Brooklyn based baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson presents his new work ‘Imagine Giving Up’

'Stand Still' is the first single taken from the LP, to be released on 7 February 2020 and sees Parzen-Johnson move into new domains of sound as he uncovers newfound energy and pulse in his music.
In addition to the sonically rich analog synth elements that accompany his earlier solo saxophone work, Jonah has layered heavily sound designed samples of his own saxophone to create truly one of a kind percussive snaps, reverberant basses, and warbling leads. At its core, the music remains deeply devoted to almost vocal sounding melodic lines and patiently developed compositional ideas

A compact set of 6 originals, “Imagine Giving Up” is Jonah Parzen-Johnson’s most ambitious album yet. While taking a step away from the previous world of “ambient jazz”, his new music stems from the use of drone-like sounds for baritone saxophone, a style which is uniquely his own. Electronics are blended in for good measure, creating a coherent vision of abstract jazz with depth.


As with all of Parzen-Johnson’s releases, the music comes with a deeper narrative which he will continually explore in live performance. ‘Imagine Giving Up’ is a deep reflection on life choices, risk, privilege and empathy.

In his own words: “Only a few people can really start over. Everyone else is left to struggle down the path they were assigned. The option to give up, to choose your own path, is power, and, hopefully, a call to action: take a risk to help someone.”

“When it comes to solving the deep systematic problems our civilization is facing, everyone has their own role to play. Something suited to their circumstances, and their strengths. I believe my greatest strength is the power that comes from my stability, and every day I try to ask myself how I could be using that strength to help someone else. ‘Imagine Giving Up’ is about documenting my emotional reactions to that practice. Some days I feel defensive, some grateful, others a little over-confident in my beliefs. In the end it's about staying dedicated to the question: If I can imagine giving up, how am I using that power to help someone else?"

On Alone, Artyom Manukyan takes his place as one of the most inventive cellists on the music scene today

The cello is an extremely flexible instrument. It can be bowed like a low-register violin or plucked like a string bass, and can sound quite natural in both very traditional and avant-garde settings. Despite that, it took some time for it to be adopted as a solo instrument in jazz, starting with Harry Babasin and Oscar Pettiford in the 1950s and evolving to the present time.

In his career thus far, Artyom Manukyan has shown that the cello can be played not only in classical music and rock settings but as the lead instrument in jazz. His virtuosity is equaled by his creativity and willingness to stretch himself while creating new music with a strong emphasis on his themes and adventurous improvisations.

Alone, his second release for Ghost Note (following Citizen), features Manukyan as both a one-man orchestra on his cellos and in close interaction with five notable guests. His ten originals cover a variety of moods while often being atmospheric, wistful, and rhythmically infectious.

The opening ''Intro'' has a brief poem by Narek Hovsepyan that is accompanied by Manukyan. ''The Form'' features the cellist playing catchy rhythmic patterns while soloing on top. After the brief ''Outro'' (which has one of two appearances by bassist Tim Lefebvre), Manukyan duets with pianist Vardan Ovsepian who improvises quite freely on ''Last Chance To…'' ''Duet #2'' has the up-and-coming singer Michael Mayo blending in perfectly with the cellist while ''#Celloart'' gets a bit funky.

''Alone'' introduces a particularly haunting melody along with a catchy rhythm. On ''Next Step,'' Manukyan expands the sound of his cello, alternating virtuosic passages with droning notes that hint at a sitar. ''Every Time She Goes'' features some wordless vocalizing by Gretchen Parlato before ''Not Alone'' closes the colorful set as it began, with some poetry from Narek Hovsepyan.

Artyom Manukyan first gained attention for his playing in his native Armenia. He traveled the world as the youngest member of the Armenia Navy Band before settling in Los Angeles. His career since then has found him playing cello in a wide variety of settings including classical, rock and jazz, sounding comfortable no matter what the genre. He has also written film and television scores, toured with Kamasi Washington, Melody Gardot, Peter Erskine and Tigran Hamasyan among others, and leads his electro-jazz quartet Artyom.

On Alone, Artyom Manukyan plays with consistent brilliance and is consistently unpredictable. Alone is an early milestone during what will certainly be a very significant career.

Cool and super hip jazz musician Tony Adamo releases a brand new single titled “Did Mark Murphy Believe in UFOs"

Cool and super hip jazz musician Tony Adamo has release a brand new single titled “Did Mark Murphy Believe in UFOs."  The song is a mix of jazz rhythm, funk and rap.

Born in San Francisco, California, Tony Adamo has strong ties to his Italian American family in the Bronx and Brooklyn.  After his stint in the Navy, he attended the Actor’s Studio and discovered a whole new world referred to as “method acting.”  He discovered that he was terrible at remembering lines, and soon headed back to music as his true calling, with a very improvisational intent.

After some time on the radio and some gigging with rock bands (as a drummer) Tony moved to Los Angeles for several years. By day, he went to work putting up billboards; to workin’ on the rehab of the famous Hollywood sign; to joining the Studio Utilities Union where I worked in the background on TV shows. That gig led him to a job as a Hollywood agent at the Beverly Hecht Agency, where he booked TV commercials and models for print ads. But by night, Tony was out was performing with local bands.

Heading back to San Francisco, Tony landed a studio gig and was introduced to Tower of Power original members Mic Gillette and Skip Mesquite, who agreed to record with him. Mic and Tony became fast friends, and Mic  later introduced him to Stephen “Doc” Kupka, co-founder of Tower of Power and owner of Strokeland Records.  Over the next few years “Doc,” Mic, Skip and Tom Politzer recorded on Tony's early recordings with Mic writing all the horn arrangements.

Somewhere in this mix of experiences Tony found a new groove - spoken word delivered with a full band. He had worked with drummer Mike Clark, and was very hip to the fact Mike could bring out the groove needed for his lyrics. Mike laid down some screamin’ drum tracks, and Tony improvised the rest. While he does write out what he intends to record, Tony's actual recordings have all the words in different places as the improvisation and the beat take over.

