NEW RELEASES: NARA LEAO - OS MEUS AMIGOS SAO UM BARATO; BETH CARVALHO - ANDANCA; ASTRUD GILBERTO - WINDY

NARA LEAO - OS MEUS AMIGOS SAO UM BARATO

A wonderful album from Nara Leao – and one that features her singing duets with some of the greatest talents of the bossa era and beyond – an amazing lineup that includes Tom Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Edu Lobo, Joao Donato, Carlos Lyra, and others! The sound is wonderful – done with an intimate quality that brings a slightly modern variation of older bossa modes – but with some of the cool, dark inflections that Nara always has in her music. Instrumentation includes a fair bit of acoustic elements, and titles include "Repente", "Amazonas", "Cara Bonita", "Nono", "Joao E Maria", and "Sarara Miolo". Great stuff – and one of her best albums from the later years!  ~ Dusty Groove

BETH CARVALHO - ANDANCA

Early and lovely work from Beth Carvalho – a set that's quite different than her later albums, with much more of a 60s bossa diva sound overall! Arrangements are by Lyrio Panicali and Gaya, and the album's got a warmly flowing groove that's right up there with more familiar sides from the Blue Brazil generation – such as work by Doris Monteiro! The Som 3 combo back up Carvalho on most of the album's tracks – making for some great groovy and jazzy elements – and the Golden Boys join in on harmony vocals on a handful of other tracks too! Titles include "Estrela Do Mar", "Maria Da Vavela", "Sentinela", "Rumo Sul", "Maria Aninha", "Carnaval", "Samba Do Perdao", and "Fechei A Parta". CD features 10 bonus tracks – including "Minie", "Essa Passou", "Meu Tamborim", "Berenice", "So quero Ver", and "Minhas Tardes De Sol". ~ Dusty Groove

ASTRUD GILBERTO - WINDY

One of the hardest to find Astrud Gilberto records on Verve – and one of the best! Deodato, Don Sebesky, and Pat Williams did the arrangements – and the sound here is a bit different than some of the straighter Gilberto sets of the time – still very bossa-inspired, but also in a style that mixes in some great Sunshine Pop and 60s easy influences too – particularly on the tracks arranged by Williams! Tracks are all quite short, but get a heck of a lot of magic into a tiny space – and the album features some really wonderful songs that break Gilberto's pattern a bit – including versions of the Marcos Valle tracks "Crickets Sing For Anamaria" and "Chup Chup, I Got Away" – plus takes on "Windy", "Sing Me A Rainbow", "Never My Love", and "Where Are They Now?" ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: BADEN POWELL - LE MONDE MUSICAL DE BADEN POWEL VOL 2; JOYCE - FEMININA; IVAN LINS - A NOITE

BADEN POWELL - LE MONDE MUSICAL DE BADEN POWEL VOL 2

Some of the first recordings done by Baden Powell outside of Brazil – and already an indication that his work with the European scene was a very good thing! The record has Powell upfront on guitar and vocals, but working with these great arrangements from arranger/trumpeter Ivan Jullien – who plays on the record in a small combo that features other percussion, and some really great flute from Raymond Guiot! The mix of flute with Baden's bossa elements is very nice – and really prefaces some later experiments that would have Powell bringing even more European elements to his music. The overall vibe is a great precursor to Baden's later work for MPS – and titles include "Lapinha", "Aria", "Formosa", "Tres Historias", "Martinia", "Ao Meu Amigo Pedro Santos", and "Lemanja". ~ Dusty Groove

JOYCE - FEMININA

Beauty, pure beauty – one of Joyce's greatest albums – and maybe the first record we'd point to for anyone interested in her music! The set's an incredible blend of vocals, acoustic guitar, and these lightly gentle arrangements – all at this new level of expression that still recognizes Joyce's bossa roots, but really moves beyond with all the sophistication of MPB in the 70s! The sound of the whole thing is wonderful – completely transcendent and mesmerizing right from the start – and Joyce penned most of the tunes and handled the arrangements – with help from Gilson Peranzzetta on a few tracks. Titles include the classic "Feminina", plus "Essa Mulher", "Coracao De Crianca", "Aldeia De Ogum", "Compor", and "Misterios". If you buy just one Joyce album in your life, this might well be it!  ~ Dusty Groove

IVAN LINS - A NOITE

A really wonderful album from Ivan Lins – filled with life, soul, and a free sense of spirit that reminds us of some of Milton Nascimento's best work from the same period! Ivan's vocals are set amidst some heavenly arrangements by Gilson Peranzzetta – done with just the right amount of jazz in the mix, and a nice blend of instrumentation that often includes electric piano and a bit of strings. Lins is at the height of his powers here, both vocally and in terms of his songwriting – and the album ranks as one of his best from the time. Titles include "A Voz Do Povo", "Formigueiro", "Antes Que Seja Tarde", and "Noites Sertanejas".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: ASTRUD GILBERTO - JAPANESE ALBUM; JOEGE BEN - BIG BEN; JOYCE - AGUA E LUZ

ASTRUD GILBERTO - ASTRUD GILBERTO JAPANESE ALBUM

A lost treasure – and one of the rarest albums in Astrud Gilberto's career! The set's a special Japanese-only session – recorded in 1969, and featuring all new Japanese lyrics to a number of Astrud's biggest hits – plus some wonderful new tracks done especially for the session! The backings are all new too – and a great blend of light orchestrations and sweet jazzy touches, in a mode that recalls the hippest style of Astrud's late 60s Verve recordings – and which carries the tunes with a lovely groove that wraps you up so much, you hardly notice that you can't understand the language! Titles include "A Man & A Woman", "Life For Life", "Shadow Of Your Smile", "Street Samba", "I Love Old Love", "You I & Love", "Cupid's Song", and "White Waves".  ~ Dusty Groove 

