Populous, aka Andrea Mangia, DJ and producer hailing from Lecce, in Southern Italy, is excited to announce his new album “W,” due out May 22nd with tastemaker imprint Wonderwheel Recordings.
The new album “W,” stands for women and is Populous’ tribute to free and diverse feminine musical imagery. Inspired by women who sing, write, compose and play and for Populous are icons and are friends from Italy, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. “W” is also a celebration of femininity beyond stereotypes, less defined by gender rather a common uniqueness that is the perfect response to the uniformity imposed by the machismo still reigning in the music industry.
“Flores No Mar,” the first single from the upcoming ‘W’ album, features vocals from the Milan based Brazilian singer Emmanuelle. “Flores No Mar” is an homage to Lemanja, goddess of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé who protects seafarers and fishermen, as well as femininity and womanhood. An excellent song that highlights the album’s tribute to free and diverse feminine musical imagery.
With the new album, Populous has finally decided to open up, making his queer identity music with this album. From songs to artwork, he has created a visual manifesto to present feminine musical imagery. The artwork was conceived together with Nicola Napoli (a digital artist in Berlin’s queer scene) it is, in Populous’ own words, the representation of “a utopian party we would have done anything to be invited to.” An eclectic crossover party, improbable yet coherent, where you’d meet Grace Jones and Missy Elliott, Loredana Bertè and RuPaul, Aaliyha and Amanda Lear, Beth Ditto and Divine while dancing to shamanic house, digital cumbia, vogue beat and glitch electronica. Populous is accompanied on each track by the independent artists he admires most: Sobrenadar, Kaleema, Sotomayor, Emmanuelle, Barda, Weste, Cuushe and the Italian M¥SS KETA, L I M, Matilde Davoli and Lucia Manca. Collaborations born of discovering one’s sexual freedom, from perpetual motion, from constant traveling, physical and musical.
With a background in musicology, Populous is known for his global approach to music-making. He has always been interested in disparate genres and styles of music, which is reflected in the output from the Populous project and its focus on Latin American sounds as refracted through a European lens. In 2003, Mangia made his first jaunt into the music world with the album ‘Quipo’ (via Morr Music), followed by ‘Queue For Love’ in 2005. Influenced by his reggae/hip-hop-infused surroundings (Lecce is known as Italy’s Jamaica, as reggae and dancehall are extremely popular there) he released ‘Drawn in Basic’ in 2008, which was well received by international critics, earning him a spot on the global dance music map. The 2010s have seen Mangia refine the Populous sound with albums like ‘Night Safari’ (Bad Panda Records) and ‘Azulejos’ (Wonderwheel Recordings), while also expanding his role as a sound designer for fashion houses such as Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Isabel Marant, and Elie Saab, among others.
As saxophonist and composer Bobby Watson embarks on a new chapter in his storied career, his latest album arrives as a reminder of the authenticity that has characterized his music on every step of that journey. Keepin’ It Real, due out June 26 via Smoke Sessions Records, debuts a new incarnation of his renowned band Horizon, furthering a legacy endowed by Watson’s days as one of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and passed on through a lifetime in jazz education.
Most importantly, the new album is a vital continuation of the supple hard-bop sound that Watson has practiced throughout the decades, laced with the profound influences of gospel and R&B and now infused with the renewed vigor of hungry young collaborators. Keepin’ It Real, Watson explains, is a mantra that he strives to exemplify every time he lifts his alto to his lips.
“It’s the essence of who you are and these times we’re living in,” he says. “After you’ve lived a certain period of time you want to try to be yourself. You don’t want to BS people. I’ve lived a while and seen a lot of people leave the planet. You become more committed to not trying to mince words. Keeping it real can extend from the way you treat your band to your philosophy, what you stand for as a person.”
Time becomes an especially valuable commodity as one advances in years, but Watson now finds himself in a position to dedicate more of it than ever to his own music. After 20 years as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and decades more as an educator at institutions like Manhattan School of Music, the New School, and William Paterson University, Watson retired from academia this year. That newfound freedom instigated the launch of a new version of Horizon featuring a cast of rising stars and one lifelong collaborator.
The original Horizon featured drummer Victor Lewis, pianist Edward Simon, trumpeters Melton Mustafa or Terell Stafford, and bassists Carroll Dashiell or Essiet Okon Essiet and was an outlet for Watson’s music from the late 80s well into the 21st century. After a short tour with the band earlier this year, Watson realized that a reinvention was in order, in keeping with his mentor’s constant retooling of the Jazz Messengers.
Rechristened New Horizon, the current band includes trumpeters Josh Evans or Giveton Gelin, pianist Victor Gould, drummer Victor Jones and bassist Curtis Lundy, whose relationship with Watson dates back to their college days at the University of Miami. Lundy was the founding bassist of the original Horizon, providing an essential continuity as well as a stunning rebirth.
“The original Horizon has run its course,” Watson concludes. “Art Blakey also moved on while everybody was still young and healthy, and everybody in that band has grown into their own thing. That’s why I wanted to start fresh, with new music, new personnel, fresh blood, and new energy.”
That reinvigorated energy bursts out of the gates on opener “Condition Blue,” a sleek piece by fellow Messenger Jackie McLean highlighted by a blistering Watson solo answered by a blustery turn from Evans. A protégé of McLean, Evans approached Watson after a Lincoln Center performance, eager to play with the saxophonist. “That used to be me,” Watson recalls with a chuckle. “I wanted to play with Roy Haynes or Cedar Walton. Now these guys are coming up to me. It’s really humbling and thrilling.”
The title track, a Watson original, follows, resounding with the reverential fervor of the leader’s gospel roots. “I was raised in the church,” he says. “My grandfather’s church was the first place I played in public; I played ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic ‘on the clarinet and the whole church said, ‘Amen.’ That’s a shared experience for this whole band.”
