NEW RELEASES - TONI BRAXTON & KENNY 'BABYFACE' EDMONDS, ERIC SCOTT, MATT SAVAGE

TONI BRAXTON & KENNY 'BABYFACE' EDMONDS - HURT YOU (FROM LOVE, MARRIAGE & DIVORCE)

Multi-platinum artists Toni Braxton and Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds have finally teamed up for their first album of duets together, Love, Marriage & Divorce,set for release on December 3rd via Motown Records.  The album celebrates the strong bond that has been in place between the two artists ever since Babyface and Toni's duet on her smash 1992 debut, "Give U My Heart," which was co-written and co-produced by Babyface (from the Boomerang movie soundtrack). The first single from Toni and Babyface, "Hurt You," was co-written by the duo (with Daryl Simmons and Antonio Dixon), and produced by Babyface, who also handled all guitar, drums, and keyboard programming on the track. For Babyface, Love, Marriage & Divorce is his first new studio album in six years, since Playlist (released 2007), Top 10 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on the strength of his Top 10 AC version of James Taylor's "Fire & Rain."  For Toni, Love, Marriage & Divorce is her first new studio album in three years, since Pulse (2010), the #1 R&B album containing the hit single "Yesterday".

ERIC SCOTT - WHERE THE WATER RUNS DEEPEST

With comparisons to John Mayer, Marvin Gaye, and Lenny Kravitz, singer-songwriter Eric Scott releases his full length album, "Where the Water Runs Deepest." Co-produced with Scott Smith, and originally intended as a four or five song acoustic EP, the album evolved into a collection of twelve soulful pop tunes. Eric Scott brings originality to the usual label of singer-songwriters as a 6'4", bass playing frontman.  With a balanced mix of powerful acoustic ballads like "Break Me Open" and uplifting tunes such as "Boston" and "Get To Me," Where the Water Runs Deepest is both thought-provoking and engaging. The album encompasses relatable emotions and scenarios that drive listeners to draw connections to their own personal experiences. In Scott's own words, "An acoustic record doesn't have to be slow and somber. I tried to make a record that gets you thinking, reveals a little more about me, gets your toes tapping and your head bobbing—and when you're done, you're smiling and feeling hopeful."

MATT SAVAGE - A BIGGER CELEBRATION

Jazz pianist, composer and recording artist Matt Savage will release his tenth album, A Bigger Celebration, on September 17th. Composed and arranged entirely by Matt, A Bigger Celebration was produced by Grammy-nominated Jonathan Wyner. Ten-time Grammy-winner Tom Bates and Latin Grammy-nominated John Weston engineered the album. A Bigger Celebration is Matt’s first new album in three years, following his critically acclaimed CD, Welcome Home. A musically defining collection of songs, A Bigger Celebration reflects Matt’s life and travels through eclectic tracks that are upbeat and multicultural. The album also celebrates Matt’s arrival in New York, where he is studying for a Master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music. An impressive lineup of musicians is featured on A Bigger Celebration. Joining Matt on piano/keyboards are tenor saxophone great Jerry Bergonzi (a top player on the Boston music scene), colleague Bruce Gertz on bass, Richie Barshay (of Herbie Hancock/Chick Corea fame) on drums and special guest Mark Zaleski on alto/soprano saxophone. The fast-paced title track opens the album with colorful harmonies on top of unpredictable time signatures. Other highlights include the Latin-tinged “Some Beach Somewhere,” the Asian-influenced “Dream of the East” and the sweeping, mysterious “Howler Monkey.” The collection takes on new directions with “Power Pop” and “A Fast Car In Summer,” fusing rock and jazz influences. 

PAUL SIMON - THE COMPLETE ALBUM COLLECTION TO FEATURE 12 STUDIO ALBUMS + TWO FULL-LENGTH LIVE CONCERT RECORDINGS

Paul Simon - The Complete Albums Collection brings together, in a deluxe library box with magnetic closure, the 12 studio albums and two full-length live concert recordings which comprise the official canon of an extraordinary writer and tunesmith whose voice and music inform six decades of popular culture. This 15-disc collection will be released on October 15, 2013 via Legacy Recordings.

Included on Paul Simon - The Complete Albums Collection are the artist's seminal and groundbreaking solo recordings from the 1960s (The Paul Simon Songbook), the 1970s (Paul Simon, There Goes Rhymin' Simon, Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin', Still Crazy After All These Years), the 1980s (One-Trick Pony, Hearts and Bones, Graceland), the 1990s (The Rhythm of the Saints, Paul Simon's Concert In The Park - August 15, 1991, Songs from The Capeman), the 2000s (You're The One, Surprise) and the 2010s(So Beautiful or So What).

