NEW RELEASES: MORE LOST GEMS FROM THE SOUND OF MEMPHIS; ANN NESBY - LIVING MY LIFE; LARRY MUNOZ - LAZ JAZZ

MORE LOST GEMS FROM THE SOUND OF MEMPHIS - VARIOUS ARTISTS

Deep deep work from an under-tapped reservoir of soul – the legendary Sounds Of Memphis label – a key contemporary of Stax Records, but one with a huge amount of material that never got issued at the time! This excellent set corrects that fact, by bringing forth a batch of material that's almost all fresh here for the first time ever – and mixed with just a few rare SOM singles that were issued in the early 70s – all cuts that really show the righteous power of this tiny little label! There's a fair bit of artists here who touched the scene with work in other ways, and others we're really hearing for the first time ever in their company – an amazing picture into the mighty Memphis scene at the time, in a treasure trove of southern soul, deep ballads, and even a few funky numbers too. 22 tracks in all – and titles include "You're Using Me" by Rudolph Taylor, "You Don't Love Me" by Tommy Raye, "A Great Big Thing" by Carroll Lloyd, "Tempted" by Marjorie Ingram, "Hold On Hold Out" by George Jackson, "That's Why I Keep Her" by William Bollinger, "Since My Baby Left Me" by Dan Greer, and "Lost In A Dream" by Vision. ~ Dusty Groove

ANN NESBY - LIVING MY LIFE

Ann Nesby is known as the Queen of Inspirational Soul. The former lead singer for Sounds of Blackness has a notable solo career in her own right with six (6) Grammy nominations to her name. With Living My Life Ann joins ranks with Arrow Records to expand the message of 'music that pierces the heart' with a diverse collection of songs containing a common thread her uplifting songs and her one of a kind voice. American Idol's Randy Jackson called her one of the best singers in the known world and it holds true today. Tracks include: Living My Life, Remember, Through With You, Point Of View, This Is The Love, Cannonball, Higher, Alright, In The Morning, I See Beyond, and Living My Life (Terry Hunter’s Bang Sunday Remix).

LARRY MUNOZ - LAZ JAZZ

Jazz musician Larry Munoz. created the Laz Jazz project because he wanted to provide music that is both unique and appealing to those who enjoy contemporary jazz. His primary influences are David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, and The Rippingtons. Munoz plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxes, and also Clarinet. Playing alongside Munoz is a line-up of outstanding musicians who helped him nail down the 5 tracks, along with the sound engineer (John Wroble) who recorded, mixed, and mastered them: Nicole Pesce on Piano and Keybaord is a monumentally talented and versatile pianist/keyboardist who has performed for Muhammed Ali, Ricky Martin, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lewis, and George Bush, Sr, to name a few. Mel Brown on Bass who has toured with  jazz saxophonist, Eric Marienthal, for 2 years, is a two-time Grammy Award winner, played on 10 number one singles and 6 number one albums.Perry Senn on Drums and Percussion is an excellent, highly energetic and well-rounded drummer, endorsed by Rob Chiarelli, David Garfield, and Chris Colangelo. Also appearing on the album are Lisa Munoz and Dan Reed. Tracklist: The Journey Begins, Funk Latte, Dad's Blues, Doom Sammich, and Just Before (Something Happens).       

   

NEW RELEASES: TOM BRAXTON - THE NEXT CHAPTER; OLI SILK - RAZOR SHARP BRIT; RAGAN WHITESIDE - QUANTUM DRIVE

TOM BRAXTON - THE NEXT CHAPTER

The Next Chapter presents Braxton at his best from up-tempo grooves to reflective ballads. When listening to the record, it's easy to feel the love, joy, and positive energy. Tom is showcased on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, as well as flute and keyboards. Braxton served as producer, writer and arranger on most of the material. However, he did have production assistance from the ""drummer to the stars,"" the late Ricky Lawson. The Next Chapter combines lyrical melodies with invigorating rhythms from a variety of genres including dance music, sambas, soul and contemporary jazz. The title track, written by Braxton and pianist Jay Rowe, kicks off the CD with a ""hooky melody"" and a ""killer glide to the groove."" Lawson's energy is evident on ""New Horizons"" which features a fresh ""house beat"" that accentuates Braxton's exciting tenor. Tom and Bob James take it ""south of the border"" and have some fun on ""Nuevo,"" a bossa ­tinged party for piano and tenor. Peter White joins Braxton for a beautiful rendition of Bread's classic, ""Make It With You."" White's guitar and Tom's soprano are a match made in heaven! Braxton's lively tenor is featured on the Spinners favorite, ""I'll Be Around"" which showcases background vocals from Grammy winner Arthur Dyer. Braxton has been on the road with Grammy winner Earl Klugh, and they are mesmerizing in the sophisticated but simplistic ""Contemplation."" ""Sunrise in Malawi"" inspired by a trip to Africa with Klugh, is an energizing song that will get your juices flowing. The legendary guitarist adds his signature sound to this early morning dance. The light and airy ""Tuesday Morning"" will have you singing all the way to work. Ricky Lawson interjected some old school into the project with the O'Jay's hit ""I Love Music"" Lawson and Sean Dancy got the ball rolling and Braxton added his signature sax and horn arrangement to help get you up on your feet! Finally, Braxton displays his arranging skills with the classic hymn, ""It Is Well ~ Amazon.com

OLI SILK - RAZOR SHARP BRIT

Venturing across the pond once again with this fourth and latest installment in his series of solo records is fan fave, keyboardist, and producer Oli Silk with 'Razor Sharp Brit' a freewheeling engaging assemblage of sides full of spunk , vigor and sophistication presented with his own unique European flair. Having established himself as a first call player /producer in his motherland of England, sharing the stage with virtually all of the smooth jazz luminaries and hopping the pond over the last 5 yrs bringing his talents and sharp wit to the American audience has serve Silk well in helping him establish an active and rabid fan base. Razor Sharp Brit is sure to keep the movement afloat and momentum building as he again serves up a feast of fresh and vibrant new flavors. Some of Silk's closest CJ contemporaries join the fray, with bassist and label mate Julian Vaughn featured on the lead radio single 'At Your Service' , spins musical webs with guitarists Paul Brown and Chuck Loeb and brings up and coming sax man Elan Trotman along for the ride. While Silk's music is always easy on the ear, it is the fact that he keeps things fresh, progressive and is not afraid to dance around the edges that gives his music wide appeal and keeps it from blending into the contemporary jazz landscape. 'Brit' stays with that formula as the young man with the memorable name, dishes up a menu of memorable tunes that will beckon you to not just merely nibble but to feast upon. ~ Amazon.com

