Blue Note 75 Special Releases: Uncompromising Expression; Astell & Kern Box Set; Thelonious Monk 'Round Midnight Complete Blue Note Singles

BLUE NOTE: UNCOMPROMISING EXPRESSION BOOK AND BOX SET

November 4 will see the release of Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression, a label-spanning 5-CD box set that is a companion piece to a new hardcover book of the same title authored by Richard Havers. Theset opens with the label's very first artist, pianist Meade "Lux" Lewis, and closes 75 years later with the progressive sounds of bassist Derrick Hodge.  A sweeping overview of one of the world's most diverse and celebrated Jazz catalogs, the collection also features Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Norah Jones, Thelonious Monk, Cassandra Wilson, and many more. Curated by Havers, each of the discs covers a specific era of the label's evolution from boogie to bop, soul jazz to 21st Century trailblazers including Robert Glasper and Gregory Porter.

THELONIOUS MONK - 'ROUND MINDNIGHT: THE COMPLETE BLUE NOTE SINGLES (1947-1959)

On November 4 we will release the 2-CD set 'Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Singles comprising Thelonious Monk's first recordings as a leader between 1947-1952, which include the first version of his classic composition "'Round Midnight." The Blue Note Records 75th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue Series also continues with four new titles released on October 28: Horace Silver Horace Silver And The Jazz Messengers, Thelonious Monk Genius of Modern Music, Volume 1, Hank Mobley No Room For Squares, and Dianne Reeves I Remember. Additionally, Blue Note Authorized Dealers will carry an exclusive 10" reissue of Miles Davis Young Man with a Horn, the first of three 10" albums the great trumpeter recorded for Blue Note in the early 1950s.

ASTELL & KERN BLUE NOTE 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET LIMITED EDITION

Blue Note has partnered with the high-end audiophile brand Astell&Kern on a limited edition box set.  The Astell & Kern Blue Note 75th Anniversary Box Set: Limited Edition features 75 essential Blue Note albums newly remastered from analog to the hi-res MQS digital format (24bit/192kHz). The lavish collection includes a Blue Note branded Astell&Kern AK240 high-resolution portable audio player pre-loaded with all 75 titles, a special book filled with original album art, as well as Richard Havers' new book, Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression.

~ Blue Note Records

OUR POINT OF VIEW TO PERFORM IN PARIS, LONDON & NYC

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.

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."

DianneReeves.com

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!"

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

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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.

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

YOSHIYAKI MASUO - WINDS OF BARCELONA

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