NEW RELEASES: MELBA MOORE – STANDING RIGHT HERE: THE ANTHOLOGY - THE BUDDAH & EPIC YEARS; HERBIE HANCOCK – THRUST / MAN-CHILD / SECRETS; HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS – LATE NIGHTS & HEARTBREAK

MELBA MOORE – STANDING RIGHT HERE: THE ANTHOLOGY - THE BUDDAH & EPIC YEARS

A huge run of greatness from singer Melba Moore – an artist who maybe hit her heights on the late 70s Buddah and Epic Records material featured here! Moore already had a fantastically well-developed voice by the time of these recordings – thanks to time on the stage in a number of key productions, including Hair and Purlie – but the late 70s also shows her really finding the right sort of focus for her unusual talents – maybe pulling back a bit at the right moments, and folding her strength into the overall groove of a tune – spearheaded here with excellent work from producers who include McFadden & Whitehead, Eugene McDaniels, and Van McCoy! CD1 features 17 tracks from her time at Budddah Records, CD2 features 14 more cuts recorded for Epic – and the collection also features some rare b-sides and other material from singles. Titles include "My Sensitive Passionate Man", "Standing Right Here", "I Am His Lady", "This Is It (12" mix)", "Stay Awhile", "So Many Mountains", "Good Love Makes Everything Alright (12" mix)", "You Stepped Into My Life", "Night People (12" mix)", "Next To You", "Rest Inside My Love", "You Stepped Into My Life (special disco mix)", "There's No Other Like You", "Just Another Link", "Night People (12" mix)", and "Burn (UK rmx)". ~ Dusty Groove

HERBIE HANCOCK – THRUST / MAN-CHILD / SECRETS

A trio of heavy-hitting albums from Herbie Hancock – served up together in one collection, with bonus tracks too! First up is Thrust – killer electric work from Herbie Hancock – right on par with his groundbreaking Headhunters set, but a bit spacier too! The album features a Headhunters-solid lineup – with Bennie Maupin on saxes, Paul Jackson on bass, Mike Clark on drums, and Bill Summers on percussion – all grooving wonderfully with Herbie on a set of super-long tracks! Hancock himself handles a host of incredible keyboards – Fender Rhodes, clavinet, Arp, and lots more – all in a lean electric style that still sounds as fresh today as it did way back in the mid 70s – perhaps even more so, given the return to this sort of basic groove that has happened in recent years! Tracks are long, tight, and super funky – and titles include "Actual Proof", "Palm Grease", "Spank-A-Lee", and "Butterfly".

Next is the album Man-Child – funky mid 70s Herbie Hancock – one his funkiest albums of the era! Herbie plays a host of cool keyboards – like Fender Rhodes, Arp, and clavinet – and he's joined by a group that includes just about all of the Headhunters – including Paul Jackson on bass and Mike Clarke on drums – plus help from a great array of other excellent guests – including Bennie Maupin and Wayne Shorter on reeds, Harvey Mason on drums, and even some guest keyboards from Stevie Wonder! The album's great – maybe a bit understated than Thrust, but still equally wonderful – and the whole thing's worth it alone for the classic uptempo cut "Hang Up Your Hang Ups" – alongside other cuts that include "Bubbles", "Heartbeat", and "Sun Touch".

Last up is Secrets – soulful 70s work from Herbie Hancock – a record that tightens things up from the Headhunters and Sextant sessions, but which still retains a lot of their depth and charm! Players here including some previous partners – like Bennie Maupin on reeds and Paul Jackson on bass – plus the mighty Wah Wah Watson on guitars, James Levi on drums, Kenneth Nash on percussion, and Ray Parker on additional guitar. Tracks are tightly electric fusion, but still have some of the sharper tones of Herbie's electric work – weird moogy moments mixed into more straight ahead funk – all with a sound that's not unlike some of Ramsey Lewis' best Columbia work of the period. Herbie plays Fender Rhodes, Arp, clavinet, mini-moog, and more – and titles include "Doin' It", "Spider", "Swamp Rat", "People Music", and a remake of "Cantelope Island" that's pretty darn tasty! 2CD set features 8 bonus tracks – all the single mixes of the 45s from all three albums!  ~ Dusty Groove

HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS – LATE NIGHTS & HEARTBREAK

It's hard to imagine Hannah Williams having any heartbreak with a voice this great – the kind of all-out soul style that grabs you right away with its power, and never lets you go! The set's the second from Hannah and her group, and it's got even more bite than the first – produced with a great ear for the grittier currents in the grooves, thanks to studio work by Malcolm Catto – who seems to pick up the drums and darkness, which allows Williams to really shine her light over the top of the proceedings! The Affirmations are a funky combo, but one who really know how to mix up their groove, too – and titles include "7am To Seville", "Still In My Head", "Tame In The Water", "Dazed & Confused", "Ain't Enough", "Woman Got Soul", "Fighting Your Shadow", and "Callin Me Back".~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: ENNIO MORRICONE - MORRICONE 60; BILL LAURANCE - LIVE AT UNION CHAPEL; ARTASKA - COFFEE

ENNIO MORRICONE - MORRICONE 60

We're not sure why Ennio Morricone is making the "shush" sound at us on the cover – as the set's such a wonderful celebration of his music, it makes us want to cheer! The performance here is all new – and features Morricone conducting the Czech National Symphony in a selection of tunes from his classic film scores – in a celebration of his 60 years of giving the planet some of the most beautiful music ever written! The orchestrations are great, and really live up to the spirit of the songs – and there's a recording quality here that's different than some of the other live Morricone albums, which can sometimes flatten the music, and not have that sense of separation and isolation that make the maestro's compositions so great. Titles include "Chi Mai", "Bestiality", "La Califfa", "Death Theme", "Deborah's Theme", "Metti Una A Sera A Cena", "Croce D'Amore", "The Fortress", and "The Man With The Harmonica". ~ Dusty Groove

BILL LAURENCE - LIVE AT UNION CHAPEL

You might know Bill Laurance as the keyboardist with Snarky Puppy – but here, he's something else entirely – a hell of a jazz musician with a mighty rich vision – one that's got just the right sort of heavenly vibe to be recorded in a church! There's nothing churchy about the music – just a great spirit in Bill's vision – as his piano lines pour out effortlessly – cascading in sound, and rising in the company of a sweet little string quartet, which is then driven onward with both drums and percussion! The mix of instrumentation is quite unique – and has a sound that's jazz at the core, but also reaching for other elements too – maybe a bit like some of the young Japanese piano trios of recent years, but also with a wider vision in the use of tone and timing. Titles include "The Rush", "Gold Coast", "Swift", "The Real One", "December In New York", "Good Things", "Never-Ending City", and "Ready Wednesday".  © 1996-2016, Dusty Groove, Inc.

