NEW RELEASES - GUIDA DE PALMA / LEON WARE, OMAR AKRAM, BOSSA BOX SET

GUIDA DE PALMA & LEON WARE - A SEED IN YOU

Lisbon based singer Guida de Palma (better known as Jazzinho)  has recorded a duet with music legend Leon Ware.  The song, entitled A Seed In You is a preview of her new album due out soon.  “I’m a mother, I’m a singer, I’m a teacher, and I’m a sinner. I play my music in the sun. My music is a mix of Jazz, Soul, MPB and Funk, often referred to as Sambalanço, a genre made popular in the 70s by artists like Banda Black Rio, Tim Maia, Sandra de Sá, Jorge Ben, Copa 7 etc…” says de Palma. For the new Jazzinho album that she is recording, she says that it’s due out sometime later this year and that it will feature some hot new grooves and melodies.  Her duet partner, Leon Ware, is a Motown legend, having worked alongside Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, as well as with Quincy Jones and many others.  Ware is an accomplished singer and songwriter.  

OMAR AKRAM - DAYTIME DREAMER

Omar Akram was the first Afghan American to win a Grammy. Akram’s music reflects his multicultural roots, incorporating piano, violin, guitars, flute, Persian ney and world percussion. “The Grammy win brought me a lot of attention, both from the Afghan media and the people of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a very divided country that is made up of many different ethnicities and social groups. After being on the radio and television I heard from everyone. The people there can hardly ever unite behind anything, and after I won the Grammy award there was a shared sense of accomplishment. It was a kind of unity I’ve never seen that I was very happy to be a part of.” —Omar Akram //  “After copping a Grammy for his fourth record Echoes of Love, Omar is back with a full-on sonic assault to make sure he does it again. Not exactly pop, he does turn it up a notch loading the new age deck with pop and jazz smarts, keeping it buoyant, upbeat and winkingly sassy.” —Chris Spector, Midwest Record 

BOSSA: BOSSA NOVA, BALANCO, BOSSAMBA, SAMBABALANCA, SAMBOSSA 

An amazing little box set – filled with 10 rare bossa nova albums from the Brazilian underground of the 60s – almost all of which we'd never heard before! The records here were mostly issued on small labels at the time – the kind of sets that never circulated widely outside of Brazil, and which often have unusual and striking sounds that are quite different from mainstream bossa work on labels like Verve or Elenco! There's a fair bit of jazz on most albums, and the instrumentation varies nicely throughout – sometimes more sax up front, sometimes more acoustic guitar, or offbeat horn arrangements, odd percussion, and lots of other sweet touches! Each CD features two full albums, completely with cover art and other details of the records – and the set features the albums Balanco E Bossa Nova by Ritmistas Da Bossa, Sambalanco by Orquesta Moderna De Samba, Isso E Bossa Nova Mesmo by Conjunto Sambossa, Saxsambando by Os Saxsambistas Brasileiros, O Balanco E A Bossa by Conjunto Masterplay, Samba Do Bom by Conjunto Samba De Balanco, Samba Pra Frente by Samba Trio, A Musica Maravilhosa De Antonio Carlos Jobim by Bossa Brass, and the self-titled 1964 album by Os Azes De Bossa. ~, Dusty Groove

ARIZONA JAZZ FESTIVAL TO FEATURE TOP JAZZ AND SOUL ARTISTS

The endless Arizona sky will be filled with a galaxy of stars day and night during the Arizona Jazz Festival slated for October 25-27, 2013 at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. More than 13,000 contemporary jazz and soul fans from across the nation are expected to flock to the lavish desert resort to enjoy performances by a stellar slate of Grammy-winners and chart-toppers along with a weekend of revelry. 

The Arizona Jazz Festival opens with an evening of seduction starting with the tantalizing pairing of saxophonist Eric Darius and R&B vocalist-producer Lyfe Jennings, who will set the mood for marquee-topper Maxwell, a Grammy-winning soul balladeer. Stick around for the official after-party at the resort.

Live music begins Saturday when nattily-attired guitarist Nick Colionne and new jazz swagger sax player J. White hit the stage followed by a trio set by saxophonists Warren Hill and Tom Braxton with blues-based guitar slinger Jeff Golub. Powerhouse tenors Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Euge Groove will blow a fierce sax storm in the desert before ten-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan belts out a song list filled with her massive crossover hits. The Queen of Neo Soul Erykah Badu will reign over majestic grooves and Baduizms preceding a set by “Uncle” Charlie Wilson, a 2013 BET lifetime achievement award winner, crooning cuts from his Grammy-nominated R&B songbook. After the concert, a number of the festival artists will head into the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa for an all-star jam.

It’s going to be a great-looking Sunday when saxophonists Jessy J and Michael Lington link with keyboardist Jonathan Fritzen to open the final day followed by a neo soul session from vocalist Eric Benet. Emerging saxmen Elan Trotman and Dominic Amato will accompany R&B chanteuse Melanie Fiona for an outing. Captivating multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson will inject a potent dose of funk-jazz into the mix during a high-octane performance before fellow blue-eyed soul man Robin Thicke blurs the lines during a set list certain to include the #1 summer smash “Blurred Lines.” Closing the festival is edgy multiplatinum R&B personality and reality television star Keyshia Cole.              

“We pulled out all the stops for the Arizona Jazz Festival, which is perhaps the most spectacular lineup we have ever presented. While every festival that BTWconcerts.com produces and promotes is special, this is our hometown festival. We look forward to hosting guests from all over the U.S. that are passionate about jazz and R&B. It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend of live music and partying,” said Brad Laughlin of BTWconcerts.com, which also produces the Las Vegas Jazz Festival and the San Diego Jazz Festival. 

  

The Arizona Jazz Festival offers reserved seating with ticket prices starting at $240.00 for the entire weekend or $65.00 for a single-day seat. For the enthusiast, tickets can be upgraded to include the Rock Star Experience that provides VIP tent access, a complimentary meal and drinks, artist meet & greets, Arizona Jazz Festival commemorative bag, t-shirt, poster and laminate, and entry to the Friday night after-party and Saturday night all-star jam.

