Benito Gonzlez | "Sing to the World"

With propulsive pulse and Afro-Latin percussive drive, Benito Gonzalez places rhythm at the core of his exhilarating new album, Sing to the World, set for a May 14 release. All of the ten songs on his fifth album, and first released on the St. Petersburg, Russia label Rainy Days Records, combine to create a sense of wonder and enchantment as Gonzalez takes a stellar step into the future of his jazz journey. He’s assembled an impressive team of collaborators, including Christian McBride, Essiet Okon Essiet, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Nicholas Payton as well as rising stars Russian drummer Sasha Mashin, trumpeter Josh Evans and saxophonist Makar Kashitsyn.

Sing to The World is a musical exploration into the concept of freedom that recognizes the dignity of us all as individuals. Music is the most powerful tool we have to make a change in the world, uniting as one outside of cultural or religious differences. We are living in a world where all are searching for freedom because its inherently valuable role in human progress. Sing to the World is about this universal search for freedom, about being present, being aware, and trying to allow the moment to come to us. 

The title track of Sing to the World, with its harmonic invention and pianistic power, is influenced by two McCoy Tyner tunes, “Fly with the Wind” and “Song of the New World.” “McCoy played with so much energy and with such a depth of harmony. If you hear that kind of harmony, you can push the music to its limit. It’s open to infinity. That’s my concept for the whole album—play with openness and trust. That’s what I want to give to the world,” says Gonzalez.  

As for enlisting jazz powerhouses in the new album, Gonzalez says McBride and Watts embrace the rhythmic core. “They hear the way I perceive the music. They understand where I’m coming from and execute brilliantly. I like strong beats rooted in Africa which is where my father’s ancestors came from. I like it when people dance to this music. Tain and Christian come from the same place. You can hear the dance beats when they play,” says Gonzalez. "The African sensibility and relationship with the drums has usually permeated the best of jazz and American music. Benito embraces that language as part of his commitment to the spiritual, healing part of the music. As a drummer, it's really fun to play with and bounce off of, in order to get to a vibration that's vital and always in style." explains Watts. 

As for bringing Payton on board, Gonzalez says, “Nicholas is the best trumpet player today, and I thought he would be a great addition for my album giving his direction in the music,” says Gonzalez.  

Highlights on Sing to the World include Gonzalez’s dazzle of keys on “Sounds of Freedom” which he says is inspired by “the troubling situations in our world today. People are looking for freedom in places like my home Venezuela, in Russia, the U.S. People are searching, fighting for freedom,” says Gonzalez. 

Others include “Views of the Blues,” an energized outing inspired by Coltrane’s open-sound sensibility of playing the blues, and the moving, lyrical “Offering,” featuring a terrific McBride solo. “When I was seven years old in Venezuela, I played the organ at church. I was playing beautiful melodies. This song is based on that. It’s not a hymn but a reminder of the hymns I played as a kid. It’s a story. It’s my interpretation of that period in my life,” says Gonzalez. 

In addition to his slow-to-upbeat originals, Gonzalez adds to the set list two compositions that have never been recorded by their composers: Roy Hargrove’s soulful “Father” and Jeff “Tain” Watt’s beauty “412.” Benito singles out “Father” as one of his favorite songs on the album. “It’s about my personal relationship to Roy. In 2006, we attended jam sessions every Thursday night. He sat down at the piano one night and taught me the changes to this song. We played it often, but he never recorded it” he says.  

As for the Tain tune, Gonzalez learned it when the two were both teaching summer jazz camp at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC ). "Having known Benito for years, it's been a pleasure to witness both his growth, and his love and respect for the music in notes and spirit. His seriousness and focus were apparent years ago in the young man I'd chat with during trips; always friendly and seeking, never pushy. I'm proud to see him today as a bright light and leader in the music" says Watts. “I was messing around on the piano one day, and Tain gave me the chart. I’ve always loved this ballad. He’s played it on occasion but never recorded it,” says Gonzalez about “412.” 

What’s impressive about Gonzalez is that he’s not willing to sit still for too long. He’s already got future projects in mind. Recently named a Steinway & Sons artist in 2020, emerging piano talent Benito Gonzalez continues to reveals himself as an inspired and versatile artist on his fifth album, Sing to the World. 

Benito Gonzalez was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela to folk musician parents who played traditional Venezuelan music. It became embedded in their son’s rhythmic sensibility. As a youngster Gonzalez played the guitar, drums and organ at church. It wasn’t until someone gave him a cassette of John Coltrane’s Afro Blue that he discovered Tyner and decided to become a pianist. “I knew I couldn’t play like that, but I identified with him. I started studying hard. I went to college, but I quit because of the music. I practiced for endless hours—10 to 12 hours a day,” says Gonzales.

When Gonzalez moved from his hometown to the national capital Caracas, he tuned into the only local radio station for jazz and discovered the music of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett, among others. But he also plunged into his country’s unique music styles. He played with master musicians like Jose Velasquez who was the bass player for the legendary pianist Aldemaro Romero—who contributing to increased visibility of innovative Venezuelan music on the international scene with the onda nueva (new wave) rhythm derived from joropo and bossa nova. 

Gonzalez made his way to U.S. by a serendipitous route when an American cultural ambassador caught one of his trio gigs and later invited him to come to Washington, D.C. to play shows with Ghanaian master drummer Okyerema Asante that led to a recording. “After my first six months here, I decided to stay in this country to learn the music right. I was seeing shows by McCoy, Bruce Barth and Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others and falling in love with jazz on a whole new level,” Gonzalez says. 

Gonzalez went on to play with Jackie McLean in 2003, then joined Kenny Garrett’s quartet for seven years until 2013—during which time he garnered two GRAMMY®-Award band nominations for the saxophonist’s albums Seeds from the Underground and Pushing the World Away. During this time Gonzalez started recording his own albums, including Starting Point (2004) and Circles (2010), then continuing his solo career with Dream Rhapsody (2015) with Slavic flutist/vocalist Sisa Michalidesová, and the Tyner project Passion Reverence Transcendence (2018). After his stint with Garrett, he played with saxophonist Azar Lawrence’s band then in 2019 was enlisted by saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders to be his pianist/musical director.

New Music Releases: Craig Charles Trunk Of Funk, Future Bubblers 4.0, Orgone

Craig Charles Trunk Of Funk Vol 1

A smoking set of funk and soul put together by Craig Charles – once an actor, now a long-running DJ on the BBC – where his ear for a tune has made him almost as important as John Peel and Gilles Peterson! Craig's got a wide-ranging appreciation for all things funky – which comes through here, in a blend of tracks that is both classic and contemporary – rare cuts from the past, and some overlooked gems from the present – but all with a continued love of the elements that make 60s and 70s soul so great! Tracks include "Boogie Down" by Roy Ayers, "Hold My Hand" by Laneous, "Soul A Go Go" by Soul Messin Allstars, "Superfly (Sam Redmore's Trunk Of Funk edit)" by Amp Fiddler, "Medicated Goo" by PP Arnold, "African Rhythms (Trunk Of Funk edit)" by Oneness Of Juju, "Forget Me Nots (7" single mix)" by Patrice Rushen, "Beggin" by Magnus Carlson, "People Get Ready" by James Taylor Quartet, "Give Me The Night" by Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel, "Take A Shot" by The Fantastics, "Clap Hands" by Honeyfeet, "Telling You Lies" by Alex Opal, "The Only Difference" by Beatchild & The Slakedliqs, "Hangin On" by Monophonics, and "Pata Pata" by Miriam Makeba. ~ www.dustygroove.com 

Future Bubblers 4.0

Gilles Peterson presents the future of music from his very well-regarded perspective – served up here on eight tracks from some real up-and-coming talents on the London underground – working in a blend of modes that's very much in the best Brownswood Records spirit! The tracks move between contemporary soul, hip hop, jazz, and funky modes – but as with most of the work in the great Bubblers series, they tend to open new doors in sound along the way – music that's not easy to define and categorize, and we mean that in the best way possible. Titles include "Scatty Brain Dump" by Kin Kai, "If I" by HMD, "My Darling Spaceship" by Quko, "Slow One" by Forest Law, "Slow" by Kiddus, "Slow Things Down" by Iman Houssein, "NHH" by An Alien Called Harmony, and "When The Horns Come In" by Lazy H. ~ www.dustygroove.com

