CHICK COREA Announces Two-Month Birthday Celebration at The Blue Note

8 Consecutive Weeks, 80 Shows,

15 Legendary Bands, 60 Iconic Musicians

October 19 through December 12, 2016 in New York City

This fall, 22-time GRAMMY® Award-winning keyboardist and composer Chick Corea will make history with an unprecedented two-month 75th birthday celebration at The Blue Note, his musical home in New York City.

Running October 19 through December 12, 2016, the 80-show engagement will feature Corea leading 15 legendary bands comprised of 60 musical friends from over half a century, marking a birthday celebration groundbreaking in scale, artistry and sheer musical power.

Select highlights include:

"The Music of Return to Forever & More"

The premiere of two unique ensembles playing the music of Return to Forever over the course of two respective weeks: Acoustic featuring Ravi Coltrane (sax), Hubert Laws (flute), Avishai Cohen (bass), and Lenny White (drums); and Electric featuring John McLaughlin (guitar), Victor Wooten (bass), and Lenny White (drums).

"For Miles"

A celebration of the music of Miles Davis, featuring Kenny Garrett (saxophone) Wallace Roney (trumpet), Mike Stern (guitar), Marcus Miller (bass) and Brian Blade (drums).

Steve Gadd Week

A deep dive into Corea's longtime musical partnership with drummer Steve Gadd through two different ensembles:  Three Quartets featuring bassist Eddie Gomez (bass) and Ben Solomon (saxo) and The Leprechaun Band.

"Experiments in Electronica"

Since the 1960s, Corea's pioneering work on electronic keyboards (spanning Miles Davis, Return to Forever and the Elektric Band) has inspired generations of electronic musical innovators. This special two-night run will offer Chick's latest take on all things electronic, joined by Marcus Gilmore (drums) and leading genre-defying electronic explorers (TBA).

Corea's first Blue Note birthday run, marking his 60th anniversary in the fall of 2001, was a cathartic two-week engagement for a city just beginning to heal following the 9/11 attacks. The run produced the GRAMMY®-winning album Rendezvous in New York. In November 2011, he returned to The Blue Note with a month-long 70th birthday residency featuring countless artistic giants. This year's 75th birthday celebration marks his most ambitious Blue Note residency ever.

"From the level of talent that will be presented to the number of shows to the overall duration, this is an unrivaled residency in so many ways," says Steven Bensusan, President of Blue Note Entertainment Group. "You never see an artist take residency in a venue for this amount of time consecutively, and on this scale."

"Though most importantly, the fact that it commemorates our longtime friend and legend Chick Corea's 75th birthday makes this truly special, especially given Blue Note's deep relationship with Chick over the past 30 years," adds Bensusan. "We're looking forward to making history with Chick this fall."

Chick Corea's 75th Birthday Celebration will feature two shows nightly, at 8pm and 10:30pm.

CHICK COREA BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE BLUE NOTE

Full Schedule

Wednesday - Sunday, October 19-23

THE CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND

Chick Corea (keyboards), Eric Marienthal (saxes), Frank Gamble (guitar), John Patitucci (bass), Dave Weckl (drums)

Wednesday - Sunday, October 26-30

FOR MILES

Chick Corea (keyboards), Kenny Garrett (saxes), Wallace Roney (trumpet), Mike Stern (guitar), Marcus Miller (bass), Brian Blade (drums)

Wednesday - Thursday, November 2-3

THREE QUARTETS BAND

Chick Corea (piano), Steve Gadd (drums), Eddie Gomez (bass), Ben Solomon (sax)

Friday - Sunday, November 4-6

THE LEPRECHAUN BAND

Chick Corea (keyboards), Steve Gadd (drums), Gayle Moran Corea (vocals), Steve Wilson (sax & flute), Michael Rodriguez (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Eddie Gomez (acoustic bass), TBA (electric bass)

Wednesday - Thursday, November 9-10

EXPERIMENTS IN ELECTRONICA

Chick Corea (keyboards + computers), Marcus Gilmore (drums); Leading Genre-Defying Electronic Explorers (TBA)

Friday - Sunday, November 11 - 13

CHICK'S FLAMENCO HEART

Chick Corea (keyboards), Jorge Pardo (sax & flute), Niño Josele (acoustic guitar), Carles Benevant (bass), Tom Brechtlein (drums), Luisito Quintero (percussion), Flamenco Dancer (TBA), Vocalist (TBA)

Wednesday - Thursday, November 16-17

THE CHICK COREA BIG BAND

Chick Corea (keyboards), Erlend Skomsvoll (arranger & conductor), the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra - 13-Piece Big Band (8 horns, guitar, bass & drums)

Friday - Sunday, November 18-20

CHICK COREA PIANO DUETS

Artists TBA (Different Pianist Each Night)

Tuesday - Wednesday, November 22 & 23

CHICK COREA & GARY BURTON with the Harlem String Quartet

Chick Corea (piano), Gary Burton (vibes), Ilmar Gavilán (violin), Melissa White (violin),

Jaime Amador (viola), Felix Umansky (cello)

Friday - Sunday, November 25-27

ORIGIN II

Chick Corea (piano), Ravi Coltrane (sax),

Steve Wilson (sax & flute), Steve Davis (trombone), Carlitos Del Puerto (bass), Marcus Gilmore (drums)

Wednesday - Sunday, November 30 - December 4

THE MUSIC OF RETURN TO FOREVER AND MORE (ACOUSTIC)

Chick Corea (keyboards), Ravi Coltrane (sax), Hubert Laws (flute), Avishai Cohen (bass), Lenny White (drums)

Wednesday, December 7

TBA

Thursday - Sunday, December 8-12

THE MUSIC OF RETURN TO FOREVER AND MORE (ELECTRIC)

Chick Corea (keyboards), John McLaughlin (guitar), Victor Wooten (bass), Lenny White (drums)

NEW MUSIC: ERIC GALE – BLUE HORIZON / ISLAND BREEZE; MODERNISM – 24 TRACKS OF HIP-SHAKING CLUB SOUL & VINTAGE R&B; MAMMAL HANDS – FLOA

