Lindsey Webster | "Reasons"

“Everything is energy," exclaims the stunning, charismatic Billboard #1 singer/songwriter Lindsey Webster. “Atoms make up everything, and they are only made of 0.0001% matter. That leaves 99.9999% space - aka energy! This simple fact is how I remember to take my focus off of this physical world and tune into my spirit." Webster who studied cellular and molecular biology in college with the intentions of becoming a researcher adds, “The more we tune into our own energy, the better our lives become.”  Soultracks once declared “If Carole King and Sade had a kid, she would be Lindsey Webster.” The amiable and earthy singer, has managed to shake up the cliquish male and instrumental dominated - Contemporary Jazz scene, forging a path that is uniquely her own. Amazingly in 2016, Webster became the first vocalist to hit #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts since Sade.  All About Jazz declares, “Webster is soulful, authentic and belongs on the short list of new talents keeping the tradition alive and taking it to the next level,” while Pop Matters describes Webster’s voice as “Soulful…Effortless.” The Woodstock native’s anticipated new recording, Reasons, (to be released September 9, 2022) is the next step in her evolution as an artist. “For the first time, I think I made an album for myself,” she confides. “I’ve come a long way. On my first album, little 21-year old Lindsey was singing those songs the way I thought Mariah (Carey), Amy Winehouse or Adele would do it. I had no idea who I was as a person, let alone as an artist. This album speaks to what I want and in return I think that it will connect with my audience in a deeper way.” Reasons features several major special guest collaborators including bassist Nathan East, trumpeters Nicholas Payton and Randy Brecker, pianist Brian Culbertson (who plays trumpet and trombone on the album) Kev Choice who raps on a track and drummer Lil John Roberts, among others. At the heart of Lindsey’s collaborations is her long-time musical partner and former husband, pianist Keith Slattery. “I think our shared vision for the potential of what our music is capable of keeps the dream alive,” confides Lindsey. “Keith is an amazing example of understanding and compassion. I can speak for the both of us when I say that relationships are given to us to learn from whether they are romantic or not. I find it trivial and petty to throw away a great friendship and partnership over differences. Life is too short!”  The winning combination of Webster and Slattery has resulted in two Billboard #1’s and eight Top 10’s on the Billboard charts.

The highly anticipated Reasons is an intimate and introspective portrait of Lindsey Webster’s epiphany about herself and her relationships. It has all the makings of a career-defining album as she steps forward as one of the best singers of her generation, a promising songwriter and rarity in the world of Contemporary Jazz. The cathartic album explores not only the joyful side of love but also the heartbreak and growth from disappointment. Although Lindsey has always prided herself in maintaining a level of honesty in her music, she has only recently become comfortable delving into the darker side of her feelings. “I used to shy away from my negative emotions and felt guilty about being one of those ‘toxic positivity people’ who fake smile through things, telling myself and others to ‘just be positive,’” explains Webster, who meditates daily. “This attitude got me through a certain time in my life but it took sitting with myself and being curious about my negative emotions. It’s scary territory, but once you become friends with your demons, it’s like the Wizard of Oz, and it’s not as scary as you once thought it was.”

Reasons is a sublime showcase of Lindsey Webster's metamorphosis as an artist, shining a spotlight on her precise, effortless and ethereal vocals. At times her voice calls to mind such iconic singers as Mariah Carey, Anita Baker and Roberta Flack. There is an authenticity that permeates the songs featured on the album. “There has never been another option for me, other than honesty,” reveals the former EMT and firefighter. “The better I get to understand myself, the better my expression and music seems to get and this makes music truer, and people feel that.” Reasons was recorded during three different sessions, starting August 2021, with a second session at the end of January 2022 with the final session wrapping in May 2022. “I think that the pandemic really forced me to look inward, giving me deeper insights into who I am, which made it easier for me to say what I was feeling in these songs,” shares Lindsey, who was first cellist in High School and continues to play to this day. “I reached a new level of not caring if what I said might offend someone.” 

Reasons opens with the sassy, insatiable groove of “I Didn’t Mean It,” which is a Top Ten Billboard single. The track features Brian Culbertson who joins Lindsey for the fist time on recording. Bassist Chris Snowden and drummer Lil John Roberts are also on the track and in the rhythm section throughout most of the album. "I Didn't Mean It" finds Lindsey reconsidering her feelings about a love gone awry. “I wrote this one when I was in a mood and frustrated that this particular guy wouldn’t take our dating to the next level. I was reacting to what was a blow to my ego and the frustration of not getting my way.” Lindsey sublty reverses the mood with the sensational "Love Of Your Life." In a soulful and moving performance, she proves why she is worth every bit of praise she commands. Once you hear her sing a ballad, it is hard not to become a believer and “Love Of Your Life,” a shining example. The stunning and flirty number finds Lindsey's voice at its peak as she shows off her impeccable range, soulful delivery and flawless intonation. She sings, “Come and let me give you the love of our life” and it is hard not to surrender. The track features bassist Nathan East who solos on both bass and vocals, adding just the right touch. “When choosing what instrument should take the solo, I kept hearing Nathan on his bass, doing his classic singing along thing. He agreed to be on the song and killed it!” 

Another highlight on Reasons is the lilting, melancholy and sultry “Just The Night.” “This is a song that led me to do a lot of soul searching,” reveals Lindsey. “My heart felt broken, because despite how much I wanted this relationship to work, the guy still tried to deny our chemistry and I was left feeling alone. At the time I didn’t realize that this experience would push me to inquire deeper into myself and my motives for wanting him, and for that matter, any man, enough to let it disrupt my inner world so much." “Stay With Me,” is a vibey bouncy R&B banger featuring trumpeter Randy Brecker and a rap by Kev Choice while “Wish You Well” tells the realization of a love affair coming to an end as Lindsey sings “We were cool and now you don’t even feel like a friend…baby its cool, one day I’ll wish you well...” Webster shares that the track “The Way” is the best song that she has written to date. The song itself is realization and confirmation that Lindsey is enough and right where the universe needs her to be whether she is in a relationship or not. Webster candidly sings about finally arriving in a space where she can trust her intuition, not give in to fear and have the confidence of knowing her own heart. “The words to this song are so true to my journey and musically Keith really killed it,” she shares. “4 AM” is a short but sweet, dreamy ditty about a new love, while “Twin Flame” further explores Lindsey’s new love with a kindred spirit. “A twin flame is an energetic match. It’s much deeper than a typical soulmate. It’s someone who is basically a mirror.” Also showcased on Reasons is the memorable “You Take Me," about a departed love that still lingers in your heart and mind and haunts your dreams. The album’s title track was one of the final songs written on the recording. "I was having trouble determining the title for the album," explains Lindsey. "The title 'Reasons' resonated because there were so many reasons for all of the things that happened leading up to this album." Lindsey leaves us on the right now with “I’m OK,” featuring trumpeter Nicholas Payton. The gorgeous track is affirmation that everything Lindsey has been through has brought her to where she needs to be. “The truth of the matter, is that through all the things that happen in this world, I always end up being OK.”

