Our Point
of View is a supergroup that celebrates the vitality of Blue Note by looking
ahead and assembling the leading young artists on the Blue Note roster who
continue to move Jazz forward. The creative young voices of Jazz have been the
lifeblood of Blue Note Records throughout its storied 75 year history, from
Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock to Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson, all of
whom made their debut albums for the legendary label. Our Point of View is a
supergroup that celebrates the vitality of Blue Note in honor of our 75th
anniversary by looking ahead and assembling the leading young artists on the
Blue Note roster who steadfastly continue to move Jazz forward. Featuring
keyboardist Robert Glasper, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, tenor saxophonist
Marcus Strickland, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer
Kendrick Scott, the band’s repertoire draws from each of these artists’ own
remarkable catalogs as well new spins on Blue Note classics. Our Point of View
will perform select shows this Fall including Monterey Jazz Festival (9/20), Blue Note Xperia Lounge Festival in
Paris (11/20), and London Jazz Festival (11/22) and (Le) Poisson Rouge in NYC
(12/12) presented by WBGO. Monterey Jazz Festival will also present an
exhibition and panel discussion on the legacy of Blue Note moderated by Ashley
Kahn and featuring Bobby Hutcherson, Robert Glasper and Don Was. The Blue Note
Xperia Lounge Festival in Paris runs from November 18-23 with additional
performances by Gregory Porter, Jason Moran, and others.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Spirit of Malombo: Malombo Jazz Makers, Jabula Jazz & Jazz Afrika 1966-1984
South
Africa's Julian Bahula created a unique synthesis of Western jazz and the
indigenous rhythms of his home country, spreading his culture to an
international audience as well as creating awareness for political issues
affecting his homeland. Strut's new Spirit of Malombo collection sheds light on
this visionary musician and tireless advocate for uality in South Africa.
In the
early '60s, Bahula introduced indigenous malombo drums alongside guitar and
flute to create a new, politically-charged fusion. After a spell with guitarist
Philip Tabane, Bahula settled with musicians Lucky Ranku and Abie Cindi as
Malombo Jazz Makers and the trio placed themselves bravely on the frontline of
anti-apartheid activism including a domestic tour with Steve Biko as part of
the 'Into The Heart of Negritude' theatre production.
As the
pressure of apartheid intensified, Bahula moved to political exile in the UK,
where he formed new Afro super-group, Jabula. The band worked closely and
selflessly with the exiled ANC, the Anti-Apartheid Movement and other
anti-apartheid organisations, using their music to help spread political
awareness across Europe.
In '83,
Bahula and his wife Liza set up the first concert in the UK to raise awareness
for Nelson Mandela, 'African Sounds', an event that helped kick-start the
international pressure leading to Mandela's release in 1990. The Specials'
Jerry Dammers was there and was inspired by Jabula's track 'Mandela' to write
the huge hit for The Special A.K.A., 'Free Nelson Mandela'.
Spirit
Of Malombo documents Bahula's incredible musical journey from 1966 to 1984 for
the first time. Package includes rare photos, poster artwork and memorabilia
with extensive sleeve notes from author Francis Gooding. The cover features a
still from leading South African photographer, Ernest Cole.
~ Strut
Dianne Reeves to Perform National Anthem at NFL Game at London's Wembley Stadium
Currently
on tour in Europe in support of her new album Beautiful Life, Dianne Reeves
will be performing the national anthem at the Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons
football game at London's Wembley Stadium this Sunday, October 26th at 9:30am
EDT / 6:30am PDT -- despite the Atlanta Falcon's front office having post a
graphic to their fans that the Falcons would be playing this game in Spain. As
part of the "NFL International Series," this will be the 10th NFL
game to occur at the world-renowned Wembley -- the second largest stadium in
Europe. The game is to be broadcast nationally on FOX as well as throughout the
UK. Born in Detroit and raised in Denver, Reeves said with a wink, "Of
course I am a Lions' fan, but I'm glad they're not playing against the Broncos!"
Shifting
to a somewhat less raucous setting, Reeves will be the featured soloist with
the New York Philharmonic at their annual New Year's Eve Concert at Lincoln
Center -- to be broadcast live on PBS.
Following
a five year recording hiatus, Reeves dug in deep and what she found and what
resulted was Beautiful Life -- her Concord Records debut. The album showcases
Reeves' sublime gifts by weaving a framework of 21st Century Jazz with R&B,
Latin and Pop elements. Produced by Terri Lyne Carrington and featuring George
Duke, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, Sean Jones, Raul Midón, Gregory Porter
and Esperanza Spalding, Beautiful Life is a seamless blend of originals and
inspired interpretations of classics including Bob Marley's "Waiting In
Vain," Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" and the jazz classic
"Stormy Weather."