Each of the titles in Paul Simon - The Complete Albums Collection includes the original album in entirety, plus reissue bonus material not appearing on the original 12" vinyl releases (37 bonus tracks in all).  The 15-disc collection includes a 56-page book of photos with new liner notes penned by American music historian Ashley Kahn. The deluxe complete set includes The Paul Simon Songbook, an acoustic album--recorded in London in the summer of 1965--showcasing solo versions of many songs that would become central to the Simon & Garfunkel repertoire. 

During the period covered (1965-2011) in Paul Simon - The Complete Albums Collection, Paul Simon continually expanded his musical vocabulary, each new album taking the artist beyond six-string acoustic accompaniment into whole new worlds of sound, while remaining consistent and true to the crafts of writing and recording. In the 1970s, he explored reggae, progressive jazz and Latin music.  By the 1980s and 1990s, Simon was creating new music steeped in Louisiana zydeco and South African jive, Brazilian street samba and Puerto Rican salsa.  On 2011's So Beautiful or So What, he channeled Indian ragas, Delta blues, and West African kora music, even sampling Reverend J.M. Gates' 1941 recording for "Getting Ready for Christmas Day."

PAUL SIMON - THE COMPLETE ALBUMS COLLECTION

The Paul Simon Song Book (1965)

1. I Am A Rock

2. Leaves That Are Green

3. A Church Is Burning

4. April Come She Will

5. The Sound Of Silence

6. A Most Peculiar Man

7. He Was My Brother

8. Kathy's Song

9. The Side Of A Hill

10. A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission)

11. Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall

12. Patterns

13. I Am A Rock (alternate version) *

14. A Church Is Burning (alternate version) *

Paul Simon (1972)

1. Mother And Child Reunion

2. Duncan

3. Everything Put Together Falls Apart

4. Run That Body Down

5. Armistice Day

6. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard

7. Peace Like A River

8. Papa Hobo

9. Hobo's Blues

10. Paranoia Blues

11. Congratulations

12. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard (Demo - San Francisco 2/71) *

13. Duncan (Demo - San Francisco 2/71) *

14. Paranoia Blues (Unreleased Version) *

There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973)

1. Kodachrome

2. Tenderness

3. Take Me To The Mardi Gras

4. Something So Right

5. One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor

6. American Tune

7. Was A Sunny Day

8. Learn How To Fall

9. St. Judy's Comet

10. Loves Me Like a Rock

11. Let Me Live In Your City (Work In Progress) *

12. Take Me To The Mardi Gras (Acoustic Demo) *

13. American Tune (Unfinished Demo) *

14. Loves Me Like A Rock (Acoustic Demo) *

Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin' (1974)

1. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard 

2. Homeward Bound 

3. American Tune 

4. El Condor Pasa (If I Could) 

5. Duncan 

6. The Boxer 

7. Mother And Child Reunion 

8. The Sound Of Silence 

9. Jesus Is The Answer 

10. Bridge Over Troubled Water 

11. Loves Me Like A Rock 

12. America 

13. Kodachrome (Alternate Version) *

14. Something So Right (Alternate Version) *

Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)

1. Still Crazy After All These Years

2. My Little Town

3. I'd Do It For Your Love

4. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover

5. Night Game

6. Gone At Last

7. Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy

8. Have A Good Time

9. You're Kind

10. Silent Eyes

11. Slip Slidin' Away (Demo) *

12. Gone At Last (Original Demo w/The Jessy Dixon Singers) *

One-Trick Pony (1980)

1. Late In The Evening

2. That's Why God Made The Movies

3. One-Trick Pony

4. How The Heart Approaches What It Yearns

5. Oh, Marion

6. Ace In The Hole

7. Nobody

8. Jonah

9. God Bless The Absentee

10. Long, Long Day

11. Soft Parachutes (Unreleased Soundtrack Recording) *

12. All Because Of You (Outtake) *

13. Spiral Highway (Unreleased Soundtrack Recording) *

14. Stranded In A Limousine *

Hearts and Bones (1983)

1. Allergies

2. Hearts And Bones

3. When Numbers Get Serious

4. Think Too Much (b)

5. Song About The Moon

6. Think Too Much (a)

7. Train In The Distance

8. Rene And George Magritte with Their Dog After The War

9. Cars Are Cars

10. The Late Great Johnny Ace

11. Shelter Of Your Arms (Unreleased Work-In-Progress) (Bonus Track) *

12. Train In The Distance (Original Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track)  *

13. Rene And George Magritte with Their Dog After The War (Original Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track) *

14. The Late Great Johnny Ace (Original Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track) *

Graceland (1986)

1. The Boy In The Bubble

2. Graceland

3. I Know What I Know

4. Gumboots

5. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes

6. You Can Call Me Al

7. Under African Skies

8. Homeless

9. Crazy Love, Vol. II

10. That Was Your Mother

11. All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints

12. Homeless (Demo) (Bonus Track) *

13. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (Unreleased Version) (Bonus Track) *

