Gloria Loring at The Copa in Palm Springs, October 11, 2014

Gloria Loring is the recording artist of the #1 hit song Friends and Lovers; co-composer of television theme songs Diff’rent Strokes and Facts Of Life; an audience favorite as “Liz Chandler” on Days Of Our Lives; spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; the author of five books benefitting people with diabetes; a keynote speaker for corporations and non-profits; and one of few artists to sing two nominated songs on the Academy Awards.

The depth and diversity of Gloria’s talents and skills are impressive. As a performer, she toggles from classic rock to standards, from Broadway to pop, in clubs, performing arts centers, symphonies, and casinos. She’s starred in movies of the week, television specials, and theatrical productions, including a national tour of Anything Goes. She is a certified yoga instructor and an articulate champion of biomedical research.

Gloria’s new musical show TV Tunez, a celebration of television’s best theme songs that earned standing ovations, is in development for a Las Vegas run. She is currently in the studio with producer Ted Perlman and songwriting legends Burt Bacharach and Desmond Child.

Standing ovations greeted Gloria’s recent concerts with The Palm Beach Pops Symphony in tribute to the Streisand Songbook. The Palm Beach Daily News raved, “Loring commanded the stage from Note One... First and foremost, the lady came to sing — and sing she did — bringing the right combination of pipes and acting chops to give the evening’s tall order its due.”

She has shared the stage with the Pointer Sisters, the Supremes, Billy Crystal, Bill Cosby, and Bob Hope, and performed on numerous award shows, including the Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, and Golden Globes. In the beginning of her career, Gloria was profiled in an hour-long documentary, "Two Singers," with the legendary Aretha Franklin.

Gloria is featured on saxophone hottie Jimmy Sommers’ CD, Time Stands Still, singing the Peggy Lee classic, Fever. In an intriguing twist, her newest CD, A Playlist, features her R&B sensation son, Robin Thicke, on two tracks, and days after its release, jazz guitarist Gil Parris invited her to record Robin’s mega-hit Lost Without You with him.

Gloria Loring is appearing at The Copa in Palm Springs on October 11, 2014.

Brazilian Music Icon Sergio Mendes Releases Eclectic OKeh Records Debut - Magic

In a career that spans more than half a century, Sergio Mendes is an old hand at creating a unique sonic blend that electrifies a mass global audience. His knack for delivering hit after hit has made him the most successful Brazilian musician of his time. A grand conceptualizer, his well-polished talents as a pianist, composer, bandleader, vocalist and producer make him a truly singular artist. With Magic, his debut recording for the storied OKeh label, he triumphs once again, delivering a timely update on the infectious mix of Brazilian rhythms and contemporary styles from his homeland, the U.S. and elsewhere that make the Mendes sound instantly recognizable.

"I like to do things that are kind of bold, fresh and unique. That gives me a lot of pleasure," Mendes says of the creative process that has been central to his success. "I'm very curious and intuitive, and I also love to learn new things – I have no formula. I believe in the magic of the encounter… and that is what my life has been about, and also this album. For me, the most important thing is the melody. Then the arrangement. It's all about how you present the song. That plays a big role in what I do."

Magic spotlights the distinct talents of a large cast of both emerging and established Brazilian and North American musicians, vocalists, composers and producers. The eclectic line-up of multi-faceted collaborators underscores how Mendes has been so successful at forging fruitful partnerships since he emerged as a young jazz pianist in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1960s. Present to help Magic radiate its special distinctive charm are such one-of-a-kind artists as will.i.am, putting his producer's genius to work on one track, Grammy® Award-nominated singer Janelle Monae and Grammy® Award-winning singer John Legend. Among Mendes' Brazilian guests are vocalists Milton Nascimento, Carlinhos Brown, Ana Carolina, Seu Jorge, Maria Gadu, and Gracinha Leporace, Mendes' lovely wife and a noted vocalist from the bossa nova days. Also on hand is guitarist Guinga, one of Brazil's most accomplished string masters and composers. Recording sessions in Los Angeles, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro involved a host of top-flight musicians from both countries.

On Magic, the three-time Grammy® Award-winner taps the entire range of music styles he has explored, from samba jazz to hip-hop. The session's focal point is the exuberant "One Nation." "When I began the album last year," Mendes notes, "I went to Salvador to work with Carlinhos Brown and write a song for the World Cup. It represents the joy, the rhythm and the excitement of futbol as seen through a Brazilian eye." "Atlantica," by one of Mendes' favorite composers, is an example of what the musician looks for to perform. "When Guinga played that song for me two years ago, I couldn't get the melody out of my head," he comments. "The harmonies and chord changes are incredible. The beautiful thing about the album is that I have songs from composers like Guinga and Toninho Horta and my friend Milton Nascimento, who wrote his tune just for this album."

"Sometimes you have no idea of how younger people really appreciate your work and how knowledgeable they are of what you've done," Mendes comments on his collaborations with will.i.am and John Legend, "I like those experiences very much. I love reaching out and ending up with something that's bold and different. That's why I called the album Magic. Everything on it is magical."

Maria Gadu, a young singer, guitarist and composer from Sao Paulo, is another Magic revelation. "I met her about three years ago and said 'let's do a song together!' What a wonderful experience it was working with her." And, although he included songs like "So Eu," a melodic beauty by the late maestro Moacir Santos, his theory teacher in Rio 50 years ago, Mendes also contributed more original works than on any previous album. "The songwriting aspect of this album gives me tremendous pleasure," he adds.

Born and raised in Niteroi, a city across Guanabara Bay from Rio de Janeiro, young Mendes studied piano at a local conservatory. An interest in North American jazz led him to Copacabana's fabled clubs of the late 1950s, where he performed with his first trio. In 1961, he formed the Bossa Rio Sextet, a groundbreaking group that was his first of many artistic coups. "Those were the days of the bossa nova when it was mostly performed by a guitarist and a singer," he recalls today. "I came up with the idea of using two trombones and a tenor sax, and it was a revolution. People loved the sound because it was totally different." In the two years that followed, he took the group to New York City to perform at the historic bossa nova concert at Carnegie Hall in 1962. He recorded albums with such jazz greats as Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Phil Woods and Hubert Laws, and continued to work closely with his mentor, famed composer Antonio Carlos Jobim.

