NEW RELEASES - FINK & THE ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA, STAHL'S TRIO, ROSCOE MITCHELL / TONY MARSH / JOHN EDWARDS

FINK & THE ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA - RCO: LIVE IN CONCERT

Some of the coolest, most complex work we've ever heard from Fink – a set that takes the trio way past their usual Ninja Tune territory – thanks to the addition of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra! The core trio serve up spare instrumentation that's dramatically augmented by the RCO – not in ways that are the usual orchestral style, but sort of shaded in with fuller colors and tones – creating a moody feel that definitely makes the record the group's most expressive so far! The vocals are especially nice in this setting – especially when the orchestra is offering some strikingly avant counterpoint – and the whole thing comes packaged in an amazing book-like package, with lots of notes and photos on the project. Titles include "Berlin Sunrise", "The Infernal Machine", "Wheels", "This Is The Thing", and "Sort Of Revolution". ~ Dusty Groove.

STAHL'S TRIO - JAG SKULLE BARA GA UT

Amazing vibes from Mattias Stahl and his trio – easily one of the most inventive players on his instrument in recent years – ringing out here with a sense of tone and timing that's simply superb! There's a modern edge to all these tracks that takes us back to Teddy Charles' vibes experiments of the 50s – and maybe a bit to early Walt Dickerson, too – and like the latter, Stahl has key rhythm players that really help him shape the sounds on the set – Joe Williamson on bass and Christopher Cantillo on drums – both of whom add a strong pulse that lets the vibes really take off on their own. Titles include a version of Sun Ra's "Satellites Are Spinning" – plus the tracks "Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby", "Formaldehyde", "The Siamese Twin", "I Was Only Going Out", and "The Mooche".~ Dusty Groove

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ROSCOE MITCHELL / TONY MARSH / JOHN EDWARDS - IMPROVISATIONS

Beautifully-blown work from Roscoe Mitchell – some of the loosest sides we've heard from him in years – and some of the most striking, too! The tracks are all long improvisations done with drummer Tony Marsh and bassist John Edwards – but they've got a really respectful approach that has Mitchell's reed lines very much out front in the mix – this bold sax and flute voice that's holding incredibly strong after all these years – freed from some of the more academic modes that have kept Roscoe a bit muted on other recordings, with the rich, organic quality we loved so much in his earliest years with the AACM. 2LP set spins at 45rpm, for really great fidelity – and vinyl is nice and heavy! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - OMAR FEATURING CARON WHEELER, HARLEIGHBLU, YELLOWTAIL FEATURING LA NOTE

OMAR FEATURING. CARON WHEELER - TREAT YOU

 Omar continues his magnificent re-emergence to the forefront of contemporary soul on this new single - from his recent new album The Man - with Treat You, as he generously features another legend of similar pedigree in Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler.

In this story of a somewhat troubled love affair, the infectious groove rolls on whilst Omar and Caron take turns to air their voices; the bitter sweet subject matter is reflected in minor key and mellow synthesiser sounds. How these two legendary voices blend into something quite amazing isn't something that can easily be described in words - but it can be said that this duet between such fine and unique talents is a rare and beautiful thing. Ordinary Day is where the sound heads south of the equator as Omar stamps his trademark voice and production all over this happening salsa rhythm. The uptempo, sun drenched feel is augmented by huge sounding horns, a storm of blistering, latin percussion and one of Omar's best vocal performances ever. Opolopo, renowned remixer and producer is the man who put his stamp on the recent big club version of Gregory Porter's 1960 What? and his exclusive remix of Treat You for this single is utter class, putting the emphasis on the contemporary dance floor tip without losing any of the original's soul or integrity. One of Omar's favourite remixes of his new material, Opolopo shows us why he is the man of the moment when it comes to bringing a fresh perspective to the great voices of modern soul and jazz. Finally, long time Omar collaborator/co-producer Scratch Professer, puts his totally individual and quirky touch on Treat You, rounding off this essential 12 inch single and download.

HARLEIGHBLU - FORGET ME NOT

Tremendous soul from Harleighblu – a young UK singer we bet we'll be hearing plenty from in years to come! Harleighblu really represents the strongest side of the UK soul scene – bursting forth with a mix of classic and contemporary modes that make her way more than just another deep funk vocalist – and instead show a sense of power and poise that really blows us away – an approach that's fresh, but which feels very familiar too – kind of that blend of modern and deep soul we first heard in Amy Winehouse. There's a hell of a lot of personality on the record – more than enough to really send these songs home strongly, even without the great tight production of the rhythms – and titles include "Casanova", "Enough Now", "I Believe", "Play Me", "Who's That Girl", "Love Of My Life", "Sittin' By The Window", and "Love Like This". ~ Dusty Groove

YELLOWTAIL FEATURING LA NOTE - SWEET THING

'Street Thing' is a jazz-tinged roughneck soul number - by Yellowtail featuring La Note (of Electric Conversation). Yellowtail teams up with La Note from Electric Conversation to deliver 'Street Thing,' a jazz-tinged roughneck soul number. Dirty rhodes, bubblin bassline, straight-up hip-hop riddim, combined with La Note's sultry vocals make this a track a headnodder's delight. The release also includes 'Platinum Jackson,' a breezy, jazzy downtempo number and 'Sleazy Like Sunday Morning,' a laid back downbeat joint with a healthy dose of sleaze. Includes:  Street Thing [feat. La Note] (Original); Platinum Jackson;  Sleazy Like Sunday Morning; and Street Thing (Original Inst.)