 

NEW RELEASES - ETIENNE CHARLES, WES MONTGOMERY, KARL JENKINS

ETIENNE CHARLES - CREOLE SOUL

Creole Soul is an exploration of Charles musical roots featuring sounds from the French, Spanish and English speaking Caribbean as well as North America, Creole Soul highlights myriad inspirations from Haitian Creole chants and blues to bebop and R&B while drawing on an array of rhythms including Rocksteady, Reggae, Bel Air, Kongo and Calypso.Charles has been hailed as a daring improviser by Jazz Times while Ben Ratliff of The New York Times called him one of the more ambitious soloists and composers. A musician and professor at Michigan State University, Charles studied under piano virtuoso Marcus Roberts at Florida State University and Mark Gould, former principal trumpeter of the Metropolitan Opera, at Juilliard. He was also mentored by Jamaican reggae and jazz luminary Monty Alexander and the late multiple Grammy Award-winning Trinidadian-American percussionist/songwriter Ralph MacDonald. ~ amazon

WES MONTGOMER - SO MUCH GUITAR!

Wes Montgomery appeared as leader or co-leader on a dozen Riverside albums, in a wide variety of formats ranging from organ trios to one with full string orchestra. Some of the most rewarding simply placed him in a studio with a superior rhythm section and let him deal with the mixture of ballads, blues, and swingers. So Much Guitar!, his fourth album for the label, is a notable example of this straightforward approach. Recorded in 1961, it features the flawless support of Ron Carter (in one of his very first sessions) and Hank Jones, and includes Montgomery s only entirely unaccompanied recording While We re Young. An added bonus in this Original Jazz Classics Remasters edition are eight selections recorded that same year during a Montgomery Brothers tour. ~ amazon

KARL JENKINS - ADIEMUS COLORES

Since his self-penned debut album, Adiemus Songs of Sanctuary, Jenkins s albums have sold over two million copies around the world. His distinct signature sound has reached mainstream audiences around the globe through its use in scores of TV and cinema commercials in over 20 different countries. Levi Strauss, Delta Airlines, Cheltenham and Gloucester, Lexus, Japanese Airlines, Lux Soap, Hewlett Packard, De Beers, Johnnie Walker, Renault, BMW, Audi and Chanel No. 5 are just some of the brands to use his music to help sell their products and brand messages. Adiemus Colores is his first work of its kind for ten years, and employs the rhythms, sounds, colors and textures of Latin American music to create a distinctly unique and exotic sound-world expect the unexpected! Scored for choir (The Adiemus Singers), instrumental forces and a super-tight rhythm section, as well as solo guitar, trumpet and voice this world premiere recording features Fado sensation Cuca Roseta, star guitarist Milos, new trumpeter on the block Pacho Flores and the worlds favorite tenor, Rolando Villazon. ~ amazon

NEW RELEASES - RAHEEM DEVAUGHN, JIMMY WEBB, WAYMAN TISDALE

RAHEEM DEVAUGHN - A PLACE CALLED LOVELAND

4th studio release from the Grammy nominated R&B crooner.It's often said that love makes the world go 'round and three-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Raheem DeVaughn knows that to be the truth. With the release of his fourth studio album, A Place Called Loveland Raheem embraces the global theme while bringing his heart and soul into all tracks of his latest work of aural art. With songwriting collaborations with Ne-Yo and production via talents like Mario Winans,Carvin & Ivan, and Ne-Yo, Raheem proves why he is the Love King. Reflecting on this new phase of his career, RAHEEM recognizes that his process of creating music is definitely getting more defined as I grow as an artist and songwriter. A Place Called Loveland reflects the growth of Raheem DeVaughn vocally, mentally, spiritually and professionally. His quest for love is woven throughout each song, which he has crafted over the last year and states: This album represents a voyage, an eclectic ride where melody meets passion, a dimension of desire and orgasmic rescue in pleasure paradise. I am sure you will agree. ~ amazon

JIMMY WEBB - STILL WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE

Still Within The Sound Of My Own Voice again unites Jimmy Webb with some of todays biggest selling and enduring artists for once in a lifetime performances, including the iconic MacArthur Park. In celebration of its 45th Anniversary, Jimmy reached out to Brian Wilson for his inspirational vocal harmonies which take this American Classic soaring to new heights. The Album is full of inspirational vocal performances from the breathless seduction of Carly Simon on Easy For Yoy To Say to the joyful contemporary styling of Keith Urban on Where's The Playground, Susie. In celebration of Jimmy Webb's Career as a singer, songwriter and performer it is easy to see why so many Artists have joined together for this amazing collection of duets from the Jimmy Webb Great American Songbook. Besides the Artists already mentioned other Special Guests featured include Lyle Lovett, David Crosby & Graham Nash, Marc Cohn, Amy Grant, Joe Cocker, Kris Kristofferson, Art Garfunkel and Rumer. ~ amazon

WAYMAN TISDALE - THE ABSOLUTE GREATEST HITS

2013 compilation of the finest recordings from the late Smooth Jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale, featuring George Duke and Toby Keith. Wayman Tisdale was an All-American at The University of Oklahoma, gold-medal winner in the 1984 Olympic games and NBA star for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. A self-taught musician, Tisdale began playing the bass guitar during his father's Sunday services. As his basketball career was ending, he turned his focus to his self-described "first love" with the release of his debut jazz album 'Power Forward', which climbed to number four on the Billboard charts. In his short musical career he released nine eclectic jazz albums - four of which hit #1 on the US jazz charts. ~ amazon

THE DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL TO FEATURE AHMAD JAMAL QUARTET, JOSHUA REDMAN, MCCOY TYNER, MACY GRAY, JOHN SCOFIELD AND OTHER...

