Alex Cuba: Sublime

Higher Truth: Alex Cuba Distills His Sound to its Essence on Sublime

The spark of creation is a rare and special moment. That’s Alex Cuba’s favorite part of music-making: when inspiration strikes at 3 AM, stepping out into the little studio in his garage, turning on the heater (he’s made a home in the far north of British Columbia, far from the Cuba of his birth), and being alone with a new musical idea. His new album, Sublime, is all about “capturing that magic, while it’s still hot,” as Alex says, “in that moment of higher truth” (Caracol Records release: September 20, 2019).

Alex Cuba wanted to find just the right title for this new project. It had to strike a chord with his Spanish- and English-speaking listeners. It had to reflect the way he’s been distilling the Alex Cuba sound down to its pure essence. “One day I was listening to the masters, having a coffee, and all of a sudden the word crosses my mind: “Sublime,” he recalls. In Spanish, English, and even French, that title captures Alex’s goal: to find the spirit at the heart of his music, leaving out everything that doesn’t need to be there.

What’s left is that sound that brings together Afro-Latin influences into one distinctive voice, the sound that has already won him Latin Grammys, Junos, and three Grammy nominations. It’s purely Alex Cuba, while leaving space for Alex’s signature duets with artists both well known and about to break out.

For one thing, it’s Alex playing every instrument you hear on Sublime. “I’ve recorded with incredible musicians for previous albums,” Alex recalls, “but the vulnerability of these songs led me to this choice. It’s so simple, and yet so strong, I wanted to express all that myself.”

The album’s first video, for single “Yo No Sé,” gives visual expression to the process: Alex plays all the roles, from a grizzled bass player laying down a driving groove, to a beanie-wearing percussionist, to a trio of singers harmonizing syncopated staccato rhymes. “I recorded a vocal guide while I was arranging in the studio. It sounded so much like a bandleader telling the band what to do, the video idea was born right there. I knew it had to be the first single.”

Digging deep into his essential sound requires a certain maturity and honesty. As Alex’s musical career has progressed, he’s learned his strengths. “For years I was a rocker, a funky guy, but I know that my voice calls people to reflect on their own lives. The songs that stay with people are the ones that bring peace and calm, so I wanted to embrace that and be completely naked and intimate.”

That intimate feel, the careful attention to songwriting, and the largely acoustic sounds lend Sublime a vibe that could be called retro, and that’s okay with Alex. “Acoustic music just goes with my soul,” he explains. “I’m not against synths and electronics, but I’m not interested in just making a big noise and getting people to dance. I wanted the songs on this album to have some breathing space. I suggest things, leave things at a subliminal level. Every listen will tell you something else.”

Alex may be focused on his own sound and songwriting, but he still relishes collaborating with other artists. Duets with Ron Sexsmith and Nelly Furtado were instrumental in his career, after all. This time around, Alex pairs his voice with some of Cuba’s brightest lights: Pablo Milanés, a founder of the Nueva Trova sound; Omara Portuondo, the vocalist of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club; and singer-songwriter Kelvis Ochoa, the Cuban vibes king. “This album has the most important duets of my career,” Alex says. “Pablo shaped my generation in Cuba. I listened to his music almost every day of my life, so recording “Hoy Como Ayer” is a dream come true” (Single release: August 23).

Alex recorded Sublime in Canada and Cuba, the places he calls home, and also in Mexico and Spain. Sublime is graced by duets with artists in Mexico City’s music scene, both superstar Leonel García (one half of the duo Sin Bandera) and up-and-comers Silvana Estrada and Alex Ferreira. These songs came out of spontaneous collaboration, capturing ideas and emotions by bouncing ideas around together. “It is a wonderful thing to share,” Alex muses. “When you do it with the right people who think and feel alike, it’s an empowering thing to do. It’s like you expand your musical universe.”

From the pensive heartbreak of “De Los Dos” to the insistent groove of “Yo No Sé,” from the frenetic “Ciudad Hembra (La Habana)” to the easy optimism of “Dividido,” Sublime sees Alex Cuba pull off two simultaneous feats: honing his sound down to a sharp edge while expanding his musical universe.

Brooklyn Funk Essentials: Stay Good

Bringing Back the Funk: Brooklyn Funk Essentials Celebrate Diversity and Their Brooklyn Roots on New Album

The creative relationship between Lati Kronlund and Alison Limerick spans decades and genres. It began back in 1990, when they released the club anthem “Where Love Lives.” That runaway success launched them both in different directions, sending Lati to New York City to found supergroup Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

“Where Love Lives” brought them back together again in 2016. Kronlund asked Limerick to sing with BFE at a gig in London, and everyone knew: she just had to join the line-up. With her voice as the cherry on top of their groove sundae, Brooklyn Funk Essentials holed up in a Stockholm studio to record their latest album: Stay Good (Dorado Records Release: Sept 20, 2019). A celebration of self-care and respect for diversity, Stay Good is fun, funky, fresh and more focused than ever.

The seeds that would eventually grow into Stay Good were actually sown back when Kronlund and Limerick recorded “Where Love Lives.” Around that time, Kronlund had written the first version of “Stay Good” and wanted Limerick to record some vocals on it. “The collaboration never materialized though,” Kronlund says. “So I thought it would be cool to bring it back!” “Stay Good” opens the album, and an updated version of “Where Love Lives” closes it out. Kronlund and Limerick’s collaborative relationship finally reaches its brightest potential.

Aside from the addition of Limerick’s legendary voice, the line-up of Brooklyn Funk Essentials has shifted throughout the years. Today, it consists of six musicians: UK-born Anna Brooks (sax & vocals), who was discovered and brought to the band by Iwan VanHetten (trumpet, keyboards & vocals). There are also Londoner Desmond Foster (guitar & vocals), Swedish Lati Kronlund (bass) and Swedish Roma Hux Nettermalm (drums). Some members are newer than others, but their diverse sounds come together to create an eclectic groove that has always been the essence of the Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

Musical Director Iwan VanHetten, Kronlund tells me, is largely to thank for the streamlining of the lineup. “Iwan was always after a smaller band with a more focused sound,” Kronlund muses. “It was strange at first, but now I appreciate the change and what it’s done for us”.  With their new stripped down lineup, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have been able to cultivate a special synergy with each other as musicians. Their relationship with Dorado Records continues to flourish, spanning 25 years, and now four albums. As a result, BFE are tighter and jammier than ever on Stay Good.