NEW RELEASES - RICHARD TEE, DR. LONNIE SMITH, GLENN LEWIS

RICHARD TEE - STROKIN' / NATURAL INGREDIENTS

A pair of gems from keyboardist Richard Tee – back to back on a single CD! Strokin is filled with sweet electric keys from the great Richard Tee – and was originally issued on Bob James' classic Tappan Zee imprint! Tee was one of the 70s best studio keyboard players – and his talents showed up on plenty of great Atlantic soul albums, and a fair number of jazz-related dates. This album, one of his few on his own, features Tee out front, soloing keyboards, in very much a Bob James kind of way. The set's perhaps a bit disco/R&B, more so than some of James' own work at the time – but it's still got a nice jazz component, and features work by Eric Gale on guitar, Tom Scott on saxes, and the great Steve Gadd on drums. Titles include "Virginia Sunday", "First Love", "Strokin", "Jesus Children Of America", and "I Wanted It Too". Natural Ingredients is a bit more electric than you might guess from the "natural" in the title – but a great set of keyboards from the mighty Richard Tee – one of his few albums as a leader back in the day! The set's produced by Bob James, and has a groove that's not unlike some of James' own smoother fusion from the end of the 70s – a style that still has a fair bit of jazz in the mix, but which also shines with some warmer R&B touches as well. Players on the set include Tom Scott on saxes, Eric Gale on guitar, and Steve Gadd on drums – and some of the best numbers have a nicely stripped-down approach. Titles include "The Nut's Off The Screw", "Now", "Tell It Like It Is", and "Us". ~ Dusty Groove

DR. LONNIE SMITH OCTET - IN THE BEGINNING VOLUMES 1 & 2

Lonnie Smith revisits some of the key songs of his early yers – but does them here in the company of a cool octet – so that the results often come out sounding a heck of a lot different than the originals! Lonnie was a hell of a player right at the start, but in recent years he's developed a depth that we never would have expected – a sense of tone and color, phrasing and phasing, that really pushes him into a whole new level. The work of the larger group here illustrates that quality wonderfully – as the added trumpet, alto, flute, and tenor help give the music a sophisticated edge while still never losing the groove that's always made Smith so great. The Hammond lines are completely sublime – and the set features long versions of "Aw Shucks", "Move Your Hand", "In The Beginning", "Turning Point"," Mama Wailer/Hola Muneca", "Keep Talkin", "Slouchin", "Track Nine", and "Psychedelic Pi".~ Dusty Groove

GLENN LEWIS - MOMENT OF TRUTH

Glenn Lewis in all his glory – stepping out in a sweet set of slightly electrified tracks that remind us why he's been one of the best voices in mainstream soul over the past decade or so! Glenn's got a way of reaching out with expressiveness without ever going too crossover commercial – and the production has that excellent crackle that always seems to make Lewis' vocals percolate slightly – but always without the too-smooth or too-modified way of so many other singers on the charts. The songwriting's often nice and basic, and relatively personal too – and titles include "Random Thoughts", "Time Soon Come", "I Wanna Go Deep", "Make Luv", "All I See Is You", "Searching For That One", and "Up & Down". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - SADAO WATANABE, BOB JAMES, SOULFUL ORCHESTRA

SADAO WATANABE - OUTRA VEZ

One of our favorite sides of music from Sadao Watanabe – his ongoing love of Brazilian jazz and the bossa nova format – served up here in a sweet small group set that's got all the sparkle and charm of his vintage bossa albums of the 60s! Watanabe's alto has this wonderfully feeling sort of quality – sharp edges that evoke just the right sort of tristesse to make the tunes work just right – all original numbers penned by Sadao, and cuts that go way past the usual bossa standards! The group's got a gentle rhythm approach, but swings strongly in a straight jazz style too – with a lineup that includes Fabio Torres on piano and Swami Jr on guitar – plus mighty nice bass and percussion. Fabiana Cozza sings a bit on the record, but the set's mostly instrumental – and titles include "Cabo Verde Amor", "Pelourinho", "Outra Vez", "Color Of Spring", "Reqiuem Of Love", and "Simpatico". ~ Dusty Groove

BOB JAMES - ALONE: KALEIDESCOPE BY SOLO PIANO

A side of Bob James that we maybe never knew existed – a solo piano mode, but spun out here with all the fluid sensibility we love from Bob's Fender Rhodes days! The acoustic keys are filled with warmth and tone – and the playing here definitely shares James' traditional love of space between the notes – especially the left hand lines, which wash out gently while Bob pushes a more complex agenda with his right! The "kaleidoscope" in the title is very well-put – as the album shifts in these surprising and cyclical ways throughout – waves of pianistic brilliance that never let up throughout. Titles include "Restoration", "Karensansui", "Wild Stallion", "Never Let Me Go", "Garbo Redux", "Put Our Hearts Together", and "Scarborough Fair". ~ Dusty Groove

SOULFUL ORCHESTRA - A MOOD SO

A group that really lives up to its title – and one with a sound that's proudly in the mode of the best Northern Soul of the 60s! The backings are full, and done in a style that's strongly inspired by Detroit soul of the Motown years – a bit rougher and more funky overall, given the indie level of production – and a nice change from some of the more 70s-oriented combos on the market! Maya Giglio sings leads on most tracks – with a quality that's nicely gritty at most points, and mostly in English – except for a few very cool numbers that feature lyrics in Italian. A few tunes have slight contemporary touches, but the overall sound is pretty 60s all the way through – and tracks include "Don't Freeze On Me", "Occapella", "I'm Mad At You", "Questo Mondo Non Mi Va", "Secret Love", and "Bring It On Home To Me". ~ Dusty Groove

THE ESSENTIAL BOZ SCAGGS FEATURES 32 SONGS SPANNING 1969-2013

Grammy Award®-winner Boz Scaggs' unique mix of blues and soul, rock, and sophisticated R&B all comes together on The Essential Boz Scaggs, a new collection of his work that will be available everywhere October 29th through Columbia/Legacy..

The Essential Boz Scaggs is the first 32-song, double-CD collection to track his solo career from 1969 (his seminal self-titled American debut LP on Atlantic Records, produced by  Rolling Stone editor/publisher Jann Wenner in Muscle Shoals, with Duane Allman on lead guitar) all the way to 2013 (his Memphis album, a tribute to that city's musical greats).  At the heart of this collection are 23 cuts that cover his near two-decade stay at Columbia Records starting in 1971, including 14 Hot 100 chart singles that established him on radio in the U.S.

The well-crafted liner notes essay for The Essential Boz Scaggs (which utilizes exclusive interview material gathered for the occasion) is written by Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis.  He analyzes Scaggs' Texas rhythm & blues-flavored vocal mastery, and points to his hitmaking years at Columbia as "a seemingly unstoppable roll." 

