NEW RELEASES - GERARDO FRISINA-MOVEMENT; BLACK FIRE NEW SPIRITS-DEEP & RADICAL JAZZ IN THE USA; BASSO VALDAMBRINI QUINTET

GERARDO FRISINA - MOVEMENT

Plenty of movement from the great Gerardo Frisina – a set that's awash in all the Latin and modal elements we've always loved in his music – and a record that filled with jazzy touches throughout! Rhythms are both live and programmed – but even the latter have a very spontaneous feel, when mixed with the warm acoustic instrumentation of the combo – which includes vibes, tenor, trumpet, flute, and piano – as well as a bit of Fender Rhodes too! Gerardo seems to have opened up his style a bit more than before – and there's some surprising turns at various points, including one great 70s-style drumbreak track, and a few more that are more jazz overall than some of his more Latin-oriented grooves. If you've ever loved Gerardo, or the Schema label too, you'll find plenty to love here – on titles that include "Reporter", "I Need Rhythm", "Arrival", "Movement", "The Talisman", "Selvatico", "The Sound Image", and "Mystic Latin". ~ Dusty Groove

BLACK FIRE NEW SPIRITS – DEEP & RADICAL JAZZ IN THE USA 1957 TO 1982

Deeply spiritual jazz from the American underground of the 20th century – music that sits in a perfect space between straight jazz and more avant garde material – always reaching out in this really soaring, searching sort of way – but never too outside or free! Rhythms are at the core of most of these numbers – often modal elements, with especially strong basslines – or earthy percussion with strong Afrocentric inspirations, recast here in the huge wave of jazz experimentation of the 60s and 70s! Most tracks are from those key decades, but he set also features some overlooked gems from the 80s too – and a good deal of these tracks are from albums we hardly ever see anymore these days. As usual, Soul Jazz has done a stunning job with the notes and package – dovetailing with their book of the same name – and tracks include "Second Line March" by David Lee, "Flashback Of Time" by Creative Arts Ensemble, "Chang Chang Chang" by Yusef Lateef, "Utopia & Visions" by Don Cherry, "It's A Trip" by Last Poets, "Universal Spiritual Revolt" by Tyrone Washington, "In The Moog" by Harold McKinney, "Spaces & Things" by Doug Hammond, "Tzaddi Vau (part 1)" by Pheeran Ak Laff, and "Dealin" by Richard Davis.  ~ Dusty Groove

BASSO VALDAMBRINI QUINTET - FONIT H602 H603

Wonderful work from one of the greatest Italian jazz groups of the 60s – heard here in two of their rarest recordings! The set brings together material from two sessions that were only issued on the Fonit sound library label – but both are every bit as sharp and soulful as the best Basso-Valdambrini work for bigger labels – including their early 60s gems on RCA! And like those records, there's a wonderful sense of rhythm here – kind of the soul jazz side of Blue Note, but handled with a fresh sound that's nicely free of any copycat cliches – and which instead really has the group finding their own voice through their writing and solos. The H602 album is billed as "pop jazz" – which is more a 60s soul jazz style – and H603 is called "Californiano", with a bit of a west coast vibe, but still very much the best grooves we've come to love from the combo. The lineup on both includes tremendous trumpet from Oscar Valdabrini and tenor from Gianni Basso – with rhythms from Ettore Righello on piano, Giorgio Azzolini on bass, and Lionella Bionda on drums. Titles include "Pick Up", "Glaucus", "Gold Mine", "From Me", "Maglione", "Muy", "Plinius", and "Transistor".  ~ Dusty Groove

Sweet Soul and Funk: Willie Hutch - Foxy Brown; Moniquea - Yes No Maybe; CG Cameron

WILLIE HUTCH – FOXY BROWN

A nice one on the MoFunk label from singer Moniquea – whose laidback, warmly soulful voice is backed by lean, bouncy synth funk production – coming off as a sweet modern take on the boogie soul and digital funk sound of the 80s! Monquea's voice and a strongly song-based approach really makes it soar, and feel fresh and vibrant, even while proudly flaunting 80s influences. Producer XL Middleton is wise to keep it lively and funky, with some spacey keyboards and some funky fuzz guitars in the mix. Very nice stuff! Titles include "If I Let You Take My Heart", "A Certain Way", "Casanova (Let You Go)", "Secret", "I Don't Wanna Get Used To It (Extended Album Mix)", "I Need It All" feat I Ced, "Not Enough (Extended Album Mix)" and "Can't Be Without My Baby".  ~ Dusty Groove

MONIQUEA – YES NO MAYBE

A nice one on the MoFunk label from singer Moniquea – whose laidback, warmly soulful voice is backed by lean, bouncy synth funk production – coming off as a sweet modern take on the boogie soul and digital funk sound of the 80s! Monquea's voice and a strongly song-based approach really makes it soar, and feel fresh and vibrant, even while proudly flaunting 80s influences. Producer XL Middleton is wise to keep it lively and funky, with some spacey keyboards and some funky fuzz guitars in the mix. Very nice stuff! Titles include "If I Let You Take My Heart", "A Certain Way", "Casanova (Let You Go)", "Secret", "I Don't Wanna Get Used To It (Extended Album Mix)", "I Need It All" feat I Ced, "Not Enough (Extended Album Mix)" and "Can't Be Without My Baby".  ~ Dusty Groove

GC CAMERON - CG CAMERON

Strong work from GC Cameron – really making a bold mark here on his own – working in a smooth, rich, masculine style that's a bit like some of the best early 70s material from Eddie Kendricks! Arrangements are by James Carmichael, Paul Riser, Wade Marcus, Gene Page, and other smooth soul talents – and GC's got this edgey vocal approach that strikes out from the backings very strongly, with a hip dope sound on the best cuts, almost in a blacksploitation soundtrack mode – with a sharper edge than on his previous group recordings. Titles include a great version of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", plus the cuts "Me & My Life", "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday", "Strong Love", "Share Your Life", "Truly Blue", and "Don't Want To Give It Up". ~ Dusty Groove

New Releases: JOHN ZORN / BILL FRISELL / KENNY WOLLESEN / JOHN MEDESKI – TRANSMIGRATION OF THE MAGUS; HARD TO EXPLAIN – MORE SHATTERED DREAMS: FUNKY BLUES 1968 TO 1984; MATS OBERG - TWO.FIVE

