Saxophonist Frank Catalano and Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin Pay Tribute to John Coltrane on Love Supreme Collective

Love Supreme Collective is the Ropeadope debut by Billboard chart-topping saxophonist Frank Catalano and longtime Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Chicago-based Catalano and Chamberlin met in 1999 at the former Boulevard Cafe in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood during a jam session that Catalano was hosting. On that night, the jam included John Medeski, DJ Logic, Steve Kimock, Les Claypool and Sugar Blue. Catalano and Chamberlin started playing together soon after for fun, mostly at each other's houses with the exception of a few Jimmy Chamberlin Complex performances. 

"I have been a fan and friend of Frank's for fifteen years and I am happy we are making music together," Chamberlin says. This collaboration has enabled Chamberlin to reconnect with his jazz roots. Fans of Chamberlin's drumming will be delighted to hear him in this context, as he demonstrates an inspired range of depth in his playing. "Jimmy is my favorite drummer and I think of him like he's my big brother," Catalano says. "We played together at the Green Mill in Chicago recently and I still have the music running through my body. It was so special, words can't properly express my feelings."

While Catalano has nothing but joy and positive feelings for the music on Love Supreme Collective, this inspired album has its genesis in difficult circumstances. In 2011, Catalano sustained serious injuries after his car was hit by a drunk driver. He cites John Coltrane's A Love Supreme as the spiritual anchor during his difficult recovery. Catalano wanted to make a recording that embodied the love, thanks, and praise of A Love Supreme without copying it. Catalano was fortunate to have worked with A Love Supreme's legendary drummer, Elvin Jones, who Chamberlin cites as one of his biggest influences. As such, the passion felt for the material on this recording is easily apparent.

For this project, Chamberlin enlisted his keyboardist from the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, Adam Benjamin (Kneebody), and Catalano rounded up PolCat members Percy Jones (Brand X, Soft Machine) and Chris Poland (Megadeth) for the bass and guitar work, respectively.

"This recording is about crafting emotions and feelings," Catalano says. "The way the guys set the tone and mood for each song is pretty unreal. Love Supreme Collective resembles a through composed contemporary classical piece with four movements."

At Catalano's request, Ropeadope is selling the recording on iTunes as an "all or nothing," album, because, as Catalano says, "I didn't want this work separated and fragmented. While I am very proud of my recordings for the Savoy and Delmark labels, this is the first time I used my classical composition training to frame the work of a recording. This freed me to keep Coltrane, Von Freeman and other spiritual energy near my heart and under my fingers."

Catalano entered into the process of recording this album with a distinct and inspired purpose for each track. "'Acknowledgement of Truth' takes the listener on an intense spiritual journey before finding some peace on 'Resolution of Purpose,'" Catalano says. "'Pursuance and Persistence' has many meanings to me as this is where things are coming together, life wise."

Catalano is at a stage of his career as an established veteran in the Chicago jazz scene where he often hears questions regarding the direction of his music and career: What is important? What are you working to achieve? Are you happy with your situation? What are you going after? With Love Supreme Collective, Catalano chooses to answer these questions through his music. "It is easy to say words," he says, "but to express these emotions, thoughts, feelings in an instrumental album is something else. 'Psalm for John' is probably the most special on a personal level. A psalm can help inculcate belief in divine providence into one's consciousness. Percy Jones and I are bending our bass and soprano sax notes together at the same time, without discussing it, playing off each other, as if our minds are being fed this info. We did not filter or limit the music in any way.  It was a very powerful and spiritual experience. I want to thank everyone who is reading these words and checking out the music!"

Upcoming Frank Catalano Performances with Jimmy Chamberlin:

August 9 / Deer Park Jazz Festival / Deer Park, IL

September 26 & 27 / Jazz Estate / Milwaukee, WI

October 26 / Iridium Jazz Club / New York, NY

November 14 / Mayne Stage / Chicago, IL

December 18 - 20 / Andy's Jazz Club / Chicago, IL

Upcoming Frank Catalano Sextet Performances:

August 27 / The Green Mill / Chicago, IL

September 11 / St. Charles Jazz Festival / St. Charles, IL

October 10 & 11 / Andy's Jazz Club / Chicago, IL

October 31 - November 1 / Earshot Jazz Festival / Seattle, WA

November 28 & 29 / Andy's Jazz Club / Chicago, IL

Frank Catalano & Jimmy Chamberlin · Love Supreme Collective
Ropeadope Records  ·  Release Date: September 30, 2014 

www.CatalanoMusic.com

GUITARIST PETER WHITE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM - SMILE - OUT OCTOBER 7, 2014

New Heads Up recording completes trilogy of original material with special guests include Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Philippe Saisse, Nate Phillips, Charlotte White, Ramon Yslas and Stevo Theard.

In the era ruled by the electric guitar, British-born, LA-based Peter White reigns supreme as one the world’s greatest masters of the nylon-string acoustic guitar. From the time he burst on the scene with rock legend Al Stewart in the seventies and singer Basia in the eighties to his session work with Richard Elliot, Jeff Golub, Lee Ritenour, Kirk Whalum and Boney James, White’s fabulous fingers continue to showcase the timeless tones and timbres that come from wood, skin and an expansive musical imagination.

Smile, set for release October 7, 2014 on Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group, is White’s fourteenth recording as a leader, and his scintillating, contemporary jazz sound is buttressed by his equally-impressive command of several instruments and augmented by an impressive array of special guests, including vocalist Mindi Abair, trumpeter Rick Braun, soprano saxophonist Euge Groove, keyboardist Philippe Saisse, bassist Nate Phillips, violinist (and daughter) Charlotte White, Ramon Yslas on bongos and vocalist Stevo Theard. (International release dates may vary)

“This CD is my third recording for Concord of all original songs,” White says. “It started with Good Day (2009) and continued with Here We Go (2012). What I try to do on every single album is produce a story that has adventures; that has different styles that take you to different places.”

