LOUIE SHELTON - "Higher Ground" - A Tribute to Stevie Wonder

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, the legendary guitarist Louie Shelton has released a musically invigorating album titled Higher Ground. Shelton is a prominent musician whose ‘signature guitar riffs and solos are featured on more hit records than any other session guitarist in history,’ as mentioned on his website.

Higher Ground is a spirited album of smooth jazz that consists of nine tracks. It’s a very festive offering by Louie Shelton, which possesses some deep moods and sonic landscapes. The album covers some of Stevie Wonder’s greatest songs in a new and exhilarating way.

Higher Ground – The album begins with an epic undertaking of Stevie Wonder’s classic hit Higher Ground. Shelton’s inventive guitar riffs over a nocturnal groove. Shelton display’s a charismatic approach to the track that is refreshing, as he is able to creatively make this composition his own.

Too High – This animated upbeat performance by Shelton is heavenly. The track is woven into rhythmic layers that create a free-flowing composition that is memorable and rewarding.

Golden Lady – A well-versed dialogue of guitar play. The track has a lively instrumental conversation filled a moving bassline and stunning drumming in the background, all of which plays a supportive role in measure for Shelton’s brilliant electric guitar lead

You Ain’t Done Nothin’ Yet – A masterful cover of this legendary tune, Shelton’s enchanting riffs are complemented with a backing brass section that is totally electrifying.

That Girl – Shelton creates a musical oasis of sound that listeners can’t wait to experience. The track features a brilliant dialogue between the bass and Shelton’s guitar, which effectively paints a melodic narrative.

Master Blaster – A favorite composition for many, Shelton is able to craft a nostalgic gem from a lively arrangement of organ and trumpet flaring in the background.

Boogie On Reggae Woman – The track begins with an intriguing drum pattern that keeps you enthralled and in anticipation of how the melody will unfold. Shelton has composed a loosely-knit and crafty rendition of this classic, which features a soulful keyboard measure and other delights.

Overjoyed – Another popular tune, Shelton switches up the mood with performance on acoustic guitar.

I Wish – Shelton concludes this remarkable journey with another classic performance that turns out to be a rich culmination of organic sounds and live instrumentation that is gripping and equally entertaining.

Higher Ground by Louie Shelton is a not only a great tribute to Stevie Wonder’s work as a songwriter but also heralds the legendary work and involvement in music and the many valuable contributions he has provided throughout the years.

New Music Releases: Rosario Giuliani, Seven Wonders, Collocutor

Rosario Giuliani- Love In Translation

A beautiful set of ballads from saxophonist Rosario Giuliani – made even better by the vibes of Joe Locke! The tunes are all based around the theme of love – mostly standards, but a few originals too – and even when mellow, they're given a nice sort of swing by the bass of Dario Deidda and drums of Roberto Gatto – both players who keep things simple, but move them along nicely – while Locke sparkles on the vibes, and Giuliani shifts between alto and some especially nice soprano sax. Titles include "Love Letters", "The Hidden Force Of Love", "Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love", "Love In Translation", "Tamburo", "Raise Heven", and "Love Is A Planchette". ~ Dusty Groove

Seven Wonders – New Movements In Australian Jazz & Soul

A great little compilation – and one that really makes us want to hear a lot lot more from all the artists in the lineup! Think of this one as a bit like some of the excellent Brownswood compilations that have hipped us to changes on the London scene during the past few years – as this package showcases an amazing array of music that's been coming out of the Melbourne scene – artists who are heavy on influences from spiritual jazz, cosmic soul, and other mind-expanding modes – really moving past some of the simpler soul and funk we might have heard from the city in the previous decade! The scope of music here is really great, and there's not a dead cut in the bunch – just the kind of tip-of-the-iceberg sounds that makes us hope that Plug Seven will be giving us a lot more of these artists in years to come. Titles include "For Yu Sakamoto" by James Macaulay Quartet, "Waiting" by Jazz Party, "Improvisation #2" by Greg Vinod Perrin, "Dempsey Roll" by Superfeather, "Women's Choir" by Godtet, "Everything I Need" by Daniel Merriwesther, "Sooki The Love Dog" by Laneous, "Sweet Water" by Barney McAll, "True Realm Of The Coin" by The Rookies, and "Work" by Moses McRae with Crooked Letter. ~ Dusty Groove

Collocutor - Continuation

‘Continuation’ is a remarkable work in which the interplay of emotional experience and life motion experienced by band leader Tamar Osborn (also known as Tamar Collocutor) is channelled and explored by Collocutor. The band’s third LP assuredly strides forward following the critical acclaim awarded to ‘The Search’ from 2016 (a work that gained the enthusiastic praise of Mulatu Astake and Gilles Peterson among others). Whereas ‘The Search’ invoked a journey ending in hope and new beginnings, ‘Continuation’ looks at the aftermath of the unexpected. This is an album about coping with grief, loss and bereavement: The music charts the many (and sometimes surprising) emotional states encountered, moving from acknowledgement, trying to keep ‘normal’ life going, the need to sometimes put a pause button on and let the waves of feelings crash and roll, sudden anger and confusion, finally to moving (perhaps with uncertainty) forward. Tamar Osborn has led Collocutor through a line-up shift from septet to quintet for ‘Continuation’. The modified line-up creates space for the musicians to express themselves through the shades of ‘Continuation’'s movement. The quintet brings in more group improvisation, based on just a few motifs and so giving the musicians more space to converse.

