NEW MUSIC RELEASES: WARREN BAKER – MUSIC OF DESIRE: THE EXOTIC RHYTHMS OF WARREN BAKER; GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA – HEAT WAVE; J.A.M. – SILENT NOTES

WARREN BAKER – MUSIC OF DESIRE: THE EXOTIC RHYTHMS OF WARREN BAKER

Wonderful work from Warren Barker – one of the lesser-known exotica talents at the start of the 60s – but only because he was also working in a variety of other instrumental modes at the time! Barker's charts are always nicely playful – and that approach also holds true here – as some of the tracks almost seem to offer up a commentary on the exotica genre as a whole, while also including all the great percussive and orchestral elements you might expect! Most rhythms have a subtle Latin inflection – as fuller strings mix with bongos, congas, and even some cool marimba too. Titles include "Amapola", "Monique", "Noche De Ronde", "Where Are You Now", and "Orchids In The Moonlight". Eeerie – and a nice one for late night! Good cover, too!  ! Dusty Groove

GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA – HEAT WAVE

Fantastic early work from Geoff Love – an arranger we mostly know for his easy instrumental albums of the 70s – but who works here in a very different mode! The record's got a sound that really lives up to its steamy cover – a mix of jazz and exotic modes that are handled with a very nice flourish by Geoff – almost matching some of the most dynamic arrangers of the American bachelor pad scene with his great sense of color and dynamic sound! Tunes are mostly familiar, but served up in very fresh ways – and titles include "Mambo Jambo", "Tangerine", "Temptation", "Summertime", "Sabre Dance", "Indian Summer", and "Apache War Dance".  ~ Dusty Groove

J.A.M. – SILENT NOTES

A great little side project from three members of the legendary Soil & Pimp Sessions combo – pianist Josei, bassist Akita, and drummer Midorin – hence the JAM name of the group! These guys may have the structure of a jazz piano trio, but their sound is something quite different – very funky right from the start, as you'd expect from the S&P legacy – but also much more stripped-down than that previous group, with a similar mix of funk and jazz as Japanese groups like Indigo Jam Unit and early work by Quasimode! There's definitely plenty of jazz in the mix, but the core rhythm is equally important – and these guys have a lot more soul and depth than some of the "pretty boy" trios on the Japanese market of light, whose music is maybe a bit more flighty. Titles include "Foundation", "Totally Disorder", "Dancer On The Black Keys", "Alternative War", "Manchester", "Bell", and "Apple's Waltz". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW MUSIC RELEASES: STEELY DAN - THE ST. LOUIS TOODLE-OO; YOLANDA BROWN – LOVE POLITICS WAR; DENYS BAPTISTE - THE LATE TRANE

STEELY DAN - THE ST. LOUIS TOODLE-OO MISSOURI BROADCAST 1993 COMPLETE AND REMASTERED 

Following the tumultuous albeit fruitful recording of their 1980 album Gaucho, and their subsequent breakup soon thereafter, the next decade was somewhat quiet for Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the gifted musical duo behind Steely Dan. Despite a number of producer credits to their respective names, the only releases that appeared with either as featured artist were two Donald Fagen solo records. The first, The Nightfly, came out to rapturous critical and commercial success, going Platinum on both sides of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Becker was listed as an as an official member of China Crisis on their 1985 album Flaunt the Imperfection. However the pair had reconciled their differences by the end of the 1980s with Becker playing on and producing Fagen s 1993 album Kamakiriad, which received praise from critics but failed the match its predecessor sales-wise. Following this semi-joint venture, Steely Dan reformed for a tour the same year. Becker and Fagen had retired from live performance in 1974 to concentrate on writing and recording, so their 93 jaunt was something of a treat and a rare opportunity for long term fans. One of the 30 dates performed in the US this time round took place at the 20,000-capacity Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri on 1st September 1993. Featuring a rich mixture of Dan classics with a few solo cuts included too, this set, recorded for live FM broadcast, finds the group in superb form and is now featured in its fully remastered entirety on this double CD set.

  

YOLANDA BROWN LOVE POLITICS WAR

Love Politics War, is the sophomore album release from the UK's premier female saxophonist YolanDa Brown. The new album is a delicious fusion of reggae, jazz and soul… a new genre that YolanDa labels “Posh Reggae”. Following her biggest ever nationwide tour ‘Reggae Love Songs”, she went into the studio in London to record the album. YolanDa wanted an album that reflected the current climate of the world, with the underlying message that Love conquers all. The album features an eclectic mix of special guests such as; Bill Laurance from award winning jazz ensemble Snarky Puppy, Saxophonist Casey Benjamin from the Robert Glasper Band, US soul singer Raheem Devaughn, 3x Grammy award winning percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, New York based trumpeter Keyon Harrold, Grammy award winning pianist Jon Cleary, Floacist from the award winning duo Floetry, UK soul singer Phebe Edwards and the renowned bassist and album producer Rick Leon James.

DENYS BAPTISTE - THE LATE TRANE

The Late Trane is the powerful and commanding new album from British saxophonist Denys Baptiste, a giant of the UK jazz scene. Reimagining and reworking ten carefully chosen composition from John Coltrane's late music (from 1963 - 1967) with a fresh and modern new interpretation, The Late Trane perfectly balances Denys Baptiste's unique artistic vision with the visceral emotions and cosmic references that encompasses Coltrane's late music. After almost two decades experience at the forefront of the British and European Jazz scene, Denys Baptiste still brims with the confidence of a youthful spirit. With a stellar band that fires on all cylinders and a new home at Edition Records, Denys' career continues to grow and blossom. This is an album by an artist in total control of his vision, a bandleader flexing his muscles and a musician in his instrumental prime. The Late Trane will fulfil his potential at an international level and bring a new audience to one of the finest instrumentalists and composers on the UK scene - something of a sleeping giant in the last 3 decades, but a giant that is about to wake!

NEW MUSIC RELEASES: DAVID BENOIT / MARC ANTOINE – SO NICE!; BILL FRISELL / THOMAS MORGAN – SMALL TOWN; KEVIN EUBANKS – EAST WEST TIME LINE

DAVID BENOIT / MARC ANTOINE – SO NICE!

