AXS TV Premieres SANTANA IV, A Special One Night Only Concert Performance That Reunites The Legendary '70s Band, This Sunday, June 19, At 8pE/5pP

The legendary band Santana rocks on AXS TV, in the network premiere of the 2016 concert film SANTANA IV on Sunday, June 19, at 8pE/5pP. The unforgettable event will air as part of AXS TV's The 'Whole Lotta Love' Father's Day Marathon, which starts at 10aE and puts the spotlight on eight of the decade's most influential acts.

Filmed live at the world-famous House of Blues in Las Vegas, SANTANA IV captures a true landmark event with the same heralded lineup that exploded onto the scene at Woodstock. With Neal Schon added soon afterward, Santana IV radiates the same unparalleled energy and superlative musicianship that made Santana a pioneering force in world music and a household name across the globe. In April of 2016, Santana released their first studio album together since 1971's Santana III. Appropriately named Santana IV, the album picks up where they left off with 16 all-new tracks written and produced by the band, explosive guitar work, incredible percussion, and a collection of songs that easily stands side-by-side with the group's treasured early work. This is the first time since 1973, that the Original Santana Band featuring: Carlos Santana (guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello (percussion), and Michael Shrieve (drums) has performed together for television.  Joining the core Santana IV band in the studio are current Santana members Karl Perazzo (percussion) and Benny Rietveld (bass), with the legendary vocalist Ronald Isley guesting on two cuts.

Now, viewers can once again experience the signature sounds that defined an era and inspired generations of fans and artists, as this beloved band blazes through a high-energy set that includes trademark favorites such as "Black Magic Woman," "Oye Como Va," "Evil Ways," and "Soul Sacrifice," as well as brand new tracks from their latest hit album, SANTANA IV, which was released on April 15.

Jazz Bassist Dave Holland Earns Nation’s Highest Honor in Jazz: 2017 NEA Jazz Masters Award

NEC visiting artist-in-residence, renowned jazz bassist/composer and bandleader Dave Holland has earned the nation’s highest honor in jazz: a 2017 NEA Jazz Masters Award.  Holland is one of five individuals recognized for their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz. Each will receive a $25,000 award and be honored at a tribute concert on Monday, April 3, 2017, produced in collaboration with the Kennedy Center.  Other honorees include Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ira Gitler, Dick Hyman and Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Over the course of a nearly five-decade career, Dave Holland has never stopped evolving, reinventing his concept and approach with each new project while constantly honing his instantly identifiable voice. From the electric whirlwind of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew-era band to the elegant flamenco of his collaboration with Spanish guitar legend Pepe Habichuela; accompanying the great vocalist Betty Carter in her last years to forging a new sound with the pioneering avant-garde quartet Circle alongside Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, and Barry Altschul; standing alongside legends like Stan Getz, Hank Jones, Roy Haynes, and Sam Rivers to providing early opportunities to now-leading players like Chris Potter, Kevin and Robin Eubanks, or Steve Coleman; Dave Holland has been at the forefront of jazz in many of its forms since his earliest days. Outside the jazz world, he’s collaborated with Bonnie Raitt, flamenco master Pepe Habichuela, and bluegrass legend Vassar Clements. In 2013, the Wolverhampton, England native unveiled Prism, a visceral electric quartet featuring his longtime collaborator and Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks, along with keyboardist Craig Taborn and drummer Eric Harland. In addition, Holland continues to lead his Grammy-winning big band; his renowned quintet with saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Robin Eubanks, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, and drummer Nate Smith; and the Overtone quartet, with Potter, Harland, and pianist Jason Moran.

Awarded an honorary degree by NEC in spring 2004, that fall Holland began a series of residencies at the school in which he shares the many dimensions of his activities as soloist, composer, bandleader, and all-round musician.

Past NEA Jazz Masters with NEC affiliations include Gunther Schuller, Bob Brookmeyer, Ron Carter, George Russell and Cecil Taylor. http://necmusic.edu/nea-jazz-masters

Each year since 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts has conferred the NEA Jazz Masters award. With this new class, the NEA has awarded 145 fellowships to great figures in jazz. More information about the NEA Jazz Masters and the agency’s collection of free jazz content is available here.

NEA Jazz Master Fellowships are bestowed on living individuals on the basis of nominations from the public including the jazz community. The NEA encourages nominations of a broad range of men and women who have been significant to the field of jazz, through vocals, instrumental performance, creative leadership, and education. The NEA is currently accepting nominations for the 2018 NEA Jazz Masters (deadline: December 31, 2016). Visit arts.gov/honors/jazz for more information and to submit a nomination.

The NEA also supports the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program, an effort to document the lives and careers of NEA Jazz Masters. In addition to transcriptions of the comprehensive interviews, the website also includes audio clips with interview excerpts. This project has transcribed the oral histories of more than 90 NEA Jazz Masters.

NEC's Jazz Studies Department was the first fully accredited jazz studies program at a music conservatory. The brainchild of Gunther Schuller, who moved quickly to incorporate jazz into the curriculum when he became President of the Conservatory in 1967, the Jazz Studies faculty has included six MacArthur "genius" grant recipients (three currently teaching) and four NEA Jazz Masters. The program has spawned numerous Grammy winning composers and performers and has an alumni list that reads like a who's who of jazz. As Mike West writes in JazzTimes: “NEC's jazz studies department is among the most acclaimed and successful in the world; so says the roster of visionary artists that have comprised both its faculty and alumni.”  The program currently has 95 students; 48 undergraduate and 47 graduate students from 13 countries.

