AUSTIN AWARD-WINNING BAND HARD PROOF ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE FOR CASSETTE STORE DAY “SOUL THING” b/w “LAKE TANA” TO BE RELEASED ON CASSINGLE

Hard Proof, the award-winning Austin ten-piece collective are the sole purveyors of African funk in the state of Texas. They don’t just play Afrobeat or world music, but funk and jazz music inspired by the whole sub-Saharan African continent. Hard Proof was formed in 2008 from members of Black Joe Lewis, The Calm Blue Sea, Cougar, Ocote Soul Sounds, Spanish Gold, the Echocentrics, and several other notable Austin acts.

On Saturday, September 27, 2014, the band will release a Cassingle titled “Soul Thing” b/w “Lake Tana” during the 2nd annual Cassette Store Day.  The Cassingle was recorded, mixed and mastered at The Bubble in Austin, TX by Chris “Frenchie” Smith, co-produced by Hard Proof and mastered by Alex Lyon.

The first track “Soul Thing” was written by Joe Woullard (Baritone Sax/Flute) and was inspired by “late night pursuits.”  Woullard explains, “the name was created very early in the song’s life and just always felt appropriate.”  The second track “Lake Tana” was written by Jason Frey (Tenor Sax) after being inspired from a show’s infectious upbeat vibe and love of Mulatu Asteke’s music.  Frey details, “The title of the track is taken from the largest lake in Ethiopia, which feeds into the Blue Nile.  The largest musical influence from Ethiopia for me is Mulatu Asteke and his ‘freaky Ethio-Jazz sound.’  So just as the lake feeds the river, his music was the spring of inspiration for me on this track.”

In 2014, some may wonder why a band would release new music on cassette.  Stephen Bidwell (Drums) enthusiastically states, “We were scheduling a tour around the time of Cassette Store Day, and a few of us had thought about doing a cassette for a while, so the timing made sense.  Most of us grew up before file sharing or burnable CDs, so tapes were a huge part of our musical upbringing and discovery. Mixtapes sure had more of a personal touch than a Spotify playlist.  Also putting it out as a cassingle reminds me of the golden age of hip hop when we consumed singles on tape and had to flip sides to hear more.  You had to work harder to discover new music.”

To celebrate the release of their Cassingle, the band will be touring the East Coast starting September 24th with stops in Atlanta, Asheville, Washington DC, New York, Morgantown, and Pittsburgh, before making their debut at the world-renowned Austin City Limits Festival!  More details listed below.

While their releases are always well received, there seems to be universal agreement that their live shows are something not to be missed. Austin taste-maker Laurie Gallardo of KUTX may have put it best: “This local nine-piece ensemble always puts on an electrifying live show, an absolute blowout of non-stop percussion action and blasting brass, bringing the best of both worlds to the stage by mixing classic styles and plenty of their personal panache to own the show.”

Tour Dates:

09/24 @ 529 – Atlanta, GA

09/25 @ The One Stop – Asheville, NC

09/26 @ Tropicalia – Washington, DC

09/27 @ Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) – New York, NY

09/28 @ Wine & Jazz Fest – Morgantown, WV

09/28 @ Thunderbird Café – Pittsburgh, PA

10/05 @ Austin City Limits Festival – Austin, TX

NEW RELEASES: WADADA LEO SMITH - THE GREAT LAKES SUITES; KALLE KALIMIA & K-18 - BUNUEL DE JOUR; JIM PEMBROKE - IF THE RAIN COMES

WADADA LEO SMITH - THE GREAT LAKES SUITES

New release from composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith is The Great Lakes Suites. Joining Smith are three extraordinary musicians - saxophonist/flutist Henry Threadgill, drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist John Lindberg - all of whom were born or spent their youths in cities near the Great Lakes.  Smith himself lived in Chicago for several personally crucial years in the late 1960s and played with Threadgill and DeJohnette during the early days of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).  Lindberg has been a frequent collaborator in various ensembles particularly in the past decade. "My inspiration for composing the music on The Great Lakes Suites is centered around the idea of the Great Lakes being located in the uppermost part of the Northern hemisphere and the fact that it took a long time for them to develop and form as a large body of water. My score reflects the idea of the flatness of the lakes´ surfaces. The lakes´ flatness does not, however, imply for me stasis or inactivity. What I wish to express compositionally is the simultaneous notions of the lakes being flat and their volatility as the fundamental characteristics of the Great Lakes. Restrained, yet explosive," says Wadada Leo Smith. "The other quality I wanted to express in the compositions was multiple sectional forms, ideally, thinking of each composition as being a suite or set of multiple pieces."

KALLE KALIMIA & K-18 - BUNUEL DE JOUR

On their third release, Kalle Kalima & K-18 continue on in the world of cinema. While the group's previous two albums featured compositions by guitarist Kalima that had been inspired by the films of Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch, Buñuel de Jour features his impressions of certain key works by the legendary Spanish director Luis Buñuel, such as Belle de Jour, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Tristana and Un Chien Andalou.

The CD features Kalima on electric guitars, Mikko Innanen on alto saxophone, xaphoon, whistles, hornpipe, Veli Kujala on quarter-tone accordion, and Teppo Hauta-aho on double bass and percussion.

JIM PEMBROKE - IF THE RAIN COMES

The long-awaited If The Rain Comes represents the return as a solo artist of Jim Pembroke, who first became more broadly known as the frontman of the highly influential Finnish progressive rock group Wigwam. It is his first new release after more than three decades since his last solo album and almost ten years since Wigwam's last recording. The album includes 11 new tracks, all with music and lyrics written by Jim Pembroke, which reflect both today's world and Pembroke's roots in Wigwam, a founding member of which he was 45 years ago.

