THE MAIN INGREDIENT - EUPHRATES RIVER / AFRODISIAC

Two of our favorite albums by The Main Ingredient – back to back on a single CD! Euphrates River is a wonderfully complex batch of tunes that shows that the group were taking a cue from some of their hipper contemporaries, and pushing past a stock hit formula. Bert DeCoteaux was still arranging, but the group produced themselves, giving the record a sexy funky feeling in the best parts, not that dissimilar from some of Marvin Gaye's work, or records by groups like The Isley Brothers or The O'Jays. Includes great versions of two Seals & Crofts songs – "Summer Breeze" and "Euphrates" – both a perfect example of this style, as is "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend" – plus a great reading of Willie Hutch's "California My Way", which has a super-dope sample at the beginning. Of course, the album still includes material like their hit " "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely", a sweetly style AM radio pop hit in the band's best style of earlier years.

Afrodisiac is one of the most righteous albums ever from the Main Ingredient – as you might guess from its title and stylish cover! The group are really opening up here – and show a distinct Stevie Wonder influence throughout – not just because they perform their own hip takes on a number of tunes by Stevie, but also because Wonder himself plays a bit on the record! Rhythms are inventive, and grooves nice and complex – way past standard chart soul, into a heady mix that holds up beautifully over the years. Keyboards slide in great with the harmonies – and titles include great versions of Stevie Wonder tunes "Superwoman", "Where Were You When I Needed You", "Something Lovely", "Girl Blue", and "I Am Yours" – plus the great breakbeat track "You Can Call Me Rover", which has a very tight drum sound at the beginning, and tight soul harmonies all the way through. Also features a hip take on the Isleys' "Work To Do" too!

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove ::::

LOVING THE SILENT TEARS: A NEW MUSICAL TO PREMIERE AT THE SHRINE IN L.A. THIS OCTOBER

The red carpet premiere of Loving the Silent Tears: A New Musical is anticipated as one of the most star-studded, spectacular year-end events, to be held on October 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The first of its kind in theatre history, Loving the Silent Tears will take the audience on an elevating journey across six continents and 16 countries, to tell a compelling story about humanity’s search for inner peace and happiness.

The musical will star 2-time Grammy-winning artist Jon Secada, Grammy-winning icon Jody Watley, and Broadway stars: Tony winner Debbie Gravitte, Tony winner Kiril Kulish, Emmy winner and Tony nominee Liz Callaway, and Tony nominee Patti Cohenour.

They will be joined by Grammy-winning reggae legends Black Uhuru, Arab singer Camellia Abou-Odah, Italian tenor Mark Janicello, Korean pop star Brian Joo, award-winning Israeli singer Liel Kolet, Irish soprano Katie McMahon, Korean singer Heather Park, award-winning Brazilian singer Fabiana Passoni, and Persian superstar Siavash Shams.

“It is very special to be a part of something of this magnitude,” said Jody Watley. “What a great cast and collection of musicians, composers, artists, the global message, the magnificence!”

Loving the Silent Tears promises the ingenious direction of Tony nominee Vincent Paterson (Michael Jackson’s Bad and Madonna’s Blond Ambition tours), lively dances choreographed by Emmy-winning Bonnie Story (High School Musical), the imaginative stagecraft of Emmy-winning set designer John Iacovelli (Peter Pan), and a vibrant display of costumes by award-winning designer Sharell Martin (Chicago).

Vincent Paterson stated, “It will be a wonderful evening of theatre – beautiful costumes, great sets to look at. They’re going to hear great music. They’re going to see great dancing. There are some beautiful messages here about enlightenment and self-realization, and that’s always a nice reminder to have throughout life.”

With all elements in place to make for absolutely thrilling musical theatre, the show was inspired by a poetry anthology titled Silent Tears, written years ago by world-renowned spiritual teacher, humanitarian and artist Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Award-winning playwright Cynthia Ferrell noted, “What interested me most in Loving the Silent Tears honestly was the poetry. The poetry is so beautiful and the message of the poetry, it’s so consistent throughout the piece, and the nuances of it are gorgeous and it’s just so inspiring. It just makes you come to the project with a happy heart.”

Taking a unique approach, multiple eminent composers have come together to set Supreme Master Ching Hai’s soulful verses to soaring melodies: 6-time Grammy winner and 2-time Oscar nominee Jorge Calandrelli (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), 2-time Oscar winner Al Kasha (The Poseidon Adventure), Emmy winner Doug Katsaros (Footloose), 2-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Tony and Emmy winner Don Pippin (Oliver!), Grammy winner Nan Schwartz (Harry Potter), and Oscar and 2-time Grammy winner David Shire (Saturday Night Fever). With the sheer volume of brilliant musical minds so generously pouring their creativity into the score, it’s evident that music lovers are in for a treat.

Jon Secada will also be debuting a song that he composed for the musical, based on Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poetry. He said, “I think the audience will find listening to the lyrics of the songs, which are from Supreme Master Ching Hai's poems, a transformative and enlightening experience.”

Composer Al Kasha stated, “All these composers who are the best in the world and all of these singers who won Grammys and Tonys from Broadway worked on this piece because they saw the spiritual nature of it. I think it will lift the audience up inspirationally, I really do.”

With a superb cast and creative team, beautiful poetry as lyrics, and accompaniment by a 30-plus member dancing ensemble and a live orchestra, Loving the Silent Tears will be an unprecedented show of grand proportions and five-star production value.

The evening will commemorate the 19th anniversary of Supreme Master Ching Hai Day honoring the values of philanthropy and peace. A pre-show art exhibition at the venue will feature Supreme Master Ching Hai’s uplifting creative works, with free admittance for all attendees.

“This is the coming together of music in the name of a good purpose, a higher purpose, a spiritual purpose, that brings out the best in people,” stated composer Nan Schwartz. “I think the show sounds like an incredible event for all people to attend.”

There will also be a celebrity red carpet.

Loving the Silent Tears on October 27 will be a one-time extraordinary event that will inspire audiences of all backgrounds. So don’t miss it – and share the meaningful experience by bringing family and friends.

SilentTearsMusical.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SilentTearsMusical
Twitter: twitter.com/LoveSilentTears

LOVING THE SILENT TEARS
Saturday, October 27, 2012

2pm: Art Exhibit

3pm: Red Carpet Arrivals

4pm: Show

Shrine Auditorium 665 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007

Tickets are on sale at: The Grove’s Concierge 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036

and 1-800-745-3000 * www.ticketmaster.com

BRAZILIAN SINGER FABIANA PASSONI JOINS 'LOVING THE SILENT TEARS: A NEW MUSICAL'

‘Loving the Silent Tears: A New Musical’ to Premiere in L.A. Brazilian artist Fabiana Passoni will be in the star-studded cast

She is recognized as the Best Female Brazilian Singer living in the US by the Brazilian International Press Awards’ 2012 Colégio Eleitoral. One of her newest singles, “Lovin’ You,” has already become one of the Top 50 on Jazz America’s music chart. With her velvety Brazilian voice and enchanting live performances, Fabiana Passoni has easily won hearts of audiences in various parts of the world.

Now the award-winning jazz artist has joined the star-studded company of Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award winners for “Loving the Silent Tears,” a new musical debuting on October 27 in Los Angeles at the famous Shrine Auditorium, which had hosted the annual Oscars and Grammy Awards.

Fabiana stated, “What a great honor for me to work with such great artists, songwriters, producers and directors! I am so proud to represent my home country of Brazil in ‘Loving the Silent Tears.’”

The new musical is directed by Tony Award nominee Vincent Paterson (Michael Jackson’s Bad and Madonna’s Blond Ambition tours), with Emmy-winning choreographer Bonnie Story, Emmy-winning set designer John Iacovelli, and award-winning costumer designer Sharell Martin.

Created by 2-time Oscar-winning composer Al Kasha, the show tells a story about humanity’s search for inner peace and lasting fulfillment. It goes on a journey around the globe – to 16 countries on six continents!

