THE NELS CLINE SINGERS - MACROSCOPE

"Nels Cline is one of a rare breed of guitarists who can move fluidly between jazz, improvised music and rock." - DownBeat

Taking in the full breadth of guitarist Nels Cline’s sonic sphere of influence has always required a particularly wide lens. Zoom out from his fret board-blistering mash-ups of abrasive rock and bleeding-edge jazz to encompass his decade-long role with inventive rock superstars Wilco, then pull back further to find space for his ventures into Brazilian rhythms, electronic drones, and all manner of madcap musical fusion. Macroscope, the fifth album and Mack Avenue debut by his adventurous trio The Nels Cline Singers, provides a measure of the long-running group’s staggering range.

Captivating and continually surprising, the album finds the instrumental trio with the slyly deceptive name veering in one off-kilter direction only to suddenly be overwhelmed by another drastic stylistic shift, often within the space of a single tune. Serrated psychedelia becomes consumed by soulful Brasiliana, blissed-out electronica overwhelmed by garage-rock skronk. Then there’s the wholly unexpected “Red Before Orange,” where a howling Hendrix-inspired solo suddenly erupts in the middle of a slick lounge-jazz number, Cline unleashing the inner George Benson that few of us expected he even had.

“The title Macroscope speaks to the idea of the mutt within,” Cline says, “the fact that I’m not in any one genre, and never have been. I was a rock and roll kid, but after hearing Coltrane and Miles and Weather Report, then Indian music and Nigerian pop and that sort of thing, there was no turning back. From that point on, the idea of purism just was not possible.”

Throughout the album, Cline says, the intention is to “arrive at a place that could be surprising or unexpected or maybe inevitable, but that is so compelling or all-consuming that we’re absorbed and can forget about all kinds of minutiae. I would like us to arrive at a point that has no boundaries, that’s totally amorphous. It’s like sunshine or mist, it’s everywhere and nowhere.”

One of the most inventive and original guitarists across a wide range of genres, Nels Cline has worked with members of Sonic Youth and Deerhoof as well as artists including Tim Berne, Charlie Haden, Julius Hemphill, Carla Bozulich, Mike Watt and The Geraldine Fibbers, and is the lead guitarist of Wilco.

nelscline.com

~  Mack Avenue Records

NEW RELEASES: SALAMM REMI: ONE: IN THE CHAMBER; CINDY BRADLEY - BLISS; FELIX SCHLARMANN - COUNTERLIFE

SALAMM REMI: ONE: IN THE CHAMBER

The new album from the Grammy® nominated producer featuring new songs with Akon, Ne-Yo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jordin Sparks and Stephen Marley.  Musical mastermind Salaam Remi has cultivated the sounds of countless Grammy®-winning artists including Amy Winehouse, Fugees, Nas, Alicia Keys and Miguel. Now he takes the role of artist himself on his new album, One: in the Chamber. The album features new songs with guest vocalists Akon, Ne-Yo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jordin Sparks, Estelle, Stephen Marley, Lamar and CJ Hilton in addition to orchestral songs composed by Remi. One: in the Chamber demonstrates Remi's strong musical chops taking the listener from a cool bossa nova backbeat to a soulful Curtis Mayfield style-flow to elliptical reggae, accompanied by a host of talented vocalists. Listening to the album, one thing is for sure - Remi knows how to transform a moment in the studio into an indelible, classic song. "I'm a musician, composer and arranger that loves great music," says Remi. "This is my first expression as a body of work with all those things involved." Every song that Remi selected for the One: in the Chamber is personal and profound. The title track, "One in the Chamber" is the result of a conversation Remi had with Akon in the studio about someone who had received news of an unplanned pregnancy. On "Chocolate Brown Eyes" Remi captures the joyful spirit of vocalist Jordin Sparks. With Ne-Yo, a longtime collaborator, the intuitive process resulted in the infectious track "Everything I Need." The songs were recorded in studios all around the world supported by a live Prague-based orchestra that Remi assembled. ~ Amazon.com

CINDY BRADLEY - BLISS

It's always difficult when you have set the bar so high as Cindy did with her groundbreaking and highly heralded second recording 'Unscripted', voted 'Critic's Choice 2011' by Jazziz Magazine, and one that spawned back to back #1 Billboard singles, to not only follow but to continue to stretch higher. With the release of BLISS, Bradley's third she again finds Grammy award winning producer Michael Broening at the rudder steering the ship and together again they not only grab hold of the bar they set, but leap over it, carried forward by the current of her wave of popularity.Bliss is the apropos title for this set of musical sketches that continues to expose the many facets of this extraordinary artist who laid bare her emotions and challenges in 'Unscripted' and now finds a place in her life where she is finding great peace and joy through her perseverance and increase in capacity. These musical portraits painted with a variety of different brushes and strokes cover the gamut of moods and emotions, open, honest and revealing. From her trademark swing and sass to the beauty and sensitivity through which she caresses the muted Harman, it's all here. Her jazz chops are in full display on 'Squeeze Me' a wistful rendering chock full of artistic expression and interplay. Gospel, Funk, House and blues all find appearance in this new exploration of what is Cindy Bradley and the results are robust and satisfying. Radio is licking its collective chops and Bradley's legions of fans will line up and welcome with full embrace this long awaited expose. The sails are set and this ship is prepared to leave port for destinations unknown. Welcome aboard. ~ Amazon.com

FELIX SCHLARMANN - COUNTERLIFE

Over the past years, Felix focused on being a bandleader and composer, in addition to playing with numerous projects. This versatile drummer’s music consists of fragile melodies and energetic explosions; an emotional sound filled with contradiction. Schlarmann earned his reputation in the Dutch jazz scene as the drummer of the power jazz group BRUUT!, with which he has performed all over the globe, as well as with the famous Dutch saxophone player Jasper Blom, with whom he brings the music of Franz Schubert to the big stages with the group Mechanical Duck. The musicians in Schlarmann s group belong to the rising stars of the young Dutch scene: piano player Franz von Chossy created a name for himself all over Europe and beyond; saxophone player Lars Dietrich earned his stripes working with many great musicians such as John Escreet and David Binney; Floris van der Vlugt has worked with countless artists in the Netherlands and just started his own all-star septet Windkracht 7; and young British bass player Pat Cleaver has managed to become one the most-wanted players in the country, in just a few years! ~ Amazon.com