14. All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints (Early Version) (Bonus Track) *

15. You Can Call Me Al (Demo) *

16. Crazy Love (Demo) *

17. The Story of "Graceland" (As told by Paul Simon, Recorded January 2012) *

The Rhythm of the Saints (1990)

1. The Obvious Child

2. Can't Run But

3. The Coast

4. Proof

5. Further To Fly

6. She Moves On

7. Born At The Right Time

8. The Cool, Cool River

9. Spirit Voices

10. The Rhythm Of The Saints

11. Born At The Right Time (Original Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track) *

12. Thelma (Bonus Track) *

13. The Coast (Work-In-Progress) (Bonus Track) *

14. Spirit Voices (Work-In-Progress) (Bonus Track) *

Paul Simon's Concert in the Park (1991)

Disc 1

1. The Obvious Child

2. The Boy in the Bubble

3. She Moves On

4. Kodachrome

5. Born at the Right Time

6. Train in the Distance

7. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

8. I Know What I Know

9. The Cool, Cool River

10. Bridge Over Troubled Water

11. Proof

Disc 2

1. The Coast

2. Graceland

3. You Can Call Me Al

4. Still Crazy After All These Years

5. Loves Me Like a Rock

6. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

7. Hearts and Bones

8. Late in the Evening

9. America

10. The Boxer

11. Cecilia

12. The Sound of Silence

Songs From the Capeman (1997)

1. Adios Hermanos

2. Born in Puerto Rico

3. Satin Summer Nights

4. Bernadette

5. The Vampires

6. Quality

7. Can I Forgive Him

8. Sunday Afternoon

9. Killer Wants to Go to College

10. Time Is an Ocean

11. Virgil

12. Killer Wants to Go to College II

13. Trailways Bus

14. Shoplifting Clothes *

15. Born in Puerto Rico (Demo with Jose Feliciano) *

16. Can I Forgive Him (Original Demo Recorded March 1993) *

You're The One (2000)

1. That's Where I Belong

2. Darling Lorraine

3. Old

4. You're the One

5. The Teacher

6. Look at That

7. Senorita with a Necklace of Tears

8. Love

9. Pigs, Sheep and Wolves

10. Hurricane Eye

11. Quiet

12. That's Where I Belong (Live) *

13. Old (Live) *

14. Hurricane Eye (Live) *

Surprise (2006)

1. How Can You Live in the Northeast?

2. Everything About It Is a Love Song

3. Outrageous

4. Sure Don't Feel like Love

5. Wartime Prayers

6. Beautiful

7. I Don't Believe

8. Another Galaxy

9. Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean

10. That's Me

11. Father and Daughter

So Beautiful or So What (2011)

1. Getting Ready for Christmas Day

2. The Afterlife

3. Dazzling Blue

4. Rewrite

5. Love and Hard Times

6. Love Is Eternal Sacred Light

7. Amulet

8. Questions for the Angels

9. Love and Blessings

10. So Beautiful or So What

* Expanded CD reissues conta

~ Legacy Recordings

NEW RELEASES - THEO PARRISH'S BLACK JAZZ SIGNATURE, LEBRON, MARCUS GOTTSCHLICH

THEO PARRISH"S BLACK JAZZ SIGNATURE - BLACK JAZZ RECORDS 1971-1976

Detroit – Chicago – Berlin. Two out of three of those cities call Theo Parrish their own. Arguably one of the world’s most important underground dance music producer/DJs lends his hands to selecting and mixing a set of jazz and funk records licensed from and originally released on the Black Jazz label 1971-1976. World renowned for his DJ sets and remixes/productions, this Chicago-raised artist is near impossible to pigeonhole. Revered by a wide spectrum of dedicated music fanatics, he is known for his otherworldly DJ sets, and his serious approach to DJ’ing as an art form. Theo gives special attention to fellow Chicago musicians The Awakening (3 consecutive tracks, 4 total on the mix), one of the best funk/fusion groups that the Black Jazz label released, and whose only output was on that label. The set itself is a masterful “2 turntables all vinyl” execution, a format that Theo is dedicated to – no mp3, no CDr, just the vinyl palette for the true aural experience. Sit back and be drawn into his world, hear things his way. ~ blackjazz.com / groove attack.com

LEBRON - SHADES

Saxman Lebron releases Shades, his major label CutMore Records debut, a revealing musical masterpiece that is sure to turn some industry heads. Working alongside Lebron is producer Darren Rahn who crafts melodies and hooks better that result in pure magic. Not content with one super producer on the project Paul Brown joins in and takes a ride with cameos on the lead radio single 'Groove City', an infectious number propelled by a driving bass line and sweet guitar licks in all the right places. So pocket that you ll find your change rumbling around with it. Shades should do well to move Lebron to the top of the stack, not to become just another needle, but to set fire to it.
8 out of the 10 sides could easily be huge radio hits and present a unique challenge for the record label picking singles with this much meat on the bone.

