NEW RELEASES: NEIL LARSEN - JUNGLE FEVER: CLARA MORENO SAMBA ESQUEMA NOVO; ANTOINE FAFARD - SPHERE

NEIL LARSEN - JUNGLE FEVER

A standout set from keyboardist Neil Larsen – a record that crossed over big back in the 70s, and which still sounds pretty darn great in the 21st Century! Larsen's keys here are kind of a more mainstream take on territory Bob James was exploring a few years before – arguably hipper at this point that some of James' own recordings, and recorded in a relatively lean setting with guitar, bass, drums, and percussion – plus a bit of tenor or trumpet from time to time. The keyboards glide along gently on the spacey numbers, and get a bit more bite on some of the funkier ones – always with a good sense of space that means that Neil's never jamming too much, or getting in the way of his groove. Titles include the classic "Sudden Samba" – plus "Jungle Fever", "Red Desert", "Emerald City", "Last Tango In Paris", "Windsong", and "Promenade". (SHM-CD pressing!)  ~ Dusty Groove 

CLARA MORENO SAMBA ESQUEMA NOVO

Clara Moreno's jazzy samba soul take Jorge Ben's classic Samba Esquema Novo album – much more than a simple tribute record, though – it's some of her warmest grooves in years! The songs ever fresh, of course, but Clara is really doing something special here, adapting the material in a way that honors the soulful integrity Ben brought to the bossa sound in early 60s, but rather than simply covering his work with a feminine touch in a modern setting, she and arranger Paulo Malheiros take a lively (and often live sounding) jazzy approach, and it feels right at home there! There's a lot of piano in the mix,the rhythm section is solid for sure and Clara's beautiful voice is right out front. We especially love how warm and unfussy the vibe is, almost like a live session at times, and Clara could need sound any more at home with these songs. We knew we were in for something special with the unique take on "Mas Que Nada" that starts it off, and sure enough, it's as fresh and lively throughout – with "Tim Dom Dom", "Balanca Pema", "Chove Chuva", "E So Sambar", "Rosa, Menina Rosa", "Quero Esquecer Voce", "A Tamba", "Pr Causa De Voce, Menina" and more. ~ Dusty Groove

ANTOINE FAFARD - SPHERE

Canadian-born and UK-based Antoine has been releasing original instrumental music for more than 15 years. He actualizes his musical vision with harmonic and melodic elements that are mostly composed on the classical and electric guitar, while special attention is always given to the rhythm. Antoine’s first three albums feature world-class musicians including Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Goodman, Scott Henderson and Dave Weckl, who all bring their unique qualities to compositions aimed at audiences seeking instrumental music that emphasizes improvisation and innovation. Sphère is Antoine’s fourth album, featuring Gary Husband on drums, lead synth and piano, and Jerry De Villiers Jr on lead guitar. The album follows Ad Perpetuum, a collection that was well received by fans and critics on its release in 2014, described by DownBeat Magazine as “a powerful example of jazz-fusion at its hardest.” Sphère collects nine new original pieces featuring a blend of foot-tapping grooves, original chord progressions and creative soundscapes. The music offers plenty of space for De Villiers Jr to shine with his rich and warm guitar tone and highly melodic approach. The album also gives a platform for virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Husband to display his intensity and musicality in his highly creative approach to both drums and keyboards. Fafard gives his signature to all the music, with De Villiers Jr as co-composer on three tracks, and provides the bass frequencies and occasional solos on the electric bass. Sphere will be released in September 2016.

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Adina E - the second album by Adina Even-Zohar, features originals plus 2 from Leonard Cohen

Adina E” - the second album by Adina Even-Zohar is her most personal undertaking to date highlighting 10 original songs with lyrics written by Adina E and touching renditions to 2 additional songs - including Leonard Cohen’s “That’s No Way to Say Goodbye”. In this album Adina E weaves a candid, poignant narrative about love found and love lost.

Israeli born Even-Zohar grew up in New York City. After completing her BA degree from a leading US university in 1977, she took a year break to live and work in Israel before going on to graduate studies in the USA. That one year hiatus has yet to end. Since then Adina has experienced several professions, notably social work, head hunting and philanthropy, and many twists and turns on her way to becoming a professional vocalist. All this has only added to the depth and passion she emits when performing.

While singing and performing have always been her first love, it was not until her mid- 40's that Adina allowed herself to pursue it professionally. But once that decision was made by her, she threw herself into it body and soul. The process began with voice lessons, soon followed by work with pianist-composer Giora Linenberg, who is her musical director and accompanist (who also tours with and composes for French singer Lara Fabian) and with whom she has collaborated on original songs which have been published in France.

As a continuation of the creative process, Adina is currently collecting material for her next album. Once again with producer Luis Lahav at the helm, the next album will contain more original songs, highlighting Even-Zohar's own lyrics. Adina is always interested in new collaborations with musicians and songwriters as well as open to opportunities to perform in other areas such as musicals.

Adina has been performing successfully for several years at various venues with leading Israeli musicians including at leading jazz clubs, music festivals, and closed events. In May 2012 Even-Zohar performed at Jazz NL – Gateway to Global Jazz Conference and the Amersfoort Jazz Festival.

The Mark Dresser Seven Explores New Compositions on Sedimental You

Mark Dresser makes music in a vast variety of settings and contexts, but the dauntingly prolific bassist always seeks to create space for the unpredictable play between form and freedom. On his new album Sedimental You, slated for release in early November 2016, he's assembled an astonishingly creative cast that embraces the intuitive and emotionally charged nature of his improvisational imperative. Riveting, playful and often revelatory, his compositions emerge out of a shifting matrix of specific musical personalities and the often dismaying swirl of current events.

Working with a supremely gifted septet, Dresser brings together emerging talent and revered veterans from East and West Coast scenes. In many ways, Sedimental You builds directly on orchestrational concepts he's been exploring in smaller ensembles, and relationships he's honed via telematic connections (which enable musicians in different locations to perform live in real time via high speed/high bandwidth links.)

