ERIC CARMEN - "THE ESSENTIAL ERIC CARMEN" FEATURES 30 TRACKS PLUS NEW MUSIC

Arista/Legacy Recordings has announced the release of The Essential Eric Carmen , a 30-track retrospective of the legendary singer/songwriter's four-and-a-half decade career. The two-disc set arrives in stores on March 25th and is available now for pre-order on iTunes (iTunes.com/EricCarmen). By pre-ordering you will receive the new track "Brand New Year" instantly. 

Remastered carefully from the original analog recordings by Grammy Award®-winning engineer Mark Wilder at New York City's Battery Studios, The Essential Eric Carmen reaches back to the Cleveland-based artist's first recordings out of the teenage garage and then travels through his unforgettable catalogue of hits, both with power pop icons Raspberries ("Go All The Way," "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)," "I Wanna Be With You") and as chart-dominating solo superstar ("All By Myself," "Never Gonna Fall In Love
," "She Did It," "Hungry Eyes," "Make Me Lose Control").

The Essential Eric Carmen also includes the sonically inspired and lyrically optimistic "Brand New Year," Carmen's first new recording in more than 15 years.  The track, which has received over 35K plays to date since its initial offering as a free download this past Christmas Eve, is streaming now at Legacy Recordings' official SoundCloud,

"It would be a mistake to think of this release as just another compilation," Carmen recently noted. "I can tell you that you have never really heard most of these songs until you've heard them on this package. It is the closest to what I envisioned for most of these 30 tracks that I have ever experienced."

The Essential Eric Carmen contemplates and highlights, for the first time in an engaging musically linear narrative, Carmen's entire recorded anthology, all marked by his oft-lauded pop craftsmanship as well as an instantly identifiable voice, equally capable of intimate crooning and raw-throated power. The collection gets off to an electrifying start with 1969's "Get The Message," making its very first digital debut in 45 years, one of the original three sides cut by Carmen's first signed band, Cyrus Erie, for Epic Records. Raspberries came together soon thereafter and immediately made an indelible and undoubtedly influential mark on rock 'n' roll. With Carmen at the helm, the band virtually invented the quintessentially American brand of power pop – big melodies, bounteous harmonies, and riff-driven crunch, all played with the amps turned up as far as they can go. The Essential Eric Carmen gathers some of the band's finest moments, from their million-selling debut, "Go All The Way," to a stellar take on "Ecstasy," recorded live at Los Angeles' House of Blues during 2005's sold out Raspberries Reunion Tour.

Carmen set off on his solo course upon Raspberries' 1975 demise, releasing Eric Carmen the same year to both critical acclaim and massive popular success. Highlighted by the chart-topping "All By Myself," the album bore witness to the scope of the classically-trained Carmen's talent, showcasing his gift for sophisticated ballads, literary lyricism, and immense vocal arrangements. Each record that followed – 1977's self-produced and intensely autobiographical Boats Against The Current, 1978's Change of Heart, 1980's Tonight You're Mine – offered new facets, touching on soul, classical, and the great American songbook. Melancholic and romantic, songs like "Nowhere To Hide" and "Desperate Fools" lay the foundation for the only now fully appreciated genre of soft rock.

Though his symphonic ballads define mid-70's pop, Carmen remained, at his core, a true rocker through and through. This fact is clearly demonstrated here by such high-energy tracks as "It Hurts Too Much," "Hey Deanie," and "Tonight You're Mine." This collection also features two previously unreleased, electric readings of  "That's Rock N' Roll" and Raspberries' "Starting Over," recorded in 1976 with his touring band at New York City's world-renowned Bottom Line.

Carmen continued to sculpt his ambitious pop-rock well into the next decade. 1984's second self-titled solo collection saw him team with Bob Gaudio, best known as the genius singer/songwriter/producer behind Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, while his recording of "Hungry Eyes" – featured on 1987's Dirty Dancing soundtrack – returned Carmen to his rightful place on the charts, reaching the top 5 on Billboard's "Hot 100," while helping propel the album to sales currently in excess of 32 million, one of the 10 biggest selling albums of all time.

Having spent much of the past two decades out of the spotlight, opting instead to comfortably 'retire' and focus on raising his children, Eric Carmen's musical return is perhaps most remarkable for its timelessness. "Brand New Year" ranks among the singer/songwriter's optimistic and insightful best, backed by longtime Beach Boys guitarist Jeffrey Foskett and members of the revered L.A. pop combo, The Wondermints.

Indeed, Carmen has surrounded himself with brilliant collaborators throughout his career, notably a long, prolific association with Raspberries producer Jimmy Ienner that continued through 1988's top 3 smash, "Make Me Lose Control." As solo singer/songwriter, Carmen was backed by a veritable who's-who of the era's premium players, including guitarists Andrew Gold, Danny Kortchmar, Richie Zito, Steve Lukather, Davey Johnstone; bassists Leland Sklar, Bob Glaub, and Dave Wintour, drummers Jeff Porcaro, Carmine Appice, Nigel Olsson, and Russ Kunkel; keyboardists Craig Doerge and Jai Winding, saxophonists Tom Scott and Bobby Keys, percussionist Paulinho diCosta; and the legendary conductor/arranger Paul Buckminster, not to mention harmonies and backing vocals from such friends as Burton Cummings, Curt Boettcher, and The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston.

The Essential Eric Carmen compilation was produced by Legacy Recordings' Timothy J. Smith and overseen and advised by Eric Carmen, who also contributed original liner notes.

Legacy Recordings' critically acclaimed and globally successful Essential Series has set a worldwide standard with its vast catalog of career-spanning, chronologically sequenced, fully annotated collections, available as double-CD packages or digital downloads.

Disc One

1.Get The Message (w/ Cyrus Erie)+

2.Go All The Way (w/Raspberries)

3.I Wanna Be With You (w/Raspberries)

4.Let's Pretend (w/Raspberries)

5.Tonight (w/Raspberries)

6.Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) (w/Raspberries)

7.Sunrise

8.My Girl

9.All By Myself

10.Never Gonna Fall In Love Again

11.Last Night

12.Starting Over (Live 1976) *

13.That's Rock N' Roll (Live 1976) *

14.Run Away

15.Love Is All That Matters

Disc Two

1.Boats Against The Current

2.Marathon Man

3.She Did It

4.Nowhere To Hide

5.Change Of Heart

6.Hey Deanie

7.Desperate Fools

8.Someday

9.It Hurts Too Much

10.Tonight You're Mine

11.The Way We Used To Be

12.Hungry Eyes

13.Make Me Lose Control

14.Ecstasy (Live 2005) (w/Raspberries)

15.Brand New Year **

+ Previously Unreleased Digitally

* Previously Unreleased

** Previously Unreleased New Recording

http://www.legacyrecordings.com

CHRISTINE JENSEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - HABITAT

Saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen's second album with her Jazz Orchestra marks a significant growth in her writing for large ensemble. Habitat (available March 11 on Justin Time Records) features six compositions, all with a deeply ingrained sense of place. "I always search for a theme in my writing," Jensen explains. "The only question is whether the theme comes out of the music or vice versa. This time, the music came from places, or the feelings and imagination of place."