RAGAN WHITESIDE - QUANTUM DRIVE

Ragan began her musical journey at the very early age of 5. She played the piano, drums, and the violin, but found her true love in playing the flute. Ragan’s passion for music lead her to realize another new love: Songwriting and Arranging. After winning numerous competitions in both performance and music composition she decided to further her music studies and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Harid Conservatory, where she earned a Bachelor of Music-Performance degree in Classical music. After graduating, Ragan returned to New York to begin her career as a professional musician and immersed her composition abilities within the genres of Jazz, Funk, and R&B. After winning the Capital Jazz New Artist Competition, she released her debut album, Class Axe in 2007. Since her debut album, this award winning artist developed a heightened focus in the writing, producing, and editing process of her sophomore release, Evolve. Evolve showcases not only her melodious musicianship as a flutist, but her sultry vocals and soulful compositions.  In July 2014, Ragan returns with her 3rd studio album, Quantum Drive, further pushing the boundaries of Contemporary/Urban Jazz and R&B. Guest artists on this highly anticipated album include Bob Baldwin, Frank McComb, Althea Rene, and Patrice Rushen. ~ www.raganwhiteside.com

 

NEW RELEASES: LIAM BAILEY - DEFINATELY NOW; THE IMPELLERS - MY CERTAINTY; QUANTIC - MAGNETICA

LIAM BAILEY - DEFINATELY NOW

Flying Buddha announces the release of Definitely NOW – the debut album from UK soul/rock singer Liam Bailey. The album will be available on August 19th 2014 and supported by a U.S. tour which kicks off on August 10th at New York's Central Park Summerstage.Liam Bailey's sonic stew contains a rich broth of ingredients. He sings with a raw expressiveness that has been compared to Bob Marley and Sam Cooke, yet his songwriting style is liable to reference post Punk bands like The Smiths and Oasis. Everything is woven together by a lean guitar-driven instrumental sound, perfectly framing Liam's lyrical and vocal passions. The Nottingham, England native got his initial introduction to the music business via his friend, producer Salaam Remi. Remi introduced Bailey to the late Amy Winehouse, who was so impressed with his music that she signed Bailey to her Lioness Records imprint and recorded 2 EP's with him – So Down Cold and 2AM Rough Tracks. Bailey has collaborated with a wide variety of artists including Rita Ora, Tom Odell and Shy FX. He co-wrote the Chase & Status hit "Blind Faith" which debuted in the top 5 of the UK Singles Chart. Definitely NOW was recorded in New York, Miami and London. It was co-written and produced by Bailey, and Executive Produced by Flying Buddha label head and Executive VP of A&R Salaam Remi.

THE IMPELLERS - MY CERTAINTY

The Impellers get some heavy help from Clair Witcher – whose vocals come to the forefront on just about every number on the set, and bring a nice deep soul quality to the record! Clair's got a style that's a bit different than other female funk divas in recent years – phrasing that's very much her own, and which helps the record avoid any easy 60s soul cliches – which is a good thing, given the razor-sharp instrumentation from the whole Impellers combo! Titles include "Veeber", "My Certainty", "Can't Change Me", "Another Day", "Last Dance Of The Moai", "Ray McKay", "You Did It", and "Put The Man In Egomaniac". ~ Dusty Groove

QUANTIC - MAGNETICA

Quantic goes back to the old school with this sweet little set – and by that, we mean his own old school – from the years when he was mixing a lot more electric elements in his music! The record takes all the great Quantic sounds in recent years – his experiments with deep funk, Latin, and other global styles – and brings them back to that crispy production sound of the earliest Quantic records for Tru Thoughts – albums we really loved, but which also never had the sort of depth of this one either! The colors, flavors, sounds, and styles are stunning – definitely that rich tapestry that Quantic's come to express over the past decade – and if anything, the album's even more striking in the way he brings it all together with his magical touch. Guests include Alice Russell, Shinehead, Pongo Love, and Nidia Gongora – and titles include "La Planta", "Soul Clap", "Magnetica", "You Will Return", "Painting Silhouettes", "Aguas De Sorongo", and "La Callejera". ~ Dusty Groove

DR. JOHN GOES BACK TO THE SOURCE WITH SKE-DAT-DE-DAT...THE SPIRIT OF SATCH

New Orleans musical giant pays tribute to fellow Crescent City legend Louis Armstrong with star-studded, divinely-inspired new tribute disc         

For Immediate Release – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and six-time GRAMMY®-winner Dr. John is New Orleans' most prominent living musical icon. The embodiment of his hometown's freewheeling creative spirit and multiple musical traditions, he's built a visionary, idiosyncratic body of work that's deeply rooted in the Crescent City's myriad blues, R&B, jazz and rock 'n' roll traditions.

So it's fitting that Dr. John's August 19, 2014 (international release dates may vary) debut on Concord Records, Ske-Dat-De-Dat...The Spirit Of Satch, pays heartfelt tribute to another larger-than-life New Orleans legend: the seminal trumpeter and vocalist Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, whose musical innovations created the template for 20th-century jazz, and whose playful attitude and life-embracing spirit made him a beloved figure whose worldwide appeal transcended music.

"He's the most famous guy that ever came out of my neighborhood," notes Dr. John. "He became a legend all over, for his trumpet playin' and everything else, and he was the United States' ambassador to the world."

