NEW RELEASES - STEVE MARCUS, BROTHER JACK McDUFF, KENNY CLARKE & FRANCY BOLAND

STEVE MARCUS – COUNT’S ROCK BAND


Sweet saxy grooves from reedman Steve Marcus – working here in a psychedelic approach to funky jazz! The album's easily one of Steve's greatest moments – and has Marcus playing both acoustic and electric saxes, in a lineup that also includes funky guitar from Larry Coryell, piano and harpsichord from Mike Nock, bass from Chris Hills, drums from Bob Moses, and even a bit of accordion from Dominic Cortese! The sound is definitely jazz, but there's plenty of influence from the rock side of the spectrum – yet never in a too-jamming rock fusion mode – always with the same sort of soulful, funky feel you'd get on records from the time by Tom Scott. Titles include "C'Est Ca", "Theresa's Blues", "Scarborough Fair", "Ooh Baby", and "Back Street Girl". ~ Dusty Groove

BROTHER JACK McDUFF – CHANGE IS GONNA COME

A sweet Atlantic soul groover from Brother Jack McDuff – and a set that has him tightening up his Hammond sound from his earlier years at Prestige Records! The tunes here are short and punched-up – almost instrumental soul numbers in their construction, but still filled with plenty of jazz – thanks to Jack's mad solos on organ, and some killer drums from Joe Dukes and Bernard Purdie! Other players include George Coleman on tenor, Cornell Dupree on guitar, and Buddy Lucas on baritone sax – and arrangements are by JJ Jackson and Jack himself. Titles include "Hotcha", "Down In the Valley", "Same Old Same Old", "No Tears", "What'd I Say", "Gonna Hang Me Up A Sign", and "Minha Saudade". ~ Dusty Groove

KENNY CLARKE & FRANCY BOLAND – JAZZ IS UNIVERSAL

Great early genius from the Clarke Boland Big Band – proof that Kenny and Francy were onto something great, right from the start! The album really has the group hitting the heights of their MPS years – stretching out way past earlier big band modes, into the hip mix of rhythms and soulful solos that made the ensemble unlike any other group in the 60s – a really groundbreaking approach to their music, delivered by a range of top-shelf players! Arrangements are by Boland, who also plays piano – and other group members include Benny Bailey and Jimmy Deuchar on trumpets, Derek Humble on alto sax, Carl Drewo and Zoot Sims on tenor, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax and flute, and Ake Persson on trombone – plus rhythm from the rock-solid duo of Jimmy Woode on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. Titles include the Latin-tinged "Los Bravos", and more great originals by Boland – including "Volutes", "The Styx", "Charon's Ferry", and "Box 703 Washington DC" – plus versions of "Gloria" and "Last Train From Overbrook". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - LES McCANN, MODERN JAZZ QUARTET, HERBIE HANCOCK

LES McCANN – MUCH LES

A groovy set of late 60s soul jazz piano tunes – played by Les McCann in a swinging style that pre-dates his 70s funk work – and which also features him playing in a strictly instrumental setting! The core of the material is by Les' trio with Leroy Vinnegar on bass – but most tracks feature an expanded sound, either by adding Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja on Latin percussion, or by backing the group with off-beat arrangements by the great William Fischer, whose talents had graced some of the best Atlantic jazz albums at the time! Titles include "Burnin Coal", "Doin That Thing", "Roberta", and a groovy version of "Love For Sale". ~ Dusty Groove

MODERN JAZZ QUARTET – LONELY WOMAN

Truly one of the Modern Jazz Quartet's greatest albums – and a set that has an edge and a darkness that's missing from some of their other Atlantic records! Part of the reason for this may be the group's fantastic reading of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" – a killer moody track that sounds great in the group's vibes/piano style – and which leads off the album with a chilling tone that's really unbelievable! The rest of the album's pretty great too – and there's a brooding intensity we don't normally hear in the piano of John Lewis and vibes of Milt Jackson. Other tracks include Gary McFarland's "Why Are You Blue" – plus John Lewi's "Belkis", "Animal Dance", "New York 19", and "Trieste". ~ Dusty Groove

HERBIE HANCOCK – FAT ALBERT ROTUNDA

The start of funky funky Herbie Hancock! This album's the first to feature Herbie really breaking away from his straight jazz work – moving into a groove that's nice and funky, using electric piano along with acoustic, to forge the sound that he'd develop famously over the 70s. The album's got a harder, heavier sound than some of his straight electric ones – and it features a larger group with soloists that include Johnny Coles on trumpet and Joe Henderson on tenor – plus some sweet basslines from Buster Williams – all led by Herbie into a tight soul jazz flurry of excellent tracks! Includes the cuts "Fat Mama" and "Wiggle Waggle", both sample favorites, plus "Tell Me A Bedtime Story" and "Lil Brother". Classic stuff, and one of his best records ever! ~ Dusty Groove

BLUE NOTE RECORDS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE NEW SPOTIFY APP

EMI Music’s legendary Blue Note Records has announced the launch today of an innovative new app within the popular online music streaming service Spotify. The Blue Note app provides a rich user experience by creating a space to explore and discover music spanning the entire history of the label from 1939 to present. Download the app here: http://open.spotify.com/app/bluenote

The Blue Note app traces the label’s evolution from the early jazz of Sidney Bechet to the trailblazing bebop of Thelonious Monk, from Art Blakey’s quintessential hardbop thru Ornette Coleman’s avant-garde flights, from Jimmy Smith’s grinding organ soul jazz leading to Donald Byrd’s funky R&B fusion and on into today’s modern explorations such as Robert Glasper’s unique blend of jazz with hip hop, and beyond. The app’s design and functionality allow the listener to discover by performer, album, style, instrument or year, providing several easy entry points into the music for jazz novices, as well as the ability for jazz aficionados to dive deep into Blue Note’s unrivaled catalog. The app also incorporates Spotify’s trademark social features such as building playlists and sharing favorite tracks with friends.

“In the great tradition of Blue Note Records, our new Spotify app pushes the boundaries of the digital listening experience,” said Don Was, President of Blue Note Records. “Catering to both the educated aficionado and new fans alike, this innovative interface provides music fans with a clean, user-friendly doorway to hours of discovery and musical gratification.”

"Blue Note is virtually synonymous with jazz music and their new app is a great example of music experts taking advantage of the Spotify platform to foster deep music discovery and appreciation," said Steve Savoca, Head of Content, Spotify. "Our passionate users now have a curated experience to guide them through the vast amount of jazz music on Spotify."

KEY FEATURES:

TIMELINE – Explore the Blue Note catalog chronologically from the label’s very first recording session with boogie woogie pianists Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis in 1939 to the most recent album, Heritage by African jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke, which was released last month. The app features every Blue Note title available in Spotify. Diversions abound with each album page connecting to the artist pages of the leader and sidemen on the session allowing the user to find their own way down an endless path of discovery with full-album streaming available at every turn.

FILTER – Explore the catalog by musical style, era or even by instrument. The Artists and Blue Note 101 sections offer a filter to help guide the user through the label’s different styles of music: Tradition (Thelonious Monk, Jason Moran), Groove (Lou Donaldson, Robert Glasper) and Voices (Dianne Reeves, Norah Jones).

BLUE BREAK BEATS – Blue Note partnered with the website Who Sampled to take the user on a tour of music that contains samples from the Blue Note catalog, placing the original versions alongside the sampled versions by artists such as Beastie Boys, Chemical Brothers, Common, Madonna, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Usher, and Wu-Tang Clan.

SHOP – Peruse Blue Note merchandise that riffs off of the label’s influential visual style, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, bags, and more.

