NEW RELEASES: TONY MINVIELLE PRESENTS INTO SOMETHIN’ VOLUME 1; LISA STANSFIELD – LIVE IN MANCHESTER; NICK MAZZARELLA TRIO - ULTRAVIOLET

TONY MINVIELLE PRESENTS INTO SOMETHIN’ VOLUME 1

A stunning little set – one we fell in love with from the very first note! The collection is wonderful – some of the freshest underground soul we've heard in years – almost a re-lighting of the UK fire that burned so strongly a few years ago – but with a very vibrant new sound as well! The music is very warm, but not in a contemporary soul sort of way – and indeed, maybe even deeper than most underground tracks too – as there's a lot of jazz in the instrumentation, and even the electric touches are more geared towards slightly cosmic elements, but without ever hitting a dancefloor mode. The whole thing's a great reminder that there's still folks out there making positive, forward-thinking soul – and our hat's off to compiler Toni Minvielle for doing such a great job. Titles include "Distance Can Be Sweet" by Personal Life, "Distractions" by Liz Elensky, "Miss Purty" by Cory Henry, "Let The Music Play" by Collective Peace, "Sea Snake" by Carl Hudson, "Two Sides" by Pat Van Dyke, "You Go To My Head" by Lauren Desberg with Gretchen Parlato, "Electric Ladyland" by Jesse Fischer, "Music Power" by Tommaso Cappellato & Astral Travel, and "Todos Os Santo" by Mauricio Maestro with Nana Vasconcelos. ~ Dusty Groove

LISA STANSFIELD – LIVE IN MANCHESTER

An excellent live set from the mighty Lisa Stansfield – recorded recently, but with all the classic soul we've always loved in her music! The live setting is maybe even warmer and more organic than some of Lisa's studio work – with backings by a funky jazz combo that's right on the money all the way through, almost bringing an Incognito sort of warm to the whole thing – even on the passages which are touched with a bit of warmer strings – which create this cool, classy 70s sort of vibe! Titles include "Picket Fence", "People Hold On", "Stupid Heart", "Can't Dance", "Set Your Loving Free", "Conversation", "There Goes My Heart", "Someday", "The Real Thing", and lots more! ~ Dusty Groove

NICK MAZZARELLA TRIO - ULTRAVIOLET

The strongest album to date from Chicago saxophonist Nick Mazzarella – a trio set that has the leader's alto blazing out in brilliantly soulful spirit, alongside robust bass from Anton Hatwich and magical drums from Frank Rosaly! The group have a cohesion that we might not have expected from the players a handful of years before – a sense of unity that's extremely dramatic, and which grabs our ears right from the start of the record – insisting that we listen with rapt attention, almost as if they're announcing the set as a new classic in jazz. All compositions are by Mazzarella, and although there's a lot of freedom in the playing, there's also an adhesion to his musical vision too – that wonderful balance of structure and openness that can really separate a record like this from the rest of the pack. Titles include "Neutron Star", "Luminous Dials", "Ultraviolet", "Fossil", and "Outlier". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - BILLY COBHAM – ATLANTIC BOX SET 1973-1978; ROSCOE MITCHELL QUARTET – CELEBRATING FRED ANDERSON; PAULA SANTORO – MAR DO MEU MUNDO

BILLY COBHAM – ATLANTIC BOX SET 1973-1978 / 8-CD SET (SPECTRUM / CROSSWINDS / TOTAL EXLIPSE / SHABAZZ / FUNIDE THIDE / LIFE & TIMES / LIVE ON TOUR / INNER CONFLICTS)

A hell of a run of music from legendary drummer Billy Cobham – records so strong, they're maybe almost a genre unto themselves! Billy had already made something of a mark as a sideman before these albums, but right from the start, he brought something completely different to the table – a genre-stepping mix of jazz, funk, and soul influences that are as forward-moving for Cobham's instrument as Stanley Clarke's similar span of records in the 70s were for the bass – and, like Clarke's, these records have appeal that stretches way past conventional jazz, or even conventional funky jazz too. Yet there's also none of Cobham's more rockish-fusion on these records either – which makes for a wonderfully soulful span of records throughout – as Billy tries on so many different modes, and gets all of them pretty darn right! Some records have bonus tracks, too – and the set features the complete albums Spectrum, Crosswinds, Total Eclipse, Shabazz, Funky Thide Of Sings, Life & Times, Live On Tour In Europe, and Inner Conflicts – plus bonus tracks "Natural Essence", "Neu Rock & Roll (outtake)", "Stratus (single mix parts 1 & 2)", "All 4 One (outtake)", "Le Lis", "Crosswind (single mix)", "Moon Germs", "Hip Pockets (single mix)", and "Do What Cha Wanna (single mix)". ~ Dusty Groove

ROSCOE MITCHELL QUARTET – CELEBRATING FRED ANDERSON

A stunning little set – one we fell in love with from the very first note! The collection is wonderful – some of the freshest underground soul we've heard in years – almost a re-lighting of the UK fire that burned so strongly a few years ago – but with a very vibrant new sound as well! The music is very warm, but not in a contemporary soul sort of way – and indeed, maybe even deeper than most underground tracks too – as there's a lot of jazz in the instrumentation, and even the electric touches are more geared towards slightly cosmic elements, but without ever hitting a dancefloor mode. The whole thing's a great reminder that there's still folks out there making positive, forward-thinking soul – and our hat's off to compiler Toni Minvielle for doing such a great job. Titles include "Distance Can Be Sweet" by Personal Life, "Distractions" by Liz Elensky, "Miss Purty" by Cory Henry, "Let The Music Play" by Collective Peace, "Sea Snake" by Carl Hudson, "Two Sides" by Pat Van Dyke, "You Go To My Head" by Lauren Desberg with Gretchen Parlato, "Electric Ladyland" by Jesse Fischer, "Music Power" by Tommaso Cappellato & Astral Travel, and "Todos Os Santo" by Mauricio Maestro with Nana Vasconcelos. ~ Dusty Groove