For Jensen, the process of writing for large ensemble is a time-consuming one. "I average about two pieces a year," she admits, from the initial sketch to orchestration to revision after reading it through with the band. The compositions have now grown to be explicitly for the orchestra. Jensen achieves the fine balance of small group improvisation with large ensemble orchestration and melodic development, in the vein of her inspiration Bob Brookmeyer and her contemporary (and fellow McGill alumnus) Darcy James Argue.

  

Much of the band remains intact from the Juno award-winning Treelines, including featured trumpet soloist Ingrid Jensen, with a few key personnel changes. Rich Irwin assumes the drum chair here - "he's a studio drummer with a great sense of time, and he listens to every detail of the music," Jensen enthuses. The foundation of the band is in good hands with Irwin, returning bassist Fraser Hollins, low brass specialist David Martin, and Samuel Blais on baritone saxophone. "If the low end of the band is solid, the rest of the band shines." This mix of accuracy and familiarity with Jensen's music allowed Habitat to unfurl more quickly. "We only did two takes of almost everything," Jensen says, still in awe that a recording of this grandeur only took a day-and-a-half of studio time with the full orchestra.

  

The rapport between Christine and Ingrid Jensen is in full evidence on "Treelines," a 2010 commission from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. An episodic piece that seamlessly weaves its way from open improvisation to straight ahead swing, Ingrid serves as the pivot for each new section. "It's reflective of how we hang out together," Jensen says with a laugh. "In two hours we can cover a lot of ground, from serious music analysis to philosophy to goofing off with our kids." Given the sisters' busy schedule, Jensen has presented large ensemble concerts without Ingrid, allowing her to showcase more of the other impeccable soloists in the band, notably Chet Doxas' tenor feature on "Nishiyuu." "I consciously wanted to feature Chet, and I tried to capture the spirit of his playing within the piece," explains Christine. Other band members, including alto saxophonist Erik Hove and pianist John Roney, take the spotlight on "Intersection," a piece that predates Treelines.

One of Jensen's strengths as a large ensemble jazz composer is her ability to link contemporary harmonic language, as evidenced in the beautiful chorale writing on "Blue Yonder," with traditional big band structures and swing. "I grew up playing dance band music, and I'm probably the last generation to get to do that, where I sat in a section with people that taught me to play music from their era," Jensen recalls. "I've played the Basie and Glenn Miller books to death as a student. That music is in me." However, Jensen is also marked by a boundless curiosity, and her fascination with the brilliant forward motion Afro-Peruvian festejo rhythm is the basis for "Blue Yonder," a piece commissioned by UMass-Amherst. "My brother-in-law [drummer/percussionist] Jon Wikan likes to share his enthusiasm about certain rhythms that he studies, so we worked - a lot - on the festejo together." Jensen also cites Maria Schneider's "Bulería, Solea y Rumba" as an influential piece, for its use of Latin rhythms that are neither Cuban nor Brazilian in heritage.

Jensen features herself on soprano saxophone on the final track, "Sweet Adelphi," the lone piece on this album that has its roots as a small group tune that she and Ingrid have frequently performed. "Initially, I thought the Jazz Orchestra was just a project, but the band has taken on a life of its own. I now compose with the large ensemble in mind."

Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra - Habitat  - Release Date: March 11, 2014

ChristineJensenMusic.com

Justin-Time.com

    

NEW RELEASES: ZARA MCFARLANE - IF YOU KNEW HER; ISLAND RECORDS PRESENTS ROOTS: 37 ESSENTIAL ROOTS ANTHEMS; CATHERINE RUSSELL - BRING IT BACK

ZARA MCFARLANE - IF YOU KNEW HER

If You Knew Her is Zara McFarlane's follow-up album on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings. This new, emotionally charged body of work sees her blossoming as a lyrically conscious songwriter, cementing what her debut album Until Tomorrow revealed - an artist composing original songs, telling her own stories (a rarity among jazz singers), demanding attention for their daring brilliance. Over half the tracks are stripped bare, revealing Zara's voice in all its variety and subtlety. Leaving her full trio behind, she performs in different settings, most poignantly with just understated accompaniment from the dazzling pianist Peter Edwards or, as on the album's opening masterpiece, "Open Heart," with just bass and hang. Yet when she employs her full impressive band, magic is made. "Woman in the Olive Groves," one of the album's stand-out tracks, is a spellbinding thought-provoking song and a standard in the making. The albuma also includes some unexpected covers including a wonderful jazz reworking of "Police and Thieves," the Junior Murvin classic. ~ Giant Step

ISLAND RECORDS PRESENTS ROOTS: 37 ESSENTIAL ROOTS ANTHEMS

Righteous roots music from the vaults of Island Records – a host of mid 70s killers that were arguably the style of reggae that the label did best! The vibe here is positive and progressive all the way through – and the set list mixes classics with some lesser-known gems, including a number of tracks appearing here on CD for the first time ever! The music is some of the most spiritual to ever come from the Kingston scene - and titles include "Kude A Bamba" by Ras Midas, "Congo Man" by The Congos, "Africa" by Rico, "Freedom Song" by Third World, "Going Back To Ethiopia" by The Righteous Foundation, "Police & Thieves" by Junior Murvin, "Soul Fire" by Lee Scratch Perry, "Gold Spoon" by Hosbah Lawrence, "Dubbing Is A Must" by Pablo Moses, "Roots Man Reggae" by Zap Pow, "Jah Heavy Load" by Ijahman Levi, "Sons Of Garvey" by Joe Higgs, "Feel The Spirit" by The Wailing Souls, and "Real Ranking" by Trinity. ~ Dusty Groove

CATHERINE RUSSELL - BRING IT BACK

With Bring It Back, vocalist Catherine Russell digs deeper into a rich vein of musical treasures. Mining legendary collaborations between her father, Luis Russell and the great Louis Armstrong, Russell brings along her team from two previous chart-topping albums, the latest of which won the Prix du Jazz Vocal from L'academie du Jazz and Grand Prix du Hot Club de France. Gems from the jazz age and swing era, performed with new arrangements for ten-piece orchestra blend seamlessly with reinventions sourced from Blues icons Esther Phillips, Al Hibbler, Wynonie Harris and Little Willie John. Russell personifies the living heart and proud history of each song. ~ Amazon

JAZZ MEETS SPORTS WITH CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, BERNIE WILLIAMS, KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR AND OTHERS

Bernie Williams / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is proud to present Jazz Meets Sports, a special event connecting jazz artistry and athletic performance created by Artistic Advisor and GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist Christian McBride. This special one night only program will take place on Sunday, March 2 at 7:00PM in NJPAC's Victoria Theater.

