CHRIS LIGHTCAP'S BIGMOUTH TO RELEASE MUCH ANTICIPATED NEW CD EPICENTER

When Chris Lightcap - a celebrated composer and bassist who has lent his huge sound, propulsive groove and creative vision to a wide-ranging array of artists including Marc Ribot, Regina Carter, Tomasz Stanko, Joe Morris and Matt Wilson - first assembled his own group over ten years ago, he had no idea it would develop into a viable entity. "I just put us all together to amuse myself and see what would happen," he recollects. Four acclaimed CDs and countless sold-out shows later, Bigmouth has evolved into one of today's most accomplished creative music ensembles.

Epicenter, the band's much anticipated follow-up to 2010's Deluxe, a critically lauded recording that was on twenty of the year's "best of" lists (including the New York Times, NPR, and JazzTimes), will be released March 4, 2015 on Clean Feed Records.

Bigmouth features two profoundly original tenor saxophonists, Tony Malaby and Chris Cheek, the multifaceted genius of keyboardist Craig Taborn, and the creative powerhouse drumming of Gerald Cleaver. The band is, in effect, a "supergroup" within the contemporary world of creative music. Despite each member's outsize musical personality, together they create a cohesive whole, resulting in grand collective statements of driving, ethereal beauty.

Lightcap was recently awarded a prestigious Chamber Music America New Jazz Works grant, which commissioned the original compositions featured on Epicenter. He wrote pieces inspired by various touchstones and cultural landmarks of his adopted home, New York City. Drawing on his love of West African music, classic pop hooks and great composers across the entire spectrum of jazz, Lightcap creates memorable melodies and harmonic landscapes for the group to delve into. Beginning with the driving declaratory statements of "Nine South," Lightcap sets a musical landscape that reflects the city's most sublime, strange, and sometimes frightening elements. From the hard-swinging freedom of the title track to the ambient interwoven layers of "White Horse" to the off-kilter groove and slow build of "Stillwell," Lightcap's music displays the breadth of his unique compositional vision.

Although the members of Bigmouth are very busy working with dozens of other artists, each manages to carve out time to perform with the band on a regular basis. Lightcap adds, "I'm so happy that everyone has remained enthusiastic about the group. Every time we get together, they show up ready to engage, support each other, throw down, and deliver the goods. We never know how it's going to turn out but it's always a great journey."

Capping off the CD is a raucous take on Lou Reed's "All Tomorrow's Parties," originally heard on the groundbreaking, New York rock classic, Velvet Underground & Nico of 1967. Bigmouth's rendition of this song was one of the most talked about highlights of the 2014 New York Winter Jazz Fest. As Evan Haga wrote in his JazzTimes review, the song "hit the spot for this festival. It was jazz, it was bohemian pop and it was New York City to the bone."

NEW RELEASES: MAHALIA BARNES & THE SOUL MATES - OOH YEA: THE BETTY DAVIS SONGBOOK; ADAM NITTI - NOT OF THIS WORLD; MICHAEL WALDROP BIG BAND - TIME WITHIN ITSELF

MAHALIA BARNES & THE SOUL MATES FT. JOE BONAMASSA - OOH YEA: THE BETTY DAVIS SONGBOOK

Powerhouse singer Mahalia Barnes, one of the most impressive female vocalists to come out of Australia, and her band The Soul Mates have teamed up with American blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa to release an album of Betty Davis covers called Ooh Yea! The Betty Davis Songbook. Scheduled for release on 2/24/15, it explores tracks from Davis sexy, raw funk records of the early 70s. Betty Davis s unique story is still fairly unknown. She married Miles Davis in the late 60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jimi Hendrix. Later, she released three genre-busting albums, 1973's self-titled debut, 1974's They Say I'm Different and 1975's Nasty Gal that have since influenced artists like Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, Ice Cube, Talib Kweli and Ludacris. Mahalia Barnes, eldest daughter of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes and recent contestant on The Voice Australia, has been around music her whole life but has always been most heavily influenced by soul, blues and rock n roll. ~ Amazon

ADAM NITTI - NOT OF THIS WORLD

Adam Nitti has been establishing his own voice amongst his contemporaries as both a bassist and recording artist for almost two decades. He has released five solo recordings to date on his own Renaissance Man label which have drawn international acclaim, but he has also been notably involved as a sideman and contributor on a variety of projects across multiple genres. As a recording bassist, he has also appeared on three Grammy-winning albums and another Grammy-nominated album to date. Adam has worked with the Dave Weckl Band, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeff Coffin Mu'tet, Susan Tedeschi, Lincoln Brewster, the Justice League (featuring T Lavitz, Jimmy Herring, and Richie Hayward), Angie Aparo, Scott Henderson, Jon Anderson, Peter Erskine, Heather Headley, Al Green, Keith Carlock, Shane Theriot, Mike Stern, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Kirk Covington, Wayne Krantz, Marco Minnemann, the London Symphony Orchestra, Joe Beck, and many others. ~ CD Universe

THE MICHAEL WALDROP BIG BAND - TIME WITHIN ITSELF

Hearing this crackling big band recording -- so full of swagger and conviction and transcendent playing throughout - it's hard to believe that it's drummer and composer Michael Waldrop's debut as a big band leader. No newcomer to the game, he paid dues as a working musician in New York and Chicago before pursuing an academic career, earning a masters at the University of Memphis and his doctorate at North Texas, where he played in the famed One O'Clock Lab Band. He also put in ten years with Jack Cooper's Memphis-based Jazz Orchestra of the Delta, developing the relationship that would lead Cooper to lend his prodigious arranging skills to Waldrop's set of originals for this recording. ""..this auspicious debut bristles with a visceral post-Weather Report energy that brings big bands into new light."" - Bill Milkowski

NEW RELEASES: MARC CAREY – RHODES AHEAD VOL. 2; BEN WOLFE - THE WHISPERER; RANDY BRECKER WITH THE DEPAUL UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE - DEARBORN STATION

