Wendy Moten may have launched her career as a pop/R&B artist and taken cool detours into jazz throughout her fascinating career, but her heart clearly belongs to Nashville. Living and immersing in Music City for the past 23 years, the multi-talented vocalist has toured with Faith Hill & Tim McGraw (2005-2018) and Martina McBride (2014-2016) – and since 2016, has been on the road with the legendary Vince Gill (the man she calls “Emperor of Nashville”) when he hasn’t been touring with the Eagles. Their dynamic working relationship, and the 21-time Grammy winner’s long-held appreciation for Wendy’s versatility, culminates now in I’ve Got You Covered, an extraordinary passion project she’s had in her sights for years.
Produced by Gill and featuring the elite among Nashville’s most legendary hit making session musicians, the nine-track collection is the singer’s long-awaited moment in the country music spotlight. Effortlessly and intuitively inhabiting classic but lately little heard songs hand-picked by Gill, Wendy finds her groove – and her spiritual musical home – celebrating the gloried history of traditional country music by singing what she calls “real stories and real songs.”
She brings fresh relevance to tunes from the 60’s and 70’s by Ernest Tubb (“Driving Nails in My Coffin”), Jeannie Seely (“Don’t Touch Me”), Bobby Gentry (“Ode to Billie Joe”), George Jones (“Walk Through This World With Me”), Jeff & Sheri Easter (“Going Away Party”), Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner (“Each Season Changes You”), Tammy Wynette (“Til I Get It Right”) and Webb Pierce and Mel Tills (“I Ain’t Never”). Wendy and Gill also share a beautiful duet re-imagining of the Linda Ronstadt heartbreaker “Faithless Love.” The two had previously paired for “True Love” on the 2018 all-star compilation Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound.
When Wendy joined Gill’s band, the first person she told about her dream to record a country album was Paul Franklin, one of the most recorded pedal steel guitarists in history. Franklin casually mentioned it to Gill, piquing his interest and prompting Gill to invite Wendy over to his home for discussions that led to a commitment to produce the sessions that evolved into I’ve Got You Covered. In addition to Franklin, the project features stalwarts Willie Weeks (bass), Richard Bennett (guitar), Fred Eltringham (drums), Charlie Judge (strings), Jeff Taylor (accordion) and the horn section of saxphonists Mark Douthitand Doug Moffett, trombonist Barry Green and trumpeter Mike Hayes.
“Vince set dates to record the project a few months after we first talked about it,” Wendy says. “Though we discussed some material during that first meeting, he surprised me by choosing completely different songs for me and the band to do on the actual days of the session. I knew the band guys, having played on countless hits over the years, were up for that, and I was determined to not be the weakest link and rise to the challenge. Vince was glad I didn’t know the songs because this ensured they would sound spontaneous and fresh. He wanted me to jump right in.
“I read the lyrics, made notes, listened to each original version twice and then it was up to me to make each song my own,” On the plus side, doing them on the fly meant I wouldn’t over think them and try to be too perfect. It was my time to own this style, and Vince and this iconic band were relieved and happy h with my delievery. I thought, this is what Ella Fitzgerald must have felt like when she was in a room with the greatest musicians of her era. Just as they knew she could bring the goods, this band respected me. Listening back, I realized that every song Vince chose that day was the right one for me. It’s like we opened to what the universe brought and let it flow.”
In addition to touring with major artists, Wendy set the stage for her emergence as a bona fide country artist with numerous liveperformances in Music City over the past few years. She made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in April 2019 and played threemore times there before a showcase at 3rd & Lindsley, one of Nashville’s premier live venues, for the release of I’ve Got You Covered in February 2020. During this time, she also headlined on the Opry stage at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. In 2018 and 2019, Wendy was a featured artist in the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum’s Musician’s Spotlight series. Last year, Gill invited her to become a the 11th member of the Grammy award winning western swing band The Time Jumpers – a institution launched by the town’s top studio musicians in 1998 - at theirweekly sold-out shows at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville. In the fall, no less than James Taylor. Brian May and Steve Lukather (Toto) showed up on different nights because of the bands amazing reputation.
Known affectionately in various industry circles as “The Voice,” the multi-talented Memphis born performer launched her career with a self-titled 1992 EMI album that included the ballad “Come In Out Of The Rain,” which reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and later hit the Top Ten on the UK singles chart. The singer opened for Michael Bolton on his North American stadium tours and became popular in Japan when she performed sold-out concerts at the famed Budokan, hosted by David Foster. After several more well received albums (including one produced by Foster), Wendy diversified and launched a new phase of her career recording guest duets with Michael McDonald (“No Love To Be Found”), Kirk Whalum(“All I Do”), Peabo Bryson (“My Gift Is You”), Larry Carlton (“I Still Believe”) and Julio Iglesias (“Just Walk Away”), the latter whom she toured with for over 15 years. Moten’s most recent album prior to I’ve Got You Covered was a contemporary jazz set titled Timeless: Wendy Moten Sings Richard Whiting.
Analog Players Society has announced TILTED, the first title in a 2-part series. TILTED captures a single live acoustic jazz session at The Bridge Studio that was transformed into the cinematic, loop-based, instrumental, beat-driven fractal art that is Soundtrack to a Nonexistent Film. The albums stand side-by-side to the classic, sample-heavy production of Hip-Hop’s Golden Age. The live jazz recordings put you in the club with the musicians and the remixes put you on the street, deep in our new reality.
The Analog Players Society is a collective effort founded by producer and engineer, Amon, in Brooklyn, NY. APS started originally out of his first studio, “The Hook”, which recently moved, expanded, and was reborn as The Bridge Studio, now a major player in the NYC studio scene. The APS collective features a rotating ensemble cast of some of the top players in New York City. Amon has been “cherry picking” these great musicians and producers for a few years now in this rich garden. APS’ various projects, which are eclectic by nature, carry serious strains of the Jazz, Dub, Funk, Afrobeat, and Soul variety within it. Analog Players Society’s 2012 debut album, Hurricane Season In Brooklyn impressively debuted in the top 15 of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart with press accolades pouring in from NPR’s Fresh Air, Wired, and All About Jazz to name a few.
