Tuesday, December 17, 2013

NEW RELEASES - JANE BIRKIN, MIGHTY MIGHTY, CHRISTOPH ERB / KEEFE JACKSON / TOMEKA REID / FRED LONBERG HOLM

MIGHTY MIGHTY - SEE THE LIGHT

A great debut from an ultra-jazzy combo from the Finnish scene – one with the same sort of fire and crackle as the best groups on the Ricky Tick label! The tracks have a blend of 60s hardbop with some later soulful elements – and leader Kari Setala's got a mighty great touch on both piano and keyboards – the former used in these strongly modal ways at points, the latter with even more deft touches on some of the record's more 70s funk-styled selections! Other instrumentation features trumpet, tenor, bass, drums, and percussion – and almost all tracks are originals with a mighty fresh sound. Titles include "Backyard Boogie", "Dark Sun", "Seventh Sign", "Time's Up", "See The Light", and "Simba". ~ Dusty Groove.


CHRISTOPH ERB / KEEFE JACKSON / TOMEKA REID / FRED LONBERG HOLM - DUOPE

A completely cool blend of bass clarinet and cello – served up in a range of sounds that go way beyond the usual stuff from both instruments! Yet given the lineup of talent, the sounds are no surprise – as the record features both Keefe Jackson and Christoph Erb on bass clarinets, and Fred Lonberg Holm and Tomeka Reid on cello – all players who are already known well for their ability to push boundaries! Familiar tones mix wonderfully with bits that are more percussive, or more textural at times – and the doubling of instruments often lets one player handle a more conventional path (although still pretty improvised and avant), while the other shifts into some very abstract territory. Titles include "Junkon", "Tubo", "Pafarko", and "Snuro". ~ Dusty Groove 

JANE BIRKIN - MES IMAGES PRIVEES DE SERGE (2-CD/DVD)

A moving tribute to the late, great Serge Gainsbourg – served up in a mix of film and songs from his famous partner Jane Birkin! The set features a DVD directed by Jane – a 40 minute documentary filled with private images of Serge, laid out in a very loving tribute – and it's packaged with 2CDs' worth of music recorded with Serge in duet, or with lots of Gainsbourg help as both a writer or producer. Includes a rare alternate take of "Jane B" from 1968, plus "Rocking Chair", "Nicotine", "Exercice En Forme De Z", "Yesterday Yes A Day", "Ex Fan Des Sixties", "Di Doo Dah", "La Decadanse", "Baby Lou", "Quoi", "Et Quand Bien Meme", "Raccrochez C'Est Une Horreur", and lots more – including live versions of "Un Chose Entre Autres" and "Ces Petitis Riens" – and the song "La Gadoue" done with Les Negresses Vertes. (DVD is NTSC coded, All Region.)  ~ Dusty Groove 


NEW RELEASES - NICOLA CONTE VIAGEM 5, FABRIZIO BOSSO SPIRITUAL TRIO, MARIO BIONDI

NICOLA CONTE PRESENTS VIAGEM  5: LOST BOSSA & SAMBA CLASSICS FROM THE SWINGING BRAZILIAN 60s

Sunny samba jazz, breezy bossa and all around wonderful rare grooves from Brazil – treasures from the heart of the 60s, compiled by Italian jazz guru Nicola Conte! Conte is not only one of the most affectionately groovy jazz players on the contemporary global landscape, he's also a selector with impeccable taste. Just on the basis of the Viagem series, the man would get our nomination for sainthood. This is the fifth time he's drawn from his deep well of rare 60s records from Brazil, and it keeps getting better and better. The tunes are rooted in a small combo jazzy vibe, most with easygoing MPB vocals. It's the love of jazz-centric, but still profoundly Brazilian sounds that makes the Viagem series stand out so strongly. 10" LP pressing features ten tracks in all – and titles include "Crepusculo" by Jazz 4, "Onda Quebrando" by Neyde Fraga, "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" by Breno Sauer, "Se Voce Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear" by Elizabeth Viana, "Olhou Pra Mim" by Dr Severino & Conjunto Subverson, "Babalao" by Nelsinho & Os Ipanemas, "Ye Mele" by Papudinho, and "Matando A Miseria A Pau" by Edith Vega. (Limited to 500 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove. 

FABRIZIO BOSSO SPRITUAL TRIO - PURPLE

A really unusual project for this great Italian trumpeter – a set that has Fabrizio Bosso working with his Spiritual Trio – a group that features lots of Hammond organ, and plenty of tight drums! The "spiritual" in their name is a reference to an American gospel and soul tradition – one that's given plenty of play here, as most numbers are old spiritual standards from the church, reworked by Bosso into jazz instrumentals! Given the heavy use of organ, the approach is a bit like some of the Lou Bennett albums on the European scene of the 60s – with maybe a nod to the Donald Byrd albums of a spiritual nature for Blue Note. But there's also some very personal elements here too – either unusual instrumental inflections or production techniques, or some other aspects that show a greatly evolved understanding of this mode in jazz. Titles include "This Little Light Of Mine", "Purple", "A Little 3/4 For God & Co", "Dreams Come True", "Wishy Washy", "Total Praise", "A Change Is Gonna Come", and "Wade In The Water". ~ Dusty Groove

MARIO BIONDI - MARIO CHRISTMAS

A really special sort of Christmas album from Mario Biondi – one that uses his tremendous vocals in a mighty great way! All tunes are familiar numbers – Holiday hits from the past and more recent years – but they're all taken in some great Mario Biondi directions that include the sort of bouncy rhythms we loved in his work for Schema Records, or some of the more soul-drenched lines from his recent albums! The album's worth it alone for a wonderful cover of "Driving Home For Christmas" – a wonderful choice for the record – and other tunes include "Last Christmas", "This Christmas", "Dreaming Land", "My Christmas Baby", "White Christmas", and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". CD also features a non-holiday gem, too – a version of "After The Love Is Gone", performed with Earth Wind & Fire. ~ Dusty Groove


SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

Give The People What They Want is certainly an appropriate title for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ new release. After more than a decade of near constant touring, recording, and as one of the most formidable live acts performing today, they know what their audience wants from them. Happily, it’s what they want too.