NEW MUSIC: DAVID GIBSON – INNER AGENT; ELLERY ESKELIN TRIO – WILLISAU LIVE; WILSON PICKETT – THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC SINGLES VOL. 1

DAVID GIBSON – INNER AGENT

Soulful genius from trombonist David Gibson – a player who works here with a slightly larger group than usual for some of the Posi-tone label sessions, but one who's able to make the whole thing come off with a compact groove that's totally wonderful all the way through! Gibson's got a way of making the sound come down totally right on the money – especially on his wonderful original tracks for the album, which are nestled in nicely alongside tracks by Curtis Fuller, and some other earlier giants – played by an excellent septet that features Freddie Hendrix on trumpet, Doug Webb on tenor, Caleb Curtis on alto, and Theo Hell on piano. The mix of Hendrix and Gibson is especially great – and titles include "Axe Grinder", "Sweetness", "The Scythe", "The Court", "AJ", "Gravy", "Inner Agent", and "I Wish I Knew".  ~ Dusty Groove

ELLERY ESKELIN TRIO – WILLISAU LIVE

Tenorist Ellery Eskelin's in a very compelling setting here – a trio that has the great Gerry Hemmingway on drums, and organist Gary Versace on the Hammond B3 – an instrument we're not sure we've ever heard on any other records from Ellery! Yet the set's hardly a conventional version of tenor and organ jazz – as the Hammond's often used in ways that are a sonically creative as Eskelin's approach to tenor, with waves of sound that are often far beyond music, but which also can hit some tuneful moments as well – all over the course of songs that are familiar, but which are completely transformed by the process! The group does hit a slightly soulful vibe on a reading of "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance Without You", but really takes off on versions of "We See", "East Of The Sun", "Blue & Sentimental", and "My Melancholy Baby" – as well as their own "On Or About".  ~ Dusty Groove

WILSON PICKETT – THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC SINGLES VOL. 1

Are you ready for the wickedest Real Gone soul collection yet? Here, in one smokin’ hot set, are the first 22 single sides that the great Wilson Pickett recorded for the Atlantic label, some of the most hallowed recordings in the history of soul music. Along with the intoxicating mix of hits—“In the Midnight Hour,” “Mustang Sally,” “634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.),” “Land of 1000 Dances,” “Don’t Fight It,” and more—and rare B-sides that come with the territory on a singles collection, you also get those punchy mono single mixes/versions that bring out the raw excitement of these seminal performances, not to mention the incredible musicianship of folks like Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Donald “Duck” Dunn, and Isaac Hayes. Indeed, even if you purchased Rhino Handmade’s collection of Pickett’s complete Atlantic studio sessions, you don’t own the single versions—this volume (and the two to come after it) are necessary complements to that outstanding set. Remastered by Mike Milchner from sources derived from the original tapes, and annotated by Joe Marchese, who penned the notes on Real Gone’s previous collection of the Wicked Pickett’s RCA recordings, The Complete Atlantic Singles Vol. One presents some of the greatest soul ever waxed exactly how it was originally waxed—as singles for airplay on the radio. It’s the material that made Wilson Pickett a legend.

NEW RELEASES: ZO! - SKYBREAK; MASS PRODUCTION - IN THE PUREST FORM / MASSTERPIECE; BARRY WHITE , LOVE UNLIMITED & THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA - TOGETHER BROTHERS

ZO! - SKYBREAK

We've been loving Zo's music for years, and he just seems to get better and better – easily one of the most important contemporary talents repping the Detroit scene, and a visionary soul artist who carries on the legacy of that city's most righteous sounds! Zo's keyboards are as wonderful as ever – and he's got some great singers along for the ride this time, to really open up the music with a deepened sense of soul – thanks to help from Carmen Rodgers, Phonte, Sy Smith, Eric Roberson, and others – all working together beautifully under Zo's direction! The unity of the record's a strong testament to the vision of its leader – and the whole thing's the kind of record that better make the world sit up and take notice. Titles include "Lake Erie", "Packing For Chicago", "Starlight", "For Pops", "Steal My Joy", "I Don't Mind", and "Wishing You Well".  ~ Dusty Groove

MASS PRODUCTION - IN THE PUREST FORM / MASSTERPIECE

2 classics from funk legends Mass Production – back to back in a 2CD set, with 11 bonus tracks too! First up is In The Purest Form – a set that has Mass Production stepping forward as one of the best soul acts in the Cotillion Records roster at the end of the 70s – and maybe one of the hippest modern funk ensembles of the time! These guys have a way of making things sound nice and lean, despite a larger lineup – with a very strong focus on bassline currents, which seem to draw all the other elements into their wake in a mighty nice way! Yet the album's also not a slap-bass affair – as the deeper sounds are used with a nicely understated vibe, and even come through nicely on the mellower numbers – which might be our favorites. Tracks include "Our Thought (Purity)", "With Pleasure", "Next Year","Love You", "Firecracker", and "Can't You See I'm Fired Up". Also includes the great cut "Strollin" – which is a jazzy instrumental with trumpet and vibes, really working together in a tightly jamming groove! Massterpiece features more sweet grooves from Mass Production – a great little set that goes way beyond the usual ensemble funk and boogie at the start of the 80s! The set begins with a slightly mellower, more laidback feel than some of the other records by large funk acts – and that really sets the scene for the rest of the album – keeping a more well-rounded feel to the record, even when things get back into the more uptempo styles the group is known for! There's still plenty of bass in the mix, but the keyboards sparkle equally well – and the record's got some great instrumental moments too. Titles include "Enkuf", "Angel", "Forever", "Shante", "Gonna Make You Love Me", "Your Love", and "Nature Lover". Bonus tracks include 12" single versions of "Love You", "Firecracker", "Can't You See I'm Fired Up", and "Eyeballin" – and 7" mixes of "Shante", "Firecracker", "Love You", and "Angel". ~ Dusty Groove

BARRY WHITE , LOVE UNLIMITED & THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA - TOGETHER BROTHERS 

A stunner of a soundtrack from the maestro Barry White – his only entry into the blacksploitation film genre of the 70s, and a complete doozy throughout! For the album, Barry's stripped down the bigger space of his own records, and his Love Unlimited productions – into some shorter tracks that really focus on that blend of funk and strings that he could do so well – making for a batch of killer instrumentals that really offer up a special Barry White take on the funky film sound of the 70s! Love Unlimited also sing on two tracks – "Somebody Is Gonna Off The Man" and "People Of Tomorrow Are The Children Of Today _- but most of the record is instrumental, played by the Orchestra – and tracks include "Killer's Lullaby", "So Nice To Hear", "Killer Don't Do It", "Can't Seem To Find Him", "Alive & Well", "Theme From Together Brothers", "Do Drop In", and "Here Comes The Man". (Limited edition!) ~ Dusty Groove

Drummer Kevin Bowers’ Third Solo Album, Nova, Poised To Be The Soundtrack To The Best Movie Never Made

Imagine a movie starring Fred Astaire and Lena Horne, and directed by Federico Fellini. In your mind’s ear, listen to the soundtrack, a mélange of Brazilian samba, psychedelic rock, romantic compositions, and impressionistic lyrics. The music perfectly captures the elegance, earthiness, and otherworldliness of the film.