Adamo has written and recorded songs about some of the greats of jazz, including Mark Murphy, Joe Henderson, Eddie Gale, Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, Mike Clark, Art Blakey,  B.B. King and James Brown.

Vocalist & Harp Ukulelist Gracie Terzian Releases Christmas EP "Bells & White Branches"

New York singer-songwriter and harp ukulelist, Gracie Terzian, announces the release of her Christmas EP Bells & White Branches via Aima Records. Consisting of six tracks, Bells & White Branches showcases classic songs with refreshingly beautiful and innovative arrangements, which keep the harp ukulele front and center. The soft, haunting sounds of Terzian’s voice, combined with her harp ukulele, provide a rich new interpretation of the well-loved songs with both jazz and folk influences.

Steeped in the language of jazz, Terzian wanted to try her hand at an album of her favorite Christmas songs, but with a folk-jazz fusion that employs the unique tonal vocabulary of her harp ukulele. “I’ve loved these tunes since I was a child,” says Terzian, “and I approached them lovingly, but from a very different place.” The album was recorded in Brooklyn at both Soda Aroma Studio and Big Orange Sheep Studio.

Track List:

1. "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

2. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

3. The Christmas Song

4. "Silent Night"

5. "Coventry Carol"

6. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Originally from Virginia, Gracie Terzian, with her distinctively nostalgic vocals and unusual musical instrument, has gathered a following through live performances at many clubs, venues and festivals in the U.S. and abroad, including Antone’s, Rough Trade NYC, Blue Note NYC, Birdland, Smalls Jazz Club, EXIT/IN, El Sotono - AmonSolar, Utopia Music Festival, Ukulele Festival of Scotland, Gaithersburg Ukulele Festival, NJ Ukulele Festival, Albuquerque Ukulele Festival, and many others. She released her debut EP of original music Saints and Poets in 2015 to critical acclaim, debuting at #23 on Billboard’s Jazz charts and as the #3 Jazz Album on iTunes.

Aaron Stroessner Quartet | "Haymarket Station"

The Aaron Stroessner Quartet debut Haymarket Station resonates with memorable themes set in creative explorations of mood and style. Inspirations are cryptically referenced in the titles; while “Amtrak,” “Kief,” “There and Back” and “Django Unchained” pay homage to John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Jeff Beck, and the MJQ, other titles directly reference style, as in “Ocho Rios” and “Blue Shoe Samba.” Each inspiration begins as a seductive starting point for Stroessner’s simple yet resilient narratives, which are guided as much by intuition as tradition. Haymarket Station is undoubtedly a jazz recording, with extensive improvisations throughout; its ten songs were all recorded in a single day by GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Tom Ware.

Stroessner’s guitar playing is a lot like his songwriting, with a developed melodic sense that can be both simple and sophisticated. The same could be said of Hammond B3 player Kevin Lloyd, who generates tremendous emotional peaks and valleys on Haymarket Station. Lloyd also comes from a varied background, playing jazz, blues, and funk gigs by night and gospel by day at the New Beginning Community Baptist Church in Omaha, NE. At age 13, Lloyd started a decade-long engagement at Lee’s Chicken Restaurant in Lincoln and joined Chicago bluesman Magic Slim’s band just a few years later. The variety of tones evoked by Lloyd’s B3 and Stroessner’s telecaster complement the songs on Haymarket Station, at times suggesting an otherworldly landscape.

Besides playing in the Aaron Stroessner Quartet, bassist Mitchell Benson also writes, sings, and performs in several different bands. With that mindset, Benson developed his contribution to Haymarket Station organically, discerning each song’s identity on a case-by-case basis. Drummer Andrew Wray, on the other hand, seems to experiment on every take, fearless on his instrument. The youngest of the group, Wray arrived in Lincoln playing beyond his years, having grown-up studying with noted Kansas City drummer Brandon Graves. The future looks bright for Wray, recently performing with the likes of Donny McCaslin, Victor Lewis, and Shodekeh. A composer in his own right, Wray always keeps an eye on the big picture.

The audience for Haymarket Station is wide and far reaching; perhaps the Aaron Stroessner Quartet is destined to keep playing jazz in blues bars, or maybe they'll cross over to some jam band scene. Whatever the audience, Stroessner’s discerning, memorable songs are perfect for the challenge, providing listeners with easy access to exotic places.

"LOVE IS LOVE" FROM LET THE RHYTHM LEAD: HAITI SONG SUMMIT VOL. 1

FEATURING PAUL BEAUBRUN, JACKSON BROWNE, HABIB KOITÉ, JENNY LEWIS, RAÚL RODRÍGUEZ, JONATHAN RUSSELL AND JONATHAN WILSON, WITH MEMBERS OF THE HAITIAN ROOTS BAND LAKOU MIZIK

Arts Music released the track "Love is Love" from the upcoming benefit album Let the Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit Vol. 1, a collaborative project of songwriters Paul Beaubrun, Jackson Browne, Habib Koité, Jenny Lewis, Raúl Rodríguez, Jonathan Russell and Jonathan Wilson, with members of the Haitian roots band Lakou Mizik.

"Love is Love" is featured on the collection Let The Rhythm Lead:  Haiti Song Summit Vol. 1, out January 31, 2020.

Hailing from four different countries, interweaving North American Indie Rock with beats and percussion from Haitian Vodou, Spanish and Malian guitar, Flamenco Tres, with songs in English, Creole, Khassonke, Manding and Spanish, Let The Rhythm Lead celebrates the greater mission of the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice in Haiti, and was recorded at their Artists Institute on the island's southern coast, in the town of Jacmel.

“We wrote ‘Love Is Love’ in Haiti over three years ago - in November of 2016 - inspired by the beauty and resilience of the Haitian people, and the farsighted and soulful work of Artists for Peace and Justice in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake,” says Jackson Browne.

“I wrote it with David Belle, whose deep understanding of the people and the culture informed our group's experience there.  'Love Is Love' contains some of my immediate impressions of Haiti, but especially the spirit I saw there in the faces of families, children, and lovers, as they take on the challenges of rebuilding their country in the face of multiple disasters.