Fast forward to April 2019, and the Analog Players Society is reborn during a live jazz session produced by Ben Rubin (aka Benny Cha Cha) and Amon Drum (aka Amon aka J. Amon) at The Bridge Studio, the hyped, new large-format recording studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn designed and owned by Amon. Ben gathered four of the best jazz musicians in New York City for the occasion: tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin (David Bowie’s last bandleader on Blackstar), pianist Orrin Evans (the Bad Plus), and the in-demand rhythm section of bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Eric McPherson.
Bahama Soul Club’s 5th album “Bohemia After Dawn” draws deep inspiration from the multicultural verve of young worldly folk drawn to the Bohemian coasts of the most southwestern part of Europe, where hippie-esque hedonism, infinite musical diversity, and offbeat enchanted lifestyles fuel the scene.
From countless ideas and numerous demos over the past four years, the songs that shone the brightest were carefully handpicked and put together. 2018 saw the release of single “Never Roam No More” featuring the legendary John Lee Hooker, followed-up in 2019 by “Aint Nobody’s Business” with the spine-tingling vocals of Billie Holiday. Another real legend, Sister Wynona Carr is featured on “Tears Run Down”.
Increasingly during production band-leader Oliver Belz became aware of the amazing complexity of local artists, talented individuals to be found performing all day and night in the bars and near the beaches. It would take more than a couple of albums to bring these troubadours together. So there are exciting ideas for the future! For this album Bahama Soul Club presents just a few; an eclectic mix of artists that blessed the studio with some serious vibes. Josephine Nightingale appears on tropical-flavored “Mercy Me” and Taly Minkov-Louzeiro provides bluesy vocals for “Troubles All Be Gone”. The closing track on the album “Castelejo” is an homage to the late Vitor Hugo, featuring Rui Correia on accordion and vocals by Cutty Wren and Hedvig Larsson. These artists are from the local neighborhood, quite literally across the lane. What a blessing, what a discovery!
Last but not least … One of the most exciting voices in the Bahama Soul Club family so far… an ongoing love, Cuban artist Arema Arega is somewhat a permanent feature in BSC albums and here she shows her talents in juicy singles “Mango” and “Alma Sola”. As if this weren’t enough we’re more than proud to announce two cool remixes from the masters of the scene: mighty Club des Belugas and SMOOVE himself! Nuff said.
“Bohemia After Dawn”, matured for 4 sunny years doesn’t say “Hey, please like me”. It is just there, in its simple beauty, unobtrusive yet quietly confident. Every song shaped to the max, no compromises. Promise!
Cyrus Nabipoor (a recipient of the 2015 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Scholarship) is a multiple-threat artist, making significant contributions as a trumpeter, composer, improviser, singer and teacher. Based in Portland, OR, Cyrus holds a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University, New Orleans, and graduating magna cum laude (awarded outstanding undergraduate in both Jazz and Brass). The young musician has quickly established his voice on the creative music scene, already boasting associations with the likes of Jamison Ross, Elle King, Tarriona Ball (Tank & the Bangas), Jason Marsalis, James Singleton, Steve Masakowski, Johnny Vidacovich, Michael Ray, Mike Dillon, Stanton Moore and Larry Sieberth. "In addition to his work as a solo artist, Cyrus is the co-leader of NORUZ, frequently collaborates with beat-makers Korgy & Bass, and is a co-founder of Lore, a multisensory storytelling performance series, with visual artist Ida Floreak.” During his time at Loyola, Cyrus spent a term at the Grieg Academy in Bergen, Norway studying with ECM legend Per Jørgensen and Martin Winter (principal trumpet of the Bergen Philharmonic), and regularly returns to continue his ongoing collaborations with Simen Kiil Halvorsen, Roar Kjeldahl Berntsen, Arne Fjose Sandberg, Petter Asbjornsen and others.
Recorded live at the beautiful Marigny Opera House in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 23 & 24, 2019, Cyrus Nabipoor’s debut album is a striking reminder about how deep the talent pool is on the jazz scene. Cyrus is a composer with a good work ethic, and found himself composing regularly over the years, amassing a book of tunes crying out to be recorded. After becoming a first call sideman and collaborator for numerous performances and recordings, the time drew near for Cyrus to step out as a leader. He elaborated, “This album is a big step for me. Until now, I had been involved in many records as a band member, sideman, collaborator, etc., and I felt it was time to create something with my name on it. I find myself writing in various styles simultaneously, regardless of whether I actually have a band to play the stuff. Over the last few years I had written a modest stack of instrumental music which had no place in my other groups, and thus had not yet been recorded. So, with this project in mind, I put together a book of those songs, a couple of my ‘electric’ tunes reimagined, and a few covers of songs which are near and dear to me (such as “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths).
The production from which this music was gleaned was really a big, joyous, two-night family affair. Cyrus elaborates that, “the band is comprised of my close friends and mentors. The seats were filled with my friends, local musicians and teachers. The Opera House has always been so supportive of me. Music being such a highly personal endeavor, it was important to me that during every step of the production process, down to the engineer and artwork, the focus was to work within my community and personal network.”
Cyrus thought long and hard about whom he wanted in the band, particularly looking at musicians with whom he didn’t get to play with often enough. He chose Brad Walker (tenor saxophone), George Wilde (guitar), James Singleton (bass) and Brad Webb (drums). “I really can't give enough credit to this amazing band. With this type of music, it's all just notes on pages and imagined sounds swirling in your head until it's actually interpreted by the band. They received my ideas, and breathed so much life and character into them that the result was more than I had ever imagined,” says Cyrus. (For more on Cyrus’ strong feelings for these musicians, check the album’s liner notes.)
The bold, audacious move to record your debut album live at one of New Orleans’ most historic venues, came fairly easy for Cyrus, and was based purely on sound and performance. Cyrus explains, “I asked myself, what room in New Orleans has the most beautiful acoustics? The Marigny Opera House (also known as the Church of the Arts) of course! And I, fortunately, had one of two or three drummers in town who could play that room confirmed for the dates. Then finally, the decision to record my debut, live. The Opera House is a venue, so it made perfect sense to have an audience. And, cats play differently live versus in the studio. They take chances. They don’t just play,
they perform, and that’s what I wanted for this record: fantastic musicians communicating these songs to an audience in a beautiful room. And that’s what we did! Live At The Marigny Opera House.