Growing up in an artist community of Woodstock, NY, the daughter of loving hippie parents, the allure of music was never far from Lindsey Webster. The singer grew up listening to her parent's Jimi Hendrix, Beatles and Elvis Costello LPs and later the Supremes. Influenced by everyone from Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera to Steely Dan and Earth Wind and Fire, these days Lindsey still feeds her eclectic taste. “Bob Marley is my #1 most listened to artist on Spotify but I listen to Lake Street Dive, Raveena, Chaka, Joanna Teters, and so much more,” shares the singer who enjoys outdoor activities, bootcamp challenges and hiking. Webster made history in 2016 with her original, "Fool Me Once,” which was the first vocal driven #1 song to top the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart since Sade's “Soldier of Love” in 2010. She beat Sade’s three-week run at #1 with a four-week stay at the top of the charts. November 2016, Webster made her Shanachie debut with Back To Your Heart, which spawned three songs that reached Top 3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts: “Back To Your Heart,” “Next To Me” and “Where Do You Want To Go,” which hit #1. 2018 saw the release of Love Inside, which featured the Top 5 hit “Love Inside” and "the Top ten single “It’s Not You, It’s Me” featuring Rick Braun.  A Woman Like Me followed in 2020 featuring the standout title track, the lush ballad "A Love Like Me" and the catchy "One Step Forward." Webster who counts Steve Wonder, Anthony Hamilton and Chris Botti at the top of her wish list of collaborators concludes, “I feel that the highlight of my career is still an unfolding journey. There is excitement around every corner of my life and work!

Saxophonist Candy Dulfer announces ‘We Never Stop,’ her new full-length album

Dutch jazz and pop saxophonist Candy Dulfer has announced ‘We Never Stop,’ her new full-length album, out 10/28 via The Funk Garage/Mascot Label Group. A party platter of stanky jams, silken R&B, jazz, and pop-funk, ‘We Never Stop’ features several guest appearances by Chic guitarist, producer, songwriter, and three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Nile Rodgers. Take a listen to the first single “Jammin’ Tonight (feat. Nile Rodgers),’ a bold injection of party pop-funk with a slick jazz overlay that recalls Rodgers’ 1970s “Good Times” finery.

Give the people an invigorating beat, some swanky sax uplift, and watch the pain melt away. That’s the funky stuff Prince’s former top-choice sax player Candy Dulfer and her band specialize in. A solo artist, a songwriter, and in-demand instrumentalist, Dulfer has worked with some of the biggest names in modern music, including Van Morrison, Maceo Parker, Sheila E., Mavis Staples, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Pink Floyd, Chaka Khan, and Aretha Franklin, among many others.

Now, after three decades of superstar collaborations and world tours, and chart-topping and high-selling solo career releases, Candy is living proof of the title of her latest album, ‘We Never Stop.’ Nothing gets in the way of her making funky stuff. ‘We Never Stop’ features vocals from Candy’s rainbow family of a band with lyrics informed by band dialogues and the culture and health crises of the past two years. These include the toll of the pandemic on the music communities and the race horrors that have galvanized a global Black Lives Matter movement.

“This is a personal album—I struggle with the fact that so many people in this world are hurting on so many levels,” Candy shares. “The main spirit of this music is to elevate. It feels like it’s never been more important to take a stand and not let the hurt and the pain defeat us. That’s why I called this album, ‘We Never Stop.’”

Dulfer first rose to fame with her high-profile collaboration with Dave Stewart on the worldwide number 1 smash “Lily Was Here.” Her tenure with Prince may be best remembered by his tongue-in-cheek recommendation in the “Partyman” video: “When I want sax, I call Candy.”  Their collaboration continued over the years with many studio sessions, TV show appearances, award show performances, including the Grammy Awards, and concert tours around the globe, including Candy joining Prince’s NPG band as a permanent member for his record-shattering Musicology tour and album.

In addition to her superstar collaborations, Candy is a serious lifelong musician with a robust history as a solo artist releasing albums and touring the world for over 35 years. Since her Grammy-nominated debut, 1990’s Saxuality, Candy has issued 12 albums. The combined world-wide sales of her solo albums top 2.5 million copies, and she has had several number 1 hits in the USA. In between her solo albums and her high-profile collaborations, Candy still manages to join Dutch female supergroup the Ladies of Soul for their annual sold-out concerts at the massive Amsterdam Ziggo Dome; she is a headline performer on Smooth Jazz Cruises in the USA and Europe; she is an ambassador for the Dutch ALS Foundation; and Candy was a judge on the Dutch version of X Factor. 

At the age of 4, Candy’s destiny unfolded before her eyes, watching jazz heavyweight saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Her father, Hans Dulfer, brought her to the show. Hans is a well-known Dutch jazz saxophonist who, when Candy was growing up, surrounded himself with legends such as Archie Shepp, Dexter Gordon, and guitarist John McLaughlin. Candy began playing sax at the age of 6, and started her own band Funky Stuff at the age of 13. 

Candy soaked up music and life lessons from her father, and the iconic musicians he worked with, but Candy also boldly discovered her own voice as a songwriter and an instrumentalist, finding a home in contemporary jazz and pop-funk. She has worked hard to become an artist on her own terms, inspired by the likes of David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Michael Brecker, Maceo Parker, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, percussionist Sheila E., and even Janet Jackson. “I wanted to be like her but then with a saxophone; strong melodies, vision and entertaining to a mixed young crowd,” Candy says.

Today, her determination and passion remain, but her motivations are different. “These days, I play music to, hopefully, inspire younger people. When I was 12, I didn’t have many female saxophonists to look up to, and I want to be that person for the next generation of musicians,” she says.      

‘We Never Stop’ – Track List

1. YeahYeahYeah
2. Mo’ Seats At The Table
3. Jammin’ Tonight (feat. Nile Rodgers)
4. Deeper
5. Say Something
6. Raindrops
7. We Never Stop
8. The Walls (feat. Marcus Miller)
9. Perspective (feat. Durand Bernarr, Aron Hodek, Philip Lassiter)
10. Since I Found U
11. Afraid For More
12. No Time For This
13. The Climb
14. Convergency (feat. Nile Rodgers)

Rob Silverman’s ‘Drumology, Volume II’ features an astounding roster of drummers & special guests

Drumology, Volume II, due out August 12 from Autumn Hill Records, features drum greats from jazz, fusion, prog and rock including Billy Cobham, Mike Mangini and Todd Sucherman, along with an all-star band including keyboardists Michael Silverman and Jay Oliver, guitarist Dweezil Zappa and bassist John Patitucci, among others.

When Rob Silverman enlisted a who’s who of fellow drum masters for 2020’s critically acclaimed summit meeting Drumology, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Fortunately, this lifetime has turned out to be big enough – and the community of virtuoso drum greats large and tightknit enough – that Silverman is back this year with not one but two sequels.

Due out August 12, 2022 via Autumn Hill Records, the exhilarating Drumology, Volume II not only features an astounding roster of drummers and other special guests, but it also expands its predecessor’s purview beyond the realm of jazz and fusion into progressive rock. Drumology, Volume III will follow later this year. As with the original album, all proceeds will benefit the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

A notoriously competitive bunch, drummers from across the musical spectrum reached out to Silverman after the release of Drumology, each seeking to challenge their own formidable chops. “For volume one we had to chase drummers down,” Silverman recalls. “This time out, drummers were coming to me. Before we knew it we ended up with enough material for two albums.”

The line-up for Volume II rivals the jaw-dropping talents of the debut installment: drummers Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Mike Mangini (Dream Theater), Todd Sucherman (Styx), Casey Grillo (Queensrÿche), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper), John Spinelli (founder of Spinelli drums), renowned music technologist David Frangioni, and veteran studio drummer Kenny Aronoff, whose exhaustive resume ranges from John Mellencamp to Smashing Pumpkins to John Fogerty to Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.

While the drum duels are clearly the main attraction here, they’re placed in the context of dazzling new compositions by Rob Silverman, his brother and collaborator Michael Silverman, and keyboardist/producer Jay Oliver (Eagles, Sheryl Crow). Pianist/keyboardist Michael Silverman and bassist Larry Kornfeld (Randy Brecker, Jeff Lorber) fill out the core band for the project, joined by special guests including Oliver, guitarists Dweezil Zappa and Michael Angelo Batio, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, bassists John Patitucci and John Myung, and violinist Jerry Goodman.