From the day we recorded 'Love Is Love' in the Artist Institute Studio, I would see and hear students singing the refrain as they walked the halls to classes, both in English - Love Is Love, and in Creole - Lanmou se Lanmou. This is one of the best feelings you can get making music - to see people take your song into their lives. That this could happen there in Haiti is a source of great joy for me.

Our Haiti Song Summit project, Let The Rhythm Lead, carries the imprint of our indelible experience in Haiti as friends, and as musical voyagers.”

Let The Rhythm Lead:  Haiti Song Summit Vol. 1 Track listing:

1. Lapé, Lanmou (Peace and Love), written by Jonathan Wilson and Jenny Lewis

2. Love is Love, written by Jackson Browne and David Belle

3. Surrender, written by Paul Beaubrun and Jackson Browne

4. Under the Supermoon, written by Jenny Lewis

5. Let the Rhythm Lead, written by Raúl Rodríguez

6. Goddess at the Wheel, written by Jonathan Wilson

7. Koulandian, adapted by Habib Koité

8. Saving Grace, written by Jonathan Russell and Kathryn Everett

9. El Viajero, written by Raúl Rodríguez

10. Simbi Dlo, adapted by Paul Beaubrun

11. I Found Out, written by Jonathan Russell

ARTISTS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE:

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) is a non-profit organization that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty around the world. Our immediate goal is to serve the poorest communities in Haiti with programs in education, healthcare and dignity. We are committed to long-term, sustainable development in direct partnership with the Haitian people. Our model is simple: we believe in empowering local communities, fostering economic growth, and the power of education to change a nation.

JONTAVIOUS WILLIS EARNS GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR ‘BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM’

Multi-instrumentalist and Blues tunesmith, Jontavious Willis, has received the GRAMMY Nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album for  his 10-track release, Spectacular Class, released April 5, 2019 via Kind of Blue Music. 2018 GRAMMY award-winning artists Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ played an active role in producing Spectacular Class with Taj Mahal credited as Executive Producer and Keb' Mo' as the Producer.

Through original lyrics written by Willis himself, the gifted musician delivers a timeless album that features dynamic vocals and all types of blues: Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel. His stand-out fingerpicking, flat-picking, and slide prowess are also on display. Many fans of Willis regard him as an old soul. His style of playing the instruments and his voice touches the very roots of country blues. He brings back the real depth of the music.

A newspaper headline once called him a “70-year-old bluesman in a 20-year-old body.” Hailing from Greenville, Georgia, Willis grew up singing Gospel music at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church with his grandfather. From an early age, he had the talent and passion for music and the ability to sharpen his skills fast.  At the age of 14, he came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man” and was instantly hooked on the blues. He got his much-needed break from the living legend Taj Mahal, who described him as the “Wonderboy” and “the Wunderkind.” In 2015, Mahal asked Willis to play on stage with him. That appearance resulted in a roaring response from the audience. It led Willis to bigger stages and broader opportunities, including an opening slot at select shows along the TajMo tour, featuring his musical mentors Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’. Willis currently appears as the opening act for Keb’ Mo’s 2019 solo tour.

New Music Releases: Brian Simpson / Steve Oliver, Joel Ross, Gruppo D'Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza

Brian Simpson / Steve Oliver – Unified

The historic meeting of two Smooth jazz icons! Between them, Brian Simpson & Steve Oliver have scored more than 25 Top Ten Smooth Jazz radio hits, more than 15 Top Ten Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums, toured to packed houses worldwide and shared the stage with everyone from Larry Carlton and George Duke to The Neville Brothers! Brian and Steve are famous for their melodic richness, captivating grooves and delicate touch and Uni?ed is the perfect expression of those qualities. Highlights include the romantic, dreamy "Last Summer," the super-sophisticated "Café du Monde," the grooving title tune "Unifed" plus “The Road Never Ends,” “What The Wind Knows,” “Fired Up,” “Last Summer,” “Like No Other,” “The Way Home,” “Celestial Body,” “A Distant Love,” and “And Then You Loved Me.”

Joel Ross - King Maker

An incredible debut from vibist Joel Ross – an artist who's already given us great moments on records with Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, and others – but who's completely his own man here right from the start! Ross instantly emerges as a major creative force – leading the combo, composing the music, and co-producing the set – with a rich vision for the future of vibes in jazz, but one that also carries the depths of previous generations – especially in the way that Joel approaches a tune, with a subtle sense of gravity that makes each new selection a very powerful statement. The group features Immanuel Wilkins on alto, Jeremy Corren on piano, Benjamin Tiberio on bass, and Jeremy Dutton on drums – a tight quintet who work with a great sense of sympathy – and singer Gretchen Parlato also joins the group at one point. Titles include "Prince Lynn's Twin", "The Grand Struggle Against Fear", "Freda's Disposition", "Yana", "With Who Do You Learn Trust", and "Ill Relations". ~ Dusty Groove

Gruppo D'Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza - Gruppo D'Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza (1965)

One of the most obscure chapters in the career of Ennio Morricone – important avant garde work recorded in the mid 60s, just at a point when he was beginning to rise in soundtrack fame! The ensemble is a key Italian modernist group featuring Morricone, Giovanni Piazza, Mario Bertoncini, Egisto Macchi, Gualtiero Branch, Jesus Villa Rojo, and Francesco Evangelisti – mostly classically-trained musicians, but working here in a set of improvisations that are extremely spare, and which are very much at the lower end of the sound spectrum. Many of the sounds on the set are right at the frontiers of hearing – and others, while more present, disappear as quickly as they emerge – further enforcing the mystery and mood of the record. And while the overall style is quite different than Morricone's soundtrack work, the group was clearly a key testing ground for his ideas of sound and space that emerged later. Titles include "Soup", "Scratch", "Settimino", and "Eflot". ~ Dusty Groove

Jazz Legend Charlie Parker Honored With Global Bird 100 Centennial Celebration

The incomparable life and extraordinary, trailblazing career of jazz titan and influential composer Charlie Parker will be honored throughout 2020 with a worldwide celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth (August 29, 1920). Lovingly dubbed Bird 100 after the nickname of the preeminent alto saxophonist who was one of the fathers of bebop and progenitors of modern jazz, the centennial will include a host of major initiatives including exciting new music releases, a tribute tour, festivals and events, prestigious exhibitions, special partnerships, a unique graphic novel, exclusive collectible art, and myriad of independent appreciations and concerts. "The centennial of Charlie Parker is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate his life, legacy and art form with the world. We are thrilled to honor Bird's transformative musical impact on past, present and future generations," said the Estate of Charlie Parker. 