Light Of The World – Jazz Funk Power
With a string of classic Brit Funk, Dance Anthems notched up in the late 70’s and early 80’s there is no doubt that Light of the World laid the foundation for the British Dance/Street Soul movement. The bands stunning musical prowess carved a formidable reputation both on vinyl and with their live stage work, before the band (initially an 8 piece aggregation) split into 4 units, Beggar & Co, Incognito, Brit Funk Association and Light of the World. However the good news is LOTW are back in the studio again led by a creative nucleus of Gee Bello (Vocals/Percussion), Nat Augustin (Vocals/Guitar) and Mel Gaynor (Drums) accompanied by other great British and American musicians. The new album Jazz Funk Power showcases a unique hybrid which meshes their considerable musical and authentic abilities. Gee explained “the Jazz Funk Power album came about after realising that many of our favourite bands like Earth Wind and Fire, Incognito, Jamiroquai, Tower of Power, Brand New Heavies, Kool and The Gang and Chic were still enjoying success many decades later. With our records still being played across national and worldwide radio with digital streaming platforms too, we realised our music also has a timeless quality, therefore Jazz Funk really does have Power and Energy … so it felt right to name the album Jazz Funk Power.”
Elements of Life / Louie Vega – Elements of Life – Extensions Part 2
Vega Records present the re-release of EOL Extensions by Elements Of Life, the second album from Louie Vega’s critically acclaimed live orchestral project. With an allstar cast of remixers the lineup is a who’s who of worldwide talent. On the repertoire are Jazzy Jeff, Kenny Dope, Dj Spinna, Joe Claussell, House of Rumba, & DJ Gregory, along with EOL Alumni lead vocalists Josh Milan, Anané & Raul Midon. The Vinyl release is in two parts, two double packs, get it on your turntable, close your eyes and listen to the cosmic sounds of EOL. The new tracks “Messin’ About”, “Our People”, and the unreleased mix of “Love Is On The Way” are ones not to be missed.
Kiki Dee: The Fontana & Motown Years (Exclusive Signed Edition)
Signed to the Fontana label when she was just 16, Kiki Dee’s first single, “Early Night” (penned by Mitch Murray) was released in May 1963, before Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw, Lulu or Dusty Springfield (as a solo artist) had released a record. She released a further eleven singles (plus several European versions) and an album on Fontana, before being signing to the Motown label, the first British artist to do so. This is the first comprehensive collection of all of Kiki’s 60s releases, compiled with her involvement. Discs One and Two feature all of Kiki’s singles for the Fontana label, including “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” and her Northern Soul classic “On A Magic Carpet Ride”, as well as the “I’m Kiki Dee” album (with all twelve tracks in stereo on CD for first time). Also included are Kiki’s ten European Fontana singles together on CD for the first time, seven on CD for the first time ever. Kiki manages to sing in Italian, French, German and Spanish! Disc Three features her recordings for the Motown label – the original album “Great Expectations” and nine bonus tracks (two of these appear on CD for the first time, and one mix is previously unreleased). Produced by Frank Wilson, Kiki covers such classics as “For Once In My Life”, “I Second That Emotion”, “Walk On By”, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart”, “You’re My World” and “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”. The 28 page book features extensive brand new annotation by Alan Robinson, based on a 2020 interview with Kiki, as well as rare photos from Kiki’s own collection.
Solomon Burke - King Of Rock N Soul – The Atlantic Recordings 1962 to 1968
Essential work from the legendary Solomon Burke – one of the greatest singers to record for Atlantic Records during the 60s – and an artist we'd put right up there next to Aretha Franklin or Otis Redding! Like both of those giants, Solomon has a style that's completely his own – almost a blueprint for deep soul, southern soul, and 60s soul all together at once – never captured as well or as perfectly as during the mid 60s years he recorded for Atlantic! There's nobody like Solomon Burke during these Atlantic years – a hard-edged singer who was virtually inventing deep soul at the time – taking currents from earlier R&B years, and folding them with a brash, bold energy that was completely heartfelt – and which drew on the same sort of styles that southern soul singers would make their own a few years later – as you'll see by the dates here, Burke predates work by Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, and Wilson Pickett. The package features 3CDS, and a massive 79 tracks in all – the biggest collection of Burke's work for Atlantic that we've ever seen – with tracks that include "I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You", "Baby", "Gotta Travel On", "Peepin", "Yes I Do", "The Price", "You're Good For Me", "Beautiful Brown Eyes", "When She Touches Me", "Keep Lookin", "Woman How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do", "Presents For Christmas", "What'd I Say", "Get Out Of My Life Woman", "This Little Ring", "It's All Right", "How Many Times", "Cry To Me", "Hard Ain't It Hard", "Mountain Of Pride", "I Feel A Sin Coming On", and lots lots more! A fantastic set – all 6 of Solomon's albums for Atlantic, plus non-LP cuts recorded for the label. ~ Dusty Groove
Eddie Henderson - Shuffle & Deal
A crackling sharp album from trumpeter Eddie Henderson – a set that's got Eddie blowing in some of the more swinging, soulful sides of his spectrum – with support from an excellent group who really keep things moving! There's a tight rhythm trio at the core – Kenny Barron on piano, Gerald Cannon on bass, and Mike Clark on drums – and Barron's ability to roll out rich lines full of feeling really helps set the tone for the set – while alto player Donald Harrison joins Eddie up top, really dealing out some great moments next to the chromatic quality of Henderson's horn. Titles include "Cook's Bay", "By Any Means", "Flight Path", "Shuffle & Deal", "Burnin", "Boom", and "God Bless The Child". ~ Dusty Groove
Isaiah J Thompson - Plays The Music Of Buddy Montgomery
A wonderful record from pianist Isaiah Thompson – a player who wins us over even more than usual with this set of tracks from the pen of Buddy Montgomery! Most folks know Buddy as the lesser-known bassist brother of Wes Montgomery – part of the original Montgomery Brothers group – but Buddy's also got a hell of an ear for a tune, as the batch of material here will attest – all songs taken in wonderful new directions by Isaiah and his trio! Philip Norris handles the bass, with the sort of strong, forward sounds that Buddy would love – and Willie Jones III is on drums, and gets a bit of help from Daniel Sadownick on percussion – but it's clear that the real vision here is that of Thompson, whose arrangements are as fresh as his deft, blocky style on the keys – almost a revision of older soul jazz modes, but in a really personal way – on titles that include "Muchismo", "Hob Nob With Brother Bob", "Budini", "Aki's Blues", "Here Again", "1000 Rainbows", and "Ruffin It". ~ Dusty Groove