Ske-Dat-De-Dat...The Spirit Of Satch honors Armstrong's musical genius as well as his effervescent personality with 13 quintessential numbers drawn from various phases of Armstrong's five-decade career, with Dr. John joined by a stellar supporting cast that manages to update the material while maintaining the music's timeless emotional appeal.

The subtitle The Spirit Of Satch is particularly appropriate given the album's birth cycle, which Dr. John says was set into motion when the late Armstrong—whom he'd only met once during his lifetime, in the office of their mutual manager Joe Glaser—came to him in a dream.

"Louis' spirit came to me and told me to do something, that's how this whole thing started," says Dr. John, who's previously released tribute albums to musical giants Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer. "Louis told me, 'Take my music and do it your way.'  It was the most unexpectable thing in the world to me, to have Louis' spirit show up like that, but he gave me a concept of where to roll with it that was spiritually correct. That made me feel very open to try some different things, because I felt was that his spirit had ok'd this record."

Prior to making the album, Dr. John honored Satchmo on stage, presenting rapturously received tribute concerts, dubbed "Props to Pops," at New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music in March 2012 and at the Hollywood Bowl in July 2013.

In addition to Dr. John's trademark vocals and piano, and backup from some of New Orleans' finest musicians, Ske-Dat-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch features a stellar assortment of guest singers and players. Bonnie Raitt shares the spotlight on a swinging reading of "I've Got the World on a String," Ledisi and the McCrary Sisters lend gospel authority to "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," Anthony Hamilton is featured on a mournful "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," Shemekia Copeland trades verses with Dr. John on a playful reworking on "Sweet Hunk O' Trash," and the Blind Boys of Alabama lend their powerful voices to "What a Wonderful World" and "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams."

Since Ske-Dat-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch is a tribute to the man who popularized the trumpet for a worldwide audience, it's fitting that the project should feature some of today's greatest trumpeters, namely Nicholas Payton (on "What a Wonderful World" and "Gut Bucket Blues"), Terence Blanchard ("Mack the Knife," "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"), Arturo Sandoval ("Tight Like This," "Memories of You"), Wendell Brunious ("Thats My Home") and James Andrews ("Dippermouth Blues"), along with New Orleans' legendary horn ensemble the Dirty Dozen Brass Band ("When You're Smiling").

"The whole thing felt pretty special, and I desitively was in a different zone for this record," says Dr. John, who co-produced the album with his longtime trombonist Sarah Morrow, who also arranged the album. "I wanted to pull together some of his hits and some of the songs he wasn't as well known for, and make them feel fresh and different. Sarah wrote some slammin' charts that kept everything spacious and hip. And everybody played and sang great, and gave it their own spirit."

Ske-Dat-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch is the latest achievement in a singular musical history that stretches back to the 1950s, when Dr. John—then still known by his given name, Mac Rebennack—emerged as an in-demand producer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter on New Orleans' studio scene, working for such local labels as Ace, Ron and Ric, collaborating with the likes of James Booker, Earl King, Professor Longhair, Art Neville and Frankie Ford, and scoring the regional solo hit "Storm Warning."

In the early '60s, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he played on countless sessions before debuting his flamboyant new musical persona, "Dr. John, The Night Tripper," with his first solo album, 1968's Gris-Gris, which introduced the world to his uniquely eclectic voodoo-funk. In the years since, he has remained a distinctly prolific and powerful force, releasing more than 30 albums of his own while collaborating with a broad array of acts including the Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin, Gregg Allman, Mike Bloomfield, Levon Helm, Ringo Starr, Rickie Lee Jones, B.B. King and Christina Aguilera. He also performed in such films as The Last Waltz and Blues Brothers 2000, and pursued a successful two-decade songwriting partnership with legendary tunesmith Doc Pomus.

Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, and won the most recent of his six GRAMMY® Awards in 2013 when Locked Down was voted that year's Best Blues Album.

 

THE SHIRELLES - TWO ORIGINAL CLASSIC SOUL ALBUMS ON ONE CD: HAPPY AND IN LOVE / SHIRELLES

One of the pioneering girl groups of the ‘60s, The Shirelles (originally Shirley Alston nee Owens, Doris Coley, Micki Harris and Beverly Lee) were the mainstay act at New York-based Scepter Records for a number of years, scoring hits with such classic songs as “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (considered the first No. 1 single by a girl group), ““Dedicated to the One I Love,” “Baby It’s You” and “Soldier Boy” (another No. 1 single).

In 1966, Coley left, and two years later, the group’s tenure with Scepter ended with duelling lawsuits. But the group “soldiered” on; working with producer Randy Irwin and arranger George Andrews, the trio of Alston, Harris and Lee recorded for Blue Rock, Bell and United Artists over a three-year period before signing with RCA Records in 1971.  Their initial release for RCA was the album Happy And In Love, which included a few tracks (e.g.a version of The Royalettes’ hit “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”) previously released during the group’s short stays at Bell and United Artists. The balance of the LP included a version of the Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight” and a medley of Jr. Walker’s “Gotta Hold On to This Feeling” and Eddie Floyd’s re-gendered “I’ve Never Found a Girl” (as “I’ve Never Found a Boy”).

 In 1972, RCA issued a self-titled follow-up LP which consisted almost entirely of contemporaneous covers of songs like Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” a Marvin Gaye medley (“Mercy Mercy Me,” “Inner City Blues” and “What’s Going On,” arranged by Motown’s David Van De Pitte, who had worked on the original versions with Gaye), Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” and three Carole King compositions, “Brother Brother,” “Walk On In” and “It’s Going To Take Some Time.”

Both Happy and in Love and Shirelles are making their worldwide CD debut with this release, which also includes three non-album RCA singles as bonus tracks and liner notes by renowned UK writer David Cole with interview quotes from Shirley Alston. Remastered at Battery Studios in New York--another soulful collaboration between Real Gone Music and SoulMusic Records!