None of the music is programmatic, but the porous nature of the compositions means that the world's joys and woes seep in. Mocking denunciations and ache-filled reveries flow into open-hearted evocations of beloved colleagues, both departed and still very much with us. Dresser notes that he always writes with specific musicians in mind, "and I really had Marty's clarinet sound in my ear. I've had lots of groups with Michael Dessen, who's a virtuoso trombonist and an invaluable collaborator in my groups and telematic projects. And Jim Black is a force of nature, who I worked with most often in New York and on Japanese tours as the rhythm section for Satoko Fujii."

Dresser started working with Nicole Mitchell after she joined the faculty up the road at UC Irvine, a relationship expanded by collaboration via telematics. He's played several high profile concerts in her ensembles, and she's become an important part of his West Coast quintet. "She's a wonderfully open collaborator, a great soloist, with superb musicianship and a buoyant musical spirit." Dresser says.

San Diego pianist Joshua White is a rapidly rising star who's toured internationally with Rudresh Mahanthappa's Bird Calls project. With a potent array of influences at his fingertips, from gospel and spirituals to free improvisation, he quickly fell in with Dresser after the bassist moved to town and discovered "an amazing talent with incredible ears and intuition," Dresser says. "He's a fearless improviser whose musical instincts I completely trust."

The album's wild card is violinist David Morales Boroff, the youngest player on the project. In a serendipitous connection, he's the son of esteemed folk guitarist Phil Boroff, who happened to give Dresser's mother guitar lessons back in the 1970s. "David's got a freaky ear," Dresser says. "I'd give him one of my tunes and he'd be at the piano reharmonizing it. He has a beautiful violin sound and a soulful lyricism that belies his age "

The album opens with "Hobby Lobby Horse," a tricky tune built from bass line up with a derisive hitch in the groove. The title track slyly refers to the 1932 Tommy Dorsey hit "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." Drawing on the cadences of the original, he recalibrated the harmony to evoke its sound and mood. The heart of the album is "Will Well (For Roswell Rudd)," a startlingly tender piece that Dresser conceived with the trombone legend (and frequent collaborator) in mind. He first played the tune in a trio with White and drummer Kjell Nordeson, but this extended version brings out everyone's sumptuous lyricism, particularly when Mitchell's throaty alto flute winds around Ehrlich's woody bass clarinet. "It's an incantation of sorts for Roswell," Dresser says.

Dresser's strikingly beautiful tribute "I Can Smell You Listening (for the late Alexandra Montano)" evokes the boundless spirit of the extraordinary mezzo-soprano who contributed memorably on the 2005 Dresser/Denman Maroney album Time Changes (Cryptogramophone). An extended melodic line that rises and falls, fades and reappears, the tune features some of Ehrlich's most ravishing clarinet work. He offers a different kind of lament with "Newtown Char," a piece he created in response to the unfathomable massacres in Connecticut and Charleston, SC. Structurally and emotionally, it's the album's centerpiece, a plaintive unfurling melody keyed to the thick, woody sound of Ehrlich's bass clarinet. The album closes with the brief, elegiac theme "Two Handfuls of Peace (for Daniel Jackson)," a celebration of the revered San Diego tenor saxophonist who died in 2014 at 77.

Amidst a steady flow of recent albums, Sedimental You stands out as Dresser's most ambitious work as a bandleader. April saw the release of The Moscow Improvisations by Jones Jones, a volatile collective trio with Russian percussionist Vladimir Tarasov and ROVA saxophonist Larry Ochs. And in March the talent laden SLM Ensemble released Source (Liminal Music), a large group project co-led and conducted by Sarah Weaver featuring masters such as vocalist Jen Shyu, flutist Robert Dick, percussionist Gerry Hemmingway, and saxophonists Jane Ira Bloom and Marty Ehrlich.

Born in Los Angeles, Dresser has been a creative force since he first started gaining attention in the early '70s with Stanley Crouch's Black Music Infinity, a free jazz ensemble that included Bobby Bradford, Arthur Blythe, James Newton, and David Murray. He earned a BA and MA from UC San Diego studying contrabass with Bertram Turetzky. While on a Fulbright in Italy studying with maestro Franco Petracchi, Dresser was recruited by Anthony Braxton for his celebrated quartet with Gerry Hemingway and pianist Marilyn Crispell. Dresser made the move to New York in 1986 and spent a decade touring and recording with the reed visionary. A ubiquitous force on the Downtown scene, he worked widely with masters such as Ray Anderson, Tim Berne, Anthony Davis, and John Zorn.

A prolific composer and recording artist, Dresser developed many pieces for the Arcado String Trio, and Tambastics, while receiving numerous commissions and recording his original scores for several classic silent films, including The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Since returning to Southern California in 2004 to join the UCSD music faculty he's maintained creative relationships with many of his New York associates, though the move west coincided with his renewed focus on solo bass performance and telematic research. Recommitted to working with larger groups, he's once again the catalyst for a roiling creative community, work that earned him a prestigious Doris Duke Impact Award in 2015. More than impactful, Sedimental You is music to recharge your ears, agitate your soul, and open your mind.

The new album features an all-star multi-generational cast with flutist Nicole Mitchell, clarinetist Marty Ehrlich, trombonist Michael Dessen, pianist Joshua White, drummer Jim Black, and newcomer David Morales Boroff on violin.

Available November 2016 on Clean Feed.

http://www.mark-dresser.com

The Magic Of New York City Inspires Lang Lang On New Album New York Rhapsody, Featuring Special Guests Andra Day, Herbie Hancock, Jason Isbell, Jeffrey Wright, Kandace Springs, Lindsey Stirling, Lisa Fischer, Madeleine Peyroux and Sean Jones

 The ineffable magic of New York City fires the imagination of superstar pianist Lang Lang on his new albumNew York Rhapsody (Sony Classical) available September 16, 2016. He is joined by a wide array of special guests including Andra Day, Herbie Hancock, Jason Isbell, Jeffrey Wright, Kandace Springs, Lindsey Stirling, Lisa Fischer, Madeleine Peyroux and Sean Jones. From the haunting reveries of Gershwin and Copland to the in-the-moment intensity of songs made famous by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, Lou Reed and Don Henley, New York Rhapsody rediscovers the dazzle and the soul of America's most symbolic city. Following the release of the album, a star-studded concert special Live From Lincoln Center will air on PBS on November 25, 2016 as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival. 