NEW RELEASES: LINDA CLIFFORD – IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW; THE MAR-KEYS – THE GREAT MEMPHIS SOUND; BARBARA LYNN – HERE IS BARBARA LYNN
LINDA
CLIFFORD – IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW (WITH BONUS TRACKS)
The
standout classic from Curtom disco diva Linda Clifford – and an album that
showed that Chicago could rival Philly in the clubby groove department! Linda
has a proud presence that really matches that of her better-known sisters in
the City Of Brotherly Love – and she's singing here with a strong sense of
personality that really sets the album apart from other female disco albums of
the era. One of the greatest examples of this is her stunning "Runaway Love"
– which has a bad-rapping, almost Marlena Shaw-esque monologue in the middle –
but other tracks are equally nice, and include "Gypsy Lady", "If
My Friends Could See Me Now", "Broadway Gypsy Lady", "You
Are You Are", and "I Feel Like Falling In Love Again". Arrangements
are by Gil Askey – who also produced the set in collaboration with Curtis
Mayfield! ~ Dusty Groove
THE
MAR-KEYS – THE GREAT MEMPHIS SOUND
A great
Memphis sound from the second greatest instrumental group on Stax next to
Booker T & The MGs – heard here on a massive record that really pushes The
Mar-Keys to the next level! On previous records, the combo always had a sound
that was a bit brighter than Booker and his group – still soul, but not nearly
as sharp. Yet this time around, they really dig deep – and have a way of
smoking out plenty of the best soulful elements associated with the Stax
Records sound – that great way with a heavy-stepping groove, instrumentation
that's tight yet never slick, and solo moments that burst out and really give
the tunes a hell of a lot of personality! The rhythm jumps out of the grooves
on numbers like "Honey Pot", "Grab This Thing" and
"Philly Dog", and the album winds up with a James Brown medley that's
pretty darn swingin too. ~ Dusty Groove
BARBARA
LYNN – HERE IS BARBARA LYNN
A
fantastic album of soul from Barbara Lynn – an oft-overlooked gem in the crown
of Atlantic during their glory soul days in the 60s, and a singer with a raw
soulful style that really deserved greater exploration! The album's filled with
wonderful original tunes, written either by Barbara or arrangers Cliff Thomas,
Ed Thomas, and Bob McRee. The set was recorded at the Grits & Gravy Studios
in Clinton, Mississippi by Huey P Meux – which gives it a slightly different
style than much of the Atlantic output at the time. Titles include "You're
Losing Me", "Sufferin City", "You'll Lose A Good
Thing", "Take Your Love & Run", "I'll Suffer",
"Maybe We Can Slip Away", "Multiplying Pain", and "Mix
It Up Baby". ~ Dusty Groove
NEW RELEASES: MATT ULERY – IN THE IVORY; RYAN KEBERLE & CATHARSIS – INTO THE ZONE; ROB MAZUREK & BLACK CUBE SP – RETURN THE TIDES: ASCENSION SUITE & HOLY GHOST
MATT
ULERY – IN THE IVORY
Matt
Ulery just keeps on getting better and better – to a point where his music may
well be a genre unto itself! This album's got Matt working with a larger
ensemble – a mix of woodwind and string players, augmented with some key vocal
passages as well – a double-length record that's mostly instrumental, but which
has these beautiful songs step forth at just the right points – with lyrics
delivered by Sarah Marie Young and Grazyna Auguscik. Matt leads the group,
plays bass, and provides some slight backing vocals – and the mix of cello,
violin, piano, clarinet, and flute is sublime throughout. Titles include
"Gave Proof", "The Farm", "Innocent", "Black
Squirrel", "Resilin", "When Everything Is Just The
Same", "Viscous", "Seeker", "Sweet Bitter",
and "Mary Shelly". ~ Dusty
Groove
RYAN
KEBERLE & CATHARSIS – INTO THE ZONE
Ryan
Keberle's a trombonist, but one with a very light touch on his instrument – so
much so that he blends wonderfully with the trumpet of Mike Rodriguez in this
quartet – dancing along in a flurry of rhythms and colors with a bright, joyous
sort of vibe! Like other albums on the Greenleaf label of late, this set's
moving way past straight jazz – although there's still a very strong jazz
center at the core. Bits of voice from Camila Meza come in and further warm the
colors in the music – and the wonderful interplay between the bass or Jorge
Roeder and drums of Eric Doob go way past the usual too. Titles include "Inevitable
Blues", "Without A Thought", "Simple Sermon",
"Cheryl", "Zone", and "Ballad Of The Sad Young
Men". ~ Dusty Groove
ROB
MAZUREK & BLACK CUBE SP – RETURN THE TIDES: ASCENSION SUITE & HOLY GHOST
Rob
Mazurek just keeps stunning us more and more over the years – growing way way
past his earlier straight jazz roots, and even his key work in the Chicago
underground – to a level where he's easily encompassing many different styles
and genres at once – then finding a way to make the sounds all his own! This
project has Rob furthering the electronic sounds of recent records, while still
holding onto a core element of jazz with his work on cornet – an instrument he
uses here with wonderfully rich acoustic tones, and hardly at any sort of easy
Miles electric modes, or anything like that. The players here are all part of his
scene in Sao Paulo – including Mauricio Takara on drums, Guilherme Granado on
keyboards, Thomas Rohrer on electronics and soprano sax, and Rogerio Martins on
percussion – but all players also take on other instruments, add in bits of
voice, and work with the production and processing to really create some
amazing sonic energy throughout. All tracks are long – and titles include
"Let The Rain Fall Upwards", "Return The Tides", "Oh
Mother", and "Reverse The Lightning". ~ Dusty Groove
Emmy and Tony Award-Winning Singer-Actress Kristin Chenoweth to Release Her First Live CD Coming Home on November 17; PBS Concert Special Airs on November 28
"The whole experience was
very emotional," Kristin Chenoweth says of the historic performance that's
captured on Coming Home, her first Concord Records release and her first-ever
live album.
Scheduled
for release on November 17, 2014, the aptly titled 15-song album captures the
versatile singer-actress singing for a rapturously enthusiastic crowd at the
Kristin Chenoweth Theatre in the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center in her
hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
"Any
time you come home, you have a flood of emotions, and singing in front of
people I've known most of my life made me even more nervous," Chenoweth
observes. "But I couldn't imagine doing it anyplace else. I just wanted
them to be proud of me."
The
career-spanning CD is the audio counterpart to Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home,
the artist's first television concert special, which will premiere on PBS
stations nationwide on November 28 and be released on CD and DVD.
The
personally-charged performance finds Chenoweth accompanied by an expert
11-piece band incorporating strings, horns and woodwinds, along with a trio of
backup vocalists and the Broken Arrow High School Choir. The set list spans her
entire stage and screen career and encompasses the breadth of her musical
interests, incorporating Broadway classics, timeless pop standards and
contemporary material, covering a remarkable amount of stylistic ground while
providing a compelling showcase for Chenoweth's abundant talent and charisma.
