Bob Baldwin - Mellowonder / Songs in the Key of Stevie

Four-time SESAC Award-winning and Grammy nominee Pianist/Arranger Bob Baldwin continues his flow of music, and follows up with his tributes to Michael Jackson and Songwriter extraordinaire Thom Bell with his MelloWonder/Songs In the Key of Stevie CD. MelloWonder… takes some of his favorite songs from the catalog of Stevie Wonder, and particularly a huge chunk between 1969-1974, when Baldwin believes this was the beginning of an era where Wonder turned the keyboard into a “one-man orchestra.” The project is a dream project, which took two years to complete.

“As a young budding musician and keyboardist, the key albums that impacted me the most were ‘Innervisions’, ‘Fulfillingness First Finale’, ‘Music of My Mind’, and ‘Talking Book,’” says the New York native. “These projects featured this behemoth analog keyboard they called ‘T.O.N.T.O.’ and Stevie’s Producers at the time (Bob Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil) were the most forward programmers of that instrument, and the producers of those projects. While they are flipping knobs and pushing buttons on T.O.N.T.O. machine, Stevie was getting busy on the creativity with the funky bass-lines, clavinets, Wurlitzer and Rhodes Keyboards. Those projects had a warmth that was unexplainable, and as a result, those four projects are very unique to his entire catalog, so I wanted to create my own vibe that spoke to his use of the keyboard as an arranging tool, which of course, is miles ahead these days due to the application of digital technology.”

“When I do a cover project, I want to make sure I’m not covering music that has not been overdone in the market. Stevie’s music has been covered thousands of time over the years but rarely by a keyboardist. Hugo Montenegro did a moog-based project back in the 1970’s, George Duke produced a record for Najee years ago “Songs in the Key of Life”, so we wanted to stay away from that period, but by-and-large, a keyboard-focused disc covering Stevie Wonder has not been done in 40 years. I pulled out the old vintage pieces; the Moog, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, but also added some new keyboard pieces to keep things current.”

Add to the fact that Stevie Wonder’s birthday is 65 (5/13), and his recently intense tour schedule, the timing of this project is pretty special in its’ own way. “In observing the vehicle that this living legend is driving today as he approaches his 65th birthday and his tour theme, the title “MelloWonder/Songs in the Key of Stevie” just felt right.

His 21st disc contains 14 songs total, of which 2 are original Baldwin tracks. He added some flava to a few of Stevie’s originals, such as “Rocket Love / Down to Earth”, “Love’s Light in Flight / Love Trippin’”, and “The Real Thing / Keepin’ it Real”. The disc features Marion Meadows, U-Nam, Chieli Minucci, Toni Redd, Ragan Whiteside, and Stevie sideman Ryan Kilgore, who was on his most recent 2014-2015 “Songs in the Key of Life” tour.

Bob Baldwin has been obliterating the lines between Urban, Jazz, and Gospel for years since his earlier works in 1988. This project is no different - a must-have for your BB collection. ~ bobbaldwin.com

NEW RELEASES: LUCAS ARRUDA – SOLAR; THE POLYVERSAL SOULS – YELLE BE BOBRE; FABIO FRIZZI – REWIND: THE STUDIO ALBUM

LUCAS ARRUDA – SOLAR

Stunning work from Lucas Arruda – a record we love even more than his first – and we totally loved that one to death! The sound here is prime Brazilian 70s at its best – that magical moment when jazz, fusion, and older bossa-schooled styles all came together in a really unique blend – and also helped Brazil find its own unique sense of soul, too – a quality that really came forth in the best work from Azymuth and Marcos Valle at the end of the decade! No surprise, Lucas has Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros and Valle collaborator Leon Ware both on board to help out with the record – but the strength of the set is clearly all Arruda's own – as his vocals are wonderful, with a soulful expression that's vaguely in the Ed Motta side of the spectrum – mixed with his own warm lines on Fender Rhodes, which totally warm things up! Production is perfect, and equally vintage – and the album's a treasure we'll be loving for years. Titles include "Uma Onda", "Melt The Night", "Vento Sul", "Kalunga", "Solar", "O Mar O Samba E O Sol", "Beyond The Sea", and "Agua".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE POLYVERSAL SOULS – YELLE BE BOBRE

Yelle Be Bobre is the first single to be taken from Invisible Joy, the debut album from Max Weissenfeldt's (Poets of Rhythm / Whitefield Brothers / Dr. John / Bombino) new band The Polyversal Souls. With this album, the band has successfully create a globalised style of soul music with; raw funk grooves, enchanting melodies from a faraway world, polyrhythmic hip-hop coming together to take you on a musical trip around the world. Guy One's unique voice and energic Kologo play features here - as also heard on last year's 7" on Philophon Records (Suro Yuama / A Me Bayela Do Me). The Frafra poet from north Ghana teams up again with his German music brothers and fills the Trans-Saharian distance with his haunting voice and his proto-banjo, which - you won't believe it - has just two strings. The Polyversal Souls' debut album, Invisible Joy, will be available on Philophon Records in July 2015.