MARC CAREY – RHODES AHEAD VOL. 2

Electro-Acoustic keyboard wizard Marc Cary, (#1 Rising Keyboardist in DownBeat’s 2014 Critics Poll), celebrates his 20th anniversary as a recording artist with Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2, a powerhouse follow-up to his seminal 1999 release Rhodes Ahead Vol. 1. Keeping the original heavyweight trio of Cary, Terreon Gully and Tarus Mateen intact, Cary’s fierce new project puts the iconic Fender Rhodes sound front and center, fusing drum n’ bass, EDM and acoustic jazz, funk and rock influences, creating yet another visionary project to follow up his triumphant 2013 releases For The Love of Abbey and Four Directions. As the original Rhodes Ahead introduced Marc Cary as one of his generation's greatest innovators, heralding the electro-acoustic jazz sound that became prevalent in the 2000’s, Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2 is a testament to Cary’s prolific and forward-thinking vision, versatility and creativity. ~ Motema

BEN WOLFE - THE WHISPERER

Listeners everywhere are encouraged expand their horizons and open their ears to "The Whisperer, as bandleader bassist Ben Wolfe bravely embarks on an ambitious course with his first record for Posi-Tone. This quartet date features front line performances by saxophonist Stacy Dillard and pianist Orrin Evans moving freely over the solid harmonic foundation of bassist Wolfe and the explosive metrics of drummer Donald Edwards. Many jazz fans may already be familiar with much Wolfe's earlier work, but now the time has come to go travel beyond the past and listen to "The Whisperer." Ben Wolfe's music will surely bring delight to the ears of serious listeners everywhere, as they navigate steadily away from the known and familiar to uncover a new sound in time and space. ~ Amazon

RANDY BRECKER WITH THE DEPAUL UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE - DEARBORN STATION

A dynamic and brilliant performance by jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker with the acclaimed DePaul University Jazz Ensemble, beautifully captured in a 'live' recording at Chicago's

legendary Jazz Showcase. The unparalleled intensity and swagger of featured trumpet soloist Randy Brecker combines with the critically acclaimed DePaul University Jazz Ensemble in a dynamic 'live' concert performance at Chicago s legendary Jazz Showcase. The brilliant performance of trumpeter/composer Randy Brecker and the DePaul Jazz Ensemble is beautifully captured, with the audience at the venerable jazz club adding to the electricity and excitement of the moment. Randy Brecker is featured as trumpet soloist and composer with the exceptional DePaul University Jazz Ensemble. Brecker solos on six selections, demonstrating his brilliant technique and harmonic ingenuity. Particularly notable is the dynamic, up-tempo performance of It s You On No One, with Jazz Ensemble director/trumpeter Bob Lark and Randy Brecker exchanging heated solo trumpet phrases. Student soloists of note include tenor saxophonists Corbin Andrick and Andrew Janak; alto saxophonists Brent Griffin and J.T. Teichert; pianist Scott Williams; and trombonist Brian Scarborough. ~ Amazon

Alabama Shakes announce new album "Sound & Color" / Highly anticipated follow-up to 2012 debut

Alabama Shakes announced today that they will be releasing the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2012 Grammy-nominated debut. The new album is titled Sound & Color and will be released on April 21, 2015.

“We took our time to write this record, and I’m really glad we did,” says Brittany Howard, lead singer and guitarist of Alabama Shakes, about the band’s new album Sound & Color. “We were able to sit down and think about what’s exciting to us, explore all the things we wanted to on our first album. This record is full of genre-bending songs—it’s even harder now when people ask, ‘What kind of band are you?’ I have no clue.”

The album’s twelve songs reveal a band honed by years on the road, and drawing from a wide range of influences. The bluesy groove of “Shoegaze” or the garage-rock freak-out on “The Greatest” give way to the psychedelic space jam  “Gemini.” The gently swaying, chiming title song opens the album with what Howard calls “more of a visual thing, I think of this whole scene going on,” then explodes into the urgent, tightly-coiled funk of “Don’t Wanna Fight.” Long instrumental intros and passages create hazy atmosphere, and then the intensity of Howard’s vocals snaps everything back into riveting focus.

Tracklisting - Sound & Color:

01 Sound and Color

02 Don't Wanna Fight

03 Dunes

04 Future People

05 Gimme All Your Love

06 This Feeling

07 Guess Who

08 The Greatest

09 Shoegaze

10 Miss You

11 Gemini

12 Over My Head

Alabama Shakes 2015 Tour Dates:

02-19 London, England - Islington Assembly Hall

03-11 New York, NY - The Beacon Theatre  *

03-12 New York, NY - The Beacon Theatre  *

03-14 Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre  *

03-15 Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater  *

03-17 Madison, WI - Overture Center for the Arts  ^

03-18 Champaign, IL - The Virginia Theatre  ^

03-20 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall  ^

03-21 Knoxville, TN - Historic Tennessee Theatre  ^

04-02 Newtown, Australia - Enmore Theater  $

04-03-04 Byron Bay, Australia - Byron Bay Bluesfest

04-08 Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre  ~

04-10 Indio, CA - Coachella

04-11 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre  #

04-17 Indio, CA - Coachella

04-18 Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas  ~

05-15 Brighton, England - The Great Escape Festival

06-06 Toronto, Ontario - Fort York & Garrison Common

06-07 Hunter, NY - Mountain Jam

06-12 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo

06-27 Beuningen, Netherlands - Down The Rabbit Hole

07-10 Rotterdam, Netherlands - North Sea Jazz Festival

8-16 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Ampitheatre @

* with Songhoy Blues

^ with Promised Land Sound

$ with Charles Bradley

~ with Allah-Las

# with Neko Case

@ with Drive-By Truckers

Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™ Celebrates GRAMMY Awards for Festival Impresario George Wein and Several Newport Jazz Festival® Artists

 George Wein, Wayne Shorter, Neil Portnow // Photo by Michal Kovax/WireImage)

The Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™ continues the celebration of its Chairman, George Wein, who received the Trustees Award at the 57th Annual  GRAMMY® ceremonies in Los Angeles on February 7 and 8.  The Special Merit Award recognizes Wein's outstanding contributions in areas other than performance, including the founding and production of the Newport Jazz Festival®, Newport Folk Festival® and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival®.

