JAZZ PIANIST FRED HERSCH NOMINATED FOR TWO 2015 GRAMMY AWARDS FOR RECENT PALMETTO CD FLOATING

Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch has received two 2015 Grammy nominations for the Fred Hersch Trio's recent Palmetto Records CD Floating. Hersch has been nominated in the categories of Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo (You & The Night Music, Fred Hersch, soloist). The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 8, 2015.

Hersch earned six previous Grammy nominations between 1993 and 2013, in the categories of Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Best Instrumental Composition and Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

Floating featuring Hersch with his trio of bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson, has earned wide critical acclaim.

"Mr. Hersch has been making acclaimed trio releases since his debut album as a leader, 30 years ago. He hasn't made one better than this...an extravagantly beautiful new album.  The diversity of mood and color in these songs - and they do pass muster as songs, with strong melody and sensible design - is a boon to Mr. Hersch and his partners, who keep finding new routes of expression within the music. Mr. Hersch, with his fluent exposition, his rapturous clarity and his elegant assurance of touch, leads the way." - Nate Chinen, The New York Times

"As gifted younger pianists crowd the scene, Hersch, who is in his late fifties, is easing into the role of grand master with the elegance of an experienced player at the top of his game." ¬- Steve Futterman, The New Yorker

"Fred Hersch is a jazz pianist. But to qualify him as a "jazz pianist" is to reduce his large and profound skill set. More than simply a musician, Hersch uses his life as material for his music, thus giving his albums and concerts the feeling of some great project.  Hersch plays with a beautiful touch and a rare broad-ranging gift for melody, but also a unique forward motion. Floating is a gift." - Ken Micallef, NYC Jazz Record

"The trio led by pianist Fred Hersch is one of the most malleable, graceful, and exciting working bands in jazz." -  Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

Praised in a New York Times Sunday Magazine feature as "singular among the trailblazers of their art, a largely unsung innovator of this borderless, individualistic jazz-a jazz for the 21st century," Fred Hersch balances his internationally recognized instrumental and composing skills with significant achievements as a bandleader, collaborator and theatrical conceptualist.

Hersch - who as leader or co-leader has over three dozen albums to his name - has featured himself as either a solo performer or at the helm of varied small ensembles, which in addition to his celebrated trio, include a quintet, and his unconventional Pocket Orchestra. Hersch has also collaborated with an astonishing range of instrumentalists and vocalists throughout worlds of jazz (Joe Henderson, Charlie Haden, Art Farmer, Stan Getz and Bill Frisell); classical (Renée Fleming, Dawn Upshaw, Christopher O'Riley); and Broadway (Audra McDonald). Long admired for his sympathetic work with singers, Hersch has joined with such notable jazz vocalists as Nancy King, Norma Winstone and Kurt Elling.

In 2006 Hersch became the first artist in the 75-year history of New York's legendary Village Vanguard to play a weeklong engagement as a solo pianist. His 2011 release, Alone at the Vanguard received Grammy Award nominations for Best Jazz Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo. In 2014, Hersch garnered his sixth Grammy nomination for his solo on "Duet" from Free Flying, a duo album with guitarist Julian Lage that received a rare 5-star rating from DownBeat.

In 2003 Hersch created Leaves of Grass (Palmetto Records), a large-scale setting of Walt Whitman's poetry for voices (Kurt Elling and Kate McGarry) and an instrumental octet; the work was presented to a sold-out Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2005. His acclaimed 2010 theatrical project, My Coma Dreams (based on imaginings Hersch had during a two-month coma), is a full-evening work for an actor/singer, 11 instrumentalists and animation/multimedia; it has just been released on DVD on Palmetto in honor of World AIDS Day, December 1st. A disc of his through-composed works, Fred Hersch: Concert Music 2001-2006, has been released by Naxos Records. He was the recipient of a 2003 Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in Music Composition among his many awards and honors.

For two decades Hersch has been a passionate spokesman and fund-raiser for AIDS services and education agencies. He has produced and performed on benefit recordings and in numerous concerts for charities, including Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He has also been a keynote speaker and performer at international medical conferences in the U.S. and Europe.

He is currently a member of the Jazz Studies faculty of New England Conservatory and of Rutgers University. Hersch's influence has been widely felt on a new generation of jazz pianists, from former students Brad Mehldau and Ethan Iverson to his colleague Jason Moran, who has said, "Fred at the piano is like LeBron James on the basketball court. He's perfection."

www.fredhersch.com

www.facebook.com/fredherschmusic

www.mycomadreams.com

VANCE THOMPSON'S FIVE PLUS SIX DEBUTS SUCH SWEET THUNDER, REIMAGINING ELLINGTONIA, MONK, AND DOLLY PARTON

Taking a fresh look at iconic jazz compositions as well as unexpected country and folk material, Five Plus Six imbues its debut recording, Such Sweet Thunder, with panache and surprise. Led by Knoxville Jazz Orchestra founder and director Vance Thompson, the new eleven-piece band fuses Thompson's core quintet with six additional horns, expanding the sonic potential of the original outfit while also providing some of Knoxville's deserving young musicians a chance to perform in an exceptional large ensemble. By taking on classic work by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Thelonious Monk, and then blending such left field gems as Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow" and the Appalachian folk tune, "He's Gone Away" into the mix, Thompson is able to display his masterful gift for imaginative arranging and deft ability to maneuver a crack ensemble.

The heart of Five Plus Six is a practiced quintet that has been working steadily for more than a year under the name The Marble City Five featuring Thompson on trumpet with tenor saxophonist Greg Tardy, pianist Keith Brown (youngest son of pianist Donald Brown), bassist Taylor Coker and drummer Nolan Nevels. As Thompson began thinking about recording the quintet, the idea of expanding the scope of the band's sound suddenly merged with the notion of including some of the city's outstanding younger musicians. The additional horn players perform with a healthy dose of youthful vigor adding excitement as well as sparkling tonal color.

