New Releases: John Coltrane - Afro Blue Impressions; Sten Sandell & Paal Nilsson Love - Jacana; Angles 9 - Injuries

JOHN COLTRANE - AFRO BLUE IMPRESSIONS

One of the best posthumous releases by the legendary John Coltrane Quartet – and a set that really captures the group at a perfect moment – when they were really beginning to stretch out a lot, yet still in a style that was mostly inside! The material was recorded in Berlin and Stockholm – and features wonderfully fresh versions of tunes you'll know from classic Impulse and Atlantic albums by Coltrane – really reworked in this live setting, and opened up in that magical style of the group! In addition to some wonderful soprano and tenor sax from Coltrane, the group also features McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – on titles that include "Lonnie's Lament", "Afro Blue", "Cousin Mary", "Spiritual", and "My Favorite Things". 2CD version features bonus tracks not on the original album, too – including new versions of "Naima", "My Favorite Things", and "I Want To Talk About You".  LP vinyl album also available. ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

STEN SANDELL & PAAL NILSSON LOVE – JACANA

A fierce combination of piano and percussion – the former by Sten Sandell, the latter by Paal Nilsson Love – two very well-matched improvisers! The tracks here are mostly long and dynamic – very freewheeling performances by both musicians, but at a level that really holds strong with a good sense of focus – the kind of sounds that migh run off the rail in the hands of two lesser players, but which continue to burn very hard from the team of Sten and Paal! Tracks include "Jacana", "Kauri", and "Curvature". (First 500 copies come with bonus CD!)  ~, Dusty Groove

ANGLES 9 – INJURIES

Wonderful work from this Swedish collection – a group of players you might know from their excellent work on the Moserobie label, coming together here in one of their most ambitious projects ever! The lineup is relatively large, but the sound is nice and lean – as many musicians often work together in this rhythmic pulse that's quite strong – almost undercurrents of funk or 70s Afro modes, but with all the sharp edges you'd expect from soloists like Matthias Stahl on vibes, Johan Berthling on bass, Magnus Broo on trumpet, Mats Aleklint on trombone, Martin Kuchen on alto and tenor sax, and Goran Kajfes on cornet. Kuchen wrote all the tracks on the record, and produced the set too – so we'll assume he's the leader – and titles include "European Boogie", "Eti", "Ubabba", "Injuries", "Compartmentalization", and "In Our Midst".  ~ Dusty Groove

Blue Note Records Continues 75th Anniversary Celebrations with Nationwide ‘Blue Note Authorized Dealer’ Retail Program

Continuing Blue Note Records’ 75th anniversary celebrations, a new Blue Note Authorized Dealers retail program has launched with select Record Store Day-affiliated independent music stores across the United States. Participating stores will carry a variety of Blue Note Records products, including exclusive new releases and special promotional items.

“It's impossible to overstate the beauty of the serotonin and dopamine rush that one experiences by browsing thru a REAL live Record Store!”

Each month, Blue Note Authorized Dealers will offer a new Blue Note release that will be exclusive to the participating stores for 90 days. The campaign’s first exclusive release, available now, is a 12-inch, 33 1/3 RPM vinyl single commemorating the late Marvin Gaye’s 75th birthday and Blue Note’s 75th anniversary. The single features Marvin Gaye and Donald Byrd’s recordings of “Where Are We Going” and “Woman Of The World” for Motown and Blue Note, respectively. Gaye’s Motown recordings – the single’s A-side -- are previously unreleased. The single was mixed by Larry Mizell, the original co-producer of all four recordings.

The next two Blue Note Authorized Dealer 90-day exclusive releases will be the first-ever 10-inch vinyl LP reissues of Thelonious Monk’s Genius Of Modern Music Vol. 1 on July 29 and Genius Of Modern Music Vol. 2 on August 26. These new LPs return the titles to their original 10-inch format, reflecting the original sequences and artwork. Both albums have recently been remastered under the guidance of Blue Note Records president Don Was, with an ear to providing a great listening experience that is true to Monk’s creative intentions.

In addition to these and other forthcoming exclusive first-look releases to be announced soon, Blue Note Authorized Dealers will offer other Blue Note releases, including a selection of titles from Blue Note/UMe’s extensive 100-album vinyl reissue series, which launched in March and is continuing with the release of five LPs each month. Click here for the full list of vinyl releases.

“It's impossible to overstate the beauty of the serotonin and dopamine rush that one experiences by browsing thru a REAL live Record Store!” says Blue Note Records President, Don Was. “Speaking as a music fan, I'm so grateful to the independent retailers who've kept this tradition alive. The history of Blue Note is inextricably interwoven with these incredible stores... It's a great honor and a very natural progression for us to partner-up with them in this uber-cool Authorized Dealership program.”

Blue Note recording artist Brian Blade is a proud supporter of the Blue Note Authorized Dealers network of independent music retailers. He says, "Back in the 1970s, there was a great record store on Kings Highway in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana called SOOTO RECORDS. SOOTO was an acronym for 'Something Out Of The Ordinary' and that it truly was, especially to a sixteen year old music fan looking for those vinyl sides that held the secrets.

“I purchased my first Blue Note record at SOOTO, Wayne Shorter's JUJU, in 1986, 22 years after the album’s initial release.

“The great thing about SOOTO Record Store and every independent record store that I visit from Tokyo to Sacramento is that 'Something Out Of The Ordinary.' Whether it be the latest LP from a local artist or an original 45 pressing from 1961, the secrets are there on hand.

“I do appreciate the developing and ever-changing technology that allows us to listen in the car or on headphones riding the subway, but ultimately, as formats come and go, I still desire the tangibility and warmth of vinyl records for experiencing the closest point of origin to the master tape.

“I thank God for the folks who run and operate independent record stores. They are the audio librarians that slip me the secret while I wander through the aisles, not knowing what I'm looking for....The stylus is lowered and I am listening.”

Blue Note Records was founded on January 6, 1939, when a German immigrant and passionate Jazz fan named Alfred Lion produced his first recording session in New York City. Blue Note has gone on to represent The Finest In Jazz, tracing the entire history of the music from Hot Jazz, Boogie Woogie, and Swing, through Bebop, Hard Bop, Post Bop, Soul Jazz, Avant-Garde, and Fusion, and into Jazz’s numerous modern day incarnations under the leadership of Bruce Lundvall, who revived Blue Note in 1984, and the label’s current President, Don Was, who took the helm in 2012.