JOHN ZORN / BILL FRISELL / KENNY WOLLESEN / JOHN MEDESKI – TRANSMIGRATION OF THE MAGUS

Really beautiful work from one our favorite John Zorn projects of the past few years – his sublime Gnostic Trio, a group with Bill Frisell on guitar, John Medeski on organ, and Kenny Wollesen on vibes! The trio come together here in these ethereal, hypnotic compositions by Zorn – really meditative music that's way different than the squeaks and squonks of his early years – and which shows this amazing maturation, and a great understanding of the more subtle sides of the sonic spectrum. For this album, the group adds in two harpists and one additional musician on bells and vibes – which only makes the sound more incredible – and titles include "Apocryphon", "The Divine Word", "Gnostic Hymn", "Into The Light", "Perfect Mind", and "Providence".  ~ Dusty Groove

HARD TO EXPLAIN – MORE SHATTERED DREAMS: FUNKY BLUES 1968 TO 1984

Funky blues galore – not the kind of sad, weepy blues of the old days – but the kind of gritty grooves that really broke big during the 60s and 70s funky generation! Most numbers here mix older blues elements with sharp snapping drums and tight rolling basslines – a sweet fusion of roots and contemporary sounds from the 70s – served up by a mix of well-known artists and lesser-known geniuses! The track selection is superb, with loads of tracks we'd never heard before – and the set's exactly the kind of collection that has us running back to BGP/Ace year after year – and digging everything they ever do. And even if you're not usually a blues fan, if you dig funky sounds you'll find plenty to love here – with titles that include "Walk On" by Finis Tasby, "Gimme Some Of Yours" by Artie White, "I Want You" by Smokey Wilson, "It's Real" by Jimmy Robins, "Sister Rose" by Shakey Jake Harris, "Them Love Blues" by Earl Wright, "I Finally Got You" by Jimmy McCracklin, "He Made You Mine" by Big Daddy Rucker, "Lovemaker" by Lowell Fulsom, "Getting Down With You" by Obrey Wilson, "Don't Down Me People" by Memphis Soul, and "I Don't Understand It" by Ice Water Slim & The Fourth Floor. ~ Dusty Groove

MATS OBERG – TWO.FIVE

Really really great work from pianist Mats Oberg – a musician we've always loved, but who really blows us away with this solo set of improvisations! Mats has this free-flowing sense of imagination that really loves us breathless – a way of creating on the keys of the piano that almost rivals Keith Jarrett at his 70s best, but which also has a more soulful focus and sense of direction too – so that each of the creations feel like preconceived songs more than spontaneous moments of music. The package has images of Mats posed before vintage albums by Berndt Egerbladh and a life-sized image of Stevie Wonder – and we might well say that the music has a soulful core that lies somewhere between the spirit of these two great musicians of the 70s. Titles include "Song For Amy", "Charlie Boy & Verkstadsbossa", "Sarek", "You Shall Find Your Way", "Ossians Vast", and "November Min Van".  ~ Dusty Groove

New Releases: AL GREEN-Free Soul: The Treasure Of Al Green; WILLIE MITCHELL-The Hi Records Singles Collection; Good All Over: Rare Soul From The Westbound Records Vaults

AL GREEN – FREE SOUL: THE TREASURE OF AL GREEN

Over 80 minutes of magic from the great Al Green – a special entry into the Japanese-only series of Free Soul collections! The series often mixes together great tracks from different artists, but this volume features only music from the godlike Al himself – a warm, mellow blend of Memphis soul nuggets – and one that mixes together classic Hi Records hits with some lesser-known gems from Green! Willie Mitchell's great production really ties the whole thing together – as does the wonderful work of Free Soul maestro Toru Hashimoto, who still has one of the greatest ears for grooves we've ever heard. Titles include "Full Of Fire", "Let's Stay Together", "You Ought To Be With Me", "Love", "Take Me To The River", "Sha La La", "Love & Happiness", "Love Ritual", "So Good to Be Here", "Loving You", "Your Love Is Like The Morning Sun", "King Of All", "Look What You Done For Me", and "I Think It's For The Feeling".  ~ Dusty Groove

WILLIE MITCHELL – THE HI RECORDS SINGLES COLLECTION

Pure greatness from Memphis soul legend Willie Mitchell – maybe best known as the studio force behind Hi Records work by Al Green and Ann Peebles, but a heck of a recording artist on his own! Willie had a great ear for catchy, groovy soul instrumentals – done in a style that echoes a bit of the genre over at Stax/Volt at the time, but which often takes off into some of the fuller, more flowing modes that Mitchell would use with singers. A number of Willie's singles have his trumpet in the lead, but others have a variety of instrumentation – and often put more emphasis on the gritty grooves at the bottom. And like similar soul instrumental artists, some of Mitchell's best moments were in the 7" format – not on full LPs – which makes this collection essential, as it features 20 tracks that only appeared on 45s, not on Mitchell's albums – including two with singer Don Bryant in the mix. Titles include "Drippin", "Easy Now", "Empty Rooms", "Check Me", "Secret Home", "20-75", "Buddy Bear", "Crawl (parts 1 & 2)", "Aw Shucks", "Lucky", "Last Tango In Paris", "The Champion (parts 1 & 2)", "My Babe", "Kitten Korner", "Six To Go", "Beale Street Mood", "Teenie's Dream", and lots lots more – a total of 48 tracks in all!  ~ Dusty Groove

GOOD ALL OVER: RARE SOUL FROM THE WESTBOUND RECORDS VAULTS 1969-1975

Rare tracks from one of the greatest soul labels ever – Detroit's legendary Westbound Records, the famous home of Funkadelic – but a source for countless many more grooves! This set features really rare singles and unreleased tracks from Westbound – a flurry of great soul tracks that's surprised even our Westbound-raised ears – with tracks that run from righteous soul to heavy funk, to great group harmonies, and more! There's nary a big name in the set – and instead, the whole thing really focuses on the hinterland of the Westbound scene – including some especially rare gems that were issued as singles by the even-smaller Eastbound label, who did some wonderfully groovy work in the early 70s. Titles include "Admit Your Love Is Gone" by Damon Shawn, "Old Fashioned Woman" by Unique Blend, "I'm Falling In Love" by Fantastic Four, "Tender Moments" by AC Tilmon & Denise LaSalle, "I Love You" by The Motivations, "More Love" by Emanuel Laskey, "What Am I Gonna Do" by Houston Outlaws, "I Don't Know How" by The Superlatives, "Trying Real Hard" by The Magictones, "You Can't Take This Love For You From Me" by Bob & Harold, "I'm Loving You You're Leaving Me" by The Magictones, "Does He Treat You Better" by Unique Blend, and "Rosetta Stone" by AC Tilmon & Detroit Emeralds.  ~ Dusty Groove