Given that the album's title references Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's honored 1957 suite, Five Plus Six's Such Sweet Thunder trains a deserved spotlight on Ellington and Strayhorn jewels. In the band's hands "Such Sweet Thunder" moves to both an Afro-Cuban and traditional swing beat, while "Prelude to a Kiss" (arranged by pianist Brown) sets the tune's original melody against modern harmonies and a straight-eighth groove. Brown also replaces his piano with Fender Rhodes to add extra spice. Thompson's arrangement of Ellington's "Rockin' in Rhythm" has become one of the quintet's signature numbers. His treatment follows the basic structure of the original, with harmonic substitutions and a new time signature added for variety. The arrangement of Strayhorn's "Isfahan" allows the band to demonstrate its fondness for the blues and features a Thad Jones-esque section for trombone, tenor and bass along with gripping solos by Tardy, Thompson and Brown. Thelonious Monk is honored by way of original arrangements of  "Pannonica," which bursts with double time momentum, and "Ugly Beauty" with its hint of Afro-Cuban flavor accented by muted effects in the brass and a compelling soli section for flugelhorn and baritone saxophone. Keith Brown also contributed an unusual orchestration of Monk's "Four in One" based on an arrangement by his father, the former Jazz Messenger and famed composer/pianist Donald Brown. Keith's chart places Monk's melody over a funky bass and drum groove for delightful effect.

More memorable surprises come with the arresting arrangements of "Little Sparrow," a tune by East Tennessee native Dolly Parton, and the Appalachian folk standard, "He's Gone Away." Thompson first heard "Little Sparrow" on a recording by Bettye LaVette, on which the singer altered the original feel of Parton's performance yet conjured up her own stunningly personal interpretation. "When I looked up Dolly's original version of the song, I found that it had been recorded in Knoxville at a studio that I'd done some work in," Thompson recalls. "I fell in love with the simplicity of her original version of the song, but Bettye LaVette's completely different take on the tune made me realize that it could be taken in a lot of different directions without losing its power. I was inspired to try my hand at my own version of the song, and it has since become one of my favorite things to play. Audiences seem to like it too, whether they know it's a Dolly Parton original or not." Another tune from outside of the jazz repertoire, "He's Gone Away" is a traditional Appalachian folk song that came to Thompson's attention through a beautiful recording by bassist Charlie Haden on his roots music project, Ramblin' Boy. While Thompson's arrangement does expand upon the tune's simple harmonic structure at times, the song's poignant message of love and loss is left undisturbed.

Since founding the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra in August of 1999, Thompson has had plenty of opportunity to hone his big band arranging chops. The KJO (which Jack Bowers of All About Jazz called "a local ensemble with world-class talent") performs frequent concerts, features world -renowned guest artists and has released several acclaimed recordings of which the All Music Guide's  Scott Yanow has written, "Listeners who favor modern big bands will find much to savor during these flawless performances." 

www.fiveplussix.com

Jazz Composer/Arranger, Trombonist, and Vocalist Pete McGuinness Earns Two Grammy Nominations for Strength In Numbers

Acclaimed jazz composer/arranger, trombonist and vocalist Pete McGuinness has earned two 2015 Grammy nominations for his Summit Records CD Strength In Numbers. The nominations are for “Best Arrangement Instrumental or A Cappella” for “Beautiful Dreamer” and “Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals” for “What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life.” The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 8, 2015.

Strength In Numbers is the second release from the Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra and the fourth as a leader for Pete. Featuring a full contingent of top tier NYC players, the CD has earned wide critical acclaim.

Pete McGuinness has appeared on over forty recordings, including three previous releases as a leader: First Flight (Summit) with the Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra which earned 4-stars in DownBeat, Voice Like a Horn (Summit) and Sliding In (Kokopelli). He earned a 2008 Grammy nomination for his arrangement of “Smile” (which appeared on First Flight) and was the first prizewinner of the 2010 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition (judged by the late Dr. Billy Taylor and Barry Harris). A New York resident since 1987, McGuinness studied with Bob Brookmeyer and Manny Albam at the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop and has performed in the big bands of such acclaimed leaders as Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Heath (featured as a vocalist as well) and Maria Schneider, appearing on her Grammy-winning album, Concert In the Garden. Actively involved in music education both throughout the United States and Europe, McGuinness is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz Arranging at William Paterson University.

http://www.petemcguinness.com/

New Releases: The J.B.'s - These Are The J.B.'s; Emma Donovan & The Putbacks - Dawn; The Coolin' System - Refrigerate After Opening

THE J.B.'S - THESE ARE THE J.B.'S

A stunner of a record – the first-ever album by The JBs, never issued back in the day – and lost for years until it recently resurfaced on a test pressing! The set features a leaner, more stripped-down version of the group – one that features Bootsy Collins on bass, and which doesn't rely as much on the horns as it does some very upfront playing by the rhythm section – who really set fire to the extended instrumental solos on the album's very long tracks! Group members include Robert McCullough on tenor, St Clair Pickney on flute and baritone, Bobby Byrd on piano, Catfish Collins on guitar, and James Brown himself on organ – and the mighty Clyde Stubblefield handles drums, as well as Frank Kash Waddy. All tracks are very long – quite different than the shorter single-type cuts on Pass The Peas – and the record features the first recording of "The Grunt", plus the long jams "I'll Ze", "These Are The JBs (parts 1 & 2)", and "When You Feel It Grunt If You Can". (Also comes with a great book – detailing the album and its rescue from obscurity!)  ~ Dusty Groove

EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS - DAWN

Richly soulful vocals and gritty funk backdrops from singer Emma Donovan and the funky Putbacks band – an great little set from the Australian scene! We had a pretty good idea of how strong the Putbacks are, thanks to a stellar couple of singles – but their stylistic breadth comes into full display here, in backing an excellent singer. Emma is an indigenous Australian with a voice that can pull off gritty psych funk jams and more gentle, if still nicely raw soul with equal skill – and as the primary songwriter here, she shows us just how strong she his as both a singer and songwriter. Solid work all around! Includes "Black Woman", "My Goodness", "Dawn", "Mother", "Daddy", "Keep Me In Your Reach", "Come Back To Me", "Voodoo" and "Over Under Away".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE COOLIN' SYSTEM - REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING

No need to refrigerate this great little set – as room temperature's only going to make the whole thing even funkier over time! The Coolin System are hotter than ever here – not only tighter on the instrumental tip than we remember, but also picking up some much deeper influences from the 60s – including a touch of trumpet inspiration from Blue Mitchell, killer keyboards from Cedar Walton, and a blast of Brazilian funk from Som Tres! These guys use all the best elements to rework a small combo funky sound way past the usual – and the all-instrumental set unfurls some sweet lines on Fender Rhodes, Hammond, trumpet, tenor, and flute – on cuts that include "Beyond Mobius", "Homenagem A Mongo", "Blue Juice", "Soul Village", "Funky Mule", "Soul Thing", and "Jungle Juice". (Includes digital copy.)  ~ Dusty Groove

