New Music Releases: Mavis Staples – We Get By; Mavis Pan – Set For Love; Nicole Banks Long - Fly

Mavis Staples – We Get By

Mavis Staples returns with a brand-new studio album produced and written by Ben Harper. Backed by Mavis’ critically acclaimed live band, We Get By features 10 songs of longing, strength, and spirituality, presented with simplicity, grit and sublime beauty. Highlights include the buoyant, “Anytime,” the cathartic “Change,” the title track, an uplifting duet with Ben Harper, plus “Brothers And Sisters,” “ Heavy On My Mind,” “Sometime,” “Never Needed Anyone,” “Stronger,” “Chance On Me.” “Hard To Leave,” and “One More Change.”

Mavis Pan – Set For Love

Set For Love is the new album from accomplished Asian-American pianist and composer Mavis Pan. Equally proficient in both jazz and classical music, Pan has performed her works across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and has received numerous accolades including Brooklyn College Conservatory’s Morton Feldman and Miriam Gideon composer awards and was a finalist in the YPMP/CACA piano competition. Set For Love was produced by Grammy Award-winning drummer and producer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and showcases a collective of exceptional musicians that accompany Pan in various settings. The album explores love in many contexts including head-over-heels love, love in trouble, love anticipated, and love remembered, and completes a cycle of jazz styles including ballad, blues, bolero, bossa-nova, samba, swing, tango, and waltz, all on the timeless theme of love.

Nicole Banks Long - Fly

Southern bred multi-talented vocal interpreter and songwriter Nicole Banks Long brings a fascinating background – including musical theater performer and contributor to Rod McGaha’s jazz fusion album THE SERVANT - to her a fresh, sultry emergence in Smooth Jazz with the release of her debut album FLY. Balancing honest emotion to her balance of hushed intimacy and deeply soul dramatic flair, the singer finds her unique voice as an artist while cleverly re-imagining classics and lesser known tunes by the likes of Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, Shirley Horn, Phoebe Snow, Nancy Wilson and others. A sly and insightful storyteller, Banks Long also shares a powerful sense of social consciousness on her two standout originals. ~ www.smoothjazz.com

Grammy-Winning Saxophonist David Sánchez Shares New Track "Morning Mist"

Grammy-Winning Saxophonist David Sánchez has shared a new track "Morning Mist" from his forthcoming album. The track is currently streaming via WBGO who calls it a "thrilling overture", and describes it as "Beginning with an unaccompanied tenor line that sets the groove, it’s a composition built on folkloric polyrhythm but suffused with silvery modern harmonies."

Listen: David Sánchez - "Morning Mist"

https://youtu.be/z-W1qoaUfws 

David Sánchez will release his new album Carib on Ropeadope / Christian Scott's Stretch Music imprint on June 7th, and will mark the release of the album with four performances at Jazz Standard in New York, June 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th. Scott writes of Sánchez' latest work:

"Carib finds David at the height of his powers. Its no question whether he is one of the preeminent saxophonists of the last few decades, that's a given. He's as killer as anyone who has ever touched the horn. This document, however, speaks to me as a testament to the prowess of his compositional voice, to his mastery of the interplay and relationships found in creative improvised music's vernacular and rhythmic spaces."

Two pieces songs from Carib, "Canto" and "Fernando's Theme", are featured in the soundtrack of the film Windows on The World by Robert Mailer Anderson. The film includes performances by Ryan Guzman and Edward James Olmos, and was released in March 2019.

Featuring original compositions inspired by melodies and rhythms coming from the Afro Puerto Rican and Haitian tradition, Carib both reflects Sánchez's musical heritage as well as his commitment to humanitarian and economic justice efforts in the region. "I believe some of the greatest contributions to contemporary music and culture have come from the African diaspora throughout the Americas," writes Sánchez. "Unfortunately, there seems to be too little awareness of their influence, especially the vital stories told by the music. So, I wanted to approach this album as a means to pay tribute to all Afro descendent communities who have helped define my music and the culture’s broad ranging beauty and idiosyncrasies.

Sánchez also seeks to honor family who played a pivotal role in his life and artistic development. "This album is in memory of my Father, Dimas and especially, my late wife Karla," he writes. "After a great deal of research and listening to Haitian music, Karla encouraged and helped me take a trip to Haiti. It was an incredible and intense experience, seeing the everyday people's struggles"

Sánchez's unique musical sensibility can be traced to his home, Puerto Rico, where he began playing percussion and drums at age 8. He migrated to tenor saxophone a few years later. While a scholar at the prestigious La Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan, he took up the flute, clarinet as well as soprano saxophone with teachers Angel Marrero and Leslie López. The Bomba and Plena rhythms of his homeland, along with Cuban, Caribbean and Brazilian traditions, were among the biggest influence on Sanchez's early taste in music. But soon jazz masters such as Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane would command his ear and his imagination. Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Wayne Shorter and Joe Henderson all have been also major influences.

David Sánchez is also "Maestro Sánchez" to students at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. After a decade of teaching, he has proven to be a compelling presence with students and is in demand for workshops and master classes in Puerto Rico and beyond. In 2017 he helped form a new program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, The RJAM (Roots, Jazz, and American Music).

In addition to his collaboration with the Conservatory of Puerto Rico and The Conservatory of San Francisco, Sánchez has taught master classes in Brazil, at the Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University's School of Music, Stanford University, University of Memphis, Emory University Berklee Global Institute and completed a year-long residency at Georgia State University.

Ola Onabulé's "It's The Peace That Deafens" features a largely acoustic set, uniting Jazz, Soul and world influences

Ola Onabulé's album; "It's The Peace That Deafens" marks a departure from his previous two releases featuring a largely acoustic set, uniting Jazz, Soul and world influences. The Album contains 12 evocative songs about identity, reconciliation and nostalgia. Words, melodies and rhythms that walk a delicate tightrope of paradoxes, born of a childhood and adulthood immersed in two disparate cultures, on two different continents and at two different times.  "It's The Peace That Deafens" is as much a work of exploration as it is a declaration. 