The tribute was especially exciting when the ceremony host, hip-hop artist/actor LL Cool J gave a special shout out to the honoree:  "George Wein defined what musical festivals could be with the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He's a great guy. More than anyone, George set the stage for what great festivals today look like. Festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo - he made this possible. George is 89 years young and strong and still playing piano beautifully ... everybody say hi George!" 

Three artists who will perform at this year's Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management also celebrated GRAMMY wins at last night's ceremony:

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM

"The Offense of the Drum," Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS 

"New York Tendaberry," Billy Childs, arranger (Billy Childs Featuring Renée Fleming & Yo-Yo Ma)

  

BEST MUSIC FILM

"20 Feet from Stardom," Lisa Fischer, Darlene Love, Merry Clayton & Judith Hill

In addition, Chick Corea's "Trilogy"  won Best Jazz Instrumental Album, on which Christian McBride is the bassist.

The Christian McBride Trio with Christian Sands and Ulysses Owens takes the Newport stage on Friday, July 31, while Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton perform on Saturday, August 1. Billy Childs' Jazz-Chamber Ensemble and Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with special guest Rudresh Mahanthappa play on Sunday, August 2, all at Fort Adams State Park.

The 2015 edition of America's first annual jazz festival will feature Chris Botti, Cassandra Wilson, Jamie Cullum, Snarky Puppy, Maria Schneider, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Garrett, Fred Hersch, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Jon Batiste, Kneebody, Hiromi, Michel Camilo, Jon Faddis, James Carter, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern/Bill Evans Band, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tom Harrell, Pat Martino, Matana Roberts, John Hollenbeck,  Dr. John and many others.

Seven-man crew NATURALLY 7 releases HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: VOX MAXIMUS VOLUME 1

In a music world rife with technological tricks of the trade, one vital commodity is getting lost in the shuffle: the beauty of the human voice. Enter Naturally 7.

This seven-man crew is more than just your average singing group. Its members have perfected an intriguing a cappella style they’ve branded as “Vocal Play”— singing as instruments. In its quest to celebrate the voice, Naturally 7 not only sings but also creates every backing instrument heard on its songs. We’re talking drums, bass, guitars, horns, flutes ... even down to turntables.

The R&B, soul and pop group has released its U.S. album debut, the aptly titled Hidden in Plain Sight. Subtitled Vox Maximus Vol. 1, the 14-track set snaps, crackles and pops with riveting vocal gymnastics and rich, sparkling harmonies infusing a palette-pleasing menu of songs as wide-ranging as the group’s growing audience.

The first single is “Fix You,” a cover of the Coldplay hit that’s become an audience favorite at Naturally 7’s live shows. The group gives a nod to its spiritual influences by sampling Mahalia Jackson’s gospel classic “Trouble of the World” on the beautiful and raw “Mahalia.” Scoring a musical coup, Naturally 7 samples Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” on “Galileo.” Wham’s infectious “Everything She Wants’’ provides the impetus for “Life Goes On“ while Art of Noise’s “Moments In Love” finds the group imitating all of the song’s instruments and singing its own song to the mix on “Moments (I’ve Been Loved).” Among the set’s eight original tunes are “Keep the Customer Satisfied” and “Rhapsody of the Queen.”

Rock Steady & Ska giants The Bluebeaters will release their new album on April 13, 2015

Record Kicks will be releasing the new album of one the most exciting Blue Beat and Jamaican Ska bands ever existed, The Bluebeaters. After six years from their last full length “Combo” released on Universal Records, The Bluebeaters release their fifth studio album “Everybody Knows” on RK. The full-length will hit the streets next 13 of April on LP, Digipack CD, Digital plus on super LTD edition 45.  The BB landed on Record Kicks in September 2014 with the ltd edition 45 Toxic (One Drop Version) / Catch That Teardrop. 

Active since 1994 and with several gold records on V2 and Universal Records under the belt, during the last 20 years of their career the've headlined festivals like Rototom Sun Splash and International Ska Fest. Amongst their fans, there are folks like David Rodigan and the legendary late lamented Lloyd Knibb (The Skatalites). Digital and Physical Promos will be available nearer to the release date. The teaser of "Everybody Knows" is available down here.

Blessed by Ken Booth, during the last 20 years of their career the've headlined festivals like Rototom Sun Splash and International Ska Fest in 2012. Amongst their fans, there are folks like David Rodigan and the legendary late lamented Lloyd Knibb (The Skatalites). The Bluebeaters will be on tour from mid March, first Italian dates announced are:
 20.03 - Roma - Rising Love
27.03 - Firenze - Viper Club
03.04 - Trieste - Etnoblog
11.04 - Torino - Hiroshima
18.04 - Rimini - Velvet

09.05 - Livorno - The Cage

 

Trombonist MARSHALL GILKES Releases KÖLN FEATURING THE WDR BIG BAND

On February 10, 2015, trombonist and composer MARSHALL GILKES proudly releases his fourth album as a leader, simply titled for the home base of The WDR Big Band, KÖLN. This set of stunning compositions marks Gilkes first recording fronting a big band, but he is no stranger to this setting, being a regular member of Maria Schneider's Grammy Award-winning orchestra, (Schneider describes him as, "one of those musicians who continually just drops my jaw and leaves me shaking my head in disbelief"), and also due to his four years (2010 - 2013) as a full-time member of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble featured on Köln, The WDR Big Band. 