New Releases: On A Cool Day: The Soulful Side Of Cool Jazz; Free Soul Christmas; Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story

ON A COOL DAY: THE SOULFUL SIDE OF COOL JAZZ (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Not just cool jazz – despite what the title might say – and instead a whole host of soulful jazzy styles from the late 50s and early 60s – pulled forth from the kind of singles that once boomed from backroom jukeboxes in taverns on the south side of town! The collection is great – very much in the spirit of some of the Mod Jazz compilations on Ace, but maybe even a bit more farther-reaching too – and the tracks are a great mix of instrumental and vocal jazz numbers, put together with the same great ear as the soul collections on the Outta Sight label. Titles include "Like Young" by Ann Henry, "I Walk The Streets" by Lyn Avalon, "Scenes In The City (edit)" by Charles Mingus, "Comin Home Baby" by Dave Bailey, "Johnny With The Gentle Hands" by Cootie Williams & Wini Brown, "Baby Do You Ever Think Of Me" by Sonny Stitt, "Goodbye Old Girl" by Art Farmer, "Wayning Moments" by Wayne Shorter, and "Sack O Woe" by Ray Bryant.  ~ Dusty Groove

FREE SOUL CHRISTMAS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

One of the coolest Christmas compilations we've ever seen – a wonderful blend of contemporary cuts and overlooked gems from the past 40 years – including some excellent gems from the 80s that have never gotten the right sort of exposure! There's some real treasures on here – songs we totally totally love – and the mood changes often, but in a really great way – so that favorites mix nicely with the more obscure numbers – in a batch of cuts that runs for over 80 minutes, and which includes "Driving Home For Christmas" by Chris Rae, "Wonderful Christmas Time" by Silje Nergaard, "What Do You Want This Year For Christmas" by Dean Grech, "This Christmas" by Malene Mortensen, "Thanks For Christmas" by Three Wise Men (XTC), "Ho Ho Ho" by Georgie Fame, "On Christmas Morning" by Benny Sings & Clara Hill, "Benoit's Christmas" by Pale Fountains, "Joy" by Tracey Thorn, "Last Christmas" by Til Bronner, "This Christmas" by Mary J Blige, "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" by Burt Bacharach, "Fairytale Of New York" by The Pogues, "Christmas Love" by Rotary Connection, "Santa Baby" by The French Impressionists, and "Simply Havin A Wonderful Christmas Time" by Joke Bruijs.  ~ Dusty Groove

SPEAK EASY: THE RPM RECORDS STORY

Rare tracks, unissued material, and lots of un-reissued tracks too – all pulled together to present a great second chapter of the legendary R&B powerhouse – RPM Records! RPM was a key force in shaping the sound of the west coast during the 50s – and in addition to recording important sounds from artists in LA and San Francisco, the label also drew from points as far east as Memphis or New Orleans– as you'll hear in this overstuffed batch of tracks! Familiar names from the RPM/Modern catalog are here, next to much more obscure artists, and a few we never knew recorded for the label – and the overall vibe here is top-shelf R&B, with lots of soulful currents throughout. Titles include "Snake Eyed Mama" by Don Cole, "Bim Bam" by BB King, "Memories Of You" by Prentice Moreland, "Speak Easy" by Vido Musso, "Blues In The Dark" by Little George Smith, "Whoopin & A Hollerin" by Preacher Stephens, "Real Pretty Mama" by The Meadow Larks, "Feel My Broom" by Quinn Kimble, "Ruben" by Johnny Guitar Watson, "I Ain't Drunk" by Lonnie The Cat, "Love Me Pretty Baby" by Connie Mack Booker, "One Whole Year Baby" by Earl Curry, "Hands Off" by Donna Hightower, and "The Dream (parts 1 & 2)" by The Fox. 54 tracks in all – and great notes too!  ~ Dusty Groove

Charlie Wilson Announces Forever Charlie Tour With Special Guests Kem and Joe

Grammy nominated artist Charlie Wilson announced today his new national tour Forever Charlie will kick off on February 12, 2015 in Cleveland, OH and will wrap on March 27 in Oakland, CA. The tour is named after Wilson's upcoming album that is slated for a January 27 release on RCA Records. Charlie Wilson's new single "Goodnight Kisses" was the #1 most added song at Urban Radio and Billboard says about the single "...Over snap-and-swing doo-wop-inspired production, the GAP Band co-founder sings sweetly about his loved one's smoochies. At 61 years old, Wilson is still as convincing a romantic as ever."

  

"I am so glad to be on the road once again and to bring my show to so many cities across the country. It's going to be a special night for all the ladies that will join me and my special guests!" says Charlie Wilson. "I am looking forward to sharing the stage with my two talented friends Kem and Joe. They are both artists that I admire and am honored to have them on my tour. We are planning a show the audience won't ever forget."

Jeff Sharp, Vice President of Urban Touring AEG Live says "The Forever Charlie Tour is the most prominent R&B tour for an adult urban audience that is scheduled to hit the road in 2015 thus far. The fact that three of the most important male vocalist/entertainers of our era are sharing the same stage nightly is something that brings AEG as a company to commit any and all of its many assets to the project."

Wilson has received seven Grammy nominations and multiple awards throughout his career; he was named Billboardmagazine's #1 Adult R&B Artist and has had eight #1 records that topped the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary radio chart including, "Without You," "Charlie, Last Name Wilson," "Magic," "There Goes My Baby," "Can't Live Without You," "You Are," "Life of the Party" and "My Love Is All I Have." Most recently, Wilson received a Grammy nomination for the song "If I Believe" in the Gospel category; he was also an NAACP Outstanding Album Award winner for the album Love, Charlie and BET presented to Wilson a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

THE FOREVER CHARLIE TOUR DATES:

Feb. 12 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center

Feb. 13 Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center

Feb. 14 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall

Feb. 15 Baltimore, MD Royal Farms Arena

Feb. 18 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena

Feb. 20 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

Feb. 21 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena

Feb. 22 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena

Feb. 26 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Arena

Feb. 27 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center

Feb. 28 Chicago, IL United Center

March 1 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena

March 5 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center

March 6 Norfolk, VA Constant Center

March 7 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

March 8 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center

March 10 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena

March 13 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre

March 14 New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center

March 15 Houston, TX Toyota Center

March 18 Mobile, AL Civic Center

March 19 Boosier City, LA Century Link Center

March 21 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy

March 22 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

March 25 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre

March 26 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre

March 27 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena

Big Blues Bender Music Festival Featuring Buddy Guy and 35 More

The Bender to take over the fabled Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV: Featuring Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Bobby Rush, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit and over 30 more. Everything at this Blues Festival is all just an elevator ride away.

