The Christian McBride Trio - Live At The Village Vanguard

When Philadelphia-born bassist/bandleader Christian McBride arrived in New York in 1989 as a Juilliard student, he was the "Godchild of the Groove" with unlimited potential. Today, with over 300 recordings as a sideman and 11 critically acclaimed albums as a leader, he now reigns supreme as the "Lord of the Lower Frequencies." He's the influential and ubiquitous bassist of his generation, as evidenced by his quintet Inside Straight, his big band, his trio and his work with everybody from James Brown, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis to Sting, The Roots, Bruce Hornsby and Paul McCartney. 

It is fitting that the four-time Grammy® Award-winning McBride would eventually record at the Village Vanguard, the most hallowed and historical nightclub in jazz: an underground Mount Olympus where the gods and titans of the music - from John Coltrane to Bill Evans - have cast their syncopated spells.

"You can literally feel the ghosts of all of the legends that played there," McBride says. "You feel Coltrane hovering in the vortex. You feel Monk hovering in the vortex. Miles Davis, Mingus... you feel all of that in the air." 

And with his new Mack Avenue Records album, Live at the Village Vanguard, you can feel and hear McBride in the same air, along with his magnificent trio, which features drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and pianist Christian Sands. They swing and swoon on nine tracks of originals, jazz standards and some surprise R&B/pop selections. 

This record is the fruit of McBride's long association with the Vanguard, where his first appearance as a leader for the historic club was in 1995. In 2007, the bassist and charismatic club owner Lorraine Gordon started an annual one-week residency, which featured McBride's quintet, Inside Straight. "Lorraine enjoyed my trio and my quintet, Inside Straight. We had such large crowds, so after a few years with such supportive audiences, we added an extra week. Instead of doing the same band for two weeks, I just started bringing in a different band. This has been an ongoing relationship that I look forward to maintaining as long as I can."

  

As encouraging as this association was, McBride's fear of being typecast as a Ray Brown clone almost caused this trio to not be. "I thought the very last thing I wanted to do was to put myself in a trio, because then I'll never be able to shed the Ray Brown comparison," he says. "And then one day I decided that that's sort of a silly reason not to start a trio, if musically that's what makes sense. There were a few gigs that [saxophonist] Steve Wilson and [vibraphonist] Warren Wolf were unavailable for, so I decided to play with the rhythm section. Peter Martin was playing piano and Ulysses was playing drums. In 2010, Christian Sands started subbing for Peter in Inside Straight. So we started doing trio gigs and that's how the group was born. 

"In trying to find repertoire for the trio in our early stages, I tried to come up with songs that were easy to learn and that you can put your own spin on them," he says. The opening track, Wes Montgomery's "Fried Pies," originally released on the guitarist's 1963 LP, Boss Guitar, burns with a quicksilver, straight-ahead groove, as does the trio's torrid take on J.J. Johnson's "Interlude" from Cannonball Adderley's 1965 Domination album. 

Sands' lilting composition "Sand Dune" would make a perfect companion to Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" on any playlist, while the well-worn standard "Cherokee" is rendered at a blistering, swing-at-the-speed-of-sound. In contrast, the trio's take on the spiritual "Down By The Riverside" grooves in a medium tempo buoyed by Owens' expert and inspired drumming. Billie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache" is reborn by the trio with a ghostly, rubato intro, which evolves into a soulful, sonic séance. 

Two selections from the album aurally illustrate how McBride's outward embrace of non-jazz material harkens back to a time when jazz had a long-standing engagement with pop music. The trio's treatment of the Rod Temperton-composed ballad "The Lady In My Life," (from Michael Jackson's uber-LP Thriller) resonates with the same kind of noir nuance Bill Evans was known for. "If anyone can get over the fact that it's not 'a jazz tune,' they'd be able to notice that it's got one of the most gorgeous melodies," McBride says. The album concludes with a spirited take on the funky title theme song the 1977 movie "Car Wash." "This was one tune where even my band members looked at me side-eyes [laughs]," McBride says. "Even my wife said, 'so what's next? 'I Will Survive'?" 

McBride's inspirations Ray Brown and James Brown, his respect for non-jazz genres and his outgoing personality account for this sensational recording and for his growing stature as a jazz spokesperson and ambassador. 

McBride hosts and produces "The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian," on SiriusXM satellite radio and National Public Radio's weekly show, "Jazz Night In America." He also serves as Artistic Advisor for Jazz Programming at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and he works with Jazz House Kids, a nationally recognized community arts organization founded by his wife, vocalist Melissa Walker, dedicated to educating children through jazz. 

"I'm glad to have these vehicles, like the NPR show, like the SiriusXM show," he says, "where I can tell people who may, or may not be into jazz, 'hey, come on over and play with us'." Live at the Village Vanguard is the titan bassist's infectious invitation to come swing with him. 

"When I first met Ulysses, he was a student at my summer camp in Aspen, CO. He had a lot of maturity in his playing, particularly the way he played brushes," says McBride. "I could tell he spent a lot of time with Lewis Nash and Kenny Washington and really studied the legendary drummers. And it was a relief to hear a young drummer who wasn't coming out of the same bag as other drummers.

"When I first met Christian, I was told he was a protégé of Dr. Billy Taylor, Hank Jones and Oscar Peterson, all of those legendary elder statesmen of the piano," McBride says. "But then, I heard him playing all of this esoteric, angular music coming out of an Andrew Hill/Paul Bley bag. And then, I found out he'd been studying with Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. I thought man; this cat knows the whole language. 

"I realized that with guys like Ulysses and Christian, we can go anywhere we want to go: angular, swinging, esoteric, blues, impressionistic and funk." 

Christian McBride Trio · Live at the Village Vanguard 

Mack Avenue Records · Release Date: September 18, 2015

ChristianMcBride.com

Daniel Pemberton's The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Daniel Pemberton created an exciting soundtrack for The Man From U.N.C.L.E. with relaxing lounge instrumentals full of jazz and swing elements. Moreover the soundtrack contains seven licensed original classics as “Compared To What” by Roberta Flack or “Take Care Of Business” by Nina Simone.   