Record Store Day is managed by the Department of Record Stores and is organized in partnership with the Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.

Record Store Day takes place annually on the third Saturday of April.

Smokey Robinson to Release "Smokey & Friends" Featuring Duets with Contemporary and Classic Artists such as Elton John, James Taylor, Mary J. Blige, Aloe Blacc, Jessie J, Miguel, CeeLo, Ledisi and More

The release date for "Smokey & Friends," the new duets album from legendary Motown icon and Grammy® award-winning singer-songwriter, Smokey Robinson has been moved up to August 19 on Verve Records. 

The track listing for "Smokey & Friends" features Robinson alongside a celebrated roster of contemporary and classic artists who revisit the best loved songs from Robinson's unmatched catalog of hits including those he has written for his solo career, his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, The Miracles, as well as hits he wrote for others, including Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. 

On the Randy Jackson-produced set, Robinson is joined by old friends like James Taylor, Sir Elton John, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow, and Mary J. Blige, as well as with some of today's hottest new artists including John Legend, John Mayer, Miguel, Aloe Blacc, JC Chasez, CeeLo, Ledisi and Jessie J.

Robinson and his guests pay homage to the timeless originals, while creating new versions that feel instantaneously contemporary and classic. Robinson and John turn "The Tracks of My Tears" into an organ-drenched call and response; while Legend's graceful piano playing adds a new elegance to "Quiet Storm." On "My Girl," Miguel, Aloe Blacc, and 'N Sync's JC Chasez match The Temptation's unforgettable harmonies, as John Mayer recreates the song's instantly recognizable opening guitar riffs. The album's 11 tracks will delight longtime Robinson fans, as well as introduce these ageless songs to younger listeners not necessarily familiar with the enduring melodies and lyrics.

Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America's "greatest living poet," acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson's career spans over four decades of hits. He has received numerous awards including two Grammy's, the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Doctorate (Howard University), Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States. He has also been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Robinson founded The Miracles while still in high school. The group was Berry Gordy's first vocal group. Their single of Robinson's "Shop Around" became Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart. The Miracles dominated the R&B scene throughout the 1960's and early 70's. In addition to writing hits for The Miracles, Robinson wrote and produced hits for other Motown.

"Smokey & Friends" Track Listing:

1. The Tracks Of My Tears - Elton John

2. You Really Got A  Hold On Me - Steven Tyler

3. My Girl - Miguel, Aloe Blacc & JC Chasez

4. Cruisin' - Jesse J

5. Quiet Storm - John Legend

6. The Way You Do (The Things You Do) - CeeLo Green

7. Being With You - Mary J. Blige

8. Ain't The Peculiar - James Taylor

9. The Tears Of A Clown - Sheryl Crow

10. Ooh Baby Baby - Ledisi

11. Get Ready - Gary Barlow

  

www.smokeyrobinson.com

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https://twitter.com/smokey_robinson

British Born/New York Based Composer and Pianist Andrew McCormack Releases "First Light"

Andrew McCormack is a composer and pianist at the pinnacle of his creative powers. Born in 1978 in the UK and now residing in New York, McCormack has built a formidable reputation as one of Britain’s hottest pianists and a composer of undeniable skill and talent. In 2007 McCormack burst onto the scene with his debut album, Telescope, a masterful recording that fused the pianist’s inimitable free flowing melodic lines with his powerful rhythmic pulse to memorable effect

Since then, McCormack has toured the globe as a bandleader with his trio and in duo with saxophonist Jason Yarde, with whom he has released the acclaimed albums, MY Duo in 2010 and Places and Other Spaces in 2011. As a sideman, McCormack has been the driving force behind A-list jazzers Kyle Eastwood, Eric Alexander, Denys Baptiste and Jean Toussaint, as well as a host of home grown talent.

Developing and honing a skilfully original approach to writing and performance in the jazz tradition, McCormack has captivated audiences with his emotional and expressive style combined with a yearning, emotive aesthetic, which might be described as quintessentially British. His move to New York has arguably added an even greater sense of swing, dynamic group interplay and a mesmeric live sound.

The result is a world-class pianist and formidable composer, who is ready to take that career-defining stride on to the international stage. With a stable home at Edition Records, new management, great press and a forthcoming trio album First Light, along with the crack New York team of Zack Lober on bass and Colin Stranahan on drums, 2014 looks set to be Andrew McCormack’s year.

Launching the album on July 10th 2014 at London’s Pizza Express, McCormack was joined on the second set by new Edition signing, extraordinarily talented Finnish trumpeter & composer Verneri Pohjola. This 36 year-old from Helsinki has been in the international spotlight for the past few years, and is acknowledged as a jazz star in the making, having released his two previous albums on the German ACT label to huge critical acclaim. Pohjola’s new album featuring pianist Aki Rissanen, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen will be released in early 2015. ~ Edition Records

New Releases: Meklit - We Are Alive; Renegade Brass Band - Rhymes, Beats & Brass; Stockton Helbing Quartet - Handrints

MEKLIT - WE ARE ALIVE

Born in Ethiopia, based in San Francisco for the past nine years , singer, composer and cultural activist Meklit became a sensation with the release of her debut 'On a Day Like This'; in April, 2010. NPR called her sound, 'a unique blend of jazz, Ethiopia, the San Francisco art scene and visceral poetry ; it paints pictures in your head as you listen.' PBS said 'You'll hear hints of Billie Holliday , Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell in her music but Meklit is her own unique creation.' The San Francisco Chronicle called Meklit '...an artistic giant in the early stages . She is stunning.' She continues to break down genres, whether covering indie pop-rock hits and making them her own , adapting traditional or popular Ethiopian songs , or collaborating on a hip-hop space opera or in her own exquisite and original solo work. In any case, as SFJAZZ says 'Meklit has truly established herself as a modern queen of soul'. Her lastest release, We Are Alive , was produced by Eli Crews (tUnEyArDs, Geographer, Deerhoof). ~ Amazon

RENEGADE BRASS BAND - RHYMES, BEATS & BRASS

Combining 8 horns with 2 percussionists, scrat DJ and live MC, Renegade Brass Band (RBB) mix funk, hip-hop and jazz with a raw brass sound and high energy live show.  The band's debut album, "RBB: Rhymes, Beats & Brass"’sees them further develop their hard-edged brass sound – combining raw brass funk with the vocals of MC V3xation and scratch DJ Zxodiac. RBB have already established a big live reputation as a headline act, and have played packed-out shows at venues around the UK and Europe. In the last year, they have appeared alongside acts including Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy, Xavier Rudd, The Apples, Quantic, Craig Charles, Rodney P & Skitz, Ms. Dynamite and more. A hit with crowds across Europe, the band have played at festivals including Secret Garden Party, Sea Sessions Ireland, Kendal Calling, and several times at Soundwave Croatia, warming up for artists such as DJ Shadow and DJ Yoda.

