BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2016 LINEUP

With over 100 events in 10 venues throughout New York City, the 2016 Blue Note Jazz Festival will take place June 1-30. Ticket information and a current schedule of events is available on the official website, www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com. Additional performances, venues, and events will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Highlights for the sixth edition of the annual festival include breakout saxophonist Kamasi Washington (co-presented with City Parks Foundation at Central Park SummerStage); a rare New York City theater performance by vocal icon Al Jarreau at The Town Hall; Salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa's return to Carnegie Hall; collaborations such as keyboardist Robert Glasper (three projects: Trio, Duo with Jason Moran, and Duo with Taylor McFerrin + special guests), power trio John Scofield / Brad Mehldau / Mark Giuliana, and Sangam featuring Charles Lloyd / Zakir Hussain / Eric Harland; working jazz groups such as the Joshua Redman Quartet, Christian McBride Quartet, and Avishai Cohen Trio; prolific hip hop MC Talib Kweli; Rebirth Brass Band; Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; Brazilian singer/guitarist Rosa Passos; and a special Central Park SummerStage show featuring three distinctive groups led by jazz legends: pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Roy Haynes; and more. Please visit www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com for dates and venue information. 

Established in 2011, the Blue Note Jazz Festival was initially formed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Greenwich Village's iconic Blue Note Jazz Club. Presented by Blue Note Entertainment Group - which owns and operates the diverse venue lineup of Blue Note, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, Highline Ballroom, Subrosa, and Lucille's Grill - the festival has quickly grown into an annual 30-day event, emerging as the city's largest jazz festival, with each venue offering its own unique cultural contribution to the New York City musical landscape. Additional venues include Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall, Central Park SummerStage, Brooklyn Bowl, and IFC Center. Festival co-presenters include Jill Newman Productions, The Town Hall, City Parks Foundation, CEG/Nolafunk, Jazz Journalists Association, and JazzReach. 

"This year's festival showcases a depth of diversity crossing genres and generations," says Steven Bensusan, President of Blue Note Entertainment Group. "With headliners ranging from Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper to Talib Kweli and Rebirth Brass Band to McCoy Tyner and Ron Carter, in addition to special collaborations such as John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, and Mark Giuliana, the festival is a unique opportunity for fans to hear an eclectic mix of artists within one month." 

"We're also pleased to present rare New York City theater shows featuring legacy artists Al Jarreau [The Town Hall] and Gilberto Santa Rosa [Carnegie Hall], rounding out our festival headliners," adds Bensusan. B.B. King Blues Club and Highline Ballroom will present a wide range of performances, including rock artists such as singer Gary U.S. Bonds, keyboardist Al Kooper's annual birthday show, and eclectic rock group The Samples; blues guitarist Ana Popovic; funk-centric groups Average White Band, The Brand New Heavies, and Big Sam's Funky Nation; contemporary jazz singer-songwriter Michael Franks; rising crossover stars such as keyboardist Cory Henry (of Snarky Puppy) and violinist Damien Escobar; versatile singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys; eclectic global-centric acts such as the South African Afro-fusion collective Freshlyground, Brazilian singer-songwriter Céu; as well as singer-songwriter Judith Hill (Produced by Jill Newman Productions).

 Blue Note Jazz Festival will also continue to present Latin shows at Subrosa, its latest venue, which opened in 2014. Latin for "under the rose," Subrosa is an intimate 120-capacity Latin & World Music listening room located in New York City's Meatpacking District, dedicated to showcasing music and culture. Festival shows at Subrosa will include Supermambo! (a vibraphone tribute to Tito Puente), the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra, and The Music of Buena Vista Social Club, among others to be announced.

Dominick Farinacci's "Short Stories" Features All-Star Band Including: Christian McBride, Steve Gadd, Larry Golding, Jacob Collier, Jamey Haddad and Gil Goldstein - Produced by Tommy LiPuma

Dominick Farinacci is set to release his Mack Avenue Records debut, Short Stories--a compelling suite of music with a repertoire that spans genres and generations united by the trumpeter and composer's soulful conception. Bringing together songs from Tom Waits, Horace Silver, Dianne Reeves and the Gipsy Kings as well as original compositions, Farinacci has managed to create his own musical universe, aided by musicians of the highest caliber. A short glance at the artists he and producer Tommy LiPuma involved speaks for itself: Christian McBride, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Jacob Collier, Jamey Haddad and Gil Goldstein, for starters.

All of the songs have a narrative that any listener can relate to. It might be the eternal duet between people in love, a memory from way back triggered by a chance encounter, an enchanting melody heard from afar that takes over your life or the tremendous empathy that can come from seeing someone else overcome an unimaginable personal struggle.

Farinacci had already achieved enough stature by his mid-teens that Wynton Marsalis offered to help him set his sights on coming to New York, and by 2001, Farinacci was one of only four trumpeters in the world to be selected as the inaugural students in The Juilliard School's first jazz curriculum. During his school years and afterwards, Farinacci immediately distinguished himself as a soloist/bandleader/composer with a vision.

Soon thereafter, Farinacci was named the first Global Ambassador for Jazz at Lincoln Center and traveled to Qatar where his world expanded beyond his wildest dreams. Throughout the two years that Farinacci spent there, he broadened his activities to include dozens of different projects, where the goal was, through his music and outreach activities, to unite communities and overcome barriers of every sort: nationality, religion, musical taste, as well as economic and educational statuses in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Out of this experience, Farinacci was inspired to write "Doha Blues." "When I first arrived in Doha, I heard the 'call to prayer' over the loudspeakers as I was driving through downtown, seeing an ultra-modern skyline that looked like something from another planet," Farinacci explains. "The mix between Qatar's conservative culture, modern architecture and the multicultural population inspired the song." The track is introduced by Lebanese vocalist Mike Massy, which then settles into Arabic percussionist Jamey Haddad's mesmerizing groove.