Daniel Pemberton is an Ivor Novello winning and multi-BAFTA nominated composer who works predominantly in film, television and videogames. His credits include everything from feature films such as “The Awakening” and the Sundance Jury winning “Enemies Of The People” to cult British television shows such as “Peep Show”, “Hells Kitchen” and “Great British Menu”. He has written the score for the second best selling Xbox 360 game of all time (“Kinect Adventures”) as well as creating the iconic theme for Sony’s “LittleBIGPlanet”. He has created the soundtracks for countless award winning drama series – from the BBC’s highly anticipated revival of “Upstairs Downstairs” to the multi award winning Iraq war series “Occupation”; adaptations of Martin Amis’ “Money” to Douglas Adams’ “Dirk Gently”. He has also scored countless Emmy, BAFTA, Grierson and RTS winning comedies, documentaries and lifestyle shows and worked with Oscar winning directors and editors.

Full tracklisting:

1.     Compared To What (Roberta Flack)    

2.     Out Of The Garage*                                                

3.     His Name Is Napoleon Solo*                                   

4.     Escape From East Berlin*                                       

5.     Jimmy, Renda se (Tom Zé)     

6.     Mission: Rome*                                                      

7.     The Vinciguerra Affair*                                            

8.     Bugs, Beats and Bowties*                                       

9.     Cry To Me (Solomon Burke)     

10.   Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days (Remastered) (Louis Prima)     

11.   Signori Toileto Italiano*                                            

12.   Breaking In (Searching The Factory*                         

13.   Breaking Out (The Cowboy Escapes)*                      

14.   Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera (Peppino Gagliardi)     

15.   Into The Lair (Betrayal, Pt. I)*                                    

16.   Laced Drinks (Betrayal, Pt. II)*                                  

17.   Il Mio Regno (Luigi Tenco)     

18.   Circular Story*                                                          

19.   The Drums Of War*                                                  

20.   Take You Down*                                                      

21.   We Have Location*                                                  

22.   A Last Drink*                                                   

23.   Take Care Of Business (Nina Simone)     

24.   The Unfinished Kiss*

25.   The Red Mist (Digital Bonus Track)*

26.   The Switch (Digital Bonus Track)*

27.   Warhead (Digital Bonus Track)*

28.   Fists (Digital Bonus Track)*

* Score tracks by Daniel Pemberton

Urban-jazz harpist Mariea Antoinette will release a special edition of her Billboard Top 5 album “Straight from the Harp”

To infiltrate the upper echelon of the Billboard album charts with an ancient instrument while cross-pollinating musical genres certainly has taken the imaginative vision and inspired creativity of a trailblazing entrepreneur. On September 26, urban-jazz harpist Mariea Antoinette will receive a Phenomenal Women in Entrepreneurship Award from the National Council of Negro Women, the 49th annual community event in San Diego, California at which she will perform. Tied to the honor, an enhanced version of her sophomore album, “Straight from the Harp: Special Edition,” will be released September 25 by MAH Productions featuring two bonus tracks and an entirely new cover. One of the new cuts, “Walk the Walk,” a uniquely sprawling hybrid of ethereal harp harmonies and impassioned soloing, EDM-hip hop beats, gauzy rock guitar and dramatic violin underscoring from Karen Briggs, will be serviced to radio as a single ahead of the bolstered collection’s issuance. 

The Allan Phillips-produced disc that peaked in the Billboard smooth jazz albums Top 5, “Straight from the Harp,” connects with a balanced set list of soul-infused originals and R&B classics. Showcasing Antoinette’s gorgeous, graceful and sensual harp theatrics amidst downhome funk grooves, ebullient pop harmonies and spacious jazz improvisations, the record was purposely crafted to fulfill the artist’s mission to smash limiting preconceptions, banish borders and offer adventurous new possibilities for her celestial stringed instrument.        

“The concept of ‘Straight from the Harp’ is to show people that the harp is not a quiet, dreamy, boring instrument, but that it can be funky like you’ve never heard it before. I wanted to take it to a new dimension, and I knew that (producer) Allan (Phillips) would bring an exciting palette of rhythmic possibilities to the table,” said Antoinette. “The CD has launched an exciting new phase in my career, but I’ve had this in my spirit a long time. I loved playing beautiful classical music, but my heart was telling me I’ve also got to do something different. I wanted to play the music that I grew up with. I wanted to make the harp a funky and sexy instrument. For those who have yet to discover ‘Straight from the Harp,’ I hope new listeners will open their ears and their minds to the ‘Special Edition.’” 

Tapping Phillips, an Emmy-winning, two-time Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist from Venezuela with an adventurous flair for surrounding lush melodies and percussive rhythms with textured world music trappings, was a deliberate choice for Antoinette. He penned four cuts for the genre-blurring session, including a pair of tunes with emerging saxophonist Reggie Codrington, while Antoinette composed a couple of stunning instrumental interludes.    

The San Diego-based Antoinette (yes, Mariea Antoinette is the name that appears on her birth certificate) debuted with “Sexy Paradise” (2003) produced by fellow San Diegan Carl Evans Jr. of the jazz fusion outfit Fattburger. Her striking appearance and artfully elegant sound and technique has led to high-profile gigs around the world such as performing for President Barak Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, backing Ne-Yo at the BET Awards and playing Grammy soirees for Vanity Fair magazine and Mary J. Blige and Jamie Foxx. Antoinette and Briggs have been collaborating since 2007 in the all-female ensemble Jazz in Pink. Their organic synchronicity forged through years of live shows at premier jazz festivals is clearly in evidence on “Walk the Walk.”