Parker's longtime label Verve Records, in conjunction with UMe, the global catalog company of Universal Music Group, will kick off the yearlong celebration this week with a limited edition vinyl pressing of the rare 12" LP, The Magnificent Charlie Parker, an exclusive release for Record Store Day's Black Friday, taking place Friday, November 29 at independent record stores around the country. The limited album, out of print on vinyl since its original 1955 release, is pressed on vibrant yellow vinyl and includes a quintessential David Stone Martin cover as well as painstakingly recreated art including Clef Records labels. The 11-song LP features Parker going toe-to-toe with frequent collaborators Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Max Roach and John Lewis with arrangements by Gil Evans.

The artwork for The Magnificent Charlie Parker is also available for purchase, along with four additional classic album covers, including four by David Stone Martin, as archival quality, framed canvas prints exclusively via uDiscover. The high-end wall art is available in a variety of sizes and includes the albums: Big Band, Machito Jazz With Flip & Bird, The Magnificent Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker With Strings and Charlie Parker With Strings (Vol. 2). For more information and to order, visit uDiscover: https://shop.udiscovermusic.com/collections/charlie-parker

Verve/UMe plan to celebrate Parker with several releases throughout 2020 and are currently in the works on a vinyl boxed set of Parker's complete Clef 10" albums featuring David Stone Martin's iconic illustrated covers. Charlie Parker: The Clef 10" Albums Collection will arrive on August 28, 2020 timed with Parker's 100th birthday and include five extraordinary albums he recorded for Norman Granz's Clef Records: Bird and Diz, Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker Plays South Of The Border, Charlie Parker With Strings and Charlie Parker With Strings (Vol. 2). The LPs will feature newly remastered audio from the original analog tapes and will include faithful reproductions of the classic artwork and packaging. The albums will pressed on 180-gram black 10" vinyl and will be housed in an attractive slipcase. Representing Bird's fruitful late '40s to mid-50s Clef period, the albums have never been released together and all but Bird and Diz have been out of print on vinyl since their original releases. These albums are being presented in the form they were originally released in for the first time in more than six decades.

Craft Recordings will release The Savoy 10-inch Collection in February 2020. The deluxe boxed set features four 10" LPs cut from newly restored and remastered audio. The collection highlights Parker's pioneering bebop recordings for Savoy Records from 1944-1948, featuring jazz legends Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis, Bud Powell, Max Roach and more. The package includes faithfully restored original album artwork, plus a booklet containing vintage photos, rare ephemera and new liner notes by GRAMMY®-winning author Neil Tesser. The complete set will also be released digitally.

Bird's incredible legacy and immortal music will soar throughout the year with a variety of festivals, concerts, events and an exciting tribute tour. Sanctioned by the Estate of Charlie Parker, "Fly Higher: Charlie Parker @ 100" features acclaimed co-musical directors Rudresh Mahanthappa (alto saxophone) and Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) as they celebrate the jazz master, one of the most innovative and influential artists in modern musical history and examine his impact in pop, hip-hop, rap, rock and jazz. Joined by a superb lineup including Charenée Wade (vocals), Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), Kris Davis (piano), Larry Grenadier (bass) and Kassa Overall (DJ), Mahanthappa and Carrington will honor Parker's centennial year by showcasing Parker's uncompromising musical joy, humor and beauty by mining his deep repertoire and showcasing new, modern compositions. The tour is produced by Danny Melnick for Absolutely Live Entertainment and represented for bookings by International Music Network. For more information, visit charliebirdparker.com/events/tour-events

Parker's hometown Kansas City, Kansas and his adopted hometown New York City will honor the legend with their annual festivals and both have big plans for his 100th birthday. On the last weekend of August 2020, the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival will kick off in New York City. For the past 28 years, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival has presented some of the finest musicians in the world who reflect Charlie Parker's musical individuality and genius to promote appreciation for this highly influential and world-renowned artist. Produced by City Parks Foundation, the festival is a vibrant and free celebration of jazz that brings together storied, veteran players and the next generation of jazz artists. The festival is held over the course of three days in neighborhoods where Charlie Parker lived and worked, in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park and the East Village's Tompkins Square Park. More information will be available here soon: cityparksfoundation.org/charlieparker

Birdland, the NYC jazz club that adopted their ornithological name in 1949 to capitalize on the popularity of their regular headliner Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, will curate a month-long Charlie Parker Jazz festival at the famed venue in August 2020. Each week will feature a different headliner honoring Bird with the festivities launching with "Bird With Strings" in which renowned clarinetist Ken Peplowski will be the music director and he and a conductor friend will invite different soloists, on many different instruments, to play the arrangements with a chamber orchestra. This will be followed with Birdland's 10th annual "Bird-thday Celebration" featuring an all-star ensemble performing Parker's compositions. The month will culminate with celebrated saxophonist Joe Lovano and the Joe Lovano Us Five who will do a reprise of Bird Songs, their Bird-themed album released on Blue Note Records in 2011. For tickets and more info, visit Birdlandjazz.com.

Additionally in NYC, Jazz Congress will host a panel discussion about Parker titled "Bird and Beyond: Celebrating Charlie Parker at 100" at the conference taking place January 13-14th, 2020 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Later in the year, the New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center will present a series of programs that will include conversations and screenings in the Library's Bruno Walter Auditorium, plus listening salons of rarely heard recordings in the Library cafe.