By the mid 1960s, it was time for a totally new direction, and Mendes once again created a revolutionary sound that would prove to be pop culture phenomenon for the following three decades. His new creation, dubbed Brasil '66, used two female vocalists to shape ingenious bossa-spiced arrangements of a wide-ranging repertoire that included the latest fare from Brazil, rock and R&B hits, and carefully chosen gems from the Great American Songbook. Significantly, his debut album with the new group, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, was recently inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Mendes has continued to recharge his passion for creating fresh and innovative music by seeking out challenging partnerships and novel sources of inspiration. Occasionally, the process has been as simple as returning to the elemental Brazilian sound, as he did on such albums as Primal Roots and Oceano. At other times, it has meant embracing the spirit of a universal theme. His album Confetti and its title tune became the anthem for the 1984 Olympic Games while Pele was the soundtrack for a motion picture about the world's greatest soccer player of all time. Within the past decade, Mendes has also successfully experimented with hip-hop and other of-the-moment styles.  For more information visit sergiomendesmusic.com.

Magic Tracklisting

1. Simbora (feat. Carlinhos Brown)

2. My My My My Love (feat. Cody Wise)

3. Don't Say Goodbye (feat. John Legend)

4. Sou Eu (feat. Seu Jorge)

5. When I Fell in Love (feat. Gracinha Leporace)

6. Meu Rio (feat. Maria Gadu)

7. Visions of You (feat. Janelle Monae)

8. Samba de Roda (feat. Aila Menezes & Gracinha Leporace)

9. Atlantica (feat. Ana Carolina)
10. Olha a Rua (feat. Milton Nascimento)

11. Hidden Waters (feat. Gracinha Leporace)

12. Magic (feat. Scott Mayo)

13. One Nation (feat. Carlinhos Brown)

Salsa De Bahia Volume 2 - A Collection of San Francisco Bay Area Salsa and Latin Jazz

Music that draws on its roots for nourishment is music that has the best chance to remain vital and strong.  Latin jazz has thrived in San Francisco since the late 1950s, and Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 2 Hoy y Ayer proves that it continues to evolve and flourish.  

The percolating rhythms, passionate improvisation and dynamic orchestration that characterize the best elements of the genre exemplified by such Bay Area legends as Cal Tjader, Armando Peraza, and Poncho Sanchez, can still be heard in noted artists and ensembles including Gladys 'Bobi" Cespedes, Roger Glenn, Kat Parra, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra and Rico Pabon.

Where the first volume of Salsa de la Bahia documented the recent era of 2000 to 2010, Volume 2 moves both backward and forward in time, covering the late 1980s up to 1999, and continuing on from 201o to 2013, making the case all the while that Latin jazz, SF-style, is alive and well because it grows in well-nourished soil. Artists featured on Volume 2 are the local legends, Orquesta Batachanga, Carlos Federico-Smart, Pete Excovedo and Orestes Vilato, heard with Los Kimbos 90.  These performers and ensembles provide  dazzling picture of San Francisco Latin jazz at its most encompassing, as Bay Area artists welcomed exciting musical influences from Cuba.  Other artist on the album include Wayne Wallace and his Latin Jazz Quintet; singers Cecilia Englehart and Kat Parra, heard with the band Tanaora; vocalist Gladys "Bobi" Cespedes; Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn; La Mixta Criolla; Rico Pabo; Pacific Mambo Orchestra and the all-star unit Estrellas De La Bahia, led by Wallace and Edgardo Cambon.

NEW RELEASES: HENRY MANCINI – MUSIC FOR PETER GUNN; MARCIN WASILEWSKI TRIO W/JOAKIM MILDER - SPARK OF LIFE; COOLIN’ SYSTEM – REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING

HENRY MANCINI – MUSIC FOR PETER GUNN

The classic TV detective series Peter Gunn, which ran from 1958 to 1961, is probably best remembered today due to the show's trendsetting score written by Henry Mancini and inspired by the West Coast Cool jazz style. On Music for Peter Gunn, GRAMMY-nominated conductor Steven Richman and the sensational Harmonie Ensemble/New York (joined by ace old-school improvisers Lew Soloff and Lew Tabackin), place their own stamp on Mancini's iconic orchestrations. It follows in the footsteps of Richman's and Harmonie Ensemble's previous bestselling releases Gershwin by Grofe (which landed on the Billboard charts in the top ten) and Ellington/Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suites. ~ Amazon

MARCIN WASILEWSKI TRIO W/JOAKIM MILDER - SPARK OF LIFE

The fourth ECM album for the Wasilewski Trio adds a special guest, the lyrical Swedish saxophonist Joakim Milder, whom the Poles came to know through performances with Tomasz Stankos Litania project. Amongst other affinities, the players share a love of Krzyzstof Komedas music, and Komedas Sleep Safe and Warm theme, written for Polanskis Rosemarys Baby make a reappearance here. As ever, the Wasilewski group balances original material - intensely melodic new tunes by Marcin (including two variations of the beautiful title track) - with a daring range of covers, embracing Herbie Hancock, the Polices Message In A Bottle and Slawomir Kurkiewiczs arrangement of a composition by Grazyna Bacewicz, and reinforces its status as one of the most resourceful groups around. This is the trios second ECM appearance this year, following on from sterling work as Jacob Youngs rhythm section on Forever Young.  Spark of Life was recorded in Lugano in March 2014, and produced by Manfred Eicher. ~ Amazon

COOLIN’ SYSTEM – REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING

No need to refrigerate this great little set – as room temperature's only going to make the whole thing even funkier over time! The Coolin System are hotter than ever here – not only tighter on the instrumental tip than we remember, but also picking up some much deeper influences from the 60s – including a touch of trumpet inspiration from Blue Mitchell, killer keyboards from Cedar Walton, and a blast of Brazilian funk from Som Tres! These guys use all the best elements to rework a small combo funky sound way past the usual – and the all-instrumental set unfurls some sweet lines on Fender Rhodes, Hammond, trumpet, tenor, and flute – on cuts that include "Beyond Mobius", "Homenagem A Mongo", "Blue Juice", "Soul Village", "Funky Mule", "Soul Thing", and "Jungle Juice". (Includes digital copy.)  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: FARMERS BY NATURE - COVE AND GHOSTS; DAVE DOUGLAS / URI CAINE - PRESENT JOYS; WILLIAM ONYEABOR & OTHERS – WHAT?: WILLIAM ONYEABOR REMIXED

FARMERS BY NATURE - COVE AND GHOSTS

Farmers By Nature is the phenomenal trio of drummer Gerald Cleaver, bassist William Parker, and pianist Craig Taborn, each an internationally renowned master musician-improviser-composer-bandleader. When they work together as FBN, it is as a complete musical collective; every communion is an auspicious and deeply rewarding event. They are without question one of the finest improvising units in the world today. Love and Ghosts is their long-awaited third release, following 2011 s Out of This World s Distortions, and was recorded during their inaugural tour of Europe that same year. The rapidly varying landscapes they traveled through, and the blessed ability to freely cross borders as citizen musicians, inform the two extraordinarily fertile nights of sound fluency and invention captured in highest fidelity and presented here. ~ Amazon