Ola states; "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game. I always felt like the creative parts of song writing, producing and recording were merely different stages of a single process".

"It's The Peace That Deafens by singer-songwriter Ola Onabulé transports us back to his Nigerian roots ... the album is as rich as his African heritage. The sublime and subtle title ballad expresses in a few words the sensation of what happens when you are not true to yourself, if you do not speak out against injustice: "Gentle words, shrewd and false from lips that betray way deep... beaten down, deadened pulse...where defeat lives...." This is a dilemma explored by African novelists such as Chinua Achebe too, the clash and tug of war between old ways and new. But it is an African pulse (and to some extent a Bossa Nova and bluesy lilt) that drives this full-of-life album with melodies that soar and stay with you for a long time. They are powered by a beautiful clear voice that is both intimate and tender yet stadium-filling. It is a unique voice." - Mary James, The London Jazz News

"Ola Onabule, who packs more musical ideas into one song than many artists manage over an entire album, has issued an upbeat set of songs with a world infusion of music layered into jazz. ‘It's The Peace That Deafens' is a harmonious treat. These wonderful melodies and thrilling beats are infused with thoughtful lyrics, touching on the subject of belonging and identity, hope and love. One of Ola's greatest gifts is his vocal range. More often he sings in a deep, expressive baritone. This distinctive tone rises and falls, twists and turns as the rhythms of the music alter. With this expressive range, and one interconnected to the music, Stevie Wonder or Nat King Cole are probably his only vocal peers" - Royal Albert Hall Shows, Digital Journal 2015

"Ola Onabule's debut in Umbria Jazz, was not diminutive in any way. A warm voice and scenic elegance, Onabule was the star performer of the Arena, speaking to the audience, explaining the songs and joking. A full connection of humour which was appreciated by the audience, as in the case of the parody of his long African name. Powerful and overwhelming rhythms , that have been fully incorporated the musical roots of the Londoner with Nigerian origins: He moved effortlessly from Yoruba Afrobeat music to jazz, to arrive at the warm sounds of the soul". - Umbria Jazz Festival 2016, Piacere Magazine

"But the surprise of the evening was the debut of Ola Onabule, who opened the concert evening. The British Nigerian's style incorporates influences from Yoruba Afrobeat, jazz, and soul with lyrics that speak of an Africa with a thousand problems, but also with the boundless resources. In short, Onabule is a wonderful discovery!" - Umbria Jazz Festival 2016, Soundcontest

'The evening at the Arena hosted another debut for the Perugian event; Ola Onabule British singer-songwriter of Nigerian origin has deservedly achieved international fame thanks to its colorful soul-jazz which is full of rhythm and African influences, a set full of charm and melody' - Umbra Jazz 2016, La Notizia Quoti

'Nigerian British Vocalist Ola Onabulé impressed mightily with his set on the Arena Stage'. - Willard Jenkins, Downbeat Magazine July 2016

"Onabulé explores jazz inclinations, world influences, and personal insights, presented in a sophisticated ambience. Blessed with a voice that spans three octaves, he utilizes his vocal skills in an instrumental manner, offering unique nuances, syncopation, and modulations. This record is a substantial convergence of introspection, dedication, and talent, showcasing a consummate performer at the crest of his craft." - James Nadal, All About Jazz 2016

"It's The Peace That Deafens - It's very much the singer's album. He has a high tenor, rich and warm right up to a particularly sweet high range (especially on the title track) with sometimes a touch of Michael McDonald's husky nuance (try Love Again or Orunmila). He also has a gorgeous sense of "funk-swing" for want of a better term (In Your Shoes). His song-writing is strong and varied in mood, sometimes incorporating tricky timing with aplomb (Orunmila), and the lyrics are intelligent and carefully expressed. Particularly outstanding is 'The Girl That She Was', a beautifully twisting and turning tune that Onabule navigates with easy style. Overall there is a graceful dignity about this music that fills the chest and raises the head." - Peter Bacon, The Jazz Breakfast

"A superb blend of raw rhythms from his African background, among other sources, and super- sophisticated,highly developed jazz-soul singing and songwriting" - Rob Adams, Glasgow Herald

'On Thursday 24th November 2016 - A special performance that ranked amongst the very best and leaves me bereft of sufficient superlatives to convey just how good Ola Onabule and his fellow musicians are. It's not as if I haven't seen Ola before, but in his nigh 2 year absence from Britain performing in substantial foreign venues, (aside from appearances at Royal Albert Hall at end of 2015 alongside Diana Krall), he has clearly honed his art to mesmerising levels. The quality and tone of his voice cannot be overstated as he delivered his unique blend of Jazz, Soul and world. There's a soulful richness that oozes from Ola that draws you in and enraptures you with every note. Ola performed material mainly from his latest album, "It's The Peace That Deafens" in which Ola has explored his world influences and those beautiful syncopated soulfulrhythms are infused with a blend of Latin or African flavours, which yield a sound that defies the stereotypical genre pigeon holing. All I can tell you is that it sounds fantastic. What enhances Ola's songs even further is the quality of the writing. Each song has an intelligent poetic strength and relevance, whether it reflects on the harsh realities of injustice, inner city strife or a heart wrenching love song'. - David Llewellyn, Jazz in Europe (Dec, 2016)

