Alexander Zonjic | "Motor City Sway"

It’s been eleven years since contemporary jazz flutist Alexander Zonjic dropped a new album, making Friday’s release of his 13th collection, “Playing It Forward,” an event album. A genuine multi-hyphenate, Zonjic is a longtime multimedia personality (he hosts television and radio shows) and artistic director for nearly a dozen music festivals and concert series throughout Detroit and the Michigan region in addition to being a recording artist, explaining the lengthy gap between albums. Finishing the new Hi-Falutin Music release produced by GRAMMY-winning keyboardist Jeff Lorber was made possible because COVID-19 forced the cancellation of most of the calendar of live music events that Zonjic produces.  

Whetting the appetite of both radio programmers and fans alike is the disc’s first single, “Motor City Sway,” a tune written and produced by Pieces of a Dream’s James Lloyd. A fun video shot on stage and on the streets of Detroit (the Canadian-born Zonjic’s adopted home), including at the Motown Museum, reveals a “Motor City Sway” dance to go along with the funky R&B instrumental track currently climbing the Billboard Top 25 (https://youtu.be/Cba0NStZM_M).

“Playing It Forward” is an energetic blend of jazz, funk, fusion and soul comprised of five Lorber originals along with a handful of reimagined classics. The outing showcases the work of top shelf musicians, including guitarists Chuck Loeb (one of his final recordings before his passing), Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael Thompson, drummer Gary Novak, horn player and arranger David Mann, and 14-year-old South African keyboard phenom Justin-Lee Schultz, who can be seen performing a talk box solo in the “Motor City Sway” video.   

The album title intentionally riffs on “paying it forward,” which is something the benevolent Zonjic does generously throughout metropolitan Detroit and the Michigan region. The award-winning musician is organizing and headlining a November 13 fundraiser for Mariners Inn, a shelter and treatment center for the homeless.   

Rebecca Hennessy | "All The Little Things You Do"

All The Little Things You Do is a beautifully written, performed and produced album by award-winning vocalist, trumpeter and songwriter Rebecca Hennessy. It deals with love, grief and mental health. Being released between the death of her mother and the birth of her first child, this album will take you on a journey that weaves through time and space in unexpected ways. All of the elements of her diverse musical career merge together, with her warm clear voice as lead singer and songwriter featured front and centre.

Rebecca’s songwriting brings to mind many different musical traditions, including jazz, folk, roots and pop. Her band on this album is world-acclaimed and celebrated musical voices, including guitarist Kevin Breit (Sister’s Euclid, Johnny Goldtooth, Norah Jones); pianist Tania Gill (Happiness Project, Tania Gill Quartet); bassist Michael Herring (Peripheral Vision, Bona Fide Scoundrels) and drummer Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Gord Downie). Other guests include The Upper York Mandolin Orchestra, Thomas King (Inconvenient Indian, CBC’s Dead Dog Cafe), Tom Richards (The Heavyweights Brass Band, The Human Rights), Drew Jurecka (Jill Barber, Royal Wood), Claire Doyle (YUKA) and Alex Samaras (Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Queer Songbook Orchestra).

This is Rebecca’s first album collaborating with award-winning producer and engineer David Travers-Smith (Jane Siberry, Veda Hille, Jayme Stone, The Wailin’ Jennys, and Deerhoof). David’s attuned creative input and overall aesthetic brought All The Little Things You Do a level of lush expression that masterfully served each song and the overall shape of the album.

This album features collaborations with numerous artists, including musical settings of two poems by internationally-acclaimed author Thomas King (“Nothing Passes for Favour” and “Dig Up The Stories,” both from King’s new collection of poetry 77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin.

New Music Releases: Ziggy Marley, Emma-Jean Thackray, Laila Biali

 

Ziggy Marley | "More Family Time"

Simply put: this album is incredible. A follow up to 2009’s Grammy winning Family Time - Ziggy has bottled the energy of his four year old son and put it into music form, the songs are captivating for kids, yet sophisticated to keep parents engaged. Ziggy is joined by an incredible set of friends who are featured throughout the album, including Stephen Marley, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Angelique Kidjo, Alanis Morissette, Tom Morello, and more. A portion of proceeds will benefit Ziggy’s 501(c)3 U.R.G.E. Foundation, which supports the education, social development and overall well-being of the Chepstow Primary School and the One Love Youth Camp, both in Jamaica.: U.R.G.E. Foundation

Emma-Jean Thackray | "Um Yang EP – Night Dreamer Direct To Disc Sessions"

A fantastic EP UK trumpeter Emma Jean Thackray – really growing into an important role as a leader here, amidst some of her hippest contemporaries from the London scene! The album features two side-long tracks, both brilliant – built up from spontaneous interplay between Thackray and the rest of the group, in a mode that's maybe a 21st Century take on the sorts of work that first emerged on Impulse Records during the post-Coltrane years – but always in a way that's completely individual, and never a slavish adherent to older jazz modes! DwayneKilvington and Crispin Robinson provide lots of great percussion at the core – while Lyle Barton gloLailws beautifully on Fender Rhodes, and Soweto Kinch is searing on tenor, as you might expect. Ben Kelly bridges the sound with sousaphone, used both like a bass and a horn – and the sound throughout is wonderful – full of fire, life, and imagination. Titles include "Um" and "Yang". ~ Dusty Groove

Laila Biali | "Anthem"

The 2019 JUNO-Award winner covers fellow Canadian and music icon; Leonard Cohen in 'Anthem,' a relevant song with a salient message for the times we find ourselves in: "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything, that's where the light gets in." Leonard would have turned 86 on September 21, 2020. This single releases on the heels of Laila's highly-anticipated 2020 album release, Out of Dust, which came out on March 27 and features an expansive ensemble of instrumentalists and singers including GRAMMY Award winners and nominees Lisa Fischer, John Ellis, Larnell Lewis, and others.

New Music Releases: Carla Bruni, Davine Tuch, Cecilia Stalin

Carla Bruni | "Carla Bruni"

Carla Bruni, one of the most talented songwriters of the French scene, shares her latest eponymous album today. A wholehearted embracing of her true self, this album is Carla's first collection of new songs in seven years. Always sensitive, with emotions on the surface at times, the music of the album's 13 songs – 14 on vinyl and 17 on the collector's edition – bears witness to a unique temperament. The entire album was produced by Albin de la Simone. For his first collaboration with Carla Bruni, the multi-instrumentalist – one of the very best in the French scene in the past 20 years – was determined to give her new songs the most delicate treatment. Essentially written in French, the album includes one original song in English, and another one in Italian – a duet with actress Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. Music is composed by Carla Bruni, Michel Amsellem, Jeremy Reynolds and Calogero. Listening to this new "Carpe Diem" manifesto, you can't help but regain a strong sense of the present moment and this is what's so disarming about Bruni's songs: the intimacy, the simplicity, in a spirit of freedom, friendship, and love.