DAVE DOUGLAS / URI CAINE - PRESENT JOYS

Dave Douglas may well be one of the most collaborative musicians in jazz working today – yet even in a catalog rife with interesting combinations, this sweet little set really stands out – as it presents the trumpeter in one of the most intimate, lyrical settings we've heard in years! The record has a surprisingly poetic feel, even for Douglas – and all instrumentation comes from just his trumpet and the piano of Uri Caine – who plays in a style that's every bit as dynamic as his own recordings, but given a really special sort of focus here. Some of the music has spiritual overtones, but in a more ancient American way – and Douglas chose some of the tunes for their link to the tradition of shape-note singing. There's a gentle beauty to the record that's undeniable, and which has us appreciating Douglas all over again – and titles include "Old Putt", "Zero Hour", "Soar Away", "Ham Fist", "Bethel", and "Supplication". ~ Dusty Groove

WILLIAM ONYEABOR & OTHERS – WHAT?: WILLIAM ONYEABOR REMIXED

The mad music of William Onyeabor has gained many admirers over the years – a diverse array of artists from a diverse array of scenes – some of whom have come together in this mighty hip tribute to the master! The tunes here are either remixes, reworks, or complete covers of Onyeabor's incredible electric grooves from the late 70s and early 80s – and the project's so special, Luaka Bop even called in the help of Moog to put it together – no surprise, given how moogy some of William's music could be! The remixes are all very faithful, as are the reworks – and even the covers aren't the sort of cloyingly selfish sort you usually get on tribute albums – but instead feel like some great later iteration of Onyeabor's genius. Titles include Hot Chip's cover of "Atomic Bomb", Joakim & Akwetey's cover of "Good Name", David Terranova's remix of "Body & Soul", The Vaccines' remix of "Do You Want A Man", JD Twitch's (Optimo) cover of "Why Go To War?", Javelin's remix of "Heaven & Hell", Scientist's remix of "Body & Soul", and the track "Ye Ye", which is Daphni's rework of "When The Going Is Smooth & Good".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: JHENE AIKO - SOULED OUT; ORLANDO JULIUS WITH THE HELIOCENTRICS - JAIYEDE AFRO; THE SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS – FOLLOW THE PATH / OUTSIDE BEYOND

JHENE AIKO - SOULED OUT

Jhené Aiko’s much-anticipated debut album, Souled Out, is now available and features the singles "The Pressure" and "To Love & Die" (feat. Cocaine 80s).

The Los Angeles Times has crowned her hip-hop’s “new ‘it girl’,” while SPIN simply declares, “It’s Aiko’s moment.” And CNN echoes the sentiment: “the singer is serious about her craft and lays bare her soul with her lyrics. Her willingness to ‘go there’ is part of what is drawing in new fans.” Rolling Stone like-wise predicted great things for Souled Out: “Aiko's full-length debut will set the spotlight squarely on her powerhouse voice.” The 26-year old Los Angeles native is over a decade deep in the music game, having been featured on singles, albums and mixtapes by Urban A-listers Kendrick Lamar, Wale, Big Sean, Logic, J. Cole, Drake, and many more. Her debut EP, Sail Out, entered the charts in November 2013 and hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart, Top 3 iTunes and Top 10 Pop. To date, Sail Out has tallied over 300,000 sales, making it the biggest-selling EP in Def Jam history. Catch Jhené Aiko on the road for The Weeknd Tour starting September 19th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn with additional dates in Toronto, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. ~ Giant Step

ORLANDO JULIUS WITH THE HELIOCENTRICS - JAIYEDE AFRO

The first new music we've heard in years from Afro Funk giant Orlando Julius – wonderfully paired here with the always-great Heliocentrics! Orlando's definitely in the lead here – singing, playing tenor, and contributing percussion to the overall groove of the group – which leans a bit more towards a 70s African vibe than some of their other releases, yet still retains all their wonderful style of psychedelic funk! Some of the rhythms have an Ethiopian sense of slinkiness, while others hit more of a full-on Nigerian groove – and the whole thing's never forced, never gimmicky, and instead just the right sort of setting for Julius to re-emerge as a true giant of his generation. Titles include "Buje Buje", "Love Thy Neighbor", "Aseni", "Sangodele", "Jaiyede Afro", "Omo Oba Blues", "In The Middle", and "Be Counted".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS – FOLLOW THE PATH / OUTSIDE BEYOND

The Shaolin Afronauts have definitely followed their own path in recent years – a musical journey that's taken them way past their Afro Funk roots, into rich, complicated territory that seems to span the globe with its sound! Core elements here echo classic Nigerian, Ethiopian, and West African modes – but there's also a very inventive approach to the way the instruments are inflected – especially the keyboards and guitars, which often develop these spacey chromes and tones that really make for some musical magic. There's no vocals at all – which means that the horns and other instruments really get to voice their presence strongly – and the 2CD version features even more haunting music on the Outside Beyond CD, appended to the main album in this package. Core titles include "Sissoko", "To The Water", "At The Shrine", "Lagos Chase", "Baie De Sangareya", "Ojo Abameta", and "Boogie Back Accra" – and Outside Beyond material includes "Interstellar Griot (parts 1 & 2)", "Abyssinian Suite", "Caravao To Tao Ceti", and "Outside Beyond/Three Ways Back (parts 1, 2, & 3)". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: STEFANO BOLLANI - JOY IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING; BOBBY MOORE AND THE RHYTHM ACES - SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE; WILSON PICKETT – I WANT YOU

STEFANO BOLLANI - JOY IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING

Stefano Bollani is an artist of ebullient virtuosity, with uncommon sensitivity and range. The Italian pianist has proved to be at home on ECM improvising solo or leading a trio, as well as engaging in duos with Enrico Rava, Chick Corea and Brazilian bandolim player Hamilton de Holanda. With Joy in Spite of Everything an album of new compositions by the pianist for a trans-Atlantic quintet Bollani has made his most beautifully textured and infectiously lyrical statement yet. He recorded these nine pieces at New York Citys Avatar Studios with the Danish rhythm section from his Stone in the Water trio bassist Jesper Bodilsen and drummer Morten Lund plus two prominent American players and ECM intimates: guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Mark Turner.  As its title reflects, Joy in Spite of Everything brims with an indefatigable lightness of spirit despite the inevitable shadows of life. ~ Amazon

BOBBY MOORE AND THE RHYTHM ACES - SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE

A wonderful album of southern soul – and the only full-length LP cut by Bobby Moore and his long-lived Rhythm Aces combo! The group's the sort that slaved away endlessly in live shows all over the south – playing on their own, or providing extra backup for countless big stars touring through the area. Bobby's on tenor, and the group has some incredibly rich vocal talents – unnamed, but with a group harmony style that's equally at home with sweet ballads or hard stompin party numbers. The latter style is the band's strongest suit, though – with an approach that's somewhere between the hard soul of Sam & Dave and the party grooves of Doug Clark & The Hot Nuts – and like that group, Moore's style was probably forged out of years of playing at beach dances, frat parties, and bar gigs, the real proving ground for a tight combo like this! A great little LP, with a fresh sound throughout – and tracks include "The Hamburger Song", "Follow Me", "Searching For My Love", "Hey, Mr. DJ", "Searching For My Love", "Jenny, Jenny", "Come Back Baby", and "We've Got That". Recorded at Fame in 1966 with Rick Hall, too!  ~ Dusty Groove

WILSON PICKETT – I WANT YOU

Later work from soul pioneer Wilson Pickett – working at EMI here, and in an updated style – on a record that would be better remembered, if not for the trailblazing importance of Pickett's earlier career. Having previously helped define raw southern soul and deliver it to the masses, it's easy to see why later, less revolutionary recordings in an more modern/contemporary vein would fail to catch the zeitgeist. But the grit and emotional intensity that Wilson delivers over some straighter, laidback 70s soul arrangements is still pretty special! Produced by Andre Perry – with cuts that include "I Want You", "Love Of My Life", "Shameless", "Live With Me", "Groove City", "Superstar", and "Granny".  ~  Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: GERRY GIBBS / RON CARTER / KENNY BARON - WE'RE BACK; MORENO VELOSO - COISA BOA; DARIUS JONES / MATTHEW SHIPP - COSMIC LEIDER: THE DARKSEID RECITAL

GERRY GIBBS / RON CARTER / KENNY BARON - WE'RE BACK

Jazz Interpretations of R&B classics. On their second album, the fiery and inventive jazz performances of Gerry Gibbs, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron flow beautifully through a prism of material by Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, and Marvin Gaye. ""We're Back""-which also features red hot, world-class guests Warren Wolf (vibraphone), Larry Goldings (B-3), and Steve Wilson (woodwinds)-takes familiar tunes and turns them into jazz standards that stretch the skills of even these consummate musicians. ""Gerry Gibbs has put together another fun and swinging session with a new spin on some of the best loved R&B classics of the day...This recording will capture you from start to finish! Enjoy!"" - Blue Note Grammy winner Joe Lovano. ~ Amazon 

MORENO VELOSO - COISA BOA

A rich new chapter in the career of Moreno Veloso – a set that steps off strongly from his work with the +2 trio, but in ways that are even more personal and poetic than before! The shift is a bit like that time when Caetano Veloso took all his previous experiments and found a more intimate style in his music during the 70s – although Moreno is always very much his own man here, and manages to work with a range of elements, yet still never lose a focus in his musical vision. Domenico and Kassin are still along for some tracks, but the record also brings in diverse production help from Daniel Jobim, Melvin Gibbs, and even Gal Costa – who are among the many partners working here with Moreno and core producer Pedro Sa to shape the rich sound of the record. Instrumentation is a warm mix of acoustic with electric undertones – and titles include "La E Ca", "Um Passo A Frente", "Coisa Boa", "Jacare Coruja", "Hoje", "Nao Acorde O Nenem", "De Tentar Voltar", and "Num Galho De Acaias". ~ Dusty Groove

DARIUS JONES / MATTHEW SHIPP - COSMIC LEIDER: THE DARKSEID RECITAL

The inter-generational partnership of alto saxophonist Darius Jones and pianist Matthew Shipp seamlessly meshes the talents of two of the most restlessly inventive and deeply gifted instrumentalist-composer-improviser-leaders working today. This singular duo project was first revealed in 2011 on the 13-part song cycle Cosmic Lieder, widely hailed as a wholly original and deeply compelling work of great emotional and intellectual heft, and seemingly arriving from the future. Since then, Jones and Shipp have continued to develop and broaden their exclusive language live in performance. The Darkseid Recital is their brand-new album of cosmic lieder, triple distilled from NYC engagements at Jazz Standard and The Stone. It is yet another unimpeachably potent work, devoid of cliché. The approaches here range widely, from entrancingly lyrical and gentle ear candy to liquid flows of notes designed to caress to a shredding intensity that can potentially be quite frightening. All of them are rendered with laser-sharp focus with intent toward catharsis, resulting in a whole that is both warmly accessible and uncompromisingly inventive. ~ Amazon

LONGTIME MICHAEL BUBLE TRUMPETER AND VOCALIST JUMAANE SMITH MAKES HIS METROPOLITAN ROOM DEBUT OCTOBER 1, CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF HIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM ‘I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU’

Best known to audiences throughout the world as the lead trumpeter for international superstar Michael Buble for the past decade, multi-faceted singer, entertainer and musician Jumaane Smith is set to make his highly anticipated debut at the legendary Metropolitan Room October 1 at 9:30 p.m.

Celebrating the release of his critically acclaimed independent standards-filled debut album I Only Have Eyes For You, Smith’s dynamic 75 minute set will feature material from the recording in addition to new arrangements of classics by Buble, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Joe Williams/Count Basie, adult contemporary hits like “You Are So Beautiful” and R&B tunes like “Just The Way You Are.” The trumpeter’s seven piece band incorporates elements of traditional Dixieland jazz, swing, blues, contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and soul. 

“I’m very much looking forward to joining these great musicians for my first solo show in Manhattan,” says Smith, whose collaborations range from pop idols to jazz legends, including Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, Wyclef Jean, Diddy, Natalie Cole, James Ingram, Wynton Marsalis Ravi Coltrane, Chris Botti and others.

“The Metropolitan Room is a prestigious, intimate venue which is perfect for my show and its focus on the sentiment of love and romance. I am most excited to finally be making my debut in 

NYC after so many years of being a featured guest artist and sideman.”

Executive produced by Smith and produced by Dave Pierce, I Only Have Eyes For You is a lush celebration of the Great American Songbook featuring interpretations of classics full of personal emotion. The collection includes vocal performances by Smith, Buble (the opening track, “Come Rain or Come Shine”), a capella group Naturally 7 (“I Only Have Eyes For You”) and young pop classical sensation Jackie Evancho (“La Vie En Rose”). 

Sandy Shore, president of SmoothJazz.com global radio, says of the collection that it’s “an instant essential album, one that is definitive and timeless, a jazz recording appealing to a wide audience of music enthusiast with cool, classic sensibilities…This is a must have…delightfully pleasing to the ears!”

Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal echoes these words, calling Smith a “terrific trumpeter.”