Coming
Home's many highlights include powerful new renditions of "Popular"
and "For Good," both of which Chenoweth introduced in her starring
role in the Broadway smash Wicked. She also brings fresh energy and emotion to
such venerable standards as Lerner and Loewe's "I Could Have Danced All
Night," Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg's "Over the Rainbow,"
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's "All the Things You Are," and the
more recent show tunes "Bring Him Home," from Les Misérables; and
"Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," from Phantom of the Opera.
Elsewhere
on Coming Home, Chenoweth demonstrates her longstanding affinity for the songs
of John Kander and Fred Ebb with stirring readings of the duo's enduring
compositions "Maybe This Time" and "My Coloring Book." Her
interpretive skills also illuminate Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow,"
the contemporary spiritual "Upon This Rock," and Barbra Streisand and
Donna Summer's disco-era smash "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)."
Chenoweth also revisits the poignant "I Was Here" and "Fathers
and Daughters," which she originally recorded in 2011, and taps into the
timeless resonance of Stephen Foster's 19th-century ballad "Hard Times
Come Again No More."
"I
can't just sing a song for no reason, so I only choose songs that mean
something to me," Chenoweth states. "For example, I chose 'My
Coloring Book' because when I was in college, my voice teacher didn't think I
understood the song, and told me to pull it out one day when I did. So I'm
singing it all these years later, and she was there to witness it. I also like
to reintroduce songs that people may not be familiar with, like Stephen
Foster's 'Hard Times,' which is from 1853 but sounds like it could have been
written today. And I love to do songs that people wouldn't expect from me, like
'Enough Is Enough.'
"I'm
known for musical theatre," she continues, "but I grew up with
country and gospel, and I've always loved standards and operas. So I figured
that this live album would be a good chance to show people the different things
that influenced me and the different things I can do."
Since
achieving Broadway stardom with her roles in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
and Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth has effortlessly transitioned between her
parallel careers in stage, television, film and music. After winning a Tony
Award for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and earning a Tony nomination for
Wicked, she won an Emmy Award for her role in the ABC TV series Pushing
Daisies, and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and a People's Choice Award for
her work in the Fox series Glee. In addition to numerous other TV, film and
stage projects, she was a series regular on NBC's The West Wing, was a guest
judge on American Idol and has recorded four studio albums.
Chenoweth
plans to return to Broadway in early 2015 with a starring role in the
Roundabout Theatre Company's 20-week limited engagement of On the Twentieth
Century. She recently completed roles in the films The Boy Next Door, alongside
Jennifer Lopez, Opposite Sex, the indie teen drama Hard Sell and the Disney
Channel's live-action original movie Descendents, in which she plays the
classic villain Maleficent.
Her
celebrated acting career aside, Chenoweth says that she finds it liberating to
sing in a concert situation, engaging directly with the songs and her audience.
"When
I'm in a concert setting, I don't have to play a role," she notes.
"It's more of a challenge to sing as yourself, because you can go to a
very raw place that you don't always want to share, or maybe you don't mean for
it to come out. But it's all part of being an artist and letting people see who
you are. And hopefully when people listen to this CD, they'll have a better
idea, or maybe even a different idea, of who Kristin Chenoweth is."
In
addition to Coming Home's CD release, Concord will also issue the Coming Home
concert on DVD in February 2015, and PBS will distribute a CD and DVD edition
of the show as a fundraising premium.
Kristin
Chenoweth: Coming Home will make its TV premiere on November 28 (check local
listings) as part of the 2014 PBS Arts Fall Festival. Chenoweth will also host
the series, which underscores PBS' commitment to America's best performing
arts, and gives millions of viewers a front-row seat and a backstage pass to great
cultural programs. Broadcasting every Friday night through December 5, with a
range of related online content, the Fall Festival features artists and
performances from across the country, comprising full-length performances,
behind-the-scenes interviews, and artist and performer profiles. For more,
visit pressroom.pbs.org.
Track
Listing:
1. I Could Have Danced All Night (3:10)
2. Maybe This Time (3:16)
3. My Coloring Book (4:20)
4. Bring Him Home (4:20)
5. Fathers and Daughters (3:41)
6. Hard Times Come Again No More (5:06)
7. Upon This Rock (5:08)
8. Over the Rainbow (3:18)
9. Popular (3:41)
10. For Good (5:13)
11. Little Sparrow (6:23)
12. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (3:16)
13. All the Things You Are (2:19)
14. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (5:23)
15. I Was Here (5:24)
The Thrasher Dream Trio--Gerry Gibbs, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron--Completes Massive Year with Its Second Chart-Topping Recording
There was not one, but two tremendous—and tremendously successful—albums in a single year by the same band. The Thrasher Dream Trio, featuring bandleader/drummer Gerry Gibbs and his very special guests Kenny Barron and Ron Carter, had one heckuva 12-month period. Consider the facts:
First, Thrasher Dream Trio spent four months on JazzWeek chart to kick off 2014 and topped the chart in the big #1 spot for a full six weeks. The band's second recording, We're Back, an innovative survey of jazz-suffused R&B covers, has quickly gone from "most added" to #1 in just a few weeks and remains there as we speak, exploding on jazz radio and turning DJs into converts daily.
Some high profile projects fail to live up to expectations. Not so here. Both discs, spun from the magic fingers of Gibbs, Barron, and Carter, are exhilarating excursions of rich jazz adventure. The first disc is, by turns, comfortable and exploratory, turning up lots of terrific moments. For example, Herbie Hancock's "The Eye of the Hurricane," accelerates out of the gate with virtuosic intensity and never lets up; and Monk's "Epistrophy," which kicks off the album, is tasteful, simply perfect, up-tempo playing.
On We're Back, the inventive jazz performances of Gibbs, Carter, and Barron, filter beautifully through a prism of material by Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye. The recording, which also features red-hot, world-class guests Warren Wolf (vibraphone), Larry Goldings (B-3), and Steve Wilson (woodwinds)—takes familiar tunes and morphs them into sizzling jazz standards.