The lyrics of Stay Good’s opening and title track are a testament to this—how the group has changed and grown over the years as musicians. “In many ways,” Kronlund explains, “Brooklyn Funk Essentials has morphed into something completely new. But we’re all committed to stay good--to continue developing and improving as musicians.” The song is also about navigating times marked by rapid socio-political and technological change. “It’s so important to stay good in times like these,” Kronlund explains. “To side with compassion and stay true to yourself.”

Many of the tracks featured on this album, in one way or another, touch on or directly embody this idea of staying true while reacting to changing times. “Ain’t Nothing” features a duet from Foster and Limerick, as well some catchy chanting in Patois from Jamaican Foster. While the lyrics continue to transmit the album’s message of “staying good,” the idea of the song came from VanHetten, who was inspired by a studio session with neo-soul superstar Anderson .Paak.

“Watcha Want From Me” is another reimagining of a song that Kronlund co-wrote for the late Frankie Knuckles’ second record. Originally titled “Whadda U Want (From Me),” Kronlund changed the title to differentiate this new version. That’s not all that changed—the track features updated lyrics inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. “For the instrumentation, we took it back to an 80’s boogie disco vibe--some of the origins of house music. The whole thing is a tribute to Frankie and BLM,” Kronlund tells me. “I think he would have liked it.”

Taking it back to the roots, to the essentials, makes sense here. All of the genres that Kronlund’s band has been influenced by started in New York City. And so even though Brooklyn Funk Essentials aren’t based in Brooklyn anymore, they’re still a Brooklyn band. “We’ve always been a very international band, and we still love Brooklyn and New York City. From the get-go, Brooklyn was not a geographical pinpoint for the band,” Kronlund explains. “The city represents to us a rich cultural diversity, and we try to make a community of diversity work just as well in our band as it does in Brooklyn, the borough.”

Monterey Jazz Festival Artist Spotlight: Leyla McCalla

Leyla McCalla is a New York-born Haitian-American who sings in French, Haitian Creole and English, and plays cello, tenor banjo and guitar. Originally gaining national recognition as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, she’s deeply influenced by traditional Haitian Creole music, American jazz and folk. Her music, reflective of social justice, is at once earthy, elegant, soulful and witty, vibrating with three centuries of history, yet is strikingly fresh, distinctive and contemporary. She’s appearing at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 6:00PM on the Garden Stage.

Inspired by the divided sociopolitical climate in the United States, Leyla's McCalla's

album The Capitalist Blues explores the psychological and emotional effects of living in a society where money is king, and the poor are left to fend for themselves. Despite the pessimism and cynicism the album's title evokes, these songs focus on recognizing that while we may feel overwhelmed by the injustice happening around us, we must always resist the temptation to be overcome by it. The Capitalist Blues is a clear musical departure from the folk approach of McCalla's first two critically-acclaimed albums. Comprising mostly original songs and increasingly steeped in the music of her adopted home of New Orleans and her ancestral home of Haiti, McCalla's songs span the musical spectrum from New Orleans traditional jazz to Zydeco to Haitian Rara.

Harry Connick, Jr.'s New Album True Love: A Celebration Of Cole Porter

After 30 million albums sold worldwide, 13 No. 1 jazz albums in the United States, and a music, film, television and Broadway career spanning three decades, Harry Connick, Jr. returns with a sensational new record, True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter.

Comprised exclusively of Cole Porter compositions, True Love highlights Connick's talents as pianist, singer, arranger, orchestrator and conductor, as he breathes new life into popular songs from The Great American Songbook including "Anything Goes" and "You Do Something To Me."

"This is the first time I've taken a deep dive into another artist's repertoire, and Cole Porter was my #1 choice for the project. His lyrics are witty and nuanced and he takes risks as a composer that I find appealing" Connick said. 

Cole Porter's body of work, composed primarily for Broadway and Hollywood, comprises one of the central chapters in the Great American Songbook. It is not surprising that Porter would appeal to Connick since, like Connick, he wrote both music and lyrics and redefined what it meant to be the complete songwriter. Connick, whose success in several styles of music as well as film, theater and television has similarly reshaped the notion of what it means to be the complete entertainer.

Connick's effort in pulling together the album True Love was typically Herculean.  After selecting the songs, and writing and orchestrating the arrangements, he assembled and conducted the orchestra which features his longtime touring band with additional horns and a full string section.  The results showcase new depths in every area of Connick's creativity, which soars to new heights in the new show that he has conceived and will direct on Broadway this Fall.

Celebrated worldwide for his multi-faceted talents as singer, pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, presenter and actor, Harry Connick, Jr. has been performing since he was 9 years old. He emerged on the scene with a precocious command of jazz and popular music styles, having been trained by legendary pianists Ellis Marsalis and James Booker in his native New Orleans.

  

https://www.facebook.com/harryconnickjr 

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Watch the album trailer: : https://HarryConnickJr.lnk.to/TrailerPR

Listen to the first track "Just One Of Those Things" 
https://HarryConnickJr.lnk.to/JustOneOfThoseThings

Larry Fuller releases Overjoyed

Jazz piano maestro Larry Fuller releases Overjoyed A treasure of stylistic flair and diversity featuring Lewis Nash and Hassan Shakur

  

Larry Fuller - a masterful pianist whose soulful artistry matches his sensational technical expertise - learned his craft the old school way: on the bandstand. Honing his impressive talents with four giants of mainstream jazz: the legendary bassist Ray Brown, famed vocalist Ernestine Anderson, drum giant Jeff Hamilton, and acclaimed guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, Fuller developed a personal style both relentlessly swinging and outwardly expressive. On his new release, Overjoyed (available May 17, 2019 via Capri Records), Fuller translates that invaluable experience into a deeply personal statement of jubilation directly communicated through rhythmically charged, yet sensitively inflected, improvisation. Melding in harmony with the bassist Hassan Shakurand drummer Lewis Nash, Fuller and his gifted compatriots inject soul and cheer into the Great American Songbook, Jazz, Blues, and Pop standards as well as companionable originals.

