NEW RELEASES: APOLLO SATURDAY NIGHT / SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE UPTOWN; THE MAIN INGREDIENT: L.T.D. / BLACK SEEDS; THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS - OUR FAMILY PORTRAIT / STAIRSTEPS

APOLLO SATURDAY NIGHT / SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE UPTOWN (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

By the early ‘60s, Atlantic Records was starting to gain traction as one of the go-to labels in the world of R&B, thanks to the success of Ray Charles, The Drifters, Ruth Brown, Lavern Baker and The Coasters among others.  As the genre was gaining more popularity, the label shrewdly chose to capture the excitement and energy of shows staged on the famous “chitlin’ circuit,” a term used to refer to a group of theaters in cities with a significant African-American population.  And the two most essential stops on the circuit were The Uptown in Philadelphia and the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Atlantic recorded shows at the two venues in 1964, resulting in the two long-cherished live albums collected on this new twofer from Real Gone Music and SoulMusic Records.  

The first of the two albums was Apollo Saturday Night, which presented four solo artists from the label – Otis Redding, Doris Troy, Rufus Thomas and headliner Ben E. King - and two groups, show-openers The Falcons (featuring Wilson Pickett) and The Coasters, playing before a packed house at the venue on 125th Street. With renowned saxophonist (and Atco recording artist in his own right) King Curtis as bandleader, each act performed their main hits of the day, with the exception of Troy, who had in fact been an usherette at the venue during her teen years. An encore brought everyone back onstage for a rousing version of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say.”  The bill at the Uptown had a similar mix of major hitmakers (The Drifters and The Vibrations) with others who were just making headway as R&B stars, most of whom, interestingly, did not record for Atlantic. Among them were New Jersey natives Patty & The Emblems, Washington D.C. group The Carltons, Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles, then on the verge of signing with Atlantic, and Barbara Lynn, who was recording for local Philadelphia label Jamie Records. The Atlantic acts included the L.A.-based Vibrations and Wilson Pickett, now no longer with The Falcons and just signed with the company, performing his hit “If You Need Me.” Atlantic’s mainstay group, The Drifters, understandably had the top spot and thrilled the audiences with a reprise of their classics “There Goes My Baby,” “On Broadway” and “Under the Boardwalk.” Just over 50 years after they were recorded, these two albums still pulse with the excitement and passion that made the Uptown and the Apollo world-famous venues. Liner notes are by noted UK author, R&B historian and Solar Radio broadcaster Clive Richardson…live soul at its finest! ~ Real Gone Music

 THE MAIN INGREDIENT – L.T.D ./ BLACK SEEDS

Originally formed in 1964 and known as The Poets, the New York-based trio of Luther Simmons Jr., Tony Silvester and Donald McPherson recorded a couple of singles for RCA Records before a name change in 1968 to The Main Ingredient.  Their first album, L.T.D. (from the initials of each member), was released in 1970 and consisted of six original songs penned by the group along with a medley of two songs written by Jimmy Webb, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Wichita Lineman,” both originally recorded by Glen Campbell; and a cover of The Beatles’ “Get Back.” Production was primarily by renowned arranger Bert DeCoteaux (who would later become a co-producer with Tony Silvester of hits for Ben E. King, Sister Sledge and others), with one track produced by acclaimed New York conductor/arranger Horace Ott.  The album contained four singles, one of which, “You’ve Been My Inspiration,” was a Top 30 R&B hit. After a follow-up album, Tasteful Soul, the group self-produced their third release, 1971’s Black Seeds, which boasted two singles with “Black Seeds Keep On Growing,” a black empowerment anthem penned by McPherson, reaching No. 15 on the U.S. R&B charts.  Sadly, after a sudden and unexpected illness, McPherson succumbed to leukemia before the LP was released. The album was dedicated to his memory by the two remaining members, who added Cuba Gooding, Sr. as their third member in 1972. ~ Real Gone Music

THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS:  OUR FAMILY PORTRAIT / STAIRSTEPS