Both recordings are remarkable modern-day classics starring three musicians at their peak. Joe Lovano affirms, "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!"
Thursday, October 23, 2014
BUIKA To Release Highly Anticipated Book Debut "A LOS QUE AMARON A MUJERES DIFÍCILES Y ACABRON POR SOLTARSE" (To Those Who Loved Difficult Women and Ended Up Letting Go)
World-renowned Spanish singer Buika, named one of
NPR's "50 Great Voices," will release her highly anticipated book
debut on November 17 in the U.S. A limited-edition, self-released project
titled "A los que amaron a mujeres difíciles y acabaron por soltarse"
(To Those Who Loved Difficult Women and Ended Up Letting Go), the book contains
a selection of original poems and stories - all in Spanish - as well as
photographs, allowing fans to discover rare personal and intimate facets of
this celebrated artist.
Buika
will launch the book in the U.S. at the Miami Book Fair International, with a
book reading on Thursday, November 20. The book will be available for purchase
on Amazon.com, at Books & Books, ConchaBuikaMusic.com, and New York's Blue
Note Jazz Club Gift Shop, among other select outlets. The project was released
in Spain earlier this month to critical acclaim and she recently appeared at
the Puerto Rico Word Festival in Old San Juan. She is currently on a worldwide concert
tour.
In 2008,
Buika shared her first poems and photographs with the world, to accompany her
multi-national bestselling album, "Nina de Fuego" (Girl of Fire).
However the release was discontinued due to its "controversial
content." In 2014, with "A los que amaron a mujeres difíciles y
acabaron por soltarse", the artist goes even further into exploring her
deepest desires and fears, bringing the reader closer to her fans than ever
been before. Through 18 poems, four short stories, 12 songs (lyrics), and a
selection of intimate photos (taken by Buika herself), as well as a
foreword by legendary songwriter/producer Desmond Child, the book showcases
Buika's unfiltered life: ranging from love to disappointments, delivered in the
singer's inimitable fashion.
"I
just do what my heart is demanding," reflects Buika. "Sometimes in
the music business people do what they think other people will like, but that's
a limitation. I just want to be true. I want what Charlie Parker's got - I want
eternity."
The
snapshots and self-portraits reveal a mysterious side of the multi-faceted
artist, exemplifying how prolific she is in both the written word and
photography. Her photographs do not just capture the world as it is, but rather
as seen through the unique perspective of Buika and her alter ego, Kitailo.
The scenes created transport readers to a universe where "Queen
Kitailo" directs the activities of her characters. Buika introduces the
characters in her book with compassion and tenderness intertwined with anger
and rage.
"After
reading the content of the book a few times and looking at its photos, I have
realized this is the first real in-depth interview I have ever given,"
states the singer. "Through it, I have been able to revisit my darkest
rooms, thanks in part to the empowerment and safety I feel in the 'we', which I
believe is the greatest of our shields."
Since
her introduction to the American marketplace in 2007 with the album Mi Niña
Lola (My Little Girl Lola), Buika (Concha Buika) - based in Miami Beach,
Florida since 2011 - has experienced a meteoric rise, earning lavish praise
from The New York Times, The Miami Herald, and The Wall Street Journal, as well
as NPR, which quickly included her in their "50 Great Voices" radio
gallery. Her next release, Niña de Fuego (Fire Child), paved the way for
relocation to Miami in 2011. After achieving success in Europe, her works were
compiled on the 2-CD set, En Mi Piel (In My Skin), to coincide with the Pedro
Almodovar movie of the same name in which she appeared. Buika received a
"Best Latin Jazz Album" GRAMMY® nomination in 2014 for her latest
album La Noche Mas Larga. She has won several Latin GRAMMY® Awards as well.
Rare is the artist to garner comparisons to Nina Simone, Chavela Vargas, and
Cesaria Evora, but Buika has been compared to all of them. The New York Post
has said, "A singer like Buika comes only once in a generation."
BUIKA 2014-2015
World Tour
2014:
October
23-24 / Fosnavåg konserthus / Fosnavag, Norway
October
25 / Philharmonie Essen, Alfried Krupp Saal
/ Essen, Germany
October
27 / Gallusova dvorana / ljubljana, Slovenia
October
29 / Oslo World Music Festival, Rockefeller / Oslo, Norway
November
4 / TivoliVredenburg / Utrecht, Netherlands
November
5 / Bozar, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Salle
Henry Le Bœuf / Brussels, Belgium
November
7 / Musikhuset Aarhus / Aarhus, Denmark
November
9 / Misty Fest, Centro Cultural de Belém, Grande Auditório / Lisboa, Portugal
November
10 / Misty Fest, Casa Da Música, Sala Suggia / Porto, Portugal
November
14 / Cinemafest 2014, (Boletos gratis) / San Luis Potosí, México
November
20 / Miami Book Fair International / Miami, FL, USA
2015:
February
28 / Nourse Theater / San Francisco, CA, USA
March 8
/ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts / Washington, D.C., USA
March 12
/ Frankfurter Hof / Mainz, Germany
March 14
/ Jazzfestival Basel, Stadtcasino Basel, Musiksaal / Basel, Switzerland
March 20
/ Kongresshaus Zürich / Zurich, Switzerland
March 21
/ Théâtre du Léman / Geneva, Switzerland
March 23
/ Philharmonie, Grand Auditorium / Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
March 25
/ Die Glocke - Das Bremer Konzerthaus, Großer Saal / Bremen, Germany
March 27
/ Festspielhaus, Main hall / St. Pölten, Germany
March 28
/ Kölner Philharmonie / Cologne, Germany
March 30
/ Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal / Hamburg, Germany
NEW RELEASES: CHRIS WALDEN BIG BAND - FULL-ON!; MICHAEL MUSILLAMI TRIO - PRIDE; GARY MCFARLAND - THIS IS GARY MCFARLAND:
CHRIS WALDEN BIG BAND - FULL-ON!
