CANNONBALL ADDERLY - THE BLACK MESSIAH (2-CD SET)

In 1970, Cannonball Adderley recorded a series of concerts that resulted in three cult classic live albums, of which this double-album—produced, like other landmark double albums of the time like Soul Zodiac and Soul of the Bible, by David Axelrod—is the hardest to find. It captures Cannonball and the Quintet (brother Nat Adderley on cornet, Roy McCurdy on drums, Walter Booker on bass and George Duke—fresh from replacing Joe Zawinul, who had left to form Weather Report—on keyboards) at the forefront of the burgeoning electronic jazz-rock fusion movement, sounding at times every bit like the early ‘70s band of Cannonball’s former bandleader Miles Davis, except maybe even funkier and more out there. 

But Cannonball always had a  populist streak to him—after all, the man had a Top 20 hit with “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”—and so The Black Messiah also features flat-out rock and roll (guest guitarist Mike Deasy’s “Liittle Benny Hen”) as well as dips into the soul-jazz style that had landed him on the charts several years earlier, all punctuated by his always entertaining between-song raps. The band is killer, too, with guests including, in addition to Deasy, percussionists Airto Moreira and Buck Clark, clarinetist Alvin Battiste and saxman Ernie Watts. 

How this fascinating double live album—which was recorded at the Troubadour in Los Angeles during the same concerts that yielded the album Music, You All—has eluded reissue till now is anybody’s guess, but our Real Gone Music/Dusty Groove release features liner notes by Cannonball devotee Bill Kopp, with original art and added photos. Remastered by Maria Triana at Battery Studios in NYC—one of the most mindblowing collaborations between Adderley and Axelrod!

DISC ONE: 

1. Introduction /  2. The Black Messiah / 3. Monologue / 4. Little Benny Hen / 5. Zanek / 6. Dr. Honouris Causa /

DISC TWO

1..The Chocolate Nuisance / 2. Untitled / 3. The Steam Drill / 4. Eye of the Cosmos / 5. Episode from The Music Came / 6. Heritage / 7. Circumference / 8. Pretty Paul

THE 5TH DIMENSION - EARTHBOUND: THE COMPLETE ABC RECORDINGS

The Soul City and Bell recordings of the original line-up of the 5th Dimension—Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Florence LaRue (Gordon), Lamonte McLemore and Ron Townson—have been amply reissued in the digital age, with reissues of all their albums and collections too numerous to name. But Earthbound, the final album they recorded together after moving to the ABC label in 1975, has, due to some contractual confusion, been lost in limbo for almost four decades. Now, after years of persistent efforts, the legal logjam has come unstuck and Earthbound has been “unearthed,” with two bonus single sides (featuring the original version of “Love Hangover”) to boot, all on CD for the first time! 

This album’s use of synthesizers marked a real departure for the band and moved them in a new, funky direction; it also marked a highly anticipated reunion and final collaboration with legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb (“Up, Up and Away”), as Webb produced and arranged the record and wrote half of its songs. Remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, with liner notes by Joe Marchese and added photos and memorabilia—this Real Gone reissue fills a major gap in the discography of one of the greatest pop-soul groups of all time!

Songs:

1. Earthbound/Prologue—Be Here Now / 2. Don’t Stop for Nothing / 3. I’ve Got a Feeling / 4. Magic in My Life / 5. Walk Your Feet in the Sunshine / 6. When Did I Lose Your Love / 7. Lean on Me Always / 8. Speaking with My Heart / 9. Moonlight Mile / 10. Earthbound/Epilogue /  Bonus Tracks: 11. Love Hangover / 12. Will You Be There

TYLER BLANTON - GOTHAM

For a young jazz musician willing to put down roots in the metropolis, New York City can be as unforgiving in its daily tribulations as it is nourishing to the adventurous artistic spirit. On his new album, Gotham (released April 22 on Ottimo Music) vibraphonist Tyler Blanton molds reflections of his now seven-year residence in New York into a mesmerizing musical portrait that is as captivating, aggressive and challenging as the city itself. With indispensible support from tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin, drummer Nate Wood and Matt Clohesy on acoustic and electric bass, Blanton invests Gotham with potent influences from the worlds of rock, fusion, techno and new jazz. Those who know Blanton primarily as a swinging in-the-tradition jazz virtuoso are in for an ear-opening, thoroughly invigorating, surprise. Blanton's extraordinary command of his instrument and his acumen as a composer are as pronounced as ever; what has changed is the expansive nature of his musical vision.

Attentive listeners most familiar with Blanton's work from his critically acclaimed 2010 debut album Botanic will now find that the expert, swing-informed instrumentalist of that period has since expanded his vistas considerably. Others who have enjoyed Blanton's more recent live performances with his own ensembles or as a prized sideman will recognize how this risk-taking musician has rapidly moved beyond the boundaries of conventional post-bop jazz, incorporating the innovative rhythmic ploys and sonic experimentation that are the calling cards of Blanton's audacious peers in the New York alternative jazz scene. With the leader encouraging (and matching) the slamming energy of his cohorts - while also making imaginative use of the Malletkat, an electronic vibes-like instrument that triggers a Midi for a wide swath of sonic colors - Gotham bursts with a grab-you-by-the-collar attitude that owes much to the assertive texture of New York City itself. "This album is specifically more eclectic than my earlier work," Blanton says. "It's edgier, more hard hitting, assertive and rhythmic. You can hear echoes of groove music and rock, even heavy metal! It's an intense album, in the way that just living day-to-day in New York can be intense."

