Kai Alece & Company, the fiercely gifted, multi-talented jazz, pop and R&B singer is quickly emerging with her new single “Raise ‘Em Up”

Sometimes, a song written by a brilliant, insightful songwriter who’s been flying – and singing - way too long under the radar, rises to meet the sociopolitical moment in unimaginably provocative ways. After hundreds of gigs throughout the Southeast, performing all styles of cover songs with her band Kai Alece & Company, the fiercely gifted, multi-talented jazz, pop and R&B singer is quickly emerging with her new single “Raise ‘Em Up,” a rousing, deeply soulful anthem for our time.

With lyrics by Kai and music by the song’s producer, Derrick Waller aka Melodiak, the track powerfully captures the divisive, tension and anxiety-filled zeitgeist of 2020, while serving as a clarion call for all of us – “Sisters and brothers standing for one another” – to “get your hands up” and tap into our common humanity as a pathway to transcend our cultural, racial and political differences. She will soon be releasing a music video for “Raise ‘Em Up,” directed by Mike Michaels.

Lifted by hypnotic piano riffs and gospel-influenced vocal textures, Kai builds towards the irrepressible hook of “Raise ‘Em Up” singing rich poetic phrases that boldly assesses where we are as a country right now and what we can do individually and collectively to address it: “Change is a choice and I want you to believe/We all have a voice and sometimes we disagree/ Racism was a thing it was buried down deep/Wasn’t politically correct to put it on Front Street.” Then she offers some shards of optimism, in the hopes we will finally listen: “In this world, we’ve got all shapes, all colors and sizes/Come together, ‘cause we can’t be divided.”

Kai then bursts into the chorus with the impactful main message of the song, enhancing her call to “get your hands up, raise ‘em up” with incisive rhymes full of images from recent headlines expressing the spirit of racial injustice: “Get down on the ground, take a knee. . .raising our voices in solidarity. . .Fist up, raise ‘em up, stop police brutality.”

Taking the extraordinary step to include a total of three verses, Kai begins Verse 2 by poignantly asking us all: “Who will take a stand and demand equality/Honestly, apologies are unsatisfactory/Level-headed people know right from wrong.” As with Verse 1, she leads into the chorus with a hopeful exhortation: “In this world, we need more love, more joy, more kindness, just a smile.” Verse 3 finds the singer rooting the call for change in the need to achieve justice for victims of racism, systemic and otherwise, and their grieving loved ones: “Families crying, saying goodbye and wondering will this ever end/It’s been a long time coming/So we have to say something.”

In the spiritually empowering bridge, Kai takes us to church musically while invoking the spirit of many classic social justice anthems and what should always be the American value of freedom of speech: “Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring/Ring with the harmonies of liberty/Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies.” Complementing her prayer for solidarity, she calls for collective action with the fiery repetition of “Let us march on, are you with me?”

Over the past 20 years, The Florida based Kai has amassed an impressive resume gracing the stages of countless regional venues, wedding, corporate functions, festivals, special events and parties in the U.S. and abroad – including doing shows for U.S troops stationed in South Korea. She also released one independent album (Reason, Season or Lifetime). Though she had settled into the flow of day to day life punctuated with gigs here and there, the highly publicized acts of racial injustice and the intense protests of these past months inspired her, as she says, “to say or do something.

“For me, making music and writing felt like the best, most important and cathartic step I could take to come to terms with and address everything that’s been happening,” Kai continues. “Having three unique verses in a song is unusual, but I probably could have written six to get everything that was on my mind in there. What I was trying to do was come up with a way for people to come together. There is so much division right now, and ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ is my way of saying that we can all have our separate opinions, but we don’t have to be mean and hateful to each other. I can’t believe that anyone could look at these tragic incidents with police and not see that they are not morally right and unjust. The song is my way of saying, let’s come together in solidarity and make changes as a united people, where we don’t think in terms of the black race or the white race, but the human race.”

“Raise ‘Em Up” evolved out of an earlier collaboration between Kai and Melodiak titled “All Lives Matter,” which the two wrote several years ago for an independent film about one family’s experience with racial injustice called “Black and White.” Amid the protests that erupted in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Kai reached out to her fellow songwriter with the suggestion that they revamp the song to address the present situation, perhaps retitling it “Black Lives Matter.” As they exchanged ideas, it was clear that the moment called for a brand-new song based partly on the concept and sentiments of the original but filled with the urgency of present times.

“I knew it needed to be an anthem of sorts, something people can move to but not necessarily dance to, where they can bop their heads while singing along to the message,” Kai says. I believe this collaboration was divinely inspired because I wrote the chorus independently of hearing the music, just a melody in my head. When he sent me the music for that hook segment, my words and melody fit perfectly. I then wrote the lyrics to two other verses, and then the third when he suggested it. I hadn’t done a recording in several years, but singing the song in the studio in Orlando once we had ironed it out was like riding a bike – it all came right back and the vocal passion flowed nonstop.”

Kai is currently working on a follow-up single to “Raise ‘Em Up” - and promises a holiday track just in time for Christmas as well. “I love this song and it’s wonderful to feel that momentum again,” she says. “It’s the musical equivalent to the way people describe the wind in their hair when they’re riding a motorcycle. You just let the air, the music, blow right through you. Nothing brings me more joy than when I’m sharing a song and connecting with people. When people hear  ‘Raise ‘Em Up,” I want them to know that this divisiveness has to stop, because we’re all in this together.”

New Music Releases: Jimmy Reiter, The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums, Kutiman

Jimmy Reiter - Live

Whether from a small club stage or a large outdoor festival, the Jimmy Reiter Band is well-known for their spirited shows and sharing their passion for blues with their audiences, as is well documented on the band's upcoming album "Live", recorded in Osnabrück, Germany and Vienna, Austria. Filled with almost 80 minutes of material from their previous studio albums as well as long-time audience favorites, Reiter and his band are at the top of their game, doing what they love the most."Live" was partly recorded at the band’s annual concert in January of 2020 at the "Blue Note" club in Reiter’s hometown of Osnabrück, Germany. For the event, The Jimmy Reiter Band was augmented by special guests Dmitry Suslov (tenor sax) and Jürgen Wieching (baritone sax), adding a further dimension to these recordings. The remaining songs are taken from a show at the "Vienna Blues Spring“, broadcast on Austrian radio by ORF in 2019.

The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums - Wabi Sabi

The Japanese philosophy "Wabi Sabi" translates roughly as “find beauty and take pleasure in the imperfect”. For an ensemble like The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums that's been scattered across time zones for much of its existence this philosophy comes in handy. And as if to put them to the test, while recording in Seattle in Jan 2020 each band member came down with the worst case of the flu imaginable right in the midst of recording, often having to lie down in between takes (or was it the flu...?). Yet, the band persevered and somehow managed to record everything in three days. That is the spirit behind the band’s new single “Wabi Sabi” (out Feb 19, 2021). The track promises a forthcoming collection of new music from The Tipton's upcoming album Wabi Sabi (out April 2, 2021 on Sowiesound Records) to illustrate the sometimes unexpected beauty in our chaotic world. 

Kutiman - Surface Currents

“Music for doing things”. That’s the intention Kutiman had for Surface Currents, his forthcoming album of ambient atmospherics and modular experiments (April 2, 2021). But its beautiful sounds are deeply calming and refreshing, making this a perfect album to do nothing to as well. Composed and recorded at his home in the middle of the Negev Desert, where the solace and tranquility of his surroundings allow him to truly stretch his creativity, Kutiman’s quiet and solitary lifestyle imbues this project with an ethereal yet joyous aura. On the title track, built around a bed of piano arpeggios, Kutiman weaves other-worldly synth flutes, soothing siren sounds and subtle wooden percussion. The quiet addition of birdsong only cements the feeling of sunrise.  The low-end synth drones on “Offshore” resonate directly through your body, harmoniously complemented with harp-like keys and deep humming.  Finally, the beautiful “Coral Blossom” has the jazziest feel on this collection, as weightless piano motifs interplay with synthetic bass tones.