Happy and in Love

1.   No Sugar Tonight

2.   Boy You´re Too Young

3.   Go Away and Find Yourself 

4.   There´s Nothing in This World

5.   Gotta Hold On This Feeling/I´ve Never Found a Boy

6.   Take Me

7.   Dedicated to the One I Love

8.   It´s Gonna Take A Miracle

9.   We Got a Lot Of Lovin to Do 

10. Strange I Still Love You

Shirelles

11. Brother Brother

12. Sunday Dreaming

13. Ain’t No Sunshine

14. It’s Going to Take Some Time

15. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

16. Let’s Stay Together

17. Walk On In

18. Deep in the Night (from the Broadway Musical Inner City)

19. Drowning in the Sea of Love

20. Hung On Yourself

21. Mercy Mercy Me/Inner City Blues/What’s Going On

Bonus Tracks

22. Let’s Give Each Other Love

DEE DEE WARWICK - THE COMPLETE ATCO RECORDINGS (2-CD SET)

It’s not easy being a singer and the younger sister of music legend Dionne Warwick, but Dee Dee Warwick contributed a rich body of soulful recordings from the early ‘60s all the way into the mid-‘80s. While she didn’t attain the same international recognition afforded her sibling, the two-time Grammy-nominated Warwick more than earned her place in the soul music pantheon.  Indeed, as Dionne herself put it succinctly in a note for a 1996 compilation of some of Dee Dee’s Atco work, “Dee Dee is the singer in the family…”

Sharing the same gospel background as her sister and other members of her family (the renowned Drinkard Singers whose line-up included famed aunt, Emily “Cissy” Houston), Dee Dee’s career in secular music began in 1961 when she and Dionne (as part of The Gospelaires, a group they had formed as teenagers) were invited to sing backgrounds for a recording by saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor.  Dee Dee became a consistent and well-known New York session singer during the early ‘60s, and could be heard on recordings by Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin (at Columbia Records at the time), Nina Simone and a bevvy of soul stars including Garnet Mimms, Maxine Brown, Chuck Jackson, Esther Phillips, The Drifters, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke and her sister’s hits for Scepter Records among others.

Dee Dee’s solo career began in 1963 with the original version of the now-classic “You’re No Good”; in 1965, she signed with Blue Rock Records, a division of Mercury Records before switching to the main Mercury label. Over the next five years, she cut two albums and released over a dozen singles including the 1966 Top 10 R&B and Top 50 pop hit, “I Want to Be with You,” the original of “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (covered by The Supremes & The Temptations) and the Grammy-nominated “Foolish Fool,” a 1969 Top 20 R&B and Top 60 pop hit.

 In 1970, Dee Dee signed with Atco Records; during her two years with the label, she recorded prolifically, cutting a total of 35 tracks, all of which are included in this two-disc 2014 Real Gone Music/SoulMusic Records anthology, The Complete Atco Recordings.  This unprecedented collection features her entire 1970 Atco album Turning Around (with the Grammy-nominated Top 10 R&B hit “She Didn’t Know (She Kept On Talking)”); three non-album singles (both “A” and “B” sides); eight tracks previously released on various compilations; and a treasure trove of twelve previously unissued tracks from Atlantic’s vaults, all remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. The photo-festooned liner notes by reissue producer David Nathan include quotes from Dee Dee, who passed away in October 2008, leaving behind a great legacy of some of the best soul music ever recorded.

DISC 1

1.   WHAT MANNER OF MAN  (Previously Unreleased)

2.   YOU TORE MY WALL DOWN (Previously Unreleased)

3.   ONLY THE ONE YOU LOVE

4.   THE WAY WE USED TO DO

5.   SHE DIDN'T KNOW (SHE KEPT ON TALKING)

6.   MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY

7.   MAKE LOVE TO ME

8.   I AIN'T GOT TO LOVE NOBODY ELSE

9.   WHO WILL THE NEXT FOOL BE

10. I'M ONLY HUMAN

11. DOWN SO LOW

12. IF THIS WAS THE LAST SONG

13. A GIRL WHO'LL SATSIFY HER MAN

14. I'M GLAD I'M A WOMAN

15. NOW THAT THERE'S YOU (Previously Unreleased)

16. SEARCHIN'

17. CAN'T WE BEGIN AGAIN (Previously Unreleased)

DISC 2

1.   COLD NIGHT IN GEORGIA

2.   I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I SEE MY BABY'S FACE

3.   LOVE I FOUND (IN YOU)

4.   RESCUE ME

5.   POOKY (Previously Unreleased)

6.   SUSPICIOUS MINDS

7.   MAKE IT WITH YOU (Previously Unreleased)

8.   TURN AROUND AND LOVE YOU

9.   SWEET DREAMS (Previously Unreleased)

10. CAN'T IT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW (Previously Unreleased)

11. EVERYBODY'S GOT TO BELIEVE IN SOMEBODY

12. IN THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE (Previously Unreleased)

13. SIGNED DEDE

14. SWEET DREAMS (ALTERNATE TAKE) (Previously Unreleased)

15. THE WAY WE USED TO DO (ALTERNATE TAKE) (Previously Unreleased)

16. TAKE YOUR TIME AND LOVE ME

17. BEAUTY, DUTY, CHARM AND SEX (Previously Unreleased)

18. WORLDS APART

GENE RAINS - FAR AWAY LANDS: THE EXOTIC MUSIC OF GENE RAINS

Among devotees of exotica music and tiki culture, vibraphonist Gene Rains is one of the Big Three of exotica – Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman being the other two. (Though Les Baxter had some notable releases in the genre, exotica was not his primary focus, so he isn’t generally considered in the same league as the Big Three). Yet, while Denny and Lyman have seen their entire album catalogs come out on CD, and many collections compiled of their work, to date Gene Rains has remained a true cult figure, with NONE of his albums released on compact disc. Part of the reason for that is because the man himself is a bit of a mystery. Little is known of Rains beyond the fact that popular Hawaiian crooner Alfred Apaka discovered him and recruited the vibraphonist and his group to play at the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki. Nevertheless, in the early ’60s, Rains recorded three albums for Decca—Lotus Land, Far Across the Sea and Rains in the Tropics (a fourth, The Call of the Tropics, released on the Vocalion label, was a compilation of tracks from the three Decca albums)—that are considered models of the exotica genre and cost a pretty penny if you can find them. Now, with its release of Far Away Lands—The Exotic Music of Gene Rains on CD, Real Gone Music is restoring Rains to his rightful place in the exotica pantheon. The compilation—sporting a picture of MeduSirena the Fire-Eating Mermaid on the front cover—features key tracks (plus the original cover art) from all three of Rains’ Decca albums, with liner notes by the CD’s compiler, Randy Poe, and with art and sound assistance from exotica expert Mark Riddle (a/k/a DigiTiki), the man behind the popular podcast, “The Quiet Village.” A lot of folks have been waiting a long time for this music to come out on CD, so light a tiki torch, don a Hawaiian shirt, and prepare to be transported by the sound of Rains.