The juggernaut began with Slow Dancer in 1974 (produced by Johnny Bristol), and reached cruising speed in the spring of 1976, with the release of Silk Degrees.  That album's string of four hits kept him inside the Top 40 on pop and R&B lists for more than a year: 'It's Over," "Lowdown" (Grammy Award® for Best R&B Song), "What Can I Say," and "Lido Shuffle."  All four of those touchstones are included on The Essential Boz Scaggs, along with the Silk Degrees album tracks "We're All Alone" (which served as a B-side on two separate singles) and "Harbor Lights."

Silk Degrees was aided immeasurably by pre-Toto musicians Jeff Porcaro on drums, bassist David Hungate, and 21-year old David Paich on keyboards, Scaggs' backing rhythm section on the road for more than two years.  Silk Degrees remains an iconic album which set the stage for much of what followed in the late '70s, with sales over 5 million copies to date in the U.S. alone.  For Scaggs, it was the kickoff of the "seemingly unstoppable roll" that propelled him through the rest of that first decade with Columbia and his next three albums, each represented on The Essential Boz Scaggs:

• Down Two Then Left (RIAA platinum, 1977, with "Hard Times");

• Middle Man (RIAA platinum, early 1980, with "Breakdown Dead Ahead" and "JoJo," both Top 20 hits co-written by Scaggs and David Foster, plus album tracks "Isn't It Time" and another Foster co-write, "Simone"); and

• Hits! (RIAA platinum, late 1980, with another pair of Top 15 hits, "Look What You've Done To Me" with the Eagles' Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Tim Schmit on backing vocals, from the Urban Cowboy movie soundtrack, and "Miss Sun").

After more than six years of non-stop touring and recording, Boz Scaggs took a well-earned sabbatical that turned into an eight year hiatus.

Scaggs' final Columbia album (and his first in the CD era) arrived in 1988, Other Roads, featuring the Top 40 chart hit, "Heart Of Mine."  In 1994, he was the guest of the syndicated Columbia Records Radio Hour.  One of the show's highlights was his version of the vintage blues "As The Years Go Passing By," backed by Booker T. & the MG's. 

That same year (1994), Scaggs began his three album stint on Virgin Records with Some Change.  Critics praised the co-production (his first official time behind the console) with Ricky Fataar of the Beach Boys, and the album became the source of "Some Change" and "Sierra."  Come On Home, a thematic album of Scaggs' favorite soul and R&B numbers followed in 1997, featuring Earl King's "It All Went Down The Drain." 

Twenty years after Silk Degrees and Toto, David Paich returned to co-produce (with Danny Kortchmar) Dig, Scaggs' final Virgin album, the source of "Miss Riddle," "Thanks To You" (both co-written by Scaggs and Paich), and "I Just Go."  The Essential Boz Scaggs concludes with "Gone Baby Gone" (produced by Steve Jordan), the opening track on Memphis, released on the Los Angeles-based roots-rock label, 429 Records.

"Scaggs feels more conviction about the quality of work he is doing than ever before," DeCurtis writes of the artist.  "There's a point at which you rely on inspiration, which is there from the beginning, but as with any career that has any kind of arc, I eventually began to recognize my own style.  I really began to find out what I was doing here."

THE ESSENTIAL BOZ SCAGGS

Disc One – Selections: 1. I'll Be Long Gone (A) • 2. Loan Me A Dime (A) • 3. Runnin' Blue (C) • 4. We Were Always Sweethearts (B) • 5. Painted Bells (B) • 6. Near You (B) • 7. Dinah Flo (D) • 8. Might Have To Cry (D) • 9. You Make It So Hard (To Say No) (E) • 10. Slow Dancer (E) • 11. What Can I Say (F) • 12. It's Over (F) • 13. Harbor Lights (F) • 14. Lowdown (F) • 15. Lido Shuffle (F) • 16. We're All Alone (F) • 17. Hard Times (G).

Disc Two – Selections: 1. JoJo (H) • 2. Isn't It Time (H) • 3. Simone (H) • 4. Breakdown Dead Ahead (H) • 5. Miss Sun (I) • 6. Look What You've Done To Me (I) • 7. Heart Of Mine (J) • 8. Some Change (K) • 9. Sierra (K) • 10. As The Years Go Passing By (with Booker T. & The MG's) (L) • 11. It All Went Down The Drain (M) • 12. Miss Riddle (N) • 13. I Just Go (N) • 14. Thanks To You (N) • 15. Gone Baby Gone (O).

Album index:

A – from Boz Scaggs, originally issued 1969, as Atlantic 8239

B – from Moments, originally issued March 1971, as Columbia 30454

C – from Boz Scaggs & Band, originally issued November 1971, as Columbia 30796

D – from My Time, originally issued September 1972, as Columbia 31384

E – from Slow Dancer, originally issued March 1974, as Columbia 32760

F – from Silk Degrees, originally issued March 1976, as Columbia 43920

G – from Down Two Then Left, originally issued November 1977, as Columbia 34729

H – from Middle Man, originally issued April 1980, as Columbia 36106

I – from Hits! originally issued November 1980, as Columbia 36841

J – from Other Roads, originally issued May 1988, as Columbia 40463

K – from Some Change, originally issued April 1994, as Virgin 7243 8 39489 2

L – from The Best Of The Columbia Records Radio Hour, Volume 2, originally issued 1996, as Columbia 67498

M – from Come On Home, originally issued April 1997, as Virgin 7243 8 42984 2 5

N – from Dig, originally issued September 2001, as Virgin CDVUS206

O – from Memphis, originally issued March 2013, as 429 Records FTN17889

ERIC DIVITO - THE SECOND TIME AROUND

The gifted guitarist Eric DiVito made a strong impression last year with his well-received debut Breaking the Ice and its program of original compositions. On his even more impressive follow-up, The Second Time Around, DiVito highlights his interpretive skills by concentrating on standards -- from the Great American Songbook as well as modern jazz classics by Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Joe Henderson. The Canadian Pioneer Jazz Collective label (PJC) will release the disc November 12.