Davine Tuch | "Grand Rising" featuring Ragan Whiteside

Jazz instrumentalist Davine Tuch is releasing his new single Grand Rising that features Ragan Whiteside. Ragan is the first female flautist to hold the #1 spot on 3 major smooth jazz charts simultaneously. The original composition also includes Rich Harrison on drums, James "Biscuit" Rouse – percussion, Tony Stevenson on bass and Mark Bowers on guitar, who are established artists, show their love and support for young independent music. They collaborate on this melodic tribute to new beginnings and embracing life. This is the first single off Davine’s upcoming album Traveling Man. His jazz, funk, gospel, R&B and Hip-Hop mixology “tuch” to his original music is a result of years of classical piano training, professional gigs with A-list jazz, soul and funk artists and his unstoppable search for a different vibrant sound.

Cecilia Stalin | "I Am"

It's been awhile since we last heard from Cecilia Stalin, but the singer's still got everything in place that made us love her so much in the first place – those strong vocals that first emerged in Koop, then really took shape once she started writing more of her own songs! The album's got Stalin coming across as much as jazz singer as a soul vocalist – and the tunes are all great, with some complex rhythm parts at points, and more straightforward grooves at others – always touched by the open, personal lyrics that make a rare few from Cecilia's generation still sound so great after all these years. Backing is nice and jazzy – with lots of Fender Rhodes – and titles include "Released", "Brave", "Sungod", "Grace Of You", "Didn't You Know", and "B Song". ~ Dusty Groove

New Music Releases: Average White Band, Midlife, Tony Strong

Average White Band | "On The Strip: The Sunset Sessions (aka Shine)"

An unusual collection of work from Average White Band – the sessions that went into their Shine album, but presented here with the full list of tracks from the recordings – all done at Sunset Sound in LA! The whole thing is great later grooves from Average White Band – a real gem from the point when the group was settling nicely into a mellow soul vein! By this point, the combo wisely realized that they couldn't keep things going forever as a funky group – so they laid back and fell into their second strongest suit – the kind of mellow stepping rhythms that sparkled nicely between the bigger cuts on earlier records, produced to perfection here with a shimmeringly soulful feel! The album's got a mature feel, and the lyrics are often understated and well-balanced – no easy crossover soul or adult contemporary cliches – just the kind of warmth the band was always known best for. 2LP pressing features the entire sessions from the album – and titles include "Into The Night", "Catch Me", "For You For Love", "If Love Only Lasts For One Night", "Miss Sun", "Let's Go Round Again", "Whatcha Gonna Do For Me", "Wasn't I Your Friend", "Love Gives Love Takes Away", "Growing Pains", and "Shine". ~ Dusty Groove

Midlife | "Automatic"

Mildlife snuck under the radar a bit with their previous record – but here, they seem poised to break big, and with a sound that's very much their own! All the great keyboard work from before is still in place, but the vocal quotient of the music has been increased – to a level where the songs mix jazzy instrumentation with some dreamy lyrics, all served up with a nicely spacey vibe overall! The blend is a bit hard to explain – production at times almost reminds us of mid 70s German work, with the vocals handled like a Neu record – but the instrumentation is farther ranging, with lots of nice electric flavors that change things up over the course of the record. Most tracks are funky, but in a spacey way – and titles include "Vapour", "Downstream", "Rare Air", "Citations", "Memory Palace", and "Automatic". ~ Dusty Groove

Tony Strong | "Philly Style"

Tony Strong was a multi-talented R&B vocalist and choreographer who got his start in gospel music before moving on to the sweet sounds of secular soul. Strong lent his prodigious talents to such groups as The Perfections, Blue Magic, The Intrigues, Taylor Made, The Ebonys, former Motown recording artists Ron Thorpe & The Hearts of Stone, as well as being the lead vocalist for the best variation of the original Intruders, dubbed The Philly Intruders. Prior to his recent passing, Tony hooked up with renowned producer Butch Ingram of Society Hill Records and recorded as both a solo artist and as part of reformed soul outfit The People’s Choice. This special release, put together by Ingram for members of Tony’s family, compiles the best of Strong’s vocal work for the Society Hill imprint and features the musical input of the hard-working Ingram family band, drummer David Thompson, bassist Stanley Stazan Thomas, guitarist Darnell Jordan and organist Bruce Alford, with all ten of its tracks getting a fresh new remix. Chock full of great takes on Gamble and Huff classics, the album also features Strong’s standout performance on Butch and brother Jimmy’s heartfelt original entitled “If I Could Only Talk To Daddy” that will bring tears to the eyes of many a listener. Rest in peace, Tony. You will be greatly missed.

New Orleans Singer Roderick Harper To Release New Album Evolving

'Evolving’ is more than just the title of Harper’s new record; it’s his entire way of life. “I’ve spent the last few years deep in a process of self-discovery and change,” says the versatile vocalist. “I’ve been trying to understand myself, to peel off the cellophane and really get at what’s underneath. This album is the sound of me becoming the man I was always meant to be.”

Recorded live with a cast of friends and mentors (including appearances from late piano legend Ellis Marsalis, sax icon Donald Harrison, and vocalist/drummer Jamison Ross), ‘Evolving’ is both a homecoming and blank slate for Harper, a return to form and a start from scratch. The songs here span the full breadth of his remarkable journey and extraordinary talents, but rather than linger in nostalgia, they press forward with newfound immediacy and resolve. Harper’s delivery is vibrant and mesmerizing to match, his voice smooth as velvet as he charts his own distinctive course through a collection that’s equal parts head and heart. Sure, there’s plenty of vocal sophistication and dazzling instrumental work on the album, but at its core, ‘Evolving’ is all about raw emotion and gut instinct, about taking chances and breaking free. Harper is making up for lost time with this record, and he’s laying it all on the line in the process.

‘Evolving,’ opens with the intoxicating “Infinite Heart.” A collaboration between Harper (who wrote the lyrics) and Harrison (who wrote the music and lends a spectacular performance), the track sets the stage beautifully for an album that’s as surprising and spontaneous as it is warm and inviting, a collection that explores the rough edges of romance and regret with deep empathy and an unwavering belief in the resiliency of the human spirit.