McBride is set to perform with his trio, featuring pianist Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., with baseball legend and Latin GRAMMY® nominated guitarist Bernie Williams. McBride will also moderate a conversation featuring Williams and NBA icon and ultimate jazz connoisseur, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Joining the bassist as a co-host of this Jazz Meets Sports conversation is CBS sportscaster Lesley Visser, the first and only woman enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I wanted to find a way to combine my two passions in life. A lot of people aren't quite sure how the two relate, but the fact is when you have a group coming together trying to make something happen, it's all about teamwork. It's all about trusting one another. It's all about telepathy," explains McBride, who has also written for The Bleacher Report. "In that sense, sports and music are the exact same thing. Obviously, music doesn't rely on points to decide a victor, but the process is very much the same." McBride has served as artistic director to NJPAC's TD James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival for the last two years, and joined the arts center as a Jazz Advisor for the entire 2013-14 concert season and as curator for his own series of concerts.

The bassist isn't alone in recognizing the similarities between jazz and sports. Bernie Williams, co-author of Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Music and Athletic Performance, had a celebrated 16-year career with the New York Yankees as a four-time World Series Champion and five-time All Star.

The MLB center fielder continued to pursue his passion for music with his debut album in 2003, The Journey Within, featuring fusions of jazz, rock, and tropical rhythms. His follow up album, Moving Forward, includes guest appearances by heavyweights including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Secada, Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale, and more.

Six-time NBA Champion and 19-time NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a "no-brainer," says McBride. "I met Kareem back in 1991, everyone knows what a jazz connoisseur he is and how much he's really gone out on a limb to listen to jazz and promote jazz and champion jazz."

The New York Times best-selling author has written six books, including his autobiography, Giant Steps, where the title pays homage to the legendary John Coltrane. Abdul-Jabbar is also a pop-culture columnist for Esquire.com and just launched his own sports memorabilia company, StarGuardCollectibles.com. Abdul-Jabbar also did a piece for JazzTimes.com on the connection between jazz and basketball.

Joining McBride as co-host is CBS Sports broadcaster Lesley Visser. "I met Lesley about 12 years ago at the Super Bowl. I was performing there with Sting and her dressing room was next to ours," recalls McBride. "She just has the greatest personality in the whole world. I'm very proud to know the only woman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, for her broadcasting legend."

In addition to his virtuosity as a bass player, Christian McBride is an educator, curator and composer-arranger. The Philadelphia-born musician has performed alongside a diverse set of luminaries including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Natalie Cole, Pat Metheny, James Brown, Sting, Bruce Hornsby and Queen Latifah, among others.

"I have been the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's artistic advisor for their Jazz Series now for the last year, and as part of it's first season you want to do something unusual because at some point when your putting on concerts your going to start to get into the same routine, the same people are going to come up, the same process is going to come up, the same ideas are going to come up," explains McBride. "This is why it was important to me to think outside of the box and to see if I can do something with my two passions, jazz and sports."

Tickets may be purchased by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark (open Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 6:00pm; and Sunday, noon to 5:00pm), or online at www.njpac.org.

NEW RELEASES: LADY DAISY - IN MY HEADPHONES; NOSTALGIA 77 - A JOURNEY TOO FAR; ALEJANDRO SANTOYO - NEW WORLD

LADY DAISEY - IN MY HEADPHONES

No need to just restrict this sweet little set to headphone-only listening – because the sound is so bold and proud, it really should be loud – blasted out of speakers that really make the most of the bassy bottoms and the far-reaching vocals from Lady Daisey! The Lady's a blue-eyed soul singer we first fell in love with a few years back, and she's really grown a lot for this second album – still holding onto all the deep soul roots she draws from an older generation of soul, but also finding some fresh rhythms to fit her catchy lyrics – working in close collaboration with Batsauce, who handles all the music and production on the record. There's a very upbeat, positive vibe to the record – and titles include "The Way You Do", "Ready", "We Will", "To Find You", "Love Is", "Full Circle", and "Thank You". ~ Dusty Groove

NOSTALGIA 77 - A JOURNEY TOO FAR

Always-wonderful sounds from Nostalgia 77 – a group who keep on evolving and developing their sublime style over the years! This time around, they're a bit more song-based than before – instrumentation that still has some of the warmer, spiritual jazz touches of previous releases – but often more in service to some very strong lead lyrics – sung by Josa Peit and Jeb Loy Nichols, who each get a number of tracks here on their own. Benedic Lambdin wrote, arranged, and played guitar on the set – and the album also features lots of nice Hammond and keyboards, trumpet, reeds, bass, and drums. The vocals bring a soulful quality to the music we haven't heard this strongly before from Nostalgia 77 – and titles include "What Do You Know", "Don't Run", "Crescent City", "Medicine Chest", "One", "Like Dark To Light", and "An Angel With No Halo".  ~ Dusty Groove

ALEJANDRO SANTOYO - NEW WORLD 

Two years after releasing his successful first album Elevation, up-and-coming pianist/composer Alejandro Santoyo releases his second major musical work, with stunning and beautiful music to welcome a New Year, 2014. It features orchestral and choral grandeur, along with passionate solo piano pieces, which will take listeners into a "New World" of sounds and emotions, unlike anything they've heard before. "New World" combines solo piano, electronic sounds, classical orchestra, choir, acoustic guitar, ethnic sounds, and solo female vocals from around the globe. The album is mesmerizing and it is inspired by the idea of a "New World," which entails a renovated way of thinking, perceiving, and living under united consciousness as human beings. This concept was translated into sound and music, in an enchanting and breathtaking way by the artist. Alejandro Santoyo is a World-Class, International Pianist and Composer, who has lived in the US, Europe, and Latin America. He began playing the piano by ear and composing when he was 7 years old. He later studied musical courses at Berklee College of Music, and received a Masters Degree in music from UNM. Ever-since, he has developed a unique sound in his composition that evokes profound moods and emotions. His music is sweeping and expansive. It tells a story and renders many images to the listener's mind. It could easily fit into any Hollywood movie. Some of his original works can be very healing as well. It is a moving experience to listen to Alejandro play the piano live, as he gets completely entranced into his performances, while he improvises on his own original music. The passionate and emotional sounds that emanate from him when he composes and arranges, using a combination of piano, orchestral overtones, emotional voices, and guitars, flow into the audience to elevate their senses. Alejandro Santoyo's music has the capacity to transport the listener into another dimension.  www.alejandrosantoyo.com