ERIC GALE – BLUE HORIZON / ISLAND BREEZE

Smooth fusion from guitarist Eric Gale – 2 80s albums for Elektra, back to back on one CD! Island Breeze has a sound that lives up to its name – one with slight tropical touches in the rhythms and the instrumentation, and a way of recording Gale's guitar that brings out a bit more brightness in the tone. Arrangements are by Bob James and Jimmy Kachulis – and titles include "Boardwalk", "We'll Make It", "Island Breeze", "Dark Romance", and "I Know That's Right". Blue Horizon is a bit more focused – a record with a style that's still relatively smooth, yet a bit more in the mode that we like on Gale's 70s work. The core group features some nice keyboards from Peter Schott and drums from Freddie Waits – and Hugh Masekela guests on flugelhorn on a bit of the album. Tracks have a solidly fusion-based approach, yet are relaxedly soulful, never with too much jamming – and titles include "When Tokyo", "Clock A Pa", "Call Me At The Same Number", "97th & Columbus", "Wait Until The City Sleeps", "Blue Horizon", and "Mako D'Amour". ~ Dusty Groove

MODERNISM – 24 TRACKS OF HIP-SHAKING CLUB SOUL & VINTAGE R&B

Not the modernism of high art or experimental literature – and instead the upbeat, totally groovy sound of British mods in the 60s – served up here in a wicked batch of American soul tracks from the time! The style here is a bit Northern Soul, but also has a bit more of the blues and R&B elements that inspired some of the Brit rock acts of the time – but served up here by the originators from our side of the Atlantic, and with the kind of attention to special tracks and rare singles that we've come to expect from the great folks at Kent Records! This is more than just a rehash of older hits or overplayed numbers – and instead, the carefully-chosen set list really gets right to the heart of the matter – and backs up its musical magic with a great set of notes, photos, and label scans. Titles include "Ain't That Soul" by Teddy Reynolds, "Do It" by Pat Powdrill, "Crossroads In Your Heart" by The Shirelles, "Beg Me" by Chuck Jackson, "Cinderella Jones" by Sammy Jones, "We Gonna Rub (part 1)" by Joe Johnson, "Night Beat" by Kenny Smith & The Lovelighters, "Magic Potion" by Lou Johnson, "The Life Of The Party" by Joan Moody, "The Phillie" by The M&Ms & The Peanuts, "Private Eye" by Wallace Johnson, "Listen To Me Baby" by Ralph Ventsha & Red Julian Quartet, and "When One Of Them Won't" by The Turn Arounds. ~ Dusty Groove

MAMMAL HANDS – FLOA

A cool cascading mix of piano, saxophone, and drums – wrapped together in a way that's extremely fluid, and filled with lots of warm, lyrical touches! The approach here is a bit like that of GoGo Penguin – a trio with a style that's almost as pulsingly rhythmic as it is melodic – as the saxes of Jordan Smart dance along with the piano of Nick Smart, and get some nicely kicking energy from the drums of Jesse Barrett! There's some soulful, spiritual currents in the music that really make things powerful – and titles include "In The Treetops", "Quiet Fire", "Hillum", "Hourglass", "Eyes That Saw The Mountain", and "The Falling Dream". ~ Dusty Groove

Legendary Band Earth, Wind & Fire sets Europe Tour June 24 - July 15

Earth, Wind & Fire, one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in the world, will embark on a seven country 13-city European Tour commencing on 24 June in Paris. On 26 June, the band will take the MainStage at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. The tour will include stops in the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Ireland and the Netherlands. 

With 23 albums, the iconic band has successfully blended all musical genre boundaries including pop, R&B, funk, disco, rock, Latin, jazz and African fusion. Selling over 90 million albums worldwide, EWF has earned a solid spot as one of the best selling bands in history. The incredible global fanbase extends over four generations and their legacy has made an indelible mark on popular culture. Co-founder, Philip Bailey notes, "The spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire has always been about the uplifting of consciousness of humanity." Indeed.

Full listing of tour dates follow.

EARTH WIND & FIRE SUMMER TOUR 2016

24 June Paris, FR L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix

26 June Glastonbury Festival Shepton Mallet, UK

28 June Dublin, IR 3Arena

30 June Glasgow, UK O2 Academy

01 July London, UK The O2

02 July Bournemouth, UK Bournemouth International Centre

04 July Liverpool, UK Echo Arena Liverpool

07 July Kongsberg, NOR Kongsberg Jazz Festival

09 July Rotterdam, NLD North Sea Jazz Festival

11 July Padova, IT Villa Contarini

12 July Lucca, IT Lucca Summer Festival at Piazza Napoleone

14 July Lucarno, Switzerland Moon & Stars Festival

15 July Juan Les Pins, FR Jazz A Juan Festival

Sasha’s Bloc Partners With Grammy-Winning Vocal Group Take 6 On New Single “Runaway Blues”

The critically acclaimed jazz collective Sasha’s Bloc has teamed up with the ten-time Grammy-winning vocal group Take 6 to release their new single, “Runaway Blues.” This enticing track blends the big band jazz sound from Sasha’s Bloc with the smooth gospel tones of Take 6 and is currently available on iTunes and other major digital outlets. The single’s accompanying music video, which documents the groups’ recording session at the legendary Capitol Records, is also available now (you can view it on Sasha’s Bloc’s YouTube channel).

“Runaway Blues” features a sound that is a slight departure from the traditional 1920’s-40’s style big band arrangements that Sasha’s Bloc has become known for. With lead vocals by Take 6 member Alvin Chea and lush harmonies provided by both the smooth voices of Take 6 and the Sasha’s Bloc ensemble, “Runaway Blues” is a jazz, gospel, and blues crossover that is sure to strike a chord with fans of any of these genres. “Runaway Blues” is a story about life, love, and the ability to be honest with yourself. The song was recorded live at Capitol Records, in a room that Sasha’s Bloc bassist and bandleader Alex Gershman describes as “very much alive... It gives you goosebumps to think you were in the same room as legends such as Frank Sinatra.”

An intriguing ensemble founded in 2012, Sasha’s Bloc is an amalgam of varied artists, nationalities and experiences, all fueled by bassist and songwriter Alex Gershman. This collective delivers a sound that is consistently big, boisterous, full of spirit and rich in everything that makes jazz linger as an American phenomenon. The group has played multiple sold out concerts at key jazz clubs in Los Angeles, including Catalina Bar and Grill, Vibrato, Vitello’s, and a sold out show in conjunction with KJazz at the Wallis Annenberg Theater. Sasha’s Bloc has collaborated with such noted musicians as Jane Monheit and Take 6.

www.sashasbloc.com

One For All Extends Legacy with Compositions From All Six Members on The Third Decade

At a time when jazz bandleaders from across the musical and generational spectrums regularly lament the difficulty of keeping a band together, it's all the more remarkable that a supergroup like One For All has stuck it out for twenty years. But the impeccably swinging sextet, made up of some of the most in-demand players in modern jazz, is not just celebrating past achievements but charging forward into the future. The title of their latest album, The Third Decade, sounds a confident note marking the dawn of the band's next chapter.