A perfect blending of these great artist’s instrumental styles, 'So Nice!' combines the cool grooves of Smooth Jazz with the exotic sensuosity of Brazilian music, and the result is pure magic. Highlights include Antonio Carlos Jobim’s classic samba “Só Danço Samba,” the popular international favorite 147;So Nice” and eight inspired Benoit and Antoine originals! Full tracklist: French Café; Penthouse In Copacabana; Só Danço Samba; Caminando; A Café Au Lait Bentley; All Said & Done; Rio Deluxe; Puma Trail; So Nice; and Algarve.

BILL FRISELL / THOMAS MORGAN – SMALL TOWN

Small Town presents guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan in a programme of duets, the poetic chemistry of their playing captured live at New York's hallowed Village Vanguard. The album is released on both CD and 180g vinyl (with a free download code). Frisell made his debut as a leader for ECM in 1983 with the similarly intimate In Line. The guitarist's rich history with the label also includes multiple recordings by his iconic cooperative trio with Paul Motian and Joe Lovano, culminating in Time and Time Again in 2007. Small Town begins with a tribute to Motian in the form of a searching, 11-minute interpretation of the late drummer's composition "It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago", the duo's counterpoint yielding a hushed power. Morgan has appeared on several ECM albums of late, as bassist of choice for Tomasz Stanko, Jakob Bro, David Virelles, Giovanni Guidi and Masabumi Kikuchi. Small Town sees Frisell and Morgan pay homage to jazz elder Lee Konitz with his "Subconscious Lee", and there are several country/blues-accented Frisell originals, including the hauntingly melodic title track. The duo caps the set with an inimitable treatment of John Barry's famous James Bond theme "Goldfinger".

  

KEVIN EUBANKS - EAST WEST TIME LINE

On 'East West Time Line', guitarist Kevin Eubanks explores the chemistry he maintains with musicians on both coasts. Joining Eubanks on this stellar outing are the irrepressibly swinging Jeff "Tain" Watts, bassist Dave Holland, pianist Orrin Evans and trumpeter Nicholas Payton, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith and saxophonist Bill Pierce. Once again, his distinctive finger-style approach to the instrument is in the service of tunes that run the stylist gamut from urgent swingers to introspective ballads to Latin-tinged numbers and some get-down Philly funk. "Eubanks is a complete player, whether delivering jaw-dropping solos or flavourful comps." JazzTimes // "His sound is known to be muscular and with impetuous virtuoso in the fast songs, more delicate and gentle in slow and moderate, demonstrating his large capacity of expressive musicality.' - All About Jazz // "Preeminent musicianship and a restless sense of creativity.' – PopMatters

NEW MUSIC RELEASES: HARVEY MASON – SHO NUFF GROOVIN’ YOU: THE ARISTA RECORDS ANTHOLOGY 1975-1981; JAY KING – HELEN’S SON; URBANITY –URBAN SOUL

HARVEY MASON – SHO NUFF GROOVIN’ YOU: THE ARISTA RECORDS ANTHOLOGY 1975-1981

Sho nuff grooves from the great Harvey Mason – a jazz drummer at heart, but one whose talents also exploded into the realm of funk and soul in the second half of the 70s! Mason was part of a big generation of jazzmen who moved into soul – drummers like Billy Cobham and Norman Connors, or other talents like Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson – all of whom we'd use as a comparison to Harvey's excellent work on this collection! With his own drums at the core, Mason was able to open things up in so many ways – inviting in some of the cream of the crop of the fusion scene to work on his records – and also working with top-shelf vocalists like Merry Clayton or Randy Crawford, although Harvey also delivered some great vocals of his own! The 2CD set brings together the best cuts from Harvey's years at Arista Records – a great run of albums that sound even better here, condensed into a 33 track offering that also includes some 12" mixes and unusual moments. Titles include "Groovin You (12" mix)", "Here Today Gone Tomorrow", "First Summer", "Modaji", "Marching In The Street", "KY & The Cur", "Wild Rice", "Wave", "The Mase", "We Can Start Tonight", "Till You Take My Love", "On & On", "Space Cadets", "Sho Nuff Groove", "Universal Rhyme", "Funk In A Mason Jar", "Never Give You Up", "Say It Again", "When I'm With You (live)", "What's Going On", "Earthmover Prelude", "Bertha Baptist", "Ballad For Heather", "Set It Free", and "Going Through The Motions".  ~ Dusty Groove

JAY KING – HELEN’S SON 

Jay King's had quite a career in soul music – some of it back in the 80s, through his work with Club Nouveau – and lots of it behind the scenes, as a writer, producer, and greater creative force in the business! Yet standing up front here on his own, Jay's maybe in his greatest position ever – really turning into a great mellow soul singer in his later years, and serving up a set of original tracks that should have been classics! Production is tight, but never slick – and there's often some strong use of saxophone next to King's voice – which has a raspy charm as it flows out over the keyboards, on titles that include "Good Kinda Lovin", "Runnin", "Trying To Get You Back", "I'm Where You Belong", "The One", and "Take My Breath Away". CD also features two bonus tracks – "Runnin (Boogie Back radio)" and "Runnin (Boogie Back extended)".  ~ Dusty Groove

URBANITY –URBAN SOUL

The collaboration between Albare and Phil Turcio started 27 years ago when Albert Dadon – aka Albare – was looking for a new pianist for his band. At the time Phil had just turned 18. Albare recalls: “He was not even the youngest member of the band then; our drummer just turned 17. These guys sounded so good, it was a pleasure already to play with them.” Phil explains that he and Albare hear music in the same way: “Everything I throw at Albare comes back as if I would have played it myself.” From beginning to end, listeners will hear the duo’s innate instincts, the perfect partnership, the gorgeous groove of two friends making music. “We love jazz, but not in the traditional sense,” says Albare. “I think that Jazz of the 21st Century is all encompassing. There are no limits.” That thought is evident as Albare and Phil Turcio come together as Urbanity.