STOCKTON HELBING QUARTET - HANDPRINTS

Brand new album from drummer and composer Stockton Helbing. Features David Lown on tenor and soprano saxophone, David Braid on piano, and James Driscoll on bass. Helbing is one of the most diverse drummers in the world. He is not only a drummer, but a composer, arranger, producer, band leader, educator, music director, author, and entrepreneur. Since 2004, Stockton has fronted his own band, the Stockton Helbing Quintet, with whom he has toured and performed with around the United States. He has released four albums to date: Lodestar, For Nothing is Secret, Battlestations & Escape Plans, and, his most recent, Crazy Aquarius. Each album showcases not only Stockton’s drumming abilities, but his composing, arranging, and producing skills as well. Stockton maintains a busy schedule of performing, recording, and teaching around North America. He is a frequent guest artist at colleges and high schools largely due to his hefty resume of past performances ranging from jazz trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson to Hip-hop artist Erika Badu to the big band jazz icon Doc Severinsen to jazz pianist David Braid to Broadway diva Jennifer Holiday. ~ CD Baby

Guitar Virtuoso Warren Cuccurullo and Indian Sarangi Master, Ustad Sultan Khan team for "The Master"

The Master is a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between guitar virtuoso Warren Cuccurullo and legendary, Indian sarangi master, Ustad Sultan Khan.

Khan, who passed away in 2011, is considered the greatest sarangi (a bowed, short-necked stringed instrument that figures prominently in Hindustani music) player of modern times. He performed with Ravi Shankar, composed for Bollywood blockbusters and was a member of Bill Laswell’s East/West supergroup, Tabla Beat Science.

Cuccurullo came to prominence at a young age, recording and touring as a guitar wunderkind with Frank Zappa, most notably performing all of the rhythm guitar parts on the Joe’s Garage albums. He also was a founding member of New Wave hit makers Missing Persons and, most recently, has been a member of Duran Duran, co-writing some of their most

famous songs, including “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone.”

These two very different players met through Cuccurullo’s passion for Indian music and collaborated in 1998 during two days of duet sessions that featured Cuccurullo’s beautiful and textural ambient guitar loops and Khan’s sweeping sarangi playing and vocals. The recordings were never released, however, until after Khan’s passing, when Cuccurullo uncovered the outdated, 24-track Tascam tapes. While bass and drums were added in 2014, no changes have been made to the original guitar and sarangi parts, as Cuccurullo had no intention of changing the magic that occurred over those original sessions.

Since he was given his first sitar when visiting Frank Zappa in 1977, Indian music has circulated throughout Warren Cuccurullo’s life, predominantly as a fan, occasionally as a player. With the release of The Master, Cuccurullo is the same age that Khan was when they sat together in his London apartment sixteen years ago. The rest, as they say, is history… one that we can listen to now, for the first time. ~ Six Degrees Records

Mack Avenue SuperBand Returns with New Release, Live From the Detroit Jazz Festival - 2013, Available September 2

Mack Avenue SuperBand's Live From The Detroit Jazz Festival - 2013 documents a concert at the Motor City's capacious Hart Plaza by an ensemble of leaders culled from Mack Avenue Records' extraordinary artist roster. It's the second configuration of the group, which debuted at the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival, mixing veteran stars with mid-career leaders and up-and-comers. The resulting album, Live From The Detroit Jazz Festival - 2012, received critical kudos for the fiery chemistry and soloistic derring-do contained therein. 

Back for round two are trumpeter Sean Jones, guitarist Evan Perri, and the rhythm section of pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist (and music director) Rodney Whitaker and drummer Carl Allen, plus Gary Burton returns as a special guest. Joining the mix are veteran soul/jazz saxophone giant Kirk Whalum and the sensational vibraphonist-marimbist Warren Wolf. The results are scintillating-a program as cohesive and precise as a studio recording, but infused with energetic vibrations emanating from the several thousand hip, enthusiastic fans who attended the concert. 

Whitaker attributes the simpatico in part to his process of following collective, inclusive principles in organizing the program. "I solicited everyone's input," he says. "With artists at this level, you don't need to dictate every moment. Sometimes it's more important to listen and facilitate. When you have a conversation with everyone about what music we're playing and the direction we want to go, everybody buys in." 

Whitaker discerns several common denominators that promoted camaraderie. One is the role of gospel music in the musical development of Whalum, Jones, Wolf, Diehl, Allen and himself during formative years. "Everyone-not just those who grew up in church-tries to tell a story in the way they play, in the way they try to touch an audience and say something to them," he says. "They put together their solos to get across a message that music is not just about notes, but has some greater meaning, whatever you may translate that to mean." 

That communicative quality permeates the proceedings. So does the high level of mutual respect of each member for the musical abilities of all the others. "Everyone liked performing together," Whitaker says. "You could feel it in the rehearsals. Everyone felt empowered. There was no hierarchy, no one playing the star. In 2012, the idea was more to have a showcase for everyone's skill, and have people come on and off the bandstand. This year, Al and Denny wanted a more cohesive sound, and that's how all the musicians felt, too."

  

"Soul Sister," featuring vibraphonist/composer Warren Wolf, kicks off the set in fine fashion. The mid-tempo modal piece finds the composer elegantly stating the melody on his signature vibraphone then passing off to the marimba for a sure-footed and hard-swinging solo, opening the door for rhapsodic solos by label mates Whalum, Jones, Perri and Diehl.