  

A trio date with bassist Corcoran Holt and drummer Alyssa Falk Verheyn, The Second Time Around also features two special guests -- Steve Wilson, the saxophonist's saxophonist who's heard on three tracks, including the driving original ("2nd Story") that opens the album; and vocalist Mavis Swan Poole, one of whose two numbers is a duet ("Skylark") with DiVito.

"I didn't want the album to come off like a jam session," says DiVito, who co-produced the date with Portland-based pianist (and Breaking the Ice co-producer) Ezra Weiss. "The tunes were fairly straightforward, but with little arranging touches that set them apart."

One stand-out is the trio's treatment of Wayne Shorter's "Iris," transformed from a waltz-time classic into a funk-infused workout in 4; another comes at the beginning of Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge," on which Verheyn (whom DiVito knew from blowing gigs in college) plays the head unaccompanied to make a bold opening melodic statement before entering into lively interplay with the leader.

The duo reading of "Skylark" is DiVito's "homage to tradition. I got into jazz through standards like 'Skylark,'" he says, "and I like the tradition of the guitar and voice duo. Swan brings a nice mix of classical Sarah Vaughan and a more soul-oriented sound."

 DiVito found the recording process energizing and inspiring. "By the end of the session," he says, "the vibe of the group was so strong, I felt like playing with them forever. In the beginning, it was a little tricky. I sometimes felt weird telling Steve Wilson what to do. I mean he has played on all of these great recordings and made great recordings of his own. But he was so great and accommodating and easy to be around, it was a joyful experience."  

Eric DiVito, 32, was born in Huntington, Long Island and raised in nearby Northport. He started out playing xylophone and other percussion instruments in elementary school and took up the guitar in middle school. A fan of Guns N' Roses and Jimi Hendrix, he played his share of rock music in high school (and since 2006 has performed in a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band he formed called PepperSpray), he was more strongly drawn to the improvisational possibilities of jazz as embodied by such greats as Pat Metheny and Jim Hall.

DiVito majored in classical guitar and music education and minored in jazz at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, from which he received a B.M. in guitar performance and music education. While attending the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where he earned an M.A. in jazz performance, he became increasingly involved in the New York jazz scene -- performing in such clubs as Iridium, Smalls, Miles' Café, the Garage, and Puppet's Jazz Bar and teaching music at Castle Middle School on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The CD release show for The Second Time Around takes place at Smalls, New York City, on Sunday 12/8, 4:30pm. DiVito will appear with Corcoran Holt and Alyssa Falk Verheyn, plus special guests to be announced. The guitarist has also booked a four-city Canadian tour with Verheyn and bassist Daniel Foose: 11/28 Resonance Café, Montreal; 11/29 GigSpace, Ottawa; 11/30 The Rex, Toronto; 12/1 The Jazz Room, Waterloo.

HERBIE HANCOCK JAPANESE PRESSING SERIES REISSUED, FEATURES THE HEADHUNTERS & THE HERBIE HANCOCK TRIO

HERBIE HANCOCK - FLOOD

Live mid 70s genius from Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters – one of Herbie's greatest records ever, and only ever issued in Japan! Herbie's playing in fine funky form with Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson, Mike Clark, and Bill Summers – and the record stands to this day some of the best work this team ever set to wax in the 70s. The whole session's live, peformed with amazing energy, and it's beautifully recorded – with Hancock on acoustic piano, Rhodes, Arp and clavinet, Maupin on saxes, clarinet and flute, Clark on drums, Summers on percussion and Blackbird McKnight on guitar. Titles include "Actual Proof", "Spank A Lee", "Hang Up Your Hang Ups", and good remakes of "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man". (Blue Spec CD2.) ~ Dusty Groove

HERBIE HANCOCK – HERBIE HANCOCK TRIO

An excellent Japanese-only album by Herbie – featuring all acoustic playing, recorded in San Francisco, in 1977 – in an incredible trio setting with Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums! Really, really wonderful stuff – right at home among many of Herbie's electric recordings at the time! Despite the absence of electric keyboards, there's a bit of a light funky groove on some tracks – with lots of warm bass sounds from Carter, and some beautiful light work on the drum kit from Williams. Titles include "Watch It", "Speak Like A Child", "Look", "Milestones" and "Whatcha Waitin For". All tracks are long, and the record's got a nice sweet mellow vibe! (Blue Spec CD2.) ~ Dusty Groove

HERBIE HANCOCK – HERBIE HANCOCK TRIO WITH RON CARTER / TONY WILLIAMS

A brilliant Japanese-only album from Herbie – quite different than his US work at the time! Although the Herbie in America in 1981 was very heavily involved in electric keyboard work and more R&B-oriented styles of expression – this Japanese-recorded Herbie's an all-acoustic one, working here in a great trio with Ron Carter and Tony Williams, grooving nicely on some long lyrically soulful tracks! The record's straight and sweet – and Herbie's work on piano is stunning – easily flowing with inventive solos that never cease to delight. And the warm accompaniment he gets from Carter and Williams really make the album sparkle – easily the best sort of session of its sort you'll find from the time. Titles include "Stablemates", "Dolphin Dance", "A Slight Smile", and "La Maison Goree". (Blue Spec CD2.)  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - SID TOURE, SIBA, THE NEWCOMERS

SIDI TOURE - ALAFIA

Stunning sounds from Sidi Toure – an artist who's been making music for quite a few years now, but seems to get better and better with each new release! This set's got a wonderful sense of flow right from the start – a warm blend of Sidi's guitar and vocals with additional lead guitar from Kalil Toure, N'Goni from Abdoulaye Kone, and these basslines that percolate strongly throughout – adding an additional stringed sense of rhythm to the tracks, as Toure and other singers soar out forward on the vocals. The presentation has a positive feel, but without any commercial overtones – and definitely shakes free of any Mali cliches you might have from other overwrought recordings. Titles include "Mali", "Boro Gana", "Ay Hora", "Ay Takamba", "L'Eau", "Waayey", and "Gandyey".  ~ Dusty Groove

