Daryl Hall & John Oates: Recorded Live From Dublin’ Brings Epic Emerald Isle Concert to U.S. Movie Theaters

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Daryl Hall and John Oates come to the big screen for a special one-night concert event on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7 p.m. local time, presented by Fathom Events, Cinema 1 and Eagle Rock Entertainment. The number-one selling duo in music history, they played before a sellout crowd in July 2014 at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre which will now come to select theaters as “Daryl Hall & John Oates: Recorded Live From Dublin.” Their set list included their smash hits such as “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” "Rich Girl, "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "Maneater," “She’s Gone,” "Out of Touch" and many more. Over 90 minutes of concert content will be shown along with special interviews and exclusive backstage footage.

“It was the perfect storm for a band, a concert and an audience. There are very few first-time experiences after you’ve been doing this for more than 40 years.”

“Ireland has a very music-oriented culture and a proud musical heritage,” said Hall. “It was the perfect storm for a band, a concert and an audience. There are very few first-time experiences after you’ve been doing this for more than 40 years.”

Daryl Hall & John Oates are soul survivors. Signed to Atlantic by Ahmet Ertegan in the 1970’s, from the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s, the duo would score six #1 singles, including “Rich Girl” (also #1 R&B), “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (also #1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch.” By 1987, the R.I.A.A. recognized Daryl Hall and John Oates as the number-one selling duo in music history, a record they still hold today. In May 2008, the duo was honored with the Icon Award during BMI’s 56th annual Pop Awards. In 2014, the two musicians hit another high as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

NEW RELEASES: OSCAR D’LEON – CLASICOS DE BIG BAND (BIG BAND CLASSICS); SPIKE WILNER - LIVE AT SMALLS; UNIVERSAL TOGETHERNESS BAND

OSCAR D’LEON – CLASICOS DE BIG BAND (BIG BAND CLASSICS)

A really unique album from this salsa legend – a set that has Oscar D'Leon paying tribute to the era of big bands, both Latin and jazz – with full orchestral backing alongside his vocals! The package has a really unusual presentation – in that it features two different CDs of the same material – one set with English language lyrics, one with Spanish – a wise idea, given that this album could be the one to reintroduce Oscar to a larger world outside the Latin music scene! The arrangements are great – very jazzy, and in a classic sort of Nelson Riddle style, but with some more Latin moments – and title sinclude "Strangers In The Night", "New York New York", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Fly Me To The Moon", "My Way", and "Cachito Mio". ~ 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

UNIVERSAL TOGETHERNESS BAND - UNIVERSAL TOGETHERNESS BAND

A Chicago group who never hit the big time during their short run at the start of the 80s – but one who definitely know how to groove! There's a vibe here that really lives up to the "togetherness" in the group's name – a way of coming together with a tight, sharp sound throughout – but one that's never too slick, just surprisingly strong for such an underground funk group from the Windy City! And although the music is upbeat, the style is less disco than it is the kind of faster funk that percolated strongly in the underground scene in the pre-house years – almost more akin to some of the best indie club work coming out of the east coast, but with a very unique vibe too. As usual with Numero, the set does way more than just bring this lost music to light – it also tells the tale of the Universal Togetherness Band, and their never-flagging sense of energy and inspiration during their short but important run. Titles include "Ain't Gonna Cry", "Try Try Try", "My Sentiment", "Real Thrill", "Once In A Lifetime", "Call For Love", "I Want You", and "Taken By Love". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: THE LIONS - SOUL RIOT; JOHN ZORN - HERMETIC ORGAN VOL 3: ST. PAUL'S HALL; LERON THOMAS - TAKE IT

THE LIONS – SOUL RIOT

The Lions seem to get deeper and deeper with each new release – moving past their start as a funk band with a focus on Kingston sounds – into a group who've got a really fresh feel of their own! Sure, some cuts here are great reggae numbers – the kind of mellow, head-nodding cuts The Lions have always given us – but there's also some more complicated elements going on too, these little touches of darkness at times, especially on the rhythms, which can break from obvious patterns into something nicely unique. Plenty of guests help flesh out the tunes – including Malik The Freq Moore, Black Shakespeare, Alex Desert, and Myron Glasper – and titles include "My Girl", "Going Nowhere", "Rhythm Rock", "Feels Good", "At A Loss", "Smoke & Mirrors", and "When It Rains". (Includes download! Pressed at 45 rpm – for even more booming sound!)  ~ Dusty Groove 

JOHN ZORN - HERMETIC ORGAN VOLUME 3: ST. PAUL'S HALL

Insanely great organ improvisations from John Zorn – an artist you might know best for his groundbreaking reed work, but who turns in a tremendous performance here on a full-voiced church organ! Zorn's range of sounds is mindblowing here – sometimes bold and bracing, sometimes just at the very edge of the sonic spectrum – used in these subtle, quiet ways that build beautifully as John deftly makes his ways over the keys and different stops on the instrument – with almost a building's worth of breadth in the results. All tracks are long – and titles include "Spectral Angels", "The Fall Of Satan", and "The Revelation Of St John".  ~ Dusty Groove

LERON THOMAS - TAKE IT

Totally wonderful work from Leron Thomas – an artist we're only discovering with this full length album, but one who we totally love already! Leron's got this hip style that's a mix of funky soul and darker, more sci fi-styled touches – some crispness on the beats, weird processing on his vocals, and a nice sense of abstraction that really inflects some great moments on the album's lyrics! Leron's worked before with Jason Moran, Guts, and Zara McFarlane – but this full length set on his own is a real revelation – with a sense of power and presence that should well have us hearing a lot more from him in years to come. Titles include "Enemy", "Kept", "Take It", "Appear To Stack", "Cover Band", and "Ass Kickin". (Includes download.) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: DUANE EUBANKS QUINTET - THINGS OF A PARTICULAR NATURE; COMPLICATED ANIMALS - IN THIS GAME; DAVID GIBSON - BOOM!