Sean Jones, 35, is celebrating his tenth anniversary on Mack Avenue with his new release, im.pro.vise, later this summer. He uncorks a sensitive flugelhorn solo on his never-before-recorded "Of Mars and Venus," followed by Whalum's flute solo. There follows a stirring rendition of Donnie McClurkin's "Speak To My Heart" (reprised from Work To Do, the Allen-Whitaker group's second Mack Avenue date), on which Jones, Wolf and Whalum raise a joyful noise. 

The horns and guitar leave the stage for Aaron Diehl's "Blue Nude" (from the 28-year-old pianist's Mack Avenue debut, The Bespoke Man's Narrative), which opens with a mysterious, sensuous section that resolves into a minor blues theme-think John Lewis meets Sonny Clark-on which Wolf and the pianist stretch out. 

Gary Burton's pair of Mack Avenue dates with The New Gary Burton Quartet (Common Ground, 2011 and Guided Tour, 2013) is as strong as anything in the iconic mallet player's distinguished discography. He and Jones rejoin the quartet for "Chick's Tune," an early Chick Corea opus (it blends "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" and "Nostalgia") that debuted on a 1964 Blue Mitchell LP titled The Thing To Do. Each soloist displays his command of swinging change-playing over the relentless groove. 

There follows a duo tour de force by Burton (vibes) and Wolf (marimba) on Wolf's arrangement of Corea's "Señor Mouse," which Burton first played with the composer in 1972 on the ECM classic Crystal Silence, and which Wolf recorded for his self-titled 2011 Mack Avenue debut. 

Burton exits and Whalum enters as the band takes on Allen's "Relativity," a modernist soul jazz tune with a feel not unlike Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments." Jones builds his clarion solo on principles of tension-and-release; Whalum flows through the changes with mellow, powerful tone; Wolf navigates the beats with a drummer's precision. 

Diehl's Ellingtonian chords introduce gypsy jazz innovator Django Reinhardt's late-period piece "Troublant Bolero," on which Perri showcases his abundant chops, as he does with the Django/Stephane Grappelli-inspired Hot Club of Detroit, who have released four albums on Mack Avenue. 

Kirk Whalum and the septet then address the modern gospel song, "I Want Jesus To Walk With Me," which Whalum previously recorded on his 2001 album, Hymns In The Garden. In the classic soul tenor manner that he learned from mentor Arnett Cobb as a student in Houston, Texas, Whalum offers inflamed testimony, followed by a marimba solo by Wolf that sustains and intensifies the energy.

Spurred by Allen's crisp, rounded beats, each member takes an idiomatic, white-hot chorus on the concert closer, Dizzy Gillespie's bebop era anthem, "Two Bass Hit," with Burton on vibes and Wolf on marimba. 

When it's done, you the listener may well feel inspired to follow the example of the packed Hart Plaza and deliver your own standing ovation.

~ mackavenue.com

New Releases: Chicago - Now (Chicago XXXVI); Matthew Halsall - When The World Was Won; Modstock: 21st Century Club Classics

CHICAGO - NOW (CHICAGO XXXVI)

Now (Chicago XXXVI) is the band's first new album of original material since the release of XXX in 2006, and once again these icons offer their signature fiery, jazz-rooted brass arrangements over slick pop rock songs.  When Chicago exploded onto the music scene with their stellar 1969 double-LP debut, Chicago Transit Authority, the band's innovative fusion of up-front horns in a rock 'n' roll context and impeccable pop sensibilities was an instant smash. According to Billboard chart history and stats, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time, in terms of both album and singles sales. Judged by album sales alone, as certified by the R.I.A.A., the band is still among the Top Ten best-selling U.S. groups in history.  ~ Amazon

MATTHEW HALSALL - WHEN THE WORLD WAS ONE

Incredible modal sounds from trumpeter Matthew Halsall – one of our favorite contemporary jazz artists, and one whose vision just gets bolder and bolder with each new record! This completely sublime set has Halsall working tightly with reedman Nat Birchall – a frequent musical partner whose own records bristle with the same sort of spiritual energy – given some slight additional flavors here with extra flute, harp, and koto – used alongside the more familiar piano, bass, and drums that have always grounded the pair's work together. All tunes are original, and have this vibe that's perfect for the post-Coltrane spiritual jazz generation – but delivered in a way that's quite fresh, too – and not just a simple rehash of early 70s Impulse Records modes. Every track's a gem – and titles include "Sagano Bamboo Forest", "Tribute To Alice Coltrane", "When The World Was One", "Falling Water", and "Kiyomizu Dera".  ~ Dusty Groove

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THE NEW UNTOUCHABLES PRESENTS MODSTOCK: 21ST CENTURY CLUB CLASSICS COMPILED BY ROB BAILEY

A brilliant new set from Rob Bailey – the man who gave us all the five volumes of Le Beat Bespoke – returning here with a very fresh take on the mod groove of the 60s! These tracks are more soul and jazz than Rob's previous efforts – still very much in the best modes that were ringing strong with London mods of the 60s, but even deeper, harder, and groovier too – with a plenty strong influence from the farther reaches of the American underground scene! There's still a few rock tracks in the mix, but the addition of mod jazz and Northern Soul really blows the whole thing open – and makes the whole thing a searing set of groovers all the way through. Titles include "Step Down" by The Ranglers, "Too Far To Turn Around" by The Sty-Letts, "It's Gonna Rain" by Gentleman June Gardner, "Shotgun" by Johnny Deen & The Deacons, "Love's A Workin" by Dean Carter, "Line & Track" by The Aquamen, "I Ain't Gonna Take You Back" by Brenda Holloway & The Carrolls, "Please Grow Up" by Harlem Kiddies, and "The Love I Need" by Frank Butler.  ~ Dusty Groove

SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS R&B/FUNK BAND CONFUNKSHUN; NEW ALBUM DUE FALL 2014

Shanachie Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of classic R & B/funk band ConFunkShun and will release the band’s first new studio album since their initial break up in 1986. Con Funk Shun was formed by high-school classmates Michael Cooper and Louis "Tony" McCall, along with Karl Fuller, Paul "Maceo" Harrell, Dennis Johnson, Cedric Martin, and Danny "Sweet Man" Thomas. All of them had been playing together since their high-school days in Vallejo, CA. Felton Pilate, also from Vallejo, joined the group after his band, a local rival, disbanded. ConFunkShun initially broke through in the "golden age" of self-contained R & B bands in the 1970's, joining such ground-breaking ensembles as Earth, Wind & Fire, War, The Meters, Kool & The Gang and many others as innovative hit-makers.  They are, unquestionably, among the heroes of Funk with romantic ballads and dance-party hits galore. Memorable melodies, inventive horn arrangements and clav-guitar woven grooves, make the group absolutely essential to the evolution of funk. They charted four consecutive Gold's and one Platinum album. ConFunkShun had 25 chart singles from 1977 – 1986, including 5 Top Ten hits and sold millions of albums. The band broke up when Michael Cooper went  solo in 1986; he enjoyed a successful solo career in the ensuing decade. After playing some successful performances in the new Millennium the band reunited with key members, including lead vocalists Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate.  The new album will be released in the Fall of 2014 following a heavy touring schedule this Summer. This signals the true re-emergence of one of R & B's greatest bands!