Köln (to be released on Gilkes' label, Alternate Side Records, marking the label's eighth release) features seven original compositions from Gilkes that exhibits the artist's astounding ability to blend his many influences and experiences into a singular, distinctive voice. The compositions, and Gilkes arrangement of the standard, "My Shining Hour", combines the spontaneous invention of jazz with the elegant architecture of classical composition; straight-ahead swing with adventurous modernism; and virtuosic technique with passionate emotion. It's a rare combination that has made Gilkes an in-demand performer, composer, sideman, and clinician since his arrival in New York City in the late 1990s. 

The origins of this album started with Gilkes joining The WDR Big Band (he has since resigned to engage in leading his own bands and high profile sideman work). After a long audition process that included several weeks of performances, Gilkes received an invitation to be a full-time member - a rare opportunity that he accepted immediately. In addition to first-class musicianship, Gilkes explains, "the WDR Big Band rehearses in a fully operational recording studio with full-time engineers and copyists - a truly unique operation. When the band plays in the Kölner Philharmonie, it is generally sold out, all 2,000 seats, with enthusiastic fans." As a WDR band member, he performed his final concert in December 2013, but, at the request of the band's producer, he returned the following month for a farewell concert of the material heard on Köln. Calling the experience "one of the highlights of my career," Gilkes eventually titled the album after the city where he lived during his four-year tenure with the WDR. "It is a vibrant city," he notes, "with an incredible music scene for such a small town. The jazz scene is booming, and young jazz musicians can be heard playing music at a very high level almost every night of the week." 

"My Shining Hour" is a tune that Gilkes would often practice, up-tempo, in all 12 keys as well. "I decided to write a big band arrangement of it that sort of ended up being a bit of a 'theme and variations on My Shining Hour'", said Gilkes. Solo: Marshall Gilkes (trombone) 

"Vesper" was written during a period of Gilkes having to make difficult decisions. He elaborates, "I would come home and write in the evening during this period and find it to be good therapy. I decided to call it 'Vesper' which is an evening prayer", said the artist. Solos: Frank Chastenier (piano), John Marshall (flugelhorn)

  

Gilkes composed "4711 Special" specifically with the WDR Big Band in mind. The piece was originally titled "Gill-kiz". Gilkes explains, "German is a language that is written like it sounds and sounds like it is written. I used to tell German people my name Gilkes (correct pronunciation is "jilx") and they would correct me on the pronunciation. It happened so often that people started calling me Gill-kiz as a joke. However, I thought the tune deserved a better title and finally changed it to "4711 Special", which is a number one sees all over Cologne, representing the number of the famous perfume that comes from Cologne. Solos: Ludwig Nuss (trombone), Johan Hörlen (alto saxophone) 

"Edenderry" is the title track from Gilkes debut release as a leader, which he decided to expand and turn it into a brass chorale, creating quite a breathtaking variation on the original. "I was inspired by the pandiatonic harmonies of Aaron Copland. The intro begins with flugelhorns and trombones. The woodwinds enter later, and the chorale enters again before the closing vamp. Solo: Marshall Gilkes (trombone)

Gilkes composed "Plant Bassed" for the great WDR bassist John Goldsby, who happens to be a vegan. Gilkes explains, "my mom is also a vegan and is always talking about plant based diets. I tried to take some ideas that John uses in his improvisations and use them as a basis for the melody." Solos: John Goldsby (bass), and special guest Michael Rodriguez (trumpet) 

"Mary Louise" was written for Gilkes' mom. "When I was a kid my mom was a piano and voice teacher and there was one particular exercise that she would work on with her students that has stuck with me all these years. I recall playing video games and hearing her practice this exercise with the syllables 'Zee-ee', singingbetween root and third, root and fourth, and root and fifth. I decided to try harmonizing that exercise and that serves as the intro to the composition, and reoccurs throughout the piece", said Gilkes. Solos: Special guest Michael Rodriguez (flugelhorn), Frank Chastenier (piano) 

"End in Sight" is a tune from Gilkes second album Lost Words. The first half is very much an expansion of the original, however, the second half (tenor solo) floats over the same groove, but with brand new harmonies. Solos: Karolina Strassmayer (alto saxophone), Paul Heller (tenor saxophone) 

"Downtime" is a composition from Gilkes' third album Sound Stories. This arrangement was written in 2012 for the WDR Big Band project featuring members of the band called "Very Personal". It is an expansion on the original that has an alternate introduction, and a new interlude as well. Solo: Marshall Gilkes (trombone)

  

Personnel on Köln: Marshall Gilkes: composer, arranger, conductor, trombone, special guest Michael Rodriguez: trumpet/flugelhorn, Johan Hörlen & Karolina Strassmayer-alto saxophone/flute/clarinet, Olivier Peters-tenor saxophone/clarinet, Paul Heller-tenor saxophone/clarinet/bass clarinet, Jens Neufang-baritone saxophone/bass clarinet, Ludwig Nuss, Shannon Barnett & Andy Hunter-trombones, Mattis Cederberg-bass trombone, Wim Both, Rob Bruynen, Andy Haderer & John Marshall-trumpet/flugelhorn, Frank Chastenier-piano, Paul Shigihara-guitar, John Goldsby-bass, Hans Dekker-drums

Upcoming Appearances:

February 15: With the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Istanbul, Turkey

February 17-24: Guest Artist, Madrid, Spain

February 26-March 1: With Rufus Reid's Quiet Pride Big Band, Jazz Standard, NYC

March 2-3: Artist In Residence, Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

March 6-7: Guest Artist, Univ of Kansas Jazz Festival, Lawrence, KS

March 24-28: Guest Artist, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

April 6-8: Artist In Residence, Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

April 9-10: Guest Artist, Univ of New Mexico Jazz Festival, Albuquerque, NM

Aril 16-17: Morningside College Tri-State Trombone Festival, Sioux City, Iowa

May 6: With Edmar Castaneda, Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria

May 9: With Samuel Torres, Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango, Bogata, Colombia