FABIO FRIZZI – REWIND: THE STUDIO ALBUM

A really surprising studio project from Italian soundtrack legend Fabio Frizzi – a set that has Frizzi himself on guitar and a bit of vocals, working with a small string group, and a bit of tenor sax! The music is mostly pulled from older film scores – penned by Frizzi and contemporaries like Piero Piccioni and Carlo Rustichelli – but there's also a few vocal tunes by Paul McCartney and Noel Gallagher – sung by Frizzi in this earthy voice to offset the mostly-instrumental modes of the record. The soundtrack numbers are our favorites – and are taken in these cool, intimate ways that are really nice – like a composer going back on his generation, and delivering things with a more personal vibe overall. Titles include "Fantozzi", "Bla Bla Bla", "Butta La Lunda", "La Marcia Di Esulapio", "Sette Note In Nero", "Baby Sequenza 2", "Junk", "If I Had A Gun", and "Ibo Lele". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: JASON MILES / INGRID JENSEN - KIND OF NEW; BOBBY HUTCHERSON - COMPONENTS; BOBBY BYRD - GOT SOUL: THE BEST OF BOBBY BYRD

JASON MILES / INGRID JENSEN - KIND OF NEW

Keyboardist and composer Jason Miles has teamed up with trumpeter Ingrid Jenson on the new CD – Kind Of New. Inspired by Miles Davis' Cellar Door sessions, ""Kind Of New"" creates a new vibe mixing electric and acoustic, percussion with electric grooves, and drums with electronic percussion. Six new studio tracks and four live tracks see Miles and Jensen joined by such eminent players as Jay Rodriguez, James Genus, Jeff Coffin, Adam Dorn, Amanda Ruzza, Steve Wolf, Jon Wikan, Nir Felder, Cyro Baptista, Mike Clark and Jerry Brooks. Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. She has released three highly acclaimed CDs for the ENJA record label, soon becoming one of the most in-demand players on the global jazz scene. Miles is a Grammy-recognized producer and keyboardist, whose credits also include work with Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan and Sting, among many others.  Tracks include: The Faction of Cool, Super City, Shirley, Film Noir Interlude, Ferrari, Seeing Through the Rain, Close to the Action, Kat’s Eye, Street Vibe, Twilight Interlude, Sanctuary, and Jean Pierre.

BOBBY HUTCHERSON - COMPONENTS

An essential Blue Note album by the great vibist Bobby Hutcherson, and a record that's split into 2 different sides, each of which display different aspects of Hutcherson's talents. The first four tracks are mellow and lyrical, with the kind of lovely melodic writing that is best illustrated by the cut "Little B's Poem" – included here, and still one of Hutcherson's most enduring works. The next four tracks show Hutcherson more as the accomplished modernist, working with edgey talents like James Spaulding on alto and flute, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the great Joe Chambers on drums – who also wrote all 4 of the tracks in this segment. The work is a key example of Hutcherson's devotion to the Blue Note "new thing" sound, and titles include "Air", "Juba Dance", and "Pastoral". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY BYRD - GOT SOUL: THE BEST OF BOBBY BYRD

Essential material by this funky soul legend – even if you've got his one and only album! This is an excellent compilation of the very hard to find work of this James Brown partner and singer, with a track list of 22 cuts that includes lots of cool rare funky 45 tracks, and a number of previously unreleased tracks! Bobby is excellent throughout, and the set's filled with loads of rare James Brown-produced grooves that includes "I'm Just A Nobody", "Keep On Doin What You're Doin", "We're In Love", "No One Like My Baby", I'm Not To Blame", "I Know You Got Soul", "Funky Soul (parts 1 & 2)", "Baby Baby Baby", "I Need Help", "Never Get Enough", "Hang Ups We Don't Need", "Sayin It And Doin' It Are Two Different Things" – and lots lots more, including a rare PSA urging the listener to "Fight Drug Abuse". ~ Dusty Groove

The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983), a monumental 23-disc box set, to be released on Friday, August 21, 2015

An essential library collection chronicling the sonic evolution and abiding achievements of the unprecedented R&B ensemble, The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) follows The Isley Brothers through their transformation from a 1950's doo-wop/gospel vocal group into the world's preeminent R&B rock 'n' soul powerhouse party band. As evidenced in this quarter century of recordings, The Isley Brothers absorbed the music and culture surrounding them to continually create contemporary sounds spanning the decades.

The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) showcases tracks written (excepting "covers"), arranged, performed and produced by The Isley Brothers.  This definitive new Isley Brothers anthology was compiled and produced by Grammy Award®-winner Leo Sacks, co-produced by Jeffrey James and Jeremy Holiday, and mastered from the original analog tapes by Grammy Award®-winner Mark Wilder at Battery Studios.

The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) features  newly remastered versions of The Isley Brothers' 21 albums released for both labels, nearly all of which are expanded with rare mixes and tracks making their CD and digital debuts.  The new collection includes 84 rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks.

This set also includes, released here for the first time in its entirety, the "Great Lost Isley Brothers Album": Wild In Woodstock: The Isley Brothers Live At Bearsville Sound Studio 1980.  First conceived as a "live" double album (with overdubbed crowd noise), this newly restored performance offers an immersive look at a crucial chapter in The Isley Brothers' history, a pivotal moment in the fusion of rock and funk music in an era fueled by the sound of the Isleys.

By the 1990s, The Isley Brothers' dominant influence over hip-hop music and culture could be felt at every turn. "Footsteps In The Dark" from 1977's Go For Your Guns was sampled in Ice Cube's "It Was A Good Day," while The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" interpolated the title track of 1983's Between The Sheets. The Isleys' flashy fashion sense directly inspired the "bling" aesthetic embraced by rappers everywhere. R. Kelly proclaimed the group his biggest influence, collaborating with them on his Top 5 hit "Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)" in 1995 (featuring Ronald Isley in a career-redefining role as Mr. Biggs in the accompanying video). Kelly's writing and production for the group continued through the 1990s and 2000s, peaking with Body Kiss which hit No. 1 the Billboard 200 in 2003, a full 44 years since their first hit with "Shout."

The Isley Brothers' classic works continue to reach new fans through consistent radio airplay, film and television licenses and samples: in 2015, Kendrick Lamar won two Grammy Awards® for the track "I," built upon the groove of "That Lady" (from 1973's 3+3), while singer/rapper Frank Ocean covered "At Your Best (You Are Love)" from Harvest For The World (previously covered by Aaliyah in 1994, who made it a Top 10 hit).