The ten tracks on Smile reflect the wide reach of White’s musical horizons, which emanate from contemporary jazz and branch out into R&B, classical and world music vistas. White’s nuanced and nimble fingers take the listener on an aural movie, set in a multitude of musical places and spaces.

The title track kicks off with some spirited vocals from Abair. “I’ve done hundreds of shows with Mindi – she’s a great friend,” White says. “So I asked her to sing the lead part. And she did a great job.” Abair also sings on “Hold Me Close,” which features Stevo Theard’s jazzy vocals. “On that song, Stevo and Mindi were singing in unison,” says White. “Then Stevo started scatting and improvising, and I thought – this is great, something new for me that I haven't recorded before.”

Smile’s other tracks, “Head Over Heels,” “In Rainbows,” “Floating In Air,” “Coming Home,” “Nightfall” and “Awakening (Jordan’s Song),” written to mark the twenty-first birthday of a friend’s daughter, all have equal and evocative doses of quiet storm, anthemic, atmospheric, Latin, Motown  and uptempo musical tableaus, showcasing White’s poetic and piercing plectral prowess.

Two selections stand for their special subject matter. “‘Beautiful Love’ is my tribute to Barry White,” the guitarist fondly recalls. “I was sixteen or seventeen when I heard him back home in England. He did those long intros…So this was my attempt to do something like that – to have the intro just build. I wrote ‘Don Quixote’s Final Quest’ (co-written with keyboardist Freddie Ravel) a long time ago, but I almost didn’t put it on the album, because it was so different. It took us three days to mix the song – there are so many elements in it. It’s my tribute to ‘Classical Gas’ by Mason Williams, which influenced me to take up the Spanish guitar when I was a kid. I was heavily into rock and roll. But this guitar being played finger-style had so much power, I said, ‘Wow! I want to play guitar like this.’”

Born in 1954 in Luton, and raised in Letchworth – both suburbs of London, White played the clarinet, trombone, violin and piano before settling on the electric guitar, and, like most kids of his era, he fell under the electric spell of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, before he crossed over into the acoustic realm, which was also encouraged when his brother, pianist Danny White, accidently destroyed his electric axe.

White started his professional career at the age of nineteen. The next year he joined Al Stewart and stayed with him for two decades. Originally hired as a pianist, White’s first big break was on Stewart’s 1976 hit “The Year of the Cat,” and he also co-wrote many songs on Stewart’s 1978 LP, Time Passages. White later moved to Los Angeles and formed the band Shot in the Dark. His brother Danny was one of the founding members of the British pop group Matt Bianco, which included singer Basia. When she went solo, the guitarist and his brother recorded several albums with her, including her 1987 debut, Time and Tide, and the 1990 follow-up, London Warsaw New York.

“I learned a whole lot from Al Stewart,” White says. “How to write a song; how to record a song, how to perform onstage and talk to the audience…It’s impossible for that not to rub off after being with him for twenty years. He was very big on songs having an instrumental motif that runs through the music, and I have that same concept in my music now. With Basia, there was a lot of jazz in the music; a lot more saxophone, a lot more jazzy chords and playing in flat keys. I realized that there’s a lot more to music than just 1-2-3-4 rock ‘n’ roll.”

After years of session work with some of the best contemporary jazz stars, including Richard Elliot, Warren Hill, Marc Antoine and Boney James, White struck out on his own in 1990 and recorded his debut album, Reveillez-Vous, that same year. His previous recordings as a leader include Glow (2001), Confidential (2004), Playin’ Favorites (2006), Good Day (2009) and Here We Go (2012), featuring Kirk Whalum and David Sanborn, all of which ranked at the top of the Billboard Jazz charts. He also participates in the critically acclaimed Guitars and Saxes tours, and he created his annual Peter White Christmas Tour, which grew out of the success of his two holiday albums, Songs of the Season (1997) and A Peter White Christmas (2007).

On his latest CD Smile, Peter White proves yet again that he doesn’t have to plug in to electrify audiences. “People have told me that when I play electric guitar, it sounds good,” he says. “But as soon as I play acoustic guitar, it sounds distinctive. And that’s because I put what I learned from playing the electric guitar and apply it to the acoustic guitar. It’s very easy for me to go that route. My musical voice speaks on the nylon-string guitar.”

New Releases: Shakatak - On The Corner; Hammond Heroes: 60s R&B Organ Grooves; Tak Matsumodo - New Horizon

SHAKATAK - ON THE CORNER

Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music. They are the Rolling Stones of Jazz-funk and their music just keeps getting better and better. Shakatak are back with a newly recorded studio album containing 14 new tracks. "On The Corner" is an album that perfectly demonstrates the incredible range and diversity of this timeless band!  Tracklisting: On the Corner; To Be In Love; Greatest Gift; No Clouds; Sao Paulo Sunshine; Million Voices;  Good Time;      Jazz and Romance; Deeper;     Ojai Freeway; Daydreamer; She's Not Here; On the Corner Latin Mix; and Greatest Gift Dance Mix. ~ CD Universe

HAMMOND HEROES: 60s R&B ORGAN GROOVES (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A great collection of 60s Hammond organ groovers – and from sources you might not normally expect! Given the fame of jazz players on the instrument – like Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff – it's easy to forget how many rock and roll groups were also playing the Hammond in the 60s – clearly inspired by the work of Smith, McGriff, and others – but taking the instrument into a unique pre-fusion world that blended together rock, soul, jazz, and funk! And while much of the groups' work on organ was often overlooked alongside their more famous vocals, this set really corrects that fact by bringing together an all-instrumental lineup – 23 tracks pulled from lost albums and singles from some of the best of the British scene at the time – the cream of the crop of the beat group generation who were so influenced by American soul and jazz! Titles include "Stevie's Groove" by Spender Davis Group, "Jumping Jack Flash" by Wynder K Frog, "Zoom Widge & Wag" by Bobby Graham, "Working Out" by Dave Davani, "Adventures Of A Young Organ" by Ten Years After, "Jive Samba" by Remo Four, "Horses Cellar" by Peddlers, "Zoot's Sermon" by Zoot Money, "Critic's Choice" by Alan Price Set, and "Impressions Of Oliver" by Herd. ~ Dusty Groove.