Now, for a reality check: the film was never made but if there was a movie, this would be the soundtrack. When St. Louis-based drummer/composer, Kevin Bowers, went on a deep and deepening trip through Spain, he also went on an epiphanic creative journey. He’s returned with Nova (to be released August 9th) a tropical, trippy and rocking album with a surprise smattering of Bosa Nova influenced by the great Jorge Ben and Gilberto Gil.

“Brazilian music is something I’ve always had a passion for,” Bowers confesses. “I studied Brazilian drumming at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. I even had the privilege of traveling to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with some close friends to soak up its culture. After a trip to Spain, I began writing the album. I was heavily inspired, even hypnotized, by the music, people, art, and food of Spain.”

Bowers is one of St. Louis’ most respected drummers. He’s been featured in the iconic publication Modern Drummer. Recently, his soul-punk band, The Feed, issued a critically acclaimed album. To date, he’s released three vibrant solo albums. His latest, Nova, gathers some of the finest rock, blues and jazz musicians (and friends) in St. Louis. Together, they manage to croon like Tony Bennett, pop like Sergio Mendes and vibrate like the Beatles at their most lysergic.

Nova’s overarching concept is the adventures/misadventures of two globetrotting characters. Though Bowers is a drummer by trade, he composed the music and vocal melodies on the electric guitar. In addition to this loose-knit narrative, Bowers was also inspired by other artists and movies. He cites a cross-section of influences such as Gal Costa’s 1969 album, Tony Bennett’s The Beat of My Heart, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, short stories by Anton Chekhov, and Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

Drumming fans will feast on Bowers’ jaw-dropping exotic and virtuosic performances as a solo performer and as an ensemble player. On Nova he makes use of several Brazilian instruments, including surdo, repinique, tamborim, chocalhos (Brazilian shakers), timbales, bongos, and congas, among percussion tools. “It was a challenge performing all the percussion parts and making the songs sound like there are 10 people playing together,” he confides.

Standout songs on Nova include the sun-kissed bossa nova track “Two Vagabond Lovers,” the invigoratingly percussive “Ground Motion,” and the imaginatively arranged “Lady Day Fortune.” The album is bookended by an English and then a French version of “Two Vagabond Lovers.” This track sets up the beginning of the story which is sung by the first pair of male and female narrators. “Ground Motion” is a euphoric chant song that highlights Bowers gifts for simple anthemic melodies and ground-shaking percussion arrangements. Nova’s psychedelic side is exemplified by “Lady Day Fortune” which opens with a majestic piano solo, then slips into a moody pop track, before floating away with freak-out guitar figures.

Bowers plans to tour Nova with a white-gloved presentation like a supper club experience with some playful surprises. For live performances, the band will vary in size between a lush orchestral lineup and an intimate quartet. These shows will feature the Nova album played in its entirety, along with some favorites from Bowers’ back catalog. The record release party will be at Off Broadway in Kevin’s hometown of St. Louis on August 11th.

Track listing:

Two Vagabond Lovers

Sofía (Walking With Her Shadow)

Ground Motion

Imagination Voodoo

Without A Sound

Forward Rhythm Agenda

Wrong Side Of The Tracks

Lady Day Fortune

Breaking For Conversation

The Last Night In June

Intuition (Someday, Someday)

Two Vagabond Lovers (French Version)

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NEW MUSIC: MATS GUSTAFSSON AND FRIENDS: PEACE & FIRE: MG50; PETER BROTZMANN / HEATHER LEIGH – EYES FILLED WITH WONDER; RIVHERSIDE – ELECTRAW BLUES ALBUM

MATS GUSTAFSSON AND FRIENDS: PEACE & FIRE: MG50

The mighty Mats Gustafsson turns 50 – and to celebrate, he throws himself a 3 day festival of music, along with some of his best contemporaries in the global underground! Given Mats' fire and non-stop energy, the festival must have been amazing – and a good deal of it is documented here in a special 4CD set – one that includes performances from every night of the event, and two great booklets full of notes and photos, too. If anything, Gustafsson seems to get younger and more open-minded with each passing year – able to share his amazing talents with so many others, in so many different ways – in a spirit that really comes through in this great package. Gustafsson performs in a variety of settings – a duet with drummer Didi Kern, with the Swedish Azz quintet, in Fake The Facts with Payl Lytton on drums, in his Fire group in an expanded lineup, in Klangform Wien, with The Thing, and in Tr!o +1 – and the package also features a duet between Ken Vandermark on reeds and Christof Kurzmann on ppoll, solo bagpipes from Erwan Keravec, solo vibes and percussion from Kjell Nordeson, solo alto from Anna Hogberg, and solo percussion and voice from Sven Ake Johansson. 4CDs in all – and lots more music within! ~ Dusty Groove

PETER BROTZMANN / HEATHER LEIGH – EYES FILLED WITH WONDER

Saxophonist Peter Brotzmann has had a long career, filled with incredible duets – but this record with pedal steel guitarist Heather Leigh may well be one of his most unusual, and proof that he continues to be open to so many new musical ideas, even in his later years! Leigh's got an approach that's quite different than any use of the instrument you might know from country or folk – and instead creates these amazing sounds that are sometimes tones, sometimes more tuneful – and really balanced nicely next to the raspy edges of Brotzmann's tenor, bass clarinet, and tarogato! Each player gets some individual moments, but when they come together is when the magic of the sound really seems to happen. ~ Dusty Groove

RIVHERSIDE – ELECTRAW BLUES ALBUM

After playing for many years in different blues bands, Renaud Villet, a singer, guitarist, and producer based in Clermont-Ferrand (France) launched his solo career in 2012 under the name Rivherside. His first album, “Something on My Mind,” was strongly blues / roots orientated.  It received great reviews and as a result Rivherside did more than 80 concerts as a one-man-band. In 2014 he decided to broaden his horizons and began to mix Blues with Electro and Hip-Hop sounds, releasing the self-produced, 4-track “Electraw Blues EP.” Rivherside also began performing live in this electro configuration, playing samples and using Ableton Live software. In 2015 he collaborated with rapper TDB and together they released the “Inner Voices” EP in early 2016 . And now, the french electro blues pioneer is back with a new 12-track album.