Formed in Chicago in 1965 and known initially as “The First Family Of Soul,” The Five Stairsteps consisted of Alohe Jean, Clarence Jr., James, Dennis and Kenneth (‘Keni’) Burke, and were managed by their father Clarence Sr., who also played bass behind them and co-wrote some of their material.   After winning a talent contest at the famed Regal Theater, the group was introduced to the legendary Curtis Mayfield by Fred Cash of The Impressions, which led to their first recording contract with Mayfield’s Windy C label.  Between 1966 and 1968, The Five Stairsteps had six pop and R&B charted singles, the most successful of which was “World of Fantasy.”  After Windy C folded, the group continued their association with Curtom Records, distributed at the time by Buddah Records; in total, The Five Stairsteps cut two albums under Mayfield’s wing before switching to Buddah in 1968 for their first LP for the label, Our Family Portrait, with lead singer/primary composer Clarence Jr. and his father as co-producers.  The album included two charted singles, “Something’s Missing” (R&B #17, Pop #88) and a cover of the doo-wop classic, “A Million to One” (R&B #28, Pop #68), a song written by Righteous Brother Bill Medley.  Each member of the group took turns singing lead on various tunes, including the Burkes’ youngest son, Cubie (then just five years old).  Released as “The 5 Stairsteps & Cubie,” the LP reached No. 20 on the R&B Albums chart and No. 195 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.

In 1970, the group (minus Cubie) began working with producer/arranger Stan Vincent on the album Stairsteps. In addition to further Burke originals, there were two Beatles covers, “It’s Getting Better” and “Dear Prudence,” but it was the song originally issued as the flipside of the latter’s release as a single that would ensure the group’s place in music history.  The bright and upbeat anthem “O-o-h Child” sold over a million copies, was certified gold and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 and No. 14 on the R&B charts.  The LP became a best-seller, No. 12 on the R&B Albums chart and No. 83 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart

Now reissued for the first time in their original form, these two classic soul albums appear together on this great release from Real Gone Music in association with SoulMusic Records along with three non-album singles: “Madame Mary” (a 1968 track produced and written by Curtis Mayfield and arranged by Donny Hathaway), “The Shadow of Your Love” from the Family Portrait sessions, and “America/Standing,” a Hot 100 charting single (#83) in 1970.  Liner notes by renowned writer and soul music expert Kevin Goins include quotes from Keni Burke, producer Vincent and music industry veterans Cecil Holmes of Buddah Records and Curtom label co-founder Eddie Thomas. Remastered at Sony’s own Battery Studios in NYC.

JACKIE MOORE - THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS

Florida-born soul singer Jackie Moore began her recording career in 1968 with singles on the Shout and Wand labels; however it was her first release for Atlantic Records in early 1970 that catapulted her to national prominence in the U.S with a song – written by Jackie and her cousin Dave Crawford, who produced it – that started out as the B-side to her debut single for the label.  The label selected the brass-laden “Willpower” but a radio disc jockey flipped the record, got immediate reaction and Jackie ended up with a gold record in the form of “Precious, Precious,” a lilting, gentle slice of Southern soul that remains a timeless R&B classic.

Working initially with Crawford (and later with renowned co-producer Brad Shapiro) at Criteria Studios in Miami, Jackie cut 21 tracks over between November 1969 and June 1972 including the R&B-charting singles “Sometimes It’s Got to Rain (In Your Love Life),” “Time” and “Darling Baby” (a cover of the Elgins’ Motown hit). In late 1972, she began working with the Philadelphia team known as The Young Professionals, consisting of singer Phil Hurtt together with Atlantic A&R man LeBaron Taylor and singer/songwriter Bunny Sigler (who was later replaced by guitarist, Tony Bell, producer Thom Bell’s younger sibling). The result was her second biggest Atlantic hit, “Sweet Charlie Babe,” a Top 20 R&B and Top 50 pop charted single.  The track became the title for Jackie’s sole Atlantic album, which was released in 1973 and also boasted the Top 30 R&B hit, “Both Ends Against the Middle.”

Jackie continued recording with The Young Professionals, cutting another five tracks in 1973 and 1974 including a version of country singer Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” that remained in the can until it was issued on a UK compilation in 2006.   After leaving Atlantic, Jackie recorded for Kayvette Records before signing with Columbia Records where she enjoyed a dance and R&B hit with “This Time Baby.”

Real Gone Music (in association with SoulMusic Records) is proud to present Jackie’s entire output for Atlantic with a total of, count ‘em, 14 previously unreleased tracks (that’s nearly half the release)!  Liner notes by acclaimed UK writer Charles Waring include extensive quotes from Jackie herself, producer Phil Hurtt and songwriter Vinnie Barrett. Remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision.