Fuller brings his own take to a sweeping variety of compositions including Stevie Wonder's classic "Overjoyed"; Oscar Peterson's "Bossa Beguine," Wes Montgomery's "Fried Pies," Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant," Ray Brown's "Lined with a Groove," and Richard Evans' "Bossa Nova Do Marilla"; the standards "How Long Has This Been Going On?," "Never Let Me Go" and "Mona Lisa"; the blues workhorse "Got My Mojo Workin'"; and his own finely constructed originals, "Jane's Theme" and "The Mooch".  Exhibiting an outsized command of his instrument balanced by tasteful displays of inward beauty, Fuller has the worlds of swing, bebop and the blues at his command and isn't shy about sharing his gifts to engage the full emotional response of the listener. Whether meshing flawlessly with his rhythm mates, or exhibiting his finely honed sensitivity and imagination throughout lyrical solo performances ("Never Let Me Go" and "How Long Has This Been Going On?"), Fuller speaks with his own pianistic voice.

Famed for the exuberance he brings to the bandstand and the seamless connection that he makes with his audience, Fuller's artistic message is as forthright as his music itself: "To uplift people with the joyous sprit of the music. To play with joy, to swing and play the blues. These are the hallmarks of jazz that inspired me as a child. They are traditions that I continue to aspire to."

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Fuller was playing professionally as a pre-teenager. The late eighties and early nineties found him working with vocal legend Ernestine Anderson as both pianist and musical director. After a noted stint with the celebrated West Coast-based drummer Jeff Hamilton, Fuller found fame with Ray Brown, performing with the bass boss until Brown's passing. Fuller then became an integral member of John Pizzarelli's ensembles for nearly a decade. (Among the other jazz notables that he has worked with are Stanley Turrentine, Harry "Sweets Edison," Phil Woods, and Clark Terry.) Fuller has led the Larry Fuller Trio since 2013; he has released three albums as a leader since 2005.

http://larryfuller.com/about/

Nicholas Payton Releases Relaxin’ With Nick

Acclaimed Trumpeter, Keyboardist and Composer Takes to the Stage of Smoke Jazz & Supper Club for a Scintillating Live Double-Disc Set: Relaxin' With Nick

When Nicholas Payton enters the recording studio, he uses that environment to the full extent of its capabilities, as he’s abundantly revealed on a series of groundbreaking releases that showcase his gifts as a producer as well as his virtuosic trumpet playing and multi-instrumental versatility. At the same time, Payton has evolved a singular approach to live performance, supplementing his breathtaking voice on the trumpet with his own accompaniment on piano and Fender Rhodes. On Relaxin’ With Nick, Payton is joined by the renowned rhythm section of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington – no relation, though their incredible chemistry highlights a bond as tight as family – for a stellar live set captured at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club.

Due out October 25 on Smoke Sessions Records, Relaxin’ With Nick brings the experience of witnessing Payton’s unparalleled live performances directly to the listener. The double album largely consists of Payton’s original compositions, alongside a few well-chosen standards, all evidencing the virtuosic musicianship and thrilling camaraderie discovered together on the club’s intimate stage in front of an enthusiastic audience.

The Smoke crowd plays an integral role in the album, as Payton was intent on representing the vibe of the space as well as the sound of the band, inspired by live classics like Ahmad Jamal’s At the Pershing: But Not for Me. “The particular way that Smoke is situated makes for even greater intimacy than your average club,” Payton says. “You can feel the atmosphere; you can feel the quiet. I want to hear glasses clinking, the murmur of conversation or the excitement of toe-tapping. All of those things lend themselves to the creative spirit and help set a mood.”

With that atmosphere established, the trio can feed off the energy in the room and spark a truly special, once-in-a-lifetime experience. That notion is only amplified by the fact that the weekend of concerts recorded for Relaxin’ With Nick represents this trio’s first performances together, though Payton has worked with each of the Washingtons in other contexts. The bassist and drummer share extensive experience together, most notably as members of the longstanding Bill Charlap Trio.

“At this point, their level of instantaneous dialogue is so intuitive that you have a ready- made camaraderie there,” Payton says. “The vibe they’re able to generate on such a consistent basis from having such a long association just feels so good. Once you connect with them it’s a beautiful thing, which is why they’re so sought after. Both of them have very strong and deep roots, but also a sensibility, a touch and a flair for whatever is current. Having a strong footing in the foundation and fundamentals, but also a willingness to be daring and to take risks, are equally important criteria to me.”

While always central to the sound of any ensemble, the rhythm section is particularly important to Payton’s unique approach given his peerless ability to double himself on trumpet and keys. While undoubtedly a crowd-pleasing feat of skill, the multi- instrumentalism is crucial for Payton’s deeply personal conception of his music, which has expanded beyond the confines of his horn to a more holistic notion of the overall sound.

“As my music became more personal, the idea of just taking trumpet solos and standing on the side of the stage seemed a bit stale and boring to me,” he explains. “Playing keys and accompanying myself allows me to be a part of the music in a more tangible way. It frees me up to play the music as I hear it, and puts me at the vanguard of creating a new technique in territory that is largely uncharted. It gives me a different edge.”

