Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Pianist Bill Cunliffe Revels in the Melding of Classical and Jazz on New Big Band Album

BACHanalia turns classics by Bach, Prokofiev and Manuel de Falla into briskly swinging jazz featuring Denise Donatelli, Terell Stafford, Joe La Barbera and Bob Sheppard

"Bravo, Bill Cunliffe! You successfully blend your love for the classical world with everything else you embrace. The result is a collection of colors that draw me in from the downbeat to the last fermata." - John Clayton

"Bill Cunliffe is an incredible pianist and unique big band composer/arranger. He combines varied elements in a way that gives his music a sound and feel all its own.Š He is one of the main voices in the big band genre today." - Bob Mintzer

When composer Gunther Schuller began hybridizing jazz and classical music 60 years ago, he famously coined the term "Third Stream" to describe the results. In 2010, pianist, composer and Grammy-winning arranger Bill Cunliffe wrote a Grammy-nominated concerto for trumpet and orchestra that put his own twist on the merger, calling it fourth streamŠLa Banda. Now, with his newest album, BACHanalia, Cunliffe boldly crosses the streams, mashing together classical repertoire and big band jazz with swinging abandon and irreverent glee.

BACHanalia, released June 2 on Cunliffe's own Metre Records label, obviously tips its hat to a towering figure in the history of music, Johann Sebastian Bach. But it also suggests that audiences are in for a musical bacchanal, an evening of merrymaking and revelry (level of debauchery left to the listener's discretion) that would be temperamentally suited to Cunliffe's raucous, gleam-in-the-eye style. The arrangements spotlight the pianist's gift for transforming a wide range of material into rollicking charts that are as bracingly fun to listen to as they are packed with creative ideas and sparkling wit - all skills learned through working with such legends as Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard and James Moody.

"I was always a wannabe classical pianist," says Cunliffe, modestly downplaying the years of classical training that preceded his college-age immersion in jazz, inspired by hearing Oscar Peterson for the first time. "These days, stylistic differences aren't viewed in quite the same way they used to be. Big band jazz is more intricately written, so it's moving toward European music; and modern classical music uses more indeterminacy, like jazz. And players now can do everything."

Taking a classic big band approach to such revered classical masters as Bach, Sergei Prokofiev and Manuel de Falla, an arranger could get weighed down shouldering the burden of two immense traditions. But Cunliffe's approach is never less than buoyant, juggling those traditions with agile spontaneity and a luxuriant sonic palette. The album, which commingles those reimagined classical pieces with jazz standards and a Latin-tinged original composition, is made even more compelling by the invigorating musicianship of a stellar large ensemble that teams virtuosic L.A. veterans with enthusiastic and skilled younger players, striking an ideal balance of technical excellence and infectious energy.

In addition, Cunliffe invites special guests to enliven the proceedings: Three-time Grammy nominee Denise Donatelli adds evocative wordless vocals to several tracks as well as a seductive interpretation of a Cole Porter classic; trumpeter Terell Stafford, who has played with the bandleader in the Clayton Brothers band and taught alongside him at Philadelphia's Temple University, takes a breathtakingly vulnerable solo turn on "Blame It On My Youth"; saxophonist Bob Sheppard offers a thrilling soprano workout on Cunliffe's "Afluencia"; and the incomparable drummer Joe La Barbera anchors the band throughout with the exhilarating propulsion that Cunliffe insists is central to any music he makes.
"It's got to swing," he states simply. "That rhythmic engine is so important. It brings people together. The structures of classical music lend themselves extremely well to large group jazz improvisation, but you've got to find rhythms that are readily translatable. Bach has always had that pulse. The Russian stuff - Shostakovich, Prokofiev - always feels like bebop to me."

The sound of La Barbera's brushes opens the album, setting the gentle but upbeat tone for "Sleepers Wake." Cunliffe's take on the beloved Bach cantata lets Donatelli's glowing vocalise carry the melody, joined at times by sax, guitar, trumpet, or Cunliffe's piano. A similar setting is given to the Baroque melodic twists and turns of "Solfeggietto," by the great composer's son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Donatelli's voice blends into the surging swells of Falla's "The Three-Cornered Hat," which Cunliffe originally arranged at the behest of legendary "Tonight Show" bandleader Doc Severinsen.

An orchestral din leads into the sultry Cuban accents of Cunliffe's own "Afluencia," originally written for and recorded by his Latin band, Imaginación. Sheppard reprises his soloist role from the group's self-titled 2005 recording. Besides that piece, the album deviates from the classical theme on the overcast version of "Blame It On My Youth" and, to close, "I've Got You Under My Skin."