"We're very optimistic," says pianist David Hazeltine. "We're all serious musicians who are dedicated to preserving that swinging feeling, so this band will always be together."

One For All's 16th release is its first in five years and the first in its history to feature original compositions by all six members. The Third Decade, available now via Smoke Sessions Records, brings together once again tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, trombonist Steve Davis, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist John Webber, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. As always, the fiery and soulful musicianship is only matched by the warmth and spirit that results from a lifetime of musical friendships.

That camaraderie is captured by the band's name, which was taken from the final studio album by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers; which itself featured a title track penned by Davis. The band was thus founded with a sense of continuity with the past along with the focus on torch-passing renewal that Blakey always expounded.

As Alexander puts it, "It was always our goal to write and arrange music in such a way that we didn't sound like a cover band for Art Blakey or Horace Silver or any of the other classic sextets that have made such indelible marks on modern jazz music. I think we've done a good job of achieving that objective. One For All has brought out aspects of each of our musical personalities that we didn't know we had, or at least that we hadn't explored in a very in-depth way prior to the band's founding."

The release of The Third Decade on the Smoke Sessions label is also a significant homecoming for the sextet, which initially came together on the stage of Smoke's predecessor, Augie's. Smoke has remained an important hub for the band since, as well as being the site for the recording of its 2001 release Live at Smoke.

"The Third Decade" was recorded live in New York at Sear Sound's Studio C

on a Sear-Avalon custom console at 96KHz/24bit and mixed to ½" analog tape

using a Studer mastering deck. Available in audiophile HD format.

Incognito to release new album “In Search of Better Days” on June 24th 2016

You would think that a 37-year-old band would rest on its laurels... right? No, not Incognito! The band is as creative and full of fire as it was at its conception in 1979. A rare feat in these days and times. Their 17th studio album, “In Search of Better Days”, will have Incognito fans grinning ear to ear and will be released on June 24th, 2016 on earMusic.

The fresh, uncompromising, soulful, Jazz-Funk-laden songs and instrumentals that are the bones of Incognito continue to shine through... and there is more. The sound of Bluey’s London for over three and a half decades weaves its way throughout this album and gives it flesh, with splashes of Drum & Bass and Broken Beats, Rare Groove, Deep Soulful House, and even influences from the Rock and Blues that were at the heart of the UK scene in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

From the driving bass of featured guest Stuart Zender on the opening track, you know that this album is upping the ante and it’s going to be one hell of a good ride! Imaani, Vanessa Haynes, Tony Momrelle, Katie Leone, Vula Malinga - the UK’s finest and most soulful voices hit you relentlessly one after the other with songs that will remain with you from the first hearing. And as if that was not enough to make this one of Incognito’s best albums, in comes American chanteuse extraordinaire aka “the voice of Incognito” - Maysa, to seal the deal!

Other special guest artists - including pianist Avery Sunshine, drummer Richard Spaven, cosmic percussionist Jody Linscott, and Japanese guitar legend Tomoyasu Hotei of Kill Bill fame - leave their indelible marks on this much-anticipated release.

Bluey’s songwriting and production senses are as always full-spectrum, steeped in deep, rich history, bridging the classic sounds of the past and the tonal and sonic languages of the present and future. These songs of Love, songs of awareness, questioning, challenging, optimism, joy, and hope are without a doubt some of his best!

As Bluey continues blazing his own trail with his ever-expanding community of top-of-the-line artists, fueled by a passion for storytelling and creating unity through the Groove, Incognito’s “In Search of Better Days” takes us there. This album is... Truth!

Tracklist:

1. Love Born In Flames (Featuring Imaani & Stuart Zender)

2. Just Say Nothing (Featuring Vanessa Haynes)

3. Everyday Grind (Featuring Maysa)

4. Racing Through The Bends (Featuring Maysa)

5. Love’s Revival (Featuring Tony Momrelle)

6. Selfishly (Featuring Maysa)

7. Love Be The Messenger (Featuring Vanessa Haynes)

8. I See The Light (Featuring Avery*Sunshine)

9. Echoes Of Utopia (Featuring Stuart Zender)

10. Move It Up (Featuring Vanessa Haynes)

11. Crystal Walls (Featuring Katie Leone)

12. Bridges Of Fire (Featuring Tomoyasu Hotei)

13. All I Ever Wanted (Featuring Maysa)

14. Better Days (Featuring Vula Malinga)

NEW MUSIC: BRIAN CHARETTE - ONCE & FUTURE; ROB MAZUREK / EMMETT KELLY – ALIEN FLOWER SUTRA; ANDREW HELLER – SINATRA MY WAY

BRIAN CHARETTE - ONCE & FUTURE

Stunning Hammond work from Brian Charette – a player who's fast becoming one of our favorite contemporary organists in jazz – given his way of both acting completely fluid on the keys, while still able to lay down a chunky rhythm at the bottom! The mix is one that few folks could ever get so right – maybe Jack McDuff or Charles Earland at their best – but Charette's also not just one of these retro-styled organists – and instead, acts with a spirit that's very much his own, as he effortlessly mixes soulful, modern, and groovy elements in a trio here with Will Bernard on guitar and Steve Fidyk on drums. Brian handles all the basslines with the organ – and beautifully so – and titles include "Zoltan", "Hot Barbecue", "Tyrone", "Latin From Manhattan", "Da Bug", "Road Song", "Falling Forth", "Blues For 96", and "The Scorpion". ~ Dusty Groove