1. Hana Maui/Harbor Lights/Ringo Oiwake/Lotus Land/Africa

2 . Jungle Drums

3. Far Across the Sea

4. Love Theme from the World of Suzie Wong

5. Strange Cargo

6. Sayonara

7. Caravan

8. Bangkok Cockfight

9. Tiki

10. Song of Delilah

11. Mapuana

12. Soshu Night Serenade

13. Lonely Winter

14. Flamingo

15. Jasmine and Jade

Tracks 1-2 from Lotus Land

Tracks 3-7 from Far Across the Sea

Tracks 8-15 from Rains in the Tropics

THE STORY OF LENIS GUESS - NEW 25-TRACK COMPILATION

One of the most celebrated musicians who contributed to "The Norfolk Sound" was multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and label owner Lenis Guess. Born on February 27th, 1940, Lenis was entertaining his family at an early age. By the time he was seventeen he joined a vocal group called the Blue Beards and started entering talent shows. Inspired by his talent show success, he decided to pursue a recording career.

In 1966 he signed a contract to record his first release with Frank Guida. The single, "Working For My Baby" b/w "Just Ask Me" (SPQR 1002) would become the record that really launched the long career of Lenis. He would oversee Guida's operation for the following three years and continued releasing 45s on Guida's many labels. In 1969 he founded D.P.G. Records along with Kenneth Deal, a recording artist and George Perkins, a club owner. Tragically, Kenneth Deal was killed in a car accident shortly after releasing "What Have You Heard" b/w "Clown Suit" (D.P.G. 1006) under his stage name Terry Sinclair. Guess and Perkins continued releasing 45s of local talent though, most notably Sir Guy & his Rocking Cavaliers.

In 1970, after Perkins and Guess parted over artistic differences, Lenis and gifted engineer Dorsey "Brock" Brockington opened up their own recording studio, Brockington & Guess, in Norfolk, Virginia. They had an in-house band called Raw Soul which consisted of Barry Saunders (guitar), Maurice Glass (bass) and Grover "Groove" Everett (drums). All three were still teenagers at the time the group was assembled. The three matured into a tight unit and started backing some of Virginia's finest vocalists including Barbara Stant, Lee Fields, Debbie Taylor, Shirley Johnson, and many more.

The partnership of Brock and Guess ended in 1978. Lenis ran the studio on his own through its final years and eventually signed for a few releases with two major record companies, Polydor Records and Brunswick Records. Feeling he had done about all he could do in Virginia, Lenis then moved to New York to continue his professional career there. Having learned from Frank Guida and Dorsey Brockington, Lenis was ready to start his own studio in New York City, which he still operates today.

Includes: 

- 8-page CD-booklet and deluxe double-gatefold LP with detailed liner notes, label scans and unseen photographs

- many of these songs appear on CD for the very first time.

LAS VEGAS JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED

The Las Vegas Jazz Festival lineup includes Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Cameo, Keith Sweat, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Eric Benét, Anthony Hamilton, Ledisi, Will Downing, Brian Culbertson, Euge Groove and more will put the soul into the September 19-21, 2014 music festival.

Since the roots of jazz are in rhythm and blues, it should be no surprise that a stellar cast of Grammy-winning and chart-topping R&B and funk artists have been booked to perform at the Las Vegas Jazz Festival slated for September 19-21, 2014 outdoors on the spacious grounds of the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. Tickets start at $65 for a single-day ticket and range up to $975 for a 3-day seat in the pit and are available now online at http://www.lvjazzfestival.com or by calling the event’s promoter and producer BTWconcerts.com at 602.244.8444.

Attracting festivalgoers from all over the country for a weekend of live music and lush living at the premier resort, the Las Vegas Jazz Festival opens with a classic R&B pairing of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Cameo on Funky Friday establishing the tone for a weekend of old school revelry. Sax showman Eric Darius will be the first artist to storm the stage at this year’s event.

R&B crooners Keith Sweat, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Eric Benét top the Seductive Saturday marquee with each culling material from his own extensive hit-filled songbook. Soul-jazz saxophonist Euge Groove always delivers a power-packed performance swirling R&B, jazz and gospel. The music begins with the first ladies of urban-jazz Jazz in Pink featuring Gail Jhonson and Karen Briggs with special guest Jeanette Harris.

Soulful Sunday showcases sophisticated solo sets from vocalists Anthony Hamilton, Ledisi, Will Downing and Leela James. Contemporary jazz dynamo Brian Culbertson will serve up masterfully performed contemporary jazz instrumentals and funk grooves. Rising saxophone stars Elan Trotman and Jessy J shall share the stage with singer Selina Albright for a run through of their radio singles and fan favorites.

Located 15 minutes from the Vegas Strip, the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa mixes elegance and excitement along with luxurious amenities that include a rejuvenating spa, a pool with waterfalls and whirlpools, flourishing floral gardens, eleven restaurants  and a casino all set amidst a prestigious collection of golf courses. A large portion of the festival patrons come for the entire weekend in order to immerse themselves fully in the music and lifestyle. A limited number of resort and ticket packages are available by emailing packages@lvjazzfestival.com or by calling the box office at 602.244.8444.