“Elementary My Dear Watson 2020” reprises a dedication by Lundy for his lifelong friend, originally recorded for a session led by pianist John Hicks in 1988. The bassist’s original was little more than a groove over which Watson improvised a melody. The new version incorporates the saxophonist’s inspired notes into the composition itself. Lundy also contributed the boisterously swinging “One for John,” an homage to Hicks’ impact on both men. “John loved me and Curtis,” Watson beams. “He used to call us his heart. John is very near and dear to us.”
Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free” is a favorite of Watson’s, as can be heard in this gorgeous, tender rendition featuring some of the saxophonist’s most emotional playing. Gelin, introduced into the band by Lundy, follows with an eloquent, clarion expression of his own. Miles Davis’ classic “Flamenco Sketches” is another favorite, rendered here with delicate beauty shot through with Lundy’s subtle fortitude.
Another jazz icon, Charlie Parker, is represented by a radically transformed arrangement of his tune “Mohawk.” Usually a rapid-fire bop workout, Watson’s take reimagines the piece at a soulful simmer, allowing the space for Gould to spin knotty variations from the elongated melody. Watson conceived this “Mohawk” while brainstorming tunes for the recent Smoke Sessions tribute Bird at 100, which teamed him with fellow alto heavyweights Gary Bartz and Vincent Herring. “I’ve been playing Bird long enough now that I think I’ve earned some artistic license,” Watson insists. “At this point in my life I understand Bird’s music enough to make it mine.”
Two more Watson originals completed the session. “The Mystery of Ebop,” which brings the album to a raucous conclusion, was first recorded as a showcase for Marvin “Smitty” Smith on 1986’s Love Remains. Here it’s Victor Jones who seizes the spotlight, buoying the bright head with his explosive drumming. As dapper as a tailored suit, “My Song” initially served as a backdrop for Kansas City poet Glenn North on Watson’s 2013 Martin Luther King tribute Check Cashing Day. The song comes in for a more thorough exploration here, while providing a mission statement of its own.
“Every composer has one song in them that they’re trying to get out their whole life,” Watson says. “Trane was playing one song his whole life, so was Cannonball, so is Wayne. So I said, ‘Doggone it, this is my song.’ I try to express my own song every time I play. It’s all about keeping it real.”
"Keepin' It Real" was produced by Paul Stache and Damon Smith and
recorded live in New York at Sear Sound's Studio C on a Sear-Avalon custom console
at 96KHz/24bit and mixed to ½" analog tape using a Studer mastering deck.
Available in audiophile HD format.
Bobby Watson · Keepin' It Real
Smoke Sessions Records · Release Date: June 26, 2020
Raul Midón – The Mirror
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón is on an undeniable roll. After GRAMMY® Award nominations for his two previous Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group releases – Bad Ass & Blind and If You Really Want, each for Best Jazz Vocal Album – he returns with his 11th studio album: The Mirror. The Mirror finds Midón breaking new ground for himself, including two entrancing solo spoken-word pieces (“If I Could See” and “One Day Without War”). The album also features studio meetings with such veteran jazz colorists as vibraphonist Joe Locke (“A Certain Café”), as well as a songwriting collaboration with top pianist Gerald Clayton, “Deep Dry Ocean.” Another highlight is the road-weary jazz ballad “Cold Cuts and Coffee,” while title track “The Mirror” beguiles with its easy tropical groove, lyrical sophistication and Midón’s flowing electric guitar. As National Public Radio set the stage before his captivating edition of its “Tiny Desk Concert” broadcast: “Raul Midón lives in a world of sound. Blind since birth, Midón’s interpretation of his surroundings is borderless. He sings with the passion of the best classic soul singers, and his instrumental chops stand alongside the most accomplished jazz musicians.”
Funky Destination - Power of Soul
After his single release "Come Back to Me" last autumn, that gained big attention and airplay around the world, Funky Destination strikes back with his fifth LP studio solo album. Yes we are happy and thrilled to present you "Power of Soul". With a twelve track album, the artist brings back the funk with a vintage, old school and rare groove style. While the new school is not missing at all here, (yes that's how we like it, it's 2020 right?), northern soul meets western blues with extraordinary clever arrangements and big fat beats. Warm baselines , organic brass sections, hip vocals and funk to the bone, this is how we can describe this album with just a few words the brand new album from Croatian based producer Vladimir Sivc a.k,a Funky Destination.
- Paseo Telúrico With Onda Mundial
The DJ and singer-songwriter from Buenos Aires, Argentina, creates deep organic electronic textures, which invites you to dive into and dance between the fusion of machines and nature, through songs, grooves, bass and textures that make up several planes that create a sound habitat for the dance floor. Conceptually ‘Paseo Telurico’ is a mix of synthesized and organic sounds. There is a little guitar, but used unconventionally to explore textures and distinct crosses. It also references to the Earth, natural habitats and the mixture between machines and nature. It has collaborations from Andy Andean, from Chile, and a remix from Orieta Chrem, from Peru. The three themes are a mixture of different cultures, and of organic textures with machines.
Flevans - "Realisation feat. Laura Vane"
Flevans continues his mission to bring funk magic to the masses with his latest single. On "Realisation", he teams up with south coast songstress Laura Vane in the next chapter of a songwriting partnership that has taken clubs and airwaves by storm. "Realisation" takes the best parts of the groove and feel of 80’s boogie classics and updates them with next level 2020 production skills while an extremely catchy hook makes certain this song will be in your head all year long. Formerly with Tru Thoughts and now signed to Jalapeno Records, it’s fair to say that Mr Flevans has got a type… that type being Brighton labels with an ear for quality. Having accumulated numerous national radio spins across the BBC and winning high profile fans in the shape of Zoe Ball, Don Letts and Craig Charles, Flevans has developed his song based writing even further with his latest studio album "Accumulate" out at the beginning of May 2020.