June 2-6: With the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Birdland, NYC

www.MarshallGilkes.com

Angelique Kidjo Wins World Music Grammy & Announces New Album "Sings"

Angelique Kidjo, the Benin born singer/songwriter is celebrating Sunday's win of her second "Best World Music Album" Grammy Award for her #1 charting 2014 album Eve, as well as the announcement of her new 429 Records album Sings.  Produced by Kidjo and long-time production partner Jean Hebrail, Sings showcases Kidjo's collaboration with the 110 piece Orchestre Philharmonique Du Luxembourg, led by renowned conductor and composer Gast Waltzing.  Kidjo reimagines nine classic songs from her 24 year repertoire and two new songs ("Otishe" and "Mamae" from the Eve sessions), blending European classical traditions with the powerful rhythmic sounds of her native West Africa. Along with the orchestra, Kidjo's additional players include Christian McBride and Massimo Biolcati on upright basses; Lionel Loueke, Dominic James and David Laborier on guitars; Magatte Sow, Crespin Tpikiti and Benoit Avihoue on percussion; Tuelo Kgobokoe Tsholofetso and Mokubung, background vocals; and Gast Waltzing, flugelhorn solo on "Samba Pa Ti."  Angelique Kidjo's Sings will be released on 429 Records March 31st.

Kidjo's accolades include a 20 year discography, two Grammy Awards, thousands of concerts around the world and being named "Africa's premier diva" (Time Magazine) and "the undisputed Queen of African Music" (Daily Telegraph). In addition to winning the Grammy for Eve, Kidjo's 2008 recording Djin Djin won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album and her last studio recording Oyo was nominated in the same category.  She has enjoyed a long history of notable collaborations with greats from the jazz and pop worlds—including Carlos Santana, Bono, John Legend, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove and Alicia Keys. In an expansive career marked as much by extraordinary musical achievement as passionate advocacy and philanthropy for her homeland of Africa, Angelique Kidjo has found many ways to celebrate the rich, enlightening truth about the continent's women beyond the media spotlight.

Says Kidjo:  "The orchestra brings different textures to my life and music. Unlike in pop music, the orchestra doesn't follow you, it leads and dares you to follow it. If you don't do this successfully, the songs suffer and the communication is lost. But I love the challenge of doing new things. I never want to get too comfortable with what I'm doing, and I love my work too much to repeat myself."

Sings track listing:

1) Malaika

2) Ominira

3) Kelele

4) Fifa

5) Otishe

6) Bahia

7) Petite Fleur

8) Samba Pa Ti

9) Mamae

10) Naima

11) Loloye

NEW RELEASES: ANDREW HILL – BLUE BLACK; VIJAY IYER – BREAK STUFF; WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL / LARRY GRENADIER / BRIAN BLADE – DRIFT WOOD

ANDREW HILL – BLUE BLACK

A really great session from pianist Andrew Hill – and one of his few post-Blue Note sessions to feature a horn player! The style of the set draws from a few strands of Hill's career – in that Hill is playing in some freely exploratory piano modes, yet also manages to swing soulfully with the rest of the group, especially sax player Jimmy Vass – who makes a rare appearance here on soprano, alto, and flute. In a way, the album probably most closely resembles the Andrew LP on Blue Note – which is great by us, as it's one of his best sets! Titles include "One For", "Remnants", "Blue Black", and "Golden Spook".  ~ Dusty Groove

VIJAY IYER – BREAK STUFF

Beautiful trio work from pianist Vijay Iyer – a record that's filled with the sorts of chunky rhythmic lines we love so much in his playing! The album's got Iyer working much more at a familiar level than his more electronic album for ECM – with that sort of warmth and joy that's really brought new life to the piano trio format through his recordings – the best of which we might put up there with our early favorites from Robert Glasper. The group features Stephan Crump on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums – and titles include "Blood Count", "Break Stuff", "Taking Flight", "Work", "Wrens", and "Mystery Woman".  ~ Dusty Groove

WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL / LARRY GRENADIER / BRIAN BLADE – DRIFT WOOD

Subtle interplay between the guitar of Wolfgang Muthspiel, the bass of Larry Grenadier, and drums of Brian Blade – a trio who have just the right sort of evocative feel to live up to the album's title! Blade is perhaps the biggest surprise here – as his style is very loose, and quite different than his own recent work – very well adapted to match the spare tones of Muthspiel's guitar, which is still the most dominant instrument on the record – although we're especially fond of the bass of Grenadier, both plucked and bowed. Titles include "Bossa For Michael Brecker", "Driftwood", "Highline", "Lichtzelle", "Madame Vonn", and "Uptown".  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: MAKAYA MCCRAVEN – IN THE MOMENT; MARK TURNER QUARTET – LATHE OF HEAVEN; JEAN-LOUIS MATINIER / MARCO AMBROSINI - INVENTIO

MAKAYA MCCRAVEN – IN THE MOMENT
A totally unique record from drummer Makaya McCraven – and a great one too! The set's built around improvised performances recorded over the period of a year – with some of Chicago's best underground jazz talents, including Matt Ulery on bass, Marquis Hill on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Justefan on vibes, Desean Jones on tenor, Tony Barba on tenor and electronics, and Josh Abrams on bass – and the performances are then edited down into these shorter, focused tracks that are really wonderful! The music is still quite live in its approach at most moments – and often given a very rhythmic pulse in the way it's put together, but never in any sort of hokey or heavy-handed remix way. The basslines are wonderful – full, round, and very modal – and titles include "The Jaunt", "Time Travel", "The Encore", "The Drop", "Finances", "Just Stay Right There", and "Three Fifths A Man".  ~ Dusty Groove