  

Songs contained on “Straight from the Harp: Special Edition” are:

“Fly Away”

“Rock Wit’cha”

“Special Treasure”

“Give Me Your Love”

“A Single Dance”

“Spend Some Time (With You)”

“Boogie Nights”

“Journey”

“I’m Gonna Love You (Just A Little More Baby)”

“Waiting In Vain”

“Human”

“Straight from the Harp”

“Walk the Walk”

www.MarieaAntoinette.com

NEW RELEASES: HERB ALPERT - COME FLY WITH ME; AYSHA - TAKE ME HIGHER; MARDIE MILLIT & MICHAEL GARIN - HEY, LOOK! IT'S MICHAEL & MARDIE!

HERB ALPERT - COME FLY WITH ME

Herb Alpert returns with his 2015 album, Come Fly With Me, a mix of new Alpert originals and classic American tunes ("Come Fly With Me", "Blue Skies", and "Take The A Train" are just a few that are featured), performed as only the beloved trumpeter can. Full tracklisting: Come Fly With Me; Blue Skies; Got A Lot Of Livin’ To Do; Cheeky; Take The “A” Train; Love Affair; Windy City; Sweet And Lovely; Walkin’ Tall; Night Ride; Something; One The Sunny Side Of The Street; and Danny Boy. Come Fly With Me is set for release on September 25. 

AYSHA - TAKE ME HIGHER

Vocalist and songwriter Aysha takes her sexy, sensual style, which she dubs "smooth R&B with a jazzy edge" - to the next level, vibing in the studio with a dynamic mix of some of the top artists and producers in contemporary urban jazz, to ensure the perfect flow and expression of where she is an artist and performer in 2015. The soulful, easy-grooving side track was co-written, produced by, and features saxophonist Darren Rahn. Includes: Up So High; Take Me Higher; Send For Me; You’re The Only One; Sailing; Undeniable; The Right Thinig; All I Want; Release Me; and Let’s Get It On. ~ Amazon

MARDIE MILLIT & MICHAEL GARIN - HEY, LOOK! IT'S MICHAEL & MARDIE!

Chock full of ballads, peppy stuff, and their signature goofball original material, "Hey, Look! It's Michael & Mardie!", the debut CD of Manhattan cabaret duo Michael Garin and Mardie Millit, is sure you get your toes tapping. Featuring guest turns by Billy Stritch, Steve Doyle and Maitreya Padukone, this eclectic mix of songs old and new will have you chortling, humming along and even wiping away a tear or two. They met each other in the nick of time at Jim Caruso's Cast Party, where they were both regular entertainers, in 2005 and began performing together soon after -- most notably on Sunday nights at Elaine's from 2008 until its closing in 2011. They have appeared together at 54 Below, Birdland, the Village Underground, the Metropolitan Room, Iridium, the Rum House, and Bill's Food and Drink, to name but a few. They married each other in 2012 and live in Central Harlem. Includes: Jump, Jive & Wail; It's Diwali! (feat. Maitreya Padunkone); Little Girl Blue (feat. Billy Stritch); Surf Carmen; Some Enchanted Evening; My Cherie Amour; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Sorry-Grateful; It Doesn't Happen Twice; Douchebag At the Bar (feat. Billy Stritch); I'll Take Romance (feat. Steve Doyle); Route 66; Historia de un Amor/Volver; and Grandma Midnight. 

PETE MCCANN EXPLORES THE BREADTH OF HIS FORMIDABLE ARTISTRY AS A GUITARIST, COMPOSER & BANDLEADER ON HIS FIFTH RECORDING, RANGE

Range, available September 18, 2015 on Whirlwind Recordings, marks jazz guitarist Pete McCann's fifth release as a leader. Range, which finds McCann exploring the breadth and depth of his formidable artistry as a guitarist, composer and bandleader, features an incomparable cast of some of New York City's finest musicians; John O'Gallagher-alto sax, Henry Hey-piano, Rhodes and organ, Matt Clohesy-acoustic & electric bass and Mark Ferber-drums. 

The music on Range encompasses a wide variety of musical styles and genres, showcasing McCann's and the ensemble's "range" as they expertly and delightfully delve into straight-ahead, post-bop, avant garde, Latin, and jazz-rock fusion. Range is the follow up to McCann's previous critically-acclaimed releases, Extra Mile (Nineteen-Eight), Most Folks (Omnitone), Parable and You Remind Me of Someone (both on Palmetto). Range opens with the driving, melodious, Kenny, an homage to the late, great, Kenny Wheeler, with whom McCann had the good fortune to study with in 1988 at the Banff Summer Jazz Workshop. He later performed and recorded with Wheeler in a large ensemble led by the Belgian saxophonist, Erwin Vann in 1997. Wheeler's unique sound on the trumpet and flugelhorn, and his beautiful 

Compositional style, resonates with McCann on a very personal level, as reflected in this composition. Seventh Jar was inspired by the Indian spiritual tale in which a man finds six and a half jars filled with gold. He becomes obsessed with filling the seventh jar never realizing that he should stop and have gratitude for what he already has. McCann and the ensemble perfectly capture the mystery of this ancient story with a contemplative, searching melody. Realm "was written with the great pianist Richie Beirach in mind.  I am a longtime fan of 

Richie's playing and his dark harmonic sensibility," explained McCann. Like most musicians of McCann's caliber, he is an avid listener, and To the Mountains was inspired by a melodic fragment he heard on God Bless America. It is the guitarist's tribute to the true sonic genius of guitarist Bill Frisell, and will stand as a testament to McCann's talent in taking a small melodic fragment and crafting a beautiful, contemplative ballad from it. Mustard is a lively tune with an interesting set of odd meters at the end of the A section: 7/8, 6/8 and 7/8. The bass riff centers around the major 3rd axis split, Ab/C/E.

