HOLY FOREST’S DEBUT ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE ON OCTOBER 15, 2015

“Holy Forest offers an impressive collaboration connecting different nodes in the Black Atlantic with Africa Calling” – africaisacountry.com

In a digital diaspora there are no borders.   Playing with sound of the diaspora, Holy Forest blends the ingredients of an evermore connected world into its debut album.  Imagined as a series of songs from the holy forest, a place where we once travelled, where we once fell in love, where we are no longer… but where we long to return. Recorded in The Gambia, NYC, Woodstock and San Francisco, “Holy Forest” is a body of work spanning a number of years, produced and arranged by musician and documentary filmmaker Jon Fine (Herbie Hancock’s “Possibilities”/ Bill Wither’s “Still Bill”).

Producer, instrumentalist and songwriter, Jon Fine enlisted friends and collaborators to play on the genre blending project including Ed “Preachermann” Holley, Gambian griot Tata Din Din Jobarteh (aka the Jimi Hendrix of the Kora), members of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, singer’s Morley Kamen, Seraphim, Sparlha Swa, and Grammy nominated Kora master Youssoupha Sidibe.

Born to a microbiologist and a stone carver, musician and filmmaker Jon Fine grew up in a small town in NJ at the foot of the George Washington bridge. Between counting bacteria in Petri dishes in his father’s lab and playing with clay in his mother’s studio he developed an interest in the making of things.  He earned his stripes in the late 90’s as one of Antibalas’ original guitarists and a session musician for a number of indie bands.  He studied film, taught in elementary schools and started a film production company making videos for Herbie Hancock, Lionel Loueke, Kaki King, Soulive and Antibalas. He produced, shot and edited the Bill Wither’s documentary “Still Bill”, directed “Herbie Hancock:  Possibilities” and co-wrote and produced “The Afterparty” featuring Andre 3000.  After years of interviewing legends of music, and a hiatus from playing, “Holy Forest” has brought him back to his roots.

The recording sessions, spanning a number of years were inspired by his trip to the Gambia’s Makasutu forest, a lush-green riverine wilderness of mangrove swamps. While in Gambia, Fine connected with Tata Din Din and the seeds for the project were planted. Drawing on the beautiful melodies of the Kora, reggae rhythms, folk and blues, “Holy Forest” is 21rst century cross-continental roots music.

The first single and music video from the album is “Africa Calling.” The soulful song about long distance love blends the mellifluous sounds of griot Tata Din Din Jobarteh’s kora (a 21 string lute), Ed “Preachermann” Holley’s wailing vocals and the members of the Antibalas horns featuring Stuart Bogie on saxophone.  Okayafrica said, “Holy Forest LP, pairs the virtuosic sounds of Gambian griot Tata Din Din Jobarteh (aka the Jimi Hendrix of the kora) with the robust vocals of Harlem-based singer Ed “Preachermann” Holley and horns from members of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra on a song inspired by a trip to the Makasutu forest.

The recordings inspired Fine to bring together a live band featuring Ed “Preachermann” Holley and griot Salieu Suso.   They’ll be performing for the album release party on Oct 23rd at The Shrine in Harlem and at the monthly party “Africanoir” at Cmoneverybody in Brooklyn on Oct 25th.

Upcoming Shows:

10/23 @ Shrine – Harlem New York, NY

10/25 @ “Africanoir” Cmoneverybody – Brooklyn, NY

SINGER/SONGWRITER FRANCESCA BLANCHARD"S NEW ALBUM DEUX VISIONS FLOWS BETWEEN AMERICANA & FRENCH CHANSON

The title of Francesca Blanchard’s first full-length record, deux visions, speaks volumes in its own right, hinting at the richness of the music the album contains. It encapsulates the singer-songwriter’s dual identity on several levels: one word in French and the other in English, together meaning “two visions” and together enunciating the sound of the word “divisions.” Blanchard’s childhood in southern France and young adulthood in Vermont, interspersed with travels to over thirty different countries thanks to her parents’ humanitarian work, form the foundations for her poignant, bilingual meditations. Her original, intimate songs touch upon spaces “betwixt and between” and the search for love, home and sanctuary.

A singer from infancy and a songwriter since childhood, Blanchard’s musical influences are as eclectic as her upbringing. Her family’s soundtrack included folk, rock, jazz, French chanson and pop, classical, soul, world music and musical theater — a diverse playlist that reflected the open-minded aesthetic of her multicultural household. Captivated at age 10 by her mother’s performance of “Blackbird,” she taught herself acoustic guitar by imitating Paul McCartney’s finger-picking technique.

But it was the voices that made the biggest impression, with singers ranging from Tracy Chapman, Eva Cassidy, Diana Krall and Norah Jones along with French icons such as Carla Bruni, Francoise Hardy, Edith Piaf, Francis Cabrel, and Alain Souchon leaving their mark on her musical development. Just 23 years old, Francesca Blanchard has been called a “a profound, mature talent” who “displays guile and artistic sensitivity that would be the envy of many tunesmiths twice her age. She may be young, but she has an old soul.” (Seven Days).

Blanchard proved herself as a composer and song stylist with her six-song EP from 2011, Songs On An Ovation, which Vermont weekly Seven Days called “Quietly and profoundly stunning. It is a humble ode to love, heartbreak and home that says more about all three topics in the span of 17 minutes than some songwriters do over entire careers.” Even more remarkable, given that Francesca was just 19 at the time of the EP’s release.

While performing regularly and working as a coffee shop barista, booked studio time in August and September of 2014 at Lane Gibson Recording & Mastering in her current home of Charlotte, VT and hired a creative double-threat from Montreal: producers Chris Velan (Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars) to oversee the project and Jean Massicotte (Lhasa, Patrick Watson, Arthur H, Jorane) to mix the album.

Blanchard explains that the twelve songs of deux visions—six in French and six in English—convey the distinct worldviews carried by each language.  “All these ‘selves’ I carry, that make me the whole being that I am, the artist I’ve become…they are what I wanted to devote this album to. It is an ode to where I’ve been and where I’ll go; who I was and who I’ve become. The album is both a bittersweet eulogy and a heartfelt welcome.” Blanchard actualizes this idea by striking a balance between Americana, subdued indie rock and French chanson that will surely find a diverse audience.