Cody Carpenter - Control
Cody Carpenter is a third generation musician. His father, John Carpenter, is a director and composer and his mother, Adrienne Barbeau, is a star of film, television and the Broadway stage. His grandfather, Howard Carpenter, was a founding member of the Nashville Strings. Cody was introduced to his first musical instrument around the age of three and has been playing and composing original music since. In addition to contributing music for two of his father's films,Vampires (1998) and Ghosts of Mars (2001), Carpenter composed and performed the full-length score for "Cigarette Burns" and "Pro-Life" in Showtime's Masters of Horror (2005) movie series. Cody co-wrote, co-produced, and performed on the acclaimed Lost Themes (2015) and Lost Themes II (2016) with his father and Daniel Davies. In 2016 and 2017 Cody toured North America and Europe with his father and a 6 piece band, performing material from both Lost Themes albums and his father's films. In 2018, Cody (along with John Carpenter and Daniel Davies) helped to compose the music for the latest Halloween movie, starring Jamie Lee Curtis. In 2019 Cody released an amazing album titled, "Force Of Nature" and now he follows up with this third dynamic Blue Canoe Release titled, "Control".
Joan Watson-Jones - Choices
Joan Watson-Jones is a singer, lyricist, multi-instrumentalist, and host and producer of The Jazz Room, an online radio program where she plays music and interviews some of the top names in jazz. On Choices, her fourth album, she presents a program of her original songs with music and lyrics penned by Watson-Jones, plus two standards. Watson-Jones is a mainstay on the New England jazz scene, and she brought on board for this project old friends with whom she’s performed and recorded in various settings for 25 years. Pianist Frank Wilkins is her arranger, accompanist, and creative partner. He has a long list of credits, including backing Dee Dee Bridgewater. Wilkins also accompanied Watson-Jones on her previous CD, Quiet Conversation, an intimate duet project. Bassist Dave Zox and drummer Alvin Terry are Watson-Jones’ longtime rhythm section and join her once again here. Watson-Jones has recorded her own lyrics on other albums, but this is her first project featuring almost all original material. For Watson-Jones, nothing is more important than the people in her life. She is a natural storyteller, and the stories she tells grow from her life experiences. Despite growing up in a time when overt racism was the norm, Watson-Jones was surrounded by the love of her family and all the people who came into their orbit. Choices is a beautiful and creative homage to a life filled with love and hope and music.
Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II - Silenced II: Views From The Auction Block
Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II is a powerhouse here on drums – working his way over the kit with a massive sense of force, even when things are mellow – clearly employing a wide variety of elements to keep his sound open and fresh! There's only one number here that features solo drums from Donald – and the rest are all longer tracks, each featuring a key contribution from an established member of the downtown scene – Elliott Sharp on guitar, Bill Laswell on bass, and Vernon Reid on guitar – who each duet with McKenzie on a number apiece, and really bring sort of an old school, almost Knitting Factory vibe to the set. And by that, we mean that classic venue in the 80s – at a time when everything it and its musicians were doing was very fresh and creative! Titles include "Elektra Jagger McKenzie", "Akai Gurley", "Ramarley Graham, and "Natasha McKenna". ~ Dusty Groove
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes - What Kinda Music
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes What Kinda Music out April 24 is a unique & seamlessly original collaboration between two artists of very different disciplines. Moving fluidly through sleek electronica, progressive jazz, vintage hip-hop & much more, Misch & Dayes take their listener on a ride that is by turns surprising & spontaneous, heady & head-spinning, and nothing less than compelling - a singular vision that fuses the DNA of both musicians with spectacular results, as can be heard on the lead tracks “What Kinda Music” and “Lift Off.”
Tenderlonious - On Flute
Soulful reedman Tenderlonious plays flute this time around – but as always, it's the overall sound that makes the record so great – not just the solo bits on flute, but all the keyboards, basslines, and beats – stretched out in this cool 21st Century take on funky fusion! The music is jazz at the core, but more electrified too – with a straightforward funky groove on some numbers, and some more enigmatic modes on others – all a great blend of keyboards and flutes, which often share the same tonal range. Titles include "Dale's Corner", "Autumn Leaves", "Ghana", "Odeo Bushi", "In A Sentimental Mood", and "Song For My Father" – and the three tunes with familiar titles are actually originals by the man himself. ~ Dusty Groove
David Clayton-Thomas – Say Somethin’
David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey with his 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears that sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album of The Year. He hasn’t slowed down since then and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, to date selling over 40 million records. In 1996 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and in 2007 his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010 David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame.
Nick Walters - Active Imagination
We really loved Nick Walters the last time around, and on this set the trumpeter seems to be even more visionary than before – really going for this expansive approach to his music, and serving things up with a vibe that maybe makes him one of the most spiritual leaders on the contemporary London scene! The tracks here are all originals, and work together perfectly as a whole album – with Nick setting things up strongly with his own trumpet at the start, then folding in these beautiful contributions from Ed Cawthorne on flute and soprano sax, Jeff Guntren on tenor, Rebecca Nash on piano, Nim Sadot on bass, Max Hallett on drums, and Joseph Deenmamoode on percussion. Some tunes have a modal rhythm, but others get a bit more complex, although still with a similar organic pulse – and titles include "So Long Chef", "Gordian Knot (parts 1 & 2)", "Dansoman Last Stop", and "Ahimsa". © ~ Dusty Groove
Torbjorn Zetterberg & Den Stora Fragen - Are You Happy
Torbjorn Zetterberg has always been a hell of a bassist – but in recent years, he really seems to be exploding as a greater jazz visionary – working with a group like this in a range of explosive new ideas we never would have expected just a few years ago! The music is often incredibly dense – Zetterberg's bass in the lineup, but also part of a rich array of sounds from Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Mats Aleklint on trombone, Jonas Kullhammar on tenor and alto, Alberto Pinto on clarinet and baritone, Jon Falt on drums, Alexander Zethson on Hammond and Fender Rhodes, and Lars Skoglund on drums – mostly players that have worked together often over the years, and who beautifully interpret the stunning arrangements and compositions by Zetterberg. There's definitely plenty of outside moments on the record, but as with much Moserobie material, things also swing at times too – a balance between freedom and structure that matches the balance between group and individual on the album. Titles include "Drommusik", "Meningen Med Vad", "Oraklet I Finnaker", "Plingplongpiano", and "Nytt Hopp Over Atlanten". ~ Dusty Groove
Carla Bley / Andy Sheppard / Steve Swallow - Life Goes On