JORGE BEN - BIG BEN

Brilliant early work from Jorge Ben – a set that shouldn't be confused with the US album of the same name, and which is one of Jorge's first few gems of the 60s! The album's got Ben stepping out with a slightly jazzier feel than on his debut – a style that's still heavily steeped in the guitar-driven samba that first won him fame, but which also features a fair bit of bossa-influenced instrumentation too – bits of piano, flute, and horns that echo with some darker colors and tones that really add a lot to the tunes! The backings are never too full – nor too full of themselves – but this added level of sophistication really helps push Jorge into a range of fresh new sounds – and that's saying a lot, given how fresh his music from the time already was. Titles include "Agora Ninguem Chora Mais", "Telefone De Brotinho", "Patapatapata", "Na Bahia Tem", "Jorge Well", "Deixa O Menino Brincar", "Bom Mesmo E Amar", and "O Homem Que Matou O Homem Que Matou O Homem Mau". ~ Dusty Groove

JOYCE - AGUA E LUZ

An amazing mix of jazzy vocals, sparkling production, and beautiful light guitar – the younger Joyce at her best – in a wonderfully uncluttered style that makes the record a treasure all the way through! Joyce sings and plays acoustic guitar – and gets these lightly jazzy backings that often feature a bit of electricity, but never too much to dampen the acoustic heart of the record – that great sense of personality that's always made Joyce unlike any other Brazilian artist we can think of – even though so many others have tried to copy her style over the years! Joyce did all the arrangements herself, Sivuca guests on one track – and titles include "Muito Prazer", "Samba De Gago", "Agua E Luz", "Mais Uma Vez, Mais Uma Voiz", "Banho Maria", and "Meio A Meio".  ~ Dusty Groove

JOE BONAMASSA TO RELEASE NEW SOLO ALBUM "DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE" ON SEPTEMBER 23

GRAMMY-nominated guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa has announced that his brand new solo album Different Shades Of Blue (J&R Adventures) to be released September 23, 2014. This is Bonamassa's first studio album in two years and the first album of his career to feature all original material. The result is a record with more of an experimental edge than previous Bonamassa records. It's a blues record that explores the outer reaches and the many different sounds that shape the genre.

"It's been a while since I've been involved in the writing on an entire album. So I decided I wanted to make a completely original blues album," said Bonamassa. "I've really had to push myself to make everything I do better than the last project. I know the fans expect it. And I feel like I owe it to the fans to give them an original record after all these years."

To prepare for the record, Bonamassa took 2013 off from releasing any new studio material, a rarity in the tireless bluesman's career, and instead spent time in Nashville writing with Jonathan Cain (Journey), known for hits "Who's Crying Now," "Open Arms," and "When You Love A Woman;" James House (Diamond Rio, Dwight Yoakam, Martina McBride), and Jerry Flowers (Keith Urban).

"The writers really inspired me, and having access to really great lyricists and songwriters made it such a great experience," said Bonamassa.

Recorded at Studio At The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, Different Shades Of Blue was produced by Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin), who has helmed Bonamassa's last fifteen projects including his solo projects and collaborations with Black Country Communion and Beth Hart. To compliment Bonamassa's signature guitar style and vocals, Shirley brought together a group of musicians including Reese Wynans (organ, piano), Carmine Rojas (bass), Michael Rhodes (bass), Anton Fig (drums, percussion), Lenny Castro (percussion), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone), Ron Dziubla (saxophone), the Bovaland Orchestra (strings), and Doug Henthorn and Melanie Williams (background vocals).

"It's definitely my favorite Joe Bonamassa record to date," said Shirley. "It's an album that deserves to be listened to in its entirety. Luckily Joe's fan base really seems to appreciate a body of work and not just songs."

Each year, Bonamassa strives to deliver something new for his fans to thank them for their loyalty, dedication, and enthusiastic activity on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook which has helped grow the guitarist's reputation exponentially in the U.S. and abroad.

Shirley said, "I think Joe has learned the value of not underestimating his audience. He plays music as well as he can, and always tries to bring music of depth to his audience. We try very hard to make the records as multidimensional as possible and really try not to cut any corners in delivering them."

Bonamassa has twelve #1 Billboard Blues Albums (more than any other artist) and received his first GRAMMY nomination in 2013 for his collaboration with Beth Hart on the duo's sophomore album Seesaw. His 2013 solo acoustic project An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House was nominated by the Blues Music Awards for Best DVD and his 2009 DVD Live From The Royal Albert Hall recently received RIAA Platinum Certification.

http://jbonamassa.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JoeBonamassa

NEW RELEASES: GIORGIO MORODER - GIORGIO'S THEME; JOSE JAMES - WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING; GILBERTO GIL - GILBERTO'S SAMBA

GIORGIO MORODER - GIORGIO'S THEME

Electronic disco super-producer Giorgio Moroder has released a new single called "Giorgio's Theme" on June 9th. According to Moroder, "It's not EDM," Moroder says of the new track, which he describes as having "some arpeggios and nice chords." The single “Giorgio’s Theme” is currently available as a free download by Adult Swim's label, Williams Street Records. The song has a synth line reminiscent of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love," and the track finds Moroder moving his spacious melodic grooves through a funky guitar interlude and two sparse piano breakdowns that are reminiscent of his 70s er disco tracks. Moroder’s recent resurgence is to due to the huge success of Daft Punks’ Random Access Memories album which features Moroder, among other artists. Moroder will be performing at the Pitchfork Music Festival on Friday, July 18th. Free download: http://video.adultswim.com/music/singles-2014/