OUR MAN FLINT & IN LIKE FLINT ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS

A pair of spy spoof gems – back to back on a single CD! First up is Our Man Flint, which features excellent soundtrack work by Jerry Goldsmith – possibly his greatest ever! Jerry's usually a bit staid with some of his scores – but working here on the soundtrack to this James Coburn spy spoof film, he's truly fantastic! The approach mixes strings and bossa-inflected grooves with some spookier instrumental touches – either on electric guitar, sax, or a "tortured" Thomas organ and a Solovox – and the overall feel of the album is on a par with the best work of the sort by Lalo Schifrin or Hugo Montenegro! Titles include "Doing As The Romans Did", "All I Have To Do Is Take A Bite of Your Apple?", "Tell Me More About That Volcano", and "Our Man Flint". In Like Flint continues Jerry Goldsmith's great run of grooves for the Flint spy spoof films of the 60s – working in a style that's a lot more complex than Lalo Schifrin or John Barry, but still every bit as groovy! Goldsmith's got this excellent style of swirling together strings, instrumental solos, and lots of cool offbeat elements – all with a sound that's often jazzy, but pretty unusual too – maybe in the best territory of Piero Piccioni over on the Italian scene! Arrangements are by Marty Paich and Warren Barker – who bring their most playful modes to the album – and titles include the vocal numbers "Where The Bad Guys Are Gals" and "Your Zowie Face", plus "Ahh Yer Father's Bob-Lip", "Mince & Cook Until Tender", and "Lost In Space". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: MARTHA REEVES - THE REST OF MY LIFE; DEE ALEXANDER - SONGS MY MOTHER LOVES; ANN PEEBLES - PART TIME LOVE

MARTHA REEVES – THE REST OF MY LIFE

Martha's lost the Vandellas for this one, but that's fine with us – as she's stepping out as a hip soul diva, laying down a mixture of mellow and upbeat tunes, in a style that's somewhere between Marlena Shaw and Gladys Knight. Production (and we assume arrangements) are by Tony Silvester, Bert De Coteaux, General Johnson, and Tony Camillo – and tracks include "Thank You", "Love Blind", "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", "Second Chance", and "Now That We Found Love".  ~ Dusty Groove

DEE ALEXANDER – SONGS MY MOTHER LOVES

An instant classic from Chicago vocalist Dee Alexander – one of the greatest jazz singers working today – and an artist we'd easily rank right up there with old school talents like Shirley Horn or Lorez Alexandria! Dee can sometimes be far-reaching in her style, but here she steps back to an older generation of jazz – reworking numbers in a hip sort of 60s way, especially the more sophisticated end of the soul jazz spectrum, ala Horn and Alexandria's albums for ABC/Impulse. Backing is by a wonderfully fluid small group – with the piano of Miguel Delacerna, bass of Harrison Bankhead, and drums of Ernie Adams – plus guest work from Ari Brown on tenor, Oliver Lake on alto, and Corey Wilkes on trumpet. The album's a dedication to Alexander's mother – and the strong guidance she gave her growing up on the west side of Chicago – and tunes include "Soul Serenade", "As Long As You're Living", "Guess Who I Saw Today", "Nature Boy", "Lonesome Lover", "Letter From Home",a nd "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise".  ~ Dusty Groove

ANN PEEBLES – PART TIME LOVE

A great litle early album from Ann Peebles – rawer than most of her more familiar stuff, with a gutbuckety soul quality that really keeps things fresh! Willie Mitchell produced and arranged (of course!), and the record's got some sweet backing vocals by Rhodes, Chalmers, & Rhodes – very much in a Sweet Inspirations mode. Tracks include a funky remake of The Isleys' "It's Your Thing", plus "Solid Foundation", "Crazy About You Baby", "Give Me Some Credit", and "Generation Gap Between Us".  ~ Dusty Groove

Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga To Perform Together Live At The Hollywood Bowl And Radio City Music Hall

Following the immediate sell-out of their recently announced special evening at The Wiltern on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. Live Nation is pleased to announce that TWO additional "once in a lifetime" concerts have been confirmed with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. In celebration of their new collaborative jazz album Cheek To Cheek, the pair of icons will join forces for two incredible evenings Saturday, May 30 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Friday, June 19 at Radio City Music Hall, New York. Tickets for both performances will go on sale starting Monday, Nov. 3. Both artists will be accompanied by a full orchestra along with each artist's jazz ensembles who will also serve as special guests for the evening.

Cheek to Cheek debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts upon its release on Sept. 23.  Now at 88, Bennett remains the oldest artist in music industry history to have an album on the #1 spot on the Billboard charts. Cheek To Cheek marks Lady Gaga's third consecutive #1 album release in just over three years.

Cheek To Cheek features classic jazz standards sung by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett in a combination of vocal duets and solo performances. From the title track to "But Beautiful" to "I Won't Dance," the record showcases the chemistry between the two artists, who span 60 years in age. As Bennett says, "What I really love about being a jazz singer is that jazz artists are very creative, very honest, from phrase to phrase," and Lady Gaga adds, "We wanted to make something that sounded perfect because of the quality of the emotion…the honesty." Cheek To Cheek also features the Lady Gaga solo "Lush Life," accompanied by Tony Bennett's solo of  "Sophisticated Lady." The two songs complement each other, as Lady Gaga explains, "I loved making 'Lush Life,' Tony mentored me emotionally through the process," and Tony Bennett adds, "I sang 'Sophisticated Lady' to answer her on 'Lush Life,' and because Duke Ellington wrote it, who collaborated with Billy Strayhorn, the writer of 'Lush Life.'" Recorded in New York City, Cheek To Cheek took over a year to complete and features jazz musicians associated with both artists including members of Bennett's quartet: Mike Renzi, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones and Marshall Wood as well as pianist Tom Ranier. Jazz trumpeter Brian Newman, a long-time friend and colleague of Lady Gaga appears on the album as well with his NYC-based jazz quintet. Jazz soloists on selected tracks include tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, trumpeter George Rabbai and flutist Paul Horn, who passed away in July.