NEW RELEASES: SONNY KNIGHT AND THE LAKERS - I'M STILL HERE; SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA - LIVE AT MONTREUX; PAUL HARDCASTLE WITH JAZZMASTERS - VII

SONNY KNIGHT AND THE LAKERS - I'M STILL HERE

One of the best soul music comebacks we've ever heard – and one of the few contemporary records like this to have a really cohesive feel overall! This isn't just a new group working with an older singer – but a tremendous blending of the skilled soul vocals of Sonny Knight with just the kind of funky combo to make him come across just right – and probably even better than he ever sounded back in the day! The whole thing is perfect – from performance to production – and the record sparkles with an energy that we never heard before from Sonny Knight – with backing by the Fabulous Lakers that's right up there with best older combos from back in the day. This one may well nudge recent work from Lee Fields off the top spot on our list – and it's a real stunner from this overlooked singer! Titles include "Cave Man", "I'm Still Here (parts 1 & 2)", "Hey Girl", "When You're Gone", "Baby Baby Baby", "Get Up & Dance", and a great cover of Rodriguez's "Sugar Man". ~ Dusty Groove

SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA - LIVE AT MONTREUX

One of Sun Ra's best non-Saturn live sets of the 70s – a nice little record that shows the group mixing it up with equal parts avant garde and straight ahead jazz, all handled in that ever-growing large group style that made them a real force to be reckoned with in a concert setting! The album was recorded during the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, and has a bit more focus and polish than some of the other Arkestra live material from the time – a mature, coherent sound that almost points the way towards some of their work to come in the 80s – when Ra and the group were finally reaching the wider audience they deserved. The set's a double-length one, and features players who include John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen and Danny Davis on alto and flute, Pat Patrick on baritone, Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Craig Harris on trombone, and James Jackson on Ancient Egyptian Infinity drum – which is always a treat. Ra plays solar organ and moog, as well as piano – and titles include "Of The Other Tomorrow", "On Sound Infinity Spheres", "El Is The Sound Of Joy", "Gods Of The Thunder Realm", "The House Of Eternal Being", and "Lights On a Satellite". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

PAUL HARDCASTLE WITH JAZZMASTERS - VII

Well into his third decade crafting signature songs of our time churning out chart topping mega-hits with ease, Paul Hardcastle adds another branch to his musical tree, one that is again bearing delicious fruit. VII, while it carries all of the hallmarks that have come to define his unique style and sound, takes a decidedly different approach, with the focus on serving up compelling sonic instrumental soundscapes and less about vocals. This is Hardcastle's wheelhouse and nobody does it better. For those who use music as an escape from the day to day, these sides are the perfect transporting device, rich soulful atmospherics that lift you through space and time and carry you away to destinations of your choosing.  Urban substructures layered with sexy yet subtle grooves, punctuated with perfectly placed notes and vibrations create the perfect flow of ambience as you depart on this soothing musical journey, a one way ticket to pure pleasure. This is pure ear candy that will provide that rush of sweetness yet is high in nutritional content, satisfying and full flavored. The lead radio single 'Unlimited Love' a tip of the hat to one of Paul's biggest influences Barry White adds another first and features label mate and one of the genres brightest rising stars trumpeter Cindy Bradley. Daughter Maxine and son Paul Hardcastle Jr again make appearances on the record providing just the right accents in all the right places. Pull up under the Hardcastle tree, pick a side and savor the fruits of this fabulous labor. ~ Amazon.com

NEW STUDIO ALBUM BY INDONESIAN GUITAR MASTER TOHPATI - TRIBAL DANCE FEATURING JIMMY HASLIP AND CHAD WACKERMAN

With Tohpati’s 3rd release (2nd as a trio) on MoonJune, recorded in Los Angeles in September 2013, we see the Beckian progressive metal riffing of 2012’s Tohpati Bertiga 'Riot' supplanted by a pairing of compositional dexterity along with the unique guitar voice that is the essence of Tohpati, one of Indonesia's most famous guitar players.

Though there is no shortage of acrobatic axe-wielding on 'Tribal Dance', Tohpati’s democratic interplay with the formidable world class rhythm section of Jimmy Haslip and Chad Wackerman is the real star here – creating a powerful synergy that gives voice to the whole of the music over its parts and delivering a richly rewarding listening experience. 

Power chords, distorted spare note leads, chugging rhythmic grooves and nuanced jazz phrasings are all summoned up by Tohpati, as he locks in with Haslip’s dubmaster basslines and the rubber-limbed kitwork of Wackerman, creating tracks of infectious syncopation and of sufficient complexity to warrant a player recount. Aside from a few ambient vocal samples, 'Tribal Dance' is an instrumental album, though many of Tohpati’s melodic guitar lead lines feel “sung” in both song context and in the expressive way in which they are played. This diversity of guitar voicings and textures, along with the enthusiasm and chemistry between the players, will keep this disc in heavy rotation. Fans of Jeff Beck, Wayne Krantz, Allan Holdsworth, Scott Henderson, Oz Noy, and, of course, the Indonesian guitar icon Dewa Budjana, will surely want to pick this up.

moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com

Video clip of the opening track 'Rahwana': youtu.be/gKNCEQCp8EE

KINDRED THE FAMILY SOUL TO CELEBRATE "A COUPLE FRIENDS" WITH NEW ALBUM

There's a lot of talk about the lack of substance and positive values on the urban music scene today. Where are the positive images of men and women, particularly African-Americans? Where are the songs promoting romance and lasting love? There are such songs and images but somehow they get overshadowed by superficial sexuality and material celebration. No one has done more in the last decade to deliver great, down-to-earth songs about love, relationships and family and the struggles ordinary people face than Kindred The Family Soul, the Philadelphia-based hit-making husband-and-wife duo Fatin and Aja Dantzler. On such hits as "Far Away," “Magic Happen," "Stars" and "House Of Love," Kindred The Family Soul delivers soulful, honest portraits of love and family. They not only sing about this life, they live it! 