TAK MATSUMODO - NEW HORIZON

This album is Tak's second solo project released in the US. Tak is no stranger to the smooth jazz genre. Tak's 2012 release "Strings of my Soul" spent 3 months on the BDS/Billboard Smooth Jazz Radio Top 30. "New Horizon" composed of most instrumental tracks, features Grammy winning producer Paul Brown and Contemporary, R&B, & Jazz vocalist Wendy Moten on "Feel Like A Woman Tonight". Tracklisting: Take 5; New Horizon; Feel Like a Woman Tonight; Rodeo Blues; Island of Peace; That's Cool; Shattered Glass; Light of the Moon; Reason To Be...; Black Jack; Once Upon a Love; and Rain. ~ CD Universe

 

New Releases: Aziza Williams - What's On Your Mind; Hayvanlar Alemi - Twisted Souvenirs; David Sancious - Transformation (The Speed Of Love)

AZIZA WILLIAMS - WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND

Surprisingly wonderful work from Aziza Miller – an artist you may know as the great Linda Williams, who cut the fantastic City Living album for Arista in the 70s! Aziza's got a groove that's more early 80s than you'd guess from the contemporary date of the record – a vibe that really sounds a lot like what we'd have heard from Williams, had she kept making records for a few more years – with some especially great jazzy undercurrents that show a strong maturation in her style, but still the same old great sense of groove that got our attention in the first place. Instrumentation is great, and production is very old school – never overdone, nor too contemporary – and the strength of the record makes us wonder how we managed to lose touch with Miller over the years! Titles include "Bop Bop Ba Da", "Buscando", "The Subway", "Diva", "What's On Your Mind", and "OAPT".  ~ Dusty Groove

HAYVANLAR ALEMI - TWISTED SOUVENIRS

If you think Turkish psychedelia is only a thing of the past, then guess again – because these guys really bring back the classic sound of Arabesk rock – complete with all its best fuzzy touches! The music is fast and free – driven by heavy drums, and cut through by lots of fierce guitar from Ozum Itez, who's joined by Gokce Basar on a few of the album's key tracks! The group turn in a cool cover of Mulatu's "Yekermo Sew" – alongside other instrumentals that include "Geneva Incident", "Karecikler Dolmadan", "Perils Of Haarlem", and "Med Cezir 2012". (Limited to 750 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove

DAVID SANCIOUS AND TONE - TRANSFORMATION (THE SPEED OF LOVE)

Cosmic fusion from David Sancious – one of his headphone-popping albums for Columbia from the 70s! The record has a really outerspace kind of approach – long tracks that build and layer sound, mostly electric instrumentation, with lots of keyboards, guitars, and percussion. He's again working as a trio with longtime friends and collaborators Gerald Carboy on bass and Ernest Carter on drums and percussion – now working together under the banner of Tone. The songs on Transformation are longer on Transformation, and they're working with more diverse style, adding some bluesy jamming and spacier prog sounds to their hard-hitting fusion sound. Gayle Moran sings lead vocals on the cut "Transformation (The Speed Of Love)", and other tracks include "Sky Church Hymn #9", "Piktor's Metamorphosis" and "Play & Display Of The Heart".  ~ Dusty Groove

New Releases: Billy Hawks - The New Genius Of The Blues / Heavy Soul; Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess; Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson - The Original Cleanhead

BILLY HAWKS - THE NEW GENIUS OF THE BLUES / HEAVY SOUL

Tasty bluesy organ material from Prestige, featuring 2 hard-to-find records, back-to-back in a single set! Billy Hawks sings and plays organ with a groove that's in between jazz, blues, and deep soul. On New Genius Of The Blues he's fronting a trio that includes a young Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones on guitar, and the group plays a few instrumentals with some excellent organ/guitar interchange. Some of the material here is a bit bluesy, but there's also still a relatively strong soul jazz component as well – one that comes through in the overall structure of the tunes, and in the lean style in which they were recorded. Titles include "Hawks Blues", "Let Me Love You Before You Go", "Got My Mojo Working", "Mean Woman Blues" and more. More Heavy Soul is the rarest of his albums for Prestige – and on this one he plays organ in a style that's more in keeping with some of the funky jazz artists on the label – especially on the instrumental tracks, which give a lot more room to the instrumental solos. There's a great instrumental groover called "That's Your Bag" that's right up with the best of the Prestige funky jazz tracks from the 60s, and even the vocal cuts are really nice, as Billy has a good soulful singing style. He's backed here by Buddy Terry and Maynard Parker, and other tracks include "Heavy Soul", "Whip It On Me", and "I'll Be Back". 19 tracks in all!  ~ Dusty Groove

RAMSEY LEWIS - SUN GODDESS (BONUS TRACKS)

One of our favorite Ramsey Lewis albums ever – and a perfect summation of the genius that was brewing on the Chicago scene in the late 60s and early 70s! The album has Ramsey working strongly with Earth Wind & Fire – no surprise, given his close ties to Maurice White, who was the drummer in Ramsey's trio before starting his own group – and the shared relationship both artists had with producer Charles Stepney! The three were all key parts of the late 60s sound at Chess Records – but here, they've brought the same soulful energy to Columbia – working in a wider, more mature groove for the 70s – one that has Lewis' wicked Fender Rhodes lines stretching out strongly over tight, compressed, funky lines from EWF! The centerpiece of the set is the massive 7 minute "Sun Goddess", but there's lots of other nice ones like "Living For The City", "Gemini Rising", and "Jungle Strut". Funky, electric, and sublimely wonderful all the way through! This FTG CD edition includes 3 bonus tracks: 7" versions of "Sun Goddess" and "Jungle Strut",plus the UK 7" version of "Sun Goddess". ~ Dusty Groove