'It is apparent in how Ola infuses the elements embedded from the very beginning in the traditional use of the shout, the humming, the cries and the moans vocalists used as an essential part of their expression. Based on that, from my point of view Ola's vocal work is a pure historical representation of that tradition brought into a 21st century setting to today's audience many of whom have no idea of the history or of what went on before but are touched by that energy, the intensity and meaningful stories built into his songs and performances. Therefore, it might seem somewhat remarkable that a totally self contained artist such as Ola Onabulé comes along in this era and even more importantly in the jazz idiom. It is clear with his self assured approach as a consummate entertainer he invokes all that is contemporary at his disposal with his performances not limited to being just accompanied by a small group but also includes the power of the big band'. - Alfie Wade, Couleurs Jazz 2016

Herford, Germany - "Ola Onabulé is one of the great soul, jazz and blues singer songwriters of our time. In front of a sold out house, Onabulé gave a performance from a cross-section from his previous albums." - Sina Wollgramm, Neue Westfälische

Umbria Jazz Festival 2016 - "Ola Onabule il "Magnifico" - British-Nigerian artist Ola Onabule made his debut at Umbria Jazz. Although we are, again, in the macro category of performers, Onabule has a charisma and vocal elegance that makes it really a novelty in the world of male voices in jazz. We are not in front of a virtuoso circus of vocal cords, but a voice that can do what he wants and chooses time after time what to do! The mastery of of interpretation makes the difference between a tightrope walker singer and a great performer. At times in the concert last night I seemed to be listening to Al Jarreau at the beginning, Moreover, Onabule writes the lyrics and the music. ... Onabule also has the habit of dressing elegantly, without exception, to every concert. Unlikely, indeed impossible, to see him performing in jeans or without at least a tailored waistcoat. Even last night at the Arena Santa Giuliana, Onabule wore a perfect 3 piece suit the colour of sugar paper. Ola Onabule loves to talk with the audience and each piece he explained with humor and jokes with his audience who enjoyed participating, such as the parody of his long African name. The pieces presented in Perugia are part of his new album It's The Peace That Deafens, but Onabule does not give up singing some of his classic songs like Great Expectations . The difference between the new material and the old workhorses, is in the greater desire of the artist's ballads. An intimate and passionate work where the voice is the soul's megaphone for feelings, whatever they are. A beautiful concert, musically rewarding." - Carlo Vantaggioli, Tuttoggi (Jul 10, 2016)

 

Little Steven And The Interstellar Jazz Renegades' Score For Netflix's First Original Series "Lilyhammer" To Be Released For First Time On July 12 In Two Volumes Via Wicked Cool/UMe

For his starring role in Netflix's groundbreaking first original series, "Lilyhammer," actor/musician Steven Van Zandt explored uncharted waters as a New York mobster who flees to Norway under the witness protection program. In addition to acting in, co-writing and co-producing the acclaimed show, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer also scored the music for most of the three seasons, where just like his character, the musician best known as Little Steven of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and an accomplished solo artist who helped pioneer the rock-meets-soul sound, also delved into some terrain foreign to him: the worlds of New York jazz and Norwegian folk music. For the first time, the music from the show, which ended in 2014, has been collected together and will be released as two separate albums – Lilyhammer The Score - Volume 1: Jazz and Volume 2: Folk, Rock, Rio, Bits And Pieces – on CD, digital and 180-gram black vinyl on July 12 via Wicked Cool/UMe. Starting today, "My Kind Of Town, Van Zandt's spin on the Frank Sinatra standard featured on Volume 1, and his Tito Puente-inspired mambo tune "Mojito" on Volume 2, are available for streaming and immediate download with the corresponding preorder. A video of "My Kind Of Town" featuring Van Zandt's performance of the song on the show mixed with memorable scenes from across the series is available to watch and share here:  https://UMe.lnk.to/MyKindOfTownVideoPR

The music of "Lilyhammer" was arranged and produced by Van Zandt and recorded at his Renegade Studios in New York and at various studios in Norway while in the midst of filming. It was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Geoff Sanoff and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering.

When Van Zandt was tasked with coming up with the music to soundtrack "Lilyhammer," the veteran musician, songwriter and producer who had pretty much done it all in the worlds of songwriting, including dozens of albums, hundreds of songs, tracks for movies, a Broadway musical, as well as music supervision and musical direction, had never scored a television show and was up to the challenge. Knowing he wanted to create something that combined New York jazz to represent his character Frank "The Fixer" Tagliano with the Norwegian folk music of his exotic new environs, he turned to friend and fellow E Street Band member Max Weinberg for some advice on who could help him put a band together that could flawlessly execute these two disparate genres. On Weinberg's recommendation, he enlisted GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist, arranger and orchestrator, Lee Musiker, known for his wealth of experience working with premiere artists in the jazz, classical, Broadway, and pop genres, such as Mel Tormé, Kristin Chenoweth, Wynton Marsalis, Buddy Rich and Tony Bennett, to help bring his vision to life. Together they assembled the Interstellar Jazz Renegades, a loose collective of some of NYC's finest musicians, led by Musiker and orchestrators Stan Harrison, Raul Agraz and Adam Hochstatter.

Volume 1: Jazz collects together 13 of the best jazz compositions from the show and features a mix of jazz standards, instrumental score and original songs. Van Zandt provides vocals and channels the crooners of yore on the jazz classics, "All Of Me," "Ring-a-Ding Ding!" and the aforementioned "My Kind Of Town." Typically, the music created for TV is short musical cues but Van Zandt took a different approach. "I figured I've got some of the most talented musicians in New York City so why waste them on 15 second cues," Van Zandt explains. "We decided to have some fun. I'd meet Lee about an hour before the session and give him the top line melodies, basic chord changes and structure and talk about the overall mood of the piece. I wanted to try something different and get the musicians creative input and let these guys who were used to always reading their parts express themselves for a change. We would basically arrange it on the spot. I'd suggest a harmony, Lee would suggest an idea and the musicians would begin to orchestrate themselves. It was wild and extremely fruitful. After the success of the first session I knew we had a legitimate jazz album in addition to an incredible score."