Five-time
Grammy-nominated composer and arranger Chris Walden returns with another
vibrant and swinging big band recording. Along with his group of topflight Los
Angeles session players, Full-On features vocalists Courtney Fortune, Siedah
Garrett, Dorian Holley, Tierney Sutton, Melanie Taylor, Carol Welsman, and
special guest soloist, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. German-born & L.A.- based
since 1999, Walden has scored more than 40 feature & TV films, and has
written more than a thousand orchestral and big band arrangements for artists
including Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand,
and orchestras such as Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the
Boston Pops. He has worked closely with producers David Foster, Tommy LiPuma,
and Phil Ramone. ~ Amazon
MICHAEL MUSILLAMI TRIO - PRIDE
Playscape
Recordings is proud to release;Pride, a new two-disc set from veteran
guitarist/composer Michael Musillami with his flagship trio, featuring bassist
Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller. Pride is the Michael Musillami Trio's
seventh release in the group's 11-year history. On Disc I, Musillami's core
trio, which has worked domestically and abroad since 2003, presents new
material such as the Monkish Uncle Fino's Garden and blues inflected Courageous
David B., along with trio staples Bald Yet Hip and Old Tea. This set captures
the trio in a recent 2013 studio session, joined by pianist Kris Davis and
tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene. - I am especially proud of the addition of Kris
and Jimmy to our 'thing', writes Musillami in his liner notes. - They both
speak naturally in this environment with grit, intelligence and passion. The
patience displayed in this music is a comment on the maturity and life
experience from all musicians involved. The session concludes with four
movements from a recent Musillami commissioned work based on the children's
book, Where The Wild Things Are. Disc II documents the first live CD released
by the Michael Musillami Trio. This set, recorded at New Haven's Firehouse 12
with violinist Mark Feldman, was recorded while on tour in support of the
trio's 2007 Playscape release The Treatment, which was honored in The Penguin
Jazz Guide's 1000 Best Jazz Recordings. ~ Amazon
GARY MCFARLAND - THIS IS GARY MCFARLAND: THE JAZZ LEGEND WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN A POP STAR
Combo CD
+ DVD package! The DVD contains a feature-length (72 minute) documentary about
legendary 1960's jazz arranger & composer Gary McFarland, who died much to
young at the age of 38, under mysterious circumstances. It features interviews
with Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Steve Kuhn, Airto Moreira, and many more, as
well as rare music performances by Bill Evans, Stan Getz, and the Gary
McFarland Orchestra. It also includes a photo gallery featuring the photography
of Chuck Stewart, as well as an unedited video clip of Stan Getz performing
with the Gary McFarland Orchestra.
Besides
the DVD, this package also contains a previously unreleased audio CD of the
Gary McFarland Quintet recorded live in 1965, featuring Gabor Szabo. ~ Amazon
NEW RELEASES: GREGG KARUKAS - SOUL SECRETS; MAYSA - A VERY MAYSA CHRISTMAS; JON MAYER – LIVE: THE ART OF THE BALLAD
GREGG KARUKAS - SOUL SECRETS
2013 Grammy winner Gregg Karukas is back with a new collection of all-original songs featuring his signature piano touch, pristine production, and melodies that are both soulful and sophisticated. Organic, funky, and melodic is how Gregg describes his latest, long awaited 12th solo project, Soul Secrets. Gregg's elegant grand piano and deep grooves are everywhere, and this time around he digs into his roots and also features the classic Fender Rhodes, Wurlie, Minimoog and Hammond B3 keyboards he grew up with quite a bit. With guest appearances along the way by friends Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Ricardo Silveira, Eric Valentine, Nate Phillips, Michael O'Neill, James Harrah, Adam Hawley, violinist Charlie Bisharat, Luis Conte, Shelby Flint, Ron Boustead and 21 year old rising sax star Vincent Ingala. Along with the privilege of being a musical artist and composer comes the realization that music is a mysterious and powerful force that can reach deep into our Souls and bring happiness. We all have unspoken Secrets there, and every song I write is my attempt to make that connection. The whole process, the journey, the wonderful feedback I get from listeners is what keeps me coming back to the piano.Karukas has been so consistently acclaimed for his melodic keyboard magic for so long that it might be superfluous to call Soul Secrets his best album ever but there s no doubt it s one of contemporary jazz's best albums of 2014. ~ Amazon
MAYSA - A VERY MAYSA CHRISTMAS
Grammy
nominated and Soultrain Centric Award winner Maysa holds a unique status in the
world of R&B/Jazz. Her incomparably lush, sensuous vocals have garnered her
legions of fans. As featured lead vocalist for the UK super group Incognito,
core member of Stevie Wonder s Wonderlove and, of course, through her own
albums and concerts, Maysa has been thrilling R&B and Jazz audiences for
decades. Featuring special guests Will Downing and Gerald Albright, A Very
Maysa Christmas presents the Christmas classics as you ve never heard them
before. Produced by Chris Big Dog Davis (Kim Burrell, Chantè Moore, Will
Downing), these renditions retain the classic holiday warmth, while taking the
listener on a spirited, creative, soulful journey that only Maysa can deliver. Highlights
include the Maysa/Will Downing duet of the Donny Hathaway classic, This
Christmas , a joyful, hip-hop infused mash up of The Night Before
Christmas/Santa Claus is Coming To Town , Maysa s soulful reimagining of Joy to
the World and much, much more. ~ Amazon
JON
MAYER – LIVE: THE ART OF THE BALLAD
Mayer is
a native New Yorker who has played with jazz greats like saxophonist Jackie
McLean and the vocal group Manhattan Transfer. He has lived in Southern
California since 1991, and appears infrequently in the East, making this
one-night performance decidedly welcome. Life has rebounded quite nicely for
pianist Jon Mayer, thank you, now that he has relocated to the West Coast and
slowly but surely built up his performing and recording activity to the delight
of his listeners there. Not quite falling into the "what ever happened
to?" category, Mayer nonetheless dropped from public consciousness for,
oh, a couple of decades. And now he's back, Rip Van Winkle-like. Having been
infused with the spirit and style of jazz in the 1950's when New York City was
abuzz with young legends-in-the-making like John Coltrane or Jackie McLean, Jon
Mayer was there. And recording. And touring. And learning. And inspiring. And
making a living. And surviving. In the 1960's and 1970's, Mayer worked with the
likes of Sarah Vaughan, Les McCann, Nancy Wilson and Barry White. Every
performance generates heat, including ballads like "But Beautiful."