"I made this album because I wanted to pay homage to the city that I love," says Lang Lang of New York Rhapsody. "This city has changed the course of music more than any other in the last hundred years. It has inspired and enriched me beyond words and has become my home away from home."

New York City feels similarly about Lang Lang. They just named Lang Lang the city's first ever NYC Cultural Tourism ambassador. This is in partnership with NYC and Company in celebration of this year's official "China-U.S. Tourism Year" as designated by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama.

For New York Rhapsody, Lang Lang joined forces with Grammy-winning producer Larry Klein to create an album that embraces the musical spirit of New York in ways both surprising and traditional. Inspired by E.B. White's celebrated essay "Here Is New York," Klein assembled musical ideas and energies that both reflect New York's past and evoke its dynamic present.

The centerpiece of the album is a performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue featuring Lang Lang and multiple Grammy-winning jazz legend, Herbie Hancock in a two-piano version conducted by John Axelrod with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Surrounding it on New York Rhapsody are creative collaborations that reimagine songs reflecting the varying moods and experiences New York offers.

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Jason Isbell gives a fresh edge to Elbow's evocative "New York Morning" and Grammy-nominated R&B singer Andra Day adds a new dimension to the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' hit "Empire State of Mind." Kandace Springs gives a new treatment to Don Henley's moody "New York Minute." Singer Madeleine Peyroux recaptures the alone-in-the-city wistfulness of "Moon River," the Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer classic from the essential New York movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

In one of the album's boldest choices, co-arrangers Klein and Grammy-winner Billy Childs marry the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim song "Somewhere" from West Side Story with Lou Reed's "Dirty Blvd" from his classic album New York. Lisa Fischer's vocal in the yearning "Somewhere" is a powerful contrast to actor Jeffrey Wright's interpretation of Lou Reed's indelible words in "Dirty Blvd."

Next, Lang Lang is joined by violinist Lindsey Stirling on a spinning version of Danny Elfman's theme for Spider-Man; and then by trumpeter Sean Jones on the West Side Story classic "Tonight" by Leonard Bernstein.

Bookending New York Rhapsody are perhaps surprising choices - quiet, contemplative pieces by New York's greatest musical poet, Aaron Copland. To open, Lang Lang and Klein chose "The Story of Our Town," from Copland's 1940 Our Town film score, to evoke the dozens of small "towns" within the big city. To close, one of Copland's last works, the rarely heard "In Evening Air," reminds us says Klein, "there are always pockets of peace and quiet beauty" in New York.

Tracklisting

1. Story of Our Town

2. New York Morning - feat. Jason Isbell

3. Empire State Of Mind - feat. Andra Day

4. Rhapsody in Blue - feat. Herbie Hancock

5. New York Minute - feat. Kandace Springs

6. Somewhere (Dirty Blvd) - feat. Lisa Fischer / Jeffrey Wright

7. Spider-Man Theme - feat. Lindsey Stirling

8. Tonight - feat. Sean Jones

9. Moon River - feat. Madeleine Peyroux

10. In Evening Air

NEW RELEASES: ILLBILLY HiTEC - NO BORDERS; BLACK ART JAZZ COLLECTIVE – PRESENTED BY THE SIDE DOOR JAZZ CLUB; GWEN YVETTE - VICTORIOUS

ILLBILLY HiTEC - NO BORDERS

iLLBiLLY HiTEC is a Berlin based collective, that is out to put the rootsy vibe back into modern productions, blending influences of dub, cumbia, bass music, hiphop and jungle into a very own style of reggae. Live they team up with MCs and guest musicians, to fuse the raw energy of a traditional band performance, with the flow, excitement and hype of a DJ set. The "No Boarders" EP is iLLBiLLY HiTEC’s taster from their upcoming album to be released in October 2016. What ́s new about I.H.? First of all, the band has an expert alongside the mixing desk and on the production side. The well known and Juno Award winner Jesse “Dubmatix” King KING from Canada takes care on the production and looks after tweaking the knobs at the desk at the right time. On vocals we do have Kinetical, Promoe, Emwan, Horseman to celebrate a fusion of reggae with rap lyrics. They grab reggae by the root to conjure up a varied mix of digital reggae, hip hop and dub. As a bonus there are three remixes by Dubmatix, Max Powa and Fleck.

BLACK ART JAZZ COLLECTIVE – PRESENTED BY THE SIDE DOOR JAZZ CLUB

A totally great group – all hip leaders who've given us great records on their own in recent years, working together here as a combo with a really fresh sound of its own! The music draws on the strengths of the individual members, but also really pushes forward, too – as their unified voices create moments of pride and power that are maybe even brighter than recent records on own – a truly artful collective expression of the talents of Wayne Escoffery on tenor, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, James Burton on trombone, Xavier Davis on piano, Vincente Archer on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums. There's maybe more angular lines than we might have expected, but still a deep sense of warmth as well – on titles that include "Essence Of Beauty", "Double Consciousness", "Going Somewhere", "Salvador Da Bahia", "Devil Eyes", and "Awaiting Change. ~ Dusty Groove

GWEN YVETTE - VICTORIOUS

GwenYvette can be described in one word Soulful. Strong comparisons in voice and delivery are often made with R&B/Soul greats such as Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. GwenYvette was born in New York and raised on St. Helena Island, a small sea island on the coast of South Carolina. Her native soulful delivery and beautiful voice have inspired the Rebirth of Soul movement which recently has sparked the resurgence of classic R&B/Soul music. Despite the hardships that accompanied dealing with depression, failed relationships, and loss, GwenYvette has has emerged, and reignited her passion for singing. Bypassing big record labels standards, she has found her audience while pursuing her career with no restrictions. Currently working on her forthcoming album, entitled, "Dreams & Visions" her goal is to simply re-introduce soul music to an older audience while influencing and gaining a younger following. She currently can be seen performing at The Champagne Room, Island Grill, various clubs, weddings, community and private corporate events with her funk and soul band, T.C. Soul Playas.