MAYSA & BLUEY CELEBRATE 25 YRS OF COLLABORATIONS WITH INCOGNITO'S "IN SEARCH OF BETTER DAYS"

While Bluey and Incognito continue to raise us to our feet with their downright funky and insatiable grooves, they also elevate our consciousness with their poignant visions and dreams on In Search Of Better Days. "We are living in troubled times and I see the plight of the young in my neighborhood, the refugee crisis in London and all over Europe. Corruption. Child abuse. There is political, religious and financial misguided ideology all around the globe," expresses Bluey, the mastermind behind Incognito. "My trade is music and social awareness, and as such, I am fully aware of those In Search Of Better Days, including myself!" Incognito's anticipated 17th studio album is steeped in deep, rich history, bridging the classic sounds of the past and the tonal and sonic languages of the present and future. The songs on In Search Of Better Days are songs of love and awareness,  that question and challenge and that deliver optimism, joy, and hope.  Incognito plans to tour the US in the Fall but until then you have the soundtrack to put you on the road to better days.

As a producer, songwriter and musician, Bluey has collaborated with a who's who list in music including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Chaka Khan, R. Kelly, Leon Ware, George Duke, Phillip Bailey, Steve Gadd, Maxi Priest and countless others. You would think that a 37-year-old band would rest on its laurels...right? No, not Incognito! The band is as creative and full of fire as it was at its conception in 1979. A rare feat in these days and times. The sound of Bluey's London for over three and a half decades weaves its way throughout In Search Of Better Days and gives it flesh, with splashes of Drum & Bass and Broken Beats, Rare Groove, Deep Soulful House, and even influences from the Rock and Blues that were at the heart of the UK scene in the late '60s and early '70s.

As the stunning and talented vocalist Maysa readies to turn 50 in August she also celebrates a Silver Anniversary with Incognito. "Working with Bluey & Incognito for the last 25 years has been incredible," says Maysa. "Bluey has taken me around the world several times and has allowed me to sing very special songs. Our magic is from Heaven and feels like it was destined." Maysa is featured on four tracks on In Search Of Better Days: "All I Ever Wanted"  and Everyday Grind" which Bluey cites as among one of his favorites on the album. "'Everyday Grind' is the freshest thing I've done in years," confesses Bluey. "Sonically it's the sound of the London I know in combination with my favorite voice on the planet - Maysa. It's about a break up in a relationship that both Maysa and I could identify with and thus tell the tale convincingly because we both lived it!" Other personnel on In Search Of Better Days includes Stuart Zender and some of the UK's finest and most soulful voices Imaani, Vanessa Haynes, Tony Momrelle, Katie Leone, Vula Malinga. Also highlighted on the CD is the dynamic singer/pianist and label-mate Avery*Sunshine, drummer Richard Spaven, cosmic percussionist Jody Linscott, and Japanese guitar legend Tomoyasu Hotei of Kill Bill fame. Grounding the entire album are the usual suspects: Matt Cooper and Ski Oakenfull (keyboards); Francis Hylton (bass); Francesco Mendolia (drums); João Caetano (percussion); Francisco Sales (lead guitar); Sid Gauld (trumpet); Trevor Mires and Alistair White (trombone); Paul Booth, Jim Hunt, and Andy Ross (sax and flute); and Richard Bull (everything).

As Bluey continues blazing his own trail with his ever-expanding community of  all-star artists, fueled by a passion for storytelling and creating unity through the groove, Incognito's In Search Of Better Days surely takes us there. This album is . . .  Truth! The musical wizard concludes, "When you are lucky enough to be doing what you love for a living, that alone should be enough to make you want to carry on, add to that the friendships, the wonderful journeys around the world, the possibility to communicate and stimulate change for the better... The thrill just keeps getting stronger!"

    

Osibisa Legend Gregg Kofi Brown Releases Autobiography & New CD Anthology “Rock 'n' Roll And UFOs”

Gregg Kofi-Brown is best known for his work with seminal African funk rock pioneers Osibisa, who were one of the first, if not THE first African band to achieve popular success in the West. With conscience laden lyrics and funky afro-rhythms, Gregg has a created a multi-national musical platform with his guest artists that speaks to many people across the world. Gregg Kofi Brown was executive producer of the 2003 Evening Standard cover-mount CD give away in memory of Damilola Taylor which featured the likes of Robbie Williams, Craig David, Gorillaz, Blue and Ms.Dynamite.

Gonzo Multimedia UK has just released Gregg Kofi Brown's “Rock 'n' Roll And UFOs” anthology and will be releasing his autobiography of the same title next month! Gregg Kofi Brown has transcended many genres of music...from his ongoing collaborations with jazz drummer supreme Billy Cobham, to performing as guest guitarist with World music guitar legend Bombino, from Niger. Gregg Kofi’s recent performance on Italy's Rai 1 TV for the Epifania concert saw him singing with a 35 piece orchestra. His appearance along with an array of world music and Italian artists was the highlight of this holiday TV special.

This album, “Rock 'n' Roll And UFOs”, is an anthology of music from Gregg Kofi Browns career and contains previous unreleased songs, remixes and demos with many guest musicians and artists such as Sting guitarist Dominic Miller, Bomb da Bass, Osibisa, The cast of the Who's Tommy, The Chimes Pauline Henry, the Who's former keyboard guru John Rabbit Bundrick and Seal guitarist Gus Isidore.

