MICHAEL BELLAR THE AS-IS ENSEMBLE - OH NO OH WOW

At its core, the music Michael Bellar & the AS-IS Ensemble creates is ecstatic. It's wide-open improvisation with earthy, percussion-fueled grooves. It's funky and weird. It's expansive and arresting. It will always be in the moment and without apology.

From the opening moment of their latest recording Oh No Oh Wow, you hear the band in mid-laughter, which turns out to be a sure sign that the album got it's title for a reason. It's the very best of everything this band has to offer with grinding vintage keyboards, funky drums, exotic percussion and thumping bass. The musical environs that Bellar takes the band through on the new record are many but never are they disparate. "I'm interested in creating the largest palette I can with a small group so I'm bringing as many sonic colors and different grooves to the table as possible," states Bellar.

The AS-IS Ensemble is the musical home of keyboardist/composer/producer Michael Bellar. As a sideman, Bellar has recorded and toured the world with some of the greatest voices in music today - Amos Lee, Art Garfunkel, Oliver Wood (of the Wood Brothers), Jay Clifford's Rosebud, Jump Little Children, Ryan Montbleau, Wheatus, Howie Day and Euro pop star Giorgia. Oh No Oh Wow features the talents of Bellar's longtime group, which features drummer Brad Wentworth (Melissa Ferrick, Aretha Franklin, Howie Day), bassist Rob Jost (Bjork, Imogen Heap, Tony Scherr), and percussionist Brook Martinez (Brooklyn Qawwali Party, Slavic Soul Party).

Bellar and Wentworth both grew up in North Carolina and went to the same school, but it wasn't until the drummer finally moved to New York City that they played together, and it was at that session that Bellar decided it was time to change up his band to include Wentworth. Wentworth suggested Jost, a bassist he had just met, and the new lineup of the band was formed. Bellar admits, "It's been amazing to be able to keep such great collaborators and improvisers together for such a long time. With musicians such as these, there is always something new being tossed around on stage."

Hailed as "GENERATION NEXT" by Billboard Magazine following their first ever New York City show, Michael Bellar & AS-IS Ensemble are known for their joyous, never-the-same-way-twice live musical experiences. Even if they did use a set list, which they don't, the music and flow of their shows would never be the same. "I love bringing a room full of people along for the ride with us and the greatest shows are always the ones when the band and the crowd become a complete circuit. The most common comment I get from people after shows is, 'It's so obvious you really love what you do!' And I say at this point if I didn't love what I do, I would truly be insane.'"

The songs on Oh No Oh Wow not only exemplify Bellar's small group/large palette concept but also showcase his many strengths as a composer, improviser and producer with a wide range of musical stylings including the super funky "Gadson" (dedicated to the historic soul drummer James Gadson) and "Little Mike D's a Big Boy Now," the hypnotic/bubbling rhythms of the title track "Oh No Oh Wow" and "Yes Please," the soulful gospel of "Biscuit Baby," the Pink Floyd meets Bill Frisell expansiveness of "Girl on a String," and contemporary reworkings of two classic covers: Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" and Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile."

Bellar wrote "Gadson" after getting to play and hang out with the great drummer for a week while he was touring in Amos Lee's band. "Not only is that man as humble as can be, but no one else can play that sixteenth note, slow burn funk like he does," explains Bellar. "This piece is not about trying to sound like him, for me it's celebrating the spirit of James."

"Hot Box Magic" came from the desire to record something for the accordion that was as far away from a typical accordion vibe as they could get. (Hot Box in this case serves as an epithet for the accordion). "When I first wrote the melody, it had an almost Sephardic desert vibe to it and though experimentation in the studio transformed into this fun, strange little pop song. And live, it's seems to have become a real favorite," says Bellar.

The fun and twisted arrangement of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" was actually a collaborative effort by all the members of the group in one short session. "Usually with covers, I like to make it as bare bones as possible, so we can go in any direction at any time live," says Bellar. "But when I started playing 'Three Little Birds' in a rehearsal one day, this arrangement just sort of snowballed and morphed into this really trippy, high-energy vibe which is so much fun to play."

"My life would be a whole lot easier if I could rattle off some cool buzz words that describe this music but on the other hand I'm really glad that I can't. It doesn't fit into any clear genre but I guess that's just a product of who I am as a person and musician - a rock kid who fell in love with improvisation," admits the keyboardist. It's just Bellar - he does things a little different.

About Michael Bellar & the AS-IS Ensemble:

For a group that you've never heard of before, Michael Bellar & the AS-IS Ensemble have performed at a wide range of diverse festivals and venues across the country including the NYC Winter Jazz Festival, Brooklyn Bowl, Telluride Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, SXSW, A Bear's Picnic, Blue Note Jazz Festival NYC, Avery Fischer Hall (for Habitat for Humanity), San Jose Jazz Festival, Evolve Fest, JVC Jazz Festival, Rockwood Music Hall and spent a summer as the house band at the world famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City. The group has also opened for artists diverse as Robert Randolph & the Family Band, John Scofield, Oliver Wood (of the Wood Brothers), the Everyone Orchestra, Medeski Martin & Wood, Tea Leaf Green, Howie Day, Grant Green Jr. and the Ryan Montbleau Band.

Upcoming Michael Bellar & the AS-IS Ensemble Performances:

May 25 / The Colony Cafe / Woodstock, NY

May 31 / Positive Pie / Montpelier, VT

June 1 / Radio Bean / Burlington, VT

June 6-7 / O'Hara and Flynn (solo) / Charleston, SC

* June 10 / The Pourhouse / Raleigh, NC

* June 12 / ISIS / Asheville, NC

June 25 / BB King - Lucille's, Blue Note Jazz Festival / New York, NY

July 6 / BRYAC / Bridgeport, CT

July 12 / The Jazz Estate / Milwaukee, WI

July 13 / The Cabooze / Minneapolis, MN

July 14 / Rockwood Music Hall Stage II / New York, NY

July 28 / Rockwood Music Hall Stage II / New York, NY

August 1 / Telluride Jazz Festival / Telluride, CO

August 2 / Vine Street Brewery / Denver, CO

August 3 / Mountain Sun / Boulder, CO

August 5 / Winstons / San Diego, CA

August 9 / Blackbird Cafe, San Jose Jazz Festival / San Jose, CA

August 11 / Rockwood Music Hall Stage II  (w/ special guest Shaun Pelton) / New York, NY

August 25 / Rockwood Music Hall Stage II (w/ special guest Melissa Reaves) / New York, NY

* indicates a Michael Bellar solo performance opening for Carsie Blanton

  

Michael Bellar & the AS-IS Ensemble · Oh No Oh Wow / Left 3 Lanes Music  ·  Release Date: June 24, 2014 / MichaelBellar.com

BLUE NOTE SELECT COLLECTIONS FROM CLIFFORD BROWN, JOHN COLTRANE. MILES DAVIS & THELONIOUS MONK

Blue Note Records, the world’s most respected and longest-running Jazz label, is being commemorated for its 75th Anniversary throughout 2014 and beyond with a broad range of special releases and events. Blue Note is pleased to announce new Blue Note Select collections for Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, each with original recordings sequenced as they were first released on 10-inch or 78 RPM singles (a departure from previous reissues, which have used recording chronology or later 12-inch versions of the albums for their sequences). Each Blue Note Select collection will be presented in special book-style packaging with a new essay, Francis Wolff session photos, original album art and other details. Miles Davis Take Off: The Complete Blue Note Albums is available beginning today in 2CD and digital packages, Clifford Brown Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings will be released June 10 in 3CD and digital packages, and John Coltrane & Friends Sideman: Trane’s Blue Note Sessions will be released July 15 in 3CD and digital packages. Thelonious Monk ‘Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Recordings will be released this fall in 2CD and digital packages.