NEW RELEASES: ASHLEY BEEDLE - MESSAGE IN THE MUSIC - THE ASHLEY BEEDLE RE-EDITS; BAMA LOVE SOUL PRESENTS - ON DECK 2 FUTURE SOUL CLASSICS FOR THE NEW B-BOY GENERATION; OHIO PLAYERS - EVERYBODY UP

ASHLEY BEEDLE - MESSAGE IN THE MUSIC - TH ASHLEY BEEDLE RE-EDITS

Ashley Beedle takes on a host of classic tracks – mostly soul, funk, and club tracks from the 70s – but also a few more bits from surprising other sources as well! Beedle's got a wonderful ear for a tune – no surprise, since he's been DJ'ing on the London scene for decades, and was one of the key forces in helping bring some deeper soul sounds back to the clubs. And here, he works to re-edit a host of tunes – by extending them in ways that are based around all the best bits in the middle – pulled out and showcased even more strongly in Ashley's hands! It's been years since we've heard an Ashley Beedle collection this great – and the 2CD package also comes with a bonus DVD interview as well. Titles include Ashley Beedle re-edits of "Long Train Runnin" by Panama, "Guess I'm Gonna Cry" by New York Port Authority, "Railroad Man" by Bill Withers, "Do It" by Los Africanos, "For Baby Ooh" by Cymande, "Hangin On" by Brainstorm, "Burlesque" by Family, "I'm A Love Bug" by Donna McGhee, "Don't Leave Me" by Lamont Dozier, "All About The Paper" by Gene Chandler, "Keeping Secrets" by Switch, "In A Week In A Day" by Kylie Auldist, and "Woman Of The Ghetto" by Doris Duke. (Please note that the Region/Code on the DVD is not listed so you may need a multi region player to view it.) ~ Dusty Groove

BAMA LOVE SOUL PRESENTS - ON DECK 2 FUTURE SOUL CLASSICS FOR THE NEW B-BOY GENERATION 

A great selection of future soul tracks, all handpicked by radio DJ Radhu – an American talent with ears that may well rival those of Gilles Peterson for finding the sounds we'll all enjoy tomorrow! The work here is from a wide range of the soulful underground – not just Neo Soul, but work inspired by a number of different styles and modes – selected and spaced perfectly by Radhu, so that the freshness of one track really seems to infect another! We honestly hadn't heard of most of the artists here before – as they're true "bubblers", picked from the lesser-known corners of the underground. Titles include "Calm" by Gdna, "Silence (midnight mix)" by Jevon Reynolds, "Shangri La" by James Tillman, "Diligence" by Stephanie Nicole, "Intoxicated" by Joomanji, "Fallen" by Rippy Austin, "Where Did We Go Wrong" by Anu Sun, and "Ultraviolet" by Aisha Mars. ~ Dusty Groove

OHIO PLAYERS - EVERYBODY UP

The Ohio Players may have skimped a bit on the budget for a sexy model this time around, but the album's still very much in the best mode as the rest of their 70s classics for Mercury Records – a sweet mix of ensemble funk with some upbeat styles that were perfect for the clubs! The group's shifted a bit by the time of this one and only album for Arista, but they've still got most of their best strengths right out front – including that subtle sense of wit that always made the group one of the most charming mainstream funk acts, as well as the sharp instrumentation that ensures that most of the tracks are still tight and funky at the core. Titles include "Don't Say Goodbye", "Everybody Up", "Take Da Funk Off Fly", "Something Special", "Say It", and "Make Me Feel". CD features two bonus tracks – "Everybody Up (12" promo mix)" and "Take Da Funk Off Fly (7" mix)". ~ Dusty Groove

92Y JAZZ IN JULY FESTIVAL FEATURING CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT, BILL CHARLAP, CHRISTIAN SANDS, DICK HYMAN AND MORE

92Y announces the 30th Annual 92Y Jazz in July Festival, curated by Bill Charlap, who celebrates his 10th anniversary as artistic director of the time-honored Festival. Jazz in July runs from Tuesday, July 21 through Thursday, July 31, bringing together some of the world's finest jazz players for once-in-a-lifetime performances. The Festival celebrates its 30th year with voices old and new: a return visit from 92Y Jazz in July founder Dick Hyman for a celebration of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz; and one of the jazz world's most exciting new voices, Cécile McLorin Salvant, who comes to the Festival for the first time in an evening devoted to Sarah Vaughan. 

92Y Jazz in July opens on July 21 with a salute to Hoagy Carmichael, composer of such iconic songs as "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind," in a concert featuring saxophonist Harry Allen, guitarist James Chirillo and vocalist Sandy Stewart. Jazz in July's first-ever look at the genius of Miles Davis concludes the first week of the festival on July 23; the concert looks at his pivotal position in defining the standard repertoire for jazz improvisers, and features trumpeter Jeremy Pelt. In between, on July 22, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein's musical theater contributions with the Bill Charlap Trio and returning favorites Brian Lynch (trumpet), Jimmy Greene (tenor sax) and Jon Gordon (alto sax).

Week two opens with a reunion of Charlap and his Jazz in July mentor and predecessor Dick Hyman, the festival's founder and artistic director for its first 20 years; joining them is pianist Christian Sands, as three generations pay homage to the legacy of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. The young, GRAMMY® Award-nominated virtuoso vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant is in the spotlight the following night in her Jazz in July debut celebrating Sarah Vaughan. The festival closes with an evening of performances that explore Fred Astaire's contributions to the jazz songbook with vocalist Sachal Vasandani, who will return to the festival after appearances in 2011 and 2012.

One of the world's premier jazz pianists, Bill Charlap has performed and recorded with many of the leading jazz artists of our time. With his longtime trio of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, he has released seven highly-acclaimed albums for the Blue Note label, including the GRAMMY® Award-nominated albums The Bill Charlap Trio - Live at the Village Vanguard and Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein. In 2010, Charlap released Double Portrait, a collaboration with his wife, the renowned pianist Renee Rosnes, recorded at 92nd Street Y.

Charlap creates 92Y Jazz in July in collaboration with Hanna Arie-Gaifman, Director of 92Y Tisch Center for the Arts, which produces 92Y's concert series, including Jazz in July.

Tue, Jul 22, 8 pm

HOAGY CARMICHAEL: STARDUST 

Jazz in July kicks off as the songs of singular American composer Hoagy Carmichael are launched to new improvisatory heights, based on the influence of cornet geniuses Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong. Hear greats like "Skylark," "Georgia on my Mind," and "The Nearness of You."