ARTASKA - COFFEE

Soul- Jazz music is given new meaning when it comes to Artaska. She is known for her powerful, yet soulful voice and violin playing. It is impossible to not want to dance and feel good when hearing her grooves. Classically trained since the tender age of 4 years old, Artaska mastered the crafts of violin and singing through the involvement with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and many other orchestras and ensembles infusing her influences in every note. The prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.

NEW RELEASES: MR BONGO RECORD CLUB VOLUME 1; WANDA SA - CA ENTRE NOS; SENDY BROWN - SECRETS OF THE SOUL

MR BONGO RECORD CLUB VOLUME 1 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

2016 release, the first installment in the Mr. Bongo Record Club compilation series - a selection of favorites, recent discoveries and sought after obscurities, which form the basis of our DJ sets and our radio show of the same name. Including cuts by Claudia, Cortex, Dave Pike Set, Fruko, Neno Exporta Som, Connie Laverne, Barbosa and more. The original concept for Mr. Bongo Record Club was a radio show that allowed us to air our treasured record collections, recorded and broadcast once a month. We wanted to create an outlet free from any genre or BPM restrictions, not constrained by the need to beat-mix every record, a space where we could play latest finds alongside favorites. The only self-imposed rule being that it had to be played from vinyl. We have always DJ'd across-the-board, but playing in an eclectic way hasn't always been easy. Recently DJ's such as MCDE, Floating Points, Nick The Record, Leon Vynehall, Four Tet, Jeremy Underground, Antal (Rush Hour), Sassy J and Young Marco - to name a few - have opened things up with very diverse sets to younger audiences; Brazilian samba-rock, next to modern soul, highlife, disco, boogie, jazz, house, techno and beyond. We're seeing a rare groove like sensibility. A shift towards the attitude of legendary club nights hosted by the likes of Mr Scruff and Gilles Peterson, where you could hear house, hip hop, Turkish funk, boogie, jazz, dub and Latin back to back. At the same time it isn't a nostalgic or retro movement, people have a progressive attitude and a thirst for new-old music. It is a vibrant and exciting time - we are proud to be a part of it.

WANDA SA - CA ENTRE NOS

Beautiful work from Wanda Sa – the Brazilian singer who first rose to prominence during the bossa years of the 60s, but who only seems to have gotten better with age! This set is a true testament to all the growth Wanda has experienced over the years – music that has a depth and subtle power she never had in her youth – and which also is a nice change from some of Sa's more bossa-oriented sets of the past decades! There's definitely some bossa nova in the presentation, but the conception is much richer, and the performance much more deeply personal – less concerned with an overall style or sound, and very focused on Wanda's individual performances of the songs. The set features guest contributions from Ivan Lins, Roberto Menescal, Ricardo Silveira, and others – but Wanda's clearly the star of the show here, on titles that include "Fora De Hora", "Fotografia", "Cala Meu Amor", "Entardecendo", "The Nearness Of You", "Uma Simples Cancao", and "Samba Pequeno".  ~ Dusty Groove

SENDY BROWN - SECRETS OF THE SOUL

Spellbound is how audiences frequently find themselves at some point during a Sendy Brown performance. Sendy doesn’t just sing; she creates. Carefully remaining true to the lyric, she moves souls with her passionate interpretations. Sendy is serious about her craft and her debut CD, "Secrets of the Soul," showcases her exceptional talent and her commitment to the art. "Secrets of the Soul" is a fulfillment long-awaited. As a child, Sendy’s voice touched the hearts of the congregation at her father’s church in Jersey City, NJ. At age 11, she was the featured soloist at a standing-room-only church concert. She continued singing the songs of Mahalia Jackson at area churches until she discovered her first Jazz album – a Billie Holiday recording. That led her to Howard University’s School of Fine Arts in Washington, DC, where she became a protégé of Grady Tate. It was at Howard, during a master’s class, that she impressed the legendary vocalist, Betty Carter. When her question to Ms. Carter on the creative process spontaneously became a song, the audience exploded in applause. Ms. Carter answered in song, "You just did it! You just did it!" and complimented Sendy on her voice. "Secrets of the Soul" is the culmination of her work. It is a strong statement and an exceptional display. A work of art from beginning to end, it takes the listener on a sonic journey through a range of emotions. With updated renditions of Jazz classics like "‘Round Midnight," "Skylark" and "When I Fall in Love," this recording will please a range of listeners. Jazz enthusiasts will love the scope of the CD (featuring ballads, Blues, and swinging, up-tempo tunes) as well as the range of her voice, her distinctive lyrical style, her phrasing, and her respect for the tradition. Fans of good music will love the refreshing arrangements and unique approaches to these classics.