Despite the duality at its core, Blanchard’s quiet resolve echoes throughout deux visions. Each song thinks, moves, soothes, and even chuckles through unsettling circumstances, activities that she asserts are discernable in the melody and mood as much as in the words. With its slow, steady beat and pedal steel reminiscent of Neil Young’s oeuvre, the album’s lead single, “Rame” (Row), imparts a steadfast resolve to weather rough waters en route to shore. The Americana flavored “Wanderer,” buoyed by banjo and a propulsive sing-along chorus, distills her years of geographic adjustment and upheaval into an assertive calling card of self.

Questions of home and family, and their effectiveness as anchors, prevail on the propulsive “Le Blues,” the muscular “Empty House,” the lilting piano-and-strings showcase “Home Is A Cage,” and the contemplative “Papa…Père.” The softly whimsical “Tu N’existes Pas” (You Don’t Exist) and the rollicking “Pas D’sa Faute” (It’s Not Her Fault) use humorous storytelling (the former about an imaginary boyfriend and the latter relating a tale of a working-class Parisian prostitute) as a coping mechanism. “Now That You Are Gone” and “The Sea (Zach’s Song)”—both instrumentally sparse and hauntingly beautiful—confront the reality of pining for what has been lost. Blanchard also re-works songs from her EP to display her evolution as an artist in the last four years: the new versions of “Save A Different Way” and “Mon Ange” (My Angel) contain fuller, more complex arrangements that reveal the songs’ possibilities and Blanchard’s stylistic range.

A natural performer with a Theatre Arts degree from Boston University under her belt, Blanchard has already opened for Joan Armatrading and Suzanne Vega and has a North American tour underway in support of deux visions. With the release of her debut album, Blanchard embarks on a new journey, one that marks the introduction of a unique talent.

NEW RELEASES: JOE MCPHEE / JAMIE SAFT / JOE MORRIS / CHARLES DOWNS - TICONDEROGA; MICHAEL DEASE - DECISIONS; TOM HARRELL – FIRST IMPRESSIONS

JOE MCPHEE / JAMIE SAFT / JOE MORRIS / CHARLES DOWNS - TICONDEROGA

An album inspired by the legendary John Coltrane album Live At The Village Vanguard Again – but a set that takes off in very individual directions, thanks to the spirit of the players! The group's led by pianist Jamie Saft – who's drawing strong energy from Alice Coltrane on the record – especially in the way he effortlessly lays out these dark lines that have a calming presence amidst the more ferocious horn work from Joe McPhee on alto and tenor – that balance that both Mr and Mrs Coltrane could share at their best. Joe Morris provides some of the rounded, most soulful bass we've heard in years – and drums are by Charles Downs, who easily leaps between free moments and bolder rhythmic progressions. Titles include "Beyond Days", "Simplicity Of Man", "Leaves Of Certain", and "A Backward King".  ~ Dusty Groove

MICHAEL DEASE - DECISIONS

Wonderfully fresh work on trombone from Michael Dease – a player we're liking more and more with each new release – and who really tops himself with this one! Dease is schooled in so many older modes – able to blow with the sweetness of JJ Johnson at times, or the gutbuckety soul of Bennie Green at others – but he's also got a very contemporary conception on his instrument, with the blend of soul and modern you'd find on recent albums from trombonist Steve Davis, a labelmate of Dease. No surprise, Michael starts off the record with a great composition by Steve – before launching into some even stronger tunes of his own – fitted perfectly with a group that includes Tim Green on tenor, Glenn Zaleski on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Ulysses Owen on drums. Titles include "Decisions", "Gorgeous Gwen", "Grove's Groove", "Jason's Gonna Get Ya", "Trayvon", and "Three & One". ~ Dusty Groove

TOM HARRELL – FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Stunning work from trumpeter Tom Harrell – a player who's been making records for decades, but who really seems to be hitting a creative high point in his great flurry of recent albums! This sparkling set is one of Harrell's best of the bunch – a set that's got Tom blowing in these richly colorful extrapolations on themes from Debussy and Ravel, but turned inside-out so that there's no classicism at all – just the best use of musical ideas from the composers, which Harrell then takes into these jazzy patterns that are really wonderful – delivered gently on his own trumpet and flugelhorn, in a group that features flute from Charles Pillow, soprano and tenor from Wayne Escoffery, and piano from Danny Grissett! The group also adds in a violin and cello – but used in very un-classical ways that are extremely haunting – and Tom also works with a few of his own compositions as well. Wonderful stuff – with titles that include "Reverie", "Beau Soir", "Perspectives", "Musique Du Cafe", "Sarabande", and "Voices". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: DR. JOHN - THE ATCO / ATLANTIC SINGLES 1968-1974; PAT METHENY – THE UNITY SESSIONS; THE SYMPHONIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA - LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING BACK

DR. JOHN - THE ATCO / ATLANTIC SINGLES 1968-1974

Some of the funkiest work you'll ever hear from the great Dr John – all packed together in one ultra-cool collection! The tracks here are all short, tight, and extremely groovy – maybe even more than the genius albums that the doctor was recording at the same time – as they've got this special sort of focus and flair that brings all the best elements to the front, while still allowing plenty of space for soulful creativity! Also noteworthy are a few tracks that are special projects, and which see release here on CD for the first time – making for a great journey in sound. Arrangements are by Harold Battiste, Allen Toussaint, and Dr John himself – and although there's an evolution in style as the set moves on, things remain pretty darn funky throughout. 22 tracks in all – and titles include "The Patriotic Flag Waver (mono)", "I Walk On Gilded Splinters (parts 1 & 2)", "Iko Iko", "Wash Mama Wash", "Mos Scocious", "Cold Cold Cold", "Life", "Let's Make A Better World", "Me - You = Loneliness", "Big Chief", "Man Of Many Words", "Loop Garoo", "Right Place Wrong Time", "Jump Sturdy", and "Such A Night". ~ Dusty Groove

PAT METHENY - THE UNITY SESSIONS

Pat Metheny’s The Unity Sessions finds the 20 time Grammy winning guitarist and the youngest member of the Downbeat Hall of Fame at the helm of one of his best bands ever as they wrap up a 150 date world tour with an intimate studio performance filmed in a small New York City theatre. Featuring new performances of music from the Grammy winning Unity Band record, the expansive Unity Group KIN(←→) recording, and touchstones from the entirety of Metheny’s illustrious career, these are essential performances that serve as a rare visual documentation of some of the best music of Metheny’s ever expanding career. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. ~ New Releases Now