The year-plus period before the recording of Gotham - which found Blanton cementing both the compositions and the group sound - can be easily detected in the quartet's ease with the often fiendishly challenging arrangements as well as the creative give-and-take that highlights each track. Gotham's opening salvo - "Never Sleeps," "Freaky Dream," "Gotham" and "Cogs" - is a burst of jubilant energy with equal displays of musical muscle, pinpoint ensemble accuracy and improvisational discernment. The extended "Tunnels," with its enthralling rhythmic vigor and riveting solos, is a prime example of the (in Blanton's words) "epic quality" that he strove to capture when he was first conceptualizing the textural architecture of Gotham. Blanton chose his ensemble with the specific skills of each member in mind: the invaluable contributions of the seemingly tireless McCaslin, the ever-supportive Clohesy and the relentlessly inventive and phenomenally skillful drummer Nate Wood are especially evident throughout.

The concluding track, "Breaking through the Clouds," is a stunning ballad that acts as a declaration of ultimate hope and affirmation, stating in sound that while New York can often threaten to break you, its vitality can, in fact, offer an artist uncommon inspiration. Which in Blanton's case, it emphatically has: "I wanted Gotham to announce that my aesthetic had changed, that here was something different and worth checking out. Whether you like it or not, this album is an authentic statement of where my music is now at."

Tyler Blanton grew up outside Los Angeles, California, where he switched from drums to vibraphone at the age of eighteen. After graduating from Sonoma State University with a degree in jazz studies, Blanton moved to New York where he has worked with such significant jazz instrumentalists as the saxophonists Joel Frahm, Seamus Blake and Donny McCaslin, and the drummers Matt Wilson, Ari Hoenig and Richie Barshay, among many others.  Blanton has performed and conducted workshops throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.

http://tylerblanton-gotham.com/

DEWA BUDJANA FT. JIMMY JOHNSON & VINNIE COLAIUTA - SURYA NAMASKAR

Dewa Budjana, Indonesian iconic guitar legend of Balinese ethnic heritage, is releasing his 3rd album (his 7th solo effort on his parallel jazz-fusion career) on MoonJune Records; the New York City independent label of progressive music that explores boundaries of jazz, rock, avant-garde, ethno & the unknown, run by its cosmopolitan honcho and executive producer Leonardo Pavkovic.

Recorded in Los Angeles by the world renowned engineer Robert Feist (who recorded Stevie Nicks, Anita Baker, and 8 albums of Allan Holdsworth, among many others) during two sessions in January and October of 2013, Surya Namaskar (Salute to the Sun, in Budjana's native Balinese language) represents a significant change from Dewa Budjana's last album, Joged Kahyangan. While bassist Jimmy Johnson (Allan Holdsworth, James Taylor, Flim & the BB's) is back from that session, this time the drummer is the much in-demand powerhouse Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck, Sting), with ubiquitous guitar session ace Michael Landau (James Taylor, Renegade Creation, Joni Mitchell) and drummer turned keyboardist Gary Husband (John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jack Bruce) making valuable guest appearances on one track each.

Full of twists and turns you could never see coming, Surya Namaskar provides ample evidence that the Balinese guitarist is just as much at home in moments of pure spontaneity, ripping over a killer groove, as he is in denser, more orchestrated settings. Exploring previously-unrevealed facets of his artistic mystique, this album highlights a more instinctive, uninhibited approach to both his guitar playing and music making. Served up just-out-of-the-oven fresh and delivered with conviction and urgency, each song is its own unique, engulfing cosmic voyage.

The sum total of Surya Namaskar is most definitely greater than its individual – monstrously talented – parts. Together with his two previous MoonJune recordings - Dawai in Paradise (January, 2013) and Joged Kahyangan (October, 2013) - Surya Namaskar paints the ongoing portrait of a guitarist who may be a superstar in the Indonesian pop-rock world as a founding member of the multi-million selling Gigi (one of the most prolific bands in Indonesian history, with 24 releases to their name, celebrating this year their 20th anniversary with their 25th album Live at Abbey Road, in which Budjana is the main composer and author of many hits), but whose lesser-known credibility and, more importantly, visibility as a jazz and fusion guitarist is slowly on the ascendance, as more and more international progressive music fans discover the depth, the heart, and the profound spirituality of Dewa Budjana, at fifty a new guitar hero of strength, creativity and significance.

In January 2014, Dewa Budjana has recorded in New York City material for another studio album to be released by MoonJune, in October 2014, featuring Antonio Sanchez on drums, Ben Williams on upright bass (both recording and touring with Pat Metheny) and Joe Locke on vibraphone. 

NEW RELEASES: SOUL JAZZ RECORDS PRESENTS INNER CITY BEAT!: RC AND THE GRITZ - PAY YOUR TAB; JAZZ ON FILM 3

SOUL JAZZ RECORDS PRESENTS INNER CITY BEAT!: DETECTIVE, SPY MUSIC AND IMAGINARY THRILLERS

A killer collection of sound library funk from the UK – a scene that served up some of the rarest grooves of the 70s! The music is every bit as funky as American work from the early 70s – like records from CTI, or blacksploitation soundtracks – but most of it was never issued on vinyl at the time, as it was circulated only for use in film and television – recorded by an elite group of players for very limited use. The rarity is only part of the appeal, though – as the overall vibe is great – and the record has the same instantly appealing feel as other jazz, funk, and soul collections from the always-great Soul Jazz label. This time around, they do a great job of turning their ear towards the rich sound libraries of companies like KPM, DeWolfe, and Conroy – and come up with a double-length batch of funky instrumentals that includes "The Hell Raisers" and "Danger Musicians At Work" by Syd Dale, "Fuel Injection" and "Crossflow" by Ernest Copley, "Superformance" and "Men Of Action" by David Lindup, "Cross Talk" and "Funky Chimes" by Francis Coppieters, "Theme From New Scotland Yard" by Norrie Paramour, "Come One Come All" by Brass Incorporated, "Sparks" by Peter Reno & Barry Stoller, "Gotta Getaway" by Dave Richmond, "Transit" by Clive Hicks, "The Ratcatchers" by Tilsley Orchestral, "Grand Prix" by Johnny Pearson, and "Conveyer Belt" and "Workshop" by Johnny Hawksworth. (Limited edition CD includes 60-page graphic novel!) ~ Dusty Groove