"We are thrilled to present this very special show. Individually they are incredible talents, together it is something not to be missed," said Arthur Fogel, president of global touring and chairman of global music, Live Nation.

TONY BENNETT AND LADY GAGA TOGETHER LIVE CONCERT DATES

- Dec. 31, 2014 / Las Vegas, NV /  The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan - Sold Out!

- Feb. 08, 2015 / Los Angeles, CA / The Wiltern - Sold Out!

- May 30, 2015 / Los Angeles, CA / Hollywood Bowl           

- June 08, 2015 / London, UK / Royal Albert Hall

- June 19, 2015 / New York, NY / Radio City Music Hall

Urban-Jazz Trumpeteer Joey Sommerville Releases "Overnight Sensation"

It’s smooth sailing in paradise this week for urban-jazz trumpeter Joey Sommerville as one of the headliners aboard the star-studded Capital Jazz Cruise, but he will hit the ground running next week once the Caribbean voyage ends. Next Tuesday (Oct. 28), Sommerville will release his fifth album, “Overnight Sensation,” and two days later (Oct. 30) he will play an album launch concert in his adopted home of Atlanta at The Suite Food Lounge. In the meantime, the disc’s title track has been priming the pump in recent weeks as one of the most added radio singles. 

“Overnight Sensation” is a snapshot of the artist and the man behind the music with nine new songs that he wrote or co-wrote inspired by his real life experiences over the past 20+ years. Sommerville also produced the set with seminal fusion keyboardist Jeff Lorber sharing the producer’s chair on a pair of tracks. The session incorporating R&B, funk, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz, go-go and blues includes spotlight solos from hall of fame guitarist Earl Klugh, edgy trombonist Jeff Bradshaw, emerging saxophonist Elan Trotman and journeyman guitar player Eric Essex. The offering is personal for Sommerville and he seizes the moment with expressive and lyrically astute trumpet and flugelhorn work while adding keyboards and acoustic piano, programming drums and synth bass, and singing lead and background vocals.     

  

An energetic muted trumpet lead heralds Sommerville’s arrival on the album opener “Overnight Sensation” driven by a snappy piano and synth percussion rhythm. Klugh deftly spins a sensual web of acoustic guitar around Sommerville’s impassioned flugelhorn foreplay on “Desire.” Sommerville and Bradshaw unleash an imaginative rock-laced assault on Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” that swelters and swings. A “life of the party” Sommerville voices “Red Cups” utilizing a rump shaking go-go beat. Written on the occasion of his 17th wedding anniversary, Sommerville strips away the bravura revealing a husband still deeply in love with his wife without any regrets (“I don’t need a rewind”) despite enduring drama, struggles and trials while raising a family together. Voice quivering with emotion, he sings the vulnerable paean honoring their love, partnership, marriage and friendship. Lorber’s slick touch is all over the funky groove on “The Next Big Thing” and he even chimes in with an animated synth on the pre-chorus adding a bit of color and quirk. Sommerville’s declarative trumpet feeds the frenzy of jazz-funk with Trotman getting in on the action by dishing a cool sax solo. The bluesy and somber “Rebecca Of Birmingham” pays homage to Sommerville’s late grandmother giving Essex a chance to reflect with a searing electric guitar eulogy. “Karma” is a straight-ahead jazz meditation that ethereally floats trumpet and piano melodies on a shuffling beat. Harmonically rich “Forever” plays for keeps in a classic R&B setting. Back in full festive mode, Sommerville closes the collection with an invigorating jaunt along the anthem-like “The Passport Life.” 

A popular, good-time performer on the concert and festival circuit, Sommerville has been featured on Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning recordings. He’s hoping that the quality of the songs, musicianship and production on “Overnight Sensation” will elevate his solo recording career to similar acclaim and accomplishment.

www.joeysommerville.com

Blue Note 75 Special Releases: Uncompromising Expression; Astell & Kern Box Set; Thelonious Monk 'Round Midnight Complete Blue Note Singles

BLUE NOTE: UNCOMPROMISING EXPRESSION BOOK AND BOX SET

November 4 will see the release of Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression, a label-spanning 5-CD box set that is a companion piece to a new hardcover book of the same title authored by Richard Havers. Theset opens with the label's very first artist, pianist Meade "Lux" Lewis, and closes 75 years later with the progressive sounds of bassist Derrick Hodge.  A sweeping overview of one of the world's most diverse and celebrated Jazz catalogs, the collection also features Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Norah Jones, Thelonious Monk, Cassandra Wilson, and many more. Curated by Havers, each of the discs covers a specific era of the label's evolution from boogie to bop, soul jazz to 21st Century trailblazers including Robert Glasper and Gregory Porter.

THELONIOUS MONK - 'ROUND MINDNIGHT: THE COMPLETE BLUE NOTE SINGLES (1947-1959)

On November 4 we will release the 2-CD set 'Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Singles comprising Thelonious Monk's first recordings as a leader between 1947-1952, which include the first version of his classic composition "'Round Midnight." The Blue Note Records 75th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue Series also continues with four new titles released on October 28: Horace Silver Horace Silver And The Jazz Messengers, Thelonious Monk Genius of Modern Music, Volume 1, Hank Mobley No Room For Squares, and Dianne Reeves I Remember. Additionally, Blue Note Authorized Dealers will carry an exclusive 10" reissue of Miles Davis Young Man with a Horn, the first of three 10" albums the great trumpeter recorded for Blue Note in the early 1950s.

ASTELL & KERN BLUE NOTE 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET LIMITED EDITION

Blue Note has partnered with the high-end audiophile brand Astell&Kern on a limited edition box set.  The Astell & Kern Blue Note 75th Anniversary Box Set: Limited Edition features 75 essential Blue Note albums newly remastered from analog to the hi-res MQS digital format (24bit/192kHz). The lavish collection includes a Blue Note branded Astell&Kern AK240 high-resolution portable audio player pre-loaded with all 75 titles, a special book filled with original album art, as well as Richard Havers' new book, Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression.