Representing Brazil, Fabiana will star with Jon Secada, the 2-time Grammy-winning icon who will also represent Latin America, Grammy-winning singer Jody Watley, Grammy-winning reggae band Black Uhuru, Arab singer Camellia Abou-Odah, Italian tenor Mark Janicello, award-winning Israeli singer Liel Kolet, Irish soprano Katie McMahon, Korean singer Heather Park, and Persian superstar Siavash Shams.

Jon Secada said, “I am very excited to be part of this special event and look forward to performing in the new musical, ‘Loving the Silent Tears.’”

Award-winning Broadway stars are also part of the international cast, including Tony Award winners Debbie Gravitte, Kiril Kulish, and Michael Maguire, as well as Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Liz Callaway.

“To take part in such an important musical with an international flavor is a new high point in my career.” said Fabiana. “The story line for the musical perfectly matches my own personal quest for inner peace and happiness.”

“Loving the Silent Tears” is based on the profound poetry collection, “Silent Tears,” written by world-renowned spiritual teacher, humanitarian, poet and artist Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Her richly expressive verses have been set to music by 6-time Grammy winner and 2-time Oscar nominee Jorge Calandrelli (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), the above-mentioned 2-time Oscar winner Al Kasha (“The Poseidon Adventure”), Emmy winner Doug Katsaros (“Footloose”), 2-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Henry Krieger (“Dreamgirls”), Tony and Emmy winner Don Pippin (“Oliver!”), Grammy winner Nan Schwartz (“Harry Potter”), and Oscar and 2-time Grammy winner David Shire (“Saturday Night Fever”).

Al Kasha, who is also the creator of the musical, said, “All these composers who are the best in the world and all of these singers who won Grammys and Tonys from Broadway worked on this piece because they saw the spiritual nature of it. I think it will lift the audience up inspirationally, I really do.”

In her own refreshing style, Fabiana, who was born in Poços de Caldas, Brazil, combines jazz fusion with the older rhythms of her homeland such as bossa nova, baião, and samba.

In “Loving the Silent Tears,” she will convey the passion that is so natural to her, through songs based on Supreme Master Ching Hai’s heartfelt poems.

In one number, she cries out to the Lord:

“Master, You must have forgotten to use Your human eyes
Now that the heavenly one is no longer shut.
That’s why You do not see me in my lonely corner
Longing to see You.”

“Loving the Silent Tears: A New Musical” will celebrate the 19th anniversary of Supreme Master Ching Hai Day, a day that officially recognizes the world humanitarian’s endeavors for greater peace. For more than two decades, Supreme Master Ching Hai consistently has come to the aid of disaster victims and others in need, including in Brazil and throughout South America. She has also honored former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with her Shining World Leadership Award for his “Zero Hunger” program.

Before the show, guests are invited to see celebrity red carpet arrivals and an art exhibition of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s inspirational creative works.

The event will be a one-time-only presentation on Saturday, October 27 at Los Angeles’ prestigious Shrine Auditorium, which is the single largest proscenium-style stage in North America.

Tickets for “Loving the Silent Tears” are available at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com

For more information, please visit:
SilentTearsMusical.com
facebook.com/SilentTearsMusical
twitter.com/LoveSilentTears

LOVING THE SILENT TEARS
Saturday, October 27, 2012
2pm: Art Exhibit
3pm: Red Carpet Arrivals
4pm: Show
Shrine Auditorium
665 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007

Order tickets at Ticketmaster:
1-800-745-3000 * www.ticketmaster.com

MACEO PARKER - SOUL CLASSICS

Renowned Saxophonist Maceo Parker will release a new live album Soul Classics, on September 18th through Listen2 Entertainment / Razor & Tie.

Parker reunites with the WDR Big Band for Soul Classics, a collection of nine songs recorded live at the Leverkusener Jazz Festival in Leverkusener, Germany, in November 2011. The recording captures Parker with special guests – bassist Christian McBride and drummer Core Coleman-Dunham – in collaboration with the Cologne-based 15-piece orchestra led by conductor/arranger Michael Abene that has previously backed such prominent artists as Ray Charles, Joe Zawinul, Michael and Randy Brecker, and many others.

Maceo Parker, the saxophonist who pioneered the sounds of funk and soul in the 1960s as the high-profile sideman to the legendary James Brown, has since established a solo career that embraces not only that seminal funk sound but also jazz, R&B and more. In the decades since his departure from Brown’s bands in 1970, Parker collaborated with other high profile figures like George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, and released a string of solo recordings that proved his merits as a composer and bandleader.

He first encountered WDR Big Band with the two-disc release of Roots & Grooves, a 2008 album that was on one hand a Ray Charles tribute and on the other a collection of Parker’s own material in rich big band arrangements.

“It’s great to make another live recording with the WDR Big Band,” says Parker. “I remember being very excited about Roots & Grooves, and I’m just as excited three ears later about Soul Classics. This is a big band that truly understands the universal elements of American soul and R&B, and is able to convey them to an audience in rich, full and interesting arrangements. Listeners are going to some very familiar songs in an entirely new way, and in the process, they’re going to rediscover just how great the material really is.”

Parker drew his inspiration for the performance in much the same way that generations of American artists have drawn inspiration for decades – by listening to the radio. “I had my satellite radio on one of the soul stations, and I just listened to whatever they played,” he explains. “If I felt good about something, I’d jot it down. That’s the way I came up with my list of the soul classics that we played in the performance. The result was a couple of Aretha Franklin songs, some Jackson Five, a little bit of Michael Jackson, Bill Withers, Isaac Hayes and a couple more. And of course, I included some James Brown.”

Soul Classics kicks off with a blast of energy from the James Brown canon – a driving rendition of “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” propelled by the rock-solid combination of the WDR horn section and Coleman-Dunham’s clockwork drumming and Parker’s own soul-drenched vocals.

The followup track is an equally punchy and high-energy instrumental version of “I Wish,” one of two Stevie Wonder songs in the set. The second is the celebratory “Higher Ground,” which is built on a muscular synthesizer and horn bed that provides plenty of room for Parker and a few other WDR horn players to use the melody line as a lunch pad for some impressive solo acrobatics.

Further in, Parker and company slow it down a bit with a slow and sultry rendition of Isaac Hayes’ “Do Your Thing” that relies on Frank Chastenier’s Hammond B-3 to underscore some dramatic horn work by Parker and his WDR counterparts on horn. Paul Shigihara also delivers some intriguing, vibrato-laden guitar lines in between the horn solos.

Parker once again steps up to the mike to deliver the vocals on “Rock Steady,” his homage to soul queen Aretha Franklin.

He closes the set in much the same way he opens it – this time with one of his own compositions, the punchy and uptempo “Come By and See,” a song whose energy and percussive impact is reminiscent of the James Brown heyday. It’s a free-for-all number, with plenty of call-and-response and audience participation. Well before the Midway through the song, the positive and enthusiastic crowd response is hard to miss.

“As I get older, it becomes increasingly important that I chase moments that are really fun for me,” says Parker. “Working with the WDR Big Band has once again taken me to that peak, just as it did three years ago. I’m so thankful to everyone connected to this project – especially my two sidekicks, Cora and Christian – and to Michael Abene for the great arrangements and for assembling such a spectacular band.”

While soul music may be an inherently American art form, “sometimes you have to step beyond the cultural boundaries of the music’s point of origin and hear it through the ears of musicians from a different culture in order to regain your appreciation for it,” he says. “The experience serves as a reminder that this music taps into something that’s universal to the human experience. Thanks to a brilliant team of musicians, these Soul Classics make a direct connection to everyone everywhere.

