NEW RELEASES: THE M-TET – LONG PLAY; WORLD SOUL COLLECTIVE VOL. 5 (VARIOUS ARTISTS); SACHA VEE – LUMINOUS

THE M-TET – LONG PLAY

A stripped-down approach to old school funk – one that shows that you don't even need horns or a singer to keep things strongly soulful – just a few key instruments finding their grooves, and serving up great solos in the process! The group's a quartet – with Hammond, guitar, electric bass, and drums – all in a raw, chunky, rhythm-heavy mode that's somewhere between the best 60s work by The Meters and Booker T & The MGs – and recorded with just the right studio touches to keep things nice and sharp! There's nothing too modern about this record at all – and in fact, the whole thing also almost takes us back to the earliest days of Sugarman Three on Desco – which is about as fine a funk reference as we can give. Titles include "Flux 88", "All Drums Up", "The Tease", "The Beggar", "Bikes", "Sam The Butcher", "He Ain't The Right Type Of Fella", and "Sal's U Save".  ~ Dusty Groove

WORLD SOUL COLLECTIVE VOL. 5 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A killer collection of contemporary soul – put together by a Japanese label that's building a great reputation for digging out the coolest corners of the global underground! The set definitely earns the "world" in its title, as the singers here aren't just from the US scene – and together, the cuts really expand our understanding of the greatness going on around the globe these days – the kind of bubbling-under soul titles that never get any radio play – some of which were also only issued in a digital format, until this CD. Titles include "Nu" by Idesia, "Fizzy Lemonade" by Debra Debs, "Where I Come From" by Carolyn Malachi, "Trigger" by Sacha Vee, "Friends" by The Love Experiment with JSwiss, "Awake" by Nao Yoshioka, "Back To Love" by Gordon Chambers with Lalah Hathaway, "Crashing Down" by Marie Dahlstrom, "Someone To Love" by Gabriel Tajeu, "Reach Out" by Mad Satta, "Let The Music Play" by Collective Peace, "Too Long In The Sun" by Sola Rosa with Olivier Daysoul, "All The Time" by Tahirah Memory with Jarrod Lawson, and "Leave Love" by Brandon Williams with Alex Isley.  ~ Dusty Groove

SACHA VEE – LUMINOUS

A really fresh album from this Australian soul singer – a set that's quite contemporary in the production and presentation of the music – with a very different vibe than some of the other Aussie soul divas we've been hearing in recent years! Sacha Vee has this great way of inflecting her vocals along with the album's beats and keyboards – which themselves have a bit of an icy edge, which seems reflected in the lyrics sometimes – although overall, the whole thing's got a warm glow that really builds nicely as things move on! Titles include "I'm No Joke", "Stonecold", "Light Of Day", "Ging", "Leave Me All Your Love", "Music Child", "Trigger", "Monday", and "Sail Away". Japanese pressing includes three bonus tracks too!  ~ Dusty Groove

Acclaimed Jazz Fusion Drummer/Composer Bob Holz Returns With Visions & Friends

Bob Holz, popular drummer, composer and band leader has returned with his second MVD Records release, Visions and Friends, a further continuation of the contemporary jazz/funk fusion he spearheaded with 2015's acclaimed A Vision Forward album.

The new album includes contributions from music legend Larry Coryell on guitar; iconic horn master Randy Brecker, and bassist Ralphe Armstrong (ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra, Sting, Frank Zappa and current Aretha Franklin band member).  Furthermore, Holz has called on some very heavy musical friends to round out the band used for the record including  Alex Machacek and Billy Steinway on keyboards.

"My new album, Visions and Friends symbolizes the relationships I value so much and my musical compass," says Holz. "The idea is to always break through to new boundaries without walking away from the musical foundation you have already built."

The album represents a reprise of many of the core players used on the A Vision Forward album. Additionally, New York based bassist Mike Schoeffter displayed stellar playing, both as a soloist and as an integral part of the rhythm section. The touring line-up includes Ralphe Armstrong and Ex-Spyro Gyra guitarist Chet Catallo. Visions and Friends will be released February 10th, via the international MVD Records label. Rob Stathis serves as Executive Producer. Stathis oversaw the mixdown and mastering with famed Los Angeles based sound engineer Dennis Moody.

As with his last album, Visions & Friends covers a vast sonic landscape, moving effortlessly from modern jazz, to funk, to jazz-rock fusion.  "Bob Holz is special. He fits the mold of a different drummer," says jazz legend Larry Coryell. He goes on to add that Holz's music has "a wonderful energy about it; His playing and tunes are a natural fit for what I do."

Holz 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, Les McCann, David Fat Head Newman, Cornell Dupree, Maria Muldaur, Dr. John and George Clinton / Parliament Funk.

With his first album and now with Visions and Friends ,Bob Holz proved he is here to keep making music that is both innovative and memorable. He continues to make important contributions to modern music.