New Music Releases: Jamaica All Stars Vols 1 & 2, Brunswick / Dakar Soul Stream Vol 1, Tim Berne's Snakeoil

Jamaica All Stars Vols 1 & 2

A heavy package of treasures from the vaults of Studio One – tracks from the early days of the label that really illustrate the special touch that Studio One had right from the start! The work here is some of the most soulful from the early years of reggae – Jamaican music that's clearly drawn strong inspiration from American work, but which is already really finding its own sort of special groove – mellow burning rocksteady, early reggae, and more – still sounding every bit as righteous and powerful as it did back in the day! This double-length set brings together both volumes of the original compilations – and titles include "Peeping Tom" by Brentford All Stars, "Honey Come Back" by Jerry James, "Get You Off My Mind" by Larry Marshall, "I'll Be Waiting" by Alton Ellis, "Got To Be Sure" by Horace Andy, "My Eyes" by John Holt, "He Don't Love You" by Larry Williams, "Psychedelic Rock" by Ernest Ranglin, "Life" by Hortense Ellis, "Always Something There To Remind Me" by Winston Francis, "Old Time Saying" by Burning Spear, "Riddle I This" by Dennis Alcapone, "Feel Good All Over" by King Sporty, "Zion Higher" by Burning Spear, and "Home Home Version" by Dennis Alcapone & Ken Boothe. ~ Dusty Groove

Brunswick / Dakar Soul Stream Vol 1 – The Sweetest Thing

An incredibly rich collection of work from the legendary Brunswick and Dakar Records labels – and one of the first to really get at the labels' rich legacy of 7" singles that were never issued on any sort of full length albums! The Brunswick sound was a powerhouse in the late 60s and early 70s – a force that saw big records from The Chi-Lites, Jackie Wilson, Artistics, and others – yet the company also recorded a heck of a lot more music too – all of which was every bit as great as the hits, from the grooves at the bottom, to the tight arrangements in the middle, and the fantastic range of vocals on the top! This series finally gets at digging into all the many artists who never issued full albums on Brunswick or Dakar Records – and this first volume features 24 tracks that include "One Two Three Hamilton Street" by The Equations, "The Sweetest Thing" by Channel 3, "Stay With Me Baby" by BW & The Next Edition, "Where Our Love Has Gone" by Ronnie LaShannon, "Soul Strut" by Floyd Smith, "Let's TCB" by Richard Parker, "Contract On Your Love" by Chuck Bernard, "Funky Fatso" by The Aqua Sonics, "Dynamite" by John Freeman, "Forever & A Day" by Wales Wallace, "Turn Me Loose" by Donnie Vann, "You're My Sweet" by The Realistics, and "Falling In Love" by The Complaments. ~ Dusty Groove

Tim Berne's Snakeoil - Fantastic Mrs 10

That's no snake oil in the bottle, it's fantastic music from this razor-sharp quintet – maybe one of the most fantastic projects that saxophonist Tim Berne has given us in many years, and a group that just seem to get better and better with each new record! There's a combination of reed and percussive elements here that's really wonderful – alto from the leader, bass clarinet from Oscar Noriega, piano and tack piano from Matt Mitchell, and drums, vibes, gongs, tanbou, and glockenspiel from Ches Smith – all then strung together by guitar work from Marc Ducret, whose range of sounds really matches those of the other players! Mitchell also adds in a bit of modular synth – and titles include "Surface Noise", "Rolo", "Dear Friend", "The Amazing Mr 7", "Third Option", "Rose Colored Assive", and "The Fantastic Mrs 10". ~ Dusty Groove

New Music Releases: Blaine Sharpe, Ephemerals, Horace Tapscott Quintet

Blaine Sharpe – Wanderlust

With the last name ‘Sharp’ it might seem like destiny that Blaine would end up making music but this wasn’t always so. There were many “zigs” and a lot of “zags” along the way. Moving to LA in 2017 was definitely a game changer though, it was time to face that namesake destiny head on! Born and raised in Canada Blaine also spent important time in England, the United States and France and considers all of these places to have a special place in his heart as well as in his music. His love of theater and film is also a big influence. For Blaine it’s all about a real connection to the story and to an emotion and sharing this honestly with his audience. Blaine’s début release Wanderlust is an exploration of many of these artistic influences. With jazz inflections throughout it wanders romantically through musical genres, allowing this new recording artist a little space to wander creatively too. It is a fitting introduction for his listeners, one that hints at musical directions to come. In the meantime, Blaine is based in LA and Toronto and continues to work as an actor, singer and songwriter. He has several new projects on the go.

Ephemerals - The Third Eye

The fourth album from ephemerals, "the third eye" sees them continue their ever-evolving musical journey. Fusing styles including spiritual jazz, psychedelia, and spoken word, to convey an identity that is unmistakably their own. The core of the work is built from the honest and incisive compositions of Hillman Mondegreen combined with the unmistakably emotive vocal delivery of singer Wolfgang Valbrun. Experimenting with recording and mixing techniques to illustrate the artistic concepts behind the songs has been key in the overall character of the record. Hard panning is used to group together specific sounds and instruments to the left and right to convey masculine and feminine sides within the track as within the individual. The album is a deeply personal and conceptual body of work using ambiguous harmony to discuss gender identity, polychords to demonstrate the power of being between the gender binaries, and modal changes to remove the homeliness that you find speaking to the alienation of being transgender. Although drawn from Hillman’s personal experiences the writing is always universal, and singer Wolfgang Valbrun relates the pieces to his own experiences of a young black man leaving the USA. The band has evolved exponentially over the course of these four albums, and they continuously push beyond the boundaries of traditional genre ideas and traverse unexplored musical territories.

Horace Tapscott Quintet  - The Giant Is Awakened LP

The title of Horace Tapscott’s debut release is apt, if not self-referential, for indeed a giant of West Coast jazz had awakened with this, the pianist/composer/bandleader’s 1969 album for the Flying Dutchman label. Tapscott went on to form two groups crucial to the flowering of modern jazz in the Los Angeles area, the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (or P.A.P.A.; the name is an homage to Tapscott’s predecessor and peer, Sun Ra), which eventually became part of a larger umbrella organization, Union of God’s Musicians and Artists Ascension (UGMAA). Out of UGMAA came a host of LA-bred musicians, singers, and poets, including Arthur Blythe (who goes by Black Arthur Blythe on this recording), Stanley Crouch (who wrote the original liner notes), David Murray, Butch Morris, Wilber Morris, Jimmy Woods, Nate Morgan, and Sinclair Greenwell, Jr. (a.k.a. Guido Sinclair). And anchoring it all was Tapscott himself; as Kamasi Washington, whose vision of a large, Los Angeles community-based ensemble echoes that of P.A.P.A. and UGMAA, said in 2015: “Horace is one of the most important figures in the foundation of music in L.A., from both a purely musically and socially conscious perspective.” Now, Real Gone Music is proud to present the first-ever LP reissue of The Giant Is Awakened (original copies go for hundreds of dollars) taken from high-resolution audio sources.