Miles Davis / Take Off: The Complete Blue Note Albums (2CD; digital)

A new, Miles Davis Estate-approved collection of Davis' three Blue Note 10-inch albums plus all alternate takes issued on subsequent 12-inch albums and CD reissues: a total of 26 tracks recorded for Blue Note Records on three dates in 1952, ’53 and ’54. This is the first time Davis’ 10-inch albums – Young Man With A Horn, Miles Davis Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 – have been issued in their original sequence since the early 1950s. The book-style packaging includes a 32-page booklet with an essay by respected jazz writer Kirk Silsbee, and other elements as noted.

Clifford Brown / Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (3CD; digital)

Documenting when trumpeter Clifford Brown was on the rise, the new collection covers his three 10-inch albums from 1953 – recorded with J.J. Johnson (Jay Jay Johnson with Clifford Brown), Lou Donaldson (New Faces New Sounds) and his own sextet (New Star On The Horizon) – plus legendary live Birdland recordings headlined by Art Blakey, in which Brown is featured along with Donaldson and pianist Horace Silver. While this collection presents the original 10-inch album sequences for the first time since the mid-1950s, the Birdland shows are presented in their original performance sequence for the first time ever. The book-style package includes a 34-page booklet with an essay by Kirk Silsbee, and other elements as noted.

John Coltrane & Friends / Sideman: Trane’s Blue Note Sessions (3CD; digital)

A collection of the legendary saxophonist’s sideman sessions for Blue Note Records from 1956-1957, when Coltrane was a regular member of the Miles Davis Quintet and played with pianist Thelonious Monk. This set, conceived by former Blue Note Records president Bruce Lundvall, marks the first time Coltrane’s sideman sessions for Blue Note have been collected in one place; albums include recordings led by Paul Chambers (Chambers’ Music, a.k.a. High Step, and Whims of Chambers), Johnny Griffin (A Blowing Session) and Sonny Clark (Sonny’s Crib). The entire set will be in original Blue Note mono, with the mono version of Clark’s album on CD for the first time. The book-style package includes a 34-page booklet with an essay by author and educator Ashley Kahn, and other elements as noted.

Thelonious Monk: ‘Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (2CD; digital)

Monk’s first recordings in the late 1940s were for Blue Note Records, and they signaled a new kind of Blue Note, as the label was evolving from an outlet for boogie woogie and old time jazz into a flag-waver for hard bop. These recordings, which include the first version of Monk’s classic composition, “'Round Midnight” (originally known as "'Round About Midnight"), were released on a series of fifteen 78 RPM singles. Later, Monk’s sessions were re-compiled on 10-inch and 12-inch LPs, and this collection will present for the first time Monk’s Blue Note recordings in their original 78 RPM sequence of release, adding as bonus tracks the alternate takes that appeared on later LP and CD releases. In addition, ’Round Midnight includes nine tracks not available on any current reissues of Monk’s albums.

On March 25, Blue Note/UMe launched an extensive 100-album vinyl reissue initiative with five classic titles (Art Blakey Free For All, John Coltrane Blue Train, Eric Dolphy Out To Lunch, Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil, and Larry Young Unity). Five more classic LPs were released in April (Ornette Coleman At The “Golden Circle” Stockholm, Vol. 1, Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage, Sonny Rollins A Night At The Village Vanguard, Cannonball Adderley Somethin’ Else, and Dexter Gordon Our Man In Paris). The vinyl series continues this month with the May 27 release of Grant Green Idle Moments, Hank Mobley Soul Station, Madlib Shades Of Blue, Horace Silver Song For My Father, and McCoy Tyner The Real McCoy. The vinyl releases are set to continue monthly and also include modern classics from Blue Note’s recent catalog such as Joe Lovano Quartets: Live At The Village Vanguard, Jason Moran Soundtrack To Human Motion, Terence Blanchard Flow, Medeski Martin & Wood Combustication, and Cassandra Wilson Traveling Miles. Click here for the full list of vinyl releases.

On April 29, Blue Note/UMe released a remastered and expanded 20th anniversary edition of Cassandra Wilson's landmark album Blue Light ‘Til Dawn. Wilson’s groundbreaking Blue Note album helped to define a new style of jazz and earned her the title of "America's best singer" from Time magazine. Supervised by original producer Craig Street, the new edition includes three previously unreleased live recordings from Wilson’s 1994 tour.

B.B KING - THE LIFE OF RILEY: THE SOUNDTRACK

B.B. King-The Life Of Riley is a powerful, insightful and heart-warming feature documentary about legendary Blues man, B.B. King. The film is narrated by OSCAR® winning actor Morgan Freeman and features never-before-seen interviews with music icons Eric Clapton, Bono, Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana, Slash, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and longtime blues fan and supporter, Bruce Willis. The film will play in movie theatres across the United States, starting May 21st. Tickets for the theatrical screenings are on sale now, only at www.bbking.com

B.B. King -The Life Of Riley Original Soundtrack, available digitally on May 19, 2014 carefully follows the specifically chosen music sequence used in the film. The soundtrack contains 19 career-spanning songs as featured in the movie from his 1951 hit “3 O’Clock Blues” to his 2000 GRAMMY® winning “Riding With the King” duet, plus two live songs never available on digital or CD, “Walking Dr. Bill” and “Sweet Sixteen.”

Producer/Director Jon Brewer worked closely with B.B. King for more than 2 years, amassing more than 250 hours of footage to create a no holds barred, powerful documentary feature that explores how an orphaned child, working in the cotton fields of Mississippi in 1925, turned his life around against all odds to overcome even the toughest critics, to become “King of the Blues.”

B.B. King: The Life of Riley film includes appearances and contributions from: Aaron Neville, Bill Cosby, Bill Szymczyk, Bill Wyman, Bono, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Willis, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Carver Randle, Derek Trucks, Dr. John, Eric Clapton, George Benson, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Walsh, John Mayer, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mick Taylor, Morgan Freeman, Paul Rodgers, Rev. David Matthews, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Slash, Susan Tedeschi, Tina France, Walter Trout, and Wayne Cartledge.

The DVD and Blu-Ray™, available everywhere on June 17th, feature performance footage from the Royal Albert Hall, with special guests Ronnie Wood, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Mick Hucknell, and Slash. In addition, there are bonus interviews from Buddy Guy, Mick Hucknell, Ronnie Wood, Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks, Bobby Bland, Walter Trout, Susan Tedeschi, Carlos Santana, Joe Bonamassa, Dr. John, John Mayall, Slash, and Leon Russell.