The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) offers new music fans an opportunity to revisit the seminal R&B sounds that continue to reverberate through contemporary soul, rock, hip-hop and pop records.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, The Isley Brothers--O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley and a fourth brother, Vernon Isley (who died a couple of years after their first incarnation)--began performing as a gospel-based vocal group in 1954.  Moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, The Isley Brothers scored some modest regional chart successes before their fourth single (and first for RCA Victor), "Shout"--written by O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald--catapulted them into the pantheon of pop immortality in 1959.  One of the most immediately identifiable and infectious party anthems ever written or recorded, The Isley Brothers "Shout"--with its irresistible call-and-response structure--combined gospel heat and doo-wop soul with a high-powered rock 'n' roll energy.  The much-covered "Shout" was inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame in 1999 and placed No. 118 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Isleys followed up "Shout" with a variety of tracks (including their Top 20 single, "Twist & Shout," a song later famously covered by The Beatles).

Perhaps the most musically adventurous vocal ensemble in American pop history, The Isley Brothers were adding rock, funk, R&B, soul and ballad elements into the gospel and doo-wop music at the foundation of their sound.

In the 1960s, while The Isley Brothers bounced between various labels (including Atlantic, United Artists and Motown), they briefly employed a then-unknown Jimi Hendrix (aka Jimmy James) as their lead guitarist, buying him a white Fender Stratocaster guitar and moving him into the Isley home.   Though Jimi's stint with the Isley Brothers was brief, his musical sensibilities remained in the group, with younger brother Ernie Isley carrying the fiery experimental rock 'n' soul guitar sound they shared into the Isley Brothers future.

Tired of labels that didn't fully understand or support their R&B/rock fusion musical vision, The Isley Brothers launched their independent T-Neck imprint with distribution through Buddah Records. At T-Neck, the Isleys finally enjoyed the freedom to make music the way they wanted, recording and producing their own material as well as assisting in the distribution and promotion process. The T-Neck label's lead single, the irresistible Grammy Award®-winning funk hit "It's Your Thing," instantly established the band and label as a commercial powerhouse, its lyric a mantra for the trail The Isley Brothers would blaze in the next decade.

The Isleys' ever-expanding musical repertoire in the 1970s included funky covers of pop/rock favorites ("Love The One You're With," "Lay, Lady, Lay") that helped spread these songs through urban markets. The group would hit a new peak with the album 3+3 and single "That Lady" in 1973.

They added younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar) and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers) into the mix, turning The Isley Brothers vocal trio into a self-contained pop/rock/R&B/funk ensemble, writing, producing, performing, arranging, distributing their own works on T-Neck Records throughout the 1970s into the early 1980s.

With Ernie, Chris and Marvin leading the way creatively, the group pushed the barriers of soul music, bringing funk and laid-back quiet storm into the mainstream and earning the band three gold and seven platinum or multi-platinum albums--including 3+3 (1973), the #1 chart-topping The Heat Is On (1975) and 1983's Between The Sheets--and 14 Top 10 R&B albums (seven of which hit No. 1). In the world of R&B, only Parliament-Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire have achieved success rivaling the Isley Brothers.

The Isley Brothers have had 19 Top 10 singles (7 of those at #1) in the US Billboard R&B chart, with 16 Isley albums hitting the Top 40.  13 of their albums have achieved RIAA gold, platinum or multi-platinum status.  The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.  They got their star on the Hollywood Rockwalk in 1997 and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

The Isley Brothers, through an unprecedented seven decades, have remained one of the most consistently successful groups of all time. The Isleys were present at the birth of rock and roll, their biggest hits have influenced R&B, rock and roll and funk music from the 1950s onward while their deep grooves helped form the rhythmic backbone of hip-hop, a sound the Isleys would embrace in the 1990s and 2000s.

Still active as a duo of Ronald and Ernie Isley, The Isley Brothers earned a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.  The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) brings all of their works for the Sony Music family into one impressive package.

The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) (* includes bonus tracks): 

• Shout! (RCA Victor, 1959)*
• It's Our Thing (T-Neck, 1969)*
• The Brothers: Isley (T-Neck, 1969)*
• The Isley Brothers Live At Yankee Stadium (T-Neck, 1969)
• Get Into Something (T-Neck, 1970)*
• In The Beginning...The Isley Brothers & Jimi Hendrix (T-Neck, recorded 1964-1965; remixed/released 1971)*
• Givin' It Back (T-Neck, 1971)*
• Brother, Brother, Brother (T-Neck, 1972)*
• The Isleys Live (T-Neck, 1973)
• 3+3 (T-Neck, 1973)*
• Live It Up (T-Neck, 1974)*
• The Heat Is On (T-Neck, 1975)*
• Harvest For The World (T-Neck, 1976)*
• Go For Your Guns (T-Neck, 1977)*
• Showdown (T-Neck, 1978)*
• Winner Takes All (T-Neck, 1979—2 CDs)*
• Go All The Way (T-Neck, 1980)*
• Wild In Woodstock: The Isley Brothers Live At Bearsville Studios 1980 (previously unreleased)*
• Grand Slam (T-Neck, 1981)*
• Inside You (T-Neck, 1981)*
• The Real Deal (T-Neck, 1982)*
• Between The Sheets (T-Neck, 1983)*

 

NEW RELEASES: MARILYN CRISPELL / GERRY HEMINGWAY – TABLE OF CHANGES; MOSTLY OTHER PEOPLE DO THE KILLING - HANNOVER; HOWARD RILEY – 10.11.12