DIANA KRALL'S NEW ALBUM "TURN UP THE QUIET" CELEBRATES A RETURN TO JAZZ AND THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK + 2017-2018 WORLD TOUR DATES

Multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz pianist and world-renowned singer, Diana Krall, announced the first round of dates for her upcoming 2017-2018 World Tour today in support of the highly anticipated new album "Turn Up The Quiet," coming out on Verve Records May 5th with pre-order available now at Amazon.  Krall's new album celebrates a return to jazz and the Great American Songbook and reunites Diana with Grammy® Award-winning producer Tommy LiPuma. 

Krall's world tour kicks off in North America on June 2 in Minneapolis, MN at The State Theater with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks.  The European leg of the tour will begin  Sept. 10 in Vejle, Denmark at the Musikteater and also features two nights at The Royal Albert Hall in London on September 27 and 28. For a complete list of dates and for local on-sale information, please visit www.dianakrall.com.

Diana Krall is the only jazz singer to have eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. To date, her albums have garnered five Grammy® Awards, eight Juno® Awards and have also earned nine gold, three platinum and seven multi-platinum albums. Krall's unique artistry transcends any single musical style and has made her one of the most recognizable artists of our time.

  

Diana Krall – World Tour 2017-2018  Dates

6/2 / Minneapolis, MN / State Theatre

6/3 / Madison, WI / Overture Center for the Arts - Overture Hall

6/4 / Milwaukee, WI /Riverside Theater

6/6 / Ann Arbor, MI / Hill Auditorium

6/9 / Burlington, VT / Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Center

6/10 / Canandaigua, NY / Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center

6/13 / Hartford, CT / The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

6/14 / Portsmouth, NH / The Music Hall

6/16 / Newark, NJ / NJPAC - Prudential Hall

6/17 / Boston, MA / Shubert Theatre

6/18 / Providence, RI / Providence Performing Arts Center

6/21 / New York, NY / Beacon Theatre

6/23 / Philadelphia, PA / Academy of Music

6/24 / Vienna, VA / Wolf Trap

6/25 / Kettering, OH / Fraze Pavilion

6/27 / Pittsburgh, PA / Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

6/28 / Highland Park, IL / Ravinia Festival

7/18 / Morrison, CO / Red Rocks Amphitheatre

7/19 / Beaver Creek, CO / Vilar Performing Arts Center

7/21 / Park City, UT / Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

7/22 / Reno, NV / Grand Sierra Resort & Casino - Grand Theatre

7/23 / Jacksonville, OR / Britt Pavilion

7/25 / Bend, OR / Les Schwab Amphitheater

7/26 / Troutdale, OR / McMenamins Edgefield

7/29 / Boise, ID / Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanical Garden

8/1 / Livermore, CA / Wente Vineyards

8/2 / Saratoga, CA / The Mountain Winery

8/4 / Rohnert Park, CA / Green Music Center - Joan and Sanford Weill Hall

8/5 / San Francisco, CA / Davies Symphony Hall

8/6 / Santa Barbara, CA / Santa Barbara Bowl

8/8 / San Diego, CA / Humphreys Concerts by the Bay

8/9 / Phoenix, AZ / Symphony Hall

9/10 / Vejle, DK / Musikteater

9/11 / Amsterdam, NL / Royal Theatre Carré

9/14 / Frankfurt, DE / Alte Oper

9/15 / Berlin, DE / Tempodrom

9/16 / Munich, DE / Philharmonie

9/18 / Vienna, AT / Konzerthaus

9/19 / Vienna, AT / Konzerthaus

9/20 / Brno, CZ / DRFG Arena

9/22 / Duisburg, DE / Mercatorhalle

9/24 / Antwerp, BE / Queen Elisabeth Hall

9/25 / Brussels, BE / Palais des Beaux Arts

9/27 / London, UK / The Royal Albert Hall

9/28 / London, UK / The Royal Albert Hall

9/30 / Copenhagen, DK / Royal Opera

10/1 / Oslo, NO / Spektrum

10/2 / Stockholm, SE / Cirkus

10/4 / Stuttgart, DE / Liederhalle

10/5 / Zurich, CH / Samsung Hall

10/7 / Paris, FR / l'Olympia

10/8 / Paris, FR / l'Olympia

10/11 / Monaco, MC / Le Sporting Club

10/12 / Milan, IT / Teatro degli Arcimboldi

10/13 / Rome, IT / Auditorium S. Cecilia

10/15 / Geneva, CH / Leman Theatre

10/16 / Marseille, FR / Silo

10/17 / Barcelona, SP / Auditori del Forum

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Barry Manilow Releases New Studio Album, This Is My Town: Songs of New York A Love Letter to The Big Apple

This Is My Town: Songs of New York is the album Barry Manilow was born to make. A native New Yorker, Barry's been in love with the rhythms, melodies and music of the Big Apple since childhood. Now, with the release of his new album, out on April 21 on Verve Label Group, he's "saying thanks to the city for giving me my ambition, my sense of humor and my decency" with a thematic song-cycle celebrating his home town.