SIBA – AVANTE

Sublime sounds from Siba – a contemporary Brazilian artist, but one who comes across with all the charm of the 70s MPB generation! Instrumentation on the set is relatively spare, but very inventive – guitar lines and viola from Siba – mixed with quartet instrumentation that includes vibes and keyboards, plus a tuba instead of the usual bass – which makes for a very cool sound that's all bumpy and gritty on the bottom! Siba's lead vocals are wonderfully warm – a slight rasp that adds a lot of personality to the lyrics – and which provides a deeply personal contrast with some of the more creative instrumental flourishes. Great stuff – one of those contemporary Brazilian albums that goes way beyond the boundaries of knowledge or culture – and which can grab you up instantly without warning. Titles include "Brisa", "Ariana", "Qasida", "Um Verso Preso", "Mute", "Canoa Furada", "Bravura E Brilho", and "A Bagaceira". ~ Dusty Groove

THE NEWCOMERS – MANNISH BOYS: THE STAX, VOLT & TRUTH RECORDINGS 1968-74

A long overdue collection of the Stax, Truth and Volt singles by The Newcomers – a largely under-appreciated sweet soul group from Memphis! While the Stax empire had broken so much stylistic and commercial ground on a number of levels in the preceding years, the sweeter vocal group style was never really an area in which Stax found much surefooted ground – especially at the very end of the 60s and into the 70s, when the label's finances were getting too shaky to break newer groups in a big way. The Newcomers are wonderful, though, and this set of rare singles, unreleased tracks and demos is a terrific introduction! Includes "Girl, This Boy Loves You", "Open Up Your Heart (Let Me In)", "You Put The Sunshine Back In My World", "Still A Boy In My Heart", "Humpty Dumpty", "Reaching The Age", "Betcha Can't Guess Who", "The Whole World's A Picture Show", "Mannish Boy" and other great singles – some previously unissued – plus a handful of lost demos with finished feel, which are really just as great as their rare singles! ~ Dusty Groove

3 COHENS - TIGHTROPE

To be released Oct. 22, 2013, via Anzic Records, "Tightrope" features the 3 Cohens improvising as an a cappella horn choir and teaming with special guests Fred Hersch, Christian McBride & Jonathan Blake

  

One of the reasons jazz improvisation excites performer and listener alike is that it's akin to walking a tightrope - chances are taken, stakes are high. A musician can create thrilling, in-the-moment art, or fall flat. Collective improvisation ups the ante - it's never a given that multiple players can be so attuned to one another that they know when to listen as well as when to speak. The 3 Cohens - siblings Anat Cohen (clarinets, tenor saxophone), Avishai Cohen (trumpet) and Yuval Cohen (soprano sax) - explore this concept fully on Tightrope, their fourth extraordinary album together, to be released October 22, 2013, via Anzic Records. The material ranges from free improvisations and fresh originals to classics by Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Tadd Dameron, Art Farmer and Gerry Mulligan, plus tunes associated with João Gilberto and Jo Stafford.

Most of the tracks on Tightrope see the three horn players walking that fine titular line without a net - performing a cappella, with no chordal instrument or rhythm section for support; moreover, they venture a sequence of "Conversations" as unaccompanied free improvisations, spontaneously composing the music in interplay - an evolutionary development for the group. But when they're not going it alone on Tightrope, the 3 Cohens are adding a special guest to the mix, with pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Johnathan Blake each appearing to make the 3 Cohens a quartet on several tracks. "We treat our horns as voices, so we call it playing a cappella when it's just the three of us," Anat says. "But even though we wanted to do an a cappella album, we couldn't resist having a few guests, musicians we really love - Fred, Christian and Jonathan." Yuval adds: "Sometimes people say, `Why were your parents so lazy - why did they stop at three? You could've had a rhythm section..."

In a recent video interview (3 Cohens - Tightrope EPK), the 3 Cohens talked about Tightrope in this way, finishing each other's sentences and playing music from the album. Anat says: "When you play the saxophone or the trumpet in jazz with a rhythm section, you're almost always the soloist. But when you're playing as we are here most of the time, with just the three horns, you're also an accompanist. So on this album, we're playing both roles, of soloist and accompanist." Avishai adds: "And the roles can change in a second, based on what the other is doing... But we know each other so well - we can feel what the other is thinking."Yuval points out that in the trio improvisations of Tightrope, "It's a constant dialogue with yourself, your own ego - to be concerned just with what the music needs." As The Boston Globe observed about the band: "The 3 Cohens have forged a sumptuous group sound built upon a selfless love of blending their instrumental voices."

The sound of intertwined horns was in the ears of all three Cohens early on. A common inspiration growing up in Israel was a 1959 album by the piano-less Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Art Farmer, with the brothers and sister naturally drawn to its melody-oriented weave. Tightrope includes two tunes from that band's book: Farmer's "Blueport" and Mulligan's "Festive Minor." There are other pieces from the Cohens' youth. "Ai Li Lu Li Lu" is a Yiddish lullaby their mother sang to them. The standard "Indiana" underscores their love of Louis Armstrong and the collective improvisation from New Orleans, while Tadd Dameron's "Hot House" reflects their ties to the bebop tradition. Even the free "Conversations" - spurred by little more than "why don't you start" or "let's think long tones" - have their echoes, as the pure polyphony and quotes from Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, etc. evoke the siblings' early experience in classical ensembles.

As for the quartet tracks on Tightrope, pianist Fred Hersch joined the 3 Cohens in the studio straight from the airport, teaming with the siblings for his "Song Without Words #4: Duet" (a piece that both Anat and Avishai had performed on stage with him). With Hersch, they also recorded the Italian ballad "Estaté" made popular in the jazz realm by João Gilberto; and, at the pianist's suggestion, they captured a playfully baroque version of Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You." Bassist Christian McBride dropped by the sessions for a spontaneous take on Duke Ellington's "Just Squeeze Me," his woody tone a delightful addition. Drummer Jonathan Blake has played for years live in the 3 Cohens Sextet, and his studio visit yielded a quartet version of Avishai's grooving original "Black."

Avishai goes lyrically solo for the ballad "There's No You" (an early hit for Jo Stafford), and the three-horn choir voices Yuval's "It Might as Well," a piece inspired by Rodgers & Hammerstein's "It Might as Well Be Spring." For Avishai's closing "Mantra," Anat adds dark hues on bass clarinet. Throughout Tightrope, the filial "telepathy" among the 3 Cohens is a marvel but so is the beauty of sound each conveys on his or her instrument. This is an album about balance and buoyancy - and the sheer joy of communicating through music.