MARCUS GOTTSCHLICH - OF PLACES BETWEEN

Of Places Between is the aptly titled sophomore release from this Vienna Austria native that grew up in what was once Beethoven's apartment. This captivating release walks the harmonic tightrope between what is commonly referred to as the new sub genre of chamber jazz here in the United States when in reality this aesthetic format has been a lyrical exploration for performers in Europe over the last quarter century. Markus Gottschlich utilizes a small ensemble built around the more organic sound of the violin, cello, and accordion yet transcends any reasonable and often arbitrary tag that critics would enjoy placing on this and similar music just to make their life easier. While Of Places Between is a break in tradition for what is considered the norm for small ensemble pianists, I decided to continue my quest in rewriting the rules of critical review by asking Markus about his influences and feelings on where his improvisational wheelhouse is truly grounded. Tracks: Invitation; Sleepless Night; Wehmut; A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing; Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 Nr. 3; Sojourner; Lilly; Dark Horses.~ gottschlichmusic.com

NEW RELEASES - STEVE TURRE, JOE MCPHEE, PEDRO MARTINS

STEVE TURRE - THE BONES OF ART

This one is a really wonderful sound from trombonist Steve Turre – a set that unleashes a very hip three-trombone style in the lead, served up by a host of players who previously worked with Art Blakey! The set's way more than the usual Blakey tribute album – not just because the tunes are all originals, penned by Turre, Steve Davis, Robin Eubanks, and Frank Lacy – but also because the multi-trombone format really gives the record a fresh voice that's very different than any Jazz Messengers set – very rich and soulful, at that rare level we find in Turre's best work! The trombones have none of the hoke you might get in other sessions of this type – no attempt to hang on cliches of the JJ & Kai sound – and the strength of the record is a real testament to Steve's continuing growth as an artist. Titles include "Blue & Brown", "Slide's Ride", "Sunset", "4 & 9", "Fuller Beauty", and "Shorter Bu".  ~ Dusty Groove

JOE MCPHEE - SONIC ELEMENTS

The title really gets things right here – as Joe McPhee is in some of his most sonic territory – really working sometimes at a level that's way beyond music, yet still managing to bring a strong sense of soul to the set too! The album begins with "Episode One", dedicated to Don Cherry – and really featuring some incredible pocket trumpet work from McPhee – blown at a level that's very subtle in shape and texture, but which gains power as the track moves on. "Episode Two" is dedicated to Ornette Coleman, and features much more dynamic alto sax – handled at a level that's more tenor-like than Coleman ever would have done – with a free-flowing vibe that's really wonderful!  ~ Dusty Groove

PEDRO MARTINS - DREAMING HIGH

Pedro Martins is really soaring high here – working in these fluid waves of sound that have his guitar joining beautifully with tenor, bass, piano, and drums! The set's got a curved feel that's much warmer than the angular twists it initially presents – a way of arcing Martins' tonal colors wonderfully alongside the tenor of Josue Lopez, piano of Felipe Viegas, bass of Andre Vasconcellos, and drums of Alex Buck. The approach is hard to describe in words, but holds us rapt the minute the record begins – on titles that include "Anos Luz", "Viva O Hermeto", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Nas Nuvens", and "Sonhando Alto".  ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE HOLLAND SETS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

Craig Taborn / Dave Holland / Kevin Eubanks / Eric Harland
Photo:Ulli Gruber

Dave Holland and his band are embarking on an eight-city North American tour in support of his latest album – Prism., from  September 21 through November 30. The band, comprised of Kevin Eubanks on guitar, Craig Taborn on piano and Fender Rhodes and Eric Harland on drums, will be touring in support of their new album, Prism (available September 3). The tour will include performances at The Monterey Jazz Festival; The Dakota in Minneapolis, MN; Evanston Space in Evanston, IL; MIM Music Theatre in Phoenix, AZ; Royce Hall at UCLA; SFJazz Center in San Francisco, CA; Jazz Alley in Seattle, WA and Birdland in New York, NY.

In the 40 years since Dave Holland's recording debut as a leader, with his landmark album, Conference of the Birds, the bassist, composer, and bandleader has produced a remarkable series of recordings and groups documenting his eclectic musical journey.  On Prism, his latest album release on Dare2 Records (Holland's imprint, with distribution from Redeye), he introduces his latest working band (of the same name). With each band member contributing distinctive compositions, Prism sets forth a new musical direction for Holland - a horn-less quartet with an explosive and visceral edge, while maintaining an organic approach overall.

Debuting at the 2012 TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival last June, Prism brings together four musicians who are each forging their own musical path and together have created a unique and contemporary musical statement on this recording. Holland's groups have always reflected a collaborative spirit with the goal of creating a musical context that allows the musicians to express their creative individuality, a concept that is an underlying theme to the group's namesake and eclectic sound.  "I liked the image of a prism dividing light into spectrum of colors," says Holland. "A visual symbol of the one becoming many. The music being a unification of diverse parts."