B.B. KING-THE LIFE OF RILEY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK TRACKLISTING:

*All songs performed by BB King, unless otherwise noted. 

Walking Dr. Bill (Live on “GTK” Australia, March 18, 1974) **previously unreleased on CD/digital formats

1.    Nobody Loves Me But My Mother

2.    To Know You Is To Love You

3.    Paying The Cost To Be The Boss

4.    3 O’Clock Blues

5.    Sweet Little Angel

6.    Catfish Blues (Fishin’ After Me)

7.    Every Day I Have the Blues (recorded live at The Regal Theatre)

8.    How Blue Can You Get? (Recorded live at The Regal Theatre)

9.    Chains And Things

10.  The Thrill Is Gone

11.  Caldonia

12.  Sweet Sixteen (Live in Africa, 1974) **previously unreleased live version

13.  Hold On (I Feel Our Love is Changing)

14.  When Love Comes to Town *Performed by U2 & B.B. King

15.  Riding With The King *Performed by Eric Clapton & B.B. King

16.  Messy But Good

17.  Precious Lord

18  Think It Over

BONNIE RAITT SPECIAL VINYL-ONLY 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF NICK OF TIME

On June 24, Capitol Records/UMe will release a special vinyl-only edition of Bonnie Raitt's classic NICK OF TIME in honor of the album's 25th anniversary. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's tenth album still stands as her signature work and as a turning point in her legendary career. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart, sold five million copies, and won three GRAMMY® Awards, including “Album of the Year.” Rolling Stone ranked NICK OF TIME as number 230 on its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."

The NICK OF TIME - 25th Anniversary album was remastered from the original analog tapes, overseen by both the albums producer, Don Was and engineer Ed Cherney and is being released on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl.

"Personally, I think it may be the best record of my career," says Raitt. "Every record has its charm and its significance, but I think we finally got it right — I could finally say, 'Yeah, that's what I had in mind.' As a mixture of styles, reflected in one record, it was a really good version of what I do."

NICK OF TIME came along at a fortuitous moment for Raitt, following a difficult few years in which she had been dropped by her long-time label, Warner Bros., and got sober and healthy. The album was produced by Don Was, which initiated a working relationship that went on for several projects (the 1991 follow-up, Luck of the Draw, sold over seven million copies), and spawned four singles, including the hit "Thing Called Love." NICK OF TIME was bookended by two landmark Raitt original compositions: the opening title track, a powerful mediation on aging, and the closing cut, "The Road's My Middle Name," a rollicking update of the blues that captured her life as a traveling performer.

"It's a particularly great batch of songs," says Raitt, "and the synchronicity of finding these songs when I did — the emotional connection and the gratitude that I had to be given another shot — I think that shows. It was kismet to have it come out this well."

More than just a best-selling artist, respected guitarist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter, Bonnie Raitt has become an institution in American music. The recipient of ten GRAMMY® awards — including "Best Americana Album" for her most recent release, 2012's Slipstream — she appears on Rolling Stone's lists of both the Greatest Singers and Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Over the years, Raitt has contributed to over 100 album projects, collaborating with the likes of B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder. Yet it is the breakthrough of NICK OF TIME (which received an additional GRAMMY® nomination when it was remixed for Surround Sound in 2004) that serves as the cornerstone of her body of work.

"The success of NICK OF TIME brought me a level of freedom, and the opportunities to do everything I had wanted to do," says Raitt. "Nearly every gift in my life now is, in so many ways, because of what happened with that album and the GRAMMYs®. Definitely one of the greatest highlights of my life." 

STUDIO RIO PRESENTS THE BRAZIL CONNECTION

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection, an innovative collection of 12 beloved vocal recordings re-experienced through new samba and bossa nova arrangements created by iconic Brazilian musicians and The Berman Brothers.  The perfect summer soundtrack party album, Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection includes first single, "Lovely Day (Studio Rio Version)" by Bill Withers with Studio Rio and will be released just in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, scheduled for June 12th - July 13th. Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection is available now at all digital music providers; the 12" vinyl LP arrives on May 27th with a CD edition following on June 23rd.

Embracing the All In One Rhythm™ Theme of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection blends 12 iconic performances - from Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Sly & The Family Stone, The Isley Brothers, Mel Torme, Nina Simone, Johnny Nash, Dave Brubeck with Carmen McRae, Andy Williams and Sarah Vaughan - with new samba and bossa nova arrangements and production inspired by the spirit of Brazilian music.

Tracks from Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection will be included throughout ESPN's comprehensive coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, with multiple songs from the album slated to soundtrack the network's multi-platform presentation of the quadrennial tournament. In addition, the collection's "It's Your Thing" (Studio Rio Version)" by The Isley Brothers with Studio Rio is among the highlights included on Sony Music Entertainment's recently released One Love, One Rhythm – The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Album.

Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection is the latest innovative musical project from the award-winning production duo, the Berman Brothers (Frank and Christian). The project saw the Berman Brothers seeking out the original multi-track masters and then utilizing state-of-the-art separation technology from Science of Sounds to extract exquisitely pristine and detailed vocals.  The newly isolated vocals were then melded with brand-new, authentic backing arrangements played by Studio Rio, an all-star cast of Brazilian musical pioneers from the bossa nova and samba genres, including Latin GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner Roberto Menescal and Brazilian musical legend Marcos Valle.

"Music is the heart and soul of Brazil, celebrating with syncopated beats and beautifully expressive melodies. It's the life force of the entire culture," wrote the Berman Brothers in their notes for Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection.  "We have always had a huge appreciation of Brazilian music. Between us, we have a massive collection of bossa nova and samba recordings, new and old, a lot which we found in flea markets in Amsterdam, Paris, and London.... Once you get into this music, there really is no way to stop. It was this joyful and timeless music that inspired the idea for this collection. Our goal was to bring the Brazilian joie de vivre to iconic performances by well-known American artists like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, and many others. What would these classic songs sound like had they been recorded in the studios of Rio de Janeiro in the first place, with the best Brazilian musicians and arrangers?"

"It was an amazing journey—bringing together these American classics and the vibrancy of Brazilian music with the help of so many talented musicians, arrangers and a dedicated production team. We learned many things putting together this music including what was the most important, and least surprising lesson of all: Brazil is the most musical place we have ever been in our lives."

The Berman Brothers have a long history of coupling classic and contemporary sounds from around the world, including Rhythms Del Mundo (2006), a cross-cultural album summit which fused an all-star cast of Cuban musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo of the Buena Vista Social Club with US and UK artists and superstars including U2, Coldplay, Sting, Jack Johnson, Maroon5, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and others. Rhythms del Mundo was released in more than 61 countries and received multiple sales awards worldwide.