RC AND THE GRITZ - PAY YOUR TAB

A cool Texas combo who are perhaps best known for their work as the backing band for Erykah Badu – but who sound pretty darn great hear on their own! The album's a unique hybrid of deep funk and contemporary soul modes – fused with core energy that feels like a live group working through funky rhythms, but served up with more of an electric vibe overall – that fusion of old and new that Erykah brought to her best early work, and which comes through wonderfully in the indie spirit of the band! The groove goes deep, and the record's got some great vocals to match – on titles that include "Summer Boo", "Hush", "Leave Me Alone", "That Kinda Girl", "Melodies", "Love Love Love", and "Pay Your Tab". ~ Dusty Groove

JAZZ ON FILM 3 - THE NEW WAVE (6-CD)

A wonderful collection of work from the French scene of the late 50s – a special package that brings together a whole host of jazz-based soundtracks, all written for some of the best films of the nouvelle vague generation! The box features 6CDs, and a special 72 page book with notes on the music and a special essay – and the collection of music is mighty nice, and includes some classic favorites, and a few lesser-known gems that really add a lot to the collection! Includes the soundtracks for Les Cousins and God Created Woman by Paul Misraki, A Bout De Souffle by Martial Solal, Shoot The Pianist by Georges Delerue, Bob Le Flambeur by Eddie Barclay, Ascensceur Por L'Echafaud by Miles Davis, Un Temoin Dans La Ville by Barney Wilen, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Des Femmes Disparaissent by Art Blakey, La Bride Sur La Cou by Georges Arvanitas, No Sun In Venice by Modern Jazz Quartet, Knife In Water by Krzystof Komeda, and Black Orpheus by Luiz Bonfa and Antonio Carlos Jobim. ~ Dusty Groove

CHRISTIAN PROMMER - UBERMOOD

Christian Prommer releases his first solo album “ÜberMood” on Compost in March 2014. ÜberMood is a very personal travel of Christian Prommer into his roots. Having collaborators with most of his projects for the last two decades, he now debuts with his first solo album: ÜberMood. These 16 songs are a reflection on his musical journey for the past 12 month.

ÜberMood says it all. You need the German Übermut (may be translated as cockiness or devilment) as an artist to go the extra mile out of your comfort zone to tap into new territory. And the mood or atmosphere is something that defines your voice as an artist. This record was written and produced all over the world on the many travels that Christian Prommer took to concerts, studio sessions and DJ shows. Improvisation is the main mantra of Christian Prommers creative process. Playing with the various instruments, drum machines, sequencers and records, Christian is on a mission to the perfect moment. Whether it’s when playing live with his band (live set with jazz musicians as “Drumlesson”), at solo concerts or as a DJ, the moment is what brings music to life and connects you with the audience.

To describe the music of this album is quite a challenge. This record travels through all of Christian Prommers musical interests. From classical, jazz, electronic soundscapes, folk and soul-music to deep house music. The rhythm and the improvisation is always a very distinctive element in the music of Christian Prommer. He played many of the instruments on this record himself but reached out to some fine collaborators to get the extra input he was looking for.

Seasoned jazz musicians like Kelvin Sholar (Detroit), Florian Riedl (Muc), Raoul Walton (Nyc) and Jan Krause (Muc) as well as vocalists and co-writers like Simon Jinadu (London), Kim Sanders (Atlanta), Tommy Hien (LA/Muc), Adriano Prestel (Muc) and Lew Stoi (Muc). Some new names and some old friends.

This release also celebrates the long love and dedication that Christian Prommmer has for Michael Reinboth and his Compost Records. Christians first release was on Compost Records in 1995. Since that time Michael Reinboth continued to be one of the main friends and supporters of his music and art.

Christian Prommer is an american producer, DJ, drummer and musician who has produced and composed genre defining and award winning dance music for two decades. As founding member of Fauna Flash, Trüby Trio and Voom:Voom, as producer and co-writer for Kruder and Dorfmeister, DJ Hell (their effort “Teufelswerk” was “Echo” nominated), Kim Sanders (they won the “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik”), The Dining Rooms, Incognito and with his own projects Prommer & Barck and most notably Christian Prommers Drumlesson – his own Band, with which he traveled between the worlds of Jazz and Techno festivals.

As a musician and collaborator he has worked with Carl Craig, Tony Allen, Bugge Wesseltoft, Joe Sample, Til Brönner, Mousse T, Wolfgang Haffner, Incognito, Klaus Doldinger and many more. With his band, solo shows and DJ sets he travels the world non stop from big jazz festivals to the darkest after hour club.

“I am really proud of my buddy Christian Prommer. His album Über Mood is a nice journey from Jazz via Soul to contemporary electronica. Loving the energy and needless to say: the drumming is awesome! A possible contender for “album of the year”. Bringing the jazz back on the dancefloor!” – Rainer Trüby

www.christianprommer.com

Tracklisting:

01. Shanghai Nights

02. Can It Be Done feat. Adriano Prestel

03. Aturo

04. Zao Bretu

05. Future Light with Bugsy feat. Jinadu

06. Beautiful feat. Lew Stoi

07. Hanging On The DJ Booth feat. KG

08. Wonders Of The World feat. Tommy Hien

09. Unusual Habits

10. Waltz

11. Marimba

12. Tob, Der Bär

13. Synth Jazz

14. Where You Gonna Go feat. Kim Sanders

15. Duckwalk With Beanfield

16. Where Is The Sun with Beanfield

The album Christian Prommer “ÜberMood” (Compost) is going to be released March 7, 2014.