Due to his accomplishments in Music & Wellness, Farinacci was invited to do a TED Talk in Washington, D.C., and has been invited to perform by The Cleveland Clinic and Mubadala Development Company on numerous occasions. Community-based campaigns Farinacci has developed and led include a partnership with the U.S. Marines to help children of Hurricane Sandy, a music project working to bring together the Jazz and Gospel communities in Cleveland (Spirit of the Groove), a fundraiser to benefit victims of the 2011 Japanese tsunami and a interdisciplinary visiting artist series bringing national jazz artists into various academic settings.

Photo Credit: Hollis King

Life itself has many different sorts of mentorship built into it. A life in the arts can't exist without these kinds of relationships, and Short Stories is the fruit of the coming together of two kindred spirits, Farinacci and LiPuma, from the same home town (Cleveland, Ohio), separated by just under half a century in age. What unites them is a clear, modern aesthetic vision that combines the highest musical standards with a desire to be agents of change. As LiPuma recently said, "Every so often I meet a young artist who has what I call an old soul - that's Dom! He's a rare bird--persistent as all heck, but in a nice way, like all the greats I've known. I was shocked at how quickly he adapted his live performance style to what we needed in the recording studio--I was blown away."

LiPuma's credits as a producer are far too numerous to list here; suffice it to say he has played an essential role in the sound of the last 50 years, with 35 albums certified gold or platinum, four GRAMMY® Award wins and 33 nominations. If you have heard Sir Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Dave Mason, Diana Krall and Dr. John--you have heard Mr. LiPuma's work.

"Tommy and I also share a love for Louis Armstrong," Farinacci says. I came to him with a song by the Gipsy Kings called 'Bamboleo,' and thought it had the kind of lyrical sense that reminded me of Pops. I would hear it in every country I was in, most notably in a club in Lebanon with 1,200 people singing along. The reaction was perhaps because the song is a story very familiar to all of us: how love can come into your life like a tornado, then sometimes leave with the same intensity. Despite it being heartbreaking, you're always wanting for it to come again."

One standout track is "Soldier's Things," introduced to Farinacci by LiPuma due to their shared love of the distinctly voiced Tom Waits. It exemplifies the challenges many soldiers face after they return from war. "I met an extraordinary young Staff Sergeant from my hometown who spent years in Afghanistan as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division," says Farinacci. "Few can understand the things he went through and what kind of impact these experiences had on him. The song itself moves through various emotions from contemplation, despair and loss to hope and wanting to change your life. I wanted to reflect his journey, incredibly inspiring determination and will to rebuild his life after service."

Amazingly, Farinacci found time during his Middle East years to also play an integral role in the conception and build out of Cuyahoga Community College's Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts. At that point the dynamic partnership that brings us Short Stories went from concept to reality. Also sharing a commitment to education, Farinacci and LiPuma involved hundreds of students in the process, scheduled individual workshops with all artists on the record, and documented every minute of the session with GoPro cameras. This was unprecedented for a session of this caliber, and certainly a first for their hometown.

There are so many superlatives thrown around these days that they seem to have lost their effect; but as this unique and deeply grounded album sinks into your consciousness, you will undoubtedly come to the conclusion that Dominick Farinacci is not only one of the truly outstanding musicians of his generation, but also that what is behind the music is nothing short of miraculous. In Farinacci's own words: "While Short Stories is the title of this particular recording, it has come to represent a culmination of things I'm most passionate about - performance, education, music & wellness and community-based cultural collaborations - unfolding in the music and touring around the world."

Dominick Farinacci's Upcoming Performances:

June 8 - 9 / Dizzy's Club Coca Cola / New York, NY

June 25 / Tri-C JazzFest: Cleveland (Hannah Theatre) / Cleveland, OH

July 1 - 2 / Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe / Grosse Point, MI

August 6 / The Side Door Jazz Club / Old Lyme, CT

September 3 / Monty Alexander Jazz Festival / Easton, MD

September 11 / Bach Dynamite and Dancing Society / Half Moon Bay, CA

September 12 / Kuumbwa Jazz Center / Santa Cruz, CA

 

Bob Baldwin & Friends Benefit Concert in Support of Victor Bailey

 A message from Bob Bob Baldwin: As you know, I have been a staunch supporter of causes, using music as the ultimatevehicle.... 2010 - Jazz for Haiti (over 60k raised with the Red Cross of NNJ); 2013 - Jazz for Dave Valentin. WIth that said, Bassist phenom Victor Bailey has been dealing with a rare muscle disease.

See below in his own words. 

World Renown Bassist, Artist, Producer, who is dealing with Charcott Marie Tooth disease.  Funds are to assist Victor's exorbitant medical costs associated with this incurable disease.  

From Victor....  To everyone who has been wondering why you haven't seen or heard from me, it's time for me to let you know what's going on. Quite simply, I am just not in the best of health. I have been dealing with a form of muscular dystrophy called Charcot Marie Tooth disease for the last 25 years. You've all seen me using a cane as my legs are getting weaker. Now it is affecting my upper body. My arms and hands are very weak and at this point in time too weak to perform. I need help with all daily living activities, so for the past three months I have been living at an assisted living facility in Newton, Massachusetts. I have taken a leave of absence from teaching at Berklee College of music and from touring. Right now, I could use your prayers and positive vibes. I will be keeping you guys updated on my condition. It is possible that I can get stronger again, so please send me positive energy. I'll keep you posted.

Victor's credits as a bassist include Wayne Shorter, George Howard (RIP), Lenny White, Walter Beasley, Joe Zawinul (RIP), Force MD's, Najee, Carmen Lundy, Santana, Marion Meadows, Will Downing, Nelson Rangell, Billy Cobham, and that's the short list!

COME SUPPORT THE CAUSE FOR VICTOR BAILEY...DETAILS BELOW.

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE, PLEASE BUY A BALCONY SEAT IN HIS HONOR.