They balance a committed marriage and six children with a successful career as musical artists. Their website has become a focus for many people who are dealing with the same struggles or who simply see in Kindred The Family Soul inspiration to do the same. On June 10, 2014, Shanachie Entertainment will release a new album A Couple Friends, their latest installment in their ongoing love story.

Working with such front-line producers as Vidal Davis and Andre Harris (Jill Scott, Marsha Ambrosius), Anthony Bell (Jaheim, Estelle), James Poyser (John Legend, The Roots) and Steve McKie (Bilal, Jazmine Sullivan), Kindred wrote or co-wrote all the songs on the album.

While their critically-acclaimed last album, Love Has No Recession, was very oriented toward social commentary, A Couple Friends focuses more on the original Kindred themes of love and the joys and challenges of a committed relationship. A special 22-minute short film featuring material from the album is in production and will be released soon. The new album is one more affirmation that Kindred The Family Soul has created a unique style and approach to music-making that is a welcome dose of substance and "real life" on an all-too-often vapid music scene.

"Touching people with genuine emotion and true-to-life lyrical content has always been our mission, " Fatin says. "We want people to know that soul music has not left the building. We are here to stay and are carrying on the tradition!"

Listen to Kindred The Family Soul's new single "Everybody's Hustling" here

SOMI - THE LAGOS MUSIC SALON - NEW AFRICAN AND SOUL INSPIRED BY A JOURNEY TO LAGOS, NIGERIA

Few contemporary albums bare as particular a narrative as The Lagos Music Salon. The new album by the superb chanteuse Somi, finds her breaking new ground with a hybrid style of music that organically integrates the essence of jazz and soul with the musical depth of her African heritage. "It's the first time ever that I put all other pursuits on hold to focus solely on the creative process," says Somi, who decided to move to Lagos, Nigeria from her New York home base without a game plan but with a passionate desire to find a new direction for her vision and voice. 

The Lagos Music Salon marks Somi's major label debut for Sony's OKeh Records and features a range of originals that are sublimely melodic, percussively textured.  A socially informed and adventurous vocalist, Somi sings with a soulful beauty about her experiences in Lagos. While there, she kept a journal of her observations and collaborated with a community of musicians, writers and artists who helped her to envision what would become The Lagos Music Salon. 

The album covers a broad swath of styles and features a number of carefully matched guest performances. These include a fast-paced groove with Afro-pop sensibilities on the Fela Kuti-inspired "Lady Revisited" with Angelique Kidjo, and a rap-inflected cinematic reflection on Africa's pollution, "When Rivers Cry," that features Common. 

Also in the mix are field recording snippets, including an exchange at the Lagos airport with an immigration officer, heated rally cries from the Occupy Nigeria protests, and a parabolic story of an over-skilled monkey.

  

"I'm excited about this album," Somi says. "I allowed myself to abandon the boundaries of my comfort zone, but that gave me the room to explore and play with new ideas and inspiration. Some people see me as an African artist and not jazz, while others see me as a jazz artist influenced by Africa. But I'm not focused on genre. My intent is to be honest with the songs and where they take me."

  

Born in Illinois, the daughter of immigrants from Uganda and Rwanda, Somi's dramatic Salon story started ironically and sadly on the release date of her 2009 album, If the Rains Come First, when her beloved father passed away.

"I had to weather the storm of his passing," Somi says. "The loss was so sobering that I began to question my own life's legacy and path. My dearest mentor Hugh Masekela knew about my personal loss and subsequent desire for change. He also knew that, more than ever, I wished I could move 'home' to Africa. Something about the idea seemed like it might be a way to get closer to my father's spirit and my own heart. It was Uncle Hugh that reminded me that to be a musician is to be a global citizen and that I should always listen to my heart should it long to travel. 'Stop thinking about it as a move,' he said, 'Think of it as an opportunity to spend time with another part of your global audience.' That's when I decided to make the bold choice of moving to Lagos. A true Africanist, I believe my father is proud of that choice."

  

While she spent part of her youth in Africa with her parents, Somi hadn't lived there since her first year out of college when she landed a medical anthropology research fellowship in Kenya and Tanzania. After frequent holiday visits and touring extensively on the continent (visiting over 12 countries with her band), Somi fell in love with Lagos, "where there's a huge volume of cultural production, including literature, film and fashion - let alone music," she says. "For an artist, it is a very exciting place. There's an energy there that reminds me of New York. Twenty million people live there-it's cosmopolitan, fast, hard and yet so inspiring."

   

While Somi's goal was to live in Lagos for 15 months she ended up being there for 18 months. She began her journey with an international teaching artist residency at a university in Ilorin, Nigeria while also doing occasional European shows to keep her career visible. After six months, Somi began to realize the impact of her choice to be in Lagos. "Initially I was a little panicked," she says. "Was I going to disappear? Would people forget about me? But after months of writing in my journal, I discovered a body of work was emerging."

   

Somi set out to work on her new material, but Lagos doesn't have the cultural infrastructure of small clubs like New York. "I needed to develop my work and test it on Nigerian audiences," says Somi. "So I started producing intimate salons at art galleries and other nontraditional venues in Lagos where I would perform my new music. It grew into a series where I'd invite local artists to perform as well. That work greatly enriched my experience, challenged me to think more about African notions of cultural intimacy, and gave birth to The Lagos Music Salon concept."