Award-winning New Orleans jazz chanteuse Robin Barnes releases “Songbird Sessions”

Having conquered hearts locally and captured media acclaim as “The Songbird of New Orleans,” award-winning jazz singer Robin Barnes is preparing to spread her soulful song beyond The Big Easy. On August 26, the powerfully-voiced siren who was named the Favorite New Orleans Musician earlier this year by New Orleans Magazine will issue her second EP, “Songbird Sessions,” on the Rhythm Elevation Records label. Barnes and bassist Pat Casey produced the intimate five-song acoustic jazz date of standards and gems made famous by her seminal influences such as New Orleans icons Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas. The first track being serviced to radio is Barnes’s smoldering and sultry rendition of Thomas’s “Ruler of My Heart.”          
 Backed by Casey, drummers and percussionists Herlin Riley and Shannon Powell, and guitarists Steve Masakowski and Danny Abel, Barnes soars mightily on “Songbird Sessions.” Confident and assured, the twenty-something chanteuse unveils unadulterated passion with poise and in complete command on the rousing spiritual “Great Day” and the gentle jazz lullaby “Little Jazz Bird.” Barnes’s arresting take of Van Morrison’s “The Way Young Lovers Do” haunts. On the classic “My Funny Valentine,” her aching, delicate croon depicts an intrepid artist confronting her fragility head on.   
 “’Songbird Sessions’ is about spreading my wings and singing with my soul. This little jazz bird is taking a leap and following a dream. The EP is made up of songs that I've been passionate about while growing up in New Orleans. This music helped me express my heart though song. I wanted to do something more intimate for this record with just vocals, bass, guitar and drums. Sometimes it was scary because it's just me and my vocals. There’s no big band or sounds to help cover my vulnerability or distract the listener. The tracks are open and powerful, but it's just me. As a young artist, I'm finding my voice and my self. Jazz has impact and power. I want to remind the world how amazing jazz music is,” said Barnes, who begins a six-week residency at the House of Blues in New Orleans on July 28 and will celebrate the EP at a hometown record release concert at Peaches Records on August 27.
 Barnes has come a long way since she started singing in church as a six-year-old and going on to performing in her family’s jazz band. Two years ago, she won Offbeat magazine’s Outstanding Millennial in Music Award. Her weekly gigs in New Orleans have not only endeared her to the city, but have brought national fanfare including a performance on “NCIS: New Orleans” as well as an abundance of press coverage in the pages of ESPN, Forbes, Ebony, Southern Living , Travel + Leisure and Southwest Magazine. Having become synonymous with the distinctive sounds of New Orleans by being featured in various media and marketing campaigns promoting the Crescent City, Barnes has adorned the cover of area newspapers and magazines and maintains a regular presence on local television. Her leadership role includes her running club, “Move Ya Brass,” which counts over 200 runners in the fitness program she created to help motivate her to get fit after recovering from a near fatal kidney ailment four years ago. Barnes’s first EP, “Me,” was a soul-pop effort released in 2013. 

www.RobinBarnesMusic.com.       
 “Songbird Sessions” contains the following songs:
“Great Day”
“Little Jazz Bird”
“My Funny Valentine”
“Ruler of My Heart”

“The Way Young Lovers Do”

 

Bosccacucnova's New Best of Collection Set for Release August 12 on Six Degrees Records

You can never tell what will happen when friends get together. The trio of Marcio Menescal, DJ Marcelinho DaLua, and Alex Moreira originally started remixing classic bossa nova tracks for fun. Eighteen years and five albums later, Bossacucanova has honored and helped evolve its native Brazilian soundtrack.

The Best of Bossacucanova (Six Degrees Records) assembles songs the band members feel are the most representative of their diverse and progressive catalog, including two brand new songs. As Menescal, son of legendary bossa nova pioneer Roberto, says, “We decided to choose songs featuring our best arrangements, most original beats, and top performances.” The album is set to be release on August 12.

As the trio initially had no ambitions of becoming a band, Menescal says that offered a kind of freedom when they worked on their debut album, Revisited Classics. In hindsight this collection offers a reflective gaze at what they’ve accomplished. Still, Menescal waxes poetic over the early days: “We like the beginning when we had no experience; that allowed us to be bolder.”

This is why the collection opens with a global lounge classic, ‘Berimbau,’ titled (and featuring) one of Brazil’s most famous contributions—the berimbau is the single-stringed percussive instrument rooted with a gourd, mostly known for its role in the martial art form, capoeira. Bossacucanova’s tribute features a meandering beat with a chant-style chorus that is a trademark of the nation's folk music. It features the voices of Os Cariocas, a group initially founded in 1942.

For this song and ‘Meditacão,’ which features vocalist and guitarist Wanda Sa (who cut her teeth performing with Sérgio Mendes’s Brazil ’65), Menescal borrowed original tracks from his father’s label and remixed them with “distorted guitars, flutes, amplifiers, and guitar pedals.” The samples were lifted straight from vinyl with a microphone placed near the monitor—a harbinger of today’s digital drag-and-drop techniques.

Bossacucanova has made its career by blending such Brazilian anthems, working with a pantheon of musical gods and goddesses while keeping tabs on emerging technologies. Never have distortion, DJ scratches, or electronic beats distracted from the melodic core that comprises the nation’s soul. This is nowhere more evident than in the upbeat hit, ‘Essa Moça tá Diferente,’ featuring a sample of Chico Buarque along with swing vocals by Wilson Simoninha and saxophone contribution by Leo Gandelman.

“Our great references are still the music and culture of the sixties through eighties,” says Menescal. “Brazilian music is very rich—it has several rhythmic styles, an abundance of harmonies, and extraordinary musicians. But we will always feel like we need to improve and refresh what has come before. And we have many projects with this in mind coming soon.”

Keeping the collection fresh, a dubby, percussive remix of ‘Waldomiro Pena’ by British Afro-Brazilian group Da Lata breathes new life into this Bossacucanova staple, which was originally recorded by Jorge Ben for the popular television show, Plantao de Policia. Another new tune, written for Carnaval, ‘Indio Quer Apito,’ updates a carioca song from the sixties, with Pedro Luis contributing vocals and Orquestra Criola, led by Humberto Araújo, spicing up the dance floor track.