Opening with the moody, evocative "Lilyhammer Nocturne (Theme from Lilyhammer)," allowing listeners to hear the full song that the theme song was developed from, the tunes range from the sensual ("The Night Before", "I'm A Fool To Want You") and swinging ("My Kind Of Town," "Rumble Island, "The Thief,") to the mysterious ("Sorceress") and melancholy ("Gloomy Sunday"). An accomplished set of songs that harkens back to the greats like Henry Mancini, Stan Getz and Nelson Riddle, the cinematic music transports you to a dark, smoky jazz club somewhere in 1950's New York or in this case, Norway in the late 2000s. The strength of the music, expertly performed by these veteran musicians, both stands on its own as a cohesive jazz album and as a soundtrack for fans who want to relive the great jazz music of the show. 

Volume 2: Folk, Rock, Rio, Bits And Pieces is a wildly eclectic affair that gathers together 36 tracks from the show, ranging from short music cues to full songs spanning across a dizzying array of genres. Opening with the broadcast version of the theme song "Lilyhammer Nocturne," the song begins as a swinging jazz tune and then deftly segues into Norwegian folk music illustrating the collision of two cultures. Van Zandt fully embraced the Nordic country and integrated traditional Norwegian folk instruments into his musical arsenal to create an authentic sound for the show which was filmed in Lillehammer, Norway and watched by nearly one fifth of its population. Highlights of the folk songs include "Revelation," "Lillehammer Mourning" and "Baptism." On "Toboggan Negotiation," Van Zandt, who played guitar on all but one track on the collection, injects a hard-strummed acoustic guitar into an otherwise traditional sounding folk song, creating a unique hybrid.

The pieces span the globe and musical history, ranging from the Ennio Morricone-esque "African Dawn," to the Eastern sounds of "Tandoori Epiphany" and "Dance of the Persian Serpent," to the symphonic rock of "Painted Angels," to the bluesy "Espresso Martini," to the surf rock of "Killer Surf" and the Latin jazz and mambo of "Stevie Colada and "Mojito." On "Out Of The Darkness," Van Zandt revisits his 1983 song and transforms it from a stadium rock anthem into a bittersweet instrumental with a Norwegian flavor while "Favella" conjures up images of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro. Overall it showcases both the breadth of the extraordinary and ambitious music that Van Zandt created for the show and his immense talent as a songwriter, arranger, musician and musical chameleon. 

"I'm really proud of 'Lilyhammer' and the music I created for it," says Van Zandt. "This was especially rewarding because it gave me the chance to finally do a score completely. This was a full commitment, I loved doing it and experimenting with sound and putting it to pictures and seeing what effect it has. It was a lot of fun, I'd love to do more of it."

Lilyhammer The Score: Volume 1 and 2 come on the heels of Little Steven's highly acclaimed just-released new album Summer of Sorcery, his first album of original material in 20 years. Created with his 14-piece band the Disciples of Soul, the album's 12 songs capture the energy, excitement and electricity of summer, and is an exuberant mix of rock n' soul. Hailed by Rolling Stone as "the most eclectic record he's ever made… it largely dispenses with protest songs and revels in the rock, soul and R&B of his Sixties youth," the album was called "a nostalgic New Jersey starburst of sex and soul," by Uncut while American Songwriter enthused, "Steven, his musical director Marc Ribler and veteran mixers/masterers Bob Clearmountain and Bob Ludwig, pull out all the stops to make this sonic smorgasbord explode out of the speakers with passion and clout. Few artists have the financial means or artistic vision to pull off a thunderous production like this which is impressive in its scope and sheer booming audio audacity."

Having played two rapturous record release shows in Los Angeles and New Jersey, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul are currently bringing the songs of Summer of Sorcery to life on tour in the UK and Europe. The band will kick off the first leg of their North American tour at the end of June and then head back to Europe in August for more shows. They will return to the US in September for a tour that will culminate at New York City's Beacon Theatre on November 6. As always, teachers are welcome to all shows for free. Each show will be proceeded with a teacher's development workshop demonstrating how to incorporate Van Zandt's TeachRock music education curriculum into the classroom. For more information, visit teachrock.org

LILYHAMMER: THE SCORE TRACK LISTINGS

VOLUME 1: JAZZ

1.Lilyhammer Nocturne (Theme from Lilyhammer)

2.My Kind Of Town (vocal)

3.The Night Before

4.Rumble Island

5.Sorceress

6.I'm a Fool to Want You

7.All Of Me (vocal)

8.Blue Midnight

9.The Thief

10.City Lights

11.Gloomy Day

12.Ring-A-Ding Ding! (vocal)

13.The Morning After

VOLUME 2: FOLK, ROCK, RIO, BITS AND PIECES

1.Lilyhammer Nocturne (Theme from Lilyhammer – Broadcast Version)

2.Revelation

3.African Dawn

4.Lillehammer Mourning

5.Baptism

6.Toboggan Negotiation

7.Curiosity

8.Sunset

9. Sunrise

10.Gregorian Papyperm

11.Elegy for Sally Boy

12.Grampa Lento's Song

13.Tandoori Epiphany

14.Out of the Darkness

15.Wolf Hunt

16.Dance of the Persian Serpent

17.The Minstrel Boy (vocal)

18.Painted Angels

19.Espresso Martini

20.Stevie Colada

21.Mojito

22.Sex Ghost

23.Wired

24.Bliss

25.Jobim Paranoia

26.Out of the Clouds

27.Sylfast is Dead

28.Alex and Johnny

29.Lonely Girl

30.Killer Surf

31.Favella

32.Tommy's Run

33.Bond of Brothers

34.Sigrid Kills

35.Ibsen Interrupted

36.Massage Tattoo

LITTLE STEVEN AND THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL 

SUMMER OF SORCERY WORLD TOUR 2019

MAY

24 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town

26 - Derbyshire, UK - Bearded Theory Festival *

28 - Berlin, Germany - Huxley's

30 - Jelling, Denmark - Jelling Muiskfestival *

JUNE

1 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus

3 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller

5 - Hamburg, Germany - Fabrik

7 - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique (AB)