Swiss Music Ensemble KALI Trio Release Second Album LOOM

KALI Trio is a Swiss post-genre band. They function as a collective, with every member contributing equally to the writing and creative processes. Their original score for Thomas Imbach’s movie NEMESIS will arrive in 2021.

LOOM is the second album by KALI trio and shows the consequent development of the original style of the working band. The three Swiss musicians Nicolas Stocker (Drums), Urs Müller (E-Gitarre) und Raphael Loher (Piano) weave the various threads of their stylistic background together with relish and fresh skillfulness on their musical loom. The music, created together as an organism, is continuously charged in the four tracks and in the overall dramaturgy of the album and unfolds its rhythmic pull and its mysterious atmosphere in a subtle and inexorable manner.

LOOM consists of only four compositions, but clocks in at a few seconds short of the 45 minute mark! It’s a beast in scope, but airy (literally) in feel, hence easy to inhale. Each piece plays like the equivalent of a time-lapse of a looming cloud formation – a liquid progression of shifting shapes, changing density as well as shadow and light play. By the virtue of working with subtle iterations of form and using extended swaths of time as the equivalent of a large-scale canvas, the material evokes the mechanics of trance music. The creative use of sound design and general choice of spartan aesthetics, albeit executed using acoustic instruments, emphasize styles club-inclined and tasteful. The overall effect is cinematic and mesmeric; a sonic documentation of a daydream unraveling.

Although the music is emotionally gripping – defined by a dance-floor drive and a thick cinematic atmosphere – it’s hard not to notice the craftsmanship and the skill level involved in bringing these songs to life. The song “Folding Space,” for example, is based on a pattern in 19/8 that turns around on the offbeat against the quarter note. “Shipol,” on the other hand, is predicated on constantly shifting piano, snare and bass drum accents, which make the song feel as if it were performed in 7/16, and not the standard 4/4 that it is.

When asked to describe their music, the band came up with: “It falls somewhere between T.C. Boyle’s prose and Tarkovsky’s dream-like images.” It makes sense! Because the point is not to wow listeners with technique, but to create an experience via deep affect.

Quantic & Eddie Roberts Release "The Clock Won't Tick" Single + Announce 'Sheepskin Sessions' EP

Cross-continental musical masterminds Quantic & Eddie Roberts have released “The Clock Won’t Tick”. The track is the lead single off of a 4-track EP Sheepskin Sessions to be released on Roberts’ record label and music discovery platform Color Red later in 2021. 

Quantic (producer moniker of Will Holland) and Roberts were naturally in each other’s orbits beginning when Holland’s live band project The Quantic Soul Orchestra opened for The New Mastersounds in Brighton, UK around the time of the exhilarating funk resurgence in the early 00s. The two would stay in touch to check out each other’s performances when time would allow and eventually, would both relocate to the states. Holland would move to New York City and Roberts has resided in San Francisco, New Orleans, and eventually planted roots in Denver, CO, headquarters of Color Red. 

While routing through Colorado to perform at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, Holland and Roberts spent time at Macy Sound Studios laying the foundation for the session shortly before the completion of Color Red Studios in 2018. The initial session featured Josh Fairman (SunSquabi, Analog Son) on bass and Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation, ETHNO) on drums. Once Color Red Studios was completed, Roberts invited The New Mastersounds’ horn section of Mike Olmos on trumpet and Jason Mingledorff on saxophone to lay down some horn parts while they were in town tracking Shake It. As Holland completed his new studio build in NYC, a year later, he and Roberts linked up again to add guitar overdubs and effects. After one more trip to NYC while performing his Grant Green Tribute project Green is Beautiful, the duo brought in Chris Spies (Matador! Soul Sounds) to overdub keys and the tracks were completed. 

“The Clock Won’t Tick” is an exemplary track to introduce the collaboration between Quantic & Eddie Roberts. Not only are its physical origins the results of multiple sessions throughout the US, but you can hear an arsenal of music influences, which is to be expected in a duo with a top-tier musical pedigree and curational prowess. You’ll hear the Memphis-style horn lines and a refined wah-wah guitar solo courtesy of Roberts. As for the origin story behind the name, Roberts explains, “My old pal, singer Iain Mackenzie gave me an old 1940's clock for my 40th birthday. It worked just fine in the UK, but when I moved it to the US, it never worked again. I wrote this one afternoon starring at the clock that just wouldn't tick! The tune really reminds me of a T Rex vibe, especially when Will came up with that quirky fuzz guitar line.”

The EP’s name, Sheepskin Sessions, is a nod to both Holland and Roberts’ Welsh heritage and the common English insult for Welshmen and their love for sheep. “We definitely share the same sense of humor and taste for orange wine,” Roberts remarks.

Bill Cunliffe | "Trio"

Three veteran jazz virtuosos join forces for the first time as pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta for a high-spirited, vigorously swinging standards session titled, simply, Trio – after all, with three names like those on the marquee, no further embellishment is needed.

Trio, came together spontaneously, making the exhilarating chemistry and dynamic interplay all the more remarkable. Cunliffe has become something of a house arranger and musical director for many of the newly-launched imprint’s projects, and Patitucci and Colaiuta have quickly become part of the Le Coq family. It was at label founder/producer Piero Pata’s urging that the trio let loose in Hollywood’s storied Capitol Studios without a script.

“Piero surprised us as we were working on some other projects with him,” Patitucci recalls. “He had the idea for us to do this trio record. It was very impromptu, like in the Blue Note record era, where you basically do a record in a day. We had a lot of fun and it was really relaxed.”

“I was like a kid in a candy store,” gushes Cunliffe. “It was pretty challenging because it just three guys in a room. But it was a lot of fun, because these are two master musicians whose work I’ve loved for years.”

A GRAMMY® Award-winning arranger, Cunliffe typically embarks on a project with far more preparation. Since beginning his career as pianist and arranger with the Buddy Rich Big Band, Cunliffe has worked with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson and James Moody, while establishing himself as a renowned solo artist and bandleader with more than a dozen albums under his name. All of which made this recording a daunting but ultimately thrilling experience – in the making as much as in the listening.

“I like jazz music that has shape,” Cunliffe explains, “that has a beginning, middle and end, and drama. Usually I craft those elements in my arrangements. John and Vinnie are able to create those qualities on the spot.”

Patitucci may be best known for his long and meaningful associations with Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter, but he’s worked with a who’s who of artists in and outside of jazz. With Corea he came to prominence as a member of the pianist’s Akoustic and Elektric Bands; for the last two decades he’s been a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet alongside pianist Danilo Pérez and drummer Brian Blade, perhaps the most revered small band in jazz today. But he’s also played throughout the world with Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson, Sting, Aaron Neville, Natalie Cole, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, and many more.

Colaiuta has also bridged the worlds of jazz and pop throughout his career. He rose to fame playing with Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell and Sting, while touring with jazz greats from Herbie Hancock to Chick Corea. He’s also a prolific first-call studio drummer whose work graces recordings by Leonard Cohen, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Billy Joel and countless others.

Patitucci and Colaiuta are no strangers to one another, of course. Colaiuta is one of three drummers on the bassist’s self-titled debut album on GRP from 1987; they’ve crossed paths scores of times over the intervening decades, including as a version of Chick Corea’s Akoustic Band that recorded Live From the Blue Note Tokyo in 1996. Cunliffe has worked with both of them at various times as well, but Trio marks the first time they’ve been able to interact as a trio.

“Both John and Vinnie have spent a lot time in different aspects of the pop world,” Cunliffe says. “But they both grew up in jazz like I did. They’re both stone cold jazz guys.”