DUANE EUBANKS QUINTET - THINGS OF A PARTICULAR NATURE

A damn great album from trumpeter Duane Eubanks – soaring, soulful, and tremendously powerful right from the very first note! The album's got Eubanks working with an excellent lineup that includes Abraham Burton on tenor, Marc Cary on piano and Fender Rhodes, Steve Nelson on vibes, Dezron Douglas on bass, and Eric McPherson on drums – all really top-shelf players who come together beautifully on a set of all original material by Eubanks – compositions that are often nicely compact, but which really show an expansive vision from both the leader and other soloists. There's a real sense of the classic going on here – not rehashed classic jazz, but new material that will soon deserve it's own standing alongside a larger legacy. Titles include "Aborted Dreams", "As Is", "Beer & Water", "Purple Blue & Red", "Rosey", "Holding Hands", and "Slew Footed".  ~  Dusty Groove

COMPLICATED ANIMALS - IN THIS GAME 

Complicated Animals is Monica da Silva and Chad Alger. Their debut EP In This Game (out February 10, 2015 on Socialite Fiasco Music) features 6 songs in the duos’ self-coined Indie Nova genre. The style mixes breezy, Indie Pop with a touch of vintage Brazilian Bossa Nova. Monica and Chad released their first album together, Brasilissima, under Monica’s name in 2011. The album featured songs in both English and Portuguese. In This Game - Tracklist: Roadmap, Que Passou, Phoenix,

Bees Take To Honey, Drive Around In Cars, and Sempre Aqui.

DAVID GIBSON - BOOM!

Trombonist David Gibson has been giving us really great work with his recent albums on the Positone label – and each one seems to have the artist sounding even better and better than before! We're really wowed with the music David gives us this time around – a set of nearly all original compositions, blown with a strength and confidence that's as compelling as the songs themselves – with Gibson's trombone perfectly matched with the trumpet of Josh Evans in the frontline! The pair come together with a special sort of magic – maybe like Curtis Fuller and Freddie Hubbard in a key version of The Jazz Messengers – a unified voice on the leads, but very much their own folks on the solos. The rest of the group includes tight piano from Theo Hill, who really helps move things along – plus Alex Claffy on bass and Kush Abadey on drums – on titles that include "The High Road", "Rare Truth", "Grass Fed", "Eyes Of Argus", "Persephone", and "The Dance". ~ Dusty Groove

Three Swinging Singers - Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner & Melissa Stylianou - Make Their Trio Debut as Duchess

Sure-footed swing, sweet-toned harmony and ever-insouciant charm are embodied in the new jazz vocal trio Duchess, featuring notable New York singers Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner and Melissa Stylianou. The group's debut album - Duchess, to be released by Anzic Records on Febuary 17, 2015 - channels the 1930s inspiration of the virtuosic Boswell Sisters into a wonderfully entertaining and contemporary package. Produced by Oded Lev-Ari, who helmed previous acclaimed Anzic releases by Cervini and Stylianou, Duchess pairs the vocal trio with an ace New York band: pianist Michael Cabe, bassist Paul Sikivie and drummer Matt Wilson, plus saxophonist Jeff Lederer and guitarist Jesse Lewis. The songs of Duchess range from the Peggy Lee number "I Love Being Here With You" and Johnny Mercer's "P.S. I Love You" to new twists on "Que Sera, Sera" and the indelible standard "I'll Be Seeing You." There's a playful Gershwin rarity with "Blah, Blah, Blah" and a direct Boswell Sisters homage with their arrangement of "Heebie Jeebies." And there are solo spots for each of the Duchess ladies with "My Brooklyn Love Song" (Hilary), "A Doodlin' Song" (Amy) and "Humming to Myself" (Melissa). A blend of the vintage and the fresh, Duchess is a fizzing cocktail of an album.

Duchess - backed by the same band as on the album - will perform an album-release show at New York City's Jazz Standard on March 3, 2015. The group promises "three good-time gals singing together in harmony," Hilary says. "There's a big wink in what we do, a mix of levity and sincerity." Amy had sung previously many times with Hilary and Melissa, separately. It was the suggestion of Amy's husband - producer-arranger Oded Lev-Ari - to convene a threesome at one of her regular nights at the 55 Bar in the West Village, as he envisioned the trio sound in his head. Amy says: "We sang old Boswell Sisters and Andrew Sisters charts, and it went so well that Oded was inspired to write custom arrangements for us. He has a voice in this group, so much so that it's almost a quartet." 

About the magical rapport among the three singers, Amy says: "The chemistry with the three of us was special from the beginning - the sort of chemistry you can't predict and that doesn't happen very often. Honestly, the audience response had a lot to do with us pursuing the group. People were having such a good time, bobbing their heads and bopping in their seats. As Hilary said, Duchess is all about combining swinging with fun. There can be a fine line between entertaining and schtick, but we take care to fall on the right side of that. It's serious fun, in that we take the music seriously but not ourselves."

The historic muses for the Duchess sound are the Boswell Sisters, a trio from New Orleans whose pioneering close-harmony records for Brunswick in the Thirties are a prize in the jazz canon. "The Boswell Sisters were such originals," Hilary explains. "This kind of music got more conservative a decade later in the 1940s, with the Andrew Sisters taking the vocal trio format more mainstream, even though they were swinging and super-tight in their own way. But the Boswell Sisters had a kind of instrumental approach to harmony singing, and there was a wildness to what they did, with abrupt tempo changes, crazy harmonies and ensemble scatting as if they were singing from one brain. We love them. That said, we're not doing re-creations at all. Our voices, personalities and 21st-century sensibilities help impart individuality to what we're doing. We're making these songs our own, naturally. Oded's arrangements are tailored to our singing, and what Jeff Lederer plays isn't something that you'd hear on a Boswell Sisters record. It sounds like now." 

Along with their craft-honing, crowd-pleasing New York shows at the 55 Bar (including a three-month residency) and the Jazz Standard (joining in with Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O), Duchess brought the house down in New Orleans, native ground for the Boswell Sisters sound. The group was invited to the Crescent City to participate in a celebration of the Boswell Sisters by Kyla Titus, a granddaughter of one of the sisters and who runs an association for preserving their music. Melissa recalls: "Groups specializing in Boswell Sisters material from all over the world went down for the event. It was amazing how well they could do the Boswell Sisters music note-for-note. We only do a handful of numbers from the Boswell Sisters repertoire - we're more inspired by the spirit than the letter. But when we sang at Snug Harbor down there, people were so into it. I think they appreciated this tongue-in-cheek, slightly down-and-dirty thing we have going on."

Aside from the original Boswell Sisters chart for "Heebie Jeebies," producer Oded Lev-Ari arranged the songs on Duchess. As Hilary pointed out, the goal was never just a re-enactment of something ultra-hip from the Thirties. "That would be a museum piece, and that isn't what we wanted to create," Oded says. "But there is this playful correspondence with history of the music and the sound of the Boswell Sisters and others. Some of my arrangements for the group are informed by the old-school sound, with parallel movement for the voices, melody in the middle, triad-like structures like in 'A Little Jive' and 'It's a Man.' When I write, I usually try to make very singable melodic lines for musicians to play, and singers are no exception. There is a tradition in big-band composition - particularly with Duke Ellington - that emphasizes writing for the individual playing the instrument, not necessarily for the instrument itself. And getting to know the trio's voices and colors allowed me to do that. It has been a ton of fun. At this point, I can hear what a specific note would sound like when Melissa sings it versus Amy or Hilary, and it makes it possible to really refine the sound and expression." 