EDDIE 'CLEANHEAD' VINSON - THE ORIGINAL CLEANHEAD

A really sweet late effort from bluesy soul singer and sax player Eddie Cleanhead Vinson – his dawn of the 70s comeback! Cleanhead covered a whole lot of stylistic range in earlier years, from big band vocalist, to R&B shouter, to bebop era alto sax player – and he comfortably displays that range here, albeit in a loose, easygoing soul mode – backed by a great group of session players that includes Joe Pass, Artie Butler, Arthur Wright and Plas Johnson. Bob Thiele produced, and the titles include "Cleanhead Blues", "Pass Out", "Alimony Blues", "Cleanhead Is Back", "Juice Head Baby", "Old Maid Boogie", "One O'Clock Humph" and "I Needs To Be Be'd Wid". This great Ace CD version includes 3 bonus tracks: live versions of "Cleanhead Blues", "I Had A Dream" and "Person To Person". ~ Dusty Groove

STAX RECORDS SET TO RELEASE TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE ALBUM ON SEPTEMBER 9TH

Stax Records/Concord Music Group is proud to announce it will release Take Me To the River: Music From The Motion Picture on September 9th, 2014. The companion album to Martin Shore’s award-winning soulful documentary TAKE ME TO THE RIVER features 13 tracks from the film's ensemble cast including William Bell, Snoop Dogg, Mavis Staples, Otis Clay, Lil P-Nut, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Yo Gotti, Bobby Rush, Academy Award-winner Frayser Boy and The North Mississippi All-Stars. The majority of the album was recorded at the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis which is one of the oldest and most prestigious recording studios in America.

The first single from the album, a modern interpretation of the classic soul gem “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” by William Bell with STAX Music Academy Students featuring Snoop Dogg, premiered today on VICE’s music channel Noisey.com, listen to it here.  

“The album is a journey, a celebration of collaboration,” says TAKE ME TO THE RIVER director and filmmaker Martin Shore. "Memphis and Mississippi Delta music legends together with a stellar collection of modern rap and R&B stars take you on a quintessential journey into America’s soul.”

The TAKE ME TO THE RIVER documentary, executive produced by John Beug, Snoop Dogg, Ted Chung, and Terrence Howard, brings multiple generations of award-winning Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians together, following them through the creative process of recording a historic new album to re-imagine the interracial, intergender and intergenerational collaboration of Memphis in its heyday.

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) where it won the 24 Beats Per Second Audience Award. The documentary also screened at the 2014 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to critical acclaim. TAKE ME TO THE RIVER will be released in select theaters nationwide on September 12, 2014.

Tracklist: 

Take Me To The River: Music From The Motion Picture track listing:

1. Bobby "Blue" Bland featuring Yo Gotti - "Ain't No Sunshine"

2. Mavis Staples with North Mississippi All-Stars - "Wish I Had Answered"

3. Bar Kays featuring 8Ball and MJG - "Be Like Me"

4. Bobby Rush* featuring Frayser Boy - "Push and Pull"

5. Booker T. with North Mississippi All-Stars featuring Al Kapone - "Supposed to Be"

6. Otis Clay featuring P-Nut - "Trying to Live My Life Without You"

7. Mavis Staples with North Mississippi All-Stars - "I've Been Buked"

8. William Bell with Stax Music Academy feat. Snoop Dogg - "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"

9. Charlie Musselwhite with the City Champs - "If I Should Have Bad Luck"

10. William Bell with Stax Music Academy - "Knock On Wood"

11. Bobby Rush* featuring Frayser Boy - "Henpecked"

12. Terrence Howard with Hi Rhythm Section - "Walk Away"

Web: www.TMTRR.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmttrfilm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmttrfilm

Instagram: http://instagram.com/tmttrfilm

www.concordmusicgroup.com

BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB NEW YORK AUGUST 2014 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Blue Note Jazz Club, one of the world's most iconic jazz and blues venues based in Greenwich Village, is proud to announce an impressive schedule of artists for August 2014. Highlights include: Dee Dee Bridgewater featuring Theo Croker, Conrad Herwig's "Latin Side of Horace Silver" project (which will be recorded live for future release on Half Note Records), Tom Harrell's "Colors of a Dream" (with Esperanza Spalding), Arturo Sandoval, Earl Klugh, and "Quincy Jones Presents: Nikki Yanofsky & Andreas Varady Album Releases + Special Guests," among others.

AUGUST 2014 ARTIST SCHEDULE

8:00PM & 10:30PM shows each night, unless otherwise noted.

Doors open at 6:00pm. $5 minimum.

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra 

Thursday - Sunday, July 31 - August 3

William "Count" Basie, one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time whose talent with the keyboard elevated jazz to a new art form, started the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri.  Dedicated to continuing the Basie legacy, the Orchestra is still going strong today and will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2015. The group is in constant demand for television and films and has won 17 GRAMMY® Awards and 20 DownBeat and JazzTimes polls, more than any other big band in jazz.

Music Charge: $20 - Bar, $35 - Table

Quincy Jones Presents: Nikki Yanofsky & Andreas Varady Album Releases + Special Guests

Monday, August 4

Blue Note Jazz Club (in association with Quincy Jones Productions) is proud to present album release performances showcasing two of jazz's most talked about new artists: 20-year-old vocalist Nikki Yanofsky and 17-year-old guitarist Andreas Varady (both of whom are managed by Jones). At just 20 years old, Yanofsky has topped both jazz and pop charts, performed with orchestras and big bands, and sold out festivals and major theaters around the world; in 2010, she sang to 3.2 billion people - half the world's population - at the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games. She has worked with luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Phil Ramone, Will.i.am, Wyclef Jean, and Elton John. She performs in support of her new album, Little Secret, released in May 2014. Varady is "one of the most talented people on this planet, who takes the music back to where it belongs," says Jones. A child prodigy, Varady has performed with a collection of world class musicians including: Lee Ritenour, Alfredo Rodriguez, Frank Vignola, Casey Benjamin, and many more. He performs in support of his new debut self-titled album, scheduled for August 5, 2014 release on Verve Music Group. Varady will only perform as an opener for the first show at 7:00PM (with special guests, to be announced).

