New Releases: Miles Davis - Take Off: The Complete Blue Note Albums; Diane Schuur - I Remember You: With Love To Stan & Frank; Jacob Young - Forever Young

MILES DAVIS - TAKE OFF: THE COMPLETE BLUE NOTE ALBUMS

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

DIANE SCHUUR - I REMEMBER YOU: WITH LOVE TO STAN AND FRANK

Two-time GRAMMY winner for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Diane Schuur, for the first time pays tribute to her two main mentors, Stan Getz and Frank Sinatra. All the songs on I Remember You..with Love to Stan and Frank are compositions and tunes that were previously recorded by her two mentors. This release on Jazzheads Records celebrates Schuur s 35 year career since being discovered by Stan Getz in 1979 at The Monterey Jazz Festival,and her 60th Birthday. Stellar All-Star Band with Alan Broadbent, Ben Wolfe, Ulysses Owens, Jr., Romero Lubambo, Roni Ben-Hur, and Joel Frahm. Featuring radiant new arrangements by Alan Broadbent. ~ Amazon.com

JACOB YOUNG - FOREVER YOUNG

Forever Young features melodically inventive, harmonically sophisticated and rhythmically alert jazz, composed by Norwegian-American guitarist Jacob Young and played by a spirited team of contemporaries. Young and saxophonist Trygve Seim are friends since school days, and have been heard on the Norwegian jazz scene in numerous combinations and contexts over the years. They are joined on this album by the Polish pianist, bassist and drummer widely known as the Marcin Wasilewski Trio, a group with its own 20 years playing history. This recording marks Jacob Young s first alliance with the Poles, although Trygve Seim has worked extensively with Wasilewski and bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz while all three were members of Manu Katché s touring band. Drawing both on rich, shared histories and in-the-moment creativity, Forever Young was recorded in Oslo s Rainbow Studio in August 2013, and produced by Manfred Eicher. ~ Amazon.com

New Releases: John Coltrane & Friends - Sideman: Trane's Blue Note Sessions; Wolfgang Muthspiel - Driftwood; Matt Marshak - Lifestyle

JOHN COLTRANE & FRIENDS - SIDEMAN: TRANE'S BLUE NOTE SESSIONS

Blue Note Records, the world's most respected and longest-running Jazz label, is being commemorated for its 75th Anniversary throughout 2014 and beyond with a broad range of special releases and events. Blue Note is pleased to announce a new Blue Note Select collection entitled Sideman: Trane's Blue Note Sessions. A collection of the legendary saxophonist's sideman sessions for Blue Note Records from 1956-1957, when Coltrane was a regular member of the Miles Davis Quintet and played with pianist Thelonious Monk. This set, conceived by former Blue Note Records president Bruce Lundvall, marks the first time Coltrane's sideman sessions for Blue Note have been collected in one place; albums include recordings led by Paul Chambers (Chambers' Music, a.k.a. High Step, and Whims of Chambers), Johnny Griffin (A Blowing Session) and Sonny Clark (Sonny's Crib). The entire set will be in original Blue Note mono, with the mono version of Clark's album on CD for the first time. The book-style package includes a 34-page booklet with an essay by author and educator Ashley Kahn, and other elements as noted. ~ Amazon.com

WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL / LARRY GRENADIER / BRIAN BLADE - DRIFTWOOD

Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel makes his ECM leader debut with Driftwood, a trio album of subtlety and depth featuring renowned US jazz players Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade. Muthspiel who recently made his first ECM appearance on Travel Guide as a member of a cooperative trio with fellow guitarists Ralph Towner and Slava Grigoryan has enjoyed long, productive musical friendships live and on record with both Grenadier and Blade, leading to a sense of telepathic interplay on Driftwood. The trio creates a ravishing sound, captured with fidelity at Rainbow Studio in Oslo. Muthspiel has been praised by The Times of London for his restless musical imagination. Lyrical, grooving, and atmospheric by turns, the guitarist s compositions on Driftwood include tributes to his heroes Joe Zawinul and Michael Brecker. ~ Amazon.com

MATT MARSHAK - LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle brings forth Matt Marshak's most honest writing to date. Funky, soulful, and organic live production make this cd truly stand out. Gerald Veasley is on bass, Benjie Porecki on keys, and Carl Anderson on drums. The urban groove of Lifestyle will have your head bopping, Dreamin' in Dubai brings a hypnotic jazzy groove, Mandela captures a rare acoustic performance, and One Happy Guy delivers an unforgettable melody. This is the true musical lifestyle of guitarist Matt Marshak. ~ Amazon.com

Singer, Songwriter, Drummer, and Producer Steve Arrington to Appear at (le) poisson rouge

Steve Arrington is a singer, songwriter, drummer, record producer, engineer, and minister. While he was away from the game for a while, he’s back and once again, pushing the envelope. Known for his innovative vocals on such classics as “Watching You” and “Just A Touch of Love,” with Slave, as well as his solo work like “Weak at the Knees”, “Way Out”, “Feel So Real” and “Nobody Can Be You”, his songs have been sampled by the likes of Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Snoop, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, and N.W.A. His music also helped create the blueprint of 90’s west coast g-funk music along with Zapp and George Clinton.

Music has always been part of Steve Arrington’s life. Born in 1956, to Dan and Lillian Arrington, in Great Lakes, Illinois, the family soon returned to their hometown of Dayton, Ohio; where Steve grew up listening to the music his family played on the radio and record player. (Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye were in heavy rotation back in the day.) Before he could read, he could identify the requested record by the colors on the label and operate the record player. By age, five he was playing drums on pots and pans. When he was about seven years old, his grandparents bought him his first drum set, a blue sparkle set of Slingerlands.

By age thirteen, Steve regularly played in the Dayton Battle of the Bands which led to gigging regularly in the Dayton area. One band, the Soul Illusions and Eluders, opened for major acts such as, The Five Stair Steps, Rufus Thomas, and Jerry Butler. By his senior year in high school, he played with a band called the Young Mystics, from which came several original members of Slave.