The appeal of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings just keeps growing. Michael Bublé has duetted with Sharon on “Baby, You’ve Got What it Takes”, after recording “Crazy Love” with the Dap-Kings back in 2009. The Dap-Kings also contributed to several songs on this year’s smash album “To Be Loved”. They count Beck, John Legend, Lou Reed and Rufus Wainwright among their collaborators, and of course the Dap-Kings were the band behind Amy Winehouse’s Back In Black album for which Gabriel Roth, bandleader and co-founder of Daptone Records, won a Grammy for his engineering skills.

Yet it’s the Augusta, Georgia native Sharon Jones who is the undisputed centre of attention here. A recent Hollywood turn acting alongside Denzel Washington will certainly do her star power no harm, but one listen to Give The People What They Want will tell you Sharon doesn’t need the silver screen to set her name in lights. Her fervent, impassioned singing goes straight to your heart; those sweet soul hooks stay in your head for days on end. These are vocal performances that withstand any comparison to the soul greats.

Give The People What They Want is the band’s fifth album, recorded at home in Bushwick’s Daptone House of Soul Studios after two years of touring behind 2010′s lauded I Learned The Hard Way. These ten songs are seasoned with the classic Soul sound one might expect – yet there’s a freshness in the band’s performances and songwriting that gives the group’s fifth studio album a feel unlike anything they’ve done before. From the electrifying stomp of album opener “Retreat!” to the instantly familiar feel-good groove of “We Get Along,” via “Stranger To My Happiness”, which perfectly captures the Dap-Kings’ sound in three-and-a-half joyous minutes, this is a record that has it all.

Give the people what they want, indeed.


Tracklisting:
01. Retreat!
02. Stranger To My Happiness
03. We Get Along
04. You’ll Be Lonely
05. Now I See
06. Making Up and Breaking Up (and Making Up and Breaking Up Over Again)
07. Get Up and Get Out
08. Long Time, Wrong Time
09. People Don’t Get What They Deserve
10. Slow Down Love


The album Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings “Give The People What They Want” (Daptone Records) is going to be released January 17, 2014.
~ grooveattack.com


Monday, December 16, 2013

JESSICA LEE - RHYTHMS OF ANYWAY

Pittsburgh-based jazz vocalist and recording artist, Jessica Lee, announces the release of her fourth solo CD – Rhythms of Anyway.

As with her prior recordings and performances, Jessica Lee’s new album, Rhythms of Anyway, gives voice to the up-lifting energy, power and messages that were the trademarks of early artists in gospel, blues and jazz. Ms. Lee’s inspiration for this new project is a simple poem, Anyway, which hangs on the wall of a sick children's home in Calcutta, India, founded by Mother Teresa. The poem asks us to stay positive and to love and serve unconditionally regardless of the sometimes fear-based and negative actions and attitudes of others. This CD strives to help to provide the inspiration and energy to do what the poem asks.

The CD contains thirteen songs (10 album songs and 3 bonus tracks) with intentionally varying rhythmic influences, including jazz standards such as Nature Boy, Small Day Tomorrow and The More I See You; lesser-known selections such as Nocturne and Songbird; R&B-fusion songs such as Hallelujah I Love Him So and Baby Come to Me; and also three original songs written by Jessica, including, Love No Hands, which speaks of aspects of unconditional love; Whispering, which listens for the voice of inspiration and guidance; and One with the Skies (Song for Claire), which examines the value and eternal nature of each life, inspired by the short but full life of a young girl who valiantly fought cancer . The CD’s strong rhythms are powered by renowned jazz drummer Roger Humphries, who has worked and recorded with Ray Charles, Stanley Turrentine, Horace Silver and George Benson, among many other jazz greats. All musicians on the CD have a Pittsburgh connection, including co-producers Max Leake (keys) and Mark Strickland (guitar), Mike Houlis (bass), New York-based saxophonist Chris Hemingway (alto sax), and Jay Willis (soprano and tenor saxophones). Max Leake’s imaginative arrangements as lead Music Director and Producer are, by themselves, worth a listen.

The CD’s final three bonus tracks include You Don’t Know I Love You, written by Executive Producer, Roy Ruzika, many years ago for his wife Joan; and The World Medley which shares Max Leake’s original intro and outro arrangement of What the World Needs Now Is Love, which blends meaningfully with a soulful version of What a Wonderful World. Of special note is the final track, Raincoat, which is dedicated to the memory of renowned jazz musician John D'Amico, the arranger and pianist on Jessica's debut CD, Bluebird Fly, who recorded Raincoat with Jessica during his fight with cancer. Raincoat is only being released now - for the first time - after this highly regarded jazz pianist's passing.