Celebrating its sixth year, the annual Charlie Parker Celebration in Kansas City, Kansas will celebrate Parker's centennial with Spotlight: Charlie Parker, a 10-day citywide celebration of his life and music on August 20-29, 2020. KC Jazz Alive, University of Missouri Kansas City, the American Jazz Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Mutual Musicians Foundation, Bruce Watkins Cultural Center and numerous other cultural and civic organizations will host jam sessions, tours, lectures, exhibits, panel discussions, poetry slams, workshops and concerts celebrating Charlie Parker—Kansas City's native son. More information available at Spotlightcharlieparker.org

Other collaborations and partnerships include an event at The GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles to be announced at a later date, an official custom Charlie Parker Legends Series alto saxophone mouthpiece with RS Berkeley, modeled after the original one Parker used, and a graphic novel that the Charlie Parker Estate is currently developing with the esteemed Z2 Comics. The boutique company which has pioneered the "graphic album" format will bring some of Charlie Parker's wild stories to vivid life through the marriage of comics and music.

Bird 100 will be an incredible opportunity to bring Charlie Parker's music to new audiences, expand awareness of his role in not only advancing jazz but helping to invent the artform known as bebop, celebrate his importance as an early "superstar soloist" of modern music and bring the extraordinary, inspirational and heartbreaking story of the man known as "Bird" to new platforms.

If jazz history can be divided into two epochs — danceable swing and improvisational bebop — then Charlie Parker is the fault line. During his brief but remarkable career, the alto saxophonist nicknamed "Bird" gave jazz lightning tempos, mind-bending chord substitutions, and previously unexplored harmonic depth, paving the way for hard bop, free jazz, fusion and everything after. Miles Davis summed up his accomplishments: "You can tell the history of jazz in four words. Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker."

Parker was born in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1920, but "Bird" was arguably born during a jam session at the city's Reno Club in 1937. Invited to play with Count Basie's drummer Jo Jones, 16-year-old Parker began a promising solo over George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" — and bricked on the chord changes. Jones threw a cymbal that clashed at Parker's feet; the audience jeered. Instead of giving up the horn, he practiced harder than ever and moved to New York City in 1939 to prove his mettle.

One night that year, Parker woodshedded the Ray Noble song "Cherokee" with the guitarist William "Biddy" Fleet and had a eureka moment. "I'd been getting bored with the stereotyped changes that were being used all the time," he later told Down Beat. "By using the higher intervals of a chord as a melody line and backing them with appropriately related changes, I could play the thing I'd been hearing. I came alive." Armed with this new knowledge, Parker composed pieces that went on to be standards, like "Yardbird Suite," "Chasin' the Bird" and "Ornithology."

Parker, who died in 1955 at only 34, was a meteoric musician that burned bright and much too quick. But his legacy more than lives on; it's jazz scripture. Jack Kerouac called him "as important as Beethoven." Four of his recordings were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame including albums Charlie Parker With Strings and Jazz At Massey Hall and the songs "Ornithology" and "Billie's Bounce." In 1974, he was awarded a posthumous Grammy for Best Performance By A Soloist for "First Recordings." In 1988, the Clint Eastwood-directed biopic "Bird" brought his story to the silver screen. The U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in his honor in 1995.

Although his life and career were short, the New Yorker has praised Parker as "one of the wonders of twentieth-century music" and the New York Times deemed him "matchless" and a "bebop exemplar." And Parker's popularity continues to grow. Today, one of his saxophones is on view at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and culture in Washington, D.C. — an enduring reminder that America will always have a "Bird" in its hand.

www.charliebirdparker.com

New Music Releases: Jaco Pastorius Band, Frank Bey, Erik Jekabson Sextet

Jaco Pastorius Band – Tokyo 83

Once they heard him play, few people disagreed with Jaco Pastorius' assessment of himself as the 'greatest bass player in the world'. His meteoric rise in 1977 to the bass chair in Weather Report and his work with Joni Mitchell, established him as a major player on the jazz and rock scenes. Broadcast by NHK radio at Shinjyuku Koseinenkin, Tokyo on 22nd May 1983, this is a rare example of his eclectic Word of Mouth small group having fun with a variety of musical styles. Given his status Jaco could have filled his septet with A-listers, instead he assembled a cast of journeyman and pals from the old days, all of whom can most definitely play. Compared to the high precision fusion he'd been making with Weather Report Jaco's small band outings at this time were rough and ready affairs. Perhaps for Jaco that was partly the point. There is no doubt that at some level this music represents Jaco looking back and enjoying himself with friends. Mirroring his 1976 debut album the set lists for this tour included reggae, funk, latin percussion, soul and jazz all featured alongside Jaco's crowd pleasing solo spots. Broadcast by NHK radio at Shinjyuku Koseinenkin, Tokyo on 22nd May 1983, this is a rare example of his eclectic Word of Mouth small group having fun with a variety of musical styles.

Frank Bey – All My Dues Are Paid

In follow up to his award-winning 2018 album, "Back In Business," Frank Bey powerfully asserts his career status with All My Dues Are Paid. Co-written with Nola Blue Records label mate Kathy Murray, album producer Kid Andersen and co-producer Rick Estrin, the uptempo title track for his sixth album is a celebration of the unstoppable journey of soul bluesman Frank Bey. Recorded at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, Bey is accompanied by an elite group of musicians including multi-Grammy winners Jim Pugh (keyboards) and Jerry Jemmott (bass); multi-Blues Music Award nominee Nancy Wright (saxophone); drummer Derrick D'Mar Martin (Little Richard) and percussionist Vicki Randle (Tonight Show band).