In 1975, Steve began touring the states with a lounge band called The Murphy’s. In 1977, Steve moved to California and studied Latin percussion and drumming with the Escovedo family (Coke, Pete, and Sheila) which led to a tour that featured Carlos Santana on guitar.

He returned to Dayton in 1978, to join Slave, as drummer and eventual lead singer for four albums (“The Concept,” “Just A Touch Of Love,” “Stone Jam,” and “Showtime”). Steve witnessed the birth of hip hop first hand, as artists like The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash opened for Slave on the “Just A Touch Of Love” tour in 1979.

In 1982, Steve formed the innovative funk band, Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame for two albums, “Hall Of Fame I” and “Positive Power”, released on Atlantic Records. After his conversion to Christ in 1984, during the making of Positive Power, Steve did three solo albums for Atlantic: Dancin In The Key Of Life (1985), The Jammin National Anthem (1986) and Jam Packed (1987). “Dancin In The Key”, spent three weeks at #2 on the dance charts , while, “Feel So Real’’ reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart.

Steve was nominated for the 1986 NAACP Image Award for Male Artist of the Year. According to music editor Scott Galloway, Steve paved the road for groups such as Sounds of Blackness and The Winans to walk the line between gospel and secular soul. In 2000, Steve won a Grammy via participation for the Hit Single, “Money Ain’t A Thang”, performed by Jay Z and Jermaine Dupri (utilizing a sample of Steve’s hit “Weak At The Knees’’.)

In 1991, Steve stepped away from the recording industry altogether, devoting his life to spirituality. He continued to study music, from gospel to jazz, classical to blues, electronic to world music, and Latin to hip hop.

Steve was keynote speaker at the People of His Presence International Praise and Worship Conference, with Rev. Derwin Ward, Martha Munizzi and Vicki Yohe. He was keynote speaker and taught at several Tri-State Praise and Worship Conferences in Cincinnati, Oh. He also played drums on “Let’s Have Church” and “I Give You Jesus”, from the Evangelist Network Video Series, with executive producer Don Gessner. In December 2005, Steve played drums for the Hope For The Nations Tour to Cardiff, Wales, London, England and Amsterdam, Holland. In 2007, Steve traveled to Matagalpa, Nicaragua, and some surrounding villages, where he was able to minister and spend time with the band, Esperonza.

This fusion of spirituality and musical study resulted in the 2009 self released “Pure Thang”, In it, you hear the discovery of new ideas mixed with the musical legacy of those that came before him.

This lead to Steve signing to Stones Throw Records and the 2011 release of the Maxi Single, “Goin Hard”, on vinyl and the 2013 collaboration album “Higher”, as well as a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Dam Funk on the song “1Question”.

Steve is touring with a new band, as well as, doing dates with artists like DJ Quik and Q Tip, who are more than up for the idea of sharing the stage with someone who influenced and inspired their careers. Currently, Steve is finishing some unreleased songs from the Hall of Fame years, for release in 2014, as well as brand new album. A new chapter is upon us.

Steve Arrington is appearing at (le) poisson rouge on August 19 with King Mono and special guests /  Advance $15 / Day of Show $20

Steve Arrington w/King Mono + special guests / Tue., August 19, 2014 at 8:00 PM

(le) poisson rouge | 158 Bleecker Street | 212.505.FISH | info@lprnyc.com

CAFE NOCTAMBULO AT PANGEA BRINGS THE COOL, CLASSIC NYC NIGHTLIFE VIBE BACK TO THE EAST VILLAGE WITH DYNAMIC VOCALISTS AND JAZZ ARTISTS AND AN INFORMAL, INTIMATE SUPPER CLUB FLAIR

Exotically and appropriately named after the Spanish word for “Night Owl,” Cafe Noctambulo at Pangea – a dynamic new live music supper club, opened in June – brings to New York City’s East Village a taste of the cool, classic heyday of NYC nightlife in the 60’s and 70’s, when it seemed like there was a hip club on every corner where people could wander in and hear a wide variety of great music.

Occupying what was previously a popular party space at the back of Pangea, a casual Mediterranean-Italian restaurant and mainstay in the East Village with a colorful 30 year history in this location, Cafe Noctambulo is the vision of its Artistic Director Christopher Gines, who has spent more than two decades as a crooner of classic American Songbook and jazz standards and has toured the U.S. and internationally for many years.

“I wanted to create a special place that was affordable and fun and not pretentious and stuffy, a great spot to hang out with friends and enjoy sensational food and a wide array of music and entertainment by world class performers in a fun, relaxed and informal setting,” he says. “I had put on many parties in the room over the past year and saw great potential to develop it into a hip club that could help create a real Downtown vibe. It’s my first venture on the other side of the stage, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

With an eye towards fostering great musical versatility, Cafe Noctambulo has a newly built stage and a rebuilt and reconditioned 1960s era Baldwin Grand Piano (that Gines says they got “for a song”).

Cafe Noctambulo recently booked renowned baritone jazz singer and pianist Andy Bey as its first headliner, performing Fridays and Saturdays, September 12-13 and 19-20. As the club develops, Gines promises to invite a variety of jazz acts, pianists and vocalists – including regular revolving acts on weekend nights. He will also host jazz brunches and offer classical high tea events on weekends.

The cozy, 50-60 seat club’s still growing entertainment element currently features singer/pianist Eric Comstock every Tuesday night and will begin hosting renowned jazz singer Hilary Kole on Wednesday nights starting in September. Kole, who has performed in NYC everywhere from Birdland, The Blue Note, Iridium and Jazz at Lincoln Center, has recorded and/or performed with numerous icons, including Oscar Peterson, Michel Legrand, John Pizzarelli, Monty Alexander, Michael Feinstein and Dave Brubeck. 