The CD was recorded initially by Mark Strickland in Pittsburgh’s Hill District at The Tracking Station, LLC, with additional recording, mixing and mastering by five-time Grammy-winning engineer, Jay Dudt, at Audible Images Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Rhythms of Anyway allows the listener to experience Jessica's vocal range, extraordinary phrasing and the seamless melding of the jazz, blues and rhythm and blues genres that have influenced her work, resulting in a uniquely sincere and powerful voice. Jay Dudt states, “If you appreciate the heart of American music, you will treasure Jessica Lee’s CDs.” Ms. Lee’s recordings are currently represented on seven vocal compilation albums into international markets by the record label EQ Music, pairing Jessica’s recordings with those of other well-known artists such as Norah Jones and Amy London. This new album’s songs will also be represented by the record label on international vocal compilation albums in 2014.

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


PAUL RODGERS EXCLUSIVE SONG STREAM ON ROLLINGSTONE.COM - I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG

Rolling Stone.com will post an exclusive stream today of "I've Been Loving You Too Long", the classic song by Otis Redding recorded by Paul Rodgers which appears on his upcoming new album "The Royal Sessions."  You can listen to the track here: http://smarturl.it/PaulRodgersRS. The longtime singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with Bad Company, has partnered with 429 Records and is gearing up for the release of "The Royal Sessions"—a lovingly crafted collection of classic R&B and soul songs re-imagined by the iconic rock singer recorded at Memphis' Royal Studios, historic home of Willie Mitchell and Hi Records, with many of the musicians who played on the original tracks.  

Truly a lifetime in the making, Rodgers has come full circle with "The Royal Sessions" as he pays homage to the legendary hits he collected on 45s released on Stax/Volt, Goldwax and Hi Records—recordings by Otis Redding, Albert King and Ann Peebles which made such an indelible impression on the young Rodgers inspiring him to pursue a career as a singer.  Produced by Perry Margouleff, "The Royal Sessions" is an extraordinary recording which captures the music in its pure form—live band and vocal takes as performed together at Royal Studios by Rodgers and an all-star roster of legendary musicians.  The band is a dream lineup of those who played on the original hits dating back to the 60's.  The classic rhythm section includes Reverend Charles Hodges (Hammond B3), Michael Tolls (guitar), LeRoy Hodges Jr. (bass), "Hubby" Archie Turner (Wurlitzer), Steve Potts and James Robertson Sr. (drums), The Royal Horns and the Royal Singers.  "The Royal Sessions" will be released on 429 Records in the U.S. on February 4th (international release dates below).

"The Royal Sessions" is a remarkable project that came together as Rodgers was working on a solo record and producer Margouleff had just discovered that Royal Studios was still up and running under the auspices of Willie "Pops" Mitchell's son Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell.  The opportunity to record in such a hallowed place with musicians he considered personal heroes was a dream come true.  The Memphis players forged an immediate bond when presented with his formidable talent and sincere love of the songs.  Deeply felt, powerfully sung and expertly played, it features a cross-section of material hand-picked by Rodgers, songs of great historical significance and personal meaning.   
"The Royal Sessions" will be released worldwide on the following dates:

Europe—January 27th
Canada—January 28th
Japan—January 29th
United States February 4th
Australia—February 7th




BARBRA STREISAND'S 'BACK TO BROOKLYN' DVD REACHES TOP SPOT ON BILLBOARD CHARTS

In her sixth decade of providing music magic, Barbra Streisand continues to reach the number one position on the charts.  Her "Back To Brooklyn" concert DVD  has reached #1 on the Billboard Top DVD Music Videos chart. Achieving that distinction with the Columbia Records release, Streisand has now topped the DVD charts five times. Her success in the DVD field also includes having earned nine Gold DVDs, six Platinum and three Multi-Platinum.

On the CD charts, she has reached #1 nine times and is the only recording artist to have accomplished #1 albums in five consecutive decades. She has achieved 51 gold albums, 30 platinum and 13 multi-platinum.       

The "Back To Brooklyn" concert DVD captures Streisand's first musical performance in her native Brooklyn since she departed at age 16 to pursue her acting career and became one of the most popular and famous musical performers of her time. Throughout the concert, which includes nine songs she had never previously performed publicly, Barbra reflects upon her years growing up in Brooklyn, and to mark the occasion, she commissioned special lyrics for two songs:

ACT I opens with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "As If We Never Said Goodbye," which she turns into an homage to "the Brooklyn docks, the nova lox" and other fond memories of the sights and sounds of her youth.  When she triumphantly sings, "I've come home at last," the audience rises from their seats with a thunderous welcome back ovation.  

ACT II pays tribute to the people and places in Brooklyn today, with a re-written lyric to Cole Porter's "You're The Top": "You're the top, you're a Brooklyn trolley…you're the top you're a hot bialy!"

It also provides biographical video and still photo images of the artist's childhood and early career.

Among the many highlights of the evening was the first-time ever pairing of Barbra and her son Jason Gould. Other artists joining her include trumpet player Chris Botti and the young Italian singing quartet, Il Volo. Subsequent to the Brooklyn performances, Ms. Streisand presented a slightly revised version of the concert in record-breaking tours in the US, Canada, Europe and Israel, her first concert appearances in six years. 

The concert performance is directed by Barbra Streisand and Richard Jay-Alexander, and written by Barbra Streisand, Jay Landers, Richard Jay-Alexander and Jeffrey Richman. The "Back To Brooklyn" concert is also currently featured on Public Broadcasting System stations, where it has become the top-rated Great Performances series offering this season, raising funds for PBS local stations.