THE SYMPHONIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA - LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING BACK

Founded by Glickman in 2002, the non-profit Symphonic Jazz Orchestra (SJO) was joined two years later by George Duke as a co-music director, who helped to shape the orchestra over the next decade. Duke was featured in concert with the SJO throughout his involvement and was commissioned to write a new work for the orchestra featuring bassist Christian McBride. The work was premiered in 2011 and instantly, everyone knew this was a work that needed to be recorded. ~ New Releases Now

NEW RELEASES: WOUTER KELLERMAN - LOVE LANGUAGE; SARAH PARTRIDGE - I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE HERE; THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA - RESISTANCE

WOUTER KELLERMAN - LOVE LANGUAGE

Grammy® Award Winning South African flutist and composer, Wouter Kellerman, just debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart with his newly released album titled  Love Language. Love Language is the 4th release from Kellerman, and draws influence from Senegal and Spain, Cuba and India, Greece and the United States.  The album encapsulates the myriad ways that people connect on the topics of life and love — and the countless languages with which people speak of the universal connection that binds them one to another. "The theme of being loving joins us all together," says Kellerman, "and music bridges all cultural gaps, becoming a universal language that communicates across seemingly insurmountable barriers." 

SARAH PARTRIDGE - I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE HERE

Acclaimed jazz vocalist, Sarah Partridge, who has been a critic's favorite for well over a decade, has just released her latest album of original compositions titled "I Never Thought I'd Be Here". Recorded in her home state of New Jersey, the music, which was written by Partridge, after a series of life events, both good and bad. "After the death of my father, my need to express emotion through music extended to writing. For the past 3 years, I have been creating words and music that express the fabric of my life, my thoughts and emotions that everyone experiences but can't always articulate. This album taps into those feelings for me and hopefully for the listener," said Partridge.The new album is the fifth album from Partridge, who is promoting the release of the album with a string of live performances.

THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA - RESISTANCE

Hard to resist the groove of a group this great – one of the longer-running Afro Funk combos around, and one of the best too! The group definitely have a touch of the soulful jazz promised by their name – thanks to strong solos on alto, tenor, and baritone – which often break out from the tight, rhythmic frenzy of percussion, drums, and keyboards! Most cuts have vocals, but the instrumental energy of the group is what really wins us – sharper than ever as the group keeps growing! Titles include "Shock & Awe", "Greet The Dawn", "Ware Wa", "Kossa Kossa", "Soleil Couchant", and "Bull's Eye". (Includes the full album on CD.)  ~ Dusty Groove

Frank Sinatra Centennial Celebration Continues With Commemorative Vinyl LP Releases: 50th Anniversary Editions of 'Sinatra: A Man And His Music,' 'September Of My Years,' and 'Sinatra '65'

Continuing Frank Sinatra's centennial year celebration ahead of the icon's December 12 birthday, three classic 1965 Sinatra albums will be reissued worldwide on 180-gram vinyl by FSE/UMe on November 20 to commemorate their 50th anniversaries. The essential albums -- Sinatra '65 and Album Of The Year GRAMMY Award® winners September Of My Years and 2LP Sinatra: A Man And His Music -- were originally released on Sinatra's own Reprise label. The commemorative vinyl reissues are presented with faithfully replicated original artwork, including A Man And His Music's 2LP gatefold sleeve.

Originally released in June 1965, Sinatra '65 presents various singles and songs in one collection, including "My Kind Of Town," "Luck Be A Lady," "Somewhere In Your Heart," and "Stay With Me." The new commemorative vinyl edition returns this Top 10 Billboard classic to print in the U.S.

Released in September 1965, three months before Sinatra's 50th birthday, September Of My Years fittingly features "It Was A Very Good Year," as the landmark LP won the year's GRAMMY Award for Album Of The Year. The Top 5 Billboard album has been hailed by Allmusic.com as "one of Frank Sinatra's triumphs of the '60s, an album that consolidated his strengths while moving him into new territory, primarily in terms of tone."

In November 1965, as Sinatra's 50th birthday approached, he was celebrated with a primetime NBC television special and he released a double LP with the same title: Sinatra: A Man And His Music. Envisioned as a compendium of Sinatra's music career to that point, the double album included Reprise recorded versions of many of his most popular songs and audio narration by Sinatra himself.  Among the album's tracks are "Come Fly With Me," "Fly Me To The Moon," "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Love and Marriage," "Witchcraft," and "Young At Heart." A Man And His Music earned Sinatra his second consecutive Album Of The Year GRAMMY, while the TV special was nominated for three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Music Program as well as a Peabody Award.

These vinyl reissues follow Capitol/UMe's April release of Ultimate Sinatra, a career-spanning collection celebrating Frank Sinatra's centennial year. The acclaimed collection is available worldwide in 25-track CD, 26-track digital, 24-track 180-gram 2LP, and deluxe, 101-track 4CD and digital editions, presenting the Chairman of the Board's recordings for Columbia, Capitol and Reprise together for the first time.

On October 21, Frank Sinatra will be honored at the GRAMMY Museum®'s 2015 Architects of Sound Awards at Los Angeles' Club Nokia, benefiting the Museum's education initiatives. Hosted by Stevie Van Zandt and Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, the dinner and Ken Ehrlich-produced concert will be held in conjunction with the Los Angeles opening of the immersive Sinatra: An American Icon exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum.

About Frank Sinatra

Throughout his six-decade career, Frank Sinatra performed on more than 1,400 recordings and was awarded 31 gold, nine platinum, three double platinum and one triple platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America. Sinatra demonstrated a remarkable ability to appeal to every generation and continues to do so; his artistry still influences many of today's music superstars. He also appeared in more than 60 films and produced eight motion pictures. 

Sinatra was awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Recording Academy, The Screen Actors Guild and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Today, he remains a legend and an inspiration around the world for his contributions to culture and the arts.

www.sinatra.com

facebook.com/sinatra    

twitter.com/franksinatra  

instagram.com/sinatra   

100.sinatra.com 

DARLENE LOVE RELEASES HER FIRST NEW FULL-LENGTH ALBUM IN 27 YEARS - INTRODUCING DARLENE LOVE

Capping a week of rave reviews from Rolling Stone, the L.A. Times, Entertainment Weekly, NPR's First Listen, the N.Y. Daily News (cheering the new album and crowning Darlene Love "part of the pop DNA") and others, one of the most anticipated albums of this or any year – Introducing Darlene Love is now available.