As for the band, all-star drummer Matt Wilson is a longtime Amy associate, as is pianist Michael Cabe, who played on her first two solo albums. Guitarist Jesse Lewis plays alongside Amy in their trio Jazz Country. And saxophonist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie are members of Wilson's Christmas Tree-O. Amy sums them up: "The band is just so good. They're really essential to our musical vibe and the humor, too, the way they play off each other and us."

Melissa shares a story about one of the best responses to the Duchess sound and sensibility: "It was from a musician, a vibes player who had a set after us at the 55 Bar. He came up to us and said, 'You know, the audience doesn't realize how difficult what you're doing really is. They're having too good of a time'."

  

Duchess:

1. "I Love Being Here with You" (Peggy Lee, Bill Schluger)

2. "There Ain't No Sweet Man" (Fred Fisher)

3. "Que Sera, Sera" (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans)

4. "My Brooklyn Love Song" (Ramey Idriss, George Tibbles)

5. "A Doodlin' Song" (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)

6. "A Little Jive Is Good for You" (Ralph Yaw)

7. "P.S. I Love You" (Johnny Mercer, Gordon Jenkins)

8. "Hummin' to Myself" (Sammy Fain, Herb Magidson, Monty Siegel)

9. "It's a Man" (Cy Coben)

10. "I'll Be Seeing You" (Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain)

11. "Lollipop" (Beverly Ross, Julius Dixon)

12. "Blah, Blah, Blah" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)

13. "Heebie Jeebies" (Boyd Atkins)

Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Melissa Stylianou, voices

Michael Cabe, piano; Paul Sikivie, double-bass; Matt Wilson, drums

Jeff Lederer, saxophone (1, 5, 6, 9, 11); Jesse Lewis, guitar (1, 2, 7, 8)

Produced and arranged by Oded Lev-Ari

Recorded by Chris Allen at Sear Sound, NYC

Mixed by Brian Montgomery

Mastered by Mark Wilder at Battery Studios, NYC

www.duchesstrio.com

CARMEN LUNDY Celebrates Banner Year: Release of 14th CD; Garners Widespread Critical Acclaim, Tour Dates Around The World, Radio Airplay And A Wealth Of Opportunities In 2015

2014 was an incredible year for vocalist, songwriter, producer and musician Carmen Lundy. “Soul To Soul,” a passionate new song cycle and the artist’s 14th CD, was released to critical raves from publications ranging from Jazz Times to Monsters & Critics to AXS Entertainment to Downbeat. Lundy performed to packed houses in Los Angeles, New York City, London, Paris and more and tracks from the CD have been receiving airplay on stations across the country including such tastemaker stations as Los Angeles’ KCRW and New York’s WBGO. Additionally, Lundy was chosen and interviewed to be a part of The History Makers, a series celebrating the achievements of African Americans, which will be housed permanently at The Library Of Congress in Washington, D.C.

4 Star Review, Best Albums of 2014 – Downbeat (Reviewed in January 2015 issue)

“One of the most criminally overlooked vocalists in jazz may just be ready to get some overdue attention with Soul To Soul.” – Straight No Chaser

“The finished track [“Grace”] is a jewel, a blissful ode to handed-down lessons in strength and dignity that underscore the entire album’s elegance.” – JazzTimes

“The singer has a commanding presence, her words tumbling, soaring and stretching. Carmen Lundy delivers storytelling lyrics with jazz technique and a fusion vibe.” – London Financial Times

“Carmen Lundy’s New Album ‘Soul To Soul’ Confirms Her Status As The Intellectual Voice of Jazz.” – Monsters and Critics

So what’s next for this ground-breaking artist? On February 13th, Carmen will perform at Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of Terri Lyne Carrington’s “Mosaic Project” – a performance that will be based on Carrington’s Grammy-winning CD and that will feature Carmen as well as Lizz Wright, Nona Hendryx, Tia Fuller, Ingrid Jensen, Helen Sung and more. Also on February 15th - Carmen and her band featuring Patrice Rushen, Kenny Davis, Jamison Ross and Warren Wolf will headline the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival.

Education will play a key role on Carmen’s agenda in 2015. From March 23-April 3 Carmen will be based at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for the annual Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program. 2015 marks Carmen’s 15th consecutive year of involvement with this globally-recognized composition and performance program and she is the only vocal chair to lead the program since Betty Carter herself. On the heels of The Kennedy Center, Carmen will travel to The Berklee School Of Music in Boston on April 7th and 8th for an intensive two-day performance and master class residency, to be followed by more tour dates in Canada and the US, then culminating in a 4-night stand at Jazz At Lincoln Center/Dizzy’s in New York City September 17th-20th and two nights at the Kennedy Center November 20th-21st.

“It’s been a very exciting and fulfilling time for me,” says Lundy, “I’m looking forward to 2015 and the opportunities it will offer – both musically and on a personal level. I have much to celebrate.”

“Soul To Soul”, Lundy’s 14th album, was released in September (Afrasia Productions) and is the latest chapter in her critically-acclaimed career as both a musical artist and a visual artist; a return to her roots but also an exploration of these roots — and the journey that those roots can take you on.

Carmen Lundy began working on “Soul To Soul” well over a year ago in a very hands-on manner – literally composing, co-composing and arranging eleven of the thirteen tracks and then playing and recording all the instruments – including bass, drums, piano, guitar and percussion – in her home studio to get a working “feel” for how the music might sound. She then “sweetened” the songs by adding string sounds and other software instruments to elaborate and experiment with the aural mood of each track, interpreting and identifying with each track’s sound individually as well as part of the overall song sequence. On the final CD, Lundy plays guitar on all tracks, piano and Rhodes on many tracks, and drums on two. “Soul To Soul” also features the stellar talents of guest artists Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Randy Brecker, Mayra Casales, Simphiwe Dana, Bennie Maupin, Carol Robbins, Ada Rovatti, and Warren Wolf along with Carmen’s core rhythm section members Darryl Hall and Jamison Ross.