Somi accumulated a collection of music steeped in the culture of Lagos and collaborated with two colleagues who share co-producer credit with her on The Lagos Music Salon: Lagos musician Cobhams Asuquo (who happens to be blind and is impressively self-taught) and New York's Keith Witty. "Cobhams has a deep understanding of traditional African music as well as strong pop sensibilities," Somi says. "And Keith, the modern jazz head on the project, made sure the artful sense of the music was always privileged amidst the African pop influences."

In New York, they assembled Somi's core band: drummer Otis Brown III, pianist Toru Dodo, guitarist Liberty Ellman, background vocalist Alicia Olatuja, and bassist Michael Olatuja. Guests to the ensemble include acclaimed Nigerian-American trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire who blows a moving, melancholic solo through "Brown Round Things," an original lamenting the prostitutes Somi observed in Lagos; and rising-star trumpeter, Etienne Charles, who arranged the horn section for the celebratory, pop-tinged "Akobi: First Born S(u)n."

Somi weaves through the collection of captivating songs with a socio/cultural poignancy. The R&B-vibed "Two Dollar Day" tells the story of a domestic worker Somi met during the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests and who struggles because of the oil-rich government's decision to hike fuel prices 200 percent. While the provocative "Four. One. Nine." takes its name from the police criminal code for the Nigerian email swindles, Somi likens the scam to fraudulent love affairs, while a friend offers her a tongue-in-cheek reprimand about unsavory men. The most dynamic piece is the bass line-driven "Four African Women," inspired by a Nina Simone original. It's a sketch of four African women who each experienced a different hardship-genocide, skin bleaching, circumcision, prostitution. 

Other highlights include the percussive, string quartet-colored tune "Ankara Sundays," the sobering "Last Song" and the gently swinging love song "Ginger Me Slowly" about playfully telling forthright men how to romantically treat their woman. There are also two versions of the upbeat original "Love Juju." 

"Juju is African magic," Somi explains. "Throughout the album, I'm singing about the magic of Lagos and the spell it cast on my heart." 

A TED Global Fellow and also founder of the New Africa Live nonprofit that champions African artists, Somi has for the last decade carved out a career of singing and being an activist. On The Lagos Music Salon, the best album of her young career, she magically combines the two facets of her life. As for her adopted city, she says, "It was a euphoric new place for me, an important journey. I wanted to tell honest stories in the spirit of gratitude."

Upcoming Appearances:
September 16 / Blue Whale / Los Angeles, CA
September 17 / UCLA Center for Art of Performance/ Los Angeles, CA
September 18 / L.A.N.D. Salon / Los Angeles, CA
September 19 & 20 / Red Poppy Art House / San Francisco, CA
September 21 / Lucid Lounge / Seattle, WA
September 27 / University of Chicago Arts Incubator Panel / Chicago, IL
September 27 / The Listening House / Chicago, IL
October 4 / Southwest Arts Center / Atlanta, GA
October 12 / Bowery Arts & Science / New York, NY
October 16 / Brooklyn Public Library / Brooklyn, NY

NEW RELEASES: DOWN TO THE BONE- DIG IT; THIRD COAST KINGS – JUST MOVE / ICE CREAM MEAN; NICK COLIONNE - INFLUENCES

DOWN TO THE BONE- DIG IT

With millions of records sold worldwide the purveyors of sides steeped in funk and groove, DTTB, the brainchild of producer Stuart Wade swings for the fences once again with this assemblage of fresh new cuts that accentuate the fat and funky, with grooves so thick that you fall right into them. Trademark tight rhythm and horn sections provide the underbelly of all of the compositions, woven tightly with the right solos in the right places.

This franchise outfit born on the streets and in clubs of London has truly established a sound all their own and 'Dig it' again does not disappoint. It's all about the groove and nobody does it better than Wade as he takes you through this scintillating set that never lets down and will keep your head bobbin' and feet tappin'. Enlisting the help of label mate and genre star in his own right Oli Silk, the tunes take on another dimension with Silk's dynamic flair and smart solos. 'Dig it' keeps the DDTB momentum rolling right along and fans worldwide will rejoice at the thought of ten new sides to carry them and their need to move and groove into the new year and beyond. The hit radio single 'The Sweetness' hits the airwaves in February and the title suggests it all. 'Dig it' is all about the flavor, sweet to the ears, and will put a swing in your step and a stir in your soul. ~ Amazon

THIRD COAST KINGS – JUST MOVE / ICE CREAM MEAN

Limited edition Transparent 45 (500 copies worldwide). A succulent appetizer of the much awaited new album by Michigan's finest deep funk combo Third Coast Kings titled "West Grand Boulevard" coming out next 19 May. On the A side, party starter Just Move featuring the sultry Michelle "The Belle" Camilleri, calls all to the dancefloor. On the B side an exclusive 45 version of Ice Cream Man, an irresistible deep funk instrumental able to set every dancefloor on fire. Recorded in Detroit with the full band in one room, a minimum amount of effects, processing, microphones and mixed by much respected Australian funk producer Nate Goldentone (The Liberators / Dojo Cuts), West Grand Boulevard is TCK second studio album. Their 2012 self titled debut album made a global impression upon its release, the Kings were invited to Japan to perform at Fuji Rock Festival and gained fans all over the world such as Craig Charles (BBC2), Kenny Dope and Dj Muro. Now the guys are back with a mission: to carry the torch of Deep Funk heritage across the planet. Get on this 45 fast cause it's limited to 500 copies worldwide. The Kings are back!