Born in London, Pembroke now lives in Kansas City in the United States. For the band on the new record he chose both old and new acquaintances. The former include keyboardist Pedro Hietanen, a bandmate in Wigwam since the 1970s, and guitarist Jukka Orma from Pembroke’s Jimbo group in the 1980s. New acquaintances to Pembroke include two of Finland's leading jazz musicians, bassist Ulf Krokfors and drummer Mika Kallio. The recording also features guest artists, such as saxophonist Manuel Dunkel and organist Jukka Gustavson. If The Rain Comes is dedicated to its producer, the trumpeter, composer and producer Henrik Otto Donner, who already worked with Pembroke on the only recording of Blues Section in 1967 and the earliest recordings of Wigwam as well as on several of his solo recordings. As Donner passed away when the record was being finalized for release in June 2013, it also became the last production of his long career. Donner was also responsible for the string and wind arrangements on the record. The album was mainly recorded at the LA-Audio Studios in Olathe, Kansas. Trackslisting: If The Rain Comes; Gone With The Song; Columbus In India; Love Is Easier; Forever Kinda; The DNA Club; A Former Army; Doo-Wah; My Time Again; The Birds Of Summer; and Midnight In Abbey Road.

NEW RELEASES: NOLA SOUL EXPLOSION; THE JAZZ CRUSADERS - LOOKIN' AHEAD; PETER BERNSTEIN - SOLO GUITAR LIVE AT SMALLS

FUNKY NEW ORLEANS: NOLA SOUL EXPLOSION

Fuel's FUNKY NEW ORLEANS series of releases really define the unique sound of New Orleans. New Orleans long musical journey begins at Congo Square with the creation of jazz, the original Creole culture clash of African heritage and European instrumentation. The syncopated beat of the second line jazz parade bands, the secret language and dances of the Mardi Gras Indians, the mambo and Latin rhythms of Professor Longhair, and the joyous funeral processions all help make New Orleans a unique musical melting pot. In the 1960s and early 1970s the creative powerhouses of Allen Toussaint, The Meters, Lee Dorsey and others made New Orleans the birthplace of the original sound of Funk. Here a seemingly endless line of amazing singers - Lee Dorsey, Aaron Neville, Willie West and Eldridge Holmes, amongst many others - released a constant stream of stunning 45s, backed by the super funky Meters and produced by Allen Toussaint. In the 1960s and early 70s, limited local record distribution meant that many of these artists' releases remained unknown outside of the city borders and, as a consequence, many of these records are serious collector's items today. Amazon

THE JAZZ CRUSADERS - LOOKIN' AHEAD

The Jazz Crusaders second album for Pacific Jazz, Lookin Ahead features the core four members of the group (Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson, Wilton Felder and Stix Hooper), with bassist Jimmy Bond rounding out the sound. Lookin Ahead showcases what was already a signature sound for the group, with the tenor saxophone and trombone leading many of the songs, although Joe Samples piano playing holds much of the material together. The group wrote seven of the albums nine cuts, including The Young Rabbits, which would become something of a staple for the Jazz Crusaders during the 1960s, being much revered at their live shows. The two covers include Tonight, from the musical West Side Story, and Song Of India, a classical piece by Rimsky-Korsakov arranged by Joe Sample. Along with their debut album Freedom Sound (also available on Hallmark as 713822) the Jazz Crusaders were at the forefront of the soul jazz scene in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. Their relevance and importance continued to grow throughout the rest of the decade. ~ Amazon

PETER BERNSTEIN - SOLO GUITAR LIVE AT SMALLS

This is the first solo album from Peter Bernstein, hailed by Downbeat as one of the 15 Best Jazz Guitarists in the World. Recorded over two nights in October, 2012, the album highlights Bernstein's arrangements of Porter, Monk, Coltrane, Vernon Duke and more. Discovered early in his career by Lou Donaldson, Bernstein has performed and recorded with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz and Gregory Hutchinson. ~ Amazon

ITALIAN JAZZ-FUNK ENSEMBLE - CAMERA SOUL - REACHES #1 ON CHARTS WITH ALBUM 'NOT FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE'

Camera Soul is a powerful jazz-funk ensemble, produced by Mr. Marco Rossi of Azzurra Music (Verona) and released in the United States and Canada by Kathryn Ballard Shut of TIMKAT Entertainment (Denver, Colorado). Inspired by legendary horn line, soul, R&B, and jazz-fusion artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Tower of Power, and Stevie Wonder, as well as neo-soul grooves by Erykah Badu and Jamiroquai, the group is based out of southern Italy (Bari), and led by veteran composer-arrangers, brothers Piero and Pippo Lombardo. Camera Soul’s distinctive sound was first defined by the smoky and soulful voice of lead vocalist, Serena Brancale, on the group's first two albums ('Words Don't Speak' in 2011 and 'Not For Ordinary People' in 2013), and currently by Maria Enrica Lotesoriere (live concerts & new album 'Dress Code', to be released in 2014).

The group features a world-class lineup of studio and live performance musicians, including Pippo Lombardo (piano), Beppe Sequestro (bass), Francesco Palmitessa (lead guitar), Gianluca Cardellichio (rhythm guitar), Liviana Ferri (percussion), Fabio Delle Foglie (drums, 2014) / Mimmo Campanale (drums, 2011-2013), Daniele Scannapieco and Bruno Tassone (saxes), Gianfranco Campagnoli (trumpet and flugelhorn); Elio Arcieri and Piero Dotti (background vocals). On album 'Not For Ordinary People', the Brothers Lombardo also led a stellar global songwriting team; together with their compositions, they welcomed original music and lyrics from Serena Brancale and Denver-based jazz pianist and ASCAP composer, Kathryn Ballard Shut.

The group has released two albums – 'Words Don’t Speak' (2011) and 'Not For Ordinary People' (2013). Whereas 'Words Don’t Speak' reached previous critical acclaim as a “chill” or “smooth” effort, 'Not For Ordinary People' counts on powerful horn lines, deep funk, complex arranging, impassioned writing, and superb engineering, culminating in a stronger effort than the debut. The album is currently at #1 in Italy.

In 2013, "Not For Ordinary People" was submitted in a stunning 11 categories in 4 major fields to the prestigious Recording Academy ("Grammy") and several selections from the album topped several United Kingdom radio show countdowns as one of the "Best of 2013". The album also reached #2 on the UK Soul Chart (http://www.uksoulchart.com) and remained there for two weeks, unable to top the legendary Earth, Wind, and Fire, who had just released 'Now, Then, and Forever' during the same period. 'Not For Ordinary People' nevertheless remained on the Top 30 for 15 weeks and continues in rotation on quality Internet radio stations worldwide.