ABOUT SPOTIFY:
Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 18 million songs, wherever you are. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get paid. Since its launch in Sweden in 2008, Spotify has become the largest and most successful music service of its kind, with over 15 million active users and over 4 million paying subscribers. Spotify is now available in fifteen countries around the world: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. For more information on Spotify, visitwww.spotify.com.

:::: SOURCE: Blue Note Records ::::

BOMBAY DUB ORCHESTRA - THE NEW YORK REMIXES

Since the release of their self-titled debut, the name Bombay Dub Orchestra (consisting of composer/producers Garry Hughes and Andrew T. Mackay) has built quite a reputation. From main-stage performances at the UK's Big Chill Festival and Djing across the globe, scoring feature films to remixing such world-renowned artists as Bob Marley, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Bebel Gilberto, fans and critics have been praising their unique fusion of modern electronica, the lush sounds of a full Indian orchestra and performances from some of South Asia's most renowned instrumental soloists.

The New York Remix Project didn't begin in New York or London or even Bombay. It actually began in Kingston, Jamaica, where Garry & Andrew met New York based musician, artist and producer Tony Grund during a BMI event. Tony suggested a remix project solely by New York producers taking tracks from the first two Bombay Dub Orchestra albums to give them a 'New York State of Mind'.Tony has overseen the project as well as contributed on several remixes.

Andrew T. Mackay states, "New York is close to our hearts. Garry has worked in most of the great studios there over the years and we have both stayed, worked and performed in the vibrant city on many occasions. The great thing about remix projects is that our music is taken to a different place - one where we would never ordinarily go on our albums. It's always exciting to see the diversity that the remixes bring. The New York Remixes album shows some of that diversity, and the rich culture that the city has to share." ~ Giant Step

ALLO'S SOPHOMORE ALBUM "SUPERCONDUCTOR" TO BE RELEASED NATIONALLY ON SEPTEMBER 20 ON PRINCE'S NPG RECORDS

Andy Allo, funk/soul artist extraordinaire, has been announced to perform live at Prince's after-jam at Chicago's House of Blues on September 24, following a special performance by Prince himself, at his "Welcome 2 Chicago" engagement. The "Welcome 2" event will be held at the United Center earlier that evening, in support of the Rebuild the Dream foundation, founded by Van Jones, whose mission is to mobilize thousands of everyday people who come together to build strong vibrant communities, and to fix the U.S. economy from the ground up.

Allo, who opens for Prince on-tour and is a guitarist/vocalist in his band, The New Power Generation, will be releasing her sophomore CD on Prince's NPG Records on September 20 titled Superconductor. The album is Executive Produced by Prince, and features six self-penned tracks by Allo, with three songs co-written by Prince - "Superconductor," "The Calm" and "Gone." The album also includes featured artists Maceo Parker, Prince and Trombone Shorty.

As soon as we felt Andy Allo's energetic presence on tour with r band," says Prince, "we knew she'd b leading her own revolution soon!" Adds Allo, "Touring with Prince & The NPG has been a challenging and rewarding experience and Superconductor is a work of art that encapsulates the journey thus far." A poet, songwriter, singer and dancer, Allo has been a member of The New Power Generation since 2011. Allo will continue to tour with Prince in conjunction with the release of Superconductor.

www.alloevolution.com
Twitter: @andyallo
www.facebook.com/andyallo

NEW RELEASES - GEORGE CABLES, DENISE DONATELLI. ROY PORTER

GEORGE CABLES – MY MUSE

Stellar sounds from pianist George Cables – the kind of fluid, soulful set he's been serving up for years – but one with a bittersweet undercurrent too! The "muse" in the title is Cables' late partner – for whom he wrote a few key tracks on the set, showing us that his skills as a composer are richer than ever – and really on a par with his majestic playing on the date as well. There's a lyricism that we haven't heard this strongly from George in a number of years – and the trio's beautifully balanced, with bass from Essiet Essiet and drums from Victor Lewis – both partners sensitive to the needs of the songs. Cables brackets the record with two solo performances – and titles include "My Muse", "Helen's Song", "But He Knows", "You're My Everything", "He It's Me You're Talking To", and "My Old Flame". ~ Dusty Groove

DENISE DONATELLI – SOUL SHADOWS

Denise Donatelli gets some great backings here from Geoff Keezer – mostly in a straight jazz mode, but sometimes in a fuller style that really opens her up! Donatelli's got a sound that's rooted in jazz, but more expressive than most – and Keezer really sets her up nicely for the record – shifting the instrumentation a bit from track to track, and showcasing her strength both on ballads and more upbeat numbers. Titles include "Soul Shadows", "Another Day", "Ange", "Too Late Now", "Postcards & Messages", and "No Better". ~ Dusty Groove

ROY PORTER – STORY OF THE ROY PORTER SOUND MACHINE 1971-1975

One of the coolest, grooviest cats who ever cut a record – an an artist with a really unique conception at the time of these recordings! Roy Porter got his start as a drummer during the bebop years, and worked hard on the LA scene of the R&B and soul scenes of the 50s and 60s – but to us, his crowning achievement is these amazing funk sides of the early 70s – amazingly complex, but right on the money too – and a whole new kind of music that's impossible to describe in words! Roy mixes funky drums with lots of cool jazzy changes – keyboard lines, horn parts, and bass bits that have the frenzy you might find in fusion, yet come across with the down-to-earth vibe of a funky 45 – a killer blend that goes way past jazz, and even most straight funk too – as you'll hear in this sweet little set. The package brings together all the best tracks from these key Porter years – and titles include "Jessica" and "Panama" in both vocal and instrumental versions, plus "Wow", "Funny Feelin", "Funky Twitch", "Love You", "Hense Forth", "Out On The Town Tonight", "Givin Me The Blues", "Waver-ing", "Party Time", and "Hip City". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JOHNNY ALF, HAROLD MCNAIR. JUNGLE BY NIGHT

JOHNNY ALF - JOHNNY ALF

A 60s bossa classic from Johnny Alf – a set that really showcases the bluer side of bossa at the time! The set's got a rich, sophisticated sort of sound – right up there with the best Elenco or Forma vocal sessions of the 60s, thanks to orchestrations by Jose Briamonte, which move along with this really dark undercurrent. Alf's vocals and piano contrast nicely, with these oddly-turning notes that are really unique – a distinct approach that made Johnny one of the most standout talents of this new generation. This album's easily one of his greatest efforts – and titles include "Gismi", "Kao Xango", "Cancao Pra Disfacar", "Ceu Alegre", "Eu So Sei", and "Bossa So". ~ Dusty Groove

HAROLD MCNAIR – FLUTE / NUT

Two amazing sets from Harold McNair – a fantastic London 60s flute player with a really sharp edge! The self-titled Harold McNair has the leader working in a tight combo with some nice offbeat sounds – including a lot of breathy, soul-toned notes that remind us a fair bit of Roland Kirk – but which also showcase some of Harold's West Indian roots! (McNair was part of the same great West Indian influx of jazz musicians that also gave England Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reece.) The group features Harold mostly on flute, plus a bit of tenor – alongside Bill LeSage on piano, Spike Heatley on bass, and Tony Carr on drums – and titles include the seminal groover "The Hipster" – worth the price of the record alone – plus "Mento", "Indecision", "The Cottage", and "Mini Blues". Flute & Nut features the flute of Harold McNair alongside some sweet arrangements from John Cameron – with whom Harold worked famously on Donovan sessions in the 60s! Many tunes are McNair originals, and Harold's flute is definitely in the lead – but we also love the grooves that Cameron brings on board – a sweet blend of soulful jazz and sound library styles – all of which gives the album a similar feel to Roland Kirk's work with the Benny Golson group on Mercury. Titles include "Burnt Amber", "Herb Green", "Nomadic Joe", "Barnes Bridge", and "The Umbrella Man". ~ Dusty Groove