World-class jazz musicians will once again descend on downtown Detroit Labor Day weekend – Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 – for the 34th annual Detroit Jazz Festival, presented by the Chrysler brand.

The world's largest free jazz festival kicks off Friday, Aug. 30 providing music lovers with one-of-a-kind performances from a variety of artists and ensembles throughout the weekend. This year's headliners include David Murray Big Band with Macy Gray, the Ahmad Jamal Quartet, Joshua Redman, Charles Lloyd, McCoy Tyner, John Scofield Uberjam Band, the Alan Broadbent Trio and 2013 Artist in Residence Danilo Perez.

"Each year we work harder than the last to make the Detroit Jazz Festival an experience that adds to the cultural fabric of this region and this music. Our lineup features incredible artists, free of charge, who will once again make this a can't-miss event," said Gretchen Valade, chair of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. "The rich culture of jazz history in Detroit lives on through the Festival this Labor Day weekend and all year with the many activities we do to keep this spirit alive. This is really about what Detroit and this music have to offer the world."

More than 100 performances will take place on four stages located throughout Hart Plaza and Campus Martius. Artist in Residence and Grammy-winning pianist, Danilo Perez, and the Panama 500 Band will open the Festival on Friday at 7:15 p.m. followed by the David Murray Big Band featuring Macy Gray at 8:45 p.m., both on the JP Morgan Chase Main Stage. Saturday through Monday the music will start as early as noon and end at approximately 10:45 p.m. For those wanting more, there will be fireworks Saturday and Sunday night on the Detroit River after the last performance and late night jam sessions from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Volt Bar & Lounge in the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the Festival's official hotel.

One unique element to this year's Festival is the amazing tributes that will take place throughout the weekend including a Teddy Harris, Jr. Tribute by the New Breed Be Bop Society; Tribute to Stan Kenton featuring The Four Freshmen and the Toledo Jazz Orchestra; Three Baris Tribute to Pepper Adams, featuring Gary Smulyan, Howard Johnson and Frank Basile; Tribute to Brad Felt featuring Steve Wood, Cary Schunk, Pat Prouty, Bill Higgins and Terry Kimura; Tribute to Don Byas featuring James Carter; and the four-performance Detroit Jazz Festival Tribute to the late Dave Brubeck featuring the Brubeck Brothers.

"Year after year we are honored to present this incredible opportunity to see some of jazz music's best artists perform live in the heart of Detroit," said Chris Collins, artistic director for the Detroit Jazz Festival. "Our goal this year was to select an eclectic lineup that embodies all genres of jazz music and spanning across different generations. We want to highlight the best that jazz has to offer, and I believe this year's lineup definitely accomplishes that."

In addition to the performances throughout the weekend, attendees will have the opportunity to see artists up-close and unplugged in the Chrysler Jazz Talk Tent, which offers a deeper dive into the artists and history with interviews, panel discussions, presentations and performances. One key Talk Tent segment not to miss is the DownBeat blindfold test, Sunday, Sept. 1 at 3:45 p.m., where Geri Allen will test her jazz music recognition skills. For more information on the Chrysler Jazz Talk Tent, hosted by jazz historians Jim Gallert and Lars Bjorn, visit http://www.detroitmusichistory.com/upcoming.html.

The weekend also provides fans of local musicians the opportunity to see performances from accomplished Detroit-native artists, such as Geri Allen and the 2013 Homecoming Band, the Sean Dobbins Organ Trio, the Scott Gwinell Ensemble and numerous other musicians featured in the Marcus Belgrave "Trumpet Call."

The Detroit Jazz Festival gives back to the region not only by featuring Detroit- and Michigan-based artists during the Festival weekend, but also through year-round initiatives that work to promote the history and development of jazz music in Detroit and help maintain the city's legacy as a music hub. For example, as part of its mission to educate students about the importance of music, the Festival puts on a variety of concerts, workshops and competitions to foster young talent from the region. For the seventh year in a row, the Wayne State University Department of Music and the Detroit Jazz Festival teamed up to bring promising high school musicians the J.C. Heard Jazz Week@Wayne program, a week-long, audition-based jazz workshop that provides students with an intensive and rewarding jazz education. Eight exceptional students who stood out during the program earned a spot in the J.C. Heard All-Star Youth Ensemble, which will be performing at the Festival on Monday at 12:15 p.m on the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage.

In addition to performances by the J.C. Heard All-Star Youth Ensemble and several other high school jazz ensembles, the Michigan State University Big Band I, the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble with special guest Lee Konitz and ensembles from Central Michigan, Oakland and Wayne State Universities also will be performing over the weekend.

The Festival also is extending its support for national artists for the second year in a row by staging national performance and arranging competitions. This year the Festival welcomed submissions from up-and-coming trumpet artists and composers from all around of the country. Upon judging from a panel of prominent jazz artists and educators, including Marcus Belgrave and Chris Collins, Theo Croker from New York City won the trumpet competition and Scott Nimmer, also from New York City, won the arranging competition. Both winners received a cash prize and Croker will perform at the Festival.

Every year people from all over the world travel to Detroit on Labor Day weekend to see some of the industry's top musicians perform at this premier music event. As the world's largest free jazz festival, it brings in tens of millions of dollars to the city center annually, helping to boost the local economy. With help from the DTE Energy Foundation, the Festival also is making a positive impact by continuing its efforts to promote a green atmosphere through recycling, reducing paper waste and more to minimize its carbon footprint.

About the Detroit Jazz Festival

The Detroit Jazz Festival is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. Recently voted number two in North America in a JazzTimes reader's poll, the Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the world and a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 23 percent of its audience coming from out of state.

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND - MADE UP MIND - DEBUTS AT #1 ON BILLBOARD CHARTS; ANNOUNCES NEW TOUR DATES

Tedeschi Trucks Band's new album, Made Up Mind - released by Sony Masterworks on August 20th - has debuted at #11 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart, #1 on the Blues chart, #2 on the Rock chart, #2 on the FMQB AAA non-comm chart, #5 on the BDS AAA Indicator chart, #4 on the Americana chart and #1 on the Roots Music Blues Chart with 26,466 units sold - Tedeschi Trucks Band's highest unit debut to date.

