ROUNDER TO RELEASE GREGG ALLMAN'S FINAL STUDIO ALBUM, SOUTHERN BLOOD, SEPTEMBER 8TH

Rounder Records has announced the release date for Gregg Allman's final studio album. SOUTHERN BLOOD arrives everywhere on Friday, September 8th. A special and unique part of the deluxe package and the first run of the vinyl will be the inclusion of a painting that Allman and his daughter Layla commissioned from visual artist Vincent Castiglia. The beautiful portrait Castiglia painted was made with Gregg's actual blood in the paint. The process served as inspiration for the album title.

  

SOUTHERN BLOOD serves as a remarkable final testament from an artist whose contributions have truly shaped rock & roll throughout the past four decades. Allman's first all-new recording since 2011's GRAMMY® Award-nominated solo landmark, LOW COUNTRY BLUES, the album is among the most uniquely personal of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's career, an emotionally expansive collection of songs written by friends and favorite artists including Jackson Browne, Willie Dixon, Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter, Lowell George and Spooner Oldham & Dan Penn, meant to serve as a salutary farewell to his legion of devoted fans and admirers. Allman collaborated on his closing project with manager and dear friend Michael Lehman and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Don Was, a longtime acquaintance and staunch supporter committed to helping the rock icon actualize his very specific aspirations.

  

"As his producer, I was dedicated to helping Gregg crystallize his vision for the record and to help make sure that this vision made it to the tape," says Was. "He was a musical hero of mine and, in later years, had become a good friend. The gravitas of this particular situation was not lost on me. Gregg was a sweet, humble man with a good heart and good intentions and it was a great honor to help him put his musical affairs in order and say a proper farewell."

   

Allman, well aware his time was short, approached the project with an unambiguously realistic agenda. High atop his list of goals was to capture the sound of the ultimate Gregg Allman Band in full flight, considering them the tightest knit combo of all the line-ups that had backed him over his 40+ year solo career. Despite his ongoing health issues, the Gregg Allman Band had picked up right where the Allman Brothers Band left off in 2015, spending nearly two years on the road with tour highlights including the now-annual Allman-curated Laid Back Festival. 2015's two disc CD/DVD set, BACK TO MACON GA, immortalized Allman and his eight-member band's floor-shaking live power but their leader was determined to see what the group could do within the confines of the studio.

  

"Gregg was very excited to be in the studio," says Lehman. "He was especially thrilled to be recording this studio album with his solo band - he was so proud of them and loved the sound that they produced together. Gregg felt close to every single one of them. The Gregg Allman Band was like a family or a well oiled machine, always knowing what the other band members were thinking and doing."

"The Gregg Allman Band enabled him to realize a sound that he'd been hearing in his head for decades but was previously unable to achieve. We talked a lot about his first solo LP, LAID BACK - what would that type of album sound like in the modern era played by these cats and fronted by an older and wiser Gregg Allman?"

  

A further key to Allman's vision for SOUTHERN BLOOD was his decision to record at the world-renowned FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. Alongside its own fabled history, the legendary studio occupied a momentous place in Allman's personal back pages.

"A constant discussion during all of my nearly 15 years working with Gregg was his desire to return to Muscle Shoals," Lehman says. "He always would talk about how he needed to get back to FAME Studios to bring him full circle."

"Muscle Shoals is hallowed musical ground," says Was. "FAME was the place where Gregg's brother Duane first started making waves in the music world and where the earliest seeds of The Allman Brothers Band were sown in a back room during their first, seminal rehearsals. Duane's presence is still ubiquitous in that building. Recording there was Gregg's way of making his spirit a part of this album, in the same way that his spirit continued to be part of Gregg's life."

Brother Duane's presence courses through SOUTHERN BLOOD, from Jackson Browne's "Song For Adam" - the final verse of which Was says reminded Gregg of his older brother's premature passing - to the funk-fried "Blind Bats and Swamp Rats," originally found on the Duane-produced TON-TON MACOUTE!, a lost classic from left-handed blues guitarist Johnny Jenkins. Allman, Was, and Lehman spent significant time plotting out SOUTHERN BLOOD, carefully selecting material that would capture the moment and simultaneously serve as a synopsis of an undeniably extraordinary life. Songs like Bob Dylan's haunting "Going, Going Gone" and Tim Buckley's immortal "Once I Was" allowed Allman a chance to look back over his time on Earth while also pondering the journey that lay ahead.

"Gregg, Don and I listened to a lot of material," Lehman says. "We went back and forth with each other to ultimately come up with songs that Gregg felt reflected his mood, where he was presently in life both on a personal level and professional level, as well as what would be on his fans' minds later on."

  

Allman was of course a gifted and evocative tunesmith in his own right, the award-winning author of such modern standards as "Midnight Rider," "It's Not My Cross To Bear," "Dreams," and "Whipping Post." SOUTHERN BLOOD is highlighted by one of the most candid tracks of his long songwriting career, "My Only True Friend," co-written with Gregg Allman Band guitarist/musical director Scott Sharrard.

"'My Only True Friend' was Gregg's attempt to contextualize the course of his life," says Was. "The man that his fans saw performing onstage was the essential Gregg Allman - he was whole and truly satisfied when he was up there playing music. The trials and troubles he faced in life were mostly the result of not knowing what to do with himself in between shows. In this song, he's addressing a woman and explaining that, although he loves her and doesn't want to face living his life alone, being away on the road and performing every night is his lifeblood. If you understand this about Gregg Allman, every other aspect of his life makes complete sense."

Sharrard - who also contributes his own show-stopping "Love Like Kerosene" - led the Gregg Allman Band through two weeks of recording, with all nine musicians playing together in the same room and Allman singing live vocals. Despite the undeniable "overtones of finality," the sessions proved both relaxed and fun for all involved. Though Allman's diminishing stamina caused the daily sessions to be shortened, he filled each moment in-studio with every ounce of signature Gregg fire and enthusiasm -- an intensity that prevailed to the very last note.

"Gregg was not feeling great," Lehman says, "but being a true professional, he gave it his all as usual. He hit the studio every day for about four or five hours and would typically nail one or two of the songs."

"Gregg was thrilled that the sound in his head was manifesting itself on the tape," Was says. "He didn't have all the lungpower of his younger self, but we felt that these raw, weathered performances were honest and compelling. We all agreed to leave them as they were on the day they were recorded. In the spirit of LAID BACK, Gregg wanted to hear things like background harmony vocals and reverb on his voice but this album is essentially a documentary of our two weeks in the studio.