Bebel Gilberto - Agora
It's been awhile since we've last heard from Bebel Gilberto – and honestly, that time has made all the difference – as this album's a corker, and may well be her greatest record to date! We've always liked Bebel, but maybe have never loved her – maybe always had a softer spot for Astrud, and her ability to sing with a heartbreaking sensibility that Bebel never had. Yet here, the younger Gilberto really seems to have found her voice – maybe matured past the easier moments of her youth, or just found the right set of songs and producer (Thomas Bartlett, thank you) – which makes the whole thing come off beautifully, maybe announcing a rich second chapter in the singer's career. Titles include "Bolero", "Deixa", "Raio", "Yet Another Love Song", "Teletransportador", "Cliche", "Agora", and "Tao Bom". ~ Dusty Groove
Olympic Runners - Don't Let Up (Japanese paper sleeve edition)
One of the best-remembered albums from the Olympic Runners – not the shorts-clad ladies on the front cover, but a UK funk combo with a mighty sharp edge! These guys are best when they're really laying into the groove – hitting hard with the bass, following with the drums, and peppering the whole thing with plenty of riffing guitar – which is the approach they use on most of the set, often in a more instrumental-forward level that's had the album sampled heavily over the years! Vocals are good too, but they're usually second to the grooves – kind of a call to action, produced with a nice compressed vibe that squishes them nicely into the rhythms. Tasty funk cuts include "Party Time Is Here To Stay", "In The Can", "Out Of the Ground", "Paca Paco Wa Wa", and "The Kool Gent". ~ Dusty Groove
Champian Fulton - Birdsong
Champian Fulton's an artist of many talents – both a great singer and a strong pianist too – at a level that's way more than just a vocalist shading in her lyrics with piano – as part of this set is instrumental, and really showcases Fulton's strong touch on the keys! The set features a nice mix of standards and bop classics – including three Charlie Parker numbers – and the group features Hide Tanaka on bass and Fukutushi Tainaka on drums – with guest work from tenorist Scott Hamilton on two tracks, and trumpeter Stephen Fulton on four others. Titles include "Bluebird", "Just Friends", "Quasimodo", "Star Eyes", "This Is Always", "Dearly Beloved", "Yardbird Suite", and "If I Should Lose You". ~ Dusty Groove
Jose James - Black Magic (10th anniversary edition)
A brilliant second set from Jose James – and that's saying a lot, given that his debut was already a classic in our book! The sound here is a little more full, and a little more confident – a magical blend of James' raspy vocals with some jazz and funk-inflected rhythms – never overdone, and all put together with the kind of poise and depth that's made Jose an artist to watch since his very first single! There's a positive, progressive vibe to the whole record – the kind of excitement we only feel grabbing us once in a blue moon – and the sound is expanded a bit from the laidback combo of the first record, thanks to production help from Flying Lotus, Mitsu The Beats, and others. But James' vocals are always center stage in the mix, no matter what the setting – and titles include "Lay You Down", "Touch", "Promise In Love", "Warrior", "Made For Love", "Code", "Save Your Love For Me", "Detroit Loveletter", and "Beauty". ~ Dusty Groove
Brenda Nicole Moorer - Marrow
Great work from a really unique singer – a vocalist who's equally well-balanced between jazz and soul, and who uses that balance to great advantage throughout this well-crafted LP! Brenda's vocals and inflection definitely show a strong side of the understanding of the nuances you'd use in jazz – but she also works in tunes that are more soul-based, although still with a nice degree of complexity – instrumentation that changes from track to track, and which has way more going on than just beats and keyboards too. Tracks include "Marrow", "Catch Me Falling", "The Core", "Little Prayer", "Flying Lessons", "Return To Sender", and "Your Light". ~ Dusty Groove
Larry Ochs & Aram Shelton Quartet - Continental Drift
A wonderful wrapping of reeds – the alto of Aram Shelton and tenor and sopranino saxes of Larry Ochs – set up here as a unified spirit in the lead of the group, but always ready to break out with these bold individual moments too! The record's got a mixture of rasp and tunefulness that speaks to the strong legacy of both players – sometimes swinging, sometimes a bit more free – with work from Kjell Nordeson on bass, and either Mark Dresser or Scott Walton on bass, depending on the tracks. Titles include "Continental Drift", "Slat", "Switch", "Another Night", "The Others Dream", and "Test Shots". ~ Dusty Groove
Ledisi - Wild Card
Fantastic work from Ledisi – an artist we've loved for almost 25 years, and who maybe sounds better here than she has in the last decade! There's this back to basics approach that maybe recalls some of her self-released albums at the start – but mixed with the maturity in all the years she's learned as both a songwriter and a singer – the sort of vocalist who should be right up there in the soul music pantheon right next to Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Robert Glasper helped a bit on the record – but as usual, Ledisi is the key driving force behind the set – making her equally skilled in the studio as she is on record. Titles include "WKND", "Without You", "Stone", "Wake Up", "What Kinda Love Is That", "Now Or Never", "Stay Gone", "Anything For You", and "Next Time". ~ Dusty Groove
Charles Tolliver - Connect
A stunner of a set from legendary trumpeter Charles Tolliver – and a record that shows that he's lost none of his brilliance since the years of his 70s recordings for the Strata East label! The format here is a bit like those – long tracks by a small group, with an outward appearance of familiarity – but a clearly resonant sense of individuality right from the very first note! All tracks are originals by Charles, and have that soaring quality that's always made him one of the most righteous talents in jazz – working with a group here that features Jesse Davis on alto, Keith Brown on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Lenny White on drums. The group's also joined by the great Binker Moses on tenor on two tracks – and titles include "Suspicion", "Copasetic", "Emperor March", and "Blue Soul". ~ Dusty Groove
Misha Panfilov & Shawn Lee - Paradise Cove
Fantastic work from this very hip duo – two excellent funky talents on their own, somehow sounding even better in the company of each other! The tunes are lean, and almost have a sound library funk vibe – very hip, with a mixture of watery guitar lines, funkier riffs, sweet-stepping basslines and keyboards, and the right touch of acoustic percussion at the core to snap the groove in a perfect way! The record's one of the most understated that Shawn Lee has given us in years – and we mean that in a good way – and Panfilov's ear for unusual production modes really helps the whole thing sound amazing. Titles include "Belt Buckle", "Deep Sea Oddities", "Synthpathy For The Devil", "Voodoo You Love", "Sigmund Jahn Bossa", "Aquaria", and "Volkwagenesque". ~ Dusty Groove