Made Up Mind is nothing less than a quantum leap forward for TTB. If Revelator and Everybody's Talkin' were all about finding their way, this new effort is where they emerge as a fully formed band for the ages. 

Rolling Stone magazine raves: "The album combines funk, greasy blues and Memphis soul; beefier horn lines, snappier interplay between two drummers, and Tedeschi's rugged vocals."

Throughout the course of the album it becomes increasingly apparent that Susan Tedeschi has evolved into one of the most dauntingly commanding vocalists in contemporary music, her serious lung power exploding on standout tracks such as the uber-funky "Misunderstood" and just as convincingly digging into the core of poignant, tender acoustic ballads like "Calling Out to You" and "Idle Wind".

Derek Trucks has indisputably matured into one of the monster guitarists of our time, tearing up barnburners like the title track "Made Up Mind" with his masterful slide and lead licks while showcasing his easier, more subtle touch on the bluesy "Do I Look Worried".

Premier Guitar Magazine praises: "When Trucks cuts loose, the gloves come off. And that's what makes this album essential listening for anyone who plays slide guitar."

Tedeschi Trucks Band's fall tour kicks off at Lockn' Festival and includes a residency at the legendary Beacon Theater in New York City. Here are the tour dates:

08-Sep / Arrington, VA -  Lockn' Festival

13-Sep / Cleveland, OH - Jacobs Pavilion

14-Sep / Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion

16-Sep / Las Vegas, NV- Sin City Soul & Blues Revival

19-Sep / Allentown, PA - Miller Symphony Hall

20-Sep / New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

21-Sep / New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

26-Sep / Richmond, VA - Carpenter Theatre

27-Sep / New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

28-Sep / Wilmington, NC- Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

15-Oct / Madison, WI - Overture Center for the Arts

16-Oct / Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater

18-Oct / Ozark, AR - Harvest Music Festival

19-Oct / New Orleans, LA - Joy Center

23-Oct / Charleston, WV - Clay Center

24-Oct / Columbia, MO - Jesse Auditorium

25-Oct / Bowling Green, KY - Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center

29-Oct / London, ENG - Royal Albert Hall

01-Nov / Boone, NC - Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

28-Apr / Paris, FR - L'Olympia

NEW RELEASES - TREMOR, RAS G & THE AFRIKAN SPACE PLANET, BOSQ Y ORQUESTA DE MADERA

TREMOR – PROA

Buenos Aires based digital folklore trio Tremor return to the forefront of modern South American music with a brand new album on Nickodemus’ Brooklyn based Wonderwheel Recordings that fuses traditional sounds with contemporary electronic elements. After playing some of the most important festivals and venues worldwide including Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Fusion Festival in Germany, and an official showcases at SXSW and Womex, Argentina's Tremor advances the digital folk genre with their upcoming release Proa. Tremor uses South American folklore traditions and regional instruments to bridge unexpected genres such as Argentine chacarera and glitch electronica. Digging deeper into their folkloric roots and adding a new element of vocals for the first time, Proa is Tremor evolved: the most organic and visceral release of the trio to date. Lead by Leonardo Martinelli (composer and producer), the power trio features Camillo Carbajal (bombo leguero) and Gerardo Farez (synthesizers, melodica and bombo leguero).

RAS & THE AFRIKAN SPACE PROGRAM - BACK ON THE PLANET

Ras G may be back on the planet, but the sound here is still very much in keeping with the excellent mode on his Ghetto Sci Fi set – a really weird and wonderful blend of cosmic influences from the heyday of spiritual jazz, including lots of Sun Ra-inspired touches, mixed with some very unusual beats and electronics! There's a sense of analogue electricity that crackles through the set, and really sets an edge right from the start – potent and powerful right at the start, then laying back a bit for awhile as things get somewhat warmer – but still stepping in at all the right points to shock the system! The whole thing is really a great move forward in the legacy of sci-fi sounds from the jazz and funk world – a definite heady part of the Sun Ra Legacy too. Titles include "Been Cosmic", "Find Ya Self", "Asteroid Storm", "Back On The Planet", "All Is Well", "Cosmic Lounge Kisses", "One 4 Kutman", "Culture Riddim", and "Natural Melanin Being".  ~ Dusty Groove

BOSQ Y ORQUESTA DE MADERA - BOSQ OF WHISKEY BARONS

A really wonderful set of grooves – much richer, jazzier, and more soulful than we would have expected – and a great full length introduction to the work of Bosq! Bosq's a name that's been brimming around on singles recently – but on this full album, he really opens up with a wonderfully deep groove – one that's inspired by older styles of jazz, Latin, Brazilian, and even Afro Funk modes – but put together in ways that often mix organic and live instrumentation with some studio production too – yet always at a level that still retains all the warmth of the elements at the core! These are some of the best sounds we've heard from Ubiquity in awhile, and the record's a real return to the mix of classic and contemporary that first made us fall in love with the label. The set features guest work from Kon, Tita Lima, Kaleta, and others – and titles include "More Heavy", "Up & Down (NYC 91 mix)", "Tear It Out", "Getting There", "Movin On", "Pura Candela", "Paciencia De Jo", "Never Feel Cold", and "Get Involved".  ~ Dusty Groove    

 

JONATHAN BUTLER - MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

Santa Claus has a special treat to stuff in the stockings of all the good Jonathan Butler fans this Christmas: the first Christmas album by the two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter-guitarist. Butler produced and arranged “Merry Christmas To You,” which will be released October 1 by Artistry Music. Two singles will be shipped to multiple radio formats this holiday season: an instrumental take on “Sleigh Ride” decorated with hallmarks from the South African native’s homeland, and the album’s title track, which is a retro-flavored R&B/adult contemporary ballad penned by Butler.