*Show Times: 7:00PM & 10:30PM*

Music Charge: $15 - Bar, $25 - Table

Arturo Sandoval

Tuesday - Sunday, August 5-10

A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, renowned trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is proud to return to Blue Note Jazz Club. His latest Concord Records release, Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You), won the 2013 GRAMMY® Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, and pays tribute to his mentor, Gillespie, showcasing the legend's greatest compositions. Sandoval is noted as one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, having performed with Celine Dion at the Oscars, with Justin Timberlake at the GRAMMY® Awards, and with Alicia Keys at the Billboard Music Awards. 

Music Charge:

Tuesday - Thursday: $20 - Bar, $35 - Table

Friday - Sunday: $30 - Bar, $45 - Table

Earl Klugh

Tuesday - Sunday, August 12-17

Following six-night appearances in August 2012 and 2013 respectively, GRAMMY®-winning master guitarist Earl Klugh's return to Blue Note Jazz Club for another six nights this August (2014) marks the third iteration of what has become an annual summer residency. Recording over 30 albums in his multi-million-selling career including 23 Top 10 charting records - five of them No. 1 - on Billboard's Jazz Album chart, Klugh performs in support of his latest Concord Records album, HandPicked (2013) - a solo guitar album featuring a handful of collaborative string duets (featuring the likes of country legend Vince Gill, contemporary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro). Klugh's credit appears on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx and many others.

Music Charge: $20 - Bar, $35 - Table

The Latin Side of Horace Silver: Conrad Herwig & The Latin Side All-Stars

W/ Special Guest Michel Camilo (8/19-21)

Live Half Note Records Album Recording

Tuesday - Sunday, August 19-24

Trombonist Conrad Herwig returns to Blue Note with "The Latin Side of Horace Silver" program, spotlighting the music of jazz legend Horace Silver (who recently passed away in June 2014). This marks Herwig's seventh project in the "Latin Side" franchise. The engagement will be recorded live (to be released on Half Note Records in 2015). GRAMMY®, Emmy®, and Latin GRAMMY® Award winning pianist and composer Michel Camilo will guest for three nights. Since 1998, Herwig's "Latin Side" franchise has focused on reimagining seminal jazz musicians' compositions by showcasing those compositions within the framework of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Past projects have paid homage to John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, among others, receiving several GRAMMY® Award nominations for Half Note Records. Herwig's latest "Latin Side" album, The Latin Side of Joe Henderson featuring Joe Lovano, is scheduled for September 16, 2014 release on Half Note.

Music Charge: $20 - Bar, $35 - Table

Tom Harrell "Colors of a Dream"

Tuesday - Thursday, August 26-28

The latest project from the prolific trumpeter and composer Newsweek praised for his "pure melodic genius," Tom Harrell's "Colors of a Dream" is a captivating piano-less sextet with two bassists -- one of them the stellar Esperanza Spalding - and invigorating music by one of jazz's most admired artists. The lineup also features bassist Ugonna Okegwo, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, and drummer Jonathan Blake. A veteran of bandleaders such as Horace Silver and Phil Woods and a frequent winner of the DownBeat and JazzTimes magazines' critics and readers polls, Harrell is known for the burnished warmth and melodic grace and freedom of his trumpet and flugelhorn playing.

Music Charge: $20 - Bar, $35 - Table

Dee Dee Bridgewater Featuring Theo Croker

Friday - Sunday, August 29-31

Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, GRAMMY® and Tony Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater has been a torchbearer for female vocalists in the tradition of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. With three GRAMMY® Awards to her credit, Bridgewater is seemingly getting better with age, winning a 2010 GRAMMY® Award for her latest album Listen Now! Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, where she performed the timeless songs of Billie Holiday. She appears at Blue Note with a band featuring her latest protégé, 29-year-old trumpeter Theo Croker (the grandson of legendary trumpeter Doc Cheatham), who recently released his debut album via OKeh/Sony Masterworks in May 2014 to critical acclaim.

Music Charge: $20 - Bar, $35 - Table

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES

August 11 - Angela Johnson CD Release Show (8:00PM) / Bradd Marquis (10:30PM)     *One Show Only For Both Artists Above At Respective Show Times*

August 18 - Julie Eigenberg & Yaron Gershovsky

August 25 - Jeremy Pelt

LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES

Blue Note Jazz Club proudly presents its Late Night Groove Series, which showcases New York's up-and-coming jazz, soul, hip-hop, R&B and funk artists. Shows are on Friday and Saturday nights.  Doors open at midnight and shows begin at 12:30AM. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day-of-show, unless otherwise noted. The upcoming Blue Note Jazz Festival 

Late Night schedule features:

Friday, August 1 - Linda Oh "Sun Pictures" Feat.

Saturday, August 2 - String 'N Skins

Friday, August 8 - Christian Galvez Trio

Saturday, August 9 - Chris Turner

Friday, August 15 - Emergency Service

Saturday, August 16 - Sharif In Burgundy

Friday, August 22 - Robert Mwamba

Saturday, August 23 - Mad Satta

Friday, August 29 - Roswitha

Saturday, August 30 - r'kardo st.Von

SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES

Sunday Brunch at Blue Note Jazz Club is $29.50 per person and includes a live performance, brunch entree and cocktail. Each performer is scheduled for two shows, at 11:30AM and 1:30PM. 