NICK COLIONNE - INFLUENCES

Well into his third decade of making the strings sing with his very own sweet Chicago soul, guitarist Nick Colionne digs deep as he takes musical stock of the people and things that helped propel his career and fully establish his place as one of the real cats, a cat that finds connection with his audience in a way that not many can. Influences is a musical journey of self re-discovery, offering a palate of moods and flavors born of life experiences, challenges and the effect of the people past and present that have helped shape and mold his sound. Music can be the ultimate healer not only for the creator but also those of us who seek the escapism. Nick gets this and you immediately feel him from the opening strains as he provides lift with this feel good collection of new sides. His chops have never been more exacting, his melodies more exhilarating, his hooks more infectious.

Collaborating again with the great James Lloyd on 'Pieces Of A Dream' and inviting Maysa on the journey gives 'Influences' just the right amount of spice and pop, but in the end it is all about Nick as he bears his soul though this collection of musical chapters in this his latest book, one written with his strings and sings of the places he s been and the places he still has to go. The lead single Got To Keep It Moving is certain to fire up his legions of fans and find its rightful place atop the radio charts. Never one to take what he has for granted, Colionne knows he has been blessed with a great gift and he will continue to share it as he connects with his fans through live performance in 2014 and share Influences in a way that only he can.~ Amazon

NEW RELEASES: RAMSEY LEWIS - COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1960-1962; FELIPE SALLES - UGANDAN SUITE; JEFF LASHWAY - REUNION

RAMSEY LEWIS - COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1960-1962

The eight albums collected on this four-disc box represent the original Ramsey Lewis Trio's (the pianist, drummer Redd Holt, and bassist Eldee Young) emergence as a popular entity on the mainstream jazz and pop scenes not only in their hometown of Chicago, but in America at large. All of these dates were originally issued by Argo. Disc one contains both Stretching Out and the grooving Ramsey Lewis Trio in Chicago (that closes with the killer reading of "C.C. Rider," foreshadowing the more driving soul-jazz-oriented sounds they'd record in the mid- to late-'60s). Disc two contains More Music from the Soil and Never On Sunday. The theme albums, Sound of Christmas, and the far more interesting Sound of Spring -- with its fine readings of "Soft Winds" and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" -- make up disc three. The final offering here contains the criminally underrated Country Meets Blues and the popular Bossa Nova, both from 1962. The good news is that this set is almost unbelievably inexpensive. The bad news is two-fold. Enlightenment is a U.K. label and therefore isn't required to pay copyright fees on material at least 50 years old. It also means that they didn't have to use master tapes as their source material: it's highly debatable as to whether these recordings were actually taken from tapes rather than vinyl LPs. You get what you pay for. The stars are for the music, not the package. ~ Thom Jurek.  By 1960 Ramsey Lewis and his Trio, while not yet the chart-toppers they would become, were among the hottest live draws on the US jazz circuit. His fortunes were set to change within a few years, but this compilation, containing eight full original albums, all delightfully remastered, illustrates conclusively what a dynamic jazz ensemble The RLT were during the early years of their career. ~ CD Universe

FELIPE SALLES - UGANDAN SUITE

Felipe Salles traveled to Uganda in 2011 where he researched traditional Ugandan music and wildlife, worked with local artists, and visited the music departments of Makerere and Kyambogo Universities. His findings served as inspiration for his sixth albu Liner Note Author: Damascus Kafumbe. Recording information: Wellspring Sound Recording Studio, Acton, MA (08/29/2013). Photographers: Felipe Salles; Mikko Naalisvaara. Arranger: Felipe Salles. Personnel: Felipe Salles (flute, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, hand claps); David Liebman (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Nando Michelin (piano, hand claps); Bertram Lehmann (drum set, hand claps); Rogerio Boccato (hand claps, percussion); Keala Kaumeheiwa, Lucas Apostoleris (hand claps); Damascus Kafumbe. Audio Mixer: Pete Rende. ~ CD Universe

JEFF LASHWAY - REUNION

Jeff Lashway, jazz legend Maynard Ferguson's final, and one of the trumpeter's favorite, pianists presents a swinging and accessible set of unique arrangements of great tunes. With a stellar lineup, including the amazing drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, bassist Todd Coolman and Jeff Beck//Wet Willie alumnus vocalist Jimmy Hall, Lashway's chops, taste and arranging skills are amply displayed. AllAboutJazz says: "REUNION is a terrifically entertaining, swinging, and most enjoyable CD, the music and its players shining throughout. Hopefully, Lashway and his team will reunite again soon." This is truly a joyous reunion: Lashway and Colaiuta are lifelong friends, Hall and Colaiuta toured together with Jeff Beck, Rupert was on Maynard's band with Lashway, and trombonist John Allred and Jim Rotondi were on Toshiko Akiyoki's band. Producer Scott Elias, Lashway and Colaiuta have been close friends for years; Jimmy Hall is Scott's cousin! Long overdue, this musical reunion will keep you happily listening... Enjoy. ~ CD Universe

RED HOT + BACH CHARTS A NEW PATHWAY INTO THE MUSICAL UNIVERSE OF JOHAN SEBASTIAN BACH

Through the collaboration of performers, producers, DJs and artists from around the world and across the spectrum of contemporary music, different facets of Bach's centuries-old masterpieces are transformed with fresh energy and modern virtuosity that know no limits. Red Hot + Bach is available everywhere June 17, 2014, from Sony Music Masterworks.

The creators of Red Hot + Bach embrace Bach as a living artistic force, as real and as vital today as he was when he lived (1685-1750). They range across nineteen freely imagined tracks from mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile (Nickel Creek, The Punch Brothers), singer/songwriters Gabriel Kahane and Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), jazz legend Ron Carter, DJ/producer King Britt and the Icelandic band amiina, to imaginative classical artists such as the Kronos Quartet, composer Max Richter, violinist Daniel Hope and organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter.

Red Hot, a not-for-profit production company, has been shaking up great music in just this way for twenty-five years, in projects that celebrated the music of geniuses as diverse as Anthony Carlos Jobim (Red Hot + Rio), Cole Porter (Red Hot + Blue), a meeting of jazz and hip-hop artists (Red Hot + Cool), Duke Ellington (Red Hot + Indigo), and Fela Kuti (Red Hot + Riot). The work of Red Hot continues to serve a social purpose – raising awareness and money in the ongoing fight to stop AIDS. For more information please visit www.redhot.org.