Beautiful so unds from pianist Carla Bley – a musician who just keeps on blowing us away as the decades move on – and that's saying a hell of a lot, given how many years she's been making music! There's a really special quality to this record – a warmth and maybe just a slight touch of humor, but not in the overdone way of some of Carla's records from the 80s – much more subtle, and mixed with occasional currents of darkness – all handled with this understated sense of personality that perfectly showcases all three members of the group – Bley on piano, Steve Swallow on bass, and Andy Sheppard on tenor and soprano saxes. Swallow maybe sounds more wonderful here than we've heard in years – the record is a great reminder of how many great contributions he can make to music – and titles include the longer cycles of songs "Life Goes On", "Copycat", and "Beautiful Telephones (parts 1 to 3)". ~ Dusty Groove
Yusuke Hirado (Quasimode) - Tower Of Touch
Fantastic Fender Rhodes from Yusuke Hirado – plus a fair bit of other keyboards too – all delivered in a set that mixes 70s space jazz funk with some great contemporary elements, and in a way that's nicely different than Hirado's work in the group Quasimode! The set's got some old school rhythms, but plenty more moments that soar and take off with very contemporary cosmic energy – very strongly in a jazz perspective overall, but with a strong knowledge of all the other musical changes that have taken place on the hipper scenes around the globe over the past 20 years – woven into classic keyboard sounds that take on a whole new shape in the setting! Titles include "The Kicker", "Early Bird", "Sonar", "Blue Sky", "Circle", "Galaxy Highway", and "Heady Dayz". ~ Dusty Groove
Gary Chandler - Outlook
Maybe the only album ever issued under the name of trumpeter Gary Chandler – but a smoking little set that rivals some of the best jazz funk records at the start of the 70s – including heavyweight classics on Prestige by Melvin Sparks, Leon Spencer, and Boogaloo Joe Jones! The feel here is very similar to those – given that the short-lived Eastbound label not only featured production work from Bob Porter, who handled the best Prestige funk sets – but also because the lineup here is filled with some of the top contemporaries from that scene – including Harold Ousley on tenor, Caesar Frazier on Hammond, Cornell Dupree on guitar, Dick Griffin on trombone, and the mighty Idris Muhammad on drums! Idris keeps things nice and funky, and tracks are long, and filled with smoking solos – the most famous of which is the album's cover of "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms", with an excellent break intro – which has been sampled heavily over the years – alongside the tracks "The Jet Set", "Blues Dues", and "Kaleidoscope". ~ Dusty Groove
Alex de Grassi is excited to announce his newest album The Bridge due out on April 17th with Tropo Records and Six Degrees Records Distribution! The new album is a collection of compositions and arrangements that demonstrate the range of Alex de Grassi’s career and his prowess as a performer, musician and composer. The new release features six new original compositions plus arrangements of Gershwin (“It Ain’t Necessarily So”), Hendrix (“Angel”), and a pair of classic folksongs (“Shenandoah,“ “Sí Bheag Sí Mhór”) that bridge the many musical influences and experiences that have shaped his 42 years as a recording artist.
The Bridge is Alex’s first solo guitar recording in 17 years since his Now and Then: Folk Songs for the 21st Century (Tropo Records/33rd Street 2003), and was recorded by multi- GRAMMY® award winner and TEC Hall of Fame engineer Leslie Ann Jones at the legendary Skywalker Sound studio in Northern California. “I had played on a live audiophile broadcast at Skywalker the year before” Alex explains, “and after taking my guitar out of the case and playing a couple of notes in that space, I knew I wanted to make my next solo recording there. It’s a truly amazing sounding room, and with Leslie Ann on the other side of the glass, I knew we would capture the sound of the best concert halls I’ve ever performed in. I wasn’t disappointed!” Recorded without pickups, nor headphones to monitor and with simply great mics and four guitars including his signature model Lowden, Alex reflects, “it felt just like performing in one of my favorite concert venues.” The album also features sound engineer, Steven Miller, renowned for his work with many acoustic guitarists (including Michael Hedges landmark recording Aerial Boundaries) and various Windham Hill artists mixed the post production. Grammy award winner Gavin Lurssen of Lurssen mastering in L.A. mastered the album.
The upcoming release, The Bridge is 10 songs of beautifully performed and arranged acoustic compositions. Written over the last few years, Alex was inspired by the Albion River on Northern California’s Mendocino Coast. “When I was writing this album, the room I was working in had a direct view of the Albion Bridge—the last wooden bridge on the California coast highway 1. It is a narrow trestle bridge, 173 above the river and the sea, and on the National Register of Historic Places —in short, very dramatic. I imagined a lot of stories/scenarios about the people crossing that bridge—I even wrote one down,” comments Alex. Inspiration for the album title was also focused around bridging together many types of music that Alex loves including songs from composers Gershwin, Hendrix, two traditional folk composers influenced the song “Shenandoah,” and the Celtic melody “Si Bheg Si Mohr,” as well original compositions inspired by blues, jazz, classical and music from a variety of cultures.
The forthcoming album is full of standouts including the title track “The Bridge.” Alex reflects back on the inspiration from the Albion Bridge, “At night, headlights of cars crossing the bridge create a steady rhythm of flickering of light between the uprights of the railing, and that rhythm became the basis for the piece, a steady ostinato over which the long, syncopated notes of the melody unfold slowly. I wanted to convey both that image as well as the perspective of the driver approaching, crossing, and then arriving at the other side. For me, there is a sense of mystery, a little bit of danger, as well as getting lost in the thoughts of the unknown driver behind the wheel.” Along with other songs drawing inspiration from pop culture including “Mr. B Takes a Walk in the Rain,” where Alex asks the listener to imagine James Brown dancing the solo in Gene Kelly’s place in the classic film ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’
On “Angel,” Alex performs his interpretation of Jimi Hendrix’s composition. Performed on the “sympitar” a six string guitar with 12 additional sympathetic strings (total of 18) he creates an acoustic effect that suggests electric sounds achieved by Hendrix. “Sí Bheag Sí Mohr,” is Alex’s arrangement of the 17th century Irish harpist O/Carolan’s classic and sticks pretty close to the original melody employing “cross-string” or “harp” style of guitar technique. “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” is based on Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald recording of Porgy & Bess a song that was Alex’s mother’s favorite and he often listened to it as a kid. “Eulogy in a Low Voice” is from the sudden and unexpected death of the luthier who built the guitar used on this recording. Alex explains, “The “low voice” refers to the sound of the guitar—a baritone guitar pitched a fifth below that of normal tuning, sounding closer to the range of a bass guitar. I wrote the first part of the piece almost in real time, then extended the composition with a bluesy section that hints at the classic folk song “Poor Wayfaring Stranger.” The longer strings and lower pitch of the guitar allows for greater sustain both melody and bass lines.”