"Raise the Marc," A Benefit CD by the Marc VW Allstars & Produced by Peter Michael Escovedo, Proceeds Will Benefit Bassist Marc van Wageningen,

Contributing Artists Include Dave Koz, Sheila E., Ray Obiedo, Tony Lindsay, John Santos, Pete Escovedo, & Peter Horvath

On January 12 of this year, bassist Marc van Wageningen was struck by an Amtrak train on his way to a Tower of Power performance at Yoshi's in Oakland's Jack London Square. (Marc has been subbing with the renowned funk band since 2002.) The accident was widely reported at the time by CNN and other media outlets. Thankfully, Marc continues to recuperate from critical injuries and is expected to play again.

Multi-instrumentalist and music producer Peter Michael Escovedo organized a benefit concert which took place 10 days after the accident, and also set up sessions at Oakland's 25th Street Recording for a studio album called Raise the Marc. Featuring a long list of top-tier musicians including Dave Koz, Sheila E., Ray Obiedo, Tony Lindsay, Peter Horvath, John Santos, and Pete Escovedo, among many others, the CD will be released July 14 on the producer's Peter Michael imprint. All proceeds will benefit Marc and his family, who have been facing substantial medical expenses.

Marc van Wageningen Born in Amsterdam in 1958 and based in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than three decades, Marc van Wageningen is one of the most sought after bassists on the West Coast. In addition to his work with Tower of Power, he's toured and recorded with Steve Winwood, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker, and many other artists. An ace studio musician called for a vast array of situations, he's played on network and cable television house bands (ABC's The One, The Wayne Brady Show, and VH1's But Can They Sing?). But Marc VW is best known for his ferocious grooves playing funk and Latin music, styles he honed with his late brother, drummer Paul van Wageningen, his rhythm section partner and co-leader in the VW Brothers (Muziek, Patois Records, 2010).

Peter Michael Escovedo hails from a prominent Bay Area musical family that includes his father, percussionist Pete Escovedo, as well as sister and famed vocalist Sheila E. Peter Michael has recorded and performed with a long list of stars including Mos Def, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Kenny G, and many others. The producer and the major driving force behind the Raise the Marc project, Escovedo also composed the tracks "Heaven," originally heard on a Sheila E. album but changed here from a funk vibe to a bossa nova, and the closer "Wherever You Go I'll Go."

Saxophonist Dave Koz was available for a mere hour and a half before needing to catch a plane, but in that time he contributed a slice of Oakland funk called "Marcandave," which he co-wrote on the spot with Escovedo, Ray Obiedo, Raymond McKinley, and Peter Horvath and recorded immediately afterwards.

"Oakland in Da House," originally from one of Sheila E.'s albums, captures her band onstage at Yoshi's and is the only song on Raise the Marc on which Marc VW plays.

Also included on the new CD: the ballad "Sorry," written and performed by former Tower of Power lead singer Larry Braggs (who was also the lead vocalist on the VW Brothers' Muziek album); two Ray Obiedo compositions, "Sweet November" and "Awaken"; and the percussion tour de force "Glory," featuring Jesus Diaz, John Santos, Jon Bendich, Juan Escovedo, and Peter Michael Escovedo.

"I am extremely grateful for all of these super-talented musicians and friends," says Marc van Wageningen. "How lucky am I to be part of such a wonderful community. A special thank you to Peter Michael Escovedo who not only produced the CD but also two benefit concerts and a music video. I hope everyone enjoys the music as I did."

MoonJune Records Jazz Sampler IT MUST BE JAZZ 25 tunes - 3 hrs of music of progressive jazz & beyond FREE DOWNLOAD

Download, listen, share. It's FREE. Tips and contributions more are than welcome.

Hopefully this FREE SAMPLER will encourage You too buy CDs and Instant Downloads from MoonJune's online catalog: www.moonjunerecords.bandcamp

SPECIAL OFFER: If You contribute $25 You will receive a complimentary bonus: 5 album downloads. Only album on the Sampler qualify for this offer. You must contact MoonJune and make Your selection.

  

Where many other progressive music record labels rely on formulaic output consisting of endless riffing and basically the same old, MoonJune Records raised the bar by opening new doors via cross-cultural integrations of progressive music with newfound slants on the tried and true, along with stuff that many of us have never experienced before.  Is there anything left to say?  I rest my case. – Glenn Astarita, music journalist

MoonJune Records is unquestionably my favorite record label. Leonardo Pavkovic's singular effort to find, record, and promote progressive jazz and music beyond borders, is unparalleled. Every release is an unqualified musical and artistic success. – Jerry Gordon, radio host on WPRB, former owner of Evidence Records

One of the very few labels making constant & top-notch contributions to the sub-genre when the art environment is either hideously corporate or hopelessly fractionated as a result of rebellion against the soulless business-stamp-pressing of creativity,the imprint provides a haven for intelligent musicians refusing to compromise vision & integrity for ducats & indiscriminate public acceptance.  – Marc Tucker, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange

Featuring 86 international musicians from different parts of the world: Abel Pabon, Alan Pasqua, Alex Maguire, Allan Holdsworth, Amy Tata, Aris Daryono, Asaf Sirkis, Beledo, Bill Jones, Bob Mintzer, Bojan Ivkovic, Boris Savoldelli, Branko Trijic, Chad Wackerman, Charles Hayward, Ciro Riccardi, Damien Polard, Dave Carpenter, David Binney, Dave Liebman, Demas Narawangsa, Dennis Rea, Derek Di Peri, Desal Sembada, Dewa Budjana, Diki Suwarjiki, Domenico Angarano, Dusan Jevtovic, Dwiki Dharmawan, Elton Dean, Endang Ramdan, Frank Harrison, Fred Baker, Fred Delplancq, Gary Husband, Gilad Atzmon, Hugh Hopper, Hul Hul, Indro Hardjodikoro, Izaak Mills, Jason Smith, Jay Jaskot, Jean-Paul Estievenart, Jenny Bliss, Jimmy Haslip, Jimmy Johnson, John Etheridge, John Marshall, Jonathan Joseph, Larry Goldings, Laurent Delchambre, Lincoln Goines, Marcello Giannini, Marco Bardoscia, Mark Fletcher, Mark Wingfield, Markus Reuter, Michel Delville, Miroslav Tovirac, Othello Molineaux, Pedja Milutinovic, Pete Lemer, Peter Erskine, Peter Sebastian, Phil Miller, Pietro Santangelo, Raffaele Casarano, Riccardo Villari, Riza Arshad, Robert Thomas, Jr., Roy Babbington, Rudy Zulkarnaen, Ryan Berg, Salvatore Rainone, Simon Fintch, Simon Picard, Steve Franklin, Tali Atzmon, Tesla Manaf, Thaddaeus Brophy, Theo Travis, Tohpati, Tony Bianco, Vasil Hadzimanov, Xavi Reija, Yaron Stavi.

