ARNO HAAS - MAGIC HANDS

Nothing seems to be impossible today: cars parking themselves, televisions, which have a clearer resolution than in real life, phones that connect you with your friends, only by voice recognition - it is just a question of technique. However, there are moments when the glittering hi-tech world becomes pale, everything becomes unimportant, bypassing what has clogged the data channels. These are the moments that enchant us.

  

The saxophonist Arno Haas gives us such a moment. His album is called ‘Magic Hands’ - “I would like that people like this CD“, he explains. I‘m not saying that this is now the latest avantgarde or ‘Music for Musicians Only' we’ve had that in the past. I would like to attract more people – a larger audience. If the band members and other musicians like how I play the saxophone - that would be fantastic too.”

  

‘Magic Hands’ triggers immediately positive reactions. This is not surprising, because Arno Haas is a musician with heart and soul  and with the corresponding success. He has worked with old masters such as James Moody and together with the original Duke Ellington Orchestra, and he worked on over 40 CD productions with jazz musicians like Franco Ambrosetti, Peter Herbolzheimer, Wolfgang Haffner and Joo Kraus, but also with the Rolling Stone 'Star' Mick Taylor.  In concerts and tours he had to listen to a wide variety of artists: Ricky Lawson, Alvin Lee and Calvin Owens Jason Wright, Wencke Myhre and Tom Novy up to Paul Kuhn, Helen Schneider and Wolfgang Dauner.

As an excellent saxophonist, he has for years been an endorser of the famous instrument maker P.Mauriat (alongside colleagues such as Greg Osby, James Carter, Tony Lakatos). On a tour in 2012 Arno met Tom Saviano in Los Angeles. Tom Saviano has worked with artists such as Ray Charles, Les McCann, Chicago, Randy Brecker, Natalie Cole, Earth, Wind & Fire and many more. The two saxophonist became friends quickly.

Arno Haas told him that he has a lot of songs that are at home waiting for their publication. The funky, groovy sound that he envisaged was hardly feasible in Germany. Tom Saviano, who is not only famous as a musician and composer, but is also an experienced and well known producer, suggested to record the album in Los Angeles and to produce it. 

‘Magic Hands’ is one of the inspirational gems of the genre, which is called in his native fusion jazz“ or smooth jazz, quite proud with their own charts, record awards and specialized radio and TV stations.

‘Magic Hands’ was born with an impressive cast. For example, the drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, the trumpeter Lee Thornburg (from the Tower of Power horn section), the guitarist Carmen Grillo (also of Tower of Power) and Bill Champlin (from Chicago), and many protagonists of the West Coast jazz club scene ‘Magic Hands’ can do it all. It is a handmade masterpiece and Arno Haas a magician of his instrument.

Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

JUKEBOX JAM VOLUME TWO COMPILIATION FEATURES SOUND OF THE BLUES & R&B FROM THE '50S

The original Jukebox Jam Blues & Rhythm Revue compilation album was released in September 2011, a collection which brought together the dynamic and varied R&B sounds of Liam Large's London based club night and reissue label. With an action-packed, all-killer set, it quickly became an instant classic, a comp of vintage sounds which truly stood out in an ever-saturated market.

Two years on, and we are proud to unleash the second volume of Jukebox Jam, another collection of 23 obscure masterpieces from mid-century America. Perhaps even more ambitious than Vol 1, the follow-up broadens the scope of investigation by digging both deeper back into the 1940s - with a couple of jazzy blues numbers, and further into the 1960s - with gritty rock and roll and early Detroit soul both featuring prominently. In between these sounds, there's of course a healthy fill of dirty '50s blues, jumping R&B and swinging popcorn, but it's safe to say that on this set, the surprises come a little more frequently. We're very confident that Jukebox Jam Vol. 2 is another essential classic in waiting.

The CD version of the release comes with a 16 page colour booklet that includes extensive liner notes with detailed info and artist pics, and the super deluxe double LP gatefold with US-style pasteback sleeve contains the same!

Tracklisting:

01. Mamie Perry - Lament

02. Billy Hamlin - If You Ain’t Got No Bread (You Might As Well Stay Home In Bed)

03. Young Jessie - Mary Lou

04. Johnny West - Tears Baby

05. Gil Bernal - King Solomon’s Blues

06. Dewey Guy & The Fabulous Six - Rock A While

07. Brother Woodsmans Combo & The Chanters - Hot Mama feat. Ethel Brown

08. Betty James - Henry Lee

09. Amos Milburn - I Done It

10. Dave Bartholomew - Cat Music

11. Saunders King - Swingin’

12. Steve Gibbons & The Red Caps - Big Game Hunter

13. Big Sis Andrews - That Ain’t The Way To Do It

14. Buddy Johnson - If I Ever Find You

15. The Mark IV - Cleopatra

16. Barrett Strong - Misery

17. Mary Ann Fisher - Put On My Shoes

18. The Originals with Steve Allan - Little Lonely Girl

19. Billy Emerson - I’ll Get You, Too

20. The Untouchables - Crawlin’

21. Grainger Hunt - Noah

22. Bob Marriott & The Continentals - I’ll Walk A Mile

23. Little Willie John - It Only Hurts A Little While

BRAD HOYT - FAR AWAY FROM EVERYDAY

Brad Hoyt originally conceived of his ambitious new album, Far Away from Everyday, as a logical expansion of his 2009 Together Alone debut for the Harp Guitar Music label. He wanted to explore the harp guitar's role in various ensemble settings and planned to build on the earlier album's piano/harp guitar duet format by adding new instruments, inviting players he'd admired, been inspired by, and occasionally performed with over the years. 