Orgone - Connection

Connection is the new ten song LP from Los Angeles powerhouse Orgone featuring collaborations with Cyril Neville, Kelly Finnigan, Pimps of Joytime, and more. The album is the inaugural release on 3 Palm Records, distributed by Colemine Records and Secretly Distribution. A spiritual follow up to fan favorite Bacano, Connection is gritty, lean, and tight soul and funk at its best. It explores the invisible threads that bind us all, spiritually, emotionally, and artistically. Much like the collage that adorns the cover, this hard hitting collection of songs illuminates the essence of Orgone: a musical pastiche of different vocalists, heavy riffs, vintage production, and a core rhythm section that never disappoints. The synergy created in these songs demonstrates that the whole is truly greater than the sum of all the individual parts and players. This is the tenth studio album from Orgone (they’ve previously released albums with Ubiquity, Sanachie, and Colemine Records). Other career highlights include: heavy touring with the likes of Al Green, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, and Galactic; fest appearances at Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Jam Cruise; placements on ABC’s Modern Family, film, and commercials; serving as the backing band for Grammy winning hits like Cee Lo’s “Fool For You” and songs from Alicia Keys, Jazmine Sullivan and more. ~ www.firstexperiencerecords.com

 

Steven Bernstein | "Community Music"

Steven Bernstein, the beloved virtuoso trumpeter, arranger, bandleader and composer, has announced 'Community Music,' a four volume series that presents one album every three months over the course of a year via independent record label, Royal Potato Family. Indeed, community is the essence of these recordings, made over four days in 2020 and featuring an ensemble of musicians who have been both integral to the NYC creative music scene and co-collaborators with Bernstein for the last 30 years. A superlative quartet of records each showcasing a different facet of this remarkable, one-of-a-kind maestro, the first edition, 'Tinctures In Time (Community Music, Vol. 1)' is a collection of incantatory originals, to be issued September 3, 2021; the aptly titled 'Good Time Music (Community Music, Vol. 2)' with singer Catherine Russell follows on January 7, 2022; 'Manifesto of Henry-isms (Community Music, Vol. 3)' comprised by re-imaginings of Bernstein's inspired arrangements for the brilliant New Orleans pianist Henry Butler & The Hot 9 with guests John Medeski and Arturo O’Farrill is out May 6, 2022; and 'Popular Culture (Community Music, Vol. 4),' a set of Bernstein-ian takes on The Grateful Dead, Charles Mingus, The Beatles and others, concludes the series on September 2, 2022. The 'Community Music' series is being introduced with a four song sampler out today (listen/share) across all streaming platforms. Vinyl pre-order for all four albums is also now available on Bandcamp.   

Why release four records in one year? Steven Bernstein's answer is succinct and definitive: "Because why not?" The initial spark for 'Community Music' might have come when Henry Butler passed in 2018 and then Bernstein's mother the following year.  Understandably, Bernstein began to consider his own mortality—and his musical legacy.  "I thought, 'While I'm still on the planet, I need to start documenting my arrangements,'" he says.  He won a Shifting Foundation grant (previous recipients include Bill Frisell, Craig Taborn and John Zorn) to do just that: document as many of his unrecorded and sometimes even unperformed arrangements as possible.   

The band gathered at a Brooklyn studio in January 2020.  Every day, Bernstein made sure to lay out a nice spread—a band, like an army, travels on its stomach—and the old friends would nosh and shoot the breeze for a while, then get down to work.  They'd rehearse each tune for 45 minutes or so, then do two takes with no Protools fixes, no Autotune and no overdubs.  "All the musicians are reacting to each other in real time, so you can't use any of those tricks," Bernstein says.  "So this is exactly what happened: it's the music we played."   

The 'Community Music' sessions are organic music played by gifted musicians with both solid roots in tradition and a zest for invention. "Deep down, it's the Ray Charles horns, the Duke Ellington horns," says Bernstein. One of the great achievements of these fascinating records is to catapult those quintessential sounds into the 21st century.   

It's called 'Community Music' because the musicians of the Millennial Territory Orchestra and The Hot 9 have been working with each other in various combinations for decades, with Bernstein at the center of it all.  Bernstein has known pianist Arturo O'Farrill for well over 30 years and drummer Ben Perowsky for nearly 40; he's been playing music with saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum since they were twelve years old. And he's known everyone else in the band for at least 25 years, starting when Bernstein moved from Berkeley to New York City in 1979 and soon found himself in the thick of the golden age of the downtown jazz scene, much of it centering around John Lurie & The Lounge Lizards, a band he eventually joined.   

When musicians work with each other for that long, they develop what's often called telepathy but is really trust, a key concept in Bernstein's musical philosophy.  'Community Music' might be four separate albums, but it's also just one episode of a musical conversation that's been going on for decades. "The reason all this music even exists is the honest communication we've developed over the years," Bernstein says. "And not only are these people excellent musicians, they're distinctive players.  Those arrangements are written for the specific people who are playing them, and that's why it sounds the way it does."

The 'Community Music' sessions incorporate the past into the present, making music that's a new kind of timeless. "Levon Helm's not here, and Henry Butler's not here, and Hal Willner's not here, and Roswell Rudd's not here, and Lou Reed's not here," says Bernstein.  "So I'm carrying forward all the stuff I learned from them—but through me, the way I look at it.  Hal used to say, as our favorite musicians were passing, 'It's up to us now — we need to make the music with the same intent as our heroes.  We have to be our own heroes now.'"   

The Millennial Territory Orchestra community are heroes in that sense but also in the way they've come together to make this essentially joyous music even in the face of misfortune.  It's the spirit of the New Orleans second line, alchemizing sorrow into a celebration of life.  "These records really aren't all about my loss," Bernstein says, "but that's also what's bonded this community in an even stronger way because those experiences have given us an even greater awareness of how sacred life is.  You hear that in all of this music, whether it's a happy song or a sad song, you can hear the reverence we all have for life.  We don't take these opportunities to play music together lightly."  And you can hear that loud and clear on every note of every tune of the four volume 'Community Music' series.  Listen and be uplifted.

Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble

Everyone's got a "we made an album during the pandemic" story, but how many bands did it between Finland, Benin and Portugal while also teaching far-flung band members how to use the technology on the fly?

In 2009 Finnish guitarist Janne Halonen travelled to Benin, West Africa, to study the rhythms of Voodoo. He became friends with a master percussionist/singer, Noël Saïzonou, and the idea of a band planted. In the planning for their 5th album, neither of them thought Helsinki-based Janne would ever be spending long hours teaching Benin-based Noël how to use entirely unfamiliar recording software by sharing his screen over Zoom, but you know... pandemic.

Get ready for a mix West African Voodoo traditions, Afrobeat, Jazz, Soul, and conscious Hip-Hop, with all songs being sung in Saïzonou’s native Goun language. HCE5 drops May 21 2021 and we've got a sneak peek single for you, “Min He Mon Ébgé – The One Who Sees Today” (available across all streaming platforms worldwide on May 7th, 2021). The single, which will also be the first track on the new album, imparts the message that it’s important to take care of one’s craft and general well-being, since nobody knows what tomorrow brings. 

Contemporary jazz saxophonist Matt Willard discovers a tropical sound in an unlikely locale: Nashville

While Nashville is primarily known as a launch pad for country music careers, Music City also has a burgeoning jazz scene. Trekking south from his Virginia home, saxophonist Matt Willard entered a Nashville recording studio with some of the city’s finest contemporary jazz musicians to record his debut single, “Por la Orrilla del Mar.” Willard wrote the single that just dropped on the Creative Soul Jazz imprint and produced it with the label’s Eric Copeland and Sunset Blvd. Studio’s Steve Dady. The exotic track showcasing the tenor saxman’s impassioned play is the first in a series of singles and accompanying videos that will precede Willard’s first album that is expected to drop by the end of the year.