PAULA SANTOR - MAR DO MEU MUNDO

Really beautiful work from Brazilian singer Paula Santoro – a voice we've never heard before, but which really grabs us right away! Paula's face in water on the cover almost takes us back to a classic Gal Costa album with a similar image on the front – and there's a spirit here that recalls that point when Gal moved into warmer, jazzier material – but which still always had this pointed sharpness, thanks to her brilliant vocal presentation. Santoro's got a similar balance here – working with these warm currents in the music that mix together keyboards with rootsier acoustic elements – both guitar and percussion – and singing with this rasp in her voice that's very captivating, and conveys a sense of meaning far beyond the boundaries of language – a rare sort of magnetism we'd ascribe to a rare few Brazilian singers, like Joyce or Tania Maria. Titles include "Homem Ao Mar", "Flor", "Mar Deserto", "Guanabara", and "Alegria". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: AUGUSTUS PABLO PRESENTS ROCKERS INTERNATIONAL; JR. THOMAS & THE VOLCANOS - BEWARE; OPUS 5 - TICKLE

AUGUSTUS PABLO PRESENTS ROCKERS INTERNATIONAL

Legendary sounds from the great Augustus Pablo – the Rockers International selection of some of his best music from his too-short career – both instrumental tracks that feature his own haunting melodica solos, plus other performances with key vocal collaborators at the time! Pablo helms the music throughout – sometimes with the spooky, eerie quality of his own records – sometimes with a bit more of a roots style, but one that's always filled with great little twists and turns – if not melodica, then Augustus on organ or keyboards too. There's a huge amount of tracks on this 2CD set – and titles include "The People Of This World" by Sister Jam, "El Rockers Chapter Four" by Rockers All Stars, "El Rockers Chapter One" by Jay Iny, "Three Men In A Truck Back" by Delroy Williams, "Protect Them" by Norris Reid, "Away With You Fussing & Fighting" by Junior Delgado, "False Rasta" by Jacob Miller, "Black force" by Norris Reid, "1 Rutland Close" by Pablo All Stars, "Changing World" by Earl Sixteen Daley, "Zion A Fe Lion" by Jah Levi, and the tracks "King David's Melody", "El Rockers Chapter Three", "Cool Melody", "Destiny", "Cassava Piece", and "555 Crown Street" – all by Pablo himself! ~ Dusty Groove

JR. THOMAS & THE VOLCANOS - BEWARE

A contemporary group from the Truth & Soul universe, but one who work in the best classic style we love from the label – although at a level that takes us back to 70s reggae, not funk or soul! The album's presented in glorious mono, which really goes well with the old school Kingston-style production – no tricks, gimmicks, or contemporary efforts to make things too overly complicated – just core instrumentation from a really great combo behind the vocals of Junior Thomas – who's got this soulful vocal approach that takes us back to Studio One legends like Jackie Opel or Alton Ellis! In fact, the label could have easily presented this as a lost classic, or unreleased tapes – and our hats are off to them for doing to Jamaican sounds what they've been doing for years to American funk and soul. Titles include "Get A Hold Of You", "Love Remedy", "Stop", "Breaking Up", "Embraceable", "Burning Fire", "Bumps In The Night", "Terrorize It", and "Color Me Blue".  ~ Dusty Groove

OPUS 5 - TICKLE

These guys just keep getting better and better with each new release – really finding a way to draw on all the individual growth of their all-star members, while also finding this fresh way to keep moving forward! There's a joyous, soaring sort of vibe to the music that we sometimes don't hear in the solo release by some of the individual players – a way of coming together that seems to set each member on fire in the company of the other, as they hone a groove so unified, it's hard to believe they don't work together all the time. Seamus Blake provides tremendous tenor, and Alex Sipiagin is wonderful as always on trumpet and flugelhorn – but extra thanks may well be due to the rhythm section, who really set the whole thing spinning – mighty work from David Kikoski on piano and Fender Rhodes, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Donald Edwards on drums. All group members contribute strong original tracks for the date – and titles include "Silver Pockets", "Tickle", "Murzake", "Crack To The Crevice", and "Five Corners". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: THE MOONFIRES – BLACK SUGAR; BARRY ALTSHCUL’S 3DOM FACTOR – TALES OF THE UNFORSEEN; DOUG WEBB – BACK EAST

THE MOONFIRES – BLACK SUGAR

A great new showcase for the music of Alex Puddu – the contemporary groover who's given us some wonderful music over the years – including his famous Golden Age Of Danish Pornography sets! This album's more of a back-to-basics affair for Puddu – recorded with a tight combo, and a very classic approach to mod jazz and funk – performed by a group that's very heavy on keyboards alongside sweet riffing guitar from Alex! The sound is tight, but never too smooth – and there's a few additional horns thrown into the mix, to augment the top end alongside the guitar, clavinet, Hammond, and Fender Rhodes – all with a sweet blend that's almost got a 70s blacksploitation vibe at times, but a bit looser and more spontaneous too. Puddu wrote, arranged, and produced – and most cuts are instrumental, but a few feature vocals from singer Duane Hobson. Titles include "Sexy Lady", "You Got Me Funky", "Such A Bad Girl", "Black Sugar", "Love Rollercoaster", "Losing My Mind", and "Feel The Heat". ~ Dusty Groove

BARRY ALTSHCUL’S 3DOM FACTOR – TALES OF THE UNFORSEEN

A tremendous trio outing, and a record that really illustrates the newfound strength we've heard from drummer Barry Altschul in recent years – music so great, it's almost as if he's taken a time machine back to the groundbreaking days of his youth! The play on "freedom" in the trio's name is no joke – as a good part of the album features improvised compositions, mixed with very freewheeling takes on a few other jazz numbers – balanced beautifully between melodic elements and rhythmic progressions, served up very equally from Barry on drums and percussion, Joe Fonda on bass, and the mighty Jon Irabagon on tenor, soprano, sopranino sax, and flute! Fonda's presence is especially great – as he plays here with a really soulful, deep-toned quality that holds things together even at their most dynamic, individual moments – and titles include "As The Tale Begins", "Annette's Tale Of Miracles", "And The Tale Ends", and "A Drummer's Tale".  ~ Dusty Groove