U-Nam Goes Big Band On New Album

There are only a few established artists who are capable of reinventing themselves and jazz guitarist and Billboard chart-topper U-Nam is certainly one of them.  As if to prove it he will release the genre busting “U-Nam Goes Big Band”, 03/27/2020, on the Skytown Records label.

Coming off the back of a scintillating 2019 that saw him enjoy huge chart success with his 2 sensational albums “Future Love Parts 1 and 2” (that reached #20 on the Top25 Billboard Jazz Best Selling Album Chart and #8 in the Contemporary Jazz category) this is an exciting new direction for U-Nam to take but, with nine Top30 Billboard radio hits already to his name and an approach recognised as always innovative and often daring, his reputation for shaking the musical world to its core is already firmly in place.

“U-Nam Goes Big Band”, a sumptuous eleven track rendering of sophisticated mood jazz, is made even more enticing by the amazing back-story that first put it on U-Nam’s radar. A phone call to his Los Angeles studio from Estonian producer Mikk Targo is all it took. Targo, CEO and Founder of the Estonian Author Society EAU had, for the past several years, been working with a panel of music industry experts to select from what was generally regarded as the best one hundred songs Estonia has ever produced. As they did so a body of work emerged that was not only a glimpse into the nation’s musical heritage but also an outstanding showcase for the renowned Lutz Krajenski Big Band.

The resultant album was released in 2016 accompanied by a “behind the scenes” television documentary yet Targo knew that if the project was really going to be a global smash a different approach would be required. Having heard his music played extensively on radio Targo was already a huge fan of U-Nam’s work. When he explained his desire to transform what he already had into something altogether more jazzy, the prospect of creating Sinatra like, bossa nova tinged, big band driven music that crossed seamlessly over to instrumental jazz was, for U-Nam, just too good to miss. In addition it offered him an avenue to get back to why he had got into music in the first place.

To understand why this recording could not happen sooner, or what prevented songs of such potential from finding their way to the world’s best artists; one has to understand the political landscape of the time where the all-pervasive Soviet regime excluded any such possibilities.

All that changed in 1991 when the country was finally recognized by the USSR as an independent state. Artistic freedom was restored and as part of that the first tentative steps were taken to bring some of Estonia’s best songs to the notice of a worldwide listening public.

The musical magnificence of U-Nam is epitomized by the opening number, the luxurious “Something Right” where his interplay on guitar with the immaculate seventeen-piece big band lays down a marker that is replicated throughout. This is particularly so with “Beautiful, Beautiful” that finds U-Nam at his finest and again with the ultra smoky “Dance” that glides along on a delicious mid tempo beat.

The sultry “Each Day’s a Gift” is delivered first as an exciting instrumental then later with vocals from the inaugural winner of the X-Factor UK TV Show Steve Brookstein. It is one of two vocal tracks with the other being “The Dance Must Go On” where Susanna Aleksandra evokes the aura of a New York supper club circa 1946.  In every respect it is a musical extravaganza and much the same can be said of the warmly inviting “When You Fall In Love” that begins with musical sparring between Lutz Krajenski on piano and U-Nam on guitar. 

It ensures a romantic opening to an otherwise upbeat track while elsewhere the dramatic first bars of “The One” lays a path to a Latin groove that U-Nam generates with his trademark playing style. 

When the rhythm eases and the mood becomes relaxed the consequence is the wonderful “Saaremaa” and although the whimsical “In the Blink of an Eye” really swings it is the easy grooving “The World to Me”, fuelled as it is by a picture perfect and understated brass section, that impeccably encapsulates what “U-Nam Goes Big Band” is all about.

Since moving to the USA from Paris, France in 2007, U-Nam’s stature has skyrocketed. Now, as the founder and owner of the niche label Skytown Records, he is reshaping the many complexions of jazz in a way that makes him stand out from the crowd. His sophomore album “Back from the 80’s” included the #1 hit “Street Life” which stayed in the top three on the US Billboard chart for three months and in the top ten chart for an entire year.  

By 2014, when the critically acclaimed “C’est Le Funk” hit the streets, his standing as a purveyor of high-octane guitar driven smooth jazz was well and truly established. A real landmark moment in U-Nam’s illustrious career came when he undertook the ambitious venture of creating the first ever tribute to the great George Benson.

Featuring jazz and r&b legends such as George Duke, Marcus Miller, Ronnie Foster, Patrice Rushen, Wah Wah Watson, Phil Perry, Stokley Williams and Paul Jackson Jr to name but a few, the album was endorsed by Benson and included liner notes written by him. “Weekend in LA – A Tribute to George Benson” reached #1 on iTunes Japan for Jazz, #1 on Amazon US for Neo-Soul, #1 on Amazon US for Smooth Jazz and also received Grammy consideration with 10 entries over 6 categories in 2012.

All this seems a far cry from when the then 16 year old U-Nam attended the C.I.M, 1st European Jazz School in Paris, where for three years he got to hang out and play with a whole raft of future jazz superstars including Angelique Kidjo, Andre Manga and Armand and Felix Sabal-Lecco as well as established jazz legends such as André Ceccarelli, Pierre Cullaz and Tal Farlow. Yet it was these experiences and influences that, in part, have perfectly equipped him for the challenges of “U-Nam Goes Big Band”.  
As Mikk Targo describes it, “U-Nam is not only a phenomenal guitarist with his roots deep into jazz, he is also the consummate professional and a great musical story teller too.

Start with Benson-esque guitar skills, add just a hint of Sinatra’s smile, a touch of Buble’s sophisticated swagger and a real big band playing real jazz with a real swing and what you have is magic, what you have is ”U-Nam Goes Big Band”.

The first radio single “Dance” and the album, “U-Nam Goes Big Band” will go for adds on 03/30/2020.