Alex de Grassi has been a unique voice in the world of acoustic guitar for the past 42 years; his innovative approach to composing and arranging for solo steel-string guitar has influenced a generation of younger players. He is known for his evocative compositions and arrangements, and his sheer virtuosity has helped lay the foundation for contemporary fingerstyle guitar. The Wall Street Journal has called his playing “flawless” and Billboard hails his “intricate finger-picking technique with an uncanny gift for melodic invention.” Using a broad palette of techniques and timbre in conjunction with his ability to weave together melody, counter-melody, bass, harmony, and rhythm into a highly orchestrated canvas of sound, Alex’s performances take the listener well beyond the instrument. He has graced stages across the world including live performances in Europe, Latin America, Asia, throughout North America, and at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. He is planning to bring his newest album to the stage along with storytelling, improvisations and maybe even a little singing sometime this Fall.
Brownout - Berlin Sessions
Brownout sound heavier than ever here – recording in Texas, not Berlin (that's the last name of the producer) – and with a fantastic blend of deep funk, Latin elements, and lots of psychedelic touches! In fact, there may be more of that last aspect here than ever before – possibly because the guitar lines of Adrian Quesada get lots of strong placement in the mix – but also because the percussion, vocals, and other acoustic elements are all fused together in the mix in a really great way – this kind of wide wash of sound that's nice and dirty at all the right moments. Titles include "Seamus", "Nain", "Somewhere To Go", "Upon This Rock", "You've Got To Change", "Brownie", "Hold Your Way", "In Between", and "After November". ~ Dusty Groove
Dr. Dave And The Housecall Band – Hey Hey Hey Hey
Since “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” debuted in February 2014, the opening “Hey Hey Hey Hey” riff by house band The Roots has become one of television’s most infectious and explosive earworms ever. Even if you’ve never watched a full episode, it’s probably part of your subconscious musical mind. It worked its irrepressible, horn fired magic on Dr. Dave, and now, after 25 years and a constant stream of radio hits, the veteran guitarist – leading his powerhouse SoCal based ensemble Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band - has turned that four-word musical phrase into wildly exciting crossover instrumental gold on their latest single. “Hey Hey Hey Hey” is the fourth release from the group’s critically acclaimed 2018 album Midnight Daydream.
Dana Sandler – I Never Saw Another Butterfly
Dana Sandler’s debut CD is set for release on Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), April 21, 2020, is a moving tribute to the youngest victims of the Holocaust. Sandler got the inspiration for this project from the book of the same title. Originally published in 1959, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” is a collection of poetry and art created by the Jewish children in the Terezin concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. The camp held around 144,000 prisoners including Jewish scholars, musicians, and artists. Sandler dedicates her album to Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, an Austrian artist and educator who organized secret art classes for the children of Terezin. Dicker-Brandeis collected 4,500 children’s drawings and poems in two suitcases before she was sent to Auschwitz in 1944. Fifteen thousand children passed through Terezin. Fewer than 100 survived. Sandler composed I Never Saw Another Butterfly as a song-cycle that highlights poets in the Terezin Concentration Camp -- Pavel Friedmann, Franta Bass, and Alena Synkova-Munkova, who was one of the few children to survive the camp, as well as additional unknown young poets. Sandler’s music is captivating, and her voice is a sensitive, emotive instrument. The topic of the album is heart-wrenching, but Sandler never gives in to maudlin tropes. Instead, she pays great respect to these young people and their suffering, hopes, and youthful insights through her sensitive interpretations with the hope that no other child will ever have to endure these horrors again.
John Stein - Watershed
Watershed, the guitarist’s 15th overall recording and his 11th for Whaling City Sound, is definitely that moment. The recording presents Stein and his band digging into a remarkable set of deep grooves with incredible clarity and creativity. With a wonderfully diverse repertoire, one that traverses a spectrum of styles and tempos, the band approaches Stein’s song selections with genuine flair and a shared energy. Watershed was recorded last May while on a concert tour in Brazil with Brazilian jazz stars: Frank Herzberg (bass), Zé Eduardo Nazario (drums), Daniel Grajew (keyboards), and Teco Cardoso (flute and saxes). The musicians peel back the layers of these compositions to reveal the magic hiding in these grooves and rhythms. Each contributor is an equal accomplice, especially on tunes like the delicate opener and Stein original "Rio Escuro,” the friskier, more playful “Kobe,” the hushed but sassy funk of Pat Martino’s “Cisco,” and the breezily melodic “Wally.” Stein has always been inspired by the jazz genius Jim Hall, and here he takes a brilliant turn on Hall’s own composition, “Waltz New.” Stein’s soloing here is transcendent, proving that he deserves the Hall comparisons and then some.
Malcolm Strachan - About Time
Scottish trumpeter Malcolm Strachan is a founder member of top UK funk/jazz-funk band The Haggis Horns as well as being one of the busiest session musicians in the UK today. In a professional career spanning 20 years, he's worked and toured with the likes of Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamiroquai, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and many others. Now he's finally releasing his first solo album, aptly titled "About Time" on Haggis Records and he's going back to his original musical roots... jazz. "About Time" is a collection of original compositions, all written and arranged by Malcolm, which are firmly rooted in the classic acoustic modern jazz style typified by the great 60s and 70s recordings on the legendary Blue Note Records label. From full-on Latin vibes to beautiful ballads, soul jazz grooves to cinematic soundtrack flavours, all woven together perfectly by a great group of experienced musicians.