After a tremendous inaugural year featuring BB King & George Thorogood, the Big Blues Bender returns September 10 -13, 2015 to the fabled Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Featuring a Multi Grammy Award-winning lineup of music superstars including legendary Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Robert Randolph & the Family Band and many more.ce.

The 2015 Big Blues Bender lineup includes:

Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Bobby Rush, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit, Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Joe Louis Walker, Curtis Salgado, Janiva Magness, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Mike Zito & the Wheel with Samantha Fish, Devon Allman, The Original Legends of the Blues, Quinn Sullivan, Southern Hospitality With Victor Wainwright, JP Soars, Damon Fowler, The Lee Boys, Bob Corritore & Lil’ Ed, Candye Kane, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, Selwyn Birchwood, Josh Hoyer & the Shadowboxers, Nick Moss, The Steepwater Band, The Bender Brass featuring Jimmy Carpenter & Deanna Bogart, Leon Blue, and live painting by Scramble Campbell. 

ANGELIQUE KIDJO RECEIVES BEST WORLD MUSIC GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR "EVE"

Angelique Kidjo has received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best World Music Album" for her album Eve. Eve, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's World Albums Chart and a hit album worldwide, is a vibrant new collection of songs dedicated to the power of African womanhood, particularly those women she grew up with in her native Benin. Produced by Patrick Dillett (David Byrne, Fatboy Slim), Eve, named after her mother, is a joyous musical ode to the pride, beauty and strength of African women and their worldwide socio-cultural influence.  The recording showcases Kidjo's extraordinary musical vision as realized by remarkable players as well as women's choirs from several African villages in Benin and Kenya singing in a wide array of native Beninese languages including Fon, Yoruba, Goun and Mina.  Joining Kidjo is an exciting mix of new and well-known musicians including Dr. John, Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), The Kronos Quartet and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg.  Anchoring the album are guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Steve Jordan, bass great Christian McBride and Senegalese percussionist Magatte Sow.  The Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 8 and will air on CBS at 8/7c.

Says the Wall Street Journal: "An alluring and at times undeniable blend of funk, traditional African music and Africa-inspired pop that Ms. Kidjo rides with glee."

Kidjo's accolades include a 20 year discography, thousands of concerts around the world and being named "Africa's premier diva" (Time Magazine) and "the undisputed Queen of African Music" (Daily Telegraph). Kidjo's 2008 recording Djin Djin won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album and her last studio recording Oyo was nominated in the same category.  She has enjoyed a long history of notable collaborations with greats from the jazz and pop worlds—including Carlos Santana, Bono, John Legend, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove and Alicia Keys. In an expansive career marked as much by extraordinary musical achievement as passionate advocacy and philanthropy for her homeland of Africa, Angelique Kidjo has found many ways to celebrate the rich, enlightening truth about the continent's women beyond the media spotlight.

SANTANA ANNOUNCES 2015 DATES FOR THE CORAZON TOUR

Ten time GRAMMY®-Award and Three time Latin GRAMMY®-Award winning rock icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carlos Santana and his band SANTANA have added spring and summer 2015 dates to The Corazon Tour. Kicking off May 8 in St. Petersburg, Florida, the tour will visit U.S. cities in South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas. Santana will play one show in Monterrey, Mexico on March 21 before teaming up with legendary rock band Journey for two special shows in Mexico: March 26 in Guadalajara March 27 in Mexico City.  In July 2015, the Corazon Tour continues as Santana heads to Europe to headline energy fused shows in locations like Berlin's O2 Arena, London's O2 Arena, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hamburg, Luxembourg, Monaco, Verona, and more.

The tour follows the launch of Carlos Santana's memoir "The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light" which Oprah and NPR included in their Best Books of 2014 lists, and the continuation of his House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino multi-year residency of An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live.

Corazon is Santana's first-ever Latin album (RCA/Sony Latin Iberia) featuring superstar collaborative performances by Latin Music's finest. The album is certified U.S. Latin Double Platinum and was the top selling Latin Music album in the United States for six consecutive weeks.

For forty years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten GRAMMY ® Awards and three Latin GRAMMY ® Awards.  He won a record-tying nine GRAMMYs for a single project for 1999's Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Smooth") as well as three Latin GRAMMYs. He has also received the Billboard Century Award (1996), was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), received the Billboard Latin Music Awards' Lifetime Achievement honor (2009), and was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award (2013). Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." And, with the 2014 release of Corazon, Santana surpassed the Rolling Stones and, along with Barbara Streisand, is one of only two music acts in Billboard history to score at least one Top Ten album for six consecutive decades from the 1960s on. Earlier this year, Santana released his first ever Latin Music album entitled Corazon on RCA/Sony Latin Iberia, featuring superstar collaborative performances by Latin Music's finest. The album is certified U.S. Latin Double Platinum and was the top selling Latin Music album in the United States for six consecutive weeks. Santana is currently headlining a multi-year residency at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. This fall, Carlos Santana released his memoir "The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light." It's a profoundly inspiring tale of spiritual commitment and musical fearlessness that does not balk at finding the humor in the world of high-flying fame, nor at speaking plainly of Santana's personal revelations, and the divine and infinite possibility he sees in each person he meets.