New Music Releases: Ennio Morricone, Alabaster DePlume, Maria Bethania

Ennio Morricone - Musiques Des Films – 1964 to 2015 (18CD set)

An amazing collection of music from one of the greatest soundtrack composers of all time – presented in a hefty book-styled package, and done with a very unique presentation of his work! The package is huge – a hardcover volume with 18 CDs and a 48 page book, all presenting a total of 400 tracks that really span the scope of the music of Ennio Morricone over the decade – presented on CDs that each have a different theme, to showcase a different side of the maestro's many creations! The first five CDs focus on Morricone's music for director Sergio Leone, and other CDs present work for directors Henri Verneuil, Roland Joffe, Quentin Tarantino, and Giuseppe Tornatore – plus a full set of music used in films that starred Jean-Paul Belmondo. There's also thematic CDs, too – "Genre Cinema", "Committed Cinema", "Mafia Thrillers", "History Of Italy", and "Faces Of Italian Cinema" – and the final CD features songs penned by Morricone, interpreted by a host of others – including Charles Aznavour, Chico Buarque, Traffic Quintet, Gerard Depardieu, Sting, and many more. A beautiful tribute to Morricone's 50 years of film music – with some unreleased music, rarities, photos, and more! ~ Dusty Groove 

Alabaster DePlume - To Cy & Lee – Instrumentals Vol 1

Beautifully meditative music from Alabaster DePlume – a set that brings together work from a variety of recorded projects from the past decade or so – finally getting full exposure in this Transatlantic collaboration between Chicago's International Anthem label and London's Total Refreshment Centre! The sound is a great illustration of the genre-crossing modes that have been going on in both scenes – as Alabaster's music is definitely beyond easy description or definition, and comes across in a way that's as personal as it is collaborative – since DePlume works with a whole host of different musicians on the recordings, mixing flute, percussion, strings, keyboards, and other elements together in a way that follows a spiritual legacy from the more spacey side of Alice Coltrane, to the west coast experiments of Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, to the changes taking place on the planet at present. Alabaster plays tenor and guitar, and vocalizes slightly – but never really sings – and titles include "Why Buzzardman Why", "Not My Ask", "Whisky Story Time", "If You're Sure You Want To", "What's Missing", and "Song Of The Foundling". ~ Dusty Groove

Maria Bethania - Mangueira: A Menina Dos Meus Olhos

Brilliant work from the legendary Maria Bethania – a singer who might be looking a few years older on the cover, but who still has all the tremendous power of her youth! Maria's vocals are tremendous, and set up in these beautiful arrangements that blend samba-styled percussion and guitar with some occasional fuller orchestrations – but always in a way that's very understated, so that the lady herself is right up front in the lead – almost never needing the other instrumentation at all, since her presence is more than enough to hold us rapt. Arrangements are by Letieres Leite, and the set features guest appearances from Caetano and Moreno Veloso – on titles that include "A Mangueira E La No ceu", "A Flor E O Espinho/Sombras Da Agua", "Luz Negra", "Sei La Mangueira", "Maria Bethania A Menina Dos Olhos De Oya", and "Historias Pra Ninar Gente Grande". ~ Dusty Groove

Trumpeter Marquis Hill Releases Love Tapes: With Voices

Over the course of eight releases, Chicago trumpeter/composer Marquis Hill has established a distinct sound, thoroughly his own, fusing elements of jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, and R&B. The latest culmination of this musical erudition was the 2019 release Love Tape: a groove-centered studio album culling excerpts from black women’s interviews (including Eartha Kitt, Phylicia Rashad, and Abbey Lincoln, among others) with pianist/keyboardist Michael King, bassist Junius Paul, and drummer Marcus Gilmore laying the foundation.

This Friday, February 14, Hill will release the follow up – Love Tape: With Voices. With the theme of self-love amongst ambient layered sounds and a soul jazz vibe, Hill recruits renowned vocalists to call attention to the ever-present need for everyone’s journey to self-love. Chris Turner, Phoelix, Alex Isley, Christie Dashiell, Kate K-S, and Kaycee Shakur all pour their hearts into this ten-track release.

"The concept behind Love Tape: With Voices is very similar to an EP I released called Meditation Tape,” explains Hill. “I produce the original version of both projects completely instrumental and follow that up with an extended version that incorporates vocals, spoken word and emcees. The music and melodies I have been writing and producing lately works well in an instrumental setting but I’m also at a stage in my career where I'm naturally hearing lyrics and vocals on top of the melodies I play. My ultimate goal as an instrumentalist is to mimic the human voice”

Marquis Hill funnels love and positive energy into this meditative blend of infectious groove and subdued tone. Love Tape: With Voices focuses on one key aspect of the many conditions that fall under the umbrella of love.

"Self-love is one of the main topics discussed throughout the project. Knowing and loving oneself is the only way to truly love another being. We live in a climate where most of the music we hear on the radio emphasis's romantic relationships and over-sexualized themes,” he says. “I wanted to use this project to create something that deals with something real, the power of self-love."



MarquisHill.com

New Music Releases: Marcos Valle, Beat Bronco Organ, Linkwood & Greg Foat

Marcos Valle - Cinzento

One of our favorite Brazilian artists of all time – stepping out here with a record that really lives up to all the faith we've had in his music over the decades! Back at the start of the 90s, Valle had all but disappeared from the recording world – but since that time, he's continued to mature and grow as an artist – really stretching himself, expanding his sound, and moving forward his groundbreaking styles of the 60s and 70s, which continue to influence new generations as time goes by! Here, there's some of the warmth of the soul records that Marcos cut in the 80s, including his collaborations with Leon Ware – but with touches of more unusual, more personal elements too – so that you'll have a sweet electric sound on one number, and a more pronounced acoustic element on the next – all made even more interesting by some of the collaborative help on the album's compositions, which include contributions from Moreno Veloso, Domincio, Kassin, and Emicida. Titles include "Se Proteja", "Pelo Sim Pelo Nao", "Rastros Traros", "Nada Existe", "Posto 9", "So Penso Em Jazz", "Lugares Distantes", and "Cinzento". ~ Dusty Groove