The resulting factor of these combined efforts on Prism, Holland's first album in nearly three years, is an electrifying outing that is equally groove-oriented as it is avant-garde. Holland attributes a portion of this new musical direction to the instrumentation. "The sound of this group is different from other projects I've done previously," reflects Holland. "Most groups have featured horn players and I've rarely worked with keyboards in the band. But I wanted a different sound for this group and started thinking about a quartet with guitar, piano doubling on Fender Rhodes, bass and drums. That certainly has opened up some different musical directions."

In conceiving the band's personnel, Holland first looked to reunite with one of his oldest collaborators: guitarist Kevin Eubanks. The two began working together on various projects in the late 1980s, and Eubanks soon after led The Tonight Show Band from 1995-2010. "It's usual for me that the inspiration for putting a group together begins with the musicians that I want to play with. I'd felt a strong musical connection with Kevin when we'd played together previously and the time was right for us to get back together again." Craig Taborn and Eric Harland joined the group shortly thereafter, having both worked with Holland in different contexts over the past few years, and Prism was formed.

Tour dates:

September 21 / Monterey Jazz Festival / Monterey, CA

September 28-29 / The Dakota / Minneapolis, MN

October 1 / Evanston Space / Evanston, IL

October 4 / MIM Music Theatre / Phoenix, AZ

October 5 / Royce Hall, UCLA / Los Angeles, CA

October 6 / SFJazz Center / San Francisco, CA

October 8-9 / Jazz Alley / Seattle, WA

November 26-30 / Birdland / New York, NY

NEW RELEASES - BILLY PRESTON, FATHER'S CHILDREN, BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE SAVAGES

BILLY PRESTON - 16 YR. OLD SOUL

Many folks only became aware of Billy Preston in the late ‘60s through his work as a Beatles sideman and his signing to their Apple Records label as a solo artist. But Preston had actually been recording for many years before that, and his first big break came courtesy of none other than Sam Cooke. Preston—then still in high school—was hired to play on Cooke’s 1963 album Night Beat, and Cooke was so impressed with the teenager that he signed him to the Derby imprint of his SAR Records label, and got him in the studio right away to record 16-Yr. Old Soul. The album features a cookin’ batch of instrumentals propelled by Preston’s funky organ and piano licks leading two tasty combos, one composed of the legendary Earl Palmer on drums, Gene Edwards on guitar and Clifford Hils on bass, the other Hils, guitarist Tommy Tedesco and drummer Milt Turner. This CD debut—yours courtesy of Real Gone Music and ABKCO Music & Records—adds a couple of bonus tracks, “Sweet Thing” and “Win Your Love for Me,” with sound overseen by ABKCO’s Chief Audio Engineer Teri Landi and notes by Bill Dahl. ‘60s soul instrumental fans, take heed! Available 10/1/13.

FATHER'S CHILDREN - LOVE & LIFE STORIES

Warmth, wisdom and soul from DC area legends Father's Children! The Father's Children story is a pretty remarkable one – starting out with some creatively masterful, though long-time buried funky soul in the early 70s that finally saw light of day decades later, thanks the good fellows at The Numero Group -and later recording an excellent, should-be classic self-titled set for Mercury, which should have made them stars, but it fell through the cracks. All these years later, Father's Children are doing their own thing on their own terms, with a mature sound, solid group vocals and wise songcraft. Good stuff! Includes "Be Careful", "Saying I Do", "Strange Place", "Unspoken", "History", "For Better Or Worse", "Tunnel Vision", "The World Is Changing", "It's Time", "Conversation" and more.  ~ Dusty Groove

BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE SAVAGES - DIG THE SAVAGE SOUL

Raucous rock 'n' soul from Barrence Whitfield & The Savages – who reformed and cut a killer record for the deep soul and garage rock diggers at Munster Records a few years back – and they're doing it with even more soul and savagery for our friends at Bloodshot! The band mixes wild-eyed vintage school rhythm & blues at it's most rugged, but without compromising the soul at the core. Barrence can growl and shout with the best of 'em, but he's got a tender side, when he wants to show it – which is rarely, but that's the point – this is all about the floor shaking and roof tearing good times. It's Savage Soul in both style and title – and dig it, we most certainly do! Includes "The Corner Man", "My Baby Didn't Come Home", "Oscar Levant", "Bread", "Daddy's Gone To Bed", "Blackjack", "Hey Little Girl", "I'm Sad About It", "Subar", "Turn Your Damper Down" and more.  ~ Dusty Groove 

NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN RETURNS TO THE FOREFRONT WITH HIS LATEST RELEASE - THUNDER 2013

Tarpan Records has announced the national release of Thunder 2013, a new full length album by Narada Michael Walden on September 17th 2013. This release features new songs that span Rock, Fusion, Funk and even a ballad or two. This is the first worldwide official release by Narada Michael Walden on his new imprint Tarpan Records.