MARILYN CRISPELL / GERRY HEMINGWAY – TABLE OF CHANGES

A great partnership between pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Gerry Hemmingway – both musicians who've worked together often over the years, and find a way here to really summarize their best qualities! On some tracks, Crispell's piano has all those sharp, angular lines we love so much – and Hemmingway often matches her energy with these compact bursts on his drums – although other numbers have the pair exploring more spacious styles together, almost hanging in air with a new sense of balance that's a really nice surprise. Hemmingway plays vibes on most of these tracks, which comes in with a different tonal range than the piano – and titles include "Waterwisp", "Assembly", "Windy City", "Table Of Changes", "Roofless", and "Spirings".  ~ Dusty Groove

MOSTLY OTHER PEOPLE DO THE KILLING - HANNOVER

We love these guys to death – even if we always get out of breath saying their name in a hurry – and they really shine strongly here, on a long live album that perfectly captures their non-stop sense of imagination and restless creativity! Unlike some of their other recent projects, which were thematic in nature, this concert performance has the group moving through so many different modes at once – often in the short space of a longer song – with that strong sense of jazz history that's always made them so unique – especially in the way that they find to set a whole new fire to sounds we thought we already knew so well! Moppa Elliott drives the group on some beautiful bass – and the rest of the lineup includes Peter Evans on trumpet and piccolo trumpet, Jon Irabagon on tenor and sopranino sax, and Kevin Shea on drums and electronic – on titles tha tinclude "Pen Argyl/Ulysses At Troy/Andover/Blue Ball/Effort Patience Dilligence", "My Delightful Muse/Hideaway/A Night In Tunisia", and "Is Granny Spry/Dunkelbergers/Baden/Little Hope".  ~ Dusty Groove

HOWARD RILEY – 10.11.12

Brilliant work from pianist Howard Riley – the British modernist who's been making amazing music for decades, but often through very obscure records like this! Riley's got this sense of balance, tone, and timing that sits justly in a legacy that starts with Herbie Nichols and runs up through Alexander Von Schlippenbach – and in a solo setting like this, hets one of the few that could hold our attention as rapt as those other two – playing at once in a mode that's very free, but still always surprisingly tuneful, and with a sense of cohesion. The album's a perfect document of everything that makes Riley so great – and titles include "Identification", "From Somewhere", "Dwelling One", and "Understanding".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: CHRIS WASHBURNE & THE SYOTOS BAND - LOW RIDIN' ; THE HEMPOLICS - WARRIOR SOUND; LESIMAN - HERE AND NOW VOL. 1 & 2

CHRIS WASHBURNE & THE SYOTOS BAND - LOW RIDIN'

Afro-Latin jazz on a psychedelic trip! The debut CD of Chris Washburne & The Syotos Band for Zoho showcases Latin jazz instrumentals of 60s and 70s classic rock songs, called Acid Mambo by the musicians! Gets back to the band’s musical roots with Latin jazz instrumentals of anthemic classic rock songs by Bob Marley, Neil Young, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, War, and more. Includes: Feelin' Allright, Low Rider, Get Up Stand Up, Stairway to Heaven, Manic Depression, Ohio, Walk On the Wild Side, Break On Though (To the Other Side), Kashmir, Sugar Mountain, and Syotomon. ~ Amazon

THE HEMPOLICS - WARRIOR SOUND

The Hempolics are out to put those organic rootsy vibes back into electronic music and bring something altogether different to the table… Warrior Sound is the second offering from The Hempolics forthcoming album ‘Kiss, Cuddle & Torture: Volume 1.’ Written and produced by project mastermind Grippa Laybourne with soulful Rastaman vocals courtesy of Dan Bowskill (Dub Pistols), Warrior Sound presents the struggle of the typical urban day and its only solution… playing out your finest roots rock reggae. On the flip side is an ethereal Warrior Sound instrumental dub mixed by Grippa with additional trombone by Lucas Petter. Taking UK reggae to the next level with a modern yet somehow backward looking style this record is destined to be a soundsystem smash hit.  ~ bbemusic

LESIMAN - HERE AND NOW VOl. 1 & 2

Stunning work from Lesiman – easily one of the coolest, funkiest talents on the Italian sound library scene of the 70s! The groove here is electric, funky, and often slightly trippy – with perfect use of electric bass to get things going in so many different ways, depending on the mood of the track – as things step slowly underneath cascading piano lines, or move fast under these fuzzier keyboard bits, or act nice and skittish when the drums take on more power in the mix! There's often a nice degree of echo in the recordings – used to abstract familiar instruments, but never steer them of course too much – just create these amazing sounds that still leave us breathless after all these years. Both volumes of the set are amazing – and titles include "Bagliori", "Impulsi", "Direzioni", "Segni Cromatici", "Le Regole Del Gioco", "Melos Blue", "Rollin", "Relazioni", "Cerchio Doppio", "Via Nell'Autunno", "Plycar", "Permanenza", "Controcorrente", "Radura", "Stabilita", "Messaggio", "Confronto", "Ripresa", "Ciclo Interrotto", and "Cristalli". ~ Dusty Groove

Now-Again partners with Max Whitefield (Poets of Rhythm/Whitefield Brothers founder/drummer) and his Philophon imprint – 1st Polyversal Souls LP coming July 3rd

Max Whitefield (née Weissenfeldt) may have taken his drums across the world, but he’s never lost sight of his first love, the starting point of a carrier that lead to phenomenal collaborations (take Dr. John and Lana Del Rey’s recent albums, produced by Max’s uber-fan, the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach). That passion has propelled albums as varied as Poets of Rhythm’s Discern/Define and Whitefield Brothers Earthology. It comes as a pulse: the raw, funky beat Max first heard on old 45s he and his compatriots traded and treasured in the early 90s, well before most anyone cared for the obscure wax they hoarded. Mind you – this was in his parents’ basement in Munich, Germany (though a fortuitous bus trip through the USA’s Eastern Seaboard had given him a head start in funky comeuppance).