ROB MAZUREK / EMMETT KELLY – ALIEN FLOWER SUTRA

Ever-adventurous composer, arranger and coronet player Rob Mazurek teams up with similarly creative wanderer Emmett Kelly (Cairo Gang, Josh Abrams Natural Information Society and more)! Alien Flower Sutra finds the duo and their guest players crafting a pretty awesome mix of interstellar psych-jazz-folk with vocals and guitar – with lots of fuzzier, jazzier instrumental passages. Very cool stuff on International Anthem, which has quickly become one of Chicago's best indie labels for free thinking creative output! Mazurek handles the electronic treatments, synths and coronet, with Kelly's lyrics, voice and guitars, and accompanied by Guilherme Granado, Carlos Issam Thomas Rohrer and Brittany Mazurek. Includes "Back To The Ocean, Back To The Sea", "Android Love Cry", "Blackout", "Bright Nights Havoc", "I Untied My Wrists", "Of Time Wasted", "Remember Nothing", "Embryo Genesis", "We Are One" and "Overture Towards The Beginning Of The End Of Time". ~ Dusty Groove

  

ANDREW HELLER – SINATRA MY WAY

On his compelling, critically acclaimed tribute to the Chairman of the Board in honor of his 100th birthday, renowned performer and independent recording artist Andrew Heller achieves something powerful and musically transformational that most vocalists miss when paying homage to Frank. Instead of impersonating him like most do, the singer does Sinatra My Way, putting his own unique vocal stamp and style on ten signature classics. With music provided by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and conducted by the late legendary arranger’s son Christopher (who played in his father’s orchestra from the time he was 12) and John Mills, Heller works seamlessly with the classic arrangements from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, adapted to his own unique vocal tenor. Includes: Night And Day; Summer Wind; They Can't Take That Away From Me; It Was A Very Good Year; My Kind Of Town; In The Wee Small Hours; I've Got You Under my Skin; Witchcraft; The Way You Look Tonight; and My Way.

NEW MUSIC: NANCY WILSON - JUST FOR NOW / LUSH LIFE (BONUS TRACKS); RALPH MCDONALD – COUNTERPOINT; NATASHA WATTS – SECOND TIME AROUND

NANCY WILSON - JUST FOR NOW / LUSH LIFE (BONUS TRACKS)

A pair of classics from Nancy Wilson – with bonus tracks too! On the album Just For Now, Nancy Wilson sings just for now – but in that way that could make any of her late 60s Capitol sessions a timeless classic – a record that has a lot more staying power than you'd guess from the title! Wilson's a genius at this point in her career – trained in jazz, with phrasing that's impeccable and at a level that brings a whole new sophistication to the music – but also able to open up with a groove, too, even on the gentler numbers – as open to soulful 60s currents in her music as Lou Rawls was with his – which is why both artists' Capitol sides are so incomparable! Arrangements are great – well-suited to Nancy's voice, and handled by Billy May, Oliver Nelson, and Sid Feller with a strong current of jazz – on titles that include "If He Walked Into My Life", "Rain Sometimes", "What Now My Love", "That's Life", "Born Free", "I'll Make A Man Of The Man", and "Just For Now". Lush Life is genius work from Nancy Wilson – the kind of Capitol Records gem that was partly jazz, partly soul, and very much in that special territory that made Wilson one of the most mature, sophisticated singers of the 60s! The record's got Nancy working through some material with bluer currents, sometimes in a mode that's late night in the instrumentation – but never in the older style of torch tunes. Instead, arrangers Billy May, Olver Nelson, and Sid Feller really keep things groovy – matching the newer spirit that Wilson brings to her music – which results in superb readings of songs throughout. Titles include some nice lesser-known material – like "River Shallow", "Free Again", "Only The Young", "The Right To Love", and "Over The Weekend" – plus versions of "Lush Life", "Midnight Sun", and "Sunny". CD features four bonus tracks – "I Concentrate On You", "Don't Look Over Your Shoulder", "Do You Know Why", and "But Only Sometimes" – and records are presented in their original mono mixes!  ~ Dusty Groove 

RALPH MCDONALD – COUNTERPOINT

Maybe one of the most soul-based records ever from percussionist Ralph MacDonald – partly because Ralph does a bit of singing, in addition to playing the heavy congas on the cover! Yet the record's still got the core jazz vibe of his other sets from the late 70s – served up with an all-star lineup that includes Grover Washington Jr on soprano and tenor, David Sanborn on alto, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Michael Brecker on tenor, Richard Tee on keyboards, and Eric Gale on guitar – all musicians who help give the whole thing the warm funky fusion vibe of late 70s albums on labels like Kudo or Tappan Zee! Some of the best cuts slide into a snapping 80s groove that opens up nicely with the instrumentation – and Ralph only sings a bit, leaving plenty of room for solos from the players. Titles include the great Latin-inflected groover "East Dry River" – plus "You Are In Love", "I Need Someone", "Tell The Truth", and "Always Something Missing". ~ Dusty Groove

NATASHA WATTS – SECOND TIME AROUND

It may be the second time around for Natasha Watts, but the record's no sophomore slump – as there's a sense of solid, soulful energy that makes the whole thing soar right from the very first note! Natasha's got Rob Hardt along, helping out with the keyboards and beats – and the whole thing's got this lean crackle that really befits the slightly cosmic look of Watts on the cover – although her vocal approach is much more down to earth, and we mean that in the best way possible! Omar joins in on the track "Insatiable" – and his presence is almost a good way of illustrating the sound of the set – as Natasha's got a similar blend of electric and organic as you'll find in Omar's recent records. Titles include "Love Who You Are", "Waited For You", "Let Go", "Lonely", "Hit The Spot", "Easy Come Easy Go", "Everything", and "Breath". ~ Dusty Groove

James Kōb brings melody and beautiful arrangements back to the popular music genre….. while still keeping it “cool & hip”

"So Right... The James Kōb Experience" is a fantastic assembly of multi-genre, original new music, by composer, performer & producer James Kōb. James pulls together a cadre of top-notch journeymen musicians from across the US to deliver unparalleled performances on every song. This album is a statement in melodic excellence of a proportion not seen in decades... every song is as strong as the next! The single "Because of You... by The James Kōb Experience" is sung by Maria Schafer in 3 different languages: English, French & Portuguese.

The multi-genre 11 song full album (including one bonus instrumental version) offers a collection of James' new original music composed and recorded over the last 4 years, that stylistically spans from Bossa Nova Jazz... to Pop... to Latin Jazz... to Orchestrated pieces... to Unplugged guitar/vocal... and even to Contemporary Country. With some unique, melody-driven songs and special performances, James Kōb offers his own special "sound" that makes this album of new music very exciting!