A staccato Latin rhythm constructed by drummer Steve Brewster and bassist Jacob Lowery is the pedestal for the lush melodies of “Por la Orrilla del Mar.” Guitarist Dave Cleveland adds to the harmony while keyboardist Jason Webb shines when trading solos with Willard, who’s deft saxplay runs the gamut of emotion: from intense, raw and emotional to restrained, poised and harnessed. A horn section underscores and illumines Willard’s saxophone excursions.

Willard struggled to come up with a title for the single that has Caribbean nuances and conjures up soothing beach scenes. He felt it needed a Spanish title, but since he doesn’t speak the language, he turned to family members for help.

“After spending many hours trying to come up with the perfect song title, the idea to ask my uncle popped into my head. He speaks fluent Spanish along with many other languages. I sent him the track, and he and my aunt picked up on the Latin feel to the song, and ultimately, they came up with ‘Por la Orrilla Del Mar.’ It means ‘by the sea shore.’”  

Willard’s soulful and inspired sound meshes perfectly with the ethos of Copeland’s label. Creative Soul Jazz is a purveyor of improvisational jazz that they describe as “different and has spiritual roots.”

“As a label and production company, our mission is to use our God-given talents to show the beauty, the intensity, the passion and the spiritual effect of jazz. Our souls are rooted firmly in the freedom and pure art form of jazz,” said Copeland.                            

Willard began playing baritone sax in sixth grade and switched to tenor after graduating high school. Having played in jazz ensembles as well as his school’s marching band, he landed professional gigs playing at restaurants, special events and weddings. Willard tested the waters by issuing several recording projects locally, but teaming up with Dady, Copeland and Creative Soul Jazz is about taking his craft to the national level. “Por la Orrilla del Mar” offers a promising glimpse of what’s to come from this artist.   

Willard said, “I had a blast recording in Nashville and cannot wait to see everyone’s reaction to the music as we release it. I hope that these songs touch as many lives as possible like they did mine when writing them. I am truly blessed to have a great team working with me to write and produce this record. Collaborating with Nashville session players is an amazing experience. The entire production team has knocked it out of the park. The album is going to be great!”

The Society Hill Orchestra - Butch Ingram Presents Philly Classics, Vol. 3

Modernizing the classic Philly soul sound while still retaining that old school feel is a difficult feat, especially when dealing with classic hits that represent in many ways the evolution of the music - so who better to deal with this task than legendary producer Butch Ingram who has dedicated his career to keeping the sound of Philly soul music alive for the past several decades. Utilizing the Society Hill Orchestra and his band of brothers for backing, that task is made easier with the help of many of the relatively new artists now responsible for keeping the sound fresh such as saxophonist Benny Barksdale, Jr., guitarist Gary Nelson and the superb vocal group TRU. Add to the mix Philly soul veterans Vicki Austin, Carla Benson, The Illusions and The Fabulous Ebonys (reprising their hit "Do You Like The Way I Love You") performing songs by such classic artists as The Stylistics, The O'Jays, Lou Rawls, MFSB, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Melba Moore, David Ruffin, The Spinners and The Ethics to create an impressive balance that lends an air of legitimacy to the proceedings and serves to make these classics come alive with the same spirit as when they were originally recorded. Kudos are due to the Butch’s crew for a job well done. Thanks to their efforts, the classic sound of Philly soul music is very much relevant and will continue to evolve with the passage of time - while simultaneously staying true to its roots.

Veronica Swift | "This Bitter Earth"

Veronica Swift flips the script on This Bitter Earth, the captivating follow-up to her 2019 Mack Avenue Records debut, Confessions. Whereas Confessions played out like pages from her personal diary, on the new album, the 26-year-old singer and master song interpreter looks outward while addressing social ills that plague the world today.

This Bitter Earth, available now on Mack Avenue Records, takes on the song-cycle characteristics of such classic LPs as Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love, and Mary J. Blige’s My Life. For her album, Swift tackles sexism [“How Lovely to Be a Woman”], domestic abuse [“He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)”], racism/ xenophobia [“You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught”] and the dangers of fake news [“The Sports Page”].

Accompanied by a team of kindred spirts that includes pianist Emmet Cohen, guitarist Armand Hirsch. and flutist Aaron Johnson, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Bryan Carter, Swift curates material that covers multiple genres, including jazz, American musicals, vintage R&B and contemporary rock.

“I’ve been waiting to do this album for years,” Swift says before explaining that she usually conceives her albums far in advance. She recorded much of the material in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic forced the world into a near total standstill. But the time allowed her to live with songs at different parts of her life. Eventually, she recognized the connective tissue between them. The big challenge, however, was crafting a cohesive narrative. 

Swift delves into a dramatic yet sardonic makeover of “How Lovely to Be a Woman,” a Charles Strouse and Lee Adams tune from the 1960 musical, Bye Bye Birdie. “As I’m coming into the world, having more of a feeling of who I am and being more confident in that, I realize now how this song had a lot more ambiguity and cynicism involved,” Swift says. “I tried to make an arrangement that maintained the childlike feel I had while listening to it but still insert some of that sarcasm in it. The song also allows me to present more of my humorous side.”

Themes of abuse appears with Swift’s cover of the Crystals’ 1962 provocative R&B tune “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss).” “This song just makes your stomach curdle,” Swift says. “It’s uncomfortable to sing; it’s uncomfortable to listen. But the original version by the Crystals is so the opposite; it’s so indicative of the 1960s victim woman who stays with the man who physically assaults her. I’ve never heard a version of this song that had gone the other way in terms of making it a somber piece. I wanted to give listeners another option in listening to this song. So, I stripped away all the other instruments and chord progressions and just made it me and guitar. I arranged it to sound almost singer-songwriterly.”

“You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” comes from a musical – 1949’s South Pacific. The envelope-pushing, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II-penned song illustrates how racism and xenophobia are learned behaviors, often projected onto children during their early development. “I was always perplexed at how such a deep and dark subject matter in South Pacific was sung so upbeat,” Swift recalls. “I think it was written intentionally to not sit well with the audience. I wanted to come up with an arrangement that’s very antsy and mad. So, I put a little bit of that rock beat on the chorus and sing angrily. To me, it sounds like what the song was meant to be.”

The album switches gears with Swift’s cunning version of Dave Frishberg’s socially conscious song “The Sports Page.” She uses the song’s topical lyrics to invoke the prevalence of fake news during President Trump’s administration. “It is amazing how a song written in the late 1960s is still relevant, and its brilliance is that it doesn’t target a specific demographic,” Swift says.

“I want this album to have two separate approaches,” she explains. “I wanted to start with women’s place in society now and how it’s changing. During the second half, I wanted to address other ailments in the world, whether it’s racism or fake news. But I don’t take any political stances. I’m very clear with my audience that as an artist I address certain issues as an outsider looking in.”

Now with This Bitter Earth, her second Mack Avenue Records album, Swift’s ascendance as a 21st century jazz torchbearer continues.