The upcoming schedule features:

August 3 - Louis Armstrong Birthday Tribute Feat. "Hot Lips" Joey Morant & Catfish Stew

August 10 - "Portrait of Oscar Peterson" feat. Peter Beets Trio

August 17 - Jake Hertzog Trio

August 24 - Nanny Assis

August 31 - Zach Brock Quartet feat. Mike Moreno, Yaushi Nakamura & Rudy Royston

Blue Note Jazz Club, based in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a New York City cultural institution and one of the premier jazz clubs in the world. Jazz is undoubtedly America's music, and while Blue Note strives to celebrate the music's great history, the club is a place where progression and innovation - the foundation of jazz - are encouraged and practiced on a nightly basis. Blue Note is open for concerts 365 days a year.

www.bluenotejazz.com

Celebrate 60 Years of the Newport Jazz Festival August 1 - 3

No need to worry about what to do this weekend ... head to the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management to celebrate the 60th anniversary of America's first annual jazz festival. Set in beautiful Newport, RI, August 1 - 3, the festival features three stages and more than 45 artists, including Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bobby McFerrin, Dr. John, David Sanborn, Trombone Shorty, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Gregory Porter, Snarky Puppy, Ron Carter and many more. 

Also celebrating its 60th anniversary this year is the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, which serves as the host venue for opening night of the Newport Jazz Festival. In 1954, the museum was founded as a "shrine to the ideals of the game." Sixty years later, and with a bright future ahead, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a global leader in the tennis industry, and an important community landmark. The Hall of Fame is housed in the historic Newport Casino, which was built in 1880 as a social club to bring the community together. As the two iconic Newport institutions mark 60 years, the Hall of Fame will kick off the 60th Anniversary Opening Night of Newport Jazz Festival with a pre-show cocktail party for concert goers, hosted on the beautiful porches of the historic property. Tickets are $60 and are available on www.tennisfame.com or by phone at 401-324-4072.

www.newportjazzfest.org

New Releases - Euge Groove - Got 2 Be Groovin; Lenny Pickett - The Prescription; Allyn Robinson - Dreams Realized, My Life In Music

EUGE GROOVE - GOT 2 BE GROOVIN

Saxophonist Euge Groove is one of the bestselling Contemporary Jazz artists, scoring more than half a dozen #1 Smooth Jazz radio hits and selling over 250,000 albums. His last album, House of Groove, hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, continuing his hit driven chart reign. Got 2 Be Groovin delivers Euge Groove s trademark Funk/Jazz grooves on a wide ranging set including potential radio hits as well as featuring a couple of vocal tracks by American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin and Gospel singer Chanel Haynes of Trin I Tee 5:7. Euge Groove is a staple of Contemporary Jazz radio, scoring two more Top Ten Billboard Contemporary Jazz hits on his last album. Groovin Up Hip Street will be the first single to be worked to smooth Adult Contemporary radio.

Euge Groove has toured both nationally and internationally, often as part of high profile, multi artist packages such as Guitars & Saxes and also the prestigious all star Smooth Jazz cruises.

~ Amazon

LENNY PICKETT WITH UMO JAZZ ORCHESTRA - THE PRESCRIPTION

Saxophonist Lenny Pickett's first album in decades, with the UMO Jazz Orchestra of Finland. After his breakthrough stint with Tower Of Power, he has been the sax soloist on Saturday Night Live. LP's is THE saxophone voice of our time. Pickett is a current member of the Saturday Night Live band and a long-time leader of the Tower of Power horn section. During the '70s, the Tower of Power was the dominant session horn group, cutting their own successful R&B/funk/pop records and backing a host of stars from Elton John to many soul and R&B acts. Pickett continued with the group until the mid-'80s, then made a solo release as a leader. He is a stirring, blues-laden player who functions best doing short, tart solos in the middle of R&B/blues/pop pieces, but not a jazz player in the conventional sense. ~ Ron Wynn

THE ALLYN ROBINSON PROJECT - DREAMS REALIZED, MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Drummer Allyn Robinson's latest record is a celebration of Allyn's rich musical history and a stirring tribute to Jaco Pastorius, Charles Brent and Wayne Cochran. With a burning 16-piece R&B big band, Allyn takes the listener on a musical journey across the threshold where jazz intersects with soul, funk and rhythm & blues. Allyn brought together some of New Orleans' finest musicians to record an incredible mix of original tunes by bassist and musical director Chuck Archard, as well as some exciting new arrangements of classics by Jaco, Willie Tee, The Gaturs, Dizzy Gillespie and Wayne Cochran and The C.C. Riders. From the opening track, "Amelia," a Jaco composition originally written and performed live with Allyn and the Cochran band in '73, to the Three Views of A Secret inspired, The Final View, this record is...A Dream Realized!

Keyboardist Greg Manning Is "Cruisin' Down The Road" Big Time as His New Single Debuts on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart

Keyboardist Greg Manning, the first artist signed to Kalimba Music (www.kalimba-music.com), the newly re-launched label owned by Earth, Wind & Fire's legendary founder Maurice White, is truly "Cruisin' Down The Road" as his infectious debut single catches fire on a variety of smooth jazz format charts.

The track, from Manning's recently released debut album Dance With You, makes its debut at #28 with a bullet on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart while debuting at #18 on the Smooth Jazz Top 20 with Allen Kepler. It also makes a major leap from #15 to #6 with a bullet on the Mediabase Smooth A/C chart, just behind the latest hits by Vincent Ingala (the chart-topping saxophonist who also appears on "Cruisin' Down The Road"), Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun and ahead of Mindi Abair, Paul Hardcastle and Brian Culbertson.

While remaining on the Smoothjazz.com and SmoothIndieStar.com charts, Manning's single hits the Top 5 (#5 with a bullet) on the Groove Jazz Music chart and rises from #31 to #28 on the Radio Wave Internet Airplay chart.

In other exciting Greg Manning news, the multi-talented performer will be performing on the Alaska bound Dave Koz & Friends At Sea Cruise September 5-12. He will also be making his first appearance as an artist on the main stage at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival on October 19.