~ Blue Note Records

OUR POINT OF VIEW TO PERFORM IN PARIS, LONDON & NYC

Our Point of View is a supergroup that celebrates the vitality of Blue Note by looking ahead and assembling the leading young artists on the Blue Note roster who continue to move Jazz forward. The creative young voices of Jazz have been the lifeblood of Blue Note Records throughout its storied 75 year history, from Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock to Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson, all of whom made their debut albums for the legendary label. Our Point of View is a supergroup that celebrates the vitality of Blue Note in honor of our 75th anniversary by looking ahead and assembling the leading young artists on the Blue Note roster who steadfastly continue to move Jazz forward. Featuring keyboardist Robert Glasper, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Kendrick Scott, the band’s repertoire draws from each of these artists’ own remarkable catalogs as well new spins on Blue Note classics. Our Point of View will perform select shows this Fall including Monterey Jazz Festival  (9/20), Blue Note Xperia Lounge Festival in Paris (11/20), and London Jazz Festival (11/22) and (Le) Poisson Rouge in NYC (12/12) presented by WBGO. Monterey Jazz Festival will also present an exhibition and panel discussion on the legacy of Blue Note moderated by Ashley Kahn and featuring Bobby Hutcherson, Robert Glasper and Don Was. The Blue Note Xperia Lounge Festival in Paris runs from November 18-23 with additional performances by Gregory Porter, Jason Moran, and others.

Spirit of Malombo: Malombo Jazz Makers, Jabula Jazz & Jazz Afrika 1966-1984

South Africa's Julian Bahula created a unique synthesis of Western jazz and the indigenous rhythms of his home country, spreading his culture to an international audience as well as creating awareness for political issues affecting his homeland. Strut's new Spirit of Malombo collection sheds light on this visionary musician and tireless advocate for uality in South Africa.

In the early '60s, Bahula introduced indigenous malombo drums alongside guitar and flute to create a new, politically-charged fusion. After a spell with guitarist Philip Tabane, Bahula settled with musicians Lucky Ranku and Abie Cindi as Malombo Jazz Makers and the trio placed themselves bravely on the frontline of anti-apartheid activism including a domestic tour with Steve Biko as part of the 'Into The Heart of Negritude' theatre production.

As the pressure of apartheid intensified, Bahula moved to political exile in the UK, where he formed new Afro super-group, Jabula. The band worked closely and selflessly with the exiled ANC, the Anti-Apartheid Movement and other anti-apartheid organisations, using their music to help spread political awareness across Europe.

In '83, Bahula and his wife Liza set up the first concert in the UK to raise awareness for Nelson Mandela, 'African Sounds', an event that helped kick-start the international pressure leading to Mandela's release in 1990. The Specials' Jerry Dammers was there and was inspired by Jabula's track 'Mandela' to write the huge hit for The Special A.K.A., 'Free Nelson Mandela'.

Spirit Of Malombo documents Bahula's incredible musical journey from 1966 to 1984 for the first time. Package includes rare photos, poster artwork and memorabilia with extensive sleeve notes from author Francis Gooding. The cover features a still from leading South African photographer, Ernest Cole.

~ Strut

Dianne Reeves to Perform National Anthem at NFL Game at London's Wembley Stadium

Currently on tour in Europe in support of her new album Beautiful Life, Dianne Reeves will be performing the national anthem at the Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons football game at London's Wembley Stadium this Sunday, October 26th at 9:30am EDT / 6:30am PDT -- despite the Atlanta Falcon's front office having post a graphic to their fans that the Falcons would be playing this game in Spain. As part of the "NFL International Series," this will be the 10th NFL game to occur at the world-renowned Wembley -- the second largest stadium in Europe. The game is to be broadcast nationally on FOX as well as throughout the UK. Born in Detroit and raised in Denver, Reeves said with a wink, "Of course I am a Lions' fan, but I'm glad they're not playing against the Broncos!" 

Shifting to a somewhat less raucous setting, Reeves will be the featured soloist with the New York Philharmonic at their annual New Year's Eve Concert at Lincoln Center -- to be broadcast live on PBS.

Following a five year recording hiatus, Reeves dug in deep and what she found and what resulted was Beautiful Life -- her Concord Records debut. The album showcases Reeves' sublime gifts by weaving a framework of 21st Century Jazz with R&B, Latin and Pop elements. Produced by Terri Lyne Carrington and featuring George Duke, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, Sean Jones, Raul Midón, Gregory Porter and Esperanza Spalding, Beautiful Life is a seamless blend of originals and inspired interpretations of classics including Bob Marley's "Waiting In Vain," Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" and the jazz classic "Stormy Weather."

DianneReeves.com

NEW RELEASES: LINDA CLIFFORD – IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW; THE MAR-KEYS – THE GREAT MEMPHIS SOUND; BARBARA LYNN – HERE IS BARBARA LYNN

LINDA CLIFFORD – IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW (WITH BONUS TRACKS)

The standout classic from Curtom disco diva Linda Clifford – and an album that showed that Chicago could rival Philly in the clubby groove department! Linda has a proud presence that really matches that of her better-known sisters in the City Of Brotherly Love – and she's singing here with a strong sense of personality that really sets the album apart from other female disco albums of the era. One of the greatest examples of this is her stunning "Runaway Love" – which has a bad-rapping, almost Marlena Shaw-esque monologue in the middle – but other tracks are equally nice, and include "Gypsy Lady", "If My Friends Could See Me Now", "Broadway Gypsy Lady", "You Are You Are", and "I Feel Like Falling In Love Again". Arrangements are by Gil Askey – who also produced the set in collaboration with Curtis Mayfield!  ~ Dusty Groove

THE MAR-KEYS – THE GREAT MEMPHIS SOUND

A great Memphis sound from the second greatest instrumental group on Stax next to Booker T & The MGs – heard here on a massive record that really pushes The Mar-Keys to the next level! On previous records, the combo always had a sound that was a bit brighter than Booker and his group – still soul, but not nearly as sharp. Yet this time around, they really dig deep – and have a way of smoking out plenty of the best soulful elements associated with the Stax Records sound – that great way with a heavy-stepping groove, instrumentation that's tight yet never slick, and solo moments that burst out and really give the tunes a hell of a lot of personality! The rhythm jumps out of the grooves on numbers like "Honey Pot", "Grab This Thing" and "Philly Dog", and the album winds up with a James Brown medley that's pretty darn swingin too.  ~ Dusty Groove