The best jazz groups are made up of kindred spirits, but the rare family band has something more - an intuitive feel for each other that goes beyond words and gestures. The 3 Cohens are that sort of uncommon collective, a trio of siblings from Tel Aviv, Israel, whose sense of improvisational interplay is both uncannily fluent and wonderfully, infectiously warm. Along with performing on stages the world over, the 3 Cohens have three previous studio albums to their credit: One (2004), Braid (2007) and Family (2011). The new album, Tightrope, underscores the fact that there is something special about the music the three make together, even with the individual careers each of the Cohens pursue to increasing international success - Anat with her string of hit albums (including 2012's Claroscuro), Avishai with his hot Triveni and Third World Love bands, and Yuval with his recent Song Without Words release and his status as an award-winning educator in Israel.

All About Jazz, reviewing One, said: "What gives the 3 Cohens a certain edge is the simpatico they share, extending beyond merely being siblings; it involves all three sharing the common bond of music from an early age, and the kind of comfort level and intuition that can only come from playing together for many years... Throughout, a joyfulness pervades these performances." All About Jazz was again full of enthusiasm about Braid, pointing out how the threesome's "inside jokes, finishing of each others' sentences and playful sibling rivalries spur the ensemble to refined heights... The sextet offers fresh, modern jazz full of energy, daring and emotion." The New York Times also enthused over the group's "family sound" and "intuitive counterpoint" before pointing out the players' individual qualities: "Anat has emerged as one of the best clarinet players in jazz, with a warm and singing tone; Avishai can play bebop and ballad lines and outer-limit trumpet sounds with tireless fluency; and Yuval has a full and relaxed sound on soprano."

Upon the release of Family, the 3 Cohens were featured on the cover of DownBeat Magazine. The article depicted the character of the group this way: "Chemistry. Alchemy. Telepathy. All are appropriate words to describe the otherworldly quality of improvisation by a band with longstanding personnel credentials... There's something special at work - a new level of anticipation and celebration. Witness the joyful - and at times, whimsical and intimate - conversations and interweaving horn textures."

"Tightrope"

1. "Blueport" (Art Farmer)             

2. "Conversation 1" (Yuval & Avishai Cohen)

3. "Song Without Words #4: Duet" (Fred Hersch)              

4. "Conversation 2" (3 Cohens)              

5. "Black" (Avishai Cohen)

6. "Just Squeeze Me" (Duke Ellington, Lee Gaines)

7. "Hot House" (Tadd Dameron) 

8. "There's No You" (Hal Hopper, Tom Adair)

9. "Estaté" (Bruno Martino, Bruno Brighetti)

10. "Converation 3" (3 Cohens) 

11. "Indiana" (Ballard MacDonald, James Hanley)

12. "I Mean You" (Thelonious Monk)

13. "It Might as Well" (Yuval Cohen)

14. "Festive Minor" (Gerry Mulligan)

15. "Conversation 4" (3 Cohens)

16. "Conversation 5" (3 Cohens)

17. "Ai Li Lu Li Lu" (traditional)

18. "Mantra" (Avishai Cohen)

Anat Cohen, clarinets and tenor sax; Avishai Cohen, trumpet; Yuval Cohen, soprano saxophone, Fred Hersch, piano (#3, #9, #12); Christian McBride, double-bass (#6); Johnathan Blake, drums (#5) // Produced by Oded Lev-Ari & the 3 Cohens // Recorded at Systems Two, Brooklyn; engineered by Joseph Marciano, assisted by Max Ross, Mixed and edited by Brian Montgomery; mastered by Mark Wilder at Sony Music Studios

www.3cohens.com

www.anzicrecords.com

UNIVERSAL MUSIC RELEASES ICON SERIES FEATURING FRANK SINATRA, DEAN MARTIN, THE RAT PACK, THE COMMODORES, TOM JONES

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) continues its acclaimed ICON series with several new releases on October 8, Tom Jones, Dean Martin, The Rat Pack, Kenny Rogers, and Frank Sinatra. With its history and vast catalog of artists, UMe’s continuing ICON series showcases the best music from the most popular, iconic and influential artists of all time. ICON is a proven physical line, a true cross-genre success with more than seven million copies sold in three years. 

THE COMMODORES - ICON

Motown legends the Commodores were one of the major crossover acts of the 1970s, launching Lionel Richie’s music career. The band’s first album, 1974's Machine Gun, featured the scorching instrumental title song, which reached the Top 10 of Billboard's Soul charts. Within a year, the band released two more albums, Caught In The Act and Movin’ On, which featured their first major crossover hit, "Sweet Love."

In 1977 they released their best-selling album, the self-titled Commodores, which featured the band’s two biggest hits, "Easy,” which showcased Richie’s warm vocals, and the funk anthem "Brick House," with Walter Orange singing lead. They continued their rise to stardom the next year with Natural High, featuring the massive international hit "Three Times A Lady." They released Midnight Magic in 1979, featuring "Still," and "Sail On." By 1981, Lionel Richie’s star was rising throughout the music world. He recorded one more album with the group, In the Pocket, featuring two Top 10 hits, "Oh No," and "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," before embarking on his solo recording career.

The Commodores ICON features all of the group’s top hits, including the No. 1 smash, “Three Times A Lady,” “Easy,” “Brick House,” “Sweet Love,” and “Lady (You Bring Me Up).”

Full tracklist: 1. Lady (You Bring Me Up) / 2. Brick House / 3. Sail On / 4. Easy / 5. Slippery When Wet

6. Three Times A Lady / 7. Sweet Love / 8. Machine Gun / 9. Oh No / 10. Nightshift / 11. Still.

TOM JONES -  ICON

In 1964, Tom Jones’ second single for Decca, “It's Not Unusual,” was a Top 10 smash. A string of hits followed, including “Once Upon A Time,” “With These Hands” and the Burt Bacharach classic, “What's New Pussycat?” In 1965, Jones recorded the theme to the James Bond film Thunderball, and one of his best-loved singles, “Delilah,” was released in 1968. In the ‘70s, Jones’ hits included “Daughter Of Darkness” and “She's A Lady.”