      

Butler recorded eight Christmas chestnuts for the collection and penned a pair of new songs, including “Happy Holidays,” an ardent urban groove ornamented with riffs of cool jazz guitar. High-profile hornmen Dave Koz, Rick Braun and Paul “Shilts” Weimer contribute to the festivities on a couple of tracks as does Butler’s daughter, vocalist Jodie Butler, and bassist Dan Lutz, who plays upright on a tune, but the heart of the intimate recording is Butler solo pouring his impassioned voice and acoustic guitar into the seasonal songs. His arresting performances and sparse production captivates, fostering an air of freshness to the evergreen material.

“These songs are beautiful on their own so I felt they didn't need a lot of instrumentation. Plus I wanted my fans to have a personal Christmas message from me. That is why the CD has very little production and plenty of voice and guitar. It’s a very proud moment for me to finally have a Christmas record, which has been a long time coming. I hope fans feel blessed and uplifted when they play it at home or in their car or wherever they may be. I truly thank God for giving me the strength and the opportunity to make this album,” said Butler, who lives in California’s San Fernando Valley with his family.

The “Merry Christmas To You” album opens with an energizing version of the Donny Hathaway soul classic “This Christmas.” Butler applies South African vocalization, chanting and rhythmic percussion to “Little Drummer Boy.” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “The First Noel,” “O Holy Night” and the lesser known “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” are presented starkly featuring show-stopping performances by the devoutly inspired man with his guitar.

Beginning November 30, Butler will venture out on a three-week U.S. concert swing performing on the Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour during which he will share the stage with the charismatic sax star as well as keyboardist Keiko Matsui and vocalist Oleta Adams.   

   

A former child star, Butler was the first black artist played on radio stations in South Africa. The hint of grit in his expressive voice reflects the pain he endured growing up under Apartheid, the youngest of 17 children. A true artist who refuses to segregate his music, Butler’s recordings consist of vocal and instrumental hits and enduring fan favorites spanning R&B, contemporary jazz, gospel, adult contemporary, pop and world beat stylings. The natural-born performer’s radiant spirit shines brightly through his beaming smile and twinkling eyes. 

The songs comprising Butler’s “Merry Christmas To You” are:

“This Christmas”

“Sleigh Ride”

“Merry Christmas To You”

“Happy Holidays”

“Little Drummer Boy”

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

“Sweet Little Jesus Boy”

“The First Noel”

“O Holy Night”

www.jonathanbutler.com

JAZZ STATION WCLK 91.9 ATLANTA SWITCHES TO A MORE SMOOTHER FORMAT

Atlanta Jazz station WCLK 91.9 FM has switched formats, going from a traditional jazz station and adopting a more "smoother" sound.  By smoother, we mean adding tracks from such artists as Gerald Albright, Candy Dulfer, Anita Baker, Incognito, Bob James, Sade, Jeff Lorber, Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Marc Antoice, Walter Beasley, Marcus Johnson, Euge Groove, The Crusaders - you get the picture. 

Since flipping formats on Monday (8/27), the station has garnered alot of negative feedback with avid listeners demanding that the station revert back to the music that they admired in the first place.  As a matter of fact listeners have voiced their opinions on WCLK's Facebook page and have even started an online petition asking that the station switch back.

So why the sudden change you may ask?  In an effort to boost its audience and garner more membership dollars, the non-commercial radio station attached to Clark Atlanta University has started pre-programming its playlist and narrowed it down from about 900 songs to 400 songs Monday-Friday, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution radio reporter Rodney Ho, who spoke to WCLK's general manager of the last 20 years, Wendy Williams.

In addition to severely cutting back on the number of songs being played, the radio DJ's are no longer allowed to program their own music.  A major focus is WCLK DJ and on-air personality Jamal Ahmad, who's S.O.U.L. of Jazz show has been a longtime listener favorite, recognized locally and internationally for its groundbreaking programming. "Jamal Ahmad's show is one of the last bastion's on noncommercial music in the city of Atlanta," reads the first line of the petition, started by Creative Loafing contributor and publisher of Slo Momagazine, Carlton Hargro.

Personally speaking, these are my thoughts...

I've always loved the sound of smooth jazz; however, the format has gotten tired over the last few years and I think that a hybrid playlist is more realistic as a formula for success. The format needs to be less sugary and less background music-ish - and please no more of the tired same old songs being played over and over again.

The format needs to be revitalized - more soul, more advant gardish, more diversion. Ever here of Jazz FM in the UK?  Check them out for ideas. 

WCLK walks a fine by making the switch to a tired format and needs to be careful that they don't fallback into the same old tired niche.  I suggest that they add the diversity to their playlist; open it up to much more than 400 songs; become edgier with their sound; and let Jamal Ahmad select his playlist.  Think about it - if his show has garnered awards and recognition then why not expand on that sound in the first place?

I look forward to any thoughts or comments - so please pass them on...

NEW RELEASES - REUBEN FOWLER, ALEXI TUOMARILA TRIO, KENNY WHEELER / NORMA WINSTONE / LONDON VOCAL PROJECT

REUBEN FOWLER - BETWEEN SHADOWS

‘Between Shadows’ is the debut album by award-winning trumpeter and composer Reuben Fowler. This is an album of huge ambition, delivered impeccably by an artist with a vision to match. Here is a young musician with plenty to say as both a player and a composer. He’s technically strong; equipped with a beautiful, round trumpet tone. As a composer he’s highly developed in orchestration with a vast understanding of harmony and instrumentation. However what‘s most impressive is his boldness and maturity in bringing together an ensemble of world-class musicians to create an album of huge breadth and poise. Featuring some of the most renowned and revered musicians in British jazz - including Stan Sulzmann, Jim Hart and Guy Barker (who conducts) - as well as US trumpet star Tom Harrell, Fowler's ensemble echoes the brilliance and invention evident in some of the great British big band leaders.