“Working with Bill Cunliffe,” Colaiuta says, “you can always expect – at the very least –amazing skill and professionalism, some deep swinging, and a big bucket of fun!”

The tone for the session is set with the trio’s sprightly take on George Shearing’s “Conception.” Introduced by a brisk solo shot by Colaiuta, the tune sparks, nimble, graceful solos from all three members, all clearly in upbeat spirits. It’s followed by a swooning version of David Raksin’s classic theme from “Laura,” a more winsomely romantic interpretation than the noir-tinged usual. 

They then delve into the repertoire of Patitucci’s longtime bosses for a steely plunge into Wayne Shorter’s “Anna Maria” and a graceful rendition of Chick Corea’s “The One Step,” on which the bassist speaks with eloquent lyricism. Colaiuta’s rifle-crack rhythm sets the pace for a blistering run through the Miles Davis favorite “7 Steps To Heaven,” while the drummer’s lush, whispering brushwork conjures a cloud-soft foundation for Cunliffe to ruminate nostalgically on the classic ballad “Good Morning Heartache.” 

The camaraderie that the three locked into so quickly and (seemingly) easily is playfully evident on their loose, celebratory spin on the well-worn standard “My Shining Hour,” while their taut link-up braces a slyly grooving rethink of Thelonious Monk’s “We See.” The album concludes on a wistful note, with a tender but lively “Just In Time.”

The mix of standards and songs familiar to the trio’s members was not only a practical consideration given the impromptu nature of the session, Cunliffe explains; it was key to capturing such brilliantly conversational playing. “Except for ‘The One Step,’ we did all of the tunes from memory, without using any music at all. That means we were able to look at each other, hear each other, challenge each other and react to each other in the moment. It felt very organic and was so much fun. Vinnie and John really lifted me and made me play better than I ever could.

Michael Wimberly Releases Part 2 of 'Afrofuturism' (ft. Joss Stone, Foday Musa Suso, Jonathan Joseph)

A few years ago Michael Wimberly, well known in the jazz world for his sterling work as a bandmate to legendary figures like Charles Gayle and Steve Coleman, visited Gambian kora master Foday Musa Suso at the home of composer Philip Glass, where he stays when he’s in New York. “Mr. Glass was working on composing something, and Foday took me one floor below and began to play the kora for me,” says Wimberly. “I could hear Mr. Glass above me, and Foday in front of me.  Needless to say, I was in heaven realizing whom I was listening to and sitting between.”  In some ways that experience offers a perfect metaphor for Afrofuturism, his first album as a leader in more than two decades, where he brings a rich variety of musical traditions together under a single roof.

There’s always been more to the game of the veteran percussionist than jazz.  His profile isn’t as high as it should be, partly due to his long-running position as a professor at Bennington College, where he was the handpicked successor of the singular Milford Graves in 2012.  He’s an inveterate collaborator who’s spent decades working in dance, theater, and film, but a fuller diapason of his artistic vision will finally become apparent with the release of Afrofuturism.

The album reaches far beyond his jazz roots—although there’s no missing the tradition’s extended harmonic language—forging a powerful amalgam of funk, West African music, R&B, gospel, and pop crafted with a kaleidoscopic range of collaborators including Musa Suso (a co-founder of Mandingo Griot Society who’s worked with Herbie Hancock and Bill Laswell), Grammy-winning singer Joss Stone, and drummer Jonathan Joseph (Jeff Beck, Weather Report). He embraces the total music vision coined by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, “ancient to the future.”

While it may be surprising that Wimberly plays mostly keyboards on Afrofuturism, the recording presents his talents as a songwriter and arranger like never before. “I’m a jazz musician, so from my perspective it’s impossible for me to separate it.  However, I wanted to package a collection of songs that represent another aspect of my creativity.” Through years of work with the Martha Graham School of Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Joffrey II Ballet, to say nothing of creating runway music for iconic fashion designer Donna Karan, he’s developed a seriously holistic conception of the arts, mastering how music both elevates and fits within time-based art.

“Working with dance, theatre, and film directors has taught me how to create music that serves the work, and most importantly, supports the emotional arc of the text or narrative,” says Wimberly. “I use the same approach while improvising. I’m supporting the soloist to help them reach a dramatic arc that they wouldn’t reach without my energy driving them. At the same time, I’m exploring and following the arc of the wave as well. It’s deep listening!” While he wrote a few of the songs years ago—“Madiba,” his homage to Nelson Mandela, was composed a few months before the South African freedom fighter died in 2013, while “Revolution” dates back to the early 1990s—most of the material is of more recent vintage, and all of the material was freshly arranged and conceived for this album.

The seeds for Afrofuturism were planted during a musical pilgrimage to Cuba Wimberly took with his friend and fellow musician and producer Mike Meurin in 2017. “We drank a lot of rum and listened to a lot of music from our archives,” recalls Wimberly. “Mike felt there was an album from some of the demos that I shared. That’s when we began to envision this as a recording project.”  Wimberly began to assemble a diverse band to bring his disparate ideas to fruition, drawing from top-shelf session players and masters of traditional African music required by his polystylistic vision.

The skittering funk of “Dance With You” blends the cascading kora lines of Musa Suso with the powerhouse singing of Stone, who convincingly takes on the mantle of griot with her earthy delivery, while the deep grooves of songs like “Radio” and “Revolution” reflect Wimberly’s love for classic radio staples like Jimi Hendrix, Prince, and Sly & the Family Stone. Other tunes tap explicitly in West African traditions. “Solie (traditional)” is percolating marvel distinguished by the liquid balafon playing of Guinean Famoro Dioubate, Wimberly’s agile djembe grooves, and the soulfully husky vocals of Missia Saran Dioubate, while “DDK Groove,” collides the funky bass lines of Trevor Allen and the limber groove of drummer Joseph with Musa Suso’s cycling kora patterns and the leader’s ecstatic djembe propulsion.

“I’m looking to use my music to reflect on legacy while envisioning a future.  Ancient to the future – forward thought with deep roots,” says Wimberly. “I’m hoping my music can drive social change, shift perceptions, and transform the way we think. That might be a tall order, but it’s worth striving for.”

FRANK CARLBERG – Charity and Love w/Electronic Music Composer Gabriel Bolaños

Brooklyn-based Red Piano Records has released Charity and Love from pianist/composer Frank Carlberg and electronic music composer Gabriel Bolaños. According to Frank and Gabriel, “the music on Charity and Love draws inspiration from Mary Lou Williams; her music, her voice, her commitment, her courage. The title track incorporates her voice slowly emerging with a message of love as the piano and the electronic processing weave ever-evolving textures. Many of the other tracks such as Mary Lou, Mary Blue, Zodiac Impressions and Mary’s Aries include fragments and cells from her Zodiac Suite as the electronics and the piano converse in real time. This project is not meant as a tribute to Mary Lou Williams, but rather a celebration of her groundbreaking career, her forward looking work, and her fearlessness.”

Gabriel José Bolaños (born in Bogotá, Colombia) is a Nicaraguan-American composer of solo, chamber, orchestral and electronic music. He frequently collaborates closely with performers and writes music that explores unusual structures and timbres. He is interested in computer-assisted-composition, auditory perception and linguistics. His recent music engages with theories of ecological listening: how our sense of hearing evolved primarily to interpret our environment. He enjoys listening to music by Harvey, Furrer, Ligeti, Grisey, Cerha, Romitelli, Messiaen, Os Mutantes, Simon Diaz, Sabicas and Bach.

The Finland-native, Brooklyn-based Frank Carlberg has an extensive catalogue of compositions including pieces for small jazz and improvisational groups, big band, orchestra, music for dance companies, and over 150 songs with settings of contemporary American poetry. He has over twenty recordings to his name as a leader and countless others as a sideman, and has worked with the likes of Kenny Wheeler, Steve Lacy and Bob Brookmeyer. He owns and operates Red Piano Records.   