Erik Jekabson Sextet - One Note At A Time

Erik Jekabson powerhouse Sextet includes Dave Ellis and John Santos releases a remarkable third record on Wide Hive. This third album from Erik Jekabson's sextet on Wide Hive Records, features nine expansive new compositions with an all-star group featuring saxophonist Dave Ellis (Charlie Hunter Trio), guitarist Dave Mac Nab (Hamilton sf), bassist John Wiitala, drummer Hamir Atwal (Tuneyards) and legendary percussionist John Santos. Erik Jekabson is a well known bay area musician who has played trumpet with Galactic, John Mayer, and Kamasi Washington in Throttle Elevator Music. Here, with his sextet, Erik continues to establish his own sound with a steady, transcendent feel. Also featured is Avotcja on vocals for the title track; one note at a time along with mads tolling on violin. Traditionally cut at Studio D in San Rafael in one day, the album has a classic sound reminiscent of late sixties but with a modern edge and energy that makes it truly relevant in the musical current of today.

Deborah Cox Releases Chrismas Song

International recording artist Deborah Cox gives her fans a special treat this holiday season with the release of “Gimme Gimme Gimme Some Christmas.” Cox recorded the soon-to-be classic for Disney’s 2019 holiday movie, Noelle. “Gimme Some Christmas” is written by Richard Rudolph, Nathaniel Lamm Evans, Mark Merthe, and produced Gharah “PK” Degeddingseze. The single is available on digital retail and streaming sites, including Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, and numerous other platforms.

“‘Gimme Gimme Gimme Some Christmas’ is a sassy and slightly naughty song,” says songstress Deborah Cox. “That’s what I love about it. I feel it has a classic and timeless feel that could become a season favorite.”

As an exclusive to Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Heart & Soul (channel 48), Cox also recorded a rendition of Sammy Cahn’s and Jule Styne’s classic, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow.” Arranged by Anthony Miller, Cox’s musical director, the holiday classic will also air on other Sirius XM channels. In 2020, Cox will release her first-ever holiday album.

Cox has been making the rounds promoting her new R&B single, “Easy Way,” which will be featured on her forthcoming studio album, scheduled for release in 2020. Written by hit-maker Rico Love and produced by Rico and DTown, “Easy Way” is available on digital and streaming sites, including Apple, Spotify, and Pandora, among others.

"Sanborn Sessions" Goes Live with Its Premiere Episode Featuring Performances by Kandace Springs

David Sanborn, the legendary saxophonist and six-time Grammy Award winner, has officially launched his new music show Sanborn Sessions. In the six-episode first season, Sanborn plays host to a diverse roster of guests, accomplished artists representing different genres and generations. The first episode features Kandace Springs, the esteemed vocalist and piano player.

The show gives viewers an intimate lens into the way world class musicians discuss, explore and create music. "To me this show is not just about dialogue," Sanborn says. "It's absolutely essential that we keep this authentic. Because then they [the audience] get the real unfiltered stuff. This show comes out of humor and friendship and just trying to get on the same musical wavelength. It's intimate, fly-on-the-wall stuff."

While Sanborn Sessions is inventive in its lack of script, teleprompter, or studio audience, a good part of the impetus for recording the series came from Sanborn's celebrated NBC music show in the late 1980s. Called Night Music, the show paired Sanborn with legends such as Eric Clapton, Lou Reed, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis, to name a few.

With his new show, the holder of eight Gold albums and one Platinum continues to explore the essence of music through candid conversations and free-flowing studio sessions. In addition to Kandace Springs, Sanborn's guests will include Terrace Martin, Michael McDonald, Brian Owens, Bob James, Jonatha Brooke, Charlie Hunter and Cyriille Aimee. Original song recordings that come from Sanborn Sessions will also be issued for individual consumption across digital audio platforms.

Sanborn Sessions is co-produced and sponsored by music equipment juggernaut Sweetwater. "I've been a longtime fan and customer of Sweetwater," Sanborn says. "They are the ultimate destination for musicians and they have been the perfect partner for us in bringing this vision to life."

A true homegrown project, the show is executive produced by Dave's nephew, Noah, brother-in-law, Steve, and Dave himself. Episodes can be viewed at sanbornsessions.com, as well as on the Sanborn Sessions YouTube channel.

Ibrahim Maalouf - S3NS

Deluxe CD package with transparent sleeve, three postcards and a 28-page booklet. Ibrahim Maalouf plunges into his new adventure S3NS (his 11th studio album) with the impertinent freedom that only independent artists can still afford. This self-produced collection follows the same logical sequence of creative artisanal construction as all Ibrahim Maalouf's previous albums, with striking Latin American influences from the very first track. 

In the past, Ibrahim has the chance to work with many South American artists including the Chilean ?ngel Parra - son of the great poetess Violetta Parra - with whom he recorded a whole album more than 17 years ago, and Lhasa De Sela, whose incredible Mexican-American voice who charmed the whole world on The Living Road. Along the way, Ibrahim has also worked with a number of Cuban artists, including Raul Paz, Ernesto Tito Puentes, Omar Sosa and Ibeyi, to name but a few. 

On this new album, Ibrahim is surrounded by highly talented guests, notably three virtuosos from the new generation of Cuban pianists - Harold Lopez Nussa, Alfredo Rodriguez and Roberto Fonsec - as well as the saxophonist Irving Acao and the violinist and singer Ylilian Canizares. So S3NS seems like an obvious move. Not really jazz, not exactly pop and sometimes rock, Ibrahim Maalouf offers us hybrid, fresh, nostalgic but always unclassifiable music?The real thing from Maalouf, with plenty of Latin flavour!

Buddy Rich - Just In Time: The Final Recording

A previously unreleased treasure. This is the final ever recording of the legendary, influential drummer, whose impact across Rock, Funk and Soul, as well as Jazz, is unrivalled to this day. Recorded over 2 nights, 19th & 20th November 1986, at Ronnie Scott's in London, England. Available as 4 physical formats, as standard and Deluxe. The deluxe, Collector's Editions include a full 30 minutes of extra material, including a gob-smacking drum solo demonstrating that even toward the end of his life, his playing was unsurpassable The Collector's Editions will be available in limited batches at a time, to optimise their value, and increase collectability. 