The songwriting on Volume II benefited from the brothers’ earlier experience, according to Michael. “We got much better at tailoring the music to the personalities of the various drummers. We wrote these songs to give the guest artists plenty of latitude to interject their own personalities by crafting the kinds of tempos, grooves and feels that the different drummers prefer.”

That tailoring is evident from the outset, as the soaring, anthemic “Victory” kicks the album off at full throttle. Pairing Silverman with Mike Mangini and his Dream Theater bandmate John Myung on bass, the tune revels in the odd time signatures and complex but propulsive rock sound associated with the modern prog-masters – and with everyone’s mutual influence, Rush.

The mesmerizing “Sea Spray” then veers into fusion territory with a very Mahavishnu-esque sound achieved by the drummer and violinist of the iconic John McLaughlin-led ensemble, Billy Cobham and Jerry Goodman. They’re joined by fellow fusion veteran John Patitucci, charter member of both Chick Corea’s Elektric and Akoustic Bands.

Silverman and Kenny Aronoff provide the invigorating pulse for the epic “Timber Falls,” which conjures the image of towering evergreens and rushing waterfalls via Eric Marienthal’s majestic melodies and Dweezil Zappa’s sublime guitar solo, channeling the layered harmonies of Queen’s Brian May.

“Avalanche” ups the ante with a THREE-drummer collision featuring Silverman, Casey Grillo and John Spinelli. If that wasn’t enough, their interwoven rhythms fuel a master class in neoclassical shredding from the incredible Michael Angelo Batio. The maniacal laugh that erupts just before the one-minute mark perfectly captures the mood of glorious excess.

Michael Silverman’s keyboard intro is reminiscent enough of classic Styx to make Todd Sucherman feel right at home on the glittering prog track, highlighted by a joyously funky Marienthal solo. The evocative “Moving Mountains” follows, with Silverman switching to percussion alongside Glen Sobel’s drumming for a track that scales the heights of an exotic mountaintop landscape.

The bracing “Drum Dreams” ends the album on a hard-charging high note with Silverman and David Frangioni accompanied by both Silverman and Oliver on keys. The piece was inspired by a visit to the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame Museum, during which Silverman and Frangioni test-drove a number of iconic drum kits. (The experience inspired a contest in which the magazine asked readers to name each of the drummers represented in the “Drum Dreams” video.)

The stunning Drumology, Volume II is a drum aficionado’s dream come true (for a second time!) and best of all, it benefits a good cause in the name of one of the instrument’s Mount Rushmore figureheads. Legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart died in January 2020 of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

“I first heard Neil Peart in 1976 when I was taking drum lessons as a kid,” Silverman recounts, still marveling at the occasion. “I heard his live drum solo on ‘Working Man’ from the album All the World’s a Stage, and it completely changed my whole perception of what is possible on the drums. I decided then and there, that’s what I want to do when I grow up. This is my chance to give back for that life-changing influence.

New Music: Ben Iota, Kokoroko, Carlos Nino, Bennie Maupin & Adam Rudolph

Ben Iota - Hazy (EP)

Emcee, vocalist, and producer Ben Iota released his new EP entitled 'Hazy' on 1st of July 2022. It is the most technically-advanced release from Ben; written while juggling the competing priorities of nurturing a family, career and individual identity,and recognising the magic of it all. The title track 'Hazy' (featuring singer Taiaha of TIL The Break) speaks on a colourful youth lived, and how this formative experience and identity carries on into the 9 to 5 world. The B-side 'You Shape My Life' is a homage to Ben's family, and the unparalleled bonds that have been created through sharing a life together. The backdrop of producer Caper's Lofi soul/jazz production ties it all together. Ben Iota has made a journey since his days as a founding member of Adelaide underground Hip Hop groups Adroit Effusive and Common Cause. The solo emcee, vocalist and producer is now a four album veteran (Born 'Free' 2013, Jazz 2017, Letting Go EP 2019, Hazy EP 2022), orbiting around Lofi Soul/Jazz synth-sprinkled Hip Hop. The music; borne out of Ben's love for warm beats, human imperfection and creating meaning; is shaped by an arduous childhood, a colourful youth, a period of inner and outer exploration, and ultimately a time of planting roots and creating a family. Beats for the lounge, words from the gut.

Kokoroko - Could We Be More 

London's Kokoroko are a group with roots in many traditions and global modes – but they've also got a cohesive jazz-based sensibility that really makes the whole thing come together – and makes their music feel fresh and new, instead of a contemporary take on older modes! There's definitely strands of West African styles that run through the record, with vocals on a number of cuts – but those are offset by these prominent instrumental passages too – always given lots of different inflections, depending on the tracks – as the group have a lot to draw from in an octet lineup that mixes together trumpet, keyboards, alto, trombone, guitar, and plenty of percussion. Titles include "Age Of Ascent", "Something's Going On", "Blue Robe", "Home", "War Dance", "Those Good Times", "Soul Searching", and "Ewa Inu". ~ Dusty Groove

Carlos Nino - Extra Presence

The music of Carlos Nino has just gotten more and more spiritual as the years go on – and that's really saying a lot, given how spiritual he was right at the start! But with recent records, Nino has transformed from a jazz-inspired musician to maybe more of a sonic astronaut – able to take organic moments of expression and weave them into a rich tapestry of tone, color, and life – almost as if he's reworking the plane of existence, and trying to find the door to greater enlightenment in the process! That approach definitely comes through here, as Nino opens up in the company of contributors who include Jamael Dean on piano and keyboards, Devin Daniels on alto, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on strings, Jesse Peterson on guitar, Sam Gendel on alto, and Jamire Wiliams on drums – as well all players whose work appears in different ways on a variety of tracks – all helmed by the sonic exploration of Carlos, with a bit of help from veteran travelers Iasos and Laraaji. Titles include "Explorations 7", "Actually", "For The Shapalaceer", "Luis' Special Shells", "Jamirelandflight", "Waterwavesarrival", "In The Moment", "Youwillgetthroughthis I Promise", "Dreamsishappening", and "Recurrent Reiki Dreams". ~ Dusty Groove

Bennie Maupin & Adam Rudolph - Symphonic Tone Poem For Brother Yusef

The Yusef here is Yusef Lateef – and reedman Bennie Maupin teams with Adam Rudolph in a set of richly organic numbers that we're guessing Lateef would have really appreciated! There's less "symphonic" and more "tone poem" on the record than the title might imply – as the setting is very intimate, with just a variety of reeds from Maupin, used in sonic territory created by Rudolph – a mix of percussion, electronics, and plenty of effects – but all used gently, and without any sort of bombast – so that the music progresses with a careful unfolding that lets all the best elements find a way to resonate together! The album features one long track, divided into five movements – and Maupin is at his most experimental here, while Rudolph really seems to respectfully address the legendary legacy of his collaborator. ~ Dusty Groove

Grant Geissman | "Blooz"

Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings has announced the release of veteran guitarist and composer Grant Geissman’s new album Blooz, out August 19, 2022.  The twelve instrumental tracks are a collection of original blues and jazz songs, performed by a stellar supporting cast of musicians. Geissman comments: “On Blooz, with the help of great friends and incredible musicians, I had some of the most fun and made some of the best music of my career.  It’s the album I have always wanted to make.”