MARK TURNER QUARTET – LATHE OF HEAVEN

Majestic music from tenorist Mark Turner – a set that has him soaring gently with trumpeter Avishai Cohen, a partner who really seems to make the record sparkle! The group's a quartet, with no piano – just Joe Martin on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums – and the tenor and trumpet do a great job of carving lines in open space, but with a fullness and focus that's quite different than an ECM date like this might have sounded decades back. The record really lives up to Turner's great legacy, but also has a unique sort of power as well – and all tunes are original compositions, with titles that include "Lathe Of Heaven", "Sonnet For Stevie", "Brother Sister 2", "Ethan's Line", and "The Edenist".  ~ Dusty Groove

JEAN-LOUIS MATINIER / MARCO AMBROSINI - INVENTIO

An instrumental pairing you're not likely to hear every day – the accordion of Jean-Louise Matinier and the nyckelharpa of Marco Ambrosini! We love the use of the former instrument – which Matinier plays with these open, evocative tones that remind us of our favorite work by Daniel Mille – but we're especially struck by the latter instrument – a many-stringed viola-like instrument, which has varied tunings, and is played with a bow. The ebb and flow of Ambrosini's music works beautifully with Matinier – and its slight string edges create this feeling of the ancient at moments, and a vibe that links some of the ECM early music projects with its modern ones. Titles include "Presto", "Szybko", "Taiga", "Qui Est Homo", "Osku", "Hommage", and "Basse Dance". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - TOM ZE; OS BRAZOES: KING FLOYD - WELL DONE

TOM ZE - TOM ZE

Tom Zé is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, innovator and composer who was hugely influential in the Tropicália movement of '60s Brazil. Zé is often thought of as Brazil’s answer to Zappa or Captain Beefheart; a true innovator and a true artist. Mr Bongo re-issued Zé’s debut record ‘Grande Liquidicao’ originally released in 1968. This, his second solo album, is self-titled, and was released by RGE Discos in 1970. After the peak of the Tropicália period, Zé went into relative obscurity. It was only in the '90s, when musician and Luaka Bop label founder David Byrne discovered an album recorded by Zé many years earlier, that he returned to performing and releasing new material. Continuing in a similar musical vein to Grande Liquidicao, ‘Tom Ze’ is a wonderful combination of guitars, layered of percussion and tough rock ’n’ roll, underpinned by Ze’s instantly recognisable vocal. Ze is infact one of Brazil’s most sampled artists. ‘Jimmy, Renda-Se’ has one of the most recognisable intros you will hear, so it was no great surprise that Amerie sampled it for her smash ‘Take Control’. All in all, another essential record from a true legend of Brazilian music.

OS BRAZOES - OS BRAZOES

Rare and highly sought after in its original format, Os Brazoes self-titled album was originally released on RGE Discos in 1969. It is a psychedelic masterpiece that fuses samba, r’n’b and rock ’n’ roll influences using fuzz guitars, synths, percussion, lush vocals and effects. Os Brazoes formed in Rio de Janeiro in the late '60s. They backed Gal Costa during her Tropicalia period, yet apparently never recorded in the studio with her. Miguel de Deus, the bands front man, recorded the highly sought after ‘Black Soul Brothers’ LP in '77, which became an important record in the ‘Black Rio’ movement. Mr Bongo released the title track from that LP, on the ‘Brazilian Beats: Brooklyn’ compilation in '06 and recently as part of their Brazil 45s re-issue series. ‘Os Brazoes’ features covers of Gilberto Gil’s ‘Pega a Voga, Cabeludo’ and Jorge Ben and Toquinho’s ‘Carolina, Carol Bela’. The Mr Bongo LP reissue is manufactured in Japan, presented in a super high quality card sleeve with replica original artwork. The CD is presented in a 4-page digi-pack.

KING FLOYD - WELL DONE

Wonderful work from King Floyd – post-Stax, post-Atlantic, but still sounding great here – with that undeniable charm that always makes his records sound so great! Floyd's got a way of singing that's deep, but also a bit effervescent too – this crackling sort of energy in the way he puts over a lyric, even bluer one – which really gets some great support here from a small backing combo at Malaco, who can really hit the right sort of "Groove Me" mode at times! The set's a great example of the way that Malaco easily picked up the torch when those other two labels were starting to lose their coverage of the south – and King's very much at home on a sweet set of tunes that include "I'm Gonna Fall In Love With You", "I Don't Think I Could Face It", "I Feel Like Dynamite", "Movin' On Strong", "So True", "Can't Give It Up", and "Try Me". Nice photo of some ribs on the cover, too!. ~ Dusty Groove

Esoteric jazz, modal jazz, spiritual jazz - as performed with the human voice / Spiritual Jazz 6 Vocals (Various Artists)

The power of the human voice, especially when held in song, has long been known to be immensely influential, potent and emotive across all of humankind. When conveying a message, the spoken word - whether in speech, poetry or song - is infinitely more evocative than that of written. And when that message is voiced in the realm of jazz, amidst the open and dramatic freedom that only jazz can provide, the message can be all the more poignant.

Having examined spiritual jazz as it was expressed in the US, and then followed its messengers and influences in Europe and beyond, our sixth instalment of our Spiritual Jazz series showcases jazz vocals: a collection of jazz messages that are united in voice.

The majority of tracks here are as political as they are theological, but it's the inner sanctity of the music that is the defining factor. These are songs that concern themselves with the universal condition of this world, as well as the next. In fact, as the distinction between the theological and the humanistic is blurred, so is the definition of a song - many of the tracks are atypical in that they do not possess lyrics with a beginning, middle and end. Likewise the voices that convey them often can't be said to be 'singing' in the usual sense of the word; we hear solemn chanting, intense wailing, earnest poetry and ardent recitation in between bouts of singing, the quality of which is often nothing short of exquisite. The styles of performance encompass modern jazz, the avant-garde and jazz fusion, and include elements of styles from the long and winding path of the African diaspora, including Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean and other Pan-American rhythms.