The result is "most often a sort of 'chamber jazz' -- a unique blend of meticulously written arrangements and wild improvisation," says co-producer (and Harp Guitar Music label head) Gregg Miner. Harp Guitar Music will release the new CD on December 3.

Three years in the making, Far Away from Everyday boasts 14 original tunes and 30 musicians from around the world, including such notables as Nashville-based harp guitarist Muriel Anderson, the first woman to win the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship; recent ASCAP Golden Note Award honoree Phil Keaggy, guitar; bassist Michael Manring; and Czech violinist Tomás Mach. Hoyt himself plays a variety of instruments including various incarnations of the piano and his one-of-a-kind 30-string harp guitar.

Chicagoan Howard Levy, who has written and performed harmonica concertos and was a founding member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, was one of the first musicians Hoyt asked to appear on the new CD. Levy agreed to listen to Hoyt's music, liked what he heard, and a few months later contributed to five tracks. Jeff Coffin in turn was eager to record with Levy. They play together on two songs: "The Relative Sea," featuring Coffin on soprano saxophone and Antoine Dufour on harp guitar, and "Alternate Timeline," with Coffin on flute and Mike Doolin on his own "Doolin" harp guitar.

The album, Hoyt's third following Histories, a collection of music he recorded between 1990 and 2002, and the aforementioned Together Alone, lives up to its title with a unique blend of gypsy jazz, atmospheric soundscapes, Viennese-flavored reflections, and "funked-up acoustic music" (as Gregg Miner describes it). All of the music is carried by strong melodies that in many cases once had lyrics attached to them. They take on new life here.

Brad Hoyt, 42, was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana. As a Ball State University undergrad, he took lessons in both classical guitar and jazz piano and performed there in big bands and small groups, with his own blues band, and as a solo. When he began experimenting with plucked piano strings, he was so taken with the sound that he started envisioning a fingerstyle string instrument on which he could imitate that sound. A 12-string guitar or mandolin came close, but he preferred an instrument meant to be played with the fingers instead of a pick. After college, Hoyt moved to New York and freelanced. He had some of his music placed in TV and film, including NBC's Today Show. He also performed at such venues as the legendary CBGB's with the rock fusion group NightPeople. Three years later, he got married and relocated to Colorado, where he continued to write and record his compositions. In 1999, he and his wife Andrea moved to her hometown of Prague, where they had their first child. While in Europe, he recorded and performed with the group Art House, which he founded with bassist Alexander Jurman.

In 2002, massive flooding in the Czech capital led to Hoyt moving back to Indiana with his family. (They currently reside in the Denver area.) He took with him a renewed fascination in stringed instruments, and finding the "portable plucked piano" he had in his head. Having become taken with the harp guitar, a guitar-like instrument with a second tier of open, non-fretted strings, he attended the 2004 International Harp Guitar Gathering in Williamsburg, Va., hoping to find a luthier who could make the model he envisioned. That man proved to be British harp guitar specialist Stephen Sedgwick, who, through a gradual and painstaking process, worked with Hoyt in introducing bold new features to the 10-string Brazilian folk guitar that served as their starting point.

Dubbed by Sedgwick the arpa viola caipira -- Portuguese for harp country guitar -- Hoyt's dream instrument featured 15 bass, fretted, and super-treble double-courses totaling 30 strings. The more Hoyt has defined himself as an artist, having immersed himself in the harp guitar world, combined his fingerstyle and jazz influences, and designed his own custom instrument, the more surprised he is at how little known the string virtuosi he associates with are known by jazz's top players -- and vice versa. With Far Away from Everyday, he continues his personal mission to break down those walls.

Brad Hoyt will be performing solo CD release shows in Denver at the Meadowlark Bar, 11/30, 9:00 pm; and at the Mercury Café, 12/13, 7:30 pm.

www.bradhoyt.com   

NEW RELEASES - JOE HAIDER TRIO, WIDE HIVE PLAYERS, SNARKY PUPPY

JOE HAIDER TRIO - A MOMENT IN MONTREUX

A great little record from a pianist we haven't heard in years – but who still really warms our ears with his music! Joe Haider is a name we know from key sessions for the Ego Records label at the end of the 70s – and he's working here with frequent partner from those albums, bassist Isla Eckinger – a really amazing player with a sense of sound and space that really leaves us breathless! Together, the pair find a perfect space amidst the gentle drums of Jimmy Wormworth – a setting that rings out with the deep tones and careful phrasing that Haider brought to those earlier records – at a level that's perhaps a bit more traditional than before, given the album's heavy reliance on standards – but which still shows a really individual sense of phrasing, and that goes even double for Eckinger. Titles include "Some Other Blues", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "All Of You", "Dear Old Stockholm", "A Moment In Montreux", and "You & The Night & The Music". ~ Dusty Groove.

WIDE HIVE PLAYERS - TURNSTYLE

Maybe the best music so far from the Wide Hive Players – a group who draw keen inspiration from a 70s jazz generation, but make things fresh with their own sense of timing and rhythm – a kind of fluid yet laidback approach to soul jazz and funk! The legendary Calvin Keys is on guitar, to help give the younger players a sense of depth and history – but honestly, they're all pretty great on their own – with lead work from bassist/keyboardist Matt Montgomery and Hammond player Gregory Howe – who both wrote the tunes for the set – plus Doug Rowan on saxes, Mike Rinta on trombone, and both Thomas McCree and Josh Jones on drums. The horn parts are tight, but never too tight – just stepping and rolling over the core rhythms, which are played live in a way that's loose, but nicely funky too. Titles include "Left Coast Sangria", "All The Right Wrong Notes", "Turnstyle", "Winding Up", "Stained Glass Tribal Mask", "Where The Sidewalk Begins", and "Winding Dub". ~ Dusty Groove.