From L to R: Pete McCann, Henry Hey, Matt Clohesy, John O'Gallagher, Mark Ferber

Other highlights on Range include Dyad Changes, written with Anton Webern in mind. A few years ago John O'Gallagher invited McCann to perform and record with the Anton Webern Project. "Studying O'Gallagher's take on Webern gave me the idea to write in that style over rhythm changes", said McCann; Numinous is based on a 12 tone row. Each of the 12 tones provides the roots for the underlying harmony of the A section, then the tone row comes back on its own in the B section as a backdrop for improvisation; Bridge Scandal, inspired by "Bridgegate" an unfortunate event that many suspect Chris Christie (governor of New Jersey), to have orchestrated. The underlying harmony of the A section is very similar to the middle section or 'bridge' of Bill Evans' Time Remembered; Rumble is an homage to the remarkable saxophonist, Lee Konitz. "I was very fortunate to work with Lee in the Lee Konitz Nonet, led by saxophonist Ohad Talmor, and also recently with saxophonist Grace Kelly," said McCann; Mine Is Yours is a composition that simply, but captivatingly, delves into McCann's fascination with harmony.

A native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, McCann has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for more than twenty-five years, during which time he has been a first-call sideman, and an indispensable part of over eighty CDs. He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe from the most prestigious clubs and jazz festivals, to musicals, award shows, and even an opera. McCann regularly works with Grace Kelly, Chris Tarry, Melissa Stylianou, Dan Willis, Ben Kono, Asuka Kakitani and Alison Wedding, and has performed with some of the greatest in jazz, including Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, Patti Austin, Bobby Previte, Brian Blade, and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. He received his Bachelors of Music degree from the University of North Texas, has studied at the Banff School of the Arts, and currently teaches at City College of New York and the New School in New York City.

 CD RELEASE CELEBRATION TOUR!:

September 27, 2015, 9:30 PM - The 55 Bar, NYC

November 3 - Marshall University, WV

November 4 - Denison University, OH

November 5 - BluJazz, Akron, OH

November 6 - Clinic at Kent State University, OH

November 7 - Natalie's, Columbus, OH

November 8 - Bungalo Jazz, Columbus, OH

December 9 & 10 - The Rex, Toronto, Canada

December 11 - The Jazz Room, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (tent.)

Brian Auger - Back to the Beginning: The Brian Auger Anthology

Brian Auger - lauded and loved by everybody from Herbie Hancock to Mose Allison, from the Brand New Heavies to The Beastie Boys, his tracks have been sampled by Mos Def, Common, Air and Kid Loco, his original compositions covered by Sarah Vaughan, Richard 'Groove' Holmes and The Main Ingredient.

Taking the path less traveled, indeed, forging a new path guided by one's own individual musical instincts certainly would not be the most obvious and easiest route to creative and commercial success. However, Brian Auger has always displayed a fiercely independent and single minded approach to his music - and after over 50 years of doing just that, has firmly secured his reputation as an award winning and much loved musical innovator, award winning jazz piano prodigy, a Swinging 60's London scenester, early jazz fusion protagonist, the godfather of acid jazz, a 2014 Hammond Organ Hall of Fame Inductee, as well as being known as a generous, hilarious and warm hearted human being.

This 24 track, career spanning anthology covers over 50 years of Brian Auger's music - from his poll winning jazz piano trio, classic and slept on tracks by Julie Driscoll & The Trinity, his pioneering 70's jazz fusion outfit The Oblivion Express and includes rare tracks and new material from his Grammy Nominated, award winning life in music - as well as material from his forthcoming brand new live album Live In Los Angeles with original Oblivion Express vocalist Alex Ligertwood back on vocal duties

Back To The Beginning is a celebration of one of music's great innovators, a musician's musician who's playing also speaks directly to the heart of whoever is listening. After over 50 years as a ground breaking professional player, his skills and spirit remain undiminished, one who still promotes a simple and always relevant message - Peace Through Music.

Tracklisting:

          Blues Three Four

          There Is No Greater Love

          Broadway

          Shake (feat. Rod Stewart)

          That Driving Beat (feat. Julie Driscoll)

          Save Me (feat. Julie Driscoll)

          Black Cat

          I've Gotta Go Now

          Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In) [feat. Julie Driscoll]

          Ellis Island

          Finally Found You Out

          Indian Rope Man (feat. Julie Driscoll)

          Red Beans & Rice, Pt. 1 (Big Band Version)

          Fire in the Mind

          Listen Here

          Freedom Jazz Dance

          Whenever You're Ready

          Beginning Again (Live at the Whisky a Go Go)

          Somebody Help Us

          No Time to Live (feat. Julie Tippetts)

          Git Up (feat. Julie Tippetts)

          Freddie'€™s Flight

          Butterfly (feat. Savannah Auger)

          Future Pilot (Live in Los Angeles) [feat. Alex Ligertwood]

The 28th Long Beach Jazz Festival features Gerald Albright, Jonathan Butler, Keiko Matsui, Brian Culberston + many others

Brian Culbertson

For over 27 years, Rainbow Lagoon Park has been transformed into a musical arena of sounds performed by jazz greats that have traveled all over the world. In addition, the vendor's cuisine and upscale merchandise in the pavilion has always been guests' favorite area to parlay. Produced by Rainbow Promotions, LLC, each year guests are in awe of the level of performances and the Long Beach Jazz Festival 2015 is no exception!

This year, the tradition continues. Great delicacies, unique couture and once again guests will experience "A Healthy Taste of Jazz" at the Jazz, Health & Wellness Pavilion where mind, body and soul will be nourished.

Keiko Matsui

2015 PERFORMERS: Jeff Bradshaw & Friends with special guests Chrisette Michele and Frank McComb, Earl Klugh, the Stanley Clarke Band, Brian Culbertson, Stephanie Mills, Jonathan Butler, Eric Darius, Down to the Bone, Jazz All Stars featuring Marc Antoine, Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner, Andrew Gouche, and Kenny "BabyFace" Edmonds!