Martin Kuchen & Landaeus Trio - Mind The Gap Of Silence
A fantastic record from saxophonist Martin Kuchen – and a set that has us really reevaluating his talents, with a new sense of soul and spirit we've never heard before! The setting is relatively spare – and Kuchen dominates the proceedings on soprano, alto, and tenor saxes – while Mathias Landaeus plays piano with some analog delay, alongside Johnny Aman on bass and Cornelia Nilsson on drums – both players who follow the lead of Landaeus, and give Kuchen plenty of space to shine in the spotlight! What Martin does with this space is wonderful – blowing with a style that has an edge, borne from the more avant work of the past, but also given this mellower sense of soul that almost has him coming across like an avant Ben Webster – a bit boozy and beaten, but with an undeniable spark that shines through with every note. Brilliant, and unlike anything we think we've heard before – on titles that include "Love Flee Thy House", "Sounds & Ruins", "Sorkifsta", "Mind The Gap Of Silence", and "East Hastings Satian Slow Stomp". ~ Dusty Groove
Who Trio (Michel Wintsch / Gerry Hemmingway / Banz Oester) - Strell – The Music Of Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington
The WHO here is a trio with Michel Wintsch on piano, Gerry Hemingway on drums, and Banz Oester on bass – a trio who make very different music with the songs of Duke Ellington! The vibe is very open and creative – very much in the spirit of Michel's best recordings of the past decade or so – but the real star of the set might be bassist Oester, as he handles his instrument in these really amazing ways – sometimes rhythmic, with qualities that set the pulse for the tunes – but other times with these unusual sounds that sometimes feel as if they're making up for the missing horn players that might have been in larger group recordings, and resonating wonderfully with the looser, freer lines of Wintsch on piano. Drummer Hemingway finds a way to space himself perfectly, and also adds in some really compelling moments on voice – on titles that include "The Mooche", "Black & Tan Fantasy", "Passion Flower", "Angelica", "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing", and "In A Sentimental Mood". ~ Dusty Groove
The Heliocentrics - Telemetric Sounds
The Heliocentrics just get spookier and spookier with each new release – as is definitely the case here, with a recording that seemed to haunt the group like a ghost! The majority of the record comes from one long improvised jam the group were recording – supposedly while on a break, but accidentally recorded – and providing the perfect groundwork for the dark, deep, funky sounds here – served up in that trademark blend of psychedelia and cosmic funk that's become the group's calling card! The core improvisations were chopped up, expanded, and reworked to form the rest of the record – all based around the spooky sounds first captured in Quatermass Sound Lab – in a mixture of deep dark drums from Malcolm Catto, plus fuzzy guitar, electronics, bass, and loads of effects – on titles that include "The Opening", "Shattered Mind", "Rehearsal 24", "Space Cake", "Telemetric Sounds", and "Devastation". ~ Dusty Groove
Bob James - Once Upon A Time – The Lost 1965 New York Studio Sessions
Rare material from pianist Bob James – and tracks that are a lot different than his funky Fender Rhodes albums of the 70s! The set is the first-ever issued of work recorded at Columbia University in 1965 – and the vibe is a bit like James' album for Mercury Records around the same time – a bit straight at point, but also with some surprising avant moments too – touches that make Bob part of that young generation of new experimental pianists, which would also include Steve Kuhn, Don Friedman, and the young Keith Jarrett! The first half of the set very much lives up to that mode – with a trio that features Larry Rockwell on bass and the great Bob Pozar on drums – on titles that include "Lateef Minor 7th", "Once Upon A Time", "Serenata", and "Variations". The second half is from later in the year, and is maybe more boppish overall – with a trio that features Bill Wood on bass and Omar Clay on drums – on titles that include "Indian Summer", "Solar", "Long Forgotten Blues", and "Airegin". ~ Dusty Groove
Quincy Jones - Live In Paris – 14 Mars 1961
Hard-driving live work from Quincy Jones – material recorded during one of the most productive, creative years of his large jazz ensemble! Material is from a very hip all-star group – and in addition to the sorts of tracks that Quincy was doing for ABC and Mercury during the period, there's also some longer, extended tunes that really showcase the growing complexity of Quincy's music – and that visionary quality that would make him one of the hippest bandleaders in the world by the end of the 60s! Players include Sahib Shihab on baritone, Phil Woods on alto, Budd Johnson and Eric Dixon on tenor, Freddie Hubbard and Benny Bailey on trumpets, Melba Liston and Curtis Fuller on trombones, Les Spann on guitar and flute, Patti Brown on piano, Stu Martin on drums, and Patato Valdes on congas – and long tracks include extended takes on "Stolen Moments"," Africana", and "Banja Luka" – plus other titles that include "Gwan Train", "Moanin", "Solitude", "Caravan", "Boy In The Tree", and "Summertime". ~ Dusty Groove
Roots Magic - Take Root Among The Stars
These guys already had our attention the moment we looked at the cover – and noted that they were playing songs by Phil Cohran, Sun Ra, and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre – then they really won us over once we heard the very first few notes of the set! The group's only a quartet on most tracks, but they've got a sense of majesty to really live up to the music – definitely making magic with the roots they refer to in their name – in a lineup that features Alberto Popolla on clarinet and bass clarinet, Errico De Fabritiis on alto and baritone sax, Gianfranco Tedeschi on bass, and Fabrizio Spera on drums and percussion. There's some nice surprises along the way – harmonica, zither, and "objects" used in the performances – and there's a way of reworking avant traditions that remind us of some of the most innovative sides of the Italian scene at the end of the 80s – on titles that include "When There Is No Sun", "Karen On Monday", "Frankiphone Blues", "Devil Got My Woman", "Humility In The Light Of The Creator", and "A Girl Named Rainbow". ~ Dusty Groove
Brand new for the summer is the up-tempo sunshine filled “Soulmate”from sax-man Andrey Chmut. With all ten tracks written and arranged by Chmut, it builds on the impact this talented player made with his 2018 Skytown Records debut “Smoothability” which included the tune “Moving Forward” that featured the timeless Bob James on electric piano. Quickly becoming a staple on Sirius XM Watercolors it was also one of the station’s favorite songs of 2019.