SNARKY PUPPY - FAMILY DINNER

Wonderfully organic grooves from Snarky Puppy – a soul combo who work here live, with a really spontaneous feel – and a sound that goes way beyond most other groups in the Neo Soul underground! The liveness of the presentation really comes through – a warmly collaborative spirit that has the musical assemblage joined by a range of guest singers who include N'Dambi, Lalah Hathaway, Shayna Steele, Chantae Cann, and others – all lending their wonderful voices to this really beautiful project! And in true celebration of the group's non-programmed approach, the set also comes with a DVD too – beautifully displaying the personal approach that comes through right in the very first notes of the music. Title sinclude "Deep", "Amour T'Es La", "Free Your Dreams", "Gone Under", "Too Hot To Last", "Turned Away", and "I'm Not The One". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MARC STAGGERS, STILOVE4MUSIC, THE FAT BABIES

MARC STAGGERS - BACK 2 SOUL

Really rich work from vocalist Marc Staggers – a singer who's got a very classic approach to his music, and a style that most other contemporaries can't match! Staggers has a fullness to his range that almost recalls contemporary gospel – but his musical approach is definitely secular, and has this warm mix of rhythms and vocals that sparkles with loads of sweet 70s touches – not in a retro way, but just in a mode that shows that Marc's already on course to serve the kind of music you'll be going back to again and again over the years! The set's self-produced, and features great original material – a wonderfully unpretentious, ungimmicky album that's almost in the territory of classic work by The Isley Brothers. Titles include "Soul Summer Love", "You're My Everything", "Not Gonna Stop", "There's Nothing Better Than Love", "Key To My Heart", "Let's Just Take Our Time", and "With The Things You Do". Dusty Groove

STILOVE4MUSIC (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

One of the hippest sets we've ever heard on the Still Music label – a massive blend of tracks that feel a lot more like classic disco than some of the contemporary work you'd usually expect from Still Music! CD1 is especially great – and features a set of killer edits and remixes by Jerome Derradji – work that really has the deeply soulful feel of the late 70s/early 80s underground, tweaked a bit towards contemporary dancefloors – but still filled with some wonderfully rich vocals and warm clubby instrumentation! Tracks on that CD include "Bass Is The Place", "Watchadoin", "Disconnect", "Always On My Mind", "Says Alright", "Adaptive Control", "SOS", and "Situation". CD2 features a wider range of work – remixes and original tracks by some of the contemporary underground geniuses that Still has introduced us to over the years – but still all artists who are really influenced by older club, house, and disco. Titles include "Mysticmerlin" by Al Kent, "Mozambique" by Shepp, "My Voyage" by Rick Wilhite, "Nocturnal Jam" by Be, "Blackeyedsoul" by Jamie Finlay, "Goin To Chicago" by Weekend Express, and "102Point7" by Ricardo Miranda. ~ Dusty Groove.

THE FAT BABIES - 18TH & RACINE

One of the coolest combos working in Chicago these days – a trad jazz group with a really wonderful sound – one of the few modern groups who can really illustrate the improvisational excitement of jazz back in the Windy City scene of the 20s and 30s! These guys have a freshness that you'd never find with other trad combos – maybe an energy that's generated by their youth, or the fact that in the 21st Century we're now so removed from the cliches of the trad revival, folks can start over again and really get things right. Whatever the case, their sound is great – an electrifying revival of modes we never thought we'd like this much from contemporary players. The lineup includes string bass, cornet, clarinet, alto sax, trombone, piano, drums, and banjo – and titles include "The Stampede", "18th & Racine", "I Can't Dance", "Stardust", "Oh Baby", "The Chant", and "Blueberry Rhyme".~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - BRAZILIAN BEATS 7, NANA VASCONCELOS, THE EXCITEMENTS

BRAZILIAN BEATS 7 

Brazilian Beats have come a long way in just seven volumes – from an initial series approach that focused on older bossa and samba grooves, to this crackling set that's filled with great contemporary moments too! The package may well be the most exciting in the collection so far – as it effortlessly shifts between current grooves from the underground and older gems from the 60s and 70s – showing a never-ending sense of creative combination in Brazilian music – the kind of fresh, groundbreaking sounds that have always had our ears turned towards the music of Rio, Sao Paolo, Recife, and Salvador! The set pulls you in right away with some really wonderful sounds – then opens your mind to a great mix of tracks that includes "Boa Noite" by Karol Conka, "Melo Do Vatapa" by Bemba Trio, "Esquindindin" by Som Sete, "Oba La Vem Ela" by Junip, "Deixa Eu Dizer" by Claudia, "Luiza Manequim" by Abilio Manoel, "Selvagem" by Wan Trio, "Corridos E Toques De Capoeira" by Mestre Bimba, "Plateau (part 1)" by Jackson Conti, "Pra Fazer Um Samba" by Cizinha, "Autorizando" by Jorge Autuori, and "Caminho Livre" by Coaty De Oliveira.~ Dusty Groove

NANA VASCONCELOS - ELEMENTOS 4 

One of the best albums we've heard from percussionist Nana Vasconcelos in years – and a set that really gets back to the organic complexity of his best music of the 70s! The sound here is rooted in Nana's percussion, but often flowers open with added elements on cello, violin, cavaquinho, and trombone – used sparely, and sometimes mixed with vocals from Nana and other singers on the set! There's a nice use of silence amidst the sound – creating that spaciousness that made Vasconcelos a good fit with ECM back in the day – yet other moments have this proud, loud sensibility that bursts out very strongly too. Titles include "Passos", "Fogo", "Clementina", "Astronafrica", "Nizinga", "Legua Tirana", and "Berimbando". ~ Dusty Groove.