NEW RELEASES: LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS – SPECIAL NIGHT; CHARLIE HADEN & LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA – TIME/LIFE; REINER WITZEL & DATFUNK – STEPPIN’ UP

LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS – SPECIAL NIGHT

A really fantastic album from the legendary Lee Fields – a set that blows us away every bit as much as his stellar My World album! Like that set, this one's got kind of a moody early 70s vibe – almost a New Jersey soul approach at times, but tinged with more southern modes – mixed with bits of Lee's more familiar funk at others – but often with this moody, almost mellow vibe that's such a fresh take on the territory that Fields has been exploring for years! Lee's lost none of the deep soul elements in his vocals, but there's a shift in arranging styles that's really great – and superbly delivered by the Expressions – a subtle darkness that shows why Fields is really one of the true greats out there in the contemporary funk underground – a true soul singer who's never content to just rest on the laurels of previous success. Titles include "Let Him In", "Lover Man", "Make This World", "How I Like It", "Special Night", "I'm Coming Home", and "Where Is The Love". ~ Dusty Groove

CHARLIE HADEN & LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA – TIME/LIFE

The last Liberation Music Orchestra effort from the great Charlie Haden – offered up here in a set that brings together two live performances from a time when he was still on the planet, plus three more songs by the group on their own – working under the guidance of longtime musical partner Carla Bley! The set begins with a beautiful reworking of Miles Davis' "Blue In Green" – redone here by Haden and the group as a masterpiece of color and tone – and the record closes with a version of Haden's "Song For The Whales", both recorded with Charlie and the group in 2011. In between are three more new performances, post-Haden – the beautiful titles "Time Life/Silent Spring", and "Utviklingssang" – all of which really live up to that long legacy of amazing colors and tones that the group did so well. The two different slices of music come together beautifully, and make for a surprisingly unified set in the end. ~ Dusty Groove

REINER WITZEL & DATFUNK – STEPPIN’ UP

A great mix of jazzy, soulful and funky grooves from Germany! Reiner Witzel plays sax and flute with Datfunk, a solid group who seamlessly blends the above mentioned styles into a unique sound that's some both relaxed and exciting – never too smoothed out, but rarely venturing into raw funk, either. Nice stuff on the always reliable Unique label! The tracklist has a few great Witzel originals, which fit perfectly with distinctive takes on diverse tunes by Jackie Mittoo, Nat Adderley, Kenny Barron and others. Titles "Get Up And Get It", "Awakening", "Circus Of Deseaster", "Athens After Midnight" , "Lato", "Hummin'", "Hot Tamale", "Sunshower" and "Athens After Midnight Part 2". ~ Dusty Groove

Jazz Vocalist KENDRA SHANK and Pianist GEOFFREY KEEZER team up for "HALF MOON"

Kendra Shank and Geoffrey Keezer's musical association began in 2008 at the Athenaeum jazz series in San Diego, CA when a cancelled flight prevented Shank's New York pianist from making the gig. With just 30 minutes to rehearse, Keezer stepped in with a seamless performance and instant chemistry with Shank that inspired a standing ovation. Kendra called on Geoffrey's trio for subsequent West Coast tours and their musical connection deepened.

In January 2015, while Geoffrey was in Manhattan on an engagement with Chris Botti, he and Kendra performed an afternoon concert at a friend's home. The intimate duo setting provided the pianist and vocalist unlimited freedom to create spontaneously in the moment, taking the enthusiastic audience on a magical journey that was captured on this Ride Symbol recording.

The title song "Half Moon," inspired by a lamp hanging over the piano, was completely improvised and reveals Shank at her most vulnerable. Keezer's 88-key orchestra of harmonic and rhythmic virtuosity and Shank's exotic wordless vocalizations are highlighted in Cedar Walton's "Life's Mosaic," while the duo's lyricism shines in this first-ever recording of Jeremy Siskind's "Kneel" (winner of ASCAP's Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award). The chart for "When Love Was You and Me" (Abbey Lincoln/Thad Jones) was given to Kendra in 1994 by her mentor Abbey Lincoln when Kendra visited her Upper West Side apartment -- coincidentally in the same building where this concert took place.

Throughout this diverse and inspired set, Shank and Keezer embody the playful inventiveness of making music as interactive partners, transcending the singer-accompanist mold. "Each time we collaborate brings joyful exploration and new musical discoveries," says Keezer in the liner notes. The album's executive producer, Donald Elfman, writes: "What a pleasure it is to hear jazz musicians who fully savor every moment: sharing their experience of creating, listening and playing off each other, and still improvising in individual voices."

GEOFFREY KEEZER  With his highly regarded discography, unique compositions, and acclaimed performances in a variety of configurations, Grammy-nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer commands the attention typically reserved for the living legends of jazz. Whether recording with jazz vocalists Diana Krall or Dianne Reeves, touring with trumpet king Chris Botti, or collaborating with pop icon Sting, sax legend Wayne Shorter, guitar wizard Jim Hall, star bassist Christian McBride or vibes master Joe Locke, Geoffrey "has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole" (Time magazine). His recent release, Heart of the Piano (2013, Motema Records), redefines solo jazz piano as a personal and interactive showcase of melody, energy and groove. Geoffrey Keezer's singular style of intellectually abstract lyricism woven over exotically complex rhythms and harmonies makes him one of the most sought-after artists on the modern jazz scene.  geoffreykeezer.com

KENDRA SHANK  Since her 1992 debut at the Village Vanguard with Shirley Horn, Kendra Shank has become a mainstay on New York's jazz scene, has toured in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Canada and the U.S., and has appeared on NPR's JazzSet and Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Her seven critically acclaimed CDs have garnered numerous “Best of the Year” citations and DownBeat poll recognition, with accolades for her "delectable voice" (Time magazine) and "breathtakingly original concept" (Boston Globe). In addition to leading her NY quartet of 16 years with Frank Kimbrough, Dean Johnson, and Tony Moreno, Shank co-leads a duo with guitarist John Stowell and has performed and/or recorded with Abbey Lincoln, Fred Hersch, Larry Willis, Joe Locke, Jay Clayton, Bob Dorough, Gary Bartz, Steve Wilson, Victor Lewis, Matt Wilson, Ben Monder and many more. Kendra Shank mixes modern jazz, standards, world music, folk/pop, and open improvisation, all unified by her soulful storytelling, inventive phrasing, and spontaneous group interplay.  kendrashank.com