ALBUM TRACKLIST:

1. Dwiki Dharmawan - Pasar Klewer (Pasar Klewer) 12:13

2. Dusan Jevtovic - Yo Sin Mi (No Answer) 08:33

3. The Wrong Object - Saturn (Stories From The Shed) 06:52

4. Soft Works - Baker's Treat (Abracadabra) 05:40

5. Jason Smith - Up, Up And Away (Tipping Point) 06:17

6. simakDialog - One Has To Be (Patahan) 13:34

7. Beledo - Marilyn's Escapade (Dreamland Mechanism) 08:40

8. Mark Wingfield - A Conversation We Had (Proof Of Light) 04:50

9. Vasil Hadzimanov Band feat. David Binney - Nocturnal Joy (Alive) 11:23

10. Talinka - Talinka (Talinka) 04:27

11. Doubt - The Invitation (Mercy Pity Peace & Love) 04:00

12. Iron Kim Style - Adrift (Iron Kim Style) 07:44

13. Soft Machine Legacy - Kings & Queens (Burden Of Proof) 06:46

14. Phil Miller In Cahoots - Press Find Enter (Conspiracy Theories) 08:27

15. Dewa Budjana - Erskoman (Joged Kahyagan) 07:43

16. Othello Molineaux - Havona (Gospel For J.F.P. III - Tribute To Jaco Pastorius) 06:27

17. Slivovitz - Barotrauma (All You Can Eat) 05:41

18. Savoldelli Casarano Bardoscia - The Great Gig In The Sky - Money

            (The Great Jazz Gig In The Sky) 07:38

19. Hugh Hopper - Some Other Time (Numero d'Vol) 02:37

20. Tesla Manaf - Counting Miles & Smiles (Tesla Manaf) 04:59

21. Wingfield Reuter Stavi Sirkis - Fjords de Catalunya (The Stone House) 09:45

22. Machine Mass feat. Dave Liebman - Centipede (Inti) 04:43

23. XaDu - The Place With A View (Random Abstract) 04:55

24. Tohpati Ethnomission - Mata Hati (Mata Hati) 06:36

25. Holdsworth Pasqua Haslip Wackerman - It Must Be Jazz (Blues For Tony) 0

Direct download link

moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/album/it-must-be-jazz

Enter "0" (zero) to download for free. And please tell your friends!

 

Award-winning jazz guitarist FRANK PIOMBO follows his dream to KEEP IT MOVIN'

It’s been a steady upward trajectory for jazz guitarist Frank Piombo ever since he issued his debut album, “Smooth Reminiscence,” independently in 2010. The New Jersey-based musician sold enough units to be ReverbNation’s No. 1 jazz artist in the Garden State for three straight years while cultivating a growing fan base in the New York Metropolitan area via his live performances. This past April, he hit the red carpet in Hollywood and went home with three statues from the Indie Music Channel Awards for three tracks from his upcoming fourth album, “Keep It Movin’,” providing the perfect launch pad for the new set. Piombo wrote six songs for the disc arriving August 4, and produced and arranged the record with Joe Arminio and Tom Jacobsen.

Perhaps it’s inherent in the culture from which he was spawned, but the Rome, Italy-reared Piombo imbues a sense of quixotic romance and passion into his spirited melodies and sultry grooves on “Keep It Movin’.”  The title track, which won him the Best Male Jazz Artist title at the IMC Awards, is as optimistic and chirpy as they come. Illuminated by Michael Mahadeen’s whimsical flute and sax flourishes, the record opens with the instrumental version garnering international airplay and closes with a vocal rendition featuring empowering lyrics sung by Arminio. The placid “Al Dente (Tino’s Theme)” earned Piombo the Best Easy Listening Song award, a cut on which his cool electric jazz guitar humbly yields the fore to snappy flute, sax and keyboard solos. Piombo & Company ratchet up the tension on “Sunset Beach,” a steamy nocturnal number. That theme continues on “Middle Of The Night,” a track bolstered by Sam Hankins’ heated trumpet explorations that scored the Best Easy Listening Artist victory from the IMC Awards. Nominated for Best Jazz Recording, saxophonist Tony Exum Jr. trades soulful jabs with Piombo on “Rush Hour Funk.” Rich authentic Italian sensibilities mesh with improvisational jazz riffing and a robust R&B beat on the charming “Sogno D’Amore.” Piombo’s crisp guitar etchings thrive in the straight-ahead jazz setting of “Easin’ Up.”                   

“The music I wrote for ‘Keep It Movin’” represents an appreciation for the journey of life – the distant past and present as well as everything in between and the unknown possibilities ahead. The powerful message is remain focused, do what makes your heart smile and inspire others to follow their dream,” said the positive-minded Piombo, who was born in Tripoli, Libya.

Piombo hopes the pre-release accolades earned by his first album since 2013’s “The Night Speaks” will help expose his music to a larger audience. To further his mission, he has a pair of New Jersey concert dates booked in August in support of the album release. Two days prior to “Keep It Movin’’s” arrival, he will take the outdoor stage as part of the Essex County Summer Music Concert Series in Verona on August 2. A couple weeks after the album streets, Piombo will play Trumpets Jazz Club in nearby Montclair on August 19. An outdoor show in Viterbo, Italy is in the planning stages for October. For more information, please visit www.FrankPiombo.com.

“Keep It Movin’” contains the following songs:

“Keep It Movin’” featuring Michael Mahadeen

“Al Dente (Tino’s Theme)” featuring Rod Williams and Michael Mahadeen

“Sunset Beach” featuring Rod Williams

“Middle Of The Night” featuring Sam Hankins

“Rush Hour Funk” featuring Tony Exum Jr.