Urban-Jazz Saxophonist Kim Waters Celebrates 25 Years of Recording with "Silver Soul"

With persistence, patience and passion, romance grows stronger, richer and sweeter each year and for 25 years, urban-jazz saxophonist Kim Waters has written, produced and performed chart-topping candlelight compositions that explore the excitement, exoticism and mystique of love. He will clank glasses on September 2 to celebrate the silver anniversary with the release of his aptly titled 20th solo album, “Silver Soul,” to be issued by Red River Entertainment. 

“Silver Soul” is most definitely an urban adult contemporary album with a wealth of R&B vocals and sultry grooves although almost half of the dozen cuts produced by Waters are instrumental numbers certain to woo his contemporary jazz fan base like the highly rhythmic first single with the grandiose hook, “Dreaming Of You,” is already doing. The tune showcasing his daughter Kayla Waters on piano was the second most added track on playlists this week according to BDS Radio. 

Waters isn’t a word man, but his melodies convey intimacy while redolent of ardor and seduction. In addition to playing most of the instruments on “Silver Soul,” Waters emotes using the voice of his impassioned sax – tenor, alto and soprano – employing his masterful command of the instrument to serenade with harmonic poetry and aural overtures. The album is comprised of eight songs that Waters wrote and a pair of R&B vocal tunes that he co-wrote: “Anything You Need” featuring Waters’ wife, Dana Pope, and “Laying Beside Me” spotlighting crooner Eric Roberson. A tandem of compelling covers – a soprano sax take of John Legend’s hit “All Of Me” and “Fireflies,” illuminated by a stunning lead vocal by Zendaya – completes the session.   

“’Silver Soul’ is really a thank you to my audience that has been with me thus far throughout my 25-year musical journey as a recording artist. I took my time writing the material because I wanted it to be an album of hits with every song sounding like a single,” said Waters, who will tour through the end of the year in support of the disc playing headline shows with his band and on a variety of all-star package dates with the likes of Grammy nominee Maysa, Nick Colionne, Brian Simpson, Marion Meadows and Phil Perry. 

Love and romance has been Waters’ muse throughout an accomplished recording career that began with 1989’s “Sweet & Saxy.” The Maryland native has thrived becoming a staple on the urban-jazz landscape with a deep catalogue that boasts 14 No. 1 singles, four No. 1 albums, 16 Top Ten singles and crossover sets that have logged time on the Billboard 200, urban, contemporary jazz, Heatseekers and Top Independent Albums charts. For more information, please visit www.KimWaters.net.

   

“Silver Soul” contains the following songs:

“Dreaming Of You” (featuring Kayla Waters)

“On A Mission”

“Let’s Stay Together”

“Go-Go Smooth”

“Anything You Need” (featuring Dana Pope)

“Cruising Round Rock”

“All Of Me”

“Fireflies” (featuring Zendaya)

“Let’s Make Love”

“High Stride”

“A Song For Dana”

“Laying Beside Me” (featuring Eric Roberson)

New Releases: Jean Wells - Here Comes Jean Wells; Step Inside My Soul: Rare 70's And Modern Soul; Jesse Green - Nice And Slow

JEAN WELLS - HER COMES JEAN WELLS

Some of the greatest work ever from Jean Wells – a 60s soul singer who never fully got her due, but really shines here in the company of some top-shelf Atlantic Records talent! The album's a great mix of deep soul vocals and tighter uptown soul production – with sublime arrangements from Horace Ott, Bert DeCoteaux, and Chris Towns – all of whom really know how to let the personality of the lead lady come through, but also keep things tight enough to make the album fit together wonderfully! The great Clyde Otis produced – with the same sort of hip soulful flair he brought to his best work for Mercury – and although Jean's vocals are always great, on this set they're really set up in some wonderful arrangements that totally let her do her thing! Titles include "What Have I Got To Lose", "Broomstick Horse Cowboy", "Have A Little Mercy", "Try Me & See", "Our Sweet Love Turned Bitter", and "I Feel Good".  ~ Dusty Groove

STEP INSIDE MY SOUL - RARE 70'S AND MODERN SOUL (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Stunning soul from the 70s – a host of rare tracks that mostly appeared as short-lived singles on Polydor – really lost to the shifting sands of time amidst the bigger acts on the label! The work here rivals the best of the best from the time – particularly the east coast groups who were getting bigger play on smaller indie labels – or some of the best Chicago acts of the time, who were helping to forge a new wave of modern soul! Production is never too slick, or uptight – and every single track is a mellow soul treasure that's brimming over with sweet vocals and laidback grooves – all hand-picked by legendary soul collector Bob Abrahamian, who also wrote some very detailed notes for the collection too. One of our favorite mellow soul collections ever – with tracks that include "You're Hardly Gone" by Tyrone Thomas, "The Goodbye Song" by Vaneese & Carolyn, "Step Inside My World" by The Reason Why, "Say You Will" by Mojoba, "All Alone By The Telephone" by The Checkmates Ltd, "We're Gonna Make It" by New World, "Sooner Or Later" by Alvarez, "Love Market" by JJ Williams, "Say Yeah" by Sam Dees, "I'm So Glad" by Prime Cut, and "I Just Want To Thank You" by Jules Johnson & The Dynamics.  ~ Dusty Groove