Disc One

1.  Precious, Precious

2.  Willpower

3.  If This Was the Last Song (Unreleased)

4.  Cover Me

5.  Change Me Not, I Love You (Unreleased)

6.  Wonderful, Marvelous

7.  Sometimes It’s Got to Rain (in Your Love Life)

8.  I Forgive You (Unreleased)

9.  Here Am I (Unreleased)

10. Something in a Look

11. Time

12. Young Girls (Unreleased)

13. I Just Started (Unreleased)

14. Darling Baby

15. Do Wrong Man (Unreleased)

16. Set Me Free (Unreleased)

Disc Two

1.  What a Man

2.  They Tell Me of an Uncloudy Day

3.  It Ain’t Who You Know

4.  I Love Every Little Thing About You (Unreleased)

5.  Lead Me, Guide Me (Unreleased)

6.  Sweet Charlie Babe

7.  If

8.  Both Ends Against the Middle

9.  Clean Up Your Own Yard

10. Joe (Unreleased)

11. Behind Closed Doors

12. Tell Me A Lie (Unreleased)

13. A Promise Is A Promise (Unreleased)

14. Tyrone (Unreleased)

ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY’S THE HOLY MOUNTAIN ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

One of the ironies of the career of Chilean-born filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky is that while he is best known as a visual stylist, his most avid and loyal champions have often been musicians. When Jodorowsky arrived in New York from Mexico City in 1970 carrying a copy of the then-unreleased El Topo, it was the jazz producer Alan Douglas who bought the distribution rights to the film. 

When Jodorowsky and Douglas were looking for a venue in which to screen El Topo, it was John Lennon and Yoko Ono who asked for it to run at midnight following their short-film festival at New York’s Elgin Cinema. After six months of sold-out midnight screenings at the Elgin, it was Lennon’s manager, Allen Klein (ABKCO’s founder), who bought the rights to El Topo and agreed to produce its follow-up, The Holy Mountain. And when Jodorowsky wanted, in his words, “another kind of music—something that wasn't entertainment, something that wasn't a show, something that went to the soul, something profound,” for the soundtrack to The Holy Mountain, forward came jazz legend Don Cherry and crack studio musician (and one-time Archie) Ron Frangipane to share composing and (along with Jodorowsky) conducting duties. And, boy, did they deliver—the score to The Holy Mountain is every bit as hallucinatory as the fantastic visual imagery in the film itself. 

The deep, primordial chants that begin the movie, “Trance Mutation,” give way to an almost jaunty percussion-and-plucked-strings melody, “Pissed and Passed Out.” On the next track, “Violence of the Lambs,” a single flute is slowly joined by a set of mournful strings while, onscreen, Gestapo-like soldiers in gas masks parade with bloody lamb carcasses on sticks. “Drink It,” an upbeat sitar folk melody, follows, briefly accompanying the main protagonist The Thief’s ill-considered decision to guzzle tequila (or sleeping potion). Then there is “Christs 4 Sale,” a blaring orchestral riff that sounds like it was ripped from a 1950’s swords-and-sandals epic. 

The next track, “Cast Out and Pissed,” begins with a bee-like buzz, then is overwhelmed by a cacophony of drums, horns, and, finally, screaming. “Eye of the Beholder” which follows, changes moods entirely once again—a string section swells with overwrought romanticism. (Onscreen, a group of young prostitutes prays in a church. One of them later walks arm and arm with a chimpanzee.) And then there is “Communion,” a brooding, trumpet-led number that would be at home on the noir-steeped Chinatown soundtrack. (As “Communion” plays, the Thief is not driving through Los Angeles at night but eating the face off a statue of Christ.) This veritable cornucopia of musical styles would be more than enough to fill an entire movie. It would be more than enough to fill three movies. 

But in fact, the eight musical compositions described above play entirely in The Holy Mountain’s first 24 minutes. Still ahead lie the hard rock of “Psychedelic Weapons,” the pomp and circumstance of the waltz “Miniature Plastic Bomb Shop,” the gospel-inflected sax of “Isla (The Sapphic Sleep),” and so on. Every one of the 24 tracks on the film’s soundtrack presents another vertiginous twist in the philosophical and spiritual journey that is The Holy Mountain.