 

THE WAH WAH VERSION LABEL COMPILATION

Wah Wah 45s celebrate the joy of the cover version! The label has always had a keen ear for a re-working of a classic piece of music, whether it be an unexpected brass take of a soft rock or hip hop cut from Hackney Colliery Band, or a sultry rendition of a soul nugget from Stac, with the only conditions being that the cover takes the original piece of music somewhere new, fresh and exciting.

The label's 15thanniversary seemed like a good time to not only re-visit a number of very canny covers from over the years, but also to throw in a couple of new and exclusive ones for good measure too and as a way of saying thank you for all your support over the last decade and a half. So, as well as well loved renditions of Bill Withers' The Same Love That Made Me Laugh from Ashley Thomas and Part-Time Heroes' gorgeous re-imagining of The Boss' Dancing In The Dark, you get a spine-tingling, pitch shifting, electronica flavoured take of Rose Royce's ballad Wishing On A Star from Stac x Blue Daisy and The Gene Dudley Group's fierce dance floor funk version of Richard "Groove" Holmes No Trouble On The Mountain (itself a Wah Wah 45s release back in the day!) featuring the rasping vocals of Anne Frankenstein.

Add to that Lea Lea's recent cover of Talking Heads' Psycho Killer, Scrimshire's updating of Tammi Terrell's version of All I Do, with Stac on vocal duties, as well as club classics from Henri-Pierre Noel, Bev Lee Harling, Alister Johnson, Richie Phoe and a couple of big hitters from Hackney Colliery Band and you've got one heavyweight haul of version excursions on your hands.

TUMI MOGOROSI PRESENTS CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUAL JAZZ FROM SOUTH AFRICA ON "PROJECT ELO"

When Tumi Mogorosi composed this suite for jazz musicians and opera vocalists he had never heard the previous successful attempts by Donald Byrd, Max Roach or Mary Lou Williams to combine these seemingly 'unfriendly'aesthetics. Tumi, born in 1987 and already an accomplished drummer on the Jo'Burg scene, was at the time studying music at the Tshwane University of Pretoria where he became close friends with opera singers working on the same campus. So unlike some of his US peers Tumi's beliefs are not 'religious'.

Surprisingly, Tumi's suite wasn't influenced by these great elders' masterpieces, but anyone who listens to this album will agree that the suite encaptures the soaring spirituality that made these experiments of the '60s the beloved classics that they are today. Tumi does not belong to any religious group. This album is neither a jazz mass like Mary Lou William's Black Christ of the Andes, nor a compilation of devotional pieces like Donald Byrd's Christo Redentor. Project Elo stands for Project Elohim, the angelic entities of the spiritual scriptures which are in the drummer's philosophy, a symbol for accomplished human beings. The spirituality the album conveys is attuned to a 21st century syncretic, non dogmatic vision infused with esotericism. Recorded live with no overdubs in two days by a group of friends, this album captures a moment of Eternity and will defy any idea you may have of what South African jazz is. Tumi's music transcends labels and styles. When composing or playing he is only concerned with being true to the primodial source of life, which cannot be confined to any genre.

CHARLES LLOYD - MANHATTAN STORIES

In the words of a classic TV show, there are eight million stories in the Naked City. Resonance Records uncovers a pair of long-untold tales from New York City's fabled jazz past on Manhattan Stories, due for release on September 9. These two performances capture the always-extraordinary saxophonist and flutist Charles Lloyd in 1965, leading a remarkable and previously unrecorded quartet featuring three jazz giants: guitarist Gábor Szabó, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Pete La Roca. 

The story told by these two concerts is one of an already-distinctive voice at the outset of a now-legendary career. In 1965, when these sets were recorded at the now-defunct venues Judson Hall and Slugs', Lloyd was fresh from his stint with drummer and bandleader Chico Hamilton, where he'd first crossed paths with Szabó. Lloyd already had two albums to his name; both Carter and Szabó are heard on his second for Columbia, Of Course, Of Course, from which two titles on these new dates are culled. Within a year he would form his groundbreaking quartet with Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee, and Jack DeJohnette. 

Szabó himself was on the verge of cementing his name in the jazz canon, starting his acclaimed run of Impulse! releases the next year. Carter was midway through his stint with the second great Miles Davis quintet, while La Roca had already worked with a host of names from the music's pantheon, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, and Joe Henderson.

"It was a specific time and place," Lloyd told Manhattan Stories annotator Don Heckman. "We all felt like the boundaries were being dissolved and we could do or try anything. This is a music of freedom and wonder -- we were young and on the move."

Together, the band embarks on a series of adventurous excursions through pieces like Lloyd's classic "Sweet Georgia Bright" and "Dream Weaver" as well as Szabó's "Lady Gabor," originally recorded by the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Nothing on either disc clocks in at under ten minutes, allowing every member to stretch out and fully explore this mesmerizing material. Manhattan Stories showcases, with more than 80 minutes of music, a truly expressive group interaction that remains otherwise undocumented.

"The first time I heard these recordings, I was blown away and knew immediately how special they were," says co-producer Zev Feldman. "This just might be the holy grail for longtime Charles Lloyd fans like myself who think they've heard it all. No way. Not yet! There have been archival recordings released over the years with the classic quartet featuring Jarrett and DeJohnette, but there's never been a release with this group before -- and not just a group, but a group with four legendary masters. The music and spirit are very exciting.

The Judson Hall recording comes from the archives of Resonance founder George Klabin, whose trove has previously yielded treasures from Bill Evans and Jimmy Giuffre. In fact, the first disc included here was recorded on a festival date shared with Giuffre that was released this year on the Elemental Music label. The occasion was Charlotte Moorman's Avant Garde Festival of New York, produced by saxophonist and jazz critic Don Heckman, who contributes an essay to Manhattan Stories.

Klabin, then a 19-year-old student at Columbia University, had recently been appointed head of the jazz department at university radio station WKCR-FM and sought to present original recordings as part of his show. He recorded the Judson Hall show with up-close microphone placement techniques and state-of-the-art engineering -- well ahead of 1965 standards. The Slugs' performances were recorded by Bjorn von Schlebrugge, who accompanied Lloyd to his Manhattan gigs.