JOSE JAMES - WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

Jose James sounds even deeper than ever here – really moving forward with that amazing voice, and really finding a special space between all the jazz, soul, and funk projects of previous years! The album has James almost emerging as a singer who can span genres and reach out to new scenes – especially on some of the tunes that make heavier use of fuzzy guitar than before, and which have a seductive appeal that's bound to grab any ears that haven't been tuned to Jose's music so far! Yet other tracks still hold onto those great roots that made us love him so many records back – a classic style of soulful expression that hearkens back to giants of the 70s, but which always has this 21st century bristle and unique sense of phrasing. Backings are heavy on organ, Fender Rhodes, and other keyboards – and titles include "Angel", "Simply Beautiful", "Salaam", "Without U", "Every Little Thing", "Bodhisattva", "Anywhere U Go", and "While You Were Sleeping". ~ Dusty Groove

GILBERTO GIL - GILBERTO'S SAMBA

One of the best records we've heard from Gilberto Gil in many, many years – a stripped-down session that focuses on his voice and guitar work – in a style that takes us back to Gil's earliest days in music! The album feels like some lost session that Gilberto might have recorded in the 60s – before his Louvacao debut – done with mostly just a bit of light percussion from the enigmatic Domenico, plus some help from Moreno Veloso – who also co-produced the record as well, with that great sense of space he always brings to his own music too. A few cuts feature extra touches – a bit of accordion, or some flute from Danilo Caymmi – but the main focus is on Gil, who hasn't sounded this great in years – still able to capture our imagination when he works in a straightforward style like this. Titles include "Milagre", "Um Abraco No Joao", "Tim Tim Por Tim Tim", "Eu Sambo Mesmo", "Aos Pes Da Cruz", and "Desde Que O Samba E Samba". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: KAROL CONKA - BATUKFREAK; LION VS DUB CLUB – THIS GENERATION IN DUB; MAX IONATA QUARTET - INSPIRATION LIVE

KAROL CONKA - BATUKFREAK

Beat-heavy Brazilian work from Karol Conka – a set that's got some of the same urban vibe of the baile beat work of a few years back, but which also focuses the energy into a tighter, more compact R&B groove! Karol rhymes her way along the groove, but at a pace that's a bit more laidback than some of her contemporaries – and the rhythms bring in lots of earthy, organic elements alongside the electronic ones – creating this fusion of favela roots and contemporary urban – on tracks that include "Caxambu", "Gueto Ao Luxo", "Sandalia", "Boa Noite", "Gandala", "Bate A Poeira", and "Vo La".  ~ Dusty Groove

LION VS DUB CLUB – THIS GENERATION IN DUB

A dubbed-up version of The Lions album This Generation – done at a level that's very faithful to the format, especially considering the classic Kingston vibe of the original versions! There's a few new bits here – greatly extrapolated from the album's recordings – but most numbers are just laidback and open variants with lots of low-end sound – heavy dub and plenty of echo throughout. Titles include "Revelations (Alphabet City dub)", "Dub It Tonight", "Easy Dub", "New Dub", "Picture On The Wall (pink dub)", "This Generation (skronk dub)", and "Roll It Round (crushed dub)". ~ Dusty Groove

MAX IONATA QUARTET - INSPIRATION LIVE

Brilliant work from saxophonist Max Ionata – one of our favorite musicians on the Italian scene in recent years – and a player who does a wonderful job of mixing the contemporary with the classic! The album's steeped in older hardbop modes – especially when Max is on tenor – but the overall phrasing and swing of the set picks up some modern elements too – some of the wonderful colors and richer lyricism that you'll find in the best Italian musicians – and just a touch of snapping rhythm at the right points, showing some of these players' link to the world of Schema. Ionata plays both tenor and soprano sax – and the quartet features Luca Mannutza on piano, Giuseppe Bassi on bass, and Nicola Angelucci on drums. Titles include the originals "I Hope I Wish", "Blue Art", "ESC", and "Aurora" – plus "Luiza" and "When Will The Blues Leave". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: QUANTIC - MAGNETICA; IKEBE SHAKEDOWN - STONE BY STONE; FATBOY SLIM PRESENTS BEM BRAZIL

QUANTIC - MAGNETICA

Quantic goes back to the old school with this sweet little set – and by that, we mean his own old school – from the years when he was mixing a lot more electric elements in his music! The record takes all the great Quantic sounds in recent years – his experiments with deep funk, Latin, and other global styles – and brings them back to that crispy production sound of the earliest Quantic records for Tru Thoughts – albums we really loved, but which also never had the sort of depth of this one either! The colors, flavors, sounds, and styles are stunning – definitely that rich tapestry that Quantic's come to express over the past decade – and if anything, the album's even more striking in the way he brings it all together with his magical touch. Guests include Alice Russell, Shinehead, Pongo Love, and Nidia Gongora – and titles include "La Planta", "Soul Clap", "Magnetica", "You Will Return", "Painting Silhouettes", "Aguas De Sorongo", and "La Callejera". ~ Dusty Groove

IKEBE SHAKEDOWN - STONE BY STONE

A really great second album from Ikebe Shakedown – easily the group's best work so far, and a real cut above the usual Afro-styled groove! These guys have a great way of laying back in their rhythms – still keeping things funky, but nicely paced too – so that there's a fresh feel to the way they layer together their horns and percussion, and let the keyboards nicely simmer away in the groove! The style's a bit like what El Michels did to more conventional funk groups – with the same sort of super-dope results – and the whole thing was recorded perfectly at the Daptone Studios, with a massively old school sort of vibe. The whole thing's instrumental, and titles include "The Beast", "Rio Grande", "The Offering", "Stone By Stone", "Last Stand", "Dram", "Chosen Path", and "Cover Your Tracks". ~ Dusty Groove

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FATBOY SLIM PRESENTS BEM BRAZIL