"Even though I'd known Gregg for a while, I was still blown away to be there with him and to witness his genius up close. I can still remember being swept away by his performances. He was so deeply engaged with the music! Working closely with him reinforced and further enhanced my view that Gregg Allman was one of the greatest artists of this or any time."

Rich with emotional texture, historical connectivity, and purity of performance, SOUTHERN BLOOD would be a landmark Gregg Allman record under any circumstance, its powerful subject matter and passionate presentation as emblematic an expression of his distinctive art as any prior work in the Allman canon. Though his loss leaves a vast musical space that can never truly be filled, SOUTHERN BLOOD stands tall as a remarkable valedictory and memorial to a true giant of American music, now and forever.

Gregg Allman was undoubtedly among rock and roll's greatest and most significant artists, his soul-fired and still utterly distinctive voice one of the defining sounds in all of American music. From his founding role in the one and only Allman Brothers Band to his long and storied solo career, Allman consistently proved himself to be an iconic singer/songwriter and exceptional practitioner of the American blues tradition. Allman accrued a remarkable list of honors over his five decade career, including the ABB's 1995 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at the 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. Allman detailed his brilliant career in 2012's acclaimed memoir, My Cross To Bear. Now available in both hardcover and paperback, the New York Times bestseller chronicles an astonishing life and creative journey burdened by unimaginable loss, alcohol and drug addiction, told with clear-eyed wisdom and sharp hindsight.

BiRDMAN Soundtrack Composer ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ Returns with New Album, BAD HOMBRE

Riding the crest of a musical wave that began with his Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominated score for Alejandro González Iñárritu's Academy Award-winning film, BiRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), followed by soundtracks composed for director Fernando León de Aranoa's Política, Manual de Instrucciones, and EPIX network's Get Shorty (premiering August 11), drummer/composer Antonio Sánchez returns with his most personal work to date, Bad Hombre  (available September 29), his first true solo album - composed, performed, recorded, engineered, and produced exclusively by Sánchez.

Bad Hombre aligns its powerful musical message with a socio-political alert, based on Sánchez's concern for his country, his fellow American citizens, as well as those of his native Mexico. As spewed from the mouth of "The Combover Con Artist," the "Short-Fingered Vulgarian," a/k/a, President Donald J. Trump, Bad Hombre is also a call to arms.

"Becoming an American citizen was a very proud moment for me," Sánchez says. "I've been in this country for almost 25 years and I truly believe it's a unique country of immigrants of different races, backgrounds and religions that can ultimately coexist. But Donald Trump has agitated a false, misguided sense of nationalism that has slammed minorities' backs against the wall. His constant conspiracy theories about voter fraud are nothing but a plan to implement widespread voter suppression."

Self recorded in his new home studio, surging from Sánchez's subconscious, Bad Hombre is an impassioned suite of solo drumming improvisations shot-through with electronic textures that create fireworks of self-expression and fervent self-purging-another ingenious turn from the gifted 45-year-old musician.

"I've been taunted and bullied countless times on social media because I openly oppose Trump's views and policies and I'm very vocal about it," Sánchez adds. "When the trolling would take its ugliest shape, it would be about my Mexican heritage and about how we're a bunch of leeches that suck on the government's resources. About how they (the aggressors) surely paid for my education and or that we don't pay taxes and then it would only go lower from there."

While Bad Hombre reflects this current Dark Age, Sánchez's deepest feelings also expose an alter ego of sorts, a composer of turbulent, soothing, and occasionally malevolent electronic music atmospheres. (Think Miles Davis' Live-Evil meets Squarepusher's Music Is Rotted One Note paired to The Orb's Cydonia and Pan Sonic's Atomin Paluu). Left to his singular devices, Bad Hombre unleashes some of the most visceral and varied drumming of Sánchez's career, propelled by all the fiery passion of a battle cry. Bad Hombre confirms Antonio Sánchez-the solo drummer-as-storyteller-as one of the most gifted and innovative musicians of his generation.

"A lot of artists are not open about their political views, but to me it's part of the artist's duty," he says. "To speak up and make people think. Either literally or through art."

The Inspiration

With the American presidential election looming, Sánchez found comfort and inspiration in the music of eclectic electronic artists. Listening to Bibio, Bjork, Little Dragon, Bonobo, Hiatus Kaiyote, Beck, Aphex Twin, Baths, and Boards of Canada stimulated Sánchez to compose "soundscapes that wouldn't necessarily work in a more conventional jazz setting. The amount of layering I was able to create opened up infinite sonic possibilities and I soon realized the only obstacle would be my own creativity."

Simultaneously, the "banality of evil" as personified in Donald Trump's candidacy set Sánchez's feelings ablaze.

"Art is a reflection of life," Sánchez says. "A surprising level of anger, frustration and awareness had grown in me due to the US political situation. The rise of Donald Trump and his xenophobic and racist rhetoric against Mexicans and other minorities troubled and angered me deeply because I'm a native Mexican and there was no other way interpret his rhetoric but as an insult and a threat. That experience dictated what kind of story this album would tell.

"We're living in one of the worst times in American political history," he adds. "The intolerance and hate that minorities are experiencing daily in America is extremely dangerous when implemented by some of Trump's most fervent and troubled followers. Friends of mine have suffered verbal and physical abuse. This level of animosity doesn't equal the principles that this country is meant to espouse."

The Process

Creating atmospheres with Native Instruments software and treating his drums with exotic muffling techniques and added percussion, Sánchez developed Bad Hombre's textural palette within an improvisational framework.

"Bad Hombre is an experimental project in that it's a complete departure from anything I've ever done in the past as a drummer, composer, producer and engineer," Sánchez says. "I didn't have a blueprint; it was all new to me. It was a steep, stressful, intriguing, and an amazingly fun learning curve.

"I recorded hours upon hours of solo drum improvisations," he recalls. "Grooves, solos, textures, anything I could come up with spontaneously. Sometimes my goal was to simply speed-up or slow-down, to see how that would make me play. Or I would only allow myself to play certain elements of the drum kit for effect. Then I took the improvisations and began editing the tracks into more concise pieces and adding layers of electronic instruments on top." 

The Legacy

Determined to give voice to his Mexican heritage, Sánchez initially turned to Mariachi music, then the work of his 92-year-old Grandfather, Ignacio López Tarso-arguably the most revered working actor in all of Mexico-sampling his spoken words for opening track, "Bad Hombre Intro."