"I'm grateful for having been raised there because I've always felt grounded," he says.  "One of the things I'm most proud of is that having gone through the hurricane of success, I feel I'm still the same guy that took the subway every day to work in Manhattan. And I attribute that grounding to being raised in New York."

More than a year in creation, This Is My Town: Songs of New York premieres ten new Barry Manilow studio recordings with the songs evenly divided between new original Manilow compositions and standards evoking the spirit and energy of New York City. While writing his own songs for the album, Barry made demos of the classic New York-inspired songs he loved to sing.

"I didn't want to do a full original album," he says. "It felt like it would be cheating the public to not give them the old songs that they knew. I must have done 50 demos of standards as I was writing the original songs. That's what took the longest: to choose the standards. And, of course, to write the originals."

The title song, "This Is My Town" sets up the album's musical journey through New York's five boroughs. The track was co-written by Barry Manilow "with my brilliant, long-time collaborator, Bruce Sussman. I'm very proud of the production, arrangement, orchestration and melody. And listen to Bruce's brilliant lyric. Only a New Yorker could have written that lyric."

According to Barry, "the album is like a melting pot – just like New York is. We take you from Brooklyn to Broadway to Birdland. We even wind up in Coney Island. Take a look at the titles and it really does look like you're going from place to place to place. There are different styles. There's pop, there's a little rock and roll, there's jazz, there's a little R&B, and Broadway. That's what I think of when I think of my home town and of New York."

Having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide, Barry Manilow is one of the world's all-time bestselling recording artists. He's had an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles including 12 #1s and 27 Top 10 hits and is ranked at the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all-time, according to Billboard and R&R magazines.

He has been nominated for a Grammy Award in every decade since the 1970s and, in addition to winning the Best Pop Male Vocal Performance Grammy in 1979 (for "Copacabana"), is an Emmy, Tony and American Music Award winner three years in a row.

Barry Manilow was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and has his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-seller charts simultaneously.

This Is My Town: Songs of New York is co-produced by Barry Manilow with David Benson. Except for "Coney Island" was co-produced with Michael Lloyd.

This Is My Town: Songs of New York Track listing:

1 This Is My Town

2 New York City Rhythm / On Broadway

3 Coney Island

4 Lonely Town

5 Lovin' At Birdland

6 Downtown / Uptown

7 On The Roof

8 I Dig New York

9 The Brooklyn Bridge (Virtual Duet with Mel Tormé)

10 NYC Medley

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UNRELEASED 1976 BILL EVANS TRIO CONCERT: "ON A MONDAY EVENING" // TO BE RELEASED ON FANTASY RECORDS

In 1976, jazz pianist Bill Evans was in a class by himself. The New Jersey-born Evans had been recording as a leader for 20 years, and become a true force in modern music. When he went to perform in the Madison Union Theater at the University of Wisconsin on Monday, November 15, 1976 with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Eliot Zigmund, no one would have predicted that 40 years later the evening’s music would become one of the shining moments of all that Bill Evans accomplished. 

On A Monday Evening will be released by Fantasy Records, a division of Concord Bicycle Music on March 24 in vinyl, compact disc and digital formats. It features eight songs performed that night in Madison, and exists thanks to two college-age deejays that recorded and archived the concert. Larry Goldberg and James Farber had interviewed Bill Evans for the college radio station. Goldberg was able to use the station’s recording equipment to preserve the evening for posterity. Remastered from the original analog tapes and using the advanced technique of Plangent Processes for transfer and restoration, the recordings now present a stellar evening of jazz now available for the first time. The Bill Evans Trio is captured in full force at a pivotal moment in the pianist’s career. 

In his astute liner notes, GRAMMY® Award-winning writer Ashley Kahn says, “The Evans/Gomez/Zigmund union lasted just two years—Gomez being the first to depart in ’77—yet it still stands as one of the pianist’s most distinctive and memorable groups. On A Monday Evening is a rare- high-fidelity snapshot of that association; as Zigmund points out, ‘There’s really nothing like that, a definitive live recording of that trio. So it’s great that there’s finally an official recording out that represents our live side.’” 

The set list that evening included three Bill Evans originals: “Sugar Plum,” “Time Remembered” and “T.T.T. (Twelve Tone Tune),” along with “Up with the Lark,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “Minha (All Mine),” “All of You” and “Some Other Time.” Even though it was recorded during a period when jazz was being taken into an era of electric fusion, there was still a large amount of attention being paid to acoustic players. In a radio interview conducted then by Farber and Goldberg, Bill Evans said, “I just require for my own pleasure that music somehow touch me somewhere along the line and use the musical language in a way that speaks to me in some really human terms.” 

Music critic Richard S. Ginell once wrote, “With the passage of time, Bill Evans has become an entire school unto himself for pianists and a singular mood unto himself for listeners. There is no more influential jazz-oriented pianist.” And in Evans’ long and prolific recording career, the addition of On A Monday Evening is now a moving and important contribution to that legacy. 