Spring/Summer 2015 Tour Dates:

3/8 - St Petersburg, FL @ Mahaffey Theatre

3/10 - N Charleston, SC @ North Charleston PAC

3/11 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium

3/13 - Biloxi, MS @ Beau Rivage Theatre

3/14 - Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre

3/15 - Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall

3/17 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Civic Center Music Hall

3/18 - Grand Prairie, TX @  Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

3/19 - Corpus Christi, TX @ Selena Auditorium

3/21 - Monterrey, Mexico @ Arena Monterrey

3/26 - Guadalajara, Mexico @ Estadio 3 de Marzo (with Journey)

3/27 - Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol (with Journey)

6/30 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo

7/1 - Brussels, Belgium @ Hallmanager of Palais

7/2 - Hamburg, Germany @ Stadtpark

7/4 - Slupsk, Poland @ Dolina Charlotty

7/5 - Berlin, Germany @ O2 Arena

7/7 - Luxembourg @ Rockhal

7/8 - Oberhausen, Germany @ Oberhausen Arena

7/10 - Juan les Pins, France @ Juan les Pins Festival

7/11 - Monaco, France @ Sporting Club

7/16 - Nimes, France @ Nimes Festival

7/17 - Argeles-sur-Mer, France @ Les Deferlantes Festival

7/19 - Linuz, Austria @ Castle Clam

7/20 - Verona, Italy @ Arena di Verona

7/21 - Pistoia, Italy @ Piazza Duomo

7/23 - Vienne, France @ Antique Theatre

7/25 - London, England @ 02 Arena

NEW RELEASES: NOSTALGIA 77 AND THE MONSTER - MEASURES; BRAZILIAN DISCO BOOGIE SOUNDS; EXTRA RICH IN SOUL (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

NOSTALGIA 77 AND THE MONSTER - MEASURES

‘Measures’ is the second album from the Nostalgia 77 & The Monster guise, bringing a flavoursome take on instrumental jazz. The collection of songs sees Ben Lamdin’s long time collaborator, bass player and arranger Riaan Vosloo stepping to the fore, bringing six original compositions. The album also contains nods to the two dominant influences on this group over the years, in renditions of Sun Ra’s otherworldly “An Island In The Sun” and British firebrand (and previous Nostalgia 77 collaborator) Keith Tippett’s “Thoughts To Geoff”. Nostalgia 77 and the Monster is the second incarnation of the Nostalgia 77 Live band, his original Nostalgia 77 Octet having been disbanded after the death of drummer Graham Fox. Lamdin and Vosloo’s aim was to produce an album ranging from the chaotic to the meditative. On ‘Measures’, Vosloo’s writing strikes a delicate balance between strong themes and free space for the improvisers – a perfect canvas for the impressive cast of Kit Downes (piano), James Allsopp (reeds), Fulvio Sigurta (trumpet), Tim Giles (drums) and Vosloo himself on bass. The record captures the fiery fluidity of the band’s live performances. A regular name in the music press for more than a decade, Nostalgia 77’s recent work has raised his profile to a new level. February’s 2014’s bluesy ‘A Journey Too Far’ solo LP and September’s intrepid jazz/dub exploration ‘In The Kingdom Of Dub’ (with Prince Fatty) have been lauded everywhere from The Wire to Clash, Q, DJ Mag, Metro and Blues & Soul, and the latter gave rise to Nostalgia 77’s first BBC 6Music Playlist for the “Medicine Chest Dub” single. He was recruited to produce long time fan Jamie Cullum’s return to Jazz this year, a record which has been met with critical acclaim and has charted across Europe. ~ Grooveattack.com

BRAZILIAN DISCO BOOGIE SOUNDS

Brazilian grooves that sound a lot more American than you might expect – a great run of funky club cuts that are dripping with plenty of soul and jazzy instrumentation! These tracks may hail from Brazil, but they have a vibe that really shows the growing Brazilian love of American soul at the time – especially the sweet blend of styles that came into play on the dancefloors of the late 70s! None of these tracks are straight disco, and none have the too commercial styles of the European disco wave of the period – and instead, all the instrumentation is nice and tight, and done in styles you might know from bigger Brazilian groups like Banda Black Rio or Unaio Black – but served up here by more focused solo artists in the lead. Junior Santos hand-picked the tracks from his deep collection of grooves – and titles include "Moral Tem Hora" by Cristina Camargo, "Quero Um Baby Seu" by Solange, "Gosto Amargo De Vida" by Paulo Ramos, "Relax" by Painel De Controle, "Labirinto" by Famks, "Escorpiao" by Carlos Dafe, "Negra Flor" by Sandra De Sa, and "Um Momento Qualquer" by Claudia Telles. ~ Dusty Groove

EXTRA RICH IN SOUL (VARIOUS  ARTISTS)

A great little title for this very soulful album – and for the Soul Junction label in general, given how many wonderful records they've given us over the years! Soul Junction was started by folks with a long history of digging for rare soul in the US underground – and with their knowledge of obscure artists and singles, they've also uncovered some great contemporary American talents too – a few of whom are older soul singers working in obscurity, and others who may well represent the deep soul generations for years go come! Most of these cuts were recorded in the past few years, but have a really classic vibe throughout – almost like some lost work from the modern soul generation and the southern scene of the 80s – a bit more contemporary in the instrumentation and production, but still filled with deeply soulful vocals all the way through. Titles include "Have You Had Enough" by Clayton Hooker, "Don't Pop The Question" by Oliver Cheatham, "Fly Away" by August Heat, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" by Pixy, "I Can't Wait" by Bill Spoon, "I Like Your Style" by One Nation, "We're Gonna Make It Through" by Natural Impulse, "Say It Again" by Clayton Hooker, "Games" by David Washington, "Love That's Real" by Darold Ghoulston, and "Back Stage" by Extra Rich In Class.  ~ Dusty Groove

SUN RA - THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE

A great run of 80s work from Sun Ra – and some of his best-known records from the time! First up is Reflections In Blue – a later classic from Sun Ra – a record that bears one of his most beautiful cover shots ever! The record's got a wonderfully tight feel – a sound that's often not as out as Saturn sides, and which shows Ra's ability to lead a larger ensemble with a very complex sound – drawing on Ellingtonish roots, but inflecting them with his own space-tuned sensibilities! Players include Tyrone Hill on trombone, Pat Patrick on alto and clarinet, Marshall Allen on alto and flute, John Gilmore on tenor and clarinet, and James Jacson on bassoon and african drums – and Ra himself plays synth as well as piano. Titles include "Yesterdays", "Say It Isn't So", and the originals "State Street Chicago" and "Reflections In Blue". 