~ grooveattack.com

GREGORY ISAACS - REGGAE LEGENDS 4-ALBUM BOX SET

Four original albums collected together in reproduction sleeves give an extensive overview of the Cool Rulers 80′s return to form. Three massive Music Works sets from top producer Gussie Clarke (‘Private Beach Party’, ‘Red Rose For Gregory’, ‘I.O.U.’) along with a magnificent Roots Radics propelled Redman collection ‘Victim’. Includes the hit singles ‘Rumours’, ‘Let Off Supm’, ‘Report To Me’, ‘Mind Yu Dis’, ‘Too Good To Be True’ etc. and features special guest appearances from Jimmy Cliff, The Mighty Diamonds and Mutabaruka! www.vprecords.com

Tracklisting: 

CD1 (Private Beach Party) / 01. Private Beach Party / 02. Wish You Were Mine / 03. Feeling Irie feat. Carlene Davis / 04. Bits And Pieces / 05. Let Of Supm / 06. No Rushings / 07. Better Plant Some Loving / 08. Special To Me / 09. Got To Be In Tune

10. Promise Is A Comfort / 

CD2 (Red Rose For Gregory) / 01. Red Rose For Gregory / 02. Teachers Plight (12″ Promo Mix) / 03. Break The Date / 04. Rumours (12″ Hit Mix) / 05. Slow Down / 06. All I Need Is You / 07. Rough Neck (12″ Street Mix) (feat. The Mighty Diamonds) / 08. Intimate Potential / 09. Me No In A Dat / 10. Closer Than A Brother / 11. Mind Yu Dis (12″ Manners Mix)

CD3 (I.O.U.) / 01. Report To Me / 02. What’s The Matter / 03. Too Good To Be True / 04. Fall For You Again / 05. I.O.U. / 06. Can’t Make A Slip / 07. Hard Road To Travel (feat. Mutabaruka) / 08. Express Love / 09. Fatal Attraction / 10. Break The Ice / 11. Easy Life / 12. Big All Round / 13. Jealously (feat. Jimmy Cliff)

CD4 (Victim) / 01. Victim / 02. Surrender Your Love / 03. Rosie / 04. Mt. Music Man / 05. Special Someone / 06. Loving You Ain’t Easy / 07. Howdy Ho / 08. Welcome To My Room

NEW RELEASES: MEKLIT - WE ARE ALIVE; CALIBRO 35 - VENDETTA / YOU, FILTHY BASTARDS!; ALOE BLACC - LIFT YOUR SPIRIT

MEKLIT – WE ARE ALIVE

We Are Alive is the Ethiopian-born, San Francisco-based artist’s first album with Six Degrees Records, and the follow up to her acclaimed 2010 debut On A Day Like This… The album features 11 Meklit originals, as well as a traditional Ethiopian tune “Kemekem” and a cover of The Police’s “Bring On The Night.” It was recorded to tape at New, Improved Studios in Oakland, California, and runs a stylistic gamut from Ethiopian and Sudanese rhythms to New York jazz and San Francisco folk. Producer Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs, Deerhoof, Geographer) helped guide the album’s spirit of innovation and sonic dexterity. On March 20, Meklit kicks off a U.S. tour to celebrate the release of We Are Alive, with shows including in the Washington, D.C.-area, Boston, New York, Seattle and San Francisco. Upcoming shows: 3/20 | The Mansion Strathmore | Bethesada, MD / 3/21 | Subculture | New York, NY / 03/22 | David Friend Recital Hall Berklee | Boston, MA / 3/25 | Evanston SPACE | Evanston, IL / 3/26 | Legion Arts | Cedar Rapids, IA / 03/27 | Cedar Cultural Center | Minneapolis, MN / 3/31 | The Triple Door | Seattle, WA / 4/02 | Great American Music Hall | San Francisco, CA / 4/04 | The Mint | Los Angeles, CA.

CALIBRO 35 - VENDETTA / YOU, FILTHY BASTARDS! 

Limited to 450 copies worldwide, Calibro 35 new 45 vinyl taken from Traditori Di Tutti. "Vendetta" is Calibro 35 new 7" single from Traditori di Tutti, their latest latest LP on Record Kicks and is available in a limited edition 45 and digital download. On the A side Vendetta is an Alan Morehouse, KPM's Alan Hawkshaw style stormer with an epic Morricone gran finale. On the 45 flipside dirty crime funk mover "You, Filthy Bastards". "This is the sound of The Godfather as co-directed by Quentin Tarantino" Alarm Magazine USA. The much lauded Italian group are embarking on a European tour including dates in Paris at l’Alimentacion General on 27 March, London at 229 The Venue on 28 March and Manchester at Band On The Wall on 29 March.