“Sogno D’Amore” featuring Joe Arminio

“Easin’ Up (Remix)”

“Keep It Movin’ (Vocal)” featuring Joe Arminio

Grammy® Award-Winning Musician Herbie Hancock to Teach His First Ever MasterClass

The premier online education platform MasterClass announced today that the legendary icon and fourteen-time Grammy® Award-winning musician Herbie Hancock will teach his first ever online class exclusively with MasterClass. 

In his class, Hancock teaches his approach to music and how this translates into life philosophy.   From his mentorship with Miles Davis through his genre-bending work as a bandleader and solo artist, he will share stories from a life in music and deliver expert technical lessons for professional and amateur pianists, musicians, jazz performers, composers across all genres, lovers of music and jazz aficionados.

In addition to being recognized as a legendary pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960's.  At a young age, Hancock had already gained recognition as a child piano prodigy and performed an impressive Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age eleven. He went on to play jazz in high school and explored his passion for both electronics and science. In 1963, Hancock joined Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet.  Davis served as an inspiration and mentor for Hancock.  Hancock continued to progress in his field and became one of the most influential jazz musicians, discovering the melodious bridge between traditional jazz and electronic sound. His many accolades include being named a Kennedy Center Honoree, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Institute Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and Co-Chair of International Jazz Day. Now in the sixth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: at the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. He is currently in the studio at work on a new album and most recently announced a world tour.

"Miles Davis taught me a lesson I'll never forget: in jazz there are no mistakes. Every note you play is an opportunity to take your music further. That idea opened my ears to worlds of musical possibilities. In my class, I will share those ideas and help you discover your sound. Through lessons in harmony, rhythm, composition, and improvisation, I will show you how to write and perform with freedom," said Herbie Hancock, MasterClass instructor.

"Herbie is simply amazing. He is not only a music legend, but he is devoted to helping the next generation of musicians. The depth and the joy with which he shares his craft is a revelation," said CEO and Co-Founder David Rogier of MasterClass.

MasterClass is an online education company which provides classes from world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best. Each class offers a unique learning experience which includes video lessons from the instructor, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction and more. All classes are available online for individual purchase at www.masterclass.com.

Aruán Ortiz releases Cub(an)ism, takes inspiration from Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz experimentation, and modern art

Born and raised in Santiago de Cuba, pianist Aruán Ortiz has consistently followed his vision of ever expanding musical horizons. Beginning with an exploration of Cuba’s musical heritage, Ortiz combines elements from a range of genres to form an unmistakable personal style with foundations in the polyrhythms of Afro-Cuban music. On his latest album, Cub(an)ism (out June 16 from Intakt Records), he brings that unique blend of modernism and tradition to the solo piano, offering an undiluted excursion into the crossroads of Cuban rhythms and Cubist abstraction.

Cub(an)ism arrives twenty years after Ortiz’ last solo album, his very different debut release, Impresión Tropical. Recorded in Spain when he was still in his early 20s, Impresión Tropical reveals the blend of influences that would come to mark Ortiz’s mature style in their nascent form, with Cuban rhythms formalized into contemporary classical structures and refracted through a modern jazz lens. His approach to that combination would become exponentially more complex in the coming decades, and Cub(an)ism finds them in full, expansive flower.

Ortiz’s compositions for solo piano release traditional sounds and forms from their original contexts, channel them and feed on them as free information within his genre-boundary-busting musical world, which, like tradition itself, is by definition constantly in movement, never following a firm set of rules. On Cub(an)ism, Afro-Haitian Gagá rhythms (see “Louverture op1. (Château de Joux)”) and the traditional genres of Afro-Cuban Rumba and Yambú form constantly permuting rhythmic frameworks for improvisation-heavy jazz modernism, leaving room for recollections of contemporary classical music, while specific toques of Tumba Francesa such as Yubá, approach the musical world of John Cage (see “Monochrome”). Ortiz’ intellectually playful keyboard art makes its way through an expansive musical cosmos in which the mathematical rigor of architectural structure and emotional freedom are interlocked (see “Sacred Chronology,” a piece based on the Fibonacci sequence).

Ortiz translates the current global catchphrase “everything connects” into a meaningful musical language. With a spiritual connection to his mentor Muhal Richard Abrams, Ortiz does not view music as one-dimensional; it must be placed in relationship to other art forms, particularly painting. The title Cub(an)ism represents a fundamental tribute to a key source of inspiration for Ortiz: the tradition-shattering art movement cubism, which like his music is essentially orientated on rhythm and dynamics.

Especially relevant in this context is the Cuban painter Wifredo Lam, whose masterpiece “The Jungle” is the inspiration for the signature track “Cuban Cubism.” Like Lam’s painting, Ortiz’ Cuban cubism is based on an original, multi-layered game of perception, and key cubist devices can be recognized in his painterly music. A major theme is sliced into jigsaw pieces which are hidden within the overall sense, as in “Passages,” in which phantom notes are emphasized that are not actually there. In the collage-like piecing-together of heterogeneous, geometric pieces, Ortiz’ penchant for architectural sound structures and the juxtaposition of rhythms and patterns can be heard. There is also a cubist sense of multiple perspectives and simultaneity in the sense of multiple views of an object, or a musical structure, heard in tracks such as “Passages” and “Intervals,” both based on a similar conceptual idea of melodic or rhythmic permutation from a different perspective each time.

Cub(an)ism is the result of an in-depth conversation with a range of musical idioms and styles, and various experiences from the phases of Ortiz’ life, in Cuba, Spain, France and the USA which have formed his eclectic concept of music. He began his musical career with the violin, switching to the viola at 10. His devotion for this instrument allowed him to win countless prizes and play several viola concertos with an orchestra when he was a teenager. The choice of piano only came at age nineteen, in 1992. Although Ortiz had been familiar with the instrument for years, in the early 1980s piano lessons were an obligatory part of a musical education in Cuba. When he finished his studies in classical music, he left the island for Barcelona where he transitioned from being an autodidactic jazz aficionado to the pursuit of a formal jazz degree.

His teachers included Horacio Fumero, who educated him on the historical evolution of jazz piano playing. Following the period in Spain when he recorded Impresión Tropical, he moved to Boston in 2002 to study at Berklee College of Music with teachers including Joanne Brackeen and Danilo Pérez. There he encountered the free jazz movement, which was to have a lasting influence. In 2008 Ortiz relocated to Brooklyn, the epicenter of innovative musical personalities, where he is based today.