The gospel-oriented “Preach” (featuring Randy Brecker), the Latin-influenced, Santana-inspired ‘Carlos En Siete” (featuring David Fairfield), the funky “Robben’s Hood” (featuring Robben Ford), the blues shuffle ‘This and That” (featuring Tom Scott), the mournfully bluesy ‘Sorry Not Sorry” (featuring Russell Ferrante), the rockabilly-styled ‘Whitewalls and Big Fins” (featuring John Jorgenson), and the Bo Diddley-inspired, three-guitar shootout “One G and Two J’s” (featuring Josh Smith and Joe Bonamassa) come together to form a project that might just surprise listeners who think they had a handle on Geissman both as a player and a composer.  Blooz showcases Geissman’s new creative directions and limitless musical prowess.

California-born Geissman’s storied carerr took off in late 1976, when he was asked to join Chuck Mangione’s band. The first album Geissman recorded with Mangione was Feels So Good, a platinum-selling album containing the mega-hot song “Feels So Good,” featuring an iconic guitar solo by Geissman.  Geissman’s career as a session guitarist has been prolific and includes work alongside many of music’s greatest, including Quincy Jones, Ringo Starr, Steve Tyrell, Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, Klaus Voormann, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and David Benoit.  Geissman’s pop and jazz solo work in the 1980 also helped define the contemporary instrumental music of that era.  Geissman released four albums with Mesa/Bluemoon in the early 1990s, and label president George Nauful notes: “In 33 years of running the label, I can honestly say that Grant’s releases are among my very favorites. And now I love every track on this new album!  All the compositions and the musicianship are off the charts.  We are very excited to be working with Grant again.”

 

 

Contemporary Jazz Flutist Ragan Whiteside’s ‘Thrill Ride’ Leaps to the Top 10 on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Chart

Contemporary jazz flutist Ragan Whiteside's current single, “Thrill Ride,” leaps to the Top 10 at No. 9 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart after only 11 weeks on the chart. The single is her eighth consecutive Billboard Top 10 single. Filled with joy and excitement about the news, she said, “I swear this never gets old.”

“Thrill Ride” is the title track from her forthcoming album, set for release on August 26, 2022, on her label, Randis Music. Written and produced by Dennis Johnson, Bob Baldwin, and Whiteside, the single features guitarist Phil Hamilton and drummer Richard Harrison, also known as the artist RAH.

The music video of “Thrill Ride” has a light-hearted, comical storyline, following Ragan on her impromptu stroll before her show. After getting dolled up by her glam squad, Ragan takes advantage of some downtime and ends up engaging in various thrill rides, skydiving, and a scooter sojourns around the neighborhood. Ragan returns to the show venue a little worse for wear – much to the chagrin of her glam squad. 

Though the pandemic resulted in two challenging years for Whiteside, 2021 still proved to be a successful year for her previous hit single, “Off The Cuff,” where it spent 17 weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart. The single also reached No. 5 on RadioWave, No. 3 on Media Base, and No.5 on Smooth Jazz Network. “Off The Cuff” will also be featured on her forthcoming album.

She also has a series of upcoming concert dates including Marcus Anderson’s Jazz and Coffee Escape in Asheville, NC (Saturday, August 6); Ferrario Elmira Jazz Festival in Elmira, NY (Saturday, August 13); Jazz in the Park in Huntsville, AL (September 4); SOUTH Jazz Kitchen in Philadelphia, PA (September 15); White Plains Jazz & Food Festival in White Plains, NY (September 18); and Velvet Note in Atlanta, GA (October 1) with additional dates to be announced in the fall.

Meanwhile, her four-hour Saturday radio show (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET), “Saturday with Ragan Whiteside” is the No. 1 Saturday show on Atlanta’s NPR affiliate radio station Jazz 91.9 WCLK. The broadcast is also the No. 2 show behind the gospel show, “Joy In The Morning.”

New Music: Eric Essix, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Dave Slonaker Big Band, Ken Powe

Eric Essix - Stride

The title of Eric Essix’s latest album says it all: 36 years and 28 releases into his extraordinary career, the prolific veteran guitarist is just hitting his Stride. Whether recording for outside record companies or his own label Essential Recordings, one of the Birmingham, Alabama native’s greatest ongoing gifts has been sharing his Southern blues, jazz and gospel roots via songs that are either edgy, bright and funky or laid back and simmering. Offering a sweet balance of punchy grooves and soulful atmospheres, Stride is a dynamic showcase for his fascinating guitar tone that’s crackling one minute, silky, languid, and smooth the next. Highlights include a haunting meditation on freedom and a vibrant organ and harmonica laced spin on hit current smash single, the Bill Withers classic, “Ain’t No Sunshine” featuring American Idol alum Ruben Studdard on vocals. ~www.smoothjazz.com

Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Song 

Song, the new album from cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, features music from across the entire spectrum of classical, folk, jazz and pop – all personally curated by Sheku. The eclectic mix of styles are tied together by one thing – the unique singing voice of Sheku’s cello. On Song, Sheku collaborates with friends and family, including jazz pianist Harry Baker, singer-songwriter Zak Abel, and soprano Pumeza Matshikiza. Sheku Kanneh-Mason became a household name in 2018 after performing at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. His performance was greeted with universal excitement and was seen by nearly two billion people globally. Sheku initially garnered renown as the winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Competition, the first black musician to take the title. He has released two chart-topping albums on the Decca Classics label, "Inspiration" (2018) and "Elgar" (2020). The latter reached #8 in the overall UK official album chart, making Sheku the first cellist in history to reach the UK top 10.

Dave Slonaker Big Band - Convergency

The Dave Slonaker Big Band, coming off its 2013 Grammy® nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, returns with a dazzling collection of new music celebrating the tradition, but also pushing the possibilities of big band jazz. Featuring an all-star cast of West Coast jazz and studio legends, including Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Peter Erskine, Wayne Bergeron, and so many more, Convergency brings together the lives, stories and extraordinary talents of these great musicians, with the music of veteran Los Angeles composer/arranger Dave Slonaker, to create what will certainly be another  ave Slonaker's "Convergency" will be released via Origin Records on August 19th.

Ken Powe - Steppin'

Coinciding with the release of his high spirited, melodically sparkling and deeply grooving 5th album Steppin', veteran keyboardist, composer and producer Ken Powe recently published a book exploring the possibilities of our visions and dreams being divine experiences. Smooth Jazz fans checking out the array of moods and grooves by this vibrationally in tune spiritual and musical explorer may truly feel they’ve entered an urban dreamscape full of colorful and trippy atmospheric textures, eclectic rhythms and dazzling, dramatic ivory runs – all of which draw from Powe’s mult-faceted background in jazz, gospel, R&B, pop and classical music.  ~ www.smoothjazz.com 

Jimetta Rose & The Voices Of Creation | "How Good It Is"

The Voices of Creation are a community-based choir led by vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and mainstay of the Los Angeles scene Jimetta Rose. Made up of a multigenerational group of mainly non-professional singers backed by some of the city’s finest musicians, their music marries hip strains of gospel with layers of jazz, soul and funk. While aspects of their music might recall Kamasi Washington, The Staple Singers or Sly Stone, Jimetta’s unique vision has resulted in new spiritually-charged forms of music whose whole-hearted embrace of love, joy and peace act as sonic healing balms for the soul.

For Jimetta - whose resume includes collaborations with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Angel Bat Dawid, Shafiq Husayn, MED and Blu - the very act of creation was part of a healing process: “I was very low at the time and I wrote most of the songs going through hardship. But I found comfort in the songs and a way to adjust my mindset to where things got better. So I thought ‘if this music works for me, maybe it will work for other people’ I believe that every person has their own voice and their own note and that we can use our voices to heal ourselves. That’s the intention behind creating the project.” 