THE EXCITEMENTS - SOMETIMES TOO MUCH AIN'T ENOUGH

Plenty of excitement from this hip Spanish group – a really old school-styled soul act, complete with one hell of a great lead singer – and a very deep sound to match! Koko Jean Davis really tops most of the usual work of this nature – and is a true soul singer, at a Sharon Jones level – instead of just another retro-styled diva with a funk band in the back. And the rest of The Excitements are super-tight – and play more in a mode that's got the best late 60s funky soul echoes of Memphis than any sort of overdone cliches – really respectful of the singer in the lead, even though they've clearly got some great instrumental chops on their own. And best of all, the album's filled with original tunes, too – lots of fresh numbers that go way deeper than just the usual run of old soul covers, but which have a level of quality to match the classics too. Titles include "Don't You Dare Tell Her", "Ha Ha Ha", "Keep Your Hands Off", "That's What You Got", "I Believe You", "Fishing Pole", "The Hammer", and "Sometimes Too Much Ain't Enough". ~ Dusty Groove

PAUL RODGERS HEADS TO MEMPHIS TO RECORD 'THE ROYAL SESSIONS'

Paul Rodgers, longtime singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with Bad Company, has partnered with 429 Records and is gearing up for the release of "The Royal Sessions"—a lovingly crafted collection of classic R&B and soul songs re-imagined by the iconic rock singer recorded at Memphis' Royal Studios, historic home of Willie Mitchell and Hi Records, with many of the musicians who played on the original tracks.  

Truly a lifetime in the making, Rodgers has come full circle with "The Royal Sessions" as he pays homage to the legendary hits he collected on 45s released on Stax/Volt, Goldwax and Hi Records—recordings by Otis Redding, Albert King and Ann Peebles which made such an indelible impression on the young Rodgers inspiring him to pursue a career as a singer.  Produced by Perry Margouleff, "The Royal Sessions" is an extraordinary recording which captures the music in its pure form—live band and vocal takes as performed together at Royal Studios by Rodgers and an all-star roster of legendary musicians.  

The band is a dream lineup of those who played on the original hits dating back to the 60's.  The classic rhythm section includes Reverend Charles Hodges (Hammond B3), Michael Tolls (guitar), LeRoy Hodges Jr. (bass), "Hubby" Archie Turner (Wurlitzer), Steve Potts and James Robertson Sr. (drums), The Royal Horns and the Royal Singers.  "The Royal Sessions" will be released on 429 Records in the U.S. (international release dates below).

"The Royal Sessions" is a remarkable project that came together as Rodgers was working on a solo record and producer Margouleff had just discovered that Royal Studios was still up and running under the auspices of Willie "Pops" Mitchell's son Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell.  The opportunity to record in such a hallowed place with musicians he considered personal heroes was a dream come true.  The Memphis players forged an immediate bond when presented with his formidable talent and sincere love of the songs.  Deeply felt, powerfully sung and expertly played, it features a cross-section of material hand-picked by Rodgers, songs of great historical significance and personal meaning.   

Says Rodgers: "I really felt I had to get deeper inside myself than I ever had in my life. The end result is that recording these songs left me recharged as a singer and also as a songwriter. My favorite part was the love we could feel in the room throughout all the sessions. We all spoke the same language."

Says Margouleff: "I wanted to make the most of this incredible opportunity so I recorded Paul and the band live in the studio.  We captured the pure energy of their performance. Recording in an all analogue format the sonic quality is unparalleled and the listener can experience the music on a deeper level."

All of the proceeds from "The Royal Sessions" will be donated to local Memphis music education programs.  Special showcase performances by Paul Rogers with the musicians on "The Royal Sessions" will be announced.

"The Royal Sessions" track listing:

 1) Thank You

 2) Down Don't Bother Me

 3) I Can't Stand The Rain

 4) I've Been Loving You Too Long

 5) That's How Strong My Love Is

 6) Walk On By

 7) Any Old Way

 8) Its' Growing

 9) Born Under A Bad Sign

 10) Dreams To Remember

"The Royal Sessions" will be released worldwide on the following dates:

Europe - January 27th

Canada - January 28th

Japan - January 29th

United States - February 4th

Australia - February 7th

TRUMPET PLAYER ETIENNE CHARLES TO PERFORM 'CREOLE SOUL' AT SUBCULTURE NEW YORK, 11/8

Trumpet player Etienne Charles is a child of the world: a perfect blend of French, Spanish, English, and Dutch speaking Caribbean. He carries his bountiful influences from European classical music and Afro-Caribbean culture into his music, reflecting this mixture on his music with rhythms from jazz, reggae, Congo, and rock as well as Motown and R&B music. Born in Trinidad, he eventually made his way to NYC and graduated from the prestigious Julliard School. His new album Creole Soul has already received critical acclaim by the New York Times, JazzTimes, and Downbeat, and has hit #1 on the JazzWeek Radio Chart. Currently a professor at the Michigan State University, Etienne is definitely one of the most promising talents of his generation and won’t want to be missed in SubCulture’s intimate setting. 