NEW RELEASES: MUD MORGANFIELD & KIM WILSON - FOR POPS: A TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS; ERIC BENET - THE OTHER ONE; TROXY MUSIC FIFTIES AND SIXTIES FILM THEMES

MUD MORGANFIELD & KIM WILSON - FOR POPS: A TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS

The son of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield and Fabulous Thunderbird front man Kim Wilson come together for this tribute release, packaged in Digipak format. For Pops (A Tribute To Muddy Waters) represents some of Mud's favorite songs from his father including the iconic I Just Want to Make Love to You plus Blow Wind Blow and Just to Be With You. When you hear Mud belt out his version of the classic My Dog Can't Bark it's clear that the apple truly doesn't fall far from the tree. Kim Wilson lives up to his reputation as the finest purveyor of the 'Little Walter' harmonica style by laying down some of his best work to date. Backing them is the crack team of Billy Flynn and Rusty Zinn (guitars), Barrelhouse Chuck (Piano), Steve Gomes (bass) and Robb Stupka (drums). For Pops only scratches the surface of the impressive catalog left by the master bluesman, but this collection is a must for Blues fans everywhere. We're certain 'Pops' is proud of his boy. ~ Amazon

ERIC BENET - THE OTHER ONE REVISITED BY THE AFORPEANS

Successful R&B singer, songwriter and actor Eric Benét released his sixth studio album The One in 2012. The album marked a positive transition in Eric s life, both personally and professionally. The lyrics spoke of the new beginnings and the fresh starts that Eric was experiencing in his career and family life. The One was the first release on Eric s label, Jordon House Records and reached #5 in the US R&B chart. Now, the four time Grammy Award nominated Eric Benét is set to unleash his latest offering could raise a few eyebrows among his regular fans. An excitingly unexpected piece of music, that while staying true to Eric s soulful roots, pushes the boundaries of the listener s expectations. The Other One is an alternative approach of Eric s 2012 album The One". The Other One is a departure from Eric s familiar sleek R&B roots, offering instead an innovative sound journey that is anything but typical. Electro Soul fused with Drum n bass influences, ambient atmospherics and of course the sublime vocals of Eric Benét make this album a must for all music and lifestyle connoisseurs. ~ Amazon

TROXY MUSIC FIFTIES AND SIXTIES FILM THEMES

Not the usual film themes of the late 50s and early 60s – no James Bond numbers or Henry Mancini hits – and instead, a very cool, very well-selected batch of tracks that really opens up this cinematic generation! All of the numbers stand very well on their own – and the set mixes jazzy groovers with vocal themes and other standout moments from more obscure movies of the time – all to make a really playful, really groovy package that's filled with surprise after surprise all the way through! The music is from both British and American sources – and titles include "No Love For Johnnie" by Gerry Beckles, "A Kind Of Loving" by Ron Grainer, "Live Now Pay Later" by Doug Sheldon, "Payroll" by Reg Owen, "Take A Giant Step" by Ernest Maxin, "I'm A Lonely Man" by Hardy Kruger, "Look For A Star" by Gary Mills, "I'm All Right Jack" by Al Saxon, and "Duet From 16" by John Dankworth. ~ Dusty Groove

Norah Jones Added to the Sunrise Senior Living Jazz Festival Along With Dianne Reeves, Joe Lovano, Ravi Coltrane, Chucho Valdes & Many More

Norah Jones

Artists Performing Include Joe Lovano,

Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés, Ravi Coltrane, Bill Charlap, Rene Rosnes and Many More

A Portion of the Proceeds Will Go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Which Is Dedicated to Finding a Cure for Parkinson's Disease

The celebrated 9-time Grammy® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and Blue Note Records recording artist Norah Jones has been added to the Sunrise Senior Living Jazz Festival, set for this Sunday, August 24 from 2:00 - 8:00PM; this one time only experience is open to the general public. Other confirmed headliners include Joe Lovano, Dianne

Joe Lovano

Reeves, Chuco Valdés, Ravi Coltrane, Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes, Javon Jackson, and more. For more information, tune in to WBGO on Friday, August 22 at 2:00PM to hear Joe Lovano discuss the festival with host Bill Daughtry.

Lundvall, who has become disabled because of Parkinson's disease, has moved into a full-time senior assisted living community, Brighton Gardens of Saddle River, not far from his home in New Jersey. "After falling down three times and having to call the police to put me back in bed, I realized moving me off of the floor was like moving a beached whale. My wife Kay and I decided it would be best for our mutual sanity if I move to a managed care facility," he says. "Thanks to

Dianne Reeves

Don Was and Hank Forsyth, I'm still vitally involved with Blue Note."

A lifelong champion of jazz, Lundvall had been president of the legendary jazz label Blue Note since 1984, and had previously been president of Columbia Records and Elektra Records, where he founded the jazz-oriented Elektra Musician imprint. During his career, he not only signed standout talent but also staged unlikely events, including the renowned three-day Havana Jam festival featuring Columbia's top pop and jazz artists as well as superb Cuban artists in Cuba's capital 35 years ago. He also celebrated the re-launching of the formerly dormant Blue Note Records in 1984 by staging a "miraculous" all-star jazz concert in New York's Town Hall. 

The top-tier cast of stars that Lundvall has assembled is quite impressive. Saxophonist Joe Lovano will be leading his nonet (which includes vocalist Judi Silvano), Dianne Reeves will sing, and Chucho Valdés, one of jazz's greatest pianists, will be performing solo. One of the highlights of the afternoon will be pianist Bill Charlap's interpretations of Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein compositions and piano duets with his wife Renee Rosnes. Charlap will be joined by Javon Jackson, Ravi Coltrane, and the great rhythm section of Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Special festival guest will be local jazz guitar great Bucky Pizzarelli who will perform with his longtime duo mate, guitarist Ed Loeb.