After putting out a call on social media for people interested in joining her choir she was met with a sea of replies. Members were chosen in less-than conventional fashion: “I recruited people based on their interest in healing themselves and others, not necessarily on their musical experience or being seasoned performers” she says. Among those accepted into the ever-evolving collective, which was begun initially as a community choir, were the likes of Sly Stone’s daughter Novena Carmel, better known as a radio DJ for KCRW’s flagship breakfast show. Jimetta’s upbringing in the Pentecostal church, where she was a youth choir director, fed into her otherwise intuitive teachings of her songs and arrangements to the inexperienced members with help from the group’s seasoned organ player/co-musical director Jack Maeby.

Produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Seu Jorge) and his wife Samantha Caldato the results show the incredible sense of togetherness and communal spirit that the group had built up over time in the rehearsal sessions. The six tracks of their debut album, a mixture of originals and rearranged covers, are performed in a wide-eyed mix of styles that reflect Jimetta’s vision for borderless music: “It’s new black classical music,” she explains. “It’s all the hodgepodge of being an African American but also with creativity and vision for the future. It has a taste of what is to come and what we can do. What we have gone through and who we are now.”

The group’s propensity for warm and buoyant sonics finds representation on album opener Let The Sunshine In, a sparkling rework of the Sons and Daughters of Lite’s deep jazz classic. Their version finds the group’s dynamic group harmonies offset with Allakoi Peete’s nimble afro-percussive touches and plenty of soul-drenched keys courtesy of pianist Quran Shaheed and organ player Jack Maeby. A similarly uplifting take on Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s choral jazz classic Spirits Up Above follows, with Maeby’s groove-laden organ lines inspiring some gorgeous group harmonies as well as prime solo turns from the likes of Kellye Hawkins, Zavier Wise, Tamara Blue, and Khalila Gardner.

Another Sons and Daughters of Lite cover follows as Jimetta leads the choir in the groove-drenched ode to self-affirmation Operation Feed Yourself. Written as a series of mantras for everyday living, the Jimetta-penned composition How Good It Is harnesses the full transformative power of music to generate a stirring and joyful ode to positivity - it’s chanted declarations bringing out some of the group’s most deeply-felt and affecting vocal performances over some superlative piano and organ accompaniment with a surprise feature vocal from Novena Carmel. 

Jimetta’s talent for re-imagining songs in her own light is highlighted in Answer The Call, her vivid re-telling of Funkadelic’s Cosmic Slop: “When I listened to the original song, the Mom in the story was really going through it. I thought of how I could turn this into a song that can encompass the glorification of all mothers and I thought of the Egyptian cosmic goddess Nut. To that mother we’re all the seeds planted in the garden. Answering the call in your life is literally that. Finding out exactly what you’re here for through your heart.”

The album finishes with the standout original gospel number Ain’t Life Grand. Over swaying organs and clapped percussion Jimetta’s lyrical mantras serve to emphasise the good feelings that come to those with a grateful heart. Good feeling is an apt descriptor for the mood of the album as a whole. Its shining positivity provides a welcome ray of light in an increasingly dark world. “It’s a shortcut if you will to the better feelings” Jimetta says. “The hope that we need to keep pressing forward. We are saturated and inundated with images of chaos and destruction, death and hatred. There’s so much we can witness. So, I want to make sure that there is a representation sonically of the other parts that are still there to witness so that we can continue to build those things. So that the systems we support actually reflect what we want to experience. So it’s like: “Don’t give up and Let The Sunshine Into You” and then find out what your purpose is and answer the call.” 

Steve Turre | "Generations"

Trombonist and composer Steve Turre was passed the jazz torch early in his career by some of the music’s greatest masters – Art Blakey, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Woody Shaw, and Ray Charles, among others. In recent years he’s kindled the same flame in a younger crop of rising stars. On his new album, Generations, Turre brings the eras together, inviting still-vital legends to join a gifted band of fresh blood while paying tribute to the elders who have helped shape his sound. 

Set for release on September 16 via Smoke Sessions Records, Generations features literal second-generation players including the trombonist’s own son, drummer Orion Turre, as well as trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr., whose late father was a close friend and collaborator of Turre’s. In addition, the core band includes young pianist Isaiah J. Thompson and the more tenured Corcoran Holt on bass, who has been working with Turre for more than a decade. 

Over the course of the album this stellar group is joined by the likes of saxophonist James Carter, guitarists Ed Cherry and Andy Bassford, keyboardist Trevor Watkis, bassists Buster Williams and Derrick Barnett, drummers Lenny White and Karl Wright, and percussionist Pedrito Martinez. 

“There's a balance between youth and age,” Turre says, “Age brings wisdom and knowledge, and youth brings enthusiasm and energy. Playing with each of them stretches me in a different way. The elders stretch me in ways of wisdom, but the youngsters fire it up. All of that is inspiring.” 

That inspiration bears fruit in one of the most scintillating and eclectic recordings of Turre’s storied career, ranging from burning modal jazz to tender ballads, sophisticated swing to reggae grooves to Latin rhythms, and of course, at the root of everything is the blues. “The blues don't never get old,” Turre declares. “I like playing the blues. To me, it's quintessential to American music.” 

The most straightforward blues on the album comes in the form of “Blue Smoke,” a tip of the horn to Turre’s home label for his past four releases and its namesake club, where he’s a regular performer. The tune pairs the trombonist with guitar great Ed Cherry, a fellow alumnus of the Dizzy Gillespie band. 

The album opens with the searing “Planting the Ceed,” an homage to Cedar Walton. “He’s one of my heroes,” Turre says of the great pianist, who was a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers when Turre joined the band in 1973. The tune is highlighted by a bold and serpentine tenor solo by Modeste. “I didn't set out to write a tune for Cedar, but it made me feel a similar kind of feeling that I used to get when I played with Cedar. And he planted the seed in me when I was young and started playing with him.” 

An even earlier influence was Duke Ellington, the honoree of the elegant “Dinner with Duke.” Turre had the opportunity to see the iconic bandleader in concert when he was in the fourth grade. “My parents took me to Oakland Auditorium to see Duke in 1957, when I had just started playing the trombone,” he recalls, still marveling at the experience. “He had Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry and Britt Woodman in the band, Coleman Hawkins was the guest soloist, and Ella Fitzgerald was a guest vocalist. I didn't know what they were doing, but it blew my mind. That was it. I said, ‘Man, I'm gonna do that.’ It just made me feel good.” 

For “Don D.,” a tribute to the legendary Skatalites trombonist Don Drummond, Turre convened a reggae summit meeting with guitarist Andy Bassford, bassist Derrick Barnett, drummer Karl Wright and keyboardist Trevor Watkis. The searching “Pharoah’s Dance” is a joint tribute to saxophone titan Pharoah Sanders and the genius pianist McCoy Tyner, both of whom have been collaborators with the trombonist over the years. Roney’s bristling solo is buoyed by Pedrito Martinez’s rollicking percussion. 

The album’s sole standard is a simmering rendition of the classic “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” Turre showcasing the supple grace of his playing on the wistful melody. “I'd never heard a trombone play that song,” Turre says. “But I didn't want to do it the same way everybody else does it so I put a little bit of African 6 [6/8 rhythm] to it, which is where swing comes from. That gives it a very tranquil mood. It's more relaxed than the hard-hitting tunes, so it's a nice release of tension.” 

“Flower Power” shines the spotlight on Turre’s famed conch shell virtuosity on a mesmerizing, elusive new piece. “It’s kind of a dreamy journey,” Turre describes with a grin. “You start out on your first steps with the bass, you go on a musical journey, and then your last steps end with the bass. I told the horn players, ‘I'm gonna play for a while, both with the trombone and later with the shells, then you join me and we'll make it a conversation.’ It was completely spontaneous and it's totally different every time. That's the thrill of discovery.” 