Show information:

Friday, 11/8 at 7:30 & 10PM at SubCulture in New York (45 Bleecker St); Tix: $20

Bitly Ticket Link: http://bit.ly/1c4bHdL

www.etiennecharles.com 

NEW RELEASES - QUANTIC & NIDIA GONGORA, TOMMY MCCOOK, MOTOR CITY SCENE

QUANTIC & NIDIA GONGORA – MUEVELO NEGRO / NANGUITA

A great blend of earthy percussion, global soul vocals and inventive dancefloor sounds from the mighty Quantic – and just as excellent of showcase for Colombian singer Nidia Gongora! Nidia has worked with Will "Quantic" Holland before, as a vital voice in the Combo Barbaro and Onndatropica projects – but she really stands out strongly here. She sings on and co-wrote both "Muevelo Negro" and "Nanguita" here – and both tunes featuring georgeous female backing vocals, impeccable percussion and a timeless vibe, that seamlessly blended with Quantic's subtle programming and production. (Limited edition.)  ~ Dusty Groove

TOMMY MCCOOK - REGGAE IN JAZZ

Masterful reggae instrumentals from the great Tommy McCook! Reggae In Jazz does indeed have some jazz-steeped solos augmenting the vibe quite nicely, but it's perhaps not the full on reggae/jazz hybrid the title suggests, which is a good thing, actually. The rhythms are strongly rooted in classic Dynamic and Channel One reggae instro territory, but the vibe is enhanced a bit by soul jazzy organ, guitar and more on the solo tip – and a bit of funk, too! Produced by Buster Riley, with Sly Dunbar, Santa Davos. Robbie Shakespeare, Chinna Smith, Ansel Collins, Jackie Mitoo and other legends on the session. Titles include "Grass Root", "Caution", "Sin", "Wild Bunch", "Bam-Bam", "Collin '1'", "Collin '2'", "Bad Man", "Good Bye". "Black-Out", "Rock Away" and "War". CD version includes the bonus "Beirut" and "Beirut (Version)".  ~ Dusty Groove

DONALD BYRD / PEPPER ADAMS / KENNY BURRELL / TOMMY FLANAGAN / REY LEWIS / PAUL CHAMBERS - MOTOR CITY SCENE

One of the most hard-hitting sessions ever recorded for the Bethlehem label – and a rare date for the imprint by the team of trumpeter Donald Byrd and saxophonist Pepper Adams! The style here is similar to work the pair recorded for Riverside and Blue Note at the same time – razor-sharp hardbop, played with a strong sense of imagination, and plenty of room for drawn-out, creatively-blown solos. Adams is especially great – playing the baritone here with the leanness of a tenor sax – but Byrd is wonderful too, and really starts to break out of some of the more staid modes of his work from a few years back. The group's a sextet that includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer "Hey" Lewis (another name for Mel Lewis?) – on titles that include "Trio", "Philson", "Libeccio", and "Bitty Ditty". ~ Dusty Groove

JAIMEO BROWN TRANSCENDENCE MEAN WORLD REMIX FEATURING CARL CRAIG / Q-TIP

Earlier this year, drummer, composer and conceptualist Jaimeo Brown transformed pain and deliverance into art on his debut album, Transcendence (April 9, Motéma Music). The project fused Gee's Bend Quilters southern spirituals with North Indian music and various electronic elements, generally uncommon for an acoustic modern jazz record.

  

Now, Brown takes his cross-genre project a step further with support from Grammy® winning Transcendence guitarist and producer Chris Sholar, techno producer Carl Craig and hip-hop producer Q-Tip (who refer to the track as "fantastic" and "dope," respectively), on a radical recasting of "Mean World." This track combines 200 years of black music from spirituals, blues, rock, jazz, house, and hip-hop sprinkled with North Indian influences in the first time these platinum selling black producers have ever been heard together on the same track. The remix also takes advantage of the artists featured in the original track: saxophonist JD Allen and vocals from the Gee's Bend Quilters as well as Falu.

"I'm so blessed to be involved in this work of art that transcends style and genre," reflects Brown. "Everyone contributed something truly personal and unique that was woven together into a brilliant tapestry of sound." The drummer has always sought new pathways for musical expression through a deep and broad lineage of musical and cultural traditions, and this remix is a very effective extension of Brown's vision.

Sholar, who recently won a Grammy® with Kanye West, comments, "It is always a pleasure to work with such legends as Q-Tip and Carl Craig... This track shows that good music is universal and transcends all genres. We had a ball remixing this track!" The guitarist and producer, whose credits include Beyonce, Frank Ocean, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Mariah Carey, among others, co-produced the remix as well as the original album. His expertise, along with Brown's concept behind Transcendence, and the transcendental additions provided by Carl Craig and Q-Tip provided the perfect storm of creativity for developing this unusual and powerful offering for clubs and DJs on the international scene.

NEW RELEASES - MUDDY WATERS, JOE MCPHEE, MATS ALEKLINT QUARTET

MUDDY WATERS - CAN'T GET NO GRINDIN'

Muddy Waters can't get no grinding – but that's hardly a problem, given the strength of this sweet early 70s set! The album marks Muddy's return to more basic Chicago blues after his funky electric period on Chess – but the set's still got some of the trippier touches of a few years before – laid out in a much more spare, basic way! The guitar has a weird quality at times – possibly from the way the electric piano comes across at points – almost a bit like Sun Ra's rocksichord, with all the freaky fuzz that might imply! The harmonica almost feels electric too – and all three instruments come together with a nicely offbeat quality that's really head and shoulders above the usual from the Chicago scene. Titles include "Funky Butt", "After Hours", "Garbage Man", "Love Weapon", "Muddy Waters' Shuffle", and "Mother's Bad Luck Child".  ~ Dusty Groove