During the past 20 years, the Berman Brothers have received more than 90 gold and platinum awards, two BMI Awards, a GRAMMY® nomination (for "Love One Another," recorded by Cher) and a place in history for their production and remix of the Baha Men's colossal hit, "Who Let the Dogs Out."  As producers, writers and publishers, the Bermans have worked with an array of international superstars including Coldplay, Sting, Cher, Real McCoy, Dido, Maroon5, Sophie B. Hawkins, Reamonn, and members of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection 

(COMPLETE TRACKLISTING)

1. Bill Withers with Studio Rio - Lovely Day

2. Aretha Franklin with Studio Rio - Walk On By

3. Marvin Gaye with Studio Rio - Sexual Healing

4. Billie Holiday with Studio Rio - You've Changed

5. Sly & The Family Stone with Studio Rio - Family Affair

6. The Isley Brothers with Studio Rio - It's Your Thing

7. Mel Torme with Studio Rio - I've Got You Under My Skin

8. Nina Simone with Studio Rio – I Wish I Knew What It Means To Be Free

9. Johnny Nash with Studio Rio - I Can See Clearly Now

10. Dave Brubeck with Carmen McRae with Studio Rio - Take 5

11. Andy Williams with Studio Rio - Music To Watch Girls By

12. Sarah Vaughan with Studio Rio – Summertime

www.StudioRio.com  

HENRY MANCINI RELEASES: MANCINI'S ANGELS; THE THEME SCENE; SYMPHONIC SOUL; THE COP SHOW THEMES; THE LATIN SOUND OF HENRY MANCINI; THE BIG LATIN BAND OF HENRY MANCINI

HENRY MANCINI - MANCINI'S ANGELS / THE THEME SCENE 

Two groovy late 70s albums from Henry Mancini – back to back on a single CD! Mancini's Angels has happy Hank surrounded by plenty of cleavage – a cover that's perfect for the album's title play on the hit Charlie's Angels show! Mancini does a great job with the theme to that one, and also adds in some cool keyboards you wouldn't have heard on the original – and the rest of the album is a mix of other mid 70s TV themes, plus some cool originals penned by Mancini himself, but with a very similar flavor – often quite funky, in a soundtrack sort of way. Titles include "Charlie's Angels", "Car Wash", "Silver Streak", "Inspector Clouseau Theme", "Gonna Fly Now", "What's Happening", "The Moneychangers", and "Evergreen". The Theme Scene features plenty of cool 70s soundtrack themes – titles pulled from both film and TV use, some with a feel that's every bit as funky as Henry Mancini's great work on the Cop Show album! Titles include "The Cheap Detective", "Star Trek", "Heaven Can Wait", "Children Of Sanchez", "Battlestar Galactica", "Once Is Not Enough", "Three's Company", "NBC News Theme", and "Fantasy Island". ~ Dusty Groove 

HENRY MANCINI - SYMPHONIC SOUL / THE COP SHOW THEMES

Funky soundtrack-styled work by Henry Mancini – compiling the mid 70s Cop Show Themes and Symphonic Soul LPs – together in single set! Cop Show Themes is easily ne of the funkiest albums ever from Mancini – a brilliant reworking of hit 70s cop show themes, put together with a really jazzy groove! The group's a big one – filled with hip players who include Clare Fischer on organ, Artie Kane on electric piano and harpsichord, Don Menza on tenor, Lee Ritenour on guitar – all instruments that are used strongly to help kick things nicely on the set, with a vibe that's right up there with the best funky 70s soundtracks. Harvey Mason is on drums, bringing up the bottom a bit more than usual for Mancini – and the choice of material really makes the record cook – with tracks that include "Kojak", "SWAT", "Police Woman", "Rockford Files", "Hawaii Five O", "Streets Of San Francisco", "Bumper's Theme", and "Baretta's Theme". Symphonic Soul is just as great – a mixture of tight large arrangements with a smooth funky edge, similar to some of his best soundtrack work at the time! The rhythm section is great – again with Harvey Mason on drums, plus Joe Sample on keyboards, and guitar by David T Walker and Dennis Budimir – and the album also features some cool solos on instruments like African finger piano and piccolo trumpet. The whole thing bounces along with a majestic approach that's very full and complicated – yet also tight and funky! Lots of nice groovy tunes – and titles include "Sun Goddess", "Symphonic Soul", "Soul Saga", "African Symphony", "Slow Hot Wind", and "Satin Soul". ~ Dusty Groove

HENRY MANCINI - THE LATIN SOUND OF HENRY MANCINI / THE BIG LATIN BAND OF HENRY MANCINI

2 great albums of Latiny tunes from Henry Mancini! The Big Latin Band Of Henry Mancini features a very hip lineup of west coast jazzmen – including Bud Shank and Tom Scott on reeds, Buddy Childers and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Ray Brown on acoustic bass, Max Bennett on fender bass, Larry Bunker on percussion, and Shelly Manne on drums. The rhythms have a great mix of Latin influences and Mancini magic, the kind of grooves you'd hear on his 60s soundtracks at the time, and the vibe is nice and relaxed. It's a bit more upbeat than bossa, but not as all-out as other RCA Latin sessions – thanks to Mancini's nice sense of warmth and space in the arrangements. Titles include some pretty darn cool takes on "Mission Impossible", "Fistful Of Dollars", "Magnificent Seven", "Touch Of Evil", and "Springtime For Hitler", from the film The Producers. Other titles include "Patricia", "Zacatecas", and "Las Cruces". The Latin Sound record is a gem from a few years earlier – with some great arrangements by Mancini! The album's less a straight Latin date than it is a new approach to the grooves Henry was laying down on his 60s soundtracks – a mix of bossa and cha cha-inspired themes that sparkle wonderfully with warm jazzy touches from a host of LA players who include Dick Nash on trombone, Harry Klee on flute, Ted Nash on alto and tenor, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, and Gene Garf on organ – all working beautifully under Mancini's direction, with a sound that's both tight and relaxed at the same time! Lots of tracks have some nice groovy organ, which gives the arrangements a cool lively sound – and titles include "Preciosa", "Baia", "Carnavalito", "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars", "Tico Tico", and the nice "Senor Peter Gunn", a Latin remake of Mancini's big hit!  ~ Dusty Groove

MINDI ABAIR - WILD HEART

New album features features appearances by Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, Trombone Shorty, Max Weinberg, Waddy Wachtel and others,

Mindi Abair is one of the most dynamic performers on the music scene today.  In addition to her acclaimed solo work, she was the featured saxophonist on the 2011 and 2012 seasons of American Idol, jammed with Paul Shaffer on the Late Show with David Letterman and joined rock legends Aerosmith for their 2012 summer tour. More recently, Abair received a 2014 GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Summer Horns, a #1 recording with her friends Dave Koz, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot, four of the most pre-eminent saxophonists in contemporary music.  

In a career that spans seven solo albums and countless collaborations in the studio and live on stage, Abair has made her mark on a broad stretch of the musical landscape that includes jazz, pop, rock, R&B, soul, funk and more. The powerhouse saxophonist/vocalist has made scores of friends along the way and earned the respect of top-shelf artists representing every one of the aforementioned genres.