The Columbia Records/Wicked Cool release marks the first new full-length album of original pop songs in 27 years from the renowned vocalist, who has achieved legendary status for her enduring work with Phil Spector and as one of the most prolific backup singers of all time.  Now, with the spirited Love deservedly back in center spotlight, the album is being welcomed to worldwide acclaim: "Girl group royal takes back her throne," heralded Rolling Stone, "Love comes at it like a wrecking ball, husky alto thrillingly intact..."; "A stunning collection of vibrant, dramatic rock anthems and R&B workouts...' wrote Entertainment Weekly; "Love singing at maximum intensity..." noted the L.A. Times, with the above-mentioned NY Daily News praising the album as a "'soaring work" and revealing that "Love has lost none of her talents and has never sounded more unsinkable." Electric Review proclaims, "if you're too young to have experienced first-hand the excitement that came with hearing a new Darlene Love song ache through the jukebox or car radio, Introducing Darlene Love will cast you back to a place of innocence and faith, shepherding you back to a time when people gathered in the misty fields, steadfastly holding to the belief that music was about to change the world." Produced and arranged by artist/producer/E Street Band great Stevie Van Zandt, it's more than apparent that his heartfelt mission of re-introducing the irrepressible Love to the world in all her vocal splendor has been affirmed as a rousing success. 

Hailed as "a splashy victory lap" by NPR's First Listen, the album is comprised of all new recordings and features never-before-heard and classic songs from a superstar cast of songwriters eager to join Van Zandt in honoring one of the seminal voices in music history.  The Elvis Costello-penned first single "Forbidden Nights" has also been embraced at radio and drawn raves, with Costello and Bruce Springsteen contributing two tracks each to the 14-song album (released on Van Zandt's Wicked Cool label in partnership with Columbia Records - see full tracklist below) with Stevie Van Zandt penning three songs.  Other writers include Jim Webb, Linda Perry, Desmond Child, Joan Jett, longtime songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Michael Des Barres, and more. Various before mentioned songs have been championed across several channels at SiriusXM Radio with feature interviews running throughout release week. NPR's First Listen also praised the Van Zandt/Love chemistry on the album, citing the "dignity in Love's vocals amplified by Van Zandt's grand but well-modulated arrangements."

The irresistible video for the first single "Forbidden Nights" also premiered to an overwhelming response.  The jubilant clip catches the charismatic Love and pals cruising the beach sites of Asbury Park, N.J., and features inventive cameos including Costello himself, as well as Joan Jett, Paul Schaffer, Bill Murray, David Letterman, and hilarious glimpses of Van Zandt and buddy Bruce Springsteen.  Love and Van Zandt and a stage-full of musicians also rocked Asbury Park's Paramount Theatre live on September 12, reveling in a vibrant set of album selections kicking off Introducing Darlene Love's release as well as delivering torrid renditions of some of her back-classics.  Two more buzzed-about shows celebrating the album's release are on deck in L.A.'s famed Whisky A Go Go with the first show kicking off tonight.  Headliner Love and Little Steven & Friends will be rocking the bill September 18 and 20. 

The captivating Love is sure to bring her iconic vocal rendering to the Whisky just as she does on the acclaimed new album. Songs on Introducing Darlene Love include "Night Closing In" (Bruce Springsteen,) "Still To Soon To Know" (Elvis Costello),"Love Kept Us Foolin' Around" (Linda Perry), "Who Under Heaven" (Jimmy Webb), "River Deep, Mountain High" (Phil Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich), and "Sweet Freedom" (Barry Man/Cynthia Weil), among others. 

Inducted in to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011, Love's five-decade career spans some of the greatest signature moments in music.  The Los Angeles native (Love currently resides in New Jersey) nurtured her talent early as a member of the Blossoms, a local trio who began their career providing backup vocals for artists such as Sam Cooke and Bobbie Day.  The Blossoms also were featured as part of the house band for the popular '60s music show Shindig, backing up many of the performers who appeared on the series.  Love would go on to become one of the most sought-after singers in music history, recording with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Dionne Warwick, The Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, and dozens of other vocal giants throughout her career.  Her early work with pioneering producer Phil Spector on songs such as the trailblazing "He's A Rebel," "He's Sure The Boy I Love," and "Why Do Lover's Break Each Other's Hearts," would garner her legend status. She is featured in the 2013 Academy Award and Grammy winning documentary '20 Feet From Stardom,' chronicling the behind-the-scenes lives of background singers.   Darlene's annual holiday performance of her classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on Late Night With David Letterman became a holiday viewing staple.    

Tracklist:

1.Among The Believers (Stevie Van Zandt)

2.Forbidden Nights (Elvis Costello)

3.Love Kept Us Foolin' Around (Linda Perry)

4.Little Liar (Desmond Child/Joan Jett)

5.Still Too Soon To Know (Elvis Costello)

6.Who Under Heaven (Jimmy Webb)

7.Night Closing In (Bruce Springsteen)

8.Painkiller (Michael Des Barres/Paul Ill)

9.Just Another Lonely Mile (Bruce Springsteen)

10.Last Time (Stevie Van Zandt)

11.River Deep, Mountain High (Phil Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich)

12.Sweet Freedom (Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil)

13.Marvelous (Walter Hawkins)

14.Jesus Is The Rock (That Keeps Me Rollin) (Stevie Van Zandt)

"Cheerin' Up the Universe," New CD by Trumpeter Bob Merrill

Bob Merrill Cheerin' Up the Universe Trumpeter/vocalist Bob Merrill has had an amazingly varied career in and around music -- mentored by his late father-in-law Joe Bushkin, Jaki Byard, and Red Rodney; starting and operating Hip Pocket Recording Studios in New York City; and recording as a leader himself. Cheerin' Up the Universe, his new CD and fourth to date, is being released September 4 by Accurate Records, which has also reissued two of Merrill's earlier albums (Catch As Catch Can, Got a Bran' New Suit).