JESSE GREEN - NICE AND SLOW

A classic set from Jessie Green – the singer's biggest album ever, and a great blend of 70s soul with deeper Caribbean roots! Jessie hails from Jamaica, and got his start in reggae – but by the time of this record, he was reaching out with a wider, global sort of style – one that has island rhythms bubbling amidst warmer modern soul arrangements – all in a blend that's completely sublime, and which has some of the same tight-grooving appeal as the best Miami soul of the TK Records scene! The set features the classic "Nice & Slow" – a tune that's more midtempo than you'd guess from the title – and lots of other great tracks that include "Don't Do it", "Will You Won't You", Come With Me", "Flip", "The Greatest Love", "Don't Knock My Love", "You Came You Saw You Conquered", and "Let's Go". CD features bonus tracks – "Flip (alt version)", "Don't Know My Love (alt version)", "Don't Let Me Down (alt version)", "Nice & Slow (12" disco)", and "Flip (12" disco)". ~ Dusty Groove

New Releases: Quentin Coaxum - Current; Miles Tackett - The Fool Who Wonders; Jackie McLean - Tippin' The Scales

QUENTIN COAXUM - CURRENT

A wonderful debut from Chicago trumpeter Quentin Coaxum – a player with a great well of warmth, and a sense of lyrical blowing that takes us back to some of our favorite musicians of the 60s and 70s! The set's got a laidback vibe and some warm electric glow from Fender Rhodes and organ – but it's also never too smooth or too easygoing either – as Quentin's sense of space and timing really brings in a richer feel to the whole record. The vibe's not entirely 70s electric funk, but it's also not a Hidden Beach sort of groove either – and instead glows warmly with strong interplay between the trumpet and Rhodes, both used in fresh ways. Titles include "94", "Brown Bear", "November", "Burgundy Sunset", "Pacific Suite II Calm", and "Lush".  ~ Dusty Groove

MILES TACKETT - THE FOOL WHO WONDERS

Music Man Miles from Cali funk and soul torch carriers Breakestra breaks out with solid solo record – done in a verse blend of time honored LA styles – from early 70s folk and psych soul, to rougher hewn, though still soul-steeped guitar groovers. Miles is not only a hella talented guitar, bass and keyboards player, he's also a surprisingly strong singer and songwriter – delivering here on all fronts. Includes "Just What I Need", "Everything", 'Come Away", "Release Me", "The Fool Who Wonders", "Out In The Canyon", "Golden Child, Honey Child", a nice cover of The Byrds' "Everbody's Been Burned", "One More Time", "Paradise" and "Shake Your Tambourine".  ~ Dusty Groove

JACKIE MCLEAN - TIPPIN' THE SCALES

A sweet little quartet from Jackie McLean – a later entry into his bop-level sets for Blue Note, recorded right before his "new thing" years! The album never got a proper release back in the 60s, and only first saw the light of day two decades later – but it's a real cooker that's right up there with the Swing Swang Swingin set – and has Jackie blowing straight, but bringing a lot of modern edges into the mix as well! The group's a crack quartet – with Sonny Clark on piano, Art Taylor on drums, and Butch Warren on bass – and titles include "Two For One", "Nicely", "Rainy Blues", and "Tippin The Scales". Includes the bonus tracks "Tippin The Scales (alt take)" & "Two For One (alt takes 1 & 2)". (SHMCD pressing.)  ~ Dusty Groove

MOTOR CITY BASS PLAYER RODNEY WHITAKER RELEASES WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES ALONE - ON MACK AVE RECORDS

The Motor City's own bass-loving son Rodney Whitaker eloquently and exuberantly evinces the dynamic spirit that has driven him across eight records for the Detroit-based jazz label, a lengthy tenure with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and a career that knows no bound. When We Find Ourselves Alone is the signpost of an artist still traveling the highway of discovery. 

With When We Find Ourselves Alone, he gathered generational contemporaries and modern masters including saxophonist Antonio Hart, pianist Bruce Barth and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, each a friend and musical partner for close to a quarter century. Reinforcing the family feel of the proceedings, Whitaker's daughter, Rockelle Fortin, brings her expansive voice and keen interpretative skills to five selections. "Quartet with saxophone is really my voice," says Whitaker. "I grew up playing in that context and with vocalists. When you're from Detroit, you don't compartmentalize or segregate music. You play funk, you play bebop, and you play gospel." 

The ambiance on When We Find Ourselves Alone is similar to what Whitaker generated on such turn-of-the-century gems as Winter Moon, Ballads and Blues: The Brooklyn Session and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, all recorded for small independent labels, on which the leader drew repertoire from several stylistic tributaries. Now, as then, Whitaker and company address the leader's five originals and six arrangements with an old-school feel and a 21st century attitude. They follow the time-tested jazz aesthetic, embracing the tradition of navigating the long-standing forms with individualistic tonal personalities, ebullient soulfulness and an unending will to swing. 

"I think of what Carl [Allen] and I did on our records as 21st century soul jazz," Whitaker says. "This record is closer to modern hard bop. It's about swinging and having a good time. Even though I hadn't gigged with any of them for years, there's a certain freedom to playing with people you trust that you can't get otherwise. I worked with Bruce from 1989 to 1991 with Terence Blanchard, and he's like a big brother to me. I was on the road for four years with Greg and three with Antonio in Roy Hargrove's group. They're like my little brothers, and we're all grown men now. All these guys knew my daughter as a child, and they hadn't seen her since she was probably ten years old." 

Whitaker relates the back story of the jaunty opener, "The World Falls Away," a medium swinger propelled by Hutchinson's crisp beats and highlighted by Hart's impassioned, melodic declamation. "It was Valentine's Day, and I'd had a bad day," he says. "My wife gave me a card that talked about the rigors and challenges of life, and at the end said, 'But at night, when we're together and lying in each other's arms, the world falls away." 

A thread of joyous nostalgia infuses "When You Played With Roy," an AABA theme with a bossa feel that contains a catchy 10-bar bridge. Whitaker's brief opening solo displays his abundant technique and creativity, qualities that also animate Hutchinson's exchanges with the soloists.  "Everywhere I play, people approach me and say, 'I loved it when you played with Roy Hargrove,'" Whitaker says. "I started thinking about turning that title into a theme that would capture the joy of performing with Roy and the joy people got from hearing the group live." 

Whitaker bows a plush introduction to "Autumn Leaves," then switches to pizzicato for a dramatic rubato duo with his daughter, whose stately rendering of the lyric foreshadows a cogent scat solo once the tempo morphs to swing.