In 1993, Jones signed with Interscope and released the album The Lead And How To Swing It, featuring collaborations with Teddy Riley, Flood and Youth, among others. In 1995, he headlined Glastonbury, and his wildly successful 1999 album Reload, featuring duets with some of the year's brightest stars, once again brought him into the limelight. His latest studio album, Spirit In The Room, was released in April. As his career hits the 50-year mark, Tom Jones continues to delight fans around the world with his music.

Tom Jones ICON features his top hits and fan favorites, including “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat?,” “She’s A Lady,” “Without Love,” “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” “Daughter Of Darkness,” “Love Me Tonight,” and “Delilah.”

Full tracklist: 1. It's Not Unusual / 2. What's New Pussycat? / 3. Thunderball / 4. Delilah / 5. Help Yourself /

6. Love Me Tonight / 7. (It Looks Like) I'll Never Fall In Love Again / 8. Without Love (There Is Nothing) /

9. Daughter Of Darkness / 10. I (Who Have Nothing) / 11. She's A Lady.

DEAN MARTIN - ICON

Playboy called him “the coolest man who ever lived.” Elvis Presley worshipped him. “He was the coolest dude I’d ever seen, period,” recalled Stevie Van Zandt, adding, “He wasn’t just great at everything he did. To me, he was perfect.” That man is Dean Martin. Simply put, he was a great singer. The warm sensuality of his voice continues to beguile generations of music fans with a winning style and a touch of mystery.

Dean Martin’s effortless vocalizing has become modern shorthand for cool, as evidenced by the use of his songs in films, television, and ad campaigns. Martin was honored with The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY® Award in 2009 and new releases drawn from his legendary recorded catalog and television archive continue to achieve multi-platinum success around the world.

Dean Martin ICON features 11 of Dino’s most popular songs, including “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head,” “That’s Amore,” “Volare,” “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You,” and “Memories Are Made Of This.”

Full tracklist: 1. Ain't That A Kick In The Head / 2. That's Amore / 3. Memories Are Made Of This / 4. Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu) / 5. Sway / 6. Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!) /

7. Innamorata (Sweetheart) / 8. Just In Time / 9. Cha Cha Cha D ‘Amour (Melodie D ‘Amour) / 10. Return To Me (Ritorna-Me) / 11. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You.

THE RAT PACK - ICON

For more than 50 years, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.'s recordings have entertained fans around the world. The sounds they made live and swing forever. Their timeless style set the standard for future generations and stoked the dreams of those who wished to be one of them.

The Rat Pack ICON spotlights classics from the three entertainment legends, including “We Open In Venice,” featuring the vocal talents of all three men, and hits such as “That’s Amore,” “Luck Be A Lady," "That Old Black Magic,” and “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head."

Full tracklist: 1. We Open In Venice / 2. Witchcraft

3. Memories Are Made Of This / 4. Hey There / 5. Luck Be A Lady / 6. Ain’t That A Kick In The Head /

7. That Old Black Magic / 8. The Boys Night Out / 9. That’s Amore / 10. The Birth Of The Blues / 11. I’m Gonna Live Till I Die.

FRANK SINATRA - ICON

Frank Sinatra, long acclaimed as the world's greatest performer of popular music, is the artist who set the standard for all others to follow. A beloved entertainer for six decades, Sinatra earned three Oscars®, three Golden Globes®, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, ten personal GRAMMYs® (and a total of 20 for his albums), an Emmy®, a Peabody®, and the Kennedy Center Honors Award in 1983. A generous charitable contributor, he was honored with the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1971. In addition, Sinatra was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Honor and the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest civilian award.

From 1953 to 1961, Sinatra recorded more than 17 albums for Capitol Records. During Sinatra's years with Capitol, he pioneered and perfected the idea of the "concept album" by recording and sequencing songs on his LPs to strike and complete a specific mood. Albums such as Come Fly With Me, Only The Lonely, Songs For Swingin’ Lovers! and In The Wee Small Hours are considered vital classics. In 1960, Sinatra formed his own record company, Reprise. At that label, he would record many of his signature hits, such as "Strangers In The Night," "My Way," and "Theme from New York, New York."

Frank Sinatra has been called the most popular entertainer of the 20th century. The new ICON collection features 11 of his timeless classics, including “My Way,” “Theme From New York, New York,” “Come Fly With Me,” “Strangers In The Night,” and the Cole Porter classics “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “I Get A Kick Out Of You.”

Full tracklist: 1. Come Fly With Me / 2. Young At Heart / 3. I Get A Kick Out Of You / 4. All The Way /

5. I’ve Got You Under My Skin / 6. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) / 7. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) / 8. That's Life / 9. Strangers In The Night / 10. My Way / 11. Theme From New York, New York.

 

NEW CHRISTMAS RELEASES - A SLOW JAMS CHRISTMAS, PEGGY DUQUESNEL, JOHN FAHEY

A SLOW JAMS JAZZ CHRISTMAS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

From the original producers of the Slow Jams series comes a traditional take on the romance and splendor of the holiday season.  Celebrating the spirit of Christmas with time-honored yuletide medleys, A Slow Jams Jazz Christmas puts a stylish spin on the Slow Jams brand. This album brings dreamy nostalgia of holidays gone by spent listening to jazz icons such as Dave Brubeck, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Vince Guaraldi, Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson, and others. Slow Jams began as a late night radio show in 1994 by Kevin “Slow Jammin’” James called Sunday Nite Slow Jams. It soon developed into a successful program and eventually became a series of CD compilations that blended old and new R&B love songs. Original Jazz Classics is re-envisioning the series with a new version of Slow Jams enchantment. omplete Track Listing: Eddie Lockjaw” Davis - The Christmas Song / The Gene Harris Quartet - I’ll Be Home for Christmas / Scott Hamilton - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Don Patterson - Merry Christmas Baby / Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here / Hank Crawford - O Holy Night / Oscar Peterson - White Christmas / Coleman Hawkins – Greensleeves / Dave Brubeck - O Tannenbaum / Scott Hamilton -Christmas Love Song / Jack McDuff -Winter Wonderland /Curtis Peagler - I’ll Be Home for Christmas (reprise). Release date: 10/29/13.