New Music Releases: Wadada Leo Smith / Douglas Ewart / Mike Reed, A-P Connection, Urban Underground

Wadada Leo Smith / Douglas Ewart / Mike Reed - Sun Beans of Shimmering Light

Three giants of the Chicago improvised scene, coming together here in an album that recalls the best early recordings from the AACM! There's this open, collaborative spirit going on here – music that moves between structure and freedom, and which stands as a testament to the instant rapport between all three players – trumpet from Wadada Leo Smith, reeds from Douglas Ewart, and drums and percussion from Mike Reed – the last of whom often seems to let his elders set the tone, then find a way to make his own special contributions – at that level that continues to make Reed such a vital part of any group he engages with. Had Delmark issued this album in 1971, it would have gone on to become a classic – but it's an even greater feather in the cap of Astral Spirits – who do a great job here with presentation. Titles include "Super Moon Rising", "Unknown Forces", "Dark Tango", "Constellations & Conjunctional Spaces", and "Sun Beans Of Shimmering Light" www.dustygroove.com

A-P Connection – Wide Vision

A-P Connection is an autoproduced French Funk music duo founded in 2012 in Reims. Growing up, Antoine Perez and Pierre Bonnet were mostly influenced by the funk and disco music of the 70’s and 80’s. It was obvious that playing music would become part of their lives. At the early beginning they played only guitar and bass, yet this quickly evolved into a wider variety of instruments allowing them to create their own compositions. Wide Vision reflects the versatility of our soul and music. Many very talented artists have joined us to make this new opus an exceptional blend of music. ​16 new songs featuring amazing vocalists : Adam Chini, Ava Baya, Chuck New, Denise L. Wilkinson (from Ladies of SKYY), Howard Johnson, Heather Haywood (From The Cool Notes), Joyce Sims, Junior, Matthew Clanton, Nate Williams, Ryan Konline. ​Amazing musicians : Horn House (Tom Walsh & Nichol Thomson), JEMMA, Maya Killtron, Hoodie Boy, and Lucia Sarmiento. www.firstexperiencerecords.com

Urban Underground - World Peace

So sonically intricate, expansive and innovative a concept in collective contemporary music production that its name is trademarked, Urban Underground® - masterminded and led by visionary Bay Area composer, bassist and producer Keith “KDubbs” Williams – offers a multi-faceted (electronic pop, chill hip-hop, urban and acid jazz) contemporary equivalent to classic big tent entities like Parliament and CTI Records. Their latest collection WORLD PEACE makes its case for global harmony through 20 adventurous tracks alternately filled with lush, sultry atmospheres, danceable funk, grittier grooves and infectious melodies and raps – all designed to showcase not simply Williams’ inspired genius but also the artistry of other regional urban music influencers. These include rapper Philasifer, smooth jazz group XPresshunz, funk keyboardist Mark “DreyKeyz” Brown, R&B vocalist Quimby and the dance/pop/chillout ensemble B KDragon. www.smoothjazz.com

Alex Puddu – Love After Dark

Recording artist Alex Puddu, well-known especially for his discosex-funk soundtrack trilogy The Golden Age of Danish Pornography and for his music collaborations with artists such as Joe Bataan, Lonnie Jordan (War), and Gene Robinson Jr.(Breakwater) is ready with his 12th album Love After Dark.

Exploring the nightlife of 1977-79 and early 80s of disco, jazzfunk, and adult oriented soul and pop music. A set of songs written, arranged and produced by Alex Puddu and recorded in South Florida together with a local team of talented session musicians. Love After Dark is definately a step-up from Alex’s latest work Discotheque not only for further improving the sound with a great production and accurate arrangements, but also for developing and re-inventing himself as the strong songwriter he is, not only musically but also lyrically. Songs like ”Shadow Dancer”, ”Lady Tonight”, ”Body Heat”, ”Catch The Wave or Die”, ”Strangers on the Beach” and ”The Long Road” are proof of that.

The album was recorded In South Florida at DogManic Recording Studio, Enginereed by Jason ”Jedi ”Sedawie and mixed in Germany by Rob Hardt (well known from the nu disco-boogie producer team Cool Million) and Kamilo Kratc in New York City. The singles from the forthcoming album – ”Shadow Dancer”, ”Body Heat”, ”Only For Men”, ”Adult Games” and ”Lady Tonight” – have already had a major impact at UK soul radio stations.

Texas-based Duo Balmorhea Draws Inspiration from Isolation on "The Wind" on Deutsche Grammophon

Copious creative influences run through Balmorhea's Deutsche Grammophon debut album. The Wind comprises a dozen tracks inspired by meditations on the natural world and its fragility, an ancient tale of a saint who carried the wind to an airless French valley, and thoughts of climate activist Greta Thunberg crossing the Atlantic on the catamaran La Vagabonde. 

The Wind marks both a return to Balmorhea's original set-up and a new beginning for the Texas-based duo of Rob Lowe and Michael A. Muller. Addressing their concerns for the way in which climate change is continuing unabated, and reflecting the solace that so many people are now finding in connecting with the natural environment, the album is a timely reflection on the need to cherish and protect our planet. It charts a journey through an evocative soundscape touched by echoes of prayer flags flapping in a Himalayan breeze, an old harmonium, pipe organ, a trio of double basses, wind chimes and beguiling guitar and piano instrumentals. 

The Wind was recorded in the iconic Saal 3 of Berlin's Funkhaus, musical home to Lowe and Muller's multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer friend Nils Frahm and co-produced by Jonathan Low; a Grammy-winning engineer and producer known for his recent work on projects with Taylor Swift, Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion. On "Rose in Abstract", which features both Balmorhea musicians on piano for the first time, they used Frahm's pipe organ to fill out the intro, later adding breadth and colour with the help of horn player Morris Kliphuis (stargaze collective), cellist Clarice Jensen and singer Lisa Morgenstern.

Balmorhea (pronounced "Bal-more-ray") began life in 2006 when Lowe and Muller met and made music at a summer camp in the remote Texas Hill Country. The two friends continued experimenting and exploring after they returned to their homes in Austin, and combined complex layers of guitar and piano sounds in ways that appeared to mirror the majestic mountains and rugged scenery of their home state. The group gradually evolved into a larger ensemble and toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Following an intense five-year period on the road and the decision of some of the band's members to relocate outside of Texas, Balmorhea's two founders took advantage of a break from touring to improvise and experiment together once more. The Wind and their collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon grew from there.

True Loves, the star-studded instrumental soul outfit out of Seattle releases "Yard Byrds"

True Loves, the star-studded instrumental soul outfit out of Seattle has released "Yard Byrds," the fourth single off their forthcoming record 'Sunday Afternoon' via Color Red. 

“Yard Byrds” holds a slow and steady groove with a majestic melody on top. The tune was co-written by trombonist Greg Kramer and bassist Bryant Moore with the intent to write a classic using just four chords, a descending bass line, and a repeating 8th note pattern a la Dr. Dre with a stately melody riding on top. The icing on the cake was a countermelody played by the woodwind section of Gordon Brown on flute/tenor sax and Skerik on baritone saxophone. The new single is a nice contrast from their high-energy, fast tempo bangers, and allows both the group and their listeners to have a moment and breathe. Close your eyes for this one and take it all in. 

The group's upcoming sophomore LP 'Sunday Afternoon' is as sweet and carefree as the imagery provoked by its very title. It provides a soundtrack for a block party that summons the entire neighborhood. From the zealous, up-tempo opening track “S.O.S” to the swagger-filled fanfare title track, you’ll find yourself wandering down a familiar road, noticing the scenery while relishing in curiosity. While every track can stand alone on the airwaves, ‘Sunday Afternoon’ as a whole is a direct reflection of a band comprised of seasoned musicians, all forces to be reckoned with, but larger than life when together. True Loves are: Jason Cressey (Odesza/Monophonics/Polyrhythmics) on trombone, Greg Kramer (Macklemore) on trombone, Gordon Brown on tenor sax, Skerik (Mike Clark/Fred Wesley/Charlie Hunter/Garage a Trois) on baritone sax,  Jimmy James (Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio) on guitar, Bryant Moore on bass, David McGraw (Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio) on drums, and Iván Galvaz on percussion.

Record Store Day Exclusive - Ella In Berlin

"Ella In Berlin" will be in record stores starting June 12 as part of Record Store Day Drops!

Original Grooves showcases the vinyl cutting technique known as “parallel grooves”, where tracks are cut side-by-side instead of one after another, allowing for a different aural experience depending on where the needle is dropped.

Ella regularly performed “Mack the Knife”, popularized by Bobby Darin and Louis Armstrong, as well as George Gershwin’s “Summertime”, both of which were included in the recently discovered, recently released “Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes” live recording from 1962. We’ve paired these two cuts with their 1960 counterparts from the Grammy-award winning live album “Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife”.

Grab this limited edition release and be transported back to Berlin in 1960.  Or…1962.  You won’t know what you’ll hear until the needle drops!

