Del Barrio – all produced by the group with a sweet arching style that's very much in the Brazilian fusion style of the time – a wonderful blend that also gets a dose of California warmth, which is just the right element to send the whole thing home nicely! Tracks include the classic "Sky Islands", plus "Pegasus", "Carnavalito", "Triste", and "Ancient Source". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - CANDACE BELLAMY, JEAN CARNE, DANCE YOUR ASS OFF TO SALSOUL REMIXES

CANDACE BELLAMY - IN MY LANE

Candace Bellamy is Knoxville, TN born soul singer is a physician by day and a soul singer by night, Bellamy took up singing as a hobby 10 years ago, paying dues in cover bands, musical theater (her role in an R&B version of “Porgy & Bess” impressed the New York Times), and with a one-woman show where she told stories of her life in between tunes. Bellamy’s path led to Ruth Carter (composer for Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Palmer, and John Mayall), bass playing legend Jimi Calhoun (player with Dr. John, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Wilson Pickett, Sly Stone) and Jake Langley (Roberta Flack, Willie Nelson, k.d. lang), who mentored her, and became her co-writers.“It was when we got together for the first time to write that I realized the depth of their backgrounds,” Bellamy recalls. “They made me feel comfortable.”  Bellamy can say she’s a singer just as easily as she can say she’s a doctor. “Several people have asked why I am pursuing music when I already have a good job,” she muses. “The answer is simple – because I love it.”

JEAN CARNE - FLASHBACK

Jean Carne is back with a new release that not only includes remakes of her previous hits but also some gems from the Philadelphia International catalog. There's definitely lots of Philly elements in the music – no surprise, given that production is by Butch Ingram – who also uses just the right amount of jazzy touches to open up the deep roots that have always made Jean's music so great! A number of cuts are remakes of older gems from Carne, but given a great new spin here – and a few numbers feature guest vocals from Glenn Leonard too. Titles include "Closer Than Close", "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon", "Free Love", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "Do You Get Enough Love", "My Baby Loves Me", and "One Million Miles From The Ground".

DANCE YOUR ASS OFF TO SALSOUL REMIXES (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

The title borrows a slogan from the late 70s disco years at Salsoul Records – but the groove here is 21st Century all the way – thanks to a host of very contemporary-styled mixes that take older classics from the label, and infuse them with a modern dancefloor groove! Even back in the day, Salsoul had a great ear for key club talents who could expand on their strong blueprints for disco grooves – and here, they re-show that same strength, but in a completely different way! Titles include "I Got My Mind Made Up (DJ Dan rmx)" by Instant Funk, "Jingo (Federico Scavo rmx)" by Candido, "Doctor Love (White Noize rmx)" by First Choice, "Love Break (Stephane Luke rmx)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "I Never Knew" by Jessie Andrews, "Find Somebody (J Paul Ghetto rmx)" by Inner Life, "Hit & Run (Joe T Vannelli diva rmx)" by Loleatta Holloway, and "By The Way You Dance (Julien Jabre rmx)" by Bunny Sigler. ~ Dusty Groove

JAZZ AND SOUL COME TOGETHER IN FROOTFUL'S HEAVYWEIGHT

In 2011, Frootful released their debut album Colours on Freestyle Records to great acclaim, with everyone from Osunlade, Craig Charles and Diesler praising its modern-yet-retro blend of 60s soul, rocksteady, dance floor friendly jazz and R&B, whilst Jazz FM made it an Album Of The Week. The debut single taken from it, 'Fish In The Sea' became a club hit, and also featured in Steven Soderbergh's hit movie Magic Mike.

Fast-forward to 2013, and guitarist Nick Radford and crew return with an equally eclectic collection of songs and grooves that make up the new album, Heavyweight. The title originates from a soul night Nick used to play 45s at, but also tips its hat to the art of producing a record, in aiming to get an authentically heavy sound down - from the writing, engineering and recording, through to the final mixing and mastering. Co-producer Krzysztof Oktalski played a big role in getting such a sound down, himself a big Northern Soul collector, who worked with Larry Stabbins and members of Portishead on his Stonephace album (on Tru Thoughts).

As if to pay homage to their original influences, the album's opener is a cover of a track originally by Billie Poole with The Junior Mance Trio featuring one of Nick's musical heroes; jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell. This new version features the ice cool vocal of Nick's long time collaborator Angeline Morrison, also a Freestyle artist in her own right now since the release of Are You Ready Cat? earlier in 2013.

A new and exciting collaboration happens on The Road, which is a bright, breezy and uplifting soul groove, that has something of a classic Isley Brothers feel, where shimmering horns underpin Mazens Bedwei's Curtis Mayfield inspired vocals, and Frootful main man Nick Radford's tasteful guitar picking locks down this sweet summer sound.