Mayer is a thoroughly mainstream pianist, yet his way of embedding a song's
melody within his own elaborations and displacements creates continuous subtle
surprises. The most memorable piece is the title track, taken solo. "My
Romance" is slower and perhaps sadder than most versions, and the recorded
sound renders every pensive nuance. ~ CD
Universe
NEW RELEASES: RONNNIE FOSTER - TWO HEADED FREAP; RAY LUGO & THE BOOGALOO DESTROYERS - QUE CHEVERE; 25 YEARS OF MR BONGO
RONNIE FOSTER - TWO HEADED FREAP
Amazing
stuff by Ronnie Foster – a sweet little album of slow funky keyboard tones,
much more loosely arranged than his later work, with a dope groove that was
years ahead of its time! The album's in some ways a blueprint for some of our
favorite jazz-based hip hop – and although Ronnie's playing organ, on most of
the cuts, he handles the instrument more like it's a Fender Rhodes! Funky jazz
with a sinister, soulful groove – with players including Gene Bianco on harp,
Arthur Jenkins on congas, George Duvivier and Gordon Edwards on bass, Jimmy
Johnson on drums, Gerorge Dvens on vibes and Gene Gertoncini on guitar.
Includes the massive cut "Mystic Brew", which is a tasty Tribe
sample, plus lots of other goodies like "Chunky", "Summer
Song", and "Don't Knock My Love". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove
.
RAY LUGO
& THE BOOGALOO DESTROYERS – QUE CHEVERE! (MY BABY’S GOT LATIN SOUL)
Ray Lugo
& The Boogaloo Destroyers are the premier contemporary boogaloo and latin
soul outfit working today. Their sound is inspired by the warmth and youthful
spirit of classic New York Latin Boogaloo of the late 1960s. That became even
more evident when the band were invited to appear at the Fania Recordings
recent anniversary celebrations in New York - a fine and fitting endorsement
from the crucible of boogaloo music. Que Chevere! (My Babys Got Latin Soul) is
the title track from the band's most recent album, and it's released here in a
pairing with a fantastic reworking of another album track La Tumba De Fu Manchu
by Athens based producer and DJ, Mr Batterey (Stamy Papadomanolakis), who
explains that "the atmospheric sound of cumbia, combined with the organ
keys and the woodwind instruments sounded so fresh and transported me into a
exotic paradise of sounds".
25 YEARS OF MR BONGO 1989-2014 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
Mr Bongo
started life in 1989 as a small record shop underneath Daddy Kool’s Reggae
Store on Berwick Street in London. They were the first shop to sell vinyl
releases from independent hip-hop labels such as Def Jam, Rawkus, Nervous and
Big Beat outside of the USA. They also became the established bearer for
hard-to-find, classic Latin music, particularly Brazilian, outside of the
Americas. Such characters as Gilles Peterson and clubs such as Dingwalls
championed this music and in the following years Mr Bongo established itself as
the leader and provider for whole scene. The
label and publishing operation moved to Brighton in 2001. From their seaside
base Mr Bongo have been responsible for discovering and breaking some of the
world’s most exciting new talent, as well as reissuing sought after classics
and rarities that have gone on to become collectors items in their own right.
Looking through the label discography is like digging into a treasure trove. Mr
Bongo’s eclecticism married with their unshifting focus on quality has resulted
in celebrated releases from artists such as Terry Callier, Joyce, Marcos Valle,
Seu Jorge, Labi Siffre, Hollie Cook, Karol Conka, Prince Fatty, Ebo Taylor, and
The Incredible Bongo Band.This
compilation is a celebration of the label’s work from 1989 - 2014; Mr Bongo
classics on disc one and the future of Mr Bongo on disc two.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
NEW RELEASES: ENNIO MORRICONE - LE FOTO PROIBITE DI UNA SIGNORA PER BENE; SERGE GAINSBOURG - TENUE DE SOIREE; NICO FIDENCO - CANDIDO EROTICO
ENNIO MORRICONE - LE FOTO PROIBITE DI UNA SIGNORA PER BENE (FILM SOUNDTRACK)
One of the greatest
soundtracks ever from the legendary Ennio Morricone – a real standard-setting
record that's one of the top choices we go to again and again to illustrate the
genius of his music! The score is a fantastic mix of the two best sides of
Morricone's work – the kind of light, lilting melodies that are schooled in
bossa, but turned loose on their own devices – and the darker, more atonal
passages that would come to play more strongly during the 70s. The light wins
over the darkness in most of the record – especially the tracks that feature
the sublime wordless vocals of Edda Dell'Orso, which swell and fall with the
movement of the strings and keyboards. The whole thing's wonderful – and titles
include "Le Foto Proibite", "Nel Vuoto", "Intermezzino
Pop", "Amor Come Dolore", and "Quelle Foto". (Limited
to 500 copies.) ~ Dusty
Groove, Inc.
