NEW MUSIC: MARTHA HIGH – SINGING FOR THE GOOD TIMES; FULL BLAST (PETER BROTZMANN) - RISC; QUANTIC PRESENTS FLOWERING INFERNO – 1000 WATTS

MARTHA HIGH – SINGING FOR THE GOOD TIMES

A great return chapter for Martha High – a singer who began her career working with James Brown, cut some disco for Salsoul Records in the 70s, and who's re-emerged in recent years as a stunning vocalist in a deep funk mode! This album's got High working with an excellent Italian combo – one who wrote all new tunes for the record, and came up with music that's maybe some of the most perfect that Martha's ever worked with – beautiful songs that unlock some soulful sides of her style that she maybe didn't even hit back in the day! The record's not one of those "old divas back for a minute" sets – and instead completely reinvigorate's High's career, and maybe even starts her anew down a path she should have taken so many years before. Hats off to producer and songwrtiter Luca Sapio for getting things so right – on titles that include "Always Worth The Pain", "Fire Shut Up In My Bones", "The Hardest Working Woman In Town", "You Baby", "I'm A Woman", and "The Hard Way". ~ Dusty Groove

FULL BLAST (PETER BROTZMANN) - RISC

Pretty blistering sounds from Peter Brotzmann's Risc trio – a group that really recalls some of the mindblowing intensity he brought to the free jazz scene in his youth! The lineup features electric bass from Marino Pliakas, which really creates a lot of power at the bottom – a rumbling quality that shakes the rafters in ways that an acoustic bass couldn't achieve – matched by frenzied drum work from Michael Wertmuller, who mostly plays in skittish space all over the kit – then matched by some very freewheeling work from Brotzmann on a range of reeds. The electric bass really gives the set a different feel than other improv trio dates – but also in a way that's never "electric" in conventional modes – and titles include "Try Kraka", "Cafe Ingrid", "TTD", "Garnison Lane", "Doss House", and "Schwarspanier Street". ~ Dusty Groove

QUANTIC PRESENTS FLOWERING INFERNO – 1000 WATTS

A dubbier set than even before from Quantic and his Flowering Inferno project – a record that's still quite heavy on the range of Caribbean elements he blended with funk on the previous two albums, but one that also seems to draw a bit more strongly from the sound of Kingston overall! The bottom end of the record is nicely pushed forward to the top – with speaker-rattling basslines and rhythms, peppered with moody trumpet and tenor lines, and sewn together with these beautifully bubbling Hammond lines from Roger Rivas – which are maybe the strongest element in the set, and which definitely give the whole thing its most classic quality. Quantic plays guitar throughout – and most cuts are instrumental, but the album does feature some guest vocals from U-Roy, Alice Russell, Christopher Ellis, and Nidia Gongora. Titles include "Spring Tank Fire", "El Disorden", "1000 Watts", "A Life Worth Living", "Homeward Bound", "Ikey's Vibe", "Shuffle Them Shoes", "Striding On Grand Street", "Macondo", "Night Shade", and "All I Do Is Think About You". ~ Dusty Groove

Icelandic keyboardist JACK MAGNET teams up with two-time Grammy® winner Paul Brown for a soul-jazz album GLOBAL WARMING

Veteran Icelandic keyboardist reunites with longtime friend, two-time Grammy® winner Paul Brown, for a soul-jazz album with a purpose: spreading harmony, love and understanding.   

There is nothing in the ten new songs that make up Jack Magnet’s Woodward Avenue Records’ debut, “Global Warming,” released Friday, that will inflame naysayers who deny climate change or its impact on the environment. It’s not that kind of album. Iceland’s popular musical export is on an entirely different mission: to reset minds using instrumental tunes to bring back love, peace and understanding to the world. Reteaming with his collaborator and friend of more than four decades, two-time Grammy®-winning producer Paul Brown, the keyboardist also known as Jakob Magnusson reenters the U.S. marketplace with the first radio single, “Still Boppin’ Along,” a jazz-funk strut.

“’Global Warming’ is all about spreading the positive, showing empathy and warming up to one another, regardless of place of origin, faith, color of skin or political views. This album is not about climate changes and environmental threats. It is about old and new friends coming together to ignite warm human emotions, seeking to counterbalance all the negativity, the conflicts and threats we´re witnessing in so many places around the globe,” Magnet explained.

Magnet’s message of harmony is ingrained in the DNA of the nine new compositions he wrote with Brown after the two reconnected at a 2012 jazz festival held in the world’s northernmost capital of Reykjavik where the famed Fender Rhodes keyboardist is based. The pair has roots dating back over forty years when as teenagers, Magnet - then Magnusson - moved into the Brown family home in the suburbs of Los Angeles. “Still Boppin’ Along,” which gets a boost from contemporary jazz hornmen Rick Braun and Elan Trotman on trumpet and saxophone, was originally penned decades ago during the duo’s pre-fame days yet it is thematically suited to the tone of “Global Warming.” Brown, who plays guitar throughout the session, lends an American vibe to Magnet’s Euro-leaning pop-jazz-blues-rock predilections. Magnet and Brown’s “Global Warming” set list is heavily influenced by music from the Mojo Triangle – New Orleans, Nashville and Memphis.