1.  Alone Together  6:48 (Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz)

2.  The Music is the Magic  7:33 (Abbey Lincoln)

3.  Kneel  8:38 (Jeremy Siskind)

4.  Song of Life  4:58 (Norma Winstone / Fred Hersch)

5.  Half Moon  4:44 (words: K. Shank / music: G. Keezer, K. Shank)

6.  Life's Mosaic  7:31 (John & Paula Hackett / Cedar Walton)

7.  When Love Was You and Me  5:02 (Abbey Lincoln / Thad Jones)

8.  I'm Movin' On  4:52 (Judy Niemack / Kirk Nurock)

9.  Healing Song  4:33 (words: K. Shank / music: K. Shank, G. Keezer)

10.  You Are There  5:58 (Dave Frishberg / Johnny Mandel)
11.  A Weaver Of Dreams  6:08 (Jack Elliott / Victor Young)

Portraits in Jazz ( A Tribute to Wes Montgomery) from Ed Bicket, Sonny Greenwich and more

Ever since his emergence in 1959,​ ​Wes Montgomery​ has been a major influence on other jazz guitarists. Wes was greatly touched by​ ​Charlie Christian's​ single­note bop lines, although by mastering octaves and developing a slightly different sound, he was able to stand out a bit from the influence. On this consistently swinging set, six different Canadian guitarists pay homage to Montgomery​ by performing two songs apiece with a trio; there are eight standards plus four originals in​ ​Montgomery's​ style. All of the guitarists (​Peter Leitch,​ ​ ​Reg Schwager,​ ​ ​Ed Bickert​, Rob Piltch​,​ ​Ted Quinlan​ and​ ​Sonny Greenwich)​ were influenced by​ ​Wes's​ sound, although Greenwich​ has long had his own slightly different style. The trios, except in the case of​ ​Piltch (who utilizes organist​ ​Doug Riley​ in addition to drummer​ ​Bob McLaren)​ , feature the lead soloist accompanied by bass and drums. Of the dozen selections,​ ​Leitch's​ rendition of "If I Should Lose You,"​ ​Quinlan's​ "Wes Blues" and​ ​Bickert's​ swinging version of "Whisper Not" are highlights. This well­conceived tribute set is worth searching for. ~ Jazz Review by Scott Yanow

Track listing

1​ ​Reg Schwager Trio​ - Siblings of Groove

2​ ​Ed Bickert Trio​ ­- September Song 

3​ ​Rob Piltch Trio​ ­- 'Round Midnight 

4​ ​Ted Quinlan Trio -​ ­ Wes Blues 

5​ ​Sonny Greenwich Trio​ -­ The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me) 

6​ ​Peter Leitch Trio​ ­- J.L.M. 

7​ ​Ed Bickert Trio​ ­- Twisted Blues 

8​ ​Ted Quinlan Trio -​ ­ Whisper Not 

9​ ​Rob Piltch Trio​ ­- Descendants 

10​ ​Reg Schwager Trio​ -­ Far Wes 

11​ ​Sonny Greenwich Trio​ -­ Summertime

World music guitarist Lawson Rollins muses time on “3 Minutes to Midnight”

The exotic and sensual first radio single, “Sway,” previews the January 20 album release that conveys the urgency of the moment.

 

Three minutes to midnight. Time is lapsing. What would you do with the final moments of your day? Award-winning world beat guitarist Lawson Rollins pondered that question as he entered the recording studio to craft his seventh album, “3 Minutes to Midnight,” which will be released on January 20 via the Infinita Records label. Focusing on “the urgency of the moment, the exhilaration of the speed of sound, the poignancy of the remains of the day and the mystical power of the number three,” Rollins wrote a dozen multicultural compositions - all in the three minute range and illuminated by his prodigious fingerstyle guitar play. The recording is stripped down, punchy and concise, a radical departure for the Billboard chart-topping artist known for creating lavishly produced and elaborately-constructed tracks that are at least twice as long.

“I really made an effort to pare down my musical flights of fancy and focus on the essentials instead of diverging into various plots and subplots within the song structure. The songs have an urgent, succinct quality and are unencumbered by elaborate instrumentation. This is the first time I came up with the title and overall concept early on in the process. I don’t know if it’s a reaction to the times we live in, with our shrinking bandwidth for complexity and desire for clarity, or if I just wanted to be as impactful and expressive as I could across a range of emotions - from exciting, passionate and bursting with energy to sad, contemplative and meditative,” said Rollins, who will introduce the new material when the sultry first single, “Sway,” is serviced to radio programmers for airplay ahead of the album’s release date.

Like his previous discs, Rollins produced “3 Minutes to Midnight” with multi-platinum producer Dominic Camardella utilizing the same core group of musicians. Grammy-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, bassist Randy Tico and drummer/percussionist Dave Bryant joined Rollins (guitar, keyboards, drum programming) and Camardella (piano, Rhodes piano, Hammond organ) along with newcomers to the fold Stephen Duros (drum programming) and Forrest Marquisse (pedal steel). Since fans have marveled at videos of his dazzling and dexterous classical guitar technique that have generated a whopping 8 million YouTube views, Rollins welcomed cameras into the Santa Barbara Sound Design studio to capture the recording of his guitar parts for three videos – including one lensed during the tracking of “Sway” – that are now posted on YouTube and Rollins’ website (www.LawsonRollins.com). 

Rollins has landed on Billboard’s Top 10 World Music Albums chart and four of his collections placed singles on the Billboard Top 30 contemporary jazz radio chart. Recently he collected three major awards from the Akademia Music Awards (Best Jazz Song), the USA Songwriting Competition (1st place, Instrumental) and the Global Music Awards (triple gold medal winner). Why does the number three continue to come up for the long-time San Francisco resident?

“Three is a significant number that resonates in the human psyche and has a mystical power in our culture. Three is significant not only in world religions, but also in simple human terms with our body, mind and spirit triad. With songs, we have a beginning, middle and end. We even sync up with others on the count of three. Ready, set, go!,” noted Rollins, who released the albums “Traveler” and “Infinite Chill (The Remix Sessions)” last year, spawning the radio hits “Berlin Bossa” and “Café Paris (chill remix).” 