The special Noctambulo cuisine is fashioned and supervised by Teresa Barrenechea, a world renowned chef and menu consultant who has a long history with Pangea and is the world’s #1 go-to person for authentic Basque cuisine from Spain. She was among the first chefs to bring that authenticity to America with her first restaurant Marichu in Bronxville in 1991. An author of two books on Basque and Spanish cuisine, she and her husband opened their second Marichu restaurant in Manhattan in 1994.

Barrenechea is the recipient of the Premio Nacional de Gastronomia (National Prize of Gastronomy), the highest culinary award given by the Spanish Administration – a distinction also given to Noctambulo’s Food & Wine consultant Gerry Dawes. The club’s creative team includes Set Design Consultant Donald Eastman, an OBIE award winner who has worked extensively Off Broadway, and Lighting Consultant James F. Ingalls, whose vast history as a lighting designer includes work on Broadway, in London and at many regional theatres, including Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Opera, La Jolla Playhouse and Steppenwolf.

Aesthetically, the feel of Noctambulo is, according to Gines, “like you’re coming into someone’s very cool, hip downtown living room. There are candles and flowers, great lighting and great music, just like a dinner party at the home of a friend. There are tables and chairs on the main floor but along the walls there is banquette seating upholstered in a rich red and gold fabric. And we love our hardwood floors, which help create excellent acoustics. There are also two windows that look out into a courtyard with trees, and a little light from outside filters in, adding to the romantic setting.

“For me,” Gines adds, “Cafe Noctambulo is the realization of an idea I have wanted to do for a long time – and it’s a true joy to have the opportunity to give this kind of home to artists I enjoy while helping create a spot that people from all over the city and beyond can call home as well.” — Jonathan Widran 

The Bob James Remastered Releases: The Genie, 12, Foxie

BOB JAMES - THE GENIE

On The Genie, Bob James features his great compositions that were used as incidental and theme music for the long-running television series, Taxi. James is joined here by a tremendous cast of musicians. In addition to "Angela," Taxi's mellow and very recognizable main theme and also a highlight of James' Touchdown, James and his comrades jam on several great tracks. Since so many of the tunes were only used as snippets on the television series, only the most diehard Taxi fans would recognize them from the show. Familiar or not, however, these cuts carry with them the feeling of background music, as opposed to being a typical James recording. Most noteworthy are "Brooklyn Heights Boogie," "The Genie" and "Groove for Julie." Perfect driving music. All tracks have been digitally remastered. ~ CD Universe

BOB JAMES - 12

12 is of historic value because it introduced saxophonist Kirk Whalum, who was still a year away from debuting as a leader with 1985's Floppy Disk. One of the more noteworthy albums that Bob James came out with in the '80s, 12 finds him featuring the up-and-coming Whalum on three selections: the funky "No Pay, No Play," the pensive "Midnight" and Whalum's own "Ruby, Ruby, Ruby" (a slightly Spyro Gyra-ish number). While those selections are enjoyable, the strongest tune on the CD is James' haunting, Chick Corea-influenced "Legacy." Like most of James' projects, 12 suffers from excessive producing and arranging. But despite that shortcoming, it's certainly more creative than knee-jerk, by-the-book releases like Heads, Lucky Seven, Sign of the Times and Touchdown. ~ Alex Henderson All tracks have been digitally remastered.

BOB JAMES - FOXIE

Because so many of Bob James' albums have been devoid of integrity and epitomized musical prostitution at its most shameless, quite a few people in the jazz world (both fusionists and hard boppers) dismiss everything he's done since 1974. But it's best to judge the keyboardist on an album-by-album basis and not lump all of his releases together. Not a gem but certainly superior to Touchdown or Sign of the Times, Foxie has its moments. Some of the pop-jazz material is decent, including the delicate "Miranda," the reggae-influenced "Calaban," and the relaxed "Fireball." The playful "Zebra Man" employs David Sanborn on soprano sax; regrettably, he simply meanders and doesn't get a chance to stretch. None of the songs are brilliant, but with the exception of "Marco Polo," none of them are schlocky either. ~ Alex Henderson.  All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Herbie Hancock - The Warner Bros.Years 1969-1972

Herbie Hancock's three albums for Warner Bros have been compiled before, most notably in Mwandishi: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings in 1994. The individual titles have been reissued in various editions and formats since that time. There are several things that separate this volume (issued by Rhino) from its predecessor. The first is the package. The clamshell case contains each disc in its own cardboard sleeve with original artwork. It also contains a lengthy essay by Bob Gluck, author of You'll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock & the Mwandishi Band. 

This set compiles not only the recordings proper, but also alternate takes, promo edits -- both Mwandishi and Crossings contained three long tracks each -- and a bonus track. Fat Albert Rotunda -- developed from a handful of tracks cut for Bill Cosby's Fat Albert cartoon show -- contains alternates of "Wiggle Waggle" and "Fat Mama." Issued in 1969, this funky soul-jazz session featured saxophonist Joe Henderson, trumpeter Johnny Coles, trombonist Garnett Brown, bassist Buster Williams, and Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums in the main group, with trumpeter Joe Newman, saxophonist Joe Farrell, guitarist Eric Gale, and drummer Bernard Purdie guesting on several cuts. 

Disc two is the Mwandishi Band proper on its self-titled debut from 1970: only Williams and Hancock return from the previous date, joined by Bennie Maupin on reeds and winds, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, trombonist Julian Priester, and drummer Billy Hart. Various guitarists -- including Ronnie Montrose and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler -- also guest. This disc includes promo edits for "Ostinato (Suite for Angela)" and "You'll Know When You Get There" as bonus cuts. Crossings, issued in 1972, added a further bandmember in synth player Dr. Patrick Gleeson -- originally intended as a sideman, Hancock was so impressed with his contributions he asked him to join, though he only remained for this recording. 