Carmen Lundy is also a celebrated mixed media artist and painter, and her works have been exhibited in New York at The Jazz Gallery in Soho, at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, and at a month-long exhibition at the Madrid Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

NEW RELEASES: INTRODUCING PHILOPHON RECORDS; REGGIE CODRINGTON - ALWAYS IN MOTION; DANNY BRYANT - TEMPERATURE RISING

INTRODUCING PHILOPHON RECORDS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Philophon is the newly founded record label by Max Weissenfeldt, drummer and co-founder of the Poets of Rhythm, a.k.a the "godfathers of deep funk" (Wax Poetics) or, a little bit more dramatic, as the "unsung heros of the funk-soul revival" (Fred Thomas of the JB's). In cooperation with his brother Jan, he further formed the more globalized outfit the Whitefield Brothers. Under the direction of the multigrammylicious Dan Auerbach, master mind of the Black Keys, he also had the chance to participate in the making of the Grammy-winning Dr. John record 'Locked Down'. With his friend, Stibbo Spitzmüller, Max recently established the Stibbtone Studios at the riverside of Berlins Spree - home of Philophon and as well home to some of the most brilliant musicians in town. Now, with its first three 7-inches by Ghanaian vocalists; Guy One, Alogte Oho Jonas and Jimmy Taylor (AKA Roy X), son of Highlife legend Ebo Taylor, Philophon has started its journey and joins its friends and colleagues - like; Now Again, Truth & Soul, Daptone, Timmion, Jazzman, Soundway, Awesome Tapes From Africa, Kindred Spirits, Honest Jon's... in keeping soulful music alive.

REGGIE CODRINGTON - ALWAYS IN MOTION

Versatile smooth jazz saxophonist Reggie Codrington hits a milestone with his 10th CD, "Always in Motion", which follows 2012's critically acclaimed "Vicarious Experience". He's joined by pianist Jeff Lorber and the late Ricky Lawson, whose deft and skillful drumming is always a welcome addition to the bottom end. Smooth jazz guitarist Nils, a regular presence on radio, produced and wrote much of the vibrant material. Codrington, who commands the soprano sax with verve, drawing comparisons with such icons as Grover Washington Jr. and Kenny G, kicks if off with "Party Time", a smooth groove with guitar wah-wahs and layered brass bursts - a perfect song for a sunny drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. In fact, "Always in Motion" features a number of songs the North Carolina native dedicated to the West Coast.  ~ CD Universe

DANNY BRYANT - TEMPERATURE RISING

(2014/Jazzhaus) 9 tracks. The British blues-rock guitarist Danny Bryant embodies the traditional straight for the UK workers attribute the industrious Malochers. Despite extensive live presence to each new album new material regularly get served fans of earthy and sweaty blues rock. Not even one and a half years after the release of its predecessor, Hurricane his new album Temperature Rising appears. Danny Bryant so as to label the chord producing assembly line Blue workers according to the book, however, would it be not at all fair, because at least since the 2007 Output Just As I Am, the man of stature of master in terms of fulminant and soulful attack strings in the pocket. Accordingly, each new Silberling exposes other facets of the sympathetic fingerboard sorcerer. Temperature Rising is the logical continuation of the already mentioned work 2013er Hurricane, but was a little turned in detail at the screws. This will mainly affect the guitar sound that has significantly gained in intensity and this time the predicate deserves extra kräftigdeftig. "I wanted to place more emphasis on the live character in the recordings," Danny explains this development. "Many Solos therefore arose at the first and second attempt. This has helped to transfer the energy of our live shows to the studio atmosphere. " Medium 1 Best Of Me Take Me Higher Nothing At All Together Trough Life Razor Sharp Temperature Rising Time Mystery Guntown. ~ CD Universe

BROOKLYN JAZZ UNDERGROUND RECORDS ARTIST NOAH GARABEDIAN CELEBRATES NEW CD, BIG BUTTER AND THE EGGMEN @ DUENDE IN OAKLAND ON FEB 12 & @ THE CENTER FOR NEW MUSIC IN SAN FRANCISCO ON FEB 13

In demand sideman, bassist/composer Noah Garabedian, who has worked with the likes of Ravi Coltrane, Josh Roseman, Ralph Alessi, Andrew D'Angelo, Myron Walden, Nir Felder, Julian Waterfall Pollack and The Amigos Band, recently released his debut recording as a leader, Big Butter And The Egg Men, on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, featuring his sextet of the same name.  Garabedian now leads the band, featuring Noah Garabedian (bass), Kenny Warren (trumpet), Anna Webber (tenor saxophone and flute), Kyle Wilson (tenor saxophone), Raffi Garabedian (tenor saxophone), Curtis Macdonald (alto saxophone) and Alex Ritz (drums), at Bay Area CD Release Celebrations, February 12 at Duende in Oakland, and February 13 at the Center for New Music in San Francisco.  

The instrumentation of Garabedian's band was inspired by a prolonged Louis Armstrong phase, coupled with the bassist listening extensively to Henry Threadgill's bands Zooid, and Very Very Circus (several of the tracks on the album also reveal Garabedian's love for Bach, and Baroque music in general). He elaborated, "I wanted to create a band where the musicians could all comp for each other, without a traditional chordal instrument, and having a band that can potentially go from being an entire sextet improvising together, to a small duo or trio, was a very exciting prospect for me." Garabedian aimed to compose music that provide a spring board for the improvisers, and that would have a more natural transition between the composed passages and the improvised sections. He explains, "rather than writing in a conventional jazz structures (such as the blues, or AABA forms, etc), I wanted to experiment with several different melodies in a piece, different improvising sections throughout the composition, and a variety of textures within each song." 

The Big Butter And the Egg Men Sextet, featuring Garabedian on bass with Kyle Wilson (tenor sax), Anna Webber (tenor sax), Curtis MacDonald (alto sax), Kenny Warren (trumpet) and Evan Hughes (drums), is made up of musicians who are also friends who have been making music together for a long time. Just to cite one example, Garabedian, now based in Brooklyn, and drummer Evan Hughes (both from Berkeley, CA) have known each other since they were teenagers. "Having that band quality is very important to me, especially in an age where so few steady working bands exist. The trust I have in the musicians is something that I value greatly; not only can I rely on them to perform my music at a high level, but I also welcome their input while we are work-shopping new compositions," said Garabedian.

Guitarist LAWSON ROLLINS Set to Release Fifth Album, TRAVELER

Many people travel from an encapsulated distance, staying at posh brand name hotels and dining under the golden arches while others prefer to explore by blending amongst the natives for a more immersive and organic experience of the actual sights and sounds of a culture. Award-winning guitarist Lawson Rollins lives by the latter philosophy, taking his guitar with him to view and interpret his global journeys. Writing twelve expansive compositions that are wordless diary entries encapsulating his travels, Rollins’s virtuoso guitar parlance speaks a universal language on tales of exhilarating adventure, intriguing mystery and enticing romance on his fifth album, “Traveler,” which will be released by his Infinita Records label and distributed by Baja/TSR Records on February 17.         