Beat Bronco Organ Trio - Road Trip 

The Beat Bronco Organ Trio are more than great enough at the core, but they also offer up some great surprises over the course of this fantastic full length album – including slight use of clavinet and mini-moog by Gabri Casanova, who mostly handles the Hammond in the lead – and guest work at a few spots from Chip Wickham on flute and electric piano! There's a few other players who drop in along the way – but the core groove here is from the trio, who not only replicate a 60s soul jazz vibe, but also move things through a deep funk legacy – maybe more in the mode of the Sugarman Three than a Don Patterson or Jack McDuff combo on Prestige – as there are rhythms and elements that pick up bits of 70s funk. Drums are by Antonio Pax Alvarez and guitar is by Lucas De Mulder – and titles include "Hard Play", "Crispy Time", "Easy Baby", "Hey Hey", "Squirtly", "Under Pressure", "Road Trip", and "Electro Pi".  ~ Dusty Groove

Linkwood & Greg Foat - Linkwood & Foat

A set that's more electronic than some of the other recent albums from Greg Foat, but a record that still fits nicely inside his style – that understated approach to keyboard-driven jazz – heavy on influences from the past, yet never delivered in a way that's too straightforward at all – in a lineage that just has things getting more and more complex as Foat keeps on making records! This time around, Greg's teamed up with Linkwood – and the set has elements that move between 70s and 80s electronic styles, including occasional rhythm patterns – sometimes a bit more upbeat than we're used to hearing from Foat, but still with all the spacey touches that we love in his music. Titles include "Es Vedra", "Pressure", "Bentley 101", "Neutrino", "Push It", and "Mysterious Richie". ~ Dusty Groove

Mitch Ryder Socking It To You – The Complete Dynovoice/New Voice Recordings (Take A Ride / Breakout / Sock It To Me / Sings The Hits / What Now My Love / 45s) (3CD set)

Five full albums of work from the mighty Mitch Ryder – plus a fair bit of rare singles as well – all brought together in a package that features the first full look at his years at the New Voice label! 

First up is Take A Ride – a classic set from the mighty Mitch Ryder and his smoking Detroit Wheels combo! These guys might have been a garage band in another side of the universe – and you can definitely hear that style on some of the guitars and keyboards in the set – but they also drunk deep of the Motown sound of their hometown, and listened to plenty of soul from Chicago and Memphis too – which they draw on to great extent for the grooves in this classic set! Years before so many other groups would cop 60s soul style and hit it big on the charts, Mitch and the boys made their move – much closer to the ground at the time, and with a lot more grit in their grooves too – so much so that we've always been unsure as to whether to file this record in the rock section or in soul. The whole thing's great – and titles titles that include "Jenny Take A Ride", "Shake A Tail Feather", "Come See About Me", and "I Hope" – plus three James Brown songs – "I'll Go Crazy", "Please Please Please", and "I Got You". 

Next is Breakout – a record that's steeped in styles borrowed from Memphis and Muscle Shoals, and given a bit of a color-blind twist on the Detroit scene of the late 60s! Mitch clearly loves the motor city sound of the 60s, but also takes things to farther points south, too – using elements that would be right at home on Stax or Atlantic Records, and coming up with a crossover sound that had his recorded almost ending up in more soul collections over the years than rock ones! Production is by pop maestro Bob Crewe, but it's surprisingly unadorned compared to some of Crewe's other work of the time – and the album bristles with sock-soul instrumentation from the Detroit Wheels, and loud, proud vocals from Mitch. There's a bit of garaey guitars in the mix, too – making for a mighty nice hybrid of styles – and titles include "Shakin With Linda", "You Get Your Kicks", "Any Day Now", "I Need Help", "Little Latin Lupe Lu", "Walkin The Dog", "I Had It Made", and the classic "Breakout". 

Sock It To Me is a smoking third set has the group breaking out with a fierce and funky sort of style! Most songs are by producer Bob Crewe – but Mitch and the group deliver the goods with a strong dose of Detroit soul influence – mixing Motown inspirations with lots of rougher garagey touches on the instrument – all with nonstop energy that makes the record a cooker all the way through! Titles include "I Can't Hide It", "Sock It To Me", "Shakedown", "I Never Had It Better", "Slow Fizz", "A Face In The Crowd", and "Wild Child". 

Sings The Hits is a record that has Mitch Ryder singing the hits of other big soul and rock artists of his generation – but with that crackling Detroit Wheels blend of fuzzy rock and funky soul! Arrangements are by Hutch Davie, and Bob Crewe produces the group to perfection – but it's really Mitch and the group that make the real magic – with titles that include "Come See About Me", "Walk The Dog", "Sticks & Stones", "I Got You", "Let Your Lovelight Shine/Turn On Your Lovelight", "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow", and "Please Please Please". 

On What Now My Love, Mitch Ryder takes a bit of a turn from the garagey funk and Detroit soul of previous records – and works in territory that's maybe a bit more familiar for longtime producer Bob Crewe – Mitch in the lead, ala solo Frankie Vallie – working through tunes made popular by other artists, but with all these unusual inflections in both the arrangements and vocals! The vibe isn't the same rollicking party as early records by Ryder, but the album has all these sublime elements that make the whole thing stand up there with some of the best on Dyno Voice – a list that would also include the Barbarella soundtrack – almost like Mitch is trying to go into solo Scott Walker territory. Titles include "Born To Lose", "If You Go Away", "Let It Be Me", "Sally Go Round The Roses", "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", "I Need Lovin You", and "That's It I Quit I'm Moving On". 