The bonus material features the heavily edited (though no less hip) single version of "Water Torture" and the set's treasure piece: the rare, non-album promo single "Crossings," a spacy, funky groover that revealed the future direction of the band which would record Sextant for Columbia a year later. This is the first time the bonus material from Mwandishi and Crossings has been made available. While Fat Albert Rotunda is a blast in terms of its groove quotient, the final two recordings, with their more complex, dissonant, and open explorations, are essential not only for any Hancock fan, but for lovers of '70s electric jazz. The recordings are still the most under-celebrated classics in the artist's catalog. ~ Thom Jurek. 

New Releases: Jimmy Cobb - The Original Mob; Bob James - H / Sign Of The Times; Cyrus Chestnut - Midnight Melodies

JIMMY COBB – THE ORIGINAL MOB

Drummer Jimmy Cobb works here with his Original Mob – a quartet that's been together for over 20 years, and which features a well-matched lineup of Peter Bernstein on guitar, Brad Mehldau on piano, and John Webber on bass! Bernstein's sharp, tight guitar lines are really appreciated in a setting like this – as he plays with a vibe that recalls 60s Grant Green at his best, and which soars strongly in a role that somehow seems to encompass a bit of both rhythm and melody at once. The recording quality really puts Bernstein's guitar up front – at a level that sometimes doesn't happen on other records – and Mehldau, as always, has more then enough bold energy of his own – especially when given rock-solid direction from John Webber's bass. Titles include the Jimmy Cobb originals "Composition 101" and "Remembering You" – plus Bernstein's "Minor Blues", Webber's "Lickety Split", and the titles "Sunday In New York" and "Amsterdam After Dark". ~ Dusty Groove

BOB JAMES - H / SIGN OF THE TIMES

James joins forces with the hot early '80s composer Rod Temperton, and the results are surprisingly enjoyable. The two composers contribute equally to SIGN OF THE TIMES, each bringing three songs to the finished product. Temperton mainly adds a disco flavor, while James' contributions mellow things out in his distinctive fashion. The opposing styles complement one another and create a well-balanced recording. James, who also produced TIMES, continues to hone his fine conducting skills here. On each track, he's backed by his usual orchestral counterpoint of strings, brass, and percussive instrumentation. Patti Austin, Val Simpson, and Luther Vandross contribute great background vocals, lending a nice R&B element to the appropriately titled album. TIMES is a splendid mixture of jazz fusion and '80s pop. All tracks have been digitally remastered. ~ CD Universe

CYRUS CHESTNUT – MIDNIGHT MELODIES

The warm sound of Cyrus Chestnut's piano balances beautifully with the bass of Curtis Lundy and drums of Victor Lewis – very familiar musical partners who really make the session sparkle! Chestnut's got a great sense of melody throughout, but also finds a way to make the left side of the keyboard pulsate strongly – resonating with Lundy's bass in a beautiful way, and reminding us that Curtis is always a great player on a trio date like this. There's a resonance to the bass and piano that really showcases the strong sound of these Smoke Sessions albums – and titles include "To Be Determined", "Giant Steps", "The Theme", "Naima's Love Song", "Two Heartbeats", "Pocket Full Of Blues", and "Hey It's Me You're Talkin To".  ~ Dusty Groove

Trombonist Reggie Watkins Releases "One For Miles, One For Maynard"

Reggie Watkins One for Miles One for Maynard If there was a lesson trombonist Reggie Watkins learned from both Maynard Ferguson and Miles Davis, it was that jazz can -- and should -- go anywhere it wants, stylistically. On his infectious new album, One for Miles, One for Maynard -- his second as a leader and first since 2004 -- Watkins and his band offer deep bop grooves, soulful vigor, and sparkling interplay. The CD will be released by Corona Music on August 26.

Produced by the trombonist and recorded in the historic Heid Studio in Pittsburgh, where Watkins has been based since the mid-'90s, the recording features a cast of terrific and versatile players from the area including the rhythm section of pianist Howard Alexander III of the Afro American Music Institute, double bassist Jeff Grubbs of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and drummer David Throckmorton, a "monster" player, says Watkins, whose father Bob drummed with singer Buddy Greco, among others.

  

Those names, plus those of trumpeter Ian Gordon, lead trumpeter Steve Hawk, and saxophonist Rick Matt, may not be familiar to people in other cities. But they're all highly regarded players -- as is Brooklyn wild card Matt Parker, who, like Watkins, Throckmorton, and Matt, is an alumnus of Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau.

  

"Maynard had a wave of Pittsburgh musicians in his band," says Watkins. "He'd come through town and, based on recommendations, snap people up. That band worked nine months out of the year and played a million gigs. I got so much out of it."

  

The "one" for Miles, "Shhh," from In a Silent Way, is played in "a relaxed, thoughtful mode," while Ferguson's "Chala Nata," from his 1970 M.F. Horn album, is updated with scratch effects, samples, and funky groove. Three originals by the leader, two from saxophonist Parker, and one by McCoy Tyner ("Contemplation") round out the program.

Reggie Watkins was born on August 24, 1971 in Wheeling, West Virginia. He played trumpet and tuba in high school before switching to valve trombone, then eventually slide trombone. It was as a music major at West Virginia University that he was first exposed to the playing of 'bone legend J.J. Johnson.

"From the first moment I heard him solo, my life was changed," he said. "J.J.'s melodic concept, the clarity of his tone, just the image of him playing got to me. As dazzled as I was by his speed, it was those other things that mattered the most."

In Pittsburgh, Watkins was influenced by Roger Humphries, the local legend known for playing with Horace Silver on such classic albums as Song for My Father. Watkins became involved in various bands and gained a reputation for his strong, groove-minded playing.

In 1999, Watkins became Maynard Ferguson's trombonist, music director, and arranger. He is featured as a trombonist and arranger on Swingin' for Schuur, the 2001 album the trumpeter made with singer Diane Schuur.

Reggie Watkins In 2003, Watkins performed at the 16th annual Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition -- the only one dedicated to the trombone. He didn't win -- that honor went to Andre Heyward of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. But he was thrilled to have been chosen as one of 11 semi-finalists by trombone greats Conrad Herwig and Eddie Bert and to perform with the all-star rhythm section of Eric Reed, Robert Hurst, and Carl Allen. "I also got to perform in front of my idols," he said. "It was an amazing experience."