DOUG WEBB – BACK EAST

Tenorist Doug Webb jumps into the fray right from the very first note on this excellent set – a further continuation of his recent development as both a soloist and writer! Webb's got a style that's deeply classic, yet very personal too – not just a rehash of older tenor modes, but a way of drawing on their depth, and refocusing it into these surprisingly nimble lines – beautifully rhythmic passages that have the tonal colors really lighting up along the way – as Doug's horn resonates strongly with the piano lines from Peter Zak, over the more than able rhythms from Ben Wolfe on bass and Rudy Royston on drums! The whole record's got a simple, understated power that comes across very well on first listen – and only seems to delight more and more upon repeated spins – and titles include the Webb originals "Back East", "Sally's Song", "RDW Esq", "Stanley", "Mr Green", and "Snicker's Lament". ~ Dusty Groove

PETER KOGAN RELEASES SOME MONSTERFUL WONDERTHING

The genesis of Peter Kogan's Some Monsterful Wonderthing was, of all things, the frustrating 2012 lockout of the Minnestota Orchestra. This was Kogan's day gig, and although the timpanist had high hopes for a reasonably quick settlement, he also took this golden opportunity to record his first studio album as leader - Cornucopia - released in 2013.  As the orchestra stalemate dragged into its 16th month, Kogan began thinking about a follow up disc which would utilize a septet, some new tunes that reflected on the labor struggle he was involved in, and the strong community support that the orchestra musicians received.  Some musical ideas were completely new, and others were fresh takes on older material from Kogan's New York City days. This became Some Monsterful Wonderthing and was finished six months after the orchestra lockout ended. The final mixes and mastering for the recording were completed by the Grammy Award winning engineer Preston Smith. 

SOS Sambadenotes "Save Our Symphony Minnesota," and is dedicated to the Minnesota community that was so supportive of the players during the lockout. The track begins with a samba percussion motif parading from a distance with Kogan playing an SOS Morse Code rhythm 3 times to signal in the band. With the melody introduced by the piano, then flugelhorn, there is a joyous percussion exchange heard between Rogerio Boccato and Kogan to bring back the melody.

Track 2 is LOMoMO Mojo Jump. LOMoMO is the acronym for "Locked Out Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra" and is dedicated to Kogan's colleagues. A throwback to Duke Ellington's earliest recorded music with the Cotton Club band, the track starts with a Jimmy Blanton tribute played by bassist Brian Courage, beautifully restated by Scott Agster using a plunger-fitted trombone.  Kogan's temple blocks are reminiscent of Ellington's long time drummer Sonny Greer. Each soloist on this track plays a different groove to celebrate Ellington's broad range of styles.

The title track - Some Monsterful Wonderthing  - is a play on words referring to the Rogers and Hammerstein song  "Something Wonderful" from The King and I. An exorcism and a savage tribute to that tune in reverse, the track contains some searing solos by Cory Wong on guitar, Pete Whitman on soprano sax and Sean Turner on piano.

Kogan wrote Nola Joe imagining what it might be like if Joe Sample had been raised in New Orleans. The whole band gets to have their say on this one.

Gospel Tune is just that. A sweet song that lets the listener imagine their own "Good Book."

McKinley Morganfield's Forever is undoubtedly a tribute to the great Muddy Waters featuring Cory Wong with  Scott Agster standing in for Muddy's voice. The tune's backbeat feel eventually morphs into a bluesy shuffle.

Live to Learn and Love Another Day is a ballad beautifully played by Charles Lazarus on flugelhorn.

Inspired by the guy in the little red wagon,  Question Monk? appropriately challenges the listener to find the beat amidst all the soloing in the tune's 6/4 time.

ZAC GREENBERG'S Jazz-Fusion Album ‘UNEXPECTED JOURNEY’ Inspired by Cancer

For an album about cancer, Zac Greenberg’s “Unexpected Journey” is unexpectedly upbeat.

Certainly, some parts are slow and somber; others are intense and unnerving. After all, the project was inspired by a disease that terrifies, leaving survivors in a state of perpetual uncertainty, wondering if and when it will return. But overall, this jazz-fusion concerto is captivating, ambitious and optimistic.

“This album tells a story that most patients can relate to, in terms of what they go through, with diagnosis and treatment,” Greenberg said.

The idea for “Unexpected Journey” grew out of Greenberg’s personal experience. His grandmother, Joyce Elkus, lost her husband, Dr. Fred Elkus, and later, her companion, Dr. Stanley Kaplan, to cancer. Greenberg was close to both men, who were prominent in the Cincinnati medical community. At his grandmother’s suggestion, Greenberg composed “Unexpected Journey” in their memory, and to raise money for charity. A portion of the proceeds from digital downloads will support cancer-related organizations.

“Unexpected Journey” consists of four movements: “Life,” “Diagnosis,” “Treatment” and “Beyond,” each evoking a different mood. “Life” begins peacefully, with positive energy and a sense of predictability. “Diagnosis” comes crashing in with shrieking electric guitars and tenor saxophone, thumping bass and thunderous drums. It is meant to be shocking. “Treatment” begins with a rhythm that suggests the monotony of chemical drips and radiation, eventually increasing in tempo, as if to suggest an urgent desire to hurry up and finish the unpleasant medical procedures. Finally, “Beyond” represents the completion of treatment and the uneasy, but hopeful wait-and-see period that follows. It is intentionally anti-climactic, leaving the listener contemplating the future. (Part of “Unexpected Journey” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/p1u_qB8vA6o)

Before writing “Unexpected Journey,” Greenberg spent time interviewing doctors, social workers and cancer patients, to better understand their experiences and thought processes.
“One of the things I heard echoing through all of my cancer research was how quickly and unexpectedly patients’ lives change, once they are diagnosed,” Greenberg said. “This music is a study into the human reaction in the face of unexpected unknowns and mortality.”