JOE MCPHEE - NATION TIME

A tremendous look at the early years of the legendary Joe McPhee – a set that's based around his classic Nation Time album, and which features other live material from the same time – including a Hat Hut album, and two CDs' worth of previously unissued work! The core album is legendary – a gritty set that features a mighty funky drummer, and some of the most soulful work that Joe ever recorded. Joe plays tenor and trumpet in sweet lineup that features bubbling organ, vamping rhythms, and some sweet modal elements mixed together in percussion, guitar, and Fender Rhodes. Titles include the hard wailing "Nation Time" – plus "Shakey Jake", an excellent 13 minute funk number – and the moodier "Scorpio's Dance". Next is the searing Black Magic Man album – an early release on the Hat Hut label, but recorded during the same December 1970 performance as Nation Time – almost showing the bolder, freer sound of the group – but still coming across with some surprising soulful elements too. The original album is expanded by the addition of the unreleased "Song For Lauren" alternate takes – and the core record includes "Black Magic Man", "Hymn Of The Dragon Kings", and "Song For Lauren". The next two CDs feature material recorded in 1969 and 1970 – at Vassar and in Poughkeepsie – with Joe and group working through some similar spiritual and soul jazz territory as on the Vassar CD issue from the same label. The music is heavy on elements you'd hear from the Nation Time album – Hammond, guitar, and even some electric bass and vibes – used in styles that run from soul jazz, to modal, to more experimental – all on very long tracks that have McPhee really stretching out on tenor and trumpet! Titles include "Cold Sweat", "Breakaway Theme", "Untitled", "Nation Time", "Sunshower", "Spring Street", and "Contemplation". All 4CDs come in very cool LP sleeves, in a slipcover box, aiwth a 60 page booklet of notes, photos, and information on the music!  ~ Dusty Groove

MATS ALEKLINT QUARTET - MATS ALEKLINT QUARTET

A beautifully bold session from trombonist Mats Aleklint – a player we don't know well at all, but who really steps out on this set as a leader for Moserobie Records! The sound is a bit looser than most of the recent work on the label – not entirely free, but nicely without any strong structures – so that Mats can stretch out on these amazing lines on both slide and valve trombone, with a sense of voice and vision on the instrument that we haven't heard since Roswell Rudd! The rest of the lineup is great too – a quartet with mighty nice tenor and bass clarinet from Per Texas Johansson, bass from Joe Williamson, and drums and synth from Christopher Cantillo. Aleklint also plays a bit of thumb piano and pump organ too – and titles include "Nattbuss", "Hur Eller Dur", "Braxen", "Algskog", "Landet Runt", and "Snabbt In Snabb Tut". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - HARRIS EISENSTADT / NICOLE MITCHELL, SHAULI EINAV, IAN O'BRIEN

HARRIS EISENSTADT / NICOLE MITCHELL - GOLDEN STATE

A really beautiful record from drummer Harris Eisenstadt – very different than most of his other work! The set comes out of a residence at Cal Arts by Eisenstadt, at the same time that flautist Nicole Mitchell was there too – and the result is a beautiful blend of Harris' unique sense of timing and spacing, and Mitchell's own sublime work on flute! The record still has lots of the spiritual undertones of Nicole's own records, thanks in part to work from Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon and Mark Dresser on bass – but there's also a different quality, too – a spirit that's very open and free – sometimes a bit dark and contemplative, but always basking in the glow of these newly discovered musical friendships. The rapport between the players comes through right away – and holds strongly over the course of tracks that include "It Is Never Safe To Be", "Sandy", "Unless All The Evidence Is In", "Dogmatic In Any Case", and "Flabbergasted By The Unconventional".  ~ Dusty Groove

SHAULI EINAV - GENERATIONS

A really wonderful set from reedman Shauli Einav – a player who's been around for a few years, but who we're only discovering with this album – an artist who really grabs us right away with his soulful work on tenor and soprano sax! As with many albums on the excellent Posi-tone label, there's a depth there that isn't immediately evident from the cover – a timeless approach to the music, but one that's really personal, too – immensely soulful in ways that remind us of some of our favorite indie jazz sets of years back, but with a vibe that's definitely Einav's own. Shauli has a slightly raspy touch to his tenor that really stands out – and he's set up wonderfully here in a quintet with Itai Kriss on flute, Don Friedman on piano, Or Bareket on bass, and Eliot Zigmund on drums – on titles that include a lot of classics by folks like John Coltrane, Harold Land, and Andrew Hill – tunes that include "Compulsion", "Land Of Nod", "Waltz For Zweetie", "Thermo Blues", "As You Like It", "Crescent", and "Renewal".  ~ Dusty Groove

IAN O'BRIEN - UNDERSTANDING IS EVERYTHING

A cosmic batch of keyboards from Ian O'Brien – including Fender Rhodes, Arp, moog, and more – served up in a sweet instrumental set that's got plenty of echoes from the best spacey scene of the 70s! Ian covers work by both Herbie Hancock and Lonnie Liston-Smith on the set – which will give you an idea of the righteous quality to the music – tunes that have a really rich, soulful vibe – one that's even different from O'Brien's earlier music, and which reflect a growing sense of social responsibility on this planet! The album's the sort that will have lots of new ears loving Ian's music – including our own – and titles include "Spiraling Prism", "The Explanation", "The Hexagon Of The Heavens", "Love Beams", "My Dreams Of Peace", and "Faded Memories".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JAMES BROWN, ALISON CROCKETT, KENNY WESLEY

JAMES BROWN - IT'S A MOTHER

A definite mother from James Brown – the kind of all-funky album that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match! If you've ever doubted the sheer raw power of James at the end of the 60s, the first few notes of this one will definitely make you a convert – and the stretched-out grooves as the album rolls on will pull you even further into the fold. Most tracks roll on with that improvised studio jamming style that James was hitting at the time – a pre-JBs mode that's not as long as later years, but which still makes you feel that there probably was plenty more recorded on the dates that didn't make it into the two-part versions of the tracks! And although James is singing on most numbers, the real focus is more on the band – hitting hard, vamping sharp, and grooving massively under shouted calls and directions from Brown. Titles include two great instrumentals – "Popcorn With a Feeling" and "Top of the Stack" – plus "Little Groove Maker Me (parts 1 & 2)", "Mother Popcorn (parts 1 & 2)", "Mashed Potato Popcorn (parts 1 & 2)", "Any Day Now", "You're Still Out Of Sight", and "I'm Shook" – as well as the great mellower number "If I Ruled The World" – redone here as an African-American anthem of pride and power! (Limited edition.) ~ Dusty Groove

ALISON CROCKETT - MOMMY, WHAT'S A DEPRESSION?