Song List 

1.Sugar Plum (Bill Evans) 

2.Up with the Lark (Leon Robin-Jerome Kern) 

3.Time Remembered (Bill Evans) 

4.T.T.T. (Twelve Tone Tune) (Bill Evans) 

5.Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank Churchill-Larry Morey) 

6.Minha (All Mine) (Raymond Evans-Francis Hime-Jay Livingston) 

7.All of You (Cole Porter) 

8.Some Other Time (Betty Comden-Adolph Green-Leonard Bernstein)

NEW RELEASES: MARIA BETHANIA – ABRACAR E AGRADECER; VINNIE SPERRAZZA - JUXTAPOSITION; KENNY WASHINGTON – MOANIN

MARIA BETHANIA – ABRACAR E AGRADECER

The beautiful image on the cover is a great summation of the sound of this set – as the live performance has all the power and majesty that Maria Bethania brought to her work, right from the start – but also maybe a bit more warmth than we'd normally expect! That spontaneous smile that Maria gives us on the cover seems to grace much of the performance within – and which makes her seem far younger than the 70s years the concert was intended to celebrate! The group is excellent, too – a bit looser and more down to earth than some of the larger arrangements used on other Bethania concerts – with bassist Jorge Helder at the helm of a septet that makes nice use of percussion and guitar. Titles include "Eterno Em Mim", "Gita", "A Tua Presenca Morena", "Nossos Momentos", "Dindi", "Rosa Dos Ventos", "TAtuagem", "Meu Amore E Marinheiro", "Camara De Ecos", "Alguma Voz", "Quixabeira", "Reconcavo", and "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien".  ~ Dusty Groove

VINNIE SPERRAZZA - JUXTAPOSITION

Vinnie Sperrazza's the drummer in the group – and he leaves plenty of room in his sound for the great work of Bruce Barth on piano and Chris Speed on tenor sax – both of whom have a lot to do with the shape of the record! At times, Vinnie's drumming is quite subtle – almost as if he's more content to be a leader, and an excellent songwriter – given his beautiful compositions on the set. Bassist Peter Brendler moves the groove as much as the drums – and with a nice current of soul – leaving Barth and Speed to block out these bold shapes and tones. Titles include "Chimes", "St Jerome", "One Hour", "Warm Winter", "Hellenized", "Solitary Consumer", and "House On Hoxie Road" – all originals by Sperrazza!  ~ Dusty Groove

KENNY WASHINGTON – MOANIN

Not the jazz drummer Kenny Washington, but a singer with the same name – really stretching out nicely here in a live set recorded in Copenhagen! Kenny's got a warm glow to his style, which gets a nice edge on the long performances here – recorded with an overseas trio that features piano by Jacob Christoffersen – a group with a strong swing that really seems to inspire Washington's vocals, especially when he takes off with a bit of improvisation. Titles include "Moanin", "Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay", "I Got It Bad & That Ain't Good", "What Is This Thing Called Love", and "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS – THE PLANET SESSIONS; CARMEN LUNDY – CODE NOIR; RALPH TOWNER – MY FOOLISH HEART

SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS – THE PLANET SESSIONS

An incredible lost moment in the career of Screamin Jay Hawkins – material that was recorded in London in the mid 60s, and with a very different flavor than most of Hawkins' other material! There's a mod jazz approach to this set that's totally great – as Jay's raw vocals come into play with a sweet-grooving Hammond, in a combo that also features some sharp work on guitar, and some strong sax solos too! The upbeat, jazzy vibe is totally great – and gives Screamin Jay a whole new focus for his vocals – and for his songwriting, too – as most of the material here is original. And while Hawkins is always best remembered for his spooky, gimmicky cuts, this material is equally great in a totally different way – and, if it were pursued further, might have given the man a whole new direction in his career. Make no mistake, there's still plenty here to love if you're a longtime fan of Screamin Jay Hawkins – but you'll also really appreciate the mod grooves in the set as well! Titles include "I Wanna Know", "In My Dream", "Change Your Ways", "Serving Time", "Please Forgive Me", "Move Me", "My Marion", and "All Night". Plus, CD features a whopping 12 bonus tracks – a few alternate takes, and other versions of album songs – plus the titles "I'm Lonely" and "Stone Crazy".  ~ Dusty Groove

CARMEN LUNDY – CODE NOIR

Fantastic work from Carmen Lundy – one of our favorite jazz singers of all time, and an artist who keeps on giving us her best as the years go on! This album's definitely some of Carmen's best – as it features the singer working with a wonderful group that includes Jeff Parker on guitar, Patrice Rushen on piano, Ben Williams on bass, and Kendrick Scott on drums – a tight core combo who really find a way to push Lundy's energy even more than usual – while Carmen herself handles other keyboards with her vocals, and serves especially righteous material! There's a bit more politics here than on previous records – perfect for the spirit of the moment – but Carmen also mixes a lot of warmth and love into her music as well. Titles include "Black & Blues", "Afterglow", "Whatever It Takes", "I Keep Falling", "The Island The Sea & You", "Have A Little Faith", and "Another Chance".  ~ Dusty Groove