 

In the great tradition of trumpeter-singers, going back to Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, and Louis Prima, Merrill is both a carefree entertainer who wants to lift up his audience and a serious artist who pays the deepest respect to jazz tradition with his mastery of forms.

On previous albums, the New York-based artist mined the jazz mainstream, sometimes with a stylish Rat Pack-era sound, sometimes with a deeper blend of late swing and hard bop -- and always, says Accurate Records honcho Russ Gershon, who has known Merrill since they were classmates at Harvard, with real jazz and real blues feeling. "He has a passionate attachment to the real thing," said Gershon, leader of Either/Orchestra, who lends his saxophone skills to the album.

Backed by such one-of-a-kind guest players as trombone great Roswell Rudd and keyboardist John Medeski, Merrill indulges himself-and anyone who has grown up loving the likes of James Taylor ("The Secret o' Life"), Steely Dan ("IGY [What a Beautiful World]"), Burt Bacharach ("I Say a Little Prayer"), and Stevie Wonder ("Overjoyed") -- by applying his personal touch to a selection of pop hits that in spirit and title promote happiness. For a little icing on the cake, he covers Pharrell's inescapable "Happy," with the lyrical bassist Nicki Parrott harmonizing and a touch of Lee Morgan's infectious "Sidewinder" informing the bridge. The title track, a fetching Merrill original, aims to cheer up the universe "one star at a time."

  

Merrill has deep history with the musicians on the date: guitarist Drew Zingg was a grade school classmate; his friendship with drummer George Schuller dates back to boarding school; keyboardist/arranger John Van Eps first connected with Merrill at the New England Conservatory.

John Medeski, who contributes to four tracks on piano and two on organ, met Merrill in 1989, when the keyboardist was hired, at Gershon's suggestion, for a gig in Cambridge. "Russ also suggested some bass players who were all booked," Merrill explains. "But my last call was to Chris Wood, who was free. It was on that gig that Medeski met Wood, and they later added Martin -- the rest is history."

 Bob MerrillBob Merrill has had similar encounters with kismet throughout his life, which began in 1958 in Manhattan. He grew up in the Upper East Side building where Benny Goodman lived, and once he'd heard Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing," young Bob was hooked on jazz. After his head was turned by Doc Severinsen's trumpet playing during a Tonight Show taping his father took him to, Bob devoted himself to the horn. He took lessons and played gigs with local trumpet guru Felix Sangenito and also studied with William Vacchiano, first trumpet chair at the New York Philharmonic.

While attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, he jammed with saxophonist Thomas Chapin. Accepted at Harvard, Merrill deferred for a year to study jazz at the New England Conservatory of Music, where his teachers included George Russell and Jaki Byard. He formed a group with drummer George Schuller, son of the late Gunther Schuller, then president of NEC.

Merrill began singing, he says, when he played wedding gigs and discovered that attractive women on the dance floor turned to hear what someone on stage was singing more than they ever turned to hear what someone was playing. His relaxed vocals add an important dimension to his art. He modestly says that his understated style is a concession to his vocal limitations. But with his Mel Tormé-influenced smoothness and Kurt Elling-like articulation, he is an appealing and distinctive interpreter of the Great American Songbook.

After marrying Christina Bushkin in 1991, Merrill coaxed her father, the fabled swing pianist Joe Bushkin, out of retirement. One of their first gigs was a memorable run at Tavern on the Green in Central Park with a group featuring bass immortal Milt Hinton, who credited Bushkin for bringing him to New York in the early '50s for an extended run at the Embers with Jo Jones. Merrill produced CD reissues of Joe Bushkin's classic LPs, and they played the jazz festival circuit until the pianist's death in 2004.

The release of Cheerin' Up the Universe opens a new chapter in Merrill's musical life. "We now embark on the process of cheering up the universe in various venues, until we reach Pluto," says Bob. He'll be appearing in support of the new album at the following: 9/17 Caffe Vivaldi, NYC; 9/24 Oak Room Tavern, Sea Cliff, NY; 10/22 Treme, Islip, NY. Additional dates are in the works.

FEATURED ON THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE: PIANIST ED BENTLEY - MAGIC NIGHT

Ed Bentley is a fine pianist, organist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist known principally for his work on Jazz Piano and Hammond Organ despite his early start with the double bass and electric bass at the age of 14 and acoustic and electric guitars at the age of 18.  Ed arrived in the UK in 1971. Working musicians rated him as soon as he arrived, since then he has been winning friends all over England, Europe, the USA and most parts of the world with his music.

With four CDs and four Vinyl albums behind him, with record companies such as SB Records, Pleasure records, M Records and Prestige Records.  Ed’s Big Band, Quintet, Quartet and Trio has also played places like Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean Street, The 100 Club Oxford Street, The Jazz Café Camden Town, The Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Halls to mention just a few of his regular venues in London.  Jazz Festivals and Tours in the UK and Europe include top venues like The Fabrik, Uncle Po and Dennis Swing Club in Hamburg.  The Quarter Latin, Eierschalle, Joe’s Beer Salon and the Talk Of The Town in Berlin were among his gig list.  Top venues in Italy, France and Holland have been regular in his diary.

Ed has also worked with top artists including a World Tour with  Deniece Williams, Irene Reed (Count Basie Band), Percy Sledge, Guitar Legend Al Casey, Bobby Watson, Michael Hashim and the late George Williams (Tymes) with whom he had a commercial hit which Ed wrote “Never Again” which stayed in the National  Charts Top Twenty for ten weeks, to mention a few artists in the USA .  Ed has also worked with top artists in the UK, Europe, Australia, the Far Eastand Africa, including playing Piano for Huge Masekela at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival recently.                                   

From his first in 1979 to his latest 2010 “Magic Night”Ed has released some fine albums.  His “Bolla, Keyboard Blues” Album was reviewed by the late Billy Higgins and his “Metropolis” Album was reviewed by Cedar Walton both on Prestige Records.  Ed’s admirers have included the late Jimmy Smith who inspired Ed to take up the Hammond Organ, Sir Paul McCartney, Joe Sample and Tony Bennet to mention just a few.   

Upcoming event September 21, 2015: In LONDON THE 13TH AFRICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015 – THE VORTEX JAZZ CLUB THE ED BENTLEY QUINTET with special guest KOFI AYIVOR: Percussion and DAVE LEWIS: Tenor, ROD YOUNGS: Drums, MARK RIDOUT: Guitar.

Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Pianist Myriam Alter Evokes Nostalgia With Culturally Eclectic Mix on New Release Crossways

Crossways is composer/pianist Myriam Alter's third production for Enja Records (licensed to Justin Time Records in North America).  Her mother grew up in Saloniki, which has given Greece some of its greatest musicians, artists, poets and thinkers, thus providing a rich background for Alter to draw upon. Her father was born in Istanbul and lived there until he was seventeen when he moved to Belgium. Being brought up around these different cultural influences left an imprint on Alter and has influenced her music and compositions throughout her life.

Alter gathered a standout ensemble, with diverse cultural backgrounds like her own, to come from all over the world to produce the tight overall sound on Crossways. At the center of the music is Italian accordion virtuoso Luciano Biondini. He is joined by American (now Netherlands based) clarinetist John Ruocco, who fulfills an important soloist role in a similar fashion to his role on Alter's previous albums. Belgian bassist Nic Thys always impresses with his strong acoustic bass foundation, and the liquid tuba of Belgian Michel Massot will be a discovery for many. The creative young Dutch percussionist Landers Gyselinck provides steady rhythmic  support and is making a name for himself in both the jazz and the avant-garde rock scene, and Italian Michel Bisceglia provides subtle, crisp piano solos with his arrangements that truly balance and support the compositions.

"I chose Crossways because of my own upbringing. I came from a Judeo-Spanish family and lived in Belgium," says Alter. "Once you add that to the background of these musicians, all those cultures meet in the music." Crossways not only refers to the diversity and eclecticism in the musicians' backgrounds but also to the instrumentation for the album. The unique combination of accordion, clarinet, and tuba along with the traditional instrumentation adds a distinctive element to Alter's music that is undeniable and also adds succinctly to the warm melodies throughout the recording. 

Although most of the performances were improvised, the melodies were arranged to evoke a certain feeling of peacefulness and tranquility. For Alter, it's the feelings of nostalgia in the arrangements that provoke these feelings that she hopes draw the listener back. "I want these melodies to create a warm and loving feeling so the melody really sticks with the listener," explains the composer.

The album concludes with a beautiful and spontaneous solo piano piece performed by Alter, dedicated to Mal Waldron. The two met in Brussels and had become good friends with Alter inviting him to workshops, taking lessons with him and watching him perform on a weekly basis. The moving performance serves as a fantastic end to this exciting production. Crossways is sure to be a landmark recording for this composer/pianist.

The legendary B.B. King is being remembered with vinyl/digital reissues of Live At The Regal, Live In Cook County Jail and Deuces Wild, featuring famous collaborators

The world of music lost one of its all-time legends when the great blues guitarist B. B. King passed away on May 14, at the age of 89. Accolades and tributes came not only from fans but fellow musicians who were influenced by the Mississippi-born son of sharecroppers, who virtually popularized the genre that spawned rock 'n' roll. King's fluid, string-bending "talking" style and patented vibrato on the guitar he dubbed "Lucille" ignited the careers of acolytes from Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page to John Mayer and Jack White. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, just a year after it started, King, a 15-time GRAMMY® winner and Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, was named by Rolling Stone in 2011 as No. 6 on its list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." During the course of his remarkable six-decade-plus career, King's hits ranged from his first R&B chart-topper, "3 O'Clock Blues," to now-standards including his signature hit, "The Thrill Is Gone," "Sweet Sixteen," "How Blue Can You Get?" "Every Day I Have the Blues," and his 1988 collaboration with U2, "When Love Comes to Town," which exposed him to a whole new generation of fans.

Geffen Records/Universal Music Enterprises, to mark what would have been King's 90th birthday on September 16, is inaugurating a reissue of the venerable musician's catalog on vinyl and digitally re-mastered for online retailers, starting with the remaining nine titles of his 11 celebrated early albums released on Crown Records, a subsidiary of Modern Records. On September 11, joining the two other Crown Records titles already available (the 1956 LP release Singin' the Blues and 1958's The Blues), these nine releases on King's first label feature material that has been unavailable for decades.

Also available, a pair of classic live albums, Live at the Regal, and Live in Cook County Jail, will be re-released on September 18, both on disc and digital form. A double-LP set, Deuces Wild, which features King performing duets with a series of noted partners, including Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones and D'Angelo, will be issued on vinyl for the first time, in a special vinyl gatefold edition, October 9. 

Crown Albums Catalog: These nine late '50s-early '60s recordings on the Crown Records label make their digital debut. These nine titles include B.B. King Wails (1959), B.B. King Sings Spirituals (1960), The Great B.B. King (1960), King of the Blues (1960), My Kind of Blues (1961), More B.B. King (1961), Easy Listening Blues (1962), Blues in My Heart (1962) and B.B. King [a.k.a. The Soul of B.B. King] (1963). Featured tracks include "Sweet Sixteen," "Sneakin' Around," "Ten Long Years," "Be Careful with a Fool," "You're Gonna Miss Me" and more.

Live At The Regal: Recorded November 21, 1964, at the Regal Theater in Chicago and released the following year, the album is considered one of the greatest blues recordings ever, with Rolling Stone naming it No. 141 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and included in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. With an ensemble that included bassist Leo Lauchie, pianist Duke Jethro, drummer Sonny Freeman and tenor saxophone players Bobby Forte and Johnny Board, King ran through a set list that included some of his greatest hits, including "Every Day I Have the Blues," "How Blue Can You Get?," "Sweet Little Angel" and "Woke Up This Morning (My Baby's Gone)." King admitted "that particular day in Chicago, everything came together," and that the disc was "considered by some the best recording I've ever had." UMe will now reissue the classic album in both 180-gram vinyl and newly mastered digital editions.

Live In Cook County Jail: Recorded in Chicago's Cook County Jail on a hot fall day in 1970 and released the following year, the recording of this historic event was named #499 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, hitting #1 on the Billboard R&B charts, #3 on the Jazz charts and #25 on the Top 200. One of several live albums King released, it features a selection of his best-known songs, including "Sweet Sixteen," "The Thrill is Gone" and a medley of "3 O' Clock Blues" and "Darlin' You Know I Love You." King's band included bassist Wilbert Freeman, drummer Sonny Freeman, trumpet player John Browning, Louis Hubert on tenor sax, Booker Walker on alto sax and Ron Levy on piano. At the peak of his career renaissance, King won over a hostile crowd, turning the initial jeers (not for him, but the sheriff and chief judge in attendance) with his exuberant playing. King credits the prison's warden, Winston Moore, one of the country's first African-Americans in that post, with having the idea to bring him in to play. AllMusic called the version of "The Thrill Is Gone" on the album "possibly the best... of all its many incarnations." The September 16th release will include 180-gram vinyl and a version digitally re-mastered for online retailers and streaming services.