Says Gregg, “My anthology album draws on the musical talents that have helped to drive my career from the beginning to the present. Great creative musicians who just happen to be my friends have contributed to this historical album such as: Dominic Miller (Sting), John Rabbit Bundrick (The Who, Free, Bob Marley), Gus Isidore (Seal), Osibisa, Kari Bannerman (Ronnie Laws, Ibibio Sound Machine), Novecento (Billy Cobham, Chaka Khan) and Pauline Henry (The Chimes) to name but a few.”

This is Gregg Kofi Brown's first career-spanning anthology and is a real treat to his many fans across the world

Tracks:

Chasing Rainbows

How Can I?

All The Way For You (unplugged)

Nkosi B

Open Up My Arms (unplugged)

Shadow

Tender Eyes (unplugged)

This Guy

Wake Up In The Morning

Whisper In The Wind

Listening To You

Freedom's Ring (unplugged)

Summer Rain (unplugged)

Freedom's Ring (the groove mix)

Take Your Time

Tricky Situation

Perfect Rainbow (unplugged)

The album is a companion to Gregg Kofi Brown's autobiography of the same name which covers his early career in Los Angeles and London. From his first pro tour with Joe Cocker and Eric Burdon to close encounters of a third kind in a California desert and his adventures touring the world with African rock pioneers Osibisa. His journey includes starring in hit west end productions in London, recording and touring with infamous rock bands like Hanoi Rocks and The Members.

Says Gregg, “Follow my fly on the wall look at the music scene in London and Los Angeles during the 70's, 80's and 90's. Sex, politics, murder, miracles and lots of awesome music are all part of the mix during this amazing journey! True tales of the music scene in 70's LA and 80's/90's London, with cameos from the likes of Sean Connery, Kim Wilde, Isaac Hayes, Joe Cocker, Eric Burdon, Elton John, Peter Green, Billy Cobham, Osibisa, Salif Keita, Pete Townshend, Youssou N'Dour, Fela Kuti, Lauryn Hill, Sting, Damon Albarn & Des'ree. A murder in LA, a close encounter in the desert, a miracle in Africa, an epiphany in London and a number one hit in the USA. A cultural journey. A great holiday read.”

At the beginning of this account of his fascinating life he writes: “My life in the music and entertainment industry has always had its entry point on several cascading levels. That is to say the various opportunities that have availed themselves to me have forced me to wear many hats on a daily basis. Whether it's supporting Jimmy Cliff at a festival in Vienna or teaching a music theory class in London, I am blessed to be working in a business I enjoy.

Follow him on the journey of a lifetime...

"Z Octet," New CD by Pianist Peggy Stern

Peggy Stern Z Octet Finding inspiration in the physical surroundings of her current hometown of Austin, Texas, and drawing upon what jazz critic Harvey Pekar called her "fertile imagination" as a pianist, composer, and arranger, Peggy Stern has recorded the deepest and most personal album of her distinguished career, Z Octet. Comprised of several of her most poignant compositions, the recording shapes them into a cohesive work of great beauty, color, and tender emotion. Stern's Estrella Productions will release the CD on July 8.

At once bold and subdued, shimmering and shadowy, Z Octet is neither jazz nor classical, bridging those genres in a way that recalls Maria Schneider's efforts with her larger ensemble. "I like that it doesn't really fit into any genre," says Stern, who has never let generic expectations color her approach to the music or the way she plays the piano.

On the new CD, recorded at Greenhaven Studio in Austin, pianist Stern is joined by an unusual blend of players, including clarinetist Su Terry, featured with Stern on The Art of the Duo (2010); flutist Alex Coke, a seasoned avant-gardist; trombonist Alex Heitlinger, a gifted and widely experienced young player and composer; and Ilia Delarosa, a cello virtuoso from the Dominican Republic. The CD also features bassist Richard Mikel and drummer Wayne Salzmann, as well as vocal harmonies on two tracks by the leader and Austin favorite Suzi Stern (no relation).

Ranging from "The Elephants' Tango," a gently swaggering tango named after the Elephant Room, an Austin club, to "Phille," a rich, choral-style piece written after the death of Stern's mother, Z Octet covers a wide range of emotions and styles. While Z Octet is a suite, with a trajectory and atmosphere all its own, each piece within it radiates its own particular qualities.

Native Philadelphian Peggy Stern began playing classical piano at an early age, acquiring her Bachelor's Degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in 1968, and then her Master's in 1970 from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

Stern moved in the early 1970s to San Francisco, where she learned to improvise and expanded her musical horizons. One of her first jobs in town was with the popular Latin dance band SuperCombo, the hardcore Cuban rhythm section of which toughened her approach to salsa montunos, six nights a week for two years. She also played in the Latin-rock big band Azteca, the R&B band Cat's Cradle (which she co-founded with Linda Tillery), and jazz trumpeter Eddie Henderson's group.

After moving to New York, she added to her Latin resume by playing in legendary percussionist Machito's legacy band and performed jazz in varied settings.

Heading to Seattle in the early '80s, Stern thrived in a music community that was more amenable to outsiders and non-conforming styles than New York. "I have consistently found that the West Coast is more open to new musical ideas," she says.

In Seattle, where she lived for eight years, Stern played with such local heroes as Julian Priester, Gary Peacock, and Jay Clayton and was an assistant professor for six years at the Cornish College of the Arts. Her first album, City Hawk (1985), a collection of originals save for Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way," featured her on piano and synthesizer.

In 1988, she recorded the solo album Aliyah, a collection of Jewish tunes (one that neatly paired up with her earlier release, Christmas Collection). Two years later, she was back in New York, where, when not teaching upstate at SUNY-Purchase, she immersed herself in the downtown scene. She played with a formidable number of first-rate artists, including Lee Konitz, with whom she recorded such albums as Lunasea (1992), much of which she composed.

 Peggy Stern She co-led a quartet with a very different saxophonist, singular avant-gardist Thomas Chapin, a collaboration documented on The Fuchsia (1997). "Free jazz is my favorite thing to play," says Stern, who was good friends with Chapin when his life was tragically cut short by leukemia in 1998.