RALPH TOWNER – MY FOOLISH HEART

The guitar of Ralph Towner has been an important part of the ECM sound since the label's first decade – and here, after so many years later, it still comes across with a brilliance that few players can match! Towner plays both classical and 12 string guitars here – in that spacious, open style that made him a huge influence on younger musicians back in the 80s – and which still has a power that none of his acolytes can match – an acoustic sensitivity that's immediately explosive with color, but always in an understated way – always more powerful here in a solo setting, than if any other musician were on board. Titles include "Clarion Call", "Ubi Sunt", "Blue As In Bley", "Rewind", "My Foolish Heart", "Dolomiti Dance", and "Saunter".  ~ Dusty Groove

Drummer Nate Smith Chronicles His Own Black American Experience and Reality of the American Dream Through Deep-Rooted Grooves on Debut Album, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere

Nate Smith's visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming has already established him as a key piece in reinvigorating the international jazz scene, and now his rising career reaches a new benchmark with the release of his bandleader debut, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere (February 3, 2017 via Ropeadope Records). Much like his diverse and ample résumé (which includes esteemed leading lights such as Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Ravi Coltrane, José James, Somi, and Patricia Barber, among others), this album sees Smith fusing his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop.

This leader debut shows Smith at the helm of a core ensemble consisting of pianist and keyboardist Kris Bowers, guitarist Jeremy Most, alto and soprano saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, electric bassist Fima Ephron, and singer/lyricist Amma Whatt, with Michael Mayo on backing vocals. The lineup expands on several cuts with the inclusion of several illustrious guests: saxophonist Chris Potter, bassist Dave Holland, guitarists Lionel Loueke and Adam Rogers, and vocalist Gretchen Parlato.

As the title KINFOLK suggests, the music bristles with a magnetism that can be only achieved by assembling the right musicians, building upon and blending their individual voices and developing a bracing group rapport. Indeed, Smith refers to the aforementioned musicians as "kindred spirits," while embracing some philosophies gleaned from Holland, his mentor. "Dave once told me, 'I really believe that musicians find each other,'" Smith recalls. "He feels that all the collaborations he's done and all the sidemen that he's hired came into his life on purpose, even though he might not have been looking for something specific. He discovers people along the way.

"KINFOLK is about the musical family that I've put together," Smith continues. "All core members of the band have very unique and specific points of view." He reinforces the idea of family by composing tunes that touch upon his childhood: such is the case with the jovial "Morning and Allison," whose title partly invokes Allison Drive, the street on which Smith grew up. The song stars Whatt serenading idyllic recollections of a child enjoying a bright, fun-filled Sunday morning.

Smith recorded his parents - Lettie and Theodore Smith - talking about their respective parents on the mesmerizing interludes "Mom" and "Dad." On the former, Smith's mother tells how her father migrated from Virginia to Detroit and was drafted into U.S. Army, then later returned to Virginia where he bought the family a house. The latter provides a vehicle for Theodore to recall how his own father tirelessly worked at Navy shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia during the Jim Crow era without getting proper financial compensation or promotion until decades later.

"I think of these stories as snapshots that ultimately gave shape to the Black American experience into which I was born, which ultimately informs this music," Smith explains. He goes on to stress the significance of having his father on the disc: Theodore Smith passed away in March 2015. "He never got a chance to hear the music or the band," Smith says.

Smith celebrates the legacy of his paternal grandfather on the haunting ballad "Home Free (Peter Joe)." The song begins with a chamber-like string intro then moves into a gorgeous hymnal melody, highlighted by Shaw's uncoiling of a splendid, blues-soaked lyricism. "Of my four grandparents, Peter Joe was the one I felt the closest to," Smith says. "He was a real buddy of mine. He died when I was only nine but I still think about him a lot."

Smith reemphasizes the theme of nostalgia with "Retold" and "Pages." "Retold" finds Bowers tickling a melancholy yet romantic melodic motif on which guitar and saxophone run parallel lines across. "When I started writing this song, it always sounded like someone telling a love story from start to finish," Smith says. The dreamy "Pages" becomes a superb showcase for Parlato to vocalize the song's theme: turning the pages of a photo album. "I've loved Gretchen since the first time I heard her sing," Smith says. "She becomes a part of the musical fabric. When she sings, it's never about the singer being at the front and the band being way in the back. It's all one sound."

The spirit of the Black Lives Matter movement permeates the somber ballad "Disenchantment: The Weight," another tune that spotlights Whatt's thoughtful lyrics and delicate singing. Underneath the prowling melody, Smith's drums martial rhythms that convey a sense of marching forward. Written in the summer of 2013 soon after the verdict of the Trayvon Martin murder trial, Smith says that the song's cyclical harmonic pattern represents a longing sigh that many people felt and continue to feel after witnessing these ongoing travesties.