Greenberg’s musicians on “Unexpected Journey” are superb, and although relatively young, bring impressive experience to the table. Saxophonist Dave Engelhard has toured with the Zac Brown Band, and has performed on stage with the likes of Gregg Allman, Tom Scott, Shelly Berg, John Mayer, Grace Potter, Scott Weiland and others. Guitarist Amos Rose is a New York-based performer, teacher, recording engineer and producer. He has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Brazil, China, France and Qatar. Guitarist Kevin Wunderlich began studying with renowned session musician Joe Beck while in high school, before moving to New York City to study in New York University’s jazz program. He has since become a fixture on the NYC experimental and avant-heavy music scene, performing and recording regularly with experimental artists Epistasis, Voice Coils and Couch Slut. Drummer Bennett Eiferman studied with legendary musicians in New York including Joe Lovano, Ari Hoenig, Jean Michel Pilc, Steffon Harris, Dafnis Prieto and more.

Greenberg, meanwhile, studied music at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, New York University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He has studied under many established artists, including Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen, Fareed Haque, Stanley Clarke, Dave Pietro, Rich Shermaria, Drew Gress and more.

Featured on The Jazz Network Worldwide This Week: Vintage Jazz Era Vocalist Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band’s New Release, “Bathtub Gin”

On the heels of their beloved A Little Sugar release comes their second Motéma Music release, Bathtub Gin – the CD, like A Little Sugar, mines 1920s gems but also takes the listener on a stroll into the 1930s. Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Roberta Donnay is that rare species of musician who almost lives in another time, as she and her Prohibition Mob Band exist to revive the Jazz Age of America.

A seductive vocalist, Donnay and her band swing mightily with this authentic collection of vintage jazz, blues and swing that introduces listeners to the swing era with its jump-swing rhythmic horn sections and new dances. Donnay also includes four party-rousing shout-chorus originals that evoke and revive the open spirit that birthed jazz.

She says of the era's music, "I think it's in everybody's DNA. Our grandparents listened to that music and somehow it filtered down inside of us.” How far can the Prohibition Mob Band go?  "To the moon," she says, laughing.

Honoring the tradition of such seminal singers as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker, Donnay’s spitfire is on display from the moment the original title track “Bathtub Gin” opens the set.  Following is the song, also original, “Throw Your Heart” (Over The Fence).

Roberta Donnay’s background in roots jazz music came from listening to records, singing with the legendary Dick Oxtot’s Golden Age Jazz Band and more obscure jazz and jazz-folk bands bands. Donnay continues to produce, write, record, and perform as an independent artist. Her goal is to produce many more records and continue to bring this great music to the people. “Bathtub Gin” is Ms. Donnay’s 8th independent release. The “Oh Papa”video from Donnay’s CD “ A Little Sugar” is a brilliant example of the style of presentation Donnay presents.

Donnay has shared the stage, opened, or performed with Ernestine Anderson, Bob Dorough, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Dr. John, Diana Krall, George Benson, David Sanborn, Leon Russell, Dan Hicks, Bonnie Raitt, David Grisman, Bruce Forman, Rickie Lee Jones, Big Walter Horton, John Hammond, Lee Ritenour, Booker T., Tuck & Patti.

Donnay's voice could make any classic material sound wondrous and timeless, but the fact that she digs so deep into American musical history -- and works with some of the Bay Area's top jazz musicians (under the guise of the Prohibition Mob Band) -- makes A Little Sugar not only sweet, but a recording that will stand the test of time.~ All Music Guide

With her singularly enticing sound, few contemporary vocalists are as well suited to dustily vintage material as jazz-blues stylist Roberta Donnay. She affectively proved so three years ago when, teamed with her Prohibition Mob Band, she surveyed standards from the 1920s and ’30s on the charming “A Little Sugar”. Now she’s back for more. ~ Jazz Times 2015

Donnay takes old school jazz, makes it new cool and most of all makes it fun. It swings and it swings hard. Old school has never sounded better and Roberta Donnay is certainly a name to remember! (5 stars) ~ Critical Jazz blog

This jazz baby makes the '20s roar again and swings out '30s tunes buoyantly enough to float away even the Great Depression...She's backed by top-notch musicians and the results are gloriously entertaining. ~ San Jose Mercury News

“ROBERTA DONNAY & the Prohibition Mob Band bring back the true essence of the Roaring '20s... when music and class went hand and hand, no wonder DownBeat gave “Bathtub Gin” four stars! says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide.

A festival favorite, Donnay's group appeared as a guest artist at many shows and festivals, including the Exit 0 Jazz Fest in N.J., Whiskey Fest in Portland, San Jose Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Mustard Mud & Music Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and are currently seeking festival bookings for the 2016-2017 calendar.

Roberta was asked to be a part of an event very close to her heart which is the memorial for the legendary jazz producer and Jazz Master Orrin Keepnews at Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA on November 29th, 2015 where she will pay homage to their musical relationship.

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

UK jazz musician NAT BIRCHALL'S sixth studio album and first for Jazzman Records - INVOCATIONS

The music of Nat Birchall joins with a long-flowing conversation in jazz. His chosen tongue is that of the spiritualised musical discourse whose vital source can be found in the sacred testaments of John Coltrane, and which was channelled most directly by his fellow travellers Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, and his wife Alice. Many others followed where Coltrane led, giving voice in music to the esoteric renewal of the soul and mind that lent spiritual strength to the black counterculture, and complemented the political radicalism of the late 1960s and 1970s. This rich vein of spirit music has rarely been tapped by British jazz musicians, and Birchall is one of the few to have been drawn to it with the conviction of heart that it demands. For these are the sonic and spiritual spaces where the colossi of an earlier age declaimed and confessed with sacrificial passion, from within the flames of revolution. 

Ultimately, it has been the sonic pathways offered by jazz that have provided Birchall with the clearest way to channel the resonances of the higher heights, wherefrom timeless musical messages might be revealed. 'It seems to me that's it's the most direct way of tuning in to this higher source. That music seems to me to display this connection to whatever this higher source, this higher energy, might be. It seems to connect to it the most, more than other music. You can hear it in other musics to a certain degree sometimes, but this seems to be almost purely of that nature. That's what really motivates me the most.'