ALOE BLACC - LIFT YOUR SPIRIT

Real spirit-lifting sounds from Aloe Blacc – a set that starts with a sense of righteousness right on the very first track – almost a gospel sense of spirit, mixed with Aloe's wonderfully secular groove! The beats are lean, the vocals are clean, and the record's got a tight snap all the way through – that hip fusion of modes that Aloe Blacc's been serving up for years, but which may well push him towards an even bigger audience this time around – thanks to the album's sharp production, and his ever-increasing songwriting talents. DJ Khalil produced the album – and titles include "The Man", "Here Today", "Wake Me Up", "Chasing", "Can You Do This", "Ticking Bomb", and "Red Velvet Seat". ~ Dusty Groove

 

NEW RELEASES: JASON ROEBKE OCTET - HIGH RED CENTER; DEEP TONE PROJECT - FLOW; LISA HILTON - KALEIDESCOPE

JASON ROEBKE OCTET - HIGH RED CENTER

Maybe the greatest work we've heard so far from Chicago bassist Jason Roebke – a key player on so many sessions for other jazzmen in recent years, but a hell of a visionary leader on his own! Roebke composed all new material for the record – and the set's performed by an octet that's overloaded with heavyweights – including Josh Berman on cornet, Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Keefe Jackson on tenor, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Jason Adasiewicz on vibes, and Mike Reed on drums – all players very familiar with Roebke's sound and style, and a great choice to carry out his mission in the music. There's definitely a compositional structure to the record, but many sounds are quite free, too – individual voices soaring out strongly in this flurry of notes and tones. Titles include "High Red Center", "Slow", "Dirt Cheap", "No Passengers", "Ten Nights", "Shadow", and "Ballin".  ~ Dusty Groove

DEEP TONE PROJECT - FLOW

Fancy Music has announced the release of Deep Tone Project - Flow, which is an excellent example of modern european jazz sound performed by some of the best ukrainian musicians, who create an original mood and atmosphere of a fascinating mixture of modern creative, post bop and contemporary jazz. Features musicians:  Viktor Pavelko: tenor saxophone; Alexandr Pavlov: guitar; Konstantin Ionenko: bass; and Pavel Galitskiy: drums. Tracklisting: Odd Fellow; BLue; Recent Sense; Fragments; Untitled; Air Shortage; and Flow.

LISA HILTON - KALEIDESCOPE

Like a kaleidoscope shifting its colorful pieces to create a new vision of a well-known view, pianist/composer Lisa Hilton blends the ever-changing elements of modern and traditional jazz on her 16th release to date. Kaleidoscope (available now on Ruby Slippers Productions) is Hilton's answer to viewing our world and lives with a new perspective. The album features performances by bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and acclaimed tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen on three tracks. "Larry's always inspiring narrative coupled with Marcus's fresh enthusiastic energy augmented J.D.'s deep, powerful tone superbly," recalls Hilton. Kaleidoscope encompasses elements of retro bop and avant-garde as well as impressionistic and minimalistic ideas throughout its 11 tracks. Hilton's imaginative compositions draw equally from jazz greats like Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and Count Basie as well as the classical tradition. Ultimately, Kaleidoscope offers a kind of jazz that simultaneously recalls the history of an art form while also challenging us to consider an alternative point of view. "The last few years have been challenging to so many, and I feel we need to somehow shift our perspective - like a kaleidoscope shifts its pretty pieces," reflects Hilton.

 

ESPERANZA SPALDING, KENNY WERNER TO PLAY A "CONCERT TO FEED THE HUNGRY"

On Friday, April 25, 2014 at 7:00 p.m., Esperanza Spalding and Kenny Werner, two world-renowned jazz artists, will headline at Buddhist Global Relief's annual "Concert To Feed The Hungry." The concert raises much-needed awareness and funds to support the global fight to end hunger and malnutrition.

In addition to their prolific output as recording and performing artists, Spalding and Werner are firmly committed to making their music a force for positive change in the world, and they will be joined by some of New York's leading musicians at the Interchurch Center for a double bill.

The concert is produced by jazz saxophonist Dan Blake (who will also play in Kenny Werner's quartet) along with a team of dedicated volunteers from Buddhist Global Relief.

Grammy-winning bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding has given performances throughout the world to such audiences as President Barack Obama, The View, and David Letterman, where she was proclaimed "the coolest" guest in the three-decade history of the program. She is a versatile and prolific songwriter, having released Radio Music Society to great acclaim, garnering two Grammy awards, adding to her remarkable win of the 2011 "Best New Artist" award. She is no stranger to activism in her work, having teamed up with UNESCO and Herbie Hancock for International Jazz Day. She also recently produced and performed in a music video that advocates for the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison, enlisting the support of music legends like Stevie Wonder and Harry Belafonte. Ms. Spalding will be joined by pianist, composer and long-time collaborator Leonardo Genovese.

Kenny Werner is a world-class pianist and composer. His prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continue to impact audiences around the world. Kenny was recently awarded the 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship Award for his seminal work, No Beginning No End, a musical journey exploring tragedy and loss, death and transition, and the path from one lifetime to the next.

His groundbreaking work Effortless Mastery is one of the most widely read books on music and improvisation, helping thousands of musicians around the world unlock their talent and potential. Mr. Werner will be joined by percussionist Richie Barshay, Johannes Weidenmueller, and saxophonist Dan Blake.

Funds raised from the concert will go to support BGR's projects which give vital food aid to poor communities around the world and promote greater food productivity at the grass-roots level, both locally and globally. One of these organizations is Harlem Seeds (www.harlemseeds.org), an organization that helps young people to grow food in a sustainable environment, giving them the education and resources to develop a nutritious diet from seed to table.

www.concerttofeedthehungry.org

BILLY PORTER - BILLY'S BACK ON BROADWAY

It’s been almost a decade since the Pittsburgh-born Billy Porter released a solo album, and since then much has changed for the award-winning artist, who grew up singing in the Pentecostal church. Perhaps best known for his Tony® Award-winning role as ‘Lola’ in the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots, Porter’s musical background is based in gospel, soul and R&B. He released his first solo album, Untitled, on A&M Records, and a second album, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul, on Sh-K-Boom Records. On April 15, 2014, Porter releases his debut on Concord Records, Billy’s Back on Broadway, produced by Rob Mounsey. (International release dates may vary)

Featuring ten classics made famous on the Great White Way that focus on inspiration, empowerment and hope, the album’s title is a nod to Sammy Davis, Jr.’s recording Sammy’s Back on Broadway. “The canon of great Broadway songs is so vast, and I have so many favorites that the only way I could narrow them down was to choose a theme,” Porter says of the songs on Billy’s Back on Broadway. “Once I settled on what I wanted to say and the journey I wanted the listener to take, the songs made their presence known rather quickly.”