One of only 17 musicians (including only four trumpeters) invited to join the inaugural class of Jazz Studies at the Julliard School in 2001, Smith – who trained there for four years on a full scholarship – has appeared on numerous Grammy winning recordings. His musical accomplishments include playing the Grammy Awards show with Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers; recording “As I Am” with Alicia Keys; appearing on the “American Idol” soundtrack, and scoring and performing music for the film “Handsome Harry.” 

SIRIUSXM LAUNCHES LIMITED RUN BARBRA STREISAND CHANNEL

SiriusXM has announced today that it will launch The Barbra Streisand Channel, an exclusive channel featuring the works of Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and Tony award-winning artist Barbra Streisand. The limited-run channel will launch on Friday, September 12 at 5:00 pm ET and will run through Friday, October 10, via satellite on Sirius channel 69 and XM channel 73. The Barbra Streisand Channel will also be available online on channel 69 and through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App.

The Barbra Streisand Channel, the exclusive, limited-run channel, will feature music spanning Streisand's legendary career, from her 1963 debut through her newest album, Partners, scheduled to be released on September 16. The channel will be fully dedicated to Barbra Streisand's extensive body of work and will include selections from her live and studio recordings. The channel will also include Streisand's personal song selections from her catalog, spanning 50 years.

The Barbra Streisand Channel is an example of SiriusXM channels created with iconic and prominent artists, including Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio, Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse, The Pink Floyd Channel, B.B. King's Bluesville, Elvis Radio, Siriusly Sinatra, Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzy's Boneyard, Pearl Jam Radio, Eminem's Shade 45,Tiesto's Club Life Radio and Neil Diamond Radio.

  

The Barbra Streisand Channel will also feature an exclusive "Town Hall" special with Barbra Streisand. Streisand will sit down for an intimate Q&A session with a select group of listeners in the SiriusXM studios in New York City. Moderated by her longtime colleague, music industry executive Jay Landers, "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Barbra Streisand" will air on Sunday, September 14 at 12:00 pm ET on The Barbra Streisand Channel. For rebroadcast times, please visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall. 

"Barbra Streisand is an artist who is the very definition of the word icon.  Her original voice, songwriting, performances, and life's work has made her a universal star and humanitarian leader. Along the way she has created some of the best-selling albums of all time, as well as being an award winning actress known for her work on stage, film and TV.  Our exclusive channel celebrating Ms. Streisand is a truly comprehensive and deep dive into the music of one of the world's most important artists ever," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "We are looking forward to welcoming Ms. Streisand to our studios to be a part of our 'Town Hall' series and discuss her new album with her fans."

After the broadcast, "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Barbra Streisand" will be available on SiriusXM On Demand for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at siriusxm.com. Visit www.siriusxm.com/ondemand for more info on SiriusXM On Demand.

"SiriusXM's Town Hall with Barbra Streisand" is part of SiriusXM's "Town Hall" series, featuring iconic entertainers and figures sitting down with studio audiences of SiriusXM listeners. Previous SiriusXM "Town Hall" specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Billy Crystal, Roger Waters, Robin Williams, Quentin Tarantino, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Cher, KISS, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Ringo Starr, Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, the surviving members of Nirvana, Gregg Allman, Usher and Tony Hawk.

NEW RELEASES: HI RECORDS RARITIES VOLUME 2: FUNKY AND GROOVY – HARLEM SHUFFLE; MARK ELF RETURNS 2014, ROTARY CONNECTION - SONGS

HI RECORDS RARITIES VOLUME 2: FUNKY AND GROOVY – HARLEM SHUFFLE

The funky side of Hi Records – music that goes way past the mellow burning soul you might normally know from the label – served up here in a wealth of rare singles from the Memphis powerhouse of soul! Hi had a lot more going on in the 70s than just the big hits and classic albums that most people know – and the cuts here show a version of the label that was working every bit as hard as Stax to come up with fresh grooves and unusual ways of mixing southern soul and funk for the new generation! The set list is huge – 25 numbers, many of which should be pretty fresh to your ears – and titles include "Sweet Thing" by Willie Walker, "Slidin In & Out" by The Memphians, "Got To Find My Baby" by James Gadson, "Fried Chicken" by Rufus Thomas, "Everybody Got Soul" by Gene Miller, "Disco Hustle" by Heinsight, "If You Can't Please Your Woman" by Tuxedo, "Love Map" by Lyndon, "You Made Me What I Am" by Erma Coffee, and "Patricia" by George Jackson.  ~ Dusty Groove

MARK ELF MARK ELF RETURNS 2014 FEATURING DAVID HAZELTINE, PETER WASHINTON & LEWIS NASH

After an 8 year hiatus Mark Elf Returns in great form performing 7 original compositions and 3 standards. This album was originally scheduled to be recorded in 2012 but Mother Nature, in the form of Super Storm Sandy, had other plans. After the flooding of his home Elf picked up the pieces and forged ahead with this inspired project playing with the fire, heart and soul that he's known for. Two of the compositions on this recording were written specifically for the baritone guitar which he plays producing a truly unique sound. Nine of Mark's previous recordings climbed to #1 on National Jazz Radio Charts. He has performed and/or recorded  with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Lou Donaldson and many others. Songs include: A Little Diddy, It Was So Beautiful, Jacky’s Jaunt, Time On My Hands, Michellie’s Mambi, Low Blow (Baritone Guitar), Titillating, The Bottom Line (Baritone Guitar), People Will Say We’re In Love, and The sandy Effect.

ROTARY CONNECTION  - SONGS

Amazing soul from Rotary Connection – and one of their greatest albums! The "songs" concept has the group working over a bunch of tunes by other folks – and the record features many late 60s rock titles, redone with the group's incredible baroque soul sound. Charles Stepney did the arrangements, and the music has that airy eerie quality that worked perfectly for Minnie Riperton's amazing voice. Includes a stellar cover of "Respect", with a slow trippy groove that has been sampled over the years – plus a wild cover of "Tales of Brave Ulysses" that virtually defines the term "psychedelic soul". Other tracks include "The Weight", "This Town", "The Salt Of The Earth", and "Sunshine Of Your Love".  ~ Dusty Groove

 

Contemporary Jazz Players Join Together For The Ultra Melodic Smooth Jazz Café - Featuring Frank Gambale, Chuck Loeb, Hal Lindes, Brian Tarquin, & Denny Jiosa

This new project, set to be released September 30 on Purple Pyramid Records, features Australian jazz fusion great Frank Gambale, former Dire Straits guitarist Hal Lindes, Stan Getz sideman and current member of Fourplay, Chuck Loeb, and the Grammy nominated Denny Jiosa. And the whole thing is helmed by the supremely talented, multi-Emmy winning Brian Tarquin, who wrote all of the songs and produced the album as well as performs on it.