Red Hot + Bach is being released simultaneously with a special expanded digital edition featuring ten additional tracks, and an iPad app designed to open your eyes and ears, and lead you to discover new ways to interact with the timeless energy and beauty of Bach's music.

Track listing:

1."Minuet" (Tempo di Minuetto from Keyboard Partita No. 5, BWV 829) – Rob Moose and Chris Thile

2."Minim" (Prelude No. 2 in C Minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 847) – Dustin O'Halloran

3."Jardim do Amor" (Prelude in C Minor, BWV 999) – Mia Doi Todd

4."Time Drinks Three Shots" (Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851) – Shara Worden

5."Number Man" (Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011) – Paul de Jong

6."The Watchmaker" (Prelude from Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009) – Stuart Bogie and Grey McMurry

7."Very Own" (Adagio from Keyboard Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974) – Julianna Barwick

8."Minim" [version] (Prelude No. 2 in C Minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 847) – Victor Axelrod and Dustin O'Halloran

9."Passacaglia" (Passacaglia from Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582) – amiina

10."Contrupunctus I" (Contrupunctus I from The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080) – Max Richter

11."Arioso" (Rearranged elements from Keyboard Preludes, BWV 921 and Sonata for Violin and Keyboard No. 5, BWV 1018) – Miguel Atwood-Ferguson

12."Air" (Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068) – Daniel Hope

13."Cello Suite No. 1" (Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007) – Ron Carter and Gary Bartz

14."Ave Maria" (Bach/Gounod setting of "Ave Maria") – King Britt

15."Ludepre" (Prelude No. 2 in C Minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 847) – Franceso Tristano and Carl Craig

16."Contrapunctus II" (Contrupunctus II from The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080) – Jeff Mills and Kronos Quartet

17."Contrupunctus II" (Contrupunctus II from The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080) – Kronos Quartet

18."Concerto No. 5" (Largo from Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056) – Om'Mas Keith

19."Dear Goldberg" (Goldberg Variations) – Gabriel Kahane

~ Sony Music Masterworks

45TH ANNUAL 2014 NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL TO AIR ON AXS TV

Celebrate the music and culture of New Orleans, as AXS TV—the country's premier destination for live music festival coverage—proudly presents the 45th Annual 2014 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. For the second-consecutive year, the network is giving viewers unprecedented access to the world-famous event, broadcasting over 24 hours of live coverage each afternoon at 3pE/12pP, from Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4 with StubHub returning as the Official Broadcast Partner.

The coverage will kick-off each day with an exclusive half-hour pre-festival special, "Countdown to Jazz Fest." Entertainment expert Kristen Aldridge serves as host, exploring the unparalleled and unique atmosphere of the Festival. Joining Aldridge is TV personality Savannah Buffett, providing in-depth artist interviews and highlighting the nightlife outside of the Jazz Fest grounds. Each 'Countdown' show will air at 3pE/12pP.

An explosive lineup gets things started on Thursday, May 1, with Jason Isbell, Galactic, Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, The String Cheese Incident, and Santana. Thursday's coverage will repeat that same evening at 10pE/7pP, and Friday, May 2 at 8aE/5aP.

Then, on Friday, May 2, tune in for performances from Irma Thomas, Anders Osborne, Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys, Marcia Ball, Vampire Weekend, and Alabama Shakes. Friday's coverage will repeat that same evening at 10pE/7pP, and Saturday, May 3 at 8aE/5aP.

Saturday, May 3, features Bonerama, Honey Island Swamp Band, Theresa Anderson, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Better Than Ezra, and Phish. Saturday's coverage will repeat that same evening at 10pE/7pP, and Sunday, May 4 at 8aE/5aP.

The weekend comes to a close on Sunday, May 4, with Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, The Revivalists, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk with special guest Art Neville, The Radiators, Arcade Fire, and John Fogerty. Sunday's coverage will repeat that same evening at 10pE/7pP, and Monday, May 5 at 3pE/12pP.

Additionally, AXS TV will deliver the ultimate interactive front-row experience with on-air prompts and exclusive shareable content, as well as social media conversations with Aldridge, Buffett, and other fans, on AXS TV's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. To receive updates and additions to the broadcast lineup, fans are encouraged to visit AXS TV's website, axs.tv, and the network's social media platforms.

Summary of AXS TV's 2014 JazzFest Lineup* (Does Not Represent Broadcast Order) *Lineup Subject To Change

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Santana

Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters

Jason Isbell

Galactic

The String Cheese Incident

Friday, May 2, 2014

Vampire Weekend

Alabama Shakes

Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys

Anders Osborne

Irma Thomas

Marcia Ball

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Phish

Theresa Anderson

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Honey Island Swamp Band

Better Than Ezra Bonerama

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Arcade Fire

John Fogerty

The Revivalists

The Radiators

Voice of the Wetlands Allstars

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk  w/ special guest Art Neville

JONATHAN BUTLER - LIVING MY DREAM

It took a while for Jonathan Butler to feel comfortable saying it, but the South African singer-songwriter-guitarist’s confidence has grown as he celebrates what he calls “the season of me” and finally admitting that he is living his dream. He tells the story of his life and loves in the eleven original songs that “came from the heart” on his forthcoming Artistry Music album, “Living My Dream,” which will be released June 24.

Like Butler’s best material from a diverse, award-winning and chart-topping career that’s spanned R&B, jazz, pop and gospel, “Living My Dream” provides an honest and revealing soulful songbook probing the artist’s passions: God, family and his homeland. He has been taking care of others ever since he was seven years-old when he became a child star and was the first black artist played on white radio stations while growing up under Apartheid. Writing and producing gold-selling albums and international hit singles, the two-time Grammy-nominee’s entire life has unfolded in the public eye. Enduring recent struggles forced him to do a lot of reflection and ponder the type of man he wanted to be. He decided that he was finally in a place where it was time to celebrate his own extraordinary life and accomplishments.