While Porter grew up as a gospel singer, he transitioned to theater, making his Broadway debut in the original cast of Miss Saigon. “Seeing Jennifer Holliday from Dreamgirls perform on the Tony® Awards telecast and later discovering Barbra Streisand by listening to her albums at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh really changed everything for me,” Porter says of his career path. “When Barbra released her first Broadway album I was about 15 years old, and I thought, ‘One day, I’m going to make my own Broadway album – just like Babs!’”

Cyndi Lauper, the GRAMMY®, Emmy® & Tony® Award-winning rock icon who penned the score for Kinky Boots, makes a special guest appearance on Billy’s Back on Broadway, dueting with Porter on “Happy Days/Get Happy,” a tune made famous by Streisand and Judy Garland. “I’ve said it before, and I'll say it again. Cyndi is one of the godmothers of individuality,” Porter explains. “She forged a path for so many of us that didn’t fit into the status quo. I learned so much and have felt so inspired by her journey as an artist and human being, before I even knew her. She’s a blessing and a gift, and I’m so thrilled she said ‘yes’ when I asked her to sing on this album.”

In January 2014, the Broadway cast recording of Kinky Boots won the Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album. The show, based on the 2005 British movie of the same name, tells the story of a drag queen who helps to rescue a floundering shoe factory. Kinky Boots celebrates its one year on Broadway anniversary in April 2014.

“It’s been unbelievable to be given the opportunity to circle back to the original dream, which for me started way back in the ’80s in Pittsburgh, when I dreamed of one day being a Broadway star,” Porter says. Now the winner of every major theater award, including the 2013 Tony® Award for Best Actor in a Musical, Porter is truly living the dream.

Track Listing for Billy’s Back on Broadway

1. But the World Goes Round

2. Everything’s Coming Up Roses

3. Don’t Rain on My Parade

4. On the Street Where You Live

5. I’ve Gotta Be Me

6. I’m Not My Father’s Son

7. Happy Days/Get Happy (w/ Cyndi Lauper)

8. Luck Be a Lady

9. Take the Moment

10. I Am Changing

THE BIOGRAPHY OF LEGENDARY RECORD EXEC BRUCE LUNDVALL: PLAYING BY EAR

Bruce Lundvall: Playing by Ear, published by ArtistShare, is the authorized biography of the record business legend whose astounding career spans more than 50 years. Author Dan Ouellette has painted the portrait of one of the recording industry's most notable figures, who has been responsible for signing an array of top-flight artists from his years at Columbia/CBS, Elektra/Elektra Musician and Blue Note, where he still serves as chairman emeritus.

The Lundvall biography has been published in an unorthodox way--bypassing brick-and-mortar book stores (which are sadly disappearing in much the same way that record stores dwindled in number)--and being made available for purchase as a 400+-page, 50+-photos soft-cover book through either the ArtistShare website, the project Facebook site, Amazon.com, or at special book parties and events.

The book opens with one of Bruce's favorite stories (when Charlie Parker walked out of the Open Door club with the young fan's pork pie hat) followed by chapters on Bruce's childhood as a lover of music (including his teenage escapades from New Jersey into the New York hotbed of jazz) and his introduction to working in the record business at Columbia in 1960.

Bruce Lundvall with Dexter Gordon

The Lundvall story is sketched chronologically, interspersed with chapters zeroing in on artists he signed, nurtured, promoted and in some cases discovered. Based on his recollections and on the reflections of those artists, there are in-depth "testifying" chapters on his relationship with Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones, Dexter Gordon, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Amos Lee, Joe Lovano, Jason Moran, Cassandra Wilson, Rubén Blades, Paquito D'Rivera, Richard Marx, Dave Koz, Terence Blanchard and Kurt Elling. While his favorite music is jazz, Bruce had the ears to recognize talent across the genres--from country to adult pop.

There's also a comprehensive overview of Bruce's bold decision to break the western hemisphere's Iron Curtain by organizing and staging the Havana Jam in Cuba in 1979 (35 years ago) -- thus opening the door to several Cuban artists to record and perform in the U.S. In addition, there's a chapter on the true story of his discovery of Whitney Houston and how record label politics stymied him from signing her (he did orchestrate her very first recording session, singing on a Bill Laswell Material song with Archie Shepp as guest soloist), and a chapter on Bruce's biggest regret: not signing singer Eva Cassidy.

Arriving in the 75th anniversary year of Blue Note Records, Playing by Ear comprehensively covers Bruce's leadership in continuing the legacy of the label with several chapters devoted to events and artists.

A current running throughout the book is the changing development of the recording business, with Bruce ("I'm an analog man in the digital age") reflecting on its future from the perspective of a music lover who started out buying shellac 78s and today finds him listening to MP3 files. The book ends with an afterword by Bruce about the state of the recording business.

"What's totally special about Bruce is how he put art first and allowed artists to follow their own paths," says Ouellette. "That's a rarity in the record business world. He never dictated a career direction or forced a musician to be someone else or record certain songs. He's managed to not only allow artists to follow their own passion and intuition, but also has a keen ear for music that has commercial potential. As Norah Jones so articulately says, 'They call Bruce the best ears in town.'"