Hours After is a strange little late record from Sun Ra – late night, soulful and bluesy, with a sound that's in keeping with the traditionalism of the late Arkestra! The group's an all-star one – Pat Patrick, Danny Thompson, Marshall Allen, and John Gilmore – and Ra sings a bit on the session. Side B of the session steps out a bit more from the first side – which is the more traditional one – and Ra plays a bit of synthesizer, in a 70s avant kind of mode. Titles include "Dance Of The Extra Terrestrians", "Love On A Far Away Planet", "Hours After", and "Beautiful Love". 

Mayan Temples is a studio set recorded in Italy in 1990, and one that draws strongly from the tightening of tradition the Arkestra experienced in the 80s – working at a time of some of their greatest acceptance by jazz audiences worldwide, and able to express themselves fully in a range of different modes! The sense of tone and timing here is beautiful – almost Ellington-like at points, but still with a decidedly Sun Ra-like quality – and players on the date include Michael Ray and Ahmed Abdullah on trumpets, John Gilmore on tenor, Noel Scott and Marshall Allen on alto sax, and Tyrone Hill on trombone – and June Tyson also sings just a bit on the set. Ra plays both piano and synth, and titles include "Alone Together", "Discipline 1", "Sunset On The River Nile", "El Is The Sound Of Joy", "I'll Never Be The Same", "Theme On The Stargazers", and "Opus In Springtime". A double-length set too – nearly 80 minutes of music! 

Last up is A Tribute To Stuff Smith – an unusual session that features Billy Bang on violin, Andrew Cyrille on drums, and Sun Ra on piano – all in tribute to legendary violinist Stuff Smith.  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: TONY ALLEN – FILM OF LIFE; SPIKE WILNER – LIVE AT SMALLS; JIM HARBECK QUARTET WITH WALTER SMITH III – VARIATIONS IN BLUE

TONY ALLEN – FILM OF LIFE

Maybe the best album we've heard from Tony Allen in years – a really compelling set that still holds onto all the elements we love in his music, but which also introduces all these great other bits as well! The sound's never unfocused or confused – and instead, it kind of allows Allen to leap off in even more expressive styles – still grounded in rhythms that run back to his roots – but filled with creative instrumentation from an array of guests, and some spacey, electric touches that recall the fire in Tony's music when he first sprang back on the scene about a decade ago! Allen adds a few pointed lyrics at points – furthering the "life" presented in the title and great cover image – and titles include "Go Back", "Ire Omo", "Ewa", "Afro Kungfu Beat", "Moving On", "Boat Journey", and "African Man".  ~ Dusty Groove

SPIKE WILNER – LIVE AT SMALLS

Beautiful work from pianist Spike Wilner – an artist we already respect for his tireless work running the Live At Smalls series – and one that we've grown to love even more for the fresh new sound of this wonderful record! Spike's always had a way of linking styles and generations with his piano – sometimes very traditional, sometimes very personal – yet here, he finds this really wonderful groove that's somewhere in between, but very unique as well – a trio format that has the guitar of Yotam Silberstein and bass of Paul Gill often dancing alongside his own lines on piano – so that all three instruments resonate out strongly in the melody, and find new ways to spiral out together! The approach is very individual, and especially well-tuned to the wide range of material here – which includes Wilner compositions, and some other surprising choices. Titles include "Blues For The Common Man", "Pathetique", "Variations On A Popular Theme #1", "Magnetic Rag", and "Hopscotch".  ~ Dusty Groove

JIM HARBECK QUARTET WITH WALTER SMITH III – VARIATIONS IN BLUE

Twin tenors, used in a really wonderful way – one in the left channel, one in the right – trading back and forth with a soulfully sublime sound! Both Jan Harbeck and Walter Smith III have individually distinct sounds, and both players find a way to resonate strongly together, while occupying a separate space on the record – both from the perspective of their individual channels, and their differing sensibilities! The overall approach is nicely laidback and mellow – like a great late nite tenor album of years back, times two – and the well-crafted rhythms are from Henrik Gunde on piano, Anders Holm on drums, and Eske Norrelykke on some especially great bass. Titles include "Salvation", "May Each Day", "Third Time To Tango", "Nordic Echoes", and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: JONAS KULLHAMMAR – GENTLEMEN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK; ANTHONY NICHOLSON - FOUR; LORD RAJA - CONSTANT MOTH

JONAS KULLHAMMAR – GENTLEMEN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE

SOUNDTRACK

A hell of a record from saxophonist Jonas Kullhammar – a batch of work that was originally done for the film Gentlemen, but a set that you'll be listening to long after the film has faded from the screens! The set may well be one of Jonas' most traditional jazz records – a set that really gets to show off his tremendous talents in a straight jazz setting – with a richness of tone, and overall sense of presentation that makes us feel like Kullhammar would have been a great addition to the Blue Note catalog in the 60s. Yet the music also has a very contemporary sense of vibrancy too – as Jonas works here with key modern partners Tobjorn Zetterberg on bass, Carl Bagge on piano, and Johan Holmegard on drums – plus tremendous work on half the record from musicians who include Swedish jazz giant Bernt Rosengren on tenor, as well as Goran Kajfes on cornet and Mattias Stahl on vibes. Kulhammar plays tenor, baritone, stritch, and saxello – and titles include "Le Boulevardier", "Montmartre", "Paris Art Ensemble", "The Bear Quartet", "So Long Henry", "Danish Blow", and "Gazell".  ~ Dusty Groove

ANTHONY NICHOLSON – FOUR

Maybe the best work we've ever heard from Anthony Nicholson – and that's saying a lot, given how much we've supported his music over the years! Anthony's a Chicago legend – an artist who's never gotten the fame he deserves on this side of the Atlantic, but a tireless force in the studio – and one of the few folks to really find new territory for the roots of Chicago house over the years! This album's got a wonderfully spiritual vibe – one that's delivered in a very simple, but effective way – as Nicholson banks his keyboards in just the right way to unlock their cosmic potential, but without ever trying sounding forced or too overdone. The album's got some guest work by Imani and Jaidene Veda, but most tracks are instrumental – and titles include "Genio", which is a great tribute to Jose Roberto Bertrami – plus "Return To Black Fusion", "Messages & Aliens", "Mother & Earth", "The Essence Say Hey", "Star", and "Chicago".  ~ Dusty Groove