DVD
1.    Back to Brooklyn
2.    As If We Never Said Goodbye
3.    I Remember Brooklyn (Dialogue)
4.    Nice 'n' Easy / That Face
5.    The Way He Makes Me Feel
6.    Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
7.    Didn't We
8.    Smile (w/ Il Volo)
9.    Q & A
10.  Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long
11.  No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
12.  The Way We Were / Through The Eyes Of Love
13.  Being Good Isn't Good Enough
14.  Rose's Turn / Some People / Don't Rain On My Parade
15.  I Remember Barbra
16.  You're The Top
17.  What'll I Do / My Funny Valentine (w/ Chris Botti)
18.  Lost Inside Of You (w/ Chris Botti)
19.  Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born) (w/ Chris Botti)
20.  Nature Boy (Birthday video performed by Jason Gould)
21.  How Deep Is The Ocean (Duet w/ Jason Gould)
22.  People
23.  Here's To Life
24.  Make Our Garden Grow / Somewhere
25.  Some Other Time
26.  Happy Days Are Here Again
INCLUDES ADDITIONAL BONUS MATERIAL:
27.  "This Masquerade" (Performed by Jason Gould)
28.  I Remember Barbra Documentary Film

 

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY - IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS TIME

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the multi-platinum selling, Grammy nominated band is back with a holiday album entitled It Feels Like Christmas Time, an all new recording for Savoy Jazz, featuring eleven songs, a mix of traditional favorites and original material. As a special promotion today only, a free download of their festive version of "We Three Kings" is available at Amazon.com as part of their 25 DAYS OF FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD program.  To download the song visit: http://smarturl.it/BBVD_WeThreeKings.

It Feels like Christmas Time, the band's tenth studio album, follows the release of Rattle Them Bones – the record that put Big Bad back at the top of the Billboard Charts last year. Rattle Them Bones, a celebration of twenty years of bringing an irrepressible groove to adoring fans worldwide, made an impressive debut reaching #1 on the Jazz Album Chart on both iTunes and Amazon and was the highest debut on the Billboard Jazz Chart entering at # 2. Jazz Times called it "a compelling reminder that this is a collective of superior players, deserving of attention outside of the niche they helped spawn."

It Feels Like Christmas Time, produced by BBVD founding member and lead singer Scotty Morris with band-mate, pianist and arranger Joshua Levy and mixed by Morris, was recorded In Los Angeles at East West and Capitol studios. The album includes the Morris original "It Feels Like Christmas Time," and features guest harmonies by vocal group She, Her and I. The album also features the crowd favorite "Christmas Is Starting Now" from Disney's Phineus and Ferb as well as the band's unique take on holiday classics "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," "Jingle Bells," "Walking in a Winter Wonderland," "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer," "Run Run Rudolph," "Frosty the Snowman," "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)," "We Three Kings." Bonus tracks through Amazon include a duet with newcomer Anna Kasper on the classic "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" and the traditional "Auld Lang Syne."

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy features Morris (vocals, guitar, banjo), Joshua Levy (piano, arranger), Kurt Sodergren (drums), Dirk Shumaker (acoustic bass, vocals), Glen "The Kid" Marhevka (trumpet, flugelhorn), Karl Hunter (alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet) and Andy Rowley (baritone saxophone, vocals).

They are currently touring in celebration of their 20th Anniversary and "It Feels Like Christmas Time" through New Year's.


TONY BENNETT - THE CLASSIS, UPCOMING NEW RELEASE WITH SONGS HANDPICKED BY TONY BENNETT HIMSELF

RPM/Columbia/Legacy Recordings will release The Classics, a newly compiled collection of twenty Tony Bennett recordings, each personally selected by the artist, providing definitive takes on "a song that sounds like it was written yesterday even though it may have been written 500 years ago or 50 years ago."  Tony Bennett's The Classics is available for pre-order now and will be in stores on January 28.

When approached to curate an anthology of classic recordings drawn from across his career, Bennett kept "two things in mind: choosing songs that exemplify to the highest degree a timeless quality, while selecting a performance of those songs that present them in a very immediate and 'live' approach. I feel that songs I selected for The Classics absolutely meet both of these criteria."

The Classics opens in 1951 with "Because of You," Tony's first Columbia Records single and first #1 record, includes the "solo tracks that I felt most closely represented the highest level of musical craftsmanship that has been my mandate as I have built my recording catalog" and spotlights some of the finest of Bennett's acclaimed duets, sung "with artists who I admire and have loved working with over the years."  The Classics finds Tony Bennett sharing songs with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, k.d. lang, Barbra Streisand, Juanes, Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Michael Buble, Lady Gaga, and Amy Winehouse. 

The Classics is the latest Tony Bennett Legacy entry which has already enjoyed two highly acclaimed releases early this year:  the never before released, Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 and the much-anticipated Tony Bennett Live At the Sahara, Las Vegas 1964.  Additionally, Tony Bennett's entire catalog was made available for the first time on i-Tunes this past fall.

Tony Bennett's The Classics is available in an expanded deluxe edition featuring ten additional tracks.