Deuces Wild: This double-album, originally released on November 4, 1997, will be issued for the first time on 180-gram vinyl with a special gatefold cover on October 2. The 35th studio album in his career, King hooked up with a series of celebrated duet partners for a set that showed off his remarkable range, including collaborations with Van Morrison ("If You Love Me"), Tracy Chapman ("The Thrill Is Gone"), Eric Clapton ("Rock Me Baby"), Bonnie Raitt("Baby I Love You"), D'Angelo ("Ain't Nobody Home"), The Rolling Stones ("Paying the Cost to Be the Boss"), Joe Cocker ("Dangerous Mood"), Dr. John ("There Must Be a Better World Somewhere"), Heavy D ("Keep It Coming"), Pink Floyd's David Gilmour & Squeeze's Paul Carrack ("Cryin' Won't Help You Babe") and Willie Nelson ("Night Life"). The disc was nominated for a GRAMMY® in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.

NEW RELEASES: JOSH BERMAN TRIO – A DANCE AND A HOP; HENRY FRANKLIN & 3 MORE SOUNDS – HAPPINESS OF PURSUIT; MASSIVE SUITS QUARTET – FULL MOON WIZARD

JOSH BERMAN TRIO – A DANCE AND A HOP

Tremendous work from the great Josh Berman – one of the most important musicians on the Chicago underground scene of the past decade or so – not just for his work on cornet, but also for his warmly collaborative and supportive spirit! That quality really comes through here – on a trio date that has Josh's horn with Jason Roebke on bass and Frank Rosaly on drums – all working together in this very special, very individual style – one that seems to embrace so many different decades of jazz at once – from the early trad phraseologists admired by Berman, to the postwar modern that's resurfaced in the recent Chicago scene, to the 21st Century experiments that all three members have engaged in! All the music is composed, but the performance has a looseness that almost feels improvised – save for the sense of cohesion in the tunes, and that no player ever steps too far outside – even though all of them are pretty darn freewheeling. We're not sure we've ever even heard a cornet trio before – but even if we had, there's never been anything like this – as you'll hear on titles that include "Cold Snap", "Today's Date", "Mint", "Your Uncle", "Time/Trouble", "Wooden", "Bridges", and "Luggage". ~ Dusty Groove

HENRY FRANKLIN & 3 MORE SOUNDS – HAPPINESS OF PURSUIT

Henry Franklin pays tribute to the great Gene Harris – in particular, the tremendous albums that Harris made for Blue Note in the 60s with his Three Sounds combo – hence the name of the group! Franklin's bass is wonderfully full, rich, and soulful – just like that of Andy Simpkins back in the original trio – and piano here is from Bill Heid, who opens up the more gutbuckety side of his spectrum – with these lines that step along beautifully with the bass, yet still hit loads of lyrical passages too. The balance is wonderful, and complemented perfectly by the drums of Carl Burnett – who, like Franklin, was also in the Three Sounds for a point in the 60s. Titles include "Blue Daniel", "Searchin", "Boomph", "It Don't Mean A Thing", "Little Miss Laurie", and "Autumn Serenade".  ~ Dusty Groove

MASSIVE SUITS QUARTET - FULL MOON WIZARD

A contemporary set, but one that's trying for a sound library vibe – in particular, the kind of moody, more electronic work that was coming from the French and UK scenes in the 70s! There's some funky elements here, but they're all moving nice and slow – brooding bass stepping slowly underneath spacey keyboards – all composed and arranged by Gregoire Marty, with a retro vibe that's somewhere in a late 70s/early 80s style. Titles include "March From The Moon", "Full Moon Wizard", "The Lake", "Dancing With Her", "Nymphs", "Spaceship Jazz", and "Grand Empty". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: GEORGE DUKE – THE ERA WILL PREVAIL: THE MPS STUDIO YEARS 1973-1976; MARVIN GAYE – VOLUME 1: 1961-1965 ; NICOLE WILLIS & THE SOUL INVESTIGATORS – HAPPINESS IN EVERY STYLE

GEORGE DUKE – THE ERA WILL PREVAIL: THE MPS STUDIO YEARS 1973-1976

An amazing package of work from George Duke – 6 of his legendary fusion albums for MPS Records, including the never-reissued double-length set Solus/The Inner Source! That incredible album is worth the price of the package alone – as it begins with some sublime trio work from Duke, rooted in jazz but already stretching out in amazing ways – then moves into some even hipper Latin-styled grooves, with Jerome Richardson on reeds and Luis Gasca on a bit of trumpet! Other albums in the set are equally great – and trace Duke's evolution from straighter jazz into funky freer fusion and soul – an incredible musical shift that's presented on the albums Faces In Reflection, Feel, I Love The Blues She Heard My Cry, The Aura Will Prevail, and Liberated Fantasies – each of them classics in their own right, presented together wonderfully here in this complete MPS package! The set is amazing – all records are on 180 gram vinyl, with cover styles that replicate the original MPS style – and the tapes have been re-optimized, and remastered to very specific 70s standards for wonderful sound! Comes with a special boot. ~ Dusty Groove

MARVIN GAYE – VOLUME 1: 1961-1965 (7-CD SET)

Includes: Soulful Moods, Stubborn Kind, When I'm Alone, Hello Broadway,Together, How Sweet It Is, and Nat King. The birth of a legend – the first seven albums from Motown giant Marvin Gaye, served up here in one nicely-priced package! The set's similar to the Original Album Classics series – in that it features each individual album in a tiny record sleeve – all stacked together in a nice box that brings all the music together – including a number of records that haven't been on CD in quite awhile! Even at this early point, Marvin's way ahead of the game – able to lay down hard, heavy soul tracks when he wants – but also slide into a ballad like nobody else, and even hit a few jazzier moments too. The range of modes here is really wonderful – showing that Motown was already trying to let Gaye move into the many directions he'd follow later on – and albums include the tearjerking When I'm Alone I Cry, the seminal Stubborn Kind Of Fellow, the duet with Mary Wells on Together, the soaring How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You, the jazzy Tribute To Nat King Cole, the classy Hello Broadway, and the moody Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye. ~ Dusty Groove