That edge manifests in a wide variety of styles and moods throughout Relaxin’ With Nick, from the gentle, buoyant swing of the title track to the slinky, blissed-out soul groove of a tune like “Eight,” to the bristling surge of “F.” Payton culls a few tunes apiece from his recent albums Letters and Numbers, with “C” performed as an elegant piano trio ballad, “A” at a joyous trot with Payton taking a thunderous turn on the piano before parrying his own trumpet solo on Rhodes. “Five” finds him alternating between the three instruments in a particularly tour de force outing propelled by the Washingtons’ muscular rhythms.

“El Guajiro” was originally recorded on Payton’s genre-blurring 2017 album Afro-Caribbean Mixtape. The tune is forged around a sample of the voice of master Cuban trumpeter Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal, here launching the trio into a brisk, infectious cha- cha-cha. “Jazz Is a Four-Letter Word” is similarly built on the foundation of a vocal sample, here using a monologue by the iconic drummer Max Roach to opine on one of the trumpeter’s favorite subjects over a rock-solid beat. “1983” dips into a laid-back soul bag, pairing singing trumpet lines with shimmering keyboard textures, while “Othello” cedes the spotlight to Payton’s crooning skills, embedded in Kenny’s whispering brushwork and Peter’s eloquent bass oratory.

Payton opens Benny Golson’s classic “Stablemates” with a cosmically adventurous keyboard solo, ushering in the trio’s clamorous reimagining of the oft-recorded tune. Taken at a brisk tempo, “Tea for Two” feels anything but quaint as Payton’s trumpet rides the rollicking waves of the Washingtons’ urgent swing. “I Hear a Rhapsody” is passed through a prismatic deconstruction, while Payton takes to the microphone again for a heartfelt “When I Fall In Love,” before closing the set with a brief take on his own “Praalude,” from 2003’s Sonic Trance.

Given Payton’s rejection of the “listening room” experience of shushed patrons and reverent attitudes, Relaxin’ With Nick is just that: an opportunity to get comfortable with a genial host who hopes to entertain an audience, in a club or listening at home. “I feel honored that people choose to spend their evening with us with all the options people have these days,” he concludes. “There’s no greater compliment to me than people being able to hook up or party or converse in whatever fashion necessary. I’m happy to have my music be a part of fun and romance and the life force. To me, this is the point.”

"Relaxin’ with Nick” was recorded live at Smoke Jazz Club, NYC

on May, 30, 31, and June 1, 2019; mastered to ½” analog tape using a

Studer mastering deck, and produced by Paul Stache and Damon Smith. 

Nicholas Payton · Relaxin' with Nick

Smoke Sessions Records · Release Date: October 25, 2019

Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths, Releases New Album 'Timeless'

Celebrating 55 years timelessly as an artist in the worldwide music fraternity, Queen Marcia Griffiths has released her new album.  One of the foremost singers of Reggae music, Empress Marcia Griffiths, is continuing to break new ground. Her new album, which is appropriately titled 'Timeless', is a selection of 15 songs that pay tribute to the endurance of the Studio One label catalog, which boasts the most solid collection of foundation songs in the historic art forms of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae music.

In a career spanning over 55 years and still going strong, Marcia Griffiths has reached high points as a soloist, and with Bob Andy as the duo of Bob and Marcia. She toured the world as a member of the I-Threes with Bob Marley and the Wailers, and subsequently hit the Billboard charts with the "Electric Boogie Song", creating a world-class dance - the electric slide.

Marcia has had the incredibly good fortune of spending her formative years at Studio One, the record stable that shaped the career of other top-ranking artists such as Bob Marley and Bob Andy.

Marcia recalls, "'Timeless' speaks for itself - from then until now; working on this album was refreshing and filled with fun memories of early Studio One days when those songs were being recorded. Much thanks to Donovan Germain for conceiving and producing the album and to Tad's Record for promoting and distributing it".

Her brilliance is on full display in the wide range of artists/songs covered, from Delroy Wilson's 'Once Upon A Time' and Ken Boothe's 'Home Home Home,' to The Heptones' 'Baby Be True' and The Cables' 'What Kind Of World,' from Peter Tosh's 'I'm The Toughest' and Sugar Minott's 'This Old Man' to Abyssinians' 'Declaration Of Rights,' plus a Ska medley inclusive of Jackie Opel, Toots Hibbert, The Wailers, and Rita Marley among other luminaries.

The musicians who contributed to this album are also a bonus. They recaptured the feel of the original riddims and with digital recording produced a sweet clean quality, supporting a timeless voice echoing a timeless era that will certainly help drive the revival of popular reggae music.

Listen to 'What Kind of World' from the album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9N3XEVChY&feature=youtu.be.

'Timeless' Tracklist:

01. What Kind of World

02. Once Upon A Time

03. Baby Be True

04. True Believer

05. Love Me Forever

06. Love Is a Treasure

07. Your Love

08. I'm The Toughest

09. Ska Medley

10. Rock Steady + This Old Man

11. Home

12. My Guiding Star

13. Declaration of Rights

14. Cry Me A River

15. Stranger in Love

Instagram: @marciagriffiths_queenofreggae

GRAMMY Award Winner Kurt Elling to Headline Labor Day Concerts in Reno, Lake Tahoe with the Reno Jazz Orchestra

GRAMMY award winning jazz vocalist, composer, and recording star Kurt Elling will headline the Reno Jazz Orchestra's Labor Day Weekend Shows in Reno, NV on August 30 and Incline Village, NV on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore August 31st.

Renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, Elling has secured his place among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. His list of awards throughout his career to date include: "Male Vocalist of the Year" (Jazz Times - ten years); "International Jazz Artist of the Year" (Jazz Journalist Association - ten years); "Best Jazz Album of the Year" (GRAMMY Award); "Best Jazz Album” (nine GRAMMY Nominations); "Best Vocal Performance"(three GRAMMY Nominations); and "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist" (two GRAMMY Nominations).

In addition, with a fourteen-year run atop the DownBeat Critics Poll, vocalist Elling promises a standout performance accompanied by the 17-piece Reno Jazz Orchestra.