CD also features loads of rare tracks from 45s – including "Joy", "Ring Your Bell", "One Grain Of Sand", "Personality/Chantilly Lace", "Lights Of Night", "Blessing In Disguise", and a special "Radio Promo". ~ Dusty Groove

New Music Releases: Orpheus (Jarrod Lawson); Aurra; Light Mellow Malaco Compilation

Orpheus (Jarrod Lawson) – Visions (Limited Edition Vinyl LP)

Izipho Soul Records presents the vinyl element of Jarrod Lawson’s pseudonym project, Orpheus – a beautiful, bewitching, viby brew of acoustic & electronic elements, featuring lush, soulful vocal textures and elegant melodies.In Jarrod’s words – “VISIONS, a non-lyrical album of all original music which has been carefully crafted and tailored to tease your senses and guide you thru a peaceful, spiritually enriching experience. I am truly honored and humbled to have been a creative conduit through which came this vivid tapestry of dreamy, visionary tales. The original concepts which gave birth to these compositions are, in my mind, not unlike “visions” which are imparted to shamans during traditional consciousness-altering ceremonies, and much like the healing that comes through the use of associated sacred plant medicines, my intention is for THIS MUSIC also to produce healing vibrations, to soothe, and be a sort of medicinal balm for your soul. I have chosen to release this under the pseudonym, Orpheus, whom was a legendary musician in Greek mythology known for his unique ability to charm the very animals and trees of the forest with the enchanting melodies he performed on his lyre. It was important to me that I create some division between Jarrod Lawson, the soul singer as I have come to be known, and Jarrod Lawson, the purveyor of alternative artistic pursuits, such as this. Essentially, an alias gives me artistic freedom to explore other creative territories and (hopefully) not alienate my fervent supporters, to whom I am most appreciative and grateful!”

Aurra – Satisfaction

The mythical ‘Satisfaction’ album by Aurra has been folklore for three decades.There were rumors that a 5th Aurra album produced by Dayton Ohio Funk Legend Steve Washington was recorded just after the Salsoul years. The Album was recorded in 1983 with his wife Sheila who had just finished writing and touring with The Brides Of Funkenstein. Plans were made for Quincy Jones’ newly formed Qwest Records, but legal troubles complicated it’s release. No one was quite sure what happened to the master tapes, not even Steve himself. Then in 2012, the tapes surfaced and Family Groove delivered the music back to Steve Washington & Sheila Brody. This is Electronic Funk and R&B at it’s finest, recorded during a pivotal year in Modern Funk music. Post-Disco, right at the beginning of Hip-Hop’s finest hour when Boogie and Electro music was making the scene in New York. Making this an important milestone in music and documenting the inception of the drum machine. The grooves smoke, as Washington delivers the Dayton Funk style. Mean and lean basslines, irresistible hooks & towering vocal riffs with crisp, tight dance rhythms. The relentless flow gives the feeling of an endless party, which the Satisfaction album definitely provides.

Light Mellow Malaco (Various Artists)

You might know Malaco Records as a hotbed of deep soul during the 70s – but as the decade progressed, the southern label also really opened up to some of the warmer, more sophisticated styles that were brewing up north – all to create a magnificent sort of hybrid that really helped move its music forward! The vibe is a bit hard to describe, but maybe imagine late 70s Philly soul with some deeper soul vocals – warm, but never too polished or commercial – and still very close to the best traditions of earlier soul music, while sounding a bit more mature. Artists here include some older southern soul acts from the 60s, mixed with up-and-comers in the 70s, and a few special acts that Malaco helped discover themselves – in a great set of 20 tracks that include "Sweet Life" by Frederick Knight, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "Trust In Me" by Natural High, "Sara Smile" by Latimore, "Let Me Be" by The Duncans, "Show Me" by Mosley & Johnson, "Come To Bed" by Denise Lasalle, "So In Love" by Freedom, "Groovin" by Power, "I Wonder Where The Love Has Gone" by Shirley Brown, "I Need Your Love" by Patterson Twins, "Just To Love Someone Like You" by Sho Nuff, "Take A Chance On Me" by Eddie Floyd, "Let Your Love Rain Down On Me" by Jewel Bass, and "When Can We Do This All Over Again" by ZZ Hill. ~ Dusty Groove

LPT'S DEBUT ALBUM – SIN PARAR IS OUT NOW

LPT, the fast rising 10-piece orchestra out of Jacksonville, FL, are quickly becoming the ambassadors of Salsa and Afro-Cuban music in the Southeast. Their high energy and thought provoking take on Salsa Dura (Hard Salsa) is captured on their debut album Sin Parar, which is out now.

LPT came together with the mission of keeping legit ‘Descarga’ salsa alive. Formed in 2015, the crew realized that playing salsa music was a way to share the diversity of the area with a new, young audience, while still giving the seasoned salsa veterans a taste of that old school.

Their debut album Sin Parar strikes a fine balance between respecting the old school salsa legends with infectious danceability combined with LPT’s riveting lyrics rooted in deep messages that evoke contemplation. Lead singer Josué A. Cruz elaborates, “We wanted to harken back to the giants of the genre that made you shake your rear end and still say something to make you think.” Pianist Ángel D. García adds, “Sin Parar is a collection of songs born from the desire to righteously contribute to the salsa music canon. It is an attempt at pay respects to the melting pot that salsa music is – African, Cuban, Puerto Rican and American music, codified in New York City. We want to contribute and share our music with everyone.”

Sin Parar was recorded at NFS Records Ranch, 15 minutes west of Saint Augustine, in Elkton, FL. The magic that was recorded there in the Summer of 2019 can be heard through the rich analog sounds, which were captured straight to 2-inch tape. The results yield a very authentic and warm sounding album. In between takes, the musicians would take a dip in the pool on the ranch to keep cool and refreshed for their sessions with an energy that flows throughout the 9 original songs.

The album kicks off with the track “Guerra Guerra” that translates to “War War.” Combining dance energy with the topic of how society wants war and it seems to never end. “War, war, and the peace doesn’t come” is the chorus chant and that’s what we see in our world today. The theme about the woes of more violence, greed, anger, and separation, and less peace and love and inclusion. Another one of the many standout tracks is “Los Bravos” that translates to “The Brave Ones” or “The Bad Ones.” The song is an anthem to salsa dura and bringing the fire to the stage. LPT is all about the energy in the room, the experience of the live show and communing with the audience. This song embodies that feeling. It is bravado encapsulated.  There are moments on-stage, when everything is locked in, that the band can feel larger than life.