The next year, Watkins recorded his first album, A-List, which was part of the Maynard Ferguson Presents series. The recording featured his compositions and arrangements. 

Watkins played with pop artist Jason Mraz ("I'm Yours") from 2008 to 2013 as part of The Grooveline Horns, an Austin, Texas-based pop and funk horn section that prides itself on being able to play anything from Engelbert Humperdinck to the Beastie Boys. He values his experience with Mraz as much as any in his career. 

"I'm into all parts of music, everything," says Watkins, who lived in Austin during most of his association with Mraz. "There's nothing I'm adamantly against. It was refreshing to gain perspective, going back and forth from jazz bands to Jason. I found out that I really loved section work. And Grooveline is a great section to work in." 

Watkins is planning two shows to mark the release of One for Miles, One for Maynard. He'll be performing with his quartet (including Howard Alexander III, piano, and David Throckmorton, drums) at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, 9/25, and James Street Gastropub, Pittsburgh, 9/27. 

"It was important for me on this record to represent honestly not just my influences but also my own voice and where I've been," says Watkins.  

www.reggiewatkinsmusic.com

CHRIS BOTTI TO CELEBRATE 10TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY 3-WEEK RESIDENCY AT BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB, DECEMBER 15, 2014 THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2015

Blue Note Jazz Club, one of the world's most iconic jazz and blues venues based in Greenwich Village, is proud to announce world renowned trumpeter Chris Botti's milestone 10th Annual Holiday Residency. The three-week engagement at the club will run Monday, December 15, 2014 through Sunday, January 4, 2015, with two shows each evening (including Christmas Eve and New Years Eve performances).

Botti, described by The Wall Street Journal as "a December institution in the Big Apple," has called the Blue Note his home every December since 2005. Over the years the residency has featured special impromptu musical guests, such as Sting and John Mayer (2011). Celebrities from all walks of the entertainment business have attended Botti's Blue Note performances, ranging from Mary J Blige to Paul Haggis.

"Coming to the Blue Note for as many years as I've been is like coming home," says Botti. "The best city, the best club, the greatest people."

Reflecting on Botti's ten-year run, Blue Note Entertainment Group President Steven Bensusan says, "Chris' annual holiday residency has become one of the highlights of our venue's story, with a prime focus on loyalty. This is an engagement that fans regularly look forward to and support each year. It's also a testament to our relationship and history with Chris. He is truly part of the Blue Note family. We look forward to celebrating ten great years this December."

Tickets for Botti's upcoming 10th Annual Holiday Residency at Blue Note Jazz Club will be available for American Express® Cardmembers during an exclusive presale window beginning Wednesday, July 23, 12:00PM EDT at www.bluenotejazz.com. Tickets will be available to the general public beginning Wednesday, August 6, 12:00PM EDT at www.bluenotejazz.com.

Botti's personnel for the engagement will be announced in the coming weeks.

Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop muisc and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards. Most recently, his latest album Impressions won the GRAMMY® for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 2013 55th GRAMMY® Awards. Performing worldwide and selling more than four million albums, he has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre.

Over the past three decades, Botti has recorded and performed with the best in music, including Sting, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Bublé, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and even Frank Sinatra. Hitting the road for as many as 300 days per year, the trumpeter has also performed with many of the finest symphonies and at some of the world's most prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House and the Real Teatro di San Carlo in Italy.

Impressions, Botti's 2012 Columbia Records and Grammy winning release, is the latest in a stellar parade of albums - including When I Fall In Love (2004), To Love Again: The Duets (2005), Italia (2007), and the CD/DVD Chris Botti in Boston (2009) - that has firmly established him as a clarion voice in the American contemporary music scene. Playing with his uniquely expressive sound and soaring musical imagination, Botti is joined on the disc by featured artists Andrea Bocelli, Vince Gill, Herbie Hancock, Mark Knopfler, and David Foster in a warm, intimate celebration of melodic balladry.

With Impressions and the albums that preceded it, Chris Botti has thoroughly established himself as one of the important, innovative figures of the contemporary music world.

WHEN: Monday, December 15, 2014 through Sunday, January 4, 2015

Two shows nightly at 8:00PM & 10:30PM

*Note: New Year's Eve Shows are scheduled for 7pm & 10pm.*

WHERE: Blue Note Jazz Club

131 W. 3rd Street (between 6th Ave and MacDougal St.), New York City

COST: $75 - Table, $40 - Bar

New Year's Eve Pricing: 7pm Show: $145 - Table, $85 - Bar / 10pm Show: $175 - Table, $95 - Bar

*New Year's Eve will include a champagne toast, hats, noisemakers, a countdown and balloon drop.*

www.bluenotejazz.com

www.chrisbotti.com

MARCEL CAMARGO - THE BRAZIL YOU NEVER HEARD - FEATURING GRETCHEN PARLATO

Marcel Camargo has made his living as a professional musician in different locations all over the world, working as a sideman to legendary Brazilian, jazz, and pop musicians such as Michael Bublé, Sérgio Mendes, Bebel Gilberto, and Gretchen Parlato. Stepping into the spotlight as a leader with The Brazil You Never Heard, Camargo has created a project to showcase his many musical facets - guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer.

The São Paulo musician set out to produce an ongoing series of live concerts with companion studio records that feature his arrangements and compositions in the context of a chamber orchestra. While the focus is on Brazilian music, the repertoire embraces music from all over the world, illustrating how Brazil is both influenced by and influential to the international music scene.

Behind Jobim, the first in the series of EPs, aims to take an abridged look into the mind of Antônio Carlos Jobim, arguably Brazil's most internationally renowned composer/songwriter. "When I put together the repertoire, I designed it to mostly feature music that I knew was influential to Jobim," says Camargo. "When I did include his compositions in the set, the idea was to tie those to other pieces by composers that were his heroes." The result is a historical narrative, pointing back to Jobim's favorite classical composers - Debussy, Chopin and Villa Lobos - as well as his predecessors in the legacy of great Brazilian composers - Pixinguinha, Garoto and Radamés Gnattali.