SERGE GAINSBOURG - TENUE DE SOIREE (FILM SOUNDTRACK)
An overlooked Serge
Gainsbourg soundtrack from the 80s – surprisingly well-done, and at a level
that both reflects Serge's earlier styles and a much deeper ear for film
scoring! There's a main theme that's delivered with this beautifully echoey
piano line – sometimes playful, sometimes somber – almost like a melody from a
Francis Lai film score – and balanced with some more stylized 80s elements that
reflect the instrumental sounds in Gainsbourg's own records of the time –
almost a reworking of older 70s trash modes, but towards more comedic ends for
the film. The piano passages are especially wonderful – and a real revelation,
as they show an emotive quality we don't normally associate with Serge – and
titles include "Travelo", "Traverse", "Traveste",
"Trave", "Travaux", "Traviolta One",
"Travelling", and "Travers". CD also features 6 rare bonus
cuts too! ~ Dusty Groove
NICO FIDENCO - CANDIDO EROTICO
Few folks could do a sexy
soundtrack better than Nico Fidenco in the 70s – and this rare gem features the
maestro opening up in some slightly different styles than you'll hear in his
famous film scores for the Emannuelle films! The movie's got a few key themes,
which are often done in variations – so that there might be a jazz take, an
orchestral one, or a mellower cut with a solo instrument in the lead – all
tunes that work together to create a nicely unified version of the soundtrack –
one that almost works more as a suite of themes than some of Nico's usual
material. Mircha Carven sings the lead track in English – and the CD features
16 tracks from the film. ~ Dusty Groove
NEW RELEASES: AFRO LATIN VINTAGE ORCHESTRA - PULSION; THE DAVE BRUBECK TRIO FEATURING GERRY MULLIGAN - BLUES ROOTS; YOSHIYAKI MASUO - WINDS OF BARCELONA
A darker groove than usual
from this hip European combo – a record that still has their commitment to
global sounds at its core, but which also comes across with these great 70s
electric modes too – almost echoes of Dark Magus Miles Davis and Sextant Herbie
Hancock – thanks to loads of cool keyboards and fuzzed-out production! The
acoustic elements resonate wonderfully with the electric ones – so that
percussion, bass, horns, and strings add a rich organic level next to the
guitar, Fender Rhodes, and Wurlitzer – blending beautifully with a musical
vision that really surprises us, given the earlier work from this group – a
much richer sound, and one that's got us loving them way more than before.
Titles include "Kagemusha", "Rituel", "Pulsion",
"Complot", "Shaman", "Drama", "En
Sursis", "Code Panthera", "French Connexion",
"Homo Analog", and "Resurrection". ~ Dusty Groove
THE DAVE BRUBECK TRIO FEATURING GERRY MULLIGAN - BLUES ROOTS
An overlooked Dave Brubeck
from the 60s – and one of his most striking sessions at the time! The album
steps a bit into the Blues Roots promised in the title – but overall, it's more
of a unique meeting between Brubeck's piano and the baritone sax of Gerry
Mulligan – coming together here in warm, open quartet company – with a sound
that's quite different than some of the Brubeck/Paul Desmond sessions of the
time! Dave really sets the tone on piano – and is maybe a bit less concerned
with overall jazz concepts than just laying down some expressive solo passages
– and the group also features Jack Six on both acoustic and electric bass, and
Alan Dawson on drums. Mulligan is as fluid as ever – and has that great sound
he was bringing to his own small group sessions of the time – a mode that burns
a gentle fire on titles that include "Broke Blues",
"Journey", "Cross Ties", "Blues Roots", and
"Moving Out". ~ Dusty Groove
Groovy guitar work from Yoshiaki Masuo – working here in a sweetly chromatic style with hip small combo backing! Yoshiaki's got echoes of 60s work from George Benson or Wes Montgomery – a sound that's clean, but which has great colors billowing out nicely from the edges – a slight rasp at times, in a way that creates a warmly soulful undercurrent. Other instrumentation includes vibes, organ, flute, and additional guitar – used sparingly, but wonderfully alongside Yoshi's great lead. Titles include "One For Wes", "Winds Of Barcelona", "What The World Needs Now Is Love", "I Say A Little Prayer", and "Gary's Tune". ~ Dusty Groove
CREAM 1966-1972 — Vinyl Boxed Set of British Rock Trio’s Studio and Live Recordings Set for Release
Universal Music Enterprises is proud to present Cream: 1966 – 1972,
Cream’s six studio and live LPs brought together in a boxed set for the first
time. Set for November 24, 2014 release, each LP will have exact reproductions
of original artwork to retain authenticity, and will be pressed in 180-gram
heavyweight audiophile vinyl and contained in a rigid slipcase box.
The British rock supergroup
was formed in 1966, and consisted of bassist/singer Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger
Baker, and guitarist/singer Eric Clapton. Their sound was characterized by a
hybrid of blues rock, hard rock and burgeoning psychedelic rock, combining
imaginative lyrics, often written by poet Pete Brown, Eric Clapton’s innovative
blues guitar playing, Jack Bruce’s operatic voice and fluid bass playing, and
Ginger Baker’s jazz-influenced drumming.
The group soon evolved
further creating a trademark approach built around each musician’s virtuoso
playing. Their live performances soon became renowned for lengthy
improvisational pieces based on traditional blues structures such as
‘Crossroads’ and ‘Spoonful,’ modern blues such as ‘Born Under A Bad Sign,’ and
their own songs such as ‘White Room’ and Ginger Baker’s powerhouse showcase
‘Toad.’
Following their first pop hit
single ‘I Feel Free’ in January 1967, Cream’s debut, Fresh Cream, set the tone
for group’s inventive mix of blues standards and more eccentric original
material and reached No. 6 in the UK album charts. It offered a unique blend of
blues — Robert Johnson’s ‘Four Until Late’ and Skip James’ ‘I’m So Glad’ —
inventive originals such as ‘Dreaming’ and the showcase, near-instrumental
‘Cat’s Squirrel.’
Before the end of the year,
Cream released the follow-up Disraeli Gears, its distinctive Day-Glo
psychedelic cover designed by underground illustrator Martin Sharp. Recorded in
May in New York during their first American tour, it includes landmark songs
such as ‘Strange Brew,’ the melodic but heavy-riffing ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’
and more surrealistic, wah-wah drenched ‘Tales Of Brave Ulysses’; in all a
brilliant, textured, multi-dubbed sound that went beyond blues.