Kalimba Music is also charting with Earth, Wind & Fire track "Never," the lead single from the re-mastered collector's edition of the hit album The Promise.  The track is holding steady in the Top 25 of the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart.

White, who originally established Kalimba Music in 2003 as a vehicle to promote Earth, Wind & Fire as well as up and coming performers, decided to re-launch based on his passion and love for music and worthy artists.

New Releases - Sam Cooke - The Complete SAR Recordings; Willie Hutch - In Tune; Ullanda McCullough - Ullanda McCullough / Watching You, Watching Me

SAM COOKE - THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS

The first-ever release of this full album of material by LC Cooke – the younger brother of the late Sam Cooke, but a hell of a singer in his own right! LC issued a few labels for Sam's SAR label in the early 60s, but this full set never saw the light of day – as it was scrapped after Sam's untimely early death – which makes this package the long-overdue release of the album at last! LC's style is a bit deeper than Sam's – still as well put-together, but with a bit less polish on the edges, and a lot more grit in the grooves – and the album mostly features production by Sam Cooke, over sessions from the early 60s – plus some final recordings done by LC with the Magnificent Montague. These 18 tracks are a great revelation – especially when taken together – and Peter Guaralnick wrote a great essay for the notes, which really ties the whole thing together. Titles include "Tell Me", "Take Me For What I Am", "The Lover", "Magic Words", "Sufferin", "Miss Sally", "Gonna Have A Good Time", "Do You Wanna Dance", "You're Working Out Your Bag", "Chalk Like", and "Put Me Down Easy". Dusty Groove

WILLIE HUTCH - IN TUNE

Willie Hutch got his first big break writing, producing and arranging songs for the 5th Dimension, but when he penned the lyrics to the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There;” Berry Gordy immediately hired him as a Motown writer, arranger and producer. After co-writing songs for Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Miracles and others, Hutch stepped into the spotlight as an artist in his own right for Motown, becoming a go-to Blaxploitation film score composer (The Mack; Foxy Brown) and scoring hits with “Brother’s Gonna Work It Out,” “Slick” and “Love Power.” But in 1977, Willie joined fellow Motown producer Norman Whitfield’s own Whitfield label, and the following year cut this disco/funk classic, which married Whitfield’s trademark psychedelic soul sound to his own sharp songwriting, with a bit of Barry White thrown into the mix. Long requested by soul and disco fans across the globe, this record features the R&B chart hits “All American Funkathon” and “Paradise,” and makes its worldwide CD debut with this Real Gone release. Gene Sculatti’s liner notes explore Willie’s distinguished career. ~ Real Gone

ULLANDA McCULLOUGH - ULLANDA MCCULLOUGH / WATCHING YOU, WATCHING ME

One of the most respected and active session singers of the mid-‘70s and early ‘80s, Ullanda McCullough’s distinctive voice could be heard on numerous popular jingles (including 1971’s Coca-Cola campaign, “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing”) as well as albums by Eddie Floyd, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Patti Austin, Cissy Houston, Bionic Boogie, Carly Simon, Chic, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, the soundtrack for the movie The Wiz and Ashford & Simpson, with whom she toured as a primary background vocalist during the late ‘70s. In 1979, Ullanda recorded her first solo album (Love Zone) for Ocean/Ariola Records before signing with Atlantic Records where she recorded two albums, a 1981 self-titled set and 1982’s Watching You, Watching Me.  Ullanda McCullough was written and produced in its entirety by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson and includes the cut “Warm And Gentle Explosion,” which became a popular rare groove track in the UK in the ‘90s along with other gems penned by the famed pair such as “Bad Company” (with a single edit included here as a bonus track), “Rumors,” “It’s You” and “You’re Gonna Wanna Come Back.”  Key musicians included Simpson on piano, guitarist Eric Gale, drummer Yogi Horton, keyboardist Philip Woo and percussionist Ralph MacDonald. Watching You, Watching Me was produced by renowned arranger/conductor and producer Bert DeCoteaux and featured an all-star cast of famed players (such as keyboardist Ray Chew, bassists Marcus Miller, Tinker Barfield and Wayne Brathwaite and percussionist Sammy Figueroa) and the cream of New York’s session singers, including Luther Vandross—who did the background vocal arrangements for four of the album’s eight tracks—Tawatha Agee (of the band Mtume) and Brenda White, who would go on to sing on albums by Vandross and tour with Aretha Franklin.  Standout tracks include “Men Kiss And Tell,” (originally recorded by Carrie Lucas), Ullanda’s own “What’s It All About” and William Eaton’s compelling title track, covered in 1985 by Bill Withers. ~ Real Gone

Jazz Drummer Idris Muhammed is Dead at 74

Idis Muhammad, whose drumming crossed over several musical styles including funk, jazz, and rhythm and blues, died Tuesday (July 29) at the age of 74. Close frend Dan Williams confirmed Muhammad's death. Muhammed was a converted Muslim and was immediately buried in accordance with the traditions of Islam, While the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, Muhammad had been receiving dialysis treatment in New Orleans — where he had returned from New York City to retire back in 2011.

Idris Muhammad doesn’t mind the term "crossover." The New Orleans-born drummer, as a member of Lou Donaldson’s group in the mid-Sixties, was on the ground floor of that movement which fuses jazz with pop before anyone had even thought of a label for it. As one of the most in-demand studio musicians in New York, Muhammad has played on sessions with such major Seventies crossover figures as Bob James, Donald Byrd, Grover Washington, and Freddie Hubbard.

And, in the late Seventies, Idris has emerged as a top-selling crossover artist in his own right, with his last several albums placing high on the pop, soul, disco, and jazz charts: Turn This Mutha Out and Boogie to the Top (for CTI’s Kudu label), and his Fantasy debut, You Ain’t No Friend of Mine! (produced by William Fischer).