JUNGLE BY NIGHT - HIDDEN

An even cooler record than before from Jungle By Night – a set that still has lots of Afro Funk elements at its core, but which brings them together in some really unique ways! Some of the rhythms are nicely offbeat – not straight, and sometimes moving in weird patterns that really start the tunes off well – getting past easy expectations as the group's instrumental flurry comes into play – tight horns, heavy percussion, and these keyboards that have ways of making sounds that are sometimes a bit unusual. All instrumental – and titles include "Rangda", "Cyclin", "Dawn", "Gallow Street 34", "Night Fight", "Ethiopino", and "The Past Is History". ~ Dusty Groove

STEFON HARRIS, DAVID SÁNCHEZ AND CHRISTIAN SCOTT - NINETY MILES LIVE AT CUBADISCO

Perhaps better than any politician or diplomat, musicians – especially jazz musicians, whose craft is in many ways an improvised form of communication – understand inherently that when we look at each other as individuals and focus on the similarities, the divide between us is actually very short – less than a hundred miles.

Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, saxophonist David Sánchez and trumpeter Christian Scott first crossed that divide on their acclaimed two-disc CD/DVD package, Ninety Miles, released June 21, 2011. Recorded during the same trip, their first and only live performance, Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco, is set for digital release September 25, 2012 on Concord Picante exclusively on iTunes.

Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco was recorded May 18, 2010 at Cubadisco, one of the biggest music festivals in Cuba, at Teatro Amadeo Roldán in Havana, with the help of some highly talented Cuban musicians – pianists Harold López-Nussa and Rember Duharte, each leading their own quartets. This seven-song live set further explores the chemistry of Ninety Miles and takes their virtuosity to another level as musicians from different cultures converse in a common language that transcends words.

“The entire experience was about the power of music to communicate and break down some of the barriers that result from language and politics and culture,” says John Burk, Chief Creative Officer of Concord Music Group and producer of Ninety Miles and Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco, along with Chris Dunn, Senior Director of A&R. “I was particularly impressed with Harold and Rember,” Burk says. “I found it really interesting that these musicians had studied and embraced the jazz genre (an American art form) and taken it to such a high level.” While Ninety Miles was a snapshot of the rehearsals just prior to the 2010 live performance, Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco is a high powered musical look back at the week’s events, culminating in the first and only time they would all perform together live.

Harris, a four-time GRAMMY®-nominated vibist-percussionist, is no stranger to adventurous collaborative projects. A native of Albany, New York, his earliest work included session gigs with Joe Henderson and Buster Williams in the 1990s before he recorded his solo debut in 1998 on Blue Note (A Cloud of Red Dust). He’s cut seven albums since then, including his GRAMMY®-nominated Concord Jazz debut Urbanus. Harris contributes two tracks to Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco: “This Too Shall Pass” and “Brown Belle Blues,” written especially for this project.

David Sánchez, a GRAMMY®-winning saxophonist, brings plenty of his own cross-cultural sensibilities to the project. A native of Puerto Rico, he moved to New York City at 18 and studied at Rutgers University under Kenny Barron. He has performed with numerous Latin jazz masters over the years, including his mentor, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D’Rivera and the great Eddie Palmieri. In a body of recorded work that stretches back to the mid-1990s, Sánchez has crafted a signature sound that seamlessly merges elements of Afro-Cuban rhythm with bebop. Sánchez’s “City Sunrise” was inspired by music from Cameroon, and his second contribution, “The Forgotten Ones,” written for the people of post-Katrina New Orleans was originally recorded on his Concord Picante debut Cultural Survival.

Born and raised in New Orleans, GRAMMY®-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott has been blending elements of alternative rock, jazz, hip hop, and classical since his 2006 debut recording, Rewind That. On Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco, he taps into the Cuban roots that are not only a part of his home but his family history as well. Scott contributes the track “Paradise Found,” a tune written by his uncle Donald Harrison, the Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group. Scott’s latest recording, Christian aTunde Adjuah, was released July 31, 2012 on Concord Jazz.

Each of the two Cuban pianists offers a track of his own to the live set, which further heightens the performance. “Harold and Rember are from the same generation, and yet they have two completely different approaches,” says Sánchez. “Rember is more rooted in the African sound, and he’s a little more raw in some ways. But Harold is completely different. You hear the Cuban influences in his music, and perhaps more of the western European classical piano.”

The undeniable energy and excitement of Ninety Miles Live At Cubadisco is a clear statement about the power of music to unite in ways that politics and diplomacy can’t. “The arts can lead the way because they are the universal language,” says Burk. “And music is certainly one of the most powerful forces within the arts. You can change someone’s life in five minutes with the right piece of music. I don’t know of any other art form that can do that. These records do illustrate a way – or at least the ability – for people to work together despite differences.”

TOOTS THIELEMANS EUROPEAN QUARTET 90 YRS.

"The harmonica has long been regarded as the humblest of musical instruments, and yet, as Mr. Thielemans and Mr. Maret show, when played at its best, it is more than capable of expressing the deepest feelings in the human experience." - Wall Street Journal

"Wherever his ideas take him he follows them, and the rest of his superb European Quartet miraculously keep up with him." - The Guardian

This past April, Toots Thielemans, arguably the most famous harmonica player worldwide, turned 90-years old. To celebrate this milestone, Thielemans is releasing a live CD/DVD package with the support of his European quartet - pianist Karel Boehlee, drummer Hans van Oosterhout and double-bass player Hein Van de Geyn. The album is comprised of eleven tracks recorded over the past five years during Thielemans' latest globetrotting tours while the accompanying DVD focuses on his group's latest concert in Japan.

90 Yrs. encompasses the impressive array of Thielemans' career. The album opens with the track "Waltz for Sonny," a bow to Sonny Rollins and a musical brother of Thielemans' "Bluesette." The next track, "The Dragon," was written by Thielemans for the Japanese movie Yasha (1985), a nice, open and mysterious tune; he also wrote the original soundtrack for the film together with Mitsuhiko Saito.

"Sno' Peas" is originally written by Phil Markowitz and made famous by legendary pianist Bill Evans, with whom Thielemans had played and recorded with Evans while living in the USA. "Sno' Peas" has been on Thielemans' list of favorites for a long time. "One Note Samba" and "Wave," composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, are great examples of very intelligent, yet accessible writing. Obvious and singable to the superficial ear, and full of hidden details for the specialist such as Thielemans - they leave so much space for creativity and personal interpretation, yet remain always very clear in their own identity at the same time.

"Dat Mistige Rooie Beest (That Misty Red Animal)" was composed by the famous conductor Rogier van Otterloo for the Dutch movie Turks Fruit (Turkish Fruit) and featured Thielemans' recognizable harmonica sound on the original soundtrack.

During his time with Dave Brubeck, "In Your Own Sweet Way" often kicked off their concerts, providing a wonderful vehicle for improvisation with the 8-bar interlude, opening doors to new interpretations. Thielemans is also a great admirer of Louis Armstrong, "the greatest jazz musician ever," and as a boy was bitten by the jazz bug upon hearing the icon's voice. Thielemans includes "What a Wonderful World" as a dedication to Armstrong.

"The Dolphin," written by Luiz Eça, is another very challenging harmonic, yet such lovely melodic song. Thielemans has also worked with pop musicians in addition to big jazz artists. In the seventies Thielemans was invited to join Paul Simon on a long tour and was featured on the song, "I Do It For Your Love." Thielemans has kept it on his repertoire since then.