  

Mt. Vernon native Bob Baldwin comes to the Paramount for a rare local performance. Pianist/Composer has 22 solo releases, the most of any Westchester native ever. His latest release "The Brazilian-American Soundtrack" was recorded on 3 continents. He brings to the stage his Latin/Brazilian influences, this time bringing a World vibe, featuring Chieli Minucci (Guitar), and Latin Jazz Nominee Chembo Corniel.

Also coming to the party to add the Brazilian vibration is Edson Da Silva, who has worked with Jobim, Djavan, Eliane Elias and the legendary Ivan Lins. Come enjoy the music of Bob Baldwin at the Paramount.

Some proceeds will benefit Bassist Victor Bailey, who has played with the likes of Weather Report, Alex Bugnon, Sting and others. Mr. Bailey has been suffering with a severe muscle/tissue disorder, which has prevented him from working. Funds will help assist him.

NEW MUSIC: NAKA FORUM – WE ARE THE WORLD; FUMACA PRETA – IMPUROS FANATICOS; CHARLES EARLAND – COMING TO YOU LIVE

NAKA FORUM – WE ARE THE WORLD

A record that's got a lot more going on than you'd expect from the cat video innocence of its cover – hardly the kind of throwaway content you'd find online, and instead a rock-solid session of free jazz from this heavyweight Swedish group! The quartet boasts some of the fiercest trumpet we've ever heard from Goran Kajfes – who also plus cornet, percussion, and a slide trumpet too – alongside massive reeds from the mighty Jonas Kullhammar – who handles tenor, flute, and sopranino – plus wonderfully odd horns like slide saxophone, and George Braith's amazing Braithophone! Yet despite the unusual instruments, neither musician acts with the impulse of gimmick – and instead, the players hold onto a very firey spirit at the core – driven onward by the bass of Johan Berthling and drums of Kresten Osgood – who also plays a bit of piano – on these tracks that spin far out, but swing back strongly – always with a unified energy that's really wonderful – that special spark that first made us fall in love with the Moserobie label years ago. Titles include "Buss 414", "Do The Nacka Forum", "Chogolisa", "Thinking About JC", and "Magwaza".  ~ Dusty Groove

FUMACA PRETA – IMPUROS FANATICOS

A wonderfully fuzzy little set – created by a group who are clearly influenced by the best sounds of Tropicalia and other hip South American rock at the end of the 60s – influences that they use strongly to forge into their own wonderful sound on this set! The album's the group's second, and is even more well-developed than before – a brooding masterpiece of dark sounds that do a good job of getting away from any sense of self-consciousness – all with the sort of right, raw, creative interplay we love in early records by Os Mutantes – but with maybe a bit of the soul of early Caetano Veloso too. Titles include "La Trampa", "Morrer De Amor", "Baldonero", "Impuros Fanaticos", and "Decimo Andar". ~ Dusty Groove

CHARLES EARLAND – COMING TO YOU LIVE

One of Charles Earland's sweet albums from his years at Columbia Records – done in a mode that's much more R&B than his earliest work, but in a style that's still A-OK with us! The groove here is greatly helped out by arrangements from Tom Washington, Weldon Irvine, and Marcus Miller – all great talents for mixing soul into Earland's jazzier keyboards – yet in a way that still keeps all of the best elements intact! Many of the tracks feature vocals, but in a gently soulful way that glides in nicely alongside the keys – and speaking of keys, Charles plays Fender Rhodes and Arp here in addition to his usual organ. Titles include "Coming To You Live", "Spend The Night With Me", "Take Me To Heaven", "Cornbread", "Good Question", "Zee Funkin Space", and "I Will Never Tell". ~ Dusty Groove

 

NEW MUSIC: BENNY GOLSON – HORIZON AHEAD; PRESSURE 75 – MELTDOWN; GOGO PENGUIN – FANFARES

BENNY GOLSON – HORIZON AHEAD

Rock-solid work from the legendary Benny Golson – part of an amazing run of late-life sessions that have had us falling in love with his talents all over again! The set's got a very firm core – piano from Mike LeDonne, bass from Buster Williams, and drums from Carl Allen – players who have all the sense of confidence, complication, and swing to match Golson's rich work on tenor – that raspy tone and careful way of phrasing that we always loved, even at the start, but which has emerged to make Benny a player who's touched whole new generations in recent years. Tracks include the original titles "Jump Start", "Horizon Ahead", "Domingo", and "Night Shade" – and the set also features Carl Allen's "Out Of The Darkness & Into The Light", which has a compelling spoken introduction too.  ~ Dusty Groove

PRESSURE 75 – MELTDOWN

Heavy funk, with some 70s Afro touches too – served up with some help from the Mighty Mocambos, Spike Orchestra, The Snitch, and other deep funk combos too! The horns here are nice and heavy, but used in a way that's different from both familiar Afro Funk and Ethio-styled work too – more open-ended, and with some great jazzy solos at all the right moments – taking the place of any vocals, and really giving the songs a fresh sort of energy! Rhythms are very heavy at the bottom – standard drums mixed with congas, bongos, and other percussion – and the basslines sew things together, but keep things nice and loose, too – so that the individual musicians get a chance to step out strongly on their own. Titles include "Meltdown", "Red Sea", "Kurzzug", "Plan Of Attack", "Binturong", "Ajebutter", and "Standing On The Shoulders Of Giantslayers".  ~ Dusty Groove

GOGO PENGUIN – FANFARES

The title's a great one for this indie album from Gogo Penguin – because the music's got a sense of fanfare and majesty right from the start – a cascading blend of piano, bass, and drums – but in a way that's quite different than a standard jazz trio! Gogo Penguin are a group who are bursting out elsewhere on Blue Note, but are equally at home on the UK spiritual jazz label Gondwana – where they seem to get the chance to stretch out a bit more, and even show some slight outside tendencies in their music. All titles are originals by the group – and tracks include "Seven Sons Of Bjorn", "Last Words", "Unconditional", "I Am That", "Akasthesia", "HF", and "Fanfares".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW MUSIC: MARCUS STRICKLAND – NIHIL NOVI; THE POWER QUINTET – HIGH ART; ATLANTIS JAZZ ENSEMBLE – OCEANIC SUITE