While ‘Evolving’ is certainly a showcase for Harper’s transportive vocals, it also demonstrates his skills as a consummate interpreter of song, and his choices here double as something of a loose autobiography. He nods to his roots with a bouncy, playful take on Alvin Batiste’s “Salty Dog,” says farewell to Ellis Marsalis with a soft and silky rendition of “Never Let Me Go” (which features one of Marsalis’ final recordings), and looks back on his time with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra on the Mingus classic “Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love.” Throughout the album, Harper tips his cap to a host of friends and influences who shaped his journey (he salutes Shirley Horn with a jaunty performance of “The Great City” and celebrates Betty Carter with a gentle take on her “Look What I Got”), but he spends an equal amount of time looking forward, meditating on justice and race with the soulful “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and pushing his personal artistic limits with an adventurous performance of “Valsa Mineira.” Perhaps the collection’s most affecting moment, though, arrives with album closer “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?” Soft and breathy, it’s both a heartbroken lament and a tender embrace, a wistful sigh and a welcome home.

“I truly do know what it means to miss New Orleans,” Harper says. “I recorded that song within months of returning to town, and even though there was so much uncertainty in my life, I just felt so happy and blessed to be back.”These days, there’s plenty of uncertainty to go around, but no matter what the future holds, Roderick Harper knows where he’s meant to be. And, as ‘Evolving’ ably demonstrates, he knows who he’s meant to be, as well.

ELLA FITZGERALD: LIVE BERLIN CONCERT RECORDING FROM 1962 / THE LOST BERLIN TAPES

Verve Records announces the release of a never-before-heard stellar live recording from the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald. The Lost Berlin Tapes were recorded – incredibly in both mono and stereo – at Berlin’s Sportpalast on March 25, 1962 and finds Ella at the top of her game with a trio led by pianist Paul Smith, Wilfred Middlebrooks on bass, and Stan Levey on drums.

There was just something about Berlin that brought out the best in Ella. In February of 1960, she gave a concert at the Deutschlandhalle, which became one of her best-known and best-selling records, Mack The Knife: Ella in Berlin. The album won her 2 Grammys, it went on to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Two years after that historic concert, Ella returned to the city at the height of her career, in the midst of her most extensive European tour to date. Flanked by her stalwart rhythm section including pianist Paul Smith, bassist Wilfred Middlebrooks and drummer Stan Levey, Ella delivers an energized, top-of-her-game set a month before her 45th birthday.

Ella Fitzgerald The Lost Berlin Tapes is a jewel in the treasure chest of impresario and Verve Records founder Norman Granz’s private collection. As Ella’s manager, he had a habit of recording Ella live – sometimes for radio broadcast, sometimes for later release, sometimes just to have. This particular recording was amazingly done in both mono and stereo – and on this March evening at Berlin’s Sportpalast, Ella delivered, singing some lesser-known gems as well as the hits.

One of those hits was “Mack The Knife.” Ella famously flubbed the lyrics in the known 1960 recording, and two years later, nails them. But – she forgets the name of the town she’s in. On the recording, she charmingly says, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m so embarrassed. This is where the first time I sang Mack The Knife and when I got to the part of the town, I couldn’t think of it!” The audience is enthralled, nonetheless.

That unique charm, energy and skill are palpable throughout this live recording. She opens with “Cheek To Cheek,” followed by the rarer “He’s My Kind of Boy.” After her behind-the-shoulder scat-heavy salute with “Jersey Bounce,” Ella shifts to a heart-wrenching ballad of the Great American Songbook, “Angel Eyes.” Ella also sings the Ray Charles hit “Hallelujah, I Love Him So,” singing a reprise that shows Ella’s improvisational skills. 

New Music Releases: Sun Ra & His Solar-Myth Arkestra, Roscoe Weathers, Sam Prekop

Sun Ra & His Solar-Myth Arkestra - Solar-Myth Approach Vols 1 & 2

Really unique material from Sun Ra – a pair of recordings that were initially circulated much more strongly than some of his Saturn Records material, thanks to the power of the BYG/Actuel label in the early 70s – but tracks that actually come from a variety of different sessions that Ra himself did with the Arkestra in the late 60s! Tracks are shortish, but very inventive – a well-chosen snapshot of all the new ideas that the group were cooking up during the end of the 60s in New York, with an increased mission to explore the outer reaches of space, and use more electronics than ever before! Ra plays some killer keyboards – moog, spacemaster, and acoustic piano – often with these really eerie tones – and other players include Kwame Hadi on trumpet, Akh Tal Ebah on space dimension mellophone, Ali Hassan on trombone, Marshal Allen and Danny Davis on alto and flute, John Gilmore on tenor, and Pat Patrick on baritone – and the whole group vocalizes at points, joined by other singers who include June Tyson and Art Jenkins. There's also some great use of "strange strings" on the sessions, not to mention a bit of reverb – and tracks titles include "Spectrum", "The Satellites Are Spinning", "Seen III Took 4", "Adventures Of Bugs Hunter", "Legend", "The Realm Of Lightning", "The Utter Nots", "Outer Spaceways Inc", "Scene 1 Take 1", "Strange Worlds", "Ancient Ethiopia", "Pyramids", and "Interpretation". ~ Dusty Groove

Roscoe Weathers - I'll Remember

Really wonderful work from a very overlooked talent – reedman Roscoe Weathers, a player who worked the west coast in the 60s before settling in LA – then led a group with a very strong flute sound in the lead! Roscoe's music here has plenty of echoes of the spiritualism of Yusef Lateef, mixed with some of the groovier styles of Roland Kirk – and the cuts here are from a range of small label 45s that really stand as an overdue testament to Weathers' beautiful music! There's occasionally touches of Latin, a strong dose of soul jazz, but also this ear for higher ideas in his music, even on shorter tracks – with a vibe that almost makes this work a precursor to the 70s recordings of Lloyd McNeil – a high recommendation from us. Hats off to Jazzman for such a great job – and titles include "Afro Latin Junto II", "Poem For Anna", "Blue Cha Cha", "I'll Remember Clover", "The Bob White Bird", "Echoes", "Dandelion Wine", "Root Flute", and "Yours Alone". ~ Dusty Groove

Sam Prekop - Comma

A compelling step forward for Sam Prekop – a key member of Sea & Cake for many years, but maybe an even more engaging artist on his own! This set's different than some of Sam's previous records – in that it's all electric, really electronic – with modes that hearken back to early ambient experiments, and some of the Japanese work of the 80s – but which also ties things in more strongly to the crucial contemporary vibe of his scene! These aren't retro electronic modes – as some are freewheeling in rhythm, almost evoking the early Thrill Jockey records of Oval – while others are tuneful and more direct, but still with edges around the sides – a subtle rasp that makes it clear that the record is as much a project of Prekop the visual artist as it is the musician. Titles include "Comma", "September Remember", "Never Met", "Above Our Heads", "Circle Line", "Summer Places", "The New Last", and "Park Line". ~ Dusty Groove