In recent years, Ortiz has written music for jazz ensembles, orchestras, dance companies, chamber groups, and feature films. In 2012, he composed and conducted “Santiarican Blues Suite,” a five-part score that references a wide timeline of Cuban, Afro-Haitian, and contemporary classical vocabulary that received 4.5 stars from DownBeat Magazine. His most recent release, the acclaimed Hidden Voices, features an adventurous trio with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Gerald Cleaver, conjuring boundary-stretching music where Ortiz’ Afro-Cuban and jazz roots are implied, but not explicitly stated. Over the years he has received numerous accolades, including the Doris Duke Impact Award in 2014. He has also recorded collaboratively with bassist Michael Janisch and pianist/electtonic musician Bob Gluck, and played, toured, or recorded with Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, Wadada Leo Smith, Don Byron, Greg Osby, Wallace Roney, Nicole Mitchell, Steve Turre, Cameron Brown, and Nasheet Waits, to name a few.

www.aruan-ortiz.com

NEW MUSIC RELEASES: REUBEN FOWLER – BETWEEN SHADOWS; BURT BACHARACH / ELVIS COSTELLO – PAINTED FROM MEMORY; DIEGO BARBER – ONE MINUTE LATER

REUBEN FOWLER – BETWEEN SHADOWS

Between Shadows is the debut album by award-winning trumpeter and composer Reuben Fowler. This is an album of huge ambition, delivered impeccably by an artist with a vision to match. Here is a young musician with plenty to say as both a player and a composer, however what s most impressive is his boldness and maturity in bringing together an ensemble of world-class musicians to create an album of huge breadth and poise. Featuring some of the most renowned and revered musicians in British jazz - including Stan Sulzmann, Jim Hart and Guy Barker (who conducts) - as well as US trumpet star Tom Harrell, Fowler's ensemble echoes the brilliance and invention evident in some of the great British big band leaders. Recorded flawlessly at Angel Studios, London, Between Shadows is one of the most impressive all round debuts for some time. Reuben Fowler graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2012 as the second Winner of the Kenny Wheeler Award. He has also received the Musicians Benevolent Fund Peter Whittingham Award and an award from the Jazz Services Recording Support Scheme. To receive three such accolades in such a short period is evidence of Reuben s potential as an emerging artist of huge natural talent. Between Shadows is final confirmation that he will become a vital figure in British Jazz.

BURT BACHARACH / ELVIS COSTELLO – PAINTED FROM MEMORY

Limited, numbered 180gm vinyl LP pressing on Mobile Fidelity. Mastered from the original master tapes. Painted from Memory is a collaboration between Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach. It was released 29 September 1998. The collaboration commenced with "God Give Me Strength", a commission for the 1996 film Grace of My Heart. Apparently pleased with the result, the pair expanded the project to this full album, the first for Costello after an absence of two years, and for Bacharach after an absence of 21 years. Lyrics and music are co-credited to both Bacharach and Costello. "I Still Have That Other Girl" won a Grammy Award in 1998 for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" for Bacharach and Costello.

DIEGO BARBER – ONE MINUTE LATER

For 'One Minute Later', guitarist/composer Diego Barber recruited a superb rhythm section in bassist Ben Williams and drummer Eric Harland. Both musicians are incredible technicians and fantastic accompanists. Harland has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting and expressive drummers in jazz, while Williams has become a force because of his ultra clean tone and incredible groove. It was Barber's discovery of wunderkind percussionist Alejandro Coello that drove Barber to make this recording. Coello has an orchestral role within the ensemble. He utilizes a multitude of instruments on 'One Minute Later', including marimba, vibraphone, tympani, gongs, crotales, tam-tam and kalimba, creating tones and colours that make these compositions really stand apart. Most of Coello's parts are written out, adding a precision within the energy generated by the ensemble. Barber's intent while writing the music was to create a diverse program of pieces that sound different from each other. The influences of classical and jazz are apparent in the music. There are also elements of more emphatically rhythmic genres like electronic dance music and rock that influence the structure and drive of many of the pieces.

NEW MUSIC RELEASES: JIMMY GREENE – FLOWERS: BEAUTIFUL LIFE VOL. 2; JOEY DEFRANCESCO – PROJECT FREEDOM; D-ERANIA – LANGUAGE OF THE HEART

JIMMY GREENE – FLOWERS: BEAUTIFUL LIFE VOL. 2

A huge step forward in music for saxophonist Jimmy Greene – an artist who's still reeling from the loss of his daughter, who was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 – but who's turning his grief and sorrow into some of the richest music he's ever recorded! The feel here is even deeper than the first volume dedicated to Green's daughter – original songs that burst out with so much life and energy, we're held rapt right from the very first note – almost never mired in the sort of melancholy you might expect from such an experience, and instead ready to set a new fire to light the way ahead! Greene plays tenor, soprano, alto, and baritone – and other musicians include Kevin Hayes on Rhodes and piano, Mike Moreno on guitar, Renee Rosnes on piano, Ben Williams and John Patitucci on bass, and Jeff Tain Watts and Otis Brown III on drums. Titles include "Fun Circuits", "Second Breakfast", "Flowers", "Stanky Leg", "Big Guy", "Amantes", and "Thirty Two".  ~ Dusty Groove

JOEY DEFRANCESCO – PROJECT FREEDOM

Joey DeFrancesco's been giving us albums for many years now, and he never fails to deliver something that's right on the money – as is the case with this tight quartet session with his People combo! Joey's touch on the keys of the Hammond is amazing – and there are all these unusual inflections and shadings throughout – of the sort that few players can do while still keeping their groove – and as always, Joey's sense of space and timing is what really makes the album sparkle, and set him apart from so many of his contemporaries. At a spot or two, DeFrancesco also picks up the trumpet, which he blows overdubbed over his keys – and the rest of the group features warmly understated work from Troy Roberts on tenor and soprano sax, plus Dan Wilson on guitar and Jason Brown on drums – on titles that include "So Near So Far", "Peace Bridge", "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Stand Up", "Project Freedom", and "The Unifier".  ~ Dusty Groove