Includes full liner notes by Buddy's daughter Cath, who also appears as a guest vocalist on the recording 'My dad chose set lists for the two nights that I hadn't heard before. He was always brilliant in choosing the right sets, but this time he shied away from the tried and true and went to places musically that were very different. It was as if he knew that he didn't have to prove anything anymore and could relax and go wherever he wanted and enjoy it. I think the end result proves just that. For two incredible nights I got to sit in the audience and cheer right along with everyone else. I will always remember that time as one of the greatest moments in my life. Now I can revel in the fact that, thankfully, his last recordings were caught on tape for all of us to enjoy forever. It has taken thirty-three years to finally get these recordings out. An absolute labor of love that I never gave up on. At times it was quite a struggle, but in the end it was all about the music.'

BRAZILIAN LEGEND SERGIO MENDES CELEBRATES SIX DECADES OF MUSIC WITH HIS NEW ALBUM IN THE KEY OF JOY

One common thread weaves throughout the staggeringly diverse tapestry of music that producer, composer, keyboardist and vocalist Sergio Mendes has created over his remarkable six-decade career: the spirit of joy.

From his pioneering contributions to the foundations of bossa nova alongside the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, through the era-defining Latin-pop sound of his iconic group Brasil ’66; his scintillating collaborations with jazz legends like Cannonball Addereley and Herbie Mann to his chart-topping adult contemporary smash “Never Gonna Let You Go;” on through his 21st-century reinvention with the Black-Eyed Peas and John Legend or his Oscar-nominated theme song from the animated hit Rio: an infectious spirit of joy pervades everything Mendes has ushered into the ears of listeners. 

The Brazilian legend’s new album is no exception. On In the Key of Joy, due out February 28, 2020 from Concord Records, Mendes looks back the only way he knows how – by once again moving forward. Released to coincide with a spectacular new documentary on his life by acclaimed filmmaker John Scheinfeld (Chasing Trane, Who Is Harry Nilsson?), In the Key of Joy melds the classic Brazilian, jazz and pop sounds that have long characterized Mendes’ music with stunningly contemporary inspirations that make the album sound at once utterly timeless and wholly of the moment. 

As he has throughout his musical life, Mendes thrives on collaboration on In the Key of Joy. The album brings together fellow Brazilian legends with modern-day hitmakers and young rising stars, bringing familiar voices and fresh life to a set of new original songs penned by Mendes and his collaborators. Guests on the album include Common, Hermeto Pascoal, Joe Pizzulo, Cali y El Dandee, Buddy, Sugar Joans, João Donato, Sheléa and Mendes’ wife and longtime singer, Gracinha Leporace. 

“This album is all about joy and celebration,” Mendes says. “I’m very curious, and I love to work with different people from different cultures, different countries, different generations and different styles.”

To accompany the documentary’s wide-angle perspective on Mendes’ sweeping history, the Deluxe Edition of In the Key of Joy includes the soundtrack to the film, a career-spanning overview that encompasses the greatest moments from Mendes’ musical life. From the unforgettable Brasil ’66 classic “Mas Que Nada” to Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love,” which Mendes memorably performed on the 1968 Academy Awards telecast; collaborations with will.i.am and the dazzling, soulful “Never Gonna Let You Go,” the disc offers an essential primer on Mendes’ ability to place his indelible imprint on multiple styles of music across the decades.

While he’s never been interested in living in the past, the experience of making the documentary and the 60thanniversary of the bossa nova gave Mendes an excuse to look back and take in the scope of his accomplishments. “I’ve been very blessed to have had such a long career,” he says sincerely. “There’s an English word that I love and that I use a lot, which is ‘serendipity.’ I’ve been fortunate to have so many beautiful encounters in my life.” 

In the Key of Joy provided the opportunity to make some new encounters as well as reunite with old friends. The album was recorded between Mendes’ native Brazil and his adopted home of California, one more way in which he bridges past and present in an eclectic harmony. “There are some sounds that you can only get down in Brazil, that amazing energy, that massive rhythmical wave that you hear underneath everything,” he says. “Then I have all of my wonderful partners and such amazing musicians in Los Angeles, along with all of my special guests. It’s the best of both worlds.” 

The lilting Brazilian pop of “Sabor Do Rio” opens the album with the instantly recognizable Mendes sound, the lush and sunny blend of voices and horns harking back to Brasil ’66 while Common’s welcoming rap invites in contemporary listeners. Like much of the album, the song was co-written by Mendes with producer and multi-instrumentalist Mika Mutti and woodwind player/arranger Scott Mayo. The propulsive dance-floor pulse of “Bora Lá” is a buoyant backdrop for the vocal pairing of Brazilian samba star Rogê and Mendes’ lifelong muse, Gracinha Leporace. 

“It’s magical,” Mendes says of working closely with his wife. “I feel so lucky to have her in my life – and beside that, what a great voice.” 

The Colombian pop duo of brothers Cali y El Dandee take the spotlight on the sultry “La Noche Entera,” co-written by the pair along with Mendes and the great Brazilian musician/producer Carlinhos Brown. The angelic pipes of The Voice alum Sugar Joans aptly grace “Samba In Heaven;” the singer is a second-generation collaborator with Mendes, her father being Joe Pizzulo, who so memorably sang the lead on “Never Gonna Let You Go.” Pizzulo himself rejoins Mendes for “Love Came Between Us,” which evokes the silky sound of that classic hit. 

Bossa pianist João Donato co-wrote and performs on the percolating “Muganga.” In the liner notes, Mendes refers to Donato as one of his “Three Magi,” along with Hermeto Pascoal and Guinga. The former contributes the party-like atmosphere of “This Is It (É Isso),” also performing an emphatic Portuguese rap. Guinga, meanwhile, wrote and plays guitar on the album’s mesmerizing final cut, “Tangara,” which conjures images of sun-dappled beaches and vibrant forests chiming with birdsong.

The upbeat title track features up-and-coming Compton rapper Buddy, who also recently worked with keyboardist Robert Glasper. Singer-songwriter Sheléa dances nimbly around the acoustic guitar lines of Chico Brown on “Catch the Wave” and takes an achingly yearning turn on the ballad “Times Goes By.” Mutti penned the delightfully cheery “Romance in Copacabana,” with its whistling melody and a spotlight for the bandleader’s fleet jazz piano skills.