"You're hearing grandpa telling tales about the Mexican revolution with an excellent Mariachi band backing him up. That is very close to my heart. And it's amazing to hear his voice reciting poetry backed by my drums opening the record."

Also on "Bad Hombre Intro," Sánchez originally quoted Trump, saying 'We have some bad hombres here and we're going to get them out,' sampled from a presidential debate.

"That phrase is so offensive to Latinos and so absurd," Sánchez says. "I wanted to have it in plain sight for people to be reminded of its absurdity, its malice and the character of its creator. Unfortunately, lawyers and label executives advised against it so I ended up replacing it with my voice and distorting it in a similar way as to how people that are being hunted or persecuted might sound on radio or TV answering his phrase. We're letting him know that we, 'The Bad Hombres,' have no intention of going anywhere."

The Message

"Bad Hombre is a continuation of BiRDMAN in way," Sánchez states. "After I realized the power of drums in a cinematic context I wanted to see where I could take it. And using electronic instruments gave me unlimited possibilities. It almost felt like writing in color compared to the standard of way of writing for musicians, which is more black and white. The sheer limitless possibilities, sonically speaking, opened a whole new world.

"Bad Hombre has been one of the most liberating endeavors I've experienced as a musician," Sánchez says. "My only constraint was my imagination. I had unlimited resources in my home studio; I could work at any time. Not having to deal with conventional melodies, chord changes, and forms inspired me-this all came from improvisation. It was like having an alter ego. The Bad Hombre."

When not recording or touring with renowned jazz guitarist/composer Pat Metheny, with whom the drummer shares a 17-year relationship, Sánchez maintains a demanding schedule with his own group, Migration.

Sánchez has recorded five albums as a leader including two with Migration, including 2013's New Life and 2015's The Meridian Suite. Sánchez's trio turn, Three Times Three (with John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, Joe Lovano, Christian McBride) was released in 2014, as well as the award-winning BiRDMAN soundtrack that same year, each release further expressing Sánchez's compositional mastery of conventional forms.

Sánchez recently scored ten episodes of the EPIX network series, Get Shorty, and is also preparing his next release, Channels of Energy, a collaboration with Vince Mendoza and the WDR Big Band performing his compositions (playing drums, as well).

Antonio Sánchez · Bad Hombre

Label: CAM JAZZ · Release Date: September 29, 2017

www.antoniosanchez.net

Grammy Lifetime Award Winner George Wein Presents A Newport Jazz Festival Extra "A Bridge Together," Connecting Jazz, African Beats and Indian Carnatic music

Featuring Millennial Twins Riya and Sara Kapoor With Music and Orchestra Arrangement By Conductor and Choreographer Guru Swati Bhise

Bridgefest 2017, under the auspices of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. will present A Bridge Together, a special concert and Newport Jazz Festival® "extra" that connects Jazz, African Beats and Indian Carnatic music, on Thursday, August 3, at 6:30 pm on the Quad Stage at Fort Adams State Park.

This pre-Newport Jazz Festival event will showcase the multicultural connections between music and movement. The two-part concert features dance segments by 17-year old twins, Riya and Sara Kapoor, accompanied by a Carnatic music orchestra featuring musicians from India.  Guru Swati Bhise is the Conductor and Choreographer for the music and orchestra arrangement for this dance segment. The jazz quartet will be led by award-winning guitarist Rez Abbasi and West African compositions, directed by the noted West African choreographer and dancer, Maguette Camara.

Fusing Indian, African and American dance and music traditions, A Bridge Together raises the question for the audience: "Are we so different after all?"

Part I is an exploration of music from West Africa, India and the US. Part II introduces the expressive, athletic Kapoor sisters, whose study of Bharatanatyam led to their first appearance on stage at age 15 at their debut event at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Newport Festivals Foundation CEO/founder George Wein was in the audience when Riya and Sara made their debut and was determined to bring some of the magic he saw on stage to Newport.

"These young women are tremendous," said Wein. "The dances are very intricate and beautiful, but what I loved is how they brought jazz into these very traditional art forms. They've modernized the dances in a wonderful way while adding a delightfully different perspective to jazz music."

The Newport Folk Festival (www.newportfolk.org) takes place at Fort Adams State Park July 28-30, 2017 followed by Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management (www.newportjazz.org) August 4-6, 2017 at Fort Adams and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

Newport Festivals Foundation was founded by George Wein in 2010 to build and continue the legacies of the famed Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival®. For more information, please visit www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org. 

NEW RELEASES: RANDY CRAWFORD – NAKED AND TRUE (BONUS TRACK); PAT THOMAS – ELEPHANT CLOCK OF AL JAZARI; RALPH BOWEN

RANDY CRAWFORD – NAKED AND TRUE (BONUS TRACK)

A later date from 70s soul legend Randy Crawford – cut overseas, at a time when she was initially without US representation – a situation that was immediately corrected with the strength of the album! The set has Randy really getting back to basics – mostly working with tight jazz funk backings that recall both her first few records, and her work with The Crusaders – a perfect setting for her wonderful voice, and her trademark use of jazzy currents with more straight-ahead soul! Players on the record include Fred Wesley on trombone, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, and Bootsy Collins on bass – which will give you an idea of the strength of the sound – and titles include "Cajun Moon", "Give Me The Night", "Glow Of Love", "I'll Be Around", "Forget Me Nots", "Joy Inside My Tears", "Purple Rain", and "Come Into My Life". Great 2CD version – features a bonus instrumental version of "The Glow Of Love" – plus 13 more different mixes of tracks from the album – including "Cajun Moon (long trip mix)", "Forget Me Nots (Femi Fem rotation mix)", "Give Me The Night (Mousse T's classic club mix)", "Forget Me Nots (Delaney's mix)", "I'll Be Around (surprise mix)", and "Cajun Moon (cajun trip club version)".  ~ Dusty Groove

PAT THOMAS – ELEPHANT CLOCK OF AL JAZARI

The title and cover here are super-simple, but the sound is anything but – a continuing evolution of the talents of tenorist Ralph Bowen, who just seems to grab us more and more with each new album! The core of the record is the long "Phylogeny Suite", which has some of the most complex writing we've ever heard from Bowen – almost like he's hitting a second chapter of his career, while still finding a way to soulfully swing with the quality that first made us love him a number of years ago. There's almost a Monk-like sense of angularity at points – accented by the piano work of Jim Ridl, who plays in the quartet alongside Kenny Davis on bass and Cliff Almond on drums. Titles include "A Cast Of Crabs", "A Leap Of Leopards", "Cache Cache", "A Rookery Of Ravens", and a version of McCoy Tyner's "Search For Peace".  ~ Dusty Groove