TONY BENNETT – THE CLASSICS (Standard Edition)
1. Because Of You
2. Just In Time
3. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
4. I Wanna Be Around
5. The Good Life
6. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
7. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
8. When Do The Bells Ring For Me
9. New York, New York - Duet with Frank Sinatra
10. Evenin' - Duet with Ray Charles
11. What A Wonderful World - Duet with k.d. Lang
12. Smile - Duet with Barbra Streisand
13. The Shadow Of Your Smile - Duet with Juanes
14. The Best Is Yet To Come - Duet with Diana Krall
15. For Once In My Life - Duet with Stevie Wonder
16. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Duet with John Mayer
17. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duet with Michael Buble
18. The Lady Is A Tramp - Duet with Lady Gaga
19. Body And Soul - Duet with Amy Winehouse
20. Steppin' Out With My Baby - Duet with Christina Aguilera

TONY BENNETT – THE CLASSICS (Deluxe Edition)
1. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
2. Because Of You
3. Cold, Cold Heart
4. Blue Velvet
5. Rags To Riches
6. Stranger In Paradise
7. Just In Time
8. The Way You Look Tonight
9. Put On A Happy Face
10. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
11. I Wanna Be Around
12. The Good Life
13. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
14. Of I Ruled The World
15. My Favorite Things
16. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
17. When Do The Bells Ring For Me
18. New York, New York - Duet with Frank Sinatra
19. Evenin' - Duet with Ray Charles
20. What A Wonderful World - Duet with k.d. lang
21. Smile - Duet with Barbra Streisand
22. The Shadow Of Your Smile - Duet with Juanes
23. The Best Is Yet To Come - Duet with Diana Krall
24. For Once In My Life - Duet with Stevie Wonder
25. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Duet with John Mayer
26. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duet with Michael Buble
27. The Lady Is A Tramp - Duet with Lady Gaga
28. Body And Soul - Duet with Amy Winehouse
29. It Had To Be You- Duet with Carrie Underwood
30. Steppin' Out With My Baby - Duet with Christina Aguilera

TonyBennett.com
LegacyRecordings.com
ColumbiaRecords.com


Friday, December 13, 2013

MATT RENZI - RISE AND SHINE

For his eighth CD as a leader, Rise and Shine, the versatile reed player and composer Matt Renzi further solidifies his reputation as a unique innovator and deeply probing musical traveler. Heard here on tenor saxophone, flute, oboe, and clarinet, the Rome-based Renzi reunites with his longtime trio -- bassist Dave Ambrosio and drummer Russ Meissner -- who are joined by three intriguing guests. The new CD will be released January 14 by the Three P's label.
 
"We've developed our language," Renzi says of his trio-mates. "Once I explain the essence of a particular song, we let the music breathe and go where it wants to go in that particular moment, which takes a lot of trust musically."

Sharing the frontline on three tracks on Rise and Shine is the acclaimed trumpeter Ralph Alessi, while South Indian masters Giridhar Udupa and A.R. Balaskandan contribute vocal percussion and mridangam respectively on the CD opener "Noasis," an arresting swinger with its dancing, warm-toned tenor, double-stop bass figures, and exacting vocalisms. (Renzi studied Indian classical music with the brilliant improvising vocalist and composer R.A. Ramamani and has been studying Carnatic Rhythm on the kanjira, a South Indian frame drum, for many years now.) But even without the Indian accents, Renzi creates magnetic currents through his interaction with Ambrosio and Meissner.

Matt Renzi The 41-year-old Renzi, a San Francisco native who lived, worked, and studied in New York, Boston, and India before relocating to Rome, performs throughout Europe as well as the United States, where he has strong followings in New York and on the West Coast. "During my time in Europe, I've matured as a composer," he says. "Wherever I am, I'm continuously analyzing contemporary scores, experimenting with orchestration, and researching my new sounds. I've developed a lot as a performer as well."

Matt Renzi is a third-generation musician. His father, Paul Renzi, was principal flutist for the San Francisco Symphony for 50 years (he retired in 2004). His grandfather, Paolo Renzi, was principal oboist with Arturo Toscanini's legendary NBC Symphony Orchestra; his father also played with Toscanini. "I knew I wanted to play the saxophone when I was 12 or 13," says Matt.

He studied for a time with Joe Henderson, who lived in the neighborhood and continued to be a friend and influence once their formal studies ended. Other mentors included his father, drummer Eddie Marshall, and bassist Herbie Lewis.

Renzi headed to Boston to pursue a degree in music performance at Berklee College of Music, then to New York, where he first connected with Ambrosio and Meissner. "Musically it was fantastic," he recalls of the trio's busy time on the jazz scene. "We did various tours of Japan as well as Europe and the U.S. together."

Returning to the West Coast to acquire a master's degree in arts in classical composition at San Francisco State, Renzi immersed himself in the compositions of 20th-century giants including Stravinsky and Elliott Carter. His studies there, he says, "got me away from using traditional chords to organizing more abstract sounds, and to thinking more in terms of orchestration."

"Vetro," the atmospheric final track on Rise and Shine, pairs Renzi's oboe with lyrical modern percussion. "I plan to use the oboe more in improvisational settings," he says. "These days, I use it in my cello quartet, in which I try to mix contemporary classical music with improvisation. I also play oboe on certain gigs I have as a sideman. It's a technically and physically demanding instrument, so it makes you really think about every note you play."

In addition to his work with the cello quartet, he performs a separate repertoire with a larger version of the band, Arm-Sized Legging, which features cello, viola, reeds, bass, and drums. He's also working on a solo CD using saxophone, clarinet, and English horn and exploring texture, sound, and microtonality. "I would love to write a piece for orchestra and saxophone," says Renzi. He also is continuing his studies of south Indian percussion to become even more fluent in that musical language.