Staying true to the roots of jazz, it only makes sense that the 28th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival's (LBJF) #LBJazzFest theme is "Rooted in Jazz and Reaching Beyond." Kicking off the weekend is Stanley Clarke (four-time Grammy Award winner and undoubtedly one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players worldwide), Sunday, hear the likes of legend Poncho

Brian Simpson

Sanchez (Latin jazz conga and percussionist great with traditional Afro-Cuban Jazz sounds) and keeping it rooted in jazz but eclectic, Keiko Matsui (internationally acclaimed Japanese keyboardist and composer of smooth jazz, jazz fusion and new-age music) plus many others. LBJF will merge the jazz, fusion, R&B, and neo-soul sounds for three days.

New to the festival and what will be deemed another highlight is the Exclusive Test Drive experience provided by sponsors The Lincoln Motor Company.

Known as the creme de la creme of all festivals, The 28th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival #LBJazzFest takes place

Marcus Johnson

August 7-9, 2015 at Rainbow Lagoon Park. E Shoreline Dr. Long Beach, CA 90802 and will bring style and finesse consistent with its legacy. Top artists, festive ambience and always new innovations in festival enjoyment.

Friday, August 7, 2015 - Begins the 3 day extravaganza with performers: The legendary Stanley Clarke Band, smooth jazz guitarist and composer Earl Klugh and Jeff Bradshaw (Philadelphia's influential neo-soul trombone perfectionist) & friends, Grammy Award Winner Chrisette Michele and soul singer/keyboardist Frank McComb.

Saturday, August 8, 2015 - The second day of #LBJazzFest begins with the talents of Grammy Award Winner producer

Gerald Albright

and bass player Andrew Gouche, then the JAZZ ALL STARS featuring Marc Antoine (Spain's' jazz fusion guitarist extraordinaire), Brian Simpson (inspired keyboardist, composer, prolific studio musician/producer) and Jackiem Joyner (known as "Lil Man Soul" saxophonist and flute player). Up next is the jazz/funk/soul band Down to the Bone; contemporary jazz saxophonist and composer Eric Darius, Cape Town, South African acoustic guitar great Jonathan Butler and R&B singer and stage performer who appeared in the original production of "The Wiz," Stephanie Mills. Headlining the evening is contemporary jazz/R&B/funk multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson.

Sunday, August 9, 2015 - THE FINALE!!!!! .... AND WHAT

Poncho Sanchez

A DAY IT WILL BE! The festival begins with Jazz keyboardist Marcus Johnson then the sultry vocals of Mara Hruby. Up next and always a crowd pleaser, the founder of LBJF Al Williams and the Al Williams Jazz Society. Internationally acclaimed Japanese smooth jazz, jazz fusion and new age keyboardist and composer Keiko Matsui is always a favorite. Gerald Albright, R&B, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz great known at as a "musician's musician" will show off his extraordinary saxophone artistry. Next, Grammy Award Winner Poncho Sanchez (legendary conguero and Latin jazz band leader with Afro-Cuban flair). Last but not least, the headliner, none other than 11-time Grammy Winner Kenny "BabyFace" Edmonds!

Jonathan Butler

The 28th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival is THE MOST TALKED ABOUT, THE MOST RECOGNIZED and one of Southern California's LONGEST RUNNING FESTIVALS sponsored by The Lincoln Motor Company, Stella Artois, Aspire TV, KTLA 5, Union Bank, McDonalds and Black Enterprise.

WHAT: The 28th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival.

WHEN: August 7, 8, 9, 2015.

WHERE: Rainbow Lagoon Park, E Shoreline Dr., Long Beach, CA 90802

http://longbeachjazzfestival.com/

NEW RELEASES: TRU THOUGHTS COVERS 2; VIVIAN GREEN - VIVID; REVIVE MUSIC PRESENTS SUPREME SONANCY VOL. 1

TRU THOUGHTS COVERS 2 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A long-awaited follow up to one of our favorite compilations ever released by Tru Thoughts, and certainly one of the most straight-up fun – in which all stars from the label's roster of underground funk, soul and global groove eclecticists put their own spin on a great batch cover tunes! Quantic puts a cumbia spin on Dre & Snoop, La Grima turns Nirvana's moody grunge into a grimy dub trip, Youngblood Brass Band takes on the Rufus & Chaka Khan and more – in a set that truly transcends any novelty cover tune shtick you might be expecting – really paying legitimate tribute to the material by giving it a fresh spin! Includes "Nuthin' But A G Thing (Dre En Cumbia)" by Quantic Y Su Conjunto Los Miticos Del Ritmo, "Lithium" by La Grima, "Ghost Town" by Hot 8 Brass Band, "Who's That Girl?" by Harleighblu, "I'm The Man That Will Find You" by Alice Russell, "Ain't Nobody" by Youngblood Brass Band and "I Feel Love" by Fingathing feat Jesca Hoop. 9 tracks on the vinyl. (Includes download card – for the CD version with 17 tracks in all!) ~ Dusty Groove

VIVIAN GREEN - VIVID

Vibrant, voluminous, and yes, quite vivid modern soul from Vivian Green – her best in years! She's working here with producer Kwame Holland, and the tracks have a lean, electronic leaning vibe that work really well with her tried-and-true, emotionally resonant vocal style. It might sound like a strange bedfellows kind of scenario, but it works – partly because it's a fairly empowering batch of songs on the lyrical tip, and the sound pairs well with the lyrical strength – and also because we appreciate Vivian taking creative left turns, refusing to repeat herself. Nice! Includes "The One That Got Away", "Broken", "All I Want Is You" feat Raheem DeVaughn, "Get Right Back To My Baby", "123", "Disrespectful", "Count Your Blessings" feat Treena Ferebee and "Leave It All Behind". ~ Dusty Groove