The rich, complex harmonies of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto caught Cunliffe's ear from the first time he heard the piece. Here he transforms it into a lively samba highlighted by his own adventurous solo as well as a hypnotic run by saxophonist Rob Lockart, a former Eastman School of Music classmate. The final classically inspired piece is "Goldberg Contraption," which uses Glenn Gould's acclaimed recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations as a touchstone before veering off in some wild and eclectic directions. The title pays winking homage to cartoonist Rube Goldberg, whose whimsical devices went to ridiculous extremes to achieve simple goals, using a hodgepodge of found items. Cunliffe approached the composition similarly, patchworking a parodic fugue with New Orleans brass and simmering bebop, with the tongues that aren't playing instruments planted firmly in cheeks.

"I think music should be, among other things, funny," Cunliffe says. "I think that musicians - and people in general - who don't laugh at themselves are missing the boat." More often, though, the fun of Cunliffe's music comes from the joy of the players and from the pianist himself, who exults in recomposing his pieces on the bandstand. "I love being able to conduct the ensemble and break things apart at times. It's never the same twice."



Experimental Guitarist Rex Shepherd To Release New Album “Never Buy My Self Volume III”

Guitarist and composer Rex Shepherd will be releasing the third installment of the “Never Buy My Self” series digitally on June 29th. The first two volumes, released in 2014, featured Shepherd playing solo and in various duets, and volume three continues the series with a new set of all solo music consisting of both improvised and composed pieces. The new release features four new compositions and ten more improvised tunes that demonstrate Shepherd's musical range from thoughtfully written jazz ballads to fuzzed out guitar mayhem including one piece in which Shepherd again uses the Theremin for self accompaniment.

Says Rex, “I released a solo set in 2016 called 'Meditations,' and doing a new solo thing runs the risk of repetition but 'Meditations' was done in just a few sessions and was textural and harmonically focused and the new stuff returns to my tendency to play and write in a linear melodic way and the music on 'Never Buy My Self, Volume III' reflects that way of thinking, and it's also different in that it was recorded over a span of about two years and, like volume I, it includes one particular composition that is very personal and is only for me to play. I have aspirations for new projects with larger ensembles and to return to the No End of Now jazz rock thing too so this will probably be the last solo thing I do for a good while, and given the current socio-emotional environment these days I don't want to come off as a narcissistic anti-social type. So I hope people enjoy and connect with this music and, as always, much peace, happiness, and music to all people, everywhere.”

Guitarist Rex Shepherd also recently released three albums digitally: “Ohio”, “Sonority” and “Duets”. Combining elements of jazz improvisation and harmony with an approach to guitar playing heavily influenced by diverse players such as Jim Hall, Robin Trower, Fred Frith, and sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Rex Shepherd has forged a niche for himself with original music that typically lies somewhere just outside the usual genre labels but is still music that is approachable.

Says Rex, “This new music was recorded in my personal studio, much of it with other musicians in duets, and at various times throughout the last few years. The past several years have delivered to me a greater understanding of the fleeting nature of this lifetime, so I decided to release much of what I had accumulated, in part to satisfy my own need to communicate musically with the world outside of my little sphere of existence, but also I wanted to honor the musicians who played this music with me. It is these musical and personal relationships that are at the heart of creating music, whether composed or improvised, and for the people who listen to it I hope it also creates a connection between us. Much peace and music to all people, everywhere.”

Having been described as “Robin Trower meets Miles Davis”, Shepherd's music spans from full on instrumental jazz rock tunes to traditional jazz compositions with a good dose of free improvisation and sound experimentation using “prepared” and effected guitar sounds and instruments such as the “oceanharp” and the Theremin.

Shepherd's band, sometimes going under the name No End of Now, employs a revolving cast of the most creative players he can find who are willing to take part in a project that is often arranged while playing and with no limitations on the players' expression of the music. The compositions are also a blend of influences, from Wayne Shorter to John Cage, and most often are directly inspired by people, literature and other art forms, and experiences that hold significant meaning in Shepherd's life.

Previously released albums:

“Ohio”: With the exception of “Desire”, a ballad Rex wrote several years ago, the music on this recording is all improvised. The songs consist of duet recordings captured in his studio after he had returned home to Ohio for a short time. https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/ohio

“Sonority”: This recent recording features a set of improvised tunes that were arrived at after John and Rex conducted their usual pre-roll discussions about the state of current affairs in the U.S. https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/sonority

“Duets”: Except for the improvisations “Etude #2” and “April 9th”, this release features compositions by Rex that have existed anywhere from 15 years, in the case of “In the Shade”, to just two days before being recorded like “Happy Little Trees”. https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/duets

To purchase Rex Shepherd's “Never Buy My Self Volume III”: https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/never-buy-my-self-vol-iii

For more information:
Website: https://rexshep.com/


Tuesday, June 20, 2017

John Tropea's latest CD, Gotcha Rhythm Right Here is a return to R & B and Funk

John Tropea's latest CD, his eleventh solo release, is Gotcha Rhythm Right Here is a return to R & B and Funk for the veteran session guitarist. On the 13 song disc Tropea and his longtime friend/writing and arranging partner Chris Palmaro have created a groovin' collection of music that's a fun-filled showcase of some of the finest musicians on the scene.