Several of those friends join her on Wild Heart, her new album that includes guest performances by – and songwriting collaborations with – Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, Trombone Shorty, Max Weinberg, Waddy Wachtel and others. Produced by Abair and the illustrious Los Angeles production trio The Decoders (Adam Berg, Itai Shapira and Todd Simon), Wild Heart is set for release on May 27, 2014 on Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group.

“I’ve had all these friends in rock ’n’ roll and pop for so many years. I’ve been a part of their music and careers, but I never quite knew how they could fit into my career,” Abair says. “I’ve worked hard to write songs that had more of an organic spirit about them – a little more rock and roll, a little more soul and a lot more abandon.”

By enlisting colleagues in rock and pop circles in the making of Wild Heart, Abair has created something that stretches her beyond the contemporary instrumental groove that has characterized some of her earlier recordings.

Wild Heart is all that and more. The 11-song set opens with the upbeat “Amazing Game,” a track co-written by Abair and GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Jim Peterik, the latter a pop/rock veteran who penned the Ides of March hit single “Vehicle” in 1970, and later Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” in 1982. “Amazing Game” also features swaggering horn lines courtesy of Trombone Shorty, the New Orleans native whose past alliances have included Lenny Kravitz and Aerosmith.

“Amazing Game” is the first of two songs on which Peterik and Abair share writing credits. The second is “Train,” a thumping track that showcases Abair’s powerful vocals alongside her solid saxophone work. “Jim and I have written so many songs together, and I’ve recorded with The Ides of March and on his records. It’s an honor to put our songs on my record for the first time. We had such a blast writing them.”

The scorching instrumental “Kick Ass” features rock icon Joe Perry, guitarist and co-founder of Aerosmith. “I wrote this song with my friend Matthew Hager, and while we were demoing it, I was fresh off the Aerosmith tour and picturing Joe Perry rocking the guitar part while walking down the runway towards 50,000 fans with the wind in his hair. I had to call him to see if he would play on it.” Perry heard the song and joined Mindi in the studio the next week to record it. “What a high to play back and forth in the studio with one of my favorite guitarists of all time. When Matthew heard it, he just about fell off his chair!”

“I’ll Be Your Home” is a swampy ballad that features Keb’ Mo’ in a vocal duet with Abair (Keb’ also plays guitar and tambourine on the track). Abair says, “Keb’ and I have been playing on each other’s records for many years. We started playing together in LA clubs when maybe eight people would come to see us. We were nobody at the time. So it’s been fun to watch his career take off in the years since and be a part of each other’s lives and music. He’s one of my favorite human beings and musicians, and he adds a lot of home to this song.”

“The Shakedown,” a throwback to the beginnings of rock ’n’ roll when the saxophone was an integral part of the sound, features guitarist and co-writer Waddy Wachtel, along with drummer Max Weinberg, the anchor of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band for nearly four decades. Abair established a connection with Weinberg shortly after the death of E Street saxophonist Clarence Clemons in 2011. A few tour dates with Weinberg – including a benefit concert that included an appearance by Springsteen – played a huge role in the genesis of Wild Heart. “Max means every note he plays,” says Abair. “Playing Clarence Clemons’ parts with him and Bruce made me delve deeper inside myself – just go for broke and let everything out. I wanted that abandon for my record.”

The understated and slinky “Addicted to You” features keyboardist Booker T. Jones, leader of the highly influential Booker T. and the MGs, the de facto house band for the Stax label during their heyday in the ’60s and early ’70s. “Booker is such a hero of mine,” says Abair. “Here’s a guy who really invented a sound and changed the world. I wanted the chance to write with him – I just knew we could create magic. I knew we would write something meaningful, and this song absolutely haunts me.”

The set closes with “Just Say When,” a heartfelt ballad that harkens back to keyboardist and co-author Gregg Allman’s roots with the Allman Brothers. “It was actually Gregg’s idea to write something together,” says Abair. “I went to his house for three days to write with him, and we bonded so much and delved deep to come up with this song. I played with him last year and felt this electricity singing and playing with him. He’s all heart and vibe. What a gift to have him write, play and sing on this record.”

Wild Heart is, in many respects, Abair’s culmination of many years of collaborating in the studio and/or onstage with some of the most prominent figures in contemporary popular music. “People look at me a bit funny when they see the extreme diversity of artists I’ve toured or recorded with – Teena Marie, Aerosmith, Duran Duran, Lee Ritenour, Keb’ Mo’ and The Backstreet Boys. I always went with my heart, and it’s been quite an adventure musically. No title accurately described the music from this record to me, so I decided to title it after myself, a Wild Heart that’s had a great time letting go and letting this record take shape organically with people I love. I hope people have as much fun listening as I’ve had making this music.”

JOE BONAMASSA - TOUR DE FORCE: LIVE IN LONDON - 4-DISC SET

Due to high demand from fans, guitar hero Joe Bonamassa will release his epic Tour De Force – Live In London (J&R Adventures) project as four double-disc CD sets on May 19, 2014. In addition, a boxset which comes with a free t-shirt will be available on www.jbonamassa.com. 

The unprecedented live concert event – which was released on four DVDs (or Blu-rays) last fall with all four debuting in the Top 10 on Billboard's Music DVD Chart – was captured last year when Bonamassa performed a quartet of shows at the iconic London venues he's played throughout his career – Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo, Shepherd's Bush Empire, and The Borderline. The venues provide the backdrop for a ferocious four-night event, each evening marked by a unique theme featuring Bonamassa with different bands, different set lists, and different arrangements and ensembles performing over 60 songs in total – some never performed live before – from Bonamassa's extensive career.

Tour De Force – Live In London chronicles Bonamassa's atmospheric rise from the intimate club environment of The Borderline to the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. Beginning in the 200-capacity London Borderline with a trio, Bonamassa pays tribute to his earlier career performing songs he hasn't played live in years. The following evening at Shepherd's Bush Empire is a blues-themed night featuring a horns section with a soulful, big-blues-band feel. Then on to the Hammersmith Apollo which opens with a short acoustic set before moving into a rock-inspired evening. Finally, on the fourth and final night at the Royal Albert Hall, Bonamassa treats the crowd to a half acoustic/half electric show of his most popular and well-known songs featuring the acoustic band from his #1 Billboard acoustic CD/DVD An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House.

The end result – over 9 hours of concert footage – more than lives up to its billing as "The Guitar Event of The Year" and sees Bonamassa reliving, revisiting, and redefining the many phases and pivotal moments throughout his career and delivering a once-in-a-lifetime performance that more than serves as an appropriate retrospective for an artist who has already achieved so much.

http://jbonamassa.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JoeBonamassa

 

JEFF COLELLA / PUTTER SMITH - LOTUS BLOSSOM

Only the most sensitive and responsive of musicians can make quietude roar. On their stunning duet album, Lotus Blossom (May 20, 2014, The American Jazz Institute/Capri), two venerated veteran stylists, the pianist Jeff Colella and the bassist Putter Smith, communicate in muted tones that nonetheless pack a punch. Blending exquisite readings of choice standards and jazz originals, the album reasserts the timeless power of spontaneous music-making that places invention above virtuosity, empathy above individual showboating. As imaginative as it is expressive, Lotus Blossom can take its place with such piano-and-bass masterpieces as Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden's Jasmine, Haden and Hank Jones's Steal Away, and the vaunted duo recordings of Jimmy Rowles and Ray Brown.