All artists performing are playing pro bono, with proceeds from ticket sales going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. General admission tickets are available for $79.67. A special VIP ticket is available for $158.34 and will include VIP seating at the concert, meet and greet with musicians after the show, cocktails and an autographed copy of the biography, Bruce Lundvall: Playing by Ear.

A raffle for autographed photos of celebrities will also take place. Complimentary beer and wine will be served. At intermission, there will be a complimentary hour-long tapas party for concertgoers.

Bolivian Vocalist GIAN-CARLA TISERA Showcases Operatic Roots and Creates Latin American Folklore and Jazz Inspired Album, Nora la Bella

Any true fusion in music represents a delicate negotiation. It requires both respect for the different genres in play, their traditions and codes and a 'why not?' attitude.  Cutting-and-pasting is one thing, translating the approach, technique and sensibility of one tradition to another demands a special talent and commitment. 

On Nora La Bella, her debut recording, New York-based Bolivian soprano Gian-Carla Tisera makes bold, daring crossings between opera, jazz and Latin American folk music, art song and political song, experimentation and roots music.

Throughout the recording, she sings in English, Spanish, Italian and Quechua. Co-produced by Tisera and Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca, Nora La Bella includes original songs, provocative versions of two works from the classical vocal repertoire and several pieces from the Latin American songbook, including a couple from the socially committed Nueva Canción.

  

But this is not a lab project. Rather, it's an expression of her experience and her personal search.

"I had this idea for a new kind of opera, something different, accessible and fresh," says Tisera. "I love opera and that's my training, and while I am not a jazz singer or a traditional folk singer, both genres have been an integral part of my life and my musical experience. And I also thought: how can I express my immigrant experience? How can I speak of my perspective as a Bolivian woman, as an American woman looking back at my country from a distance? All of that came into play when working on Nora La Bella."

  

Accompanied by a quartet featuring Villafranca at the piano and guest artists such as trumpeter Diego Urcola and five-time Grammy Award-winning bassist John Benitez, Tisera's music includes nods to Bolivian folklore, opera and Latin jazz. 

Tisera will celebrate the release of Nora la Bella tomorrow night (Thursday, August 21) at Joe's Pub in New York at 7:30 PM. Accompanying the vocalist for the performance are pianist Elio Villafranca, bassist Carlos Mena, drummer Franco Pinna and percussionist Paulo Stagnaro. The performance will also feature guest trumpeter Manuel Jr. Romero.

Born to a Bolivian mother and Italo-Argentine father, Tisera was raised in Cochabamba, a city surrounded by mountains located in the center of Bolivia. She studied at the Instituto Eduardo Laredo, in Cochabamba, and later moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she completed her Masters Degree in Opera Performance at the University of Southern California. 

She worked in the United States and Bolivia, performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia and the Pasadena Symphony, among others, and for five years she toured with the Bolivian Baroque Project, performing 17th century music found in the Jesuit missions of the Bolivian jungle - a project that showcased her voice on the world's greatest concert halls. But once in New York, Tisera also started collaborating with visual artists and dipping her toes in the murky waters of jam sessions. 

For those who see her approach as avant-garde, Tisera says she is "pushing the vanguard but to bring audiences to experience the greatness of opera as it relates to modern themes of love, politics and culture. I long to present opera not like an old, precious form but instead, as a vibrant, contemporary style that speaks to our concerns now. That's why there are operatic moments in Nora La Bella - but they might include improvisation, or the musical treatment might include Bolivian or Afro-Latin rhythms, and elements of Rock or Spoken Word. I remember during the recording we were listening to the second take of 'Ernesto in the Tomb,' with its Afro-Cuban groove and my operatic voice soaring above the music. The musicians heard it and said 'Wow, it works!' and I had to laugh. 'Yes guys, of course it works'."

Upcoming New York City Performances:

August 21 @ Joe's Pub - 7:30 PM

(w/ Elio Villafranca, piano; Carlos Mena, bass; Franco Pinna, drums;

Paulo Stagnaro, percussion; w/ guest trumpeter Manuel Jr. Romero)

joespub.publictheater.org

September 30 @ Americas Society - 7:00 PM

featuring Bolivian Folklore Dancers

(w/ Elio Villafranca, piano; Carlos Mena, bass;

Franco Pinna, drums; Reinaldo de Jesus, percussion)

as-coa.org

www.giancarlatisera.com

 

Pierre Bensusan's 3-CD Retrospective Collection 'Encore' Wins the "Live Performance Album" Category at the 2014 Independent Music Awards

World-renowned as the "Mozart of Guitar" for his 40-plus years of live performances and critically-acclaimed recordings, Pierre Bensusan (www.pierrebensusan.com) has received yet another accolade for Encore, an ambitious and expansive retrospective collection celebrating his 40 years as a globetrotting concert performer. The 3-CD set won in the Live Performance Album category at the 2014 Independent Music Awards.

The set was nominated early in the year and through votes from the listening public, Benusan has been awarded the prize of "Vox Pop Winner," receiving more votes for Encore than any other artist in any other category.

The Independent Music Awards (IMAs) is an international program that honors top ranked independent artists and releases in more than 80 Album, Song, EP, Producer, Music Video and Design categories. The IMAs were created in 1999 by Music Resource Group (MRG). The program receives submissions from previous major-label artists as well as self-released and indie label talent from more than 70 countries on six continents.

In a statement, Martin Folkman, Director, The Independent Music Awards, said, "On behalf of The Independent Music Awards and passionate music fans everywhere, it is our pleasure to congratulate Pierre Bensusan on winning in the Live Performance Album category for Encore in The IMA 13 Vox Pop poll, the fan-determined portion of The IMAs.

"Your nominated work was up against some of the year's best independent artists and releases. It's a great honor to support such exceptional talent."

Bensusan said, "I am humbled and thrilled by this honor. I see it as a positive, encouraging statement, a little light of recognition that contents the heart and can be the drive for more music creation to come!"