Hal Lindes waxes poetic about the project and its leader, calling Tarquin a “supreme maestro of the Gold Top and Marshall Stack” and describes the Smooth Jazz Cafe album as “an exquisite journey fueled by steel and wood, glowing hot tubes and Celestion speakers being pushed to their limit and beyond.”

Denny Jiosa shares “Brian and I met several years ago at the Gavin Smooth Jazz radio convention when we had simultaneous hit records. Great melody, tasteful playing, warm tones, and smooth grooves are always delivered by Brian! I am honored and excited to trade musical lines with such a versatile player!” And finally, Chuck Loeb offers “I had a lot of fun playing on it. The band killed!”

TRACKLISTING:  

1. Zoot Suit featuring Chuck Loeb

2. Peg featuring Chuck Loeb

3. Swift Kick featuring Chuck Loeb

4. Yorkville featuring Chuck Loeb

5. The Big Sleep featuring Hal Lindes

6. On The Brick feat. Brian Tarquin

7. Hiptster featuring Denny Jiosa

8. Frolic Room feat. Brian Tarquin

9. Birdbrain featuring Hal Lindes

10. Boogie Man feat. Brian Tarquin

11. Chrome Dome featuring Denny Jiosa

12. The Dutchess feat. Brian Tarquin

13. Spanish Harlem featuring Frank Gambale

14. Drugstore Cowboy feat. Brian Tarquin

15. Nowheresville feat. Brian Tarquin

Video for “On The Brick”: http://youtu.be/7VwleyTT50o

A SELF PORTRAIT BY HILARY KOLE CELEBRATES THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

Hailed by critics as a “musical marvel!” (Rex Reed, NY Observer), Hilary Kole continues to engage audiences throughout the world since beginning her professional career at the legendary Rainbow Room as the youngest singer ever to grace that stage. She has appeared to sold-out audiences at the famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, at Lincoln Center as part of the “American Songbook Series” with Jonathan Schwartz, and at Carnegie Hall for the tribute to Oscar Peterson alongside Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Nancy Wilson. Ms. Kole has had the privilege of being the last singer to record with Oscar Peterson, and the first singer since Ella Fitzgerald to record a duet with that jazz legend.

Long a beloved staple on the NYC jazz scene and world-renowned as a multi-faceted concert hall and symphony performer, Hilary Kole has emerged triumphantly from a difficult three-year legal struggle to put out a recording – and found her true musical heart in the process. On her new independent full-length album, the acclaimed vocalist and musician paints A Self Portrait with illuminating stylistic brushstrokes and an expansive repertoire that takes her far beyond her storied roots as a purveyor of the Great American Songbook. Back, better than ever and baring her jazz and pop soul like never before, Hilary celebrates life free of limitations and full of optimism

Songbook choices include the opening track “While We’re Young,” “When The World Was Young”(featuring English lyrics by Johnny Mercer and whose Blossom Dearie interpretation especially inspired Hilary), Cole Porter’s “It’s Alright With Me,” “I Remember You” (lyrics also by Mercer, previously recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Diana Krall), the cabaret classic “Come a Little Closer,” Bobby Troup’s clever swing tune “Lemon Twist,” the Gershwins’ “The Man I Love” and the lush, melancholy closer “Some Other Time” from Leonard Bernstein’s musical On The Town. The 60s and 70s gems include Stevie Nicks’ Fleetwood Mac ballad “Landslide,” a crafty take on Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (including unexpected high-register wordless vocal runs), an understated journey down Joni Mitchell’s “River” and a heartrending take on The Beatles’ “And I Love Her.” 

Throughout her caree her major international appearances have included repeat performances at Blue Note Tokyo, the Montreal Jazz Festival, The Umbria Jazz Festival, as well as appearing with orchestras throughout America, including the New York Pops, Colorado Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and others. In addition to her recordings with Oscar Peterson, Ms. Kole has also recorded with music legends Dave Brubeck, Hank Jones, Michel LeGrand, Mulgrew Miller, David Frishberg, Monty Alexander, Benny Green, Freddy Cole, John Pizzarelli, and Mike Renzi among others.

BOSSACUCANOVA - OUR KIND OF BOSSA

Brazil has long conjured blissful imagery. Ever since Gilberto and Getz released ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ in 1964, bossa nova’s elegant smoothness has been thought to be indicative of the world’s fifth largest nation. While financial disaster nearly destroyed the land just a few years ago, recent reforms have made it one of the planet’s fastest growing economies. “As goes the culture, so the music,” says BossaCucaNova’s DJ Marcelinho DaLua.

“We are living through a new economic freedom,” he says, “which is causing people to feel confident and enjoy new opportunities. Today the music scene is not limited to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Recife. Other spots and rhythms are being exposed via the media and unwrapped to the public, which is certainly going to get even better during the World Cup.”

Celebrating fifteen years together, the boys of Grammy-nominated BossaCucaNova—founded by Márcio Menescal (son of bossa nova pioneer Roberto Menescal),DaLua and record producer/sound engineer Alex Moreira—utilize this optimistic nationalism as the foundation of their latest album, Our Kind Of Bossa (Six Degrees Records). The upbeat eleven-track record features numerous guests, focusing equally on Brazil’s other homegrown concoction: samba.

The vibe kicks right off with a tribute to a northern neighbor. ‘Adeus America’ features legendary MPB band Os Cariocas, a vocal outfit formed in 1942 by Ismael Neto, alongside singer Wilson Simoninha. Longtime friend Marlon Sette lays down a sinuous trombone line, while the recently deceased guitarist Oscar Castro Nevescontributes a classic performance.

Maria Rita, one of the country’s most recognizable vocalists, joins the David Feldman Trio on a cover of Chico Baurque’s ‘Deixa a Menina.’ The piano-driven groove provides the perfect bedrock for Rita’s seductive and playful vocals. The keys return front and center on the Ray Charles-inspired ‘Balança,’ featuring vocalist Cris Delanno. This original track is one of their most danceable in recent memory.

“While dreaming up a variety of possibilities, instruments, musicians and singers, we tried to sense what would be the most suitable for every song,” says Márcio Menescal. “We let our minds fly freely—even if they go too far away—and are very happy with who we’ve collaborated with. There are also cases where we invite people we meet on the road or in the studio that we know would shine on this or that song.”

Singer Emílio Santiago, who cut his teeth on Polydor Records in 1973 and was a force in Brazilian music until his passing in March 2013, certainly shines above the shimmering string section on ‘E Preciso Perdoar.’ The João Gilberto classic is given a psychedelic treatment by conductor Flávio Mendes—Dado Brother fittingly cites famed Motown producer Norman Whitfield, who was responsible for smash hits by Marvin Gaye, the Temptations and Gladys Knight, as an influence.