Following that aforementioned song is "Spinning Down," an intricate tune marked by multiple subdivided rhythms inside of larger rhythmic cycles. Featuring Holland playing acoustic bass alongside Ephron on electric, intertwining saxophone passages from Shaw; incredible solos from Bowers and Loueke, and surprisingly the only drum solo on the disc, the song touches upon the theme of trying to ease a restless mind. "It works well right after 'Disenchantment' because that song is about everything that's wrong," Smith explains. "'Spinning Down' is about the mind trying to work all that wrong out."

Because Smith didn't come strictly from the formal matriculation of music studies as so many of his jazz contemporaries did, he lovingly describes his approach to drumming as "unrefined," which in turns helps him distinguish his voice. He did, however, earned his bachelor's degree in 1997 in media arts and design from James Madison University. While he was still in college, the legendary singer Betty Carter recruited him for her world-acclaimed Jazz Ahead program.

Smith says that the visual arts discipline he studied in college definitely seeps into his compositions. "I love great movies and images. I've always had a deep interest in composing for film," Smith says. "For this project, there is something very cinematic about the way that I conceived this record. That's why it was so important for me to cast the right characters in terms of musicians. They bring to life the themes of family, nostalgia and identity that define this music." Ultimately, Smith likens the songs on KINFOLK to film vignettes sequenced together to tell a greater story about the unfolding journey of a working artist. This music represents snapshots from that voyage - these songs are the postcards from everywhere along the winding road.

Richard Niles' Bandzilla To Release Two New Videos In Support of Critically Acclaimed New Album “BANDZILLA RISES!!!”

Composer Richard Niles has released the highly acclaimed album “BANDZILLA RISES!!!” Jazz Weekly says “BANDZILLA is hip to the bone!” while Music Street Journal says BANDZILLA “is killer jazz fusion that just plain rocks!…incredibly strange but also very cool.” Cherry Pop calls it “one of the most adventurous albums I have ever heard,” while Midwest Record says, “thinking man’s pop that also provides heat for the feet… killer stuff throughout!”

Now Niles has released two new videos from the album:

In YOU CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE, 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lDYluRQNoY  jazz-icon Randy Brecker sings and plays stellar trumpet on this funk groove that satirizes corrupt politicians, and the “.1%”.

In LIVE AS ONE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNUrqGuPPU4&feature=youtu.be, released on Martin Luther King’s birthday, Niles echoes his “dream” that all races and religions can someday live in harmony. Sung by Kim Chandler and Niles, this sentiment is expressed with furious funk and a blistering solo from Incognito’s sax star Nigel Hitchcock. Featured in the video are Martin Luther King, Muhammed Ali, Niles, Chandler and Bandzilla trumpeter and co-producer Johnny Thirkell. Watch out for images of peace and love from Woodstock and from the United Colors of Benetton!

Multi-Grammy winner Pat Metheny has called Richard Niles “one of the best composer/arrangers around and a truly exciting musical force.” For his jazz work with Metheny, Bob James, John Patitucci, Martin Taylor, Billy Cobham, Jane Monheit and Bob Mintzer, and his work on over 40 pop hits, Sound on Sound called Niles “the most versatile man in modern music.” Says Beatles legend Paul McCartney, “Richard Niles is a great orchestrator and musician and a pleasure to work with.”

The new album, “BANDZILLA RISES!!!” is an unparalleled musical event - music that defies definition performed by artists beyond category.

Official Website: www.bandzilla.net 

NEW RELEASES: GEORGE COLEMAN - A MASTER SPEAKS; TAHIRAH MEMORY - PRIDE; RYLE – ADVENTURES OF JEFFERSON KEYES

GEORGE COLEMAN - A MASTER SPEAKS

The title certainly gets it right – as master tenorist George Coleman speaks volumes here with his horn – reminding us that he's one of the all-time giants on his instrument, and a player who's really continued to give us so much wonderful music over the decades! Coleman's right at home on the record – which may well be one of his best in years – open and flowing on his solos, but often with a nice sort of bite, even in the mellower moments – that special sort of edge that George has brought to his playing, from his years with Miles Davis to the many decades after. The group features Mike Ledonne on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and George Coleman Jr on drums – making his debut with the elder George here – and Peter Bernstein makes an appearance on one track for some guest guitar. Titles include the originals "Sonny's Playground", "Time To Get Down", "Blues For BB", and "Blondie's Waltz" – plus a great take on "Invitation", and "You'll Never Know What You Mean To Me" and "The Shadow Of Your Smile". ~ Dusty Groove.