9 - Emmen, The Netherlands - Hello Festival *

11 - Zurich, Switzerland - Kaufleuten

13 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz

15 - Bilbao, Spain - Music Legends Festival *

17 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Apolo

20 - Kragujevac, Serbia - Arsenal Festival *

23 - Paris, France - La Cigalle

SUMMER OF SORCERY TOUR - NORTH AMERICA 2019

JUNE

29 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Blues Fest *

JULY

2 - London, ON - London Music Hall

4 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Bluesfest *

6 - Quebec City, QC - Festival d'été de Québec *

8 – Montreal, QC – L'Olympia

10 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre

12 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom

14 - Clifton Park, NY - Upstate Concert Hall

16 - New Haven, CT - College Street Music Hall

18 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount

20 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre

22 – Middletown, NY – Orange County Fair

24 - Richmond, VA - The National

26 - Easton, PA - State Theatre Center For The Arts

28 - Annapolis, MD - Outlaw Jam *

SUMMER OF SORCERY TOUR - EUROPE 2019

AUGUST

3 - Notodden, Norway - Notodden Blues Festival *

5 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio

7 - Warsaw, Poland - Stodola

9 - Erfurt, Germany - Gewerkschaftshaus

11 - Hanau, Germany - Amphitheater

13 - Nuremberg, Germany - Serenadenhof

17 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg

21 - Manchester, UK - O2 Ritz

23 - Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street

25 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy

27 - Newcastle, UK - O2 Academy

29 - Cardiff, UK - Tramshed

SEPTEMBER

2 - Vienna, Austria - Arena Wien

SUMMER OF SORCERY TOUR - NORTH AMERICA 2019

SEPTEMBER

5-8 - Las Vegas, NV - Big Blues Bender @ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino *

9 - Ventura, CA - The Majestic Ventura Theater

11 - Berkeley, CA - The UC Theatre

13-14 - San Diego, CA - Kaaboo Del Mar *

15 - Tucson, AZ - The Rialto Theatre

17 - Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre

19 – Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

22 - Louisville, KY - Bourbon & Beyond *

29 – Austin, TX @ Emo's Austin

OCTOBER

1 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues

3 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City

5 – Memphis, TN –Soundstage at Graceland

7 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Theater

13 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew's Hall

15 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live

17 – Burnsville, MN – Ames Center

19 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater

21 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts

23 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues

26 – Cleveland, OH – Masonic Auditorium

28 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place

30 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall

NOVEMBER

2 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre

4 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel's Rhythm Grille

6 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

* FESTIVAL APPEARANCE

CRAFT RECORDINGS CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STAX “SOUL EXPLOSION”

1969 marked a year that was full of both trepidation and excitement for Stax Records. Just one year before, the Memphis soul outlet ended its relationship with musical giant Atlantic Records, effectively leaving the label as an independent entity, without a music catalog (which had previously included a formidable collection of hits by Otis Redding, Carla Thomasand Sam & Dave, among others). Under the guidance of co-owner Al Bell, the label proceeded to rebuild and release an impressive collection of 27 albums and 30 singles in just a handful of months—a period known as “Soul Explosion.” The gamble paid off, and at the 1969 Stax sales summit—themed “Getting It All Together”—the label reaffirmed its place as a soul powerhouse. Craft Recordingscelebrates the 50th anniversary of this prolific, make-or-break moment for Stax—and its enduring legacy—with a wide selection of physical and digital reissues. Additionally, Craft will pay tribute to the label throughout the year with a series of playlists, original content, contests and more. 

The rebuilding of the Stax catalog was an immense undertaking—deemed impossible by many peers in the music industry. Ms. Deanie Parker, who was head of Stax’s publicity at the time, recalls that “Day and night, we planned marketing and sales efforts, and produced powerhouse songs.  For weeks we worked 24/7—molding and refining both raw and veteran artists’ recording material. . . . We worked our way to the top of our game with the Soul Explosion created at Stax Records.” Al Bell remembers how the summit was ahead of its time: “We were multimedia before multimedia was even a thing! During that one weekend in Memphis, we had large projections on the walls the size of movie theater screens and we had video interspersed with live performances by all of our top acts: Carla Thomas, Booker T. & the MGs, William Bell, Albert King, the Bar-Kays,Isaac Hayessolo and Isaac Hayes andDavid Porterdoing Sam & Dave songs. And the energy during that weekend was like nothing the music industry had seen before.”

Bell set about building a roster that reflected the changing musical landscape—signing new artists such as theEmotionsand theSoul Children; meanwhile, existing Stax artists, including the Staple Singers, were busy recording some of their biggest hits to date. Johnnie Tayloremerged as a breakout star with the single “Who’s Making Love,” the label’s first big post-Atlantic hit; while in-house songwriter and producer Isaac Hayes released his breakthrough second LP, Hot Buttered Soul, which peaked on the Billboard Top 10 and catapulted him into stardom. In Robert Gordon’s 2013 book Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion, the author writes, “It was a huge and glorious effort, interweaving the grand themes of salesmanship, civic responsibility, and the recording arts.” Bell went on to declare that the industry “began to forget that we didn’t have a catalog . . . We [were now] a viable independent record company. It accelerated from that point forward.” 