New Music Releases: Gizelle Smith, Guillaume Metenier's Soul Sugar, The Brothers Nylon

Gizelle Smith - Better Remember / Miss World

Gizelle Smith returns with a dramatic double A-side single “Better Remember” / “Miss World” from her upcoming album Revealing, due for release on May 28th on Jalapeno Records. These two songs open an aggressive socio-cultural dialogue, inviting the listener to evaluate their stance on global and social issues in two very different and intriguing soundscapes. The 'Golden Girl of Funk' the title this multi-talented songstress quickly earned after she stormed from obscurity almost 8 years ago. Born to a Seychellois mother and an American father who was a guitarist and band leader for legendary Motown group ‘The Four Tops’, Gizelle was raised in Manchester, UK with a multicultural upbringing steeped in soulful music from the very beginning.

Guillaume Metenier's Soul Sugar - Cool Down feat. Blundetto

To celebrate the forthcoming release of their new album, Excursions in Soul, Reggae, Funk & Dub, Paris-based musician Guillaume Metenier’s collective project Soul Sugar offers up brand-new, digital-only single, “Cool Down feat. Booker Gee & Blundetto”. Co-produced by Metenier with fellow French artists Blundetto and Blackjoy, the track is a sun-kissed slab of 21st century dub built around a typically weighty rhythm and joyous, afternoon-bright instrumentation. Underpinned by hazy bass, authentically shuffling reggae-style drums and echoing effects, “Cool Down” boasts some superb guitar licks courtesy of Blundetto, as well as inspired synthesizer and organ motifs provided by Metenier under his now familiar Booker Gee alias. “Cool Down”  is one of a handful of previously unheard tracks on Excursions in Soul, Reggae, Funk & Dub, the fourth album by Soul Sugar. The set gathers together previously released but now hard-to-find tracks that the collective has released on different formats over the last few years, including inspired reggae cover versions of Luther Vandross favorite “Never Too Much” and Marvin Gaye classic “I Want You”. It will be released by Gee Recordings later this Spring.

The Brothers Nylon - Three Ears

The Brothers Nylon consists of twin brothers Michael and Nick Rufolo from Long Island, New York. The Rufolo brothers are multi-instrumentalists who play around with all kinds of analogue equipment. Nick plays drums, keys, strings, horns, percussion and contributes vocals, while Mick plays bass and deals with whatever aspect happens on the mixing console. But what makes this project so special is its unique sound, shaped and brought to life with plentiful musical ingredients fished from the shelf. Their creativity knows no limitations and allows for lofi beats as well as funk & soul, breaks, library music and Zappa-esque psych-rock adventures. The result is a superb mixture of semi-famous riffs, library music, dirty funk tracks, obscure records for inducted vinyl nerds and flea market diggers. Perhaps the best description is “multi instrumental big band multitrack madness”. Their debut album “Bitches Cold Brew” was initially shaped in New York by the brothers Rufolo, then sent across the ocean to Shawn Lee to be developed and enriched, then back to New York and so on and so forth. If there are bonus miles for e-mails, this intercontinental collaboration has certainly entitled to the golden membership! Various singles have appeared on a variety of labels, they have collaborated with the artists such as the aforementioned Shawn Lee and renowned singer Georgia Anne Muldrow and their latest effort sees them team up with German label Golden Rules for a new upcoming compilation.

UTOPIC CITIES: Progressive Jazz in Belgium 1968-1979

On the 11th June, independent groove label Sdban Records will release ‘Utopic Cities: Progressive Jazz in Belgium 1968-1979’ featuring an eclectic selection of forward-thinking jazz from the Belgian underground, including the left-field fusion of Marc Moulin’s Placebo, Koen De Bruyne and Solis Lacus; the intense post-bop of Jacques Pelzer and Lou MacConnell; the cutting edge soul jazz of Philip Catherine and Open Sky Unit and the otherworldly avant-garde of Babs Robert and the Brussels Art Quintet.

Recorded in the aftermath of the revolutionary year 1968, this music is the fruit of a highly creative momentum in Belgian jazz history that produced a unique sound which distinguishes itself from its American source of inspiration by an indefinable characteristic that can be hardly better described than ‘Belgian’. The release follows Sdban’s critically acclaimed ‘Let’s Get Swinging: Modern Jazz in Belgium 1950-1970’, released back in 2017.

Often considered a dark period for Belgian jazz, the sixties in general saw worldwide interest in the genre fade, with the country’s local scene crumbling little by little. The largest jazz association and concert organization, the Hot Club de Belgique, had ceased operations in 1961. The festival of Comblain-la-Tour, once dubbed ‘the European Capital of Jazz’, had followed in 1966. Saxophonist Bobby Jaspar, Belgium’s leading modernist, had passed away prematurely in New York in 1963. Many other musicians of the golden generation that emerged after World War II, like Toots Thielemans, Francy Boland or Christian Kellens, had long since moved abroad to pursue careers in jazz (see also Let’s Get Swinging: Modern Jazz in Belgium 1950-1970). Those who stayed behind were often obliged to work in the field of commercial music or even take up jobs outside of music. Jacques Pelzer, for example, spent his days running a pharmacy, while Jack Sels unloaded boats in the Antwerp harbor. Most of the jazz clubs fought a continuous struggle to survive, while others catered to fans of blues and traditional jazz in order to secure their existence. It wasn’t until the rise of a new generation of free-thinking musicians at the turn of the decade that the Belgian jazz scene got its second wind…..

Clark : Playground in a Lake

Multifaceted musician and composer Clark presents his chillingly affecting ninth studio album Playground In A Lake, on which he broadens horizons and tries new things, with profound results. An intriguingly suggestive title, esoteric concept(s) and disparately unusual but cohesively fused components are chiselled into an effective, concise and painstakingly curated whole. Released as a single on 26 January, "Small" will offer a first glimpse into Clark's playground. Soloist Nathaniel Timoney delivers a grim message with an angelic ring and a haunting hook on one of the few vocal tracks of the album.

With its orchestral tropes and release on Deutsche Grammophon, Playground In A Lake may seem a departure to the casual observer, but is in fact a more illuminated development of clues from past releases. Seeds planted in Kiri Variations' bucolic noir, the piano vignettes from Clarence Park, the folky wonder of Iradelphic, the strings on Body Riddle and Clark's skewed symphonic rework of Max Richter's Path 5 have all grown in prominence and vivid detail. 

"I've always wanted to record strings, but feel there's this baggage with classical music. Even though I've taught myself how to read and write sheet music, I'm not putting that genre, or any other genre, on a silver platter. I'm not from an institutionalised contingent who deem a narrow range of instruments ‘the real stuff' and everything else worthless commercial pop. I take what I admire from that world and then move on. I'm just using it as another colour.

"So, I started thinking about my favourite kind of string arrangements, like Scott Walker records, where they exist amongst contrasting elements. Then I started to approach the album from a dark folk place, also with this heavy 70s synth element. Then came the improvisation of musique concrète, and some of my favourite modern classical and sound design obsessions, and then it clicked," proclaims Clark. 

Although not sounding obviously similar, influences lurk in fibre and foundation on a subconscious, behind-the-scenes level. Bernards Herrmann and Parmegiani, Popul Vuh, Ian Curtis and Dungen all haunt the long-player in spirit. 

More pronounced than the influence of other musicians though, are two philosophical tomes: Eugene Thacker's exploration into pessimism, existence and extinction, Infinite Resignation, and Ernest Becker's The Denial Of Death which, explains Clark, discusses "the potency and feeling of immortality that symbols / art / music give us, and the mortal reality of our bodies in entropy". 

"What is Playground In A Lake? Broadly a story about real climate change, but told in mythological terms. It's about the last human on earth, the betrayal of an innocent child and becoming a grown‑up; growing a shell over our lost young selves. It's the playground we bury and a drowned planet; an extinction myth," states Clark, adding: 

"It can be many things: the nuclear fallout covered by a toxic flood, a buried utopia, or buried memories. Buried creative tools and writer's block – you have to dive deep to get to the good stuff. The lake is still and serene – so beautiful you want to swim across it and yes, it's calm on one level, but sinister on another. There's a seductive numbness to it. A deathly placid chilI." 