The high octane “Soulmate” opens exactly in the way it means to continue with the deliciously upbeat “Night Town” that features superb interplay between Chmut on alto sax and Alex Logvinenko on keys. It establishes an intensity that permeates the entire collection and this is also apparent with ”Dance with Me” that not only finds
Chmut bringing it home with his driving yet melodic playing on soprano sax but also Gennadii Bondar making a contribution on guitar that is reminiscent of Peter White at his best.
This high-energy tour de force continues apace with “Funky Talk” where “off the chain” keys from Riccardo Dalli Cardillo combines explosively with Chmut’s fiery work on alto.
Truth to tell, although the overriding theme of “Soulmate” is slanted toward energetic danceable grooves Andrey does, from time to time, take the opportunity to ease back on the gas. This is perfectly illustrated by the mid tempo “Blessed Day” and again with the similarly inclined “Wake Up” that enjoys a hook that might just get in your head and not go away. Chmut keeps things relaxed for the decidedly ethereal “If Only I Could Fly” while elsewhere the moody “After & After” finds Chmut laying down an urban vibe that in turn is complemented by “in your face” electric guitar from Matthew Monakov.
Think contemporary jazz meets dance and you have all you need to know about the zesty “Parodox”. With Eric Moore coming up big on drums this is one that really flies and later, evoking a late night landscape of a mythical rain swept city, the title cut shows off a more tender side of Chmut’s musical persona.
Closing out the album is “Beloved Routine” that proves to be a wonderful showcase for Chmut’s jazz sensibilities and underscores the message that the world of contemporary jazz has found itself a significant talent.
Ukraine based saxophonist Andrey Chmut has already introduced himself to the smooth jazz community with his debut album Smoothability (2018). Only two years later he presents the successor Soulmate (2020) on the same label Skytown Records.
For his second project he falls back on the proven crew of scenic musicians as listed below. Andrey has written and arranged all tracks. The introducing Night Townfeatures a modern dialog between Andrey and keyboardist Alex Logvinenko which perfectly assimilates in taste and presentation to the American smooth jazz style.
Listening to Dance with Me you get the impression of hearing Peter White in action. Indeed, Gennadii Bondar's brilliant playing on the acoustic guitar shows many parallels to the iconic guitar player.
With Funky Talk Andrey can show his virtuoso skills and give full steam ahead. After & Aftermakes it clear that Andrey's style can certainly be compared to that of Marcus Anderson. Arranged with nuances, he serves sax harmonies on a layer of hip-hop beat.
Away from any fashionable wackiness, Andrey celebrates the beauty of a melody on Blessed Day. The up-tempo Wake Up serves explosive hipness. Paradox takes it to the next level with a rocking hip hop beat and a distinctly Ukrainian touch.
But Andrey can also take it very carefully. With Soulmate he gives the gentle vibrations a chance. The grippingly sweet If Only I Could Fly has the romantic hook which excels the tune to something special. At the end Andrey serves us with Beloved Routine exhilarating food that justifies enthusiasm.
Andrey Chmut's Soulmate is an extraordinary album, which can easily compete with the old masters of the genre. His music justifies great expectations.
Spiritmuse Records presents 'Pathways & Passages', the debut album from Cosmic Vibrations, the LA-based ensemble led by acclaimed jazz vocalist Dwight Trible that defines spiritual jazz in the 21st century.
A sublime amalgamation of divine vocals, soul-stirring jazz, healing poetry, with a rich tapestry of African, Mesoamerican and indigenous North American percussion and instrumentation, taking you on a cosmic journey of spiritual improvisation and beyond.
Cosmic Vibrations is a supergroup of heavyweight musicians with a vast combined experience, an ensemble of 6 souls who approach improvisation full of spirit and without ego. Gathered for this very purpose by Dwight Trible, undoubtedly the most acclaimed and in-demand vocalist currently working in the realms of spiritual jazz, the band has been performing steadily over the last three years, building a reputation in LA and further afield for their electric, mesmerising performances. “Pathways & Passages” presents the first time that their transcendental sound has been recorded and publicly released.
A show-stopping performer and artist, Dwight Trible has directed the legendary Horace Tapscott Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, and performed alongside with the likes of Pharoah Sanders, J Dilla, Gary Bartz, Kamasi Washington, Kahil El’Zabar, Madlib, Charles Lloyd, Matthew Halsall, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Soil & “Pimp” Sessions, Mark de Clive-Lowe, and Carlos Niño. There is indeed no one today who better carries on the tradition of legendary jazz vocalists such as Terry Callier, Leon Thomas and Andy Bey, whilst carrying that torch forward and exploring brand new territory. Apart from his rich vocal tones, Trible is also heard on kalimba here.
Master percussionist, flautist and composer, Derf Reklaw is an original member of the Pharaohs, legendary soul jazz ensemble and precursor to Earth, Wind & Fire, and has performed and recorded with the likes of Terry Callier, Ramsey Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Harris, Minnie Riperton and Ahmad Jamal. On assorted wind instruments is Pablo Calogero. Not only has he worked with everyone in Latin, spiritual and free jazz, from Tito Puente to Phil Ranelin and Yusef Lateef, but he also contributed to the soundtrack for Basquiat’s seminal ‘Downtown 81’ film, alongside Liquid Liquid, The Lounge Lizards, and Basquiat’s own “Gray” outfit.