Narada Michael Walden has produced many household names including: Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Regina Belle, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Ritchie, Elton John, Sting, Carlos Santana, Shanice Wilson, Tevin Campbell, Lisa Fischer, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck and The Temptations. He was awarded Grammys for Producer of the Year in 1988, Album of the Year for the movie soundtrack The Bodyguard in 1993 and the R&B Song of the Year in 1985 for Aretha Franklin's Freeway of Love. Billboard Magazine also named him one of the “Top Ten Producers with the Most Number One Hits”.

As impressive a production and songwriting resume as Narada Michael Walden has assembled over the past thirty years, he has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist in his own right. Beginning as a drummer with the pioneering Mahavishnu Orchestra (replacing Billy Cobham at 19 years old), Narada also toured with Jeff Beck, Tommy Bolin, and Weather Report. With eleven acclaimed solo albums of his own which produced Dance Hits such as, I Shoulda Loved Ya, Divine Emotions, I Don’t Want Nobody Else to Dance With You, along the way, he has achieved greatness in a wide range of sonic arenas. Walden’s music includes groundbreaking soundtrack work on such blockbuster films as The Bodyguard, Free Willy, Beverly Hills Cops II, 9 ½ Weeks and Stuart Little to the EMMY-winning “One Moment In Time,” the theme to the 1988 Olympic Games.

Thunder 2013 is a strong new direction from Narada Michael Walden, inspired by his recent successful two-year tour with the Jeff Beck Band. Narada returned home to finish this album and put together his band to tour on his own. In early February 2012, Narada Michael Walden returned from a well received 10 day stint of shows at the Blue Note in Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan to perform at the White House in an all-star band for President Obama’s “Red, White and Blues” Concert with legends B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, Trombone Shorty, Booker T Jones and more. Narada enlisted some amazing musicians and performers for his band on Thunder 2013 including: Nikita Germaine (Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, and Patty Austin) on Vocals, Frank Martin (Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson, John McLaughlin, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen) on Keyboards, Angeline Saris (Gretchen Menn, Zepperella) on Bass and Vocals, Matthew Charles Heulitt (Zigaboo Modaliste, Salvador Santana, Megan Slankard, Eion Harrington) on Guitars.

His new label, Tarpan Records is a home for many great established artists and some amazing up-and-coming artists as well. Tarpan Records specializes in artist development, full service project management, promotion, and distribution. Initially focused on Narada Michael Walden’s releases, the plan is to apply this business model to up and coming and established recording artists in the years to come.

Tarpan Records will release Narada Michael Walden’s new album Thunder 2013 nationally in late September of 2013 with help from distribution and marketing powerhouse Independent Distribution Collective. This new album is a Rock masterpiece, with many flavors of Narada’s vast history mixed in. On September 24th 2013 the label will also release Narada Michael Walden’s Rising Sun, an instrumental EP that features Narada and his fantastic new band performing remakes of his greatest Fusion Hits.

Narada Michael Walden and his band will perform a series of shows across the USA in the new few months in support of the release of Thunder 2013. The first in this series, deemed a “pre-release” concert, will be held at Yoshi’s Oakland - 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607 on September 5th, 2013 doors at 7pm show at 8pm. This show will feature songs from Thunder 2013, Rising Sun, and of course some of the hits from Narada’s legendary catalog. 

IVO PERLMAN / JOE MORRIS / BALAZS PANDI - ONE

One brings together the potent forces of Brazilian tenor saxophonist and prolific free jazz icon Ivo Perelman, veteran bassist-guitarist Joe Morris (a ubiquitous figure on the avant garde jazz scene, making his recorded debut on electric bass guitar here) and Hungarian hardcore drummer Balazs Pandi (Slobber Pup, Obake, Metallic Taste of Blood, Merzbow). With no rehearsals, no charts, no sketches or musical road maps whatsoever, the three risk-taking musicians entered the studio and made a joyful noise in daring, unadulterated fashion, pulling no punches while following their instincts from start to finish. Fueled by the hard and fast beats of Pandi, who also demonstrates his remarkably versatile skills and keen listening instincts throughout the session, One is a highly interactive studio encounter that borders on the telepathic at times. And with Perelman's cathartic, Albert Ayler-inspired tenor sax blowing on top and Morris' electric bass lines bubbling underneath, sparks ensue on this turbulent project.

From the opening strains of the kinetic and aptly-titled "Freedom," which kicks off the potent improv outing, to the dynamic 17-minute closer "Stigma," it is clear that these three kindred spirits are going for it with reckless abandon. Along with the blowtorch intensity of Perelman's sax playing and Pandi's thunderous drumming, there are moments of tender reflection on One.