LORD RAJA – CONSTANT MOTH

Cosmic sounds from Lord Raja – with tripped out electronic atmosphere, though compelling and beat driven, without ever traveling into predictability – one of the finer releases on Ghostly International in a while! Covers a lot of territory, from mellow, spacey soundscapes to frenzied footwork-inspired beats – with lots of space between. Includes "Yelleo E", "Van Go" feat Jeremiah Jae, "Pistol Refix", "Darwin", "Gottfried Semper", "Throw Them Out", "De Lia Lu Lu", "Red Sun", "Black Top", "Golden Gravity Birds" and more.  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: DJ DOLORES – BANDA SONORA MUSICA PARA FILMES; ULTIMATE FREE SOUL MOTOWN; THE BLUEBEATERS - I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS

DJ DOLORES – BANDA SONORA MUSICA PARA FILMES

DJ Dolores is one of the leading champions of traditional rural music from Brazil's Northeast. He began DJing in 1989 in his hometown of Recife - 'the Venice Of Brazil' - and soon made a name for himself on the local 'mangue beat' scene, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Lenine and Mundo Livre. By 1997 he was making his own music, grateful of the new technology which made this possible for a 'non-musician'. His stage name (he's not a woman) is something of a provocation of Brazil's culture of machismo and this sense of playfulness and humour has always been embedded in his music. Dolores's latest album Banda Sonora Musica para Filmes is an earnest insight into the magical mind of one Brazil's brightest, most inspired producers and acts as a collection of his musical memories of time spent making music for Brazilian cinema.

ULTIMATE FREE SOUL MOTOWN (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A really fresh take on music from Motown – served up here in a massive 3CD set done in the best style of the Free Soul series! Like other favorites to fly the Free Soul flag, this collection brings together both hits and overlooked gems – all in a blend of cuts that have a joyous, upbeat sort of groove – the most positive, forward-thinking side of Motown – especially during the label's great late 60s/early 70s prime! The 3CD package is overflowing with greatness – over four hours of music, with 75 titles that include "Battended Ships" by Odyssey, "It's A Shame" by The Spinners, "Bless You" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, "Love The One You're With" by Supremes & Four Tops, "All The Way Around" by Marvin Gaye, "Stay" by Severin browne, "Running Back & Forth" by Edwin STarr, "Journey Into You" by Leon Ware, "The Day Will Come Between Sunday & Monday" by Kiki Dee, "Girl You Need A Change Of Mind" by Eddie Kendricks, "Harmour Love" by Syreeta, "Family Song" by Smokey Robinson, "Give Me Your Love" by Sisters Love, "Do Somethng About It" by Thelma Houston, "In The Middle Of The Feeling" by Three Ounces Of Love, "IF I Could Give You The World" by Hearts Of Stone, "My Eyes Only" by Rare Earth – and lots lots more!  ~ Dusty Groove

THE BLUEBEATERS - I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS

Blue Beat & Rock Steady combo The BlueBeaters, kick off the Holiday Season with their brand new Christmas single "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".  The track has been originally released by the Ronettes in 1963 for The Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You" album. Curious how the album was a flop upon its initial release and only became a classic in 1972 when it was rereleased by Apple.

JANE BIRKIN & SERGE GAINSBOURG - 1973

A really great package – one that sums up this key year in the careers of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin – with two full albums, lots of bonus tracks, and a whole film too! First up is Birkin's excellent album Di Doo Dah – sweet sweet work from Jane – an early solo set that steps strongly off of her classic duets with Serge Gainsbourg! In a way, this album's as much a record by Serge as it is by Jane – since Serge wrote almost all the tracks, and since the arrangements are handled by the legendary Jean-Claude Vannier – who worked famously with Gainsbourg on Melody Nelson and other funky recordings! 

The set's got a slow, sexy, funky vibe – very similar to the Gainsbourg/Vannier collaborations – and maybe even sexier, given the way that Jane Birkin handles her breathy vocals. There's some sweet guitar bits that go great with Jane's delivery of the material – and the whole thing's an essential part of the Gainsbourg/Birkin canon. Tracks include "Help Camionneur!", "Banana Boat", "Kawasaki", "Leur Plaisir Sans Moi", and "Les Capotes Anglaises". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "La Decadanse" and "Les Langues De Chat". Next is Vu De L'Exterieur – a great Serge Gainsbourg album from 1973 – one that we'd rank right up there with his best work! 

The record's got a slinky funky groove that's right in a perfect post-Melody Nelson mode – music written by Serge, and played by a hip small combo that includes lots of great guitar from Alan Parker and sweet electric keyboards and organ from the great Alan Hawkshaw – both of whom really help keep the sound great! Many tracks have that mellow funk groove that's become the best-remembered Gainsbourg sound over the years – and as with many of his other albums of the time, this one's brimming over with potential samples and riffs to steal. 

Titles include "Panpan Cucul", "Sensuelle Et Sans Suite", "Pamela Popo", "Titicaca", and "Par Hasard Et Pas Rase". CD features loads of bonus tracks – 10 whole more tunes added to the album – including "Les Papiers Qui Collent Aux Bonbons", "Titicaca (inst)", "L'Hippodrome (inst)", "Panpan Cucul (working version with different lyrics)", "Pamela Popo (inst)", "Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'En Vais (complete)", and "Tout Mou Tout Doux (2014 rmx)". Comes in a great book-style cover – with notes and loads of gorgeous photos – and a DVD that features the film A Bout Portant – a 51 minute film, black and white, shot in 1973! (DVD is PAL.)  ~ Dusty Groove

Montreal Jazz Fest 2015 Lineup Announced: Jesse Cook, Snarky Puppy, The Stanley Clarke Band, Steven Wilson, The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman, Bebel Gilberto, Eliane Elias, Dee Dee Bridgewater and a Tribute to Piaf by Richard Galliano and Sylvain Luc

We’re delighted to announce the very first artists of the 36th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD in collaboration with Rio Tinto Alcan—just in time to add them to everyone’s Christmas wish lists! Tickets for these concerts go on sale this Friday, December 5 at noon… although Spectra Newsletter subscribers (subscription is free at infolettrespectra.ca), can purchase them Thursday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Steven Wilson — June 27, 8:30 p.m., Métropolis — Twenty years into his career, the versatile and prolific Steven Wilson ranks among the most fascinating artists on the British rock scene. While multitasking as leader of a series of equally cutting-edge groups—Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Blackfield and Bass Communion—the many-headed musician makes his Festival entrance with his new album, Hand. Cannot. Erase., a gem of progressive rock delivering mind-blowing rhythms and soaring melodies in the Pink Floyd tradition.