It’s impossible to separate Brazilian culture from its political climate. The Tropicália movement of the early seventies addressed important social issues; the music, then and now, has long been a response to what’s going on around the country, a mirror for its people to meditate on and, ideally, uplift. Bossacucanova is in this latter camp, using music as a tool for unifying a people that is currently in the midst of a severe economic downturn.

“When the country faces times of crises, the culture reacts immediately,” says Menescal. “In difficult times, people renew themselves. We find intelligent, creative solutions. While all of this is happening, it is our role to have a positive influence on the people and in Brazilian music.”

This self-appointed ambassadorial position is certainly appreciated. The band’s next tour will be a survey of its nearly two decades making incredible music, progressively walking through its rich history. Members will blend the worlds they know so well: the expansive technological domain of previously unimagined soundscapes combined with the integrity and joy of live performance, the foundation of Brazil’s music since the beginning.

“Our band is a family,” Menescal concludes. “We’ve built this friendship over years of touring, living through a range of emotions: good times, fights, music and love. We hope there still will be lots of surprises left!”

Tracklist

1.  Berimbau (feat. Os Cariocas)   

2.  Consolação (feat. Silvio César)   

3.  Meditação (feat. Wanda Sá)   

4.  Bye Bye Brasil (with Roberto Menescal)   

5.  Água De Beber    (with Roberto Menescal)   

6.  Brasilidade (with Roberto Menescal)   

7.  Essa Moça Tá Diferente (feat. Wilson Simoninha)

8.  Previsão (feat. Adriana Calcanhotto)   

9.  Águas De Março (feat. Cris Delanno)   

10. Adeus América (feat. Os Cariocas, Oscar Castro Neves and Wilson Simoninha)

11. É Preciso Perdoar (feat. Emilio Santiago)   

12. Balança (Nao Pode Parar!) (feat. Cris Delanno)

13. Índio Quer Apito (feat. Orquestra Criôla and Pedro Luis)   

14. Waldomiro Pena (Dalata Remix)

https://www.facebook.com/Bossacucanova

https://twitter.com/BossaCuca

https://bossacucanova.bandcamp.com/album/the-best-of-bossacucanova

Jazz-Rock Fusion Group Project Grand Slam To Release Highly Anticipated New Album “The Queen’s Carnival” On August 19th

Project Grand Slam, the acclaimed jazz-rock fusion band led by bassist/composer Robert Miller, is excited to announce the second single from their upcoming full-length album, The Queen’s Carnival. This single, “You Really Got Me”, is a fresh, reimagined take on The Kinks’ classic, and features vocals by noted singer Lucy Woodward. The Queen’s Carnival will be available for preorder starting July 29, and as the featured track, “You Really Got Me” will be available instantly for all who preorder the full album. The new album, which also features recent single “The Rescue”, draws from a variety of influences and highlights Robert’s unique approach to blending jazz and rock into a totally new sound. The Queen’s Carnival will be released on August 19th via CEN/RED Distribution, a division of Sony Music.

Following the successful 2015 release of their third album, “Made in New York”, which featured the hit songs “New York City Groove” and “Fire” (Robert’s highly acclaimed reimagined cover of Jimi Hendrix’s classic), Project Grand Slam returns with “The Queen’s Carnival”. This exciting and fresh take on jazz-rock fusion (Miller calls the album a post-fusion record) features eleven tracks, including nine original songs by Robert and both vocal and instrumental versions of the Kinks’ classic, “You Really Got Me.” This continues Project Grand Slam’s tradition of reinventing popular classic rock songs as jazz-rock fusion and featuring vocal and instrumental versions of the cover track. “I think that people can relate to covers of popular songs, and it’s very cool to try and reimagine them in a way that is both true to the original but which takes the song to a whole other level”, says Robert.

Robert originally formed the band in 2007. Project Grand Slamʼs first two celebrated CDs, Play (2008) and Spring Dance (2012), had three top radio singles — “The Captain Of Her Heart” (feat. Judie Tzuke on vocals) from Play, and “Catch You Later” and “Spring Dance” from Spring Dance. The band also had a featured role in the hit NBC-TV series Lipstick Jungle starring Brooke Shields and Kim Raver, with five of the bandʼs tunes featured in the soundtrack.

In November 2015 the band opened for Scott Weiland (formerly of Stone Temple Pilots) at NYC’s Gramercy Theater. In May 2016 the band opened for 4-time Grammy Award nominee Boney James at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in NJ. On July 15th the band was the featured performer at the Kirby Center For The Performing Arts in PA. On August 11th PGS will perform at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia and on August 12th the band will perform at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY. On August 16th PGS will host a CD Release Party at NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall. In October Project Grand Slam will perform at the Manhattan Center. The band continues to play at clubs in NYC including a monthly residency at The Groove.

Upcoming Tour Dates

See Project Grand Slam Live!

July 23 @ The Groove. New York, NY

August 11 @ Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA

August 12 @ Garcia's at The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY

August 20 @ The Groove, New York, NY

September 17 @ The Groove, New York, NY

October 6 @ The Groove, Manhattan Center

NEW RELEASES: THE METERS: A MESSAGE FROM THE METERS – THE COMPLETE JOSIE, REPRISE & WARNER BROS. SINGLES 1968-1977; MG3 FEATURING TIM COLLINS - OUT & ACROSS LIVE; THE ISLEY BROTHERS - GROOVE WITH YOU LIVE!