From the pulsating bass saxes of “Soul Surfin’” to the finely-crafted pop genius of “Boulevard Strut”,from the sexy horns of “Bikini Beach” and rhythmic drive of “Chili Wa Man” to the ingenious jazz funk of Steve Gadd on “Hip To The Hips”, Gotcha Rhythm Right Here is going to grab you and not let go. Along with Tropea's inventive solos, the CD also features solos by Randy Brecker, "Blue" Lou Marini, Dave Mann, Chris Palmaro and Hannah Rubinstein. Each with their own unique style and intensity.

John Tropea is one of the most admired and highly regarded guitar players of his generation., a musician’s musician who attracts the finest players for his own projects. Tropea has written for and played with major recording artists from around the world and contributed to other artist’s successes such as his solo work with Deodato, (2001 theme), projects with Laura Nyro, Harry Chapin (Cat’s in the Cradle), Paul Simon (Fifty Ways), Alice Cooper (Goes to Hell), Eric Clapton (Journey Man), Dr. John, and many others. He is also a composer, arranger, and producer.

Tropea began guitar studies at the age of 12. His musical education continued at Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz guitar, harmony, composition, and big band arranging. Immediately after arriving in Boston, Tropea began playing live R & B and jazz gigs with many different bands in the area, including The Three Degrees and was nfluenced by Wes Montgomery, Johnny Smith, Louis Bonfa, Pat Martino, and George Benson.

After Berklee, Tropea recorded and toured with Deodato. Moving to New York in 1967, Tropea quickly became one of the most sought after session players, soon becoming a peer among New York’s finest studio musicians. As well as world touring, Tropea wrote and produced three critically acclaimed solo albums with TK records.

His first solo album “Tropea,” was released in 1975, followed by “Short Trip to Space,” and “To Touch You Again.” With those early recordings and other projects, Tropea formed close musical alliances with other great New York musicians including: David Spinozza, Warren Bernhardt, David Sanborn, Randy and Michael Brecker, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Don Grolnick, and Richard Tee (Tropea played in The Richard Tee band).

During this time Tropea also wrote and arranged music for film and broadcast advertising. With his frequent co-producer and friend Will Lee, Tropea went on to release “Simple Way to say ‘I Love You,’ and “Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blues” Live gigs from that era by The Tropea Band at Mikell’s, in New York City, remain legendary.


NEW MUSIC RELEASES: ELLA FITZGERALD – AT MISTER KELLY’S 1958; RUSTY BRYANT – FIRE EATER; GAL COSTA - INDIA

ELLA FITZGERALD – AT MISTER KELLY’S 1958

Includes a 12-page booklet with rare photos from the concert and updated liner notes. This release presents Ella Fitzgerald's 1958 performances at the iconic Chicago club Mister Kelly's. For thirty years, before it closed on August 25, 1975, it was a springboard to fame for countless entertainers. As reported in the Chicago Tribune,''It was a supernova in the local and national nightlife firmament.'' Ella is backed on these sets by a trio consisting of Lou Levy on piano, Max Bennett on bass, and Gus Johnson on drums. She performs a nice collection of well-known standards, as well as some tunes she rarely sang, such as the opening ''Your Red Wagon'' and ''Across the Alley from the Alamo.'' Three rare radio broadcasts, which also showcase Ella singing at small clubs have been added here as a bonus. Includes: Your Red Wagon; Nice Work If You Can Get It; I'm Glad There Is You; How Long Has This Been Going On?;  Across the Alley from the Alamo; Perdido; The Lady Is a Tramp; Bewitched; Summertime; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; St. Louis Blues; Witchcraft; Love Me or Leave Me; Joe Williams' Blues; Porgy & Bess Medley: I Loves You Porgy/Porgy, I's Your Woman Now (Bess, You Is My Woman Now); How High the Moon; Exactly Like You; Come Rain or Come Shine; Stardust; 's Wonderful; You Don't Know What Love Is; My Funny Valentine; Anything Goes; Why Don't You Do Right?; Mean to Me; I Can't Get Started; Later; and That Old Black Magic.