TAHIRAH MEMORY - PRIDE

A tremendous debut from Tahirah Memory – an underground soul singer from the same Oregon scene as Jarrod Lawson, who also helped co-produce the album! Tahirah's got a beautifully fresh sound – sharp songs that burst from her pen with a sort of urgency we haven't heard in years – yet delivered with this understated, jazz-tinged style that's never forced or overdone – even when Memory's got these sharp changes in her vocals and instrumentation! Lawson plays piano, keyboards, and most of the other instrumentation – and the record's a great reminder that there's still a huge amount of life in the contemporary soul underground – if you know where to look and listen. Titles include "Time", "Pride", "I Can't Change", "Beautiful Disaster", "All The Time", "Puddin", "Nice Guy", and "Again".  ~ Dusty Groove

RYLE – ADVENTURES OF JEFFERSON KEYES

Fantastic bit of boogie – a contemporary set, but one that it feels like it was lifted from the best of the early 80s underground – from the post-disco, funky club rhythms – right through to the soulful vocals and warm keyboards in the mix! The tunes have a sound that's sophisticated, but very organic too – that best sort of funky flow that you'll remember from the moment when the bigger discos were closing their doors, and club music went back underground and got stripped down to its finest elements! Rob Hardt provides the great keyboards on the record – and vocals are by a variety of singers – including Seest, Flemming Fanoe, Kiki Kyte, Folami, Kenny Thomas, and Sulene Fleming – on titles that include "Keep The Faith", "Busy Dreamin", "Never Gonna Let You Go", "Lift Your Head Up", "Private Eye", "Soho House", and "Something's Got Me Walking On Air". The tunes are positive and upbeat as their titles might imply – and the record's a great one if you go for an Incognito-styled groove!

 

Jazz Chill Music Blog in Feedspot Top 50 Jazz Blogs!

Jazz Chill Music was recently named one of the top 50 Best Jazz blogs by Feedspot.  As a matter of fact, we are the 25^th out of the top 50. Feedspot’s top 50 chart is based on reviewing Jazz blogs from thousands of top Jazz blogs in their index using search and social metrics. These blogs are ranked based on following criteria: Google reputation and Google search ranking; iInfluence and popularity on Facebook, twitter and other social media sites; quality and consistency of posts; and Feedspot’s editorial team and expert review We want to thank Feedspot for selecting Jazz Chill Music as one of the Top 50 Jazz Blogs Winners! 

http://blog.feedspot.com/jazz_blogs/

The Return of Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House with new album "Seven Secrets"

Legendary jazz fusion pioneers Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House have signed to Savoy Jazz and are readying the release of their all new album "Seven Secrets" which will be released on June 2nd.  Guitarist Coryell has assembled founding members Randy Brecker (trumpet), long-timer John Lee (bass), the addition of son Julian (guitar) and the late Alphonse Mouzon (drums) to bring the rock and funk back to jazz again with a batch of eleven powerhouse tracks.  The album is truly a group effort with Coryell relying on each member to contribute compositions to the new album (much like he did back in the 70's) and with the help of engineer Luciano Rubio and many an all-night session, the inspired "Seven Secrets" came to fruition.   Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House will embark on a U.S. tour beginning in June—confirmed dates below.  Savoy Jazz will release "Seven Secrets" on June 2nd.   Those who pre-order "Seven Secrets" at iTunes will receive three "instant gratification" tracks (see link below).

"Seven Secrets" was born after a week of dynamic sold out shows at NYC's Blue Note club—a billing that happened on a whim when the original idea of a night of five guitarists fell through and Coryell suggested bringing the band back together for the shows.  The inspiration for the resulting album was fueled by each of the seasoned musicians' instincts, evolving tastes and the wisdom they had gained over the years playing jazz and pop in a wide variety of settings. "Seven Secrets" hearkens back in a modern way to an era that Coryell calls "the golden age of fusion," jazz entered a time of bold experimentation and started rocking with electric guitar effects and synthesizers for the first time, relating to more contemporary listeners without losing the original inspiration. The Eleventh House held court and shared stages around the world  with fellow revolutionary ensembles and artists like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Soft Machine (featuring Allan Holdsworth) and Herbie Hancock. 

Says Coryell: "In my opinion, jazz itself has not changed that much. So when you bring in talented all-stars like Randy, Alphonse, John and Julian, you get the same spirit as we had all those years ago. It's still jazz the way we envision it, unique, exciting and open to genre-busting adventures. It won't turn off any jazz lovers and we know it will excite people who aren't quite sure if they like jazz – just as the vibe we and those other bands did in the 70's. We're still taking jazz to another level without disrespecting it – and having an incredible time doing it!"

Sadly, drummer Alphonse Mouzon passed on December 26th at the age of 68.  The fusion pioneer helped define the genre having also played with the likes of Weather Report, Herbie Hancock and Al Di Meola among many others. 