The “3 Minutes to Midnight” album, which was mastered at New York City’s Sterling Sound, contains the following songs:

“3 Minutes to Midnight”

“Light the Way”

“Sway”

“Island Time”

“Driving Force”

“Southbound”

“Stringdance”

“Time Shift”

“Reveal”

“Split Second”

“Eternal”

“Mary’s Rock”

NEW RELEASES: BOBBY HEBB & OTHERS – 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION OF SUNNY; SOUL TOGETHERNESS 2016; EVAN PARKER / MARK NAUSEEF / TOMA GOUBAND – AS THE WIND

BOBBY HEBB  & OTHERS – 50^TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION OF SUNNY

A cool compilation that pays fitting tribute to one of the greatest songs of the 60s! When Bobby Hebb first recorded "Sunny" way back in 1966 – he probably had little idea that it would rocket him to the top of the charts, nor that it would go onto become one of the most popular songs of its time, getting covered in a variety of musical styles, by a huge amount of artists over the next few years. This package brings together 15 versions of the amazing track "Sunny" – including the original by Bobby Hebb, plus covers of the tune by Booker T & The MGs, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Shirley Bassey, Robert Mitchum, Herbie Mann & Tamiko Jones, Jose Feliciano, Ella Fitzgerald, Georgie Fame, The Head Shop, John Schroeder Orchestra, Cher, and an especially nice one by James Brown and The Dee Felice Trio with Marva Whitney!  ~ Dusty Groove

SOUL TOGETHERNESS 2016

A wickedly sharp entry in the Soul Togetherness series – and one that maybe features a bit more contemporary material than before! There's a few older tracks from the modern soul years of the late 70s – but most of the work here is contemporary soul from the global underground – brought together in a collection that's especially important, given that the scene has moved so strongly to digital releases and one-off singles! These tracks are partly from that hinterland, and partly from the well-chosen range of cuts that we've come to expect from Expansion Records and DJ Richard Searling – a talent who's been running the Soul Togetherness empire for 30 years, and really knows his way around a track. Titles include "Don't Quit" by Deiphuis & Eastar with Jocelyn Brown, "Sunshine" by Los Charly's Orchestra, "I Got To Party" by SouLutions, "Just Talk To Me (boogie back rmx)" by Tracy Hamlin, "No Limit (ext mix)" by Breakwater, "Stranger (back to the future mix)" by Farina Miss, "Adieu" by Trina Broussard, "I Can Feel It (Soulshy mix)" by Beat Rivals, "Never Loved Nobody" by Puff Johnson, "Lotta Love (ext orig version)" by Nicolette Larson, "What I Done Wrong" by Big Lee Dowell & The Cannonballas, "Just Whatcha Like" by Zo with Joi, "All In The Name Of Love" by Seest, and "You & I (spider edit)" by Ronnie Jones. ~ Dusty Groove

EVAN PARKER / MARK NAUSEEF / TOMA GOUBAND – AS THE WIND

One of the most unusual albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Evan Parker – and one that, in the notes, he also refers to as one of his best! The group features a striking lineup – Parker on soprano sax, Mark Nauseef on percussion, and Toma Gouband on lithophones – which are instruments that create sound by the striking of rocks! With two percussive-styled forces at play, the structure is a bit different than some of Parker's more reed-oriented records – although both of the percussionists also find a way to create very spare, almost breathy sounds with their instruments – which Evan then responds to with some very unusual textures of his own. The whole performance was improvised, and is presented here as it was recorded – and the album may well be one of the most beautiful we've heard from Parker in years. Titles include "Like A Wild Goose Flies", "As The Wind", "Sans Everything", "Pipes & Whistles In His Sound", "Come Warble Come", and "As A Weasel Sucks Eggs". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: BAHAMA SOUL CLUB – HAVANA 58; JIMI TENOR - SAXENTRIC; TOM ZE – CANCOES EROTICAS DE NINAR

BAHAMA SOUL CLUB – HAVANA 58

The Bahama Soul Club are a German-based group whose unique blend of soul, jazz, funk, blues, bossa nova, afro and Caribbean influences has firmly put them on the map of the black music scene as one of the most exciting contemporary outfits. On their 4th album "Havana '58", Bahama Soul Club present a very personal soundtrack, a musical homage, inspired by a vibrant verve that never came back. We encounter a heady blend of glittering nightclubs, outrageous cabarets, fashionable hotels, backstreet brothels, empty wallets and bemusing décolletées. Bahama Soul Club establish an elegant and percussive cocktail of Latin Jazz, Soul, Bossa and Boogaloo, adding the dark, sensual, and alluring mystic of Tiki and Exotica into the mix. More than mambo mania and tiring salsa they stand for swinging lightness and the pulsating cosmopolitan lifestyle of the contemporary Cuban scene. Special guests include: American Jazz and Soul singer Brenda Boykin, Cuba’s leading vocal quartet Sexto Sentido, Bahama Soul Club live band's singer Olvido Ruiz and Cuban songwriter Arema Arega.

JIMI TENOR - SAXENTRIC

Jimi Tenor looks shrunken in size on the cover, but that certainly hasn't happened to his music – which just seems bigger and more expansive on this wonderful release! The set's still very much in the spiritual jazz mode that Tenor's been touching for the past decade or so – but it also showcases some of the soulful strands that have always been in his music, as Jimi finds a way to bring the cosmos down to earth with some really wonderful tunes that mix up a variety of different rhythmic and instrumental modes! The lineup shifts a bit on each track – and includes a great guest appearance from Tony Allen – but most cuts focus on core energy from Tenor, who not only plays tenor, percussion, keyboards, flute, moog, and more – but also sings with a style that's wonderfully soulful, and really holds the whole thing together. We always love Jimi's music, but this set's got a really special "something extra" – and a much deeper sound than you'd expect from the cover. Titles include "Magick Of Choice", "Polygonal", "Peaceful Maelstrom", "Four Corners Of The Earth", "Cap De Creus", "Vortex", "My Baby Is Coming", "Ursa Major", and "Baby Pharoah". ~ Dusty Groove