New Music Releases: Society Hill Records - The Red Light Special: Private Party Mix, David Sills, Alan Braufman

Society Hill Records - The Red Light Special: Private Party Mix

The Philly Soul music phenomenon is one of the longest running soul music movements with origins stretching back to the early 1970s, and Society Hill Music, under the auspices of the legendary Philly Soul producer Butch Ingram, has been at the forefront of that movement for decades. On "The Red Light Special: Private Party Mix," Butch brings together the cream of the crop of Philly Soul vocalists that are still active on the scene today, such as Blue Magic, TRU, The Legendary Bluenotes, Donnie Tatum, Johnny Ingram and others that are responsible for keeping the true sound of the movement alive and kicking - and also strive to preserve its sweet, precious sound for future generations of listeners. This is a party record that's going to bear repeated listening for years to come. Long live the immortal sound of Philly Soul.

David Sills – Natural Lines

Los Angeles-based reed player David Sills is a prolific recording and performing artist. Natural Lines is his 17th CD as a leader. The album features seven of Sills’ original compositions as well as tunes by Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Jimmy Davis, Alan Broadbent, and two of Sills’ accompanists, guitarists Larry Koonse and Mike Scott. The Los Angeles Times has said “The playing of tenor saxophonist David Sills has been described as a meeting of Stan Getz and Joe Henderson, a style in which smooth reserve and technical ability combine in a single cool-to-the-bone sound.” Sills has always worked with top players for his many recordings, which he does once again on Natural Lines. Besides being one of Sills’ oldest friends and a frequent collaborator, guitarist Larry Koonse is one of the most respected musicians on the West Coast. With fellow guitarist Mike Scott, the two guitarists create a rich tapestry for Sills to weave his rich and soulful sound. Rounding out the rhythm section are two top L.A. sidemen, Blake White on bass and Tim Pleasant on drums, both of whom work frequently with Sills. David Sills is a cool musician with a warm tone and swinging, modern sound that’s been honed over his very prolific career, both as a recording and performing artist. He’s also a first-class composer, writing tunes that are harmonically rich with engaging, highly accessible melodies. He’s joined on Natural Lines by top-notch musicians who possess the natural, empathic communication of friends who have worked together for many years.

Alan Braufman - Fire Still Burns

A long-overdue second album from Alan Braufman – maybe not the most familiar name in jazz, but a reed player who gave the world one fantastic album on India Navigation back in the 70s – and who now finally returns as a leader for this equally great second set! Braufman plays alto and flute – and the whole thing has this bold, soaring sort of energy – maybe even more spiritually forceful than Alan's classic album, thanks in part to an excellent group who bristle with dynamic vibes throughout – always on the edge of going farther out, but also nicely together too. Other players include Cooper Moore on piano, James Brandon Lewis on tenor, Ken Filiano on bass, and Andrew Drury on drums – with a bit of percussion at times from Michael Wimberly. Titles include "Creation", "Alone Again", "The Fire Still Burns", "Home", and "No Floor No Ceiling". ~ Dusty Groove

New Music Releases: Martin Wind / Philip Catherine / Ack Van Rooyen, Nat Birchall, Conrad Herwig

Martin Wind / Philip Catherine / Ack Van Rooyen – White Noise

When noise or other unpleasant acoustic appearances are being overlaid with “white sounds” such as ocean waves, rain, wind etc. the human ear seems to perceive them as softer and less disturbing. This healing principle from psychoacoustics can be wonderfully applied to music – as bassist Martin Wind impressively proves on White Noise. The Flensburg native is one of the German fIgureheads on the New York jazz scene. For the recording of his new album White Noise, he surrounded himself with two European “Jazz icons of the highest order”: Philip Catherine, for many critics – besides John McLaughlin – the most respected guitarist in Europe. And the Dutchman, Ack van Rooyen, whose warm and soft tone on trumpet and flugelhorn is his unmistakable trademark. “In a world where silence is becoming more and more of a luxury, I wanted to set a little acoustic opposite pole. Kind of a sound oasis, in which the audience can lean back and enjoy the music undisturbed to its fullest effect” explained Wind on the concept of White Noise - the quietest in his discography so far. But if you’re worried that three jazz virtuosos ended up among esotericists, you’re mistaken.

Nat Birchall - Upright Living: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner

A mighty feather in the cap of UK saxophonist Nat Birchall – and a set that really shows just how much he's opening up his sound in recent years! The set is a second meeting between Birchall and Al Breadwinner – and like the previous, both artists handle a wide range of instrumentation in a mode that matches 70s dub production styles with jazzy elements too – as Nat plays tenor, soprano, melodica, organ, piano, and percussion – and Al handles drums, organ, guitar, piano, and more percussion too! Breadwinner recorded and mixed the set – with the kind of mysterious vibe that almost recalls Lee Scratch Perry at Black Ark – and the duo are joined by Vin Gordon on trombone, David Fullwood on trumpet, and Stally on baritone sax. Titles include "Wise Man Style/Dub Of The Prophet", "Tribute To The Great Tommy McCook", "Man From Jones Down", "Upright Living", "Mystical Dawn", "African Village Dub", and "Upfull Dubbing". ~ Dusty Groove

Conrad Herwig - Latin Side Of Horace Silver

A sublime mix of Latin rhythms and soulful hardbop from trombonist Conrad Herwig – working here in a formula he's used before, but which seems especially well-suited to the music of Horace Silver! Silver's work for Blue Note always had these wonderful currents of Latin and exotic modes in the rhythms – expanded more strongly here by the group, with conga work from Richie Flores ringing out next to the bold piano lines from Michel Camilo and Bill O'Connell, both great players for a date like this. The mode is different than Horace, but in a great way – and in addition to trombone solos from Herwig, the album also features Craig Handy on alto and flute, Igor Butman on tenor, and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet. The date is a live one, which really increases the energy of the music – on titles that include "Peace", "Gods Of The Yoruba", "Nica's Dream", "Song For My Father", "Nutfille", and "Cape Verdean Blues". ~ Dusty Groove

New Music Releases: Immanuel Wilkins, Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks, Joel Ross

Immanuel Wilkins - Omega

Alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins delivers an opus about the Black experience in America on Omega, which JazzTimes called “the most important debut jazz recording in years.” Omega was produced by Jason Moran & features pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns & drummer Kweku Sumbry. With powerful pieces like “Mary Turner - An American Tradition” & “Ferguson - An American Tradition,” Wilkins conveys the deep pain his people have endured for centuries. That’s balanced with moments of uplift, too, as on “The Dreamer,” a gorgeous ballad based on a poem by James Weldon Johnson. Watch Wilkins on First Look with Don Was.

Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks – Whisky Kisses

This 11-track all original debut album is inspired by the classics, but we are taking this beautiful tradition to a new generation of fans. With reviews coming in with comparisons to Elvis, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Bublé, this album calls to the past but is paving the way for a new style of Jazz. Scheduled to be released October 23rd, 2020. Whisky Kisses is nostalgic, beautiful, and yearning and is the Because One Day, a short documentary about Alex Bird’s journey. It opened the Canadian Film Fest (May 2020) and was awarded Best Music by the film festival jury. Our second single Whisky Kisses (May 2020) was awarded Best Jazz Song at the World Songwriting Awards. In November of 2019, we released our debut single The Way She Moves, and it was picked up by CBC radio (Canada), was Track of the Day on All About Jazz, and awarded the top spot in Reader Favourites on Jazziz Magazine’s Inside Track. Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks and I have been making a name for ourselves on the Toronto Jazz scene and abroad. With Ewen Farncombe on piano/b3, Scott Hunter on bass, and Eric West on drums, these three monster players bring Whisky Kisses to another level.

Joel Ross – Who Are You?

On Oct. 23, vibraphonist Joel Ross will release his highly anticipated 2nd album Who Are You? featuring his band Good Vibes with Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall on bass & Jeremy Dutton on drums, plus special guest Brandee Younger on harp. The lead single “More?” is available today to stream or download, and the album can be pre-ordered on vinyl, CD, or download. “This record is a culmination of our maturing – as people, as a band, within the music – it’s about figuring out who we are,” says Ross.

New Music Releases: Jean Carne, JAF Trio, Becki Fishwick

Jean Carne – Sings Philadelphia

This is a collection of some the best songs the incomparable Jean Carne has recorded for the Society Hill label and it’s a loving tribute to the music community of Philadelphia, like Thom Bell, who produced the original version of “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” the powerhouse duo of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who wrote “Hope That We Can Be Together Soon,” The Wizard Ted Mills, who wrote “What’s Come Over Me,” Bunny Sigler, who wrote “Do You Get Enough Love,” Dexter Wansel, who wrote “One Million Miles From The Ground,” Grover Washington Jr., who was responsible for “Closer Than Close,” Bianca & Butch Ingram, who co-wrote “Come Home To Me,” Doug Carn, who wrote “Infant Eyes” and the late Barbara Ingram, who wrote “Spirit Of Love” and sang on almost of all Jean’s hits. Every song on the playlist has been reworked and remixed for this most special compilation.

JAF Trio – JAF Trio

The young Finnish-Danish band includes saxophonist Adele Sauros (of Superposition), bassist Joonas Tuuri (of Bowman Trio) and drummer Frederik Emil Bülow. After a string of lauded live performances over the past couple of years (the band was awarded with the "We Jazz Rising Star" accolade at We Jazz Festival in 2017), the trio is now ready to present their first studio work. Sound-wise, JAF Trio has an approach which brings the band very close to the listener, "loft jazz" style. The sax, bass and drums are right there at the forefront together, creating a remarkably strong presence. The original material of the band has depth and groove alike, at times leaping forward with giant steps, at times calming things down to really stretch time. The music is very melodic and rhythmic, as witnessed by single tracks "Ninth Row of the Fifth Floor" and "Dark Sparkle". There's a sense of playfulness in the repetitive riffing on "Something New" and an air of sombre melancholy on "Shades of Tomorrow".

Becki Fishwick – Know You Know

Based in the stunning Lake District, Ulverston, North West England, Becki has a 1950s vintage style and provides a retro twist to modern songs and revives old jazz, soul and Motown too! Becki’s unique voice is influenced by 1940s jazz, 1950s rock n roll and 1960s soul, a perfect mixture of a wonderful era. Becki has carved quite an exciting career with singing at Kendal Calling 2018 and 2019, working for the BBC with Geri Halliwell, playing Amy Winehouse in a sell-out show and winning a top industry vocal awards, to name just some of her highlights. Now she releases her own debut single 'Know You Know' alongside her cover of Charlatans 'One To Another' with the permission and praise of Tim Burgess after booking and seeing Becki perform at Tim Peaks diner Kendal Calling.

New Music Releases: Bill Frisell, Tony Saunders, Markus Rutz

Bill Frisell - Valentine

Bill Frisell has released his 2nd Blue Note album Valentine featuring his trio with bassist Thomas Morgan & drummer Rudy Royston. The guitarist discusses the new album—which was awarded a 5-star “Masterpiece” rating in DownBeat—on the latest episode of “First Look” with Blue Note President Don Was. The 13-song set was produced by Lee Townsend & mixes Frisell originals new and old, jazz standards, traditional songs & covers while exploring the creative freedom of the trio format & the profound relationship that exists between these three musicians after years of touring.

Tony Saunders - Sexy Somethin

Four years after taking us to the heart of his years growing up on the NYC club scene with Uptown Jazz, legendary bassist/composer Tony Saunders delivers on his stated promise to “make the best, most pleasurable and sensually satisfying album yet” with the perfectly titled Sexy Somethin. Alternately bouncy and buoyant and dreamily sensual, the tracks are all infectiously melodic and roll deep in a groove-intensive pocket. Yet true to the diversity of Saunders’ expansive resume, he infuses stylistic and thematic surprises from track to track. While grounding everything on his trademark deep bass tones and delivering sparkling solos, he invites a vibrant all-star cast to help execute his multi-faceted vision – including Nils, Jeff Ryan, Paul Jackson, Jr., Paul Brown, Marion Meadows and Jeff Lorber. ~ smoothjazz.com

Markus Rutz - Blueprints Figure One: Frameworks

Capturing the same spirit as his dynamic live performances, 2019 marked the release of his third album, Blueprints – Figure One: Frameworks. The first of two volumes in partnership with OA2 Records, the majority of this album is comprised of his own compositions and ranges from duet to sextet, incorporating pieces featuring Cuban percussion, ballads, bop, West Coast Cool and swing. Markus began trumpet at the age of nine. His post-secondary musical studies took him to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Berklee College of Music and the University of New Orleans where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. Markus continues to partner with musicians locally and from around the globe. Open-minded and curious, his musical journey benefits from all that is new and unexpected, courtesy of his global collaborators. He performs, teaches and composes music from his home base in Chicago, Illinois.