Another quite sublime moment occurs when Mazen and Angeline Morrison voices join forces on the beautiful Baby It's A Fine Line, a delicate duet that hints at the southern soul of Stax Records, as both vocalists take turns to express themselves over this delicate song of troubled love.

Producer of the debut album, Adam Gibbons, lends a helping hand with some production work on a couple of tracks; Gettin' Ernest skanks in a mildly dubby style, guitar and organ taking turns to let off some steam, reminiscent of the late 60s work of Jamaican music legends Jackie Mittoo and Ernest Ranglin - while Jazz Hands cooks up a distinct flavour of good ol' fashioned swing, the heavily syncopated drums having one foot in the Cotton Club and the other firmly on dancefloors of the 21st century.

Frootful's return has the hallmarks we have come to expect; originality, eclecticism and that indefinable quality that's marks them out from the crowd.

CONCORD RECORDS TO RELEASE DELUXE CD/DVD - RAY CHARLES FOREVER

Ray Charles will be commemorated on September 23, 2013, his 83rd birthday, with a United States Postal Service Music Icons Forever® Stamp. Concord Records celebrates the occasion with the release of Ray Charles Forever, a deluxe CD/DVD collection on September 24th.

In addition, Concord Records will be producing a special edition of Ray Charles Forever with an exclusive bonus track, available at major Post Office™ locations across the country, as well as online at usps.com and ebay.com/stamps. Various launch events will be held across the U.S. to pay tribute to this momentous occasion, including at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, CA and the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.

“Ray Charles was a musical genius whose fans spanned the globe. The U.S. Postal Service is delighted to partner with Concord Music Group to announce the release of this new CD featuring the legendary Ray Charles,” said Chief Marketing Officer Nagisa Manabe. “This CD, including an exclusive song never before released, serves as a stellar companion to the limited-edition Ray Charles Forever Stamp the Postal Service is issuing September 23, as the latest addition to the Postal Service’s music icons series,” Manabe said.

Ray Charles Forever features 12 remastered classics and unique gems including “A Song For You,” “Ring Of Fire,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Imagine,” “America the Beautiful,” and a previously unreleased recording of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

The 20-minute DVD features rare live performances of “Imagine” (Goodwill Games, 1998), “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” (Earth, 1992), and “A Song For You” (North Sea Jazz Fest, 1997) along with interview segments culled from the BBC’s “Live In London” (1986) and Norman Seeff’s “The Session Project” (1985).

“No matter how many awards and accolades he received, Mr. Charles was genuinely humbled by each and every honor. To him, it meant people appreciated what he loved doing so much—his music,” said Valerie Ervin, President of the Ray Charles Foundation and Executive Producer, of the collection. “Georgia On My Mind, “Hit The Road Jack,” “What’d I Say” and “I’ve Got A Woman” are among the many hits that are standards and meet the test of time. But to mark this momentous occasion, I selected songs that also exemplify the forever quality of his performances.” Ervin is co-Executive Producer of the album along with John Burk, Chief Creative Officer of Concord Music Group.

During a career that spanned some 58 years, Charles performed a total of more than 10,000 concerts, and starred on over 100 albums, many of them top sellers in a variety of musical genres. He received the Lifetime Achievement and the President’s Merit Award, is a recipient of the Presidential Medal For the Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, and France’s Legion of Honor, received the NAACP Image Awards “Hall of Fame Award in 2004, and is one of the original inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He appeared in movies such as “The Blues Brothers,” and starred in commercials for Coca-Cola, Diet Pepsi and California Raisins, among numerous others. In 2004, the biopic Ray was released for the world to see the historic life and times of the “Genius.” The movie garnered six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and Jamie Foxx took home the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Ray. Charles’ last public performance was on July 20, 2003, in Alexandria, VA. In 1998, Charles received the Polar Music Award, an award given for significant achievements in music.

Referring to his gift Charles said, “I don’t call myself a blues singer or a jazz singer or a country singer. I just call myself a singer that can sing the blues, a singer that can sing jazz, a singer that knows how to sing country  music, but in my own way.”

RAY CHARLES FOREVER - Deluxe CD/DVD Track Listing

Song For You (4:16)

I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (3:42)

Ring Of Fire (3:11)

Come Rain Or Come Shine (3:42)

They Can’t Take That Away From Me (4:14)

Till There Was You (4:09)

Isn’t It Wonderful (4:08)

None Of Us Are Free (5:05)

Imagine (4:29)

If I Could (4:57)

So Help Me God (4:03)

America the Beautiful (3:35)

Bonus Track*

I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (4:53)

* USPS edition (only) will include bonus track and will be available in Post Offices on September 23.