RALPH BOWEN - RALPH BOWEN

The title and cover here are super-simple, but the sound is anything but – a continuing evolution of the talents of tenorist Ralph Bowen, who just seems to grab us more and more with each new album! The core of the record is the long "Phylogeny Suite", which has some of the most complex writing we've ever heard from Bowen – almost like he's hitting a second chapter of his career, while still finding a way to soulfully swing with the quality that first made us love him a number of years ago. There's almost a Monk-like sense of angularity at points – accented by the piano work of Jim Ridl, who plays in the quartet alongside Kenny Davis on bass and Cliff Almond on drums. Titles include "A Cast Of Crabs", "A Leap Of Leopards", "Cache Cache", "A Rookery Of Ravens", and a version of McCoy Tyner's "Search For Peace".  ~ Dusty Groove

               

               

THE FRANK CARLBERG LARGE ENSEMBLE: MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES

MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES, the new large ensemble recording from Frank Carlberg (on Red Piano Records), draws its inspiration from the work of Thelonious Monk. The album taps into the atmosphere and orbit of Monk; infected by, informed by, in awe of Monk, and presented as an act of love and respect. The pieces generate their shapes from splinters, cells and feelings found in and around Monk's music, as well as from his verbal utterances in the form of advice and/or cryptic observations. MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES is not intended as a tribute album, but rather as, "a celebration of the beauty and vitality of his music that has impacted me profoundly," explained Frank Carlberg. "I thought it fitting to present this recording during the Monk Centennial year, 2017."

Why Monk? Carlberg explains: "For me, a Monk-inspired project is quite personal. Monk's music has been central to my musical life from very early on. The clarity of his thought, the uncompromising nature of his art, the emotional impact Monk's music has made on me; this recording is a culmination of all these elements, and being able to record this music with these remarkable musicians is really a dream come true for me!"

The opener, DRY BEAN STEW, borrows shapes and snippets from Monk's, "I Mean You". It begins with mysteriously pulsating sounds and noises that gradually develop into a restless rhythm, alternating between longer and shorter beats. This tempo with an irregular gait meets up with a descending motif that echoes "I Mean You." After several shifts the pulse slows to half-time and features resonant wind voicings. Suddenly the metrically unsettled tempo returns with cascading figures in counterpoint hurtling towards a blistering solo by John O'Gallagher on alto. The end of O'Gallagher's solo leads back to the half-time feel and a piano excursion by Carlberg. The band's swinging statement then concludes with a transition to a tutti rhythmic romp serving as a back drop to trumpeter John Carlson's soaring, emotive lines. A long ascending line is followed by the cascading horn lines, with increased counterpoint, before the band delivers one more short statement in half-time. A humorous wink to the classic Monk intro ends the piece on a light note.

  

RHYMES features a lyrical a cappella bass solo by Weidenmüller as an introduction. Once the band enters, Clark Coolidge's evocative poem, "Rhymes with Monk" (read here by poet Paul Lichter), permeates the whole piece. The band commentary features brief solo spots by Jeremy Udden on alto saxophone, and David Smith on trumpet, as well as many allusions to Monk-like shapes by the horn sections.

SPHERE is an energetic romp centered around the pitch of Bb. Washburne's trombone sets the tone before the horns gradually enter in playful rhythmic counterpoint with occasional interruptions. A hint of "Straight No Chaser" enters the fray but disappears just as quickly. After a metric modulation and some tonal shifts Udden's alto takes over with a lyrical disposition. The horns re-enter and build to a climax of organized chaos. After a brief tempo change Washburne and the simmering rhythm section bring the tune to a playful ending.

After some bird-like textures on A DARKER SHADE OF LIGHT BLUE the melancholic melody enters gradually bringing the whole band together in a short tutti statement. Brian Landrus takes over with a yearning bass clarinet solo supported by bass and drums. Clustered voicings provide a backdrop to the solo. A tempo is established with Sarin setting the stage for a bass line with bass trombone and bass clarinet. Carlson solos with gusto on trumpet and a lively sectional counterpoint leads to a rambunctious finale that quickly dissipates into silence.

BEAST, with its distant echoes of Monk's "Ugly Beauty" evokes a somber merry-go-round atmosphere. Alan Ferber's trombone is featured to great effect, building the intensity before the re-entry of the thematic material.

YOU DIG! is a lively verbal Monk quote, sung by Christine Correa. The music rushes forward with reckless abandon, and after breathless woodwinds and relentless brass, O'Gallagher matches the intensity in his brilliant alto solo. After the band returns, drummer Michael Sarin has the spotlight and dispatches a delightfully inventive solo turn before a last humorous slow reiteration of the text.

NO FEAR, MY DEAR opens with stately low winds and bass providing the environment for Sarin's percussive ruminations. After a gradual orchestral build Adam Kolker's tenor plays a beautifully crafted call and response solo with the band. Eventually the ensemble takes over and borrows some phrases of "Ruby, My Dear" in rich orchestration. An open wind pyramid of perfect fifths brings the piece to a close.

The motivic and harmonic materials of INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY are mostly derived from the interval of a sixth (the interval also structurally significant in Monk's "Misterioso"). Udden provides solo commentary to the orchestral setting before giving way to a Frank Carlberg piano solo. The cornet of Kirk Knuffke then builds to the orchestral high point of the piece. A few more sixths in mixed winds end the piece in a ritardando.

Another Monk quote provides the text for the setting in ALWAYS NIGHT. Trumpeter Carlson blows over a churning rhythm section background before Correa enters with the short declamatory yet mysterious vocal line. After some instrumental interruptions the line re-appears twice more. The piece ends with a collective improvisation where Correa and Carlson lead the way.

Thelonious Monk's classic ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT gets an extended, creative treatment here. Carlberg says: "I wanted to include this piece here in all its glory. Being probably Monk's most famous composition (and most frequently recorded...) I wanted to honor the exquisite design of the piece while adding a personal take on it. I also wanted to incorporate a hint of the traditional intro as well as coda with a certain compositional transformation of the original." Knuffke is the featured soloist throughout and turns in an exquisite performance on cornet. The band is richly orchestrated and brilliantly performs the dynamics from a hush to a roar.

MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES

is not your grandfather's Big Band music. Specifically, it offers new perspectives on Monk's music, and on compositions for large jazz ensemble in general. It celebrates Thelonious Monk on his centennial while forging new paths in modern jazz by balancing the improvisational impulses with exciting orchestral and structural designs.

www.frankcarlberg.com

Will Downing Set To Release His 20th Album - Soul Survivor

Will Downing’s new CD Soul Survivor is set for release on September 22nd as he celebrates 3 decades as a recording artist. It’s his 20th album and it features "'I'm Feeling The Love' which he says is an “anthem for anyone that has been in and out of love. It is a song about renewed spirit. As always, Avery*Sunshine's performance is heartfelt and it is a  perfect match for me. She absolutely made me feel the love with her amazing vocals."- Will Downing 

Will Downing's voice is one of the most distinctive, loved and instantly recognizable voices in R&B. His flawless, emotive, buttery-smooth and agile honey-toned baritone, along with his impeccable phrasing and jazz-fueled agile runs, seamlessly bridge the worlds of R&B and Jazz. Downing's sophisticated and always-cool sensibilities have proven to be timeless and have garnered him the role as the reigning king of romantic ballads. 

Shanachie Entertainment will release Soul Survivor - Downing's follow-up to last year's critically heralded Black Pearls. Downing's anticipated Soul Survivor unites him with a number of special guests including labelmates Avery*Sunshine, Najee, Phil Perry and Maysa. Highlights on the CD include Will's  inspired interpretations of such classics as Blue Magic's "Stop To Start,"  The Stylistics' "Hurry Up This Way Again," "Tell Me All About It," a hit for both Michael Franks and Natalie Cole. Downing also offers several of his own superb originals!

Christian McBride, Questlove, Uri Caine, Joey DeFrancesco, Benny Golson and Others Celebrate Philadelphia Reunion at Newport Jazz Festival August 4 - 6

Philly funk and jazz take a trip to Newport this summer and spark a reunion with a group of special friends and former classmates when Newport Jazz Festival® Artistic Director Christian McBride gets together with Questlove and Black Thought from The Roots and Joey DeFrancesco, who all graduated from Philadelphia's Creative and Performing Arts High School in 1989. The Philly roll call also includes Uri Caine, Orrin Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., George Burton and the legendary Benny Golson.

The Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management welcomes The Philadelphia Experiment, a collaborative project of Christian McBride, Amir "Questlove" Thompson and Uri Caine. The group will take the Quad Stage at 1:55 on Sunday afternoon, bringing the Fort to life with their eclectic mix of Caine's jazz/classical piano background, Thompson's hip-hop drumming and McBride's virtuosity on jazz bass.

The Philadelphia Experiment was conceived by Philadelphia producer, Aaron Levinson as a way to bring together and showcase the talents of different Philadelphia-born musicians making Philadelphia-inspired music. Though McBride, Thompson and Caine were familiar with one another, they had never before played together professionally. The result of this "experiment," their 2001 album recorded in three days, is an amalgamation of styles coming together in a wildly funky masterpiece.

McBride, Thompson and Caine will also take the festival stage individually with their own bands. The Uri Caine Trio plays Saturday on the Harbor Stage at 12:10 pm, the Christian McBride Big Band plays the Fort Stage on Saturday at 12:45 pm and The Roots mount the Fort Stage on Sunday at 5:00 pm. McBride, a Newport Jazz Festival veteran, will be be on hand this year as both a musician and the recently appointed artistic director of the festival.

On Friday, George Burton hits the Harbor Stage at 12:55 and Leslie Odom, Jr, star of the Broadway hit, "Hamilton" brings his jazz band to Newport's Quad Stage at 3:25 pm, followed by Joey DeFrancesco + The People at 4:50 pm. The elder statesman, Benny Golson, takes his turn at Newport with his quartet on the Harbor Stage on Saturday at 2:50 pm.  Orrin Evans plays solo piano in Storyville Sunday at 12:00 pm and then takes the piano chair in the Sean Jones Quintet at 4:05 pm.

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 also include Béla Fleck & The Flecktones; Snarky Puppy; Andra Day; Branford Marsalis Quartet; 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.

NEW RELEASES: BROTHER 2 BROTHER FEATURING CARTER CARTER – CAN I TAKE YOU THERE; JAZMIN GHENT – CHOCOLATE SUNSHINE; KENNY POLSON – PARADISE VOL. 1

BROTHER 2 BROTHER FEATURING CARTER CARTER – CAN I TAKE YOU THERE

Move over, Philly! Siblings Winston and Charles (Chaz) Carter - collectively known as Brother 2 Brother featuring Carter Carter - are declaring their hometown of Pittsburgh the official city of Brotherly Jazz. The electric guitar and drummer duo backs their boldness with a list of prime opening gigs (Cameo, Bobby Brown, Angela Bofill, Parliament Funkadelic) and a tight, melodic, in the pocket debut Can I Take You There. Helmed by producer Chuck Cymone - who has done projects with Chris Standring, Eric Darius, Peter White, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot - the song set spotlights the Carter's prowess on their respective instruments and creates an inviting, sonically expansive world full of sultry contemporary jazz and R&B. When Brother 2 Brother asks, Can I Take You There, you're gonna say yes! ~ smoothjazz.com

JAZMIN GHENT – CHOCOLATE SUNSHINE

Rising star saxophonist, Jazmin Ghent's sophomore album, Chocolate Sunshine, is a languid, jazzy experience. This young woman stole the hearts of contemporary jazz fans onboard 2014's Smooth Jazz Cruise, where she won the onboard talent competition and played with Boney James and Candy Dulfer. This Smooth Jazz Go Girl is touring and performing at jazz festivals all over the U.S. as a new, solo sensation, including Newport Beach Jazz Festival, Orlando Jazz Festival, Steel City Jazz Festival, Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, JazzDiego, Capital Jazz and many more! Chocolate Sunshine is sophisticated and fashionable, with hand-picked guests such as hit-maker Jonathan Fritzén; groove master, bassist Julian Vaughn; in-demand guitarist, Adam Hawley; and critically-acclaimed, saxophonist Nelson Rangell. Her brand new single, Adele's "Hello" featuring Paul Brown is also produced by Paul Brown, showcasing Jazmin's playing in an entirely new light... this compelling and jazzy re-imagining of one of the biggest songs of all time, is certain to connect Ms. Ghent with listeners all over the world! ~ smoothjazz.com