RUSTY BRYANT – FIRE EATER

An unsung monster in the pantheon of exceptional soul-jazz outings from the Prestige catalog, Fire Eater finds Rusty Bryant grooving hard in a combo that featured Idris Muhammad on drums, Wilbert Longmire on guitar, and both Bill Mason and Leon Spencer Jr. on organ. Included in this stretched-out, funky set of four originals is the title track, “Fire Eater,” which was sampled for “Swing Set” by Jurassic 5 (2000) and appeared on the 1999 collaboration between DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist, Brainfreeze. While not as instantly recognizable by name as other greats of the tenor saxophone such as John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, Bryant’s fiery and athletic approach on this set sets him apart from his peers as a force to be reckoned with. In the strident groove and funky underpinnings of Fire Eater is the blueprint for generations of future groovers and funkateers. Track Listing: Fire Eater (9:36); Free At Last (8:37); The Hooker (9:31); Mister S.(7:36). Personnel: Rusty Bryant (tenor saxophone); Idris Muhammad (drums); Wilbert Longmire (guitar); Bill Mason (organ); and Leon Spencer Jr. (organ).

GAL COSTA - INDIA

Digitally remastered edition of this 1973 album housed in replica of the original gatefold including the cover that was banned by the Brazilian military government in 1973 during the brutal dictatorship. India is a post-Tropicalia masterpiece from one of the movements key figures and true legends of Brazilian music, Gal Costa. Features a stellar line up of musicians including Gilberto Gil, Arthur Verocai, Dominguinhos, and Tenorio Jr. Amongst others. India includes the incredible 'Pontos de Luz' as sampled by Kaytranada on 'Lite Spots' - one of our favorite Brazilian songs of all time. A wonderful album from start to finish, touching on MPB, folk, jazz, funk and rock with strong Tropicalia and Nordestino influences throughout. Also includes "Índia," "Volta," and "Desafinado".


STAX RECORDS REISSUES MELVIN VAN PEEBLES’ GROUNDBREAKING SOUNDTRACK SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG

Stax Records, an imprint of Concord Music Group and its Catalog Division, Craft Recordings, is pleased to announce the reissue of one of its most provocative titles: Melvin Van Peebles’  Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Consistently hailed as a landmark, genre-defining album, this 1971 soundtrack -- performed by a then-unknown Earth, Wind & Fire with contributions by Van Peebles -- will be made available on May 26th for the very first time in high-res and standard digital formats. The vinyl edition features audio remastered from the original analog tapes and cut on the original Stax lathe at Memphis’ Ardent studios, then pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Memphis Record Pressing. The remastered LP also includes new liner notes from author, journalist and music critic Jeff Weiss, as well as from Melvin’s son Mario Van Peebles, director of New Jack City (1991) and 2003’s Baadasssss!, which chronicles the making of his father’s landmark film. 

Trailblazing writer, director, actor and composer Melvin Van Peebles was financially and creatively responsible for the entire production of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Van Peebles not only directed, scripted, and edited the film, but also wrote the score and directed the marketing campaign. The film, which in the end grossed more than $10 million (the highest ever for an independent film at the time), was acclaimed for its political resonance with the black struggle. In his liner notes, Jeff Weiss notes, “For all the resistance mounting in the streets, no black director had yet made a film that captured the spirit of rebellion, frustration and the refusal to accept injustice. Van Peebles alchemized Malcolm X, Iceberg Slim and Soul on Ice with Huey Newton, Gil-Scott Heron and the French New Wave. Badass cinema was born.” The Black Panthers made the film required viewing. And despite the fact that few theaters would screen the X-rated film, the soundtrack helped to market the film to the masses, through radio waves and word of mouth. The success of the film proved to be a genre-defining moment, giving birth to Blaxploitation, and opening the doors for films like Shaft and Super Fly.

The soundtrack features a combination of hymn-based vocalization and jazz rhythms, capturing the funky, gritty and soulful spirit of the time, and foreshadowing the use of sampling that would occur in hip hop music, some 20 years later. Weiss adds, “The soundtrack operates like a surrealist Mobius strip comprised of call-and-response chants against the man…It’s as avant-garde as the film’s kinetic mix of psychedelic jump cuts and dream-like sequences. The music becomes a character itself, unseen but forcefully heard.” 

The reissue of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song is part of a wider, year-long initiative, celebrating Stax Records’ 60th anniversary. The cross-label collaboration between Concord Music Group and Rhino Entertainment will highlight the hits, deep cuts and rare tracks from the Memphis label’s heyday of the '60s and ‘70s.

The 60th anniversary of the legendary soul label Stax Records commemorates its extraordinary legacy as an international hit-making machine and its indispensable chapter in American musical history as an integrated company in the heart of the Civil Rights movement. The Stax 60 celebration will highlight the hits, deep cuts and rare tracks from the Memphis label’s heyday of the '60s and ‘70s, including the many legendary artists who jointly created the world-renown “Stax sound," - Otis Redding, Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Sam & Dave, The Dramatics and many more. The Stax 60 campaign will honor the music from Soulsville USA through curated collections, deluxe box sets, hi-resolution audio, streaming playlists and unique vinyl initiatives.