As Magnet describes it, “The music is inspired by the early European composers who developed the harmony and styles that later became the foundation of the musical language developed around New Orleans at the turn of the 20th Century when jazz was born. From Vivaldi, Chopin and Mendelson to Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Joseph Zawinul.”

Magnet’s impassioned and lyrical keyboards emote vibrant and joyous melodies, paint poetic and ethereal reflections, and stir emotions with storming sermons. Brown’s sister, Kathy Brown-Babylon, gets in on the act with vocal embellishments on “From The Other Side,” an aptly-titled song that she wrote with her late husband, Elton John’s longtime bassist Guy Babylon. Paul Brown was a bandmate of Magnet’s in a British blues-rock group long ago fronted by Long John Baldry for which Magnet served as a replacement for the original keyboardist, Reg Dwight, who became Elton John. Also performing on the cut is the late drummer Ricky Lawson.                   

Magnet has cultivated a diverse recording catalogue that boasts jazz notables Stanley Clarke, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Scott and Richard Elliot as well as pop superstars Elton John and Phil Collins. A colorful and charismatic multimedia talent in his native Iceland, he starred in and produced the country’s biggest film in box office history, “Með allt á hreinu (On Top),” and currently serves as a celebrity judge on television’s “Iceland’s Got Talent.” 

 “Global Warming” contains the following songs

 “Still Boppin’ Along”

 “Funk It Up”

 “Florence”

 “A Simple Love”

 “Strut Yo Stuff”

 "From The Other Side”

 “Paris”

 “Compared To Who?”

 “Bourbon Street Boogie”

 “JoJo”

NEW MUSIC: THE MELLOW MOODS – TELL LOVE HELLO; PIERRE FAVRE - DRUMSIGHTS; URAL THOMAS & THE PAIN

THE MELLOW MOODS – TELL LOVE HELLO

A trio of lovely ladies from the Philly scene of the 70s – heard here in a surprisingly great contemporary recording! The Mellow Moods grew up in the same generation as bigger Philly female trios like First Choice or Three Degrees – and although they never hit the heights of those groups, they had a wonderful harmony sound that was every bit as great as some of the stellar male groups that were making mellow soul magic in the underground! All these many years later, a reformed version of the group works here with Butch Ingram and the Ingram Family – who provide the perfect sort of Philly backings for their vocals – contemporary, but handled with lots of classic touches that really fit the choice of material. The whole thing feels more like a set of female harmony soul from the late 70s, instead of something from this century – and titles include "Stop Taking My Love For Granted", "Tell Love Hello", "Right On The Tip Of My Tongue", "Tell Him That I Love Him", "Hello Stranger", and "Selfish One". ~ Dusty Groove

PIERRE FAVRE - DRUMSIGHTS

Percussionist Pierre Favre is at his most tuneful here – working in that mode that's still freely creative, but which also makes him one of the more melodic players on the European avant scene – a distinction that's made us really look out for his records over the years! Favre's working here with his DrumSights quartet – a group with Chris Jaeger, Markus Lauterburg, and Valeria Zangger – who work with with Pierre on a range of drums in a really wonderful way! Unlike similar sessions like this – which could be very bombastic – there's a sense of balance, timing, and tune that make the whole thing really beautiful – as the other players seem to have picked up on Favre's careful touch with his sticks and brushes. Titles include "Dance Of The Feline", "Sycamore", "Along", "Pow Wow", "Again", "Brushes Flock", and "Games". ~ Dusty Groove

URAL THOMAS & THE PAIN

The wonderful return of Ural Thomas – an older soul singer who gave us a few great singles back in the day – but who's now back in tip-top form, as if the passage of years hasn't made a difference at all! Thomas is working here with a younger band of musicians, but the set's hardly got the feel of one of those "old singers with young cats" records – as the production and presentation is very unified – with instrumentation that really gets at the right spirit for Ural's vocals, instead of adding them on as an extra level – and nicely gritty recording of the music, which makes the whole thing feel just like the older singles. Thomas gives us a lot more than before – a bit of funk, some deep soul, even a few bluesy currents – and the double-length set features titles that include "Can't Make It Without You", "Now You Love Me", "Poor Side Of Town", "Smile", "Here Comes The Hurt", "Fade Away", "A Whole New Thing", "Pain Is The Name Of Your Game", and "When I Get This Feeling". (Limited edition of 950 available copies with old school "tip on" cover and booklet!)  ~ Dusty Groove