BARBARA LYNN – HERE IS BARBARA LYNN

A fantastic album of soul from Barbara Lynn – an oft-overlooked gem in the crown of Atlantic during their glory soul days in the 60s, and a singer with a raw soulful style that really deserved greater exploration! The album's filled with wonderful original tunes, written either by Barbara or arrangers Cliff Thomas, Ed Thomas, and Bob McRee. The set was recorded at the Grits & Gravy Studios in Clinton, Mississippi by Huey P Meux – which gives it a slightly different style than much of the Atlantic output at the time. Titles include "You're Losing Me", "Sufferin City", "You'll Lose A Good Thing", "Take Your Love & Run", "I'll Suffer", "Maybe We Can Slip Away", "Multiplying Pain", and "Mix It Up Baby". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: MATT ULERY – IN THE IVORY; RYAN KEBERLE & CATHARSIS – INTO THE ZONE; ROB MAZUREK & BLACK CUBE SP – RETURN THE TIDES: ASCENSION SUITE & HOLY GHOST

MATT ULERY – IN THE IVORY

Matt Ulery just keeps on getting better and better – to a point where his music may well be a genre unto itself! This album's got Matt working with a larger ensemble – a mix of woodwind and string players, augmented with some key vocal passages as well – a double-length record that's mostly instrumental, but which has these beautiful songs step forth at just the right points – with lyrics delivered by Sarah Marie Young and Grazyna Auguscik. Matt leads the group, plays bass, and provides some slight backing vocals – and the mix of cello, violin, piano, clarinet, and flute is sublime throughout. Titles include "Gave Proof", "The Farm", "Innocent", "Black Squirrel", "Resilin", "When Everything Is Just The Same", "Viscous", "Seeker", "Sweet Bitter", and "Mary Shelly".  ~ Dusty Groove

RYAN KEBERLE & CATHARSIS – INTO THE ZONE

Ryan Keberle's a trombonist, but one with a very light touch on his instrument – so much so that he blends wonderfully with the trumpet of Mike Rodriguez in this quartet – dancing along in a flurry of rhythms and colors with a bright, joyous sort of vibe! Like other albums on the Greenleaf label of late, this set's moving way past straight jazz – although there's still a very strong jazz center at the core. Bits of voice from Camila Meza come in and further warm the colors in the music – and the wonderful interplay between the bass or Jorge Roeder and drums of Eric Doob go way past the usual too. Titles include "Inevitable Blues", "Without A Thought", "Simple Sermon", "Cheryl", "Zone", and "Ballad Of The Sad Young Men".  ~ Dusty Groove

ROB MAZUREK & BLACK CUBE SP – RETURN THE TIDES: ASCENSION SUITE & HOLY GHOST

Rob Mazurek just keeps stunning us more and more over the years – growing way way past his earlier straight jazz roots, and even his key work in the Chicago underground – to a level where he's easily encompassing many different styles and genres at once – then finding a way to make the sounds all his own! This project has Rob furthering the electronic sounds of recent records, while still holding onto a core element of jazz with his work on cornet – an instrument he uses here with wonderfully rich acoustic tones, and hardly at any sort of easy Miles electric modes, or anything like that. The players here are all part of his scene in Sao Paulo – including Mauricio Takara on drums, Guilherme Granado on keyboards, Thomas Rohrer on electronics and soprano sax, and Rogerio Martins on percussion – but all players also take on other instruments, add in bits of voice, and work with the production and processing to really create some amazing sonic energy throughout. All tracks are long – and titles include "Let The Rain Fall Upwards", "Return The Tides", "Oh Mother", and "Reverse The Lightning".  ~ Dusty Groove

Emmy and Tony Award-Winning Singer-Actress Kristin Chenoweth to Release Her First Live CD Coming Home on November 17; PBS Concert Special Airs on November 28

"The whole experience was very emotional," Kristin Chenoweth says of the historic performance that's captured on Coming Home, her first Concord Records release and her first-ever live album.

Scheduled for release on November 17, 2014, the aptly titled 15-song album captures the versatile singer-actress singing for a rapturously enthusiastic crowd at the Kristin Chenoweth Theatre in the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center in her hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

"Any time you come home, you have a flood of emotions, and singing in front of people I've known most of my life made me even more nervous," Chenoweth observes. "But I couldn't imagine doing it anyplace else. I just wanted them to be proud of me."

The career-spanning CD is the audio counterpart to Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home, the artist's first television concert special, which will premiere on PBS stations nationwide on November 28 and be released on CD and DVD.

The personally-charged performance finds Chenoweth accompanied by an expert 11-piece band incorporating strings, horns and woodwinds, along with a trio of backup vocalists and the Broken Arrow High School Choir. The set list spans her entire stage and screen career and encompasses the breadth of her musical interests, incorporating Broadway classics, timeless pop standards and contemporary material, covering a remarkable amount of stylistic ground while providing a compelling showcase for Chenoweth's abundant talent and charisma.

Coming Home's many highlights include powerful new renditions of "Popular" and "For Good," both of which Chenoweth introduced in her starring role in the Broadway smash Wicked. She also brings fresh energy and emotion to such venerable standards as Lerner and Loewe's "I Could Have Danced All Night," Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg's "Over the Rainbow," Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's "All the Things You Are," and the more recent show tunes "Bring Him Home," from Les Misérables; and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," from Phantom of the Opera.

Elsewhere on Coming Home, Chenoweth demonstrates her longstanding affinity for the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb with stirring readings of the duo's enduring compositions "Maybe This Time" and "My Coloring Book." Her interpretive skills also illuminate Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow," the contemporary spiritual "Upon This Rock," and Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's disco-era smash "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)." Chenoweth also revisits the poignant "I Was Here" and "Fathers and Daughters," which she originally recorded in 2011, and taps into the timeless resonance of Stephen Foster's 19th-century ballad "Hard Times Come Again No More."

"I can't just sing a song for no reason, so I only choose songs that mean something to me," Chenoweth states. "For example, I chose 'My Coloring Book' because when I was in college, my voice teacher didn't think I understood the song, and told me to pull it out one day when I did. So I'm singing it all these years later, and she was there to witness it. I also like to reintroduce songs that people may not be familiar with, like Stephen Foster's 'Hard Times,' which is from 1853 but sounds like it could have been written today. And I love to do songs that people wouldn't expect from me, like 'Enough Is Enough.'