"What Love Can Lead To" has Pandi playing in more understated fashion on mallets while Perelman pursues a poignant, searching melody. "To Remember What Never Existed" builds from a lightly swinging intro to a tumultuous crescendo capped by Ivo's mighty overblowing and Balazs' bashing. The title track is an intimate, conversational duet that has Morris playing contrapuntal bass guitar lines to Perelman's angular and skittish sax lines. "Universal Truth," a frantic barrage fueled by Pandi's dynamic polyrhythmic pulse and Morris' bubbling bass lines, comes across like Ivo's white-hot homage to Albert Ayler. And the visceral, suite-like closer, "Stigma," travels across a myriad of moods while serving as a perfect microcosm of what these three such potent forces can do together.

While Perelman, Morris and Pandi had all previously recorded before (Perelman most recently on two trio projects with drummer Gerald Cleaver for Leo Records - 2012's Family Ties and Living Jelly) and Morris had previously played with Pandi in Slobber Pup (on their 2013 debut Black Aces for RareNoise Records), One marks the first time that Ivo and Balazs had ever played together. "Balazs clearly comes from a rock or hardcore background," says Perelman, "but you can still hear some Elvin Jones in his playing, which I really love. So the idea of playing with Pandi was very exciting to me."

At Pandi's invitation, Perelman came down to The Stone, John Zorn's experimental music club on Manhattan's Lower East Side, to hear the drummer play with Slobber Pup, a thunderously intense band featuring Morris on distortion-laced guitar, Trevor Dunn on electric bass and Jamie Saft on keyboards. "I totally enjoyed Balazs' playing, although I had to cover my ears at times because I wasn't used to hearing such intense music. And as I watched them I thought that if we played together it would sound great with Joe on electric bass, just to give it that punch to match Balazs' intense backbeats."

As Pandi recalls of that first encounter with Perelmen, "After the show at The Stone, Ivo ran up screaming and told me pretty much that I can't leave the States without us recording. Within three days, we were in the studio."

And so, a power trio was born. They went into the studio carte blanche and pressed the record button. And the result is One. What you hear is what they played that day in the studio. "This has pretty much been the way on mostly all the recordings I have done," says Ivo. "I really like not playing with a particular person before I go into the studio because I want the first reaction to be documented right there, right then."

While Perelman was well aware of Pandi's thunderous nature, he was not surprised by the sheer versatility the drummer exhibited from track to track on One. "I wasn't surprised by the quality of his other kind of playing because I could tell he was a sensitive listener and would adapt to the environment and bring something tasteful to the plate." Adds the Hungarian drummer. "Playing lightly is nothing new to me. I used to play timpani in an orchestra when I was nine years old, so I grew up dealing with all kinds of tempos and dynamics and playing, from playing solo to playing with up to 60 musicians. People know me more from playing intense and loud music, but in the end my goal is not to kill anyone at the session or to be the most intense performer ever. Also, it is possible to play heavy music with light dynamics. Sun Ra is the best example of this. So it is possible to play at a lower dynamic but still destroy."

Balazs is definitely a unique drummer," adds Perelman. "I don't even know how to name what he does because it's so unique, but I definitely never played with anybody with that intensity, really. When I played with Rashied Ali, to me that was beautiful and very intense. But Balazs has something unique. So he forces me to play in a different way as well." Morris concurs. "Balazs does a lot of different things. He's somebody who has a rock and metal sort of feel, this sort of head-banging kind of thing, but he has incredible ears and really good technique and he's very pliable and flexible. So he's really easy to play with. And I think Ivo was blown away at how different it was and yet how good it was."

Though Perelman has amassed an extensive catalog of free jazz recordings over the years, he says it is never easy to remain in that place of pure improvisation. "Easy is never a good word, I think, because every day it's a different set of parameters. You're dealing with the situation, whether it's studio or live, the psychological, the social, the spiritual. So many factors play into this so every day is a challenge to say something meaningful, fresh, honest and good. So it wasn't easy improvising with Joe but it was familiar in the sense that I relate to him in a beautiful way. He's a keen listener and he gives me back ideas, so it's a back-and-forth type mutual collaboration. And now I feel like I'm developing that same kind of communication with Balazs. So I'm looking forward to collaborating with him again to see if we can take it to the next level.

Ivo adds that he was pleasantly surprised by the results of Morris' first-time use of electric bass guitar on One: "I've played and recorded with Joe both on acoustic bass and electric guitar. And for me, the electric bass is like a great mixture of both. So on this recording I got a bit of his 'bass thinking hat' and I got a bit of his 'guitar playing hat.' I really dug that and I have a feeling that Joe will expand and be asked to play electric bass guitar more and more when people hear what I'm hearing. This is the beginning of a new language for him, a new axe. Between the chording, the things he does with his pick, the nuances and speed he can generate on the instrument...I don't hear electric bass players doing that. So I think Joe bumped into something great. I'm happy that I brought it up to him."