Hart's pure soprano saxophone tone illuminates the poignant long notes that open "Jamerson's Lullaby," which references not only the immortal Motown session bassist, but also the sadness that Whitaker's youngest son, Jamerson, age five, experiences when it is time to go to bed. Whitaker adds, "He looks at you and smiles, and it's so infectious it makes you happy," - in this case, a mood-switch denoted with a change to major key in the B-section.

  

Fortin channels her inner Carmen McRae on "You Go To My Head," enlivened by Hutchinson's neo-hip-hop pocket and ascendant solos by Hart, Barth and Whitaker. Then Whitaker creates a polyrhythmic bass line to maneuver "Invitation"-one of several homages to tenor saxophone immortal Joe Henderson that he has recorded-away from well-traveled routes.

There follows "Freedom Day," an Oscar Brown song depicting the end of slavery at the end of the Civil War that Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln memorably recorded in 1960 on We Insist! After Fortin's intense delivery of the lyric, and fierce statements by Hart and Barth, Hutchinson displays his rarefied position on the drum tree with a solo that dialogues with Roach's drum oratory from half-a-century ago.

"I follow W.E.B. DuBois in thinking about music as a way to talk about politics," says Whitaker. "We live in a time where we have an African-American President, yet people are angry at him solely because he's African-American. We're not free yet, though we think we are. But slavery didn't just change the black man. It changed us all. We're not ready to let go of oppression or the anger in our hearts." Whitaker's social activist concerns underpin "A Mother's Cry," a memorable refrain that he composed a few years ago for the documentary film Malaria & Malawi: Fighting to Save the Children, earning a Michigan Emmy nomination for the theme. Propelled by Whitaker's ferocious 12/8 vamp and Hutchinson's Afrodiasporic beats, Hart uncorks a magnificent soprano solo that evokes both the pain of malaria's impoverished victims and possibility of a remedy. 

In arranging "Mr. Magic," Whitaker hewed to Roberta Flack's early '70s hit that Grover Washington immortally interpreted as a soprano saxophone instrumental in 1975. Fortin elicits oceanic emotions from the lyric; Hart's ecstatic solo signifies on his very first jazz saxophone hero. "It's a song about joy, someone who found someone, treated them with love and took care of them physically," Whitaker says. 

Whitaker composed the title track two years ago for a commissioned work titled Jazz Up South on the topic of migration stories. "It's about forbidden love between two people who are in love when people do not want them to be together," Whitaker says. Turbulent solos by Barth and Hart evoke the inflamed emotions of love denied. "For me, the story is a metaphor for life, when people don't pursue their dreams. My compass has always been to do first what brings joy to my life." 

Along those lines, Whitaker concludes this well-wrought portrait of the artist in mid-career with "Lost In You Again," a modern gospel classic by Fred Hammond, illuminated by Barth's and Hart's jubilant solos. "The spiritual realm is part of my upbringing, and if I'm telling a story or putting together a set, I want to attend to the whole person," Whitaker says. "I want to talk about every aspect of life and love and tragedy. Sometimes you've got to talk about the unpleasant to get to joy, but ultimately it should all end with joy."

Whitaker, a father of seven children, has devoted much attention to building a world-class Jazz Studies Department at Michigan State University (which in 2013 conferred on him the honor of Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass). In addition to a first-class faculty ensemble, the MSU Professors of Jazz, Whitaker formed a co-led project with drummer Carl Allen that generated the critically acclaimed, pocket-heavy Mack Avenue recordings Get Ready (2007) and Work To Do (2011). More recently, Whitaker has also served as bassist and music director for the Mack Avenue SuperBand, a group of label all-stars convened for the 2012 and 2013 editions of the Detroit Jazz Festival, and documented on Live! From The 33rd Annual Detroit Jazz Festival. 

Initially a dedicated violinist, Whitaker switched to bass in junior high school. His band director taught him harmony, and he evolved conceptually in a teenage group called Bird/Trane/Sco/Now!, led by Donald Washington, Whitaker's string instructor in sixth and seventh grade. During these years, Whitaker also participated in trumpeter Marcus Belgrave's jazz group, performed European classical music with the Detroit Civic Orchestra, studied privately with members of the Detroit Symphony, and worked with such Motor City luminaries as pianist Kenn Cox and drummers Leonard King and Francesco Mora Catlett. A devotee of Paul Chambers and Ron Carter from the jump, Whitaker also considers Ray Brown, Oscar Pettiford, James Jamerson and Dave Holland to be crucial influences on his style. 

After leaving Detroit in 1988 with the Donald Harrison-Terence Blanchard Quintet, Whitaker joined Hargrove in 1991 for a four-year run. During 1995 and 1996, when he freelanced with Elvin Jones, Kenny Garrett and Diana Krall, Whitaker recorded his first two CDs, Children Of the Light and Hidden Kingdom, both comprised primarily of original music. In 1996, Wynton Marsalis hired him to play with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. "Working with Wynton was probably the closest I ever got to going to graduate school," Whitaker says. "I got to play so many different styles, and was inspired to learn the history of the music in depth. It made me realize that music is not just about notes. It's about a story and it's about lives."

Upcoming Rodney Whitaker Performances:

August 30 / Detroit Jazz Festival (w/ Mack Avenue SuperBand) / Detroit, MI

August 31 / Detroit Jazz Festival / Detroit, MI

September 11 - 14 / Bar on Fifth / New York, NY

October 3 - 4 / Libby's / Jackson, MI

November 24 / Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola / New York, NY

Rodney Whitaker  · When We Find Ourselves Alone / Mack Avenue Records  ·  Release Date: August 19, 2014  / www.RodneyWhitaker.com

Drummer and Composer Patrick Charles Presents Cite Soleil

With accomplished musicianship and a great sense of deep groove, virtuoso drummer Patrick Charles music is both visual and cerebral. His debut CD , Cite Soleil, presents an artist of far-reaching vision and versatility. Released on his Soleil label, Cite Soleil brings Patrick Charles center stage as a composer, producer and band leader. Featuring a stellar cast of LA studio players and world class jazz artists, such as Everette Harp (of George Duke and Anita Baker), Wayne Linsey (of Miles Davis, Kevin Toney a two time Grammy nominated pianist and composer).