Track listing:
A1. Sweetback Losing His Cherry
A2. Sweetback Getting It Uptight And Preaching It So Hard The Bourgeois Reggin Angels In Heaven Turn Around
A3. Come On Feet
A4. Sweetback’s Theme
B1. Hoppin’ John
B2. Mojo Woman
B3. Sanra Z.
B4. Reggins Hanging On In There As Best They Can
B5. Wont Bleed Me
B6. The Man Tries Running His Usual Game But Sweetback’s Jones Is So Strong He Wastes The Hounds (Yeah! Yeah! And Besides That Will Be Coming Back Takin Names & Collecting Dues)


Bassist David Pastorius and Local 518 'Sense of Urgency '

David, the nephew of the late, great bassist Jaco Pastorius, may share the same last name and instrument of choice as his uncle, but that’s where the similarities end. As bass players go, David’s roots match his edgier, more progressive rock sound. “I mean, obviously, now I listen to Jaco and, yeah, he’s definitely an influence now. But originally it was guys like Flea, Robert Trujillo, Les Claypool, Steve Harris... more from the rock element.”

As the nephew of legendary jazz fusion bassist Jaco Pastorius, David has carried the torch in a way that even he probably could not have anticipated. David’s first album, the self titled David Pastorius and Local 518 was released on the P-Vine label in Japan in 2007, with great success there. It is on this album that many listeners got their first glimpse of David’s unique approach to bass – and particularly his slap style – which he’s clearly advanced since, gaining him recognition wherever he plays.

The follow-up to the first release is Sense of Urgency. After a couple of listens, it is clear this is a big leap from the first one, from the compositions to the performance. David credits this with having both a plan as well as more experience in recording an album. David wrote or co-wrote all of the music on Sense of Urgency. He says that his writing often times starts on the bass, but on some of the tracks, they came using a unique instrument.

See video below David’s bass remix of Tech N9ne’s seminal track “Questions”, we knew something special had just landed in our laps. Fast forward nearly a year and the master of four strings is headed out on the road with Tech N9ne’s Band Of Psychos Tour.

“When I stumbled across a video on Facebook of David Pastorius I found myself stunned in my tracks.  You can definitely sense the ‘Pastorius DNA’ yet there is a clear path that David has carved out on his own in the shadows of his uncle Jaco.  I had to immediately contact him to tell him that he astounded me with his talent.  I believe he is perfect for our NOT JUST JAZZ campaign for his artistry speaks for itself with all the colors and flavors integrating with each other and especially jazz” says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide.  David is currently looking for bookings on music festivals worldwide.

“I am completely honored and grateful to be featured by The Jazz Network Worldwides’s NOT JUST JAZZ campaign. It’s an amazing platform for many artists such as myself that don't totally fit into the straight ahead jazz genre. I'm hoping that this feature will help bring some attention to artists like myself and others out there so we can support ourselves and our families doing what we love and were intended to do.   I also want to give a huge thank you to Jaijai Jackson for all her help and everything she did to make this opportunity a possibility for me.”

Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Serbian born and Barcelona Spain based guitarist DUSAN JEVTOVIC releases NO ANSWER

MoonJune Records has announced the new release of one of the most extraordinary musicians on the MoonJune label's roster, Serbian born and Barcelona Spain based guitarist extraordinaire Dusan Jevtovic. Already on his 5 participation  on extended MoonJune's family of similarly minded musos, No Answer is Dusan's third solo album and the second solo album on the label, and his next studio work was already recorded last month again at the magic La Casa Murada in Spain, with Gary Husband, Markus Reuter and Bernat Hernandez, will be released in the first trimester of 2018. 

The inspired pairing of guitarist Dusan Jevtovic and pianist Vasil Hadzimanov, mobilized by the convincing playing of Asaf Sirkis on drum kit, has resulted in a sound that cross-pollinates the most forward thinking aspects of progressive music with the excitement of post-jazz. Think ECM record label vibe filtered through Radiohead played at an intimate after-hours jazz venue and you’ll catch the vibe. Choosing to work without a bass player opens new dynamic possibilities and allows the guitar and keyboard voicing to dance and weave in a textural ballet. Vasil’s beautiful arpeggiated piano serves as delicate counterpoint to Dusan’s raw textured playing. Asaf alternates between the delicacy of Jon Christensen and the driving power of vintage Billy Cobham. Mini Moog bass brings a powerful bottom end for Jevtovic’ soaring acrobatics and reinforces Sirkis' driving grooves. As with the very best instrumental music, there is a lot of careful listening, creative comping, and building off the other players’ energy, resulting in a music that is at once confident, inspired and original. Dusan Jevtovic' second international release (his third) on the New York progressive jazz label MoonJune might be his groundbreaking work which will intrigue fans of guitarists such as John Abercrombie, John Frusciante, Terje Rypdal, David Torn, Nels Cline, and Jimi Hendrix.