The contemporary sound of Brazil, offered up here in a set of 21st Century tracks and remixes – headed up by Fatboy Slim in service of the 2014 World Cup! The package features some older tracks remixed, and some newer ones that bristle with heavy beats and the kind of bassy rhythms that have been big in Rio and Sao Paulo in recent years – although the producers and mixers here are from a range of global sources. The 2CD set features 20 titles in all – and tracks include "Taj Mahal (Felguk rmx)" by Jorge Ben, "Everybody Loves A Carnival" by Fatboy Slim, "Sensualizar (Nervo rmx)" by Rio Shock, "O Cavaleiro E Os Moinhos (Yousef rmx)" by Elis Regina, "Stuttgart (John Digweed & Nick Muir rmx)" by Tosca, "Toda Menina Baiana (Ashley Beedle's Black Bahia rework)" by Gilberto Gil, "Agibore (DJ Marky's Ye Mele rework)" by MPB4, "Aldeia De Ogum (Psychemagik remix)" by Joce Moreno, and "Put Your Hands Up For Brasil (Fatboy Slim edit)" by Fedde Le Grand. ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: UB40 - ICON; AMBIENT JAZZ ENSEMBLE - SUITE SHOP; JOHNNY O'NEAL - LIVE AT SMALLS

UB40 - ICON 

Named after the form to collect British unemployment benefits, this multi-racial blue-eyed pop-reggae outfit reflected its members’ working class roots. Following in the style of the U.K.’s post-new wave Two Tone movement, their politics and street credibility came through on such No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers as their distinctive covers of Neil Diamond’s “Red Red Wine” and the emblematic version of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” a song penned by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George David Weiss. The band has been nominated four times for the Best Reggae Album GRAMMY® Award, and in 1984 they received a Brit Award nomination for Best British Group. One of the world’s best-selling bands, UB40 has sold more than 70 million records internationally. Other Top 10 U.S. hits featured on this collection include the covers “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” as well as their No. 1 U.K. hit, a version of Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe” featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Includes: Red Red Wine; The Way You Do the Things You Do;  Here I Am (Come and Take Me); Kingston Town; Bring Me Your Cup; I Got You Babe (featuring Chrissie Hynde); If It Happens Again; Rat In Mi Kitchen; Don’t Break My Heart; Cherry Oh Baby, and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You.

AMBIENT JAZZ ENSEMBLE - SUITE SHOP

The new Ambien Jazz Enselble album features 10 tracks and it features Neil Cowley (Jamiroquai), Finn Peterson (DJ Spinna), and George Shilling (Blur, Texas). Ambient Jazz Ensemble wrote music for the worldwide hit feature film Filth (starring James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Jamie Bell and written by Irvine Welsh). Neil Cowley plays keys, Finn Peters saxophone. The album was mixed by George Shilling (Blur, Calvin Harris) and mastered by Guy Davie (Erasure, Fatboy Slim). All tracks written by Colin Balrdy with long term writing partner Tom Kane cowriter of The Journey, Hallucinogenic, Waiting For Space and Vibration. The pair have been scoring tv, film and ad music for over 20 years. 

JOHNNY O'NEAL - LIVE AT SMALLS

Pianist Johnny O'Neal is a mighty warm talent – and a hell of a singer too, working with this raspy tone that's very much his own – and definitely on the bluesier side of the jazz spectrum! This excellent live set has Johnny working at the height of his charms – shifting effortlessly between instrumental numbers and vocal tracks sung with his trio – in a mode that we honestly didn't think was being done this well anymore! The record's got the old school approach of work from the 60s Prestige Records generation – but also has a more open sensibility that's really in keeping with the Live At Smalls series – live tracks that are very spontaneous, but never too loose either – some of the best production that Johnny's ever had on record. The group features Paul Sikivie on bass and Charles Goold on drums – and titles include "I'm Born Again", "Uranus", "Goodbye", "Where Is The Love/Overjoyed", I'll Be Tired Of You", "Blues For Sale", and "Sudan Blue". ~ Dusty Groove

BEBEL GILBERTO TO RELEASE "TUDO" FIRST NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN FIVE YEARS

World renowned, multi-Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Bebel Gilberto will heat up the summer season with her trademark blend of warm Brazilian rhythms and ethereal vocals when her first new studio album in five years, Tudo, is released August 19 on Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks.  The intoxicating new 12-track collection celebrates Gilberto's penchant for sonically transporting listeners to Brazil, with bright, incandescent bossa nova-infused melodies, lyrics about love, and a lilting performance style that has earned her a devoted fanbase worldwide. 

"For me, this album came straight from the heart, and the recording process was one of the most intense I have ever been through," said Gilberto.  "A good part of the album was recorded in LA, and you really feel that lighter, brighter west coast vibe in the music, mixed in with my darker 'New Yorker' feelings.  Tudo means 'everything' and as a Brazilian, I feel everything and live every moment deeply, and wanted to sing about each little moment, emotion, idea, melody that has been part of my life over the past year. I am loving life and living more passionately than ever and wanted to share all that!"

Recorded in Brazil, New York and Los Angeles this past winter, and produced and mixed by Mario Caldato Jr., Tudo features six new original tracks including the captivating standout English language track "Somewhere Else,"  the soft "Nada Nao," filled with hypnotic percussion touches including wood bongos, shakers and even bottle caps; "Tom de Voz," which features Gilberto teaming up with acclaimed songwriter and guitarist Cesar Mendez from Bahia, who Gilberto met through mutual friend Caetano Veloso and who penned the track; and the delightful  duet "Novas Ideias," which Gilberto co-wrote and performed with her longtime friend Seu Jorge.