Her other '90s recordings include the trio effort, Pleiades, which teamed her with rising bassist Ben Allison and drummer Jeff Williams; The Jobim Collection, a duo album with Konitz; another trio work, Room Enough, consisting largely of jazz standards and featuring Harvie S and Jeff Williams; and her first large ensemble recording, Actual Size, a kind of precursor to Z Octet featuring such stalwarts as trumpeter Ron Horton and trombonist Art Baron. In 2006 her Estrella Trio released a self-titled CD.

Stern, who has also extensively performed, recorded, and taught in Europe, relocated to Austin in 2013 in order to be close to her married daughter Sarka and her two grandchildren. Moving to Texas, Stern quips, was "a little like moving to the moon," but Peggy has adapted by playing everything from modern jazz to salsa to western swing. She also added a popular jazz venue to the scene -- her living room aka Salon Peggy -- and a gorgeous new CD to her discography.

New York’s Longest Running Summer Contemporary Jazz Series Returns: Smooth Jazz New York Presents the 2016 Smooth Cruise Season

Smooth Jazz New York in association with Marquee Concerts is presenting another star-studded contemporary jazz line up for New York City’s original Smooth Cruise series, now in its 19th year. The 2016 summer season takes place aboard the Hornblower Infinity, a 210-foot luxury yacht.

The cruises set sail Wednesday evenings, July 13 through August 31. The summer’s roster includes seven nights featuring more than a dozen of the world’s most popular contemporary jazz and R&B acts in an intimate setting. With shows at 6:30pm and 9:30pm, the Smooth Cruises depart promptly from Pier 40, located at Houston Street at the West Side Highway and cruise down the Hudson River, offering world-class artists as well as exceptional views of the Statue of Liberty, the Freedom Tower, and the New York City skyline.

“It’s great to be back on board the Hornblower Infinity with for our 2016 season,” notes Bill Zafiros, co-founder of Smooth Jazz New York. “We’ve curated an exciting array of jazz and R&B artists to perform this season with the added perk of the breathtaking harbor views that have come to make the Smooth Cruises so popular for almost two decades.”

THE 2016 SMOOTH CRUISE SUMMER SCHEDULE:

Wed., July 13: Jonathan Butler & Gerald Albright

Wed., July 27: BWB with Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum & Rick Braun

Wed., August 3: The return of Down to the Bone

Wed., August 10: Rachelle Ferrell & Rahsaan Patterson

Wed., August 17: Najee & Alex Bugnon

Wed., August 24: Roy Ayers & Nick Colionne

Wed., August 31: Freddie Jackson & Eric Darius

The spacious Hornblower Infinity features an open bow, covered sky deck and over-sized windows that provide endless opportunities to enjoy sights of New York Harbor as guests enjoy the music of world-renowned artists. The yacht features spacious exterior sun decks and also includes climate controlled interior decks with multiple dance floors, enabling the cruises to sail rain or shine.

NEW MUSIC: ELLIOT GALVIN TRIO - PUNCH; ELI PAPERBOY REED – MY WAY HOME; GUNWALE (DAVE REMPIS / ALBERT WILDERMAN / RYAN PACKARD) - POLYNYA

ELLIOT GALVIN TRIO - PUNCH

Elliot Galvin is one of the rising stars of UK jazz. A superbly gifted composer and pianist, whose maverick imagination and magpie like ability to blend a disparate world of influences into his own unique musical vision has seen him compared to Django Bates, although in truth he sounds like no one except himself. From deconstructing standards to creating his own microtonal melodica, Galvin’s music is both playful and deadly serious, drawing on a wide range of influences from Keith Jarrett to Stravinsky, Ligetti, Deerhoof and the Beatles as well as the films of David Lynch, the Dada movement and the literature of James Joyce. A regular collaborator with Laura Jurd, he also plays in a free improv duo with Mark Sanders. But his main artistic vehicle is the Elliot Galvin Trio, which in 2014 was announced winner of the European Young Jazz Artist of the Year Award in Germany. That same year they released their debut album ‘Dreamland’ to rave reviews, with the Guardian calling it “audaciously accomplished” ****, Jez Nelson (BBC Radio 3, Jazz on 3) saying it was “Perhaps one of the strongest debuts that I've heard from a UK artist in a long while... extremely bold and progressive" and The German magazine 'JazzThing' naming it as an album of the year.

ELI PAPERBOY REED – MY WAY HOME

Eli Reed's sitting in his corner of the ring on the cover – ready to step into the fray with a fiercely soulful sound, right from the start! Reed has gotten plenty of press for his old school soul approach in the past – but he maybe sounds better here than ever, and is recorded in this mic-blowing style that really gives his vocals a real over-the-top kind of feel – as if he's got all the needles in the studio peaking well into the red, while never feeling like he's losing his cool at all! Production is great on the instrumentation, too – enough to make the organ lines and guitar echo with just the right sort of melancholy that so few other singers like this ever seem to achieve. Titles include "Hold Out", "Your Sins Will Find You Out", "Cut Ya Down", Tomorrow's Not Promised", "Eyes On You", "The Strangest Thing", and "What Have We Done". ~ Dusty Groove

GUNWALE (DAVE REMPIS / ALBERT WILDERMAN / RYAN PACKARD) - POLYNYA

Ryan Packard adds some mighty nice electronics to the trio here – subtle elements that are offset by his more dynamic work on drums, but which seem to have an equally strong impact on the sound of the record! Reedman Dave Rempis is really on fire on his longer solos here – blowing alto, tenor, and baritone with nonstop creative energy – especially at moments when Packard's percussion really moves at full clip! Bassist Albert Wildeman comes on full and strong, too – and the CD features two live tracks, and one studio number – with titles that include "Wire", "Bevel", and "Liner". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW MUSIC: WILLIAM PARKER QUARTET – AO VIVO NA FABRICA; DAVE REMPIS / JOSH ABRAMS / AVREEAYL RA / JIM BAKER - PERIHELION; FUNK COMO LE GUSTA – A NAVE-MAE SEGUE VIAGEM