The inspired pairing of guitarist Dusan Jevtovic and pianist Vasil Hadzimanov, mobilized by the convincing playing of Asaf Sirkis on drum kit, has resulted in a sound that cross-pollinates the most forward thinking aspects of progressive music with the excitement of post-jazz. Think ECM record label vibe filtered through Radiohead played at an intimate after-hours jazz venue and you’ll catch the vibe. Choosing to work without a bass player opens new dynamic possibilities and allows the guitar and keyboard voicing to dance and weave in a textural ballet. Vasil’s beautiful arpeggiated piano serves as delicate counterpoint to Dusan’s raw textured playing. Asaf alternates between the delicacy of Jon Christensen and the driving power of vintage Billy Cobham. Mini Moog bass brings a powerful bottom end for Jevtovic’ soaring acrobatics and reinforces Sirkis' driving grooves. As with the very best instrumental music, there is a lot of careful listening, creative comping, and building off the other players’ energy, resulting in a music that is at once confident, inspired and original. Dusan Jevtovic' second international release (his third) on the New York progressive jazz label MoonJune might be his groundbreaking work which will intrigue fans of guitarists such as John Abercrombie, John Frusciante, Terje Rypdal, David Torn, Nels Cline, and Jimi Hendrix.

Dusan Jevtovic is Serbian guitarist based in Barcelona, Spain since 2003, and has released two solo albums: On The Edge" (2009, L'Indi, Spain) and Am I Walking Wrong? (MoonJune, 2013), and has recorded and toured with a vast arrays of International artists such as Xavi Reija, Tony Levin, Gary Husband, Asaf Sirkis, Vasil Hadzimanov, Marko Djordjevic, Xavi Reija, Bernat Hernandez, Markus Reuter, Rafa Pons, Rim Banna.

Vasil Hadzimanov is Serbian pianist/keyboardist based in Belgrade, and son of two iconic pop singers from 60's and 70's, who are still active: Macedonian legend Zafir Hadzimanov, and Senka Velentalic. Alumni of Berklee College of Music, Vasil has recorded and performed with Theodossi Spassov, Marko Djordjevic Dusan Jevtovic, Toni Kitanovski, David Binney, Antonio Sanchez, Matt Garrison, Vlatko Stefanovski, Nigel Kennedy, Vlatko Stefanovski, David Gilmore (jazz guitarist).

Asaf Sirkis is one of the busiest European drummers, performing over 200 shows per year. Based in London, born in Israel, he recorded and performed with Tim Garland, Jacob Collier, Larry Coryell, Gwilym Simcock, John Abercrombie, Jeff Berlin, Kenny Wheeler, Gary Husband, Gilad Atzmon, Andy Sheppard, Bob Sheppard, Mark Egan, John Etheridge, Mark Wingfield, Nicolas Meier, Dwiki Dharmawan, Dewa Budjana, Kamal Musallam, David Binney, Billy Sherwood, Carles Benavent, Nguyên Lê, Jimmy Haslip, Beledo, Mauro Pagani, Soft Machine Legacy, and many more.

 

GREEK-AMERICAN REGGAE ARTIST/ PRODUCER CHRISTOS DC SET TO RELEASE IS FOURTH ALBUM TESSERA ON JULY 28TH

Christos DC (aka Chris Vrenios) is a Greek-American artist, producer, and touring multi-instrumental musician based in Washington, DC. His multicultural sensibility and heart for roots music have been influential in shaping the reggae scene locally and around the world. His own recordings, paired with those released through his homegrown Honest Music label, highlight some of the most well known names in reggae today including Sly & Robbie, Thievery Corporation, Akae Beka, and GRAMMY-nominated icon Don Carlos.

Christos DC’s fourth album release Tessera (the number four in Greek), mines the deepest wells of reggae’s talent pools, while highlighting a diverse range of styles. The heavyweight first single from the album, “Speak the Fire,” features up-and-coming Bulgarian artist Zafayah and the production powerhouse unit The Skankin Monks. It was released in April and the video, which premiered on Reggaeville, was filmed entirely in Goa, India. Christos also teams up with Akae Beka (Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite) on the impassioned tune “What is Happening,” and leads the powerful anthemic collaboration “Communion” with Harrison Stafford, the voice of Groundation, and Kenyatta Hill, son of the legendary Joseph Hill of Culture. Paying homage to musical inspirations and heritage beyond the reggae world, he offers an emotional cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold;” a rocksteady rendition of the obscure Nina Simone gem “The Desperate Ones;” and a roots reggae take on the classic Greek tune “Ρολόι κομπολόι (Watch Rosary)” embellished with epic horn and flute arrangements.