Bensusan recently wrapped a 55-date North American and European 40th Anniversary tour, which doubled as a celebration of a dynamic 35-year association with his longtime guitar maker Lowden Guitars (www.georgelowden.com).

Upcoming, the guitarist will be performing August 30 at the La Finestra Sul Lago Festival in Italy, September 6 at the International Guitar Night in Koblenz, Germany and October 3 at the Ards Guitar Festival in Ireland before launching a fall tour in Germany and Switzerland.

Leonard Cohen Releases 'Popular Problems' - A Dynamic Studio Album Of New Songs

In Popular Problems, his thrilling new studio album, Leonard Cohen gets down into the avenues of our dreams and sets a new tone and speed of hope and despair, grief and joy.  Cohen here is an astonished lover rocking to the human condition as "the soul unfolds in the chambers of its longing."  His legendary basso resonates as never before with a presence and urgency that arises from the very depths of the heart.  The clarity and strength of these nine hypnotic songs will have us singing them over and over. 

In collaboration with co-writer Patrick Leonard, Popular Problems is a masterpiece from the ever-fresh imagination of a musical legend whose songs continue to captivate new listeners and devoted fans.

"Yet again, Leonard Cohen has broken musical boundaries with new creative inspiration," says Rob Stringer, Chairman/CEO of Columbia Records. "These nine new songs are simply sublime and innovative with a unique spirit. We're absolutely thrilled and honored to celebrate this milestone with him." 

Popular Problems is Cohen's 13th studio album and will be released on September 23rd, two days after his 80th birthday.  Popular Problems is available for pre-order everywhere today. Those who pre-order Popular Problems digitally (http://smarturl.it/PopularProblems) will receive an instant download of his new song, "Almost Like The Blues."  Click here to listen.

To celebrate his milestone 80th birthday (September 21), Cohen's endless poetic energy and legacy can be revisited with a new artist page on iTunes (www.itunes.com/leonardcohen), which features Popular Problems and includes all 12 prior studio albums Mastered For iTunes.

Popular Problems was produced by Patrick Leonard, mastered at Marcussen Mastering and was recorded and mixed by Jesse E. String with additional mixing by Bill Bottrell.

Popular Problems Tracklisting:

1.Slow

2.Almost Like The Blues

3.Samson In New Orleans

4.A Street

5.Did I Ever Love You

6.My Oh My

7.Nevermind

8.Born In Chains

9.You Got Me Singing

Leonard Cohen is a master songwriter, musician, poet, novelist and visual artist whose stunning body of original work has touched the lives of millions with a career spanning six decades.

His explorations of spiritual, interpersonal, romantic and political themes have impacted countless contemporary recording artists and writers. He has sold over 23 million albums, worldwide and published 12 books, the most recent of which was 2006's 'Book of Longing', a collection of poetry, prose and drawings, which reached #1 on the Top 10 Hardcover Fiction Books in Canada.

Cohen's influence on musical and theatrical artists the world over is inestimable. In fact, when Cohen was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2008, the revered Lou Reed singled out Leonard as one of the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters." Cohen's songbook has been covered by hundreds of recording artists including Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Lou Reed, Tori Amos, Nick Cave, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Rufus Wainwright and the Civil Wars. Tribute albums have been released in Cohen's honor in France, Norway, Canada, Spain, Swedish, Czech Republic, South Africa and the United States. In 2008 Cohen's "Hallelujah" became the fastest-selling digital single in European history when three separate versions of the song appeared simultaneously on the UK singles chart - Cohen's own original recording, a version from Jeff Buckley and another from X Factor winner Alexandra Burke. Additionally, Leonard's songs have been frequently selected to illustrate the emotion of motion pictures and television programs and have been heard in Watchmen, The Passion of The Christ, Natural Born Killers, The Wonder Boys, Pump Up The Volume, Secretary, The West Wing, The O.C. and many others.

Leonard Cohen has been honored as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2010), inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (2008), the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2006), the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006) and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2010). He has received the prestigious Principe de Asturias Prize – the highest literary award in Spain (Spain, 2011) as well as the Glenn Gould Prize, awarded to an individual for a unique lifetime contribution that has enriched the human condition through the arts (Canada, 2011). The Canadian native has earned his country's highest civilian honors - Officer of the Order of Canada (1991), Companion to the Order of Canada (2003), Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec (2008).

Cohen's recent return to live performance was met with extraordinary and unanimous accolades as he performed around the world from 2008 through 2013. Cohen's mesmerizing recent performances, deemed "a spiritual experience" by all accounts, totaled 470 shows in 31 countries attended by four million fans.

Soulful Los Angeles by-way-of Louisiana Singer RORY PARTIN Releases new self-titled album

Featuring an all-star Big Band made up of legendary performers who played with Tommy Dorsey, Bobby Darin, and Harry James as well as a guest appearance by Opry/Cajun music hero Jimmy C Newman, Rory Partin takes listeners on a journey through American music history. From swing standards including “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” to contemporary classics like “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me”, the new album displays Partin's ability to build on a foundation of legends while also "adding his own unique twist to his music" (Confront Magazine) thanks to "a sharp sense of humor and a dash of gospel grit" (Popdose).

At a time when many classic tunes from the Great American Songbook are facing extinction, powerhouse of blue-eyed soul Rory Partin and His All Star 18-piece Big Band are not only keeping musical history alive on their forthcoming fan-funded LP (out 8/19/14), they’re infusing it with fresh new energy courtesy of Partin’s “sharp sense of humor and a dash of gospel grit” (Popdose). Poised to take his place among artists like Michael Bublé and Harry Connick, Jr., “Partin separates himself from his colleagues, offering a contrasting timbre and amplifying the soul...his beautiful upper register coupled with the hard-swinging big band arrangement gives you chills listening” (Brent Music Reviews).

A multi-instrumentalist who has lived in and taken influences from several of America's great musical centers (including New Orleans, Nasvhille, and Los Angeles), Partin has toured internationally with five-time Grammy winner Larnelle Harris and performed with his own All Star Big Band at George W. Bush’s Inaugural Ball and The National Symphony Ball at the Kennedy Center. Featuring Opry/Cajun music legend Jimmy C Newman and Partin’s signature “glass-smooth voice curled with a Louisiana accent” (Hollywood Progressive), Partin's latest album takes listeners on a heartfelt journey through time that stretches from swing-era standards like “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” to contemporary classics like “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me”.