When it came to recording the album, producing duties were split between drummer Leo Costa and Camargo. "For this EP, we chose to record pieces from the Behind Jobim concert that we felt made the biggest statements about what we wanted to accomplish musically and in terms of creating narratives," reflects Camargo. Those narratives are reinforced by the presence of vocalist Gretchen Parlato, who is no stranger to collaborations with Camargo. "Marcel Camargo is one of my favorite musicians, I love singing with him. He beautifully honors the classic sound we all adore in Brazilian music, but also allows his own voice to shine through...he's doing something very special and necessary with this project," says Parlato.

The first historical connection is presented on "Lamentos do Morro," which Camargo imagined had a strong connection to Jobim's "Samba do Avião." The composition was re-orchestrated from a solo guitar arrangement by Brazilian guitarist Garoto to bring it closer to the hearts of non-guitar players. "I know Jobim loved Garoto as well and thought perhaps the song might have been of special importance to Jobim," reflects Camargo.

  

"A big part of the success of the series lies in the caliber and uniqueness of the groups that I've been lucky to assemble to present the material," says Camargo. Often including string and horn sections with a core rhythm section as well as the harp and mandolin, these large chamber groups have the capability of bringing all the details of a given piece to life while opening the listener to musical moments that might have otherwise passed by unnoticed.

Since the music of Jobim draws from many sources - mainly classical music, Brazilian popular and folk music, and jazz - Camargo creates a set that is very eclectic, yet conceptually cohesive. 

Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil to a "musical extended family," Camargo learned to play guitar, percussion and sing with his uncle. At 16, he moved to the United States where he later earned his degree in Ethnomusicology from UCLA while studying under some of jazz' most significant musicians - Kenny Burrell, Billy Higgins, Harold Land, Gerald and Anthony Wilson as well as studying traditional Ghanaian music under master drummer Kobla Ladzekpo. His interests in school were varied but he was particularly attracted to folk music from different parts of the world. Taking full advantage of being in the United States, Camargo focused his studies on America's great folk idiom, jazz. 

Currently residing in Los Angeles, working both as a sideman and leading his own group, his main gig has been playing guitar and singing back-up vocals for international pop star Michael Bublé. His other side work has been diverse, ranging from working with Sérgio Mendes, Bebel Gilberto, Tom Harrell and Gretchen Parlato - to performing with R&B/Hip-Hop icons such as Seu Jorge, Flying Lotus, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch as well as touring and recording with artists like Macy Gray, Quadron, and Missy Higgins. 

As an educator, Camargo has lectured on a variety of musical subjects while teaching at institutions such as the California State University Northridge, Shepherd University, the Larchmont Music Academy in New York, the French-American Lyceum Kennedy, and the South Pasadena Music Conservatory in California.

Marcel Camargo Album Release Performance:

** August 30 / The Sayers Club / Los Angeles, CA

** featuring Gretchen Parlato

www.MarcelCamargo.com

 

Trumpeter, Composer & Arranger Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra Release "When The World Was One”

Over the course of four albums, Manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall has carved out a niche for himself on the UK music scene as one of it’s brightest talents. His languid, soulful music has won friends from Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson to Jazz FM and Mojo as well as an ever-growing international following. His label Gondwana Records is home to GoGo Penguin and his own albums have found Halsall exploring the modal jazz of John and Alice Coltrane, paying tribute to the hard bop of the late ’50s and early ’60s or most recently on Fletcher Moss Park drawing on Eastern influences in his most personal statement yet. His latest album When The World Was One is something of a companion piece to Fletcher Moss Park (much of the music was written at the same time) but draws more explicitly on Halsall’s love of spiritual jazz and Eastern music as well as his own studies in meditation and travels in Japan. Beautifully recorded at Hasall’s favourite studio, 80 Hertz in Manchester, and engineered by Brendan Williams and George Atkins it features the recording debut of Halsall’s large ensemble, The Gondwana Orchestra, which utilises the exotic flavours of harp, koto and bansuri flute and Eastern scales to create a global palate for Halsall’s life-affirming sounds.

The Gondwana Orchestra features long time collaborators Nat Birchall, saxophone, Gavin Barras, bass and Rachael Gladwin, harp as well as Taz Modi on piano. Modi who also plays with Halsall in their more electronic trio shares his passion for spiritual jazz and plays the music with real feeling while the role of the harp here is to bring a touch of ‘magical reality’ a floating dreaminess that is a vital part of Halsall’s elegiac and beautiful music. The drummer Luke Flowers is perhaps best known as part of Cinematic Orchestra, and Halsall describes him as ‘one of the best drummers in the world’ and hails him for ‘playing the music exactly as I heard it in my head’, Keiko Kitamura is a Japanese Koto player who is becoming an increasingly important part of the Gondwana Orchestra, her role is similar to Gladwin’s in that the koto helps free up the music while also bringing a real sound of the East. Finally, flautist Lisa Mallett brings a love of Indian music to the orchestra, much travelled on the continent she brings all of her knowledge and experience to play offering a unique texture to Halsall’s dreamy melodies.