New Music Releases: Matt Haviland, Kutiman, Michel Legrand

Matt Haviland - Something To Say

Only the second date as a leader from Matt Haviland – a trombonist with years of recordings for others under his belt – and a set that really marks a great leap forward for his strengths at the head of a group! Haviland's got a strong tone, and beautifully well-shaped solos – and he works here with an all-star group that includes Vincent Herring on alto, David Kikoski on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums – plus work from Mark Gross on tenor and Bill Mobley on trumpet, each of whom play on three tracks on the set! The set includes some well-penned -originals, all with room enough to really open up – "Graham Benjamin", "Fillet Of Soul", "Finding The Words", and "The Way It Is" – plus versions of "Arietis", "Inner Urge", and "Driftin". ~ Dusty Groove

Kutiman - Wachaga

Much deeper work than we're used to hearing from Kutiman – and a set that's really widened the global scope of their sounds and influences! At the start, these guys were a funk group with a mix of psychedelic and 70s Afro-oriented influences – but they've really expanded here, and bring in spiritual jazz elements and other more sophisticated modes – all handled with a richness that's very organic, and which has a very uplifting quality we really didn't expect! There's often use of vocals by a group of female singers, in ways that recall some of the more powerful South African vocal chorus passages of vintage recordings – mixed with acoustic percussion elements, and layers of keyboards, samples, and other sonic touches – on cuts that include "Awake In The Rain", "Firefly Before Tomorrow", "A Giant Snail", "Tanzania", "Maasai", "Lost In The Bush", and "Rainbow Kilimanjaro". ~ Dusty Groove

Michel Legrand - Le Monde Instrumental 1953 to 1962: Jazz Et Musiques De Film (10CD set)

A gem of a package from one of our favorite film composers ever – a huge 10CD assortment of music from the earliest years of Michel Legrand – a set that shows just what an amazing career he was already having in Paris before his mid-60s rise on the international scene! The scope of work here is wonderful – and as you can guess from the title, the set includes only instrumental music from Legrand (although we will admit, there's a few vocals here and there) – which comprises not only early film scores and soundtrack contributions, but also some jazz projects and other instrumental recordings too – some more orchestral, others more in a groovy style that's like an instrumental take on early French pop! We're huge fans of Michel's music, and have lots of it in our collection already – but there's still a lot here that we'd not heard before – a whopping 234 tracks in all, with a completeness from these years that's echoed in the detailed notes, which are in both French and English. There's a huge amount of tracks we've never seen on CD, including lots of material from obscure French 7" EP releases – and the inside package offers the full details on the origin of all the many varied titles. ~ Dusty Groove.

New Music Releases: Bill King, JD Allen, Loren Oden

Bill King - Miles to Go featuring Alexis Baro

I’ve had the good fortune to witness Miles Davis at various stages in live performance beginning in 1963 the Brown Theater in Louisville, Kentucky with Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, and Hank Mobley; 1964 Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, George Coleman, Ron Carter; 1971 at the Colonial Tavern in Toronto – Bitches Brew era with Chick Corea/Keith Jarrett keys, Miroslav Vitous bass, Jack DeJohnette drums, John McLaughlin guitar and a final performance 1987 at Roy Thomson Hall with Bob Berg, Robert Irving lll, Rodney Jones and company. Each appearance registered as a statement of possibilities. Where can we go from here? Miles to Go is not a tribute but an organic creation beginning with a rhythm loop crafted and passed my way by Jesse King, who also plays bass, drums, guitar, and percussion. I added keyboard Rhodes, clarinet, strings and scripted a melody. Then it hit me, Miles 1985.

JD Allen - Toys/Die Dreaming

Boldly brilliant work from tenor saxophonist JD Allen – a player who's always been great, but who seems to be hitting a whole new side of his powers in recent years! The set continues a trio format explored by Allen on a previous date – and like that one, it's got a wonderfully unfettered feel – just the bass of Ian Kenselaar and drums of Nic Cacioppo setting the stage, while JD soars out in these long, soulful solos – filled with energy and power that we might not have imagined a decade ago, making some of his strongest statements as a leader to date! The set includes a fair bit of original titles, but these are just more like sketches for the open energy of the tenor – on titles that include "Die Dreaming", "Red Label", "Toys", "Elegua", and "You're My Thrill". ~ Dusty Groove

Loren Oden - Adrian Younge Presents Loren Oden: My Heart My Love

The first we've ever heard of Loren Oden – a singer with a falsetto style that's perfect for the sweetly soulful backings of Adrian Younge – a mix of modes that's almost in the same territory as Adrian's record with The Delfonics a few years back! Yet the style here is also more contemporary – warm currents of 21st Century soul, tripping along in a gentle Linear Labs sort of way – beats on the backburner, as the keyboards often carry as much rhythm ad melody – with the right sort of gently bubbling vibe to match the mellow soul energy of Oden's vocals! The whole thing's a contemporary sweet soul album to rival the greatness of gems from the 70s – with titles that include "All Roads", "Galaxies", "Addicted", "Queen", "My Heart My Love", "Somber Sonnet", and "Timeless Answers". ~ Dusty Groove

Karuna Trio – Imaginary Archipelago

The three visionary musicians that make up the Karuna Trio – master percussionists Adam Rudolph and Hamid Drake and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Ralph M. Jones – have each forged a singular voice by culling inspirations that span the globe and reach back through musical and cultural histories. On their second album as a trio, Imaginary Archipelago, the group’s improvisatory explorations take them into an undiscovered country of sonic invention. These strikingly original pieces imagine an isolated island chain where musical traditions have evolved untouched by the rest of the world.

Released May 1, 2020 via Rudolph’s Meta Records label, Imaginary Archipelago is a breathtaking set of non-idiomatic, spontaneous compositions that brings vivid new meaning to the bridging of “ancient” and “future” musical concepts: the influence of ancient traditions, real and imagined, imbuing the utterly modern technology and techniques. Recorded at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, CT, the original improvisations reflect a profound chemistry developed through collaborations that have lasted and deepened for decades yet constantly reveal new and surprising discoveries. Rudolph’s inventive post-production then sculpts that source material into evocative soundscapes that illustrate the journey of discovery that he describes in his liner notes.

This bold, experimental approach is an undercurrent that runs throughout Rudolph’s diverse career, as well as that of his trio mates. Imaginary Archipelago arrives on the heels of the percussionist’s most ambitious and acclaimed release to date: Ragmala: A Garden of Ragas, which paired his Go: Organic Orchestra with the Indian classical musicians of Brooklyn Raga Massive. DownBeat called the album “a gorgeously complex tapestry of sounds, hues and sensations,” WBGO hailed it as “innovative [and] boundary pushing,” All Music called it “a major work,” and Jazzwise Magazine called it “a stunning journey into the unknown.”