The last song on the record, "Old Friend," is a very special one. Thielemans wrote it when he was young as a harmonic exercise, yet it is so full of feeling. With adding strings by the Shinozaki Strings from Tokio, this is a heartfelt rendition of this special composition that Toots Thielemans dedicated to his father.

Jean "Toots" Thielemans was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1922, and three years later he could already play the accordion and had began harmonica as a hobby. Thielemans became hooked on jazz during the German occupation and found his first major influence in celebrated Belgian guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt. His extensive and successful career actually began on guitar, participating in a 1949 Paris jam session alongside the likes of Charlie Parker, Sidney Bechet, Miles Davis, and Max Roach before joining Benny Goodman on European tours the following year. Throughout his career, Thielemans has played and recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Jaco Pastorius, Peggy Lee, The George Shearing Quintet, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, The Happenings, Astrud Gilberto, Shirley Horn, and Elis Regina.

Thielemans also composed the jazz standard "Bluesette," where he played guitar and whistled in unison, which was first recorded 50-years ago and became a worldwide hit with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. He has also had his playing featured in film scores such as Midnight Cowboy, Jean de Florette, Sugarland Express, The Yakuza, Turkish Delight, The Getaway, French Kiss, Dunderklumpen, and various TV programs, including Sesame Street, and in Old Spice radio and TV commercials. In 2001, he was ennobled a baron by King Albert II of Belgium and four years later was nominated as "The Greatest Belgian." Thielemans was also honored with the 2009 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship and in January 2009, he joined Philip Catherine on stage at the Liberchies church in Belgium in memory of the 100th anniversary of Django Reinhardt's birth.

90 Yrs. Personnel & Track Listing:
Toots Thielemans / harmonica
Karel Boehlee / piano, synthesizer
Hein Van de Geyn / double bass
Hans van Oosterhout / drums

1. Waltz for Sonny (Toots Thielemans) - 5:28
2. The Dragon (Toots Thielemans) - 4:32
3. Sno' Peas (Phil Markowitz) - 6:13
4. Wave (Antonio Carlos Jobim) - 4:35
5. Dat Mistige Rooie Beest (Rogier van Otterloo) - 5:08
6. In Your Own Sweet Way (Dave Brubeck) - 6:08
7. What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) - 3:41
8. One Note Samba (Antonio Carlos Jobim) - 4:04
9. The Dolphin (Luiz Eça) - 4:09
10. I Do It For Your Love (Paul Simon) - 6:22
11. Old Friend (Toots Thielemans) - 5:18

Upcoming Performances:
Toots Thielemans: Celebrating 90 Years

September 28 & 29 / Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rose Theater / New York, NY
Featuring special guests Herbie Hancock, Kenny Werner, Oscar Castro-Neves, Eliane Elias, Dori Caymmi, and more. Plus: Free pre-concert discussion nightly with Kenny Werner and JALC educator Seton Hawkins.

www.TootsThielemans.com
www.Challenge.nl

DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS ANNOUNCES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS TOUR

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour, a high-energy holiday tradition celebrating its 15th anniversary, will kick off its 2012 edition on November 23rd in Sarasota, FL with a return engagement at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The tour is one of the longest-running Christmas tours.

Led by seven-time GRAMMY® nominee and saxophonist extraordinaire Dave Koz, this year's run is featuring special guests GRAMMY-nominatedpianist/composer David Benoit, who appeared in the original 1997 line-up and was instrumental in the tour's creation; Javier Colon, who sang on Koz's Saxophonic album and was the winner of the inaugural season of NBC's hit television show, "The Voice," and the inimitable drummer/percussionist/vocalist Sheila E. (Prince, Cyndi Lauper. Ringo Starr), who makes her debut in the Christmas lineup after appearances on previous Dave Koz & Friends summer tours, and introducing singer/songwriter Margo Rey.

Together the quintet will perform hits from their respective catalogues and jam on fresh, fun arrangements of seasonal favorites. As always, there will be surprises, but Koz hints that the production will take things to a new level and will include a special medley of "Peanuts" holiday music inspired by Benoit, who has paid tribute to Vince Guaraldi's timeless music with several "Peanuts" themed albums.

Dave's summer tour, featuring inspirational/R&B/gospel icon BeBe Winans as special guest, elicited stellar reviews.The New York Times observed: "He's a musician of unflappable rhythmic aplomb, which he happily squares against the airtight funk of his band. And he's a frolicsome performer, given to hip swivels and bowlegged squats, along with a constant rotation of tenor, alto and soprano saxophones."

"Koz, of course, has become a concert staple in this town," said the El Paso Times, noting that he has sold out nine shows in the area in recent years. "One reason Koz keeps drawing crowds here is that he never does the same show twice." Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour comes to El Paso's Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center on December 13th.

Hello Tomorrow (Concord Records), Koz's latest album,was nominated for a GRAMMY award for Best Pop Instrumental Album and was named the "Best Smooth JazzAlbum of 2010" by iTunes and "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" at the 2011 Soul Train Awards. Produced by Marcus Miller and John Burk, Hello Tomorrow debuted at No. 1 on both Billboard's TopContemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes' Jazz Album chart. Dave has released 12 albums in the past 20 years, including four Christmas collections.

"I think the Christmas season gives us all a chance to go back in time, it's so nostalgic--and music plays such a big role in bringing out that feeling," says Koz. "It never ceases to blow me away, how much people love holiday songs--as evidenced by our 15th anniversary of this tour! This year especially, we'll try to fit in as many favorites as possible and add our own unique touches along the way."

CHRISTMAS TOUR SCHEDULE

Friday 11.23.12 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, FL

Saturday 11.24.12 Ruth Eckerd Hall
Clearwater, FL

Sunday 11.25.12 Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
West Palm Beach, FL

Tuesday 11.27.12 King Center for the Performing Arts
Melbourne, FL

Wednesday 11.28.12 Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Naples, FL

Friday 11.30.12 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Atlanta, GA

Saturday 12.01.12 The Carolina Theatre
Durham, NC

Monday 12.03.12 The Music Center at Strathmore
N. Bethesda, MD

Tuesday 12.04.12 Ferguson Center for the Arts
Newport News, VA

Wednesday 12.05.12 Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, NJ

Thursday 12.06.12 Playhouse Square - Palace Theatre
Cleveland, OH

Friday 12.07.12 Palace Theatre
Columbus, OH

Saturday 12.08.12 Chicago Theatre
Chicago, IL

Monday 12.10.12 Paramount Theatre
Denver, CO

Tuesday 12.11.12 Pikes Peak Center
Colorado Springs, CO

Wednesday 12.12.12 Bass Performance Hall
Ft. Worth, TX
*without Sheila E.

Thursday 12.13.12 The Plaza Theatre
El Paso, TX
*without Sheila E.

Friday 12.14.12 Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
Santa Rosa, CA

Saturday 12.15.12 Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa
Rancho Mirage, CA

Sunday 12.16.12 Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
Los Angeles, CA

Tuesday 12.18.12 The Smith Center
Las Vegas, NV

Wednesday 12.19.12 Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda
Mesa, AZ

Thursday 12.20.12 Granada Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA

Friday 12.21.12 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Cerritos, CA

Saturday 12.22.12 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Cerritos, CA

Sunday 12.23.12 The Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, CA

FREDDY COLE – ONE MORE LOVE SONG / RIGHT FROM THE HEART

Two rare European records from Freddy Cole – best known to most of us in the US as a jazz singer! One More Love Song is surprisingly soulful set from Freddy – quite different than some of the straighter jazz vocals he's cut over the years! This rare gem was recorded in The Netherlands in the mid 70s – and features backings from Jerry Van Rooyen and Tony Noite, both of whom mix jazzy inflections with fuller orchestrations – helping to bring Cole's rich background into a whole new light! Freddy's voice still has that wonderful trademark rasp – familiar to, yet quite different than brother Nat – and the use of some smoother soul modes makes for a really great contrast. Titles include "One More Love Song", "I Loved You", "I Need You So", "Still Wanna Be With You", "Isn't She Lovely", and "Here Is Where Your Love Belongs".