KENNY POLSON – PARADISE VOL. 1

After earning four college degrees and teaching for years everywhere from Bogota and Rio to Beijing, saxophonist and composer Kenney Polson returns to recording and performing music full time with the release of an album whose title perfectly describes the listening experience: Paradise, Vol. 1. Drawing on his passions for jazz, new age, Latin, R&B, funk and gospel, Polson creates a spirited, soulful mix of melodic tunes, jazzy riffs and dreamy atmospheres with top Brazilian musicians he has recorded with previously. In all, the versatile musical force of nature has visited and performed in over 50 countries. He pools all those magical experiences and vibes together to create a true musical Paradise! Best of all, the second half of the album title promises there's more to come! ~ smoothjazz.com

NEW MUSIC: JEFF KASHIWA – FLY AWAY; CAROL ALBERT - FLY AWAY BUTTERFLY; ROBERT G- THE EP

JEFF KASHIWA – FLY AWAY

Former Rippington and creator of The Sax Pack, Jeff Kashiwa enters his third decade of solo recording with FLY AWAY, an emotionally impactful album whose songs alternately capture the bittersweet awareness of the passage of time and joyful optimism about the future. Balancing lilting, wistful reflections with flurries of exuberant soul-funk influenced jazz, Kashiwa – playing alto and tenor sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet and EWI – jams with his longtime band Coastal Access and brings extra punch to the project with guests Marc Antoine, Tom Schuman, Miles Gilderdale, Steve Reid, Ronnie Gutierrez, Ramon Yslas and one of the final recordings of the late Ricky Lawson. Kashiwa reminds us that while time seems to Fly Away, musical inspiration only grows sweeter with time. ~ smoothjazz.com

CAROL ALBERT - FLY AWAY BUTTERFLY

After paving the way with a handful of popular radio singles over the past year, Carol Albert brings out a full array of rich jazz and global fusion artistry on her unique concept album Fly Away Butterfly. The versatile Atlanta-based composer, keyboardist and vocalist takes the listener on deeply soulful, exotic journey that artfully blends spirited, jazzy piano melodies, dreamy vocals, punchy percussion textures and hypnotic ambiences featuring the soaring, inspirational twist on Al Jarreau’s classic song “One Way," a contemporary homage to one of her jazz heroes offering up the powerhouse saxophone of Sam Skelton. Fly Away Butterfly will take your musical imagination to many beautiful destinations! ~ smoothjazz.com

ROBERT G- THE EP

Renowned for his years as a backup vocalist for R&B greats Vesta Williams, Kashif, BeBe Winans and the late Teena Marie, Philly native Robert Gee steps out onto center stage with a heart-tugging set of old school originals that will remind people of his hometown’s seminal soul sound. ROBERT GEE THE EP is the perfect soul soundtrack for a smooth chill with original, jazzy pop featuring candlelit ballads and relaxed, dance floor slow jams showcasing Gee's silky soulful voice. The EP goes down EZ! ~ smoothjazz.com

2017 Newport Jazz Festival® Takes Over Aquidneck Island August 4 - 6

More than 300 established and emerging jazz artists will take over Aquidneck Island when the annual Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management returns August 4 - 6. This year's festival features more than 50 sets of non-stop music on four stages at historic Fort Adams State Park and a Friday evening performance at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

The 2017 roster includes 31 groups making their Newport Jazz debuts* as leaders or with new bands, including Rhiannon Giddens, The Roots, Andra Day, Naturally 7; Leslie Odom, Jr.; JoAnne Brackeen, David Torkanowksy, Cyrille Aimee,Marilyn Crispell, and the Newport Jazz Assembly Band.

Check out the final lineup for the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management:

Friday, August 4, Fort Adams State Park, 11:00 am-7:00 pm

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones; Béla Fleck, Howard Levy, Victor Wooten, Futureman

Maceo Parker: Maceo Parker, Greg Boyer, Will Boulware, Bruno Speight, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Pete Maclean, Darliene Parker,Corey Parker

Cecile McLorin Salvant: Cecile McLorin Salvant, Aaron Diehl,Paul Sikivie, Lawrence Leathers

*Naturally 7: Roger Thomas, Dwight Stewart, Rod Eldridge, Garfield Buckley, Warren Thomas, Lee Ricardo Cort, Kelvin Mitchell

Joey DeFrancesco + The People: Joey DeFrancesco, Troy Roberts, Dan Wilson, Jason Brown

*Leslie Odom, Jr.: Leslie Odom, Jr., Steven Walker, Senfuab Stoney, Michael Mitchell, Orlando Le Fleming, John Davis,

Amir ElSaffar's Rivers of Sound Orchestra: Amir ElSaffar, Dena ElSaffar, Fabrizio Cassol, Ole Mathisen, JD Parran, Mohammed Saleh, George Ziadeh, Jason Adasiewicz, Naseem AlAtrash, Rajna Swaminathan, Tareq Abboushi, Tim Moore, Zafer Tawil, Miles Okazaki, Aruan Ortiz, Carlo DeRosa, Nasheet Waits

Evan Christopher Clarinet Road & New Orleans Brass: Evan Christopher, David Torkanowsky, Roland Guerin, Shannon Powell, Leon Brown, Jon-Erik Kellso, Jeffrey Miller

John Allred, trombone, tuba

*One for All: Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, John Webber, Joe Farnsworth

Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith

Christian Sands Quartet with Gilad Hekselman, Yasushi Nakamura & Jerome Jennings

*Jimmy Greene Quartet with Kevin Hays, Ben Williams & Otis Brown III

Rodriguez Brothers: Robert Rodriguez, Michael Rodriguez, Samuel Torres, Luques Curtis, Nomar Negroni

*George Burton Quintet: George Burton, Tim Warfield, Jason Palmer, Pablo Menares, Wayne Smith Jr., drums

Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop Ensemble

Friday, August 4, International Tennis Hall of Fame, 8:00 pm

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Dan Oestreicher, BK Jackson, Pete Murano, Mike Bass-Bailey, Joey Peebles