D-ERANIA – LANGUAGE OF THE HEART

A sultry saxophonist from the Chicago scene – an artist who's especially great on soprano sax, which she uses in a sweet style that takes us back to Grover Washington in the 70s! Yet there's also a contemporary vibe to the record, too – not a smooth jazz polish, but instead a reworking of older funky jazz modes – into a modern, urban groove that's mighty nice – and which has plenty of space for D-Erania to give us some well-crafted lines on both soprano and alto sax. Tony Cazeau handles keyboards on most tracks – although one title features guest work on keys from Robert Irving III, and a few more feature drums from Makaya McCraven. Titles include "El Tobias", "Is What It Is", "All We Need", "Native Beauty", "Ride With Me", and "Laelia's Dream".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: RAY MANTILLA – HIGH VOLTAGE; MONDO GROSSO – NANDO DEMO ATARASHIKU UMARERU; HAMPSHIRE & FOAT – GALAXIES LIKE GRAINS OF SAND

RAY MANTILLA – HIGH VOLTAGE

For decades now, Ray Mantilla's been one of the few cats who can effortlessly fuse together Latin rhythms and jazz – creating the kind of music that's completely satisfying to fans of both styles, but all without ever resorting to any sort of easy cliches or overdone modes! Mantilla's the kind of leader who can let the players really do their thing, while still hanging together as a tightly rhythmic unit – driven on by his percussion as well as his direction – with a lineup that features Guido Gonzalez on trumpet, Jorge Castro on baritone and flute, Ivan Renta on soprano and tenor, Edy Martiez on Fender Rhodes and piano, Chuco Martinez on bass, and Diego Lopez on drums. The set also features great guest vibes from Mike Freeman on two tracks – and the whole thing's got a rock-solid, all-jazz vibe that soars out on tunes that include "Solar", "Ramona", "Exit 45", "The Gypsy", "Midnite Jazz Affair", "Comin Home Baby", "Cedar's Blues", and "Third Plane".  ~ Dusty Groove

MONDO GROSSO – NANDO DEMO ATARASHIKU UMARERU

It's been quite a long time since we last heard from Mondo Grosso – the Japanese project from Shinichi Osawa whose work was part of the same great wave of 90s Tokyo soul we loved from artists like Mondo Grosso, Kyoto Jazz Massive, and Monday Michiru! Yet, despite the passage of time, and a number of solo projects, too – Osawa is immediately back in fine fine form – delivering the sort of album that instantly bridges the Pacific with a wonderfully well-crafted batch of upbeat club music! Some of the familiar talents from that older scene are on deck to help give a voice to the Mondo Grosso music – singers Bird, UA, and Tica – alongside a few other guests vocalists who deliver soulful lyrics, mostly in Japanese – on tracks that include "See You Again", "Solitary", "Late Night Blue", "Time", "Eraser", and "Gold". Features a bonus DVD, with 4 tracks that include "Time", "See You Again", and two more Japanese-language titles. (DVD is NTSC, Region 2.)  ~ Dusty Groove

HAMPSHIRE & FOAT – GALAXIES LIKE GRAINS OF SAND

Spacey sounds from the dream team of Warren Hampshire and Greg Foat – a set that feels a bit like music that Foat previously recorded under his own name, but which also has a more spiritual sound overall! Hampshire plays guitar and auto harp, and Foat plays Fender Rhodes, vibes, and other keyboards – but those instruments are just part of the sound here – as there's also some added strings, tenor, and other elements from time to time – inflecting the music with a visionary quality that reminds us of some of the more freethinking records coming out in the early 70s – especially the kind of small label sets that were years ahead of their time, and only finally getting their due all these many years later. The presentation of the package echoes the style of older Michael Garrick material on the UK Argo Records – and there's definitely a depth here to live up to that spirit, but also a warmer vibe overall. Titles include "How The Nights Can Fly", "Lullaby", "The Solar Winds", "A Long Way Home", and "All Washed Up".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: FARNELL NEWTON – BACK TO EARTH; BRAXTON COOK – SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN; ENNANGA VISION – ENNANGA VISION

FARNELL NEWTON – BACK TO EARTH

This might be the first date as a leader we've ever seen from trumpeter Farnell Newton – but it's already one that will have us looking out for more! Newton's got a tight, soulful sound on his horn – deft at times, but often more concerned with a longer, wider flow – which is balanced sonically by the trombone of Kyle Molitor – and given a nicely lyrical twist from the piano of Greg Goebel, a musician who may well be the second star of the set! We love Goebel's presence – which maybe reminds us of early Cedar Walton at times – and his warmly ringing tones are supported by work from Dylan Sundstrom on bass and Christopher Brown on drums. As with many of the best Posi-Tone label releases, much of the work here is original, and written by the leader – with titles that include "The Roots", "Transcendentals", "Crossing The Tracks", "Sons Of The Sun", "Gazillionaire", and "Road To The South".  ~ Dusty Groove

BRAXTON COOK – SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

Braxton Cook is a singer, but he's often one who speaks first with his alto sax – which he blows in this wonderfully sharp way – often with cascading notes that set this beautiful mood for his tunes! The music is mostly electric – filled with Fender Rhodes, bass, and guitar – so the acoustic contributions from Cook really stand out in this great way, even though both his singing and saxophone work seem imbued with an electric sensibility of their own! Rhythms are quite fresh – maybe in a post-Robert Glasper style that makes the whole thing as compelling as it is complex – very down to earth in presentation, even though the record is bristling with new ideas. Titles include "FJYD", "You're The One", "Until", "I Can't", "Hymn For Trayvon", "Never Thought", and "Pariah".  ~ Dusty Groove