Late ’60s funk and soul was the inspiration for Max’s and his brother Jan’s first band, the Poets of Rhythm. Barely teenagers, the brothers kickstarted a movement: without them, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Aloe Blacc and Mayer Hawthorne – to name their most recent converts – would not be the internationally recognized names they are.

In the early ’00s, Max and the Poets of Rhythm issued Discern/Define, which indicated a marked growth, and a sophisticated approach to funk music, meshed with Krautrock’s untempered experimentalism, and, as the Whitefield Brothers with his brother Jan, the album In The Raw, an Afro-psychedelic trip grounded by funk’s principles. Though the Poets of Rhythm would never record again, The Whitefield Brothers issued Earthology, the pinnacle of their worldly, musical explorations and then spun apart – Jan to Karl Hector and the Malcouns, and Max to his Philophon imprint, Auerbach and the Polyversal Souls.

During the mid to late ’00s, Max was in deep study: after spending five years with Krautrock legends and “world music” pioneers Embryo on a 500 concert European and African bus tour, he visited South East Asia, where he studied classical Burmese Saing Waing music. This trip was followed by a time in London, living and playing with fellow Now-Again artists the Heliocentrics. He studied with former Sun Ra Arkestra members in the USA before, in 2010, taking his first trip to Ghana, the deciding point to create the Philophon label. And to record all the music for his Ghanaian counterparts, Max formed a new Berlin-based band, The Polyversal Souls. The city’s vital music scene gave him the chance to bring together excellent musicians with a common passion and interest for sounds from all around the world. And now, Polyversal Souls’ debut album Invisible Joy – a manifest of what Max calls “21st century soul power.”

NEW RELEASES: INCOGNITO - SEND YOUR LOVE (SONG FOR NEPAL; MARCIA BALL - PEACE, LOVE & BBQ; LIANNE LA HAVAS - BLOOD

INCOGNITO - SEND YOUR LOVE (SONG FOR NEPAL

Incognito releases charity single to aid

earthquake victims in Nepal.In the wake of the recent tragic earthquake in Nepal, UK Jazz band Incognito has released a single/EP, “Send Your Love”, to raise support for the victims of the disaster.  Band leader Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick states: "In response to the great tragedy suffered by the people of Nepal, we felt compelled to use our talents and resources to take immediate action by coming together to make a song for Nepal.  All the funds raised will be donated to UNICEF(US) to help some of the 1.7 million children who require humanitarian assistance. UNICEF is already on the ground working to provide critical aid to children and families.  The result of our efforts is... Incognito “"Send Your Love””.  Your  support will go a long way towards helping to provide basic health care, nourishment, sanitation, shelter and funds towards the clearing and rebuilding in the aftermath of this devastating earthquake.  Thank you and One Love!

Peace… Bluey”.

MARCIA BALL - PEACE, LOVE & BBQ

After 10 critically praised albums and literally thousands of packed, raucous live performances including stops in Canada, Spain, Italy, Ireland and the Cambridge Folk Festival in England, Marcia Ball is an internationally acclaimed icon of Austin and New Orleans roots music. This is her first new studio release in five years and features some of the most stirring performances of Marcia's career. Singing the praises of simple virtues in the funky title track, working the Crescent City strut of "Party Town" or coming to grips with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the deeply moving ballad "Where Do You Go?", Marcia galvanizes this record with soul-touching vocals and her always killer piano playing. Dr John, Tracy Nelson, Wayne Toups and Terrance Simien guest. ~ Amazon

LIANNE LA HAVAS - BLOOD

Lianne La Havas made a huge breakthrough with her Top 5 debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’. Now the 25-year-old London-based singer-songwriter will release her eagerly anticipated new album Blood on July 31st on Warner Bros. Records. Blood is an album that was inspired by Lianne’s family heritage, which is part Jamaican and part Greek. Once touring for her debut album came to a close, she headed to Jamaica with her mother for a holiday which evolved into an experience of self-discovery. Lianne enjoyed emotional reunions with long-lost relatives; embraced Kingston’s clubs; and even jammed in front of her family for the first time during a session with legendary dancehall / reggae producer Stephen McGregor. Discovering her heritage inspired Lianne to reflect on the connections between now and then, which in turn sparked the songs which would become her future. Simply, “everything seemed to have a lot more clarity, and I really wanted to speak about it.” Lyrically, the songs that feature on the album are almost all related to “the feeling of who you are and where you come from.” Sonically, Blood is a collection that shakes, shimmies and swings with Jamaican grooves with Lianne taking inspiration from the nation’s love of grooves, rhythms and syncopation. In addition to Stephen McGregor, Blood features a rich collection of collaborators. Produced by Adele / FKA twigs collaborator Paul Epworth and founded upon an instrumental recording by Ninja Tunes trio The Invisible, the first single ‘Unstoppable’ is a song that Lianne wrote to help to repair a relationship that she had ended. Following his work on Lianne’s debut album, Aqualung’s Matt Hales returns, most notably on ‘Wonderful’ which he and Lianne co-wrote with Disclosure’s Howard Lawrence. Another highlight comes with the autobiographical album centrepiece ‘Green and Gold’ which was co-produced and co-written by Jamie Lidell, while Alicia Keys and India.Arie producer Mark Batson also lent his talents to the album.

~ Amazon

Sharon Hendrix, Back-Up Singer for Billy Cobham, Freddie Hubbard and George Duke, Steps to Center Stage with Solo Debut - Nowhere Fast

After years of working just 20 feet from stardom Sharon “Muffy” Hendrix is stepping into the spotlight. Throughout her successful career Sharon has been singing backup on recording sessions and performing on stages across the world with top names including Billy Cobham, Freddie Hubbard, George Duke, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Tom Jones, Grace Slick & Starship, Olivia Newton-John, Dusty Springfield, Natalie Cole, Harry Chapin, Jermaine Stewart, Mac Davis, Michael White, Shirley Bassey and so many other notable musical talents.