*Rhiannon Giddens: Dirk Powell, Hubby Jenkins, Jason Sypher, Jamie Dick

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Snarky Puppy: Michael League, Justin Stanton, Mike "Maz" Maher,Chris Bullock, Chris McQueen, Nate Werth, Bobby Sparks, Jason "JT" Thomas

Branford Marsalis Quartet: Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Eric Revis, Kobie Watkins

Christian McBride Big Band with Special Guests Warren Wolf & Sean Jones: Christian McBride, Warren Wolf, Braxton Cook, Todd Bashore, Ron Blake, Dan Pratt, Carl Maraghi,

Steve Davis, Michael Dease, James Burton, Douglas Purviance, Sean Jones, Frank Greene, Nabate Isles, Brandon Lee, Christian Sands, Quincy Phillips

*Rhiannon Giddens: Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell, Hubby Jenkins, Jason Sypher, Jamie Dick

Vijay Iyer Sextet; Vijay Iyer, Graham Haynes, Mark Shim, Steve Lehman, Stephan Crump, Tyshawn Sorey

*Flying Toward the Sound - For Geri, With Love:Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding with Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran & Christian Sands

*Jazz 100: The Music of Dizzy, Mongo and Monk featuring Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Avishai Cohen, Josh Roseman, Roman Diaz, Ben Street & Adam Cruz

*Henry Threadgill Zooid: Henry Threadgill, Liberty Ellman, Christopher Hoffman, Jose Davila, Elliot Kavee

Benny Golson Quartet with Mike LeDonne, Buster Williams & Carl Allen

*Antonio Sanchez & Migration: Antonio Sanchez, Thana Alexa, Seamus Blake, John Escreet, Matt Brewer

*Dominick Farinacci: Dominick Farinacci, Julien Labro, Christian Tamburr, Shenel Johns, Dan Kaufman, Jon Michel, Jamey Haddad, Lawrence Leathers

*DJ Logic's Project Logic: DJ Logic, Jaleel Shaw, Keyon Harrold, Foday Musa Suso, Vernon Reid, James Hurt, Mono Neon, Marcus Gilmore

*Uri Caine Trio with Mark Helias & Clarence Penn

Gilad Hekselman, solo guitar

*JoAnne Brackeen, solo piano

*David Torkanowksy, solo piano

Peter Evans, solo trumpet

*David Leon: Herb Alpert ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer: David Leon, Leo Genovese, Josh Allen, Francisco Mela

*Jason Palmer's Berklee Septet: Jason Palmer, Emery Mesich, Zachary Auslander, Ben Bass, Domi Degalle, Stefano Battaglia, Alex Michelsen

Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) Senior All-State Jazz Band:Caleb Flynn, Eliot Laidlaw, Sam Rockwell, James Winner, Tim Hecker, Jack Armstrong, Christian Black, Jack Dunn, Ryan Sullivan, Anthony Agatiello, Priyanka Bonifaz, Dante Lopes, Noam Makover, Elena Serrano, Alec Charon, Eric Fay-Wolfe, Brayden Beason, Erin Cowden, Kieran Egan, Artie Montanaro, Conductor

Sunday, August 6, 2017

*The Roots: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tarik "Black Thought" Trotter, Damon "Tuba Gooding, Jr." Bryson, Mark Kelley, Kirk "Cap'n Kirk" Douglas, Ray Angry, James Poyser, Dave Guy, Ian "Chief" Hendrickson-Smith, DJ Jeremy Ellis, Stro Elliot

*Andra Day: Andra Day, Dave Wood, Charles Jones, Nando Raio, Shay Godwin

Jason Moran: Fats Waller Dance Party: Jason Moran, Ms. Lisa Harris, Leron Thomas, Tarus Mateen, Charles Haynes

Maria Schneider Orchestra: Maria Schneider, Steve Kenyon, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin, Scott Robinson, Keith O'Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn, Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis, Mike Rodriguez, Gary Versace, Ben Monder, Frank Kimbrough, Jay Anderson, Clarence Penn, drums

*Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, John Medeski & John Scofield

*Philadelphia Experiment: Questlove, Christian McBride, Uri Caine with special guest DJ Logic

*Bokanté f. Michael League & Malika Tirolien: Malika Tirolien, Jamey Haddad, Keita Ogawa, André Ferrari, Roosevelt Collier, Bob Lanzetti, Chris McQueen, Michael League

*Cyrille Aimee: Cyrille Aimee, Adrien Moignard, Michael Valeanu, Shawn Conley, Dani Danor

Cyrus Chestnut Trio: Cyrus Chestnut, Eric Wheeler, Chris Beck

*Theo Croker: Theo Croker, Eric Wheeler, Kassa Overall

*Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Tim Berne, Oscar Noriega, Matt Mitchell, Ches Smith

*Sean Jones Quintet with Brian Hogans, Orrin Evans, Luques Curtis & Obed Calvaire

*John Medeski, solo piano

*Vernon Reid, solo guitar

*Marilyn Crispell, solo piano

*Orrin Evans, solo piano

*Newport Jazz Assembly Band: Ben Marcoux, Joshua Bruneau, Jimmy O'Connell, Tony Davis, Noah Barker, Alex Tremblay, Mike Camacho

URI Big Band: Taylor Allen, Joel Caputo, Collin Larkin, Andrew Hellwig, Jessica Kilpatrick, Nick Castro, James Kimmerlein, Alyssa Oates, Joe Smith, William Chilton, Robin Hall, Manuel Morales, Jason Taylor, Ryan Tremblay, James Himmelmann, Evan Magno, Nick Motroni, Joseph Parillo, conductor

MA Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Band: Eric Tarlin, Justin Bartlett, Matthew Pearl, Tony Kim, Lael Dratfield, Kevin Costello, Benjamin Dooley, Joseph Nedder, Ryan Shaw, Jeffrey Pinsker-Smith, Alex Tung, Liam O'Hara, Richard Stanmeyer, Alex Park, Benjamin Cohen, Maxxon Wolski, Melanie Baime, Jamie Eder, Michael Manasseh, Ronald Carter, Conductor

(Schedule Subject to Change)

Jack DeJohnette Celebrates 75th Birthday & Continues Year-Long Celebration this Fall with North American Tour for Critically Acclaimed HUDSON Project

Celebrating his historic 75th birthday on August 9, 2017, music legend Jack DeJohnette will continue year-long birthday festivities with extensive touring, limited edition product releases, and more.