All music is a spiritual communion - it is a talking in tongues, a present conversation with the past and the future, a dance with technology, a branch held out to a stranger. It speaks to the old and the young in a language that is beyond language, it expresses and elicits emotion and thought at once, it is both bodily and mental, noise and silence, intention and accident: it is the dissolution of opposites, the fleeting noise made eternal prayer, the transubstantiation of spirit into sound. Music is the expression of unity, in which difference is both accepted and resolved, and from which a mended world might be born. To make music is, as Roland Kirk observed, to talk with the spirits. We are lucky that the music of Nat Birchall allows us to hear the sounds of their world once more.

Featured This Week On The Jazz Network Worldwide: Singer Katherine Farnham aka “Kool Kat” showcases her new LP “Vintage” on National Peace Day

Singer-songwriter-pianist Katherine Farnham, has channelled her intense passion into an album combining elements of jazz, R&B, Latin jazz and adult contemporary. “VINTAGE” has a humanitarian thread for peace, hope and enlightenment combining a multi-octave voice with world-class musicianship and a poet’s heart that possesses both charisma and substance.

“Vintage” is a stunning and smoking-hot collection of songs featuring Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum (“The Gospel According To Jazz”), Latin Grammy winning flutist Nestor Torres and four-time Grammy-Nominated guitarist Denny Jiosa, as well as a world-class production team that has worked with some of the biggest musical legends in the industry.

“I feel deeply humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible team. Nestor’s lines are insanely accurate and exploding with passion.  Denny’s guitar danced, sang and cried and said a thousand words.  I’m truly still pinching myself that Kirk came to record with us. What a human being. He embodies the qualities of focus, greatness and cool and somehow manages to make it all look easy.” 

She has been compared to Barbra Streisand, Norah Jones, and Joni Mitchell. and was named 2014 Los Angeles Music Awards “Female Singer/Songwriter of the Year”.

Kool Kat's single, “Necessary Groove” features powerful vocals, strong songwriting and impressive piano playing. The lyrics place the need for music right along with necessities like food, clothing, and shelter, its a universal language that unites humanity.   A deep sense of humanity flows into “My Shoes Are Leaking”, a soaring ballad and Veterans Tribute.  With gorgeous vocals and heartfelt lyrics of a couple separated by military deployment, the track features a engaging swing feel that effortlessly merges the classic with the contemporary.

“I really enjoyed ‘My Shoes Are Leaking’  What a cool title, what a lovely voice. I'm honored to be recording with you..." ~ Grammy-Winner Kirk Whalum

An active humanitarian, she has encouraged music's role in improving inter-cultural relations and tolerance by creating Music for Peace International. “One of the greatest joys of my life is helping to ease the pain of others.”   Having mentored Los Angeles inner-city youth and served for two consecutive years as Celebrity Judge for the Los Angeles Music Center's Annual Spotlight Awards.  Finally, she organized and sponsored six concerts benefiting music education and ethnic unity. Her courage and abounding love for music have set the bar, inspiring fans and fellow artists alike.

“I am pleased to learn that you are working to unite the community through music...sounds like a perfect example of how the arts can pave the way to reach a variety of groups and influence them to unify in spirit and deed...I applaud you in the efforts to unify all through a cultural endeavor.” –Neil C., National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences

Other tracks like “Epic Love”, ”Round the World in a Jukebox", "Mermaid", "My Funky Valentine", and "Peace On Earth, Goodwill to Men" make this an exciting collection that is inspiring, entertaining and thought-provoking. Vintage is a well-crafted portfolio of original material.  The classically-trained artist creates music expressing deep longing, passion, adventure and a sense of mystery which has resulted in rave reviews in three languages. No wonder she is considered at the forefront of the jazz singer/songwriter movement.

  

"Her lyrics are heavy and meaningful, but her vocalizing is soaring." ~ All Music Guide

A third-generation musician, her mother was a concert pianist and Director of New England Conservatory’s Wellesley Branch. Her father toured with The Boston Pops and played under musical legends Stravinsky and Hindemith. After conservatory study, she received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. In Boston.  International press and commercial airplay followed, including a MIDEM prediction that she was in fact “The New Voice of the World.” ~ Toninho S., Latin Grammy Consultant, Journalist, Radio Host, Sao Paulo

Farnham has inspired audiences at national athletic events, including The Ericsson Open (the only female artist), The Miami Marathon and NASCAR Las Vegas, Dallas and London and has toured throughout the US and abroad. She has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC 6 and Telemundo and performed with Latin jazz greats Tito Puente Jr and Celia Cruz.  

“The Jazz Network Worldwide is honored to be promoting Katherine Farnham’s “Vintage” release. It seems apropos that it ‘just so happens to fall on Peace Day’. It is a true testament of an artist who has a story to tell as an originator offering the best of who she is to her audience. My heart tells me that jazz festivals and radio stations worldwide will be embracing her talent for she truly has a ‘smash’ on her hands” says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide Social Network.

She’s without a doubt a gutsy artist with a sunny future just like the laugh she’s known for. Kool Kat is taking her ‘Necessary Groove’ all the way.   

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

"Doors: Chicago Storylines," New CD by Alto Saxophonist/Composer Caroline Davis

Caroline Davis Doors Chicago Storylines Following the release of her much-praised 2012 debut, Live Work & Play, alto saxophonist and composer Caroline Davis relocated from Chicago to New York City and got to work on an ambitious project that had been germinating for seven years. To honor her eight-year residency in Chicago, she combines spoken stories and original compositions on her new CD Doors: Chicago Storylines, which will be released by ears&eyes Records on November 6.

Joining her on Doors are longtime members of her Chicago-based quartet. Mike Allemana (guitar) and Matt Ferguson (bass) were both collaborators of the late tenor saxophone legend Von Freeman. Drummer Jeremy Cunningham, whom Davis met at Freeman's famed New Apartment Lounge session, adds an energetic counterpart to the rhythm section. "It was important for me to have a band that played together for a while, improvising and exploring new directions," Davis states. "You can hear that we really know each other."