Other standout tracks include the lyrical, bass-rich “Say What You Want” and “Pressure” – both of which were mixed by dub mixologist Tippy I Alfred of I Grade Records and Zion I Kingscollective. The last tune on the album and the only instrumental, “Boots and Tie,” features Christos playing talk box guitar over a rare Sly & Robbie / Taxi Gang track originally recorded at Channel One Studios in 1980.

An open mind, open heart, and broad talent have enabled Christos DC to connect with collaborators and audiences of all ages, colors, and creeds. “Love is the frequency in which the Creator works through one another,” Christos sings. It is in this spirit that he continues to offer Honest Music.

Catch him on tour performing new tunes this summer in Europe with Don Carlos as well as the Washington, DC area.

Tour Dates:

Jul 08 @ Breaux Vineyard Key West Fest, Purcellville, VA
Jul 28 @ Backstage, Munich, Germany
Jul 30 @ Reggae Jam Festival, Bersenbruck, Germany
Aug 01 @ Rote Fabrik, Zurich, Switzerland
Aug 04 @ Belgrave Hall, Leeds, United Kingdom
Aug 05 @ 02 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Aug 06 @ O2 Academy Islington, London, United Kingdom
Aug 10 @ Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Aug 11 @ Afro C Festival, Bredene, Belgium
Aug 12 @ Uppsala Festival, Uppsala, Sweden
Aug 15 @ Rototom Sunsplash, Benicasim, Spain
Aug 17 @ Overjam International Reggae Festival, Tolmin, Slovenia
Aug 18 @ Festa di Radio Onda d´Urto, Brescia, Italy
Aug 19 @ Festijam 2017 – Reggae Mountain Festival, Arrens, France
Aug 20 @ Bilbo Reggae Splash 2017, Bilbao, Spain
Aug 26 @ Jammin Java, Vienna, VA

Videos:: 
Christos DC feat. Zafayah & The Skankin Monks – Speak The Fire [Official Video 2017]
Human Dignity by Christos DC live at Ashkenaz. Berkeley ,CA
Christos DC: Vasilikos Live at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

 

Internationally acclaimed saxophonist Miguel Zenón tours to Europe and China July 1 - 15, 2017

Acclaimed saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón and his longstanding quartet embark on an international tour from July 1-15 with stops in France, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, and China. The band is the same lineup featured in Zenón's latest release Típico (February 2017 Miel Music): pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Henry Cole.

o Saturday, July 1, Jazz a Oloron, 10 Rue de Revol, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France.
o Sunday, July 2, Bogui Jazz, Calle de Barquillo, 29, 28004 Madrid, Spain.
o Thursday & Friday, July 6-7, Le Duc des Lombards, 42 Rue des Lombards, Paris, France.
o Saturday, July 8, La Cité du Vin, 134 Quai de Bacalan, Bordeaux, France.
o Sunday, July 9, Summer Jazz Days, Warsaw, Poland.
o Monday, July 10, Musique en été, Geneva, Switzerland.
o Friday & Saturday, July 14-15, Blue Note, Beijing, China.

A multiple Grammy® nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, Miguel Zenón is one of a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often-contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists of his generation, Zenón has also developed a unique voice as a composer and as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between Latin American folkloric music and jazz. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has recorded and toured with a wide variety of musicians including Charlie Haden, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, Bobby Hutcherson and Steve Coleman and is a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective.

Tipico is above all a celebration of Zenón's longstanding quartet. His past several releases have generally fleshed out that core unit with additional instrumentalists as Zenón has looked outward to explore various aspects of his Puerto Rican heritage. Tipico feels more intimate. Its focus stays closer to home, with nods to Zenón's own personal and professional life as it zeroes in on what makes his band unique.

"I was thinking about what this band and the guys in the band mean to me as I was writing the music," he explains. "I kept going back to this idea of us developing this common language that identifies us as a band."

That language has been developing for more than a decade. Pianist Luis Perdomo and bassist Hans Glawischnig have been with Zenón since the turn of the millennium; Henry Cole joined the band in 2005. Their language is thoroughly fluent modern jazz, with all the instrumental prowess and rhythmic and harmonic complexity that that implies. But the dialect they've created together through the years is distinctive.
Zenón                                                                                                         

"'Típico' refers to something that's customary to a region or a group of people," Zenón says. "Or something that can be related to a specific group of people. And when I was writing the music, I was thinking about music that identified us and this band."