Craft recently kicked off the Soul Explosion campaign with three vinyl reissues exclusive for Record Store Day, held on April 13th: Albert King’s Born Under A Bad Sign, the duets collection Boy Meets Girl: Classic Stax Duetsand the compilation Stax Does The Beatles. Originally released in 1967, King’s Stax debut is widely recognized as one of the most influential albums, heralding in the era of modern blues. Inducted into the GRAMMY®Hall of Fame in 1999, and included in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list, this special edition marks the very first mono reissueof the title. Boy Meets Girl: Classic Stax Duetsisback on vinyl for the first time to mark the 50th anniversary of its original release. This 2-LP set pairs the label’s biggest male and female stars together for a collection of engaging duets. Finally, we have the vinyl debutof Stax Does The Beatles. Originally released in 2008, this 2-LP set compiles the best Beatles covers recorded throughout the ’60s and ’70s by Stax artists. 

On May 31st, soul connoisseurs can get their hands on the Soul Explosionalbum, back on vinyl for the first time since 1969. As part of the label’s “Made in Memphis” reissue campaign, the lacquers for the 2-LP set were cut by Memphis-based engineer Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl and pressed locally at Memphis Record Pressing (MRP). Soul Explosion offers a sampling of the label’s biggest hits and stars of the day, with Eddie Floyd, the Mad Lads, the Staple Singers, Albert King and more. The second disc of the set includes a selection of rare tracks, many of which are exclusive to this collection. These include the Bar-Kays’ “Hot Hips,” Ollie & The Nightingales’ “Heartache Mountain” and Eddie Floyd’s “It’s Wrong To Be Loving You.” Soul Explosionwill also be released digitally for the first time and will include hi-res 96/24 and 192/24 formats. Starting today, the hit song “Who’s Making Love” by Johnnie Taylor is available as an instant grat single with all digital album pre-orders. 

In June, to commemorate Black Music Month, Craft will also reissue 30 titles to digital platforms—marking the very first digital release of these albums. The titles, which will be released one per day throughout the month, include the 1971 concept album Victim Of The Joke? An Operafrom acclaimed songwriter and producer David Porter; 1973’s Estelle, Myrna & Sylviafrom girl-group theSweet Inspirations(who backed such acts as Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin); and A Dramatic Experience,the sophomore album by R&B Music Hall of Fame inductee theDramatics. Eleven of these titles (from the likes of the Soul Children, Johnnie Taylor and the Mad Lads) are results of the 1969 Soul Explosion sessions.

Throughout the remainder of 2019, fans can look forward to several curated playlists, contests and additional releases.

  

One of the most popular soul labels of all time, Stax has become synonymous with its gritty, Southern sounds. Originally known as Satellite Records, the Memphis imprint was founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart. Over the course of two decades, Stax released more than 800 singles and nearly 300 LPs, picking up eight GRAMMYS® and an Academy Award along the way. In all, Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 pop charts, and a staggering 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts.

  

Black Music Month Digital Releases

Artist: Booker T. & The MGs

Album Title: Soul Limbo

Release Date: 6/1/19

Artist: Various

Album Title: Boy Meets Girl

Release Date: 6/2/19

Artist: Johnnie Taylor

Album Title: Rare Stamps

Release Date: 6/3/19

Artist: Soul Children

Album Title: Soul Children

Release Date: 6/4/19

Artist: Carla Thomas

Album Title: Memphis Queen

Release Date: 6/5/19

Artist: Ollie & The Nightingales

Album Title: Ollie & The Nightingales

Release Date: 6/6/19

Artist: Johnnie Taylor

Album Title: The Johnnie Taylor Philosophy Continues

Release Date: 6/7/19

Artist: The Mar-Keys

Album Title: Damifiknow

Release Date: 6/8/19

Artist: JJ Barnes & Steve Mancha

Album Title: Rare Stamps

Release Date: 6/9/19

Artist: The Mad Lads

Album Title: The Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Lads

Release Date: 6/10/19

Artist: The Goodees

Album Title: Candy Coated Goodees

Release Date: 6/11/19

Artist: The Knowbody Else

Album Title: The Knowbody Else

Release Date: 6/12/19

Artist: Eddie Floyd

Album Title: California Girl

Release Date: 6/13/19

Artist: Rufus Thomas

Album Title: Crown Prince Of Dance

Release Date: 6/14/19

Artist: Mel & Tim

Album Title: Starting All Over Again

Release Date: 6/15/19

Artist: William Bell

Album Title: Phases Of Reality

Release Date: 6/16/19

Artist: The Sweet Inspirations

Album Title: Estelle, Myrna & Sylvia

Release Date: 6/17/19

Artist: The Dramatics

Album Title: A Dramatic Experience

Format: Digital album

Artist: John KaSandra

Album Title: Color Me Human

Release Date: 6/19/19

Artist: The Bar-Kays

Album Title: Do You See What I See?

Release Date: 6/20/19

Artist: David Porter

Album Title: Victim Of The Joke? An Opera

Release Date: 6/21/19

Artist: The Rance Allen Group

Album Title: A Soulful Experience

Release Date: 6/22/19

Artist: The Temprees

Album Title: Love Maze

Release Date: 6/23/19

Artist: Frederick Knight

Title: I’ve Been Lonely For So Long

Release Date: 6/24/19

Artist: Barbara Lewis

Title: The Many Grooves Of

Release Date: 6/25/19

Artist: Little Milton

Album Title: Waiting For Little Milton

Release Date: 6/26/19

Artist: Inez Foxx

Album Title: At Memphis

Release Date: 6/27/19

Artist: Melvin Van Peebles

Album Title: Don’t Play Us Cheap

Release Date: 6/28/19

Artist: Kim Weston

Album Title: Kim Kim Kim

Release Date: 6/28/19

Artist: Various

Album Title: Wattstax

Release Date: 6/30/19

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING BLUES LEGEND KEB’ MO’ SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, OKLAHOMA, JUNE 14

"I'm more interested in pleasing myself, and making records that make me feel proud and make me feel like I've done my best. And if other people like it, that's gravy.”states Keb' Mo', assessing his new release Oklahoma, set for release June 14, 2019 on Concord Records. 