Songs that insert Latin brass, percussion, Broadway strings and jazz saxophone performances are all included on this album which makes it not only fun for the listener, but it creates the anticipation of wanting to hear what music comes next even more fun. Tripp Sprague really shines on soprano, alto & tenor sax solos on a number of pieces. Flugelhornists Derek Canon & Gil Castellanos are featured, as well the oboeist Lara Wickes. This inaugural album literally delivers something for everyone's musical taste!

Vocal honors are provided by two new and young rising stars; Maria Schafer performing on 8 songs while Danielle Field sings on 2. (Five of the songs on this album are slated for release in both French & Portuguese later this year) so much of this music will eventually span the globe to Europe and Brazil as well, helping prove that Mr. Kōb's vision of "music with melody" knows no borders.

Co-producer/drummer Mark Haley (former monitor engineer for Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey) and James focused on creating a high quality production that is smooth without being too slick... so, it stays "real”. As an example, two songs' arrangements were written to intertwine premier pedal-steel guitarist Rick Schmidt's jazz playing style with orchestra, and they are shining reasons of how pleasing to the ear new and different instrument combinations can be. Jazz pedal-steel guitar and string orchestra make for a truly Amazing sound!

The "music with melody" theme carries through-out this album... every song on it has a verse or refrain that will stay with you long after the CD stops spinning. It’s what music is supposed to do: keep giving you enjoyment every time it pops into your head! You'll find more than one or two songs on "So Right...by The James Kōb Experience", that will do exactly that for you... over and over again... So Enjoy!!

Acclaimed Jazz Drummer Bob Holz Releases A Vision Forward featuring jazz icons Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker and others

Bob Holz, popular drummer and band leader has formed A Vision Forward an exciting new group that includes contributions from music legend Larry Coryell on guitar Randy Brecker, and Ralphe Armstrong (ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra) on bass. A touring group has been formed after the recording of Holz's forthcoming CD, also entitled A Vision Forward containing Randy Brecker, Mike Stern and Steve Weingart. The album arrives in June 2016, via the international MVD Records label.

"To learn from the past, embrace the present and chart new musical exploration: This is the essence of my quest as a musician," says Holz, who began his career in Boston attending Berklee. He went on to study with Billy Cobham in New York, and would go on to share the stage with Robben Ford, David Fat Head Newman, Cornell Dupree, Dr. John and George Clinton/ Parliament Funk. Bob's musical approach to drumming, along with his compositions provide a perfect foundation for the musical explorations of fellow musicians Coryell and Armstrong.

Holz's A Vision Forward band comes with some hefty credentials: As one of the pioneers of jazz-rock, Coryell deserves a special place in the history books. Throughout his career he released albums that feature the very best jazz had to offer, including: John McLaughlin, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Al Di Meola, Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, Ron Carter, and Chic Corea.

"Bob's album has a wonderful energy about it. His playing and tunes are a natural fit for what I do," says Coryell. Adds Ralphe Armstrong: "Bob makes my job easy. He lays down a great groove and has a unique ability to make good things happen in the studio and on stage."

A passionate blend of fusion and contemporary jazz, A Vision Forward is a record that music enthusiasts won't soon forget. From the Salsa flavored title track, through the reflective pieces such as "Shared Sunsets" and the up-tempo funk of "Mighty Mojo," A Vision Forward is just what its title suggest. By blending the extraordinary musicianship of his band and special guests with infectious melodies and grooves, A Vision Forward brings the creative energy of Bob Holz, front and center. Both Bob Holz and this album are sure to make a lasting mark in the world of popular contemporary Jazz.

NEW MUSIC: ANDRE WILLIAMS – I WANNA GO BACK TO DETROIT CITY; MICHAEL DEASE – FATHER FIGURE; WILLIAM BELL – THIS IS WHERE I LIVE

ANDRE WILLIAMS – I WANNA GO BACK TO DETROIT CITY

Andre returns to his adopted hometown of Detroit, where his career began in the 1950’s with labels like Motown and Fortune working alongside the certified legends of soul and R&B. Here, he’s backed by a modern Motor City who’s-who of players for a set of slow-burining psychedelic soul-reflections on a city that, like Andre, has seen its peaks and valleys. Includes: I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City; Times; What Now?; Meet Me At The Graveyard; Detroit (I’m So Glad I Stayed); Hall Of Fame; I Don’t Like You No More; and Morning After Blues.

MICHAEL DEASE – FATHER FIGURE

Maybe the best album so far from trombonist Michael Dease – and that's saying a lot, because we've really loved a lot of his other records! The set's got a punch and a crackle that really lives up to Dease's brilliant phrasing on the trombone – a sound so tight, it almost matches at trumpet at points – and clearly marks Michael as one of the most deft (or mos def, if you prefer!) players on his instrument in the current scene. The lineup is great, too – and makes wonderful use of the vibes of Behn Gillece, whose tones have really, made some other recent gems from the Posi-Tone label shine, and which sound tremendous alongside the ringing piano lines of Glenn Zaleski. Some tracks feature a bit of guest alto from Markus Howell and Immanuel Wilkins – who shade in the tunes beautifully, and give them even deeper currents of soul – and the group also features Endea Owens on bass and Luther Allison on drums. Dease wrote some great tunes for the date – "Brooklyn", "Father Figure", "Cry Of The Wolf", and "Church Of The Good Hustler" – and the set also features versions of Mulgrew Miller's "Wingspan" and Grachan Moncur's "Riff Raff".  ~ Dusty Groove

WILLIAM BELL – THIS IS WHERE I LIVE

The man who co-wrote one of the most covered songs in blues/rock music history is also an original “soul man,” and he’s back. William Bell, who wrote “Born Under A Bad Sign” with Booker T. Jones, a tune first recorded by Albert King and made legend by Eric Clapton and Cream, has returned to Stax Records and is ready to retake the limelight. Fresh off of his featured role in the Memphis music documentary Take Me To The River, where William and Snoop Dogg performed another of his compositions, Bell teamed up with Grammy-winning producer John Leventhal to record his first major label album in over 30 years. 