Cite Soleil showcases Patrick’s own original compositions and retells hits from legendary artist like Sting and Seal through the language of jazz . But it was upon hearing the news of his sister’s passing that Patrick began to focus on the core material for the album. ”My siter was always an encouraging and supporting force in my life;’ Charlene,’ the last composition on the CD, is dedicated to her. Born in Port-au-Prince Haiti and raised in East Orange New Jersey, Patrick Charles owes his musical awakening during middle school to the trumpet. But the drums quickly chose him, fueled by the love and respect for all genres and styles of music and the emerging culture of Hip-Hop, Music became Patrick’s calling card, Strangely enough, his first encounter with jazz happened by chance.”I found a pile of jazz records in an abandoned building in the neighborhood; in that pile was Miles Davis Tutu,’ I was so taken by the album cover, I picked up the record, I’ve been hooked ever since.” 

Patrick Charles started to gig professionally during high school, during which time he became the regular drummer at the famous Perpermint lounged in his hometown of East Orange NJ, nightly guess artist appearances includes the legendary Lou Rawls, Chaka kahn, Berry White, and now famed Hip Hop artist Naughty by Nature and Queen Latifah. After high school, Patrick set his eyes on the famed Berklee College of music in Boston, while attending Berklee, Patrick Charles performed with esteem professor Carolyn Wilkins and her group the spirit jazz Quartet regularly in the Boston and New York area, in Los Angeles his work as a freelance drummer has brought him acclaim from studio and live performances with such artist as blues legend Linda Hopkins, funk and soul songstress Maxayn Lewis and Teena Marie, and countless top 40 funk/R&B acts in National and international venues like the House of blues LA, Salt Lake City jazz festival, 

Currently a Los Angeles Arts commission Artist, Patrick has performed for Nakaoka Jazz festival and the1st annual universal City Walk jazz festival,The Namm Show, Viper Room LA, Blue Note Kyoto Japan, Cotton club Shanghai China, Commerce casino jazz&blues summer nights festival series, Pachanga Casino, The Roxy LA, Catalina Jazz club,and the MGM Hotel Las Vegas to name a few, Patrick Charles television and movie appearances have include hit television shows Boston legal, Melrose Place, comedy central band, BET Jazz and Screen Media films "Crazy" the life of famed Jazz guitarist Hank Garland. ~ Amazon.com

Origin Records to Release "My Shining Hour," New CD by Bobby Broom's Trio With Dennis Carroll & Makaya McCraven, August 19

While Bobby Broom's 2012 CD Upper West Side Story ("a spectacular album" -- DownBeat) focused exclusively on original material, the guitarist takes a very different tack with My Shining Hour, due for August 19 release from Origin Records. The luxuriantly melodic session features Broom's working trio -- with bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Makaya McCraven -- placing their stamp on beloved American Songbook standards. 

"When I formed the trio in 1991 it was to avoid playing weather-worn standards with makeshift groups," Broom says. But when bassist Carroll suggested they adopt "Jitterbug Waltz," Fats Waller's classic tune ended up opening the door to "the great songs that have lasted, that became part of the American quilt. Only one of the pieces we recorded had been in the trio's repertoire. These were all newly approached by me and the group." 

Bobby Broom In addition to the title selection and "Jitterbug Waltz," the program includes "Just One of Those Things," "Oh, Lady Be Good," "My Ideal," and "Sweet Georgia Brown." Two other songs, Lerner and Loewe's "The Heather on the Hill" and the non-standard "Tennessee Waltz," were picked up by Broom during his lengthy tenure with Sonny Rollins.

It's a testament to the trio's cohesiveness and deeply shared intuition that the album ends up feeling like far more than a collection of familiar tunes. Broom's free-spirited approach provides plenty of room for Carroll's subtle interplay and McCraven's dancing figures.

"What I've had to come to terms with is the spaciousness that is inherent in the guitar trio," Broom says. "In the beginning there was all this room, and no one playing chords behind me when I'm soloing and playing melodies. Now I almost accompany myself with chords as I play melodies, and the melodies shape the harmonies during my solos."

Carroll, who came up on the Chicago scene playing with heavyweights like Jodie Christian, Bunky Green, and Clifford Jordan, has anchored Broom's trio for more than two decades. There's been more turnover in the drum chair, which has become something of a launching pad for stellar young players. From George Fludas and Dana Hall to Kobie Watkins, Broom's drummers have all joined the elite ranks. McCraven, who started playing with Broom about five years ago, is on the same trajectory.

"Makaya is all of 30, and he came along after Kobie was getting really busy," Broom says. "He's got a certain nonstop intensity and energy, a free-flowing array of ideas that touch on a variety of styles. And Dennis and I have played for such a long time we really work as a tandem. He's very harmonically astute, and wants to find the right colors for the moment."

Bobby Broom Broom's other threesome, the Deep Blue Organ Trio, disbanded last year after more than a decade together, which included working on several occasions as Steely Dan's opening act. For Steely Dan's summer 2014 Jamalot Ever After Tour, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Walter Becker and Donald Fagen invited Broom to join them once again. The result is the brand-new Bobby Broom Organi-sation, with Makaya McCraven or Kobie Watkins, drums, and Ben Paterson, organ.

Their upcoming performances on the 46-city, 56-show tour will find its leader delving into material from Modern Man, Broom's seminal 2001 Delmark Records organ-group recording (which featured Dr. Lonnie Smith), as well as some of his trio's versions of '60s and '70s pop music classics.

"I'm looking forward with anticipation to taking these excellent, energetic young musicians around the country with me to play jazz for the masses," says Broom. "What an extraordinary forum it will be for us to do that. My hat's off to Steely Dan!"

Complete tour dates are listed at steelydan.com. (The trio will not be appearing in the following cities, as the venues do not support opening acts: Thackerville, OK, 7/18; Niagara Falls, NY, 8/8; Hammond, IN, 8/17; Windsor, Ont., 8/22.)

Broom will take time out from the tour to perform a CD release show with his guitar trio at the Chicago Jazz Festival on 8/31. "It's been nearly 15 years since the Bobby Broom Trio has played the Festival," says the guitarist. "Back then was a significant time for us. We were still forming our identity and had just recorded, but not released, Stand! It will be great, after the whirlwind Steely Dan tour, to return home in more ways than one and to play this glorious venue." 

www.bobbybroom.com