REVIVE MUSIC PRESENTS SUPREME SONANCY VOL. 1 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A strong set of contemporary soulful jazz grooves – and a partnership between Revive Music and the venerable Blue Note label! Supreme Sonacy kicks off with a intro by Radar Ellis that sets the stage nicely for one of the freshest compilations of relatively unknown, poised to break out talents we've heard in a few years – including Igmar Thomas & Marc Cary, Marcus Strickland & Christie Dashiell, Brandee Younger, Ray Angry Slingbaum and others. Although it's essentially a various artists compilation, it's got a fairly cohesive vibe – with soul jazz keys a constant from track-to-track and a bunch of the names popping up more than once on the tracklist – sort of giving it the feel of a diverse collective. Includes "Trane Thing/Pinocchio" by Igmar Thomas & Marc Cary, "Let's Wait A While" by Marcus Strickland & Christie Dashiell, "The Procrastinator" by Keyon Harrold, Maurice Brown & Jaleel Shaw, "Celebration Of Life Suite" by Ray Angry feat The Council Of Goldfinger, "808s In France (Raydar Ellis/Interlude)" by Slingbaum, the sweet Dorothy Ashby tribute "Dorothy Jeanne" by Brandee Younger and more.  ~ Dusty Groove

 

Bob James & Nathan East Team Up On "The New Cool"

Albums just aren't made like the way "The New Cool" was made.  Yamaha Entertainment Group label president Chris Gero put legendary keyboardist Bob James and master bassist Nathan East in the recording studio, equipped them with state-of-the art Yamaha gear and gave them free reign to create.  Recorded entirely in Nashville, the long-time collaborators emerged with an unexpected and audacious collection of original compositions plus a few handpicked classics, an acoustic jazz outing that will make you forget everything you thought you knew about these Grammy-recognized artists best know as contemporary jazz luminaries.  The disc produced by Gero, James, and East will be released September 18.  

"The New Cool" unfolds much in the way the meticulously-crafted project was conceived.  The germ begins organically with a couple of intimate James and East duets.  Pastoral piano wanderings explore the outer perimeter of straight-ahead jazz where they peruse, mirror and engage with meandering bass lines.  In fact, more than half of the record's compositions written by James and/or East are sparsely-produced, probing piano and bass sojourns.  As the seed sprouts, dramatic orchestral accoutrements added by the Nashville Recording Orchestra illuminate the piano, keyboard and bass explorations, contributing hues that are warmly rustic and autumnal or whimsically vibrant.  James challenges with deftly inventive arrangements on complex pieces like "All Will Be Revealed" while East counts off supple rhythms that are astutely measured and metered.  Fluid melodies and harmonies ranging from subtle, serene and meditative to lush exquisite and cascading blossom throughout, whether emoted by a dexterous piano, keyboard or bass or east's celestial vocalese.  An imaginatively-arranged version of Willie Nelson's "Crazy" bops and swings in sublimely surprising style before the ultimate surprise is revealed: a serendipitous vocal from Vince Gill.  The proceedings flourish in a gust of breezy Brazilian jazz when percussionist Rafael Padilla and drummer Scott Williamson appear on "Canto Y La Danza" and  climax in a crashing crescendo on the explosive and intricately orchestrated "Turbulance."

'The New Cool" project carries with it a special level of excitement for me as Bob and I have been courting the idea of this duo adventure for many years," said East, who released his self-titled Grammy-nominated solos debut album last year via Yamaha Entertainment Group on the heels of playing on Daft Punk's 2014 Grammy-winning Record of the Year "Get Lucky."  I've always loved the  sound of the piano and bass together, and have enjoyed duo recordings by the greats: Bill Evans & Eddie Gomez and Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden.  "The New Cool" is our celebration of more than 25 years of friendship and musical camaraderie. 

Bay Area Bassist Fred Randolph Releases 3rd CD, "Song Without Singing"

Fred Randolph Song Without Singing One of the busiest bassists on the rich San Francisco Bay Area music scene for more than 15 years, in demand for his work on acoustic, electric, and fretless bass, Fred Randolph has been an integral part of bands led by artists from Ian Carey and Akira Tana to Dan Hicks and Maria Muldaur. For his third CD as a leader, Song Without Singing, Randolph highlights his vibrant original music performed by his own fine quintet and other longtime colleagues. His Creative Spirit imprint will release the new disc, his first since 2006's New Day, on August 28. 

Most of the 11 tracks feature the Honolulu native's working band of trumpeter Erik Jekabson, tenor saxophonist Rob Roth, pianist Matt Clark, and drummer Greg Wyser-Pratte. "These are some of my best musical friends who always bring their 'A' game to a project," says Randolph. "Their individual and collective talent and creativity are indispensable factors in making the music come alive." 

Among the guests contributing to Song Without Singing are percussionist Brian Rice, guitarist Matthew Heulitt, and pianist Marcos Silva. Vocalist Sandy Cressman, in whose band Homenagem Brasileira Randolph often performs, sings wordlessly on the samba "Pelo Mar"; accordionist Rob Reich stars on the set-closer "La Ultima Vez," a melancholy tango. 

The title track was inspired by the music of Malian singer-songwriter Salif Keita and rendered by the band in 6/4 time. Highly syncopated Venezuelan 5/4 time, expertly anchored by the leader's acoustic bass, Wyser-Pratte's trap drums, and Rice's hand percussion, propels "Story." South African melodies and West African highlife rhythms infuse the lyrical and lively "How We See." "I'm not trying to be authentic when I'm writing ethnic music," he says. "I'm just influenced by it."

Like many young Hawaiians of his generation, Fred Randolph (b. 1956) took up ukulele as a kid, but didn't get serious about music until hearing Jimi Hendrix's album Are You Experienced? at age 11, when he switched to guitar. His guitar teacher soon turned him on to jazz guitarists Howard Roberts and George Benson. Moving to the mainland to attend UC San Diego, he checked out John Coltrane at the recommendation of another teacher. By the time he'd transferred to UC Berkeley to study political science, he was playing tenor saxophone for spare change on street corners near the campus. 

Eventually he went on to work with San Francisco bebop saxophone legend Bishop Norman Williams and to study with the great Joe Henderson. He also studied arranging and trumpet with onetime Woody Herman trumpeter Jerry Cournoyer. 