Rollins’s traveling companion once again is platinum-selling producer-engineer Dominic Camardella, who has shared the helm on each of the guitarist’s previous releases that, like “Traveler,” are audacious border-crossing quests of melodic and rhythmic jazz and world beat. Joining them to create the intricate aural backdrops upon which Rollins unfurls masterful and impassioned fretwork on intercontinental and coast-to-coast exchanges was a noted ensemble comprised of Grammy-winning violinists Mads Tolling and Charlie Bisharat, Randy Tico (bass), Dave Bryant (drums & percussion) and Cameron Stone (cello). On select tracks they were joined by a horn section in addition to contributions from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy members Scotty Morris, Joshua Levy and Karl Hunter. Both Rollins and Camardella added keyboards and piano to the earthy mix on “Traveler” that Rollins describes as “a gypsy jazz amalgamation of travels.” 

A Billboard singles chart-topper (“Moonlight Samba”) who has hit both the contemporary jazz (Top 30) and world music (Top 10) albums charts while amassing nearly eight million YouTube views for videos showcasing the guitarist’s mesmerizing technique, Rollins says, "‘Traveler’ is a musical travelogue for me, chronicling some of my journeys in life and evoking some of the places I've lived, visited and returned to in my memory. The album starts with the African-flavored title track 'Traveler' and continues north to Spain ('Barcelona Express' and 'Meeting in Madrid'), France ('Cafe Paris'), Germany (‘Berlin Bossa’) and England (‘Across the Moors’), and then over the Atlantic to Louisiana ('Beyond the Bayou') where I lived for a time after college. Next, we head to California with 'Marching West' and 'Journey Home.' The album concludes with the modern, electronica-infused ‘Urban Trilogy’ that evokes my times spent in New York, London, Tokyo and San Francisco. On this journey, my guitar serves as a kind of filter through which my impressions of the world are processed and expressed in the language of music."   

Presaging the album release at radio is “City Electric,” a vibrant, pulsating EDM energizer unlike anything Rollins has ever recorded before. The single starts as one of the most added on this week’s charts. 

In December, Rollins won the prestigious 2014 USA Songwriting Competition’s best instrumental song and was the first ever instrumentalist to place third overall in the 20th year of the international contest that attracts 25,000 submissions from 80 countries. The complex and emotional “Shifting Seasons” appears on the artist’s 2013 release, “Full Circle.” Rollins has topped the most-played chart on SiriusXM Radio’s Watercolors resulting in a guest DJ hosting gig. The San Francisco, California-based musician debuted as a solo artist on 2008’s “Infinita” offering an inventive fusion of Latin, Indian, Persian, Arabic, South American and Euro stylings along with a guest appearance by Brazilian jazz vocal legend Flora Purim. Earlier in his career, Rollins partnered with Daniel Young to form Young & Rollins, a duo that crafted an eclectic mélange on four albums of salsa, bossa nova, flamenco, Latin and jazz grooves, hitting the Billboard Top 25. 

“Traveler” contains the following songs:

“Traveler”

“Barcelona Express”

”Café Paris”

“Berlin Bossa”

“Meeting in Madrid”

“Marching West”

“Journey Home”

“Beyond the Bayou”

“Across the Moors”

-The Urban Trilogy:

“Metropolis”

“Ancient City”

“City Electric” 

www.LawsonRollins.com

Saxophonist DONNY McCASLIN Releases New EDM-Influenced Album, Fast Future

The only thing predictable about Donny McCaslin's first ten albums was their unpredictability. Each new release arrived with a new line-up and not infrequently a new direction, often providing the perpetually curious saxophonist/composer with fertile new ground to explore.

On the surface, what makes McCaslin's latest release, Fast Future (available March 31, 2015 on Dave Douglas' Greenleaf Music), something of a radical departure from his usual M.O., is that it reprises the stunning electro-acoustic quartet from its groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed predecessor, Casting for Gravity - a project that earned McCaslin a 2014 GRAMMY® nomination for "Best Instrumental Jazz Solo" on the track "Stadium Jazz." However as the title implies, Fast Future finds McCaslin and company - keyboardist Jason Lindner, bassist Tim Lefebvre, and drummer Mark Guiliana, along with longtime producer David Binney - hurtling further into the relatively unexplored crossroads between jazz and electronica with virtuosic musicianship. Long influenced by fusion pioneers like Weather Report and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, McCaslin integrates those hybrid instincts with innovative modern artists like Aphex Twin and Skrillex.

"I really love the sonic textures and ambient vibe that you hear in a lot of that music," says McCaslin of the influence that electronica and EDM (Electronic Dance Music) has had on his music. "Having these guys improvising and interacting within that sonic landscape feels great."

  

At the core of even the most adventurous soundscapes on Fast Future - McCaslin's fourth album for Greenleaf and the first release during the company's 10th anniversary year - are similar sensibilities that have fueled McCaslin's acoustic music, namely vigorous melodies, taut interaction, and the leader's instantly recognizable, brawny tenor voice. Take "No Eyes," a cover of a song by Baths, the alter ego of L.A.-based electronica artist Will Wiesenfeld. Atop the electronic synth-bass throb sits a gorgeous, singable melody, which Binney enhances via transcendent wordless vocals (an element that was not previously highlighted on Casting for Gravity). "Sometimes in the electronica realm there's not enough harmonic movement or melody for me," McCaslin says. "But that song is a beautiful tune in and of itself and you could play it in a variety of ways." It is in this overall spirit that Fast Future showcases McCaslin in a slightly more commercial context, featuring production tendencies that are more often reserved for non-jazz projects. "Greenleaf has again provided an opportunity for me to experiment and that comes from the openness and sensibility of Dave Douglas," says McCaslin, who was a member of Douglas' quintet. 

McCaslin is well known for his standout playing in the Maria Schneider Orchestra (having recently been featured on the David Bowie/Maria Schneider collaboration, "Sue") and Ryan Truesdell's Gil Evans Project, and he compares the feeling of playing amid lush electronic environments to soloing against those vivid big-band backdrops. "Standing and playing in front of this bed of beauty is such a joy," he says. "It's so awesome to be surrounded by such deep music." 

The members of McCaslin's quartet have been incredibly busy in the two years since the release of Casting for Gravity. Lefebvre, already in-demand for Hollywood soundtrack work and subbing on Saturday Night Live, joined the Tedeschi Trucks Band, a touring juggernaut that has kept him almost constantly on the road. Lindner remains a commanding presence on the NYC jazz scene, leading his renowned band Now Vs Now and its large ensemble spin-off, Breeding Ground. Guiliana joined with pianist Brad Mehldau to form the electronic duo project Mehliana and founded the independent record label Beat Music Productions, which recently launched with the release of two of his own new projects. 