Bill Charlap, piano / John Eric Kellso, trumpet / Harry Allen, tenor sax / James Chirillo, guitar / Sandy Stewart, vocals / Ted Rosenthal, piano / Todd Coolman, bass / Dennis Mackrell, drums

Wed, Jul 23, 8 pm

LEONARD BERNSTEIN'S NEW YORK

Be transported to the iconic Greenwich Village jazz clubs of Wonderful Town, 1950s street gangs of West Side Story and more New York landmarks from Leonard Bernstein. Hear how jazz influenced his musical songwriting, in "Something's Coming," to "Lucky to Be Me," to "The Wrong Note Rag."  

Brian Lynch, trumpet / Jimmy Greene, tenor sax / Jon Gordon, alto sax / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Kenny Washington, drums

Thu, Jul 24, 8 pm

THE MAN WITH THE HORN: MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS

Experience the essential, indubitably cool sounds of Miles Davis, the embodiment of jazz. Gold standard musicians highlight Davis's repertoire-"My Funny Valentine," "Autumn Leaves"- as well as the songs he wrote - such as "Donna Lee," "All Blues," and "Solar."

Jeremy Pelt, trumpet / Ralph Moore, tenor sax / Steve Wilson, alto sax / Renee Rosnes, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Lewis Nash, drums

Tue, Jul 29, 8 pm

DICK HYMAN, BILL CHARLAP, CHRISTIAN SANDS: THREE GENERATIONS OF PIANO JAZZ   Three top jazz pianists on one stage - in a special evening of heart-racing virtuoso playing, and bonus conversations between Bill Charlap and featured artists.  Dick Hyman wrote the book on piano jazz. He is joined by Charlap and twice GRAMMY® Award-nominated Christian Sands. Expect piano solos and duos, and trios with the band as they perform repertoire from songwriters Duke Ellington to jazz piano giants Fats Waller and Bud Powell.

Dick Hyman, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / Christian Sands, piano / Sean Smith, bass / Willie Jones, drums

Wed, Jul 30, 8 pm

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT w/ THE BILL CHARLAP TRIO: CELEBRATING SARAH VAUGHAN

Now is the time to hear singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, on fire with a 2014 Grammy® nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album, a Thelonious Monk Competition win and plaudits including two New York Times profiles. With Bill Charlap and his trio, she pays tribute to one of her primary influences, jazz great Sarah Vaughan, with American Songbook classics including "April in Paris," "Body & Soul," and "Lullaby of Birdland."

Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Kenny Washington, drums / Jessie Davis, alto sax

Thu, Jul 31, 8 pm

I WON'T DANCE: THE FRED ASTAIRE SONGBOOK  

Fred Astaire proved to be a jazz master, using his innate sense of rhythm and swing to collaborate with songwriting legends from Gershwin ("Nice Work if You Can Get It") to Berlin ("Puttin' on the Ritz") and others to introduce some of their biggest hits. I Won't Dance is back-to-back toe-tappers.

Sachal Vasandani, vocals / Ken Peplowski, clarinet & tenor sax / Michael Dease, trombone / Renee Rosnes, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / George Mraz, bass / Lewis Nash, drums

ABOUT JAZZ IN JULY

This annual summer jazz festival, directed by pianist and Blue Note recording artist Bill Charlap, brings together some of the world's best jazz musicians for once-in-a-lifetime performances at 92nd Street Y. Recent Festival shows have explored be-bop and Latin jazz; celebrated jazz legend Jimmy Heath and former artistic director Dick Hyman; and sampled the work of great composers, from Cole Porter to Thelonious Monk. Recent line-ups have featured jazz greats Ray Bryant, Barry Harris, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Palmieri, Trio Da Paz, and Frank Wess.

92Y Jazz in July is partially endowed by Simona and Jerome A. Chazen.

ABOUT 92ND STREET Y

92nd Street Y's unique fusion of community and culture makes it the only place of its kind in the world. 92Y is a nonprofit community center, performance stage and lecture hall; a literary salon and home for artists; a school, outreach organization and summer camp; a gym, a residence and more. 92nd Street Y, a proudly Jewish institution since its inception in 1874, has become a community of communities, welcoming people of all ages, races, faiths and backgrounds. Now serving more than 300,000 people each year in its New York facilities, 92Y also reaches millions of "virtual" guests around the world through its website, satellite broadcasts and other electronic media. Committed to making its programs available to everyone, 92nd Street Y awards nearly $1 million in scholarships annually and reaches about 7500 public school children through subsidized arts and science education programs. 

DIONNE WARICK 4 ALBUMS IN ONE: WINDOWS OF THE WORLD / IN THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS / PROMISES, PROMISES / SOULFUL

Four albums on three CDs – with lots of bonus tracks as well! Windows Of The World is seminal later work from Dionne Warwick – an album that perfectly sums up her evolving genius at Scepter Records! Windows continues the very successful Bacharach-led arrangement scheme – but also features Dionne deepening things a bit more vocally, and also hitting some more personal notes on a few tunes arranged by Peter Matz. 11 titles in all – including "The Windows Of The World", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Love", "Taking A Chance On Love", "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me", "The Beginning Of Loneliness", "What's Good About goodbye", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Somewhere". 

Valley Of The Dolls is not really the soundtrack for the movie – but a sweet batch of tracks that feature the lovely Dionne Warwick singing the title tune – and stretching out on a host of other great 60s numbers too! The album was recorded in two different sessions, mostly with backings by Burt Bacharach – who always makes his own music sound great – with a bit of extra help from Pat Williams, Manny Albam, and Garry Sherman – who each get a tune to work with. Gone is the dreamy optimism of some of Dionne's earlier albums – and in its place is a more mature, slightly sadder style that's really great. Titles include "Valley Of The Dolls", "For The Rest Of My Life", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Silent Voices", "Let Me Be Lonely", "You're My World", "Where Would I Go", and "Walking Backwards Down The Road". 

Promises Promises is filled with sublime sounds from Dionne Warwick – a classic Scepter Records set produced by Burt Bacharach, who also wrote a good number of the tunes too! Arrangements are by a few different top-shelf studio talents – Don Sebesky, Peter Matz, and Bacharach himself – all in that breathy gentle style that works so well with Dionne's vocals. Titles include "Promises Promises", "This Girl's In Love With You", "Where Is Love", "Who Is Gonna Love Me", "Where Am I Going", "Whoever You Are I Love You", and "Wanting Things". 