Right From The Heart has Freddy Cole taking on a mix of adult ballads and some groovier numbers – set to arrangements by John Gally, Hennie Bekker, and Steve Gray – and recorded in London with a nicely mature feel. There's a bit of polish to the production, especially on the more upbeat cuts – but the mellower numbers still have Cole singing in a great old school mode. Titles include "The Girl From The Piano Bar", "To Be With You", "Teach Me Tonight", "Summer Love", "Somewhere Down The Line", and "Right From The Start". ~ Dusty Groove

MOVE WITH THE GROOVE: HARDCORE CHICAGO SOUL 1962-1970 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Seminal soul from one of Chicago's greatest labels in the 60s – the One-Der-Ful/Mar-V-Lus imprints, plus tracks from related Toddlin Town too – home to some of the best indie work at the time! The quality here is right up there with the best you'd hear from Chess, Okeh, or Brunswick in the 60s – no surprise, since the pair of labels shared lots of similar talents with the bigger companies – as well as session men, songwriters, and producers too! The full scope of Chicago soul is really covered here – upbeat groovers for the dancefloor, heartfelt ballads with great harmonies, and some of the harder-edged bluesy numbers that really helped put One-Der-Ful on the map! There's also some key early examples of funk – proof that in the 60s, Chicago was one of the hippest scenes in the world – and the set comes with 2 CDs, nestled in a hardback booklet of notes and photos – with a whopping 50 tracks in all. Titles include "Tired Of Being Lonely" by The Sharpees, "Without You" by The Ulti-Mations, "That's How It Is" by Otis Clay, "Keep On Dancin" by Alvin Cash, "The Funky Judge" by Bull & The Matadors, "I Get A Groove" by Thomas East & The Fabulous Playboys, "Damper Down" by Bobby Davis, "The Town I Live In" by McKinley Mitchell, "Come Back Home" by Beny Turner, "Master Key" by Harold Burrage, "If I Could Live My Life All Over" by Dorothy Prince, "You Told A Lie" by Johnny Sayles, "New Girl" by The Accents, and "Don't You Worry" by Joe & Mack. ~ Dusty Groove

THE BERNIE WORRELL ORCHESTRA COMES TO JOE'S PUB IN NEW YORK CITY

The Bernie Worrell Orchestra comes to Joe's Pub
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Show time: 11 pm
Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 539-8778
Tickets: $20 http://bit.ly/BWO-JoesPub
Ages: 21+

Rock and Funk legend, Bernie Worrell, recently digitally released two songs, “BWO is Landing” and “Get Your Hands Off.” Combing elements of everything from jazz to salsa to funk and soul, these two tracks have something to offer every music lover. Both tracks are beautifully arranged and very danceable, full of energy and are true works of musical genius from a master of many styles. These are the first tracks by Bernie's current band, Bernie Worrell Orchestra, which he co-produced with Evan Taylor.

How many artists can say they were in on the ground floor of an honest-to-Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame supergroup, while inventing a completely original and uncanny sound and, in the ensuing years, built a legendary reputation as one of the most versatile hired guns in the music business? True funkateers know the history. From the fat Minimoog bass lines of “Flash Light” and “One Nation Under A Groove” to the percussive piano runs of “Chocolate City” and “Give Up the Funk,” Bernie Worrell is synonymous with the legacy of Parliament-Funkadelic; in fact, he’s one of the originators of the psychedelic funk sound, having written and co-produced the lion’s share of the music going back to Funkadelic’s formative years, with an eclectic ear for everything from Chopin to the Chi-Lites.

These days the terms “living legend” or “funk icon” really don’t come close to doing Worrell justice. “Funk iconoclast” is probably more apt, considering the breadth of his contributions to seminal albums outside the P-Funk canon, including Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense and Public Image Ltd’s Album, to name two of the more monolithic examples. Keith Richards, Yoko Ono, Bootsy Collins, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Mos Def, Sly & Robbie, Deee-Lite, Bill Laswell and many more have recruited Bernie into the studio and on tour—all for his versatility, vision and feverish creativity whenever he gets his hands on a keyboard.

EMIL RICHARDS – STONES / JOURNEY TO BLISS / NEW TIME ELEMENT

Mindblowing music from this ultra-cool musician – nearly three albums packaged on one CD! First up is Stones – a very groovy set of tunes that we'd rank right up there with Hal Blaine's Psychedelic Percussion for sheer nuttiness! Emil Richard plays a range of percussion instruments – as on other albums from the time – vibes and lots of mallet and percussion instrument – but he's also working with a really noisy moog, handled by Paul Beaver, and some weird "22-tone-to-the-octave" instruments that give the album an other-worldly tone that we really love. The whole thing bubbles and bleeps and grooves – with plenty of jazz still in the mix, as befits Richards' roots in the LA scene of the late 50s. 12 tracks in all – all named after birthstones – with titles that include "Garnet", "Moonstone", "Emerald", "Topaz", "Opal", and "Ruby".

Next up are 6 tracks from New Time Element – one of the grooviest albums to come from the godlike hands of Emil Richards! This album's got a bit more punch than some of Richard's more jazz-based sessions – with Emil playing a wide range of percussion instruments, plus vibes and marimba – all backed by some incredibly groovy work on organ and piano by Dave McKay! Arrangements are by Tom Scott and Paul Beaver – and the record's got the jaunty, swinging quality of some of Scott's best early work of the time – particularly his early gems for Impulse! Titles include a great version of Tom Scott's oft-recorded "Blues for Hari", a very groovy number with a great 60s eastern feel – plus "Hot Fudge Sundae", "Happy Together", "Jimmy", and "Georgy Girl".

And last but not least are 8 tracks that comprise Journey To Bliss – a fantastic bit of "Eastern" tinged jazz – and a real musical Journey To Bliss on its own! Vibist Emil Richards has always been totally groovy in our book – but he really outdoes himself here – working in an exotic mode that features lots of weird percussion over choppy modal grooves from keyboards, guitar, and drums – all in a wild blend of rhythms and grooves played by Richards and his Microtonal Blues Band. Players include Tom Tedesco and Dennis Budimir on guitar, Dave MacKay on keyboards, and Joe Porcaro on drums – but all players handle a variety of instruments, as does Richards, who must play dozens of different percussion elements on the set! Side one of the album features some great short groovers – like "Maharimba", "Bliss", "Mantra", and "Enjoy Enjoy" – all of which are in a tripped-out LA guru hippy mode that's simply wonderful! Side two features the extended "Journey To Bliss" suite, which has some spoken bits and a much wilder sound – but also the same sort of groovy pop-Eastern sound as side one! ~ Dusty Groove

THE JOE HARRIOTT QUINTET - MOVEMENT / HIGH SPIRITS

Overlooked gems from this key reedman on the Brit modern scene of the 60s – two rare albums in a single package! First up is Movement – one of the most obscure albums recorded by Joe Harriott – leading light of the British avant scene in the 60s – and one of the best, too! The album features Harriott working with a quintet that includes Shake Keane on trumpet, Pat Smythe on piano, Bobby Orr on drums, and Coleridge Goode on bass – playing in territory that's somewhat in the neighborhood of his Abstract and Free Form albums, but also a bit more inside, with more of a focus on swinging, hard-hitting jazz. The rhythms are often quite tight and soulful, and although the album's touched with lots of angular moments – both in the solos and backings – the overall sound is wonderfully grooving and tremendously captivating! The album's got that perfect blend of modern, modal, and soul that make the best Brit jazz albums from the mid 60s so wonderful – and the set list includes original tunes such as "Movement", "Spaces", "Blues On Blues", "Revival", "Beams", and "Count Twelve".