“His music and wit appeal to the full range of music lovers, from the novice jazz fan to the most jaded jazz hipster,” said Chuck Reider, Music Director for the Reno Jazz Orchestra. “Elling does not regularly perform with big bands so this will be a real treat for all to experience an electrifying performance with this virtuoso vocalist and compelling storyteller featured with our contemporary 17-piece big band.”

The Reno Jazz Orchestra has been based in Northern Nevada for over 20 years and includes musicians who have performed and traveled the world with acts such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Natalie Cole, Luciano Pavarotti and other legendary performers.

“Thanks to our private donors and corporate sponsors, we are able to bring one of the most respected jazz voices to Northern Nevada for all to enjoy,” said Reider.

“Elling combines authenticity with stunning originality,” is how The Wall Street Journal describes his talents, while The Guardian has called him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.” The Toronto Star has gone so far as to say that “Kurt Elling is the closest jazz will ever get to having its own saint," while The Guardian makes up one voice in a chorus that has called him “one of jazz's all-time great vocalists."

Elling has not only thrilled audiences around the world in jazz clubs, symphony halls and festival stages, but at the White House, where he gave a command performance for President Obama’s first state dinner.

He has collaborated with jazz legends and classical orchestras; created multi-disciplinary theatrical works for the Steppenwolf Theatre and the City of Chicago; served as Artist-in-Residence for the Singapore and Monterey Jazz Festivals; and explored the fertile common ground between jazz and poetry, working with the words of Allen Ginsberg, Rainer Maria Rilke, Pablo Neruda and others.

Over the ensuing years, Elling has become one of the music’s most renowned practitioners of vocalese, the writing and performing of words over improvised jazz solos.

Taking the long view of Elling’s audacious and richly varied career, the Washington Post lauded, “Since the mid-1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling. With his soaring vocal flights, his edgy lyrics and sense of being on a musical mission, he has come to embody the creative spirit in jazz.”

New Music Releases: The Soul Rebels; New York Voices; Banda Black Rio

The Soul Rebels - Poety In Motion

Eight men pick up shiny brass instruments, lock into an unspoken groove and rotate genres like your favorite playlist shifting from jazz and R&B to hip-hop, pop and beyond with fire, focus and fluidity. New Orleans-bred staple The Soul Rebels expand musical boundaries with an unwavering commitment to originality. Far more than augmentation and accompaniment, the octet - Julian Gosin [trumpet, MC], Marcus Hubbard [trumpet], Lumar LeBlanc III [snare drum], Derrick Moss [bass drum], Corey Peyton [trombone, MC], Erion Williams [saxophone], Paul Robertson [trombone] and Manuel Perkins Jr. [sousaphone] - pioneer the integration of their chosen instrumentation. For Poetry In Motion - the group's first album for their new imprint, Rebelution Music Group, on Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group - The Soul Rebels infused this handcrafted approach into a wider sonic palette than ever before. "This particular album made us dig deeper into the reservoir of feelings both artistically and emotionally," says Lumar. "Our band members brought out all kinds of thoughts. The record represents eight different individuals with a lot of soul, emotion and feeling."

New York Voices - Reminising In Tempo

After a decade of collaborative, and superlative, releases with large ensembles such as the WDR and Bob Mintzer Big Bands, the New York Voices return to their roots and mark their 30th Anniversary with one of the most ambitious, accomplished undertakings in their esteemed catalog. Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader & Kim Nazarian worked with revered producer Elliot Scheiner, applying their stamp to standards by Cole Porter & Al Jolson, modern jazz gems from Chick Corea & Fred Hersch, a deeply personal swing-era classic from Duke Ellington, songs by the Beatles & Ivan Lins, and a pair from Cuban classical composer, Ignacio Cervantes. Opening is a tour de force rendition of Al Jarreau's lyrical contribution to Brubeck's 'Blue Rondo la Turk,' which includes a new vocalese section based off Dave Brubeck's and Paul Desmond's original solos, with lyrics by Lauren Kinhan. Reminiscing in Tempo finds the quartet's individual chops and their collective chemistry to be as powerful as ever, foretelling yet another creative and significant span for this landmark group.

Banda Black Rio - O Som Das Americas

Contemporary work from Banda Black Rio – the legendary Brazilian funk band who gave us some really great records in the 70s! Turns out, the group still sounds great after all the passage of years – more in a modern soul mode overall, with a few more sophisticated twists and turns alongside the grooves – and a wider style overall, to make room for guests who include Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Elza Soares, Cesar Camargo Mariano, and others! Think of the music as a progression from earlier Brazilian soul modes – a bit in the way that early Ed Motta work was a step forward from the generation of Tim Maia – and amidst the great guest vocal work, there's also plenty of sharp instrumentation. Titles include "Arthur E O Gigante", "America Do Sul", "Labirintos", "Rir E Chorar", "Isabela", "Aos Pes Do Redentor", "Vento Leva", "Aguas Sabias", "Bossa Da Praia", and "Nove No Samba". ~ Dusty Groove

“Halston” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Composed By Four-Time Grammy® Winner Stanley Clarke

Node Records has released Stanley Clarke’s original score for the critically-acclaimed documentary "Halston" through all digital platforms. 

Halston Director Frédéric Tcheng ("Dior and I") documents America’s first superstar designer’s rise to international fame in the 1970s through weaving archival footage and intimate interviews with Halston’s family, friends and collaborators including Liza Minnelli, Iman, Joel Schumacher, Lesley Frowick, and Jacqueline Kennedy. It is a behind-the-headlines look into the struggle between Halston’s artistic legacy and his fall to the pressures of big business. Halston is produced by Roland Ballester and Frédéric Tcheng, with producers Stephanie Levy and Paul Dallas, executive produced by T Dog Productions (Dogwoof) and CNN Films and music supervised by Tracy McKnight.