On Soulful, Dionne Warwick working with Memphis producer Chips Moman, in a mode that's clearly designed to give her more credibility with the hipper soul scene at the end of the 60s! Burt Bacharach's still in the shadows, but Moman's the real genius on this set – working with Dionne to create a style that's got some of the same touches as Aretha Franklin's work on Atlantic, but a bit smoother overall – in keeping with the Warwick vocal mode. Dionne opens up amazingly in the set – hitting notes never heard on the Bacharach sides, and going for an almost gospel-inspired approach on a few numbers. Tracks includes "I'm Your Puppet", "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", "You're All I Need To Get By", "Do Right Woman", "People Get Ready", "We Can Work It Out", and "People Got To Be Free". CD features 19 bonus tracks that include "Give A Damn", "To Be Young Gifted & Black", "Stand", "Hurt So Bad", "The Weight", "The Love Of My Man", "Slaves", "Odds & Ends", and "The April Fools".  

~ Dusty Groove

DIONNE WARWICK 4 ALBUMS IN ONE: HERE I AM / LIVE IN PARIS / HERE WHERE THERE IS LOVE / ON STAGE & IN THE MOVIES

Four Dionne Warwick classics – all wrapped up in a single set! On Here I Am, Dionne is still head and shoulders above most other female pop singers of her generation, with a style that really sets a whole new standard for the time! Burt Bacharach handled most of the arrangements here – with that heavenly sort of quality that he virtually invented for Dionne – a way of penning charts that are full, but never overbearing – and which have a subtle kind of softness, even though they also manage a sneaky sort of rhythm at the bottom. The balance is a beautiful one, and Dionne's vocals are the beneficiary here – on a batch of mostly Bacharach/David tunes that includes the sublime "Are You There With Another Girl", plus "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", "Window Wishing", "Long Day Short Night", "In Between The Heartaches", and "How Can I Hurt You" – as well as a version of "This Little Light", which features solo piano by Dionne! 

In Paris is a unique concert album from Dionne Warwick – proof that her talents weren't always restricted to Burt Bacharach arrangements in the studio! The setting is the classy Olympia Theater in Paris, and the style is a bit more open than on Dionne's studio albums – with less material by Bacharach & David than before, and a wider range of tunes that not only includes a few songs sung in French, but also a duet with Parisian popper Sacha Distel! Titles include "I Love Paris", "C'Est Si Bon", "Walk On By", "You'll Never Get To Heaven", "O Yeah Yeah Yeah", "The Good Life", "La Vie En Rose", and "What'd I Say". 

Here Where There Is Love is one of Dionne Warwick's biggest albums of the 60s – thanks to a near-classic selection of tunes, and sublime arrangements from the mighty Burt Bacharach! There's a confident, mature approach to the record that's arguably even better than Warwick's first few albums for Scepter – a kind of gelling of the genius she'd discovered with Bacharach & David – cast out over even more adult themes than before, with less of a need to focus on pop-oriented material. The album includes two of Dionne's most compelling cuts ever – "Alfie" and "Trains & Boats & Panes" – both sadder than the usual numbers, and with a good dose of remorseful soul – and other Bacharach numbers include "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "Go With Love", "Here Where There Is Love", and the seminal "What The World Needs Now Is Love". 

For On Stage & In The Movies, Dionne Warwick's making a bit of a break from formula – by singing a batch of tunes from films and shows, none of which were written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David! Yet despite this change from earlier records, the album's still got a sound that's strongly in keeping with Warwick's 60s years at Scepter Records – thanks to arrangements by Burt that help transform these older tunes, and update them with a new sense of maturity for Dionne's singing style. The real appeal of the record is the way that Bacharach changes things up with some of these overdone numbers – finding new corners to explore, and creating a sense of surprise that's quite different than other albums of this nature. Titles include "Something Wonderful", "Summertime", "My Favorite Things", "I Believe In You", "My Ship", "Anything You Can Do", and "He Loves Me".  

~ Dusty Groove

DIONNE WARWICK 4 ALBUMS IN ONE: PRESENTING DIONNE WARWICK / ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART / MAKE WAY FOR DIONNE WARWICK / SENSITIVE SOUND OF DIONNE WARWICK

A quartet of Dionne Warwick albums – served up in one package! Presenting is the birth of a genius – and Dionne Warwick's first album in a mighty 60s run for Scepter Records! The album's the first full length collaboration between Warwick and the team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David – but it's already the stuff of legend – an album that easily bridges the worlds of soul, vocal, and pop with its unique sense of poise and class – sung perfectly by Dionne throughout, and arranged with orchestral brilliance by the young Burt! Titles include "Don't Make Me Over", "Wishin & Hopin", "Make It Easy On Yourself", "The Love Of A Boy", "I Cry Alone", "Make The Music Play", "If You See Bill", "It's Love That Really Counts", and "This Empty Place". 

Anyone Who Had A Heart is the second in the career of Dionne Warwick, but she's already at the top of her game – singing with a sense of grace and poise that's simply tremendous, and getting some equally great backing from a young Burt Bacharach – who himself co-wrote most of the tunes here with Hal David. There's a sense of completeness to the record that few other pop albums of the time could boast – a mature, thoughtful presentation of the material that certainly set a new standard for many artists to come! Titles include "Anyone Who Had A Heart", "Don't Make Me Over", "Getting Ready For The Heartbreak", "Any Old Time Of Day", "Mr Heartbreak", "Put Yourself In My Place", and "Please Make Him Love Me". 

Make Way For Dionne Warwick is the kind of set that spawned countless imitators in later years, but which still sounds better than most of the rest! Hearing the record is almost like going back to the headwaters of 60s pop – especially the more mature version that started to take hold later in the decade at labels like A&M or Capitol. But here, recording for Scepter, Dionne's already got it all in place – thanks in large part to a young Burt Bacharach, who's set things up here with poise and perfection that match the vocals perfectly! Titles include "Get Rid of Him", "A House Is Not A Home", "They Long To Be Close To You", "You'll Never Get To Heaven", "Walk On By", and "Make The Night A Little Longer". 

Sensitive Sound Of Dionne Warwick is served up with masterful arrangements and production from Burt Bacharach! The album's an early treasure in Dionne's 60s run for Scepter Records – an album that features a bit less Bacharach/David tunes than some of the previous records, but which still has all of the best elements firmly in place – thanks to Burt's growing understanding of the studio, and his ability to create orchestrations that are filled with enough space for an artist like Dionne to really do her thing. Titles include "Wives & Lovers", "You Can Have Him", "That's Not The Answer", "Forget My Love", "Where Can I Go Without You", "How Many Days Of Sadness", and "Don't Say I Didn't Tell You So". 