Imaginary Archipelago is a far more intimate affair, though no less innovatory. “With every record I make I try to do something that I’ve never done before,” says Rudolph. “I’ve always studied music from all over the world, so I had the idea of inventing some music that was previously undiscovered, which represents the idea that the creative endeavor itself is about discovering and uncovering something new.”

The close personal and musical relationship between Rudolph and Drake dates back to 1969, when the two met in a downtown Chicago drum shop at the age of 14. In the decades since they’re worked together with such greats as Don Cherry, Fred Anderson, Pharoah Sanders, Dave Liebman and Hassan Hakmoun as well as in each other’s ensembles. Both play an array of percussion instruments, allowing for a multitude of sounds each more surprising than the last. Together they share a remarkable chemistry. “Hamid and I think like one,” Rudolph says. “It’s almost uncanny at times. We’re always listening and orchestrating with each other in a way that’s incredibly free.”

Rudolph met Jones in 1974 at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, where they performed together in groups led by Kenne Cox and Charles Moore; with Moore they went on to co-found the Eternal Wind quartet that Rudolph has called, in much the same spirit as the Karuna Trio, “an ongoing research and development music laboratory.” Rudolph compares Jones to classic melodicists like Lester Young and Ben Webster: brilliant and bold improvisers who achieved stunning ends through elegant, understated means. “Ralph is a master orchestrator, harkening back to the tradition of soloing by generating gorgeous melodies. Ralph is always thinking about singing when he plays.”

In its compellingly original sound, Karuna blurs countless boundaries: between ancient and modern, organic and electronic, live improvisation and post-production. In his role as producer, Rudolph follows in the tradition of such formative influences as Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – artists and albums that used the studio as an instrument. In his role as conductor of the Go: Organic Orchestra, Rudolph utilizes the ensemble much in the same way that he plays his battery of hand drums; on Imaginary Archipelago he expands that concept to his processing and editing of the raw materials of the initial performance.

The use of electronics is nothing new to Rudolph, who began experimenting with early Moog and Buchla synthesizers during his days as a student in the groundbreaking electronic music program at Oberlin College. He delved deeper in the late 1980s through his partnership with trumpeter Jon Hassell, which found them working with legendary producer Brian Eno. More recently he has incorporated live electronic processing into his performances.

“To me, the most avant-garde music is the music of the Ba-Benzélé people of the Ituri forest,” he says, “because their music is so far from the materialism of music and so close to nature. A Ba-Benzélé can pick up a bamboo piece, saw it off, blow over its top and make music. I approach electronics and post-production in that same spirit of organic exploration.”

With the Karuna Trio, Adam Rudolph, Hamid Drake and Ralph M. Jones bring their unique and evolved rhythmic and sonic languages to the fore, reaching to inspire audiences through spirited dialogue. Called “a pioneer in world music” by the New York Times, Rudolph leads a number of innovative ensembles including the Go: Organic Orchestra, Moving Pictures, and Hu Vibrational and has worked with such masters as Yusef Lateef, Don Cherry, Sam Rivers, Pharoah Sanders, Jon Hassell and Wadada Leo Smith. Incorporating Afro-Cuban, Indian and African percussion into his expansive jazz language, Drake has collaborated with a wide variety of legendary artists including Herbie Hancock, Don Cherry, Archie Shepp, Fred Anderson and David Murray. Jones’ career has seen him sharing the stage and the studio with such greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Wadada Leo Smith, Yusef Lateef and the MC5. The three have shared histories that stretch back five decades, including collaborations in Moving Pictures and the Eternal Wind quartet.

New Music Releases: Steve Arrington, Horizons Jazz Orchestra, Mon David & Josh Nelson

Steve Arrington – Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions 

After a 7-year hiatus, funk legend Steve Arrington returns with his uplifting and soulful new album ‘Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions’, with artists including Mndsgn, Knxwledge and Jerry Paper on production. The album portrays his diversity of influences, which sees Arrington drawing on funk, soul, jazz, electronic and R&B. Steve Arrington is known for his innovative vocals on classics including ‘Watching You’ and ‘Just A Touch of Love’, with Slave, as well as his solo work with tracks including ‘Dancin’ in the Key of Life’, ‘Weak at the Knees’ and ‘Nobody Can Be You’. His music has greatly influenced the hip hop generation, having been sampled by Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharrell, 50 Cent, 2Pac, De La Soul, Snoop Dogg and many more. ‘Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions’ is Steve Arrington’s first solo album since 2009’s ‘Pure Thang’.

Horizons Jazz Orchestra – The Brite Side

Horizons Jazz Orchestra is a swinging big band comprising some of the finest musicians in South Florida. They are now releasing their debut CD, The Brite Side. On The Brite Side, the Orchestra plays the music of Lee Harris, a baritone sax player, composer, arranger, and bandleader who worked along the East Coast. Harris and trumpeter Dennis Noday, an alumnus of the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson bands, co-founded and co-led SUPERBAND, a big band that mainly performed Harris’ original compositions and arrangements. Harris passed away before the album was completed, and since some of the original musicians had moved onto other projects, executive producer Jeannette C. Piña and musical director Michael Balogh decided to rebrand and changed the name to Horizons Jazz Orchestra. The band’s music is lush, melodic, and very approachable. It doesn’t try be avant-garde; rather, it has a dance-able, crowd pleasing appeal. With sterling musicianship, exciting arrangements, and some rarely heard compositions that could have been taken right out of the Great American Songbook, The Brite Side is a loving tribute to Lee Harris, an unheralded but much appreciated composer and arranger in the jazz world.

Mon David & John Nelson - DNA

Mon David (pronounced moan da-VID) had a successful career as a touring drummer and singer in the Philippines, recording and performing mostly pop music with popular groups that toured around the world. But the vocalist, composer, arranger, and musician decided to fulfill his dreams to pursue a career as a jazz vocalist, so he brought his family from the Philippines to the U.S. in 2007 and has since become a popular mainstay on the Southern California music scene. David is now releasing DNA, his fourth U.S. release. The album, which is a program of mostly standards, is a duo project featuring Josh Nelson, the highly respected pianist, composer, and arranger, who has performed with some of the top names in jazz. Mon David sings straight from the heart. He is emotive without being cliched or pedantic. A trained instrumentalist as well as a vocalist with a wide range and excellent vocal control, his singing is endlessly improvisational and creative. His collaboration with Josh Nelson on DNA demonstrates that an entire symphony of sounds can be created by two seasoned, master musicians.