The multi-GRAMMY® winner and NEA Jazz Master will embark on a 18-city North American Fall tour with HUDSON, a collective group he co-leads with three of the world's top instrumentalists: Larry Grenadier, John Medeski and John Scofield. Touring in support of their commercially acclaimed eponymous album, which charted #1 and has remained in the Top 3 positions on Billboard's Jazz charts every week since its June 9 release on Motéma Music, Hudson is scheduled to close out the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 6. The group will tour extensively throughout October, including stops in New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C.. The album, which captures the atmosphere and beauty of the Hudson Valley region while celebrating the iconic music that has emerged from it, has received critical recognition from outlets such as NPR Music, Pitchfork, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, PEOPLE.com, and more.

DeJohnette's longtime product endorsers will commemorate the landmark birthday as well. Sonor Drums has "gifted" DeJohnette a new drum set to commemorate his 75 years. On August 21st, Sabian, DeJohnette's cymbal endorser since 1989, will release "Jack DeJohnette Shimmering '75' Ride," 75 numbered 22" limited edition ride cymbals that will come with a certification of authenticity. Vic Firth, DeJohnette's drum stick endorser since 1990, has also released special "Jack DeJohnette 75" drum sticks, exclusively available through DeJohnette's website.

"Celebrating 75 years on earth is just another day for me to continue to create and move the music forward," reflects DeJohnette. "The outpouring of love and respect at times can be overwhelming, and reminds me how grateful I am for all of the places the music has taken me, friendships and collaborations formed and the joy that life has given me". 

In addition to Hudson and limited edition product releases, DeJohnette's recent recording collaborations include Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby (for a new Spike Lee movie), and Anouar Brahem. DeJohnette will also make special appearances this fall with various projects in Woodstock, NY (Drum and Boogie Festival with David Sancious and Luisito Quintero), San Francisco (Miner Auditorium with his group featuring Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison) and Chicago (Chicago Symphony Orchestra with John Scofield and Larry Goldings).

In a career that spans six decades and includes collaborations with some of the most iconic figures in modern jazz, NEA Jazz Master and GRAMMY® Award winner Jack DeJohnette has established an unchallenged reputation as one of the greatest drummers in the history of the genre. The list of creative associations throughout his career is lengthy and diverse: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Charles Lloyd, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Joe Henderson, Freddy Hubbard, Betty Carter and so many more. Along the way, he has developed a versatility that allows room for hard bop, R&B, world music, avant-garde, and just about every other style to emerge in the past half-century through his iconic groups such as Compost, New Directions, Special Edition and The Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane, Matt Garrison Trio. Named as one of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time by Rolling Stone, his recording output has spanned decades on iconic record labels such as ECM (DeJohnette is the most recorded musician in the label's history), Milestone, Prestige, MCA Impulse! and more.

Upcoming Hudson North American Tour

August 6 - Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI

September 2 - Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit, MI

October 4 - Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Poughkeepsie, NY

October 6-7 - Rose Theater @ Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY

October 8 - Berklee Performing Arts Center, Boston, MA

October 10 - The Hamilton, Washington, D.C.

October 11 - The Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA

October 12 - Xavier University Jazz Series, Cincinnati, OH

October 14 - Sheldon Arts Center, St. Louis, MO

October 15 - Yardley Hall, Overland Park, KS

October 17 - Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, AB

October 18 - Chan Centre For The Performing Arts, Vancouver, BC

October 19 - Moore Theater, Seattle, WA

October 21 - Mondavi Center, Davis, CA

October 22 - The Green Music Center, Rohnert Park, CA

October 23 - Newmark Theater, Portland, OR

October 25 - Piper Theatre, Mesa, AZ

October 26 - KIMo Theater, Albuquerque, NM

Additional Jack DeJohnette Tour Dates

September 9 - Drum and Boogie Festival Woodstock, New York  (w/ David Sancious & Luisito Quintero)

September 24 - Miner Auditorium, San Francisco, CA (w/ Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison)

November 17 - Chicago Symphony, Chicago, IL (w/ John Scofield & Larry Goldings)

www.jackdejohnette.com

Jazz trumpeter Ilya Serov swinging his way through summer in the studio

Jazz trumpeter Ilya Serov has been cooped up in the recording studio all summer working on his second album, but Tuesday night in Laguna Beach, he’s going to take a break to make the live performance debut of the first single, “Swing 42,” featuring the dapper swingman dueting with Grammy winner and Oscar-nominated pianist Roger Kellaway. Accompanied by his 10-piece big band, Serov will be joined by Kellaway on stage at the Pageant of the Masters 2017.

Brandishing a fresh whimsical arrangement by Tom Kubis, Serov’s snappy muted trumpet reading of Django Reinhardt’s “Swing 42” is a frisky and fun summer frolic bolstered by Kellaway’s fanciful piano flourishes and a four-chair horn section.

“‘Swing 42’ is one of my favorite of Django’s tunes. It has such positive energy.  I really like the music of that era and I had been compelled to do a rendition of this tune for a while. I am glad we finally did it. It was so much fun and of course it was such an honor and a pleasure to work with an award-winning legend, pianist Roger Kellaway, who is a featured guest on the track. His brilliant play brought so much to the sound,” said Serov, a classically-trained musician from St. Petersburg, Russia who resides in Los Angeles.

At Tuesday evening’s performance, Kellaway will introduce Serov as part of the Rising Stars series in which “world-famous musicians and music aficionados introduce their favorite up and coming performers.” The two musicians first formed a bond after meeting a few years ago, which led to the collaboration for Serov’s sophomore outing. 

“I was fortunate to have met Roger several years ago and was featured on a couple of songs during one of his shows. It was an unbelievable experience for me and very encouraging. We stayed in touch and I am proud to call Roger and his lovely wife, Jorjana, my friends. I feel blessed to have been able to work with him and honored to have him play on my album,” said Serov, who also teamed with Kellaway to lense a video for “Swing 42” (http://bit.ly/2v7F2XB).

              

Last month, Serov appeared on SiriusXM’s The Dave Koz Lounge to talk about “Swing 42” as well as the album in progress, which will consist of standards and tunes from the Great American Songbook. Serov is producing.

A trumpeter and debonair vocalist, Serov released his debut album, “September in the Rain,” in late 2013. A year later, he was named Best New Artist at the Hollywood International Music Awards. Although the new session consists of big band, swing and straight-ahead jazz, Serov is also an imaginative alchemist who experiments with contemporary jazz, R&B, pop and world music nuances. For more information, please visit www.IlyaSerov.com.