"I'm known for musical theatre," she continues, "but I grew up with country and gospel, and I've always loved standards and operas. So I figured that this live album would be a good chance to show people the different things that influenced me and the different things I can do."

Since achieving Broadway stardom with her roles in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth has effortlessly transitioned between her parallel careers in stage, television, film and music. After winning a Tony Award for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and earning a Tony nomination for Wicked, she won an Emmy Award for her role in the ABC TV series Pushing Daisies, and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and a People's Choice Award for her work in the Fox series Glee. In addition to numerous other TV, film and stage projects, she was a series regular on NBC's The West Wing, was a guest judge on American Idol and has recorded four studio albums.

Chenoweth plans to return to Broadway in early 2015 with a starring role in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 20-week limited engagement of On the Twentieth Century. She recently completed roles in the films The Boy Next Door, alongside Jennifer Lopez, Opposite Sex, the indie teen drama Hard Sell and the Disney Channel's live-action original movie Descendents, in which she plays the classic villain Maleficent.

Her celebrated acting career aside, Chenoweth says that she finds it liberating to sing in a concert situation, engaging directly with the songs and her audience.

"When I'm in a concert setting, I don't have to play a role," she notes. "It's more of a challenge to sing as yourself, because you can go to a very raw place that you don't always want to share, or maybe you don't mean for it to come out. But it's all part of being an artist and letting people see who you are. And hopefully when people listen to this CD, they'll have a better idea, or maybe even a different idea, of who Kristin Chenoweth is."

In addition to Coming Home's CD release, Concord will also issue the Coming Home concert on DVD in February 2015, and PBS will distribute a CD and DVD edition of the show as a fundraising premium.

Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home will make its TV premiere on November 28 (check local listings) as part of the 2014 PBS Arts Fall Festival. Chenoweth will also host the series, which underscores PBS' commitment to America's best performing arts, and gives millions of viewers a front-row seat and a backstage pass to great cultural programs. Broadcasting every Friday night through December 5, with a range of related online content, the Fall Festival features artists and performances from across the country, comprising full-length performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, and artist and performer profiles. For more, visit pressroom.pbs.org.

Track Listing:

1. I Could Have Danced All Night (3:10)

2. Maybe This Time (3:16)

3. My Coloring Book (4:20)

4. Bring Him Home (4:20)

5. Fathers and Daughters (3:41)

6. Hard Times Come Again No More (5:06)

7. Upon This Rock (5:08)

8. Over the Rainbow (3:18)

9. Popular (3:41)

10. For Good (5:13)

11. Little Sparrow (6:23)

12. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (3:16)

13. All the Things You Are (2:19)

14. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (5:23)

15. I Was Here (5:24)

The Thrasher Dream Trio--Gerry Gibbs, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron--Completes Massive Year with Its Second Chart-Topping Recording

There was not one, but two tremendous—and tremendously successful—albums in a single year by the same band. The Thrasher Dream Trio, featuring bandleader/drummer Gerry Gibbs and his very special guests Kenny Barron and Ron Carter, had one heckuva 12-month period. Consider the facts:

First, Thrasher Dream Trio spent four months on JazzWeek chart to kick off 2014 and topped the chart in the big #1 spot for a full six weeks. The band's second recording, We're Back, an innovative survey of jazz-suffused R&B covers, has quickly gone from "most added" to #1 in just a few weeks and remains there as we speak, exploding on jazz radio and turning DJs into converts daily.

Some high profile projects fail to live up to expectations. Not so here. Both discs, spun from the magic fingers of Gibbs, Barron, and Carter, are exhilarating excursions of rich jazz adventure. The first disc is, by turns, comfortable and exploratory, turning up lots of terrific moments. For example, Herbie Hancock's "The Eye of the Hurricane," accelerates out of the gate with virtuosic intensity and never lets up; and Monk's "Epistrophy," which kicks off the album, is tasteful, simply perfect, up-tempo playing.

On We're Back, the inventive jazz performances of Gibbs, Carter, and Barron, filter beautifully through a prism of material by Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye. The recording, which also features red-hot, world-class guests Warren Wolf (vibraphone), Larry Goldings (B-3), and Steve Wilson (woodwinds)—takes familiar tunes and morphs them into sizzling jazz standards.

Both recordings are remarkable modern-day classics starring three musicians at their peak. Joe Lovano affirms, "Gerry Gibbs has put together another fun and swinging session with a new spin on some of the best loved R&B classics of the day… This recording will capture you from start to finish! Enjoy!"

BUIKA To Release Highly Anticipated Book Debut "A LOS QUE AMARON A MUJERES DIFÍCILES Y ACABRON POR SOLTARSE" (To Those Who Loved Difficult Women and Ended Up Letting Go)

World-renowned Spanish singer Buika, named one of NPR's "50 Great Voices," will release her highly anticipated book debut on November 17 in the U.S. A limited-edition, self-released project titled "A los que amaron a mujeres difíciles y acabaron por soltarse" (To Those Who Loved Difficult Women and Ended Up Letting Go), the book contains a selection of original poems and stories - all in Spanish - as well as photographs, allowing fans to discover rare personal and intimate facets of this celebrated artist.

Buika will launch the book in the U.S. at the Miami Book Fair International, with a book reading on Thursday, November 20. The book will be available for purchase on Amazon.com, at Books & Books, ConchaBuikaMusic.com, and New York's Blue Note Jazz Club Gift Shop, among other select outlets. The project was released in Spain earlier this month to critical acclaim and she recently appeared at the Puerto Rico Word Festival in Old San Juan. She is currently on a worldwide concert tour.

In 2008, Buika shared her first poems and photographs with the world, to accompany her multi-national bestselling album, "Nina de Fuego" (Girl of Fire). However the release was discontinued due to its "controversial content." In 2014, with "A los que amaron a mujeres difíciles y acabaron por soltarse", the artist goes even further into exploring her deepest desires and fears, bringing the reader closer to her fans than ever been before. Through 18 poems, four short stories, 12 songs (lyrics), and a selection of intimate photos (taken by Buika herself), as well as a foreword by legendary songwriter/producer Desmond Child, the book showcases Buika's unfiltered life: ranging from love to disappointments, delivered in the singer's inimitable fashion.

"I just do what my heart is demanding," reflects Buika. "Sometimes in the music business people do what they think other people will like, but that's a limitation. I just want to be true. I want what Charlie Parker's got - I want eternity." 