CLASSIC SALSA ALBUM BARRETTO POWER BY RAY BARRETTO SET FOR 50th ANNIVERSARY VINYL REISSUE

Craft Latino, the Latin division of Craft Recordings, is proud to present a 50th anniversary vinyl reissue of Barretto Power, out October 23rd. The album will also be released in hi-res 96/24 and 192/24 digital formats for the first time. Available for pre-order today, this album is the first in a string of genre-defining Afro-Caribbean masterpieces released by the conga drummer and bandleader Ray Barretto during the first half of the ’70s.

A member of the Fania All-Stars and a prodigious conguero who never allowed his technical chops to overshadow the funky groove of his orchestra, Barretto is one of the key artists in the history of both the Fania label and the New York salsa explosion. Born in New York of Puerto Rican roots, Barretto began his career as a young conga player, performing with some of the best jazzmen of his day, from Charlie Parker and Gene Ammons to Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Burrell. Barretto’s accomplishments as a jazz and Latin musician were extensive – per Jazz Profiles from NPR, “Barretto is credited for being the first U.S.-born percussionist to integrate the African-based conga drum into jazz. This fact has designated him as one of the early ‘crossover’ artists in jazz – skillfully balancing his Latin leanings and his love for bebop throughout a long and successful career.” In the late ’60s however, he launched his career as a visionary bandleader with an intriguing fusion of Latin Soul, boogaloo, traditional Afro-Cuban dance formats and a dash of Latin jazz. Just as the boogaloo movement was losing steam, Barretto found his true calling in the more rugged soundscapes of the emerging salsa movement.

Released in 1970 – a momentous year for tropical music – Barretto Power is the first in a series of iconic LPs that signal the bandleader’s coming of age, as he crystallized the specific sound – nimble, tight and funky – that he remains most closely associated with. There are a couple of socially conscious Latin Soul-flavored numbers in Barretto Power – the lyrics on the infectious “Right On” and closing jam “Power” are as timely today as when they were written 50 years ago – but most of the material here brims with salsa frenzy, boasting a tightly knit band of seasoned musicians like Orestes Vilató on timbales and a young Andy González on bass. Standout cuts include the timeless mega-hit “Quítate La Máscara,” which confirms Adalberto Santiago as one of the most talented Afro-Caribbean singers of his era, and the fast and furious “De Qué Te Quejas Tú,” by legendary Puerto Rican composer Tite Curet Alonso. Written by Barretto himself, opening cut “Oye La Noticia” includes a transcendental piano solo by Louie Cruz and lyrics condemning envy and jealousy among artists – one of Barretto’s favorite topics.

Barretto would go on to record a number of definitive salsa albums during the ’70s: The Message (1971), Qué Viva La Música (1972) and Indestructible (1973), to name a few. Barretto Power, however, remains particularly enchanting because it signals the starting point of his creative apex. In later decades, he would react to the fall of the salsa era by switching gears and recording in the Latin jazz genre. But until the end of his life in 2006, the emotion was palpable in his voice whenever he remembered his classic salsa days.

This new edition of Barretto Power boasts all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and marks the first vinyl reissue since its original release. The 180-gram vinyl has been manufactured at Memphis Record Pressing.

Papa Rosko self-titled album features Toots & The Maytals, Gyptian, and Third World lead singer AJ Brown

Introducing the multi-genre recording and performing artist Papa Rosko, who will be releasing his self-titled debut album on October 16, 2020. Papa Rosko pulls together a wide spectrum of genres on his debut album, fusing elements of rock, pop, alternative, Latin, and country music into a seamless reggae sound.

The self-titled album was recorded over the course of two and half years between studios in South Florida and Kingston, Jamaica. The results are an impressive album filled with original songs and a pair of country-reggae fusion covers featuring reggae and dancehall legends. The album kicks off with Papa Rosko’s take on the classic Johnny Cash song “Folsom Prison Blues,” featuring Toots Hibbert of Toots & the Maytals as special guest vocalist (Toots famously wrote his own prison song “54-46 That’s My Number,” which gets a shout out at the end of the song here.) Another cover on the album is of the timeless song “When You Say Nothing At All,” featuring Jamaican dancehall star Gyptian as guest vocalist. The song has been an international hit for three different artists (Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Ronan Keating) spanning three different decades. The iconic tune has always been done as a slow love ballad, but Papa Rosko brings his unique style to it, picking up the tempo and immersing it in an island vibe. Add in Gyptian’s vocal stylings and this song is poised for prevalence into a new decade. The forthcoming music video fully encapsulates the uplifting vibe with Gyptian playing a starring role.

Third World lead vocalist AJ Brown is featured on the cover of Third World’s beautiful, hopeful song “You’re Not the Only One.” Tracks were recorded remotely at home studios during the beginning of the coronavirus shutdown. AJ and Third World were fully behind the project due to the positivity of the accompanying video as Papa Rosko tried to provide hope and comfort to those home alone during the lockdown.

South Florida based Papa Rosko founded and fronted the band Voodoo Possum, based in Nashville, TN, playing country covers reggae-style in the honky-tonks and BBQ joints of Music City, in dive bars and music festivals in South Florida, and even the Austin Reggae Festival, where they shared the stage with Bunny Wailer, The Skatalites and Katchafire. While this mash-up of styles is a rarity, there is actually a long history of Jamaicans’ love of country music, dating back to the ‘60s, and some dancehall artists, including Beenie Man, had hit singles in the 90s that were essentially country songs. While he enjoyed the quirkiness of playing country-reggae fusion, Papa Rosko was getting stage time and finding the right sound and players for his true passion: writing, composing, recording, and performing meaningful original songs in multiple genres that connect with the broadest of audiences.

On the album, Papa Rosko showcases his diverse range of original compositions, all with narratives that speak to the times. For example, “Tranquilo’s” Latin elements and irresistibly catchy hook make it standout. Is he singing about a woman or marijuana? You be the judge. “1984” has no shortage of thrilling moments either. According to Papa Rosko, the track was inspired by the classic George Orwell novel. “The song is focused on how close we are, and how much closer we are getting, to the dystopian reality of 1984. It’s just coming several decades later, but it’s coming. Big Brother is watching us.” On “NooZies” the message is aimed at the self-important, lazy, profit-driven news media, which Papa Rosko sums up as, “Don Henley’s ‘Dirty Laundry’ if 311 wrote and performed it (and added a hot horn section).”

On his debut album, Papa Rosko delivers a heartfelt genre-bending body of work, strongly rooted in reggae, that is timely and relevant. Papa Rosko is out October 16th.