THE METERS: A MESSAGE FROM THE METERS – THE COMPLETE JOSIE, REPRISE & WARNER BROS. SINGLES 1968-1977 (2-CD SET)

How would you like to hear a new side—or should we say sides—of the world’s greatest funk band? This 40-track set presents the A and B-side of every single that organist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter, Jr., and drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste cut for the Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. label, virtually their entire singles output save for a few odds ‘n’ ends issued mostly overseas. That means that you not only get every hit along with its hard-to-find B-side but also the rare single mixes, including the especially rare original mono single mixes of the 1968-1971 Josie sides, very few of which have appeared on CD (the first CD is all mono; the second, featuring the later Reprise and Warner Bros. singles, presents all stereo single mixes). These songs represent the mother lode of New Orleans funk, classic tracks like “Sophisticated Cissy,” “Cissy Strut,” “Look-Ka Py Py,” “Chicken Strut,” “Hand Clapping Song,” “Hey Pocky A-Way,” and more, all but two co-produced by the late, legendary Allen Toussaint. And, with liner notes by Bill Dahl featuring quotes from Nocentelli, Neville, and Porter, this 2-CD set offers probably the best retrospective to date of this enormously influential band. And how’s the sound? Well, after extensive and exhaustive tape research, we were able to come up with original tape sources for all but five of these single sides, and the remastering—by Mike Milchner at SonicVision—is tight! Just maybe the year’s most indispensable R&B release.

MG3 FEATURING TIM COLLINS – OUT AND ACROSS LIVE

The new audiophile live recording “out & across” presents the qualities of the involved mg3 musicians without make-up and the band’s modern jazz cosmos with its pop/soul elements in impressive intensity. Martin Gasselsberger has created his own piano-trio sound through extensive international concerts and many highly acclaimed record productions. His tasteful compositions and the stupendous interaction of his musicians appeals to a wide scope of listeners. With the current CD Gasselsberger extends his trio to a quartet. The new member is virtuoso vibraphonist Tim Collins, who solos reflectively but at the same time exuberantly bringing his creativity with seamless integration into the group’s sound. This happens on one hand at a percussive level since the American drummer masters rhythm in his sleep, and on the other hand Collins contributes three compositions with the floating sound of his vibraphone. He interprets ballads with a swelling emotional audio -journey and ignites his improvisations towards collective ecstasy. As a leader Martin Gasselsberger moves the album with mature and tasteful piano-playing between impressionistic solo passages, chambermusical blue-notes and captivating Staight-Ahead Jazz. The mix and spectrum demands 100 percent from the ensemble and public - a music listening experience at a high cultural level of enjoyment and taste. Mg3 presents real-time musical development and encourages it’s audience to a deeper understanding of it’s own special mix of elegant and exciting instrumental music. – The sky’s the limit! Lineup: Martin Gasselsberger, piano; Tim Collins, vibes; Roland Kramer, double bass; and Gerald Endstrasser, drums.

THE ISLEY BROTHERS: GROOVE WITH YOU LIVE!

“The Great Lost Isley Brothers Album” is coming to CD from Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records! In 1980, Ronald, Rudolph, O’Kelly, Ernie and Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper were riding high with their electrifying fusion of rock, funk and soul. After having transformed in 1973 from a three-man vocal group to a self-contained six-man band, The Isleys cranked out hit after hit: original powerhouses like “That Lady,” “Fight the Power,” and “For the Love of You,” and dramatic covers of pop songs introduced by Seals and Crofts, Carole King, and Todd Rundgren. “Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time for Love)” had given the Isleys their longest stay atop the R&B charts since 1969’s “It’s Your Thing,” and savoring its success, they decided to follow in the footsteps of The Commodores, Parliament, and Earth Wind & Fire to record a live album. Rather than bring a mobile truck to a concert venue, however, The Isley Brothers chose to cut Groove with You…Live! at Bearsville Sound Studio in Woodstock, New York. The resulting recordings had all of the incendiary thrills of a live performance, but with pristine studio fidelity. The band overdubbed an audience’s frenzied reception and the energetic introduction of MC “Gorgeous” George Odell to create an in-studio live album as captivating as the real thing. It was presented to CBS for release on the band’s T-Neck imprint, but the label opted to wait for an original studio record. Groove with You…Live! was shelved. Fast forward to 2015, and the Bearsville sessions were remixed, sans crowd ambiance, for inclusion as one disc of a massive Isleys CD box set. Later that year, Groove with You…Live! was restored and released in its originally-intended “live” version on limited edition vinyl. Now, this sizzling, swooning and immersive double-album document of The Isleys at the peak of their powers comes to CD for the very first time as The Isley Brothers originally intended it! Featuring classic hits like “Take Me to the Next Phase,” “Summer Breeze,” and “Livin’ in the Life,” Groove with You…Live! has been remastered by Mark Wilder and Chris Le Monde and features new liner notes from The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese with quotes from Ernie Isley and Chris Jasper. This must-have for fans of R&B, soul, funk and rock will, without a doubt, make you want to shout!

Saxophonist Steve Cole’s new album "Turn It Up" include the single “Mirage” poised to top the Billboard chart

Saxman Steve Cole is celebrating the release of his eighth album, “Turn It Up,” while on the precipice of adding another No. 1 Billboard single to his burgeoning catalogue of hits. The Artistry Music release produced by long-time Cole collaborator David Mann arrives Friday as the first single, the riveting aural oeuvre “Mirage,” holds the second spot ready to claim the peak position from Cole’s Sax Pack colleague Marcus Anderson.      

“Mirage” casts a transcendent spell with a futuristic foray that projects Cole’s improvisational jazz horn onto a screen of ambient tones and throbbing club beats. The single, along with the exuberant Chicago house music salute “Workhouse,” is a divergent excursion from the ten-track collection brimful of frothy pop melodies and voluminous horns over soul-powered R&B undercurrents. Recorded in three booming metropolises - New York City, Chicago and Minneapolis – that helped shape the eight compositions authored or co-authored by Cole, “Turn It Up” includes contributions from Nicholas Cole (“Turn It Up!”), Pieces of a Dream’s James Lloyd (“Bright Side”) and Ricky Peterson (“Workhouse”). Of note is a vintage take of Bobby Womack’s seductive “Woman’s Gotta Have It.”

Known for consistently cranking out chart-topping singles that deploy big vibrant pop hooks, contemporary jazz saxophonist Steve Cole conjures a sonic escapade with the hypnotic “Mirage,” the first single from his eighth album, “Turn It Up,” which was released July 15 by Artistry Music. Radio programmers were instantly spellbound, making the track from the David Mann-produced set of R&B grooves and soul-powered sojourns the No. 1 most added single on the Billboard BDS chart.