Maybe the strongest, boldest album we've ever heard from Alison Crockett so far – a record that has the singer bursting forth with a sense of power that really blows away her previous albums! The album's a great reminder of Crockett's place in the soul underground over the past decade or so – and the record's got an even tighter conception than we might have expected – proud words in the lyrics from Alison, supported by great backings from Teddy Crockett too – with a small group lineup that also includes piano from both Orrin Evans and Marc Cary. And although the original songs are very powerful, the album also features some stunning remakes of other work – by Syreeta, Eden Abez, and even Bessie Smith – but done in ways that completely transform the tunes, and instantly make them Alison's own. Ursula Rucker guests on a few tracks – and titles include "Gentrification", "Depression", "My Man's Gone Now", "Ima Hustla", "Trouble In The Lowlands", "The Old Country", "Come Back As A Flower", and "Sack Full Of Dreams". ~ Dusty Groove

KENNY WESLEY - THE REAL THING

The first full album we've heard from Kenny Wesley – a singer with a heck of a great vocal range, and a strong sense of personality too! The album's got a depth that goes way past the goofy image on the cover – as Wesley brings a jazz vocal sense of range to his singing, but mixes things with a heavier funk approach too – some bassy bits and tight drums that keep the tunes tight and snapping, but never in a way that's poppy or commercial. Instead, the whole thing bristles with freshness – just the right sort of album to announce Kenny as a bold newcomer, with a vibe that's all his own. Titles include "The Real Thing", "Taffy", "Feels Good", "The Window", "Closer", "Woman", "Tangled", "Sophisticated", and "Missin You". ~ Dusty Groove

STING & PAUL SIMON TEAM UP FOR TOUR DATES

Live Nation Global Touring has announced that Paul Simon & Sting, two of music's most renowned and enduring artists, will embark on a concert tour throughout North America in February and March 2014. Both of these artists have explored world rhythms and pushed the boundaries of popular music, and through their music, continue to speak to generations of fans. Now, Paul Simon & Sting will perform a series of concerts On Stage Together. Tickets (itinerary below) will go on sale beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12.

As friends for many years, their collaboration on a tour is a natural fit. At each performance, audiences will be treated to the unique pleasure of experiencing these two innovative musicians On Stage Together, in addition to solo performances with their respective bands, in what will surely be one of the most highly-anticipated concert events of 2014.

"We are thrilled to be bringing together these iconic artists," said Arthur Fogel, president - global touring and chairman - global music, Live Nation. "As individual artists, Paul and Sting have had a diverse and unique history, and I suspect the challenge for both of these prolific songwriters will indeed be narrowing down the song choices."

Tickets for Paul Simon & Sting: On Stage Together will go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12. The artists' fans will have access to a pre-sale through their respective official websites, starting Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 10AM local time.  American Express® Card Members will have an opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public.

PAUL SIMON & STING: ON STAGE TOGETHER

North American Tour Itinerary 2014

Feb. 8 - Houston, TX / Toyota Center

Feb. 9 - Dallas, TX / American Airlines Center

Feb. 11- Denver, CO / Pepsi Center

Feb. 15 - Los Angeles, CA / Forum

Feb. 17 - San Jose, CA / SAP Center at San Jose

Feb. 19 - Seattle, WA / Key Arena

Feb. 20 - Vancouver, BC / Rogers Arena

Feb. 23 - St. Paul, MN / Xcel Energy Center

Feb. 25 - Chicago, IL / United Center

Feb. 26 - Detroit, MI / The Palace of Auburn Hills

Feb. 28 - Montreal, QC / Bell Centre

March 1 - Toronto, ON / Air Canada Centre

March 4 - New York City, NY / Madison Square Garden

March 7 - Philadelphia, PA / Wells Fargo Center

March 9 - Hershey, PA / Giant Center

March 13 - Washington, DC / Verizon Center

March 15 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL / BB&T Center

March 16 - Orlando, FL / Amway Center

THE REBIRTH OF ALICE SMITH

There comes a time in every artist’s life when they have to step into the spotlight on their own terms. For Janet, it was about Control. For Prince, it was about Emancipation. But for Alice Smith, it’s the art (and hard-won battle) of simply being herself.

The NYC-bred singer, songwriter and producer, known for her 4-octave vocal range and stunning stage presence, made a name for herself with her critically-acclaimed 2006 debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, released on BBE Records. At the time, her artful blend of bluesy, soulful vocals and mid-tempo grooves garnered a passionate following that packed venues like NYC’s Mercury Lounge and Joe’s Pub, while Vibe Magazine gushed that her sound “evoke[s] Fiona Apple’s finest material.” Her single “Dream” was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Urban/Alternative category.

For a young performer who had until recently cut her teeth within the New York Afro-Punk scene—where she sang with Black Rock Coalition and Tamar Kali, and collaborated with Zero 7’s Sia Furler and Imani Coppola—the spotlight attention was a surprise. The glow dimmed rather quickly, however, when it came time to record her sophomore album.

She signed to Epic Records after a bidding war and re-released For Lovers in 2007. The next four years were dedicated to writing and recording new material. Meanwhile, the label went through numerous, well-documented changes to its executive staff. For an artist who had always been self-reliant, Alice suddenly found herself at an impasse. Though she was producing new material at a steady clip, it was being held back by the inner workings of her label.