The album opens with the title track, When The World Was One, an expansive ascending tune that nods to Art Blakey and McCoy Tyner and draws the listener in before giving way to the dreamy, meditative A Far Away Place which features great work from Gladwin on harp and draws on Eastern influences alongside the music of Alice Coltrane and Yusef Lateef. Falling Water which features the beautiful soprano of Nat Birchall nods to classic spiritual jazz as well, but mixes in the more contemporary influences of Nostalgia 77 and Cinematic Orchestra, while the hard-driving Patterns conjures an up-lifting celebratory vibe with fine work from pianist Modi to set the mood. The beautiful Kiyomizu-Dera is inspired by Halsall’s travels in Japan and in particular his visit to the Buddhist temple of the same name. Likewise Sagano Bamboo Forest is named for another place that left a deep imprint on Halsall and aims to capture his feelings as he worked through the vast maze of bamboo trees. Finally the album closes with the self-explanatory Tribute To Alice Coltrane a grooving tribute to one of Halsall’s key influences. Driven by a powerful bass line and featuring wonderful work from Mallet on bansuri flute and harpist Gladwin, the band all really find their way into Halsall’s groove before the leader plays a beautiful wistful solo of his own and it is the oneness of the Gondwana Orchestra that makes it such a powerful vehicle for Halsall’s music as the leader takes you on his very own journey through his musical and spiritual world.

Tracklisting: 01. When The World Was One / 02. A Far Away Place / 03. Falling Water / 04. Patterns / 05. Kiyomizu-Dera / 06. Sagano Bamboo Forest / 07. Tribute To Alice Coltrane

www.gondwanarecords.com

www.grooveattack.com

New Releases: Frankie Valli - Selected Solo Works; Real Side Records Presents Soul On The Real Side #2; Michel Legrand - The Thomas Crown Affair

FRANKIE VALLI – SELECTED SOLO WORKS

Frankie Valli – Selected Solo Works, which features all of his studio LPs with the exception of the Motown release Inside You (1975) and his most recent release, Romancing The Sixties (2007). Selected Workds consists of eight albums released by Valli under his own name between 1967 and 1980, and the are as follows: The 4 Seasons Present Frankie Valli Solo (1967); Timeless (1968); Closeup (1975); Our Day Will Come (1975); Valli (1976); Lady Put The Light Out (1977); Frankie Valli...Is The Word (1978); and Heaven Above Me (1980).

REAL SIDE RECORDS PRESENTS

SOUL ON THE REAL SIDE #2

A sweet range of classic soul, mixed with a few contemporary cuts as well – all with a great sort of modern soul glow overall! Most numbers here are gentle groovers – in a midtempo or two step mode, although a few get a bit more upbeat – and although the tracks were chosen by the Real Side dancefloor team, they've also got a richness that we really appreciate – great vocals that draw from older traditions, and sometimes introduce deep soul modes to modern soul production! Titles include "Everytime It Rains" by Na Allen, "She Needs Love" by Oscar Perry, "Break Out The Tears" by Angel, "Looking For A Lover" by Patterson Twins, "I've Got Your Love" by Charlie Brown, "Dreams" by Lonne Givens, "Until It's Time For You To Go" by The New Birth, "Baby I'm Coming At You (2014 re-edit)" by Jesse Gomez, "Born To Break My Heart (Carolina rmx)" by Roy G Hemmings, and "Make It Last" by Barbara Mason & The Futures. ~ Dusty Groove

MICHEL LEGRAND – THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR

One of the greatest soundtracks of the 60s – and a crowning moment of international fame for French composer Michel Legrand! Legrand already had plenty of records under his belt by the time he scored this great film – a heist movie with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway – and he brings all that experience to bear in his music here – with sounds that run from jazzy groovers to bossa instrumentals to a few vocal numbers that are completely sublime, and which show his music works equally well in English as it does in French! Noel Harrison sings the landmark "Windmills Of Your Mind", and Legrand himself sings on the killer "His Eyes Her Eyes" – both of which get instrumental versions as well – and other instrumental tracks include "The Chess Game", "Playing The Field", "The Boston Wrangler", "Doubting Thomas", "The Crowning Touch", and "Room Service". Plus, this CD features loads of unheard bonus tracks – and includes not just the 13 track album, but also 19 more titles from the original film score! (Limited edition of 1000 copies.)  ~ Dusty Groove

 

New Releases: Javon Jackson - Expression; Louis Hayes - Return Of The Jazz Communicators; Vincent Herring - The Uptown Shuffle

JAVON JACKSON – EXPRESSION

One of the best Javon Jackson albums we've heard in years – a great live session that really gets back to basics, and reminds what a hell of a soloist Jackson is on tenor! The group's got a sharp, soulful feel right from the start – thanks to wonderful piano from Orrin Evans, who manages to bring all these creative touches to the music, but all without ever losing his swing – a swing that's driven strongly by Corcoran Holt on bass and McClenty Hunter on drums. Jackson's tenor is the real star of the show, but clearly gets great inspiration from the creative phrasing of Evans – and the pair soar together wonderfully on tunes that include "Richards RAP", "Lelia", "88 Strong", "Think On Me", "TJ", "Mr Taylor", and a great version of Wayne Shorter's "One By One". ~ Dusty Groove

LOUIS HAYES – RETURN OF THE JAZZ COMMUNICATORS

Drummer Louis Hayes always finds a way of working with great groups – and here he's got an especially well-chosen lineup with Abraham Burton on tenor and Steve Nelson on vibes! Both players ring out with this strongly soulful vibe that's clearly inspired by the leader – Burton's very deep tones a perfect complement to some of the sharper, more modern lines from Nelson – driven strongly by the work of David Bryant on piano and the excellent Dezron Douglas on bass. Hayes' power can be felt strongly, even in mellower moments – and Nelson's oft-percussive approach to his tones makes for an excellent choice for the group. Titles include "Shape Shifting", "Groovin For Nat", "Soul Leo", "Simple Pleasures", "Vagabond Ron", and "Lou's Idea".  ~ Dusty Groove

VINCENT HERRING – THE UPTOWN SHUFFLE

A strong, soulful set from alto saxophonist Vincent Herring – of the sort he always seemed to get on earlier recordings, but which he hardly ever hits this well these days! The album's got a no-nonsense quality that really brings out the best in Vincent's horn – with a rock-solid rhythm section that features Cyrus Chestnut on piano, with Brandi Disterheft on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums – all driving things with a nicely romping sensibility, in ways that push the richest, most soulful elements from Herring's horn – those almost tenor-like bits of phrasing we love so much when he's at his best. Tracks are relatively long – as befits the well-recorded live setting of these Smoke Sessions albums – and titles include "Elation", "Uptown Shuffle", "The Atholete", "Don't Let It Go", "Big Bertha", and "Tenderly". ~ Dusty Groove