ALEXI TUOMARILA TRIO - SEVEN HILLS

Seven Hills is the new trio album from Finnish born Alexi Tuomarila, an artist on the verge of becoming one of the most important young pianists & composers on the European Jazz scene. Following numerous first prize awards at various international jazz competitions throughout 2003, he signed to Warner Jazz France releasing two albums that brought worldwide attention and critical acclaim from the international press, fans and musicians including fellow pianist Brad Mehldau, who is quoted as saying, "I'm definitely excited about the future of this piano player".

KENNY WHEELER / NORMA WINSTONE / LONDON VOCAL PROJECT - MIRRORS

Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone have been at the forefront of European Jazz scene collectively for the last 5 decades gaining the admiration and reverence from all generations of musicians and fans. With the release of ‘Mirrors’, a suite of music composed by Kenny Wheeler set to poems by Stevie Smith, Lewis Carroll and W.B. Yeats, they are joined by the London Vocal Project, a 24 piece choir directed by the inimitable Pete Churchill. Featuring some of the renowned and celebrated musicians in British Jazz including pianist Nikki Iles, saxophonist Mark Lockheart, bassist Steve Watts and drummer James Maddren, Mirrors is vast in conception and world class in its execution.

~ editionrecords.bigcartel.com

BOBBY WATSON & THE I HAVE A DREAM PROJECT - CHECK CASHING DAY

Saxophonist-composer-producer-educator Bobby Watson is proud to release, Check Cashing Day, the second self-produced recording on Watson's label, Lafiya Music. The project, which honors the March on Washington's 50th anniversary and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have A Dream" speech, is now available digitally (August 28, 2013) and will be released physically on November 12, 2013. 

As Watson reflects, Check Cashing Day serves as "a commentary on where we've been, where we are, and where we need to go as a people, as a country, and as a global community." Instead of focusing on the iconic "I Have A Dream" aspect of Dr. King's speech, Watson chose to concentrate on another very significant part: the reason why over 300,000 people, black and white, gathered in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Dr. King spoke of coming to Washington to cash a 100 year old check, a moral check that the founding fathers wrote into the Declaration of Independence, but to this day, the check keeps coming back marked 'insufficient funds.' "This, being the year of my 60th birthday, I sadly understand that Dr. King's dream has not been fully realized and the struggle continues," says Watson.

Introducing poet and spoken word artist Glenn North from Kansas City, MO, Check Cashing Day is a concept recording with 15 tracks portrayed in the vein of musical theatre. "I asked Glenn to put some poetry, from his perspective, to several of my compositions, as well as one written by vocalist Pamela Baskin-Watson and two by bassist Curtis Lundy," comments Watson. "It was my desire with this project to produce poetry that would in some ways cleanse the soul," notes North. In addition, Watson's release features trumpeter Hermon Mehari, pianist Richard Johnson, drummer Eric Kennedy, flutist Horace Washington, and trombonist Karita Carter.

With Watson's commentary on the ongoing struggle of todays racial inequalities spotlighted on compositions such as the title track "Check Cashing Day (For Ms. Trudy)" and "MLK on Jazz (Love Transforms)," he offers a recording that provokes positive conversation and continued movement towards Dr. King's 'dream,' so that the 'dream' becomes a reality in today's world. "The result is something more powerful and thought provoking than I could have imagined," concludes Watson.

The first "William D. and Mary Grant/Missouri, Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance," saxophonist, composer, producer and educator, Bobby Watson grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and trained formally at the University of Miami studying with Dr. Clifton Williams, receiving a B.M. in Music Theory and Composition in 1975. After graduating, he proceeded to earn his "doctorate" - on the bandstand - as musical director of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1977-1981. In addition to his work as leader of the Grammy® Award-nominated quintet Horizon, Watson also led a group known as the High Court of Swing (a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges), the Grammy® Award-nominated Tailor-Made Big Band, and is a founding member of the highly acclaimed 29th Street Saxophone Quartet. Watson also wrote original music for the sound track of Robert DeNiro's directorial debut "A Bronx Tale."

Since 2000 he has served as director of Jazz studies at UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, and is also, currently Artistic Director for the Thelonious Monk Institute's "Jazz in America" Informance program, annually presenting dozens of informational concerts and jazz workshops around the nation. In 2010 Bobby released his self produced CD, "The Gates BBQ Suite" which went to #4 on the National Jazz airplay charts. In 2011, Bobby was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and in 2013 he received the "Benny Golson Jazz Masters" award from Howard University. To date; Bobby has made 37 recordings as a leader and he appears on over 100 other recordings.

www.bobbywatson.com

NEW RELEASES - STEFANO BOLLANI / HAMILTON DE HOLANDA, RAY MANTILLA, SHAPES:CIRCLES COMPILED BY ROBERT LUIS

STEFANO BOLLANI / HAMILTON DE HOLANDA - O QUE SERA

Beautiful sounds from the duo of Stefano Bollani on piano and Hamilton De Holanda on bandolim – a set that’s heavy on styles borrowed from the Brazilian tradition, but which also features some other elements as well – all wrapped up in a blend that’s warmly lyrical one moment, then quite bold and striking the next! Bollani's piano really seems to pull a lot of fresh energy out of Hamilton's instrument – pushing it to some darker corners than we've heard before, in ways that really work perfectly not just with Stefano's rich notes on the piano, but also with the spacious ECM approach to production. The set was recorded live – and titles include "Beatriz", "O Que Sera", "Rosa", "Canto De Ossanha", "Oblivion", "Apanhei Te Cavaquinho", and "Guarda Che Luna"~ Dusty Groove

RAY MANTILLA - THE CONNECTION

A cracker of a set from Ray Mantilla – served up in that special approach to Latin jazz that's made Mantilla such a great leader for the past few decades! Ray's percussion is firmly at the helm of the set, but the group's definitely a jazz one through and through – graced with excellent work from Willie Williams on tenor and soprano sax, flute and baritone sax from Enrique Fernandez, and bold trumpet lines from Guido Gonzalez on a few tracks too! And while the solos are really rich and strong, the rhythms are definitely the core that drives the whole set strongly – not just Mantilla's percussion, but also bold, blocky piano lines from Edy Martinez, rolling acoustic bass from Chucho Martinez, and some drums from Bill Elder. Both Edy Martinez and Williams helped out with arrangements – and titles include "Andean Fantasy", "Psalm 107", "Sonando Puerto Rico", "Homanaje A San Rafael", "The Simple Life", and "New Moon".  ~ Dusty Groove