Gilberto also masterfully reinterprets the Antonio Carlos Jobim classic "Vivo Sonhando," and pays homage to one of her personal favorites, Neil Young, with a beautiful cover of "Harvest Moon," which Gilberto originally sang - and debuted her guitar skills on - at the "Music of Neil Young at Carnegie Hall" tribute in NYC in 2011.  Jon Pareles of The New York Times praised the performance saying, "Ms. Gilberto turned 'Harvest Moon' into a whispery bossa nova that savored every bit of its romance."

An outstanding band of assorted longtime musical friends and collaborators joined Gilberto in the studio to lend their talents to Tudo  including Masa Shimizu on assorted guitars, Didi Gutman (of Brazilian Girls fame) on piano, percussionist Mauro Refosco, Kassin on electric and acoustic bass and guitars, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, who helmed the wonderful string arrangements.

Gilberto captured fans and media acclaim worldwide with her hit breakout album Tanto Tempo in 2000, which featured her trademark electronic bossa nova, taking over clubs around the world and positioning Bebel as one of the top-selling Brazilian artists in the U.S. since the '60s. Critically-acclaimed albums to follow included Bebel Gilberto (2004), on which she refined her sound to create an acoustic lounge style that showcased her strengths as a Brazilian composer, and Momento (2007), which masterfully showcased her skills at fusing all her musical styles, and the Grammy-nominated All in One (2009), which brought to forefront more of Bebel's personality and love for organic rhythms.  Bebel Gilberto also recently released a beautiful concert DVD called Bebel Gilberto in Rio in Brazil in 2013.

Sony Music Masterworks comprises Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait, Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com.

Tudo Tracklisting: 

1.Somewhere Else   

2.Nada Nao   

3.Tom De Voz   

4.Novas Ideias   

5.Harvest Moon   

6.Tudo   

7.Saudade Vem Correndo   

8.Areia    

9.Tout Est Bleu   

10.Lonely in My Heart   

11.Vivo Sonhando   

12.Inspiracao   

www.bebelgilberto.com

NEW RELEASES: UNDERGROUND SYSTEM - BELLA CIAO; BIXIGA 70 - OCUPAI; STOLEN IDOLS - MOONLIGHT OFFERINGS

UNDERGROUND SYSTEM - BELLA CIAO

An Afro Funk combo, but with a difference! The group's got a strong female vocal presence upfront, and also really knows how to build a tune – mixing together classic rhythms with some inventive keyboard and horn solos – surging strongly forward on "Bella Ciao", a 21st Century version of the kind of longform jam you'd hear on a vintage Fela album! "DON" is moodier and dubbier – almost a post-punk kind of take on Afro Funk – with dark elements in the background at many points, as if Martin Hannett was production! ~ Dusty Groove

BIXIGA 70 - OCUPAI

An Afro Funk combo from Brazil, but one who bring in a huge amount of different influences to their music as well – expanding their sound with a range of soulful colors that make this set even more compelling than their debut! In addition to some expected Brazilian elements, there's also strong flavors from different African and Caribbean scenes as well – often explored with the guitar lines and percussion – while the core tenor, trumpet, baritone, and trombone line forge out with a strong sense of pride. Flute comes into the mix at a few points, creating some slight lyrical interplay – and the whole album is instrumental, with titles that include "Tigre", "Ocupai", "5 Esquinas", Kriptonita", "Retirantes", and "Tangara". ~ Dusty Groove

STOLEN IDOLS - MOONLIGHT OFFERINGS

A contemporary exotica combo – but one who've really found their own sense of identity, and don't just replicate styles from the old days! The music here is wonderfully moody – forged with classic exotica instrumentation that's heavy on vibes and percussion, as well as piano from arranger Drew Farmer – and the tracks spin out with a deep understanding of later 20th century modes – not just in jazz, but other instrumental worlds – such as post-punk or post-rock – all of which seem to shimmer in the depths of the record somewhere. Way more compelling than just another retro rehash – especially if you like vibes as much as us – and titles include "The Kyoto Protocol", "Tonga Sunset", "Sao Paulo 64", "On Togna Shores", "Monkey Mayhem", and "Okavango". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS - OJO ABAMETA; DIRTWIRE - ONDAR; SONZEIRA - AQUARELA DO BRASIL MARK E REMIX

SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS - OJO ABAMETA

As the band prepare to tour Japan & Europe (including 2 prestigious shows at The Glastonbury Festival) Freestyle Records is proud to present the brand new 5 track single - Ojo Abameta, a percussive & frenetic number, built on a bed of amazing percussion and topped off with some deeply sweet ensemble horns, the end result is reminiscent of African hi life sounds, which acts as a curtain raiser for forthcoming album Follow The Path. The single also contains 2 100% exclusive tracks that do not appear on the album - All Who Pass By and Fe which are both prime examples of the totally original Shaolin Afronauts approach to their craft.

DIRTWIRE - ONDAR

The Bay Area meets Tuva on electro-acoustic tribute to throat-singing legend. Unlikely worlds harmoniously intersect on the Ondar EP, the newest release by Bay Area-based electro-acoustic duo Dirtwire. The EP honors the musical legacy of Tuvan throat-singing master Kongar-ol Ondar (1962–2013), with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Ondar's legacy in Tuva. The Ondar EP originated from a chance encounter in 2013 when Dirtwire's Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila and Stellamara) was invited to play mouth harp with Ondar -- the “Groovin' Tuvan” -- during a private performance in Marin, CA. Ondar's vocals were recorded by David Satori (Beats Antique) in a home studio later that night. "Taiga," the EP's key track, is an ode to Bai-laa Taigam, an expansive steppeland in the singer's home region of Tuva, Russia. Throughout the EP, the mellifluous interplay of acoustic and electronic often makes it difficult to tell where Ondar's otherworldly voice leaves off and Dirtwire's ambient textures begin. “It was a great honor and a privilege to get to collaborate with such a musical legend of the Earth,” says Fraser of his experience working with Ondar. “You can picture the natural beauty of his native Tuva as you hear him sing. Ondar will be missed and remembered forever.”