Maceo Parker, Soul Classics, Track List:
01. Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
02. I Wish
03. Yesterday I Had The Blues
04. Higher Ground
05. Do Your Thing
06. Rock Steady
07. One In A Million You
08. Soul Power
09. Announcement
10.Come By And See

:::: SOURCE: Honest Tune::::

SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISING ON BOTH COASTS

The Smooth Jazz Cruise unveils a new West Coast sailing for 2013 along with the lineup and ports for the 2014 East Coast excursion

As the perennially sold-out sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise: The Greatest Party at Sea prepares to launch its 10th anniversary excursions in January 2013, parent company Entertainment Cruise Productions is determined to keep the party going strong by creating a West Coast outing from San Diego to exotic Mexican ports in the fall of 2013 with music hosts Brian Culbertson and Boney James. Grammy winners David Sanborn and Marcus Miller will perform on the new program and continue to serve as the music hosts of the traditional January sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2014 that will embark from Fort Lauderdale to Caribbean paradise as it has done for a decade. Both 7-day cruises will be held aboard Holland America’s luxurious M/S Westerdam and feature performances by legends, hitmakers and fan favorites.

“As we enter the second decade of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, we want to keep things fresh for our loyal family of cruisers that comes back year after year. Thanks in part to their suggestions, we decided to spread the love by creating a sensational West Coast cruise. With a cruise on both coasts, we feel that the hosts should reflect the different personalities of each coast. I cannot imagine a more exciting cruise menu than Brian Culbertson and Boney James hosting a West Coast cruise and David Sanborn and Marcus Miller topping an East Coast cruise. Brian, Boney, David and Marcus will perform on both cruises as will Jonathan Butler and Candy Dulfer. We’re going to showcase 22 incredible headliners between the two cruises,” said Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of St. Louis-based Entertainment Cruise Productions.

The first-ever left coast departure for The Smooth Jazz Cruise, the West Coast expedition will make its maiden voyage October 12-19, 2013 from San Diego and visit Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Baja Coast. Joining Culbertson, James, Sanborn, Miller, Butler and Dulfer as performers will be Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove, Kenny Lattimore, Earl Klugh, Oleta Adams, DW3, comedian Alonzo Bodden and special guest Al Green.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2014 will cruise from Fort Lauderdale January 11-18 with stops in Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Maarten and Half Moon Cay. The parade of performers will consist of Sanborn, Miller, Culbertson, James, Butler, Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, Sheila E, Keb Mo, Keiko Matsui, Maysa Leak, Mindi Abair, DW3, Bodden and special guest Jeffrey Osborne.

Affectionately known amongst passengers as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise spotlights music icons, Grammy winners and chart-topping contemporary jazz, R&B and adult contemporary artists aboard a first-class, full ship charter. It is an extraordinary week devoted to live music with the luminous lineups presented in theatre, club and intimate piano bar settings. The velvet rope is removed allowing cruisers to mix and mingle freely with the musicians at cocktail parties, informative seminars, autograph and Q&A sessions, theme nights, sporting contests and special land excursions while in port. The magic of The Smooth Jazz Cruise is best understood by first-hand experience. Nearly 60% of the passengers are repeat guests. To reserve a cabin, call toll-free in the U.S. and Canada 888.852.9987 and 800.852.99872 from abroad. For further information, please visit www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com.

DIONNE WARWICK CELEBRATES 50 YEARS WITH NEW RELEASE 'NOW'

Dionne is celebrating an amazing 50 years in the music business, with the release of Now on 22nd October 2012. The album will be preceded by a double a side release featuring a new track "Is There Anybody Out There?" coupled with the Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" on the 14th October 2012. Only the true greats get to contemplate precisely how to celebrate 50 years in the music business. So Dionne Warwick thought long and hard about how she should mark the five decades that have passed since her debut single, 'Don't Make Me Over' in 1962. That song - written especially for her by her enduring songwriting partners Burt Bacharach and Hal David - became a Top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, sparking an incredible run of success that has seen her chart over 50 U.S. hit singles, win five Grammys and sell over 100 million records.

Contemplating a back catalogue of such pangenerational appeal and all-encompassing scale -studded with hit singles and albums in every decade - Dionne decided the best approach would be to revisit some of her favourite songs from five decades of classics. And when she decided it would be "virtually impossible" to choose the songs herself, she polled her colleagues, her peers and her fans as to which songs should receive a 2012 makeover. In the process, she discovered that everyone has a different favourite Dionne Warwick song. Some chose her classic Bacharach and David hits such as '(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me', others including a fellow superstar even got in on the act, Stevie Wonder no less, encouraged Dionne to revisit her 1965 song 'Are You There With Another Girl' "It's his favourite song," Dionne smiles. "Every time I see Stevie it's the first thing he sings to me."

But nostalgia - even with a twist - was never going to be enough to mark such a landmark anniversary. Unlike many of her 1960s contemporaries, Dionne has never stopped recording or playing live, neither have her original songwriting partners who have also remained at the top of their game since first separating with both Dionne and each other in 1972. So Dionne decided to also tackle two new (to her) songs each by the men who helped bring her voice to the world. Allowing the songwriters to choose the songs themselves ("Over 50 years of recording with them, I've built up a little trust in their decisions," she smiles), she provides definitive takes on Bacharach's 'Love Is Still The Answer' and new single 'Is There Anybody Out There?' and David's 'It Was Almost Like A Song' and '99 Miles From LA'. And, in the process, she brings her relationship with them right up to date.

:::: SOURCE: ContactMusic.com ::::

TONY BENNETT & MARC ANTHONY DUET "FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE" TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 25

The Newest Addition To Bennett's Multi-Platinum Duets Series Finds The Legendary Vocalist Collaborating With Top Latin Recording Artists Such As Marc Anthony, Christina Aguilera, Ricardo Arjona, Chayanne, Gloria Estefan, Vicente Fernandez, Juan Luis Guerra, Romeo Santos, Thalia, Vicentico And More

"You can throw a rock anywhere in Latin American and you will find a Tony Bennett fan... We are kindred spirits... 'For Once In My Life' is one of my favorite songs"- Marc Anthony

"I was really looking forward to recording with Marc, because he's such a wonderful friend. We first met at the GRAMMYs and he and I became very close, so it's was a joy to sing with him" – Tony Bennett

Legendary performer and 17-Time GRAMMY winner Tony Bennett, will release his latest CD, Tony Bennett: Viva Duets, worldwide on Monday, October 22nd on Columbia Records. Viva Duets, is the singer's third duets-themed project, following the platinum selling and critically praised Duets and Duets II CDs. Featuring many top names in the Latin recording industry, Viva Duets finds Bennett performing his greatest hits with a celebrated roster of artists including Marc Anthony, Christina Aguilera, Ricardo Arjona, Chayanne, Franco De Vita, Gloria Estefan, Vicente Fernandez, Juan Luis Guerra, Dani Martin Romeo Santos, Thalia, and Vicentico. A truly international endeavor, Viva Duets features bi-lingual performances with artists representing nine countries and three continents.

In advance of the full album arrival, fans will be able to enjoy Tony's heartfelt duet with Marc Anthony with the September 25th release of "For Once In My Life". The next day (9/26), Vevo will present a special video premiere that captures the two close friends collaborating in the studio.

Tony Bennett's first two duet projects, Duets and Duets II, both achieved platinum sales, multiple GRAMMY awards and were the best selling albums in his career to date. Bennett made music industry history when Duets II entered Billboard's Top 200 at the #1 position, making him the oldest artist, at the age of 85, to have a CD in the top spot. The Duets project also had international acclaim, hitting the top of the charts in several countries including Portugal and Mexico.