The entrancing single on which electronic beats bombard the senses before chill tenor and soprano sax leads and a soothing trumpet undercurrent take command of the illusion is one of nine new songs on the session, eight of which were composed or co-composed by Cole. The tune reflects his hometown roots and ardor for Chicago’s dance music scene. It’s one of three major cities that helped shape the collection.  

“I embarked on ‘Turn It Up’ with the goal of making music with great musicians and great friends in great cities. This time around I wrote much of the music with Dave Mann in New York City.  We recorded horns, guitars and vocals there as well. The energy in that great city was truly inspiring and it really is reflected in the music. Next stop was Minneapolis, where I worked with the great keyboardist and producer Ricky Peterson. Ricky and I wrote the song ‘Workhouse’ together, a track influenced by our love of Chicago house music. Dave joined us later in Minneapolis to record Ricky on the Hammond B3 organ as well as to record my Chicago pals, bassist Lamar Jones and drummer Khari Parker. I decided to track all of the saxophone parts in Minneapolis as well,” explained Cole, who has a slate of festival and club dates running into mid-October to help support the album release.

 

Cole and Mann have been collaborating ever since Cole’s sophomore record, “Between Us” (2000). In addition to helming the production on “Turn It Up,” multi-instrumentalist Mann often shadows Cole on alto and soprano sax to add depth, thickness, volume and intensity to the layers upon layers of horns – alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, trumpet, trombone and flute. Aside from the back-to-back dance music workouts that close the album, Cole’s energizing pop melodies and hooky harmonies on the disc are presented as soulful R&B joints. The saxman dusted off Bobby Womack’s “Woman’s Gotta Have It,” teamed up with fresh-faced keyboardist Nicholas Cole on “Turn It Up!” and yielded the spotlight on “Bright Side” to Pieces of a Dream’s James Lloyd, the author of the sunny mid-tempo smile, who solos on piano.        

 

“In the end, I really accomplished what I set out to do,” Cole surmised. “The music reflects all of the diverse backgrounds and personalities that brought it to life. There was a lot of laughter and good times throughout this journey. I think that's why I've got such a big smile on my face on the album cover. After all, it's supposed to be fun...and it sure was!”

Cole’s 1998 award-winning arrival onto the contemporary jazz scene was the Brian Culbertson-produced “Stay Awhile” that spawned a pair of No. 1 singles. Solo tours and prominent sideman gigs with Culbertson, Boz Scaggs, Rick Braun, Peter White, Jeff Lorber and Larry Carlton served to rapidly multiply his fervent fan base exponentially while successive albums and singles repeatedly took Cole to the top of the charts, establishing him as a radio playlist favorite. In addition to his own recordings, Cole records and performs regularly as a member of Sax Pack, an all-star sax combo consisting of rotating members Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters, Jackiem Joyner and Marcus Anderson. For more information, please visit www.SteveCole.net. 

“Turn It Up” tracklisting::

"Sidechain”

“Turn It Up!”

“Reverence”

“She’s The One”

“Bright Side”

“Woman’s Gotta Have It”

“Laws Of Attraction”

"Life Is A Groove"                                                                  

“Workhouse”

“Mirage”

 

Catch Cole in concert on the following dates:

August 14 - Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Jazz Festival

August 17 - Dearborn, MI @ Jazz on the Ave

August 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ South Jazz Club

August 20 - San Antonio, TX @ Big Bib Too

September 3 - Pensacola, FL @ Gulf Coast Summerfest

September 16 - Denver, CO @ Soiled Dove Underground
October 15-16 - Rehoboth Beach, DE  @ Rehoboth Beach Jazz Fest

NEW RELEASES: GREG WARD & 10 TONGUES – TOUCH MY BELOVED'S THOUGHT; DAVE DOUGLAS – DARK TERRITORY; THIERRY CONDOR - SO CLOSE

GREG WARD & 10 TONGUES – TOUCH MY BELOVED'S THOUGHT

Greg Ward's group here is named 10 Tongues – a great label for an ensemble that's overflowing with individual voices on their instruments – less a big band than a combo that can bring together so many different tones and colors at once! Ward himself is wonderful on alto, but maybe even more impressive as both the leader and composer here – writing in this fresh voice that's extremely positive and uplifting, but without ever resorting to any cloying cliches – and the group seems to respond by playing his music with a sense of joy and discovery at each new twist and turn! Players include Keefe Jackson on baritone and tenor, Tim Haldeman on tenor, Ben LaMar Gay on cornet, Russ Johnson on trumpet, Norman Palm on trombone, Christopher Davis on bass trombone, Jason Roebke on bass, Marcus Evans on drums, and Dennis Luxion on piano – on titles that include "Singular Serenade", "Daybreak", "Grit", "With All Your Sorry Sing A Song Of Jubilation", "Dialogue Of The Black Saint", and "Gather Round The Revolution Is At Hand".  ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE DOUGLAS – DARK TERRITORY

Great work from Dave Douglas and his High Risk quartet – a group who definitely step into dark territory here, in a heady blend of electric elements and Dave's bold frontline work on trumpet! The group electric bass, electric drums, and more electronics – plus some acoustic drums – yet somehow manage to come across with a very organic vibe, and one that's quite different than you might expect – especially in comparison to other trumpet-led projects like this, which often have the leader processed and filtered into the mix. Instead, Dave's sound is as rich and warm as ever – never a slave to the backings, and instead right out front ahead of them – blowing with lines that arc and turn beautifully, and remind us what a personal, poetic soloist Douglas can be. Titles include "Celine", "Ridge Hill", "Mission Acropolis", "All The Pretty Horsepower", and "Loom Large". ~ Dusty Groove