WILL DOWNING TO RELEASE FIRST FULL LENGTH CD IN SIX YEARS WITH “BLACK PEARLS”

Will Downing’s voice is one of the most distinctive, loved and instantly recognizable voices in R&B. His flawless, emotive, buttery-smooth and agile honey-toned baritone, along with his impeccable phrasing and jazz-fueled agile runs, seamlessly bridge the worlds of R&B and Jazz. “I pinch myself everyday because I can't believe that after all this time I'm still making music for a living,” shares the charismatic singer/songwriter. “19 albums and 28 years of recording later and I'm still blessed. Truly Blessed!!”  Shanachie Entertainment will release Black Pearls (July 8, 2016), Downing’s highly anticipated CD and his first full-length album in six years. 

Black Pearls exemplifies the caliber of songs that Downing has long been associated with. An accomplished composer in his own right, Downing takes on the ultimate challenge on Black Pearls as he reinvigorates chart-topping gems originally performed by some of the greatest female voices to grace R&B. He rekindles the soul and ignites a fire in songs made famous by Chaka Khan, Deniece Williams, Randy Crawford, Cherrelle, Jean Carne and Phyllis Hyman, among others. 

While remaining true to the essence of the songs, Downing transforms them with the sweet nuances of his own irresistible signature sound. “Phyllis Hyman started this whole project,” confesses the Grammy nominated singer who has been dubbed the “Prince of Sophisticated Soul.” “I was having a conversation with a friend who also worked with Phyllis. We both agreed that "Meet Me On The Moon" was our favorite Phyllis tune. My friend suggested I remake it. I called my keyboardist/arranger Mike Logan to help with the song. After completing it, I thought maybe this is a great opportunity to pay tribute to other female artists that I have always loved. That’s how Black Pearls was born!”

Black Pearls opens with the album’s first single and 1988 Cherrelle hit “Everything I Miss At Home.” Downing originally met Cherrelle in the 90s during a USO tour. The charismatic and charming vocalist jokes, “My sister calls ‘Everything I Miss At Home’ the ‘you better do right song.’”  Will’s sublime performance hits all the right notes, signaling for an enchanting journey ahead. “‘Don’t Ask My Neighbors’ has always been a favorite of mine,” shares Downing. “The subject of communication will never grow old." Downing admits to being a long-time fan of The Emotions, not only as a solo act but also as backing vocalists for the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Angela Winbush has been a good friend of Downing’s for years and he returns the favor with an impeccable and unforgettable version her #1 hit on the Billboard R&B charts, “Your Smile.” “Everyone that hears the beginning of this song does one of two things. They either throw their hands in the air and say ‘That’s my jam’ or they look at me and say "no you didn't!’” Do it he does! Will Downing will leave you breathless with his stunning version.

When you hear the opening four notes of  “Get Here,” you instantly know what song it is thanks to Brenda Russell, who wrote and recorded the song and Oleta Adams, who later scored a major international hit in the early 90s. Black Pearls unites Downing with many close associates including his wife, the beautiful and talented singer Audrey Wheeler, who has worked with everyone from Chaka Khan and the Pointer Sisters to Freddie Jackson and Narada Michael Walden, and that is just the short list. Celebrated saxophonists Najee and Kirk Whalum also make appearances on Black Pearls.

“Street Life” will put you in the groove as Downing serves up a swingin’ version of the Randy Crawford/The Crusaders hit featuring the tenor of saxophonist Najee and the funky keyboards of Mike Logan. Black Pearls keeps the hits flowing with Chaka Khan and Rufus’ timeless 1977 hit “Everlasting Love.” Together with Chris “Big Dog’ Davis, Downing wrote a riveting arrangement of one of Deniece Williams’ signature tunes, “Black Butterfly,” a powerful anthem written by Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil. Dexter Wansel’s “Nights Over Egypt,” is given a jazzy and exotic treatment and features stellar flute work from saxophonist Kirk Whalum. Phyllis Hyman’s “Meet Me On the Moon” is a standout, as Downing’s crystal clear and velvety smooth vocals, impeccable diction and tender phrasing conjure up the greatest of love stories.   Black Pearls closes with the magnificent “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” which features an orchestra and full horn section.

Bassist MARCOS VERALA Bridges Generations On Debut CD SAN YGNACIO

Drawing on collaborators from throughout his time in New York, Varela assembles a stand-out cast of veterans and peers. The album's core rhythm section is composed of two jazz giants: pianist George Cables, a key mentor, and drummer Billy Hart, one of Varela's earliest employers. They're joined by another longtime employer, trombonist Clifton Anderson, as well as two of Varela's most gifted contemporaries, saxophonists Dayna Stephens and Logan Richardson. On two tracks, Varela features his one-time collective quartet with up-and-coming players Arnold Lee (alto, son of bassist/composer Bill Lee and half-brother of director Spike Lee), Eden Ladin (piano) and Kush Abadey (drums).

Varela is a graduate of Houston's renowned High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, where his fellow alumni include Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Eric Harland, Chris Dave, and Beyoncé. He arrived in NYC to continue his studies at the New School, leading to opportunities to perform with a wide range of artists including Cables, Hart, Anderson, Moran, Geri Allen, The Last Poets, the Mingus Big Band, Kendrick Scott, Billy Harper and Tyshawn Sorey, among countless others. He has also composed music for several film and TV projects, including director Domenica Cameron-Scorsese's film "Roots in Water."

"This record is a culmination of my New York experience," Varela says of San Ygnacio. "It features some of my favorite people to play with and recalls some of the positive experiences I've had during my New York days."

Legendary bassist Ron Carter contributed the album's liner notes, where he writes that Varela's "tone, choice of notes and compositions will place his playing and name on the list of bassists to be heard." A hero turned mentor, Carter is just one of the jazz elders who have taken note of Varela's talents and encouraged the bassist along his path. While still in college, he was invited to join longtime Dizzy Gillespie drummer Charlie Persip's big band. Around the same time, Hart included Varela in a sextet of young players that also featured rising stars Theo Croker, Sullivan Fortner, and Irwin Hall.

"Billy encouraged us to challenge him and keep him young, and then he wanted to impart his experience and knowledge onto us as well," Varela says. "It was a great learning experience."

Three of the tracks on San Ygnacio come from the repertoire of Hart's sextet: "Pepper" and "Picturesque" are both George Mraz compositions, while "Lullaby for Imke" is a gentle ballad that the drummer recorded on a 2006 quartet release, presented here in a new arrangement by pianist Ezra Weiss. "Picturesque" is the album's sole trio piece, with Varela and Cables doubling up on the angular melody, while the brisk "Pepper" is highlighted by the pairing of Dayna Stephens' tenor and Varela's arco playing.