Non-stop touring soon saw
Cream break through in America where Wheels of Fire, released in August 1968,
topped the US charts for a month and was the world’s first platinum-selling
double album. It comprised one album ‘in the studio’ — including the Jack Bruce
and Pete Brown penned classics ‘White Room’ and ‘Politician’ — while the other
side was recorded at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, highlighted by
expansive readings of ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Spoonful.’
By the end of 1968, however,
Cream had disbanded after less than two and a half years during which time they
set new standards in rock musicianship and generally raised the bar for rock
music as a credible and critical form. Cream bowed out with dates at Madison
Square Gardens in New York and at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November
1968.
The group’s post-breakup
farewell album, Goodbye, released the following March, again mixed live and
studio recordings including the single ‘Badge’ written by Clapton and George
Harrison, who played rhythm guitar under the name L’Angelo Misterioso.
Two further live albums Live
Cream and Live Cream Volume 2 followed in 1970 and 1972, both recorded on tour
in America during 1967 and 1968. Live Cream also included the unreleased studio
cut ‘Lawdy Mama’ recorded in May 1967 during the Disraeli Gears sessions.
In 2006, they received a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contribution to, and
influence, on, modern music, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1993. Their worldwide album sales are estimated at 17 million.
LP1: Fresh Cream (1966)
A1 N.S.U.
A2 Sleepy Time Time
A3 Dreaming
A4 Sweet Wine
A5 Spoonful
B1 Cat’s Squirrel
B2 Four Until Late
B3 Rollin’ And Tumblin’
B4 I’m So Glad
B5 Toad
LP2: Disraeli Gears (1967)
A1 Strange Brew
A2 Sunshine Of Your Love
A3 World Of Pain
A4 Dance The Night Away
A5 Blue Condition
B1 Tales Of Brave Ulysses
B2 SWLABR
B3 We’re Going Wrong
B4 Outside Woman Blues
B5 Take It Back
B6 Mother’s Lament
LP3: Wheels Of Fire (1968)
A1 White Room
A2 Sitting On Top Of The
World
A3 Passing The Time
A4 As You Said
B1 Pressed Rat And Warthog
B2 Politician
B3 Those Were The Days
B4 Born Under A Bad Sign
B5 Deserted Cities Of The
Heart
C1 Crossroads – Live At The
Fillmore
C2 Spoonful – Live At The
Fillmore
D1 Traintime – Live At The
Fillmore
D2 Toad – Live At The
Fillmore
LP4: Goodbye (1969)
A1 I’m So Glad
A2 Politician
B1 Sitting On Top Of The
World
B2 Badge
B3 Doing That Scrapyard Thing
B4 What A Bringdown
LP5: Live Cream (1970)
A1 N.S.U.
A2 Sleepy Time Time
A3 Lawdy Mama
B1 Sweet Wine
B2 Rollin’ And Tumblin’
LP6: Live Cream Volume II
(1972)
A1 Deserted Cities Of The
Heart
A2 White Room
A3 Politician
A4 Tales Of Brave Ulysses
B1 Sunshine Of Your Love
B2 Steppin’ Out
MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF SOUL… James Brown Classics Now Available Worldwide for Digital Purchase and Streaming
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) has fans of the Godfather of Soul
covered for digital audio immersion. Seventeen remastered James Brown albums
and a digital box set, James Brown Live At The Apollo, Vols. I-IV, featuring
the previously unreleased fourth volume, are now available for the first time
for digital download purchase from all major digital service providers
worldwide. In addition, a playlist of James Brown songs featured in ‘Mr.
Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown,’ a new documentary about the soul superstar
directed by Oscar® winner Alex Gibney, has launched exclusively on Spotify
ahead of the film’s October 27 premiere on HBO.
The previously out-of-print
James Brown titles, including rare, influential instrumental albums long sought
after by fans, have never before been available for download purchase and
streaming. These vaulted treasures from Soul Brother No. 1 include the 1962
timepiece Good, Good Twistin' with James Brown (later re-released as Shout and
Shimmy); his 1964 releases for Smash Records, Showtime and Grits and Soul,
experiments in big-band and soul-jazz sounds that James Brown favored;
additional rare Smash albums Handful of Soul and James Brown Plays James Brown
Today and Yesterday; and the 1960s King sets Mighty Instrumentals, Plays
Nothing But Soul, the tribute album Thinking About Little Willie John and A Few
Nice Things and the sample-friendly Sho Is Funky Down Here. James Brown’s
latter-day albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s are also now available
digitally, including Hot, Everybody’s Doin’ The Hustle and Dead on the Double
Bump, Take A Look At Those Cakes, The Original Disco Man, Jam 1980s, People and
Nonstop!
Also available is a digital
box set, James Brown Live At The Apollo Vols. 1-IV. The newly-compiled digital
set features Brown’s three best-selling live albums – Live At The Apollo 1962,
Live At The Apollo Vol. II, Revolution Of The Mind: Live At The Apollo Vol. III
– as well as a previously unreleased fourth Apollo recording, Get Down With
James Brown Live at the Apollo Vol. IV, featuring two performances from Brown
plus unreleased tracks by his band The J.B.’s and Revue members Lyn Collins and
Bobby Byrd. Vol. IV makes its worldwide debut within the set.
UMe has also released several
James Brown albums on vinyl: GET ON UP: The James Brown Story (Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack), featuring songs heard in the Universal Pictures feature
film, including two previously unreleased, scorching live performances, and the
best-seller 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!, each making their vinyl debuts as newly
mastered 2-LP sets. The Payback, a classic double-LP from 1974 featuring the
No. 1 hit title song; In The Jungle Groove, the original 2-LP compilation from
1986 featuring extended versions of the foundations of hip-hop, including “Soul
Power,” “Talkin’ Loud And Sayin’ Nothing,” “Funky Drummer” and more; and
Motherlode, a 1988 collection of rarities and unreleased sides, have been newly
reissued on vinyl.
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