Rodrigo Faina & Change Ensemble - Different Roots

Brooklyn-based Red Piano Records has released Different Roots from composer Rodrigo Faina and Change Ensemble. This recording marks a step forward in Faina´s artistic evolution, who after years of writing commissions for different soloists and ensembles, takes full artistic control and leads a brand new ensemble of twenty-three musicians that features the most prominent jazz soloists of the Dutch contemporary music scene, and some of the leading instrumental voices in Europe.

The title of the album refers to Rodrigo´s musical roots and influences, as well as his South American origin, and it is inspired by the composer´s early years in his native Argentina, where the literature of Julio Cortazar and Jorge Luis Borges, together with music, played a fundamental role in Faina’s life.

As a point of departure, to compose each piece Faina selected small fragments and short stories from three different books, The Aleph, from Jorge Luis Borges, and Julio Cortazar’s Cronopios Famas and Save Twilight. The texts were chosen not only because of their beauty and powerful evocative force, but also as a strong connection to a specific time and place in the composer's life.

Opening, the first track of the album, welcomes you into a sound-world of rare eloquence. It begins with horns resembling a distant wind, from which a lonely clarinet emerges. Gradually other woodwinds, strings and brass join in a rich display of color and lines, creating an intricate and evocative texture. A simple and expressive melody emerges bringing the piece to an end. Deep, Dark and Blue, an odd choral, eloquently combines carefully chosen instrumental voicings (from Kenny Wheeler-flavored chords to classical contemporary influenced harmonies), an ad libitum piano solo, sensitive drums and bass improvisations and richly layered brass, reeds and voice. At Night, a piece with a subtle air of Tango, aims to capture the spirit of Julio Cortazar’s Speech of The Bear, a text of immeasurable beauty that acts as a prologue of a wistful melody that takes the listener on an exciting journey. The mood changes substantially on, A Room Full of People. The impetuous improvisations of the whole group, combined with guttural orchestral textures and a solid rock groove, creates a sudden rush of energy. Celano’s eccentric and powerful guitar solo precedes an angular melody with hints of composers such as Schoenberg and Webern. Finally, as the piece fades out, the band members display a vast array of sounds and techniques. On An Installment of Time the tension fades and a new landscape emerges. A gentle pulsation, a simple motive, the woodwinds and strings quoting the melody and a deceptive rhythm in 4/4 gradually transforms into an intricate and virtuosic melodic line that serves as musical counterpart to Cortazar’s Instructions on How to Wind a Watch. Towards the end a collective improvisation, where some instructions as the first and final chords are given by the composer, brings the piece to an end with the aim to leave something magical floating in the air. If I’m To Live displays an alluring and hypnotic blend of brass and woodwinds that repeats a cycle of soft chords as a sort of a mantra, while Fanny Alofs’s voice gently soars above the ensemble, capturing the spirit of Julio Cortazar’s poem with the same title. An alternate take of Deep, Dark and Blue follows, where the saxophone section is replaced by electric guitar and clarinets, giving more weight to the brass section and therefore subtly changing the character of the piece. The album ends with Dreams, a bonus track performed by the Metropole Orkestra. The piece uses some of the same compositional techniques found on the rest of the album and exhibits a lush and richly detailed orchestration. Timbre and color take on a new dimension on this piece, giving shape and structure to the music and an overriding arc to the album.

Rodrigo Faina is a composer, guitarist and bandleader whose music often transcends conventional and outdated genre distinctions. An alchemist able to blend the techniques of new music and the traditions of jazz, Tango and other popular genres, into a lush, progressive and evocative sound-world distinctively his own.

The unpredictable and adventurous nature of his musical output places him in a particular position within the contemporary music landscape, and has earned him the respect and admiration of key figures on the international scene. At the same time, his qualities bring him in conflict with both the avant-garde and conceptualist classical composers.

Rodrigo’s music draws inspiration from literature, social inequality and abstract images, and his aim is to develop and renew musical heritage and traditions without losing the connection with the emotional, expressive and spiritual aspects of music.

He has collaborated with renowned ensembles, soloist and conductors from Europe and United States, such as Asko|Schönberg Ensemble, DoelenEnsemble, Metropole Orchestra, Zapp4, Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, David Kweksilber Big Band, Bulgaria National Radio Symphony, Platypus Ensemble, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Vince Mendoza, Etienne Siebens, Bas Wiegers and Claron McFadden, among others.

Change ensemble is a dynamic group of artists dedicated to developing and performing new work that lies outside genre specific categorizations. The ensemble is comprised of outstanding musicians with a very diverse background that ranges from contemporary classical to jazz and pop. Some of the members are regarded as the most creative performers and composers of the Dutch jazz and improvised scene, while other members perform regularly with top orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony, Ludwig Orchestra and Metropole Orkest.

The group works primarily on conceptual album-based projects with a unique instrumentation that brings a fresh sound and a new perspective to the classical and non classical traditions, and often includes other art forms such as dance, film and literature.

Michelle Sarah - No Crime

Michelle Sarah’s “No Crime” is a 60s Motown soul-inspired anthem that gives you a permission slip to feel emotions. As she cites, we are often conditioned to be ashamed of or shy about our feelings. The track is a statement that there’s no crime in being in touch with your emotions–in fact, it’s an invitation to do so. Working with producer Steve Berlin, the song was beautifully augmented with pristine horn arrangements, nostalgic guitar lines, and lush backing vocals. As a testament to the human experience and taking in all of its ebbs and flows, the third single off her forthcoming album resonates with folks from all walks of life and is a must-listen no matter where you are in your journey.

No stranger to the national music circuit, Michelle Sarah is a powerful singer and songwriter known for her explosive vocals, relentless creative energy, and dynamic blend of soul and funk. Born in Toronto and raised in Guyana and the United States, her musical foundation was forged in the church and is rooted in gospel influence that shines through during each of her performances. With her powerful voice and stunning stage presence at the forefront, Michelle Sarah has earned high praise from countless musicians and her ever-growing fan base.

Michelle moved to Denver in 2017 and quickly planted her roots. She found herself drawn to the city with a rich music scene and creative renaissance and hit the ground running to form her all-star band and take part in artist-at-large engagements at ARISE Music Festival and beyond. Both Denver and cultivating a catalog of her original music felt like exactly what she needed to be doing. After Michelle assembled the band and put took the project on the road, Berlin stepped in on the producer seat and help the group hone in on their sound and take time in the process. The album was a year in the making that Michelle did not want to rush and yearned to embrace the process every step of the way. “I wanted it to feel perfect like the best work I've done to date and I wanted to take my time making it. I feel like I accomplished that in a big way,” she reflects. 

Michelle Sarah teamed up with Color Red, the music discovery platform and record label founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds to release and distribute the album. Her soulful vocals and the high-powered band were a perfect fit for the platform’s mission to release high-quality original music on a regular basis.

“No Crime” is the third single off of a full-length album produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. The full-length album will be released later in 2021.

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal - 'Natural Born Hustler'

In an age where artists get caught up with keeping up with the times and fitting into the conversation, Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal make music for grown folks with their real, authentic songwriting. Hoyer and his musical cohorts have released ‘Natural Born Hustler,’ his fifth full-length album of timeless songs slated to last through the decades. The LP was released via Color Red, the music platform founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds.

Produced by Eddie Roberts, ‘Natural Born Hustler’ speaks to fans of early 70s funky blues, doo-wop with a modern twist, and spellbinding psychedelic soul. From start to finish, each song breathes a life of its own into the record and it is evident that Hoyer’s spirited fanbase and eclectic palette of sounds are not confined by age, upbringing, religion, creed, or differences—they are meant for anyone who seeks the medicine of music.