On a West Coast swing next month, Renzi plans to feature his cello quartet at a Chez Hanny concert (San Francisco) 1/12, with the leader on saxophone, oboe, and English horn joined by cellist Misha Khalikulov, bassist Kim Cass, and drummer Smith Dobson V. His U.S. CD release show takes place 2/18 at Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn (with Alessi, Ambrosio, Balaskandan, Meissner).

Upcoming European appearances include Perugia Jazz Winter 1/16 with Renzi/[Stefano] Senni/[Jimmy] Weinstein Trio (which plays completely improvised music from beginning to end); and 2/27 with Matt Renzi's Arm-Sized Legging at La Cantiere, Rome. He's also curating a twice-monthly concert series, "Esplorazioni," at Teatro Studio Keiros in Rome, and will perform a CD release show there 1/24 with European musicians. 

Web Site: mattrenzi.com 

 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

VALERIE TROUTT - THE SOUND OF PEACE

Oakland singer-songwriter Valerie Troutt's father is a blues and jazz singer-guitarist and her mother a preacher. She grew up singing gospel music at Bishop Walter Hawkins' Love Center Church, studied jazz at The New School in New York City, and spent two years as a member of Linda Tillery's Cultural Heritage Center Choir. All of those influences shine through the music on her first full-length CD, The Sound of Peace.

There was a time when black love was divine and music was her child/Through her smile lays our history of pain and laughter/Spirit guide us along, she sings on "Dienda," a ballad by the late Kenny Kirkland to which she set lyrics. Maya Kronfeld's elegant piano chords supply the sole accompaniment as Troutt caresses the plaintive melody in sustain-rich, at times breathy, mezzo tones. It's the most satisfying song of the bunch.


Other players, including bassists David Ewell and Raul Perales, drummers Darian Gray and Darrell Green, tenor saxophonist Howard Wiley, guitarist Eric Volger, and harmony vocalist Solas B. Lalgee, join in on the remaining nine numbers, seven of them penned by Troutt. An optimistic attitude permeates many of her tunes, particularly the self-affirming title track and the simultaneously swinging and funky "Suddenly Awake." And the singer's arrangements of Bart Howard's "Fly Me to the Moon" and Rodgers and Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" take those familiar standards down rhythmic roads much less traveled. (self release) ~ Lee Hildebrand, EBX


NEW RELEASES - PETE MILLS - SWEET SHADOW; GUIDA DE PALMA & JAZZINHO REMIXED BY BLUEY; BERNIE WORRELL ELEVATION

PETE MILLS - SWEET SHADOW (FEATURING MATT WILSON / PETE MCCANN / MARTIN WIND / ERIK AUGIS)

A native of Toronto Canada now living in Columbus, OH saxophonist Pete Mills has been widely heralded for his "virtuosic" and "gorgeous" and "versatile tenor-kick-butt" player (David Franklin, JazzTimes).  He's released three previous CDs: two on Summit Records: Fresh Spin and Art and Architecture.  His debut CD was Momentum (COJAZZ Records). As a sideman he appears on over a dozen CDs including those by guitarist Stan Smith, saxophonist Chad Eby, the eclectic ensemble Madrugada, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Paul Ferguson Jazz Orchestra and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.  Mills holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of North Texas.

Sweet Shadow features some of the brightest voices in jazz today - Miills, drummer Matt Wilson, guitarist Pete McCann, bassist Martin Wind and up-and-coming pianist Erik Augis. The CD features nine Mills originals, two free-form duos with Matt Wilson as well as a stellar version of "The Star Crossed Lovers" and a trio version of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo."

GUIDA DE PALMA & JAZZINHO - ABRACO DA BOSSA (INCOGNITO LOUNGE MIX FEATURING BLUEY)

Jean Paul Maunick AKA Bluey, founder of the legendary Incognito has remixed Guida de Palma & Jazzinho's Abraco Da Bossa. From Guida de Palman herself..."Abraço da Bossa is a piece I initially penned on my own and then with the help of Cristina Rajão for the lyrics and Christopher Pedley from the Baker Brothers for the music. Bluey, who often works with my producer Graham Harvey, kindly offered to “help the cause” by doing a remix. Of course we accepted immediately. With the help of his partner in groove, sound engineer, programmer, multi instrumentalist and all around studio wizard Richard Bull, they created an entirely new version of our song. Working on the track, there is also Matt Cooper, an amazing pianist with whom I had a band a zillion years ago, as well as Trevor Mires the trombonist and Sid Gauld on trumpet. The result is this almost lascivious 95bpm lounge mix which should get couples in the right mood; if you see what I mean."