John B Williams, on acoustic bass, joined The Horace Silver Quintet in the 60s after studying with Ron Carter. Greatly in demand across music and TV, John has worked with the likes of Roy Ayers, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Smith, Freddie Hubbard, Hugh Masekela, Bobby Hutcherson and Nancy Wilson. Master percussionist Christopher Garcia adds a vast array of avant-garde, indigenous and traditional instrumentation, drawing upon his long career performing, learning and teaching across 28 countries in 5 continents. Finally, improvisational drummer, percussionist, instrumental designer/builder & sound sculptor, Breeze Smith, often seen performing alongside flautist & composer Nicole Mitchell, pianist David Ornette Cherry (son of Don Cherry) and other key players in the experimental music scene, can be heard here playing drums, homemade percussion and original loops, and produced the album alongside Trible.
Improvisation forms the core of this record, but the rhythm, the groove is never absent. The poetry led 'Nature’s Vision' sets the tone for the record’s journey, but it peaks on the group’s incredible rendition “Motherless Child”. A live favourite of Trible’s, this bluesy take rides heavy on Williams’ bass and enjoys the addition of guest Scott Fraser’s lap steel guitar. With his rich, emotive singing Trible takes full possession of the song. By the time the beautiful closing ballad, “Some Other Time” ends, the album has truly succeeded in transcending the listener from their earthly surroundings.
A genre-defying amalgam of divine vocals, intuitive improvisation and deeply spiritual music, on Trible’s voice soars among the nexus of winds & skins from an incredibly talented and “deeply rooted” group in complete brotherly connection with one another. If you are looking for genuine, soul-enriching spiritual jazz today, look no further than “Pathways & Passages”.
“Sir Charles,” the new single from famed keyboardist David Garfield’s upcoming Stretchin’ Outside The Box album follows several contemporary jazz hits such as “Sweetness,” “Go Home,” “Jamming” and “One Like You,” all of which dominated the radio waves as well as the charts. The world-class keyboardist, producer and composer has teamed up with one of his favorite guitarists and long-time friend, Grant Geissman, best known for his dynamic performance on the classic hit “Feels So Good” to perform this new original song. The track also includes a guest performance by saxophonist Brandon Fields (original founding member of The Rippingtons).
Jazziz has the track premiere for "Sir Charles" here: https://www.jazziz.com/new-music-monday-idris-ackamoor-the-pyramids-david-garfield-more/
“Sir Charles” is a sweet summer song with a tropical island vibe, perfect for sunny day hangs by the pool sipping frozen fruit-infused beverages. A definite party hit for this summer. Garfield, who leads the band on piano and keyboards, also produced and arranged the track.
“‘Sir Charles’ is a song inspired by my dear friend Vince Charles’ (Neil Diamond/Herb Alpert) steel pan drumming,” Garfield says. “He was a key mentor of mine and turned me on to all the great tropical music styles.”
Garfield began his five-decade career in straight-ahead jazz as a teenager playing behind bebop trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Since then many of the greatest artists of our time, including members of the Zac Brown Band, Steely Dan, Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, The Doors, Chicago, Toto, Tower of Power and The Meters, have been featured on his albums.
Garfield has scored and recorded for films (“Annie,” “Always” with J.D. Souther), television (“Fame” and its five accompanying “Kids from Fame” recordings), and commercials (Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Seven Up, Mitsubishi). He’s produced over 50 albums and worked with such icons as Cher, Boz Scaggs, Larry Carlton, Spinal Tap, The Manhattan Transfer, Keiko Matsui, The Rippingtons and Smokey Robinson; performed with Earl Klugh, Michael McDonald, Nancy Wilson, Oleta Adams, Brenda Russell, Dianne Reeves and Michael Bolton; was musical director for George Benson (from 1986-90, 2000-2004), as well as writing, arranging and producing for him (2007-2018); appeared on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Soul Train; and has composed and recorded hundreds of original compositions.
One of world’s most accomplished keyboard players, David Garfield’s mission statement is “I make music.” Whether working with other artists or performing or recording with one of his own bands, Garfield (known to some as “Creatchy”) is constantly and consistently involved in creating music for the listening enjoyment and pleasure of music lovers everywhere.
Bassist Fumi Tomita celebrates the 100th anniversary of jazz icon Charlie Parker with thoroughly Parkerian flair and resourcefulness on Celebrating Bird: A Tribute to Charlie Parker, set for a September 25 release on Next Level Records. Tomita, along with tenor saxophonist and longtime collaborator David Detweiler, presents an inspired set of contrafacts—new melodies, composed upon familiar chord changes—of tunes in Parker’s repertoire.
Bird was a legendary creator of contrafacts. One of the bebop revolutionary’s key innovations was the language with which he reimagined songs like “Cherokee,” “Lady Be Good,” and even the basic possibilities of the blues. It’s this spirit that Tomita and his quartet (Detweiler, pianist Art Hirahara, and drummer Jimmy Macbride) channel on Celebrating Bird, both in terms of writing original songs on classic changes and the expression of those songs in a bright and upbeat bebop aesthetic.
“I’ve always loved Charlie Parker’s music,” Tomita says, musing on the idiom Bird did so much to create. “It’s a style rooted in a certain language but very open to other styles.”
That openness is very much evident on Celebrating Bird. Whether in the subtle calypso echoes of “Like Sigmund” (a contrafact of Parker’s “Segment”), the Latin charms of “Intersection” (based on “Repetition,” a tune from the famous Charlie Parker with Strings sessions), or the funk suggested by Tomita’s doubling of the melody line with Detweiler on “Oceanology” (a blues in C, a favorite Bird framework), the album offers a unique insight into the vast reach of Parker’s musical ideas.
Then again, any jazz performance is also about the musicians performing it in the moment—and Tomita and company do not disappoint as artists in their own right. The glory of Detweiler’s sustained solo on “Bird’s Yard” is immediately rivaled by Hirahara’s piano chaser; Macbride makes punchy but sleek statements on “Bird Dreams”; and the leader taps into fathomless depths of soul with solos on “Alice Changes” and “Intersection.” As ever, the high point of Parker’s genius is in how it enables the individuality of visionaries like Tomita.