"Seven Secrets" Track Listing:

 1) Alabama Rhap Corollary

 2) Mr. Miyake

 3) Dragon's Way

 4) The Philly Flash

 5) Molten Grace

 6) Seven Secrets

 7) The Dip

 8) Having Second Thoughts

 9) Some Funky Stuff

 10) Mudhen Blues

 11) Zodiac

  

Confirmed 2017 tour dates (more to come):

 June 20-21 / Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA

 June 22-25 / Blue Note Napa, Napa, CA

 June 26 / Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA

 June 27 / Yoshi's, Oakland, CA

 July 15 / Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA

 July 20-23 / Blues Alley, Washington DC

 July 25-29 / Birdland, New York, NY

 August 18-21 / Fur Peace Ranch, Pomeroy OH

HOT 8 BRASS BAND ANNOUNCE ‘ON THE SPOT’ ALBUM AND TOUR

GRAMMY nominated Hot 8 Brass Band is set to release their fifth album, On The Spot out March 31 on Tru Thoughts, and embark on an extensive world tour including select markets in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Australasia.

Stirring up excitement ahead of the album and tour, lead single “Working Together”/“Keepin’ It Funky” released on Dec. 16, 2016, has been gaining support from Jamie Cullum (BBC R2), Garth Trinidad (KCRW) and Craig Charles (BBC R2/6Music). The latter tastemaker also stars in the “Keepin’ It Funky” video, which sees him leading the crowd of revellers in a raucous Hot 8 parade performance on London’s Clapham Common. Wherever they are, Hot 8 bring the unique, undiluted energy of the New Orleans Second Line parades.

The new record has its roots firmly in live performance, and in true Hot 8 style it pairs hard-hitting, heart-on-sleeve sentiment with party-fuelling beats, hooks and grooves. On The Spot refers to the saying, on the spot, the glorious, rare moment in a New Orleans parade when the band stops to take a break but keeps playing for the crowd. Vibing and keeping the energy up, when they’re completely in the moment they sync up and the magic happens – a new tune is created, on the spot. Buzzing with the live, spontaneous synchronicity which has fuelled their development from the streets of New Orleans to the forefront of the global scene over the last two decades, the new LP sees Hot 8 committing this spirit to record – and in the live arena the tunes are set to blow up.

“We are privileged to tour and to tell the stories of life in our city, to keep alive the memories of our band members who have passed, as well as all the musicians who have gone before”, says band leader and tuba player Bennie Pete. “We can’t wait to share this new music and party with our fans, who help us to keep pushing ourselves on”.

The last year Hot 8 Brass Band celebrated their 20th Anniversary with the ‘Vicennial: 20 Years Of The Hot 8 Brass Band’ album released in late 2015, and they have toured almost constantly since. Delighting crowds with their rambunctious mix of hip hop, funk and inimitable Big Easy jazz, they have performed along side headliners at sold out festivals including BST Hyde Park (supporting Mumford & Sons), North Sea Jazz, Secret Garden Party and WOMAD. They wrapped up the summer at Madness’ House Of Common event with their jubilant New Orleans-style parade, before being welcomed with open arms by fans and media during their fall France tour.

Mixing an old school street brass approach with funkier currents and hip hop vocals, Hot 8’s magnificent originals are juxtaposed with fresh versions of Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, The Specials and Basement Jaxx. And of course their anthemic take on Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”, which recently re-launched with a new video that is nudging 1 million YouTube hits. This year’s On The Spot Tour is set to bring these essential cuts to an even wider audience, while cementing the next generation of Hot 8 classic tunes in the hearts and minds of fans.

Always in demand, so far Hot 8 has performed extensively in the UK including the tastemaker outlets of BBC 6Music Morning Show, BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, Jazz FM, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC R3; add these to in-depth interviews with Mary Anne Hobbs (6Music) and BBC World Service’s Outlook programme, touching on tragic stories from Hot 8’s history which chimed especially intensely with listeners in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement. A recent mini-documentary, Hot 8 Brass Band: 20 Years In The Making, has also helped to tell the story of this indefatigable musical and cultural force at a pivotal point in their evolution. Hot 8’s incredible tale, which comes across in their life-affirming and powerful music, has also previously featured in Spike Lee’s two New Orleans documentaries, When The Levees Broke and The Creek Don’t Rise, and David Simon’s HBO series Treme (in which the band played themselves), to add to extensive features across the world’s media.

One of the great New Orleans acts, Hot 8 has pushed on through a barely imaginable series of trials. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the separate deaths of five band members, and the horror of trumpeter Terrell “Burger” Batiste losing his legs, have tested these men almost to breaking point. They honour their lost friends and work towards the future of their community by putting their energies into positive projects at home as well as touring as much as possible. They march together and they play their music, not merely as a livelihood, but because their lives depend on it.

Transcending genres and trends, Hot 8 have performed and collaborated with artists from Lauryn Hill to Mos Def to the Blind Boys of Alabama, and were nominated for a GRAMMY in 2013 for their second album ‘The Life and Times Of…’. 2015’s acclaimed ‘Vicennial: 20 Years Of The Hot 8 Brass Band’ exemplified their ability to honour their city’s musical traditions while forging their own powerful legacy – a story that continues apace via the ‘On The Spot’ album and tour.