TOM ZE – CANCOES EROTICAS DE NINAR

From the eyeball on the cover, right down to the sounds on the disc, Tom Ze once again blurs the boundaries between body and mind with his music – by giving us tunes that are playful and catchy, but also filled with madness and intelligence too! Ze's wit is as razor-sharp as ever, carried across here with instrumentation that's very much in the best modes of his later years – almost familiar, but always offbeat – as if Tom's turning Brazilian songforms inside out, in service of his lyrical wordplay. The album's definitely got some of the erotic bent hinted at in the title, but also has a lot more going on too – on titles that include "Por Baixo", "Arroz Lenda E Buque", "Descaracao Familiar", "Sexo", "Sobe Ni Mim", "Urgenica Didatica", and "Cade Mane". ~ Dusty Groove

 

Audio Fidelity To Release Legendary Santana Live Album “Lotus” 2-CD On Limited Edition Hybrid SACD

Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity will be releasing Santana's critically acclaimed live album Lotus on limited edition hybrid SACD. Lotus is a 1974 live album by Santana, recorded at the Osaka Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan in 1973. It was originally released in 1974 as a triple vinyl LP in Japan only. The first U.S. release was in 1991 as a 2-CD set. It features the “New Santana Band” and combines that group's jazz and spiritual influences. Some of the band's biggest hits are performed, such as “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va,” but it is the extended, intense instrumentals that are the order of the day such as the breathtaking “Incident at Neshabur,” “Every Step of the Way,” and “Toussaint L'Overture.”

Carlos' superpowered guitar is mesmerizing, the entire atmosphere is otherworldly, beautiful, modern jazzy and most of all, electrifying. His guitar tone is perfect, each solo has a central rhythmic and melodic structure that was used to express in a moment what can never be repeated. The greatness of Lotus is its ability to take all of Carlos' beautiful melodies and expand them each into a whole new creation.

Santana fans know there are “several different Santanas.” This was the MILES Santana, the COLTRANE Santana. This is intense and awe-inspiring music played with so much mind-numbing passion. Carlos' guitar speaks notes on this recording that are nothing short of extraordinary. He manages to imbue a vibration that cuts right through your soul. Even on the familiar hits, the jazz fusion makes its way into the notes and Carlos delivers a new message. This was the top of Santana's spiritual-fusion era. Lotus is the Live Santana album that gives other Live albums a bad name. Spectacular, breathtaking, emotional, spiritual...and it rocks!

Disc one

Going Home

A-1 Funk

Every Step of the Way

Black Magic Woman

Gypsy Queen

Oye Como Va

Yours Is the Light

Batuka

Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba)

Stone Flower (Introduction)

Waiting

Castillos de Arena Part 1 (Sand Castle)

Free Angela

Samba de Sausalito

Disc two

Mantra

Kyoto (Drum Solo)

Castillos de Arena Part 2 (Sand Castle)

Incident at Neshabur

Se a Cabo

Samba Pa Ti

Mr. Udo

Toussaint L'Overture

Produced by The New Santana Band

Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering

SACD Authoring: Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering

Pianist/Composer Enoch Smith Jr. To Release His 4th CD, "The Quest: Live at APC"

Enoch Smith Jr. The QuestThe Quest: Live at APC is the latest recorded chapter in composer/pianist Enoch Smith Jr.'s ongoing search to find a seamless synthesis of jazz and gospel and a balance between the spiritual and technical aspects of his creativity. Smith's 4th CD as a leader and first live date will be released by his Misfitme Music label on November 11.

"It's my belief that jazz would not exist in the form it does today if not for black gospel music and its contributors," Smith wrote in a Woodshed column titled "Bringing the Gospel to Jazz: A Misfit's Theme" that appeared in the September 2016 issue of Down Beat magazine.

The Rochester, New York-born, Allentown, New Jersey-based musician -- with his acclaimed series of gospel-immersed jazz albums (2010's Church Boy, 2011's Misfits, 2015's Misfits II: Pop, and now The Quest: Live at APC, all for Misfitme) -- is at the forefront of bringing jazz and gospel even closer together.

The Quest is drawn from two Jazz Vespers concerts recorded in March and April 2016 at the Allentown Presbyterian Church, where Smith has worked full time as Director of Music and Worship for the last four years. One concert featured Smith with bassist Mimi Jones, drummer John Davis, and rising star vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles, a veteran of Smith's previous two CDs. Bassist Noah Jackson, drummer Andrew Atkinson, and vocalist Emily Braden joined Smith on the other.

Enoch Smith Jr. In addition to Smith's originals -- including the swinging "Wheels Up," the chant-like "Creator" featuring Braden, and the title track with its call-and-response gospel feel -- the program contains a rendition of Chick Corea and Neville Potter's "Open Your Eyes You Can Fly," a feature for vocalist Charles, and the venerable hymn "Jesus Loves Me," heard in both instrumental and vocal versions. "They have two completely different feels," Smith says. "I really enjoyed the place we took that instrumental version of it."

Enoch Smith Jr., 37, was raised in Rochester, New York in the Church of God by Faith, a Pentecostal denomination, where he began singing at age 3 in the children's choir. He later played drums for services, then got a chance to sub for the regular pianist, making his way through trial and error. "Growing up and playing mostly in church, you get a whole different side of what music is all about," he says. "For me, it was always more of a spiritual connection than a connection of the head."

Although he had originally intended on becoming a lawyer and had done several internships at Rochester law firms while still in high school, Smith decided to interview for admission at Berklee College of Music at the suggestion of his high school choir director. He was accepted on the spot. "It was amazing and intimidating and exciting all at the same time," he says of his classes at Berklee. "I definitely saw that I didn't fit into the mold. I felt like a misfit.

"The transition from playing primarily by ear and then learning theory opened my mind to different approaches, devices, and things that I could use musically to expand or make my playing more interesting," he adds. "That was the plus side. I think the down side of it is when you get so focused on technique and technical things, it can pull you away from the more spiritual side of life and what brought me to the instrument and things that were naturally expressed. I'm working my way back to where I can play with the same feeling that I had when I started."