“It was painful,” explains Alice of the process of recording her unreleased album. Though she recorded countless tracks, they lingered on the shelf. While her reps tried to mold her into something she was not, fans showed that they love her as she is—they packed her performances, demanding new music. It was a wake-up call for the fiercely independent singer. “It’s almost embarrassing, to be performing a sold-out show and people are asking me where the new music is,” recalls Alice, adding that she had so little control over her own music, that she didn’t even know when her fans might get the chance to hear it.

Though her fans may have wondered what happened to Alice Smith, she was hardly silent during those years. She performed new material for sold-out crowds at top venues like New York’s Highline Ballroom, SOB’s and Blue Note Jazz Club, and Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater. Meanwhile, she experienced huge shifts in her personal life, giving birth to a baby girl, and moving her new family to Los Angeles for a sunny but serious change of pace. With a new pair of trusted collaborators—producer Syience and singer/songwriter Rebecca Jordan—she put these experiences into song.

Today, Alice looks forward to finally giving her fans a hotly anticipated dose of new music. “It’s an exciting time, but it’s a really calm excitement,” she explains. “I feel really inspired to get where I’m going musically. I'm excited to get back to work and continue examining what it is and what it takes to be a powerful woman, happy and fulfilled.”

The new collection reveals the same passions of the “country at heart” singer, raised between Washington DC and Augusta, Georgia. Surrounded by everything from go-go, to gospel, to pop, she crafted her own stories blending elements from her favorite genres. By the time Lovers debuted in ’06, Alice was known for a unique approach to soul, tempered by a heady dose of rock and her own personal take on matters of the heart. It’s the same appeal that she brings to her new material.

>“I've always written about and been interested in relationships,” says Alice, musing over her songwriting process. “I'm still interested in those things, because I think they are most important. However, I'm just as interested in how they relate to the self. I've been more consciously applying what I've learned about relationships in my outward life, to my relationship with myself inside.”

With notes of ‘60s pop, Burt Bacharach-style melodies and that intoxicating element ofattitude, Alice’s upcoming collection has something for die-hard followers and new fans alike. Her sound has evolved, adding lush, orchestral arrangements and multi-hued melodies. Though she has always been an artist at heart, Alice is now a mother, and she’s been through some powerful experiences over the past few years. She emerges with new insights to realize through song. Still singing, of course, but today, stepping out independently, she has all the more reason to give ‘em something they can feel.

~ alicesmith.com

NEW RELEASES - THE SOFTONES, CHAKACHAS, BRAINSTORM

THE SOFTONES - THE SOFTONES / BLACK MAGIC

Harmony soul heaven – and two great albums back to back in a single set! The initial Softones album is a stellar first set from The Softones – labelmates of The Stylistics in their early years, and a group who really share a similar sense of east coast harmony soul! There's a nicely fragile approach to the group at all the best moments – a style that's better than shakey indie soul, but which is still quite personal – even amidst some really well-penned charts by Van McCoy! The strings have all these sweet and subtle touches and changes – never detracting from the vocals, but instead really underscoring the unique appeal that makes the group this great. A wonderful set to file next to your New Jersey classics by The Moments and Whanauts – with tracks that include "The First Day", "Extra Ordinary People", "Why Why Baby", "Never Let A Woman Like That Go By", and "Everybody Knew But Me". Black Magic is a funkier set than the first one by The Softones – and a record that has the group picking up a bit more confidence in their groove! The style is never too tight or slick – and even amidst full arrangements from Horace Ott, the vocals really come through nicely – mixing with the studio help at a level that recalls some of the hipper Philly productions of the time, or maybe the second generation of New Jersey group soul. Those fragile lead vocals still entrance us wonderfully – and titles include the Landy McNeal tracks – "Maybe Tomorrow", "Laundromat", and "Call It Love" – plus versions of "That Old Black Magic", "Love Story", and "Love Child". ~ Dusty Groove.

CHAKACHAS - CHAKACHAS

The coolest, funkiest, and most soulful set ever issued by Chakachas – a record that's way different than most of their Latin-based music – with a strong American funk vibe all the way through! There's still lots of percussion in the mix, but it's often used in ways that echo more of a pan-global and African approach – plenty of congas at the bottom, next to some riffing guitars, sweet reed lines, and some occasional strong soulful vocals. The cut "Jungle Fever" isn't on here, but the whole album definitely feels like that one – with that killer sense of spacing and percussion that makes the group really funky on that hit. Titles include the killer "Stories", plus "Oye Mi", "Bantu", "Love Love Love", "Oye Mi Guaguaco", "Soledad", and "By The Way".~ Dusty Groove 

BRAINSTORM - FUNKY ENTERTAINMENT

They're not lying with the title of this album from Brainstorm – because this classic late 70s set has the group moving into some very funky territory – stepping up the basslines even more than before, and really finding a great way to focus on the groove! The approach is right on the money throughout – and sparkles with some deeper touches than usual for a group of this nature – thanks in part to work from key guests like Ernie Watts on reeds, Phil Upchurch on guitar, and Harvey Mason on drums – plus a bit of guest vocals from Syreeta too! The grooves grow up nicely from the energy at the bottom – filled out with lots of quick-stepping instrumentation over the top – and maestro Jerry Peters produced the whole thing with that great mix of sophistication and groove that can make his records so great. The album's definitely one of the clubbiest moments ever from the group – and titles include "Hot For You", "Don't Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down", "Popcorn", "Funky Entertainment", "A Case Of The Boogie", and "You Put A Charge In My Life". CD features a cool book-style cover, new notes, and bonus tracks that include "Hot For You (12" version)" and "Popcorn (edit)".~ Dusty Groove