With a much needed push from his daughter, singer-songwriter Jodie Butler, and guitarist-songwriter Dennis Dodd Jr., he wrote music every day before heading into the House of Blues recording studio in Los Angeles to record the material in a live setting “like records used to be made.” Bassist-songwriter-producer Marcus Miller co-wrote “Let There Be Light” with Butler and played on that track as well as on “Be Still,” which Butler wrote with George Duke during a 5-hour visit to the late legend’s wine cellar. Saxophonist Elan Trotman also appears on “Let There Be Light.”

“It’s one of those albums that I really didn’t think I had in me. I had been struggling, going through this emotional period. Last year was a transitional period. Once I got my wind and got back to a place of focus, it turned out to be the best experience for me. I had to be vulnerable to the songs,” said Butler about the essence of “Living My Dream.” “It’s the story of my life and the newness of discovery. These really are the best years of my life.”

Butler wrote or co-wrote ten songs for “Living My Dream,” which is a balanced blend of contemporary jazz instrumentals and R&B vocal tunes. The first radio single, “African Breeze,” is a reboot of an instrumental that he wrote 30 years ago for “The Jewel of the Nile” motion picture soundtrack. It is a brisk, energetic African-hued dancer on which Butler plucks the festive melody on nylon string guitar.

A captivating and impassioned performer, Butler will help launch “Living My Dream” during a summer concert tour at which he will share the spotlight with Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown.

Butler takes you into the recording studio and talks about recording “Living My Dream” in his EPK, which can be viewed at http://youtu.be/UFFmGWfsKkk. For more information, please visit www.JonathanButler.com.

“Living My Dream” contains the following songs:

“African Breeze”

“Living My Dream”

“Be Still”

“Let There Be Light”

“Heart and Soul”

“Song For You”

“Catembe”

“Night To Remember”

“All About Love”

“Sweet Serenade”

“A Prayer”

 

MARGIE BAKER SINGS WITH SO MANY STARS

Margie Baker Sings with So Many StarsMargie Baker's storied career as a jazz and blues vocalist started late, when she was 39, but was long encouraged by her mentor Dizzy Gillespie and eventually took her to the world stage. Though the 80-year-old Baker came even later to recording, she's on a roll now, affiliated with longtime Gillespie pianist Mike Longo's Consolidated Artists Productions (CAP) label. Her 4th CD, and third for CAP, is Margie Baker Sings with So Many Stars, and is due for release on May 20.

  

So Many Stars is a two-disc set on which Baker surrounds herself with some of the most gifted instrumentalists in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Her relaxed and swinging phrasing, warm tone, and precise enunciation inform every number, including songs by Ellington ("Come Sunday," "In a Mellow Tone," "I'm Just a Lucky So and So"), Monk ("'Round Midnight"), and Horace Silver ("Señor Blues"), as well as standards like "You've Changed," "Deed I Do," and "Lazy Afternoon."

Among her accompanists, whom she calls "Margie's musical galaxy," are pianist Shota Osabe, guitarist Rodney Jones, saxophonists Jules Broussard and Melecio Magdaluyo, bassists Harley White and Chuck Bennett, and percussionist John Santos, a sixth-grade student of Baker's when she taught in the San Francisco Unified School District.

"This is a tribute to them," says Baker of the players on the CD. "These are not egocentric, big-time musicians, but they're wonderful musicians. We work so much and so well together."

 Margie BakerMargie Baker was born October 11, 1933 "in a shack in the sticks" near Center, Texas, in Shelby County. "Black people were extremely deprived back there in those sticks," she says. "That's where I was born -- from dirt-poor, beautiful, spiritual people."

After her parents divorced, mother and daughter relocated to San Francisco at the onset of World War II. Her mother found work as a riveter at shipyards in San Francisco and Oakland, and the two lived at first in a cold-water flat in San Francisco's overwhelmingly African-American Fillmore District.

Upon graduating with honors from Girls High School at age 15, Baker a received a scholarship to the University of California Berkeley, where she spent two years before transferring to San Francisco State College and earned both bachelor's and master's degrees. Years later, she used earnings from her part-time singing career to enroll at the University of San Francisco, from which she received a Ph.D in Education. Baker moved from the classroom into school district headquarters as Director of Compensatory Education, where she oversaw the distribution of federal funds to help low-income children in reading and math.

When Dizzy Gillespie, her friend since she was a 17-year-old fashion model and a sophomore at UC Berkeley, finally heard her sing, he offered to take her on the road, but her responsibilities as a teacher, and eventually as an administrator, came first. She would, however, go on to sit in with his band when their paths crossed in Tokyo, New York City, Oakland, and San Francisco. She retired in 2004, after 48 years of service as an educator.

Baker had done very little singing in public before the guitarist at Henri's Room at the Top on the 46th floor of the San Francisco Hilton Hotel coaxed her to sit in one night. She sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Hotel magnates Conrad and Barron Hilton were in attendance and offered her a job, which she accepted. She spent the next 18 years singing at Henri's -- two nights a week during the school year, five in the summer -- as well as for special affairs at the Las Vegas Hilton, where such celebrities at Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor heard her sing. She also became a regular performer at the Monterey Jazz Festival and traveled the world with the festival's touring shows that included such jazz greats as James Moody and Richie Cole. For the past decade, Baker has sung during brunch every Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel near the San Francisco International Airport, as well as at other hotels, clubs, and churches.

As the 20 tracks on the new CD indicate, Margie Baker remains a song stylist of the first order. The only thing that has really changed is, she jokingly admits, "I don't shake my booty as much."