NICOLE WILLIS & THE SOUL INVESTIGATORS – HAPPINESS IN EVERY STYLE

This Autumn, Nicole Willis rolls out with her third album made together with The Soul Investigators: Happiness In Every Style. It is bound to send shivers down backs all around the world. As the name suggests, the new album will offer variety and tilt towards a more positive note after the murky Tortured Soul from two years back. This means Nicole and the boys have made things a bit more soothing for the listener, offering upbeat modern soul and even embracing more sophisticated melodies alongside their highly evolved raw funk sound. To get a taste of this, one only has to put on 'Let's Communicate' or 'One In a Million' to get their hands clapping and toes tapping in no time, or respectively, witness the dance floor explode. From minor key ballads such as 'Thief In The Night' to the unapologetically poppy 'Angel', the new album is bound to bring to the hearts of humans in every shade and style. Whether you know Nicole Willis from before or not does not hold any weight here. After hearing her with The Soul Investigators on this new album, you will know they are for real, and out to offer you everything you need to fill up your soul supply. With Nicole's insightful lyrics and the band's hard-hitting music you are in good care.

FEELING NICE VOL. 3: A COLLECTION OF SUPER RARE AND SUPERHEAVY FUNK 45s FROM THE LATE 60s & EARLY 70s

Friends and fans of Tramp Records in general, and of the Feeling Nice series specifically, will be feeling even nicer this time around with the release of this deep and soulful new collection: Feeling Nice Volume 3.

These recordings have been painstakingly sought-out and unearthed from as far away as Hawaii, Canada, and Jamaica (in addition to the usual Texas, Ohio, and Georgia). This music has been carefully transferred (in some cases form the sole known copy) and remastered to the highest standards of audio quality. Finally, through a determined and diligent research effort leading to interviews with the owners of the rights to the original masters, Feeling Nice Volume 3's detailed liner notes offer you an enlightening window into the lives of the musicians, producers, and independent record labels responsible for some of the deepest music on the planet. All of this in addition to full color label scans and never before seen publicity photos.

Of course, to friends and fans of Tramp Records, none of this is a surprise as you have come to expect consequential projects promoting cultural and historical significance delivered with the love of a fellow record digger and the science of a musicologist. Tramp Records remains one of the champions of rare deep funk soul and jazz on vinyl, uniting thorough research, respect of the original artists and art form, and thoughtful curation of great singles, albums and compilations.

Some of the highlights of Feeling Nice Volume 3 are one of the rarest 45s on the Alston label and in our opinion also one of the best, Clarence Reid's "I Get My Kicks". A James Brown influenced wah wah funk monster, 'Stand-Up Baby' by Canada's Saint John. 'The Jack Mod Kick' by Jake, Ricky and Jack Townshend AKA Jack & The Mods, ranging in age from 6 to 18 and discovered almost accidentally while rehearsing in a rundown shack in rural Virgina! We've got Rickey Andrews taking us on a late 60s dance-move tour of the U.S. with 'Chances Are Your Dance is Mine'. A rare sister funk masterpiece called 'Leave Me Alone' by Nadine Brown from 1977. Leroy & The Drivers' critical track, 'The Sad Chicken', produced in under 30 minutes with their last remaining studio time in 1970 and still ringing loud across the land. One of the nastiest versions of The Iselys' 'It's Your Thing' coming out of Jamaica and so much more!

- 400 of the 1000 pressed vinyl LPs come with a bonus 7" by William Cummings ('Make My Love A Hurting Thing')

- 16-page CD-booklet and deluxe double-gatefold LP with detailed liner notes, label scans and unseen photographs

- properly mastered for the best sound-quality possible

RANDY BRECKER'S RANDYPOP! A LIVE RECORDING RE-IMAGINING RANDY BRECKER'S SEMINAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF POP

Randy Brecker turns 70 years old in November, a good reason to celebrate the soundtrack of his (and our) life. RandyPOP! brings into fine focus Brecker's lasting service to pop music's most noteworthy recordings,

Beginning in the '60s, Brecker distinguished himself as a first-call studio "cat" who could play any music a producer or artist needed. His reputation was well-earned, considering the timeless recordings featuring his trumpet.

RandyPOP! highlights these recordings, but with a twist. Long-time associate Kenny Werner has "de-ranged" the songs of James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Donald Fagen, et al, with an ear towards creating a new musicial canvas for Randy and his bandmates to paint on.

Captured live at the Blue Note jazz club in New York, Randy is joined by David Sanchez, Adam Rogers, John Patitucci, Nate Smith and Werner himself - with a special guest appearance by shining vocalist and daughter Amanda Brecker.

The album was produced by Kenny Werner, Randy Brecker and Jeff Levenson. Featurea musicians: Randy Brecker (trumpet w/effects, voice); Kenny Werner (piano, keys, arrangements); David Sanchez (tenor saxophone); Amanda Brecker (vocals); Adam Rogers (guitar); John Patitucci (bass); and Nate Smith (drums).

TRACKS

• New Frontier, 11:49 (by Donald Fagen from Nightfly)
• Let Me Just Follow Behind, 13:09 (by 'Moogy' Klingman from Bette Midler's Songs For the New Depression)
• I Can't Quit Her, 12:22 (by Al Kooper from Blood Sweat and Tears' Child is Father to the Man)
• Hello, It's Me, 9:41 (by Todd Rundgren from Something/Anything)
• Ghost Writer, 7:53 (by Garland Jeffreys from Ghost Writer)
• Think, 2:23 (by James Brown from Make it Funky/ The Big Payback)
• I've Got A Bag Of My Own, 5:29 (by James Brown from Make it Funky / The Big Payback)
• Meeting Across The River, 5:34 (by Bruce Springsteen from Born to Run)
• Late In The Evening, 9:34 (by Paul Simon from One Trick Pony)

PETE MCCANN EXPLORES THE BREADTH OF HIS FORMIDABLE ARTISTRY AS A GUITARIST 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.

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.

www.Petemccann.com