The track listing for TONY BENNETT: VIVA DUETS is as follows:
01. The Best Is Yet To Come – duet with Chayanne
02. The Way You Look Tonight – duet with Thalia
03. Steppin' Out With My Baby– duet with Christina Aguilera
04. For Once In My Life – duet with Marc Anthony
05. Are You Havin' Any Fun? – duet with Dani Martin
06. The Good Life – duet with Franco De Vita
07. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) – duet with Gloria Estefan
08. Just In Time – duet with Juan Luis Guerra
09. Cold, Cold Heart – duet with Vicentico
10. I Wanna Be Around – duet with Ricardo Arjona
11. Rags To Riches – duet with Romeo Santos
12. Return To Me (Regresa A Mi) - duet with Vicente Fernandez

www.tonybennett.com
www.exploringthearts.org
ww.zenofbennett.com

SOURCE Columbia Records/RPM Records

NAKED TRUTH - OUROBOROS

Cornetist Graham Haynes Joins Powerhouse Group on Their Second Release

Stream "Dust" and "Yang Ming Has Passed" from Ouroboros

Take the polyrhythmic electro-acoustic beats of King Crimson and Stickmen drummer Pat Mastelotto, add fuzz-inflected lines of creative electric bassist and producer Lorenzo Feliciati, add jazz-informed textures of Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ, piano and synthesizer player Roy Powell, and finally blend in the unique voice of avant-jazz cornetist Graham Hayne: You will have the raw ingredients of one of the most powerful and unique instrumental groups on the scene today.


On Ouroboros, their second release, the members of Naked Truth boldly push the envelope of contemporary electric instrumental music, an edgy blend of jazz, prog-rock, ambient music and electronica, as they themselves explain. Graham Haynes, who succeeds original trumpeter Cuong Vu in the lineup and is a longtime collaborator of Bill Laswell as well as part of an ambient-electronica improv duo with DJ Hardedge, says "The stuff I do with Hardedge is all completely 100% improvised - Naked Truth is very different in that we try to bring more structure to the music while keeping it loose at the same time."

"I came to Bill Laswell's studio in New Jersey with several pre-produced ideas, most of which already involved the drumming of Pat Mastelotto" adds Italian bass player Lorenzo Feliciati, who is also responsible for the whole of the post production and pre-mix of the recording. Roy Powell continues: "I had several ambient textures recorded at my studio in Oslo with my prepared piano and new Moog things done on the iPad. Then after listening to it, Pat and Lorenzo put down a rhythm track - Pat using both electric drums and an acoustic kit simultaneously, which he is a monster at doing. And finally Graham found a space for his lyrical and inventively treated cornet work to round off the whole process."

"The main thing for me," says Haynes, "is I didn't want to just play over loops, because I had already done that. I wanted to have some kind of flesh, some kind of harmonic content to deal with. So Roy and I each brought in some harmonic ideas, Lorenzo and Pat brought in different pre-recorded grooves and sketches, and we interacted with all these ideas playing live in the studio. Everybody brings in something, everybody's got their own flavor. And a couple of guys have several flavors that they bring to the session."

Feliciati adds "Graham in particular was terrific in coming up with melodies and ideas during this process. He really surprised me with his use of electronics on the cornet. It is not easy to hear a new or different approach these days from everything that Miles Davis had done with trumpet and electronics. But I think Graham is adding so much, creating his own vocabulary on the instrument that it is fresh and unique while also being in some way a sincere tribute to the great Miles, whom we are all very connected to."

He continues, "Working with Bill Laswell, who produced the final mix of Ouroboros, was both a nerve-racking and exciting experience. "I admire Laswell so much," he says. "He is a genius, one of the best and most forward-looking artists of the entire scene as well as a wonderful bass player. So you can imagine how happy and honored I am to have his touch on the music."

Pat Mastelotto reflects how one tune from Ouroboros evolved during the sessions at Bill Laswell's Orange Studios. "What eventually became 'Dust' began as a trippy kind of Pink Floyd thing that Roy brought in. It had no intrinsic time or tempo so to hold the fort I decided to throw down that double-timed beat box stuff that you hear, so then we had an anchor to improvise around. Then I started jamming on the drumkit to what Lorenzo was doing with all that high fuzzy feedback bass stuff he was playing. At some point I reached over and turned off my beatbox, and from there the attitude was, 'whatever happens, happens.' I just go for it and look for 'happy accidents' to come along in the process."

Founder of the successful '80s pop group Mr. Mister as well a member since 1994 of King Crimson and more recently in the power trio Stick Men (with noted stick players Tony Levin and Markus Reuter), Mastelotto says Naked Truth is unlike any band he's ever been in. "For me, it's the addition of the trumpet and keys that makes it different. It seems I work with gobs of guitar and stick players but seldom do I get to interact with a horn. And Graham is a killer improviser. He is really a powerful force. And while I have worked with keyboard players, it has been quite a while, so working with someone of Roy's caliber is a special treat. Roy is over-the-top good on everything -- piano, Hammond B3 organ, synthesizers. He also does killer iPad stuff, so he's both old and new school. And like Graham, he's a very smart and tasty improviser."

The opener, "Dust" pits aggressively driving rhythms from Feliciati and Mastelotto against the relaxed, ambient textures of Powell's spacious piano and Haynes' lyrical cornet work floating over the top in half-time. Atmospheric offerings like the lyrical "Orange" and the cinematic "Garden Ghosts" weigh in on the other side of the dynamic spectrum from the thunderous barrages of powerfully kinetic playing heard elsewhere on Ouroboros, as on the crunching, rock-edged "Dancing with the Demons of Reality" and the intense, syncopated backbeat number "In a Dead End with Joe."

The slamming, upbeat "Right of Nightly Passage" sounds like electrified trumpeters Miles Davis and Jon Hassell sitting in with King Crimson, with Mastelotto providing an insistent undercurrent of "Thela Hun Jinjeet" styled drumming on the tom toms. Haynes' muted and wah-wah-inflected cornet lines float ominously over Felicati's bubbling bass lines and Mastelotto's precision fills in the groove on "Yang Ming Has Passed". The newest member of Naked Truth also provides some ethereal harmonized trumpet work on the sparsely appointed noirish closer, "Neither I," that lends a chilling sense of mystery to the proceedings. A distinct feeling of search and discovery permeates every track on this adventurous renegade outing that defies genre categorization.

A potent collection of blistering intensity and dark beauty, Ouroboros is the stuff that dreams are made of - both scary and sublime.

Naked Truth EPK 2011-2012
Ouroboros Personnel & Track Listing:
Roy Powell / keyboards
Graham Haynes / trumpet, cornet
Lorenzo Feliciati / bass
Pat Mastelotto / drums

1. Dust - 7:37
2. Dancing with the Demons of Reality - 4:07
3. Garden Ghosts - 9:01
4. Orange - 5:05
5. Right of Nightly Passage - 5:05
6. Yang Ming Has Passed - 5:21
7. In a Dead End with Joe - 4:45
8. Neither I - 8:46

Upcoming U.S. Performances
September 26 / ShapeShifter Lab / Brooklyn, NY
September 27 / Bearsville Theater / Woodstock, NY

:::: SOURCE: DL Media :::

LARRY GRAHAM & GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION - RAISE UP

Raise Up Includes Guest Appearances By Prince and Rafael Saadiq

Album Set for Release on September 25, 2012

Bassist Larry Graham – the architect of the slap-and-pluck bass technique that defined the funk sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s and continues to inspire bassists across virtually every genre to this day – may specialize in the low end of the sonic spectrum, but he’s just as ready to take his music to unprecedented heights. He’s been doing it for more than four decades – first as the rock-solid foundation for a string of enduring and iconic hits by Sly and the Family Stone, and later as the head of his own powerhouse unit, Graham Central Station.

After a 13-year hiatus, Graham Central Station makes its triumphant return with Raise Up, set for release on Listen 2 Entertainment distributed and marketed by Razor & Tie on September 25, 2012. Rise Up includes new versions of three classic GCS tracks, along with ten new songs for a new generation of fans. The album features guest appearances by Prince – a longtime collaborator with Graham and GCS since the late 1990s – as well as songwriter/guitarist/producer Rafael Saadiq.

Raise Up does just what the title demands, with a series of high-energy bursts that force listeners out of their chairs and into action. The combination of thumping backbeat, no-hold-barred orchestrations and upbeat, optimistic messages is designed to not just make people move, but make them move in a positive direction. Raise Up is a statement of defiance against the many obstacles and challenges that so often slow us down or keep us from realizing our fullest potential.