MARCUS STRICKLAND – NIHIL NOVI

The reed talents of Marcus Strickland hit the sound of the new Blue Note – with wonderful results! The album was produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, and has a much more electric vibe than some of Marcus' other records – an angular, snakey sort of groove that really shows Meshell's influence – and which gives Strickland's performances an edge that they don't always have! Ndegeocello plays bass on some tracks – with those dark tones we really love in her jazz work – but the key musical partner here seems to be trumpeter Keyon Harrold, who brings that flow to the music that we love on his own Blue Note album too. The set also features some keyboards and organ from Mitch Henry, some guest Fender Rhodes from Robert Glasper, and drums from Charles Haynes – plus some guest vocals on three tracks by Jean Baylor. Titles include "Tic Toc", "Inevitable", "Sissoko's Voyage", "Mantra", "Mingus", "Celestelude", "Truth", "Mirrors", "The Chant", "Alive", and "Talking Loud".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE POWER QUINTET – HIGH ART

The cover might look a bit old fashioned, but the groove here is very contemporary – served up by an excellent combo of very important players from the east coast scene – trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, vibist Steve Nelson, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Bill Stewart! All musicians have a fair bit of years under their belt, but haven't lost their sharpness at all – and work together here in a warmly collaborative space that really befits the leader-less nature of the record – as the focus shifts effortlessly between all the strengths they can bring to the record – that marvelous tone that Pelt's developed in recent years, those sublime chromes from Nelson's vibes, Grissett's great way of blocking out a tune, the solid swing of Stewart, and the always soulful sounds of Washington on bass. Most numbers are originals by members of the group – and titles include "Look At Here"," Heard's Word", "Sage", "Mr Wiggleworm", "Ascona", and "Tincture".  ~ Dusty Groove

ATLANTIS JAZZ ENSEMBLE – OCEANIC SUITE

A wonderful record from a really timeless group – a contemporary combo, but one who play in the best spiritual jazz modes of the 70s – in a way that really lives up to the vintage vibe of the album's cover! These guys have a long, flowing approach to their tunes – building them up with modal energy that rings out with some great Fender Rhodes alongside the bass and drums – and with basslines that are especially strong, and keep a pulse that seems to allow all the other musicians a great amount of creative freedom, while still hanging onto a groove! Zakari Frantz plays some wonderful alto sax – often with the soaring, soulful qualities of a tenor – and the group also features bold trumpet lines from Ed Lister, Fender Rhodes from Pierre Chretien, bass from Alex Bilodeau, and drums from Mike Essourdy. The first we've ever heard from this group – but we'll bet we'll be hearing more soon! Titles include "Pillars Of Hercules", "Ebb & Flow", "Blue Nile", "Agean Mist", and "Leviathan".  ~ Dusty Groove

Jazz Bassist Cedric Napoleon Announces New Studio Album 'Yesterday Today"

Yesterday Today is Cedric Napoleon's first solo album and represents a new beginning for the renowned jazz bassist, an opportunity to interpret the songs that have inspired him throughout his long musical journey.

"This is a long time coming," says Napoleon. "I've been thinking about arrangements on these songs for quite a while. Now I've finally got the chance to put them down on wax and hopefully have others feel the same way about these songs as I do."

For more than five decades, Cedric Napoleon has dedicated his life to engaging in a conversation with the music.  As a founding member of the influential jazz ensemble Pieces of A Dream, Cedric has performed at major venues all over the world. Once the principal bassist for Grover Washington, Jr., Cedric has recorded for Elektra, Manhattan and Blue Note Records, and over the course of his career has collaborated with music legends including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder and Teddy Pendergrass.

Encompassing an eclectic array of styles and moods, Napoleon has chosen melodies that transcend genre. At the heart of each selection is a devotion to groove; the songs emphasize Napoleon's lithe, sinuous basslines, on both the upright and electric bass, and the joyful energy of the performances reflects his genuine love for the material.

"I believe a great melody can be played in any style or rhythm," says Napoleon. "That's always been the way I hear music. I was seeking an opportunity to express my musical versatility through the music of yesterday and today and these are the songs that made my spirit reach out."

Yesterday Today reflects Napoleon's personal experiences and charts a path from his early development as a musician and formal jazz training to his love for classic R&B and soul. Under producer Donald Robinson's guidance, and featuring contributions from both Joey DeFrancesco and Najee, each selection is imbued with Napoleon's signature "Jazz-Soul" flavor.

"Soul is the feeling of the spirit and jazz is the access to it," explains Napoleon. "This album has a beautiful spirit, but more importantly I believe we did the songs justice."

Still, Napoleon says the song that means the most to him is the album's final track, an original piece titled "Cedric's Groove," which reflects where he would like to take his music in the future.

"The title of the album is Yesterday Today, but there is a 'Tomorrow' implied, I believe, because there's always a future," says Napoleon. "That's what 'Cedric's Groove' is all about: tomorrow."

Tracklisting:

1.     Intro

2.     Yesterday

3.     Rock Steady

4.     Golden Lady

5.     Ordinary People

6.     Stella By Starlight

7.     My One And Only Love

8.     Happy

9.     Bridge Over Troubled Waters

10.   Just the Two Of Us

11.   Cedric's Groove

SOUL TITAN WILLIAM BELL RETURNS TO STAX FOR FIRST MAJOR RELEASE IN DECADES WITH THIS IS WHERE I LIVE

Legendary soul singer and songwriter William Bell has returned to his original home, Stax Records, for the appropriately titled This Is Where I Live, his first major release in almost four decades, out June 3rd, 2016.  Known for writing and performing several soul standards – “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” “Private Number,” “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday,” and “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” among them – Bell co-wrote most of the songs on This Is Where I Live with GRAMMY-winner John Leventhal, who also produced the album.  Additional co-writing contributors are Marc Cohn, Rosanne Cash, Cory Chisel and Scott Bomar.