Enoch Smith Jr. Smith continues working full time at Allentown Presbyterian Church, where his duties include playing piano, composing original music, directing music programs for children of all ages, and creating Power Point presentations for services. He has recorded as a sideman with bassist Mimi Jones, saxophonist Stantawn Kendrick, drummer Reggie Quinerly, and saxophonist-singer Camille Thurman, among others, and since the summer of 2016 has been touring as an organist with fast-rising blues-and-soul singer-saxophonist Vanessa Collier.

Besides appearing in clubs in the New York City area and in Detroit, he has performed at the Barbados and New Rochelle jazz festivals and has composed music for independent filmmaker Nefertiti Nguvu's short I Want You in 2007 and her 2014 feature In the Morning.

The Enoch Smith Jr. Trio, with Noah Jackson ("my favorite bass player") and drummer Andrew Atkinson, will perform a CD release show for The Quest at Club Bonafide in New York City on Friday 11/11. 

The David Shaw Trio debut album “Live At The Academy” features standards from the American songbook plus original compositions

David Shaw @MusicDavidShaw (Keyboards & Vocals) is a Toronto based (Brit ex-pat). He is an exceptional artist, wordsmith & producer. The one time ‘Young Jazz Musician Of The Year’ studied at the University of London garnering an honors degree in music. Born in Birmingham, Shaw was immersed in the finer points of musicianship from an early age as all his immediate family were professional musicians. 

This stewardship paid big dividends, as he won the above mentioned Greater London Arts award with his bebop quartet! Moving to North America David honed in on his production & song writing mantra which propelled him to a #1 platinum hit “Love Makes No Promises” CANDI (SOCAN Songwriter of the Year), a number of Top 10 hits have followed including Always Missing You, Friends Forever, Fight Another Round. Not one to rest on his laurels, he then turned his sights to scoring for television at an international level. Cyberchase PBS & Masterminds are just two of the many animated and dramatic Network T.V. shows he has given his ‘magic touch’ to. Following a period of travel, David is back and fully focused on his love of popular song and jazz performance, writing, programming and production…as well as taking centre stage with his own vocal interpretations.

Marshal Herridge (Bass) is an emerging jazz double bassist in the Toronto jazz scene. His melodic approach to the bass is uncanny while his technique and intonation is remarkable. He has studied with some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians, including Mike Downes, Neil Swainson, Kieran Overs, Kirk MacDonald, Pat LaBarbera among others. In addition to this, he has performed with John Scofield, Peter Bernstein, Larry Goldings, Dick Oatts, Donny McCaslin among others.

Pat Daniher (Drums) is a 2016 graduate from Humber College’s Bachelor of Music program where he studied with many of Toronto’s finest musicians, including drummers Barry Romberg, Ben Ball, Mark Kelso and Paul Delong. During his time at Humber he was the recipient the 2014 Norman Marshall Villeneuve Award, as well as the 2015 Yamaha Music Canada Scholarship. He has performed extensively over the past six years with various pop, rock and jazz projects in Toronto and Montreal and is currently at work composing his own original material.

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NEW RELEASES: KURT ELLING - THE BEAUTIFUL DAY: SINGS CHRISTMAS; MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND FEATURING RICK VITO – LIVE AT THE BELLY UP; SOUL CLAP - SOUL CLAP

KURT ELLING - THE BEAUTIFUL DAY: SINGS CHRISTMAS

Kurt Elling performs these songs with such ease and competence and proves once more why he is one of today's most famous jazz singers. The lead track from the album, "Sing A Christmas Carol", begins with a swing and kicks off the feel of the album - melding bright jazz with the sound of a classic Christmas tune. Elling takes well-known holiday favourites, "We Three Kings" and "Same Old Lang Syne" and transforms them into tracks all his own. "Beautiful Day" is the perfect ending to the album, leaving every listener with a big warm smile. Kurt Elling is considered one of the world’s leading jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY-nominated a dozen times. Elling is a world famous artist of vocalese—the writing and performing of words over recorded improvised jazz solos. He has toured vigorously throughout his career, thrilling audiences throughout the world. In that time he has led his own ensemble and has collaborated with many of the world’s finest orchestras. His latest release was the collaboration with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Upward Spiral, which received amazing reviews all over the world.

MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND FEATURING RICK VITO  – LIVE AT THE BELLY UP

Mick Fleetwood, the iconic co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, is celebrating his blues heritage with The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, featuring Rick Vito. As well as their own material, the band pays tribute to the original Fleetwood Mac, the blues band that started it all in 1967. Live at The Belly Up, features 17 tracks and over two hours of music including “Oh Tell,” “Albatross,” and “Black Magic Woman.” Features: Looking For Somebody; Fleetwood Boogie; Oh Well; Red Hot Gal; Rollin’ Man Meets The Voodoo Woman; Love That Burns; Eyesight To The Blind; Black Magic Woman; Black Crow Blues; Lucky Devil; Passage East – World Turning; Rattlesnake Shake; You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover; Shake Your Moneymaker; Stop Messin’ Around; Carol; and Albatross.