PEGGY DUQUESNEL - ALL I ASK FOR CHRISTMAS

There is always a bit of an uproar when Santa and the elves debate over music preferences while toiling away in their North Pole workshop preparing for the big night. Some prefer swinging to straight-ahead jazz instrumentals while others prefer contemporary vocal numbers. Multidimensional pianist and vocalist Peggy Duquesnel’s “All I Ask for Christmas” is certain to satisfy everyone with her generous 21-song collection that will be released November 5th by Joyspring Music. Duquesnel produced the two-CD set - one acoustic jazz instrumental disc and one vocal disc - offering fresh arrangements of seasonal standards along with four new songs that she composed and recorded as both instrumental and vocal selections. The entire album will be serviced to jazz radio stations while smooth jazz outlets will be gifted with the single, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” featuring genre star Rick Braun’s regal flugelhorn.   

The instrumental portion of “All I Ask for Christmas” is a return to the classically-trained pianist’s roots in straight-ahead jazz presented with elements of adult pop, contemporary jazz and inspirational material on this, her seventh full-length outing. Backed by a crackling quartet – Grammy-nominated bassist Brian Bromberg on upright, drummer Joe La Barbera (Bill Evans, Tony Bennett, Bill Cunliffe), percussionist Brian Kilgore (Barbra Streisand, John Williams, Elton John, Coldplay, Aerosmith) and guitarist Jay Leach (“American Idol,” Barry Manilow, Gladys Knight) – Duquesnel’s arrangements are influenced by storied artists from yesteryear (George & Ira Gershwin, Horace Silver, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra) along with a dose of contemporary acoustic jazz (Dave Grusin, Bob James, Miles Davis).

On the vocal disc, Duquesnel sings and scats three duets with debonair vocalist Bill Cantos: the bebop title track penned by Duquesnel; the aptly titled “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song),” which was written and recorded by Amy Grant; and another new Duquesnel gem, “Under the Christmas Tree,” a romantic country gospel waltz adorned with Leach’s pedal steel guitar. Talented newcomer Emma Werderman impresses with a vocal full of moxie during a duet with her mentor (Duquesnel) on the stunning “Mary Did You Know” further illumined by Duquesnel’s piano eloquence. Duquesnel’s glowing jazzer “Light of Christmas” and the waltz-like “Christmas is Here” are new songs written with warmth, familiarity and timeless qualities that have the potential to become enduring evergreens.

“The album concept is to take familiar Christmas songs and put them with unique arrangements that have a jazz influence, but that are all accessible to a broad audience. In the process of making the album, I decided to do instrumental versions of the vocal songs. I am both a vocalist and an instrumentalist and enjoy playing these songs just as much instrumentally as vocally. For the listener, having both versions makes a lot of sense because they set two entirely different moods,” said Duquesne. ~ www.PeggyDuquesnel.com.

JOHN FAHEY - CHRISTMAS SOLI

John Fahey’s Guitar Soli Christmas album is the acoustic guitarist’s visionary 1968 set, was a scintillating collection of solo steel-string adaptations of beloved traditional Yuletide melodies (“Joy to the World,” “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”). It reportedly sold more than 100,000 copies on Fahey’s own Takoma label, tabbing it as his best-selling album, and inspired several more memorable holiday sets from the guitarist: Christmas With John Fahey Vol. II (1975, also on Takoma), Christmas Guitar Volume One (1982, on the Varrick label), and Popular Songs of Christmas & New Year’s, a duet collection with fellow guitarist Terry Robb (1983, on Varrick).

All four of those brilliant albums are generously represented on Fantasy’s newly compiled Christmas Guitar Soli With John Fahey, a 14-song compilation of highlights from Fahey’s Yuletide catalog. Scheduled for October 29 CD release, the collection provides a lovely soundtrack for the upcoming holiday season and boasts newly created cover art by Tom Weller, who designed the artwork for many of Fahey’s original Takoma albums, that’s done in the style of those classic sets. In addition, Fantasy will reissue The New Possibility: John Fahey’s Guitar Soli Christmas Album in its original vinyl LP form on November 5.

The new CD’s first five selections (the three mentioned above, plus “Auld Lang Syne” and a medley of “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” and “O, Come All Ye Faithful”) hail from the classic ’68 set. “Oh Holy Night,” “Carol of the Bells” (a duet with guitarist Richard Ruskin), and a medley of “Oh, Tannenbaum,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Jingle Bells” are taken from his 1975 follow-up LP. Moving over to the Varrick imprint, Fahey recorded “The First Noel,” “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” and “Silent Night, Holy Night” for Christmas Guitar Volume One, while “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “The Christmas Song,” and a medley of “Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” hail from the duet album with Robb. The compilation’s 14 selections summarize Fahey’s long-term commitment to finger-picking timeless Christmas melodies on his acoustic axe.

Born February 28, 1939 in Washington, D.C., Fahey was brought up from age six in suburban Takoma Park, Maryland (inspiring the name of his future label).  Blending country, bluegrass, and blues into a groundbreaking guitar technique that also incorporated classical influences (a hybrid later termed American Primitivism), Fahey first recorded in 1958 and released his debut album (which introduced his alter ego of Blind Joe Death) the next year on his fledgling Takoma imprint. Only 100 copies were pressed initially. In 1963, Fahey and fellow record collector ED Denson tracked down pre-war blues legend Bukka White, recording him anew for Takoma and relaunching White’s career. Fahey released his own Takoma encore set, Death Chants Breakdowns and Military Waltzes, during this same period.

While not releasing all of his subsequent albums on Takoma, Fahey continued to record prolifically for the label that he founded into the early 1980s. He weathered a bout with ill health and lived in poverty for a time, but made a heartwarming comeback during the ‘90s. Fahey died February 22, 2001 following a coronary bypass operation.

The concept of playing holiday classics on acoustic steel-string guitar was unheard of until Fahey explored the tantalizing possibility. Christmas Guitar Soli With John Fahey collects the best of his Yuletide performances on one warmly inspiring collection.