The Latin-influenced “Good People” is a tune that Turre has had in his book for years and finally decided to record. It’s enlivened by the presence of the brilliant percussionist Pedrito Martinez. “Sweet Dreams” is a gentle ballad graced by Orion’s feather-light brushwork, a breathtakingly eloquent bass solo as only the mighty Buster Williams can provide and an intimate and soaring turn from the always masterful James Carter on tenor.

 “Resistance” brings the album to a vigorous conclusion with a determined composition penned at the time of the tumultuous 2016 election, though it’s taken on a broader and more urgent meaning in the years since. “It's tough times,” Turre says. “This song is about resisting all the negative forces that we must encounter in the world today.” 

The generations of remarkable musicians joining forces on Generations prove that the music’s bloodline remains strong. “I always like to play with musicians that challenge me,” Turre concludes. “So, coming up, I would usually play with people older than me. My challenge now comes from the youthful energy of the younger players. Jazz is not dead.” 

New Music: Steve Gadd / Eddie Gomez / Ronnie Cuber / Center Stage WDR Big Band, Calvin Keys, Christian Hoff & Melissa Hoff, Ron Trent & Others

Steve Gadd / Eddie Gomez / Ronnie Cuber / Center Stage WDR Big Band

For the first time, super drummer Steve Gadd reunites with his friends from the "Gadd Gang" days, Eddie Gomez and Ronnie Cuber for a production with the multiple Grammy Award-winning WDR Big Band. Under the direction of Michael Abene, a fantastic grooving album was created, centered around Steve Gadd and his friends. They are joined by Bobby Sparks II and Simon Oslender as special guest musicians. The recordings took place in Studio 4 of the WDR in January and February 2022. Classics from the Gadd Gang repertoire can be found on Center Stage: "I Can't Turn You Loose," "Che Ore So'," "Them Changes," "Way Back Home," "Lucky 13," "Honky Tonk/I Can't Stop Loving You," and "My Little Brother." A perfect mixture of groovy songs and an excellent ensemble around Steve Gadd guarantee the highest entertainment value. 

Calvin Keys - Blue Keys

Calvin Keys Blue Keys featuring legends Gary Bartz and Steve Turre.  One nine new recordings, Calvin Keys delivers outstanding guitar performances that clearly demonstrate why he is considered an all time great. Joining Calvin are Black Jazz compatriot Henry Franklin, Gregory Howe (Throttle Elevator Music) and Strata East conga player Babatunde Lea. Jazz guitarist Calvin Keys is a legend among soul-jazz fans and known for his lean, muscular single-string solo style. In 1971, he signed with Black Jazz label, released a pair of albums and played in the Ray Charles Orchestra. Keys' unique phrasing and his ability to balance sophisticated jazz harmonics with tough R&B and soul grooves were showcased nightly in the Charles band. By 1975, Keys had relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he became -- and remains -- an avid participant in its jazz community. He worked in live settings and recording sessions with John Handy, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Marshall, Bob Braye, Ed Kelly, Eddie Duran, Bruce Forman, Junius Simmons, and Eddie Moore. He was sidelined in 1997 by heart surgery, undergoing a quadruple bypass. Undaunted, he released the widely acclaimed Detours into Unconscious Rhythms on Wide Hive Records and toured in the U.S. and Europe. In 2005 Keys recorded Calvinesque for Silverado. The album hit number 30 on the jazz charts. In 2006 he released Vertical Clearance followed by Hand-Made Portrait on Silverado.

Christian Hoff & Melissa Hoff - We Talk Without Words

6-10 PRODUCTIONS, LLC announces the August 19th release of the new jazz duet, “We Talk Without Words,” recorded by Jersey Boys’ TONY ®AWARD Winner, Christian Hoff with his enchanting wife, Melissa Hoff. A dreamy jazz waltz with a fun-filled, frenetic bridge, the husband and wife musical team prove that “kindred spirits” share a language all their own. Best known for his Tony®Award Winning performance in Broadway’s Jersey Boys and two Grammy® Award Winning cast albums (Jersey Boys and The Who’s Tommy), Christian regularly bridges the worlds of jazz, rock & roll, and theater. As a solo performer and founding member of the vocal group,The Midtown Men, Christian recently completed his 10th consecutive world tour. His lifelong TV, film, and music career highlights include being the first actor to portray Walt Disney on film in One Man’s Dream, originating “Richie” in Hanna-Barbera’s Richie Rich Cartoon Show, and surpassing the Guinness World Record for number of voices in an audiobook. Most currently, Christian is the radio host of Jazz ’N Tost, heard weekly on WEQX 102.7FM, as well as the host for the new Summer Concert Series, Broadway in Vermont. With his leading lady (on stage and off), Melissa and Christian, explain “in perfect harmony” how so much can be said without uttering a single word. Coming August 19 on the new children’s album Arise Together, and as a single (to be distributed by CD Baby worldwide) on all digital platforms. 

Ron Trent & Others - What Do The Stars Say To You (Francois Kervorkian continuous mix – with bonus tracks)

One of the most soulful sets we've ever heard from the mighty Ron Trent – a full length set that's a fantastic summation of all the genius he's given us on singles over the past decade or so – and a record that marks a real maturation in Ron's music! Make no mistake, Trent was always a cut above most club music talents – working with an understanding of deeper, older currents that always showed up in his tracks, but which really take root and flower here – partly through collaborations with members of Azymuth, Jean-Luc Ponty, Khruangbin, and other guests – but with a sense of unity that's definitely Ron's own! This isn't simple house or club – but a rich palette of cosmic vision – on titles that include "On My Way Home", "Warm", "Cool Water", "Cycle Of Many", "Admira", "Melt Into You", "Flos Potentia", and "Sphere". This package brings together all the tracks from the LP in a very cool mix by the legendary Francois K – and adds in 5 bonus tracks too!  ~ Dusty Groove

South Jersey Jazz Society Announces Dates for the Pat Martino Celebration of Life and Legacy

South Jersey Jazz Society presents a Celebration of Life and Legacy of the great jazz guitarist Pat Martino at this year’s Jazz @ the Point Festival, which runs from November 3 through 6 at various venues in Somers Point, New Jersey. Artists performing at the festival include influential musicians and jazz icons who have interacted with Martino throughout the guitarist’s illustrious career that spanned more than five decades before he passed away in 2021. The complete lineup will be announced in the near future. 

“The planned Celebration of Life and Legacy comes nearly a year to the day Pat passed away on November 1,” stated Joe Donofrio, artistic director, vice president and event producer on behalf of South Jersey Jazz Society. “It was not an ideal situation to try and gather musicians and audience during the past COVID cycle and look forward to recognizing and celebrating his genius with his many musical colleagues." 

The Celebration of Life and Legacy will also be live-streamed on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5, which will provide an opportunity for an international audience to engage. 

South Jersey Jazz Society hopes to make this a free event for all attendees (live-streaming will $10 per day), accepting only free-will donations from those in attendance thereby exposing as many people as possible to the magic that was and is Pat Martino. Proceeds from this event will be shared equally with the estate of Pat Martino. 

Sponsors include OceanFirst Bank Foundation, Benedetto Guitars, Just 4 Wheels, John Scarpa, UBS Financial, Dennisville Fence, Walt’s Original Primo Pizza and Ritala Associates..

This event is made possible in part through the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the Local Arts Grant administered by Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. This program is made possible in part through the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts through the Local Arts Grant administered by Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. The producers wish to thank DL Media for their participation. 

For more information, call Nicholas Regine at (609) 289-0326 or info@southjerseyjazz.org, or visit www.southjerseyjazz.org.