Now, Real Gone Music, in association with ABKCO Music & Records, Inc., presents for the first time ever as a stand-alone CD release, the original soundtrack to Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 masterpiece The Holy Mountain. The CD features liner notes by New York Times contributor Eric Benson that include exclusive quotes from Jodorowsky himself, festooned with copious production stills. Produced for release by Grammy-winning producer Teri Landi and Mick Gochanour, and mastered from the original tapes by Joe Yannece, this long-awaited release of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain: Original Soundtrack offers a major addition to the soundtrack canon and a completely unique listening experience.

TRACKS:

1. Trance Mutation

2. Pissed and Passed Out

3. Violence of the Lambs

4. Drink It

5. Christs 4 Sale

6. Cast Out and Pissed

7. Eye of the Beholder

8. Communion

9. Rainbow Room

10. Alchemical Room

11. Tarot Will Teach You/Burn Your Money

12. Mattresses, Masks and Pearls

13. Isla (The Sapphic Sleep)

14. Psychedelic Weapons

15. Rich Man in a Fishbowl

16. Miniature Plastic Bomb Shop

17. Fuck Machine

18. Baby Snakes

19. A Walk in the Park

20. Mice and Massacre

21. City of Freedom

22. Starfish

23. The Climb/Reality (Zoom Back Camera)

24. Pantheon Bar (Bees Make Honey…)

The DePue Brothers Release Holiday Album, When It's Christmas Time

When the DePue Brothers were growing up in Bowling Green, Ohio, their house was always filled with music, especially during the holiday season.  Each year, their dad, Dr. Wallace DePue, Sr., who was music professor at Bowling Green University, would write a new Christmas carol as his holiday gift.  One, written in 1990, is called "When It's Christmas Time" and is the title of their new CD being released for the 2013 Christmas season.  The brothers -- Wallace Jr., Alex, Jason and Zach -- who are all classically trained violinists and have performed with the most prestigious musical organizations including The Philadelphia Orchestra, are proud to dedicate their CD to their dad.  Continuing their dad's tradition of sharing holiday music with family and friends, the DePue Brothers Band has put their own signature on their dad's carol with Alex's new arrangement and by enriching these holiday classic carols with adistinctive bluegrass, jazz, and classical groove.

This highly acclaimed string ensemble performs around the country playing an eclectic mix of musical genres based on their classical training but bringing in bluegrass, funk, jazz, rock and more. The band include Wallace, Alex, Jason and Zach DePue with percussionist Don Liuzzi, guitarist Mark Cosgrove, bassist Kevin MacConnell and Mike Munford, who was recently named International Bluegrass Association's the 2013 Banjo musician of the year. The brothers' individual musical endeavors continue -- Zach with The Indianapolis Symphony as concertmaster, and with Time for Three; Jason with The Philadelphia Orchestra; Alex with his solo endeavors and with DePue/DeHoyos; and Wallace with his company, Concert Instruments.com and with The Philly POPS. 

The album is a mix of standard arrangements from the brothers' youth includingJesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, and the heavenlyAve Maria with new arrangements by Alex DePue of Good King Wencelas, Winter Wonderland and the DePue original song, The Fat Man.  One of the album highlights is Jason DePue's brilliantarrangement of the pop classic Sleigh Ride with his unique musical gestures. The CD includes the many contributions of equally talented additional band members including Don Liuzzi's exotic Pat-a-Pan and the serene O Holy Night, Kevin MacConnell's elegant jazz arrangement of Christmas Song richly sung by Wallace Depue andMike Munford's exquisite Medley of Carols for banjo.

No matter where they may be performing, the brothers reunite each Christmas and each year their dad writes another carol. These carols were musical expressions of love to his four sons and enduring gift cards to the DePue's family and friends with personal notes and updates from each growing child. In addition, as a gift to their community, they would perform in their hometown church and, now, they return to the church this Christmas with an additional gift - their holiday music recorded.  "When It's Christmas Time" is a celebration of what incredible musical range and sheer musicianship they bring to their holiday repertoire as it brings together the very best of what these virtuoso musicians have to offer. 

Band member/manager Don Liuzzi, percussionist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, said recently, "When the DePue Brothers get together to play, they play to the height of their abilities. They play with utter abandon and joy. They play off one another and perhaps because they are brothers, they express with music far more than can be spoken with words. There is no musical group in the world like the DePue Brothers." 

Liuzzi credits each band member for his unique contribution to the recording and points out that Jason has a creative role in the album that cannot be overstated. He explains further, "Jason returned to the studio after the recordings were almost finished to add new lines of inspiration on the violin and mandolin." Something Liuzzi describes as "incredible gems!"

 

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