Indeed, in his quarter-century as a recording artist, the charismatic singer/guitarist/ songwriter and four-time GRAMMY Award winner has consistently made music that reflects his own passions and interests. In the process, he's earned a reputation for his ability to draw upon his bottomless roots-music expertise to make deeply expressive, highly personal music. 

That's the case throughout Oklahoma, whose expansive creative vistas reflect the eponymous state's wide-open spaces. With noted musical veteran Colin Linden (The Band, Bruce Cockburn) heading up production duties, the album's 10 tracks encompass Keb' Mo's diverse talents, with the artist delivering some of the most adventurous and personal work of his career. 

"When you are in a certain part of your life, the concept of an album is woven into the process," he says. "All of these songs stemmed from important issues and topics worldwide that really resonated with me during the time we were recording the project." 

The inspiration for the title track "Oklahoma" started with a visit to the state in 2013 for a benefit show with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Keb' witnessed first-hand the aftermath of a destructive tornado. "I thought about what it must be like to live in Oklahoma and all the great people that have come from Oklahoma," he recalls. With just a melody in his head for a song about Oklahoma and little personal connection to the state, the title track was almost never conceived. That is until the hands of fate led him to the meeting of, and songwriting session with Dara Tucker, an Oklahoma native. Together, they set about to portray the complicated depth of American history played out in her home state. Native American connection and tragedy, natural and man-made disasters, incredible musicians and the Tulsa Sound, and western ruggedness and fortitude are all themes. Notable is the mention of Greenwood/Archer and Pine, known as “Black Wall Street” which was infamously destroyed in 1921 in one of the most devastating massacres in the history of US race relations. 

Making a cameo appearance, Robert Randolph, masterfully adds a haunting air with his lap steel. "We chose to make the song sound light-hearted and ultimately about resilience," Keb' says. "Then Robert came in and added some musical flavor. The result was beautiful, and I thought it had to be on the record, and ultimately, what I chose to be the album's title." 

Having already established his adventurous taste in musical collaborators, Keb' has assembled an appropriately impressive cast for Oklahoma. Rosanne Cash lends her powerful voice and uncompromising presence to the timely feminist anthem "Put A Woman In Charge." 

"That was supposed to be a stand-alone single, but I loved the way it turned out, so I had to put it on the album," Keb' notes. "I'd never worked with Rosanne before, but somebody suggested that she might like it. She said yes, and she put down her part, and it was just so badass." 

Keb' says of the song. "It's about putting some nurturing feminine energy into how our country operates." 

Meanwhile, Christian/Latin-pop star Jaci Velasquez lends stirring background vocals on "This Is My Home," a heartfelt tribute to the struggles of immigrants that effortlessly humanizes an often divisive issue. 

Elsewhere on Oklahoma, legendary roots-music icon Taj Mahal, who previously collaborated with Keb' on their GRAMMY Award-winning 2017 album TajMo, reconnects for the moving environmental anthem "Don't Throw It Away," and "The Way I" poignantly tackles the subject of depression. The breathtakingly intimate love song "Beautiful Music" features a memorable duet performance by the artist and his wife, Robbie Brooks Moore. 

Overall, Oklahoma—which Keb' has dedicated to his late mother, Lauvella Cole, who passed away in September 2018 at the age of 91—maintains an impressive level of emotional engagement throughout, making it one of his most compelling collections. "I'd been working on a lot of records for other people, so I worried that it might be a weak record because I didn't have my eye on the ball and was spreading myself too thin. But when all was said and done, we found the songs and we got the feeling right, and now I feel really, really proud of it." 

Indeed, since arriving on the scene in the early 1990s, Kevin Roosevelt Moore (rechristened Keb' Mo' around 1994) has earned a reputation for his mastery of multiple blues styles, his ability to combine traditional approaches with a contemporary attitude, and for his timeless storytelling sensibility. In addition to releasing a series of acclaimed albums, he's lent his talents to a variety of theater and film projects, and collaborated with a wide range of prominent musicians from various genres, as well as having his songs covered by a broad array of notable artists. He's also a vocal advocate for the preservation of the blues, and is active in charities that support music education. 

Keb's guitar playing has garnered him his third invite to Eric Clapton's prestigious Crossroads Festival and has inspired leading instrument makers, Gibson Brands, to issue the Keb' Mo' Signature Bluesmaster and Bluesmaster Royale acoustic guitars and Martin Guitars to issue the HD-28KM Keb' Mo' Limited Edition Signature model. He has been featured in TV and film, playing Robert Johnson in the 1998 documentary Can't You Hear the Wind Howl,appeared three times on the television series Touched By An Angel, played a leading role on Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground, and performed for President Obama at the White House. 

"At some point, I began to realize that it's not just about writing a good song with a good hook and good lyrics, but it's also about writing songs that had something going on inside," asserts Keb', who, 9 years ago, moved his family from Los Angeles to Tennessee. "So I started spending a lot of time rewriting lyrics, recording, rerecording, and really working hard at it. I got to a place where I understood the anatomy of how lyrics can work, and how I can use them to put some substance into the song. It's like jelly donuts. I don't even likejelly donuts, but you know that every time you bite into one, there's gonna be something inside. At some point, I realized that you have to tell a story in some way, shape or form, and this record is a continuation of that realization."

    

Oklahoma Track Listing:

1.“I Remember You”

2.“Oklahoma”

3.“Put A Woman In Charge” (Featuring Rosanne Cash)

4.‘This Is My Home”

5.“Don’t Throw It Away”

6.“The Way I”

7.“Ridin’ on a Train”

8.“I Should’ve”

9.“Cold Outside”

10.“Beautiful Music” (Featuring Robbie Brooks Moore)

Concord Jazz Festival w/Dave Koz, Esperanza Spalding, Chick Corea, Patti Austin, Poncho Sanchez and many others

Concord Jazz and Live Nation are proud to present the 50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 3rd at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the festival, which began at a city park in 1969 and gave birth to the venerable Concord Jazz label. Concord Jazz continues its commitment to presenting the finest jazz and live music with this year’s line-up. 