Sharon Hendrix began her career as "Muffy" Hendrix singing in the church and school choirs and by the time she reached her teens she became part of The Young Americans, an international touring company of 30 singers from all across the country. Over the next two years Sharon toured the Far East twice, performed on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Kraft Music Hall and worked on various TV specials and commercials. Sharon earned a music scholarship to Chapman University and received her show business education on Las Vegas stages at the side of superstar entertainers including Debbie Reynolds and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Sharon formed a lifetime friendship and working relationship with Barry Manilow from the moment the beloved superstar called her to replace one of the singers in his back-up band. In 1985 Sharon recorded the popular, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" duet with Barry that appeared on his "Manilow" album as well as the Billboard charts. Currently Sharon is performing with Manilow on his worldwide "One Last Time!" farewell tour which brings us to now!

Sharon's completing her solo debut album which will be available in the fall from Voss Records and has just released the title track, “Nowhere Fast” as the lead single. Sharon co-wrote the song with her producer, Dan Voss Jr. and trumpet virtuoso Steve Madaio. Sharon’s smooth vocal style sits over a contemporary urban Latin beat spiced with exciting percussion, a classic horn solo and an infectious rap by William “June Bug” Lee.

Between breaks in the Manilow tour the industrious Ms. Hendrix is finishing the new album as well as planning her solo career launch. Sharon’s been tirelessly rehearsing with her band working out arrangements on old and new tunes. When the tour ends this summer the Sharon Hendrix Nowhere Fast show will hit the road running and Sharon will be front and center exactly where she’s always been destined to be.

When she’s not on the road Sharon lives in southern California and is the proud mother of three lovely daughters.

www.sharonhendrix.net

CIRCULATION: THE MUSIC OF GARY MCFARLAND // THE GARY MCFARLAND LEGACY ENSEMBLE

The Gary McFarland Legacy Ensemble is dedicated to the preservation of the music of composer, arranger, and vibraphonist Gary McFarland. McFarland was a significant force in the jazz world in the 1960s. He was considered an “adult prodigy” by former Downbeat magazine editor Gene Lees as Gary did not start any formal studies until he was in his late twenties. After winning a Downbeat scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in 1959, McFarland spent just one semester of study there before moving to New York City. 

Through his connection with trombonist/composer Bob Brookmeyer, McFarland wrote his first professional arrangements for Gerry Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band. The rest, as they say, was history. McFarland would go on to be one of the most important jazz forces of the 1960’s with his compositions, arrangements, recordings, and film and stage scores. He was also a prolific producer and part owner of the SKYE record label along with Cal Tjader and Gabor Szabo. McFarland was also one of the first jazz musicians to include pop and rock material in his recordings and performances. His recording, America the Beautiful, combined elements of jazz, rock and orchestral writing that would prove to be one of the most seminal works of the 1960s. McFarland died in 1971 just after his 38th birthday. His career lasted just a little over ten years but his music is timeless.

Percussionist Michael Benedict has studied, performed and recorded McFarland’s music ever since meeting Gail McFarland, Gary’s widow, in 1979. Michael and Gail were married in 1981 for twenty-five years until Gail’s death in 2007. Michael and his stepdaughter, Kerry McFarland, continue to promote Gary’s music to this day.

This first recording focuses on McFarland’s most recorded material as well as more obscure, unrecorded selections.The recording features Bruce Barth on piano, Joe Locke on vibes, Sharel Cassity on saxophones, Mike Lawrence on bass and Michael Benedict on drums. The music is arranged by Bruce Barth. The recording is produced by Thomas Bellino and issued on the Planet Arts Recordings label.

Future recordings will focus on McFarland’s big band compositions and arrangements including an arrangement of Straight No Chaser that was commissioned by the Downbeat Jazz Festival and an arrangement of C-Jam Blues that was slated to feature Stan Getz.

~ CD Universe

NEW RELEASES: ROBERT GLASPER - COVERED; DUDUKA DA FONSECA TRIO - JIVE SAMBA; JAKOB BRO - GEFFION

ROBERT GLASPER - COVERED (THE ROBERT GLASPER TRIO RECORDED LIVE AT CAPITOL STUDIOS)

Covered (The Robert Glasper Trio recorded live at Capitol Studios)

10 years after making his Blue Note debut & following 2 GRAMMY-winning volumes of his R&B-oriented Black Radio albums, Robert Glasper returns to his acclaimed acoustic jazz trio for his new album, Covered (The Robert Glasper Trio recorded live at Capitol Studios). The album will be released 6/16 on Blue Note Records & consists mainly of covers, including Glasper's favorite songs by Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, Jhené Aiko, John Legend, Kendrick Lamar & more, as well as several Glasper originals. Includes: Intro, I Don't Even Care, Reckoner, Barangrill, In Case You Forgot, So Beautiful, The Worst, Good Morning, Stella by Starlight, Levels, Got Over feat Harry Belafonte, and I'm Dying of Thirst. ~ Amazon

DUDUKA DA FONSECA TRIO - JIVE SAMBA

Lively trio work from drummer Duduka Da Fonseca – a set that has all the Brazilian touches you might expect from the title, but which also sparkles with lots of straighter jazz moments too! Duduka's as strong as ever on the kit, and the album really draws a lot of warmth from the piano lines of David Feldman – who blocks out the ballads with this gentle groove that's especially nice, then really catches fire on some of the more upbeat numbers – which also have Fonseca reminding us of his deftness on the drums. Guto Wirtti plays bass in the trio, and one track includes tenor from Paulo Levi – on titles that include "Jive Samba", "Lucky Southern", "Pensativa", "Clouds", "Peresina", "Recorda Me", and "Sco's Bossa".  ~ Dusty Groove

JAKOB BRO - GEFFION

Gefion is Danish guitarist Jakob Bro's first ECM album as leader, following recordings for the label as sideman with Paul Motian and Tomasz Stanko. Like the work of those masters Bro s balladeering distils a sense of jazz history in its specific and highly personal atmospheres. The open forms of Bro s compositions leave plenty of space for his companions drum legend Jon Christensen and creative bassist-of-the-moment Thomas Morgan - to make their statements, interactively and in parallel. And there is space too for the listener s imagination to follow the flow and the delicate melodic tracery of Bro s electric guitar in this thoughtful and poetic album. Gefion was recorded in Oslo s Rainbow Studio in November 2013 and produced by Manfred Eicher. ~ Amazon

Grammy-Winning Bob Mintzer Big Band Draws on R&B and Funk Traditions on "Get Up!"