New Music: Slave/Steve Arrington/Aurra, Giménez López / Matthew Golombisky / MatíasFormica, JK Group, Boney James

Slave/Steve Arrington/Aurra - The Definitive Collection (3CD set)

The first-ever group-spanning collection of work from the family of Slave – the late 70s funk powerhouse that was also linked to the group's Aurra and Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame! The package is heavy on work from Slave – that bass-heavy group who really revolutionized the sound of funk in the late 70s – creating a lean groove that was tight and right on the money, and providing a perfect platform for so many new artists to leap off into the 80s! The group also boasted members Steve Washington and Steve Arrington – the former of whom would launch Aurra, a great funk group famous for their Salsoul Records material – the latter of whom was lead singer Steve Arrington, who'd enjoy a great run under his own name in the 80s! This package brings together a massive amount of greatness from everyone involved – Aurra tracks that include "Are You Single", "Checking You Out", "Make Up Your Mind", "Such A Feeling", and "In The Mood To Groove"; Steve Arrington cuts "You Meet My Approval", "Weak At The Knees", "Feel So Real", and "Dancin In The Key Of Life"; and Slave cuts that include "Slide", "Screw Your Wig On Tite", "Are You Ready For Love", "Stellar Fungk", "Feel My Love", "Shine", "Funky Lady", "Snap Shot", "Party Lites", "Life Can Be Happy", "Great American Funk Song", "Stone Jam", "Sizzlin Hot", "Watching You", "Son Of Slide", "Party Hardy", and "Drac Is Back". 44 cuts in all! ~ Dusty Groove

Giménez López / Matthew Golombisky /  MatíasFormica - 4.9

This new trio and project arises from the album Hastío y Paranoia, by Matías Formica (released on his label Numeral in 2021), in which there are two pieces recorded by Giménez López,  and Formica. After the two pieces for Hastío y Paranoia, a remaining three hours of material was left and resulted in the pieces being released here on 4.9. The idea of ​​the session had been to record spontaneous music without clear guidelines, but as the session progressed they were modified, with slight indications to generate different sound results. Matthew said out loud after soundcheck his love for playing free music and spontaneously composed pieces are something that can result in what might seem as previously worked out material. In that while we were to improvise freely, it’s ok to stop short of what is often conceived as a freely improvised piece of music; ie. it’s ok to stop after two or three minutes if the vibe is discovered, explored sufficiently, there’s not necessarily a reason to keep going… just stop and let that be the tune. All tunes (except one) are under five minutes and most are in the three-minute range, all relating to one of his ideas within the concept of “free pop”.

JK Group - Find Joy

Multi-dimensional future-jazz outfit JK GROUP to release a new EP, 'Rising' on La Sape Records. The brainchild of award-winning saxophonist, Joshua Kelly (30/70 collective, PBS Young Elder of Jazz 2019), the band returns to the label with a follow up EP to the mind-bending 2021 release, 'What’s Real?' Where 'What’s Real?' served as a platform for wild experimentation, 'Rising' returns to a more considered and familiar format for the band, offering up 4 cohesive tracks that are deep in conception and expression, at once original and fresh. Conceived after recording an as yet unreleased body of work written whilst undergoing chemotherapy, 'Rising' celebrates bandleader Josh’s survival and eventual recovery from the intense treatment he received for lymphoma in 2020. The band stays true to their honed format of jazz traditions melding with influences from electronica and beyond. Like the first release, 'The Young Ones', 'Rising' sits comfortably in the crossover of raw, live jazz and electronic dance music, whilst also throwing an unexpected curveball to the listener expanding the palate of the bands sound to a pigment never before heard in their music. 'Find Joy' is the first track taken from the EP.

Boney James - Bring It Back

Chart-topping jazz/R&B sax player Boney James released his new single “Bring It Back”  featuring critically acclaimed composer, conductor, orchestrator, arranger, and trumpeter, Dontae Winslow.  The track is available today via all streaming services and marks the first release from James’ forthcoming 18th studio album, Detour, out September 23rd on Concord Records.  The new 10-song collection is a subtle stylistic turn that builds on the commercial success of 2020’s Solid, James’ highest charting release ever on the pop charts, peaking in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. "It was such fun co-writing and co-producing this track with the awesome J-Mo. The old school vibe inspired the title. Also featuring a great trumpet solo by Dontae Winslow (from Kamasi Washington’s band)!" - Boney James

Jae Ordon | "Artificially Natural"

It’s a case of a kismet-style meeting 20 years ago, a like-minded connection and an inevitable reconnection 20 years later that produced musical magic over just one week in Nashville. That’s the distilled down story of how NYC folk-jazz artist Jae Ordon forged a creative partnership with legendary Broadway guitarist and composer Laurent Medelgi to record his new album Artificially Natural and its captivating lead single, “Life Whispers On” — available now.

A multi-layered, genre-bending tune trip that journeys from time travel through a couple’s whirlwind romance and eventual dissolution, “Life Whispers On” explores the fleetingness of life and relationships with a chorus that anchors down a central idea of the power of love.

“‘Life Whispers On’ had come to me in sort of a dream state in pieces over a few years’ time,” recalls Ordon. “A reflection on life’s relentless yet delicate and unwavering march forward, getting older in a whispering sentimental way of sometimes unnoticed motion wrapping around us while both caressing and weathering.” 

It took the aforementioned connection and collaboration with Medelgi to give “Life Whispers On” its full voice though.

In 2002, while looking for a fourth member for his trio Mascot’s Distance, Ordon put the word out on Craig’s List and Medelgi was the first to answer the ad. At the same time, Ordon’s drummer Yutaka Uchida had suggested that Ordon meet his guitarist friend, Laurent, as a potential new band member.

“That led me to believe it was a sign — if you believe in that sort of thing,” says Ordon. 

Ordon and Medelgi met up at a coffee shop in Chelsea, discovered a kinship and how much they had in common musically and Medelgi joined the band in the studio. Mascot’s Distance continued playing gigs with Medelgi at such legendary NYC venues as the Cutting Room, Bitter End, Joe’s Pub, Arlene’s Grocery, and The Living Room. A few more records were cut including Chasing Pixie Dust which spawned some radio play including on Albany’s WEXT, where DJ Dave Michaels called the album “a masterpiece!”

Even so, losing their bass player and other setbacks caused Mascot’s Distance to disband some months later and Medelgi moved back to his home city of Paris.

Fast forward to 2020 and, after reminiscing about the magic Mascot’s Distance made 18 years prior, Medelgi reached out to Ordon to tell him that his girlfriend had been crying after listening to their Chasing Pixie Dust album.

“Why was she crying?” Ordon asked Medelgi. “She thought it was so tragic that Mascot’s Distance never got the acclaim and visibility it deserved, and that it would be great if we could get back in the studio.”

Ordon agreed to send Medelgi some of his new songs and asked him to pick his favourites that they could record. Medelgi chose “Life Whispers On” as one of them. Medelgi asked if he could do some arrangements of Ordon’s new songs and, after a false start with acclaimed London-based producer Rick James, the duo focused on Nashville as a recording locale, where Medelgi had some remarkable connections.

Medelgi’s connections were utilized to negotiate and procure a group of top-shelf session musicians including Toto/Steely Dan drummer Keith Carlock, Michael McDonald’s horn section, piano player Pat Coil who was voted by Keyboard magazine ”world’s best keyboardist”, and Christopher Cross and Robben Ford’s bass player Brian Allen. 