Frédéric Tcheng reflects, “The music that Stanley composed captures brilliantly the epic sweep of Halston’s career and the enigmatic aura of his persona, elusive yet intimate, a true American giant.”

Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world, and an accomplished composer of more than 70 film and television projects including the Academy Award®-nominated "Boyz n The Hood," the Tina Turner biopic "What’s Love Got To Do With It," and "The Transporter."

“'Halston' was fascinating to work on due to the wealth of archival footage available,” explains Clarke. “Frédéric Tcheng sequenced the material in a manner that gave me an opportunity to maintain a storytelling continuity to the score. The soundtrack is melodic and is part jazz-combo dynamic and part orchestral with occasional elements of synthesized music acknowledging the era of the 1970s.”

Stanley Clarke is equally gifted as a recording artist, performer, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and film score composer. A true pioneer in jazz and jazz-fusion, Clarke is particularly known for his ferocious bass dexterity and consummate musicality. Unquestionably, he has attained “living legend” status during his over 40-year career. Clarke’s creativity has been recognized and rewarded in every way imaginable: gold and platinum records, Grammy® Awards, Emmy® nominations, virtually every readers and critics poll in existence, and more. He was honored with the highly prestigious Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival for his entire body of work. In 2014 he was invited to become a member of the exclusive Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Italian Jazz-Funk supergroup CAMERA SOUL release EXISTENCE

Italian Jazz-Funk supergroup CAMERA SOUL returns to the global music scene with EXISTENCE its fifth studio album in eight years.

Since the group's previous commercial success, "Connections" (2017), producer-composer brothers Pippo and Piero Lombardo have continued to create original musical and lyrical stories, even as the group has maintained a relentless European touring schedule.

As a testament to the group's growing success, and in tandem with its regular homeland performance schedule, in November 2017, Camera Soul debuted for the first time outside of Italy, performing live in the United Kingdom on the "Soulfully Yours" tour, headlined by fellow soul artists Kenya McGuire Johnson and Gwendolyn Collins, together with blues man Arthur Miles.

New album "Existence" promises to deliver more of the beefy, timeless horn-line sound for which the group has become famous, and also includes a special homage to its ongoing partnership with American composer/lyricist, Kathryn Ballard Shut. The brothers penned original music on 'Colorado Sky' as a tribute to the strong relationship that they have forged with the Denver resident, who has creatively collaborated with the group on four of its five studio albums since 2012. In return, Ballard Shut offered the lyrical story of living happily in her beloved state.

The band's roster remains largely as heard on "Connections". Executive produced by Azzurra's Marco Rossi, the lineup features lead vocalist Maria Enrica Lotesoriere and background vocalist Piero Dotti, pianist Pippo Lombardo, bassist Beppe Secuestro, drummer Fabio Delle Foglie, percussionist Liviana Ferri, saxophonists Gianni Binetti and Bruno Tassone, trumpeter Alberto Di Leone, and introduces new lead guitarist, Alex Milella. Fans of previous efforts will also recognize the recurring voice of Gabry Filograno on "Life". Finally, the album was recorded and mixed by Tullio Ciriello at A.MA Studios in Bari and mastered at 5.4 Studios in New York City.

For more information, visit Camera Soul's official website at http://www.camerasoul.eu and 'LIKE' the group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/camerasoul.

Sarah Jane Morris / Tony Remy - The Songs Of John Martyn: Sweet Little Mystery

On 10th May soul-jazz diva Sarah Jane Morris releases Sweet Little Mystery, an album of songs by Scottish singer and songwriter John Martyn. The album is a joint project between Sarah Jane Morris and long term collaborator, guitarist Tony Remy. Together they pay homage to the sublime genius of John Martyn - a restless, often self-destructive artist whose unique voice and music is both breathtakingly bold and achingly tender in its beauty. This year marks 10 years since his tragically early death aged 60. Sarah Jane Morris is a singer with an astonishing vocal range. Her thirty-year career, during which she has garnered a loyal and loving international audience, has been wide-ranging and her rich contralto voice goes from strength to strength. She has performed with many groups over the years, from rock to soul to African blues, with classical orchestras, a one-hundred cello ensemble, with acoustic guitars and jazz big bands. Her voice, her versatility, and her emotional intelligence - the absolute authenticity of feeling which she conveys - make her a world-class compelling performer. 

In 1986 she toured the world with The Communards when their song 'Don't Leave Me This Way' became a worldwide Number One hit. She also performed with bands including The Test Department, The Redskins, The Annie Whitehead band and The Republic. For some years she fronted the celebrated 21-piece Brechtian big band The Happy End. Perhaps surprisingly for an established English soul and jazz singer she has a very successful career in Italy where she plays frequently. She has a strong and passionate following there and has had several Number One hits, including a cover of Barry White's classic 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. She has also had three Number One hits in Greece. In November last year Sarah Jane worked with Orphy Robinson on his Van Morrison show Astral Weeks, to great acclaim. Revisiting popular songs has always appealed to her, famously in Don't Leave Me This Way, and another cult single, Billy Paul's Me and Mrs Jones, but also works by Bob Dylan, Sting, John Lennon and Tom Waits. She has said that she will only cover a song if she feels she can take it, change it, claim it and make it her own. Sarah Jane has featured the music of John Martyn in her shows and has included some of these new arrangements to enthusiastic audiences in recent performances, so Sweet Little Mystery is an album eagerly anticipated by those already given a taste of her take on this material, as well as by fans of John Martyn. 