NEW MUSIC: THIS TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT: THE SWEET SOUL OF PHILADELPHIA 1968-1982; DONNIE TATEM - AIN'T NO LOVE; THIS LOVE IS FOR REAL: THE SWEET SOUL OF CHICAGO 1968-1981

THIS TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT: THE SWEET SOUL OF PHILADELPHIA 1968-1982

A beautiful document of the Philadelphia soul underground – pulled from a time when the city had so much great music going on, there was a huge amount of excellent music that never got the exposure it deserved! The focus here is mostly on Philly groups – from a period when the harmony styles had matured even past the excellent sound of the city in the 60s – warm, complex, yet completely down to earth, too – mostly male vocals, delivered at a level that's completely sublime! Much of this work is material that was "standing in the shadows of Philadelphia International" – the 70s powerhouse of soul that was Philly's answer to Motown – and which, like Motown, shared links with the much deeper underground of both Pennsylvania and New Jersey soul. Most tracks are mellow harmony soul cuts of the highest caliber – and titles include "Take Your Time" by The Festivals, "We Belong Together" by Paradise, "I Need Somebody To Love" by Phyllis Smith, "Let's Love" by The Invitations, "She Calls Me Baby" by J Kelly & The Premiers, "This Time Will Be Different" by The Blue Notes, "The Echo" by The Epsilons, "When You're Gone Away" by The Elegants, "Tell Love Hello" by The Mellow Moods, "Thinking About My Baby" by The Geminiles, "It's OK With Me" by Broadway Express, and "Betcha Didn't Know" by Choice Of Colors. ~ Dusty Groove

DONNIE TATEM - AIN'T NO LOVE

A contemporary singer with roots in gospel – but one who works here with some great mellow soul backings from The Ingram Family – at a level that maybe makes the set one of the best to come from their recent run of projects on the Society Hill label Donnie's voice goes nice and deep – at a level that really takes us back to quiet storm singers of years back – and the Ingram backings are more mellow 80s than any sort of 21st Century vibe – perfectly suited to Tatum's sound and spirit. Titles include "Tonight I Give In", "Ain't No Love", "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon", "It's A Shame", "Night & Day Dream", "Once In A While", and "Say You Love Me". ~ Dusty Groove

THIS LOVE IS FOR REAL: THE SWEET SOUL OF CHICAGO 1968-1981

Stunning group soul from the Chicago scene – an amazing collection that has an especially strong focus on the city's brilliant work in the early 70s! Most of the material here is post-Impressions, but has a similar warm harmony glow that's completely sublime – that next level of harmony that some of the best groups were using as the decade got started – in ways that really blow away earlier doo wop and 60s soul with their complexity! The set list is exceptionally well-chosen – and the package has some of our favorite soul singles from our hometown – a lineup that includes "Sweet Fools" by Essence, "I'm Not Gonna Be Anybody's Fool" by Harlem Meat Company, "Wait A Minute" by Lost Generation, "Second Story Man" by Chocolate Sunday, "Share My Love With You" by Magnum Force, "I Need Your Love" by The Vegas, "Gotta Let You Go" by The Ledgends, "I Made Up My Mind" by The Cheers, "Just For You" by Windy City, "This Love Is Real" by The Lovelites, "This Love For Real" by Hands Of Time, "Warm Summer Nights" by The Stimulators, and "Gotta Get Away" by Billy & The Bloodknots.  ~ Dusty Groove

Featured This Week On The Jazz Network Worldwide: : The Wenso Ashby Project "Soulfully Yours"

Wenso Ashby, a talented songwriter, producer, and keyboardist is known for his rhythmic inventiveness and collective improvisation. Wenso established himself behind the scenes in Washington, D.C. doing production in the late 1990's. He worked as a hip hop producer and session keyboardist at Oyaban Record's studios in Maryland and Virginia’s nationally recognized Cue Studio. Ashby was content in the background until artist’s manager Amanda Fielding prodded him to cross genres and start showcasing his playing and songwriting talents in smooth jazz.

In 2002, Wenso recorded the well-received album Midnite Walkin’, then relocated to Minneapolis to promote the silken sound he dubbed “Contemporary Jazz with Soul”.

Wenso Ashby has delighted audiences from coast to coast performing his style of music that embraces hard hitting groove based rhythms with timeless melodies and soulful vocals. It was this style that caught the attention of twin cities based Huber Entertainment that ultimately led to a distribution deal in 2008.

With his 2011 release, “The Moment of Truth”, Wenso decided to once again be an independent artist. In his own words he is “Blessed” to share his gift with the world. Being an independent artist allows creative freedom to record and perform. He loves performing live on stages from small intimate 100 seat venues to large festivals. He has open up for national recording artists like Saxophonist Kim Waters, Bassist Gerald Veasley, and Songwriter/Singer Kenny Lattimore, Jason "Malletman" Taylor, and Idol winner Ruben Studdard, and Paris Bennett. He has appeared on network TV and his music can be heard both nationally and internationally.

Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network 

Damian Draghici’s 'The American Dream" features Chris Botti, Arturo Sandoval, Michel Camilo, Eddie Daniels, Luciana Souza, Stanley Clarke, Brian Bromberg, Frank Gambale & others

A year before he escaped communism in his native Romania by walking through the mountains of Yugoslavia and into Greece, the seed of Damian Draghici’s dream was planted when he was just a 17-year-old teenager who snuck into a Bucharest nightclub to watch a set by an American jazz combo. Nearly 30 years later, his vision will finally come to fruition on July 8 when Century Jazz Records issues “The American Dream,” a 13-song disc of standards produced by Dan Siegel and Tom McCauley that showcases the pan flutist collaborating with nearly two dozen jazz, Brazilian and Latin music greats, Grammy winners, icons and top-shelf musicians. Preceding the album at jazz radio is the sultry bossa nova “Ceora,” an exquisite duet with trumpeter Chris Botti.

As trumpeter Randy Brecker soloed in the crowed club that 1987 evening, what sparked Draghici’s imagination was recording a jazz album that would feature the tones, textures and the unique voice produced on the hollow-tubed bamboo instrument, the pan flute. “The American Dream” also pays homage to the jazz giants that influenced Draghici’s artistic expression.    

"’The American Dream’ has been a dream of mine for a while now,” Draghici recalls. “Here’s how the story started almost 30 years ago. When I was 17 years-old during the communist times in Bucharest, Romania, I saw and heard for the first time real American jazz musicians playing live. That was the moment I fell in love with jazz and I knew that I had to go to America to learn jazz - to play and improvise bebop on my instrument - to become the Bebop Pan-piper.” 

Twenty years ago, Draghici first arrived in America to attend the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship, which is where he linked up and began working with a bevy of premier jazz musicians, including drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl, who keep time on “The American Dream.” The respect Draghici garners from his musician peers helped him attract an impressive list of guest soloists who perform on the collection, including Botti, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, Grammy-winning pianist Michel Camilo, Grammy-winning vocalist Luciana Souza and Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale along with a stellar ensemble of internationally-renown players such as Siegel, Stanley Clarke, Brian Bromberg, Russell Ferrante (Yellowjackets), Tom Kennedy, Alan Broadbent, Charlie Bisharat, Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, Paulinho Da Costa, Oscar Castro Neves, Mitchel Forman, Otmaro Ruiz, Ramon Stagnaro and Jorge Calandrelli. With so much talent gathered around Draghici’s improvisational pan flute forays and flourishes, the musicianship throughout the session is masterful while Siegel and McCauley’s acoustic jazz production is warm and organic. 

The set list Draghici & Company chose to reimagine consists of selections from Charlie Parker (album opener “Donna Lee”), Lee Morgan (“Ceora”), John Coltrane (“Giant Steps”), Chick Corea (“Spain”), Antonio Carlos Jobim (“Modhina” and “One Note Samba”); Michel Legrand, Marilyn & Alan Bergman and Jacques Denny (“You Must Believe In Spring”); Keith Jarrett (“My Song”), Pat Metheny (“See The World”), Bill Evans (“Waltz For Debbie”) Castro Neves (“More Than Yesterday”) and Cesar Camargo Mariano (“Curumin”) as well as Camilo’s “From Within.” Inventive arrangements chisel space in the elaborately-constructed cuts for the pan flute harmonics, genteel vocalizations and stirring melodies knitted from piano, guitar, horns and strings to effortlessly waft beauty and splendor on quieter numbers. More aggressive tracks are granted the expanse to expound dexterously on playgrounds of layered percussion and sinewy basslines. 

Recognized as an award-winning prodigy when he was a teenager in Romania before seeking refuge in Greece, Draghici landed a record deal after busking on the streets of Athens, garnering acclaim in Europe. He’s toured with an array of signature artists that spans James Brown, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Shaggy and Gypsy Kings. In 2006, he formed Damian & Brothers with “his gypsy brothers,” adopting the purpose of changing the perception of gypsy music globally. They toured extensively throughout Europe performing over 600 concerts in three years. Draghici now splits his time living in the valley near Los Angeles and abroad. For more information, please visit www.DamianDraghici.com.        

   

Draghici’s “The American Dream” contains the following songs:

“Donna Lee” with Arturo Sandoval

“Ceora” with Chris Botti

“Giant Steps” with Eddie Daniels

“From Within” with Michel Camilo

“Spain”

“Modhina” with Luciana Souza

“You Must Believe In Spring”

“My Song”

“More Than Yesterday”

“See The World”

“Curumin” with Frank Gambale

“Waltz For Debbie”

“One Note Samba”

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...