SONZEIRA - AQUARELA DO BRASIL MARK E REMIX

It would have been a daunting task for anyone to attempt a remix of the beautifully twisted Sonzeira version of Brasilian classic "Aquarela do Brasil" - but Gilles knew instinctively that one man would deliver. Mark E - the Wolverhampton raised Birmingham based DJ and producer and founder of MERC records has done just that. He somehow manages to bring a further layer of warmth and melancholy to the track - but leaves Elza Soares' haunting vocal in the spotlight. It's framed by new orchestrations on keys, piercing strings and punctuated by subtle bossa drum references. This is 7 and a half minutes of cinematic build and wonder.

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MARCEL CAMARGO - THE BRAZIL YOU NEVER HEARD: BEHIND JOBIM FEATURING GRETCHEN PARLATO

Marcel Camargo has made his living as a professional musician in different locations all over the world, working as a sideman to legendary Brazilian, jazz, and pop musicians such as Michael Bublé, Sérgio Mendes, Bebel Gilberto, and Gretchen Parlato. Stepping into the spotlight as a leader with The Brazil You Never Heard, Camargo has created a project to showcase his many musical facets - guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer.

  

The São Paulo musician set out to produce an ongoing series of live concerts with companion studio records that feature his arrangements and compositions in the context of a chamber orchestra. While the focus is on Brazilian music, the repertoire embraces music from all over the world, illustrating how Brazil is both influenced by and influential to the international music scene.

  

Behind Jobim, the first in the series of EPs, aims to take an abridged look into the mind of Antônio Carlos Jobim, arguably Brazil's most internationally renowned composer/songwriter. "When I put together the repertoire, I designed it to mostly feature music that I knew was influential to Jobim," says Camargo. "When I did include his compositions in the set, the idea was to tie those to other pieces by composers that were his heroes." The result is a historical narrative, pointing back to Jobim's favorite classical composers - Debussy, Chopin and Villa Lobos - as well as his predecessors in the legacy of great Brazilian composers - Pixinguinha, Garoto and Radamés Gnattali.

When it came to recording the album, producing duties were split between drummer Leo Costa and Camargo. "For this EP, we chose to record pieces from the Behind Jobim concert that we felt made the biggest statements about what we wanted to accomplish musically and in terms of creating narratives," reflects Camargo. Those narratives are reinforced by the presence of vocalist Gretchen Parlato, who is no stranger to collaborations with Camargo. "Marcel Camargo is one of my favorite musicians, I love singing with him. He beautifully honors the classic sound we all adore in Brazilian music, but also allows his own voice to shine through...he's doing something very special and necessary with this project," says Parlato.

The first historical connection is presented on "Lamentos do Morro," which Camargo imagined had a strong connection to Jobim's "Samba do Avião." The composition was re-orchestrated from a solo guitar arrangement by Brazilian guitarist Garoto to bring it closer to the hearts of non-guitar players. "I know Jobim loved Garoto as well and thought perhaps the song might have been of special importance to Jobim," reflects Camargo.

On "Lamento," Camargo incorporates a modern take on the Choro written by one of the genre's most influential composers, Pixinguinha. Originally released in 1928, the tune was described by critic Cruz Cordero as an Americanization of the typical Brazilian style in both melody and rhythm. "We loved this piece and we think Jobim loved it too," states Camargo. "I thought I'd twist this Choro even further with some different harmonies and rhythms that, while still referencing the older style, make the tune seem modern."

Vocalist Gretchen Parlato is featured on three of the album's five songs. On "I Fall in Love Too Easily," Parlato sings a duet with Camargo on guitar in an intimate setting. "We thought this was a nice contrast to the other tunes because of the sparse instrumentation and the improvised interpretation of the composition, whereas the other pieces on this record are very planned out and arranged," notes Camargo.

"Prelude/How Insensitive" brings the classical connection to the forefront by using Chopin's "Prelude No. 4 in E minor (Opus 28)" as an introduction. It is transcribed for a string quartet and made to resolve into the arrangement of Jobim's "How Insensitive," which also features Parlato.

Behind Jobim concludes with "Imagina," reinforcing the inspiration of Jobim and his ever-evolving connection to classical music. The song is said to have been Jobim's first composition from 1947, originally as a homework assignment from his teacher written for solo piano. Although the string quartet is the main sonic force, the harp and celeste are brought in to emphasize the dreamy quality of the arrangement enforced by vocals from Parlato and Camargo.

"A big part of the success of the series lies in the caliber and uniqueness of the groups that I've been lucky to assemble to present the material," says Camargo. Often including string and horn sections with a core rhythm section as well as the harp and mandolin, these large chamber groups have the capability of bringing all the details of a given piece to life while opening the listener to musical moments that might have otherwise passed by unnoticed.

Since the music of Jobim draws from many sources - mainly classical music, Brazilian popular and folk music, and jazz - Camargo creates a set that is very eclectic, yet conceptually cohesive. 

Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil to a "musical extended family," Camargo learned to play guitar, percussion and sing with his uncle. At 16, he moved to the United States where he later earned his degree in Ethnomusicology from UCLA while studying under some of jazz' most significant musicians - Kenny Burrell, Billy Higgins, Harold Land, Gerald and Anthony Wilson as well as studying traditional Ghanaian music under master drummer Kobla Ladzekpo. His interests in school were varied but he was particularly attracted to folk music from different parts of the world. Taking full advantage of being in the United States, Camargo focused his studies on America's great folk idiom, jazz.