The snapshots and self-portraits reveal a mysterious side of the multi-faceted artist, exemplifying how prolific she is in both the written word and photography. Her photographs do not just capture the world as it is, but rather as seen through the unique perspective of Buika and her alter ego, Kitailo. The scenes created transport readers to a universe where "Queen Kitailo" directs the activities of her characters. Buika introduces the characters in her book with compassion and tenderness intertwined with anger and rage. 

"After reading the content of the book a few times and looking at its photos, I have realized this is the first real in-depth interview I have ever given," states the singer. "Through it, I have been able to revisit my darkest rooms, thanks in part to the empowerment and safety I feel in the 'we', which I believe is the greatest of our shields."

Since her introduction to the American marketplace in 2007 with the album Mi Niña Lola (My Little Girl Lola), Buika (Concha Buika) - based in Miami Beach, Florida since 2011 - has experienced a meteoric rise, earning lavish praise from The New York Times, The Miami Herald, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as NPR, which quickly included her in their "50 Great Voices" radio gallery. Her next release, Niña de Fuego (Fire Child), paved the way for relocation to Miami in 2011. After achieving success in Europe, her works were compiled on the 2-CD set, En Mi Piel (In My Skin), to coincide with the Pedro Almodovar movie of the same name in which she appeared. Buika received a "Best Latin Jazz Album" GRAMMY® nomination in 2014 for her latest album La Noche Mas Larga. She has won several Latin GRAMMY® Awards as well. Rare is the artist to garner comparisons to Nina Simone, Chavela Vargas, and Cesaria Evora, but Buika has been compared to all of them. The New York Post has said, "A singer like Buika comes only once in a generation."

BUIKA 2014-2015 World Tour

2014:

October 23-24 / Fosnavåg konserthus / Fosnavag, Norway

October 25 / Philharmonie Essen, Alfried Krupp Saal  / Essen, Germany

October 27 / Gallusova dvorana / ljubljana, Slovenia

October 29 / Oslo World Music Festival, Rockefeller / Oslo, Norway

November 4 / TivoliVredenburg / Utrecht, Netherlands

November 5 /  Bozar, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Salle Henry Le Bœuf / Brussels, Belgium

November 7 / Musikhuset Aarhus / Aarhus, Denmark

November 9 / Misty Fest, Centro Cultural de Belém, Grande Auditório / Lisboa, Portugal

November 10 / Misty Fest, Casa Da Música, Sala Suggia / Porto, Portugal

November 14 / Cinemafest 2014, (Boletos gratis) / San Luis Potosí, México

November 20 / Miami Book Fair International / Miami, FL, USA

2015:

February 28 / Nourse Theater / San Francisco, CA, USA

March 8 / The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts / Washington, D.C., USA

March 12 / Frankfurter Hof / Mainz, Germany

March 14 / Jazzfestival Basel, Stadtcasino Basel, Musiksaal / Basel, Switzerland

March 20 / Kongresshaus Zürich / Zurich, Switzerland

March 21 / Théâtre du Léman / Geneva, Switzerland

March 23 / Philharmonie, Grand Auditorium / Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

March 25 / Die Glocke - Das Bremer Konzerthaus, Großer Saal / Bremen, Germany

March 27 / Festspielhaus, Main hall / St. Pölten, Germany

March 28 / Kölner Philharmonie / Cologne, Germany

March 30 / Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal / Hamburg, Germany

NEW RELEASES: CHRIS WALDEN BIG BAND - FULL-ON!; MICHAEL MUSILLAMI TRIO - PRIDE; GARY MCFARLAND - THIS IS GARY MCFARLAND:

CHRIS WALDEN BIG BAND - FULL-ON!

Five-time Grammy-nominated composer and arranger Chris Walden returns with another vibrant and swinging big band recording. Along with his group of topflight Los Angeles session players, Full-On features vocalists Courtney Fortune, Siedah Garrett, Dorian Holley, Tierney Sutton, Melanie Taylor, Carol Welsman, and special guest soloist, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. German-born & L.A.- based since 1999, Walden has scored more than 40 feature & TV films, and has written more than a thousand orchestral and big band arrangements for artists including Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, and orchestras such as Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops. He has worked closely with producers David Foster, Tommy LiPuma, and Phil Ramone. ~ Amazon

MICHAEL MUSILLAMI TRIO - PRIDE

Playscape Recordings is proud to release;Pride, a new two-disc set from veteran guitarist/composer Michael Musillami with his flagship trio, featuring bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller. Pride is the Michael Musillami Trio's seventh release in the group's 11-year history. On Disc I, Musillami's core trio, which has worked domestically and abroad since 2003, presents new material such as the Monkish Uncle Fino's Garden and blues inflected Courageous David B., along with trio staples Bald Yet Hip and Old Tea. This set captures the trio in a recent 2013 studio session, joined by pianist Kris Davis and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene. - I am especially proud of the addition of Kris and Jimmy to our 'thing', writes Musillami in his liner notes. - They both speak naturally in this environment with grit, intelligence and passion. The patience displayed in this music is a comment on the maturity and life experience from all musicians involved. The session concludes with four movements from a recent Musillami commissioned work based on the children's book, Where The Wild Things Are. Disc II documents the first live CD released by the Michael Musillami Trio. This set, recorded at New Haven's Firehouse 12 with violinist Mark Feldman, was recorded while on tour in support of the trio's 2007 Playscape release The Treatment, which was honored in The Penguin Jazz Guide's 1000 Best Jazz Recordings. ~ Amazon

GARY MCFARLAND - THIS IS GARY MCFARLAND: THE JAZZ LEGEND WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN A POP STAR

Combo CD + DVD package! The DVD contains a feature-length (72 minute) documentary about legendary 1960's jazz arranger & composer Gary McFarland, who died much to young at the age of 38, under mysterious circumstances. It features interviews with Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Steve Kuhn, Airto Moreira, and many more, as well as rare music performances by Bill Evans, Stan Getz, and the Gary McFarland Orchestra. It also includes a photo gallery featuring the photography of Chuck Stewart, as well as an unedited video clip of Stan Getz performing with the Gary McFarland Orchestra.

Besides the DVD, this package also contains a previously unreleased audio CD of the Gary McFarland Quintet recorded live in 1965, featuring Gabor Szabo. ~ Amazon