Tracklisting: 

1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore

2. Tender Trap (Love is The)

3. I've Got You Under My Skin

4. Everybody's Got Somebody But Me

5. Fly Me to the Moon

6. Orange Colored Sky

7. I Get a Kick Out of You (feat. Alexa James)

8. Night and Day

9. Georgia on My Mind

10. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (feat. Jimmy C. Newman)

11. What a Wonderful World

 www.RoryPartin.com

New neosoul artist, ALMA has ambitious medium and message on her upcoming album, Tactics

While the rest of Chicago was rocking out at Lollapalooza for the weekend, Alma, Chicago-based pop/soul vocalist, managed to record every track of her upcoming album Tactics. Tactics, Alma’s first full-length project, will be released October 17.

“Recording an entire album in one weekend was ambitious! The whole project came together in a few months’ time and I credit the organization, consistency & initiative of Chris Thigpen, my bassist & creative producer,” shared Alma.

Alma, a newcomer to the Midwest music scene, would consider the title of communicator as vital as singer or songwriter to her art. Her new project, Tactics, is a calculated attempt to provoke thought about the human condition, supported by her neosoul sensibilities.

“I write and perform to inspire conversation about the things that matter,” says Alma. “Performing is fun, but my passion is the message, not the medium.”

Alma is quickly becoming a pro at both the medium and the message. Characterizing her medium, it’s hard to confine her to one genre. Neosoul comes closest, but her music has elements of jazz, pop, R&B and gospel. She performs regularly in Chicago and other venues around the Midwest, including Wisconsin music festivals Brat Fest and Lifest in the summer of 2014. In 2013, she toured the East Coast with Philly-based artist Kwesi K.

Drawing from her personal faith journey, the tracks on Tactics explore human nature with themes like jealousy in “Blind Side,” gluttony in “Honey,” as well as hope in “New Nation.”

Tactics’ sound showcases Alma’s skill in songwriting with eight original tracks that encompass a style reminiscent of Joss Stone or Jill Scott. Alma says, “In late 2012 neosoul stole my heart—and since then I've been sorting out how I want that to affect my own songwriting.”

In 2012, she released a demo Pass it On, with a more stripped down singer/songwriter sound than the upcoming Tactics. Her 2014 single, “For A Poet” gives a stronger foreshadowing as to what to expect from her new album. Alma graduated with a BA in Vocal Performance from Columbia College in Chicago in 2013.

www.hearalma.com

NEW RELEASES: ANGELA JOHNSON - NATURALLY ME; KOSI - PICTURES OF ME; JOHN ZORN / BILL FRISELL / KENNY WOLLESN / CAROL EMANUAL – TESTAMENT OF SOLOMON

ANGELA JOHNSON - NATURALLY ME

Every new album from Angela Johnson turns out to be a treasure – but this set may well be one of the best she's done in years – and a really strong step forward for the singer! The music has this full, rich style that almost feels like classic soul at times – not a retro 60s vibe, but a really powerful use of rhythms and instrumentation to push Johnson's sublime vocals at a level we've never heard before – a really fresh mode that's completely current, yet very aware of the best sounds of decades past as well! We might liken the approach to Swing Out Sister at their recent best – even though the record's nothing like theirs at all – and our hats are off to Angela for continuing to win us over and over again after all these years – especially when she could have just been sitting back and doing the same old thing. Titles include "To Love Again", "Deja Vu", "Black Boy Lullaby", "Handz", "Music's My Religion", and "A Beautiful Place". ~ Dusty Groove

KOSI - PICTURES OF ME

A really wonderful singer, with a very unique style – one that's rooted in jazz, but has an acoustic soul as well – set up perfectly here in these laidback arrangements that really let Kosi soar strongly on her own! The music is mostly jazz at the core – with wonderfully clean, clear guitar lines, rich acoustic bass, and occasional work on trumpet and tenor – but Kosi's vocals are clearly center stage, and have this slow-burning power that's undeniable – able to inflect, twist, and turn like a jazz vocalist – yet delivering original, very personal lyrics that are filled with soul. Most tunes are originals – including "Brianna", "I Already Know", "Valerie", "Your Angel", and "Hoboken Blues" – but the album also features great versions of "Wild Is The Wind" and "The Star Crossed Lovers". ~ Dusty Groove

JOHN ZORN / BILL FRISELL / KENNY WOLLESN / CAROL EMANUAL – TESTAMENT OF SOLOMON: MUSIC FROM THE SEFER SHIRIM SHEL SHIR HASHIRIM

One of the most beautiful groups that John Zorn's been working with in recent years – a heavenly trio that features Bill Frisell on guitar, Kenny Wollesen on vibes, and Carol Emanuel on harp – all working together with a very unique sound! The mix of instruments is wonderful throughout – unlike anything else we've ever heard (save the previous records by the trio) – with the vibes ringing out in bold, chromatic hues – echoed by Frisell's guitar, and then given these gentler plucked undercurrents by the harp – all at a level that's jazzier than some of John Zorn's other compositional projects, but still with a unique style of its own. The music draws inspiration from The Song Of Solomon, but only at a very spiritual level – and titles include "Tappuha", "Berotim", "Otyah", "Sammatek", and "Alamot". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: MAMMAL HANDS - ANIMALIA; ALBOROSIE – SPECIALIST PRESENTS ALBOROSIE & FRIENDS; GOGO PENGUIN – V2.0