Fred Randolph Randolph continued his trumpet studies at Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) with Jay Rizzetto while working on his master's degree in composition. For his master's thesis Randolph composed a piece for string quartet plus bass. Hearing Cal State instructor Carl Stanley play the bass part he'd written prompted Randolph to fall in love with the instrument. Although he had an upright bass in his closet and was proficient enough to get an occasional gig on it, suddenly he was dead serious. He studied classical bass with Stanley, jazz bass with Frank Tusa, and electric bass with Kai Eckhardt, among other instructors. Randolph was soon a first-call bassist in Northern California and since 1999 has recorded with such artists as the Full Spectrum Jazz Orchestra, the Collective West Jazz Orchestra, Jim Grantham, Ian Carey Quintet+1, Melanie O'Reilly, Ian Dogole, and Orquesta Dharma, as well as with The Zone, a combo he co-led with trumpeter Graham Bruce. 

Being able to play so many different instruments has greatly helped Randolph in his day job at Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High School, which he's held down for the past seven years. "That's where my background comes in," he says. "Picking up a trumpet, a sax, a flute, or a clarinet and being able to play those parts is really nice. At Hayward State, I took every conducting class I could get my hands on, so when I teach symphonic band or string orchestra, I know what I'm doing, thank God."

Randolph's mastery of a variety of instruments, his studies of arranging and composing, his globe-spanning tastes in music, and his extensive on-the-job training in jazz, blues, Latin, and Americana groups, as well as with European classical ensembles, are evident in the boldly eclectic body of music he has composed for and performed with his own quintet over the past dozen years. Song Without Singing stands as the latest shining light in Randolph's brilliant musical journey. 

The Fred Randolph Quintet will appear in support of Song Without Singing on Saturday 1/15/16 at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley.

THE DEBUT SOLO ALBUM FROM ZZ TOP GUITARIST/VOCALIST AND ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE BILLY GIBBONS

Concord Records is releasing Perfectamundo on October 23, 2015. It’s the debut solo album from Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top guitarist, vocalist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, who is backed by a handpicked group of musicians dubbed The BFG’s on this unique outing. As the title may suggest, the album takes on a bit of an Afro-Cuban flavor that may come as a surprise to some Gibbons fans and followers.

Even before the blues-rock/hard-rock great’s first recordings back in 1967 with the Moving Sidewalks, his legendary pre-ZZ Top Houston psyche-punk garage band, Gibbons studied Latin percussion in Manhattan with none other than its preeminent virtuoso, “Mambo King” Tito Puente, a friend of Billy’s bandleader dad. Puente taught the young Gibbons the essential Latin rhythms via conga, bongo, maracas and, most importantly, timbales. “Banging away on ‘em came back like riding on a lost bicycle,” Gibbons relates of his return to the genre by way of Perfectamundo.

But the concept for Perfectamundo, which was produced by Gibbons and Joe Hardy and recorded in Houston, Los Angeles, Austin and Pontevedra, Spain, originated with Gibbons’ invitation to perform at the 2014 Havana Jazz Festival, delivered by his Argentine-born, Puerto Rico-raised friend and musical collaborator Martin Guigui. While he was unable to make it to Cuba, Billy did commence exploring the potential for an Afro-Cuban inflected album project at his Houston studio. Soon after presenting his engineering crew with a business card from a newly opened Cuban eatery called Sal Y Pimienta (salt and pepper), the first track finished for Perfectamundo took its title from that card.

He followed this with a “Spanglish” version of Louisiana swamp blues maestro Slim Harpo’s classic “Got Love If You Want It” and an Afro-Cubanized take on the Lightnin’ Hopkins blues staple “Baby Please Don’t Go,” thereby fully merging Gibbons innate Houston blues tradition with Cuban rhythms. With the first three tracks ready to go, he sought further guidance from Guigui as well as Chino Pons, a Cuban friend who heads his own quartet in New York.  “Chino, so to speak, sprinkled holy water on our efforts and expressed confidence that we were headed in the right direction—and that bit of affirmation gave us the impetus for more forward motion,” says Gibbons.

BFG & Co., then, includes Guigui on piano and B3, B3 player Mike Flanigan (who has joined with Guigui in backing Gibbons on recent solo dates), vocalist/bassist Alex Garza and drummer Greg Morrow, with co-producer Hardy offering additional guitar, keys, bass and vocals, and Gary Moon also supplying additional guitar play. Besides guitar and vocals, Gibbons himself contributes bass guitar, B3 and piano parts as well as Timbales and other percussion instruments. Chino appears, too, as part of the seasoned Cubano Nationale Beat Generator percussion ensemble. Altogether, the group displays a rare understanding of Cuban music of the pre-revolution 1950s, and is also learned in the rock and metal exemplified by the likes of ZZ Top and Led Zeppelin—all of which is uniquely reflected in Perfectamundo.

There’s even some hip-hop courtesy of Houston’s Garza, a/k/a Alx Guitarzza, which surfaces on the title track, “You’re What's Happenin’, Baby” and “Quiero Mas Dinero.” Other standout cuts include “Pickin’ Up Chicks on Dowling Street,” which is pure Billy Gibbons; the Santana-like “Hombre Sin Nombre,” the Stones-styled “Piedras Negras,” and the smoking B3-stoked, mostly instrumental album closer “Q-Vo.” And Gibbons turns to a Houston classic of another sort in his simmering and slyly percussive cover of Roy Head’s horns-fueled 1965 hit “Treat Her Right.”

Perfectamundo, indeed. And while the album is in fact his first solo release, Gibbons has been quite active of late apart from his continuing endeavors with ZZ Top comrades Dusty Hill and Frank Beard—though it must be made clear that Perfectamundo is accompanied by the blessings of both.

The musical genius of Billy Gibbons is to be heard on his first ever solo album, refreshingly unexpected but most predictably.. Perfectamundo. ¡Escuchemos! 