Baker will be appearing 6/1 at the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel/San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, 5:00-10:00 pm, with many of the musicians heard on So Many Stars; and 6/14 at the Mildred Owens Concert Hall in Pacifica, 7:30 pm, with Keith Williams, piano; Jim Nichols, guitar; Michael O'Neill, tenor saxophone; Chuck Bennett, bass; and Jerry Pannone, drums. 

margiebakervocalist.com

NEW RELEASES: STEVE OLIVER - THE BEST OF SO FAR; ABDULLAH IBRAHIM - MUKASHI: ONCE UPON A TIME; THE REVELATIONS - COST OF LIVING

STEVE OLIVER - THE BEST OF SO FAR

Celebrate a milestone in the musical career of Steve Oliver. With eight albums over the last 15 years, Steve's 'Best Of so far' gathers multiple #1 Billboard hits and fan favorites including 2 brand new songs. From 1999's First View, Oliver recaptures the magic of that first album by re-recording 'West End' and 'I Know' for this compilation. Concert and radio favorites like 'High Noon', 'Chips and Salsa' and 'Fun in the Sun' will keep listeners on their feet. 'Calling You' and 'Hello Mornin' are wonderful new songs that feel right at home among this collection of hits. The title suggests these are the best so far, and as a collection, it definitely reflects the consistent energy and great songwriting skills that has kept Steve Oliver a chart topping name, a great guitarist/vocalist and producer. Here's to the next 15 Steve! ~ Amazon

ABDULLAH IBRAHIM - MUKASHI: ONCE UPON A TIME

One of the most enigmatic albums we've ever heard from the legendary Abdullah Ibrahim – a set that not only features beautiful work on piano, but some flute and voice as well! The style is quite different than some of Ibrahim's better-known records – as the music has this really gentle, organic quality – very different than the rhythmic pulsations of 70s or 80s classics, but equally sublime in its own sort of way! Cleave Guyton provides spare accompaniment on either flute, clarinet, or tenor – depending on the moment of his appearance – and the set also features two cellists as well, but not used until later in the record – which leaves most of the focus on the piano of the leader, often in this style that's contemplative, but extremely lyrical too. Titles include "Peace", "Root", "Cara Mia", "Dream Time", "The Stars Will Remember", "Devotion", "In The Evening", and "The Balance". ~ Dusty Groove

THE REVELATIONS - COST OF LIVING

Tight funky soul from The Revelations – one of the few contemporary funk groups who also know how to harmonize with their groove! The Revelations boast a great lead singer in the form of Rell Gaddis, but most of the group members also join in on the chorus bits too – and really help inflect the funky rhythms with a great old school vibe – a sense of energy that's especially great on the more upbeat tunes on the set! These guys could well be the next great crossover funky soul act – and have enough of a balance to mix their vintage leanings with just the sort of contemporary touches to show that they're way more than just another retro 60s outfit. Titles include "Why When Love Is Gone", "Higher", "It's Okay", "Money Makes The World Go Round", "The Game Of Love", and "I've Got To Use My Imagination". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: SORCERESS - DOSE; COOKIN' ON 3 BURNERS - MIND MADE UP; STEVE KUHN - PROMISES KEPT

SORCERESS - DOSE

Sorceress (formerly known as Funkommunity) is a 5-piece band from New Zealand. Their 2011 debut album Chequered Thoughts received worldwide acclaim and saw the band tour Europe and Japan the following year. Fast forward to 2014, and the band announced a new name: Sorceress and a new studio album: Dose. While previous works were influenced by J Dilla-inspired future soul and R&B, the new album sees their sound evolve, fusing elements of Deep Electronic Soul, Afrobeat, and Dance Music. Dose retains their distinctive sonic texture, but also projects more movement while going deeper into the source of the music. Experienced in headphones or a club/festival context, Sorceress traverses the boundaries between audio intimacy and the bass driven rhythms of the dancefloor. The creative duo at the core of Sorceress is producer/band leader Isaac Aesili and vocalist Rachel Fraser. Isaac Aesili's production provides a diverse and sonically rich soundscape from which the charismatic vocals of Rachel Fraser weave through both light and dark lyrical themes. Crafted over the period of a year, the album includes collaboration with Sorceress' guitarist Daniel Ryland. Other musicians involved in the sessions include fellow Kiwis Julien Dyne, Marika Hodgson, Tom Broome, Jonathan Crayford, Steph Brown and Cam Allen.

COOKIN' ON 3 BURNERS - MIND MADE UP

A double a side single that features Kylie Auldist on 'Mind Made Up' and chart topping, award winning Aussie singer Daniel Merriweather on 'Losin' Streak. Both tracks on this double A-side single are taken from their forthcoming album Blind Bet, and they are both outstanding examples of beautiful modern soul and funk. On Mind Made Up, Kylie Auldist demonstrates, if any one had any doubt, that she is one of the premier contemporary soul vocalists working today. The snappy drums, crisp guitar and Jake Mason’s organ work all compliment the vocals, whilst lush horns and strings lift this catchy track into future classic status! Award winning Aussie singer Daniel Merriweather, is the featured vocalist on Losin' Streak, a heavy, deeply bluesy funk track that's dance floor dynamite. The new album will be available on May 19, 2014.

STEVE KUHN - PROMISES KEPT

One of the darkest Steve Kuhn albums we've ever heard – a record of introspective piano lines, set amidst contemplative orchestrations from Carlos Franzetti! The style is incredibly moving – bringing a depth to Kuhn's work that we haven't heard in years – an approach that has him acting more like a painter in sound than the highly rhythmic pianist of earlier records. There's a quality here that's almost soundtrack-oriented at times, and Kuhn's dark tones are the highlight of the set – moving slowly in space to really find their own kind of sound – as Franzetti is very careful never to overdo things with the arrangements. Titles include "Adagio", "Promises Kept", "Life's Backward Glance", "Trance", "Morning Day", and "Pastorale". (SHMCD pressing.)  ~ Dusty Groove