THIERRY CONDOR - SO CLOSE

In his fourth album ‘So Close’ Thierry Condor once again draws upon the U.S. West Coast Pop of the 1980s, but adds new flavour to the style. His personality is evident on the entire album and he speaks to the listener directly; his singing profile has become even more distinct and original. Amongst others, the album contains three compositions until now unpublished. Highlights include: Heart to Heart - Thierry Condor has a very personal relationship to this mid-tempo number from Kenny Loggins, David Foster and Michael McDonald. The song is a pop classic and brings together top session musicians such as John Robinson, Daniel Küffer and Bernhard Schoch. Love Will Rise and Fall - inspired by the Chicago album ’17’, and intended as a homage to its signature musical style, Urs Wiesendanger composed this song at the age of 17 (lyrics: Alexander Jaggy). It is being released for the first time. Deeper Than The Night - Tom Snow wrote the song together with John Vastano for Olivia Newton-John. The saxophonist Tom Scott, who accompanied the singer on her 1982 ‘Physical’ tour, can be heard in the recording as a special guest. Hard To Say Goodbye - this duet, until now unpublished, was written by Grammy-nominated American songwriter Jeri Lynne. Thierry Condor and Jeri met each other in Switzerland in 2013 and spontaneously decided to record this song together.

ASHLEIGH SMITH – WINNER OF THE 2014 SARAH VAUGHAN INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION – RADIATES ON SUNKISSED

Sunkissed, the title of Ashleigh Smith’s August 19, 2016 debut on Concord Records, describes her singing perfectly. The 27-year-old Dallas-based winner of the 2014 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocals Competition possesses an iridescent alto that radiates a spectrum of poised emotions. While clearly she’s capable of tackling material underscored by darker themes such as heartache and sobering social commentary, optimistic rays of light always shine through her voice.

The disc reveals Smith to be a gifted songwriter too. She co-wrote five of the disc’s 10 compositions. Like the musicians accompanying her, most of Smith’s writing partners – electric bassist Nigel Rivers and guitarist Joel Cross – were fellow classmates of hers from the University of North Texas, where she studied jazz. Indeed, enlisting a cadre of musicians whom she’s already forged a sparkling rapport imbues Sunkissed with a greater sense of warmth and personal conviction. “I wanted people who have already been an integral part of my musical development,” Smith explains. “We were all in music class and jazz forums together; we also performed together. They played a big part into the making of who I am as a musician. That’s something you figure out not necessarily in the classroom but when you’re performing on stage.”

Sunkissed begins with “Best Friends,” a bittersweet original co-written with Cross. Even though the song glides to a percolating sanguine bossa-nova groove, powered by Cross’ acoustic guitar riffs, Smith’s lyrics touch upon on the pains of a waning romantic relationship. The song’s melody and “heart on your sleeves” lyrics also betray one of her brightest lodestars – Stevie Wonder.

With Cross, Smith also co-penned the music for “Into the Blue,” another melancholy Brazilian-tinted gem, marked by sauntering rhythms and bracing melodicism. The lyrics, however, were co-written by her older sister, Lauren, after the two were swapping stories about things that were happening in each other’s amorous relationships.

On the glowing soul-jazz original, “The World Is Calling,” Smith partnered with Rivers as a songwriter. Distinguished by sliding keyboard chords, a subtle Latin mid-tempo groove, and a jaunty melody underscored by pleads of universal love, Smith refers to this song as her “love call.” “I’m very empathic with humanity and things that are going on in the world,” she explains. “It’s important to know what’s going on around you – not just what’s happening within yourself. I think we’re becoming so self-consumed. We don’t love people enough. Loving each other more wouldn’t solve all the world’s problems, but it would be a great start.”

Similar glimmers of hope sparkle on “Sunkissed,” the title track co-written with Rivers and singer Nadia Washington. Riding atop a breezy, hip-swerving samba rhythm, Smith sings empowering lyrics to young girls of color, who oftentimes struggle seeing themselves as beautiful. “There had to be a song on this album for girls who look like me,” Smith argues, “A lot of times when I’ve mentored African-American girls, they always commented that there weren’t any role models that looked like them. They saw mostly people who looked like their Caucasian friends. This is not to say that one is better than the other. We are all beautiful. But I think all of that beauty should be represented equally.”

Smith acknowledges that the melody on the succinct “Brokenhearted Girl” resembles “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Centered on “break-up songs” and written with Kwinton Gray during a rehearsal for a Dallas show, the song purposefully eschews the conventional AABA song format.

Sunkissed contains one song – the searching “Beautiful and True” – that’s written by Rosanna Eckert, one of Smith’s teachers at the University of North Texas. With its soaring melody and lush arrangement, the tune superbly accentuates Smith’s effervescent tone and gift for articulating other people’s verses. “I wanted Rosanna to write a song because she knows my voice very well,” Smith says. “I love her ease at lyrical expression. I love how fluid her lyrical thoughts are and how well they match her musical thoughts.”

As for the covers, Smith chose wisely. Raised in LaGrange, Georgia in a musically rich household and nestled deep in the modern R&B sounds of Dallas, Smith wanted material that reflected her upbringing. Such is the case with her winning makeover of Hall & Oates’ classic tune, “Sara Smile,” which is given a discreet hip-hop bounce via punchy rhythms.

Even more indicative of Smith’s generation is her sumptuous rendering of R&B singer Chrisette Michele’s 2007 ballad “Love Is You.” Interestingly enough, Smith has been singing backup for Michele for five years. “We’re great friends,” Smith adds. “I’ve learned a lot about the music business from her. Lyrically, it’s such a beautiful song.” On Sunkissed, Smith beefs up the arrangement by incorporating silhouetting strings and fanciful Latin rhythms inside the bridge. “My version is completely different from the original. But Chrisette loves it – it’s an ode to her.”

Smith digs deeper into the pop canon and covers the Beatles’ late-’60s classic “Blackbird.” It was the song’s dark themes that first seduced Smith. “The opening is so haunting; it’s so pivotal and timeless – it brings you in immediately,” she says. Smith brightens the mood with a gently swaggering rhythm while keeping the haunting tenor of the lyrics well intact.

Sunkissed concludes with a mesmerizing version of Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley’s immortal “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 movie, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Showcasing her love for sophisticated harmonies, Smith’s rendition features her harmonizing with herself via overdubs. It makes for an ideal ending to the shining debut of a creative singer with her own distinct style poised to take on the world.