ENNANGA VISION – ENNANGA VISION

One of those records that definitely lives up to its cover – as it's not only a great mish-mash of styles, it's also got some 80s instrumental currents that might come as a surprise if you know other records on the Soundway label! The work recasts older elements of Ugandan music with old school keyboards and drum machines – all at a level that's almost in the territory of some of the best post-punk global experiments – such as work on the Crammed Discs label, and maybe some of the more creative groups from the French and Belgian scenes of the time! The notes describe the music in somewhat enigmatic terms – but there's a straightforward appeal that really makes the whole thing great – a quality that's very unique, and very different – all with a sensitive approach that never goes for easy sorts of gimmicks or tricks. Titles include "All This Blue", "Abbanna Kange", "Kampala Auto Chase", "Endongo Moogs", "Silimu", "Jaja", "New Sunshine", "Essembi", "Killing Ghosts", "Happy Birthday Wonder", and "Otim's War".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: RONALD BRUNER JR. – TRIUMPH; JOSEF LEIMBERG – ASTRAL PROGRESSIONS; DAVE LIEBMAN / JOE LOVANO - COMPASSION: THE MUSIC OF JOHN COLTRANE

RONALD BRUNER JR. – TRIUMPH

A very well-titled album – given that the whole thing's a real triumph from Ronald Bruner Jr – who serves up some wonderful vocals alongside his work on drums – in a set that's got a swirlingly cosmic approach to soul! The album's overflowing with hip talents from the contemporary underground – with work from Thundercat on bass, Kamasai Washington on tenor, and even a bit of keyboards from the great George Duke – a lineup that really indicates the direction that Bruner is going for here – as he transforms contemporary soul with all the new energy from that scene too. And although his image on the cover might be tied to the streets, there's a more ambitious agenda taking place – as you'll hear on tracks that include "True Story", "Open The Gate", "Take The Time", "She'll Never Change", "Doesn't Matter", "One Night", "Sensation", "To You/For You", "Chick's Web", "Whenever", and "Geome Deome". (Includes download!)  ~ Dusty Groove

JOSEF LEIMBERG – ASTRAL PROGRESSIONS

A masterpiece from trumpeter Josef Leimberg – a set that features guest appearances by Kamasi Washington, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – yet a record that has an amazing sound that's all its own! Washington's working in a blend of spiritual and electric jazz currents – often in settings that blend strings from Atwood-Ferguson with his own bold solos, and some rising instrumentation that effortlessly blends vocals, reeds, guitar, and keyboards – all in a mode that hearkens back to the majestic sound of the Cadet/Concept years in Chicago, but which has a distinctly 21st Century flavor overall! The music is incredible – righteous, visionary, and full of power – and we hope we'll be hearing plenty more from Leimberg in the future. For now, the album's more than enough to blow our minds – and titles include "Interstellar Universe", "Between Us 2", "The Awakening", "As I Think Of You", "Astral Progressions", "Lonely Fire", and "Celestial Visions". ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE LIEBMAN / JOE LOVANO - COMPASSION: THE MUSIC OF JOHN COLTRANE

Two saxophone giants who emerged in the post-Coltrane generation – both taking on the music of the master himself! The set features Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano going head to head in a wonderful way – playing for a BBC Jazz program, and really stretching out – not just on twin tenors, bot also with Liebman on soprano sax, c flute, and wood recorder – and Lovano on alto clarinet, Scottish flute, and aulochrome – all instruments that really help expand on the color palette of the Coltrane compositions! The rest of the group features Phil Markowitz on piano, Ron McClure on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – and although, since the set was recorded in 2007, it's not the same "vintage tapes" style as other Resonance releases, it's still got an equally crucial vibe – a key look at a musical moment that we might have otherwise missed. Titles include a very long take on "Compassion" – plus "Locomotion", "Ole", "Reverend King", "Equinox", and "Central Park West/Dear Lord".  ~ Dusty Groove

Jazz Singer and Broadway Sensation Leslie Odom, Jr. Makes Newport Jazz Festival® Debut Friday, August 4, at Fort Adams

After winning awards and critical acclaim in the Broadway smash hit Hamilton: An American Musical, Leslie Odom, Jr. could have done anything. Doors opened, opportunities arose, but it is sharing his love for jazz that has taken the spotlight. He recorded an album of jazz standards and show tunes while still appearing on stage, eight shows a week. The self-titled album was released last year and Leslie Odom, Jr., the original Aaron Burr in Hamilton, has been touring in support of the record ever since. On Friday, August 4, he will make his debut at the Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management.

Odom is an enormously talented, crossover star. When he burst onto the scene as the rapping, dancing founding father, the New York Times called him "suavely brooding." The role made him a Tony and Grammy Award winner, but before that he was already a known TV actor and club performer. Odom, 35, was born in Queens, NY, grew up in Philadelphia and was a musical theater prodigy. He appeared in Rent on Broadway when he was just 17 while attending Philadelphia's High School for Creative and Performing Arts. After graduating with honors from the School of Drama at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University, he acted on television as Sam Strickland in TV's Smash for two seasons and had a recurring role as Reverend Curtis Scott on Law & Order: SVU. Soon to conquer the big screen, Odom recently filmed a remake of Murder on the Orient Express with a star-studded cast that includes Dame Judi Dench and Johnny Depp, due in theaters in November.

But, being an original star of Hamilton, first when it was off-Broadway and continuing with the show to the Great White Way as Burr, the founding father who shot Alexander Hamilton in a fatal duel, propelled Odom into a different stratosphere all together. And, yet it was back to his roots he went. Honey-voiced Odom created an emotionally resonant album of standards with relentless appeal. In much the same way as he broke with tradition by being an African-American cast as Aaron Burr, Odom's music crosses boundaries. This summer he will appear at festivals, in concert halls, but also with the Boston and San Diego Symphony Orchestras. His universal appeal is undeniable.

Leslie Odom, Jr., the 10-song album, features the classic "Look for the Silver Lining," which has been recorded by jazz greats from Chet Baker to Tony Bennett, as well as "Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)," "Cheer Up Charlie" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the South American classic, "Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)" and "The Guilty Ones" from Broadway's Spring Awakening. This soulful collection is a different world from the sounds of Hamilton, yet it's all part of Odom's appeal.

The 2017 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management takes place August 4 - 6 at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino. Artists include The Roots; Béla Fleck & The Flecktones; Snarky Puppy; Andra Day; Branford Marsalis Quartet; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Rhiannon Giddens, Christian McBride Big Band with Special Guests; Cécile McLorin Salvant; Maria Schneider Orchestra; Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, John Medeski & John Scofield; Maceo Parker; Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith and many more.

www.newportjazz.org.