Says Morris, "I had never done a gig on electric bass before. I do play bass and I've done a lot of gigs and records on upright bass. And I've played electric bass at home but I've never done any kind of performance on electric bass. So this was the first one that I did. In fact, I had to borrow my son's Fender Jazz bass for this session. And for a while I was thinking about being a bass player on it but then I started thinking, 'Well, it's really a bass guitar.' So at that point in the session I sort of shifted to being a guitar player and just thinking of it as being a bass guitarist. And that's when it sort of went to a different place because that realization gave me an opportunity to shape the form a little bit differently."

With the release of the powerhouse triumvirate's One, Perelman, Morris and Pandi are poised to destroy. And each night that they play together on tour to promote their RareNoise debut, it's bound to be a new and different and undeniably intense experience. As Morris put it, "Every time I pick up my instrument, whether it's the guitar, upright bass or electric bass, it's my obligation to do something different than what I did last night. And it's great when you play with people like Ivo and Balazs, who both have the same attitude. They're both seem to be innate musicians who have tons of energy, who are great listeners and who don't get stuck because they can change and go with the flow. They're great improvisers. And together, we have something real special."

NEW RELEASES - SAINT ETIENNE PRESENTS SONGS FOR A CENTRAL PARK PICNIC, FROOTFUL, MICHAEL PEDECIN

SAINT ETIENNE PRESENTS - SONGS FOR A CENTRAL PARK PICNIC (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Imagine a beautifil day sitting under a shady tree in Central Park, and you bring along some music to create a truely relaxing atmosphere. This really cool summer set includes a total of 25 songs and it feature: Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Vince Guaraldi); Bee Born (Sammy Davis Jr.); Stranger On The Shore (The Drifters); Gopher Mambo (Ymo Sumac);Boato (Bistro) (Lalo Shifrin);  Yes I Love you (Paris Sisters); Moon River (Jerry Butler); Some For Cat (Henry Mancini); Lost For Sure (Dion); Private World (Artie Farr); Bad Boy (The Jive Bombers); A Kiss From Your Lips (Billy Storm); Raincoat In The River (Sammy Turner); Moon Guitar (The Rangoons); Untie Me (The Tams); Marie (The Four Tunes); Quiet Firl (Don Rondo); You Don't Have To Be A Tower of Strength (Gloria Lynne); Where Have You Been (Arthur Alexander); plus many others!

FROOTFUL - THE ROAD / BENEDICT'S BOOGALOO 

Frootful return with a new two track 45 taken from Heavyweight - their follow-up to their eclectic 2011 debut long player - Colours. The Road feature UK soul vocalist Mazen Bedwei, who was first featured on a Freestyle release when he sang on Nick Van Gelder's Somethings Gotta Give compilation Sounds From The Soul Underground. The Road is a light, breezy, and uplifting soul groove that has something of a late 60's feel, where shimmering horns underpin Mazen's Curtis Springfield inspired vocals, while Frootful's Nick Radford's tasteful guitar picking locks down the sweet summer sound.  One the flip side the mood is altogether greasy as Benedicts Boogaloo is a gritty soul-jazz work out that been double dipped in the funk.  Nick gets the chance to display his guitar cjops wonderfully, while the guitar bass line in unrelenting while a dirty and distorted organ grooves out to a stunning climax.   This is just an example of what is come from the new album - Heavyweight.

MICHAEL PEDECIN - WHY STOP NOW...UBUNTU

Tenor saxophonist Michael Pedicin is in the midst of an impressive creative surge clearly reflected in his prolific work as a recording artist and composer. His new CD, Why Stop Now ... Ubuntu, is his 12th as a leader -- and 5th in the last six years. Scheduled for release on September 24 by his GroundBlue label, the disc reconfirms his status as a masterful post-bopper. Much of the music on Why Stop Now was inspired by the 2012 Newtown tragedy, including the haunting ballad ("Newtown") by guitarist Johnnie Valentino and Pedicin's glowing impromptu solo passage ("Ubuntu"), which closes the album. "'Ubuntu' means 'human kindness,' an African philosophy focusing on our connections with one another," says Pedicin. "It echoes my constant hope for peace and connectedness in our world." Along with Valentino, who's been an essential collaborator on all of Pedicin's recent recordings, the saxophonist is joined by regular bassist Andy Lalasis and two newcomers to his working quintet, tasteful drummer Vic Stevens and rising young pianist Rick Germanson. Pedicin continues his relationship with producer Joseph Donofrio, best known in the jazz world for his work on Pat Martino's Grammy-nominated Blue Note recordings and also at the helm for last year's Pedicin CD Live at the Loft. W hy Stop Now contains four originals by the leader, including "Trane Stop," a tribute to his musical hero, as well as two by Coltrane himself, "Tunji" and "Song of the Underground Railroad." "I lived my life admiring and idolizing Trane, every day, all day," Pedicin says unabashedly. "I identify with everything about him."