All of those experiences converge when these individually inventive artists come together in McCaslin's quartet, now with multiple years of experience as a working unit. The saxophonist calls Lefebvre "the DJ of the band," the breadth of his stylistic and sonic range driving the band into different territories from one moment to the next. With his own background in production, drum and bass, and electronic music, Guiliana easily transcends the genre boundaries traversed by McCaslin's music and is so crucial to the band's sound that the bandleader has said, "this record is a drum solo." And McCaslin praises Lindner's "stylistic malleability," noting his gift at finding "these sounds that feel right and are edgy, but he's also able to be so in the moment and so organic." 

Saxophonist, composer and producer Binney, McCaslin's longtime friend, collaborator, and basketball partner, is the fifth member of the quartet. Months before he sets foot in the studio for any project, McCaslin consults with Binney and the two shape a vision for his next project. "I can't overstate the significance of Dave's contribution to this record," McCaslin says. "It was a real partnership. He was never more of an influence on a record than he was on this one." 

One example that McCaslin cites is the haunting spoken word interlude on "Love What is Mortal," performed by Jana Dagdagan, intertwined above McCaslin pristine soloing and treatment of melody. An integral component of the song's melancholy atmosphere, the dialogue was entirely Binney's idea, and he presented it complete and already edited into the track when McCaslin entered the studio one day. "I thought it was perfect," McCaslin says. "How lucky am I to have a friend like that?" 

From the bombastic grooves of the title track, through the lustrous ballad "Midnight Light" and the frantic free-jazz mutation of Aphex Twin's "54 Cymru Beats," to the final dub-tinged stealth of closer "Squeeze Thru," which evokes McCaslin's youth in Santa Cruz, seeing reggae legends like Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Mighty Diamonds, and Burning Spear live, Fast Future offers a thrilling vision of the shape and redefinition of jazz to come. 

Upcoming DONNY McCASLIN Performances:

  

All dates to feature the Donny McCaslin Group unless otherwise noted. 

Personnel for each date varies.

January 29 - 31 / University of Mary (Guest w/ Univ. Big Band)  / Bismarck, ND

February 12 / Regattabar / Cambridge, MA

February 15 / Darulbedayi Caddesi Harbiye Sisli

(w/ Maria Schneider Orchestra) / Istanbul, Turkey

February 20 - 21 / University of Wisconsin -

River Falls (Guest w/ Univ. Big Band) / River Falls, WI

March 7 / The Jazz Bakery / Los Angeles, CA

March 12 - 15 / Cuesta College / San Luis Obispo, CA

March 16 / El Cerrito High School (Guest w/ High School Jazz Band) / El Cerrito, CA

March 19 / Jazz en Rafale (Donny McCaslin Trio

w/ Scott Colley & Jonathan Blake) / Montreal, QC

March 25 - 28 / Mondavi Center / Davis, CA

April 1 / Humber College (Artist-in-Residence) / Toronto

April 3 / Kent State University (Guest Artist) / Kent, OH

April 7 - 8 / The Jazz Standard / New York, NY

April 12 - 18 / Jaazar Festivel (Guest Artist) / Aarua, Switzerland

April 21 - 25 / Reno Jazz Festival (Guest Artist) / Reno, NV

 April 28 - May 3  / Village Vanguard (w/ Enrico Pieranunzi Group) / New York, NY

May 14 - 17 / Jazz Standard (w/ Gil Evans Project - CD Release / New York, NY

June 2 - 6 / Birdland (w/ Maria Schneider Orchestra) / New York, NY

July 18 / Kuumbwa Jazz Center / Santa Cruz, CA

July 19 / Stanford Jazz Workshop / Stanford, CA

www.donnymccaslin.com

Kevin Eubanks and Stanley Jordan Team Up on Wide Range of Covers and Originals for Duets

Multi-faceted guitar heroes Kevin Eubanks and Stanley Jordan recording a Duets album: an idea that as soon as you hear it, you wonder why nobody, including you, thought of it until now. Eubanks, the Philadelphia native who took New York by storm starting out in straight ahead jazz clubs then progressive albums for contemporary jazz giant GRP Records and legendary Blue Note Records, frequent collaborations with cutting edge bassist Dave Holland, then 18 years in Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" Band (15 as Music Director) where he played with seemingly every meaningful musician across genres. Jordan, the Chicago-born/Bay Area-raised phenomenon who mesmerized audiences with his instantly identifiable "touch technique" on guitar beginning with his gold-selling Blue Note Records debut Magic Touch (featuring his radio staple remake of Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life"), followed by a string of wide-ranging endeavors including a one-off for Clive Davis' Arista Records and explorations into the field of music therapy. Add that, between them, both gentlemen play piano, bass and keyboards - arrange and compose - and the possibilities become truly inviting. Surely Eubanks and Jordan would make some engaging "beyond boundaries" music together. That they do on their serenely seamless 10-song Mack Avenue Records outing, Duets - spontaneous compositions and passionate arrangements that will send listeners' imaginations on a series of hypnotic journeys. 

The impeccably balanced Duets includes four all-new "skull arrangements" (so called because they were jointly created off the top of their heads), versions of four well-known classics: "Nature Boy," "Blue in Green," "Summertime" and "A Child is Born," plus interpretations of a modern pop song (Adele's "Someone Like You") and an electronic dance pop hit (Ellie Goulding's "Lights"). These were the all-natural uncalculated result of long philosophical heart to hearts as well as a 9-city tour - over 30 years after Eubanks and Jordan's first meeting in the early '80s at New York's famed jazz-fusion club, the 55 Grand. 

"We've known each other since the early `80s," Eubanks opens. "Since then we'd see each other mostly on festival stages." Jordan adds, "I knew him as one of the best musicians in the early days before any of us were well known beyond the inner music circles...a guitarist with an unconventional finger style technique. I could relate to that. We were going for something different and I never viewed him as a competitor. The music was big enough for both of us." 

The game changer occurred in September 2011 within the idyllic setting of Village Square in British Columbia at the inaugural Jazz on the Mountain at Whistler festival. Both guitarists were on the bill with Eubanks also presiding as Artist in Residence. Jordan stopped to watch Eubanks give an outdoor interview and found himself additionally impressed by several beliefs and principles he was sharing. "It's about the challenges of being an eclectic musician in a world where everything is so tightly formatted," Jordan explains. "He had a lot to say. Afterwards, we talked for a really long time - hours. That's when the seed for us doing something together was planted." Eubanks adds, "Stanley and I are in alignment on a number of things. We share an open-mindedness that's about inclusiveness instead of exclusiveness - that, ultimately, sharing is better than not." 