Playing by Ear tells the story of a much-loved man who unlike his extroverted contemporaries such as Clive Davis and the late Ahmet Ertegun made his mark on the recording industry as a behind-the-scenes force who believed in the art. As he likes to say: "Life is short, art is long, jazz is forever."

BRIAN CULBERTSON'S ANOTHER LONG NIGHT DEBUTS AT #1

Twenty years after the release of his debut album, “Long Night Out,” award-winning contemporary jazz/R&B multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson completely reimagined the collection as “Another Long Night Out,” his 14th album and first on his BCM Entertainment label, which debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The set spotlighting a stellar collective comprised of many of the contemporary jazz luminaries that influenced and inspired Culbertson to make the first record is the musician’s sixth album to debut at No. 1. Speeding up the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart to No. 2, the first single, “Fullerton Ave.” featuring guitarist Chuck Loeb, is on the road to earning Culbertson his 27th No. 1 single as an artist, producer and songwriter.

The day before the February 25 album release, Culbertson took over Sirius XM’s Watercolors for 16 hours programming cuts from the new collection as well as from some of the musicians featured on “Another Long Night Out” including Loeb, Lee Ritenour, Eric Marienthal, Rick Braun, Steve Lukather, Russ Freeman, “Patches” Stewart, Candy Dulfer and Jonathan Butler. Other noteworthy musicians appearing on the remake are Paul Jackson Jr., Jimmy Haslip, Will Kennedy, Nathan East, the late Ricky Lawson, Ray Parker Jr., Jeff Kashiwa, Larry Dunn and Ricky Peterson along with a 33-piece orchestra playing arrangements by David Benoit and Culbertson.  

For the first time, Culbertson has made the sheet music used during the “Another Long Night Out” recording sessions available for free on his website. Musicians that want to play along can purchase “Music Minus One” mixes for piano, bass, drums and “band only” (no piano or other lead instruments) on Culbertson’s webstore.

Recorded in the bedroom of his crowded college apartment above a Chicago costume shop while he was a 20-year-old music student at DePaul University, the three demos that formed the basis of “Long Night Out” landed Culbertson a 6-album record deal. The notion to rebuild the album from scratch using fresh arrangements and feature performances from contemporary jazz royalty has long-ruminated inside Culbertson’s head and began with a wish list cast of musicians.

“The idea behind the remake was to make the album the way I always wanted to do it. Over the years, I’d randomly listen to that album. I liked the songs and arrangements, but always heard things that I would have liked to have done differently, mainly because of the limitations I had at the time. I had a very limited budget and limited technology so I tried to make the instruments sound real even though I had to use synth piano, a drum machine and synth bass. Now I can use real piano and live players along with the experience I’ve had over the past 20 years as a producer,” said Culbertson, who also had another purpose for the new recording in mind. “I wanted to return to my roots and introduce newer fans to another side of me as a musician and an artist. Contemporary jazz fans will dig ‘Another Long Night Out.’ I hadn’t done a full instrumental album in years. It is jazz fusion-y and I want to be known as a broader artist than just the R&B/funk guy. A lot of people didn’t know the (music on the) first album, which is out of print.”     

Also a popular concert draw known for high-energy performances and masterful musicianship, Culbertson will begin rehearsals next week for an entirely new show that will be unveiled at a dress rehearsal March 12 for invited guests and 94.7 The Wave Los Angeles radio station contest winners with the first tour dates in support of “Another Long Night Out” taking place March 20-23 at Seattle’s Jazz Alley. Last week, Culbertson played a short set in Napa for Wine Country royalty as he launched his own wine, “Culbertson” Pinot Noir by Reata Wines, a personal blend he created in partnership with Jamieson Ranch Vineyards. Tickets for Culbertson’s third annual Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, a star-studded wine and jazz festival that will again lure thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world to Napa June 11-15, 2014, are on sale now with the June 14 & 15 shows taking place on the stunning Jamieson Ranch property.

www.BrianCulbertson.me  

SINGER/SONGWRITER NOEL GOURDIN RELEASES CITY HEART, SOUTHERN SOUL

R&B Singer/songwriter Noel Gourdin is a fan of powerful music with potent messages. Influenced by iconic voices like Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Johnny Taylor, Gourdin has learned a thing or two about crafting songs that speak to the heart, mind and soul.  His rich buttery smooth alto, flavored with a gritty and bluesy undercurrent and punctuated by agile gospel riffs, make him instantly recognizable.  Gourdin's ability to drive home a song was quickly evidenced when he exploded onto the scene in 2008. His unforgettable and soulfully charged hit “The River,” managed to hold the #1 slot at Urban AC Radio for 15 consecutive weeks.  On February 18, 2014, Noel Gourdin made his Shanachie Entertainment/Top Notch Music debut with City Heart, Southern Soul, which the young and charming musician says harnesses the true essence of soul music, while at the same time expands its boundaries.

The album title City Heart, Southern Soul speaks directly to Noel Gourdin’s roots. Born in Brockton, MA and having spent numerous summers with his family in Pachuta, Mississippi, Gourdin is the perfect amalgamation of city fire and southern heat.  His debut After My Time came in 2008 featuring his gospel tinged hit single “The River.” Fresh: The Definition was released in showcasing a refreshing blend of live instrumentation, organic production, and lyrical content as heard on the Top 10 Urban AC single, “Beautiful.”

With the release of City Heart, Southern Soul, Noel Gourdin continues to assert himself as one of the most promising voices of his generation, making music that promises to stand the test of time. Noel confides that he hope his music will be known for its quality. He adds, “It’s really important for me to be respectful and have music that can speak to the masses, from a two year old to your Great GrandMAMA! Musical integrity is extremely important to me, for when I leave the industry my musical legacy is what I want to be remembered for…Timeless, Real and Soulful, music.”