This Is Where I Live features newly-penned liner notes by music historian and author Peter Guralnick, who observes that the album “convey[s] home truths from a perspective of age and experience that might not always have been readily apparent to a younger man.” The performances, likewise, are assured and subtle, yet simmering with tension.

 “At my age,” says Bell, who is 76, “I've had a lot of experience, and I know what my limitations are, what my faults are as a human being, and I utilize that. When I approach a lyric or a melody, I'm brutally honest.”

That approach is immediately apparent on album opener “The Three of Me,” which features a classic William Bell conceit as he catalogs the different sides of a man who has loved and lost. NPR notes that "age becomes Bell's voice, which is still sweet and unwaveringly earnest; befitting the song's conceit, he sings harmony with himself. It's a pleasure to once again hear his reliable romanticism arranged astride the earthy simplicity of horns, Hammond organ and unfussy guitar riffs." Listen here: http://n.pr/22xPFOr

Other album highlights include the hard-grooving “Poison In The Well,” about an addiction to an unhealthy love, and the autobiographical title track, in which Bell charts his journey from humble Memphis origins to the world stage.  When he switches into ballad mode, as on the sweetly tender “I Will Take Care of You” – written for a close friend recovering from health problems – the effect is devastating.

William Bell’s career started in the 1950s when he joined the Phineas Newborn Sr. band as a teenager.  He signed to Stax in 1961 and delivered one of the iconic soul label’s earliest hits with “You Don’t Miss Your Water.”  He also co-wrote, with Booker T. Jones, the iconic song “Born Under A Bad Sign” for Albert King, which was later famously covered by Cream.  In more recent years he has been covered by Carole King, sampled by Kanye West, and feted by Snoop Dogg.  He has performed everywhere from Bonnaroo to The White House, and will play a select run of dates with John Leventhal and his band around the release of This Is Where I Live, to be announced soon.

  

Track list:

1.   The Three Of Me

2.   The House Always Wins

3.   Poison In The Well

4.   I Will Take Care Of You

5.   Born Under A Bad Sign

6.   All Your Stories

7.   Walking On A Tightrope

8.   This Is Where I Live

9.   More Rooms

10.  All The Things You Can’t Remember

11.  Mississippi-Arkansas Bridge

12.  People Want To Go Home

MILES DAVIS - THE COMPLETE PRESTIGE 10-INCH LP COLLECTION; 11-LP BOX SET FEATURES ALL OF DAVIS’ 10” ALBUMS AS A LEADER FOR PRESTIGE RECORDS

In advance of what would have been Miles Davis’ 90th birthday, Prestige Records, a division of Concord Bicycle Music, will celebrate this milestone with The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection — a lavish, 11-LP box set which commemorates the legendary trumpeter’s appearances as a young leader for Prestige Records during the 10-inch LP era, from 1951 – 1954.

The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection, available May 13th, presents all ten 10-inch LPs on which Miles Davis appeared as a leader for Prestige Records, plus a bonus record featuring Davis as a guest artist with Lee Konitz, all remastered from the original analog master tapes and faithfully reproduced on 10-inch vinyl, including the original cover artwork and liner notes. Also in the box is a 16-page booklet featuring rare photographs and insightful new notes by GRAMMY® Award-winning author Ashley Kahn, as well as a collectible print of a painting by Davis. The complete list of 10-inch albums includes: Modern Jazz Trumpets (featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Dorham and Fats Navarro); The New Sounds; Blue Period; Miles Davis Plays the Compositions of Al Cohn; Miles Davis Quartet; Miles Davis All Star Sextet; Miles Davis Quintet; Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins; Miles Davis All Stars, Vol. 1; Miles Davis All Stars, Vol. 2 and, as a bonus, Lee Konitz’s The New Sounds, featuring Davis as a guest artist. These records offer an incredible lineup of talent, including performances by Art Blakey, Al Cohn, Roy Haynes, Percy Heath, Milt Jackson, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver and Zoot Sims, among many other legends of the genre.

Nick Phillips, the producer of the box set, remarks, “This collection presents an exciting and important period in Miles Davis’ development as an artist; one in which he is clearly distinguishing himself from the other bop stylists of the era and is rapidly developing the uniquely lyrical and powerful voice that remains so instantly recognizable and influential to this day.”

In addition to the vinyl box set, Concord is in the process of making Davis’ entire Prestige catalog of 12-inch albums available as 24-bit digital editions. Each title has been meticulously restored from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY® Award-winning mastering engineer Paul Blakemore. The campaign, which has been ongoing since February 2016, includes such albums as Dig, Walkin’, Cookin’, Relaxin’, Workin’, and Steamin’, among others. The rollout is expected to be completed by May, 2016.

GUITARIST LEE RITENOUR IS BEING CELEBRATED WITH LIMITED-EDITION BOX SET, THE VINYL LP COLLECTION

On April 22nd, Concord Records will release The Vinyl LP Collection: a limited-edition, individually numbered box set celebrating a key period in the prolific solo career of renowned guitarist Lee Ritenour. The Collection contains five classic LPs by Ritenour: Earth Run (1986), Portrait (1987), Festival (1988), Color Rit (1989) and, on vinyl for the first time, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated Wes Bound (1993). These albums have each been remastered, pressed on audiophile-quality, 180-gram vinyl and restored with original artwork and liner notes. An accompanying 46-page booklet contains new liner notes by Ritenour plus never-before-seen photos and ephemera, all culled from an extensive scrapbook collection lovingly  kept by the guitarist’s late father.