Lotus Blossom has been a long time in coming. Colella - a highly respected West Coast keyboardist who has had significant musical associations with Lou Rawls, Jack Jones and Stacey Rowles - and Smith, a musician's musician best known for his work with Alan Broadbent, Mose Allison and Mark Masters (and with James Bond fanatics for his role as the assassin, "Mr. Kidd," in the 1971 film, Diamonds Are Forever) have been playing together informally for the better part of the past two decades. Recent work as a duo at Vibrato, a Bel Air area club, stoked their interest in recording together.

Lotus Blossom was consciously conceived as a compact (under one hour) and cohesive set of music. Although not specifically intended as a tribute album to associates and musical influences that have passed, the album does have an elegiac feel that is borne out in the deeply emotive playing of the co-leaders and in the choice of affecting material. Three pieces are associated with the legendary pianist Bill Evans: the Evans original, "Time Remembered," the Michel Legrand-authored ballad, "You Must Believe In Spring" and "All Blues," one of the hallmark tracks from the epochal Miles Davis album, Kind Of Blue. Smith's suggestive original, "Desert Passes," the guitarist Larry Koonse's moody "Candle" and the Ray Noble classic "The Very Thought of You" all allow the lyrical qualities that both players share to fully emerge. The two concluding tracks actually are dedicatory in nature: Colella's lovely, "Gone Too Soon" calls to mind fellow musicians that left us prematurely, while Billy Strayhorn's "Lotus Blossom" references Jimmy Rowles and his daughter Stacey (who passed in 2009), who, when working together, would always end their sets with this gorgeous tune.

Throughout, Colella and Smith meld together indivisibly, their mutual communication and insistence that expression supplant instrumental prowess, remaining paramount. "The music has needs of its own, outside of our interpretation," Colella states. "Virtuosity has to emerge organically from the music, it can never be forced. Technique must always serve the music - it can't be imposed on it." With Lotus Blossom, Colella and Smith remind us that, when it comes to music, respect reaps rewards.

Jeff Colella has worked with a panoply of instrumentalists and singers including Lou Rawls, Jack Jones, Anita O'Day, Eric Von Essen, Sheila Jordan, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Frank Potenza and Diane Schuur, and is a faculty member at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. http://jeffcolella.com/

In addition to his work with such jazz masters as Art Pepper, Ray Charles, Carmen McRae and a host of others, Putter Smith is currently on the faculty of the Bass Institute of Technology in Los Angeles and the author of the method book, "Jazz Bass Improvisation." 

jeffcolella.com

NEW RELEASES: LOUIS HAYES - RETURN OF THE JAZZ COMMUNICATORS; RALPH TOWNER / GARY BURTON - MATCH BOOK; DICK OATTS / HAROLD DANKO - SWEET NOWHERE

LOUIS HAYES - RETURN OF THE JAZZ COMMUNICATORS

Louis Hayes is one of the chief architects of modern jazz drumming. He's provided the rhythmic drive for historic recordings by Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, and McCoy Tyner. His playing has an intensity that is as subtle as it is complex, creating a musical feel and vibe that is unmistakably Hayesian. When he reformed this band that he co-founded in the late '60s with Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson-which Freddie dubbed the Jazz Communicators-Louis purposefully deviated from a conventional quintet lineup by featuring a vibraphone / tenor saxophone frontline. It's the esteemed pair of Steve Nelson and Abraham Burton, respectively, and their chemistry with Louis, pianist David Bryant and bassist Dezron Douglas makes Return of the Jazz Communicators an inspired and rewarding set of music. The selections include a nice balance of standards and originals such as a ballad-feature for Nelson, "Lush Life," and one for Burton, "Portrait of Jennie," as well as the deep, loose groove of Mulgrew Miller's "Soul-Leo," which opens the record. Return of the Jazz Communicators captures this important jazz quintet in front of an enthusiastic and appreciative live audience. In the words of Hayes, "I try to do what I do best and what makes me feel good...I guess I might as well keep on swinging." ~ LouisHayes.net

RALPH TOWNER / GARY BURTON - MATCH BOOK

Two of the greatest things going for ECM in the 70s – brought together on one record! The vibes of Gary Burton are a wonderful match for the careful guitar work of Ralph Towner – particularly his 12-string guitar, which is used in a space that's somewhere between folk and jazz, and which seems to evoke Gary Burton's Tennessee roots in a really poetic way! The style isn't entirely jazz, although that term is the best description for it – and instead, both players find this really magical space together – creating special sounds that resonate with sensitivity and a unique sort of soul. Titles include "Drifting Petals", "Icarus", "Brotherhood", "Song For A Friend", and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hate". (SHMCD pressing.)  ~ Dusty Groove 

DICK OATTS / HAROLD DANKO - SWEET NOWHERE

Beautiful work from this overlooked team – and maybe the best showcase we've ever heard for the alto sax work of Dick Oatts! The album features just Oatts on sax and Harold Danko on piano – a sound that's surprisingly soulful, even when spare – as Oatts has this way of blowing his horn that reminds us a lot of Warne Marsh's late tenor in such a setting – never too modern, never too overdone, but always richly expressive with just a few well-chosen notes! Danko's a real revelation here, too – playing with these gentle flows that bubble up and really surprise us – again as focused and careful as Dick's work on alto, a sense of subtlety that's really impressive. Titles include unique variations on "Summertime", "Alone Together", "Green Dolphin Street", "Con Alma", and "Star Eyes". ~ Dusty Groove

JIMMY COBB - THE ORIGINAL MOBB FEAT. PETER BERNSTEIN, BRAD MELDAU, JOHN WEBBER

Now in his seventh decade in music and swinging as hard today as he did in 1951 with Earl Bostic, Jimmy Cobb continues to display his surgical skill which has exalted him to legendary status through his work with Dinah and Cannonball to Sarah and Wes. But inescapably, Jimmy is best known for his time with Miles Davis that included the recording of several history making albums including the iconic session Kind of Blue.

His new release, The Original Mob, features three former students who have all become successful artists themselves. Brad Mehldau, Peter Bernstein, and John Webber were just getting their own careers started when they approached their teacher, Mr. Cobb, about working together as a quartet. It wasn't a hard sell, as Jimmy knew from experience that they were special talents. Soon after, they got some gigs as Jimmy Cobb's Mob and the rest is history. The Original Mob is the first recording of this original lineup in many years and their first recording together under Jimmy's leadership. It's a swinging affair that includes two of Jimmy's original compositions, and one each by Brad, Peter, and John.