The album opens with its only standard, Cables' bold arrangement of "I Should Care." Varela says, "Especially on a debut record, the jazz community wants to hear you play over a standard and know that you have that ability. If you can't play a standard, it negates your jazz legitimacy. Besides, I've spent a lot of time playing that music, I loved George's arrangement, and I wanted something that everyone could get together and be creative on immediately."

Varela's "Colinas de Santa Maria" is named for his family's ranch in San Ygnacio, which has been in his family's possession since at least a mid-18th century Spanish land grant. While he grew up in Houston, Varela spent plenty of time visiting family at the ranch and enjoying the town's unchanged Spanish architecture. He evokes a sense of nostalgia for that time and landscape, while saxophonist Arnold Lee contributes a vivid, wistful solo. The same quartet, whose members Varela continues to play with in other contexts, returns on Eden Ladin's simmering "Red on Planet Pluto."

The leader takes the spotlight on "Mitsuru," a bass feature composed by Anderson, who often used the tune to feature Varela in the trombonist's own band. Anderson also contributes and plays on the mid-tempo swinger "Sister Gemini." Cables, who Varela met through the auspices of Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center, wrote the intoxicating waltz "Looking For the Light," which Varela calls "one of my favorite George pieces - it really encourages you to play lyrically."

The album concludes with Varela's "Where the Wild Things Are," a modern burner named for his favorite childhood book. Following a darkly atmospheric introduction, the piece erupts into a bristling melody, finally leading into a raucous solo showcase for Billy Hart. The tune is the prime example of Varela's approach to bridging the generations represented in his band. "I wanted to take the veterans out of their comfort zone," he explains. "I wanted to flip the script a little bit and try something different, have them be adventurous and play some songs they wouldn't normally be heard playing. I wanted to push people in different directions to create a new sound."

An intriguing mix of personalities and influences, generations and sounds, San Ygnacio traces Marcos Varela's journey from Houston to New York, a trek rich with experiences and opportunities. It's a striking debut that points the way toward even more music - and miles - to come.

www.marcosvarelamusic.com

DANIEL BENNETT GROUP RELEASES SINKING HOUSEBOAT CONFUSION

Manhattan-based saxophonist Daniel Bennett can be heard throughout the world performing his award-winning compositions on saxophone, flute, clarinet, and oboe. The Daniel Bennett Group plays quirky modern Jazz, fused with elements of Surf Rock and Avant-Pop. The Boston Globe describes Bennett's music as "a mix of jazz, folk, and minimalism."  The band was recently voted "Best New Jazz Group" in New York City Hot House Magazine. Daniel Bennett Group is currently touring to promote their newest album, 'Sinking Houseboat Confusion' (Manhattan Daylight Media). On the new album, Bennett is joined by Nat Janoff (guitar), Eddie Khaimovich (bass), and Matthew Feick (Drums).

The album was produced by MP Kuo at Eastside Sound Recording in Manhattan. The Daniel Bennett Group has been featured in Boston Globe Magazine, NPR, First Coast Living (NBC), Indianapolis Public Radio, San Francisco Examiner, St. Louis Public Radio and the Village Voice. The Village Voice raves, "saxophonist Daniel Bennett makes hay with an airy approach that's buoyant enough to conjure notions of East African guitar riffs and Steve Reich's pastoral repetition."  Time Out New York describes the music as, "hypnotic." Daniel Bennett studied saxophone at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston. During his time in Boston, Bennett performed regularly with the Portland Symphony and the New Hampshire Festival Orchestra. Bennett also toured Italy and Switzerland with renowned Boston jazz ensemble, Musaner.

In addition to leading his own band, Daniel Bennett performs in Broadway and Off-Broadway theater productions in New York City. Daniel Bennett recently composed the musical score for stage adaptations of 'Frankenstein' and 'Brave Smiles' at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Manhattan. Daniel Bennett recently played woodwinds in 'Blank! The Musical,' the first fully improvised Off-Broadway musical to launch on a national stage. The show was produced by Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, and Improv Boston. The New York Times called the show, "Witty, Likable and Ludicrous!" Daniel Bennett's theatrical works have strongly influenced his eclectic sound and musical storytelling abilities as a bandleader. Daniel Bennett is an official endorsing artist for Morgan Mouthpieces.

www.danielbennettgroup

Trombonist Steve Turre Features Modern Jazz Luminaries on Colors for the Masters

Trombonist and composer Steve Turre shows off his full spectrum of sounds on his latest album, Colors for the Masters. The album's ten songs, evenly split between jazz standards and original tunes that carry the torch for the tradition, offer a dazzling array of hues played in tribute to and alongside some of the elders that have inspired Turre. The leader's own trombone virtuosity is only one color in a palette that also includes a variety of mutes and his wholly original conch shell artistry.

Colors for the Masters, due out August 26 on Smoke Sessions Records, teams Turre with a rhythm section of legendary elders, each of whom shaped the trombonist's distinctive voice: pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jimmy Cobb. On four tunes the band is joined by saxophonist Javon Jackson, like Turre an alumni of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers; and for the album's final tune, a stirring rendition of Jobim's "Corcovado" on which Turre shows off his innovative shell playing, virtuoso percussionist Cyro Baptista also joins in. Together, they pay electrifying homage to other, departed luminaries like John Coltrane, J.J. Johnson, and Thelonious Monk.

"These are masters that I've always wanted to play with," Turre explains. While he has shared the stage with each of them over the years in various bands and all-star configurations, he says, "I've never had them play my music to hear what their mastery would bring to it. I wanted to hear how their interpretations would open up new avenues of expression to me."

The results shine through in the individual and collective playing throughout Colors for the Masters. Those avenues open up through the grooving, funky swing that the whole band brings to the album's opening tracks, "Taylor Made," which Turre wrote under the blues-drenched influence of two of his mentors, Ray Charles and Art Blakey. They're evident in the heart-wrenchingly emotive soloing of Barron on Turre's gorgeous, aching ballad "Quietude," or Ron Carter's stentorian, bass-register solo on Wayne Shorter's frenetic "United."

The opportunity for expressiveness that Turre was searching for is seized through Cobb's whispering, delicate brushwork on Monk's "Reflections" as well as on the full-throttle swing and brisk, rapid-fire soloing he unleashes on J.J. Johnson's "Coffee Pot." You can hear it in Jackson's fluid, cascading lines on "JoCo Blue," a simmering blues that Turre wrote in tribute to the great John Coltrane.