Heavily influenced by artists with timeless appeal, Hoyer recalls listening to classic records by The Temptations and Etta James and reflecting on what makes them shine. “I listen to records—I don’t do singles, he states, “I look for cohesiveness and something that can be listened to on a road trip.” Take a time machine to 40 years from now and ‘Natural Born Hustler’ can easily have a place on a record shelf next to those iconic albums. “Hustler” comes out of the gate swinging as a rallying cry as we face unprecedented times and uncertainty. With its commanding horn lines and swirling organs, it sounds like equal parts Charles Bradley and Baby Huey with funky, gritty vocals from the early 70s and psychedelic soul music of today. “Take Your Time” takes listeners even further back in time drenched with 60s vibes inspired by female vocal greats like Aretha Franklin with backup singers and a groove-oriented full band. “Changing” saunters between the line of 60s inspiration blended with modern soul of artists on Daptone Records.  

While striving to keep the sounds timeless, Hoyer does not shy away from topics relevant in today’s climate. “Sunday Lies” calls out the chasm between word and action when those in power corrupt their message. He observes how voter dynamic is often swayed when politicians co-opt their platforms with religious messages that inhibit people of faith to accept the truth. In contrast, “The Night” challenges listeners to let go and “let the evening become the night.” The lyrics reference taking the time to let all of life’s challenges and frustrations dissipate while the night takes you for a ride. “Automatic” exhibits enduring lyrics as a testimony of true love and its ability to make all of life’s woes evaporate when you are in the arms of your lover. 

Recording the record at Color Red studios and working with Eddie Roberts as a producer allowed Hoyer to achieve his long-time goal of translating his raw and authentic live sound into the studio format. The live show is where the band shines and the vision was met in the studio to capture the record straight-to-tape in an analog format on the studio’s Tascam 388. The relaxed studio vibe with Roberts at the helm let each song organically form how it is and fit with the band’s mentality—not stressing too much over mistakes, recording live with minimal overdubs, and letting each track breathe a life of its own into the record.

Hailing from the unlikely creative pocket of Lincoln, Nebraska, Hoyer formed Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal in 2012 as a working band to bring music for the people by the people. Known for their magnetic live performances that draw in crowds with their palpably authentic music, the raucous funk and smooth soul emanating from the stage dutifully pays homage to the past soul giants while simultaneously charging forward, piloting themselves into the modern era. Joining Hoyer (keyboards/vocals), the award-winning five-piece band features Blake DeForest (trumpet), Mike Keeling (bass), Benjamin Kushner (guitar), and Harrison ElDorado (drums). Inspired by the sounds of Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans, Philly, and San Francisco, the band continuously crosses musical boundaries both in style and era and joins forces each show with a common goal - to have the crowd dancing so much they forget even their smallest troubles.

After three full-length studio albums, including the 2016 release of Running for Love produced by Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo) and recorded at Nashville's historic Sound Emporium, Hoyer appeared as a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. With attention garnered from the show, the band embarked on their first European tour; a 27-city stint capped with a live album release from their show in Brussels, Belgium. In 2019, the band released Do It Now recorded at Silver Street in Ashland, NE and Make Believe Studios in Omaha, NE. The album drew rave reviews from European Publications such as Blues Magazine hailing, “Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal still prove to be at the top of the contemporary soul movement.” The band promoted the album on their second European tour; a 37-city outing spanning 6 different countries.

With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the music industry at large to a halt and ceasing national tours, Hoyer remained dedicated to his craft by writing more than another album’s worth of material and continuing to connect to listeners through live streams. Although ‘Natural Born Hustler’ was written before the challenges of 2020, much of the music seemed to prophesy the chaos and delivers the healing power of soul music for listeners. Currently, the band is preparing old and new material alike for the upcoming 2021 tours once they can get back to work and is poised to lift people up and bring people together with their live show. After having so much time to think about the art form in this downtime, Hoyer realizes now, more than ever, the magic and medicine of congregating with the sanctity of live music. 

‘Natural Born Hustler’ couldn’t be a more aptly titled album for a hard-working family man making music and staying true to his roots. Anyone carrying the same spirit will revel in the energetic soul shouting and vivid painting of walking through life while taking in the peaks and valleys on one’s journey. As such, ‘Natural Born Hustler’ is guaranteed to warm the ears and hearts of every person it touches.

THE DEMOCRACY! SUITE, WYNTON MARSALIS’S NEWEST WORK RECORDED LIVE BY THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA SEPTET

Wynton Marsalis has released The Democracy! Suite, the follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer’s provocative work, The Ever Fonky Lowdown, which was released in 2020. Featuring a hand-picked lineup consisting of members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Democracy! Suite will be available globally as a digital album on Blue Engine Records.

Composed by Marsalis during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis as a response to the political, social, and economic struggles facing our nation, The Democracy! Suite is a swinging and stimulating instrumental rumination on both the issues that have recently dominated our lives, as well as the beauty that could emerge from a collective effort to create a better future.

During the lockdown, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis convened to record The Democracy! Suite in The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. The piece was also recorded as a concert film that virtually “toured” performing arts centers, helping them to engage their audiences and raise revenue during what has been a difficult time for presenters and musicians alike.

Tracks such as “Out Amongst the People (For J Bat)” and “Be Present” are an impassioned reflection of turbulent times that find peerless musicians working as a harmonious community, urging us to reflect on the past and reconsider the future. "Deeper Than Dreams" is for those who lost loved ones during this time, and "That Dance We Do (That You Love Too)“ was inspired by the music and grooves heard in protests around the world.

“Jazz music is the perfect metaphor for democracy," says Marsalis. At a time when America—and indeed, the whole world—finds itself at a crossroads, he was inspired to write this poignant and buoyant work which proves that the joy and beauty of jazz can bring us all closer together.

"The question that confronts us right now as a nation is, 'Do we want to find a better way?'" Marsalis asks.

The music of The Democracy! Suite may be instrumental, but it speaks for itself, urging us onto action—to get out of our seats and fight for the world we believe in.

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. Those works include 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); and 2007’s From the Plantation to the Penitentiary which according to one reviewer, “reveals some important truth about this country with a lot of anger and heart.” In 2020, Blue Engine Records released The Ever Fonky Lowdown, 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.

Film Composer Deniz Cuylan's Guitar Focused Album No Such Thing As Free Will

The memory is distant but distinct: Deniz Cuylan, five years old, early 1980s, at home in Istanbul, Turkey, listening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on his parents' turntable. Those regal opening notes arise from nowhere and the music is instantly as real as daylight, refracting his imagination into a spectrum of unfamiliar sensations: grandeur, urgency, beauty, sorrow. Communion. 

He plays the Fifth over and over and over, perceiving the orchestra as a single instrument. It speaks to him in a language beyond words. This is it! This is the thing! The boy feels a feeling—like mystery combined with certainty—that cracks him wide open.  

Thirty-five years later, Cuylan is still chasing that feeling. The composer and multi-instrumentalist is older and wiser now but remains convinced that music is the most lucid articulation of the enduring contradictions of the human condition. 

The bulk of Free Will is built from classical guitar. This was Cuylan's very first instrument, which he learned to play at Lycée Saint-Joseph, the French high school he attended in Istanbul. Since that time his career and collaborations have taken him all over the world. He's lived and worked in Stockholm and New York City and toured the US and Europe with bands he fronted throughout the '00s. His post-jazz trio Maya played the Athens Biennale and wrote original music for fashion shows in Moscow and Dusseldorf. His electronic duo Portecho left revelers weeping on the dance floor and was hailed as a "fast rising band with a radiant future" by The New York Times. His world music ensemble Norrda comprised instrumentation from a half-dozen locales and played major festival stages across Europe and Turkey. All told he's released 10 albums spanning instrumentation, genres and continents. Cuylan's compositional genius is the common thead. 

Along the way Cuylan hosted his own freeform radio show on Istanbul's indie station Acik Radyo 94.9 for five years, worked as an editor at Turkish lifestyle magazine Bant, collaborated with illustrator Sadi Guran to publish the book/album Netame, produced a live album for Beck's sax player David Brown and composed music for megabrands like Nike, Lancome and Beats By Dre. 