From melodies to rhythms, samba helps to define this new step forward by BossaCucaNova. Cris Delanno returns to croon side-by-side with Carnaval masterMartinho da Vila on ‘Segure Tudo.’ An advocate for Afro-Brazilian issues and an outspoken member of the Brazilian Communist Party, da Vila’s gruff vocals pair well with Delanno’s effervescent lightness.

The band keeps it upbeat on ‘Waldomiro Pena,’ a Jorge Ben composition sung by São Paulo native Wilson Simoninha. DJ scratches, Leo Gandelman’s funky horns and a cavalcade of percussion roll through on this upbeat steamer. The band aptly describes it as “Stones + Tower of Power + Rio de Janerio.” Rounding out the covers, the sexy samba “Deixa pra lá” features Teresa Cristina delivering a beautiful vocal performance, while Mendes’s guitar and horn contributions by Dirceu Leite andRodrigo Sha complete this exceptional take on a national classic.

“We conduct research on a daily basis,” says Alex Moreira, discussing the cover songs they’ve chosen on this album. “DJ DaLua spends hours visiting second hand music shops around the world in search of old vinyl LPs. Every one of us makes suggestions, presenting rare MPB tracks and adding them to our playlist. During the recording sessions we opt for the coolest ones. We also talk to our master, Roberto Menescal, who offers tips and advice.”

The album closes on a funky note: Maurício Tapajós and Paulo César Pinheiroturn up the heat on “Tô voltando,” a celebration of Brazilian identity and culture. Roberto Menescal adds strings while Zé Carlos adds the best guitar line on the album, reminiscent of old Jorge Ben soccer anthems the nation so loves. Beginning with a tribute and returning home to end succinctly describes Brazil’s cultural plight over the last decade, with an energy and vibe BossaCucaNova captures and delivers exquisitely.

“After 15 years on the road, we are more than a big band—we are a large family!” says an excited Menescal. The current line-up has been together over a decade now: DJ DaLua, Moreira on keyboards, and Menescal on bass, along with percussionistDado Brother and vocalist Cris Delanno. The band also rotates in Flávio Mendes on guitars and vocals and Rodrigo Sha on vocals, sax and flute.

“Somehow we keep doing it our own way, with our own beat, in a unique studio process and production that makes this band so special and timeless,” he concludes. “We play and produce wholeheartedly, and the albums are consistent. Above all we end up learning a lot and getting better in the studio, as well as growing personally, which gives us a more solid result at work.”

Upcoming appearace: BossaCucaNova w/sp. guests Cris Delanno & DadoBrother Sunday, September 7, 2014 /Highline Ballroom • 431 W 16th St. New York, NY 

~ Six Degrees Records

 

ACCLAIMED SONGSTRESS MICHELLE CARR TEAMS WITH REVERED GUITARIST MARK WHITFIELD FOR NEW CD‏ - MUTUAL MODULATIONS

The two had known each other for 15 years and were performing together at Manhattan’s famed Blue Note Jazz Club when the vision for a collaborative album struck. They’d recorded before, with Whitfield playing guitar on Carr’s debut album, Change, but they’d never written songs together, and it seemed like the right time.

The two sat down to begin writing in mid-August 2012, not knowing what to expect—within 10 minutes, they had the track, “The Game,” started. Just three months later, they were finished writing the entire album.

“It’s rare for two musicians from two different worlds to come together and have such chemistry,” Whitfield says. He studied jazz at Berklee; she was classically trained at Juilliard. His instrument is the guitar; her’s is her voice. He plays a hundred shows a year with his hard bob quartet, Whifield Extended; her frequent appearances showcase a wide range of vocals complemented by her extensive background in theater. But it was their commonalities more than their differences that shown though during the song-writing process. They’re both educators with a passion for sharing their talents. They’re both humble and open minded. And they both stepped out of their comfort zones to achieve a new sound.

Carr asked Whitfield to set aside his electric guitar and play his nylon-string acoustic. In turn, she abandoned her usual intricate harmonies in favor of a voice laid bare. Both were challenged by the feeling of being exposed, but the risk helped them plumb an extraordinary emotional depth and create soulful, honest songs that are accessible to a wide variety of listeners—a sound the two call “sophisticated blues.”

Combining the richness of the jazz, the melodies of classical music, and the raw emotion of the blues resulted in songs like “The End of My Parade,” in which the desperation of the singer is palpable—and painfully real. This isn’t an album of catchy pop tunes or cotton candy love songs. Each piece was written to capture elements of the human condition as diverse as suffering the depths of depression, musing on the afterlife, and striving to achieve one’s dreams.

Carr and Whitfield are joined on the album by renowned bassist James Genus and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr. Genus has played with an impressive list of artists including Branford Marsalis, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock, and he’s currently in his twelfth season with the Saturday Night Live band.

Twenty-three-year-old Whitfield, Jr.’s prodigious musical journey started when he was just two years old and has taken him to famous venues and festivals both stateside and abroad.

Perhaps the best part of this initial star-crossed collaboration is that it’s likely to happen again. Both Carr and Whitfield were so pleased with the ease and bounty of the process, that it’s likely they’ll join forces again to “grab the ears and hearts” of their listeners. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves just yet—first let the songs of Mutual Modulations fill your soul. 

~ Elizabeth Skladany

OutBeat: America's First Queer Jazz Festival Announces Two Powerful Tributes to Billy Strayhorn on Friday, September 19 in Partnership with The Philadelphia Jazz Project

Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington circa 1948

Duke Ellington might be a more recognizable name than that of Billy Strayhorn, but Strayhorn's influence and genius cannot be discounted. The esteemed pianist, arranger, composer and lyricist was known for writing jazz classic's for Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, with credits on monumental standards such as "Lush Life," "Chelsea Bridge," and "Take the A Train," as well as multiple others. Having met Ellington in 1938, Strayhorn (who was 23 at the time) became one his main musical influences and collaborators - even leading Ellington to state, "Strayhorn does a lot of the work but I get to take the bows." He brought a sense of cohesiveness to Duke Ellington's playing as well as his own style and sound to the band.

However, Strayhorn's acclaim did not come without some struggle. Born in Ohio, Strayhorn's mother moved him to Pittsburgh where they could avoid the alcoholic nature of his father. The pianist's mother and grandparents raised him, and they would become his main source of musical inspiration. This eventually led him to begin compositions of his own. Originally, Strayhorn wanted to write classical compositions but soon realized that the prejudices at the time would not allow him to enter a genre primarily dominated by white musicians. He gave up on classical dreams but not soon after joined Duke Ellington for one of the most prolific collaborations in jazz. Strayhorn, over his 29-year-musical career, was not only known for his pioneering works but also for his forward thinking on human rights. Strayhorn was openly gay during a time when race and sexual orientation in America were highly delicate political and social subjects. Strayhorn's experiences and courage laid the groundwork for future LGBT artists in the jazz community to be out and proud of their identity.