Each of the album's final three tracks, Zenón notes, was composed around a solo or signature rhythmic line that one of the band members had played before. "My approach was more systematic on those three compositions specifically. But the whole record essentially is about representing the sound of the band. The sound of our band."

The album opens with "Academia," a tune inspired by Zenón's teaching at New England Conservatory, where he serves as part of the jazz faculty. "One of the great things about teaching at NEC is that I get the opportunity to create a personalized curriculum for each of my private students, depending on their needs and on what I feel they should be working on. So I find myself having to come up with new exercises constantly, in order to keep our interactions interesting and challenging. This composition is built around various harmonic and rhythmic exercises that I developed with some of my more recent students at the school."

The second track, "Cantor," honors Zenón's friend and frequent collaborator Guillermo Klein. "Gullermo's music has a very personal voice, something very unique. With this piece I was trying to convey some of what I feel are his most interesting qualities as a composer, like the lyrical character of his melodies and the very nuanced harmonic movement of his pieces. He also has very particular way of organizing the 3/4 bar, which he breaks down into three bars of 7/8 and one bar of 3/8. The piece touches on this a bit towards the end, sort of as a way of tipping my hat to a great friend and musician."

The third and fourth tracks both stem from Zenón pondering what gives a particular song a folkloric feel. "Ciclo" emphasizes melody and rhythm, Zenón taking"a melody that is meant to sound very folkloric - a bit simpler harmonically and delineating a very specific beat" and building a complex extended cycle around it using smaller, interlocking rhythmic cells.

"Típico" approaches its folkloric aims harmonically. "There's a harmonic cadence that is very common in Latin American music, especially music in the Caribbean. Something that revolves around a minor key and then slides down, going 'Subdominant Minor - Tonic Minor - Dominant - Tonic Minor.' A very simple cadence, but one that is very unique and effective. It's always caught my ear because I'm always on the lookout for things that serve as sort of musical connecting threads, things that makes me feel that the music from all these different countries and cultural expressions is somehow connected and coming out of the same combination of elements. I built this specific composition around this cadence, and called it "Típico" in reference to this Pan-American idea."

"Sangre Di Me Sangre" is a tune the quartet has been playing for a while now, a balladic tribute to Zenón's 4-year-old daughter, Elena, written before her first birthday. "I was sitting in this park with her," he recalls. "She was playing around and I sat down and sketched out the song on my notepad." Zenón wrote the piece first with lyrics, then orchestrated it for the quartet, featuring Glawischnig's bass both on a sprightly introductory melody played in unison with Perdomo and on a solo meant to convey a singing quality.
Glawischnig is also featured on "Corteza," its melody derived from Zenón's transcription of his bass solo opening the track "Calle Calma" on the 2009 Zenónalbum Esta Plena. It, too, has a balladic feel, with lyrical solos from Zenón and Perdomo leading to a closing uptempo restatement of the theme.

The Perdomo feature "Entre Las Raíces" ("Amongst the Roots") is more fiery, emphasizing two key facets of the pianist's musical personality. The intricate melody he and Zenón whip through together was transcribed from a Perdomo solo on "Street View: Biker," the opening track on Perdomo's album Awareness. But this arrangement opens with Perdomo playing wild and free, and Zenón's alto solo when it comes reveals a free side of his own, veering more toward Ornette Coleman or Albert Ayler.

"The piece is very free in terms of the way we deal with the improvised segments," says Zenón. "Luis always talks about listening to Bud Powell and Cecil Taylor at the same time when he was growing up in Caracas, and always having a foot in this freer, avant-gardish world of jazz. And when you hear him play on that track, it sounds that way. For that piece specifically, he really sounds like he's 100 percent in his element."

Cole's playing is suitably free on "Entre Las Raíces" as well, but his featured track, "Las Ramas" ("The Branches," Cole's own debut album having been titled "Roots Before Branches"), required more discipline. "I wrote the piece around this figure that he has been developing over the last few years and plays all the time," says Zenón. "The piece is very difficult to play - sort of like an etude for the drums, pretty much. And I know he worked very hard on it. Even though the original idea came from him, he worked very hard on making it precise and making it clean, and really sounded amazing on this track."

It's no accident that the final three songs are named for parts of a tree. "I was thinking of the band as a tree," Zenón acknowledges. "And thinking of myself as the watcher. I mean, I'm part of it also. But mostly I'm observing these amazing musicians night after night, and how together they kind of make up this livingorganism."

Zenón is onto something with that metaphor. The spotlight cast by Típico illuminates how alive his quartet's music has always been, while never ceasing to evolve and grow.


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


Monday, June 19, 2017

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."

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