Featured artists for the 50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival will include Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns, Esperanza Spalding, Chick Corea Spanish Heart Band, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra featuring Patti Austin, Jamison Ross, Carmen Bradford and special guests in a special Celebrating Ella set, Poncho Sanchez & his Latin Jazz Band, and many more to be announced soon. Doors for the festival will open at 2pm with the main stage beginning at 4pm. 

“The Concord Jazz Festival was a cornerstone of the Concord Pavilion concert season for years and we’re thrilled to bring this iconic event back for the 50th Anniversary celebration.” said Aaron Siuda, Senior Vice President of Live Nation Northern California. “In conjunction with Concord Jazz, we’ve put together a stellar lineup that showcases many of the great artists that Concord Jazz represents.”

  

"The creation of this festival by visionary Carl Jefferson in 1969 led directly to his formation of the Concord Jazz label just a few years later,” said Concord Records President John Burk. “Therefore, we at Concord Jazz owe a great debt to Jefferson and the City of Concord, and we are thrilled to partner with Live Nation in bringing the Festival back home for its 50th Anniversary."

  

An exclusive commemorative album of music by the featured artists will be included with every pair of tickets purchased for the 50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival.

Grammy-Nominated saxophonist Dave Koz scored the #1 Contemporary Jazz album in the country last year with his latest project Summer Horns II From A To Z. Released June 22nd, 2018 via Concord Records, the album is a stunning showcase of 11 reimagined classics, including “More Today Than Yesterday” from the Spiral Staircase, a medley of Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1976 smash “Getaway” and the KC and the Sunshine Band dance staple “That’s the Way I Like It,” and The Crusaders’ “Keep That Same Old Feeling.” Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns features Gerald Albright (alto saxophone), Rick Braun (trumpet), R&B star Kenny Lattimore (vocals) and Aubrey Logan (trombone and vocals).

Esperanza Spalding’s “truly intoxicating” (The New York Times) 12 Little Spells was released on vinyl and CD on May 10th, 2019 via Concord Records. A cutting-edge creator, the four-time Grammy-winning composer, bassist, and lyricist released a song a day to her fans last October, which subsequently appeared on a number of Best of 2018 lists, including The New York Times, Rolling Stoneand Billboard. The physical version of the album comes with an additional four new songs. 12 Little Spells was first penned by Spalding at a castle in Italy – inspired by the healing properties of art, how music and the body interact, and her interest in Reiki. 

  

In 1976, Chick Corea released My Spanish Heart, one of his most successful recordings. A compositional and intellectual high-water mark, the album combined jazz fusion pieces with more traditional Latin music. On June 28th, 2019, over 50 years later, the 77-year-old keyboard virtuoso revisits this classic project with a long-waited follow-up, Spanish Heart Band – Antidote, featuring with an extraordinary new ensemble and some of his most inspired writing ever. The Chick Corea Spanish Heart Band includes bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and drummer Marcus Gilmore.

  

Directed by veteran trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, the 18-piece Legendary Count Basie Orchestra includes a peerless array of instrumentalists with combined credentials that have topped the upper echelons of the international jazz world for decades. From Billie Holiday to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra to Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan to Ella Fitzgerald, the Legendary Count Basie Orchestrahas provided the supremely distinctive sound and swing behind some of the greatest singers of the modern age. Coming off a Grammy Nomination for their 2018 album All About that Basie, the iconic big band will perform material from their newest recording Ella 100, a special tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, set for release on August 2nd, 2019 via Concord Jazz.

Performing with the Count Basie Orchestra will be Grammy Award-winning singer Patti Austin, Carmen Bradford, Jamison Ross and special guests. Austin has released more than two dozen albums during her career, and her record Avant Gershwin won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2008. She is featured on several tracks on the Basie Orchestra’s upcoming Ella Fitzgerald tribute recording, scheduled for release this year on Concord Jazz. Jamison Ross is the winner of the 2012 Thelonious Monk Competition. The multi-talented drummer and vocalist’s debut album Jamison garnered a GRAMMY nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and he was named Rising Star – Male Vocalist in the 2018 Downbeat Critics poll.

  

Given all the ups and downs the music industry has experienced in the past three decades, it’s remarkable to find anyone who still retains a sense of allegiance or loyalty. Master conguero, band leader and Latin jazz legend Poncho Sanchez is the exception. In 1982, his close friend, multi-instrumentalist jazz icon Cal Tjader recommended he sign with Carl Jefferson’s Concord Records. Tjader told him that Jefferson was looking for new talent and he highly recommended Sanchez. Jefferson gave Poncho a one record deal and the rest is Latin Jazz history. Poncho Sanchez & his Latin Jazz Band, whose next recording is scheduled for release on August 2nd, 2019 via Concord Jazz, celebrate the release of his 27th album and his own 37th anniversary with Concord Jazz, the longest of any artist on the label.

In addition to the main show, this year’s 50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival will feature performances of live music emerging jazz artists, an Art & Wine Expo, and an array of vendors on the grounds of the 12,500-seat Concord Pavilion, one of the premier outdoor music venues in Northern California. 

Concord Jazz has a rich history since its beginning in 1973. Well established as one of the premier and most active jazz imprints in the world, the label continues its dedication to the art form and its artists, presenting such legendary acts as Chick Corea, Poncho Sanchez, one of the best-selling saxophonists of all time Dave Koz, a special tribute honoring both Basie and Ella, and much, much more to be announced.