His brand-new Fantasy release, Foxhuntin’,reunites him with Dave Matthews and Tony Sarafino, the team that produced his Kudu hits. The results? State-of-the-art disco with a rhythmic foundation that’s unmistakably Muhammad.

Idris is understandably enthusiastic about the album. "The dance beat is there, of course," he says, "but it’s also got a fresh new sound that I’m very excited about."

Matthews and Sarafino composed most of the LP’s material; there’s also a track written by Idris’s wife, Sakinah Muhammad. Sidemen include Hiram Bullock on guitar, keyboardist Cliff Carter, Wilbur Bascomb on bass, and singers Ronnie Eagle and Frank Floyd.

Although the jazz public first became aware of Muhammad in 1967 when his funk rhythms propelled alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson’s hit, "Alligator Boogaloo," he had been the driving force behind countless rock and r&b hits for a decade previously. His beat graced such classics as Larry Williams’s "Bony Moronie," the Impressions’ "Keep On Pushing" and "People Get Ready," and the Dixie Cups’ "Chapel of Love."

The son of traditional jazz banjo player Nathaniel Morris, Idris was the youngest of four drum-playing brothers. "The Dixieland musicians all lived in the neighborhood," he recalls, "so they all used to get together on Sundays and parade through the streets. They had a feeling different from any other musicians in any other place. In New Orleans you have to play all types of music, because it’s just not a one-type-of-music town."

Muhammad is a leading exponent of the unique New Orleans school of drumming and credits among his influences such hometown drummers as brother Nathaniel Morris, Jr., Ed Blackwell, John Boudreaux, and Smokey Johnson. "Because my father was a musician," he explains, "we could play drums in the house all day and no one would say anything. So John and Smokey used to come to my house and rehearse. We were all young cats, but between us, we kinda had the whole New Orleans scene hooked up."

Muhammad was working with the legendary Hawkettes, led by organist Art Neville of Meters fame, when Larry Williams asked them to go on the road with him in 1957. The following year found Muhammad touring with Sam Cooke, but he soon returned home to cut "You Talk Too Much" with singer Joe Jones.

That record and other New Orleans hits of the period were causing a sensation across the nation with their unique syncopated rhythms. Artists and producers in the major recording centers were looking for a way to duplicate the magic sound but it was so different that no one could copy it. Earl Palmer had already gone to Southern California, where he became the leading rock studio drummer of the late Fifties. Berry Gordy sent for Smokey Johnson, who, according to Muhammad, laid the rhythmic foundation for the Motown sound.

After a spell on the road with Maxine Brown, Muhammad became active in both Chicago (with Dee Clark, Jerry Butler, and Curtis Mayfield) and New York (with singer Lloyd Price and producers Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Jeff Barry).

In the late Sixties, he moved to New York and worked with such jazz greats as Donaldson, Nat Adderley, Sonny Stitt, and Gene Ammons. But they wouldn’t let him forget his roots, because, as he says, "I had this rhythm no one else could play."

Besides maintaining his busy recording schedule, Muhammad also found time to spend four years with the original band for Hair and four more with singer Roberta Flack. He also cut two solo albums, Black Rhythm Revolution and Peace and Rhythm, for Prestige in 1971.

Idris’s enormous flexibility and range were again brought to light during his recent gig with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin’s quartet. "That whole tour was the greatest experience! Johnny is such a strong player, and we had a ball playing together."

At the other end of the Muhammad spectrum is Foxhuntin’-dynamic disco, and another expression of his unique rhythmic talents.

~ Concord Music Group

CORAZON, the First Ever Latin Music Album of Santana's Career, is Certified U.S. Latin Double Platinum and Held the #1 Billboard U.S. Latin Record for Six Consecutive Weeks Upon Release

"'Corazon' promotes and accentuates the same principles that are inside me. As Bob Marley said, 'Dance your troubles away.' Just as a dog shakes off the water, you have to shake off the weight of the soul from beginning to end. This CD invites you to celebrate your own light. Don't be afraid. Take a look." - Carlos Santana

CORAZON, the first ever Latin album of Santana's career, has just received U.S. Latin double-platinum certification. Upon release on May 6th, it was the top selling Latin Music album in the United States for six consecutive weeks. In addition, CORAZON has been #1 on the iTunes album chart in 24 countries, #2 in 10 countries, and Top 10 in 59 countries.

Superstar performances on CORAZON, the album, include ChocQuibtown, Lila Downs, Gloria Estefan, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Juanes, Ziggy Marley, Miguel, Nina Pastori, Pitbull, Samuel Rosa of Skank, Cindy Blackman Santana, Romeo Santos, Wayne Shorter, Soledad, and Diego Torres.

"We are deeply gratified at the success of Carlos Santana's first ever Latin CD, Corazon. It's all about the music and Carlos continues to create timeless melodies that will be eternally relevant. I would like to thank all the fans who have embraced Corazon," Michael Vrionis, President of Universal Tone Management and one of the Executive Producers of Corazon said.

For forty years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten GRAMMY ® Awards and three Latin GRAMMY ® Awards.  He won a record-tying nine GRAMMYs for a single project for 1999's Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Smooth"). He has also received the Billboard Century Award (1996), was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), and received the Billboard Latin Music Awards' Lifetime Achievement honor (2009).  Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." Celebrating the chart debut of Guitar Heaven (Arista) in 2010, Santana joined the ranks of the Rolling Stones as the only musical act in chart history to score at least one Top 10 album in every decade beginning with the 1960s. On December 8th, 2013 Carlos Santana was the recipient of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors Award. He is also currently headlining at a multi-year residency at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Santana recently kicked off an 18 show US tour with Rod Stewart along with stand alone dates for 'The Corazon Tour.'

Link to "Saideira" video featuring Samuel Rosa: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ2R-cj12zY

www.santana.com

http://www.facebook.com/carlossantana

https://twitter.com/SantanaCarlos

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ2R-cj12zY