They decided to do a short tour; initially playing separate sets with someone occasionally popping in on the other's time. Word got back that audiences liked it best in those moments when they played together. Everything changed during a sound check in Texas, April 2013. "We were in an all wooden church where the acoustics were fantastic," Eubanks recalls. "We started playing, looked at each other, and felt how easy and nice everything flowed. That exchange created a lot of energy. The show flipped to us starting the show together, playing a couple songs alone, then us back together to close. Musicians sometimes get so myopic in their own world and need to get their minds past the foot of the stage. This was a case where the audience had a broader picture of what was possible than we did." 

The next step was documenting their developing concepts on a recording. Their disparate schedules delayed not only their recording but even making time to prepare before they went in. Most of what you hear on Duets was conceptualized during the week of recording in Eubanks' state of the art facility - a studio as good as most in Hollywood down where his basement used to be, complete with Neve console, a Steinway piano and booths for every instrument. He recorded all of his most recent Mack Avenue releases there. "We didn't know anything we were going to do until Stanley came to the house," Eubanks says. "We'd planned to get together to hash it all out but we never got around to it until we had to - on the session." Jordan explains, "I had a lot of gigs during that time. I relied on Kevin to do a lot of the detail work that made the album feel like a whole. I knew from his experience creating 'The Tonight Show' arrangements night after night that the process for him had become as effortless as breathing." 

One interesting reveal is both of them playing some piano in addition to guitars, an especially major deal for Eubanks. "My Mom played, my uncle Ray Bryant played and I grew up listening to piano, transcribing Oscar Peterson," he says. "Guitar was my career. Piano was for relaxing. I enjoyed the freedom of not having to be good on piano but I'm excited now to put myself out there on Thad Jones' 'A Child Is Born,' the first song that made me feel like I was really playing something years ago. It opened up a lot of things for me on piano."  

Also of note are their delicate spins on more mod covers. "I brought in the Adele and Stanley brought in 'Lights.' I looked at it as a real opportunity to incorporate them into something with a nice fresh feel but still be appreciated by the artists that wrote them." Stanley adds, "During my road trips I comb the radio dial and I listen to all kinds of music. When I heard 'Lights' I knew this was a recognizable song we could do in our own way. It was a little tricky because production plays such a big role in songs today. Jazz is more about melody and harmony. I chose 'Lights' because of its hauntingly beautiful melody and sweet chords. I think the version we created is something special on its own." 

Most exciting are the four "skull arrangements" that started as jams then evolved in the studio over a few takes which gave the duo organic arranging ideas to get from point A to B. Jordan defines these pieces as "the real essence of what we do." Eubanks adds, "You get more out of the deal when people are involved with a willingness to make the whole thing bigger than 'my part and your part.' Together we've got this thing that's bigger than anything we can do alone." Kevin absorbed substantial inspiration toward this direction from young musicians he encounters today. "I really love the cats coming up in jazz. They are the most respectful group of ladies and gentlemen. Their excitement has no trace of bitterness and they bring so much more to the table. One cat is designing an app to help him keep a band together. That wasn't around when I was coming up. It makes them more open minded about, 'How do we get the music out there?' Music should be the portal that unites instead of the door that separates people." 

Summing up Kevin Eubanks and Stanley Jordan's inaugural Duets recording, Jordan thoughtfully concludes, "This album fills a nice niche because it's relaxing yet engaging. When you hear Kevin and me playing together, it's all about the music and supporting each other. I just love the feel of it - it has a real sweetness. People who listen from their heart are really going to love this record as an antidote to the norm." 

Kevin Eubanks and Stanley Jordan - Duets is set for release on March 24, 2015.

www.StanleyJordan.com 

www.KevinEubanks.com

 

Jazz Guitarist Alex Baboian Releases CURIOSITY

Alex Baboian is an Armenian-American guitarist, composer, and teacher from Boston, Massachusetts who has been described by music educator Hal Crook as a "Future major voice in jazz" and in a review from Allaboutjazz.com as "a superb composer, an original improviser and an apt bandleader." Alex graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2012 duel majoring in Performance and Electronic Production and Design and being awarded the guitar department achievement award twice. He has performed extensively at venues and festivals in America, Asia, Europe, and The Middle East. Some of the wonderful teachers Alex has studied with include Dave Tronzo, Hal Crook, Jon Damian, Dave Fiuczynski, David Gilmore, Phil Wilson, Greg Hopkins, Jamey Haddad, and Simon Shaheen. He also had the privilege of working with Peter Bernstein and Wayne Krantz when they were in residency at Berklee.

Alex's debut album as a leader entitled "Curiosity" was released in Fall 2014 and features his original compositions and arrangements for jazz trio and quintet. It has been as described by Hrayr Attarian at Allaboutjazz.com as "an intimate, contemplative and supremely lyrical work" "sonic poetry." You can find the music at Cdbaby and Bandcamp. Other musicians on the album are Dylan Coleman (bass); Ton Wandell (drums); Rafael Aguilar (alto sax); and Michael Sachs (alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet). 

If you enjoy jazz with the sound of the guitar upfront and on lead, then you will surely enjoy this release.  Tracks include: Spurs, Mulatu, Mysteries, Streetlights, Mouse, Rockwell, A Dreamer's Holiday, Tree Rings, Alberto Balsalm, as well as the Lennon & McCartney's Girl.

CERRONE - THE BEST OF CERRONE PRODUCTIONS

CERRONE - THE BEST OF CERRONE PRODUCTIONS

Compilation of 42 tracks from some of the best work by French disco legend Cerrone! Alongside bonafide classics ‘Love In C Minor’ and ‘Supernature’, The Best of Cerrone Productions gathers over 20 tracks of the drummer and producer’s own tracks, plus a bunch of his material for the likes of Don Ray, Kongas, Revalacion, Brigade Mondaine and Cristal. The label has also thrown in a selection of remixes! Tracklisting: Cerrone - Supernature; Don Ray - Got To Have Lovin'; Cerrone - Love In C Minor; Cerrone - Midnite Lady; Cerrone - Freak Connection; Revelacion - The House Of The Rising Sun; Cerrone - Look For Love; Don Ray - Standing In The Rain; Kongas - Why Can't We Live Together; Cristal - Phonic; Cerrone - Striptease (B.o.f. Brigade Mondaine I); Cerrone - Call Me Tonight; Kongas - Africanism; Cerrone - Your Love Survived; Cerrone - You Are The One; Cerrone - Club Underworld; Cerrone - Love In C Minor (Dimitri From Paris Remix); The Shoes & Beth Ditto - Cerrone's Supernature; Kongas - Africanism Gimme Some Lovin (Get A Room Remix); Cerrone - Hooked On You (The Reflex Revision). Cerrone - Give me Love; Cerrone - Cerrone's Paradise; Cerrone - Love is Here; Cerrone - Music of Life; Cerrone - Vaudou aux Caraibes (suite); Cerrone – Experience; Cerrone - Je Suis Musique; Cerrone - La Secte de Marrakech (suite); Cerrone - Panic; Cerrone - Rocket in the Pocket; Cerrone - Generique Fin; Cerrone – Soumission; Cerrone - In the Smoke; Cristal - La nuit pour nous; Cerrone - Take Me; Cerrone - Cycle's Woman (feat. Santana's Band); Kongas - Tattoo Woman; Kongas - Dr. Doo-Dah; Cerrone - Music of Life (Alan Braxe Remix); Cerrone - Misunderstanding (A-Trak & Codes Rework); Cerrone - Je suis Music (Armand Van Helden Remix); Cerrone - Give me Love (Frankie Knuckles Remix).