The inspiration for Doors first came in 2007 while Davis was teaching a course on the history of Chicago jazz at Northwestern University. She found that 1980 to 2000 was "virtually uncharted territory," Davis says. Eventually she conducted interviews with 15 musicians she'd found helpful and influential when she was coming up on the Chicago scene (including Art Davis, George Fludas, Bobby Broom, and Von Freeman, one of her mentors) to talk about their experiences during that time. "Hearing these storylines was a joy for all of us," she says, "and sparked a desire in me to take a journey with my compositional muse."

"Jazz is a collection of oral histories," Davis adds. "We should strive to share more of them."

On Doors, she pairs samples of musicians telling their favorite stories with her original compositions, some inspired by themes, others by spoken phrases. "Storylines have their own ebb and flow," she says. "I hear texture, tone, tension, release, and variety in them, and I aim to write my pieces in the same way." For the album, which was recorded in Chicago in 2013, the band recorded both long pieces and short interludes, uncertain of how it would all come together. But, with the help of masterful engineer Brian Schwab and hours of editing in post-production, the interviews and music melded brilliantly.

"Golden Era," which opens the album, is a repeating theme that illustrates all these musicians' '80s and '90s heyday, a time when everyone was part of a community. On "Lincoln Land," the band sails through a triumphant melody, finally settling into a vamp that zones in on Lincoln Avenue, site of many clubs once active in the jazz community. "Lin," one of Doors' most intimate pieces, features pianist Ron Perrillo. The piece pays tribute to the great Chicago tenorman, Lin Halliday, who played extensively in the '80s and '90s.

Born (1981) and raised in Singapore of European expatriate parents, Caroline Davis spent early school years in Atlanta, became musically enriched living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and blossomed in Chicago as a professional musician. After acquiring both a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington, she bridged those areas in acquiring a Ph.D. in Music Cognition at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

In her dissertation, Davis, who counts Wayne Shorter, Charlie Parker, and Chicago native Lee Konitz among her prime musical influences, looked at the intricate collaborations musicians form in a scene, and related those connections to the ways they hear music.

Her experiences paved the way for her impressive and eclectic list of projects. From the folk sounds of Orso to the reggae grooves of Fatbook, the hip-hop and R&B adventures of Maitri and Deep Fayed, and the unique flow of Whirlpool, Davis has been keeping busy. In New York she holds a steady gig with drummer Billy Kaye.

Her CD release shows include the Jazz Gallery in NYC, 11/5; Constellation, Chicago, 12/5 (10pm); and Andy's, Chicago, 12/4-5 (early sets), as New York-Chicago Collective.

BRIAN AUGER'S OBLIVION EXPRESS FEATURING ALEX LIGERTWOOD LIVE IN LOS ANGELES

This is the first new live Oblivion Express album since the classic 'Live Oblivion' album on RCA Records, recorded at the Whisky-A-Go Go in LA in 1974. One of its main selling points is that the original Oblivion Express vocalist Alex Ligertwood is back in the band. The album features some of the groups classic repertoire plus some extras including: Freedom Jazz Dance, Straight Ahead, Bumpin’ On Sunset, Inner City Blues, Whenever You’re Ready, Truth, Don’t Look Away, Look Around, Second Wind, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, Future Pilot, Compared To What, and Brain Damage. The bands second European tour of 2015 starts on September 30th - with 5 Uk dates including album launch show at the Jazz Cafe, London. Below is a listing of the full tour dates:

09/30/2015 - Hamburg, Germany

10/01/2015 - Syke, Germany

10/02/2015 - Herford, Germany

10/04/2015 - Fürth, Germany

10/05/2015 - Dresden, Germany

10/06/2015 - Halle, Germany

10/08/2015 - Ahlen, Germany

10/09/2015 - Hannover, Germany

10/10/2015 - Geldern, Germany

10/11/2015 - Dudenhofen, Germany

10/12/2015 - Verviers, Belgium

10/14/2015 - Rüsselsheim, Germany

10/16/2015 - Zürich, Switzerland

10/17/2015 - Baden-Baden

10/18/2015 - Bonn, Germany

10/19/2015 - Weinheim, Germany

10/21/2015 - Kaiserslautern, Germany

10/22/2015 - Wiehl, Germany

10/23/2015 - Bergkamen, Germany

10/24/2015 - Burglengenfeld, Germany

10/25/2015 - Waldkraiburg, Germany

10/26/2015 - München, Germany

10/28/2015 - Vienna, Austria

10/30/2015 - Forli', Italia

10/31/2015 - Alessandria, Italia

UK DATES

11/02/2015 - Jazz Cafe, London, UK

11/03/2015 - Band On The Wall,Manchester, UK

11/05/2015 - Glasgow, Scotland

11/06/2015 - Newcastle, UK

11/07/2015 - The Wardrobe, Leeds, UK

NEW RELEASES: VERBAL KENT – ANESTHESIA; JOE MAGNARELLI – THREE ON TWO; CECILIA STALIN / KHARI CABRAL SIMMONS – THE STORY OF LOVE

VERBAL KENT – ANESTHESIA

Rugged independent hip hop from underground Chicago classicist MC Verbal Kent – a master of clearly focused rhymes and spat with dexterous skill, be it straight forward storytelling or verbal acrobatics! VK is in as fine of form as we've ever heard him, backed by his most impressive roster of guest voices and producers, including Oh No, Marco Polo, Freddie Gibbs, Kaz 1, Torae, Apollo Brown and more. Tough, brilliant work from underrated voice. Includes "September", "Suit Case Switch" feat Freddie Gibbs, "Notes", "Add Anesthesia", "Is This My Life", "Cyclops Muscle" feat Torae, "Save Face" feat Red Pill, "Are You Ready" and more. ~ Dusty Groove