Spiritual Jazz 6: Vocals examines some of the rarest and most extraordinary vocal jazz recordings. We have included some well-known songs, as well as some of the most obscure. There are tracks recorded made for major labels, and some that were issued privately. But all of them speak or sing of a better place or a better world, and the world can only be a better place when they are played.

This is esoteric jazz, modal jazz, spiritual jazz - as performed with the human voice.

· All tracks fully licensed and digitally restored from the original master tapes

· Comprehensive liner notes with added individual notes on each track and original stories direct from the musicians involved

· CD with 24 page colour booklet with in-depth liner notes, album cover scans and previously unpublished photographs

· Most tracks never before reissued - previously only available on rare, long-deleted LPs

· Deluxe double vinyl LP pressing with gloss gatefold sleeve.

Sachal's Slow Motion Miracles delivers a full set of multilayered gems steeped in a variety of styles, including indie pop, hip-hop, electronica, Brazilian, Afro-beat, old-school jazz and new-styled jazz

As a singular singer-songwriter, Sachal has pivoted into an appealing new direction on his sublime OKeh debut, the aptly titled Slow Motion Miracles. It's a remarkable 10-track album of top-flight songs teeming with close-to-the-heart personal stories of love and loss, vignettes of fleeting moments and dreamy fantasies-all fluid with the ebb and flow of heartbreak and discovery. 

On Slow Motion Miracles, Sachal delivers a full set of multilayered gems steeped in a variety of styles, including indie pop, hip-hop, electronica, Brazilian, Afro-beat, old-school jazz and new-styled jazz. "I'm not limiting," he says. "I weave my voice through a lot of the music I listen to. It's still me and just a part of my journey." 

Sachal cites a number of key influences - from Paul Simon, Seu Jorge, Frank Ocean and popular hip-hop, to Fleetwood Mac, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and 19th century German art songs-but says that what it all comes down to is serving his songs in a fresh and resonating way. 

"The inspiration for the new album starts with experiences I've lived through that evolve into fantasy," says Sachal. "The songs were germinated from personal moments, then mingled with daydreams to become something new. It was transcendent. The feelings and ideas would float up and soar and would become greater than the original moments." 

Sachal enlisted multi-instrumentalist Michael Leonhart to produce Slow Motion Miracles as well as collaborate compositionally on two songs. Sachal was introduced to Leonhart through a mutual friend and passed on to him demos of soundscapes, orchestration and lyrics he had crafted on a computer. 

"As a writer and composer, you're often in isolation, but sharing these private moments with Michael made him a great partner, a real colleague," Sachal says. "He has a great ear, plays a ton of instruments, is a wizard with technology and made the sounds sparkle. Plus, with all of what he offered, he retained a human touch. Michael took my initial ideas and brought them to the next level." 

Sachal invited seven other musicians to play on selected tunes-including Taylor Eigsti on keyboards and synthesizers, Gerald Clayton on piano, Ryan Scott on guitars, Buster Hemphill on electric bass, David Wong on acoustic bass, Nate Smith on drums, and Mark Guiliana on drums and drum machines-to contribute short accents, subtle colors and understated grooves within the multilayered songs.

"All these guys are great musicians," says Sachal, who also contributes keyboard parts, programming and electronics. "It was a challenge to edit, but that was a fun part of the process of making this album. It was about the storytelling and getting an organic feeling from the layers, so that the songs have a place in today's sound as well as a link to history. Our ultimate goal for mixing all of these great contributions in was to serve the songs and make them come alive" 

On Slow Motion Miracles, Sachal swings through the themes of escape, journey and romance. The title track, with an ebullient vocal open and an almost whimsical sensibility, is short in length but potent in meaning. "It's about wanting to escape, but also be caught by an overpowering, sensual force"  Sachal says. Likewise, the catchy melody "No More Tears," starting off with a stark, reflective vocal followed by organ shading, is a dreamlike search for a fresh feeling. "It's a clearing of the air to go beyond." 

The sweet, loving "Marie" is a compositional collaboration with David Brophy, a Boston songwriter friend who helped Sachal finesse the song. It is celebratory in nature as well as a trip into reverie. "Sometimes I need an escape," Sachal says. "The same idea kept popping in my head when I was writing this one - I was out on the open road on a bright day, just cruising and laughing with friends- a great, sunny moment." 

Leonhart co-wrote with Sachal the beauty, "Cover the Water," which shines as a bright, hopeful number. It's based on an image that Sachal envisioned on the beach at night and a feeling of youthful affection. "Taking off, and trusting that the universe will take care of you." 

From the beach to home, "Waiting on the Roof" is a daydream based on being able to fall asleep under the stars on a rooftop. "This is a love song with a childlike sense of wonder," Sachal says. "I'm waiting for romance, but I'm also struck by the grandeur of the stars." 

Amid the Sachal originals on Slow Motion Miracles, he covers two tunes that fit the overall vibe of the album. He supplies his own longing lyrics to Brazilian songwriter Flavio Venturini's "Afternoon Sun" about gazing at a distant horizon and dreaming, and he closes the album with a lush, moving, soulful rendition of the Jim Weatherly composition: "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," a tune that Gladys Knight made into a hit with the Pips in 1973. "I came back to the ground to sing this - it's very visceral to me" Sachal says. 

Slow Motion Miracles is Sachal's most accomplished recording as an artist. This is his fourth album overall (previously he recorded three jazz-infused CDs for Mack Avenue as Sachal Vasandani) and the best showing of his unique voice and his compelling storytelling. He's looking forward to touring with a simpatico band comprised of some of the studio members. "We had a lot of joy recording this album," he says. "We're sharing our creativity. Now, when I go on tour, I get to bring these songs to a new life." 