Charles Lloyd at Slugs In 2009, Feldman brought Klabin's tapes to Lloyd's California home to play for the saxophonist, who raised the ante with his own recordings of the quartet. Those tapes, which comprise Disc 2, were made the same year at Slugs', which Feldman calls "one of the most important jazz shrines there ever was. I wanted to celebrate the memory of that club as well." The release thus received not only Lloyd's blessings, but his wife, Dorothy Darr, signed on as co-producer.

For Record Store Day last month, Resonance offered a limited-edition pressing on orange, marble-colored 10-inch, 140-gram vinyl of Live at Slugs', designed to be a collector's piece for fans and as a pre-release teaser of the full release to come. The 10-inch featured two cuts from Manhattan Stories.

Charles Lloyd Live at Slugs Manhattan Stories features the pristine sound quality, extensive liner notes, and meticulously designed artwork that have become Resonance Records' trademarks. In addition to Heckman's reminiscences, the set includes liner notes by Feldman, Willard Jenkins, Stanley Crouch, and renowned producer Michael Cuscuna (who shares executive producer credit with Klabin on this project). The music, which was mixed at Resonance's Los Angeles studios, will also be available as a 2-LP set pressed by audiophile-respected R.T.I. (Record Technology Inc.). It was mastered for CD and vinyl by Bernie Grundman.

"I was determined to build perhaps the most exciting package for Charles ever assembled for one of his releases," Feldman says. "I think we've accomplished that in a way that truly celebrates this master." Manhattan Stories showcases stellar music in an ideal setting -- much as those two NYC venues did on a pair of unjustly forgotten evenings nearly fifty years ago. 

NINA MIRANDA - FUTEBOL

‘Futebol’ tells the story of how the British brought football to Brazil, explaining how the Brazilians ran away with both the terminology and the ball. But while the lyrics clearly demonstrate Nina’s love for the sport, they also hint towards the somewhat malign aspects of football’s assimilation into Brazilian culture and the way it has obscured the world’s view towards the country’s pressing social issues. ‘Is it a beautiful game?.’… The song reflects both the excitement and desolation resulting from hosting a World cup in a nation that so desperately needs to divide its wealth more equally, and ultimately listen to the needs of its citizens.

Born in Brasilia to Brazilian visual artist Luiz Aquila and Nina’s English mother, Nina moved to London at the age of 8, which explains the fusion of both Brazilian and Western /Cosmopolitan influences on her music. Cultural roots and rhythms of Brazil are punctuated by a psychedelic, experimental edge; intrinsic to the London New Wave/ Post Punk era Nina grew up in.

With an extensive and prolific career that includes heavy involvement in trip-hop before there was a name for it, - to her bands Smoke City, Shrift and Zeep, Nina Miranda has worked extensively writing, recording and performing with a variety of artists including, Da Lata, Nitin Sawhney, Bebel Gilberto, Daniel Jobim, Antonio Chainho, Shrift, Spiller, Faze Action, Jah Wobble, Nação Zumbi, Arkestra 1, Hajime Yoshizawa Baaa Maal, and more recently Jazztronik, Seu Jorge, Gilles Peterson, P Bernstein and Basement Jaxx.

On this infectious 7” single, the A side ‘Futebol’ is catchy to say the least. The upbeat samba rhythms of the drums and traditional percussion, along with the perfectly fuzzy bass (all of which were recorded live in Brazil in a single take) create the funky Brazilian backdrop for Nina’s cheeky, beckoning vocal tone and the huge sounding brass section which blasts the song into a fully rocking carnival-esque party. But what sets this apart from other Brazilian or carnival inspired music is the record’s rawness. Akin to the levels of artistic freedom and experimentation of Brazil’s Tropicalia movement, there is a real experimental edge to Nina’s solo work which is heavily accentuated on the B side: ‘Beautiful Dub’. But her imagination and eccentricity are somehow able to fit perfectly into a very danceable, celebratory framework, which suggests comparisons with bands like the Talking Heads: it’s the kind of music that makes you freak out a little while dancing to it!

 

CYRILLE AIMÉE INFUSES NOVEL BLEND OF MUSICAL STYLES ON IT'S A GOOD DAY

It's A Good Day is the major label debut by the widely acclaimed young jazz singer Cyrille Aimée-yet another step forward for the rapidly rising vocalist. Winner of both the Montreux Jazz Festival's Vocal Competition and the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, Aimée explores a range of musical styles, eras, continents and moods on It's A Good Day (Mack Avenue) with a singular voice on inventive arrangements, produced by Fabrice DuPont (Shakira, Jennifer Lopez). 

Aimée's musical outlook is reflected in an emphasis on the guitar, an instrument with an indigenous form in nearly every culture of the world-and it was the sound of the gypsy guitar that inspired Aimée to become a musician. While growing up in Samois-sur-Seine, Aimée snuck out of her home to the nearby gypsy encampments and was mesmerized by the music of those who followed the spirit of Django Reinhardt, revered as one of the world's most influential guitarists. Aimée-who as a child also lived in Paris, Cameroon, Singapore and the Dominican Republic-later became fascinated with Brazilian guitar, and her music reveals a thorough understanding of bossa nova and samba idioms. She has now settled in Brooklyn, where she continues to absorb the inner workings of American jazz and the culture of the music's homeland. 

The musical accompaniment on It's A Good Day is as novel as Aimée herself: three guitars (Jazz, Gypsy and Brazilian) with bass and drums. This captivating multi-guitar sound is provided by her close collaborator, Michael Valeanu, a player of French and Italian extraction on a contemporary jazz-style electric guitar; her countryman Adrien Moignard on the steel-string guitar gypsies favor due to its piercing, staccato sound; and the Brazilian guitarist Guilherme Mont eiro, who relies on a nylon-stringed instrument which provides the bossa nova its soft and undulating sensuous sound.