The opening standard, "Old Devil Moon," was spontaneously arranged at the date when Brad suggested this novel introduction. Other highlights include the standards "Stranger in Paradise," "Sunday in New York," and "Nobody Else but Me." The Original Mob is the first Smoke Sessions Records release to be recorded using Smoke Jazz Club as a traditional recording studio-a process that Jimmy compared to recording in master engineer Rudy Van Gelder's living room half a century earlier. He adds, "it just sounds like us...like when we first started to play together years ago, but I remember like it was yesterday. I always enjoyed the way we played together."

The Original Mob is available for purchase as a 8-panel CD-Deluxe Album complete with liner notes, interview and additional photos or as a high resolution download mastered for iTunes.

~JimmyCobb.com

NEW RELEASES: CANDI STATON - LIFE HAPPENS; LEE KONITZ - STANDARDS LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD; HAITI DIRECT EP

CANDI STATON - LIFE HAPPENS

Candi Staton returns to Fame Studios – and the results are almost as classic as her recordings from decades before! The set returns Staton to a secular deep soul setting – and the production and instrumentation are nicely down-home, but never in a way that's cliched or cloying – like some LA producer trying to recreate his idea of the real deal! Instead, the whole thing's got a nice indie vibe – with just the right Muscle Shoals blend of moody organ lines and compressed rhythms – backing up that voice that still hasn't lost any fire over the years. Titles include "Never Even Had The Chance", "Eternity", "Commitment", "Where Were You", "Three Minutes To A Relapse", "You Treat Me Like A Secret", and "A Better World Coming". ~ Dusty Groove

LEE KONITZ - STANDARDS LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD

Standards live, but swung the Lee Konitz way – which means that the tunes are always filled with nice little twists and turns – and some of those plenty sharp edges we've always loved in Lee's alto! Konitz is really a rare breed – a player who's made amazing music for over 50 years, yet continues to find new ways to grow – often at personal levels that make records like this extremely compelling. There's a sense of soul that holds us rapt throughout – and the edge in the alto is quite different than the Lee Konitz sound of years past, even different than recent decades too – but is tremendous throughout. Other players include Florian Weber on piano, Jeff Denson on bass, and Ziv Ravitz on drums – and titles include "In Your Own Sweet Way", "I Love You", "Skylark", and "The Song Is You". ~ Dusty Groove

HAITI DIRECT EP - SOFRITO ISLAND SERIES

A special EP of tracks from the bigger Haiti Direct album – including a few exclusive edits for this package! Haiti Direct really brings the right sort of focus to Haitian music – and uses the Strut Records approach that's been tuned towards African and South American grooves in the past – all to pull out the funkiest, jazziest, grooviest tunes from the 60s and 70s. This 4-track EP brings together some of the best tracks from the full CD project – and titles include "Mateau" by Ibo Combo, "Pile Ou Face" by Les Loups Noirs, "Nan Point La Vie (Siwo version)" by Ti Marcel, and "Zanmi Camarade (tropical treats edit)" by Claudette & Ti Pierre. ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - ROSCOE MITCHELL - CONVERSATIONS; MIKE LEDONNE - I LOVE MUSIC; DENA DEROSE - WE WON'T FORGET YOU

ROSCOE MITCHELL WITH CRAIG TABORN AND KIKANJU BAKU - CONVERSATIONS

Roscoe Mitchell returns to a mode that he explored freely back in the 70s – loose, improvised collaborations with other musicians – done at a level that offers up a richly organic blend of sonic elements and musical moments! Some of Mitchell's later work has been more structured, but the approach here is very much in the best early AACM mode – or maybe a bit like Roscoe's classic Sackville recordings – extended "conversations" between his own flutes and saxes, the drums and percussion of Kikanju Baku, and the piano, organ, and keyboards of Craig Taborn. All players are nicely restrained – and as with Mitchell and the Art Ensemble, the mix of instruments is never used in any way that's gimmicky at all – but with subtle shifts that really emphasize the need of the players to communicate together. Titles include "Splatter", "Rub", "Cracked Roses", "Last Trane To Clover Five", and "Knock & Roll". ~ Dusty Groove

MIKE LEDONNE - I LOVE MUSIC

Hammond hero Mike LeDonne's working here in the very well-named Groover Quartet – a rock-solid lineup that features Eric Alexander on tenor, Peter Bernstein on guitar, and Joe Farnsworth on drums! All players have recorded often with each other, and fit together like hand in glove – soaring forth in a set of tenor, organ, and guitar-based cuts that really revive the soul jazz 60s years of Prestige Records – while allowing for some great personal inflections on all the solos. Alexander's warmth works perfectly to push LeDonne's work on Hammond – and Bernstein nicely balances between rhythm and melody throughout – almost a classic Pat Martino sort of mode. Titles include "Blues For Ball", "Do I Do", "The World Is A Ghetto", "I Love Every Little Thing About You", and "I Love Music". ~ Dusty Groove

DENA DEROSE - WE WON'T FORGET YOU...AN HOMAGE TO SHIRLEY HORN

Dena DeRose serves up a tribute to the great Shirley Horn – and works here with the kind of hip jazzy combo that Horn definitely would have loved! Like Horn, DeRose both sings and plays piano – plus a bit of Hammond on a few tracks too – and in addition to core trio instrumentation on bass and drums,t he set also features tenor work from Eric Alexander, trumpet from Jeremy Pelt, and baritone from Gary Smulyan – each players who drop in on certain tracks and make things shine wonderfully – like those key instrumental solos on later Shirley Horn records for Verve. Dena's own vocals and piano are great, though – perfectly timed to replicate that soulful swing that always set Shirley apart – a richness of feeling that's never overdone, and which always knows how to groove even at the most expressive moments. Titles include "Sunday In New York", "Big City", "Don't Be On The Outside", "Quietly There", "A Time For Love", "The Great City", and "Wild Is Love". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: SLOW GRIND FEVER VOLUME 1; DANCE & FUNK COLLECTION; BALLADS & SLOW JAMS COLLECTION

SLOW GRIND FEVER VOLUME 1: ADVENTURES IN THE SLEAZY WORLD OF POPCORN NOIR

Early soul, late R&B, and plenty more – served up here in a mighty cool compilation that definitely lives up to its name! This one's perfect for a hot summer night – when the grooves always sound best when they're a bit laidback – the kind of mellow grinders and slower steppers that really rule throughout this set – all pulled from obscure 45s from back in the day, in a good mix of familiar names and lesser-known gems. Titles include "Hungry Man" by Titus Turner, "You're The Boss" by Lavern Baker & Jimmy Ricks, "Trouble" by The Robins, "Tell A Whale Of A Tale" by Wynonie Harris, "Workin Out" by Ernie Fields, "Mozelle" by Andre Williams, "Lonesome Drifter" by Jericho Brown, "I Said No" by Pat Clayton, "Please Mr Jailer" by Wynona Carr, and "Anytime" by Dee Irwin. ~ Dusty Groove