SOUL CLAP - SOUL CLAP

The Soul Clap duo have a huge amount of help on this full length set – a range of guests that runs from Nona Hendryx, through Ebony Houston, Nick Monaco, Hazmat Talkbox, Dayonne Rollins, Billy Bass Nelson, and others – all of whom help shape the sound nicely over the electro funk elements at the core! These guys are big on 80s-styled bass pedal bits and keyboard lines, but also work their music past any sort of simple retro mode – expanding the sound with some more thoughtful spacey moments, and finding fresh ways to come up with a soulful hook, instead of a cliche. Titles include "Numb", "Synthesizer Girlfriend", "Shine", "Future 4 Love", "Dirty Leslie", and "Timespent".~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: WALLACE RONEY – A PLACE IN TIME; NIGHTHAWKS - 707; KENNY BURRELL – UNLIMITED 1

WALLACE RONEY – A PLACE IN TIME

With the Grammy-winning composer/pianist Patrice Rushen on hand with guest reedman Gary Bartz and Wallace Roney's sidemen of choice, Ben Solomon, tenor sax, Buster Williams, bass and Lenny White, drums, the musicians on 'A Place in Time' deliver a blisteringly accomplished and creative session. Wallace Roney's music is a tough, taut and intransigent continuation of the arcane forms and structured freedoms of Miles Davis' 1960s quintet. Listeners often associate Roney with Davis, thanks to Roney's work with the jazz legend early in Roney's career. But at this point, Davis' impact on Roney can be considered mostly historic, with Roney's playing larger in scope, firmer in tone and sharper in attack than Davis'. Today, Wallace's set lists feature easy-on-the-ear themes that mask harmonic complexities, while solos are fuelled by strong moods and sustained rhythmic drive informed by the spectre of Davis but far from imitating him. Whether he performs up-tempo original compositions or mainstream ballads, Roney is always compelling in his idiosyncratic ways. His tendency to produce smeared tones, bent pitches and jabbing rhythmic figures in the stratospheric range of the instrument distinguishes his playing, as does the volatile spirit and ever-changing direction of his phrases.

NIGHTHAWKS - 707

The seventh studio album from electro-jazz group Nighthawks. For music heads Dal Martino and Reiner Winterschladen, the Boeing 707 is a pertinent childhood memory. When the first Boeing 707 took off into the skies in 1958, the boys tracked the jet engine's vapour trail. Just six years later, the plane transported the Beatles to America. A mere 1 ½ decades after this, the first rock stars sauntered down the gangway of a 707. An echo of the spirit of the time was definitely present in the studio. Time and again, libertine Reiner Winterschladen, an avid proponent of improvised music, had to restrict his trumpet playing to comply with Dal Martino's focus on reduction. These conflicting poles gave birth to an abundance of sound sketches which, craning over the studio desk, Dal Martino considerably condensed during countless night sessions. The resulting album consists of seven songs as well as the 707 Suite in four movements - a journey lasting just under an hour.

KENNY BURRELL – UNLIMITED 1

On 'Unlimited 1' Kenny Burrell is captured live at the West-Coast jazz mecca, Catalina's, with a well-oiled big band, The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited, which is made up of some of the West Coast's greatest jazz men and studio players. Burrell leads the group, solos and sings through a set list of original tunes, standards and, of course, what would a Kenny Burrell record be without some some Duke Ellington? Kenny Burrell has appeared on so many essential jazz recordings that jazz history and his biography seem irretrievably intertwined. He has recorded 97 albums under his own name and several hundred with other artists including Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Tony Bennett, Billy Holiday, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Art Blakey, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong.

NEW RELEASES: BRIAN SIMPSON - PERSUASION; ARNO HAAS – BACK TO YOU; CHET BAKER – LIVE IN LONDON

BRIAN SIMPSON - PERSUASION

Brian Simpson is a proven hit maker with over 20 Smooth Jazz radio hits in his amazing career. His previous Shanachie release garnered 2 Top 10 singles, and now "Soul City," the first single from this album, is one of the fastest rising songs on the Smooth Jazz Airplay charts and a lock to be Top 5 on the charts at the time of the album’s release. Both as a solo performer and as the featured keyboardist and music director of the Dave Koz Band, Brian performs in front of an incredibly large number of Smooth Jazz fans on a non-stop basis. Winner of the American Smooth Jazz Keyboardist of the Year Award, frequent guest on nationally syndicated radio shows and music director of The Smooth Jazz cruise, his visibility is tremendous. Highlights include the hit single "Soul City,” the sensuous ballad "Just One Wish" featuring Peter White, a brilliant performance by Boney James on the title track Persuasion” and much more!!!

ARNO HAAS – BACK TO YOU

On his new album “Back To You”, sax player Arno Haas delivers a generous dose of thrilling fusion jazz. Produced in Los Angeles and Stuttgart by world-class producer Tom Saviano, Arno and his renowned musical partners run the full gamut of current fusion jazz styles on a top-notch level of musicianship.Exciting melodies, popular grooves, sophisticated originals, crisp hooks, and the cut “Lucky Chance”, with vocals by 7-times Grammy winner Al Jarreau, will leave everyone enthused - and may even win over those rare folks who usually don‘t listen to jazz. As a second guest vocalist, charismatic singer Evelyn Kallansee from the Dutch band Tristan features in the track “When Love Is Real“. It grooves, and it will inject your days with some colour, splendour and soul. Black-Forest-born Arno Haas is a musician of international standing and reputation, and is on stage up to 250 times a year with various formations. He has contributed to countless CDs. After his successful first album “Magic Hands”, he now presents his sophomore effort: “Back To You”.

CHET BAKER – LIVE IN LONDON

A stunning unreleased Chet Baker session from 1983 recorded with a great UK trio. Remastered and released with permisison from the Chet Baker Estate. For six evenings, from 28th March to 2nd April 1983, the John Horler Trio rhythm section supported the legendary trumpet player Chet Baker at The Canteen in London. For those who were fortunate enough to be there, these were magical shows. The rhythm section was tight and Chet was at the top of his game. The best of the six hours of music is presented here on 'Live in London' and has been restored and remastered to the highest quality. Jim Richardson, Chet's bassist, asked him if he could record the shows for his personal enjoyment. Chet was only too happy to agree, and Jim managed to capture most of the performances on a SONY TCS 300 audiocassette recorder. Over the years, Jim selectively shared this astonishing music, and those who heard it encouraged him to find a way to release it to the public. However, a combination of factors precluded this from happening for 33 years, until Martin Hummel met Jim late one evening at Ronnie Scott's. Jim's story about the music and his unwavering desire to share this with the world caught Hummel's attention. Together, they persevered and ultimately The Chet Baker Estate granted permission to release the material on the Ubuntu Music label. These are exceptional performances of Baker at his best, with music that touches the head, the heart and the soul.