JOE MAGNARELLI – THREE ON TWO

A killer from trumpeter Joe Magnarelli – an artist we've already begun to appreciate a lot for his recent work on the Posi-tone label – but a player who really wins us over with this sweet little set! The record sparkles right from the start with contributions from key labelmates – the mighty Brian Charette on Hammond, Mike DiRubbo on alto, and the great Steve Davis on trombone – all players who leap into the fray with Magnarelli right from the start, and come up with these lines that are sophisticated, but always swinging too – stunningly soulful at all the best moments, with a nice sort of sparkle,b ut no too-commercial polish. Solos are great, and Magnarelli writing is very nice on the album's original tracks – and titles include "Easy", "26 2", "Central Park West", "Paris", "Outlet Pass", "Clockwise", and "My Reverie". ~ Dusty Groove

CECILIA STALIN / KHARI CABRAL SIMMONS – THE STORY OF LOVE

We've always loved vocalist Cecilia Stalin, no matter what the setting – but here, she might be in the best company ever – working with jazzy backings from Khari Cabral Simmons and other members of the Atlanta scene – on a record that's drenched in soul from the very first note! Stalin hails from London, was born in Sweden, and worked with Koop and other overseas acts – but she's also got this strongly soulful quality that's always made her a favorite with American listeners too – and here, working with Khari, she's almost returning the favor by giving a special sort of Atlanta spin to her music! The music's based on strong basslines from Simmons, and features lots of warm keyboards – and all the rhythms are live, with a spontaneous jazzy undercurrent that works perfect with Cecilia's lovely vocals. Our only complaint might be that we would have loved a full record from the duo – but the four songs here offer maybe more than most other full LPs. Titles include a great reworking of Jon Lucien's "Sunny Day", plus "He Loves You", "The Story Of Love", and "Norwegian Wood".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: DANNY GRISSETT – THE IN BETWEEN; BRIAN ELLIS GROUP - ESCONDIDO SESSIONS; LUCIANA SOUZA – SPEAKING IN TONGUES

DANNY GRISSETT – THE IN BETWEEN

Pianist Danny Grissett decided to name his fifth Criss Cross recording The In-Between to evoke the experience of flying back and forth between New York, where he is a first-call sideman for, among others, Jeremy Pelt and Tom Harrell, and Vienna, Austria, where he has lived with his wife and small son for several years. Joined by tenor saxophonist Walter Smith, an acquaintance since both attended the Thelonious Monk Institute in the early aughts, bassist Vicente Archer, a partner of long-standing, and great drummer Bill Stewart, Grissett offers a mix of five originals, four personalized standards, and a lovely ballad by his wife. ~ Amazon

BRIAN ELLIS GROUP - ESCONDIDO SESSIONS

A contemporary set from the west coast scene – and one that's got a similar feel to the soaring, spiritual sounds we've heard from some of the projects of Carlos Nino – but a quality that's maybe a bit more tripped-out overall! All tracks are long, and very jamming – with loads of cool keys from Brian Ellis – including Fender Rhodes, Hammond, Wurlitzer, and Moog – in a group that's also very heavy on percussion, which creates a wicked organic rumble next to the electric elements! Patrick Shiroishi plays alto and soprano sax – soaring out nicely and giving the tunes a bit of a soulful current – and titles include "Via De Mi Rancho", "Too Late For Georgia's", "On Peterson's Corner", and "Memories Of Pubby".  ~ Dusty Groove

LUCIANA SOUZA – SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Maybe the coolest album we've ever heard from Luciana Souza – a set that mixes her wonderful vocals with some very rhythmic grooves played by a combo that includes Kendrick Scott on drums and percussion, and Lionel Loueke on guitar! The music has lots of the touches you'd expect from either musician – a very forward-thinking approach that weaves together both melodic construction and rhythmic progression – which Souza then echoes with her vocals, often in modes that are a bit scatted, but in a very special sort of style! Titles include "At The Fair", "Free At Last", "A Pebble In Still Water", "AM", "No One To Follow", and "Straw Hat".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: HARRY CONNICK JR. – THAT WOULD BE ME; DENISE DONATELLi - FIND A HEART; CARLOS HENRIQUEZ – THE BRONX PYRAMID

HARRY CONNICK JR. – THAT WOULD BE ME

Multiple Grammy and Emmy-award winning musician Harry Connick, Jr. presents his new album That Would Be Me. For the first time in his career, Connick took a step outside his musical comfort zone to work in the studio with two "external" producers on this album the acclaimed Eg White (Sam Smith, Adele, Florence And The Machine) and Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Pink). That Would Be Me was recorded in London with White and Nashville with Walker. The result is a carefully crafted record full of surprises and stirring musical conjurations, delivering 11 new songs and new insights into his artistry. Additionally, the album art also represents a departure from his other covers, showcasing a portrait of his face created entirely from musical objects. That Would Be Me includes infectious gems like the White-produced "(I Like It When You) Smile," which includes an impromptu-hand clap and Connick serving up a one-of-a-kind-scat-rap-of-a-vocal that heats up mid-song and never lets down. Walker-helmed songs include the percolating "(I Think I) Love You A Little Bit," the sultry/funky "Songwriter" and the catchy first single, "(I Do) Like We Do." ~ Amazon

DENISE DONATELLi - FIND A HEART

Denise Donatelli is a mesmerizing jazz vocalist, in command of her expressive instrument while offering her heart and soul with each note. Joined by a company of Los Angeles jazz session players, Donatelli takes the forefront with style and panache, providing illuminating vocals that gently walk the line between energetic jazz-singing and luminous balladry. She accomplishes a warm balance with her singing, offering something for everyone. There is a thread of kind-heartedness and sincerity running throughout the diverse and unique set list, which allows a true sense of artistry to emerge at any tempo or dynamic level. Featuring the arranging talents of Geoffrey Keezer once again and the artistry of Brazilian guiartist Leonardo Amuedo, Jay Leno drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith and others, Denise Donatelli delivers one elegantly beautiful jazz album. ~ Amazon