Revealing Mendes’ inability to stand still as music evolved, In the Key of Joy is stunning in the range and beauty of its spectrum of styles and collaborations. “I like to get out of my comfort zone and try things that I’ve never done before,” Mendes concludes. “I feel a great excitement walking into the studio with different people and discovering what happens. That’s what I do. I love the musical adventure that I’ve been on for more than 60 years.”

In The Key Of Joy track listing:

Disc 1/Standard Edition

Sabor Do Rio featuring Common (4:12)

Bora Lá featuring Rogê and Gracinha Leporace (3:21)

La Noche Entera featuring Cali y El Dandee (2:54)

Samba In Heaven featuring Sugar Joans (3:56)

Muganga featuring Gracinha Leporace (4:13)

In The Key Of Joy featuring Buddy (3:14)

Love Came Between Us featuring Joe Pizzulo (4:16)

Catch The Wave featuring Sheléa (3:12)

Romance In Copacabana (2:57)

This Is It (É Isso) featuring Hermeto Pascoal and Gracinha Leporace (2:56)

Times Goes By featuring Shelea Frazier (4:27)

Tangara featuring Gracinha Leporace and Guinga (3:59)

Official Documentary Soundtrack – Disc 2/Deluxe Edition

Mas Que Nada (2:39)

Agua De Beber with will.i.am (4:03)

Primitivo (3:57)

Lamento (No Morro) (3:21)

Pais Tropical (3:13)

Reza (4:52)

Consolacao (3:18)

Going Out Of My Head (3:04)

The Frog (2:46)

Morro Velho (4:35)

The Look of Love (2:46)

Constant Rain (3:16)

So Many Stars (4:31)

Tonga (A Tonga Da Mironga Do Kabulete) (3:26)

Never Gonna Let You Go (4:16)

Fanfarra – Cabua-Le-Le (4:01)

PIANIST JOEY ALEXANDER ANNOUNCES MAJOR LABEL DEBUT ALBUM - WARNA

Joey Alexander, the Grammy-nominated jazz pianist, composer and bandleader announces the release of his major label debut album, WARNA (Verve Records).  Slated for release January 31, the album is primarily a collection of reflective, moving new and original music by an experienced and confident musician. You can pre-order the album here. 

Translating as "color" from Alexander's native language of Bahasa, WARNA follows four Motéma Music albums that garnered the pianist three Grammy nominations and such honors as historic critics' and readers' poll victories in DownBeat and JazzTimes. Joining Alexander on the new album are bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Kendrick Scott, who comprise the core piano trio. On select tracks, Venezuelan-born percussion Luisito Quintero, and flautist Anne Drummond, join on to stunning aural effect.

WARNA unfolds like entries in a road journal. Alexander channels what he sees, hears and feels from his travels into his astonishing melodic gift.  The track "Downtime" was written by Joey to honor those special moments that occur off the concert stage, exploring new cities or just hanging out with family and friends.

"I wanted to share with people my original work based on my experiences on the road and onstage playing with different musicians, and the musical conversations," says Alexander of his new album.

Alexander continues to captivate fans and critics alike. His performance at NPR's Tiny Desk, was heralded by the outlet as "a set that ranks among the year's finest jazz performances at the Tiny Desk" and his undeniable talent was showcased on a 60 Minutesinterview and a Today Show appearance. 

Alexander's live performances have been enthusiastically received, and he just announced a string of North American tour dates that include Washington, DC, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Toronto, ON, and Denver, CO.  Additionally, in July he will have two major overseas dates, in Italy at the Umbria Jazz Festival at Teatro Morlacchi and in the Netherlands at the North Sea Jazz Festival.

*All dates and venues are subject to change

Alexander arrived in New York as a lightning bolt in the spring of 2014, performing at Jazz at Lincoln Center's annual fundraising gala. At the helm of a packed-out theater containing some of Manhattan's most elite arts benefactors, Alexander amazed the audience with a remarkably lyrical rendition of "'Round Midnight." A standing ovation ensued, and Alexander hasn't slowed down since. The following spring, the New York Times wrote in an enthusiastic profile that "For a jazz pianist, the mastery entails a staggering breadth of knowledge about harmony, rhythm and orchestration, all converging in an eloquent synthesis. Joey Alexander has a handle on a good deal of that." From there, he went on to receive three Grammy nominations, with two of Alexander's four previous albums topping the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

JACKIE ALLEN’s “A ROMANTIC EVENING WITH JACKIE ALLEN: LIVE AT THE ROCOCO”

Over a career spanning more than three decades, renowned vocalist JACKIE ALLEN has recorded 12 CDs that have garnered wide critical acclaim. Allen is now releasing her newest project, A ROMANTIC EVENING WITH JACKIE ALLEN: LIVE AT THE ROCOCO, a two-disc Blu-ray and CD set.   With her smoky and suggestive voice, distinctive phrasing, and improvisatory chops, Allen is a true jazz singer. A natural storyteller, she can interpret jazz ballads with great sensitivity and fluently transform pop tunes into the jazz idiom. 

As with Allen’s other recordings, A ROMANTIC EVENING WITH JACKIE ALLEN presents a mix of musical styles, from classic jazz tunes to up-tempo swing numbers, soulful R&B, lush ballads, and jaunty sambas. Allen is also an outstanding arranger. She adapted most of the tunes on this album with her own inimitable style and emotive approach to lyric interpretation. She and her husband, the top-notch bass player HANS STURM, have been making music together since the early 1980s. 

The two have teamed up once again to create this unique, two-disc collection, with Sturm producing the video portion of the project. Allen brought her longtime recording band from Chicago to Lincoln for this performance, as well as special guest Bob Sheppard, the Los Angeles-based sax maestro. With its stellar musicianship and Allen’s sexy and emotive vocals, A ROMANTIC EVENING WITH JACKIE ALLEN has the kind of intimate feel that pairs beautifully with a candlelight dinner and a bottle of good champagne.