Slow Motion Miracles Track Listing:

1. No More Tears

2. Denim Lights

3. Marie

4. Slow Motion Miracles

5. Haystacks

6. Can't Talk

7. Cover the Water

8. Afternoon Sun

9. Waiting on the Roof

10. Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)

NEW RELEASES: DON CHERRY – MODERN ART; SABU MARTINEZ - THE DALECARLIA RECORDINGS 1971-72; SADAO WATANAE - PAMOJA

DON CHERRY – MODERN ART

Some of the most freewheeling music we've heard from Don Cherry in the 70s – a live performance at the Museum Of Modern Art in Stockholm – and one that's done with a very free, open vibe! Part of the work has Cherry in the bolder improvisational space of his Paris years – yet other moments have that great organic mix of jazz and global elements that Don was using on some of his other records, but with an overall approach that's nicely unstructured overall! Cherry himself plays pocket trumpet, wooden flute, conch shell, piano, and dossu n'gouni – and the rest of the lineup includes lots of percussion, two acoustic bassists, guitar, tamboura, and claves – all used in varied ways throughout the set, almost to build up the sound in a loft jazz mode that's inflected with elements from Africa and the Middle East. The whole thing's a very unique musical moment – both for Don Cherry and the Swedish jazz scene – and titles include "Que Faser", "Love Train", "Awareness", "Universal Mother", "Ornettunes", "Marimba Goddess Of Music", "Chenrezig", and "Mahakali". (Limited to 500 copies.)  ~ Dusty Groove

SABU MARTINEZ - THE DALECARLIA RECORDINGS 1971-72

Mindblowing work from the legendary Latin percussionist Sabu Martinez – some extremely heavy sides recorded overseas during his time on the Swedish scene in the 70s, some of which are appearing here for the first time ever! The groove here is amazing, and goes even further past Sabu's famous Afro Temple album – far into territory that's hardly ever been explored this well – mixing Latin rhythms with a range of different funky jazz modes, all of them great! Sabu's congas are amazing – dark, soulful, and filled with power – really driving throughout, in settings that include a full group of young percussionists, a funky big band, and a smaller combo with some killer Hammond. A few tracks are live, one is from a musical play, and the others are from the lost album Aurora Borealis – a very rare indie date. Every bit as great, if not better than, the other Sabu reissues on Mellotronen – with titles that include "The Latin Percussion People", "The Sacrifice", "Oh Min Dara", "Will O The Wisp", "Not So Loud Please", "Cute", and "Puertorican Rice & Beans".  ~ Dusty Groove

SADAO WATANAE - PAMOJA

Later than Sadao Watanabe's classic period, but a great album with some really wonderful moments! The set was recorded live in Tokyo in 1975, and it features Watanabe working with a group that includes Isao Suzuki on bass, Yshiaki Masuo on guitar, and Takehiro Honda on piano. The four tracks are all long, with some of the searching Coltrane-ish playing that Watanabe brought to his earlier Sony albums, but they've also got a fair bit of the warmth he was reaching for during the 70s – combining elements of world jazz styles into a mode that really pushed his work on alto and flute. Titles include "Pamoja", "Vichakani", and "Musitoni".  ~ Dusty Groove

Freestyle Records to re-issue Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers music | 45 & LP to follow

Freestyle Records has announced that they are to re-issue the incredible music of the legendary Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers.

With its bedrock of African drums, fused with hi-life and jazz, Ginger Johnson’s music was in fact the main forerunner of afrobeat – and Ginger’s direct influence upon afrobeat’s undisputed champion, Fela Kuti, tells a fascinating and under appreciated story that only now is being recognised for its significance.

Ginger Johnson’s story is one of the greatest untold stories of African music in Europe. A Nigerian immigrant to London in the late 1940s, Ginger quickly earned a reputation as the ‘go to’ African percussionist in England and became the rhythmic backbone to the big band of Edmundo Ros, the jazz groups of Ronnie Scott and many other 1950s British modern jazzers. His 50s recordings for Melodisc were among the very first examples of African music recorded and released in Britain. The chief exponent of the African talking drum, by the mid-1960s Ginger was fully established as the only Afro-Cuban session player to book. What is also surprisingly unknown is that Ginger Johnson was mentor, guide, guru and father figure to a young Fela Kuti. Ginger’s house in Victoria, London was a vibrant hub of African music activity for Fela and an entire host of African musicians who would gather there to exchange news, talk, eat and jam for hours on end. To Fela, and all the younger musicians who gravitated towards Ginger’s home, he was simply known and addressed as ‘Father’. Aside from his own music, Ginger was also instrumental in the beginnings of The Notting Hill Carnival. And, his own venue, Club Iroko in North London, was a creative hub for groups like Osibisa, Cymande, and also a welcome hang out for visiting legends like Art Blakey, Roland Kirk, and Elvin Jones. 

Ginger and his collective’s playing graces the recordings of everybody from Georgie Fame to Barbara Streisand and Hawkwind. Ginger and his group performed at The Royal Variety Performance, and even featured in the James Bond film ‘Live & Let Die’. But, perhaps Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers’ most high profile engagement was performing with The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 1969 in front of a crowd so big you could not see where it ended. Ginger and his troupe provided the beat-heavy and lengthy intro to the supremely high energy, live version of ‘Sympathy For The Devil’. 

For Ginger’s son, Dennis Dee Mac Johnson, this deal with Freestyle ends a long process to gain recognition for his father’s music, "I am so happy that my father's album will finally be re-issued. His music will live on in the old and new audiences, who will now get to hear his work in its full glory! We call 'African Party' The Holy Grail Of Afrobeat - as he is The Godfather of Afrobeat!"

Dennis, and one of Ginger Johnson's closest friends and collaborators, original band member; Lord Eric Sugumugu, will be available for interview opportunities. Furthermore, The Ginger Johnson Legacy Band is setting plans in motion for concerts so this infectious vibrant music can thrill live audiences again.

  

Forthcoming on Freestyle Records (release dates are tentative and subject to change):

• FSR7084 | Ginger Johnson And His African Messengers - I Jool Omo (7” / MP3) | March/April

• FSRCD110 | Ginger Johnson And His African Messengers - African Party (LP / CD / MP3) | May/June