Since 1983, tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger Bob Mintzer has been delving into the big band format and its myriad stylistic possibilities, collecting five Grammy nominations and one Grammy win in the process. His newest recording, Get Up!, which is his 20th big band album to date, will be released by MCG Jazz on June 23. 

Mintzer describes the nine tracks on the new CD as "clearly R&B influenced, but [they] then go to many other places along the way. ... Using these relatively simple tunes as a springboard for harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic exploration was a real adventure, one that I had been thinking about for a long time."

Produced by MCG's Marty Ashby and arranged by Mintzer, Get Up! features guitarist Ray Obiedo and bassist Will Lee, as well as Mintzer's longtime colleagues in the Yellowjackets, pianist Russell Ferrante and drummer William Kennedy. Besides five originals by the leader, including the James Brown-inspired title track, the set is made up of Mintzer's vibrant arrangements of the Wayne Shorter-penned Weather Report classic "Elegant People" and three of his favorite R&B tunes from the late 1960s: the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing," Sam & Dave's "I Thank You" (written by David Porter and Isaac Hayes), and Sly & the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song." 

"I grew up listening to this music," says Mintzer, whose radio dial was tuned to WNEW-FM when he was growing up in New Rochelle, New York. "There was less concern with classification and categorization back then. There was a kind of connection between what people like John Coltrane and Charles Lloyd were doing and what some of the rock guys were doing in terms of Indian and Eastern influences and stretching out on long vamps. For people like myself who like all different kinds of music, this was a great time for music and art."

Ashby, who has worked with Mintzer on all five of his big band dates for MCG Jazz, sees Mintzer as having "created such an important body of work for large ensemble that it just cannot be overlooked. Few bands write mostly original music for large ensemble, and hardly any then have much of the music available in a published format for other bands and students to study and play. Because his range of writing for the band extends from Brazilian to funk to R&B to straight-ahead to fusion and everything in between, I think Bob stands alone as the preeminent composer/arranger for big band at this time. His passion for the idiom puts him at the top of the pyramid." 

Mintzer connected with Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in 2004. The Big Band debuted with Live at MCG and followed up with Old School, New Lessons (2006), both of which featured Kurt Elling, and Swing Out (2008). On the Grammy-nominated For the Moment (2012), the spotlight was on Brazilian music, with guitarist/composer Chico Pinheiro as special guest. 

Bob Mintzer The lifelong New Yorker, who's considered one of the tenor saxophonists to come out of the school of New York players in the 1970s (also including Michael Brecker, Bob Berg, Dave Liebman, and Steve Grossman), and whose big band dates to 1983, when the Brecker brothers asked him to put together an ensemble for their club Seventh Avenue South, has been based in Los Angeles since 2008. He lives in the former house of composer Arnold Schoenberg (his first L.A. residence, 1934-1936), and is the recipient of the Buzz McCoy-endowed chair of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.

Mintzer continues to tour with the Yellowjackets (which he joined in 1990), does workshops all over the world, and serves as a guest conductor/soloist with college and pro bands. His upcoming dates with the Yellowjackets include: 5/27 Howard Theatre, Washington, DC; 5/28-29 Blue Note, NYC; 6/26 Rochester (NY) Jazz Festival; and a European tour 7/1-15. Mintzer will be appearing at the Hong Kong Jazz Festival 6/3-9 with big band and orchestra; touring Europe 6/15-20 with the Hammond Eggs trio; and serving on faculty at the Centrum Jazz Camp in Port Townsend, WA 7/20-25. Finally, Mintzer will be part of a Jaco Pastorius tribute, with Vince Mendoza, at the Hollywood Bowl 8/13 (also with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra) and the Monterey Jazz Festival 9/18. 

 

Jason Moran, Miguel Zenón and Dave Holland - Winners of 2015 JJA Jazz Awards for Musical Achievement

Miguel Zenon

Jason Moran

New England Conservatory Jazz Studies Department faculty members Jason Moran, Miguel Zenón and Dave Holland have won 2015 JJA Jazz Awards for Musical Achievement from the Jazz Journalists Association. Other NEC affiliated winners include Regina Carter, who graduated from NEC in 1982 and is a member of the school’s Board of Visitors, and Mary Halvorson, who attended NEC Prep in 1998.

Moran was selected as Musician of the Year, Zenón as Alto Saxophonist of the Year and Holland earned recognition in two categories: Record of the Year for his CD with Kenny Barron titled The Art of Conversation (Impulse!), and Trio or Duo of the Year for his duo with Kenny Barron.  Carter was chosen in the category of Violinist/Violist/Cellist of the Year and Halvorson is Guitarist of the Year.

Jazz Awards winners are determined through open nominations and direct voting by professional journalist members of the Jazz Journalists Associations.  Winners will be celebrated at a party June 16 at The Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.  This is the 19th annual JJA Jazz Awards presentation.