“We’d been touring for the last couple years before I made my final selection of songs and put this record together,” says Graham, who recorded the songs with the band at Studio de l’Hacienda in Tarare, France, in the summer of 2011. “So I got a chance to see what works with live audiences. I got a chance to see what they like and what they want and what they react to. So this CD is a reflection of that – what the people want when we play our live show.”

Along with Prince and Saadiq, Graham has assembled a high-caliber lineup of musicians for the 21st century edition of Graham Central Station: guitarist William Rabb, keyboardists David Council and Jimmy McKinney, drummer Brian Braziel and vocalist Ashling Cole.

The party starts with “GCS Drumline,” an all-percussion piece, with cymbals and whistle blasts counterbalancing four snare drums playing in tandem. The track is equal parts opening salvo, pep rally and call to action. The message is clear: high-energy dead ahead. The in-your-face followup, “Throw-N-Down the Funk,” sets up a fiery counterpoint between meaty brass arrangements – courtesy of the Millfield Horns, hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark – and tasty bass riffs.

The steady grooving “It’s Alright” is the first of three “new master” versions of previously recorded GCS compositions by Graham. The others are the mischievous sounding “It Ain’t No Fun To Me” and the churning “Now Do You Wanta Dance.”

Electronically enhanced and edgy, the title track features Prince on drums, keyboards and backing vocals. The song challenges everyone within the sounds is a call to stand up against the often oppressive circumstances that define the post-9/11 world. Prince reappears on two subsequent tracks, serving up melancholy lead guitar licks (along with keyboards, drums and backing vocals) on “Shoulda Coulda Woulda,” a tale of regret over a love that has died because the lover failed to say the right words and do the right things at the right time; and later with more guitar on “Movin,’” a thundering challenge to get listeners on their feet before the curtain falls and the band hits the road.

Ashling Cole delivers lead vocals on an high-octane cover of the Stevie Wonder hit, “Higher Ground,” and is Graham’s nod to an old friend and frequent collaborator over the past four decades. “He’s a great writer, a great musician and a great friend,” says Graham. “I just like his songs, and I like to play them my way.”

“One Day,” the inspirational closer, features Graham, his wife Tina and Rafael Saadiq on vocals, all delivering a rousing ballad-turned-anthem that envisions a promising future – one that could be closer than we think.

“The music on this album is like a live performance,” says Graham. “I wanted to tell a complete story, with a great beginning, a powerful body and a dynamic conclusion. I want that story to be uplifting and encouraging, something to help people rise above whatever challenges they’re facing in life – whether it be personal issues or family issues or work issues. Everybody’s dealing with something. I want this music to help raise people up and enable them to overcome adversity.”

ALBARE iTD - LONG WAY

"And Albare? He sounds like a positive blend of the late Wes Montgomery and an early George Benson. Airy and light melodic improvisations and the themes reflect and inner harmony of boundless grace."
- Jazzpodium (Germany)

Stream Tracks from Long Way

In 2011 Albert Dadon (Albare) came to the attention of Matthias Winckelmann, founder of prestigious German jazz label enja Records. Their mutual esteem led to the recording of a new project, Long Way. Produced by Winckelmann at his favorite Brooklyn studio, Studio Two, the album is a collaboration by some of the world's finest musicians including triple GRAMMY® Award winning drummer Antonio Sanchez (Pat Metheny Group), saxophonist George Garzone (the Joe Lovano Nonet), pianist Leo Genovese (Esperanza Spalding), prolific harmonica player Hendrick Meurkens and Albare's long time musical collaborator, bassist and composer, Evri (Evripedes Evripidou).

Albare calls this super group iTD, or the International Travel Diary, to reflect both their cosmopolitan backgrounds and their global aspirations. The music they create is sophisticated, masterfully played, with a sunny disposition that belies the depth and complexity of the compositions. Winckelmann describes it as, "a surprising, truly rewarding album" and the producer of albums by Chet Baker, Abdullah Ibrahim and many others should know.

When Albare first met Winckelmann, the two agreed upon Sanchez and Meurkens for the recording. The guitarist brought Sanchez to Melbourne in 2007 to play with Chick Corea at the festival he was directing, and was confident he was the right player for the album. As for Meurkens, Albare had yet to meet the musician, but had watched video footage of him playing and recalls, "he was exactly the kind of player I had in mind for this project."

The guitarist met Garzone in Australia at Monash University School of Music. Albare says, "One day George came to have lunch at my home and when I told him that I was doing a project for Enja he said, 'man, I want to do this with you.' Of course I was delighted to accept his involvement, I love his sound. He asked me who I would have on piano and I said, 'no piano thanks.' George knew instantly where I was coming from, as we both suffered the tortures of piano players. George said, 'man do I have the guy for you!' He then went on describing this Argentinian player and I have to say that I am so happy I listened to Garzone's advice. Leo is a pleasure to be with on and off the stage."

The band never met, never rehearsed, until the day they met at Studio Two in Brooklyn. "After a few hours of setting up the sound, we took our instruments and started with 'Cut to the Chase,'" says Albare. "After a few minutes we did a first take and it sounded good. We tried a second one and it was magic. This is the take you can hear as the first track in the album. The rest of the sessions followed the same pattern. I can honestly say that when I walked in that morning, I didn't know what to expect. I knew I was dealing with great musicians and I was confident about the material Evri and I had composed but the magic doesn't always happen, so I went in with no expectations. I feel humble and grateful."

Born in Morocco, Albare's influences are varied and global in the true meaning of the word. He grew up in Israel and France and thanks to these international origins, is fluent in French, English, Hebrew and Spanish. At the age of 27, he migrated to Australia where he first became known musically, at the forefront of the then burgeoning Acid Jazz scene, recording a string of albums for the Festival label.

He has performed internationally with his band using the nom de guerre Albare (the phonetic spelling of his given name) and produced A History of Standard Time, for Australian pianist Joe Chindamo featuring legendary bassist Ray Brown.

Always immersed in the arts, from 2003 to 2005 Albare was Chairman of the Melbourne Jazz Festival. In 2005 he brought the Umbria Jazz Festival to Melbourne. Umbria Jazz Melbourne '05 attracted 135,000 visitors under the artistic direction of Carlo Pagnotta. In 2006 the organization appointed Albare to become the new Director of the Festival and take the artistic lead. When he took the helm it was renamed the Festival of Melbourne Jazz and the 2007 edition enjoyed the presence of more than 200 artists from around the world, performing across 10 venues, in 112 concerts during its 10 days, including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Gary Burton and McCoy Tyner.

In 2003 the guitarist also founded the Australian Jazz "Bell" Awards (named after Australian legend and patron of the event pianist Graeme Bell, AO, MBE) and chairs the board of The Australian Jazz Awards (a not-for-profit arts organization). The Bells are the only jazz awards in Australia and recognize the achievements of up-and-coming and established Australian jazz performers and composers. In 2008 Dadon received an Order of Australia (AM) for service to the arts, particularly for his work with the Melbourne Jazz Festival.