NEW RELEASES: BOSSA E BOSSA; PAULINHO DA VIOLA – RUAS QUE SONHEI; LENINE - CARBONO

BOSSA E BOSSA (VARIOUS ARTISTS) (5-CD BOX SET)

A bossa nova treasure trove – 10 rare albums from the Brazilian underground of the 60s – all appearing here on CD for the first time ever! These sets go way past the bossa stereotypes of the time – not just breathy vocals, or jazzy piano trios, but a wealth of interesting instrumental twists and turns – set to rhythms that often have a fair bit of samba in the mix, as you might find on early records by Walter Wanderley too! The package is a wonderful companion to the similar Bossa 60s box from Discobertas – and like that one, it features five CDs, which each have two albums, original artwork, and sound that's way better than the poor vinyl used on the original indie label pressings. Modes run from vocal to instrumental, and include a rich variety of sounds that will take you way past Getz/Gilberto and all the bigger bossa sounds of the time. Includes the albums Musica 18 Kilates and Balona E O Successo by Celio Balona; Weekend No Rio, Weekend Em Guarapari, Trio Vagalume Na Bossa, and Volume 4 by Helio Mendes; and Sambas Na Passarela, Ritmos Na Passarela, Ferias No Drink, and Convida A Dancar by Celso Murilo. ~ Dusty Groove

PAULINHO DA VIOLA – RUAS QUE SONHEI (11-CD SET)

An amazing run of music from the great Paulinho Da Viola – one of the key forces in the reinvention of samba in Brazil during the 70s! Da Viola has a sound here that's rooted in classic modes, but which also pushes forward with lots of new innovation – initially an embrace of that fresher, buoyant sense of arrangement that EMI/Odeon was using in the late 60s, then a move to more sophisticated, personal modes that eventually also had Paulinho sounding even more intimate than ever. The stretch of work here is one of the most solid catalogs of any Brazilian artist during the time – and the set features ten original albums, each as a separate CD with cover artwork – the albums Foi Um Rio Que Passou Em Mionha Vida, the two Paulinho Da Viola albums from 1971, A Danca Da Solidao, Nervos De Aco, Paulinho Da Viola (1975), Memorias Cantando, Memorias Chorando, Pauliho Da Viola (1978), and Zumbido. Plus, the set also features a bonus CD with 13 more rare tracks – and a booklet of notes as well! ~ Dusty Groove

LENINE – CARBONO

One of the most creative contemporary artists in Brazilian music does it again – and continues to blow us away with his non-stop flow of fresh sounds and new ideas! Lenine is a restlessly creative talent – one who's never content to rest on his previous work, or keep things conservative even when rising to bigger fame – and this record's a wonderful demonstration of that uniquely personal vision that always wins us over time and time again – that way of folding together things that wouldn't normally be folded – and coming up with something even richer in the process. There's a depth of texture here that's even stronger than some of Lenine's recent albums – and although the music is often tuneful, it crackles at the edges with boundary-pushing frontiers that illuminate the lyrics even past the point of language. Titles include "Simples Assim", "Castanho", "A Causa E O Po", "Quede Agua", "O Universo Na Cabeca Do Alfinete", and "Undo". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: ERIC MARIENTHAL & CHUCK LOEB - BRIDGES; JOAO DONATO - BLUE BOSSA: THE COLLECTION OF STANDARDS; KEN NAVARRO - UNBREAKABLE HEART

ERIC MARIENTHAL & CHUCK LOEB - BRIDGES

Bridges is the sublime collaboration of 2 of the most renowned instrumentalists in Jazz! Between them, saxophonist Eric Marienthal and guitarist Chuck Loeb have either written, produced, or performed on more than 50 Top 10 Smooth Jazz radio singles. Both have thrilled audiences around the world for more than 20 years as solo artists and featured artists in various groups: Marienthal with the likes of Chick Corea, The Rippingtons, Keiko Matsui, and Jeff Lorber and Loeb as co-leader of Fourplay and Jazz Funk Soul. Bridges represents these Smooth Jazz icons at their best, but it is more than just a Smooth Jazz album. As the title suggests, these Soundscapes bridge the gap between the commercial world of Smooth Jazz, the tranquility of New Age music, and the more artistic explorations that are at the heart of the true Jazz experience! Highlights of the 10 Marienthal/Loeb originals include "Crossings", the haunting ballad and first single, the soulful and bluesy "Duality", the romantic "Noir" and much more! ~ Amazon

JOAO DONATO - BLUE BOSSA: THE COLLECTION OF STANDARDS

A wonderful double-length set from this bossa piano legend – and a set that doesn't just feature the familiar standards promised in the title, but includes a number of bossa classics too! Joao's piano is right out front in the mix – working in a jazzy quartet that also includes really nice flute and alto from Ricardo Pontes, who glides around the piano lines in this beautifully chromatic way – plus bass from Luis Alvez and drums and percussion from Robertinho Silva – both rhythm players who really find a great way to live up to Joao's legendary mix of sound and space! With 2CDs, the set's got plenty to offer – and titles include "Smile", "Besame Mucho", "How High The Moon", "Blue Bossa", "Wave", "Vento No Carnaval", "So Danco Samba", "No Coreto", "All Of Me", "A Paz", and lots more. ~ Dusty Groove

KEN NAVARRO - UNBREAKABLE HEART

Eleven new contemporary jazz compositions from one of the genres most gifted and successful recording artists. Top charting and award winning contemporary/smooth jazz guitarist and composer Ken Navarro has created his 22nd album "Unbreakable Heart". Navarro's brilliant acoustic and electric work are featured throughout. Navarro's 2014 album "Ruby Lane" was in the top 10 at national radio and at Amazon.com for many months and his release from 2010 "Dreaming of Trains" was pre-nominated in 2 Grammy categories. Navarro has had numerous Top 5 songs at national radio for the past 25 years including "You Are Everything", "Smooth Sensation", "Ruby Lane" and "Eric's Dream". Tracks include: Jaco Smiled; One Night In Mumbai; Unbreakable Heart; Juliet; Frenchmen Street; Les Amis; Kelleys Island; Almost Home; Until We Meet Again; Hope; and Robin Fly Away (for Robin Williams). ~ Amazon