Dennis Van Aarssen - Forever You
Millennial musical hipster alert! Life’s been a whirlwind this past year for 26-year-old songwriter and interpreter extraordinaire Dennis Van Aarssen, a former digital marketing project manager who won Season 9 of The Voice of Holland with a dynamic jazz and swing repertoire. The supple voiced singer parlayed that victory into Forever You, his sparkling ballad, big band and soul/funk driven debut co-written with former Frank Sinatra pianist and songwriter Jeff Franzel. Featuring six soulful and heartfelt originals and four covers (including pop hits re-imagined via bold big band arrangements), the engaging collection colorfully showcases the powerful, dramatic reaches of Van Aarssen’s vocals and a sweet, tender intimacy that make his original ballads the true highlights of the set. ~ smoothjazz.com
Billboard Top 10 musicians and tango composer/educator team Ben & Winnie is masterful at taking the raw energy and complex interpretive pathways of the full tango orchestra and distilling them down to the intimate interpersonal connection of a duo performance. Whether tracing stylistic developments throughout the genre’s history with unique arrangements of traditional tango pieces or suggesting innovative musical disruptions with their own fiery original compositions, the duo’s music is always about human connection and inspiration.
With their latest album La Próxima Traición (to be released May 15th, 2020), Ben Bogart (bandoneon) and Winnie Cheung (piano) pay homage to tango’s tradition of revolutionary innovation at the pinnacle of their musical expression. In the process, tango becomes the vehicle to transport audiences from wildly disparate walks of life to the musical common ground of the global citizen -- with a message to galvanize positive social change and climate awareness with a call to action to do everything we can to leave the planet in better shape than we found it.
Recorded in the heart of Buenos Aires at Fort Studios (the studio historically known for its role in the counterculture element of Argentina) and mixed and mastered at El Jardin del furor, the album’s tracks range from traditional Argentine tango pieces of the 1920s, superbly stripped down and rearranged for bandoneon and piano, to the newest title track number composed specifically with Ben & Winnie’s piano, bandoneon, and banter-filled creative dynamic in mind.
La Próxima Traición could be translated literally as "the next treason” or “the upcoming betrayal" and the title speaks to Ben & Winnie’s attraction to the revolutionary nature of how tango has developed over time. The genre’s process of evolution has always been instigated by rebel artists breaking through the baseline. It is an aesthetic transformation via periodic creative ruptures in the paradigm of the time; artistic upheavals that often mirror cultural or political discord in society.
Ben & Winnie notes that current trends in tango are indicative of what is currently happening in Argentina, where the tango is getting a little rough, a little loud, a little heavy in the bass. Surface elements of Ben & Winnie’s music are resonating with what is new in tango, and what is being created in Argentina now. The time is right for the next traición.
The duo describes it as a ‘dumping out of the drawer’ to reorganize or declutter, socially, politically, and artistically. “To us, the most important part is turning the everyday upside-down,” says the duo. “You take the drawer out and you dump everything. Not always just to throw everything away. You can sort it, you can reorganize it, you can take out the crap and put back what you need, or you can create a whole new system to organize. There are many things you can do ...but the one thing we have to do is periodically turn the drawer upside down.”
As artists, both have been deeply inspired by those giants of tango history whose work is featured on the CD, including Aníbal Troilo, Osvaldo Pugliese, Juan D'Arienzo. Though initially at creative odds with their contemporaries, each is now celebrated for having taken some social or musical element of the tango of their time and revolutionizing it.
“They embraced the tango they loved and then did something new, maybe even scandalous to it,” reflects Ben. "They were all courageous and unapologetic, and they initiated changes that were focused and piercing in their genre. Each believed in their path, and executed their beliefs with charisma and personality. We want to do the same.”
That disorderly spirit of creation is the defining thematic thread stitched so skilfully through La Próxima Traición and is perhaps most explicit on the album’s title track. Penned specifically for the duo by contemporary composer and Indiana University professor Aaron Travers, “La Próxima Traición” is a piece that reflects their vision of a new tango sound for today. Ben & Winnie breathes easily in the traditional tango elements of the song, yet incorporate with vigor the new tango inspirations that inform the traición that is their latest work.
One of the many creative ways the duo has devised to make their tango a participatory collective experience, is to fit “La Próxima Traición” with optional parts for amateurs, young children, or beginning instrumentalists to join Ben & Winnie in playing what is a rather difficult piece. They endeavor to support and encourage musicians of all levels and ages to participate in tango, and this is one of their many efforts to showcase that support.
Connecting with their audiences on a deeply human level around the causes that are important to them is a central element of Ben & Winnie’s philosophy. Whether making conscious efforts on their tours to achieve a negative carbon footprint or raising funds for climate action and positive social change, Ben & Winnie always gives their all -- when playing for dancers and listeners who can attend their shows, and for those who cannot. With a mission to make tango accessible and to share artistic expression with people whom they might not otherwise encounter in life, the duo regularly puts on voluntary shows and educational workshops at prisons, schools, hospitals, dementia homes, and assisted living facilities.
“Ben and Winnie should not even know each other, but in fact we know each other quite well, all because of tango. We want to share this with audiences and bring everyone together -- children, seniors, Argentines, non-Argentines -- whoever you are. We are in this "traición" together, whether you want it or not. There are urgent and sweeping matters -- like saving the planet -- that require you to immediately leave the inertia you live in, and indulge in your own traición, now.”