Long Way Personnel/Track Listing:
Albare - guitars
Antonio Sanchez - drums
Evripidis Evripidou - electric bass, acoustic guitar
George Garzone - tenor saxophone
Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica
Leo Genovese - piano

1. Cut to the Chase - 6:40
2. Eagle's Way - 8:16
3. Long Way - 10:02
4. Funky Girl - 6:27
5. Now and Then - 6:23
6. You Make Me Smile - 6:17
7. Love Again - 6:45
8. Moving On - 7:08

Upcoming Performances:
November 18 / Nighttown / Cleveland, OH
November 19 / An Die Musik / Baltimore, MD
November 20 / Blues Alley / Washington, DC
November 26 / Ginny's Supper Club / New York, NY
November 27 / Scullers / Boston, MA
November 29 - 30 / Van Dyke Cafe / Miami Beach, FL

Albare - guitars
Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica
Phil Turcio - piano
Phil Rex - bass
Pablo Bencid - drums

albare.info
enjarecords.com

:::: SOURCE: DL Media ::::

JAN GARBAREK – DANSERE: SART / WITCHI TAI TO / DANSERE

Three groundbreaking albums from reedman Jan Garbarek – packaged in a single set! First up is Sart – a great example of the way that ECM helped to bring the voice of the Scandinavian jazz underground to the world at large – as the album's a key showcase for the talents of budding young modernists Jan Garbarek, Bobo Stenson, Terje Rypdal, and Arild Andersen! The record's got a really unusual quality that's quite different from the more jamming fusion or freer jazz of the mid European scene – a sense that plays with space between the notes as much as it does the sounds of the individual instruments, and which seems perfectly cast for the newer style of jazz recording pioneered by ECM. Garbarek plays tenor, bass, and flute on the record; Stenson is on electric and acoustic piano; Rypdal on guitar, Andersen on acoustic (but amplified?) bass, and Jon Christensen is on drums. Titles include "IRR", "Song Of Space", "Close Enough For Jazz", "Sart", and "Fountain Of Tears".

Witchi Tai To is warm and wonderful sounds from Garbarek – and a record that brings together so many strands at once! There's of course the obvious atmospherics you might expect from a 70s set on ECM – but there's also some sharply modern moments too – that harder sound that the label was endorsing while helping to shape the world of European jazz on both sides of the fence. And there's even some surprisingly soulful moments, too – not just from Jan's work on tenor and soprano sax, but also from the piano of Bobo Stenson – which rings out wonderfully amidst subtle bass from Palle Danielsson and drums from Jon Christensen. Titles include a great version of Jim Pepper's "Witchi Tai To", plus "Hasta Siempre", "AIR", and "Desireless".

Dansere is one of the highlights of saxophonist Jan Garbarek at ECM – and a set that has him working with the well-matched lineup of Bobo Stenson on piano, Palle Danielsson on bass, and Jon Christensen on drums! The shape of the songs is a bit looser than before, but Garbarek and Stenson turn out to be perfect in the setting – opening up, stretching out, and breaking down convention – yet also never losing themselves in self-indulgence either. Titles include "Dansere", "Lokk", "Fris", "Til Vennene", and "Skrik & Hyl".

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove ::::

JOHNNIE TAYLOR – RATED EXTRAORDINAIRE / EVER READY

A massive double header – two great albums back to back! Rated Extraordinaire is our favorite album ever from Johnnie Taylor – an incredible set from the late 70s that really has Taylor reinventing his sound – and coming across as a great talent for a mellow groove! The album has a wonderful smooth soul vibe all the way through – and starts with the classic "Your Love Is Rated X", a sweet little stepper with a hook that's totally great, and a groove that goes on and on and on – one of those cuts we can hear for years, and it still never gets old! Don Davis produced the whole thing – in a way that balances the raspy roots of Taylor's vocals with the tighter changes going on in late 70s soul – a balance that he was always good at, but possibly never served up this well again. In addition to "Your Love Is Rated X", other titles include "And I Panicked", "Did He Make Love To You", "Love Is Better In The AM", "It Ain't What You Do", "Here I Go", and "Stop Giving People Hard Luck Stories".

Ever Ready is a sweet set from Johnnie Taylor's late 70s run on Columbia Records – and a set with a definite groove for the dancefloors! The album' was recorded in Detroit, and features some sparkling production from Don Davis – very much in that Detroit-into-disco mode that Davis was pushing strongly at the time – in a way that was smooth overall, but still let the singers keep all the edge and personality in their vocals! Arrangements are by Rudy Robinson, in collaboration with a number of others – and titles include "Hey Mister Melody Maker", "Ever Ready", "Keep On Dancing", "Give Me My Baby", "Soul Fillet", "I Love To Make Love When It's Raining", and "Bittersweet Love".

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove ::::

CHARLIE BYRD – BRAZILIAN BYRD / HOLLYWOOD BYRD

Two sides of Charlie Byrd in the mid 60s – one focused on Brazil and the other a sweet set of jazzy soundtrack adaptations – on one CD! First up is the classic Brazilian Byrd – a wonderful album of tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, all recorded with full backing arrangements, and sound quality that's a lot better than some of Byrd's previous albums! The setting has Charlie's acoustic guitar right up front in the mix – mic'ed so close you can really hear his work on the strings – while light brass, woodwind, and string backings dance nicely, and more quietly, behind him. There's a very Verve-like approach to the whole record – obviously a market that Columbia were trying to reach with this one – and the album's easily one of Charlie's strongest for the label from the 60s. Arrangements are both by Byrd and Tom Newsom – and titles include "Dindi", "Jazz N Samba", "The Girl From Ipanema", "Corcovado", "Amor E Paz", "Samba Do Aviao" and "Amor E Paz".

Next up is the Hollywood Byrd set – with some dreamy, jazzy covers of popular movie tunes. It includes some of our own favorites – such as "Alfie", "The Wishing Doll", "Moment To Moment", "Wish Me A Rainbow" and more. A number of tunes have lovely choral vocals, and all of them have a really groovy 60s sound. We'll also make an admission – we give it a few extra points for having one of the sexiest covers ever – but the music can sell it just as well!

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove ::::

MICHAEL GARRICK – BLACK MARIGOLDS / THE HEART IS A LOTUS

Beautiful work from the legendary late 60s run of British pianist Michael Garrick – and two of his best records of the mid 60s to early 70s! A few of the numbers on Black Marigolds are in a septet mode – with Garrick leading a group that includes Ian Carr on trumpet, Joe Harriott on alto, Don Rendell on soprano sax, and Tony Coe on tenor – all shading in some beautiful tones on the straight numbers "Good Times" and "Webster's Mood" – and really going to town on the modal number "Ursula", a rolling groover that's simply fantastic! 2 other tracks – "Jazz For Five" and "A Jazz Nativity" – have the group joined by poet John Smith, who's recitation beautifully matches the horn work of Coe and Harriott. Remaining tracks are even more unusual – and feature Garrick in trio formation on either celeste or harpsichord – really hitting beautiful notes that have a slightly exotic feel, on titles that include "What Are Little Girls", "Spiders", "Black Marigolds", and "Carolling".

The Heart Is A Lotus is one of the key recordings by the team of Garrick and Norma Winstone! Winstone's vocals here rank right up there with those of Karin Krog or Monica Zetterlund – creating a whole new style for the voice in jazz, as they dance along with the freely searching work of Garrick's sextet on the record. There's a sense of lyrical poetry to the album that's really beautiful – but rhythm is also a key aspect of the session – and most tunes dance along in a flurry of bass and drum interplay, hitting that warm modal groove! Titles include "The Heart Is A Lotus", "Torrent", "Temple Dancer", "Blues On Blues", "Voices", and "Beautiful Thing".

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove ::::

ORNETTE COLEMAN – THE MUSIC OF ORNETTE COLEMAN / SKIES OF AMERICA

A great couple of harder-to-find Ornette Coleman records – nicely paired up in a 2CD set! First up is The Music Of Ornette Coleman, from 1967 – which is beautiful record that serves as both a showcase for Ornette's "serious" writing efforts – and his ability to play with a larger ensemble! It kicks off with Ornette playing trumpet solos with The Philadelphia Woodwind Quintet as they perform his "Forms & Sounds" live. That's followed by recordings of Ornette's "Space Flight" and "Saints & Soldiers" performed by The Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia Quartet, a string ensemble that brings a new light to Ornette's compositions!

Skies Of America is an ambitious record with full orchestra, in a haunting sound that's light years from any of his smaller group recordings of the 60s and 70s! There's an incredible feel to the strings used here – played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Measham – all tied up and dark, with swirling sounds that run up beautifully from the bottom, then take off to the skies promised in the title – opening the door for Ornette to come in and solo freely over the top – in a magical mix that easily makes the record a standout in his long and mighty career! Harmolodic theory is definitely a part of Coleman's conception here – but in very different ways than his quartet or quintet recordings. Lots of tracks on this one, including "Skies Of America", "The Men Who Live In The White House", "Sunday In America", "Dreams", "Native Americans", "Silver Screen", "The Artist In America" and more.