Though he knew this veteran group would bring their magic to any music that he set in front of them, a few of the pieces were specially written or chosen for the occasion. "Coffee Pot" was on the program of a J.J. Johnson tribute that Turre led at the Indianapolis Jazz Festival in 2014, which also included Jackson in the band. Most obviously, there's "Mellow D for R.C.," a bold mid-tempo tune penned with Carter's familiar gifts in mind. "What needs to be said about Ron?" Turre asks rhetorically. "He's a grand master. I was delighted and thrilled and at the same time humbled to play with him. He gives you such a foundation."

Turre heaps similar praise upon his other bandmates. "Jimmy's beat is timeless," he says of Cobb, best known for his stint with Miles Davis that included the recording of the landmark Kind of Blue. He also marvels at "Kenny's touch, sensitivity and nuance, and the colors that he plays."

While he modestly deflects praise onto his collaborators for the session, Turre himself has long been lauded as one of the modern champions of his instrument, whether accompanying Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Woody Shaw and Lester Bowie or playing between the laughs through his 30-plus year stint as part of the Saturday Night Live band. On this album he pays homage to one of his idols, J.J. Johnson ("to the trombone what Charlie Parker is to the saxophone") and shows off his own wide-ranging virtuosity and depth of feeling, wringing touching melodicism from "When Sunny Gets Blue," navigating intricate modal playing on the title track, or spinning off darting, barbed licks on "United" -- a song he recorded with Woody Shaw, but without the solo spot he typically had on live dates.

Turre's plunger solo on "When Sunny Gets Blue" not only shows off one of the most beautiful colors in his vivid musical crayon box, it is in a way another nod to the continuum of the jazz tradition. While a member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Turre found himself playing next to Quentin "Butter" Jackson, who had taken over the plunger chair in Duke Ellington's Orchestra from Tricky Sam Nanton. Turre also shows off his Harmon mute playing on the melody of "Corcovado" and the solo on "Mellow D for R..C;" his solo on the latter features the cup mute.

Then there's the conch shells, the instrument that Turre calls "the most ancient of horns" and that he largely introduced to the jazz idiom. He shows off his ability to moan the blues on the seashells on Jobim's classic "Corcovado" to close the album -- even playing two shells at once, echoing the show-stopping antics of his earliest mentor, Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

"I'm still trying to grow," Turre concludes. "I'm very particular about how I present my music. I have a certain feeling and a certain direction in mind, and everybody on this record is in the same frame of mind about what jazz is and what this music means to them."

Eight Essential Diana Krall Albums Reissued In 180-gram Double-LP Vinyl Editions

As part of Verve Records' ongoing 60th anniversary celebration, Verve/UMe is proud to announce the July 15 release of eight essential Diana Krall albums in 180-gram, 2-LP vinyl reissues. The renowned pianist and vocalist has called Verve home for the vast majority of her illustrious career, and these new versions of her recordings originally released between 1996 and 2009 showcase many of her finest moments in lustrous vinyl format.

These reissues, which each feature the original album in its entirety on two LPs, range from intimate trio sessions to celebratory big band outings, songbook standards to modern pop favorites and memorable original songs. All feature Krall's expressive voice and deft piano playing, along with production by three-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Tommy LiPuma.

The series begins with All For You, Krall's reverent tribute to the Nat King Cole Trio, originally released by impulse! in 1996. The album features Krall leading a trio with guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Paul Keller through some of the legendary pianist/singer's most beloved tunes, with guest appearances by pianist Benny Green and percussionist Steve Kroon. Its follow-up, 1997's Love Scenes, includes 13 of Krall's favorite love songs, performed by her trio with Malone and Christian McBride on bass.

A distinctly orchestral sound comes to the forefront on Krall's official Verve debut, When I Look in Your Eyes, released in 1999. Eight of the album's 13 tracks feature strings conducted by veteran composer/arranger Johnny Mandel along with an all-star jazz ensemble. The symphonic approach was expanded even further for The Look of Love (2001), which spotlights Krall's vocals backed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Recorded live during Krall's sold-out run at the legendary Olympia Music Hall in Paris in late 2001, Live in Paris captures the energy and spark of Krall's concert performances. The album's dozen songs feature several of Krall's regular collaborators, including guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Jeff Hamilton, as well as Orchestre Symphonique Européen, conducted by pianist/arranger Alan Broadbent.

The Girl in the Other Room (2004) was Krall's first release to prominently feature her own original songs, many of them written in collaboration with her husband, Elvis Costello. She returned to the Great American Songbook for 2006's From This Moment On, which garnered a Best Jazz Vocal Album nomination at the 2007 GRAMMY® Awards. The series concludes with Krall's 2009 album, Quiet Nights--her tenth release--highlighted by GRAMMY® Award-nominated arrangements from frequent collaborator Claus Ogerman.

Diana Krall is a star in a long line of revered and influential artists who have been featured on Verve throughout the label's 60 years. Verve was founded in 1956 by Norman Granz, the forward-thinking impresario responsible for the hugely popular Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, which brought the music to new audiences and garnered jazz an unprecedented level of respect in popular culture. Granz also managed Ella Fitzgerald and launched the label in large part to create new opportunities worthy of the singer's immense talent, including her landmark series of "Songbook" recordings.

Under the visionary leadership of Granz and, after MGM purchased the imprint in 1961, Creed Taylor, Verve continued to set new trends. The label sparked the Bossa Nova craze with the 1964 release of the GRAMMY® Award-winning Getz/Gilberto and brought a lush, elegant new sound to jazz with the arrangements of Claus Ogerman and Oliver Nelson. Its focus eventually widened to encompass groundbreaking comedy, folk and rock recordings, including now-iconic releases by The Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, Janis Ian and Laura Nyro.

It was its jazz legacy that cemented Verve's place in the popular imagination, however, and after a fallow period in the '70s and '80s Verve was revived in the mid-1990s, again signing many of the biggest names in music: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Shirley Horn, all of whom recorded for Verve during this period.

Over the course of its six-decade history, Verve has become synonymous with the very best in jazz, venerating the music while charting its course and helping to break down racial and stylistic barriers. There's no better way to celebrate that legacy than with the music itself, and 2016's 60th anniversary releases invite listeners to revisit the breathtaking sounds of Verve in new and exhilarating ways.