~ Dusty Groove

DIONNE WARWICK 4 ALBUMS IN ONE: I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN / VERY DIONNE / DIONNE / JUST BEING MYSELF

Four full albums, plus bonus tracks too! First up is I'll Never Fall In Love Again – one of Dionne Warcwick's last few albums for the Scepter label,with a sense of maturity, poise, and grace that tops even Dionne's earliest classics for the label. She's still working heavily here with Burt Bacharach – who produced and arranged most of the songs – with some help from Hal David and Larry Wilcox. And in some way, it's almost like Bacharach's reinvigorated here – moving into a deeper mode that's quite similar to some of the more complicated tunes on his A&M recordings from the same period – almost unafraid of charting or not, and working instead in a completely adult mode that's beautifully constructed through webs of sound and sadness, loss and longing. Titles include "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", "My Way", "Knowing When To Leave", "Let Me Go To Him", and "Didn't We". 

Very Dionne is Dionne Warwick's last Bacharach album for Scepter Records – and really wonderful stuff! Burt's still very much at the helm on Very Dionne – working with Warwick in an ever-maturing mode that's expanded a bit with some help on arrangements from Marty Paich and Larry Wilcox. The mood is adult, but still has some of the dreamier touches of early pop days – and the Bacharach compositions are among some of the best of the bunch, and include "Walk The Way You Talk", "Check Out Time", "The Green Grass Starts To Grow", and "They Don't Give Medals To Yesterday's Heroes". 

Dionne is a great post-Scepter album by Dionne Warwick – one that still has her working with Burt Bacharach, but at a level that's somehow more mature, more adult than even before! There's a gentle quality here that gets beyond the straighter pop of Warwick's 60s hits, and moves into the realm inhabited by Bacharach's sublime solo sets for A&M – a style that still has the singer at the forefront, but which is equally concerned with the full spectrum of sound on the set, and which has the whole album flowing together beautifully. Burt and Hal David produced, and arrangements are by Bacharach, Don Sebesky, and Bob James. Titles include a great reading of "Hasbrook Heights", plus "Just Have To Breathe", "The Balance Of Nature", "If You Never Say Goodbye", "Be Aware", "If We Only Have Love", and "Love Song". 

Just Being Myself is a surprisingly great album that has the lady working with the post-Motown production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland! There's a quality here that resonates strongly from the very first note – a bold move away from Bacharach to some of the more adult soul modes explored in the 70s – handled by HDH with full-on backings on some numbers, but with a more gentle Warwick-styled groove on others. The album's got a depth we never would have expected – especially from the slightly-soppy cover – and Dionne's manage to bring in all the strengths from earlier years, yet also recast them a bit with a fuller soul-based groove on the set. The album features the surprisingly funky "I'm Just Being Myself", which has some great sinister flute over skittish drums – plus the tracks "You're Gonna Need Me", "Come Back", "Don't Burn The Bridge", "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You", and "I Think You Need Love". CD features bonus tracks that include "They Don't Give Medals", "Make It Easy On Yourself", "Who Gets The Guy", "He's Moving On", "Amanda", and "California".  

~ Dusty Groove

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT OF BELGIAN SINGER/SONGWRITER/PIANIST SUSAN CLYNES 'LIFE IS' SET FOR RELEASE FEB 18, 2014

“Life Is...” marks the international debut of Belgian singer/pianist Susan Clynes, on New York based  MoonJune Records. This release was compiled from three live concerts done at two different locations, each one with a unique band configuration.

The Archiduc, an historic Art Deco bar in Brussels dating back to 1937, served as the backdrop for two of these performances. The first was done in trio format with Nico Chkifi on drums and Pierre Mottet on bass. The second was a more intimate solo performance at the Library of The Cultural Center of Bree. The third and final performance saw the return to the Archiduc, this time as a duet with Simon Lenski on cello. Each band configuration provided its own framework and pallet of tonal colors for these diverse sound portraits.

“A Good Man” and “Ileana’s Song” make playful use of the drumkit and bass. These clever songs lie somewhere between Slapp Happy-era Dagmar Krause, Elaine Di Falco’s work with Thinking Plague, Annette Peacock and early period Kristin Hersh in her band, Throwing Muses. The chiefly instrumental piece, “Les Larmes”, a composition about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is brimming with emotional expression making excellent use of the cello as a universal human voice.

The distilled and emotive songs for voice with piano accompaniment bring to mind such undervalued luminaries as Laura Nyro and Essra Mohawk. Susan’s piano work runs the gamut from such radio-friendly performers as Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, briefly dipping into Tony Banks-like arpeggiations and cascades, and arriving at the jazz-inflected polytonality of French composer, Darius Milhaud.

Tracks:

1. Life Is (4:21)

2. A Good Man (3:49)

3. Childhood Dreams (6:31)

4. Les Larmes (9:35)

5. Tuesday Rain (5:08)

6. Ileana’s Song (3:37)

7 .When You’re Dead (7:15)

8. Pigeon’s Intrusion (6:00)

9. Le Voyage (3:22)

10. Linear Blindness (4:12)

11. Butterflies (6:38)

SUSAN CLYNES, vocals, piano (all tracks)

SIMON LENSKI cello (tracks 3, 4, 7, 8 & 11)

PIERRE MOTTET bass (tracks 2 & 6)

NICO CHKIFI drums (tracks 2 & 6)

www.susanclynes.be

HALIFAX MEETS DETROIT ON SINGER & SONGWRITER CRISSI COCHRANE'S NEW ALBUM LITTLE SWAY

Windsor, Ontario, Canada - Windsor-based pop singer & songwriter Crissi Cochrane marries the heart of the East Coast with the soul of Detroit on Little Sway, a new 10-song album released worldwide today on iTunes and at CrissiCochrane.com.

Produced in Windsor with local engineers and musicians, Little Sway sees Crissi stepping into new creative territory. While the artist's previous release, the Pretty Alright EP (2011) reached #5 on the national campus radio Folk chart, this new album carries the influence of jazz, soul, bossa nova, Motown, and R&B. It is a spirited and charming album, with a modern pop sensibility, which pays homage to great swing & blues musicians of the past - such as mid-century sax players Stan Getz and Lester Young (whose styles influenced the sax arrangements on the record), and writers George & Ira Gershwin (whose 1924 song "The Man I Love", popularized by Billie Holiday, is reinterpreted by Crissi on this album). This warm, vintage spirit is painted anew with modern, crafted beats & programming from the creative genius of Windsor producer Adam Rideout-Arkell.

Crissi attributes the change in her musical style to the change in her environment. Born and raised on the East Coast of Canada, Crissi moved to Windsor from Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2010. Windsor/Detroit's dense radio airwaves, second-hand vinyl shops, and rich musical history sparked a creative revolution in the young writer.

The record received funding support from the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), the Ontario Arts Council, and the Windsor Endowment for the Arts. It features bass & drums by Mike Hargreaves & Stefan Cvetkovic, both of local rock/soul trio The Walkervilles, and a sax section arranged and led by Drew Jurecka (who has arranged songs for internationally acclaimed artists Jill Barber, Raine Maida, and Jully Black).