The title track “Sin Parar” which was released in November received critical acclaim from Medium, Sounds and Colours, and Joy of Violent Movement. Medium called the track “Marvelously wrought and arranged, ‘Sin Parar’ projects electrifying dynamism, contagious rhythmic allure, and intoxicating Salsa Dura gusto.” The song translates to “non-stop” and represents the grind of living in today’s world, and how the “machine” doesn’t stop grinding. The topics continue to traverse life with “Mala Mentira,” which translates to “a bad lie.” This song is about the complications of love, and how we can convince ourselves to recognize feelings that aren’t true, to justify a certain end. At face value, the song can be aimed at a lover. Under a deeper microscope view, the song is being sung to music itself, as in, “I can tell myself that I can live without you (music), but I can’t. I need you more than ever.” It is a bolero style, so it is meant to be slower and pensive and reflective.

As the listener continues down the journey of Sin Parar they will dive into diverse topics of life, death, love, and social topics all wrapped up into an infectious rhythm that lets you move, while critically thinking of issues going on around them. In the spirit of similar genre pushing groups like Grupo Fantasma and Bio Ritmo, LPT aims to bring thought-provoking lyrics and topics to a genre of music not normally associated with it.

Josué A. Cruz concludes, “We want to bring our music to everyone to demonstrate the power music has, how it can make everyone in a room start moving, even if they may not know what the song is about, lyrically. The language of music transcends spoken language and cultures and borders. It stands alone and speaks to all sentient beings that are willing to listen. It is the original language, and LPT wants to share that sentiment with the world.”

Members:

Milan Algood – Timbales, Vox

Josué A. Cruz – Lead Vox

Angel Garcia – Keys, Vox

Mike Emmert – Baritone Sax

Bryant Patterson – Trombone

Jonah Pierre – Bongo & Bell

Stan Piper – Bass

Juan Carlos Rollan – Tenor Sax, Vox

JP Salvat – Congas

Steve Strawley – Trumpet

Tour Dates:

2/21 @ Coastal Carnaval - Atlantic Beach, FL

2/23 @ Seawalk Pavilion - Jacksonville Beach, FL

3/01 @ Intuition Ale Works - Jacksonville, FL

3/07 @ Carnival On The Mile - Miami, FL

3/24 @ Copacabana Times Square - New York City

3/25 @ Pianos NYC - New York City

3/26 @ Next Stage Arts Project - Putney, VT

3/27 @ Rockwood Music Hall - New York City

4/03 @ Smith's Olde Bar - Atlanta, GA

4/04 @ Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens - Jacksonville, FL

Shabaka & The Ancestors make their Impulse! debut with the band's sophomore album We Are Sent Here By History

On March 13, Shabaka & The Ancestors will make their Impulse! debut with the band's sophomore album We Are Sent Here By History. Their breakout 2016 album, Wisdom of Elders, established Shabaka & The Ancestors as a sudden force in spiritual jazz. But where that record warned of impending societal collapse, this one unfolds within it.

Shabaka refers to the album as a "meditation on the fact of our coming extinction as a species. It is a reflection from the ruins, from the burning." On the lead single "Go My Heart, Go To Heaven," Siyabonga pays homage to his father's favorite church song. The word "hamba" (or "go") is repeated, and within the context of this track, it's "about the point where one gives in and wants out of this world," Siyabonga says. "But in times of darkness is a call to the light and the heart."

Shabaka & The Ancestors was formed in 2016; Shabaka had been flying to Johannesburg to play with trumpeter/bandleader Mandla Mlangeni, who connected him to a group of South African jazz musicians that Hutchings admired. After several sessions, their first album Wisdom of Elders was made. This follow-up record reunites the group, who recorded again in Johannesburg and Cape Town last year (2019). This album is more urgent, more unrelenting, darker and energetic and presents a major social commentary in the context of ancient traditions. Shabaka explains this is "what happens after that point when life as we know it can't continue."

We Are Sent Here By History mixes African and Afro-Caribbean traditions. The album takes the concept of the griot – the living archive of a historical narrative, the storyteller and contextualizer -  and presents the album as the modern day griot. Therefore, a really important aspect to this is the accompanying text to this album: South African performance artist Siyabonga Mthembu chants and sings on this record and composed lyrics for the album. Shabaka then chose song titles from the lyrics and composed poems around each title, based on Siyabonga's lyrics. On the aptly titled "We Will Work (On Redefining Manhood)," Siyabonga sings a poem in Zulu that, when translated to English, shuns the archaic pillars of virility. From childhood, young boys are trained to suppress their emotions and suffer in silence. "This song sings from the point of the toxic masculine," Siyabonga says. "It repeats the sentences they tell to their boys-to not cry, to not grieve and to not hurt."

Tracklist:

They Who Must Die

You’ve Been Called

Go My Heart, Go To Heaven

Behold, The Deceiver

Run, The Darkness Will Pass

The Coming Of The Strange Ones

Beasts Too Spoke of Suffering

We Will Work (On Redefining Manhood)

‘Til The Freedom Comes Home

Finally, The Man Cried

Teach me How To Be Vulnerable

Lineup:

Shabaka Hutchings - Tenor Sax and clarinet

Mthunzi Mvubu - Alto Sax

Siyabonga Mthembu - Vocals

Ariel Zamonsky – Double bass

Gontse Makhene - Percussion

Tumi Mogorosi – Drums

Nduduzo Makhathini (Fender Rhodes), Thandi Ntuli (piano), Mandla Mlangeni (trumpet) on select tracks

BASSIST OMER AVITAL– QANTAR RELEASES NEW YORK PARADOX

Bassist and composer Omer Avital, one of the most celebrated and revered musicians on the global jazz scene, offers his latest creative tour-de-force, New York Paradox, to be released on Avital’s label, Zamzama Records (in partnership with jazz&people), on March 20, 2020. New York Paradox is the second album from Avital’s dream Quintet, Qantar (following up their self-titled debut), featuring Eden Ladin (piano & keyboards), Ofri Nehemya (drums), Alexander Levin (tenor sax), Asaf Yuria (soprano & tenor sax).