Ordon and Medelgi booked an ambitious and economical four days of recording time at Nashville’s Coop de Ville Studios and hunkered down at Ordon’s place in Queens for a week of 14-hour-day song woodshedding before the trip to Music City. Notably, Steely Dan pianist Jim Beard was almost part of the project but opted out because he thought the music was too complicated to record in just one session that was allocated to recording auxiliary keyboards. 

“Jim said it seemed like the project was a ‘runaway horse’, which turned out to be a marvelous challenge for us, as well as the source of a lot of laughing,” recalls Ordon.

After hearing some of the studio results, Beard texted Medelgi to say, “Congratulations on a marvelous album.” Artificially Natural had been borne out of true kismet, determination, expert musicianship, and a desire to get ‘er done. 

“I guess we tamed the horse,” muses Ordon.

The star-aligning experience of recording Artificially Natural is just one in a long line of achievements for the Long Island composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter. Ordon has been featured in Time Out New York magazine and has worked as a composer with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, the broadway musical Wicked’s composer Stephen Schwartz, as well as actors Hugh Jackman, Taye Diggs, the late Brittany Murphy and organizations such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Folger’s Coffee and The New School. A classically trained pianist who majored in music at Syracuse University, Ordon went on to earn a Master's degree from Columbia University in music education. 

Artificially Natural and its lead single “Life Whispers On” is actually on the second of three projects that the Nashville sessions form part of. “The first being a four song EP entitled Life Whispers On (released in 2021), the 2nd is a full length album entitled Artificially Natural comprising the four EP songs from Nashville sessions, as well as singles and songs from my earlier albums,” explains Ordon. “And lastly a 3rd album called Berdache which will have the remaining three unreleased Nashville songs, also songs which I recorded on my own, and four songs yet to be recorded. I am aiming to release Berdache in October of 2022.”

Ordon is nothing short of very busy and creatively productive, and that’s just the way to be as life whispers on. 

Daniel Lanois | "Player, Piano"

Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Daniel Lanois has announced the upcoming release of his new album Player, Piano. The album features a series of exotic instrumental piano performances and was recorded at Lanois’ studio in Toronto with the help of co-producer Dangerous Wayne Lorenz. Lanois has also today shared the single “My All.” Player, Piano will be released on September 23rd via Modern Recordings. 

“‘My All‘ is a melody I wrote as a send off to my little brother who passed away,” writes Lanois. “The piano part is based on an approach I learned from Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. Some time back Steven was at my house playing my upright piano, he showed this style of repeating a chord on the right hand, while playing a moving melody on the left hand. It was a turning point in my piano playing…Thank you Steven!” 

“Making this record transported me at a time when I couldn’t go anywhere,” Lanois reflects. “I got to travel to Cuba and Mexico and Jamaica. I got to visit with the ghosts of Erik Satie and Oscar Peterson and Harold Budd. I got to go back in time to my work with Brian Eno and Kate Bush and Emmylou Harris. All without ever leaving my studio.” 

In order to achieve the timeless-sounding recordings on Player, Piano, Lanois and Lorenz set about transforming each of the three pianos in the studio, dampening the strings with tea towels and dulling the percussive impact of the hammers by adding small felt pads to the heads. When it came time to record, they used vintage ribbon mics and arranged them behind the instruments rather than in front in an effort to further soften the sound. “I decided that if I was going to make a piano record, I wanted it to sound like recordings from the ‘40s and ’50s, back when the piano was soft and beautiful,” explains Lanois. 

As one of the most acclaimed and influential producers of the modern era, he’s helmed iconic albums for everyone from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to U2 and Peter Gabriel. As a prolific and critically acclaimed songwriter, he’s composed scores for Oscar-winning films and blockbuster video games in addition to releasing more than a dozen genre-bending solo records. Rolling Stone declared that his “unmistakable fingerprints are all over an entire wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” (think The Joshua Tree, Wrecking Ball, Time Out Of Mind), while NPR lauded him as the author of his own “brilliant albums of heartfelt songs.” 

Player, Piano follows the 2021 release of Lanois’ album Heavy Sun, which received wide acclaim from outlets such as SPIN, World Cafe, No Depression and American Songwriter and more. 

Each song on Player, Piano is a portal, an invitation to lose yourself in the moment and disappear into a world of imagination and memory. Melodies unfold slowly with patience and grace; ethereal arrangements drift around them like fog rolling through the mountains. More than just an album, Player, Piano is a gateway into a cinematic sonic universe full of mystery and wonder, a place where the lines between reality and fantasy blur and deep truths and desires reveal themselves in profound and unexpected ways.

Playing For Change Band | "The Real Revolution"

Playing For Change is proud to announce their debut album The Real Revolution featuring the Playing For Change Band! The new album is a purpose-driven record with a compelling message of connecting the world through music. The songs embody the spirit of love, truth and unity that binds us all together and leads us from the darkness to the light. 

Although this is the first studio album from the renowned band, they have been a unique fusion of influences and talents in constant evolution since their start in 2008. The band currently consists of 10 musicians from 10 countries, carrying music from the streets to the stage to the hearts of people. Even though the musicians come from many different countries and cultures, it is through music that they speak the same language. It is a tangible, traveling representation of the Playing For Change mission: to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. 

The Real Revolution features members of the Playing For Change Band as well as special guests. The core group of 10 musicians from 10 countries recorded the new album over the course of five years as they toured the world to several different countries. The worldly influences are prominent in shaping The Real Revolution sound, and the body of work is a reflection of the power of the human spirit, witnessed first hand throughout their global travels.

The PFC Band recorded at the famous Tuff Gong Studio and teamed up with members of Damian Marley’s band to create an album that is a fusion of various languages and cultures, combining world music and reggae. Bob Marley has been one of the most pivotal figures in the DNA of Playing For Change and The Real Revolution is a celebration in that spirit of transforming people with music from the inside out. The record was produced by Mark Johnson, Mermans Mosengo, and Robin Moxey. Mixed by Greg Morgenstein at Astound Studios, Los Angeles, and mastered by Greg Morgenstein in Los Angeles.

The full album is 10 songs stacked with potent messages centered around unity and social
justice that vibrate to the core of the Playing For Change Band. The powerful lead single, showcasing the vocals of Congolese musicians Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba and also titled “The Real Revolution,” lives in the spirit of the people and offers an empowering message. Reflecting on the new song, Mark Johnson comments, “I wrote this song a few years ago knowing that I would have the full power of Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba’s voices and their shared conviction to tell the story. The Real Revolution lives in the spirit of the people and true change comes from within. Fear is the enemy.” 

The second release, “Me Pierdo,” written by Pierre Minetti, is a perfect blend of reggae and Latin music and speaks of the journey to our inner nature and the longing for freedom while feeling lost in a world full of injustice and stress. Tula Ben Ari comments, “I introduced the song to the band back in 2009 and it became a favorite in the band’s live show!”

The Real Revolution album will be released alongside the focus track “Run” due out on June 24, 2022. “Run” is an uplifting song written by PFC Band member Claire Finley that inspires feelings of hopefulness, focusing on the good in life instead of dwelling on the past. She comments, “When writing the song ‘Run,’ I thought it would be cool to play with the concept of running towards the good things in life instead of only focusing on getting away from bad thoughts or situations holding you back. In life, I believe it’s very important to think about the things you aspire to instead of continuing to dwell on situations of the past.”

The release of The Real Revolution album commences the 20 year anniversary of Playing For Change, with exclusively designed cover art by Neville Garrick (longtime Art Director for Bob Marley and the Wailers), and perfectly represents the PFC belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. 

Track List:

• The Real Revolution 
• Young People 
• Lamuka 
• Me Pierdo
• Right Foot Forward 
• 54-46 That’s My Number
• Bibamba
• Run
• Bwanya
• When The Music Comes Around