The Vinyl LP Collection presents a fertile period in a storied career, which began at the age of 16, when Ritenour was hired as a session guitarist for the Mamas and the Papas, who dubbed him “Captain Fingers” for demonstrating incredible dexterity. Throughout the next decade, Ritenour became one of the most prolific session guitarists, working with the likes of Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones. Ritenour’s solo work has earned him a GRAMMY® Award and 19 GRAMMY® nominations. He has recorded more than 40 albums that have yielded 35 charting tracks, and he is widely recognized as one of the best guitarists of his generation.

“For us music lovers and folks who play music, vinyl is still the most amazing way to listen to and appreciate music,” proclaims Ritenour in his liner notes. “I'm thrilled that Concord Records and myself can present these five records remastered on 180-gram vinyl.” The Vinyl LP Collection includes such personnel as Academy Award-winning composer Dave Grusin, GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist Alan Broadbent, and GRAMMY® Award-winning composer David Foster, plus legendary saxophonist Kenny G and celebrated Brazilian artist Caetano Veloso.

Trombone Shorty Foundation on a Mission to #SaveDatSound For New Orleans Youth and Music Lovers Everywhere

The Trombone Shorty Foundation launched its first social donation campaign, #SaveDatSound, to support young musicians in New Orleans and uphold the city’s world-renowned musical sound. With mobile and online donations, sponsor matching and giveaways, #SaveDatSound serves as a crescendo in anticipation of Shorty Fest, the Foundation’s fourth annual benefit concert at the House of Blues New Orleans on Thursday, April 28, 2016 presented by Presqu’ile Winery.

Music and culture lovers everywhere are encouraged to tag #SaveDatSound on Instagram. For every use of the hashtag, Shorty Fest presenting sponsor Presqu’ile Winery will donate $1 to the Trombone Shorty Foundation during the week of April 17, 2016.

Fans and supporters can make a donation online or by texting “TROMBONE” to 41- 444.

Donations over $25 will be entered to win Shorty Fest prizes, including customized “Trombone Shorty Social Aid & Pleasure Club” t-shirts from local apparel designer tasc Performance and designed by local artist Frenchy, and signed copies of the Caldecott and Coretta Scott King book award honored “Trombone Shorty” children’s book.

“I am so proud to have been raised on NOLA’s sound and am humbled by the amount of support toward this city’s culture and for kids just like me,” said Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. “This campaign invites everyone to join me in keeping New Orleans' music alive and well. Support is just one click or text away.”

Founded by renowned New Orleans musician Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews in 2013, the foundation is Andrews’ vision of sharing his passion to inspire the next generation by developing their musical talent and connecting them to the city’s unique musical heritage.

This campaign is on the eve of Shorty Fest, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Trombone Shorty Foundation. This Jazz Fest tradition gathers stellar regional artists including the students the Foundation serves. All funds raised go towards music education, instruction, mentorship and musical performance programming for talented local youth. VIP Tickets are still available for purchase by stopping by House of Blues New Orleans box office or by visiting: http://www.hob.com/neworleans

To make a donation, please visit:

http://bit.ly/SaveDatSound or text “Trombone” to 41-444.

For more information on Trombone Shorty Foundation, please visit: http://www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org.

About the Trombone Shorty Foundation

Frontman of the band Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Andrews credits the support of his own positive role models in the rich New Orleans music community for helping him make his way into the world of music, where he has grown into an internationally recognized, Grammy Award-nominated artist.

The Foundation partners with Tulane University’s New Orleans Center for the Gulf South to deliver two music education programs offering underserved high school students the opportunity to pursue music as a career: the Trombone Shorty Academy music performance program and the Fredman Music Business Institute. The programs provide mentorship in music performance and education about the business side of the music industry. The foundation also presents “Trad Fridays” presented by Acura with New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, a free workshop program dedicated to the traditional New Orleans’ sound. For more information about the Trombone Shorty Foundation visit: http://www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org.

About Presqu’ile Winery

Located in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria Valley, Presqu’ile (pronounced press-KEEL) is a small, family-run winery dedicated to making exceptional cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Designed and planted to create a diverse tapestry of vineyard blocks, the sustainably certified, 73-acre Presqu’ile Vineyard features an array of clones, exposures and elevations. Made using this estate fruit, and grapes from a handful of the finest vineyards in the valley, Presqu’ile’s wines capture the essence of their vineyards and vintage, and have earned acclaim for their elegance and balance. Situated high atop a hill, with ocean and vineyard views, the stunning Presqu’ile Winery offers one of the most memorable wine tasting experiences on California’s Central Coast. To learn more, please visit http://www.presquilewine.com.

Tenor Saxophonist Noah Preminger Explores the Delta Blues on New CD, Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground

Pain, sorrow, struggle, resilience, fortitude, truth - deeply profound emotions and experiences form the core of the Delta blues. The raw, unvarnished songs of that region struck a powerful nerve with saxophonist Noah Preminger, who connects with their captivating directness and soul-rattling expressiveness on his fifth album, Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground. On the second release with his highly attuned, boldly adventurous quartet, Preminger explores nine haunting blues classics from the pre-war Mississippi Delta in stark but vigorous new arrangements.

Due out May 6, 2016, Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground was recorded at the Sidedoor Jazz Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and engineered by Jimmy Katz. Preminger hails the renowned photographer/recording engineer for his dedication to capturing a "pure" sound, and the evidence is there in the vital, unadorned live feel of the record - which was captured live with absolutely no overdubs. Katz allowed the quartet a tremendous freedom but also brought his vast depth of knowledge to the project whenever needed.

The album follows last year's similarly self-released Pivot: Live at the 55 Bar, which offered a wholly different take on the source material. On that album, Preminger and the same stellar band - with Jason Palmer (trumpet), Kim Cass (double-bass) and Ian Froman (drums) - offered far-ranging expansions of two Bukka White songs, stretching both past the 30-minute mark.

Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground presents a more concise but no less keen-edged approach, expanding the repertoire to include songs by such immortal bluesmen as Skip James, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson and, once again, Bukka White. The quartet seizes on the stirring melodies and fervent emotions of the originals while taking them into the intense, venturesome realm of fearless jazz pathfinders like John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman.

Preminger says that the Delta blues is "the most real, most heartfelt music that I've ever heard. It has all the characteristics that I want in my playing: sincerity, storytelling, and an urgency to get my message across. I love that music, and I love their voices."

The saxophonist's fascination with the music of these Delta bluesmen stems not from any particular revelation or event - there was no soul-searching trek down the Mississippi or life-altering tragedy that  suddenly allied Preminger with these singers. "These are guys who spent most of their lives in jail or on a  farm and were drunks or led really messed-up lives, so the things they talk about I can't necessarily relate to," he admits. "But it's very real, and you don't hear that very often in contemporary music. It's not a poor man's music anymore. They had everything going against them; they weren't drinking tea and doing yoga."

If anything, it's this disillusionment with more modern music and its more cerebral, less rooted nature that made the Delta blues resonate so strongly with Preminger. The saxophonist insists that he rarely listens to recorded music at all these days, and only to vintage blues recordings on the rare occasions that he does. "I think that a lot of artists today have a hard time separating themselves from trends," he explains. "So something that recently came to me is I need to be making the music that I really want to make and throw everything else out the window. The most important part is that it be heartfelt and sincere and intense. I want people to feel something. You feel real emotion every time that you listen to the greatest masters in the history of this art: John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Andrew Hill, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman. That's missing now."

It's impossible to listen to blues artists like Skip James or Bukka White and not feel something, and while Preminger transforms their music he retains its ability to touch the listener. Over an intense pulse, he and Palmer echo James' call-and-response vocal on "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues;" a fragment of the melody of Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain" becomes the source of the quartet's achingly mournful rendition. On the title track, Blind Willie Johnson's moaning original is slowed even further, becoming a dirge-like lament interspersed with sections of group improvisation.

The familiar melody of "Trouble in Mind" is expressed as a yearning hymn, introduced in an intimate duo setting by Preminger and Cass. Willie Brown's "Future Blues" is given a spare, soulful treatment which grows increasingly turbulent during the solo sections thanks to Froman's roiling rhythm. Preminger and Palmer channel the tandem of Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry for "Spoonful Blues," while "Black Snake Moan" is imbued with a playful, New Orleans funkiness. White's "I Am the Heavenly Way" is taken with a fierce urgency, and "I Shall Not Be Moved" closes the album in sanctified, almost elegiac fashion.

In this still-new quartet, Preminger has found an ideal unit for investigating the possibilities of such communicative, mutable music. "These guys are special, and you just don't find that all the time," he says. "It seems like everyone's very spiritual and very kind, and just like these Delta musicians, everyone in this band plays like it's their last day on earth. It makes coming together a pretty special time. I think this band could do anything."

A native of Canton, Connecticut, Preminger released his debut album, Dry Bridge Road, shortly after graduating from the New England Conservatory. It immediately met with great acclaim, including Debut of the Year honors in the Village Voice Critics Poll and Top 10 Albums of the Year rankings in JazzTimes, Stereophile and The Nation. It was followed by Before the Rain (2011), featuring pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist John Hébert, and drummer Matt Wilson; and Haymaker (2013), with guitarist Ben Monder, bassist Matt Pavolka, and drummer Colin Stranahan. Both garnered more praise, with the New Yorker calling Preminger "a lyrical young tenor saxophonist whose alert work on three albums has drawn considerable critical attention."

Preminger has also been featured in bands led by Fred Hersch and Cecil McBee, and recorded four albums for Brooklyn Jazz Underground as a member of the Rob Garcia 4. He's shared the stage with the likes of Dave Holland, Dave Douglas, Victor Lewis, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Billy Drummond, George Cables, Roscoe Mitchell, and Dr. Eddie Henderson. In addition to Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground, 2016 will also see the release of a quartet album featuring Monder, bassist John Patitucci, and legendary drummer Billy Hart on the French vinyl-only label Newvelle.

www.noahpreminger.com

American Tunes, a new studio album by legendary New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint is set for release on June 10, 2016

Allen Toussaint had just completed the album when he passed away in November of last year during a European tour. Recording took place at two sets of sessions with producer Joe Henry: solo piano at Toussaint's New Orleans home studio in 2013, and with the rhythm section of Jay Bellerose and David Piltch—joined by guests Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Greg Leisz, Rhiannon Giddens, and Van Dyke Parks—in Los Angeles in October 2015. The album comprises solo performances of Professor Longhair tunes and band arrangements of songs by Toussaint, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Paul Simon, and others. American Tunes is available to pre-order now at iTunes and in the Nonesuch Store, where the album track "Big Chief" may be downloaded instantly; Nonesuch Store pre-orders come with an exclusive limited-edition print. A two-LP vinyl version, also available June 10, includes three bonus tracks.

Allen Toussaint's work as composer, producer, arranger, and performer, especially in the 1960s and '70s, helped shape the sound of R&B, soul, and funk as we know it today. He collaborated memorably with artists ranging from Lee Dorsey and Ernie K. Doe to the Pointer Sisters and Labelle, from the Meters and Dr. John to the Band and Paul McCartney. The New York Times recently said, "In Mr. Toussaint's long career as songwriter, arranger and producer he has honed a piano style that's supportive and allusive; a little trill or tremolo sums up all the splashy joys of New Orleans patriarchs like Professor Longhair and James Booker, and a syncopated chord under right-hand octaves summons gospel. Mr. Toussaint has the two-fisted, rippling vocabulary of the city's piano legacy, but he uses it in dapper ways."

Toussaint's children, Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux and Clarence Reginald Toussaint, who have long served as their father's managers, said of the American Tunes album, "Our father approached this project with great care and understanding of the songs selected and paid true homage to Professor Longhair, his musical hero. He wanted to bring as much of the Toussaint touch as he could to these wonderful classics."