Ego Ella May - So Far
A British singer with a wonderfully fluid feel – a voice that slides right into a tune, wraps around the keyboards and other instrumentation, and picks up this special sort of glow along the way! The album's very heavy on Fender Rhodes, which are almost a second sort of voice on the record alongside Ego Ella's lead – this great grounding in organic modes that allows some of the spacier touches of the production to take off in a nice way, yet all without knocking the warmly soulful spirit of the music off course. On some numbers, May has this crispy charm that especially wins us over – and titles include "Come On", "Underwater", "Tea & Sympathy", "How Far", "Head", "Rush Hour Crush", and "Being Loved". CD features two bonus tracks – "Waiting" and "Pay My Bills". ~ Dusty Groove
Works For Me (Alexa Tarantino / Tony Davis /Caili O'Doherty / Adi Meyerson / Joe Strasser) - Reach Within
An incredibly well-crafted set of soulful hardbop – the kind of record that the Posi-Tone label seems to do better than just about anyone else these days – and which is so tight, so together, the whole thing almost seems effortless! Yet there's clearly a lot of effort going in here – original songs by some members of the group, and a crack cohesion of all the players, right from the start – an ace lineup that features Alexa Tarantino on saxes and flute, Caili O'Doherty on piano, Tony Davis on guitar, Adi Meyerson on bass, and Joe Strasser on drums! The album bursts out of the gate, filled with color and life – and there's an especially magical combination of the piano, bass, and guitar as they trade tones and colors together in the rhythms. Titles include "Reach Within", "Le Var", "Lake Sebago", "Mr M", "Salt & Vinegar", "Your Smile Keeps Me Sane", and "El Gran Birane". ~ Dusty Groove
Mdou Moctar - Ilana: The Creator
An album titled after the creator, and a set that's maybe the most spiritual to date from Tuareg guitar genius Mdou Moctar – a record that comes across with a strong sense of focus right from the start, and which seems to have Mdou's guitar sounding even better than ever! The drums are maybe a bit stronger than on previous records – and maybe a bit more American-inspired too – which pushes the songs forcefully, while Moctar spins out these beautifully hypnotic lines on guitar – at a level that's made him a real global star in recent years. Titles include "Asshet Akal", "Inzigam", "Tarhatazed", "Ilana", and "Tumastin". ~ Dusty Groove
Steve Spacek - Houses
Steve Spacek isn't making as many musical waves as he was back at the start of the century – but the man certainly hasn't lost his touch at all – and is still one of the most forward-thinking talents of his generation! As with his classics, the record bristles with new energy and imagination – a vibe that pushes all the older London ideas forward with a very personal, very distinct vision – maybe even jazzier and warmer than before, which is quite stunning when you read the notes and find out that Spacek created most of the music on an array of apps for the iPhone! Yet this is definitely a record that wasn't "phoned in" at all – as Steve's got a longer-form approach that matures the music in ways that some of the 4Hero diaspora have done in recent years – familiar but fresh, on tunes that include "African Dream", "Songlife", "Single Stream", "Love 4 Nano", "Rawl Aredo", and "Where We Go". CD features bonus tracks "Yu Used To Love Me", "Bright Eyes Rev", "Child Insperation", and "Who Cares". ~ Dusty Groove
ITACA 4et: VORTEX
The cd “Vortex” has been released on March 18th 2020 for Nusica.org, and documents the artistic activity of ITACA 4set, the new formation born from the transatlantic collaboration between four estimated artists of the international scene of avant-jazz and improvised music. Two Canadian musicians, Francois Houle and Nick Fraser and two ItAlian Nicola Fazzini and Alessandro Fedrigo. (here where the name of the band is from). The Vortex album was recorded in Vancuver in July 2019 and the end of a Canadian tour which saw the four protagonists playing at the different festivals in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Each member of the band signed two of the eight compositions present in the cd testimony of a democratic modus operandi, which reflects the balance of the ensemble even from the musical point of view, there where the collective and choral sound prevails over the soloist one. The music of Itaca 4et’s is dynamic, highly rhythmic and rich of improvisational chances. This project is the result of a collaboration that dates back to 2016 (thanks to a residency at Novara Jazz and Sile Jazz) continues with two Canadian tours (in 2017 and in 2019 when they performed at Toronto Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival and Vancouver Jazz Festival) and materializes in a first Italian and European tour in 2020. A close-knit, harmonious, unpredictable and original band, a project to discover that has been achieved also thanks to a partnership with the Institute of Culture of Toronto and the Council of Arts of Canada.
Kuma - Kumadé
Confidence, rhythm and dexterity are the first impressions of this tight outfit of young but highly experienced musicians. After nine years of holding down a 10-night residency at the prestigious Cully Jazz Festival, Llodra and Donnot have honed their skills in front of a live audience, learning how to create tense and paced moments, an ability they embodied in their compositions. Grooves and moods are created with just the right balance of catchy melodies, improvisation and focus on dynamics. The EP is well balanced out, with two ethereal tracks - ‘Alfama’ and ‘The Core’ - music that could easily belong on some ECM-inspired soundscape, juxtaposed with the groovier ‘Kumadé’ and ‘I.G.A.T.F’., hinting at a 1970s style echoing George Duke at his funky-fusion best.Despite a whiff of nostalgia, the sound is fresh and forward-thinking. Keep an ear out for these young Jedi masters, all of them at the top of their game and stay tuned for their next moves. Bundle of endless musical energy, the four musicians o Kuma met at the Cully Jazz Festival where they have been officiating every night in residence for years. Influenced as much by the new UK jazz scene as by the pop of Bon Iver through electronic and repetitive music, Kuma is already making waves in the Swiss musical landscape.
On Monday May 18, 2020 at 7:00pm, Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown performing arts venue will host an online premiere celebration on Facebook and Instagram in place of its annual spring gala. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Harlem Stage is forced to cancel its in person event but is pleased to premiere a virtual event to be enjoyed by all arts and culture lovers.
The online event is a tribute to artists, activists, and creators, and celebrates Harlem Stage’s more than 35 years as an institution known for commissioning and presenting new, innovative work that reflects and responds to the complex conditions that shape the lives of artists and communities of color.
Celebrating Harlem Stage will be hosted by award-winning Broadway, television and film actor, LaChanze, producer, director, and award-winning actor, Tamara Tunie, and award-nominated, rising Broadway actor, Celia Rose Gooding. Hosts and Harlem Stage will be responding to live comments throughout the event.