Qantar is more than just another group, it is for all intents and purposes a family and a community with its own customs, growing traditions, and even language (both musical and verbal). These five artists have formed a special friendship that projects a singular energy on the bandstand and on their recordings. Indeed, all are Israeli expatriates, all living in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, all regularly hanging out at their leader’s home, sharing dinner, Turkish coffee, stories, ideas, joys and sorrows. This shared history, even though years apart, imbibes this quintet with the key to Avital’s music: the ability to bring the various rhythmic and harmonic vocabularies underpinning 20th and 21st century hardcore jazz expression to flow with a polyphonic attitude and musical multilingualism.

The recording of New York Paradox came together after three years of the guys playing together regularly. It was recorded in Avital’s NEW studio/club/lounge - Wilson Live! in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on April 21 & 22, 2019, in a very comfortable, homey environment, captured by the band’s good friend, engineer Roy Boukris. Avital added, “we know the room as we have been playing here a lot in the past year and a half, and we recorded in the same room with no separation, no edits, no fixes; we just played the room as if we were on a gig.” 

More on New York Paradox with Omer Avital:

“Qantar has been working together for the past several years, traveling the world, rehearsing, and just as importantly, hanging hard. For this band, we don’t use charts but rather learn the music by heart and create the arrangements on the spot, organically. For me as composer/arranger this is the best way to work since you get the best results when the musicians can tailor their parts to the music . . . also, the music becomes highly personal as everybody feels invested. Plus, learning music this way, you never forget it, which means less rehearsing and a much more natural feeling on the bandstand.”

Shabazi – Rabbi Shalom Shabazi was a great and beloved Jewish Yemenite poet who lived in Yemen during the 17th century. I grew up on his poems and songs. It is also a name of a nice street/area in the south part of Tel-Aviv.

Zohar Smiles – One of my favorites - and a big favorite at gigs - written for my son when he was still little, around 2010/11. It is, of course, a very special melody that reminds me of the feelings I had during his early years, and his amazing smile. To me this is the best proof of godliness and true spirituality in life.

NY Paradox – I composed this one when we moved back to NYC in the later summer of 2005 after 4 years in Israel. The complexity of the city was very evident to me at the time . . . the beauty and energy I missed but also the harshness and the reality of the financial situation of living here. NYC presents an imperfect balance, a certain energy that can be exhilarating and taxing, that I have learned to deal with, and sometimes even beat, to an certain extent. I still have strong feelings towards this place that I love so much and have called home for almost 27 years, on and off!

C’est Clair – I started composing this in summer of 2017 first in Marciac before our concert and completed that summer in Israel. First titled “Waltz in F Minor,” then another title, “Au Clair Du Lune,” emerged. When I first recorded the composition with The Yes! Trio in Paris, Ali Jackson suggested changing the name to C’est Clair (named after a great couscous restaurant in Paris that the band loves.)

Today’s Blues – Written sometime around 2010 this is a blues with a bridge. It moves between the Spanish modes and some pretty basic harmonies that are more African in nature, but still essentially a swinging blues.

Just Like the River Flows – When I first moved back to NYC I first played this tune with my band at Smalls. It is a Suite of sorts as it has different sections towards the end. It has a Middle eastern vibe and for me represents the way traditions keep flowing.

It’s All Good – A composition from the late ‘90s, which was a complex period for me as my first band of four saxes, drums and bass was ending, a major record deal had been canceled on me, and things in general were changing. Musically, there was a lot of hip hop and groove orientated music going on, and less straight-ahead, so opportunities were dwindling. I often like to write tunes that represent a moment in life, what we were feeling, etc., this is definitely late 90’s! 

Bushwick After Dark – A minor blues that became the theme song and the unofficial title for our late night sessions at my club, Wilson Live. It’s also a play on “Bohemia After Dark”g. It was on February 12 2016...... I have a voice memo from February 12, 2016, the day I heard that my mother, who was very sick at that time, was not doing well, and basically dying. We bought tickets to fly to Israel the next day and as I was packing and going down to the basement I started humming this blues riff . . . it’s so strange how music comes about and goes in circles.

New York Paradox was recorded on April 21 & 22, 2019, at Wilson Live , Brooklyn, NY by Roy Boukris.

Assistant Engineer: Ron Warburg

Mixed and mastered by Roy Boukris

The band was recorded live in one room, no headphones, no separation, no edits!

Upon Avital's arrival in New York City in 1992, the rapid growth of Israeli jazz was set in motion in a profound way. Avital quickly forged an indelible mark on the scene, mainly through his legendary performances at Smalls, where he lead one of the most celebrated groups of the time, a sextet with a front line onslaught of four saxophones (an early gem from this time in Avital's early days is the tune "Kentucky Girl", featured on the compilation, Jazz Underground: Live at Smalls, on Impulse!). “Years from now, when folks are remembering the early days of the West Village jazz haunt Smalls, bassist Omer Avital’s name will be as synonymous with the club as Bill Evan’s is with the Village Vanguard, and Thelonious Monk’s is with the original Five Spot Café." - Time Out New York. 

The prolific Avital has released sixteen albums as a leader and co-leader since the late 90s. Through his recorded output and live appearances he has become a river of creativity, leadership, composition and as a conceptualist. Now, with his new label, Zamzama Records (in partnership with jazz&people) and his venue, performance space and recording studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Wilson Live, you can add entrepreneur to the list as well. “I started Zamzama to have a home for my old masters that I now own, as well as new recordings. Eventually, I’d like to have other artists on the label, and have a more seamless connection between the creative process and the production/distribution. Ultimately, it’s a way to be free to create and release new music in the long run, and I am very happy to be in this partnership with Vincent Bessieres and his wonderful label, jazz&people. With Wilson Live I aimed to establish a creative home for musicians in Brooklyn and all of NYC; a club, a studio, a lounge with a super intimate atmosphere which allows music to grow and prosper,” said Avital. Keep an eye out for upcoming events at Wilson Live, including their Monday night series, Bushwick After Dark.