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove ::::

NEW RELEASES - REGINA BELLE, PETER BROTZMANN, IKE & TINA TURNER

REGINA BELLE – ALL BY MYSELF

A sweet debut from soul singer Regina Belle – a nice dose of class and sophistication in the world of mid 80s R&B! Regina's got a well-developed style right from the start – the kind of poise that you might hear from someone like Phyllis Hyman, especially on the mellower cuts – with nice undercurrents of jazz that really help send the whole thing home – and really keep the album away from cloying commercial styles too! The set features some mighty nice instrumental elements alongside the vocals – including keyboards from Dexter Wansel and alto from Don Myrick – and titles include "Show Me The Way", "Intimate Relations", "Gotta Give It Up", "So Many Tears", "Please Be Mine", and "You Got The Love". CD features lots of bonus tracks – "Without You", "Show Me The Way (ext)", "You Got The Love (rmx)", "How Could You Do It To Me (rmx)", "So Many Tears (cool mix)", and "Show Me The Way (inst)".

PETER BROTZMANN – CHINA LIVE IN BEJING 2011


Just when we've thought we've heard everything Peter Brotzmann has to offer – out comes a record like this, and blows us away all over again! As you'd guess from the title, Brotzmann's working here in a Chinese setting – mixing with younger players we'd never heard before – including Li Tiequiao on alto and Scandinavian spring flute, and Xu Fengxia on zither, sanxian, and voice – a strange style of singing that really makes for an amazing moment on one track! The quartet also features Kristian Mondrup Nielsen on drums – and Brotzmann plays searing tenor, alto, and clarinet – but often changes his phrasing to meet the moods of the younger players – especially at moments when Fengxia is in the forefront. Amazing stuff – and the CD features titles that include "Deciduous Carnival", "Walking In Wu Men", "Beijing Legend", "798 Art District", "Moat", and "Feel As If We Were Visiting Our Country Of Birth". DVD features all these tracks, plus two more! (NTSC Format, All Region DVD. Limited edition.)

IKE & TINA TURNER – WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU GET: LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL

The Ike & Tina Turner Revue shakes the foundation at Carnegie Hall on April Fools Day, 1971! There's a good reason for there being so many live albums by Ike & Tina – it's because they're damn great on stage – and this NYC set is a strong showcase for The Ikettes and The Kings Of Rhythm, too! The group was riding a peak wave of popularity around this time, and they cover a wide variety of songs in a set that's masterfully-paced – starting out slow and building up intensity as it goes! Titles include the Ikettes-led "Piece Of My Heart" and "Everyday People", the thunderous Tina intro "Doin' The Tina Turner", "Sweet Soul Music", "Proud Mary", "I Smell Trouble", "Ike's Tune", "I Want To Take You Higher", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Respect" and more.

:::: SOURCE: Dusty Groove.com ::::

KATHERINE JENKINS - THIS IS CHRISTMAS

Katherine Jenkins Unwraps First Christmas Album, "This is Christmas" 

Multi-Million Selling Classical Crossover Artist Mixes Traditional and Contemporary Holiday Songs for Ninth Studio Album; Available on October 30 From Warner Bros. Records

Best known for her unique interpretations of popular songs, operatic arias and hymns, singer Katherine Jenkins will embrace a new genre this fall when the multi-million selling mezzo-soprano releases her first Christmas album, This is Christmas, which will be available on October 30 on Warner Bros. Records.

This will be the ninth studio album from Jenkins, who is the world's most prolific classical crossover artist. In addition to winning various BRIT awards, the 32-year-old Welsh singer has sold more than seven million albums worldwide.

For this upcoming collection, Jenkins' unique vocals can be heard singing traditional holiday tunes from around the world as well as a number of contemporary favorites including "Away In A Manger," "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Deck The Halls," and the timeless classic, "The Christmas Song."

"These holiday songs bring back such wonderful memories for me of times spent with family and loved ones," says Jenkins. "I have always hoped that one day I'd have the opportunity to record a Christmas album and I can't wait to share my interpretations of these songs with everyone."

Jenkins' stratospheric rise began in 2004 at the age of 23 and she has gone on to become the fastest-selling soprano ever, surpassing such operatic giants as Kiri te Kanawa and Angela Gheorghiu. She has performed with Placido Domingo and worked with internationally renowned producers David Foster and John Shanks.

In addition to her recordings, Jenkins' ardent support for the British Forces Foundation has earned her the position of trustee, as well as the nickname, the Forces Sweetheart. This year, the singer was a contestant on Season 14 of "Dancing With The Stars," where she opened the season with the highest-ever debut and was runner up in the final.

Track List:
1. O Come O Come Emmanuel
2. Ding Dong Merrily On High
3. Away In A Manger
4. In Dulci Jubilo
5. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
6. Santa Baby
7. The Little Road To Bethlehem
8. Deck The Halls
9. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
10. Sleep Quietly My Jesus
11. I Wish You Christmas
12. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
13. Come What May (with Placido Domingo)

Find out more about Katherine Jenkins at:
katherinejenkins.warnerreprise.com
www.facebook.com/KJOfficial
twitter.com/KathJenkins

:::: SOURCE: Warner Bros. Records ::::

INTRODUCING GABRIEL JOHNSON

Modern jazz trumpeter, Gabriel Johnson, a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, and an active studio musician who has played and recorded with the likes of Jill Scott, Diddy, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster and B.o.B among others, will release the self-produced Introducing Gabriel Johnson on September 25 on his Sunset Horn imprint. Johnson, whose varied influences range from Miles Davis, to the Stones Throw Records label aesthetic of J-Dilla and Madlib, has created a vibrant wall-of-sound in which he blends the classic with the contemporary, for a sexy, raw, hip hop infused work. Johnson's modern jazz and hip hop blend provides the perfect backdrop for his trumpet playing to completely shine and take center stage.

The young trumpeter, who is managed by Erin Davis (son of Miles Davis), will perform at his record release party on September 20 at Catalina's Bar & Grill. He will also make his Tonight Show debut on October 10 as a featured soloist with Placido Domingo. Johnson will tour and perform throughout the fall, with additional dates to be announced.

Comments Johnson: "When I first started conceiving the sounds of Introducing Gabriel Johnson, I had been listening to a lot of music that was very simple and melodic, but had tremendous fire and depth once you really dug in and peeled off the layers…The Miles Davis and Gil Evans collaborations from the late 50s with their beautiful, intricate and simultaneously accessible harmonies, as well as those instant classic Madlib and J-Dilla records on Stones Throw, which had a huge influence on me. I also listened to D'Angelo's Voodoo, with it's utterly, raw sexiness which can never be overlooked in music."

Some might find this an odd connection, but to Johnson, it had everything he was looking for: It was melodic, accessible and highly enjoyable, with tremendous depth and complexity. Introducing Gabriel Johnson is comprised of 10 original compositions and three covers, with the lead single "Wait A Minute" being the catalyst for the rest of the album, with its simple melody and sparseness of the beat and harmony. Among the highlights include Johnson's brooding version of Radiohead's "Codex" off the 2011album The King Of Limbs, which provides a different take than the original version, while still retaining its powerful beauty and melancholy. Johnson says "I've always been a huge fan of Radiohead and was immediately taken aback when I first heard the song…I knew I had to do my own version."

Additional highlights include the raw hip hop infused "The Chief", a fresh take on the Gershwin classic "Summertime", the quirky "Jazz Cats," and the aptly titled "Old School." Throughout the record Johnson's trumpet soars front-and-center, showcasing his melodic creativity, infectious compositions and beautiful trumpet sound.