DANCEABLE TABU: DANCE & FUNK COLLECTION

Upbeat soul, 80s groove, and plenty of boogie – a massive collection of groovers from the groundbreaking Tabu Records! Tabu got its start in the late 70s disco years, but already pointed the way towards more modern soul styles to come in the next decade – and served up a host of classic cuts for the dancefloor, including key work by individual singers and funky groups, and some early production efforts from the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This 17 track set is overflowing with gems from Tabu – and titles include "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On (edit)" by Cherrelle, "Sweet Delight" by Woods Empire, "Some Kind Of Lover" by Mary Davis, "Changin (single)" by Sharon Ridley, "I'm Still Missing Your Love" by SOS Band, "Fake (edit)" by Alexander O'Neal, "No One Home (single)" by Lalo Schifrin, "We're On Our Way Home (part 1)" by Brainstorm, "Just What I've Been Missing" by James Robinson, and "The Girls" by General Caine. ~ Dusty Groove

SWEETEST TABU: BALLADS & SLOW JAMS COLLECTION

Great mellow soul from the legendary Tabu Records label – home to a fair bit of groovers back in the day, including important work from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis – but an imprint that was also great with a ballad or love song too! The range of work here illustrates the shifting sound of the soul ballad through the 80s – a move from some of the more fragile or overwrought modes of the decade before, into mature, sophisticated territory that sometimes drew a lot from the Quiet Storm generation. The set features 15 great mellow jams – including "If You Were Here Tonight" by Alexander O'Neal, "Tell Me If You Still Care" by SOS Band, "Saying It With Music" by Michael Boothman, "All For You" by Anacostia, "Can We Do It Again" by James Robinson, "Stay" by Art Wilson, "Misty Eyes" by Woods Empire, "Hey Girl (7" version)" by Lamont Johnson, and "Nothing Else Means More To Me Than Our Love" by Sharon Ridley. ~ Dusty Groove

FAR OUT PRESENTS FRIENDS FROM RIO PROJECT

It was one of the first projects the label endeavoured upon way back in 1994 and after 20 years, Far Out is back with this new release of varied, yet consistently danceable bossa grooves, Brazil funk and scorching batucadas.

It’s just the kind of music that has defined the label over its two-decade history, which makes it the perfect way to mark 20 years of Far Out Recordings!

In keeping with the very ethos of Far Out, The Friends From Rio Project cements the bonds originally welded by a young Joe Davis, when he set off to Rio, in search of the mysterious sounds of Brazil.

Probably the best Brazil project in the world! Featuring an all-star line-up of the label’s closest friends, (as well as some new faces) Friends From Rio is a fresh take on our original idea of recording tunes from Brazil for the dance floors of London.  The project gets key Incognito-style help from Daniel "Venom" Maunick, and a real Azymuth pedigree from Alex Malheiros – and the whole thing features a great range of different singers, including Hyldon, Robertinho Silva, Aleh Ferreira, Ivan Matheus, Denise Pinaud, Sabrina Malheiros, and Carlos Dafe – each wrapped up in a sweet blend of Fender Rhodes, organ, riffing guitar, and sweet jazzy horns. Titles include "So Resta A Porta Se Abrir", "Mas Que Nada", "Garota", "Aguai", "Casino Bangu", "Batucada Bidu", "Anthemia", "Leita De Pedra", and "Mulher Malagueta".  

Consisting of all original material (with the exception of a blistering version of Jorge Ben’s timeless ‘Mas Que Nada’), this is a reunion of old friends and that’s exactly how it sounds, with celebratory whoops and whistles littering the album, it really does sound like a party. Every track is in some way reminiscent of the kind of music Joe Davis and friends were playing on the underground club scene in London, back at the time of the first Rio Project.

While principally a Brazilian record, lofty disco synths and funk basslines take tracks ‘So Resta A Porta’,‘Veneno’ and ‘Fogo No Chao’ beneath the lights of a spinning mirror ball, while samba batucadas and fiery brass sections keep ‘Casino Bangu’ and Hyldon and Alex Malheiros’ fantastically funky ‘Leite De Pedra’, decidedly under the Rio sun. The album also explores deeper territory with ‘Batucada Bidu’ providing an instrumental stint of intense, driven samba percussion, while Robertinho Silva’s solo closing track ‘Japa’ is deep and intriguing Brazilian jazz music at its finest.

“We’ve always tried to keep the music dance-floor orientated, but it’s sometimes hard to get musicians to play in the same style and with the same feel as they perhaps had in days gone by. Over the last 20 years, our relationships with some of these legends has really developed through sharing musical ideas, and this understanding really comes out in this Rio Project, enabling us to get exactly the results we wanted while recording the album. It was a real team effort, Daniel Maunick, Alex Malheiros and I; we were all on the same page, ensuring that the groove was imbedded in the music first and foremost.” - Joe Davis

DIANNE REEVES TO HEADLINE PITTSBURGH JAZZLIVE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is presenting the fourth annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival (PJLIF) on June 20–22, 2014. PJLIF will consist of three days of free jazz and jazz-influenced musical performances on outdoor stages throughout downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. PJLIF attracts more than 20,000 attendees from around the country. The Festival features local, emerging, and national and international musicians in a variety of performance settings, including outdoor performance stages and indoor performance locations within local restaurants, coffee shops and galleries.

“During this Festival we celebrate some of the world’s most important Jazz musicians and an art form that has merged several cultures into one distinct style.” says Janis Burley Wilson, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement and Director of Jazz Programs for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “We are thrilled to host Grammy-Award winners, emerging talent, and local favorites in the heart of Pittsburgh’s downtown Cultural District.”

Dianne Reeves is among the preeminent jazz vocalists in the world. A multiple Grammy-winner, Reeves has recorded and performed extensively with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis, who said of Reeves, “She has one of the most powerful, purposeful and accurate voices of this or any time.” Reeves has also recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim and was a featured soloist with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. In addition, she was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the first singer to ever perform at the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall. Reeves worked with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin) on the Grammy-winning A Little Moonlight, an intimate collection of standards. When Reeves’s holiday collection Christmas Time is Here was released, Ben Ratliff of The New York Times raved, “Ms. Reeves, a jazz singer of frequently astonishing skill, takes the assignment seriously; this is one of the best jazz Christmas CD’s I’ve heard.” More recently, Reeves has toured the world in a variety of contexts including a program entitled “Sing the Truth,” a musical celebration of Nina Simone in which Lizz Wright and Angelique Kidjo were also featured. In what has been a storied, extraordinary career, Beautiful Life features some of the most engaging songs Reeves has ever offered. “Even in a world with much sadness,” says Reeves, “at its essence, life is beautiful, and I wanted to celebrate that which can be easily overlooked.” Most certainly, among those things not to be overlooked is Beautiful Life.

Additional performers: 

Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and educator Sean Jones returns to the festival stage with an installation of the lauded series Jazz Meets Funk, performing with Dwayne Dolphin and Fred Wesley, best known for his work with James Brown. Other artists participating in the Festival include Grammy Award-winning Snarky Puppy, Nancy Harms, Thomas Wendt, Joe Locke, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, harpist Brandee Younger, Raul Midón, Gregory Porter, and emerging artists and local favorites Benny Benack III and Emmet Cohen.