Thoughtful arrangements of the thirteen songs-both standards and originals-ensure a sumptuous musical blend. "We worked hard to create a road map for each guitar to make the sound beautiful and exciting-without creating a musical traffic jam," explains Aimée. The flexible and fluid rhythm section of bassist Sam Anning and drummer Rajiv Jayaweera holds it all together.

Opening the album are two standards, an engaging version of Rodgers and Hart's "Where Or When," and the upbeat title track, "It's A Good Day," made famous by Peggy Lee. "Bamboo Shoots," an alluring original by Anning, somehow manages to sound gypsy, Hawaiian and pop-all at the same time. In the same vein, her arrangement of "Love Me Or Leave Me" has an original multi-cultural spin. "I was inspired to do a version of 'Love Me Or Leave Me' after hearing Nina Simone's recording," recalls Aimée, "and then I found the Billie Holiday version, and was further inspired."

Seamlessly added to the mix are covers of Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" and Duke Ellington's "Caravan." "Caravan was one of the first songs I ever learned," says Aimée, "and it was time to inject some fiery gypsy soul into it." That frame of mind found it to "Pourtant," a French pop song that was a hit for Vanessa Paradis, as well as "All Love," which began as an instrumental composition by the late guitarist Babik Reinhardt, the son of the legendary Django. "I heard this beautiful melody so many times, but when they played it at Babik's funeral, I asked for permission to put a lyric to it."

It's A Good Day also features catchy original compositions by Aimée. Featured are "One Way Ticket"-the result of a trip to India, "Twenty-Eight" and "Nuit Blanche" ("White Night"), a French expression that refers to an inability to sleep while brooding over lost love. Oscar Pettiford's "Tricotism" is the zesty closer-almost an encore. How better to feature bassist Anning than in a jazz classic by one of the founding fathers of the modern jazz bass?

Cyrille Aimée is an artist of many facets. Infused by a novel blend of multicultural influences, a vision for a unique sound and with a voice that is sublime, It's A Good Day makes for a great day for a wide array of lovers of music.

Vocalist Cyrille Aimée was primarily raised in France by a French father and Dominican mother. As a child she snuck out of her bedroom window on summer nights wandering into nearby gypsy encampments filled with those attending the annual Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-sur-Seine. She quickly fell in love with their music and way of life, and was captivated to the point of traveling throughout Europe where she and her musician friends would play and sing on street corners across the continent. This tour eventually led her to the Montreux Jazz Festival, where she won first prize in their vocal competition-which included the financing of her first self-produced album. Aimée auditioned for the French version of American Idol, for which she was selected to be a finalist. Informed she would have to sing only what she was told, her gypsy and jazz spirit rebelled-she left the competition. She now happily tours the world with her band as well as in a duo setting with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo. Aimée's talents recently caught the attention of Stephen Sondheim who cast her in an Encores! Special Event at New York City's City Center in November 2013. It's A Good Day, Aimée's major label debut, will be released in August 2014 on Mack Avenue Records.

Upcoming Cyrille Aimée Performances:

June 22 / Maison-Laffittee Jazz Festival / Maison-Laffittee, France

June 23 - 25 / Le Duc des Lombards / Paris, France

June 26 / Festival Django Reinhardt / Samois-sur-Seine, France

June 28 / Max of Eastman Place / Rochester, NY

June 29 / Montreal Jazz Festival / Montreal, Canada

August 14 / Shalin Liu Performance Center / Rockport, MA

August 20 - 24 / Helsinki Jazz Festival / Helsinki, Finland

August 29 / Mackinac Island / Mackinac Island, MI

August 31 / Waterfront Stage @ Detroit Jazz Festival / Detroit, MI

September 6 / O'Reilly Theater / Pittsburgh, PA

September 13 / Lake George Jazz Festival / Glen Falls, NY

September 20 / Al Sears Jazz Festival / Macomb, IL

October 8 - 11 / Mondavi Center for the Arts / Davis, CA

October 14 / Yoshi's / Oakland, CA

October 17 / The Loft at UCSD / San Diego, CA

October 18 / Rose Wagner Performing Arts / Salt Lake City, UT

October 21 - 22 / Dazzle / Denver, CO

October 24 / Symphony Center / Chicago, IL

October 25 / College of St. Benedict / St. Joseph, MN

October 28 / Iron Horse / Northampton, MA

October 29 / Scullers / Boston, MA

November 1 - 2 / Quebec City Jazz Festival / Quebec City, Canada

November 4 / Widder Bar / Zürich, Switzerland

November 25 - 29 / Birdland / New York, NY

December 5 / Drama Theatre / Buffalo, NY

December 13 - January 4, 2015 / Café Society Swing / New York, NY

January 16, 2015 / Mancini - Pink Panther Program / Orlando, FL

January 23 / Largo Cultural Center / Largo, FL

January 25 - February 1, 2015 / Jazz Cruise / Ft. Lauderdale, FL

February 5, 2015 / Norton Center for the Arts / Danville, KY

February 6, 2015 / Germantown Performing Arts Center / Germantown, TN

February 7, 2015 / Pamlico Musical Society / Oriental, NC

February 8, 2015 / The Music Center at Strathmore / North Bethesda, MD

February 12, 2015 / Penn State / State College, PA

February 14, 2015 / UVM Lane Series / Burlington, VT

February 20 - 21, 2015 / Fredrick P. Rose Hall @ Jazz at Lincoln Center / New York, NY

March 7, 2015 / Machester Craftsmen's Guild / Pittsburgh, PA

March 20 - 21, 2015 / Oxford Hotel / Bend, OR

March 27, 2015 / Lakewood Cultural Center / Lakewood, CO

April 4, 2015 / West Hartford Town Hall / Hartford, CT

April 10, 2015 / Stamford Center for the Arts / Stamford, CT

April 24, 2015 / Gerald Lynch Theatre / New York, NY

October 24, 2015 / Tempe Center for the Arts / Tempe, AZ

  

Cyrille Aimée · It's A Good Day / Mack Avenue Records  ·  Release Date: August 19, 2014 

www.cyrillemusic.com