In 2015 Cuylan relocated to Los Angeles to concentrate on film scoring. He's since worked on Netflix series Rise of Empires: Ottoman, the Emmy-nominated Mars Generation and El Chapo as well as Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize nominee Oh Lucy! and Janicza Bravo’s Rotterdam International Film Festival Big Screen Award nominee Lemon. In 2018 he co-wrote and scored his first feature, Av:The Hunt, one of the first Turkish movies acquired by Netflix International. That same year he and longtime partner Brian Bender began the production unit Bright and Guilty, which has been releasing cinematic, trip-hop-tinged singles on Jose James' Rainbow Blonde label. 

It was in LA that Cuylan stumbled onto the inspiration for his first solo album when he came across a Santos model classical guitar built by Pasadena-born, Paris-dwelling luthier Thomas Norwood at Guitar Salon International in Santa Monica. At first he couldn't bring himself to shell out the money for such a treasure, but eventually he decided that it was meant to be. His first studio forays with the Santos were frustrating, as if the guitar wouldn't accept his songwriting. Rather than forcing himself on it, Cuylan opened himself to the instrument, letting the Santos reveal its secrets to him. The result is a collaboration of the kind Cuylan seeks in all his projects, albeit this time with an inanimate object. 

One must clear their mind before they can fill it; "Clearing" opens the album as an aural palate cleanser. Without lyrics to guide the listener, song titles like "Purple Plains of Utopia" and "She Was Always Here" provide a sliver of narrative to these instrumental compositions, which include subtle accompaniment by Bender on cello and Cuylan himself on clarinet and piano. Closing the album, the title track packages all of the album's components into a delicately shifting finale, quiet, evocative, energizing, mesmerizing. 

And about the title? It too contains layers of depth. Cuylan explains: 

"My primary issue is heartbreak—the inherent, abstract heartbreak we all have. We're separated from something fundamental, and we're constantly disappointed in other people and in ourselves because of our separation. For religious people it might be separation from god. For secular people, separation from the womb. We feel like we're in control of our decisions, but it's actually heartbreak that compels the actions that we take in life."

No Such Thing as Free Will is perhaps an inversion o Beethoven's Fifth. It whispers where the other sings, suggesting communion with something greater rather than stating it outright. Yet somehow the feeling is there. ~ Jonathan Zwickel

Greg Skaff | "Polaris" | features Ron Carter & Albert "Tootie" Heath

Fans of Greg Skaff may know him as one of modern jazz’s premier organ jazz guitarists through his own trios with hard-grooving greats like Mike LeDonne and Pat Bianchi; or as a veteran first-call sideman, from his early years with soul-jazz titan Stanley Turrentine through decades of work with the likes of Ruth Brown, Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Orrin Evans, Matt Wilson, Ralph Peterson and countless others. 

Despite that impressive resumé, Skaff marks a career first with his new album Polaris: a trio album with a standard guitar, bass and drums line-up. There’s nothing standard about the rhythm section he enlisted for the occasion, however: he’s joined by a pair of jazz icons, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath. Due out March 19 via SMK Jazz, an imprint of Smoke Sessions Records, the album features three jazz masters delighting in each other’s creativity and ebullient sense of swing. 

“When a guitar player works with an organist in a trio,” Skaff says, “the organist is driving the bus. He’s playing the bass, a lot of the harmony and sometimes even the melody. So you're essentially playing their game. In a guitar/bass/drums trio, the guitarist has considerably more responsibility – as well as freedom. Experimenting with that format in the last few years of gigging, I learned to embrace both the freedom and the responsibility. I felt that Ron and Tootie would be simpatico with that because of how sharply they listen and their ability to move the music in different directions.” 

Of course, simply setting three gifted players in a room and letting them explore the music took on a different meaning in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic kept us all isolated for the bulk of the year. It nearly threatened the recording of Polaris, as the second of two planned studio dates fell on March 16, just as New York City was heading into lockdown. 

“Right up until the morning of the date I wasn't really sure it was going to happen,” Skaff recalls. “I kept checking in with Ron and Tootie to ask if they were still down; I definitely wasn’t going to demand that they be there. But they both wanted to do it. Tootie was in town to play the Lincoln Center memorial for his brother [legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath, who had passed away in January]. He was really down because it got canceled when they closed Lincoln Center. So he just wanted to do something.” 

Heath and Carter were both excited for the chance to play together, an opportunity that had only come once in more than 30 years, when their paths briefly crossed on the 1993 all-star session The Riverside Reunion Band. Their most extensive experience together had come early in both men’s careers, when they were enlisted as the rhythm section for pianist Bobby Timmons, setting out on a solo career following his second stint with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. 

“I was very aware of the Bobby Timmons record that they're both on,” Skaff says, referring to the trio’s sole release, 1961’s In Person. “I thought it would be really cool to play with those two guys together, especially since they hadn't worked together in such a long time.”

Skaff had been working with Carter over the last several years in the bassist’s Great Big Band, where he stepped in for Russell Malone. Those gigs provided the guitarist with insight into the veteran bassist’s approach, which spurred him to amply prepare before stepping foot into the studio. Once Carter was on board Heath was quick to accept the gig, and once the trio convened many of those preparations went out the window – but were valuable nonetheless. 

“I wanted to make sure we knew exactly what we were going to be doing at any minute,” Skaff says. “I know Ron's like that, so I didn’t want to be caught underprepared. But once we got in there, we didn't end up sticking to the details. It was really cool because they didn't just play everything the way I wrote it – in a good way. The tunes ended up being a lot different than the way I would usually play them.” 

Skaff largely focused on choosing standard repertoire for the session, wanting to minimize the amount of reading required so that spontaneity and interactivity could come to the fore. The album opens with a buoyant run through “Old Devil Moon,” driven by Carter’s vigorous walking bass and inspired by the well-known rendition from Sonny Rollins’ A Night at the Village Vanguard. It’s followed by the first of two Duke Ellington compositions on the album, “Angelica,” transformed into a New Orleans parade thanks to Heath’s high-spirited second line beat. 

Carter’s classic “Little Waltz,” first recorded on Timmons’ The Soul Man! in 1966 (with Carter, Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Cobb), comes in for two interpretations. The first was a spur of the moment decision when Heath was late for the second session, prompting Carter to suggest a duet in the tradition of his storied partnership with Jim Hall, resulting in a lovely, intimate dialogue. The trio version is equally tender, spotlighting the delicate caress of Heath’s brushwork. 

The organ tradition that Skaff knows so well is hinted at with a bristling take on Larry Young’s “Paris Eyes,” originally recorded with one of Skaff’s heroes, guitarist Grant Green. Carter’s melodic gifts are showcased on the oft-reprised ballad “Yesterdays,” where the bassist essays the melody following a lush, mood-setting solo guitar intro. 

The bassist is the honoree of Skaff’s first original, “Mr. R.C.” – a play on John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.,” a tribute to Paul Chambers, Carter’s predecessor in the Miles Davis Quintet. The leader also contribute the steely title track, named after the North Star – actually a triple star system, making the name doubly apt as both an acknowledgment of the two elders’ role as guiding lights as well as the album’s trio format. (Though Skaff is quick to humbly shrug off any designation of himself as a third “star” in this situation.) 

A rare take on Ellington’s “Lady of the Lavender Mist” is exquisite in its restrained beauty, while Carter’s “Caminando,” a regular set opener with the bassist’s current quartet, digs down into an earthy blues feel. Finally, Skaff takes an introspective solo turn on the Harold Arlen classic “Ill Wind.” 

Where the future lies for the trio is bound up in the state of uncertainty in which we all find ourselves these days. But much like its namesake star, Polaris shines the way to brighter days ahead thanks to the illuminating interplay of three brilliant artists.