SANTANA AND ROD STEWART 2014 SUMMER TOUR ANNOUNCED

Music legends Rod Stewart and Santana will be combining their talents this summer, bringing their tour "The Voice, The Guitar, The Songs" across the United States and Canada. The tour will kick off on May 23rd in Albany and will stretch to the end of August, giving fans 18 chances to see them perform.

Both Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana rose to prominence in the music industry in the late 1960s and have had a large following ever since. While they both grew in popularity at the same time, their claims to fame were quite different. Rod Stewart is best known for his distinctive raspy voice whereas Santana paved the way for a fusion of rock and Latin American music. Both artists have been heavily decorated with awards over the years and are two of the longest-lasting and most prominent artists of all time.

Rod Stewart & Santana 2014 Tour Dates:

May 23 - Albany, NY (Times Union Center)

May 25 - Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun)

May 27 - Pittsburgh, PA (CONSOL Energy Center)

May 31- Buffalo, NY (First Niagara Center)

June 3 - Louisville, KY (KFC Yum! Center)

June 6 - St. Louis, MO (Scottrade Center)

June 7 - Lincoln, NE (Pinnacle Bank Arena)

July 31- Eugene, OR (Matthew Knight Arena)

Aug. 2 - Vancouver, BC (Rogers Arena)

Aug. 4 - Calgary, AB (Scotiabank Saddledome)

Aug. 5 - Edmonton, AB (Rexall Place)

Aug. 8 - Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre)

Aug. 10 - St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center)

Aug. 12 - Denver, CO (Pepsi Center)

Aug. 14 - Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center)

Aug. 16 - Rosemont, IL (Allstate Arena)

Aug. 19 - Washington, DC (Verizon Center)

Aug. 20 - Wantagh, NY (Jones Beach Amphitheatre)

 

CASSANDRA WILSON - BLUE LIGHT 'TIL DAWN - REMASTERED 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Cassandra Wilson’s landmark album ‘Blue Light ‘Til Dawn’ helped to define a new style of jazz when it was released two decades ago. It went on to sell nearly one million copies and earned Cassandra the title of “America’s best singer” from Time magazine. On April 29, Blue Note/UMe will release an expanded 20th anniversary edition of ‘Blue Light ‘Til Dawn,’ adding three previously unreleased live recordings from Wilson’s 1994 European tour to the digitally remastered album.

‘Blue Light ‘Til Dawn,’ Wilson’s Blue Note Records debut, broke new ground by providing an alternate route to vocal jazz stardom, mining blues, folk and R&B. Along with three original compositions and innovative takes on blues and jazz standards, Wilson provided a radical treatment of popular music including Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey,” Joni Mitchell’s “Black Crow,” and Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand The Rain.”

Wilson’s unique approach to rhythm allowed her to blend unusual melodies and harmonies with a band that used inventive instrumentation and virtuosic performance to create a wholly original sound. Cassandra’s album also opened a new door for jazz vocalists, among them Norah Jones, who has stated that she studied the album while composing and arranging her own Blue Note debut.

The original producer of the album, Craig Street, oversaw the remastering of this edition with Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, who has mastered albums by Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Paul Simon.

The Expanded Edition plays a key role in a big year for Cassandra Wilson, which includes a ‘Blue Light To A New Dawn’ tour of Europe and the U.S., a song featured on HBO’s ‘True Detective,’ and a new album of Billie Holiday songs slated for release next year. She’ll also sing and play guitar with the trio Harriet Tubman on select dates in March including the BRIC House venue in Brooklyn on March 16.

Cassandra Wilson: ‘Blue Light ‘Til Dawn’ (20th Anniversary Edition)

1. You Don’t Know What Love Is

2. Come On In My Kitchen

3. Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me

4. Children Of The Night

5. Hellhound On My Trail

6. Black Crow

7. Sankofa

8. Estrellas

9. Redbone

10. Tupelo Honey

11. Blue Light ’Til Dawn

12. I Can’t Stand The Rain

Produced by Craig Street / Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks: Live In Europe, 1994

13. Black Crow (Live)

14. Skylark (Live)

15. Tupelo Honey (Live)

Cassandra Wilson tour dates:

March (Harriet Tubman + Cassandra Wilson Present: Black Sun)

3/14 – Bergen Performing Arts Center - Bergen, NJ

3/15 – Swyer Theatre – The Egg - Albany, NY

3/16 – BRIC House - Brooklyn, NY

April (Cassandra Wilson ‘Blue Light To A New Dawn’ tour)

4/05-06 – Gazarte - Athens, Greece

4/08 – Lisinki Concert Hall - Zagreb, Croatia

4/11 – Banlieues Blues Festival - Bobigny, France

4/13 – Krakow, Poland – Kijow Centrum

4/15-19 – Bern Jazz Festival - Bern, Switzerland

4/22 – Finlandia Hall – April Jazz Festival - Helsinki, Finland

4/25 – Jazzkaar Festival - Tallinn, Estonia

4/27 – Kaunas Jazz Festival - Kaunas, Lithuania

May (Cassandra Wilson ‘Blue Light To A New Dawn’ tour)

5/03 – Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild - Pittsburgh, PA

5/04 – Evanston SPACE - Evanston, IL

5/07-08 – The Triple Door - Seattle, WA

5/10 – The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

5/11 – Musical Instrument Museum - Phoenix, AZ

5/13 – Kuumbwa Jazz Center - Santa Cruz, CA

5/15 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s

5/16-17 – San Francisco, CA – Yoshi’s

5/19-20 – Dakota Bar & Grill - Minneapolis, MN

http://www.cassandrawilson.com/