BERNIE WORRELL ELEVATION - THE UPPER AIR: SOLO PIANO

A really surprising change from keyboardist Bernie Worrell – not the funky electric work he cut with George Clinton, nor the darker sounds he did with Bill Laswell – but a sublime album of solo piano that shows a whole new side of Bernie's talents! The album is produced by Laswell, but has a very different vibe than any of their previous collaborations – and the tunes are open, spacious, and very lyrical – almost in Keith Jarrett solo territory at times, with a similar sense of room between the notes. And although most tunes are compositions, they're taken in a very personal way that really transforms them – unique versions of songs that include "Redemption Song", "I Wanna Go Outside In The Rain", "In A Silent Way", "I'd Rather Be With You", "Ooh Child", and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". ~ Dusty Groove


WAYNE WALLACE’S LATIN JAZZ / JAZZ LATIN EARNS GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR “BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM”

“An earnestly grooving statement from Bay Area trombonist Wayne Wallace…great.”
— Brad Farberman, DownBeat

“Gorgeous playing dominates along with highly inventive arrangements. Wallace’s trombone shifts easily from a seductive, warm ballad style to powerful statements on uptempo tunes. Every track
offers a surprise and plenty of chops to back them up.” — Marc Myers, JazzWax

World-renowned trombonist, composer, arranger, and producer Wayne Wallace has earned a GRAMMY nomination for “Best Latin Jazz Album” for his CD Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin his seventh CD on the Patois label. The CD, which topped the radio charts and earned rave reviews and a place on numerous top CDs of the year lists, displays all the thrilling interplay, melodic invention, and blazing improvisational flights that distinguish his music. Every tune reflects the flow of rhythmic currents between Caribbean and African-American communities. The project features The Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet with special guests including 77-year-old percussion patriarch Pete Escovedo and 17- year-old rising flute star Elena Pinderhughes, plus violinists Mads Tolling and Jeremy Cohen.

This is the second Grammy nomination for “Best Latin Jazz Album” which The Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet has earned and the sixth time Wallace — a San Francisco native now splitting his time between the Bay Area and the Midwest where he’s a professor at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music — has been nominated for a GRAMMY for one of his own projects.

"This is a tremendous honor,” says Wallace. “All the members of the quintet and I are deeply thankful for the consideration of the Recording Academy, as well as the support of our families, musical peers, and our extended family in the community. We very much appreciate your continued support."

In a career spanning four decades, Wallace has collaborated with a dazzling array of artists including Count Basie, Ray Charles, Joe Henderson, Carlos Santana, Lionel Hampton, Earth Wind & Fire, Sonny Rollins, Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, Earl “Fatha” Hines and cellist Jean Jeanrenaud. Wallace was a driving creative force behind some of the Bay area’s most creative ensembles, including the Machete Ensemble, and Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra. One of his generation’s most eloquent trombonists, he’s been named in DownBeat polls as a leading force on the horn. Known to many as “The Doctor” for his production skills, Wallace is also a lauded composer
and educator. He heads up Patois Records, which has released a rapidly growing catalog of acclaimed CDs.

The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 26th, 2014, in Los Angeles. For a complete list of nominees for the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards go to http://www.grammy.com/nominees Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin has earned wide acclaim:

“Trombonist Wayne Wallace and his Latin Jazz Ensemble have a well-oiled record-making machine that seems incapable of turning out a subpar album… Wallace's trombone recalls the great trombone sections of the great Latin conjuntos, while his solos have the panache and lyrical intelligence of the late trumpeter Clifford Brown's improvisational style.” – Jeff Dayton-Johnson, All About Jazz

“Wallace's dazzling and spirited arrangements of both his own substantial compositions and four jazz classics help to make this album one of the most significant in Latin jazz so far this year.” – Scott Albin, JazzTimes.com

Five stars. “For the Latin jazz scene it is a pleasure to have a new piece from the brilliant composer and musician Wayne Wallace. This time around the five-time Grammy Award nominee brings us Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin, a powerful and tremendous ten-themed album where he showcases his incredible knowledge and his great playing, composing and arranging.” – Oscar Montagut, Latin Jazz Network

“Wallace… seems to have concocted the right formula to keep you moving while slipping in a little education too. Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin is an absolute joy from start to finish.” – Stuart Kremsky, Mr. Stu’s Record Room

“Yet another triumphant project from trombonist, composer, and bandleader Wayne Wallace, whose quintet continues to display a quality that is the holy grail of Latin jazz ensembles: the fiendishly difficult juxtaposition of utter tightness and rubbery looseness that makes Afro-Latin grooves possible… Highly recommended to all fans of Latin jazz.” – Rick Anderson, CD HotList

“San Francisco-based trombonist Wayne Wallace had the cojones to call his latest album Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin. That’s okay, because Wallace has the musical talent to back it up.” – Curtis Davenport, Jazz Inside

“If you have a hankering for Latin music that will set you soul on fire and cause you to dance around the house, Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin is what you want. As he has done throughout his career, Wayne Wallace hits all the right notes, ably supported by his fine Quintet.” – Richard Kamins, Step Tempest

“Horns, percussion and danceable rhythms are an essential combination for Latin jazz. Add to that stellar performances from all players, including guest musicians, and a biographical sketch of each song, and you get Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin.” – Woodrow Wilkins, The Jazz Writer

“The repertoire, instrumentation and even the generations of participants speak to the whirling, cyclical energy of the genre. A deft blend of jazz standards and originals provides the platform for Wallace’s soaring and soulful artistry.” – Jim Byers, Port of Harlem

“Wallace has been perfecting the small-combo Latin-jazz vibe for many years, and each new album is a delight. The ensemble’s 2013 release is called simply, and accurately, Latin Jazz / Jazz Latin. Once again, the group displays a mastery of the various rhythms of the Latin side of their double helix, while soulfully bringing jazz with the other strand.” – Jeff Dayton-Johnson, KUSP Featured Album August 2013


COMPOSER MARIA SCHNEIDER AND HER ACCLAIMED 2013 CD WINTER MORNING WALKS FEATURING SOPRANO DAWN UPSHAW NOMINATED FOR THREE GRAMMY AWARDS

"Best Contemporary Classical Composition," "Best Classical Vocal Solo"
and "Best Engineered Album, Classical"

World-renowned Minnesota-born, New York-based composer/orchestra leader Maria Schneider's CD Winter Morning Walks featuring soprano Dawn Upshaw, has earned three 2014 Grammy nominations. Winter Morning Walks has been nominated in the categories of Best Contemporary Classical Composition (Winter Morning Walks), Best Classical Vocal Solo (Dawn Upshaw) and Best Engineered Album, Classical (David Frost, Brian Losch & Tim Martyn, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer).