Nonesuch previously released The Bright Mississippi in 2009. Also produced by Henry, the record includes songs by jazz greats such as Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, Django Reinhardt, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and Billy Strayhorn. The album received tremendous critical praise, with the Boston Globe saying it "couldn't sound more like New Orleans. (Toussaint) revisits jazz classics … and takes them for a stroll through Preservation Hall, imbuing his own funky brand of pop-song charisma. The results are coolly sophisticated, an unfussy, mostly instrumental set of slink-and-slide joints shot through with a harmonic imagination that turns even a traditional hymn into an after-hours swing … Toussaint's musical soul guides all, making the classics sound like his own."

That project indirectly grew from Toussaint's contributions to Our New Orleans, the benefit album that Nonesuch released in fall 2005 to aid hurricane victims in the wake of the Katrina disaster. That collection opens with a version of "Yes We Can Can," the Toussaint song the Pointer Sisters made famous, newly recorded with producer Joe Henry, and it included a solo piano piece, "Tipitina and Me," co-written by Toussaint in tribute to Professor Longhair.

Joe Henry had first worked with Toussaint when he invited the pianist to join the sessions for I Believe to My Soul, a studio convocation of mature R&B stars. Henry subsequently acted as producer on Toussaint's post-Katrina collaboration with Elvis Costello, The River in Reverse. He describes the most recent sessions: "I have been working with Allen Toussaint—under his spell and subject to his influence—for a full decade now. He was a quiet radical, musically-speaking, and a prince of great humility."

NEW MUSIC: BILL EVANS – SOME OTHER TIME: THE LOST SESSION FROM THE BLACK FOREST; MONDAY MICHIRU - PORTRAITS IN TIME 2002-2013; MILES DAVIS - CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL '90

BILL EVANS – SOME OTHER TIME: THE LOST SESSION FROM THE BLACK FOREST

Some Other Time: The Lost Session From the Black Forest is a newly unearthed studio session from the iconic pianist Bill Evans featuring bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Recorded on June 20, 1968, nearly 10 years after the legendary Kind of Blue sessions with Miles Davis and a mere five days after the trio's incredible Grammy award-winning performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, this is truly a landmark discovery for jazz listeners worldwide. Available in deluxe 2-CD and limited edition 2-LP sets, and containing over 90 minutes of music, this is the only studio album in existence of the Bill Evans trio with Gomez and DeJohnette.

MONDAY MICHIRU - PORTRAITS IN TIME 2002-2013

A wonderful portrait of Monday Michiru – one of our favorite singers of the past 20 years – equally well-versed in jazz, soul, and Brazilian modes – all of which come together on this collection of very well-chosen and overlooked tracks! The special 2CD package brings together music from some of Monday's smaller label and under-distributed titles – including a number of import-only selections, a few collaborations with other artists, and a really wonderful array of tunes that show just how much Michiriu has grown since she first started out! Monday hit some great fame in the mid 90s in Japan – but during recent years, she's been living in the US mostly, and really working on her craft away from the limelight – opening up with expressive jazz inflections that rival some of her best inspirations of previous decades, while still holding onto the richly soulful power that brought her some strong early attention. If you've missed hearing Monday at all, this set is a great introduction – and even if you've followed her as closely as we have, we'll bet that there's some tracks here you might not have in your collection. 23 tracks in all – including "Dreams Of Tomorrow", "Mi Vida", "Sometimes", "One (Alter Ego version)", "Generations", "Epiphany", "Aldeia De Ogum", "Nexus Interlude", "Hung Up", "Genetic Imprints", "Just Be Good To Me", "No Matter What", "Belle O Byron Bay (Bluey mix)", "No Answer", "The Cosmic Laws", and "Cut To The Chase". ~ Dusty Groove

MILES DAVIS - CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL '90

A tight live set from the late years of Miles Davis – a Chicago performance played around the time of his Doo Bop album, but featuring a range of selections from most of Miles' 80s electric period! There's a fair bit of funk in the rhythms – underscored by the bass work of Richard Patterson, electric percussion of Erin Davis, and the keyboards of Kei Akagai – and while Miles himself also plays a bit of keys, his main focus is on those tight, muted solos from the time – played alongside alto and flute from Kenny Garrett. Titles include instrumental Davis-ized versions of "Perfect Way", "Human Nature", and "Time After Time" – plus "Star People", "Hannibal", "The Senate/Me & You", and "Wrinkle". ~ Dusty Groove

Red Cat Jazz Festival to feature Marion Meadows, Jonathan Butler, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, Ronnie Laws, Alex Bugnon, Joey Sommerville, and others

Ronnie Laws

In honor of over 100 years of American Jazz, this Mother's Day weekend, the 6th Annual Red Cat Jazz Festival presented by MVP Vodka, will be a non-stop party at the luxurious Moody Gardens Resort on beautiful Galveston Island May 5-8, 2016. Featuring the all-star lineup of award winning contemporary Jazz performers ~ Marion Meadows, Jonathan Butler & Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, Special EFX with Chieli Minucci, Alex Bugnon, Joey Sommerville, Mike Phillips, Theresa Grayson, Eric Darius, Warren Hill, Michael Ward, Kyle Turner, Chris Mitchell, Jazz legend Ronnie Laws featuring Andre James, and introducing up-and-coming SmoothJazz.com spotlight artist Jazmin Ghent and more names being added. 

  

Red Cat Jazz Festival is produced by The Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, a non-profit serving to preserve the rich heritage of Jazz music, celebrating its past, pioneering its present and nurturing its future. "The festival does so much to raise awareness for the Jazz community while concurrently providing the best all-around fun for the festival's attendees," says Jan Pink, Executive Director of Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society. Pink goes on to say, "With over 10,000 attendees last year, our festival is growing larger every year and we love that we can celebrate with so many moms and families!"