Gabriel Johnson is from Northern California. Earlier on, his greatest musical influence was his grandmother who preached the importance of the arts, and most importantly jazz. She encouraged him to check out Dizzy Gillespie at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1989, where he also caught Freddie Hubbard. He was hooked. A career turning point came in 2007 when Clint Eastwood called upon him to be a featured soloist with the orchestra on his Golden Globes nominated score to Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie. Following the success of the Changeling soundtrack, Eastwood once again called upon Johnson to be the soloist in his Nelson Mandela biopic Invictus, which came out in December 2009.

Trumpeter Chris Botti, whom Johnson has also performed with, and counts as a major supporter, says “he has a beautiful and mature sound and I view him as the new standard for modern young trumpet players.”

For more information, including updated tour dates, please visit gabrieljohnsonmusic.com and facebook.com/gabrieljohnsonmusic. Following, please see Introducing Gabriel Johnson track listing with media preview link and tour dates.

TRACK LISTING
Wait A Minute
Jazz Cats
The Chief
Interlude 1
Quasimoto
Feel Like Makin' Love
Interlude 2
Summertime
Dexter
Old School
Interlude 3
Codex
Outro

*To listen, please see preview link: http://www.Gabrieljohnsonmusic.com/mediapreview

TOUR DATES & PERFORMANCES
9/20 CATALINA'S BAR & GRILL Hollywood, CA emcee KJAZZ's Bubba Jackson
9/23 SOHO RESTAURANT & MUSIC CLUB Santa Barbara, CA
9/28 MILES DAVIS HOUSE Los Angeles, CA (Tentative)
10/4 THE BLUE WHALE Los Angeles, CA
10/7 KJAZZ CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH @LOEWS HOLLYWOOD HOTEL Hollywood, CA
10/10 THE TONIGHT SHOW Los Angeles, CA
10/12 ALVAS SHOWROOM San Pedro, CA
10/19 THE BLUE NOTE New York, NY10/24
10/24 VIBRATO Bel Air, CA
11/9 SPAGHETTINI Seal Beach, CA

:::: SOURCE: PR Web ::::

 

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY'S RATTLE THEM BONES # 1 NEW JAZZ RELEASE THIS WEEK!

New Video released for single "Diga Diga Do"

Band gears up for 20th Anniversary Celebration!

 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the award winning purveyors of American big band, jumpin' jazz and blues are back with an all new recording for Savoy Jazz, Rattle Them Bones—their ninth studio album. Released on September 4th, the album has made an impressive debut reaching #1 on the Jazz Album Chart on both iTunes and Amazon and was the highest debut on the Billboard Jazz Chart entering at # 2. Founding members Scotty Morris and Kurt Sodergren, plus the five other original members continue to keep their sound fresh coming off the 2009 release of their tribute to Cab Calloway. Described by NPR as an ensemble with "big-band ideas with a contemporary, high-energy flavor," All Music calls Rattle Them Bones, "Neo-crooner jazz…solidly crafted."
Produced by Morris and Joshua Levy with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the band has honed their musicality to a fine point, effortlessly striking a balance between respect for traditional jazz/blues/Dixie/swing and the original ideas they incorporate into the mix. Rattle Them Bones is in celebration of twenty years of bringing an irrepressible groove to adoring fans worldwide- a sound that spans many eras—think the prohibition era of "Boardwalk Empire" to the lounging swing of 60's "Mad Men." The band features Morris (vocals, guitar, banjo), Joshua Levy (piano, arranger), Kurt Sodergren (drums), Dirk Shumaker (acoustic bass, vocals), Glen "The Kid" Marhevka (trumpet), Karl Hunter (soprano, alto, tenor saxophones and clarinet) and Andy Rowley (baritone saxophone, vocals).

The album's first single is "Diga Diga Do" with a corresponding video featuring the band in full performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNC4QImD1N8.

With Rattle Them Bones, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has put together a twelve track album of originals and hand-picked covers that would evoke a certain mood—a mood influenced by some surprisingly diverse sources ranging from Mark Twain to Randy Newman, Django Reinhardt to George Gershwin.

Since their arrival on the music scene in 1993 in a legendary residency at Los Angeles' Brown Derby nightclub, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, named famously after an autograph by blues legend Albert Collins, have sold millions of records while their music has appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows. They have sold out shows from the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Hall to Lincoln Center and Constitution Hall, while their videos have been regularly featured on MTV and VH1.

::: SOURCE: Savoy Jazz ::::

BEN HARPER - BY MY SIDE

GRAMMY®-winning musician and songwriter Ben Harper has selected his favorite ballads for a career-spanning retrospective titled By My Side, to be released October 16 by Virgin/EMI. The collection, available in CD and digital formats, features 12 of Harper's most unforgettable songs, including "Forever," "Diamonds On The Inside," and "Waiting On An Angel," and also introduces a new ballad, "Crazy Amazing," which is exclusive to this release. By My Side also includes a rare studio version of "Not Fire Not Ice," previously unreleased in the U.S., which until now was available only on the international single for "Ground On Down."

Harper will headline his first-ever solo acoustic tour this fall, beginning September 26 in Ann Arbor, MI and continuing to several other major cities across North America before heading to New Zealand and Australia. Billed as "An Acoustic Evening with Ben Harper," the tour will include Harper's first headline performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall on October 10. Ever since his acclaimed acoustic performance at the inaugural Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2002, Harper has been besieged by fan requests for this kind of intimate outing. He will perform songs from throughout his career – from his 1994 debut, Welcome to the Cruel World, to his latest album, 2011's critically acclaimed Give Till It's Gone.

A musician, songwriter, producer, and activist, Ben Harper has released 10 acclaimed studio albums and three live records since 1994. These albums, combined with an unceasing commitment to international touring, have helped him grow a fan base that now spans several continents. Whether the soul of southern Gospel, '70s funk, blues, reggae, or straightforward rock and roll, Harper and his trademark Weissenborn guitar continue to stun audiences with incendiary live performances and timeless songwriting. A collaborator by nature, Harper has recorded and performed with a long list of artists including Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, Charlie Musselwhite, Tom Morello, Rickie Lee Jones, Taj Mahal, Jack Johnson and Vanessa De Matta. His album with the Blind Boys of Alabama, There Will Be A Light, earned two GRAMMY® Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.

www.BenHarper.com

Ben Harper: By My Side [CD, digital]
1. Forever - Welcome To The Cruel World
2. By My Side - Fight For Your Mind
3. Gold To Me -Fight For Your Mind
4. Diamonds On The Inside -Diamonds On The Inside
5. In The Colors - Lifeline (with Innocent Criminals)
6. Beloved One - Burn To Shine
7. Not Fire Not Ice - ** Studio version, previously unreleased in the U.S. **
8. Morning Yearning - Both Sides Of The Gun
9. Feel Love - Give Till It's Gone
10. Happy Everafter In Your Eyes - Both Sides Of The Gun
11. Waiting On An Angel - Welcome To The Cruel World
12. Crazy Amazing - ** New song **

Ben Harper: "An Acoustic Evening with Ben Harper" Tour
9/26 - Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater
9/27 - Chicago, IL - Cadillac Palace Theatre
9/29 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
10/1 - Montreal, QC - Maison Symphonique de Montreal
10/2 - Burlington, VT - Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
10/3 - Philadelphia, PA - Merriam Theater
10/5 - Boston, MA - Boston Opera House
10/6 - Portland, ME - State Theatre
10/7 - Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre
10/10 - New York, NY - Carnegie Hall
11/2 - Wellington, NZ - Michael Fowler Centre
11/3 - Wellington, NZ - Michael Fowler Centre
11/5 - Auckland, NZ - ASB Theatre
11/6 - Auckland, NZ - ASB Theatre
11/8 - Canberra, AU - Canberra Theatre
11/9 - Brisbane, AU - Brisbane Convention Centre
11/10 - Melbourne, AU - The Plenary
11/12 - Sydney, AU - Sydney Opera House
11/13 - Sydney, AU - Sydney Opera House
11/14 - Sydney, AU - Sydney Opera House
11/15 - Sydney, AU - Sydney Opera House

:::: SOURCE: Virgin/EMI :::