CARLOS HENRIQUEZ – THE BRONX PYRAMID

Carlos Henriquez's The Bronx Pyramid marks the Bronx-born, Nuyorican bassist's first album as a leader and the emergence of a fully fledged Latin jazz master. Joined by guest stars Rubén Blades and Pedrito Martinez and band members including drummer and fellow Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member Ali Jackson, Henriquez expertly blends modern jazz with Latin rhythms, demonstrating why he's been performing with greats like Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz since he was 14. When Henriquez's high school band won the inaugural Essentially Ellington competition in 1996, he came to the attention of Wynton Marsalis, who took the bassist on the road shortly after he graduated high school. Since then, Henriquez has toured the world with the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Chris Botti, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. On THE BRONX PYRAMID, Henriquez expertly combines the best of the Latin and jazz traditions into an infectious album that will make you move no matter your favorite genre. ~ Amazon

Guitarist JOHN SCOFIELD releases PAST PRESENT

GRAMMY-nominated guitarist and bandleader John Scofield will release his new album Past Present on September 25th via Impulse!/Universal Music Classics. The album, picked by the New York Times as one of the highlights of the fall season, is Scofield's first with an update of his "elastic, swinging" (NY Times) early-90's quartet of Joe Lovano, Bill Stewart and Larry Grenadier (who steps in for Marc Johnson and the late Dennis Irwin) since the quartet released the acclaimed album's Meant To Be, Time on My Hands and What We Do on Blue Note Records. Scofield will celebrate the album release with a six-night run of shows at the venerable Blue Note club in New York City from October 13-18 (bassist Ben Street will sit in for Grenadier during this run).

Past Present is also one of Scofield's most personal albums, with a number of songs written during the illness and death of his son Evan in 2013 following a fast and furious battle with cancer. Buoyed by Grenadier's ebullient, recurring bass line and Stewart's delicate swing, Scofield describes Past Present as "futuristic blues," on which he and Lovano craft unison melodies before the two separate then intertwine invigorating improvisations. 

Scofield's 40 year professional career has seen him work with an incredibly diverse list of artists - Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Gary Burton, Joe Henderson, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Dr. John, Brad Mehldau, Medeski Martin & Wood, Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Gov't Mule, Charlie Haden and more. In 1998, the Montreal International Jazz Festival gave Scofield its prestigious "Miles Davis Award," and he was also awarded Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.

A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters from impulse!/Verve Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of John Coltrane's Magnum Opus

On December 9th, 1964, John Coltrane and his classic quartet (Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison and McCoy Tyner) went into the legendary Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey and recorded A Love Supreme--the four-part suite that has influenced musicians and reached generations of fans far beyond the jazz world. Far less known is the fact that Coltrane, his classic quartet and two additional musicians--the legendary saxophonist Archie Shepp and second bassist, Dr. Art Davis--returned to the studio the next day to cut the opening part of the suite again. Until now, the complete picture of what happened on those two days, including all takes, overdubs, and even studio chatter, has been unavailable.

That will change on November 6th when Verve Music Group proudly releases A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of this seminal recording. It will include this alternate version, taken from reels from the personal collection of John Coltrane and originally recorded in incredible sonic detail by Rudy Van Gelder, along with revised notes and detailed information on these amazing lost sessions. This release will kick off a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Verve label, which will include myriad catalog releases, digital exclusives and box sets through the end of 2016. (Verve includes the catalogs of legendary imprints like Impulse!, Decca, MGM, Blue Thumb and many more.)

With the availability of long-lost session reels, A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters brings together all existing recordings and written outlines for the first time to paint the most comprehensive and accurate picture of the A Love Supreme story. It reveals how Coltrane's masterpiece came together, from its initial conception as a nine-piece performance--it turns out the original plan was for a nine-piece band, including three Latin percussionists--to how it changed and developed in the studio. While the 2002 edition of A Love Supreme did include some of the music recorded at the second session, The Complete Masters is the first to feature all six takes of "Acknowledgement," the opening section of the suite, in their entirety, providing a deeper understanding and appreciation of how Coltrane would allow music to mature in the studio. The box also presents takes one and two of the track "Acknowledgement" from the sextet sessions in stereo for the first time.

A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters will be available in two formats: a 2-CD set, including the original best-selling album, along with unreleased mono "reference" versions of two tracks, owned by Coltrane himself, and seven unreleased performances from the two sessions. A 32-page booklet features an extensive essay by Ashley Kahn, noted producer, instructor and author of A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album, rare photographs from the sessions and all of Coltrane's surviving musical sketches and written elements for the groundbreaking, four-part suite, including the words that would become the poem, "A Love Supreme."

A 3-CD "Super Deluxe Edition" of A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters adds what is currently the only documented live recording of the album, a spirited, impromptu performance from the Festival Mondial du Jazz Antibes in July 1965, which had been previously available on a 2002 edition of the album. This 3-CD set is presented in a larger format that includes additional information about the live material and a personal introduction by Carlos Santana.

A Love Supreme was Coltrane's most pre-conceived, meticulously planned musical recording: "This is the first time I have everything ready," he famously told his wife Alice after composing the suite in their Long Island home. It was also his most successful, a high-water mark in Coltrane's career and popularity in 1965-generating two GRAMMY® Award-nominations, and earning him top position in various polls that year. That A Love Supreme remains a permanent fixture in lists of Greatest and Most Important musical recordings of the modern era--Rolling Stone magazine places it at No. 47 in its "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time"--speaks to the enduring significance of Coltrane's music and his message of spirituality.

In 2015, John Coltrane's recordings continue to be studied and celebrated by musicians and music fans alike; the overwhelmingly critical success of the 2014 release of Coltrane's 1966 concert recording, Offering: Live At Temple University, which garnered a GRAMMY® Award for its liner notes, stands as further proof of the timeless reach of Coltrane's musical innovations.

As Kahn writes in the essay to A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters: "Fifty years after its release, voices that speak of divine light and supreme love have trouble being heard. Lines that divide people run deep. At odds with itself, the world lacks the spirit to ascend and is needful once again of a spiritual recharger like A Love Supreme. The sound and message of John Coltrane remain more relevant than ever."