THE COOKERS SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM "TIME AND TIME AGAIN" SEPT. 16, 2014

After seven years together, The Cookers, who "embody the serious-as-death commitment that it took to thrive on the New York scene some four decades ago" (Andrew Gilbert, The Boston Globe), entered the studio earlier this year to record their fourth album, Time and Time Again, the follow up album to their three critically-acclaimed recordings, Warriors, Cast The First Stone and Believe. On Time and Time again the incredibly high level of musicianship has only increased with the latest offering of fresh, challenging, boundary-pushing music from these legendary, revered, veteran improvisers.  Available on Motema Music, September 16, 2014. The Cookers will be touring the globe in support of the album, see dates below.

Selling Points:

- A true jazz 'super-group', The Cookers features five ground-breaking jazz elders

– Eddie Henderson and Billy Hart (original members of Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking Mwandishi band); Cecil McBee (from the landmark Charles Lloyd Quartet with Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette); Billy Harper (a working band member of jazz giants Lee Morgan, Max Roach and Art Blakey) & George Cables (Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins…) Also key to the group’s current sound are the highly respected New Orleans jazz leader, Donald Harrison, and the essential New York trumpeter/arranger David Weiss who is responsible for assembling this fine group and for many of their outstanding arrangements

- One of the hotter tickets on the international jazz scene (Newport, Marciac, Montreal, Saratoga, Detroit, NYC, San Francisco)

- Outstanding original compositions by Harper, Cables, McBee, Hart and Weiss revealing The Cookers as a treasure trove of some of the most soulful and ingenious composers in the jazz firmament. 

The Cookers are: Billy Harper (Tenor Sax), Eddie Henderson (Trumpet), David Weiss (Trumpet), Donald Harrison (Alto Sax), George Cables (Piano), Cecil McBee (Bass) and Billy Hart (Drums)

THE COOKERS - Time and Time Again WORLDWIDE TOUR

August 2-Belleayre Music Festival, Highmount, NY

August 3-Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI

August 10-Festival Of Jazz, Tabarka, Tunisia

August 12-Jazz in Marciac, Marciac, France

August 13-Oslo Jazz Festival, Oslo, Norway

August 14-Nisville Jazz Festival, Nis, Serbia

August 15-La Petite Pierre Jazz Festival, La Petite Pierre, France

August 17-Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center, West Orange, NJ

September 13-Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts, Rahway, NJ

September 23 & 24-The Blue Note, New York, NY

September 25-The Dakota, Minneapolis, MN

September 26-SF Jazz, San Francisco, CA

September 28-Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA

September 29-Kuumbwa Jazz, Santa Cruz, CA

September 30-Redwood Jazz Alliance, Arcata, CA

October 1-Jimmy Mak's, Portland, OR

October 2-Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA

October 3-Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ

October 4 & 5-The Outpost, Albuquerque, NM

October 17-Thelonious Monk at 97 Jazzathon, Brookfield Place, Battery Park City, New York, NY

November 1-The Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA

November 7-Exit 0 Jazz Festival, Cape May, NJ

New Releases: David Binney - Anacapa; Renaud Garcia-Fons - Beyond The Double Bass; Mario Pavone - Street Songs

DAVID BINNEY - ANACAPA

David Binney's seventh recording, Anacapa, is his fourth for the Criss Cross label. It is entirely comprised of original music, and is the first on which he frames his distinctive alto and tenor saxophone concept with electric instruments and a global array of beats. Propelling the flow of the 8 groove-oriented compositions is an ace rhythm section of John Escreet on piano and Fender Rhodes, Matt Brewer on electric bass and either Obed Calvaire or Dan Weiss on drums; all but one of the tracks feature the two-guitar tandem of Wayne Krantz and Adam Rogers. ~ Amazon.com

RENAUD GARCIA-FONS - BEYOND THE DOUBLE BASS

Beyond the Double Bass gives great insight into the phenomenon of Renaud García-Fons. Focussing on essential tracks of his ten CD releases, personally selected and commented. The DVD of this CD+DVD package documents the creative process of García-Fons. Film maker Nicolas Dattilesi has followed Renaud for many years, he won the ECHO Award for his Marcevol DVD. Renaud Garcá-Fons has become the best selling artist on the prestigious ENJA Records label. His career has grown into a global phenomenon in recent years. He tours regularly in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the USA, Canada and Australia. Extensive interviews and smashing concert excerpts between Paris and Istanbul on the DVD point out his unique artistry, his grasp on Mediterranean music developed out of Flamenco, the jazz tradition and classical music. ~ Amazon.com

MARIO PAVONE - STREET SONGS

Playscape Recordings is proud to release Street Songs , lead by veteran bassist and composer Mario Pavone, along with trumpeter Dave Ballou, pianist Peter Madsen, Steve Johns on drums and newcomers Carl Testa on bass and Adam Matlock on accordion. Following Pavone's last CD, Arc Trio, recorded live at the Cornelia Street Cafe in New York City, Pavone goes back into the studio with Street Songs, recorded at Firehouse 12 Recording Studio in nearby New Haven, Connecticut. Pavone, inspired by his early memories of -stoop music- while growing up in the multicultural melting pot of Waterbury, Connecticut, pays tribute to the street-level music that influenced him in his early years. Street Songs features two bassists - a first for Pavone - and satisfies his long-standing desire to add accordion to the mix...I've always wanted to do something with accordion, a reflection of my growing up in post-WWII industrial Waterbury, Connecticut, writes Pavone. - I can still recall the sound of those Italian, Portuguese and Polish accordions--that front stoop music. Street Songs includes five new compositions by Pavone and four additional arrangements by trumpeter Dave Ballou as well as past collaborator/trumpeter Steven Bernstein. ~ Amazon.com