Winter Morning Walks features two commissioned works composed and conducted by Schneider with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra, and poetry by Ted Kooser and Carlos Drummond de Andrade (English translations by Mark Strand). Blurring the line between classical and jazz, Winter Morning Walks - released in March of 2013 through ArtistShare®  (www.artistshare.com) and available exclusively through MariaSchneider.com - is one of the first-ever fan-funded CDs to feature major orchestras and be released without in-store distribution.

"It feels amazing to have accomplished all of this, again through ArtistShare's fan-funding. I know of no one else that has fan-funded such a large-scale classical recording. In times when long-standing arts organizations are going out of business left and right, you can be sure I'm thankful to the fans I found through ArtistShare.   ArtistShare has created the only fan-funding platform that allows me to share my world with my fans, as I go through the time-intensive, hair-raising process of writing music and make a recording such as this. And musically, what a thrill to have worked with Dawn, these two great orchestras, these world-class engineers and producer, and to connect them to three musicians from my world, Scott Robinson, Jay Anderson and Frank Kimbrough. Additionally, I loved this poetry so much, and to finally incorporate artful words with my music has been entirely inspiring. This has been a dream project."

Winter Morning Walks brings together two preeminent figures in jazz and classical music. Schneider, who is admired worldwide for her work with her stellar orchestra, has won two GRAMMY Awards and has been nominated for eight more. Writing for TIME Magazine, Terry Teachout said, "To call Schneider the most important woman in jazz is missing the point two ways. She's a major composer-period." Upshaw was deemed "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the LA TIMES, and is a multiple GRAMMY winner, MacArthur Fellow and frequent performer at the Metropolitan Opera.

In 2004 Schneider pioneered the fan-funding model by becoming the first artist to sign with ArtistShare® to release Concert In The Garden, the first web-exclusive recording to win a GRAMMY.  She won a subsequent GRAMMY for her composition, "Cerulean Skies," on her acclaimed 2007 CD Sky Blue.

Schneider is currently working on her next CD to be recorded next August (2014). "I feel like I've been playing hooky on my band in the last few years while doing these orchestral projects, but now I have a renewed energy to write for my own group and finally record them after a too-long hiatus. It's high time."

Schneider's Grammy-nominated composition, "Winter Morning Walks," consists of nine songs and includes poetry by U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, Ted Kooser. The title is taken from his book of the same name. Three musicians long associated with Schneider's jazz orchestra, Jay Anderson (bass), Frank Kimbrough (piano), and Scott Robinson (alto clarinet + bass clarinet), seamlessly add colorful improvisation throughout these pieces.

The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 26th, 2014, in Los Angeles.


LEGENDARY JAZZ GROUP WEATHER REPORT WORKING ON NEW LEGACY PROJECT


Seminal jazz group Weather Report rises again with the Weather Report Legacy Project and crowdfunding initiative. The new project, launching December 9, 2013, will support the creation of a documentary, "Calm Before the Storm."  The film documents the group from its beginnings in 1970, through their 16 year and 17 album career, anchored by legendary founders and jazz legends Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.

The Weather Report Legacy Project was created by Tony Zawinul, son of the late Joe Zawinul and head of the Zawinul Estate, as well as Weather Report co-founder Wayne Shorter. Tony will direct the upcoming documentary and brings unequaled access to the life and mind of his father Joe. Others involved in the project include former Weather Report members Peter Erskine, Alphonso Johnson, and Robert Thomas Jr. to name just a few.

Tony Zawinul noted, "We've seen phenomenal fan support from every corner of the world. Weather Report had millions of fans over the years and it's a joy to see their reactions to this landmark initiative."  Shorter added, "Taking myself out of it, this is a chance to find out something that happened because of a group of people who have gone down a trail less tread upon in the music world. I give the project a thumbs-up."

Since March 2013, nearly 100,000 new fans have joined the movement on Facebook and over 1000 fans have pre-committed to supporting as well as providing personal endorsements for the crowdfunding campaign. Endorsements can be found on the Legacy Project website at WeatherReportMusic.com. Peter Erskine added, "Weather Report is the closest thing that jazz had to the Beatles. The fans are still worldwide and hungry for the band's legacy."

The crowdfunding project will launch on http://www.indiegogo.com/at/weatherreport where fans can pledge for many rare incentives including a "Heavy Weather" Platinum Record, Jaco Pastorius tour memorabilia, VIP tickets to the 2014 Weather Report Legacy Tour, unreleased recordings from Joe Zawinul's personal collection of tapes, dinner with Wayne Shorter and Peter Erskine, and even a chance to be interviewed for the documentary.

For more information or interviews with the Legacy Project team, contact "Calm Before the Storm" producer Danny Kastner at dannyk@weatherreportmusic.com or 310-692-4960.


 

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