 High Spirits is pretty unique – a set of takes on tunes that come from a musical show, but recast strongly as soulful sides for the Harriott combo! Pianist Pat Smythe re-arranged all tracks in the set – and really gives them a new sort of energy – opening them up for lots of solo work on his own piano, plus alto from Harriott, and some beautiful trumpet lines from the great Shake Keane – a player who always sounds great next to Joe. The rest of the group features Coleridge Goode on bass and Bobby Orr on drums – and titles include "Home Sweet Heaven", "Something Tells Me", "Go Into Your Trance", "I Know Your Heart", and "Was She Prettier Than I". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY LYLE REISSUES - NEW WARRIOR, NIGHT FIRE, GENIE

BOBBY LYLE – NEW WARRIOR

A wonderful record by Bobby Lyle – and a genius blend of jazz, soul, and lots of other righteous sounds! Lyle started out as a keyboardist, but this album really has him taking off as a vocalist too – working in a sweet Roy Ayers-styled groove – one that blends mellow rhythms with warmly jazzy inflections – with roots in fusion, yet a tighter soul finish overall! Lyle's still got a few keyboard flights – of the sort heard on The Genie – but with Wayne Henderson at the production helm, things are a bit tighter overall – given a really wonderful focus that makes Bobby sound better than ever. Titles include the great funky number "Groove (Ain't No Doubt About It)", the warm stepper "Good Inside", and cool keyboard grooves like "Star Traveler", "Missing Your Love", and "Inner Space". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY LYLE – NIGHT FIRE

A stone classic from Bobby Lyle – and a record that really has him stepping out strongly, both as a keyboardist and a singer! Bobby's strength at this point is undeniable – and he's got a perfect sense of balance that rivals contemporaries like Roy Ayers or Webster Lewis – both of whom work in a similarly jazzy groove! Lyle plays some great Fender Rhodes on the set – plus other more way-out keyboards too – and production is by the At-Home team, who really know how to bring in a strong sense of focus to the grooves, while still letting the best jazzy elements flourish. Titles include "Space Place", "Stop Running Away From Love", "Getting Into Love", "Dream Lady", "Stop Running Away From Love", and "For Love". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY LYLE - GENIE

A funky fusion classic – and quite possibly Bobby Lyle's most perfectly realized album! The set was Bobby's first full US outing, and it's filled with soaring, riffing keyboards that stretch out into territory explored a few years before by Johnny Hammond and Lonnie Liston Smith! The real difference, though, is the album's sweet soulful production from Wayne Henderson – who hooks in the best bits of Bobby's sound, and fuses them with a modern soul-styled groove that creates the same blend of jazz and R&B that you'd get on some of Eddie Henderson's best records from the time, or some of the best Ronnie Foster work on Columbia from a few years later. Bobby's keyboards are capable of hitting both a soulful groove and a deep jazzy vibe – and the record's got a rich palette of tunes that never fail to amaze us! Titles include "Mother Nile", "You Think Of Her", "The Genie", "Pisces", "Magic Ride" and "Night Breeze". ~ Dusty Groove

ORIGINAL ALBUM 5-CD SETS RELEASED FOR CURTIS MAYFIELD, RAY CHARLES, WILSON PICKETT

CURTIS MAYFIELD – ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES: CURTIS / CURTIS LIVE! / ROOTS / SUPERFLY / BACK TO THE WORLD

Seminal solo sounds from the great Curtis Mayfield – a perfect package that sums of everything that's great about his early years at Curtom Records! The music here is as revolutionary today as it was back in the early 70s – proud, righteous songs that are filled with power and politics, yet also have a deeply personal feel too – that unique Mayfield way of mixing social change with individual expressions – never summed up more beautifully than on the work in this set! The package features the classic solo debut Curtis, the legendary Superfly soundtrack, the completely great Roots album, the razor-sharp Back To The World, and the double-length gem Curtis/Live, filled with long tracks and unique acoustic instrumentation. ~ Dusty Groove

RAY CHARLES – ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES: GREAT RAY CHARLES / AT NEWPORT / GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES / GENIUS SINGS THE BLUES / GENIUS AFTER HOURS

A heck of a lot of Ray Charles – packed in one sweet little package! The set's a great document of Charles' later work for Atlantic Records – and it features five different albums, each in tiny record-like sleeves – really showing the full spectrum of Ray's talents a the time! There's definitely a bluesy undercurrent to the material, but Charles also showcases some of his jazz talents too – not just in the songs and styles he uses for vocal numbers, but also in the instrumentation that backs him up. The mix is a key illustration of the growth of Ray at this time – and is an especially good distillation of his music before moving onto fuller backings and hints of country in later years at ABC. 5CD set features all the albums The Great Ray Charles, Ray Charles At Newport, The Genius Of Ray Charles, The Genius Sings The Blues, and The Genius After Hours. ~ Dusty Groove

WILSON PICKETT – ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES: IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR / EXCITING WILSON PICKETT / WICKED PICKETT / SOUND OF WILSON PICKETT / I’M IN LOVE

Five classic Wilson Pickett albums from the 60s, all in a single set – a heck of a lot of Atlantic soul in one sweet little package! All of the records here have The Wicked Pickett in classic form – hitting hard with a gritty, nitty, socking soul style that never lets up all the way through – a punch that packs more power than just about any of his contemporaries, even on Atlantic – which is why these albums have become so legendary over the years! The set features each album in its own tiny record sleeve – so you can almost feel like you're collecting the vinyl – and the package features the full albums In The Midnight Hour, The Exciting Wilson Pickett, The Wicked Pickett, The Sound Of Wilson Pickett, and I'm In Love. ~ Dusty Groove

OSARU – ALL THE WAY

Osaru, a North Carolina based musician and physician continues his Smooth Jazz journey with a fascinating new chapter. In his new Smooth Jazz CD All The Way he delights our ears with 10 brand new original songs. This is a Smooth Jazz lover’s 'must buy'!

Music and the art of medicine have a lot in common, the most obvious being the ability to heal wounds and make people feel good. Osaru continues to do this on the keyboards and wind controller with his finely honed talents.

A very worthy successor to his last album, Home with the Keys, All the Way combines catchy themes with laid back mid-tempo grooves, creating beautiful melodies that will keep your head bobbing and your foot tapping. His ever present subtle background of African percussion seals his music with pride.

His style is reminiscent of Paul Hardcastle, Boney James, and Paul Taylor. His saxophone phrasing performed on the wind controller has been compared to Kenny G, Najee, and Steve Cole to name a few. Andrea Guy from reviewyou.com aptly describes Osaru's music as:

"...Smooth Jazz that will chill you out on the hottest of days and take you below zero when the temperatures are cool...It’s like the music reaches out and asks you to dance and you have no choice but to accept. How could you resist? The sax solos give new meaning to the word sexy."

All the Way is full of surprises. From the smooth, chilled-out 'Always' and 'Listen Again' to the energetic, catchy hip hop funk of 'Swagger' and 'Those Days', there is a tune here for a wide range of listeners. An African themed tune titled 'Where you dey go?' creates a nice unexpected twist in this amazing collection. He plays all the instruments on this self produced release.