WILLIAM PARKER QUARTET – AO VIVO NA FABRICA

An excellent live set led by bassist William Parker – done in the same high quality modes as the other Fabrica dates from Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell! This set's got Parker working with a quartet – one that features some really tremendous alto from Rob Brown, who blows with both a boundless sense of freedom, and an inherent sense of swing – this subtle current that links his wonderfully with Parker's great work on bass. Trumpeter Lewis Barnes is also in the group, rounding his notes with this current of soul that is a wonderful pairing with some of Brown's freer impulses – and the always-great Hamid Drake is on drums, able to add so much to the sound of the performance through his deft, sympathetic contributions. At some point, someone's blowing a great wood flute – and tracks are all originals, penned by Parker, with titles that include "Deep Flower", "Sand Shadow", "Parallel Paragraph", "Peoples James", and "Corn Meal Dance".  ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE REMPIS / JOSH ABRAMS / AVREEAYL RA / JIM BAKER - PERIHELION

Two different sets from this sharp Chicago trio – both in a wide-open style that allows for plenty of organic sound shaping and improvisation! CD1 features "Enceladus" – a 43 minute live set by the trio, which begins with sublime bass notes from Josh Abrams, whose embrace of his instrument – both spiritually and literally – can be felt in the way that he presents the music, with these soulful, human elements that seem to bring out one of the most personal performances we've ever heard from Dave Rempis on alto and tenor! Ra's drums are great, too – and he also plays a bit of wooden flute. CD2 features the addition of Jim Baker's keyboards and electronics – which create a bit more sonic intensity, and a bolder performance overall from the group – on the titles "Cassini Division" and "Pan & Daphnis".  ~ Dusty Groove

FUNK COMO LE GUSTA – A NAVE-MAE SEGUE VIAGEM

Funk Como Le Gusta were one of the first contemporary funk groups we ever heard from Brazil – a combo who initially blew our minds over a dozen years, and who return here with a record that's maybe even tighter than before! There's a brilliant mix of funk elements going on here – not just American styles of the 70s, but also some of the best Brazilian currents too – echoes of the way that older acts like Banda Black Rio or Uniao Black took American inspiration, yet created rich new grooves of their own – especially in the way the basslines are shaped, and certain acoustic elements filter effortlessly into the mix next to the sweet electric sounds! All tracks are instrumental – and titles include "Som De Preco", "Yeah Yeah Yeah", "Tudo No Lugar", "Funk Nu A Murit", "Pappa Girl", and "Voce Vera". ~ Dusty Groove

The Branford Marsalis Quartet Teams Up With Kurt Elling On "Upward Spiral"

It is no secret that the Branford Marsalis Quartet can be as freewheeling off the bandstand as in performance.  Saxophonist Branford Marsalis, and his Quartet made up of pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner are each bold personalities with strong opinions, equally intense in both musical and verbal exchanges. “The band talks about all kinds of things, many of which are unprintable,” Marsalis admits. “But we have serious musical debates as well.” One of these exchanges led to Upward Spiral, the new album from the Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling. The album will be released via OKeh Records on June 10, 2016.

“One topic we got into was picking the best singer to work with our band,” Marsalis recalls. “My candidate was Kurt Elling, because he has the most flexible voice around, is always in tune and is a true jazz musician. When I met Kurt two years ago at a Thelonious Monk Institute competition, we had a conversation at the bar about doing a record together.”

“I had bumped into Branford on the road a handful of times, and we always had significant conversations,” Elling adds.  “So when he mentioned making a record, I said ‘any time!’”  

What has emerged, after an intense week of performance and recording in New Orleans, is a collection that blends Songbook staples, jazz standards, and standards-to-be from a diverse array of composers.

The goal from the outset was to create a true partnership. “I usually reject the word `collaboration,’ Marsalis explains, “because it implies a third thing from that which each collaborator does well. I don’t need a collaborator to do what I normally do, and Kurt doesn’t, either. But this time, none of us were going to do what we normally do.  The goal here, even though he sings lyrics, was to highlight Kurt’s voice as an instrument.”

Elling was more than prepared for the challenge. “I love singing with a hard-hitting band,” he confirms. “I didn’t want Branford’s band to feel that it had to hold back because a singer was there.  To be welcomed into the Quartet’s circle, which is all about new challenges and hard blowing, was very important to me. When I asked Branford what to bring about a week before the date, he said `Don’t worry, you’ve got the thing.’ So I brought `the thing.’

Barbra Streisand Releases "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway" Album

On the heels of her first appearance at The Tonys since 1970, Columbia Records has announced Barbra Streisand's "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway" album will debut on August 26th, 2016, featuring 10 new Streisand duets of Broadway classics with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.   The inspired new musical pairings on "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway" include Alec Baldwin, Antonio Banderas, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Seth MacFarlane, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Pine, Daisy Ridley, Patrick Wilson, and a spectacular virtual duet with Anthony Newley. 

  

The release of "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway" follows the recording artist's nine-city August North American concert tour: THE MUSIC…THE MEM'RIES…THE MAGIC! during which she will perform hits from her ground-breaking career.

The greatest star to ever come out of Broadway, Streisand returns to her roots with "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway." The legendary performer rose to unprecedented fame while starring on Broadway beginning with her stage debut in "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" in 1962 and then as comedienne Fanny Brice in the Broadway production of "Funny Girl" in 1964, earning Tony nominations for both turns. Streisand's very first record album, 1963's "The Barbra Streisand album," which earned Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Female Vocal Performances, featured several Broadway standards. In 1985 Streisand released "The Broadway Album" and in 1993 "Back to Broadway;" both albums went multi-platinum.

With the longest span of number one albums in history - six decades - Streisand has recorded 52 gold, 31 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums in her career.  She is the only woman to make the All-Time Top 10 Best Selling Artists list. With the release of her last album, "Partners," Streisand has had 33 albums make the Top 10 on the US charts.  She is the only female artist to have achieved this milestone, tying her with Frank Sinatra. With ten, Streisand is the female artist with the most number one albums in Billboard's history. 