With climate crisis looming large, PIAL carries the weight of the world, but rather than hopeless lamentation, it turns the impending doom into captivating sounds. Dark engrossing scenes are heavy with dread, rich in malevolent atmosphere and as gripping as horror fables. However, at points it also radiates a strangely warm, afflicted type of tranquillity: "It's about sublimating disturbing scenarios through aesthetics. It's music through various stages of controlled degeneration. I was aiming for decay made beautiful, so you can experience the abject without having to actually experience it," notes Clark. 

The album was recorded with string ensembles in Budapest and Berlin, featuring Oliver Coates on cello, Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear on clarinet, Manchester Collective's Rakhi Singh on violin, AFRODEUTSCHE and Kieran Brunt on backing vocals and 130701 signee Yair Elazar Glotman on double bass. Also appearing here is 12-year-old choirboy Nathaniel Timoney, whose vocal recordings were directed via Zoom during lockdown. As well as scoring the guests' parts, Clark himself sings and plays Disklavier, piano, synths and cello, often manipulating things electronically. 

In October 2020 Clark released the expanded edition of his acclaimed score to Adam Egypt Mortimer's psychological horror Daniel Isn't Real on Deutsche Grammophon – the album made Best Of 2020 lists in Mojo and Electronic Sound, and came with a Thom Yorke remix. 

In 2019 Clark released Kiri Variations on his own label Throttle Records, an album which started life as the score to the BAFTA-nominated TV drama Kiri. Always moving, that same year he went back to basics and dropped a double A-side 12" of techno rave bangers called "Branding Problem" and "Legacy Pet", also on Throttle. 

In 2018 Clark headlined Bach Evolution at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall, playing a specially commissioned set that reinvented Bach's work, accompanied by Oliver Coates. He released a double A-side of medieval futurism called "E.C.S.T. T.R.A.X." on Throttle, and also performed a live score accompaniment to Stan Brakhage's short film series "Dog Star Man" during Max Richter's Sounds and Visions weekend at the Barbican.

The Bronx River Arts Center (BRAC) Presents: Bronx River Sounds 2021 – Streams of Black Music (May 22- June 19, 2021)

Bronx River Arts Center (BRAC) is pleased to present “Streams of Black Music”, a concert series honoring Black Music Month during June 2021. With a NYC Council Initiative grant called, “Community Theatres of Color”, BRAC has been able to expand its performing arts productions into its new “Black Box” Event Space with renewed vigor. This year’s Bronx River Sounds festival will feature African American composers and performers from a range of musical styles including legendary jazz guitarist and Bronx resident, Ed Cherry (Dizzy Gillespie) and veteran guitarist, bassist, vocalist Jerome Harris (Sonny Rollins, Jack DeJohnette), as well as emerging artist, trumpeter Wayne Tucker and his funk/soul/jazz band the Bad Mothas. Energetic, young pianist/composer/drummer Anton Kot will bring a quartet of like-minded firebrands to play his original modern jazz compositions. Keyboardist Gino Cashie will perform with his gospel group Global Praise and Deliverance, and Alegba and Friends will perform their infectious groovy blend of African World Fusion music. The series kicks off on May 22 in conjunction with a photography exhibition “Honoring Black Lives Matter” and a special performance by “Sounds of the Movement” - a concert performed by Black and Brown artists showcasing voices from the Black Lives Matter protests whose mission is to amplify the messages of The Movement for Black lives while creating a platform and opportunity for marginalized artists who also dedicate their time and talent to activism. 'Sounds of The Movement' is a collaborative community effort by activists, organizers and members of the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly the Black Trans lives matter faction. BRAC is delighted to host Sound of The Movement's first performance with a live audience, following their successful debut screening in April (The debut stream is still available at www.soundsofthemovement.com)

Bronx River Sounds 2021 Lineup:

May 22, 7-8:15 PM: Sounds of the Movement & Honoring Black Lives Matter Photography Exhibition

June 5, 4-5:15 PM: Anton Kot and Friends

June 5, 7-8:15 PM: Ed Cherry Trio 

June 12, 4-5:15 PM: Global Praise and Deliverance

June 12, 7-8:15 PM: Alegba and Friends 

June 19, 4-5:15 PM: Jerome Harris Quartet

June 19, 7-8:15 PM: Wayne Tucker and the Bad Mothas

Christian McBride | “The Q Sessions”

Seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz artist Christian McBride and Qobuz, the Hi-Res streaming and download service, have teamed up to release The Q Sessions EP tomorrow, April 30, just in time for International Jazz Day. 

McBride visited NYC’s Power Station earlier this year to record three start-to-finish Hi-Res songs commissioned by Qobuz. The project was created with top-notch equipment at 24-bit/ 192kHz quality, and the final product streams and downloads with the exact same sound, tones and touches in which it was first recorded. 

With no digital compression or downgrading involved, The Q Sessions is the first in a new series of Qobuz exclusives designed to transport listeners directly to the studio and show the difference Hi-Res recording, production, and listening can make. 

The EP features three McBride performances, played in a quartet with saxophonist Marcus Strickland, drummer Eric Harland, and guitarist Mike Stern. Comprised of one blues improv, one standard and one new original commissioned by Qobuz ("Brouhaha," a song inspired by the then-recent passing of Chick Corea), The Q Sessions was custom-designed for the jazz fans who turn to Qobuz for the best quality sound. This EP joins Qobuz’ already established catalog of exclusive content – expert penned “panorama” interactive essays, artist-created playlists, liner notes and lyric booklets – to add to the platform’s reputation for the best listening experience in the field. 

Read more about The Q Sessions and the McBride/Qobuz partnership HERE at WBGO, where you can take an exclusive Hi-Res listen to the new "funk-fusion workout" “Brouhaha” right now, "in the same 24-bit / 192kHz quality with which it was captured in the studio." 

“What a pleasure it was to put together a special group featuring one of my favorite guitarists of all time, Mike Stern. It was a great day in the studio with Mike, Marcus and Eric – not only jamming a couple of tunes, but to also record a new original of mine, 'Brouhaha,'" said McBride. "I’m thrilled we captured these performances in Hi-Res audio and can deliver them to the listener without compromise, and I look forward to more with Qobuz.”

Dan Mackta, US Managing Director of Qobuz, said, “Seeing the guys create this incredible music right before my eyes in the historic Power Station Studio A was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Knowing that everyone can have that same studio quality experience by listening on Qobuz makes it even better."

Founded in 2007, a pioneer of high-quality sound, Qobuz is the French music streaming and download service that meets the needs of demanding music lovers and audiophiles. Available in 18 countries around the world, in Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, Qobuz offers an exceptional range of exclusive editorial content written by a team of experts. With its catalog of more than 70 million tracks, Qobuz also has the richest choice of high-resolution (Hi-Res) references on the market. Qobuz is the only multi-genre platform to achieve Hi-Res certification - a label awarded by the Japan Audio Society (JAS). For more information: qobuz.com 

Christian McBride is a seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist, composer and bandleader. McBride is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts center (NJPAC) and the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Christian is also a respected educator and advocate as the Artistic Director of Jazz House Kids and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to consistent touring, McBride hosts NPR's “Jazz Night in America” and "The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian" on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always of the music. From jazz to R&B, pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him.

Grammy-Nominated Brazilian Guitarist Ricardo Silveira Releases "SOLO"

Renowned Brazilian guitarist Ricardo Silveira is releasing his first solo album, aptly titled SOLO. Silveira is a prolific recording and performing artist in both Brazil and the United States. He has worked with a Who’s Who of legendary Brazilian artists, and he has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader. He has also appeared on numerous CDs as a sideman for other artists, including Elis Regina, Milton Nascimento, Wayne Shorter, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Joao Bosco, Gregg Karukas, Marcos Ariel, Diana Ross, Vanessa Williams, and others.

SOLO is an atmospheric, romantic album that pairs well with a glass of wine on a balmy night. JazzTimes Magazine has said, “Silveira chooses each note carefully, and his compositions are wonderfully detailed yet understated.” Silveira included six of his original tunes, all of which he recorded on previous albums but re-imagined here for solo guitar, as well as songs by great Brazilian composers Marcos Valle & Paulo Sergio Valle, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Johnny Alf, as well as a gorgeous rendition of Rodgers & Hart’s “My Romance.”