Snarky Puppy — June 30, 8:30 p.m., Métropolis — A massive big band with fluid membership, Snarky Puppy dresses up a stylin’ instrumental jazz brimming with guitar, brass, strings, woodwinds, keyboards and percussion. Led by the versatile Michael League, the group sets itself apart with its stunning musical mastery and creative maturity, building an international reputation with a border-smashing fusion of compositional excellence and improvisation, from melodic funk to harmonic soul, inspired as much by Herbie Hancock as by Björk, James Brown or Radiohead. A true YouTube phenomenon, the group lands with a new album due in April 2015.

Jesse Cook — July 2, 7 p.m., Maison symphonique de Montréal — With over 1.5 million albums sold in a 20-year career, and a Juno and three Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards among the prestigious awards on his mantel, acoustic guitar virtuoso Jesse Cook ranks among the most beloved regulars at this Festival. Playing with an eclectic stylistic palette that blends gypsy, Spanish, jazz and rumba influences, he returns with songs from a new album due in April.

The Stanley Clarke Band — June 27, 8 p.m., Théâtre Maisonneuve, PdA — He floored audiences with his memorable participation in the 2012 Invitation series, and now virtuoso bassist Stanley Clarke returns with a new highly ambitious album, aptly entitled Up. Unveiling a high-voltage jazz fusion with a profusion of funky melodies, the rhythmic opus turns out to be his most energetic and playful to date. He’s a master renowned for taking the bass anywhere he wants to, landing here with a pair of brilliant companions, Beka Gochiashvili and Mike Mitchell.

The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman — June 28, 8 p.m., Théâtre Maisonneuve, PdA — When a group renowned for its versatility and innovative brilliance meets a star saxophonist at the height of his artistic abilities, buckle up: jazzy sparks will fly. It’s an elite rendezvous between The Bad Plus, the rock fan’s favourite jazz trio (and vice versa), who’ve been burning up our stages for over 10 years, and the dazzling Joshua Redman, a friend of this Festival for over two decades. This combo is guaranteed to blow us away with collective improvisation and unmatched creative chemistry.

Dee Dee Bridgewater with Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra — July 3, 8 p.m., Théâtre Maisonneuve, PdA — Take the fabulous Dee Dee Bridgewater, a jazz singer equally accomplished in all styles and repertoires, from Malian music to Billie Holiday, Édith Piaf to Latin; add famed trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, founder and artistic director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and the brilliant orchestra in question, dedicated to the development and heritage of New Orleans jazz. That astonishing assemblage of talent led to a recording this year, which they’ll re-live in an evening of top-flight jazz.

Bebel Gilberto — June 26, 6 p.m., Club Soda — Almost 15 years after her last visit to the Festival, songbird Bebel is back with the bossa nova sounds that run in her veins. Daughter of the legendary João Gilberto, the lovely singer with the purring voice offers a trademark style of Brazilian music tinged with electronica, seasoned with contemporary sounds and modern musical spices. Her new album, Tudo, unveils original songs in Portuguese, English and French, along with a few covers including her irresistible version of Harvest Moon by Neil Young.

Richard Galliano, duo with Sylvain Luc. Tribute to Édith Piaf — June 30, 10:30 p.m., Gesù — Richard Galliano, one of the greatest accordionists of the modern era, and unimpeachable jazz guitarist Sylvain Luc collaborated in the ’90s before going their separate musical ways. The two musicians now reunite their talents for this duo project dedicated to the grande dame of French chanson. The result is a virtuoso jewel, showcasing and reawakening the freshness of the Piaf repertoire in this, the 100th anniversary of her birth.

Eliane Elias, Made in Brazil with Marc Johnson, Rubens De La Corte and Rafael Barata — July 3, 8 p.m., Monument-National — Recognized for her warm, sensual voice and ability to transport us to the languorous, idyllic beaches of Brazil, singer-pianist Eliane Elias returns with pieces from a new album, Made in Brazil. Plunge into Brazilian music from the ’30s to today, grooving through bossa nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim and her own compositions. She’ll be accompanied by her husband Marc Johnson (bass), Rubens De La Corte (guitar) and Rafael Barata (percussion).

First Lady of Brazilian Song - Joyce Moreno, Releases "Raiz"

The first lady of Brazilian song Joyce Moreno, is one of Brazil's leading lights, both musically and as a cultural icon. She was one of the very first in Brazil to speak from the feminist perspective and has worked with a host of fellow musical legends including Elis Regina, Toninho Horta, Madlib, and Yoko Kanno. Joyce's new album Raiz (Portuguese for 'Roots') marks an incredible fifty years since she first stepped foot in a recording studio at the very tender age of 15. Paying tribute to her personal musical roots, the album is made up entirely of Joyce's stunning new versions of some beautiful Brazilian standards, originally penned by the likes of Tom Jobim, Vinicius de Moares, Carlos Lyra, Baden Powell, Ze do Norte and Roberto Menescal (the very person to first capture Joyce's talent on record fifty years ago). Fifty years on, Joyce has decided to reciprocate Menescal's invitation, appointing him as special guest on Raiz which will be released on the 12th January 2015 on Far Out Recordings.

European Tour - January 2015 

Joyce will be touring Europe in January 2015 to coincide with the release (12/01/15). So if you're nearby any of these venues, grab a ticket from one of the links below:

10/01: Le Volcan - Le Havre (France) 

12/01: Ronnie Scotts Club - London (England) 

13/01: Ronnie Scotts Club - London (England) 

14/01: Jazzhus Montmartre - Copenhagen (Denmark) 

15/01: Jazzhus Montmartre - Copenhagen (Denmark) 

16/01: Jazzclub Hannover - Hannover (Germany) 

17/01: North Sea Jazz Club - Amsterdam (Netherlands) 

19/01: Porgy & Bess Jazz & Music Club - Wien (Austria) 

21/01: New Morning - Paris (France) 

22/01: Blue Note Milano - Milan (Italy) 

23/03: Kulturwerkstatt Kammgarn - Hard (Austria) 

~ Far Out