New Music Releases: Gabor Szabo, Logan Richardson, Henry Robinett Quartet

Gabor Szabo - Magical Connection (Japanese paper sleeve edition)

A very groovy set from guitar genius Gabor Szabo – one that features all those cool tones and elements he'd developed on his late 60s albums for Impulse and Skye Records, given a tighter LA groove here, with almost an A&M Records vibe! There's loads of great solos throughout, played in a combo that also features Lynn Blessing on vibes, Richard Thompson and Nick DeCaro on keyboards, and Sandra Crouch on percussion – all set to some backings handled by DeCaro, who really helps shape the sound of the set! The tunes are a really nice mix of material – and while this might not be Gabor's most way-out album, it's still full of lots of his great groovy guitar – on titles that include "Love Theme From Spartacus", "Country Illusion", "Sombrero Sam", "Lady With Child", "Pretty Girl Why", "Hum A Song", "Magical Connection", and "Fred & Betty". ~ Dusty Groove

Logan Richardson - Afrofuturism

We've always loved the music of Logan Richardson, but here he's onto something completely new and groundbreaking – as you might begin to guess from the cover and title! Logan still blows alto sax, but he also handles piano and keyboards, and works in this swirling mix of sound that really lives up to what you might expect – really far-seeing future jazz – with rhythms that shift and soar, instrumentation that shimmers and glows, and a sound that's very cosmic and righteous throughout! The set also features vibes and keyboards from Peter Schlamb, guitars from Igor Osypov, bass from Dominique Sanders, and drums from Ryan Lee and Corey Fonville – set to some occasional vocals from Laura Taglialatela, and light use of strings to really give the music a sense of majesty. Titles include "Say My Nhame", "Awaken", "The Birth Of Us", "Black Wallstreet", "Farewell Goodbye", "For Alto", "According To You", "Praise Song", and "Photo Copy". ~ Dusty Groove

Henry Robinett Quartet - Jazz Standards, Volume 2: Then Again

Guitarist, composer, bandleader, and recording engineer Henry Robinett is releasing Jazz Standards, Volume 2: Then Again, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2020 release, Jazz Standards, Volume 1: Then. Known for his modern, eclectic sound that melds World music with electric jazz, the Jazz Standards sessions are a departure for Robinett. He recorded both volumes 20 years ago, during a period when he was in between albums and bands. With some rare free time, he decided to bring together a few of the top artists from Northern California for an impromptu recording session. With Robinett calling the tunes, this group of swinging improvisers recorded enough music for both albums in just two days. On Jazz Standards, Volume 2: Then Again,  Robinett’s guitar work is swinging and accessible. Rather than focusing on his considerable chops, he approaches a tune not unlike a vocalist, emphasizing the melody while adding colors through his phrasing and harmonic choices.

THE LOS SUNDOWNS (BETO MARTINEZ & DANEIL VILLARREAL) EMBODY 60’S LATIN PSYCHEDELIC SOUL ON SELF TITLED DEBUT

The Los Sundowns is a breezy record of Psychedelic Soul conceptualized by Beto Martinez(Grammy-winning Guitarist/Producer-Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, Money Chicha) and Daniel Villarreal (Drummer and DJ, Dos Santos). Written, Recorded and Produced by Martinez at his studio, Lechehouse Music, and featuring a host of friends across the 6 tracks, the reverb-laden platter conjures the sound of Latin American balladeers and crooners of the 60s, updating the vibe and transporting the listener to a beachside hang from sunup to sundown. . 

The Los Sundowns began as a concept between longtime collaborators Beto Martinez & Daniel Villarreal. Beto explains, “We discussed this idea and concept for about a year, before I finally found myself with some significant time off at the end of 2019 after heavy summer touring. I had set in motion a general plan to initiate multiple collaborations with musicians I knew and make 2020 a year of releases for me outside of my main bands. I began to demo some songs and send the ideas to Daniel and we set a date in January for him to fly down from Chicago and begin tracking these songs.” Luckily the duo was able to get the foundation laid through their initial January session in Buda, TX at Beto’s Lechehouse Music studio, before COVID-19 changed the course of the year. These sessions evolved with overdubs and final arrangements before they tapped into their talented pool of friends. 

Alex Chavez, lead singer of Dos Santos contributes to the first single “Al Final de La Tarde.” “Al Final de La Tarde” is a classic, yearning ballad, awash in reverb and sorrowful lament. It suggests the range of emotion that can be teased up while watching a beautiful sunset, from content satisfaction giving way to a lover’s remorse of what is and what could be. “Al Final de La Tarde” was written by Chilean Crooner Buddy Richard and interpreted by Los Angeles Negros, whose version The Los Sundowns adapted. Alex Chavez lends lead vocals and perfectly captures the emotion of the song. The next single to drop is “Los Angeles,” which is a breezy number encapsulating the vibe of the record and the spirit behind it. It features the haunting background vocals of Fermin Sanchez of CDMX based band The Guadaloops, and transports the listener to a quiet beach at sunset with equal parts blissful relaxation and introspective melancholy. An accompanying video will be released alongside the single 

“Darksides” was the second song written for the record. It implies a more sinister turn from the rest of the record. Driving guitars and heavy drums drive an emotional change and tides shift to more aggressive attitudes as slightly darker vibes emerge from the shadows. “Quiereme” is a classic, soulful low-rider ballad. Vocalist and drummer Alex Marrero (Brownout) sings of yearning to be loved and to have his lover by his side alongside bass from Greg Gonzalez(Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, Money Chicha). The style and instrumentation suggest an uncomplicated nostalgia, old-school Chicano Soul. The band closes the record with “Se Cae El Sol.” The final track is built on a driving and emotive bass line. The Farfisa Organ, played by Peter Stopschinski (Brownout), lends an almost classical flair to the cinematic and reverb-drenched guitar, which climbs from a haunting melody to a climactic staccato solo. 

For 20 years Beto Martinez has written and released music in the context of bands Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, and Money Chicha. Each have their unique voice and his songwriting has filtered through those collectives. Martinez concludes, “With this release, I hope to reveal another side, to showcase my myriad influences and also present a more concise depiction of my songwriting as direct from the source, unadulterated and without the inevitable filter of the larger band dynamic, or the considerations of the live environment.  The project was developed conceptually with Daniel Villarreal, who initially suggested exploring the vibes and sounds of the Latin Psychedelic Soul we both have a strong affinity for. His initial suggestions led me to write these songs and ultimately, his drumming tied the record together.” 

Los Sundowns is the first release on Martinez’s new record label Lechehouse Music (distributed by Fat Beats), and will be a quality imprint to watch for.

4 MARS: SUPER SOMALI SOUNDS FROM THE GULF OF TADJOURA

In 1977, on the eve of independence of the Republic of Djibouti, a small country on the Red Sea in East Africa, a densely packed archive was pieced together in a quiet corner of the national radio. Over the years, it became a premier but largely unknown African archive housing thousands of master reels and cassettes of the finest East African sounds.

It has endured fires and theft of invaluable recordings. Those scars linger on the delicate films of quarter-inch reels and cassette tapes. It remains one of the most expansive, well-maintained archives in Africa – but also one of the most restrictive. For decades, the archive remained off-limits to foreign entities of any kind.

In 2019, after negotiations spanning many years, Ostinato Records became the first label granted access to the grand Archives of Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti (RTD), a vault of secrets and stories—from East Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, and of course Djibouti itself.

The story of epic Somali supergroup 4 Mars, authors of one of the most popular songs on our Grammy-nominated Sweet As Broken Dates compilation, is the first chapter in our “Djibouti Archives” series because their rich globalized sound reveals a brand new history of the world.