SHAPES: CIRCLES COMPILED BY ROBERT LUIS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Great grooves at a great price – an excellent array of contemporary funk and underground tracks from the all-great Tru Thoughts label – including bits by some of the label's biggest names, and a few up-and-comers as well! These Shapes collections are always wonderful – and can always be trusted to serve up the best little gems from the label – no surprise, consider than some of them, like this one, are compiled by one of the label owners himself. 2CD set features a massive 30 tracks in all – and titles include "Let Me Be" by Harleighblu, "Wasted Time (Ross PTH mix)" by Belleruche, "Like You Never" by Ty, "Jump Move Rock" by Wrongtom Meets Demas J, "Alients Enter (Hint rmx)" by Hint, "Get Started (Full Crate mix)" by Mark De Clive-Lowe with Omar & Sheila E, "Mind Open" by Tieknots, "Empty Heart" by Yanna Valdevit & Lay Far, "Where Does The Time Go (Si-Tiew take it back mix)" by The Bamboos with Aloe Blacc, "Maracatu" by Drumagick, "Raving Bully" by Sleeping Giantz, and "Crash & Burn (Cone rmx)" by Hint.  ~ Dusty Groove

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NEW RELEASES - WILFORD BRIMLEY WITH THE JEFF HAMILTON TRIO, MIKE JONES TRIO, FRANK POTENZA

WILFORD BRIMLEY WITH THE JEFF HAMILTON TRIO 

Wilford Brimley has packed a few lives into his 78 years on this earth. The beloved actor who viewers instantly recognize from film (Cocoon, The Firm, Absence of Malice, The Natural), and television appearances (The Waltons, Seinfeld), has also been a ranch hand, a horse wrangler, a blacksmith, a stunt man and even a bodyguard to Howard Hughes. Still, the fact that Brimley is a talented singer may strike many as the ultimate surprise. And not only does he sing -- he swings. On Wilford Brimley with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Brimley puts his own stamp on classic pop songs and Great American Songbook standards, essaying timeless tunes in a warm, unaffected manner that brings a listener close, as if Brimley were confiding to each directly.

MIKE JONES TRIO - PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS

Mike Jones is what used to be called a "two handed pianist." Not as obvious as it sounds, the term actually applies to jazz pianists who make full use of the entire range of the instrument and whose left hand prowess matches that of their right. Pre-War jazz styles such as Stride and classic Swing are prime meat for such virtuosic pianists, and, when it comes to most effectively demonstrating the durable beauty of these idioms, Mike Jones might well be the modern day master.   The CD features Jones, who's also musical director for the Penn & Teller Show, performing a range of standards by Jerome Kern, Harry Warren and Kurt Weil, Bossa Nova classics, jazz originals and even early rock and roll.  The CD cover was illustrated by David Silverman, famed animator and director for The Simpsons.

FRANK POTENZA – FOR JOE

In 1964 the legendary jazz guitarist Joe Pass recorded the album, For Django, a widely praised tribute to the brilliant Gypsy guitar master, Django Reinhardt. With For Joe, guitarist Frank Potenza, a close Pass associate, celebrates the singular artistry of the late virtuoso. Utilizing the same instrumental team that Pass employed on his 1964 classic - guitarist John Pisano, bassist Jim Hughart and drummer Colin Bailey - Potenza takes on signature tunes that Pass came to be associated with. The result is a heartfelt tribute that revives memories of one of the most significant guitarists in jazz history, as well as calling attention to Potenza, one of the finest jazz guitarists now active on the jazz scene.

AHMAD JAMAL - SATURDAY MORNING

Saturday Morning - pianist, composer, bandleader and NEA Jazz Master Ahmad Jamal's new eleven-track album produced by Jazzbook Records, featuring his quartet, drummer Herlin Riley, bassist Reginald Veal and percussionist Manolo Badrena - is his impressive and invigorating follow-up to his GRAMMY® Award-nominated, 2012 Jazz Village release, Blue Moon. With over nearly sixty recordings as a leader, this new album represents another aural chapter in the musical life of this enduring artist; who after six decades on the scene, is finally focusing more of his recorded output on his own compositions. "It's a natural transition that happens when you reach maturity; with greater confidence in yourself," Jamal says. "So, when you have greater confidence in yourself, you begin to explore yourself. And now I'm exploring my own potential."

Save for his lovely and longing rendition of Duke Ellington's immortal ballad "I Got it Bad And That Ain't Good," and the Doris Day/Les Brown torch song "I'll Always Be With You;" his impressionistic interpretation of the James Moody-associated jazz standard, "I'm In the Mood for Love," and a "remix" of a funky, three note-motif tune "One," recorded in the late seventies by Jamal, written especially for him by the late composer Sigidi Abdallah all of the tracks on Saturday Morning, including the 4/4-Caribbean-cadenced tracks, "Back to the Future," "The Line," "Firefly," "Edith's Cake," and the title track, are all written by Jamal. They feature all of the inventions and dimensions of his unique artistry: his profound and powerful pianist amalgam of Errol Garner, Nat "King" Cole and Franz Liszt; his intricate, orchestrally-influenced arrangements, and his signature use of space and dynamics.

"I have a vast repertoire," Jamal says. "I started composing when I was ten years old, and my influences are far reaching: from Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Lunceford and Fletcher Henderson to [Claude] Debussy and Maurice Ravel. In Pittsburgh, we didn't have that line between American classical music and European classical music. We studied it all."