NEC’s Jazz Studies Department was the first fully accredited jazz studies program at a music conservatory. The brainchild of Gunther Schuller, who moved quickly to incorporate jazz into the curriculum when he became President of the Conservatory in 1967, the Jazz Studies faculty has included six MacArthur "genius" grant recipients (three currently teaching) and four NEA Jazz Masters, and alumni that reads like a who’s who of jazz. Now in its 44th year, the program has spawned numerous Grammy winning composers and performers. As Mike West writes in JazzTimes: “NEC’s jazz studies department is among the most acclaimed and successful in the world; so says the roster of visionary artists that have comprised both its faculty and alumni.”  The program currently has 98 students; 54 undergraduate and 44 graduate students from 14 countries.

www.necmusic.edu

NEW RELEASES: NICOLA CONTE PRESENTS BLUE NOTE TRIBE; GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW - A THOUGHTIVERSE UNMARRED; TISIJI MUNOZ / JOHN MEDESKI - THE PARADOX OF PERFECTION

NICOLA CONTE PRESENTS BLUE NOTE TRIBE - DEEP AFROCENTRIC MODAL JAZZ FROM THE BLUE NOTE ARCHIVES

A very cool take on the sound of Blue Note Records – all classic tracks that are hand-picked by label artist Nicola Conte, with a focus on sounds that have a rootsy, organic style in the rhythms! Most numbers here feature some degree of extra percussion in addition to the drums – hence the "tribe" in the title – and the other elements often echo African or Cuban roots too – sometimes in the basslines, sometimes in the phrasing of the piano or horns. With Conte on board, the set list is superb – way more than just another Blue Note collection – and titles include "Oriental Folk Song" by Wayne Shorter, "Igbeslaiye" by Solomon Ilori & His Afro-Drum Ensemble, "Exotique" by Lee Morgan, "Melting Pot" by Freddie Hubbard, "Effi" by Bobby Hutcherson, "Congo Lament" by Ike Quebec, "Africaine" by Art Blakey, "On The Nile" by Jackie McLean, and "East Of The Village" by Hank Mobley.  ~ Dusty Groove

GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW - A THOUGHTIVERSE UNMARRED

Take a trip into the Thoughtiverse with Georgia Anne Muldrow – a singer who's every bit as cosmic as before, but also finds a way to get nice and funky too! The album's got Georgia rhyming and singing in equal parts – always with that unique perspective that makes her music so individual, and so influential as well – and one of the few voices of her generation that continues to work at such a thought-provoking level time and time again! The production is great – as crisp and cosmic as on other albums, but maybe a bit more beaty as well – and titles include "The Outcome", "Monoculture", "Great Blacks", "Child Shot", "Sans Vacay", "Gitdown", and "Fifth Shield".  ~ Dusty Groove

TISIJI MUNOZ / JOHN MEDESKI - THE PARADOX OF PERFECTION

Sonically-rich, trippy guitar lines from Tisziji Munoz – spun out on these long, meditative tracks that are sometimes outside, sometimes filled with a very organic pulse – and supported with lots of great piano work from John Medeski! The album's definitely in the more cosmic side of Medeski's spectrum, but when Munoz puts a bit more fuzz on his instrument he also hits the intensity of Sonny Sharrock – which quickly cascades things towards the outside – spurring on a bit more fire from bassist Don Pate, and drummers Tony Falco and Bob Moses. Titles include "Crazy Heart Wisdom", "God Fire", "Motherhood", "Somewhere", and "Goodbye Dear Sweet Mother".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: STAN GETZ / JOAO GILBERTO – SELECTIONS FROM GETZ / GILBERTO ‘76; LARRY YOUNG – SELECTION FROM LARRY YOUNG IN PARIS; WAYNE JONES - MR. JONES

STAN GETZ / JOAO GILBERTO – SELECTIONS FROM GETZ / GILBERTO ‘76

Stan Getz and João Gilberto reunite in 1976 with these previously unreleased recordings from San Francisco's famed Keystone Korner. This Limited Edition 10" record commemorates one of the few times this duo collaborated in the 1970's, nearly twelve years after their award-winning Getz/Gilberto release on Verve. Along with saxophonist Stan Getz, the recording features Joanne Brackeen on piano, Clint Houston on bass, Billy Hart on drums, with João Gilberto on vocals/guitar. Available: Limited Edition pressing of 3,000; Special Translucent Green-Colored 10" Record; 140 gram vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM for Quality Sound. Full length release (CD & 2-LP) coming in 2015/2016.

LARRY YOUNG – SELECTION FROM LARRY YOUNG IN PARIS

From the National Audiovisual Institute (INA) in France, which includes the Office of Radio and Television (ORTF) archives, Resonance presents never-before-released 1964 to 1965 live and studio recordings of jazz organist & pianist, Larry Young. Featured artists include Woody Shaw on trumpet, Nathan Davis on saxophone, Billy Brooks on drums and numerous French artists. Available: 10" Record Limited Edition Pressing of 1,500; Recorded on 140 gram vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM, Full length release (2-CD & 3-LP) coming in 2015/2016.

WAYNE JONES - MR. JONES

Continuing to bring the thunder from Down Under on his new 5-track set MR. JONES, Australian bassist, songwriter arranger and performer Wayne Jones, a renowned session musician who launched his solo career in 2006, keeps that perfect balance between tunes that are lush, melodic and sophisticated and others that showcase his freewheeling and wildly energetic ways. Working with top genre stars like Rick Braun and Grammy-nominated keyboardist Philippe Saisse, who is featured on "5 To 6," Jones creates a dynamic array of moods, from the bright and brassy new single "A Day at the Beach" to the strutting and funky "Get Up" and light and breezy "Sweet Melody." Another highlight is Jones’ buoyant Latin excursion "The World Keeps Turning." You’ll enjoy experiencing the wild, wonderful world of MR. JONES! ~Jonathan Widran / smoothjazz.com