MAMMAL HANDS - ANIMALIA

Mammal Hands are a trio of like-minded musicians: Nick Smart piano, Jesse Barrett drums and percussion, and Jordan Smart saxophones. Drawing on influences from Steve Reich to Bonobo and Pharoah Sanders to Cinematic Orchestra, alongside elements of North Indian and African music, they produce their own beautiful, inimitable music – at times wistful and melancholic and others raucous and catchy. They evoke a range of moods, from delicate and subtle to explosive and frantic, blending thoughtful compositions with spontaneity and interplay. On the road they have been wooing audiences from the Norwich Arts Centre to Mostly Jazz Birmingham, King’s Place London, Band On The Wall Manchester and most recently Love Supreme Glynde. Indeed it was at Mostly Jazz that the band were heard by Gondwana Records recording artists GoGo Penguin’s bassist Nick Blacka, who liking the band’s unique sound brought them to the attention of label boss Matthew Halsall, who immediately signed them to the label and has now produced their sublime debut album, Animalia, which is released on 15th September. Mammal Hands met in April 2012, while busking in Norwich. They gelled quickly, drawn to each other’s open approach to music making. The brothers Nick and Jordan were already playing together as an electronica duo but with drummer Jesse joining the band they developed a distinctive sound drawing on their love of electronic, contemporary classical, world and jazz music. Drummer Jesse’s knowledge and understanding of Indian Classical music brings a unique/distinctive approach to the rhythmic framework of the band’s tunes. His disciplined study with tabla maestro Sirishkumar has allowed him to develop the ability to explore intricate and complex rhythmic patterns and the freedom to explore time signatures and rhythmic patterns less commonly heard in the western world. Jordan brings a love of DJ culture as well as the influence of Pharoah Sanders to his playing whilst pianist Nick brings a knowledge of classical Jazz harmonies but also a deep interest in the minimalist composers (Terry Riley, Steve Reich) which has influenced his compositional approach, striving to create hypnotic, rhythmic patterns that can provide a foundation for Jordan and Jesse to build on. It is this unique combination of influences and their unusual baseless line-up that makes Mammal Hands’ sound so distinctive. 

www.godwanarecords.com

ALBOROSIE – SPECIALIST PRESENTS ALBOROSIE & FRIENDS

Alborosie is again the artist to watch in 2014, with multiple projects as a singer, songwriter, producer and dub master hitting the market, his name and his stock are growing! Here is his double CD of combination tracks (duets) recorded over the past seven years, with many songs taken from 7Inch singles making their CD debut and including a number of unreleased songs. The tracks feature a big range of veteran reggae artists like Steel Pulse, Dennis Brown, Black Uhuru, Horace Andy, The Tamlins or Ranking Joe. The 90′s and current generation is represented by stars like Busy Signal, Etana, Jah Cure, Luciano, Kymani Marley, Gramps Morgan (Morgan Heritage) and Gentleman for sure, who is featured in the 2014 documentary film ‘Journey To Jah’ alongside Alborosie. www.alborosiemusic.com

GOGO PENGUIN – V2.0

Championed by DJs from Mike Chadwick to Gilles Peterson and Jamie Cullum, it is GoGo Penguin’s skittering break-beats, telepathic interplay and a penchant for anthemic melody that contribute to a sound that’s wholly their own. Pianist Chris Illingworth’s yearning classical influenced melodies are filtered through the dance music energy of bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner. But there is no leader, no global set of rules. Each member receives inspiration, ideas and information from each other. Their instrumentation might be the archetypal piano trio but while the melodic, harmonic and structural ideas are influenced by both classical and jazz the rhythms are drawn from left field electronica and it’s this meeting of opposites that makes their unique acoustic-electronica sound so exciting and creates such an interesting and emotionally rich palate for the listener. v2.0 is the opening salvo from the new GoGo Penguin. Nick Blacka (who played in an earlier trio with pianist Chris Illingworth) joined the band in late 2012 after founder member Grant Russell left to pursue other projects. He brought a new cohesiveness to the band’s sound and if their earlier breakthrough debut hit Fanfares offered a band prototype, then v2.0 is the wildly successful reboot. It’s the sound of a band increasingly comfortable in the sonic world they have created and a gloriously vibrant technicolor snap-shot of a band finding their own voice – as drawing on a heady brew of influences from Brian Eno, John Cage and Squarepusher to Manchester’s grey rain-streaked urban streets they create a brave new sound all their own. www.godwanarecords.com

NEW RELEASES: YUSEF LATEEF - THE BLUE YUSEF LATEEF; FOX CAPTURE PLAN – WALL; LUCIEN GOETHALS

YUSEF LATEEF - THE BLUE YUSEF LATEEF

One of our favorite Atlantic albums by the great Yusef Lateef – an incredible session that has him dipping back into his earlier exotic roots with those great reed styles of the early 60s – yet also hitting a mix of soul and funk like some of his other albums from the time! The sound is tremendous – wonderfully righteous, at a level that really set the tone for more ambitious soul jazz projects of the 70s by other artists – including the best of the soul jazz underground who were often as inspired by Lateef as they were by Coltrane! The group's great, too – and features Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Sonny Red on alto, Hugh Lawson on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums – next to Yusef's own work on tenor, flute, bamboo flute, tamboura, and percussion. Titles include "Sun Dog", "Moon Cup", "Othelia", "Like It Is", and the groovy "Juba Juba". ~ Dusty Groove

FOX CAPTURE PLAN – WALL

We really love these guys – and are continually amazed at what they can do with just bass, drums, and piano – all very conventional instruments, but used by Fox Capture Plan in this soaringly soulful style! The music's not entirely jazz – because all three instruments are very focused on the rhythms, and often move together rather than work towards solo expressions – but there's a modal warmth to the record that takes us back to some of our favorite jazz dance numbers of the 60s and 70s, but even more focused in the hands of the trio. This time around, they bring in a few extra touches, mostly in production – to flesh out the sound and link the spirit of the songs – but the overall vibe is still all acoustic and very tremendous! Titles include "Helios", "Elementary Stream", "Tong Poo", "Unsolved", "The Beginning Of The Myth", and "Into The Wall". ~ Dusty Groove