*Digital version includes the 12 music tracks only.

NEW RELEASES - PIECES OF A DREAM, BILLY SHIELDS, LIN ROUNDTREE

PIECES OF A DREAM - IN THE MOMENT

2013 release from the veteran Jazz outfit. Joined by superstar guitarist Rhon Lawrence and up and coming saxophonist Tony Watson Jr., the group has composed 10 brilliant originals that run the gamut from "in the pocket" R&B to the kind of sensuous Smooth Jazz jams that have made them legends. Lead producer and founding member James Lloyd, who has been a go to hit maker and accompanist for such artists as Mary J. Blige, BB King, Wayman Tisdale and others, is at the top of his game here with such highlights as the funky "Steppers 'D' Light" and the romantic ballad "Misty Eyed". Additionally, co-founder Curtis Harmon's composition, the title track "In the Moment", is a joyful celebration of Pieces of a Dream's 20th album and their brilliant career.

BILLY SHIELDS - CRYSTAL BLUE

Although not a new release (it's from 2006), I thought I would bring this one to the forefront since it contains one of my all-time favorite songs – Crystal Blue Persuasion. Originally performed by 60s group Tommy James and the Shondells, Shields’ version is smooth., cool, and simply beautiful!  It’s got a feel-good vibe and stellar production that I am sure you will enjoy as well. Iconic producer Preston Glass has worked with a plethora of artists including Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire, Kenny G, George Benson, and more. The album also includes two timeless cuts from the catalogs of Van Morrison (Have I Told You Lately) and Sade (Cherry Pie). On "Have I Told You Lately," Shields delivers the right chops to bring out the beauty of the highly recognizable tune and on "Cherry Pie," he deliver with a sweet, sexy excursion of R&B grooves.

LIN ROUNDTREE - SERENDIPITOUS

The latest artist to emerge from the 'New' Detroit music scene, soul trumpeter Lin Rountree has spent his years laying a serious foundation on the local scene, honing his skills and chops for the moment that he had his opportunity to take his music to a higher level and spread it to the masses. With 'Serendipitous' his major label CutMore Records debut, Lin works now on building his musical house with this base firmly established and does so with spectacular result. Rountree is no stranger to the groove and hits high marks for hip factor as he lays them down fat and funky, giving him canvas to paint his many colors, fusing funk, soul, ambience, pop and jazz into a captivating musical portrait.. Consumers seeking to find the Zone, will find it in plenty with this assemblage of vibes moods and feels that create that kind of escapism that allows the partaker an internal getaway. The lead single 'We Chill' already burning up national radio, just oozes with hipness and is so chilled that goose bumps become a natural side effect. Scoring a role in the Whitney Houston film 'Sparkle' hasn't hurt Rountree's international profile, which helped lead to his headlining a show at the Dubai International Jazz Festival this year. Having shared sides with the likes of George Duke, Marcus Miller, Kem and Darren Rahn, it's time to step forward to the front edge of the stage and take his rightful place alongside the burgeoning crop of fresh new faces of the next generation of smooth jazz stars. ~ amazon.com

RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ - MISS ME

When you think of soul music, "attitude" isn't the first thing that always comes to mind. That's not to say the genre couldn't use a little spunk though—especially in this day and age. Thankfully, Los Angeles singer Raquel Rodriguez and her band, The Big Guys, play soul how it was always meant to be played. 

Meeting her six-piece band "The Big Guys" while still attending class, they collectively began pursuing their own "party" in 2011, gigging tirelessly everywhere they could. A year later, the group hit the studio to record what would eventually become Miss Me. Their 2013 full-length debut Miss Me boasts a collection of impassioned, invigorating, and irresistible songs that are as fresh as they are fiery.

Miss Me has that old school vibe which is a perfect sound for her amazing vocal delivery. Rodriguez’s influences are a collection of both old and new school soul - from Sarah Vaughan to Adele. You can hear it loud and clear on the first single and title track, "Miss Me". Blending intricate instrumentation and Raquel's infectious delivery, the song is something of a call-to-arms. "It's an anthem," she admits. "It's a girl singing about a guy who took advantage of her and didn't treat her right. Now, because she's successful, he wants her back. She always warned him like, 'One day, you'll miss me'. She was right."

Elsewhere on the album, "Tell Me It's Fine" paints a poignant picture via her vivid lyrics and the music's sultry swing. "It's about a relationship where both people are really stubborn," she goes on. "Neither side wants to end it so they stick it out, stay together, and just hope that it's fine."