One track from Saturday Morning bears special mention. "Silver," a melodic, Latin jazz-tinged composition, is something rare in the Jamal canon: a tribute written by him to a fellow artist - in this case - to the brilliant pianist/composer/bandleader Horace Silver, composer of many jazz standards including "Song For My Father," and "Senor Blues."

"I wrote it some years ago," Jamal says. "Horace is an ensemble player like myself. He's a leader, and a very successful writer, to say the least. The last time I saw him, I was working at the Catalina club in Los Angeles, and Horace came to see me in a wheelchair ... So that shows you his respect for me, which is matched by my respect for him."

As amazing as Ahmad Jamal is, his musicians are also an important component of his artistry, as evidenced by his current quartet. "My present players are spectacular men," Jamal says. "Manolo has been off and on with me for a number of years, and played a long time with Joe Zawinul and Weather Report. Herlin's first job was with me; I took him out of New Orleans in the eighties. Reginald Veal was with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center. They all have great character. And you can't be a great musician unless you have great character."

Other equally great musicians of character have played with Jamal over the years, including bassists Jamil Nasser, James Cammack and fellow NEA Jazz Master Richard Davis, and drummers Frank Gant and Idris Muhammad. "I've been very fortunate to have harnessed a whole list of notables and great musicians in my groups," Jamal says. "What they get from me is how to be supportive. And what could be more supportive than Vernel Fournier and Israel Crosby?"

It was the immortal 1958 LP, But Not for Me: Ahmad Jamal Live at the Pershing with the New Orleans-born Fournier on drums with equally ebullient Crosby from Chicago on bass, that catapulted the Pittsburgh-born, former child prodigy who left home at seventeen and scuffled for years in the Windy City, into an overnight sensation. Jamal was so influential that Miles Davis recorded many Jamal-associated songs, such as "A Gal in Calico," "But Not for Me," "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "New Rhumba," which was transcribed by Gil Evans into a big band arrangement. Generations of pianists - from Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Keith Jarrett to Eric Reed, Jacky Terrasson and Aaron Diehl, proudly acknowledge his influence.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, who have, in pianist Hampton Hawes' words become, "casualties on the road to truth," Ahmad Jamal is a soul survivor, who lived long enough to reap the benefits of his Olympian artistry - as evidenced by his 1994 the American Jazz Masters fellowship award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his induction into the prestigious Order of the Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, who named him an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2007. He's also sampled by many hip-hop artists including Kanye West, Gangstarr, Jay-Z, and De La Soul.

Saturday Morning represents the latest chapter in an astounding musical life that is far from over. "I'm very thankful and grateful for my longevity," Jamal says "And I'm looking forward to more discoveries. Every day is a new discovery for me, and that's what makes life interesting."

Jamal's Saturday Morning will be released on September 10, 2013.

Upcoming tour dates:

September 1 / Detroit Jazz Festival / Detroit, MI

September 19-21 / Jazz at Lincoln Center / New York, NY

September 27 & 28 / Manchester Craftsman's Guild / Pittsburgh, PA

October 12 / UC Davis Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts / Davis, CA

November 7-9 / Theatre De L'Odeon Europe / Paris, France

January 31 / All Blues / Lucerne, Switzerland

February 1 / All Blues / Geneva, Switzerland

June 23-30 / Costa Jazz Cruise 2014 / Cruise Ship Costa Fascinosa

www.ahmadjamal.com

NEW RELEASES - GATO BARBIERI, MAURIZIO GRONDONA GROUP, ALYSA HAAS

GATO BARBIERI - FENIX

Argentine Gato Barbieri was one of the most important saxophonists to emerge in the early 1970s. A veteran of several important late 60s avant-garde outfits, he perfected the fusion of adventurous blowing and the rhythms of South America on his second album for Flying Dutchman "Fenix". Early in his career Barbieri worked with trumpeter Don Cherry in the 60s and by the mid-70s, he was recording for A&M Records and moved his music towards soul-jazz and jazz-pop with albums like Caliente! in 1976 and the 1977 follow-up, Ruby Ruby, both produced by fellow musician and label co-founder, Herb Alpert. Fenix is scheduled for release on October 8. Upcoming concerts include: 9/13/13 @ Friday Morning Musicale Theatre (Tampa, FL); 10/18/13 @ Howard Theatre (Washington, DC); and 11/28/13 @ The Blue Note (New York, NY).

MAURIZIO GRONDONA GROUP - THE NIGHT VIBE

Refined, soulful, captivating.....these are just some of the words fans use to describe the inspired contemporary jazz of The Maurizio Grondona Group. Making their debut on the Italian scene in 1987 with 'On My Road', the group is led by singer, guitarist and composer Maurizio Grondona, a native of Bari (southern Italy on the Adriatic coast). Influenced by numerous American jazz greats including Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny and Al Jarreau, Maurizio also counts among his mentors hip-hop/soul acts such as Grammy winners, The Roots (Jimmy Fallon's House Band) and the late renowned producer, J Dilla (De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and Erykah Badu). The result of such a diverse musical education is cosmopolitan American jazz with a decidedly Mediterranean flavor. ~ cduniverse

ALYSA HAAS - SPASM

Alysa Haas, an emerging performer and recording artist, exhibits a true musicality and interweaves a story through each of her songs. Her band comprising of notable recording musicians in their own right include, her arrangers: pianists Jeffrey Klitz and Tedd Firth, and bassist Paul Beaudry. Filling out the band - drummer, Tony Jefferson & guitarist, Bernd Schoenhart. The music numbers are produced by Jeffrey Klitz (Broadway Production, Priscilla Queen of the Desert). The CD is filled with love songs from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, and pop tunes by Bob Dylan, Rob Thomas, and Lennon & McCartney. "...a seduction...a talent for fresh interpretations of standards. Rodgers and Hammerstein's "People Will Say We're in Love" was given a light and humorous delivery, while the Bernstein, Comden and Green, "I Can Cook, Too" was offered up in a surprisingly restrained, understated style..." (Bart Greenberg, NiteLife Exchange). ~ cduniverse