LUCIEN GOETHALS – LUCIEN GOETHALS

Incredible sounds from Lucien Goethals – one of the lesser-known electronic talents of the European scene of the 60s and 70s – and one of the most revolutionary as well! Goethals is represented here by three long pieces – the first of which, "Difonium", has his own moody sounds on magnetaphone mixed with live bass clarinet improvisations from Harry Sparnaay – who plays in these tones that match perfectly with the electronics, in a way that prefaces many jazz/electronic experiments in years to come. "Cellotape" mixes cello, violin, and piano with electronics that bring the offbeat tones of the instruments into sharp focus – and "Studie VII B" is an all electronic work – based on varied frequencies with altered amplifications and timings – with results that are very moogy and spacey! ~ Dusty Groove

 

NEW RELEASES: ERIC WYATT – BOROUGH OF KINGS; CAROLANN BREVARD - GREATNESS; MYLES SANKO – FOREVER DREAMING

ERIC WYATT – BOROUGH OF KINGS

Really tremendous work from tenorist Eric Wyatt – a set that has the musician really coming into his own, and maybe emerging as one of the most soulful, spiritual players in recent years! The set bristles with soaring energy – a really kind of old school blend of spiritual jazz and more focused soulbop – with especially searing tenor lines from Wyatt on most numbers, but also a bit of flute as well – all played with a wellspring of emotion that takes us back to Pharoah Sanders on Impulse, or maybe Sonny Rollins at his most expressive. Most of the set features original compositions by Wyatt – whose writing is also a delight – and the well-chosen group includes Duane Eubanks on trumpet, Clifton Anderson on trombone, and Benito Gonzalez on piano. Titles include "Ancient Chinese Secrets", "Borough Of Kings", "One For Hakim", "The People's Champ", "Countdown", and "Quest".  ~ Dusty Groove

CAROLANN BREVARD - GREATNESS

A well-titled set from this up-and-coming singer – as it definitely seems like we'll be hearing a lot more greatness from Carolann in years to come! The album's a very well-crafted individual soul statement – with a vibe that's very different than other records of its nature these days – as Breyard looks back, to the 70s styles of Ann Peebles and Aretha Franklin – instead of going for any too-modern modes in the production and instrumentation! Most of the backings are nice and warm – almost a Hi Records sort of vibe, but leaner and jazzier too – and Carolann really finds a way to make the approach all her own, without ever resorting to easy references, or the kind of gimmicks that some of her contemporaries might use. Titles include "Greatness", "It's Complicated", "Negativity", "Momma's Baby", "If You Don't Believe", "Dog With A Bone", and "May December".  ~ Dusty Groove

MYLES SANKO – FOREVER DREAMING

Following the release of debut EP "Born in Black & White" to broad critical and fan acclaim in 2013, England-based soul singer and songwriter Myles Sanko is following up with his first full-length album "Forever Dreaming". Dubbed as the 'lovechild of soul music' by Times Out London, this talented artist began his music career by singing and rapping alongside disc jockeys in nightclubs. He has fronted popular bands such as Bijoumiyo, and has worked with funk kings Speedometer who were touring with James Brown's backup singer for over 35 years, soul sister Martha High. New album "Forever Dreaming" includes 10 versatile compositions Myles Sanko wrote with his longtime songwriting partner Thierry Los from France. Styles are ranging from the melodic soul-jazz of title track "Forever Dreaming“ through the spiritual acid jazz of "Take A Look At Me Now“ or energetic soul dancer "Shooting Star“.

NEW RELEASES: HUGH GLEDHILL - BIG DINOSAUR MOUTH; AWA SANGHO - ALA TA; ALISON BALSOM - PARIS

HUGH GLEDHILL - BIG DINOSAUR MOUTH

Big Dinosaur Mouth is the debut album from London-based funk and soul guitarist Hugh Gledhill (The Jezebel Sextet, The James Taylor Quartet) on Sookie Records, featuring Hugh Gledhill on guitar, Seamus Beaghen (Trio Valore), on Hammond, Burundian singer/songwriter Mudibu on vocals, and the Killer Horns (Alice Russell). Nine new songs blend Memphis soul, boogaloo guitar, Hammond and horns - all captured with outstanding sound quality on analogue tape. Mudibu features on four vocal tracks including 'Under Our Eyes' and 'Time, Strength...; Patience', two ballads inspired by Steve Cropper and Booker T & The MGs, plus the radio-friendly 'Don't Rush' with its summer soul groove, ska chorus and big finale.  Five instrumentals each contribute a different sound and mood. There's menacing wah on 'Three Tombstones', stuttering Hammond on 'Sweet Magritte' and raw boogaloo on 'Get Out'. 'Captain Thunder' peaks with rambunctious guitar and Hammond trading solos over punchy horn breaks and a JBs inspired groove. The end result is an impressive and varied debut album from this talented British musician, celebrating the sound of 1960s soul, street funk and boogaloo.

AWA SANGHO - ALA TA

The first solo effort from Awa Sangho – a Mali-born, Abdijan-bred singer who's worked previously with other bigger names in African music – and with a few groups as well – but an artist who's definitely got the maturity to make it all on her own! The work has a very special flavor – not the usual Malian sounds, although Awa definitely has a strong sense of inflection in her phrasing – and sometimes graced with slight jazzy touches in the instrumentation, as befits both the record's placement on the Motema label, and Sangho's current residence in New York. Instrumentation mixes kora, balafon, djembe, and other African sounds with warmer guitar that really deepens the soul of the record – and titles include "Denko", "Tambin Y Tambor", "Naigai Koro Sigui", "Emama", "Dofana", and "N'Djarka Y Tambor".  ~ Dusty Groove

ALISON BALSOM - PARIS

One of today's most in-demand classical music personalities, English trumpeter and BBC Proms darling Alison Balsom shares her love of Paris on this new solo album. After becoming the first British woman to win Gramophone Magazine's prestigious Artist of the Year award, Alison brings her glamour, poise and dazzling virtuosity to Paris with a selection of music written in and inspired by the most romantic city in the world. Accessible yet surprising at every turn, the programme ranges from 20th-century French composers (Ravel, Duruflé, Messiaen) to jazz (Django Reinhardt) and popular chanson française (Joseph Kosma), all in enchanting arrangements for trumpet. ~ Amazon