Silveira’s music is graceful, and his style is straight-ahead, contemporary, and audience friendly. Although Latin jazz and Brazilian flavors are sprinkled throughout this album, the music is reflective and airy while still maintaining its groove-based roots.

Marc Antoine - Something About Her

“It’s all about the voyage for me. I hope I can take listeners along with me to enjoy the voyage,” exclaims Marc Antoine. The Parisian born guitar extraordinaire’s spark for music began as a child. He recalls, “My parents told me that when I was four, I went into a trance while listening to Igor Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring.’” The same deep emotion that Antoine felt towards music as a child, has manifested itself in his remarkable ability to translate his powerful connection with music to his listeners. May 21, 2021 Marc Antoine will release his second recording for Shanachie Entertainment, Something About Her, dedicated to his wife Rebeca. “After 25 years, we are still in love,” reflects Antoine. The new recording is a life-affirming celebration that sizzles with dazzling melodies, dancing rhythms and exotic harmonies. Antoine is joined by many of his all-star friends including keyboardists David Benoit, Brian Simpson, Philippe Saisse and saxophonists Marion Meadows and Greg Vail, among others. “We are all good friends and everybody is magical in their own way,” shares Antoine, who is based in Laguna Niguel, a little town south of Laguna Beach in Southern California. “I prefer going to a studio and recording live with everyone but in this case, the collaborations were done in everyone’s own recording spaces. Technology these days is amazing and I think we still managed to make it sound like a live record. We defeated Covid in a way.” Danny Weiss, Shanachie Entertainment VP of Jazz A&R states, “Marc Antoine’s mastery and depth of expression of both jazz and classical guitar result in an absolutely exquisite style that is both beautiful and profound.” 

“I’m a firm believer of things happening for a reason and I think this past year has given a lot of people time for reflection. One thing I know for sure is the world needs some help,” states Marc Antoine. Those who acknowledge the transformative and healing power of music will rejoice in the release of Marc Antoine’s Something About Her. The ten track musical journey is an invigorating collection of songs that showcase Antoine’s impeccable musicianship and vast range of influences. “I like and listen to all kinds of music,” confides the guitarist. “For me it’s like cooking, you can’t cook the same meal everyday, otherwise it would be boring and unhealthy.” Antoine summons all of the right ingredients on Something About Her and the results are thoroughly satisfying. The album’s tantalizing and exhilarating opener “Still In Love,” features Antoine’s enchanting, melodious and crisp guitar lines, which are accentuated by the percussion of Luis Conté and the horns and flute of Greg Vail and Tony Guerrero. The swinging, breezy Bossa and title track, “Still In Love” is as cool as it gets. The interplay between Antoine and Brian Simpson is pure bliss. “Brian and I have played many gigs together and when I wrote the song, I heard his touch right away.” Bassist Roberto Vally and drummer Joel Rosenblatt round out the ironclad quartet and help to create a high point on the CD. The ebullient “Marco Polo” is a memorable and ear-catching ditty penned by pianist Philippe Saisse, who is also featured on the track. “Saisse and I are long time life brothers,” confesses Antoine. “He’s never far when I record a new project.” The album’s first single “Groovy Sunday,” has all the right ingredients for a perfect day. Antoine’s original features Philippe Saisse, saxophonist Marion Meadows and drummer Gorden Campbell.

Something About Her shifts gears with Marc Antoine’s exquisite waltz “Velvet Night” highlighting Philippe Saisse on vibes, while “Corto Maltese,” composed by Philippe Saisse, transports us on an unforgettable adventure and pays homage to the comic book sailor created by Hugo Pratt. “When Philippe sent me the tune with this title I loved it right away,” says Antoine. “I used to read Corto Maltese adventures when I was a kid. It was pretty out there back then. Philippe loves all those characters and he also has that Italian connection since his mother was born there.” Marc Antoine’s fascinating tapestry of sound on “Eclectic World” conjures up a beautiful world for all. “I think the world would be boring if it was not eclectic,” shares Antoine.

“America is very eclectic with all kinds of people from all around the world. I dream of a world where everybody can get along in harmony!” The R&B inflected “California Haze” shines a different light on Antoine as his guitar lines sail through a laid back groove enhanced the soulful tenor saxophone of Greg Vail. “I have known Greg for a long time. We are now neighbors and our wives are always hanging together so I see him all of the time. He’s way underrated so I wanted to give him a push. “Summer in Technicolor” conjures images of fluttering butterflies, melting popsicles and lazy sun-drenched days. The masterful pianist David Benoit, who helps to create a high point on the album, equally matches Antoine’s joyous vibe. “David and I made the recording So Nice together and we have toured extensively with this project. We’re now very good friends so it was logical for me to have him on this project.” Something About Her closes with the meditative “Song For Sasha,” written for Antoine’s granddaughter. He shares, “She lives on a French island called La Reunion in the middle of the Indian Ocean. I have yet to see her because of the pandemic.”

Revered for his soulful elixir of exotic textures and fluid artistry, guitarist Marc Antoine has been a force of nature on the contemporary jazz scene for over three decades. Classically trained at the International School of Classical Guitar, Antoine was first widely introduced to audiences in the late 80s when he hit the road with Basia. Loved for his unique fusion of classical, jazz, soul and world influences, Marc Antoine quickly became a mainstay on radio and the international touring circuit working with everyone from Sting and Cher to Marion Meadows, Rick Braun, Dave Koz and countless others. Through the years, Antoine has also been first call for the popular Guitars & Saxes All-Star tours and cruises. Some of the standouts in his illustrious recording catalogue features Gypsy (1995), Madrid (1998), Universal Language (2000), Cruisin’ (2001), Mediterraneano (2003) and Modern Times (2005), Foreign Exchange with Paul Brown (2008), My Classical Way (2010) and Guitar Destiny (2012). In 2012, Antoine faced health challenges and had to undergo major heart surgery. In 2014, after several misdiagnoses, he had surgery to relieve cramping in his hand caused by a previous accident as a teenager. Antoine’s severe nerve damage caused one of his fingers on his left hand to get stuck in an odd position, causing unbearable pain when he would play the guitar. Overcoming these challenges, Marc Antoine is back in top form. The consummate artist recently relocated back to Southern California after living in his wife’s hometown of Madrid for over a decade. Antoine released Laguna Beach in 2016 and his collaboration with David Benoit, So Nice, followed in 2017. 

Marc Antoine credits his fans and the search for his own musical truth as the sources for his continued inspiration. “I started playing the guitar when I was about 11 and a year later, I couldn’t let go nor imagine doing anything else. I’m so thankful I have been able to do so much more than I ever hoped for. I have the best fans all around the world. After all these years, they are still here listening to and buying my music. I am grateful. I never tried to copy anything and I always follow my heart.”

CODE Quartet - Genealogy

CODE Quartet is a collective based out of Montreal. Formed four years ago by Christine Jensen on saxophones, Lex French on trumpet, Adrian Vedady on acoustic bass, and Jim Doxas on drums, the group came together with the equal goals of composing and improvising in a chordless-quartet setting. 

The primary motivation for the formation of the group has been to build on the freedom of expression pioneered by Ornette Coleman’s seminal group of the 1950s, with two horns interacting with acoustic bass and drums.

They prioritize the idea that each voice within the collective is given equal weight, blurring the boundaries between lead and supporting voices, between frontline instruments and the rhythm section.

The group have spent the past three years sculpting their original compositions as a team, leading them to some exciting performance opportunities. Over the past four years, they have performed residencies at jazz clubs in Montreal as well as The Wellington Jazz festival in New Zealand in June 2019. 

The group’s principal focus is to present original compositions, orchestrated exclusively for this particular ensemble, weighing heavily on their improvisatory reactions to the written material. The  result is their album Genealogy.

Genealogy will be released worldwide on Friday, April 23rd on Justin Time Records.