Widely recognized as an icon in multiple entertainment fields, Streisand has attained unprecedented achievements as a recording artist, actor, concert performer, producer, director, author and songwriter. Streisand has been awarded two Oscars, five Emmys, ten Golden Globes, eight Grammys plus two special Grammys, a special Tony award in 1970, and two CableACE Awards – the only artist to receive honors in all of those fields of endeavor. Streisand received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama this past November. Her many other honors include the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Endowment for the Arts Medal, three Peabody Awards and the French Légion d'Honneur. She is also the first female film director to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.  Streisand is a devoted philanthropist who works tirelessly to fight for what she believes in. A woman of action, Streisand founded The Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai and co-founded the Women's Heart Alliance, helping to raise awareness and push for more research into women's heart disease, the leading cause of death among women.

All artists featured on "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway" have achieved international success. Below are a few highlights from their esteemed careers, along with information on their respective songs on the album:

"At The Ballet."  With Anne Hathaway and Daisy Ridley.  From "A Chorus Line," Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and Pulitzer Prize.  In referring to "At The Ballet," composer Marvin Hamlisch said that "the song set the tone for all the music in the show; once the song was written, the creators understood the shape and color of the piece as a whole."

Anne Hathaway: Actress, singer, Academy Award winner for her role in Les Misérables, winner of Golden Globe Award, Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA Award.

Daisy Ridley: Starred as Rey in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - the highest-grossing film of 2015.  She will continue her role as Rey in STAR WAS: EPISODE VIII, scheduled for release in December 2017.

"Loving You."  With Patrick Wilson.  From Stephen Sondheim's "Passion."  "Passion" opened on Broadway in 1994 and was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Patrick Wilson: Actor and singer who began his career starring in Broadway musicals.  Two-time Tony Award nominee, Golden Globe Award nominee and Emmy Award nominee.  Starred in the major motion picture adaption of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera and the television series "Fargo."

"Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)?"  With Anthony Newley. From "The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd" - a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

Anthony Newley: Legendary actor, singer, and songwriter.  As a recording artist he enjoyed a dozen Top 40 songs on the UK Singles Chart between 1959 and 1962, starred on Broadway in "Stop The World – I Want To Get Off" and "The Roar Of The Greasepaint – The Smell Of The Crowd."  Best Film Score Academy Award nominee for film score for WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.  Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.  Grammy Award winner for Song of the Year for "What Kind Of Fool Am I."

"The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened."  With Alec Baldwin.  From "Road Show."  "Road Show is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman.

Alec Baldwin: Actor, producer, comedian, Broadway star, winner of two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards.  Columnist for Huffington Post, podcast host.

"Any Moment Now."  With Hugh Jackman.  From an unproduced version of "Smile."  Music by Marvin Hamlisch; book and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

Hugh Jackman: Stage and screen star, known for roles ranging from WOLVERINE, Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES , Tony Award winning portrayal of Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz," and host of the Tony Awards and Academy Awards.

"Anything You Can Do." With Melissa McCarthy. From "Annie Get Your Gun." Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by Dorothy Fields and her brother Herbert Fields.  The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West.  The 1946 Broadway production was a hit and the musical had long runs in both New York and London and spawned revivals, a 1950 film version and television versions.

Actress, comedian, writer, fashion designer and producer.  Known for roles on television shows "Gilmore Girls" and "Mike & Molly," host on "Saturday Night Live," and films BRIDESMAIDS – which garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, IDENTITY THIEF, THE HEAT, TAMMY, ST. VINCENT, and the action comedy SPY - for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.  She is set to star in the 2016 re-boot of GHOSTBUSTERS.

"Pure Imagination."  With Seth MacFarlane.  Written for the motion picture WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - a musical version of the beloved Roald Dahl book.  Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Featured in hit West End Stage Musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set to open on Broadway in 2017.

Seth MacFarlane: Actor, filmmaker, singer, and creator of "Family Guy," co-creator of "American Dad!" and "The Cleveland Show," writer-director of TED and TED 2.  Emmy Award winner, Webby Award Winner for Film & Video Person of the Year.  As a singer he has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.  Host of Academy Awards and executive producer of "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey."

"Take Me To The World."  With Antonio Banderas.  From "Evening Primrose."  "Evening Primrose" is a musical with book by James Goldman and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim.  It was originally written for television and is based on a John Collier short story published in 1951.

Antonio Banderas: Actor, director, producer.  He began his acting career in a series of films by director Pedro Almodóvar and starred in films as diverse as PHILADELPHIA, EVITA, THE MASK OF ZORRO, SPY KIDS and SHREK.  Banderas appeared on Broadway to great acclaim in "Nine" – winning the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards and nominated for a Tony Award.

"I'll Be Seeing You"/ "I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face."  With Chris Pine.  From "Right This Way"/ "My Fair Lady."  "Right This Way" opened in 1938.  "I'll Be Seeing You" became the unofficial anthem of WWII, later recorded by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee and dozens more.   "My Fair Lady" is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.  The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a momentous hit, setting a record for the longest run of any major musical theater production in history.

Chris Pine: Known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the most recent STAR TREK reboot series.  Starred in THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2, UNSTOPPABLE, HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 and he played Cinderella's Prince in the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical INTO THE WOODS.

"Climb Ev'ry Mountain."  With Jamie Foxx.  From "The Sound of Music."  "The Sound of Music" is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.  The original Broadway production, starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, opened in 1957 and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.  It was adapted as a 1965 film musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Jamie Foxx: Actor, singer, comedian, Academy Award winner as Best Actor for his role in RAY.  Also winner of BAFTA Award and Golden Globe.  Foxx is also a Grammy winner.  He and Kanye West scored a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Gold Digger."

Additional Streisand tracks available on the Target deluxe edition:

"I Didn't Know What Time It Was."  From "Too Many Girls" which opened on Broadway in 1939 starring Desi Arnaz.  The film version starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and they credited the production for bringing them together as a couple.

"Not A Day Goes By."  From Tony nominated "Merrily We Roll Along."  Book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim

"Fifty Percent."  From "Ballroom."  "Ballroom" is a Tony nominated musical with book by Jerome Kass and music by Billy Goldenberg and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Based on the 1975 Emmy Award-winning television drama "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom."

"Losing My Mind."   From "Follies."  "Follies" is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman.  The Broadway production opened on April 4, 1971, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, and with choreography by Bennett. The musical was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won seven.