Fumi Tomita was born November 26, 1971 in New York. Fittingly for the era, his first musical loves were progressive rock and jazz fusion, which led him to begin on the piano in high school. He soon took up guitar and bass; the latter instrument gained his commitment, which in turn gained Tomita a spot in the jazz performance program at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
He spent some time as a working musician in Montreal; spent a year in Portland, Oregon; then returned to his hometown in 2000 to earn a master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music (studying with Jay Anderson and Larry Ridley). Being at MSM put him directly in touch with the New York jazz community, and Tomita began working with the likes of Joey Baron, Vincent Herring, Jeremy Pelt, and Art Hirahara. All the while he continued pursuing musical scholarship, finishing his master’s and going on to study ethnomusicology at Hunter College and jazz and contemporary media at Eastman School of Music (where he met tenor saxophonist Dave Detweiler). He ultimately gained a tenure-track position in the jazz program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he currently teaches.
Tomita’s debut recording, Untold, appeared in 2011, with Impromptu appearing that same year. (The albums were recorded in 2003 and 2004, respectively). He and Detweiler made their first record together in 2015 on the saxophonist’s Dave Detweiler Trio. In 2019 came the ambitious The Elephant Vanishes: Jazz Interpretations of the Short Stories of Haruki Murakami, through which Tomita explored his Asian-American identity. (His father was Japanese; his mother a Chinese-American.) The new Celebration of Bird is, in a sense, another examination of identity: that of a contemporary jazz musician who is building on the foundation Charlie Parker laid.
“Conceived before the pandemic, this tribute record to Charlie Parker will, I hope, still be relevant in the new normal with the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Tomita. “The sweeping changes for social justice for African Americans that have dominated the summer of 2020 were a dream that Parker, living during the pre-Civil Rights era, was denied. Yet he still led a musical revolution known as bebop that contributed to the great music known as Jazz. His music can be viewed as a form of protest during an era when African Americans could not voice their opposition to racial discrimination, segregation, or lynchings. During his centennial year, I hope that Charlie Parker will continue to be remembered and that his music will resonate with listeners during an age of protest.”
Wynton Marsalis’s exploration of socio-cultural and political issues has yielded some of his most inspired and provocative work over the last four decades including the GRAMMYⓇ Award-winning Black Codes (From the Underground) in 1985, Blood on the Fields ─ the first jazz composition ever to win a Pulitzer Prize─ in 1996, All Rise in 2002 (performed by Symphonic Orchestras the world over to great acclaim
Penitentiary in 2007, which according to one reviewer, “reveals some important truth about this country with a lot of anger and heart.”
Released on August 21, 2020 through Blue Engine Records,The Ever Fonky Lowdown, the latest Marsalis composition to directly address the irresistible cocktail of deception, racism, greed, and gullibility that subverts the global fight for human rights and corrupts the possibilities and promise of democracy in America and around the world.
Available exclusively on digital platforms, The Ever Fonky Lowdown features the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and vocalists Camille Thurman, Ashley Pezzotti, Christie Dashiell, and Doug Wamble.
The new recording also features narration from acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme, Jack Ryan) who plays the role of “Mr. Game,” whose commentary reveals the “hustle” that keeps us at each other’s throats and prevents us from working together to build a more equitable and friendly world.
“Mr. Game” is a composite strongman, part evangelical preacher, lawyer, businessman, politician, street hustler, newsman, social worker, street corner prophet, and reality show celebrity. His language is refined, colloquial and slang and his confidence and populist message keeps you hooked on the line for more. He is consistently charismatic, conniving and irreverent and so shocking in his disrespect for convention as to be provocative.
The Ever Fonky Lowdown was written in 2018 to address universal issues of human exploitation and suffering with a specific focus on how those matters have played out in America. The most recent public acts of police violence and the social inequities exposed by the Covid-19 Pandemic have spotlighted national problems and has hit a global nerve as well, as evidenced by the many international protests in solidarity. In this very moment, our world is experiencing more and more social upheaval over a myriad of human rights issues. The Ever Fonky Lowdown is even more pungent and timely today because it provides a blueprint for the game that has been and is being run on so many of us.
“Mr. Game” himself says, “We are here tonight, but this is an international hustle. It has played out many times across time and space and is not specific to any language or race. It takes on different flavors according to people’s taste, but always ends up in the same old place.”
Reaching back to Blood on the Fields, the Orchestra and singers act as an ancient Greek chorus commenting on the action and moving things along. Playing the symbolically complex and multi-layered score with the absolute precision, feeling and soul of jazz musicians, they cover everything from Gospel Quartet, to American folk, to New Orleans funk, utilizing the swing rhythm, as well as tresillo and other grooves that have yet to be named. The music also functions as another character, largely celebratory and ecstatic, expressing the internal joy and glee with which we exploit our fellow man and woman.
The Ever Fonky Lowdown is entertaining—but it also brilliantly reveals an incisive, panoramic, and satirical view of modern society. A funky jazz parable for 2020, the new work covers terrain from football to politics, power to poverty, from love and romance to betrayal and corruption; it will make you dance and sing and it will make you think and reconsider.
Mr. Marsalis says, “Usually I research and learn a lot of new material for longer pieces. For this one, I went with music and mythology that I have lived. From the music my father and great New Orleans drummer and composer James Black played in the 60’s, to the funk we played in the 70’s, to the modern jazz we have been blessed to play,
teach and shape over these last decades, The Ever Fonky Lowdown is an antidote to the poisonous (and largely unquestioned) cultural mythology that continues to infect our general quality of life.”
The work ultimately asks the question, where do we go from here?
According to Marsalis, “There’s no real answer on the Left or the Right. The solution lies outside of the game. But, we have to rise above our position on the board to get a broader view.....and then decide individually, if we have the will to fight for a collectively better country (or world) populated with ‘others’. It boils down to the basic question of predation vs. symbiosis—do we want to help one another or exploit each other?”
Through this work, Marsalis suggests the need for all of us to question cheap populism and propaganda; rather than looking at what you are being told to see, look at what you are actually seeing in your immediate environment and act to improve that. “The entire world is struggling with issues of governance, belief, wealth, and cultural integrity. This is not the time for sleepwalking,” he says. “From the protests around the world that saw solidarity in the Afro-American struggle, we see people wanting to rise up and create a more equitable and more participatory world. Where do you stand? The new world is something we must fight for and the first step of doing is seeing. Awareness and acuity are the keys to escaping the complex web of very willful obfuscations on all sides of the equation. This is a responsibility and a burden we all share. In times of such cloudiness, to act is itself heroic.”