Bassist & Guitarist Aaron Germain Releases "Bell Projections"

Aaron Germain’s aptitude for both string instruments and haunting compositions reaches stunning new heights with Bell Projections, set for a May 14 release on his own Aaron Germain Music imprint. The album’s 17 pieces were written and arranged for guitar quartet—but on the recording, it’s Germain who plays all four guitar parts. 

It was never intended as a solo showcase. Best known as a bassist, Germain’s ambition was to challenge himself as a composer. “I was downloading tons of classical guitar quartet music, sorting through all of it and listening to it like crazy, looking for holes in the repertoire,” he recalls. Yet the real difficulty turned out to be finding guitarists to learn and play the complex music in time for a recording session. 

That’s when Germain decided that recording all the parts himself was the easiest route (although woodshedding on acoustic, soprano and bass guitar, electric and upright bass, and guiro could hardly be called easy). To accompany his one-man quartet, he enlisted a collective of 15 musicians, who appear in various combinations across the album.

Inevitably, however, Germain and his guitars are the heart and soul of Bell Projections. Whether he is alone in the spotlight, as on the delicate “Regarding Raistlin (for Elizabeth Germain),” duetting with oboist Paul McCandless (“Hush”) or drummer Deszon X. Claiborne (“Resident Eject”), or engaging with the flute trio of Robert Farrington, Chloe Jane Scott, and Nestor Torres on the luxuriant Peruvian-inspired piece “Breath Marks,” it is his beautiful touch and sly (self-) interaction that commands the listener’s attention.

As if his resourcefulness wasn’t already beyond question, Germain crafted each of his compositions with distinct personalities. Whereas Brazilian music gives shape to “Toitoisho (for Hotoshi Oyasu),” it’s Latin funk that animates “Gutter Sass,” while jazz harmonies and phrasing enliven “Pin Untended” and classical articulation resounds through “SubEthos.” Bell Projections is thus a remarkable testament to Germain’s embodiment of that famous line of Walt Whitman’s: “I am large, I contain multitudes.”

Aaron Germain was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1977, and began his musical journey at 15 when he picked up a guitar. However, it soon became apparent that learning to play bass would afford him wider and steadier work. He continued playing both, but gradually the bass became his primary ax.

That focus only intensified when, as a 19-year-old student at Massachusetts’ Hampshire College, Germain studied with Yusef Lateef. The legendary jazz multi-instrumentalist was impressed enough to hire the young bassist for a gig, a major turning point in Germain’s creative life. He went all in on enhancing his own skills; in addition, he deepened his repertoire with excursions into Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian jazz, salsa, Indian, and Senegalese and other Western African musical traditions. 

By the time he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2000, Germain was highly skilled in numerous styles of music. He quickly became one of the most in-demand musicians on his new scene. In 2009, he made Before You Go, his first album as a leader, following it up in 2013 with Chance. 

The eight-year gap between Chance and Bell Projections reflects the herculean effort that went into the creation of the new album. Germain spent six of those years studying the guitar quartet repertoire, writing the intricate music in four parts, then learning and recording those parts on the various varieties of guitar and bass. The degree of his labor, he says, is audible. “Classical guitarists play with their fingernails,” he observes. “I recorded without nails, because they don’t work with bass, which is my everyday gigging instrument. I strike the strings with the skin of my fingertips, but I have bass player calluses. I’d be delighted to hear traditional guitar quartets interpret these pieces in the future.”

New Music Releases: Martin Trotman, Greg Smith, Perry Smith

Martin Trotman - Let's Begin

Martin Trotman has wowed ‘em at top venues in his native UK, worked with legendary Elton John guitarist Caleb Quaye and opened for Snarky Puppy and Nile Rodgers. Yet the multi-faceted composer, keyboardist and producer was so determined to become a solo artist on his own terms that he began playing in restaurants and hotels to fund the sessions that result now in Let's Begin, his dazzling and adventurous, perfectly in the pocket debut. While drawing on the stirring energy of his gospel roots, Trotman stirs in vibrant, tightly grooving splashes of funk and jazz, dreamy atmospheric soul, sweet piano elegance and a lush showcase for his inviting lead vocals. Fans of Brian Culbertson and Oli Silk will find Trotman’s eclectic vibes and keyboard sparkle right up their alley. www.smoothjazz.com

Greg Smith - Cluster 101

Drummer and composer Greg Smith GS has been active on the international jazz, classical, and beat-music scene since the mid 1990s. His chameleon-esque ability has led him to work with artists as diverse as David Binney, Chris Speed, Reggie Washington, Sandra St-Victor & Family Stand, and Kori Withers. Smith has additionally developed an affinity with experimental electronics, creating works for contemporary dance-theater companies around the world. Now, you can hear this synthesis of beats, pop-ish melodies, electronics and highly-charged improvisations come together in his debut album, Cluster 101. The album features the fantastic lineup of David Binney, Logan Kane, Vanja Kevresan, and Alexander Maksymiw. A thoroughly engaging and fun recording, with slightly dystopian echoes. Recommended for the curious listener seeking an alternative, unique voice in the modern jazz landscape. 

Perry Smith - Peace

For guitarist, composer, bandleader, and educator Perry Smith, standards are an integral part of his life as a musician, accompanying him on the ups and downs of life, providing a landscape for him to explore, and improvise on, from his heart. Smith elaborates, “I had been interested in recording a trio album of standards to really draw the listener in through classic melodies, dynamics and the natural sound of my Gibson ES-175. Using a traditional archtop hollow body, my style of jazz guitar can really work with a sensitive and swinging rhythm section like Schnelle and Minaie. I chose to record a variety of standards that have meant a lot to me over the years, and what I discovered is that as my own life experiences have unfolded, my connection to these songs, and what I have to offer them musically has only gotten deeper. It leaves me with an immense amount of gratitude for these standards.”

New Music Releases: Chick Corea's Vigilette Trio, ElectroBluesSociety feat Boo Boo Davis, Dreaming In Colour

Chick Corea's Vigilette Trio - Tempus Fugit

Chick Corea's Vigilette Trio features young lions Carlitos Del Puerto on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums — the rhythmic backbone of Chick's groundbreaking Vigil Band and his recent Spanish Heart Band. Carlitos and Marcus both have interesting backgrounds. Marcus's grandfather is Roy Haynes who played on Chick's famous Now He Sings, Now He Sobs recording and also on Remembering Bud Powell. Carlitos's father, Carlos Del Puerto, played bass as a founding member of the famous Cuban band Irakere which was led by Chucho Valdez. Now both Carlitos and Marcus are incredible virtuosos who bring their own new unique creativity to this recording with Chick Corea. On this adventurous new CD Tempus Fugit, they take on Chick classics, with also brilliant takes on standards, and inventive classical excursions.

ElectroBluesSociety feat Boo Boo Davis - It's A Sad Thing

This is the fourth single release from the 'transatlantic quarantaine sessions'. From 1998 up to 2020 Boo Boo Davis used to tour in Europe several times each year and a lot of music was written and recorded during these tours. Covid-19 created a (temporarily) stop to that tradition. But with the help of the internet and Chris Brown in St Louis, the guys from ElectroBluesSociety started to exchange idea's and demo tapes with Boo Boo in East St Louis (USA) and their studio in the Netherlands. 

Dreaming In Colour - State & Main

Once heralded as the “Steely Dan of Smooth Jazz” by the European Jazz Press, Dreaming in Colour’s principal members Kevin Ellis (founder/bassist) and Chris Noonan (drums) have recorded over the years with the genre’s cream of the crop – including Nelson Rangell, Andy Snitzer, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Kashiwa, Jeff Lorber, Ken Navarro and the late Chuck Loeb. On their latest single, the buoyant, hypnotically percussive, tightly grooving and ultimately soaring “State and Main,” we’re treated to the richness of the group’s current core ensemble, which includes non-stop explosive solo action by saxophonist Jason Swagler, keyboardist Michael Scherer and guitarist Tom Byrne. The title of the spirited, high energy track refers to the intersection of everywhere USA, a dual musical link to the band’s storied past and bright future. www.smoothjazz.com