"From Strayhorn to Cecil: Jazz Innovation in America" is a noteworthy roundtable discussion designed to delve further into the lasting and remarkable influence that both Billy Strayhorn and Cecil Taylor have had on modern music, particularly throughout America's less tolerant days. The panel will feature David Hajdu (Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn), John Szwed (Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra), Philadelphia pianist and Pew Fellow Orrin Evans, and will be moderated by JazzTimes' John Murph. It will take place on Friday, September 19 at 3:00pm at University of the Arts Bank. Admission will be free for this event.

"Lush Life: Philadelphia Celebrates Billy Strayhorn," produced by the Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with OutBeat organizers, will honor the musical pioneer. Featuring a group of diverse, multi-dimensional musicians, vocalists and poets from the Philadelphia area, the event will embody exactly what Strayhorn stood for throughout his musical career and personal life. The event will include performances from big bands, a cappella groups, solo acts and ensemble groups as they recreate some of the most important compositions known to jazz, in honor of Strayhorn. The arrangements, prepared by bassist and composer Keith DeStefano, will feature not only Strayhorn's brilliant works but also many other original compositions that his work influenced such as pieces by Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus. Additional pieces throughout the night will include a piano duet featuring Dena Underwood and Andy Khan, and dueling piano performances; trumpeter Terell Stafford and saxophonist Tim Warfield in a quintet setting; a solo piano performance with Raymond A. King; a trio a cappella poetry suite; and much more. The event will be held on September 19 at 8:30pm at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Tickets are $25 for General Admission and $35 for VIP.

www.OutBeatJazzFest.com

www.WayGay.org

FIRST-EVER COMPILATION OF MADELEINE PEYROUX’S CAREER: KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART FOR A WHILE: THE BEST OF MADELEINE PEYROUX, FEATURING NEVER-BEFORE-RELEASED TRACK "KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART" TO STREET OCTOBER 14

Rounder Records has announced the release of Keep Me in Your Heart for a While: The Best of Madeleine Peyroux, the debut anthology of the critically acclaimed, singer-songwriter’s nearly 20-year career. The album includes favorites not only from Peyroux’s releases with Rounder, but also tracks from her Atlantic and Decca/Emarcy catalogs. Additionally, the compilation includes one previously unreleased recording—the collection’s title track and Warren Zevon cover, “Keep Me in Your Heart”—which appeared in 2011’s independent film Union Square. Liner notes by former Atlantic Records A&R man, Yves Beauvais, who discovered Peyroux, complete the package.

Peyroux, whose voice has often been compared to that of Billie Holiday’s, was discovered while in her early twenties, when Beauvais spotted her at a New York club. He recalls the worldly singer’s set to be “some of the most exciting, viscerally moving minutes of my music-listening life.” Beauvais subsequently signed Peyroux to Atlantic and co-produced her 1996 debut Dreamland.

Prior to this life-changing performance, the American-born Peyroux was a musician on the streets of Paris.  A precocious teenager, living abroad with her mother, Madeleine quickly became entranced with local buskers, spending much of her time accompanying a regular band on the sidewalks of the Latin Quarter with her distinctive voice, and, by 15, had dropped out of school to join a touring blues and jazz band. 

Following the whirlwind release and promotion of the critically acclaimed Dreamland, the 22-year old Peyroux disappeared from the limelight, just as the buzz surrounding the singer was at its peak. Health issues were partly to blame, but the pressures of a quick rise to stardom in the jazz world became overwhelming. Peyroux took time to find herself, and, in doing so, returned to her first love of busking.

When she finally felt ready to return to the studio, Madeleine was paired with renowned producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Herbie Hancock)—a match that would prove to be a successful one, stretching over several, subsequent albums. The result was 2004’s Careless Love (Rounder)—a diverse collection of covers penned by everyone from Elliott Smith to Hank Williams. Breakout track “Don’t Wait Too Long” helped push Madeleine into the mainstream by topping the jazz charts and appearing in national commercial spots and film soundtracks.

Peyroux followed the success of Careless Love with 2006’s highly anticipated Half the Perfect World (Rounder).  The singer-songwriter once again paired original material (“I’m All Right,” among them) with an eclectic selection of covers (paying homage to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits and Serge Gainsbourg). 2009’s Bare Bones (Rounder) shook up the prototype, and featured all original compositions by Peyroux, including the likes of the upbeat and twangy “Instead.” Continuing her artistic growth, Madeleine released Standing on the Rooftop—her debut with Decca Records—with a new producer, GRAMMY® Award-winning Craig Street (John Legend, k.d. lang, Norah Jones).

Peyroux’s most recent recording project, 2013’s The Blue Room (Decca), found the singer-songwriter once again teaming up with Larry Klein, and paying homage to Ray Charles’ classic 1962 LP, Modern Sounds in Country Western Music. Covering a handful of Charles’ songs from the album, and adding such fitting tracks as Randy Newman’s “Guilty” and Warren Zevon’s “Desperadoes Under the Eaves”, Peyroux melded multiple genres, creating an album that floated in the ether between jazz, country, blues and pop.

A living document of her artistic metamorphoses, Keep Me in Your Heart for a While… combines the poignant with the charming, the old with the new, and the standard favorites with the original compositions. Beauvais writes of his protégé, “Whether she sings Leonard Cohen ("Dance Me to the End of Love"), Bob Dylan ("You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go") Charlie Chaplin ("Smile"), Edith Piaf ("La Vie en Rose"), or post-punk songster Elliott Smith ("Between the Bars"), [Madeleine] brings to this most diverse material the same beguilingly cautious, respectful, and crystal clear way with the melody, the same revelatory focus to the lyric's delivery.”

Track Listing

1.Don't Wait Too Long  3:11

2.You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go  3:25

3.Between The Bars  3:43

4.(Getting Some) Fun Out Of Life  3:13

5.Dance Me To The End Of Love  3:57

6.Smile  4:00

7.La Vie En Rose  3:20

8.Half The Perfect World  4:22

9.Guilty   3:54

10.I'm All Right  3:29

11.Desperadoes Under The Eaves [Extended Version]  5:23

12.The Kind You Can't Afford  3:59

13.Instead  5:15

14.Keep Me In Your Heart  [First Audio Release] 3:35

15.This Is Heaven To Me  3:10