Viewers can see new and archival musical performances by legendary rock star Nona Hendryx fresh off the heels of her multi-sensory WaterWorks commissioned performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this spring. Also featured will be jazz pianist, composer, and MacArthur Genius Jason Moran, jazz and hip-hop star José James, Harlem Stage WaterWorks artist, Jason ‘Timbuktu’ Diakité and other musical guests. The gala will feature special appearances by MSNBC host and anchor, Joy Reid, dance legend Bill T. Jones, stars of television and film, Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, hip-hop pioneer, Fab 5 Freddy, star of television and film, Tate Donovan, among others.
Like so many arts organizations, especially those dedicated to serving artists of color and making their work accessible to the community, Harlem Stage is facing economic challenges like never before. Due to the cancellation of their annual spring gala, their most critical fundraiser of the year, Harlem Stage is facing a significant revenue gap that could undermine their ability to continue the mission they have so proudly championed for more than 35 years.
The event can be viewed on Harlem Stage’s Facebook and Instagram channels via the below links.
Donations are welcome to ensure the continued existence of Harlem Stage and its ability to discover, support, and commission works by visionary artists of color, and present those works at low, or no cost, to the community. To donate, please click: DONATE NOW
“The closure of performing arts venues due to COVID-19 has been difficult for artists, administrators, stakeholders and for audiences. This online celebration will showcase our mission to a wider audience and hopefully raise the critical funds needed to continue to support visionary artists of color whose daring works inspire and uplift our community and our world” said Patricia Cruz, Executive Director of Harlem Stage.
EVENT DETAILS:
Celebrating Harlem Stage
May 18, 2020 7:00PM
Online: www.HarlemStage.org
WAYS TO WATCH: Facebook & Instagram
Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas. For over 35 years Harlem Stage has been one of the nation’s leading arts organizations, achieving this distinction through its work with artists of color and by facilitating a productive engagement with the communities it serves through the performing arts. With a long-standing tradition of supporting artists and organizations around the corner and across the globe, Harlem Stage boasts such legendary artists as Harry Belafonte, Max Roach, Sekou Sundiata, Abbey Lincoln, Sonia Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri, Maya Angelou and Tito Puente, as well as contemporary artists like Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh, Jason ‘Timbuktu’ Diakité, Bill T. Jones, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Tamar-kali, Vijay Iyer, Mike Ladd, Stew, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jason Moran, José James, Nona Hendryx and more. Its education program each year provides over 2,000 New York City children with an introduction and access to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts. In 2006, Harlem Stage opened the landmarked, award-winning Harlem Stage Gatehouse. This once abandoned space, originally a pivotal source for distributing fresh water to New York City, is now a vital source of creativity, ideas and culture. Harlem Stage is a winner of the William Dawson Award for Programming Excellence and Sustained Achievement in Programming (Association of Performing Arts Presenters).
Zajal, renowned Downtown composer and instrumentalist Dave Soldier explores the beginning of popular song and locates it 1000 years ago at the intersection of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian cultures in southern Spain. Zajal, along with muwashaha, were the lyrics of medieval Andalusia. While many are still sung today (notably in Lebanon), their offspring are everywhere. On a trip to Spain in 2004, Soldier read about the Andalusian caliphate, when the Muslim, Christian and Jewish com- munities not only coexisted, but co-created much of the world we inhabit today. Together, they produced the novel, cowboy culture, the guitar, the dance suite, the Kabbalah, Maimonides and ibn Arabi and the discovery of the New World. And modern song: the zajal and muwashaha introduced the verse and chorus that are the backbone of popular music. Imitation of Andalusia's singing oud players begat the troubadours and the figure of the wandering poet and singer in its myriad incarnations, from Villon to Joni Mitchell.
Zajal features Maurice Chedid, a celebrated singer and oudist from Lebanon who drives a livery cab in New York; Triana Bautista and Ismael Fernandez, scions of famous Gypsy flamenco families; flamenco and Latin music singers David Castellano and Barbara Martinez; and Israeli-Moroccan-Persian vocalist Ana Nimouz. Players include composer Dave Soldier on guitar and keyboards: classical and klezmer violinist Rebecca Cherry; Alan Kushan, the foremost virtuoso of the Iranian sentur: trombonist Chris Washburne (Eddie Palmieri and Willie Colon): klezmer trombonist Dan Blacksberg: jazz bassist Ratzo Harris (Mose Allison, Betty Carter): timbalero Robby Ameen (Eddie Palmieri, Dizzy Gillespie): Greek clarinetest Lefteris Bournias: flamenco dancer and percussionist Jose Moreno: and palmas (handclaps) by the dancers Nelida (Neli) Tirado and Sonia Olla (Madonna and Ricky Martin). Dave learned flamenco guitar from Pedro Cortes, the foremost American exponent of Gypsy flamenco, who produced the record.
The lyrics are by the major Arabic and Hebrew poets of medieval Spain, plus one by their Persian contemporary Rumi in Farsi; a lyric by Dave Soldier in English that uses the sevillianas, a flamenco form; and a modern muwashaha from the great Lebanese singer Fairouz. The music uses contemporary Andalusian forms (buleria, fandango, petenera, rumba, tango) as translated through Soldier's vision of the contemporary cultures of New York City.
Musicians: Dave Soldier, guitar, keyboards, musical compositions (except #2), arrangements; Ana Nimouz, Triana Bautista, David Castellano, Barbara Martinez, Ismael Fernandez, Anais Tekarian vocals; Maurice Chedid, oud, vocals; Chris Washburne, Dan Blacksberg, trombones; Philip Payton, Rebecca Cherry (solos), violins; Alan Kushan, sentur; Lefteris Bournias, clarinet; Mahmoud Hamadani, recitation; Ratzo Harris, bass; Jose Moreno, hand percussion, trap set, vocals; Robby Ameen, timbales; Ismael Fernandez and Sonia Olla, palmas and jaleo; Neli Tirado, palmasn.