Currently residing in Los Angeles, working both as a sideman and leading his own group, his main gig has been playing guitar and singing back-up vocals for international pop star Michael Bublé. His other side work has been diverse, ranging from working with Sérgio Mendes, Bebel Gilberto, Tom Harrell and Gretchen Parlato - to performing with R&B/Hip-Hop icons such as Seu Jorge, Flying Lotus, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch as well as touring and recording with artists like Macy Gray, Quadron, and Missy Higgins.

As an educator, Camargo has lectured on a variety of musical subjects while teaching at institutions such as the California State University Northridge, Shepherd University, the Larchmont Music Academy in New York, the French-American Lyceum Kennedy, and the South Pasadena Music Conservatory in California.

Marcel Camargo and The Brazil You Never Heard Behind Jobim is due for release on July 15, 2014.  

MarcelCamargo.com

ALAN CHAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - SHRIMP TALE

The Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra has emerged, since its formation in 2011, as one of the brightest lights on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Last year, Chan gathered a group of topnotch studio and jazz players -- 19 pieces in all, plus guest trumpeter Wayne Bergeron -- and produced a two-day session. First to be released, in the fall of 2013, was the EP Rancho Calaveras. Next month, on July 15, the orchestra's debut CD Shrimp Tale is due for release on Chan's imprint, Crown Heights Audio Network.

"The way I write, I want to tell a story in every composition," says Chan, 36, a classically trained pianist born and raised in Hong Kong. "My pieces tend to be open-ended. I go into different scenarios. They can read rough, jumping from one place to another, breaking grooves, but I like that kind of phrasing because in a way that's almost like talking, the way we phrase and rephrase things."

Most of his big band compositions reflect the modern world in affecting ways and, without explicitly incorporating ethnic forms, capture important aspects of the Asian-American experience. "Compositions that unfold and morph, challenging structures, inventive voicings and ever-changing orchestral colors set this group apart. Chan has given Los Angeles a jazz big band with an utterly unique tonal personality," wrote Kirk Silsbee in a Down Beat feature published last year.

When Chan was growing up in Hong Kong, the country was still under British rule. Chinese music was marginalized there, and little jazz was available, so he was exposed mainly to classical and Chinese folk music. Even when he later immersed himself in jazz studies, he says, he never lost his connection to traditional Asian forms.

Chan went on to study jazz arranging with Gary Lindsay as an undergraduate at the University of Miami in the late '90s (a time and place he nostalgically recalls on "Shrimp Tale"), but he never thought he'd lead a big band. As a doctoral student at the University of Southern California, he primarily studied classical composition. (He acquired his master's in composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City after being part of an exchange program at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.)

But with the encouragement of two distinguished composer-arrangers at USC, Shelly Berg and Vince Mendoza, he became involved with jazz. And the more he listened to the work of artists including Thad Jones, Bob Mintzer, Uri Caine, Hermeto Pascoal, and the recently deceased Fred Ho, he says, "the more attractive jazz's harmonic language became to me. It felt like a bold new world."

In 2008, Chan became a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York City. Under the guidance of director Jim McNeely, he made significant advances as a composer and arranger, incorporating classical elements into the background of some of his pieces. That the musicians he worked with were so adept at performing his compositions from scratch gave him a major boost.

After receiving commissions from around the world and having his charts performed by such ensembles as the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge, and the Millennium Jazz Orchestra of the Netherlands, Chan formed his Jazz Orchestra in 2011 -- the year he won the Dutch ArtEZ Jazz Composition Contest. He was also a finalist in last year's Brussels Jazz Orchestra Composition Contest.

The Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra will be performing two CD release shows this summer, one on each coast. Their appearance at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood is set for Tuesday 7/1 at 8:30 pm. A month later, Alan will debut his East Coast band at ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, Monday 8/4 at 7:30 pm. Much of the new CD's material was composed nearby in his studio in Gowanus. He's especially excited to be performing this music in his beloved old Brooklyn neighborhood. 

alanchanjazzorchestra.com

KEYBOARDIST GREG MANNING RELEASES DANCE WITH YOU ON MAURICE WHITE'S RELAUNCHED KALIMBA MUSIC LABEL

Growing up in Switzerland, keyboardist Greg Manning (www.greg-manning.com) recalls sitting in his living room with his parents, grooving along to their classic Earth, Wind & Fire albums. Now an emerging jazz performer, he is part of the musical legacy of the group's legendary founder Maurice White, who has signed Manning as the first artist on his newly re-launched Kalimba Music label (http://kalimba-music.com/).

Previously best known for his nine year stint as touring keyboardist and musical director for South African-born, Grammy-nominated jazz/gospel singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler, Manning broke out in a big way last year with his debut instrumental single "Dance With You."

The track, featuring one of the genre's most popular saxophonists, Mindi Abair, was an across the board airplay smash, reaching #1 on the taste-making chart, The Smooth Jazz Top 20 with Allen Kepler. Kepler is the host of the Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown on The Smooth Jazz Network, which designated "Dance With You" as Song of the Year for 2013.

Manning recently finished mastering his label debut, Dance With You, for a July 8, 2014 release. In addition to Manning's previous hit singles "Dance With You" and "Groove Me" (featuring saxman Elan Trotman), the 11-track collection will include the newly released track "Cruisin' Down The Road," which features the chart-topping saxophonist Vincent Ingala.

A native of Zurich, Switzerland, the multi-talented keyboardist studied piano and film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston before returning to his home country to establish himself as a composer and producer. He made his debut in the U.S. as the keyboardist for Brian McKnight's "Back At One" tour, then toured extensively with Butler.

Over the years, Manning has also performed with many top names in the genre, including Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Richard Elliot, Eric Marienthal, Chante Moore and Kirk Whalum, among others. As a producer in the genre, he recently produced and mixed a project for Italian saxophonist Gianni Vancini, who returned the favor with an appearance on the keyboardist's new song "Phoenix Rise!"