'This is a happy album', the artist states. 'All the songs have a positive vibe…All the Way depicts my present state of mind and summarizes my plans for the future. I love what I do and intend to go all the way with my music creations, so stay tuned.'

All the Way is now available online at CdBaby.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes. Osaru is currently offering a limited time free download of the track, 'Always' on his website at http://www.osarumusiczone.com

NEW RELEASES - TAJ MAHAL, MILT JACKSON, HIDEO SHIRAKI / TAKESHI INOMATA

TAJ MAHAL – HIDDEN TREASURES OF TAJ MAHAL 1969-1973

A two-disc sonic portrait chronicling the early stirrings of Taj Mahal's solo career, The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969 - 1973 features two CDs comprised entirely of unreleased finished material. The first disc debuts studio recordings from 1969-1973, while the second disc premieres a full-length live concert, recorded April 18, 1970 at the Royal Albert Hall in London (on a bill that included Santana). Tracks include: Sweet Mama (Feb., 1970, Criteria Recording Studios); Yan Nan Mama Loo, Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day, Ain’t Gwine Whistle Dicie (Any Mo’); and Sweet Mama Janisse (Jan.,1971, Bearsville Recording Studios, Woodstock, NY), 22 tracks in all.

MILT JACKSON - BAGS & FLUTES

Excellent late 50s work by Milt Jackson for Atlantic! Bags & Flutes is very much in the style of Milt's classic Savoy sides from the preceding couple of years – mixing together his jazzy vibes with light lilting solos on flute, either by Bobby Jaspar or Frank Wess, Milt's old compatriot from the Savoy sessions. Piano is by Tommy Flanagan or Hank Jones, and Kenny Burrell plays guitar on the whole album. Tracks include "Ghana", "Connie's Blues", "Sandy", "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" and "Bag's New Groove". ~ Dusty Groove


HIDEO SHIRAKI / TAKESHI INOMATA - MODERN AMERIACHI FOR YOU


Not sure what they mean by "Ameriachi" in the title – but from the sound of the music, there's definitely a great A&M Records-styled mix of jazz, Latin, and South American modes! The set begins with a set of cookers from drummer Hideo Shiraki – working with an excellent group that features tenorist Hidehiko Matsumoto handling arrangements – often in ways that have this upbeat, swinging, and pretty darn groovy way of moving along – sometimes with a bold Herb Alpert-styled trumpet in the lead – other times with a bit of marimba vibes. Titles include "Ashita Ni Nareba", "Akasaka After Dark", "You & Me", and "Ginza Wa Koi No Jujiro". The second half is handled by Takeshi Inomata & His West Liners Plus All-Stars – a group that has an equally great A&M approach to the groove – thanks to arrangements from pianist Masao Yagi! The whole thing's a great illustration of the way that 60s Japanese jazzmen could also work in some groovy instrumental styles in the right setting – and titles include "One Rainy Night In Tokyo", "Omoide", "Goodbye Mr Tears", "Koi Wa Akaibara", and "Aitakute Aitakute". ~ Dusty Groove

PUCHO & THE LATIN SOUL BROTHERS - BIG STICK / DATELINE

Two rare gems from this legendary Latin group – both on CD for the first time ever! Big Stick is quite possibly the rarest album from Pucho & The Latin Soul brothers – and also one of the greatest, too – thanks to a wonderfully soulful vibe overall, and some wicked vocals from the great Jackie Soul! Arrangements are a bit bigger than some of their previous dates, but nicely offbeat too – put together by Bill Fisher, and featuring loads of great keyboards and organ from Neal Creque! The sound's got less horns than beofre, but the heavy percussion, keyboards, and vocals more than offset that loss – and make for one of the most unique Pucho albums ever! Titles include "Swamp People", "Left In the Cold", "Big Stick", "Cold Shoulder", and a very groovy version of "Sunny"!

Dateline is a rare gem from Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers – and an album that has them really hitting strong on all instrumental fronts! The group sports wonderful piano and organ lines from Neal Creque – a player who helps Pucho hit a more expansive, jazzy vibe – mixed with horns from the always-great Pazant brothers – Eddie on saxes and Al on trumpet – plus some trombone from Barry Rogers too! These players all really help add some great jazzy inflections to the whole set – important, too, because the album's all instrumental – with no vocals to get in the way of the solos. Willie Bivens also plays vibes on the record – and titles include "Listen to Louie", "Dateline", "Yambo", "Bim", and "Ain't Nothin Can Happen". ~ Dusty Groove

JOHNNY HOLLIDAY - IN THE LIGHT

Featured This week On The Jazz Network Worldwide Is Multi-Instrumentalist Johnny Holliday With His CD In The Light.

Multi-instrumentalist Johnny Holliday blends Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Contemporary Jazz with a hint of Irish Celtic on his new release In The Light. Holliday also serves our country sharing the gift of his music and part of the proceeds of his CD sales goes to the Fisher House Foundation for Soldiers Injured in Combat.

Master musician, performer and dedicated member of the armed forces Johnny Holliday brings a different dimension to his music with his unique renditions of popular songs, original music and virtuosity in Smooth, Latin and Contemporary Jazz in his new CD In The Light.

Holliday has achieved a collection of recorded works as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist performing internationally on concerts, festivals, Military Dignitaries, Ambassador’s from Foreign Countries as well as formal military balls by 4 Star Generals. Known for his natural born talent and discipline, playing trumpet, learning to breath and creating a rolling vibrato led him to singing, and his excellent ear for arrangement guided him to creating his own show. Johnny has been the opening act for major artists such as Al Jarreau, Lauryn Hill, Layla Hathaway, and Johnny Gil. His newest Jazz CD In The Light was featured on local news stations NBC, CBS and FOX. Always devoted to helping those in need, a portion of his proceeds’ goes to the Fisher House Foundation for Soldier’s injured in Combat and to the Air Force Security Forces Foundation.

While in the Air Force, Johnny performed in “Tops in Blue”, touring 14 countries, and 44 states in 10 months forging his skills as a performer, and teaching him a powerful work ethic that is rare in the world of music. It is the merging of these two disciplines, the military and the music, that bring you the true uniqueness of Johnny Holliday, a soldier and a musician’s musician.

Johnny became a dedicated student of one of the world’s top trumpet players, Roy Roman. It was under his expert tutelage that Johnny was able to hone his natural talent to be a truly competitive performer in the world of highly skilled jazz and classical musicians. Johnny was assigned to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas as a Security Forces Member, earning many awards, such as “Top Gun” and “Distinguished Graduate”.

“Johnny Holliday is a phenomenal musician, able to play masterfully several instruments and sing as well. His talents are such that he should probably devote his full time and energy to performing. The remarkable thing is that he doesn’t do it for self-aggrandizement or seek profit from it. He uses his craft to serve others and as a platform to transmit a positive and fruitful message.” says General Hector Pagan.

In Johnny’s words, “My military career and love of our country are very important to me, I finally recognized I equally love my music. I believe that this nation is in enough distress as it is, so if there is any way I can encourage anyone, either through speaking, listening, or music, that's what I'll do. I can't change the world, but I can try to help lighten the burdens of those around me.”

“Johnny is a powerful artist, the first time I was introduced to his playing I was blown away by his musicianship, it is an honor to present him to the jazz community not only heralded for his great talent and contribution to jazz but to thank him for his commitment to our country and sharing America’s music through our military” says Jaijai Jackson, creator of The Jazz Network Worldwide Social Network.

Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

ELIZABETH SHEPHERD - REWIND

"A jazz virtuoso blessed with a pop sensibility" - Real Detroit Weekly

Montreal-based soul-jazz innovator Elizabeth Shepherd has been praised around the world for her song-writing chops, but on her fourth studio album, Rewind, the pianist and vocalist showcases her skills as an arranger and interpreter, breathing new life - and soul - into songs both familiar and forgotten.

A two-time JUNO nominee (Canada's Grammy® equivalent) and critical darling, Elizabeth Shepherd's genre-bending, soulful jazz has helped her find her place as a mainstay on the international circuit, playing legendary venues like Tokyo's Cotton Club, London's Jazz Café and the Hollywood Bowl. Her debut album, Start To Move, continues to receive critical acclaim, and was voted the Top 3 Jazz Albums of the Year by the listeners of the Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio 1 in 2006.

As her first full-length album of standards, Rewind charts new and welcome territory for Shepherd, who pushes the boundaries of what is considered conventional jazz, all the while creating a sound completely her own.

Raised by ministers of the Salvation Army, an early exposure to the brass band sounds mixed with her love for classical and house music, funk and hip hop, lay the foundations for one soulful musician. Trained extensively in conservatories in Canada and France, Shepherd completed a degree in jazz piano from McGill University, Montreal. Initially entering the music program to pursue a career in music therapy she quickly discovered her extensive talent in songwriting and performing. She moved to Toronto in 2004 and worked as a server at a piano bar. Her serving job proved an asset to her musical career - once management realized Shepherd's talent, she quickly became the restaurant's key entertainer. Organically and innocently enough, the Elizabeth Shepherd Trio was formed with Scott Kemp on bass and Colin Kingsmore on drums. Within a year of trading her waitress uniform for a piano bench in 2006, Shepherd was appearing live on BBC Radio 1, playing sold-out shows at London's Jazz Café and doing a weeklong residency at the venerable Cotton Club in Tokyo.

On her 2008 follow-up, Parkdale, which garnered another JUNO nomination, Shepherd continued to carve out her own niche within the jazz idiom, drawing praise from peers and critics. The ensuing tours saw her sharing the stage with greats like Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride and Victor Wooten. Shepherd's 2010 release, Heavy Falls the Night, marked her debut as a producer and the record was hailed by jazz and pop critics alike as her best to date. Long-listed for Canada's most prestigious music award, The Polaris Prize, the album builds a bridge between jazz and sophisticated pop music. Shepherd spent the better part of 14 months touring the record internationally, selling out legendary jazz clubs while climbing high on pop charts.

 

For Rewind, Shepherd chose to interpret songs dear to her: there's the handful of well-known standards that initially got her into jazz, some obscure gems that never quite made it into the jazz canon, and two French songs she fell in love with when growing up in Paris.

Producing the record herself, she stamps each song with her cool, trademark sound, creating continuity with her original work but managing to appeal to a more mainstream jazz audience well familiar with tracks like "Love For Sale" and "Prelude To A Kiss." Her take on the legendary "Feeling Good" is fresh and surprising. With an upbeat yet delicate arrangement, Shepherd expertly displays her extraordinary talent at arranging songs to fit her signature, sultry vocal style. At times playful, like on "Les Amoureux Des Bancs Publics," then to the avant-garde and mysterious sounding rendition of Gershwin's "Buzzard Song and Kurt Weill's "Lonely House," Shepherd leaves listeners reminiscent of the warm and soulful vocal stylings of Gretchen Parlato and Esperanza Spalding throughout the album.

The vocalist didn't consider recording an album of standards until she became pregnant with her daughter Sanna while on the last leg of her 14-month tour supporting Heavy Falls The Night. Faced with the realization that she would not be able to finish writing enough original new songs for an album before Sanna's birth, Shepherd was compelled to get into the studio and record an album of songs that she had learned, loved and grown with over the years. She wanted desperately to connect with something that was always a constant in her life while she was in the midst of what is arguably the most significant life change a woman will ever have -- motherhood. After the album was finished and Sanna entered her life, Shepherd realized that Rewind too, ironically, marked a great shift for her musically.

"Now that the album is done, I realize that while pregnancy is a time of unprecedented, extreme change, and motherhood an even deeper process of adaptation, the illusion of holding onto something fixed is just that - illusion - because we are never really standing still, and so this album is not that link that I was hoping for when initially faced with so much change - rather it is one more face of change, an act of discovering and embracing yet another aspect of my self, this time of my musical self."

So while Rewind was a record initially inspired by Shepherd's desire to connect to something true and constant while undergoing and preparing for her life's biggest upheaval yet, the album in fact was a transition too; a remarkable, inspired and ambitiously creative transition. Rewind is clearly an Elizabeth Shepherd release, not a release of standards sung by Elizabeth Shepherd.

As far as being a "jazz musician", Shepherd does not count herself as one to be defined by a particular genre; her music comes straight from the soul, and is more than just what she does, but what she loves and who she is.

 

Rewind Personnel & Track Listing:
*All Songs Arranged and Produced by Elizabeth Shepherd

- Elizabeth Shepherd / vocals, piano (track 7), Rhodes (tracks 3, 6, 10), Wurlitzer (tracks 1, 8, 11), tuned mixing bowls & muted pestle (track 9), beatbox (track 11)

- Ross MacIntyre / double bass (tracks 1, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

- Scott Kemp / double bass (tracks 3, 6, 7)

- Denzal Sinclaire / vocals (track 12)

- Kevin Turcotte / trumpet (track 10)

-David Travers-Smith / trumpet (track 12)

- Reg Schwager / guitar (track 2)

- Andrew Downing / cell, double bass (track 5)

- Colin Kingsmore / drums, percussion

- Mark Kelso / drums (track 11)

 1. Love For Sale (Cole Porter) - 4:45

 2. Poinciana (Nat Simon, Buddy Bernier) - 3:54

 3. Pourquoi Tu Vis (José Luis Perales) - 3:14

 4. Lonely House (Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes) - 4:22

 5. Les Amoureux Des Bancs Publics (Georges Brassens) - 3:48

 6. Feeling Good (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley) - 5:29

 7. Midnight Sun (Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer) - 6:30

 8. Sack of Woe (Cannonball Adderley) - 2:47

 9. Buzzard Song (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin & DuBose Heyward) - 5:18

 10. When You Are Near (Bobby Hutcherson, Elizabeth Shepherd) - 4:43

 11. Born To Be Blue (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells) - 3:03

 12. Prelude To A Kiss (Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, Irving Gordon) - 2:52

 

 Upcoming Performances:

 October 26-27 / Umea Jazz Festival / Umea, Sweden

 November 1 / A-Trane / Berlin, Germany

 November 2 / Blue Note / Dresden, Germany

 November 3 / JazzClub Birdland / Lubeck, Germany

 November 4 / Prinz Willy / Kiel, Germany

 November 7 / Pizza Express / London, UK

 November 8 / Badcuyp / Amsterdam, Holland

 November 10 / Jazzpanazz / Nimes, France

 November 16 / Upstairs / Montreal, QC

 November 30 / Massey Hall / Toronto, ON

 December 1 / Iris Jazz Club / Buffalo, NY

 December 2 / Sophistications Jazz Café / Syracuse, NY

 December 4 / Rockwood Music Hall / New York, NY

 December 5 / Two Moon Café / Soho, NY

 December 7 / Nelson Odeon / Nelson, NY

 December 8 / Goodbye Blue Monday / Brooklyn, NY

 December 11 / Ava Lounge / Pittsburgh, PA

 December 14 / Night Town / Cleveland, OH

 December 15 / Cliff Bell's / Detroit, MI

 

ElizabethShepherd.com

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISS GRACE JONES!...