Sarah Jane and Tony completely re-imagine John Martyns' songs, retaining their original hypnotic fragility, with her voice matching the emotional and musical range of his and Tony's arrangements and grooves, helping her voice create new and illuminating versions of the music. These are fresh and invigorating re-interpretations that make you listen anew to familiar tunes. Musicians on the album include Tony Remy on electric and acoustic guitars, Trinidadian born Tim Cansfield on acoustic guitar, Henry Thomas on acoustic and electric bass, Martyn Barker on drums and percussion and Jason Rebello on piano and keyboards, Tessa Niles and Gina Foster on backing vocals and a string quartet put together by Sarah Jane's long-term friend and fellow Comunard, Sally Herbert and other illustrious guest musicians. Sweet Little Mystery will be touring nationwide and in Europe from May in a show directed by comedian/activist Mark Thomas and it will include unreleased footage of John Martyn and interviews with his family and friends. "..she speaks to the soul" THE TIMES "..her take on the music of John Martyn…felt incandescent" EVENING STANDARD

New music Releases: Ben Webster; Kaidi Tatham; Bryony Jarman-Pinto

Ben Webster - Plays Ballads

180g vinyl reissue of this Ben Webster LP that was originally released in 1988 and is complete with the original artwork. Although Ben Webster's artistic output is not solely synonymous with tender ballads, he could still have had an impressive career had he only produced the sweet, quiet melodies that he excelled in. The tracks from this release are taken from various recordings he did with The Danish Radio Group during the late sixties and early seventies. They represent some of the best ballads from his live repertoire. The band consists of some of the best Danish musicians at the time, including Niels-Henning Ørsted Petersen, Jesper Thilo and Palle Mikkelbord among others. The sound offers a warmth that suits the ballads perfectly, and the musicians accompanying Webster display the perfect ability to play their instruments subtlety. The album contains seven tracks in total, including well-known tracks such as Stardust, Cry Me A River and Willow Weep for Me.

Kaidi Tatham - Serious Times EP

Soaring sounds from Kaidi Tatham – music that's upbeat and moving, yet wonderfully precise in its simplicity too! Kaidi works in this cosmic fusion style that owes plenty to the London style a decade or so back – but it also moves forward with a lot more live instrumentation in the mix, maybe the full flowering of the deeper jazz elements we always knew that Tatham had in his music! Keyboards are the main solo instrument, but there's plenty happening in the rhythms too – always complex, but never too heady – on titles that include "Cost Of Living", "Zallom", "Sugar", and "Don't Cry Now".  ~ Dusty Groove

Bryony Jarman-Pinto - Cage And Aviary

'Cage & Aviary' is the much-anticipated debut album from songwriter and vocalist Bryony Jarman-Pinto. Written over the course of three years, the album ties personal reflection to wider social issues, giving an intimate insight in to what it means to come of age in today's world. Sophisticated songwriting is brought to life with Bryony's harmonious vocals, layered with jazz, soul and elements of folk, creating a melodic sound that has charmed many major tastemakers, including Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music), Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra), Robert Elms (BBC Radio London), John Kennedy (Radio X) and Tina Edwards (Worldwide FM); receiving praise from publications ranging from Clash to Music Is My Sanctuary and DUMMY. 'Cage & Aviary' was created with long-time friend, collaborator and Tru Thoughts label-mate Tom Leah AKA Werkha, highlighting their capacity for musical exploration. "The album is built around my contemplations on life, love and myself and tying that in with wider global issues." Jarman-Pinto explains, "lyrically I have circled around the theme of family and securities I felt at a younger age, measured against my insecurities now and personal desires to my own femininity and personhood". This lyrical struggle is best represented in "Emerge", a track written at a time when Jarman-Pinto was experiencing her biggest lack of creativity and insecurity around her writing; she describes a breakthrough in writing, willing for one to come.

New Music Releases: Arthur Adams - Here To Make You Feel Good; Oum - Daba (Now); Extended - Harbinger

Arthur Adams – Here To Make You Feel Good

Blues legend Arthur Adams brings his best on this fantastic new album of soulful blues guaranteed to make you FEEL GOOD! Standout tracks including "Tear The House Down," "Sweet Spot" and others have already garnered radio airplay courtesy of popular KJazz DJ Gary "The Wagman" Wagner! Arthur's credits as a session guitarist and live musician are simply jaw dropping - they include B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, Bonnie Raitt, Quincy Jones, the Jackson 5, Lou Rawls, and so many more! His recent appearance at this year's Topanga Blues Festival, which he headlined, shows that this legend can still wow audiences with his unmistakable voice and searing guitar playing!

  

Oum - Daba (Now)

Daba means 'Now' in Moroccan. Giving this title to her third album is, for Oum, all about linking yesterday's experience to the one determined by the present moment. In this 'now', the singer, having achieved a certain artistic maturity, is able to mix traditional Arab and Sahraoui elements with discreet borrowings from more contemporary aesthetics of soul, jazz and electronic trance. Originally from Casablanca, Oum El Ghaït Ben Essahraoui seemed destined to become an architect but then decided to embrace a career in music. She quickly drew the attention of the media, who identified her with the Nayda, a movement of young Moroccans attracted by more urban sounds. She began to write in darija, the everyday dialect of Moroccan Arabic. After Soul of Morocco in 2013 and Zarabi in 2015, with Daba, her third album, Oum reaches a new milestone. Entrusting the artistic direction to the Palestinian poetess, singer and oud player Kamilya Jubran, she went to Berlin with her musicians to make a record that was both atmospheric and danceable. For Oum, this dual aim reflects a sort of state of emergency, one that she describes as dynamic : to be together and share good times is all the more urgent now that the means of communication and transport tend to radically reshape one's experience of the world and of the other. The orchestration on Daba remains generally acoustic, but, for the first time, certain electronic sounds adorn the songs, as if to echo the more contemporary dilemmas reflected in her lyrics; the threat to Nature, the fate of migrants, the status of women, but also an exhortation to live fully in the present. With such themes, Oum positions herself as a Moroccan, an African and a woman of the world who is convinced that cultural barriers are less weighty than that which brings us together.