20 YEARS OF FREEDOM: HUGH MASEKELA & VUSI MAHLASELA TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA

Two of South Africa’s true freedom fighters and renowned musical icons come together to honor twenty years since the start of democracy in South Africa, and the official end of Apartheid. In a collaborative performance with a band, Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlasela will pay homage in 20 Years of Freedom: featuring South Africa’s Freedom Songs, including many of their own. While both artists have been like-minded musical comrades at home in South Africa for years and shared the stage on several occasions, this marks their debut tour joining forces together.  The dynamic show backed by their 5-piece all-star band features both artists collaborating together on stage for their entire show.  Their set will include many of their greatest songs from their respective catalogs.

Vusi Mahlasela, is simply known as ‘The Voice’ in his home-country, celebrated for his distinct, powerful voice and his poetic, optimistic lyrics. His songs of hope connect Apartheid-scarred South Africa with its promise for a better future. Raised in the Mamelodi Township, where he still resides, Vusi became a singer-songwriter and poet-activist at an early age teaching himself how to play guitar and later joining the Congress of South African Writers. After his popular debut on BMG Africa, When You Come Back, Vusi was asked to perform at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994. Vusi has shared the stage with Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Paul Simon, and Taj Mahal, among many others. Perhaps his biggest gig was in 2010 when he helped ring in the World Cup in South Africa, at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Vusi has released seven studio albums to-date; his latest release is Sing to the People (ATO Records), a celebratory live recording looking back on twenty years since his first album.

Hugh Masekela is a world-renowned flugelhornist, trumpeter, bandleader, composer, singer and defiant political voice who remains deeply connected at home, while his international career sparkles. In 1968, his instrumental single ‘Grazin’ in the Grass’ went to Number One on the American pop charts and was a worldwide smash, elevating Hugh onto the international stage. His subsequent solo career has spanned 5 decades, during which time he has released over 40 albums (and been featured on countless more) and has worked with such diverse artists as Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie, The Byrds, Fela Kuti, Marvin Gaye, Herb Alpert, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and the late Miriam Makeba. In 1990 Hugh returned home, following the unbanning of the ANC and the release of Nelson Mandela – an event anticipated in Hugh’s anti-apartheid anthem ‘Bring Home Nelson Mandela’ (1986) which had been a rallying cry around the world.

Don’t miss this opportunity to catch two living legends live during this historic tour!  Rolling Stone hails, “…Hugh Masekela is still one of the most thrilling live performers around,” while CNN states, “The legendary singer [Vusi Mahlasela] has been celebrated globally for his powerful vocals and universal message of freedom and human kindness.”

Tour Dates:

Feb 18 @ Kupferberg Center For The Arts - Queens, NY

Feb 20 @ South Orange Performing Arts Center - South Orange, NJ

Feb 21 @ Annenberg Center - Zellerbach Theatre - Philadelphia, PA

Feb 22 @ Lisner Auditorium - Washington, DC

Feb 24 @ John Hancock Hall - Boston, MA

Feb 25 @ Mccarter Theatre - Princeton, NJ

Feb 27 @ Old Town School of Folk Music - Chicago, IL

Feb 28 @ Koerner Hall - Toronto, ON

Mar 01 @ London Music Hall - London, ON

Mar 03 @ Englert Theatre- Iowa City, IA

Mar 05 @ Center For Faith & Life - Decorah, IA

Mar 06 @ Wisconsin Union Theater - Madison, WI

Mar 07 @ Ordway Center For The Performing Arts - St. Paul, MN

Mar 09 @ John Van Duzer Theatre - Arcata, CA

Mar 10 @ Mondavi Center for The Performing Arts - Davis, CA

Mar 11 @ Zellerbach Auditorium at UC Berkeley - Berkeley, CA

Mar 13 @ Univ. of California - Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

Mar 14 @ Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles, CA

vusimahlasela.com

hughmasekela.co.za

A retrospective album from fusion guitarist and composer Jerry De Villiers Jr is released on CD for the first time

Good things never get old and it is with great excitement that the new label Timeless Momentum launches a CD from Canadian guitarist and composer Jerry De Villiers Jr.

Jerry was heavily active in the Montreal jazz scene in the 1990s having performed and recorded with various musicians including Alain Caron and James Gelfand. Caron's first album alone made quite an impact around the world and De Villiers Jr became noticed as a unique player with an incredible sound and a highly melodic phrasing. During those years, Jerry was also busy composing, recording and performing his personal music under the project name of Turning Point.

Due to various circumstances, none of the music Jerry recorded in studio with Turning Point was ever released on CD. In the late 1990s Jerry took a few years to pursue opportunities in television and film scoring. He wrote and performed the music for the hugely popular theme song to the four time Emmy Award winning show Arthur, sung by Ziggy Marley and more recently by Chance the rapper. Jerry worked on and scored for movies such as Art of War, Screamers and Cause of Death, amongst others, and composed the award winning soundtrack to the popular Quebec blockbusters Les Boys.

Recently, Jerry has been slowly returning to his first passion of jazz fusion through collaborations with bass player and composer Antoine Fafard. Antoine's album projects have been featuring artists including Terry Bozzio, Jerry Goodman, Simon Phillips, Chad Wackerman and Dave Weckl. The album Ad Perpetuum released in 2014 with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums features Jerry in its entirety and includes guest appearances by Gerry Etkins and Gary Husband. More recordings with Fafard and Husband are in the works and due to be released sometime in 2015.

The music on The Turning Point Archives consists of seven studio tracks recorded during 1995 and another seven pieces captured live in 1994. On the live tracks, Jerry is supported by Magella Cormier on drums, Mathieu Cormier on bass and Gerry Etkins on keyboards, while the studio pieces include a collection of various collaborators.

The music that had been kept archived for 20 years is a gem that is still relevant now and will continue to be in the years to come.