For centuries, all roads led to this corner of Africa, not Rome. As the major transit point connecting Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean, goods, ideas, peoples, and culture were briskly exchanged. Egyptian, Turkish, Arab, Persian, Indian, and Chinese traders and tastemakers dropped anchor in Djibouti’s Gulf of Tadjoura, each arrival deliciously peppering a deeply layered sound.

Egyptian and Yemeni rhythms. Sudanese music structures. The synth melodies? Turkish-inspired. The signature off-beat licks of reggae? Depending on who you ask, they came from Jamaica’s greatest export or are simply identical to the Somali Dhaanto rhythm. The horns are courtesy of master saxophonist Mohamed Abdi Alto, first featured on our contemporary studio album, “The Dancing Devils of Djibouti” by Groupe RTD. 4 Mars was his first gig. Alto was a distant but diligent apprentice of Harlem’s jazz era. Both the flute traditions and the instrument itself were imported from China and Mongolia. The vocals? Somali singers infatuated with Bollywood.

Today, a third of world trade again passes through Djibouti’s straits and a similar mix of characters roam the streets and docks. A South African diplomat pointed to Djibouti on a map and told us, “This is the future.”

4 Mars offers a bright window into its past, when an African country was building itself from scratch. Their name—Quatre Mars in French—translates as the 4th of March (1977), the founding date of The People’s Rally for Progress, the political party in charge of Djibouti since independence. 4 Mars was the party’s band.

Young countries need unity. Djibouti’s leaders saw music, and 4 Mars especially, as the ideal soundtrack to an independent era. Almost all music was brought under the state’s wing. But this is not propaganda music. In the context of a new country, think about what “propaganda” means. You have a divided society. You need to build a national identity and instill values. Look at the track titles: Power. Compassion. Motherland. Gratitude. Hello, Peace! These are not just songs, but the nurturing of a country performed by world-class musicians.

An off-limits archive aside, 4 Mars is unknown outside the region because of its 40-member Olympic-style entourage, staffed by actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and percussionists. Only wealthy leaders like Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi brought them on tour.

At home, the once-lavish national theater, dilapidated and out of commission for years, was the center stage of 4 Mars’ legendary live shows. A new 800-seat theater built by China and training in analog music technology at Chinese universities for the young archivists at RTD offer opportunities for a revival.

Ostinato operates on the guiding principle that no physical historic recordings should leave a country and agreements with archives should be a win-win trade, not aid. Part of the deal for archival access and licensing rights included a finely refurbished Technics reel-to-reel player from the ‘70s with upgraded software to replace a worn-out model for RTD to continue their digital preservation of the entire archive in high-quality.

Compiled from master tapes and reels, all recordings were done in RTD’s studios and during live performances at the national theater between 1977 and 1994. Authorized by both RTD and The Palace of the People, which founded and oversees 4 Mars, this seminal anthology of a Goliath of a Somali group is a perspective-shifting journey through ancient trade routes and the currents of history that gave this small but grand Red Sea hub a signature music style that in every sense reveals a truer story of our world. Listen to Djibouti’s past so you can keep an eye on its promising future.

Australian ensemble Menagerie release third album 'Many Worlds' (spiritual jazz)

Freestyle Records and Willwork4funk are proud to present “Many Worlds”, the highly anticipated third album by Australian 9-piece spiritual jazz ensemble Menagerie, founded and led by Lance Ferguson (of The Bamboos).

Menagerie is the Jazz ensemble founded by Melbourne-based producer, songwriter, guitarist, radio broadcaster, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson, also the driving force behind The Bamboos, Lanu & Rare Groove Spectrum, as well as having been a member of Cookin’ On 3 Burners.

Menagerie‘s debut album “They Shall Inherit” saw the light of day in 2012 via label Tru Thoughts and established the fact that Jazz of the contemporary type could reach back to it’s essential roots and present itself, refreshed and vital for a contemporary audience.

2018 saw the release of “The Arrow Of Time” on UK label Freestyle. Inspired by both the post-Coltrane generation of the 70’s and the current ‘New Wave Of Jazz’, the album made serious waves internationally in 2018, being championed by the likes of BBC’s Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Courtney Pine and Don Letts.

It features some of Australia’a finest musicians, including pianist Mark Fitzgibbon, percussionist Javier Fredes, Phil Noy on Saxophones and Ross Irwin on Trumpet. Ferguson explains that this album “draws its inspiration conceptually from the themes of space exploration, human evolution and the future of humankind. It’s pretty big stuff to be underpinning an album of modal Jazz tunes – but the main message is one of hope, and I hope that comes across in the music…The sound of record labels like Strata East, Tribe and Black Jazz has been a massive influence on Menagerie. To me that sound is timeless, exciting and just as vibrant as a musical fomat in 2018 – and the proof is that we’re hearing more and more young musicians embracing it”.

Now 2 years on from their last full-length, Menagerie are ready to give the world some new music courtesy of Freestyle Records.

 

New Music Releases: Homero Alvarez Sep7ett, Epic 92, Tony Saunders

Homero Alvarez Sep7ett - Recycle

A seven piece group with some of the better musicians from the Swedish jazz scene. Here presenting original music in a blend of styles with lots of Latin American influences, but not only. It's up-tempo, instrumental and very melodic tunes writen by composer Homero Alvarez. The majority of the tunes has histories as compositions from earlier works in differents theatrical productions. The tunes has later on been recycled and rearranged to fit the new dynamic septet including: Homero Alvarez – guitars, Karl Olandersson - trumpet, Karin Hammar - trombone, Arnold Rodriguez - piano, Juan Patricio Mendoza – bass, Ola Bothzén – drums, and Andreas Ekstedt – percussion.

Epic 92 - Atlanta Lights

Epic 92, the cool name that producer/multi-instrumentalist/singer K-Tabbs and singer-songwriter Xanthe give their fresh, edgy and soulful male-female duo, refers to two things: the year they met and a journey filled with unbelievable setbacks and triumphs, including a Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop hit. That divinely appointed road leads now to Atlanta Lights, an album infused with deep, UK influenced vibes, a classic R&B flow, confident but subtle rock edges, laid back grooves and sensual Smooth Jazz touches. The multi-dimensional sonic magic, a tight live band aesthetic and the duo’s lush vocal harmonies lay a perfect foundation for the sensual narrative. It rolls by like a sexy and sophisticated urban romance in a city that shimmers with joy and simmers with daring possibilities. ~ smoothjazz.com

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

Adryon de León pens a powerful call-to-arms in "Ally"

The year 2020 was a powerful awakening for the world to speak out again social injustice and rise together to fight systemic racism. Using that energy as a catalyst, vocalist Adryon de León has released “Ally” via Color Red. 

“Ally” delivers a statement for the modern ages with a Motown vibe. De León reflects on the riots incited by the death of George Floyd happening two blocks from her house in Long Beach, California, and receiving messages from well-meaning friends the next morning. In response, she made the decision to stop being precious with the subject and penned “Ally” as a vehicle to process her own emotions and respond to all of them. The cathartic songwriting process invited musician friends from all walks of life and all parts of the country to contribute to the track including co-producers Max MacVeety and David Tam. De León reminds listeners that the fight for justice is not over and this iteration and uprising has only just begun. In tandem with the march-like drum beats, it is a call to arms that everyone can be an ally to the disenfranchised, vulnerable, and overlooked—Black Lives Matter.  

De León is a veteran in the modern music scene best known for her 7-year tenure with Orgōne and performing in the all-star soul ensemble Matador! Soul Sounds alongside Color Red founder Eddie Roberts as well as Alan Evans, Kim Dawson, Chris Spies, and Nate Edgar. Outside of live performances, she is a sought out session vocalist in Los Angeles working with major artists and motion pictures. She recently contributed vocals on a track on the Mank soundtrack scored by Trent Reznor and has provided background vocals for Lady Gaga, Macy Gray, and George Clinton.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, de León hosted a live stream series at her home in Long Beach, California and plans on resuming the series as soon as it is safe to do so.