Extended - Harbinger

Meeting in the storied musical environs of New Orleans, Honduran pianist Oscar Rossignoli, Pittsburgh bassist Matt Booth and Louisiana-bred drummer Brad Webb, bring their varied pasts together in the development of an expansive group identity through their distinctive writing and dynamic improvisational reflexes. With each contributing and structuring their compositions with awareness of the other's musical personalities, the feeling of a collective consciousness invigorates. From the cool groove and fleet soloing from Rossignoli on his own title track, to the galloping 'Connie,' or the delicate and open-aired 'Loft Spaces,' Extended creates a rich, sculpted landscape, much in the tradition of modern piano trios like E. S. T. , but rooted firmly in the musical soil of their adopted hometown.

New Music Releases: Matthew Whitaker; Billy Ocean; Houston Person

Matthew Whitaker - Now Hear This 

Having already appeared on the Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show as well as receiving praise from Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, Whitaker is quite literally the inspiration that resilience can have on a persons life. Born in 2001 at 23-weeks premature, Whitaker lost his eyesight during the first 3 months of his life, due to the life-saving treatment he required at birth. Whitaker has created a truly remarkable album combining original compositions and covers of songs that have influence him throughout his life - supplementing his virtuoso piano skills with soulful Hammond organ and coloristic synthesizers. Now Hear This teams Whitaker with a stellar all-star band featuring guitarist Dave Stryker, bassist Yunior Terry, drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., and percussionist Sammy Figueroa. Keyboard great Marc Cary and flutist Gabrielle Garo also make special guest appearances. The album was overseen by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Brian Bacchus, who has worked closely with the likes of Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Randy Weston and Sullivan Fortner, among others. 

Billy Ocean - Remixes & Rarities

A double-length collection of work from Billy Ocean – a soul singer who came of age during the era of the 12" single – which means that his catalog is filled with remixes, extended versions, and all the great b-side material that used to make up that great vinyl format! This package is a great addition to the single CD issues of Billy's material over the years – and the package brings together 23 long numbers that start in his early years on Columbia/CBS, then run through his huge 80s fame on Jive/BMG – mostly work that was originally only issued on vinyl, collected here in a 2CD set! Titles include "European Queen (special mix)", "City Limit (alt version)", "When The Going Gets Tough (ext version)", "Love Really Hurts Without You (1986 dance mix)", "Loverboy (dub mix)", "Mystery Lady (club mix)", "Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car (ext version)", "Are You Ready (12" version)", "License To Chill (ext version)", "Pressure (UK 12" ext mix)", "When The Going Gets Tough (inst)", "Love Zone (ext version)", "Loverboy (ext club)", "Bittersweet (ext version)", "Dance Floor (ext version)", "African Queen (new ext mix)", "American Hearts (12" ext)", "When The Going Gets Tough (club version)", "I Sleep Much Better (ext version)", "Love Really Hurts Without You (dub)", "Pick Up The Pieces (Reese club riot mix)", and "When The Going Gets Tough (7th heaven club mix)". ~ Dusty Groove

Houston Person - I'm Just A Lucky So And So

Houston Person may be one of the few still-active players in the long history of blues-drenched "boss tenors" that stretches back to Gene Ammons, Arnett Cobb, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Bullmoose Jackson and others. Person has long exhibited a keen ear for simpatico musicians, ranging from his classic partnership with Etta Jones, to his series of superb duo encounters with bass master Ron Carter the man chooses his company skilfully. This date is no exception, as he negotiates his tenor in the company of first-class players. It's clear that his band mates took his studio-made admonition of "Right note or wrong note it's got to swing!" to heart for each one stands in complete harmony with Houston Person's noble intentions for this date. Personnel: Houston Person (tenor saxophone), Eddie Allen (trumpet), Lafayette Harris (piano), Rodney Jones (guitar), Matthew Parrish (bass), Kenny Washington (drums.)

New Music Releases: Chrissie Hynde With The Valve Bone Woe Ensemble; John Depalma; Sunny Side Up

Chrissie Hynde With The Valve Bone Woe Ensemble - Valve Bone Woe

The amazing Chrissie Hynde displays yet another volte face in her incredible career with the release of her new album ‘Valve Bone Woe’ on September 6. The album features 14 tracks written by a stunning array of classic songwriters and innovators, including Brian Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Hoagy Carmichael, Charlie Mingus, John Coltrane, Nick Drake, Ray Davies and Rodgers and Hammerstein. ‘Valve Bone Woe’ was produced by Marius De Vries and Eldad Guetta and recorded with the Valve Bone Woe Ensemble at Air Studios in London.

John Depalma – Something Shiny

17 years after his first CD, the live recording ''The Song Is Mine'' on the LML label, NYC singer/songwriter, John DePalma presents ''Something Shiny''; a 50 minute studio collection of gorgeous, adult-contemporary pop originals, and covers. A little bit cabaret, a little bit Broadway and a little bit easy listening. Utilizing the talents of NYC based singer songwriter Tim DiPasqua, and Sound Engineer Kevin Jasper, DePalma gives heart and voice to music of his own (with co-writer James Followell), as well as inspired covers of songs by Michael Holland, Dar Williams, Randy Newman, Elton John, Joni Mitchell,Tom Waits and others.

Sunny Side Up (Various Artists)

A wonderful overview of the creative scene in Melbourne – a collection that's almost the down-under equivalent of We Out Here – a previous Brownswood sampler of contemporary genius on the London scene! As with that collection, this one brings together the best up-and-coming artists who are really helping to move the scene forward – working in styles that are rooted in jazz, but quickly explode into a whole range of cosmic, soulful styles – music that's very much in keeping with the 21st Century mission that first got Brownswood going over a decade back, and which still makes the label one of our most-trusted sources for turning on to new music from the global underground! Much of this work is instrumental, in modes that effortlessly mix soul, fusion, funk, and spiritual roots – but create something very new and revolutionary in the process. Titles include "Pick Up/Galaxy" by Dufresne, "There Is No Time" by Kuzich, "Powers 2 The People" by Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange, "Nice To See You" by Laneous, "Orbit" by Allysha Joy, "The Wake Up" by Horatio Luna, "Eternal/Internal Peace" by Silent Jay, and "Bleeding Hearts" by Audrey Powne. ~ Dusty Groove