Next week, Crissi returns to Halifax to perform at The Company House (2202 Gottingen St.) on Friday, February 7, with special guests Jon Samuel & Willie Stratton. For ticket sales and more info, please visit http://crissihfx.brownpapertickets.ca

In Windsor, Crissi will celebrate Little Sway with an album release show at The Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. W.) on Saturday, February 15, with special guests Sarah Hiltz & Mike Hargreaves. 

http://www.crissicochrane.com

JAMES BRANDON LEWIS - DIVINE TRAVELS

Even for an artist hailed by Ebony Magazine as one of "7 Young Players to Watch" who has studied with jazz heavyweights like Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, Joshua Redman, and Matthew Shipp, it takes considerable confidence and courage for a young musician to match wits with veteran improvisers like William Parker and Gerald Cleaver. But on his second release, Divine Travels, saxophonist James Brandon Lewis does just that, not only holding his own with that masterful rhythm section but leading them down fresh and unexpected pathways.

Divine Travels melds the holy spirit of a gospel service with the fiery expression of free jazz, the intuitive dialogue of skilled improvisers with the stunning invention of a first meeting. Lewis' music draws in equal parts on his considerable studies and his roots in the church, as well as his considerable curiosity to discover more and deeper connections within his music.

Lewis' unique stamp can be heard throughout Divine Travels, which results in Parker and Cleaver revealing new facets in their own strongly individual voices. Fragments of gospel melodies emerge and evoke starkly spiritual meditations in tunes like "Wading Child in the Motherless Water," which weaves together the familiar melodies of "Wade in the Water" and "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." But even when not explicitly referencing such traditional fare, Lewis shows a predilection for direct, memorable folk-like melodies that he can then develop, evolve and explore.

The album also contains two collaborations with poet Thomas Sayers Ellis, who Lewis has been working with since the two met at a residency in 2011. The Brooklyn-based poet recites works from two of his books, Skin, Inc., and The Maverick Room, which won the John C. Zacharis First Book Award in 2005.

The title Divine Travels pays homage to Lewis' belief that the music contained within is an expression of his own spiritual journey, marking both distance traveled and experiences yet to unfold.

Lewis' own travels began in Buffalo, New York in 1983. Lewis was raised in the church, which formed the core of the saxophonist's spiritual outlook. While many musicians are inspired by the church, Lewis says that its most important impact was not musical but personal, laying the foundation for his creative approach.

After graduating from the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, Lewis attended Howard University, where he studied with Charlie Young, performed with the likes of Benny Golson, Geri Allen, and Wallace Roney, and backed John Legend, k.d. lang, and Vanessa Williams at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble.

In 2006, Lewis moved to Colorado and pursued a career in gospel music, working with Grammy® Award-winning singer Dorinda Clark Cole and the late "Queen of Gospel Music," Albertina Walker. He relocated again to earn his Masters at CalArts, where he was mentored by Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith, Vinny Golia, and Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson, who later hired Lewis to play in his ensemble.

Lewis released his debut album, Moments, in 2010, before moving to New York City in 2012. Since arriving in the city, he has performed with a wide range of artists, including Charles Gayle, Ed Shuller, Kirk Knuffke, Jason Hwang , Marilyn Crispell, Ken Filiano, Cooper Moore, Darius Jones, Eri Yamamoto, Federico Ughi, Kenny Wessel, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith, and Sabir Mateen, and has worked with the dance company CircuitDebris under the direction of Mersiha Mesihovic. He currently leads his own trio with Luke Stewart on bass and Dominic Fragman on drums.

James Brandon Lewis ·  Divine Travels / OKeh ·  Release Date: February 4, 2014

jblewis.com

JEFF BALLARD TRIO WITH LIONEL LOUEKE & MIGUEL ZENON - TIME'S TALES

Drummer and composer Jeff Ballard makes his long overdue, much anticipated debut as a leader with the diverse and wide-ranging Time's Tales. A master of the trio format who anchors the renowned Brad Mehldau trio and is one-third of the inventive collective group FLY with Larry Grenadier and Mark Turner, Ballard here documents his own longstanding trio with guitarist Lionel Loueke and saxophonist Miguel Zenón. 

With sounds ranging from forward-looking modern jazz to traditional African and Latin rhythms to heavy metal intensity, Time's Tales reflects the Jeff Ballard Trio's adventurous, multi-faceted identity, which has been honed on stages around the world since its formation in 2006. A landmark release in its own right, the album also arrives just as Ballard is celebrating an important benchmark in his own life, his 50th birthday.

  

"I'm getting into the middle of my years. So I think recording this project, with this band, makes a meaningful statement. It's a telling of my times up until this point."

  

A multi-faceted drummer with a keen interest in rhythms from Africa and Latin America, Ballard could have found no better partners for this endeavor than the Benin-born Loueke and Puerto Rico native Zenón. The two have imbibed the rhythms of their homelands and incorporated them into their own expansive sonic palettes, making them ideal foils for Ballard's polyrhythmic approach.

"It's where we meet, for sure," Ballard says. "Their sophistication and awareness of rhythm is so high. Lionel's listening to three different rhythms at the same time; Miguel can hear everything. I pick up something melodically from what they're playing and put it on the drums, and they do the reverse."

Both of Ballard's bandmates are among the most innovative and acclaimed musicians on the scene today. Loueke was mentored by Herbie Hancock and Terence Blanchard, and has worked with legends like Jack DeJohnette and Charlie Haden as well as peers such as Gretchen Parlato, Esperanza Spalding, and Robert Glasper. Zenón is a Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow who has forged a distinctive blend of jazz and Latin American folkloric music. He's also a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective and has worked with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Fred Hersch, David Sánchez, and Steve Coleman.

Born in Newport Beach, California, Jeff Ballard moved to New York after a three-year stint with the legendary Ray Charles, where he immediately began building a diverse resume with artists including Lou Donaldson, Buddy Montgomery, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Mike Stern. In the late '90s he became a part of the Danilo Pérez Trio and Chick Corea's New Trio and Origin, and later joined Joshua Redman's groove-oriented Elastic Band. In 2003, Ballard formed the collective trio FLY with Larry Grenadier and Mark Turner, which has since released three critically acclaimed recordings.

Since 2005 he has been the drummer for the Brad Mehldau Trio, one of the most renowned groups in modern jazz. In addition to his trio, Ballard leads the ensemble Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds, which exists as a quintet featuring Eddie Henderson, Kevin Hays, Jeff Parker and Grenadier, and as a quartet with Loueke, pianist Tigran Hamasyan, and The Bad Plus bassist Reid Anderson on electronics.

JeffBallard.com