Kalimba Music's first release is a re-mastered collector's edition of the Earth, Wind & Fire hit album The Promise.

DEBUT ALBUM FROM VOCALIST FRANK SHINER - THE REAL ME

Frank Shiner is a unique new singer whose vocals evoke a certain sound associated with the old school American Songbook era.  But all comparisons end there, as is clearly evident on Shiner's debut album, The Real Me, set for release on Bakerson/Pyramid Records, Universal Music Group on June 24th 2014.  To celebrate the release of the CD, Shiner will perform at 54 Below in New York City on June 25th and at The Winery At St. George in Mohegan Lake, New York on July 8th.  He will also be signing albums and performing songs from the upcoming release at Barnes & Noble in his hometown of Wilkes-Barre, PA on June 27th. The debut single from the album entitled "Feels Like Home" is currently Top 5 on the AC Radio Charts. 

Many of the song selections on The Real Me have distinct blues overtones and are lyrically rooted in the generation that belongs to Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, and Randy Newman, just a few of the contemporary composers whose work is showcased on Shiner's album.  The finishing touch is the deft studio mastery of producer Gary Katz, best known for his tasty work on the classic series of albums by Steely Dan, as well as landmark albums from Donald Fagen (The Nightfly), Laura Nyro, Joe Cocker and others.

A number of tunes on the album are dedicated to Frank's longtime love affair with his wife Suzanne - a fearless cancer survivor. Her bravery and encouragement led Shiner to follow his muse and rekindle his calling as a singer and actor that he had put on the back burner many years before, when he set out to provide for his young family.  Recording these near-biographical songs was the realization of a dream that only resurfaced three years ago.

Shiner was recently introduced to audiences on the 2013 holiday single "Driving Home For Christmas" (also produced by Katz), a holiday evergreen from the pen of Chris Rea, the eclectic jazz and blues-influenced British singer-songwriter. The single hit Amazon's Top 50 Song Chart with proceeds from iTunes and Amazon sales of the single being donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital, the favorite charity of Shiner's late father.

Shiner's decision to chart a new course for the Standard Songbook follows through on The Real Me.  With Katz establishing the well-crafted moods for which he is known, Shiner has succeeded in establishing himself as a modern singer in the genre of the Grobans and Bubles of the world. "The idea," Shiner says, "was to combine the attitude and musical values of the music that inspired me – the era of Sinatra and Darin – with a more contemporary body of material."

The arc of Shiner's musical artistry swings in that special place where his lifetime of experiences in singing and acting are able to breathe together and tell a story.  Like the album's title tune, the Doc Pomus/Dr. John masterpiece "The Real Me," Shiner appreci­ates a story with a beginning, middle, and an end.  "As a student of Shakes­peare," Shiner explains, "as a student of language, the song is a play, and the lyric is the most important thing to me.  If a pretty sound comes out after that or along with that, it's a bonus, never the goal."

Yet it is a goal that Shiner accomplishes with an unexpected jazzy ease, from the deliciously simplicity of Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue," to his cool sexy rhythmical approach of Tom Waits' "Temptation".  Shiner takes a romantic vocal approach to Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home," Jimmy Webb's timeless "It's a Sin (When You Love Somebody)" and Van Morrison's overlooked song of eternal hope and yearning, "Brand New Day."  Shiner's interpretation of the Roxy Music rarity "To Turn You On" and his sexy swing approach to Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man" are two of the album's welcome surprises. A pair of tunes are drawn from Paul Simon's blues-drenched One Trick Pony movie soundtrack, "Nobody" and "Long Long Day," well-handled by Shiner and Katz.  The repertoire for The Real Me was developed by Shiner and A&R veteran Mitchell Cohen (Columbia, Arista and Verve Records) and will be available on June 24, 2014.

 

GEORGE PERRIS TO RELEASE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBUT ALBUM - PICTURE THIS

George Perris, exciting, young international crossover pop crooner will release his debut English language album, Picture This, in North America, on May 27, 2014, through Destin Productions and distributed by RED/Sony Entertainment. Recorded in Los Angeles, New York, London, Prague, Montreal and Athens, the album showcases some of the world’s best talents coming together for one of the year’s most anticipated releases.

Picture This represents Perris’ first collaboration with a host of global producers, writers, arrangers and mixers including Mark Portmann (Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera), Marco Marinangeli (Josh Groban, Il Divo), Simon Hale (Bjork, Tina Arena, Jamiroquai), and Michael “Smidi” Smith (Coldplay, Haim, Chris Young). This fresh approach to adult pop features the participation of The Prague Symphony Orchestra and includes 13 tracks, three of which are co-written by Perris. George’s uniquely powerful yet pure voice is the perfect instrument to interpret the genuine, emotion of his songs.

Perris was born in Athens to a Greek father and a French mother, and has performed around the world in some of the most prestigious concert halls. He previously released three albums in Greek (with Sony Music and Heaven Music) and one album in French (with Select Records), but the multi-lingual Perris believes music transcends all boundaries. “Music, for me, is like a beautiful rainbow with many colors…it knows no nationalities, no barriers, no frontiers. Because music has its own language, the language of love, of freedom, but above all, hope.”

The first, official single from the album is the classic, ”I Will Wait For You,” taken from the French musical, “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”, and written by Michel Legrand with lyrics by Jacques Demy and Norman GimbelR.

Also, Perris is engaged to a cause that is very important to him personally, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, an organization that offers scholarships to young students facing adversity. Perris acts as an International Ambassador for the organization, and recently performed in a live concert event at New York’s Lincoln Center in support of the Association. That one-hour concert will be broadcast May 29th on the Ovation Channel and then for three months as a Comcast Video on Demand Event from July 1 – September 30th, 2014.