Grammy Lifetime Award Winner George Wein Presents A Newport Jazz Festival Extra "A Bridge Together," Connecting Jazz, African Beats and Indian Carnatic music

Featuring Millennial Twins Riya and Sara Kapoor With Music and Orchestra Arrangement By Conductor and Choreographer Guru Swati Bhise

Bridgefest 2017, under the auspices of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. will present A Bridge Together, a special concert and Newport Jazz Festival® "extra" that connects Jazz, African Beats and Indian Carnatic music, on Thursday, August 3, at 6:30 pm on the Quad Stage at Fort Adams State Park.

This pre-Newport Jazz Festival event will showcase the multicultural connections between music and movement. The two-part concert features dance segments by 17-year old twins, Riya and Sara Kapoor, accompanied by a Carnatic music orchestra featuring musicians from India.  Guru Swati Bhise is the Conductor and Choreographer for the music and orchestra arrangement for this dance segment. The jazz quartet will be led by award-winning guitarist Rez Abbasi and West African compositions, directed by the noted West African choreographer and dancer, Maguette Camara.

Fusing Indian, African and American dance and music traditions, A Bridge Together raises the question for the audience: "Are we so different after all?"

Part I is an exploration of music from West Africa, India and the US. Part II introduces the expressive, athletic Kapoor sisters, whose study of Bharatanatyam led to their first appearance on stage at age 15 at their debut event at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Newport Festivals Foundation CEO/founder George Wein was in the audience when Riya and Sara made their debut and was determined to bring some of the magic he saw on stage to Newport.

"These young women are tremendous," said Wein. "The dances are very intricate and beautiful, but what I loved is how they brought jazz into these very traditional art forms. They've modernized the dances in a wonderful way while adding a delightfully different perspective to jazz music."

The Newport Folk Festival (www.newportfolk.org) takes place at Fort Adams State Park July 28-30, 2017 followed by Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management (www.newportjazz.org) August 4-6, 2017 at Fort Adams and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

Newport Festivals Foundation was founded by George Wein in 2010 to build and continue the legacies of the famed Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival®. For more information, please visit www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org. 

NEW RELEASES: RANDY CRAWFORD – NAKED AND TRUE (BONUS TRACK); PAT THOMAS – ELEPHANT CLOCK OF AL JAZARI; RALPH BOWEN

RANDY CRAWFORD – NAKED AND TRUE (BONUS TRACK)

A later date from 70s soul legend Randy Crawford – cut overseas, at a time when she was initially without US representation – a situation that was immediately corrected with the strength of the album! The set has Randy really getting back to basics – mostly working with tight jazz funk backings that recall both her first few records, and her work with The Crusaders – a perfect setting for her wonderful voice, and her trademark use of jazzy currents with more straight-ahead soul! Players on the record include Fred Wesley on trombone, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, and Bootsy Collins on bass – which will give you an idea of the strength of the sound – and titles include "Cajun Moon", "Give Me The Night", "Glow Of Love", "I'll Be Around", "Forget Me Nots", "Joy Inside My Tears", "Purple Rain", and "Come Into My Life". Great 2CD version – features a bonus instrumental version of "The Glow Of Love" – plus 13 more different mixes of tracks from the album – including "Cajun Moon (long trip mix)", "Forget Me Nots (Femi Fem rotation mix)", "Give Me The Night (Mousse T's classic club mix)", "Forget Me Nots (Delaney's mix)", "I'll Be Around (surprise mix)", and "Cajun Moon (cajun trip club version)".  ~ Dusty Groove

PAT THOMAS – ELEPHANT CLOCK OF AL JAZARI

The title and cover here are super-simple, but the sound is anything but – a continuing evolution of the talents of tenorist Ralph Bowen, who just seems to grab us more and more with each new album! The core of the record is the long "Phylogeny Suite", which has some of the most complex writing we've ever heard from Bowen – almost like he's hitting a second chapter of his career, while still finding a way to soulfully swing with the quality that first made us love him a number of years ago. There's almost a Monk-like sense of angularity at points – accented by the piano work of Jim Ridl, who plays in the quartet alongside Kenny Davis on bass and Cliff Almond on drums. Titles include "A Cast Of Crabs", "A Leap Of Leopards", "Cache Cache", "A Rookery Of Ravens", and a version of McCoy Tyner's "Search For Peace".  ~ Dusty Groove

RALPH BOWEN - RALPH BOWEN

The title and cover here are super-simple, but the sound is anything but – a continuing evolution of the talents of tenorist Ralph Bowen, who just seems to grab us more and more with each new album! The core of the record is the long "Phylogeny Suite", which has some of the most complex writing we've ever heard from Bowen – almost like he's hitting a second chapter of his career, while still finding a way to soulfully swing with the quality that first made us love him a number of years ago. There's almost a Monk-like sense of angularity at points – accented by the piano work of Jim Ridl, who plays in the quartet alongside Kenny Davis on bass and Cliff Almond on drums. Titles include "A Cast Of Crabs", "A Leap Of Leopards", "Cache Cache", "A Rookery Of Ravens", and a version of McCoy Tyner's "Search For Peace".  ~ Dusty Groove

               

               

THE FRANK CARLBERG LARGE ENSEMBLE: MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES

MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES, the new large ensemble recording from Frank Carlberg (on Red Piano Records), draws its inspiration from the work of Thelonious Monk. The album taps into the atmosphere and orbit of Monk; infected by, informed by, in awe of Monk, and presented as an act of love and respect. The pieces generate their shapes from splinters, cells and feelings found in and around Monk's music, as well as from his verbal utterances in the form of advice and/or cryptic observations. MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES is not intended as a tribute album, but rather as, "a celebration of the beauty and vitality of his music that has impacted me profoundly," explained Frank Carlberg. "I thought it fitting to present this recording during the Monk Centennial year, 2017."

Why Monk? Carlberg explains: "For me, a Monk-inspired project is quite personal. Monk's music has been central to my musical life from very early on. The clarity of his thought, the uncompromising nature of his art, the emotional impact Monk's music has made on me; this recording is a culmination of all these elements, and being able to record this music with these remarkable musicians is really a dream come true for me!"

The opener, DRY BEAN STEW, borrows shapes and snippets from Monk's, "I Mean You". It begins with mysteriously pulsating sounds and noises that gradually develop into a restless rhythm, alternating between longer and shorter beats. This tempo with an irregular gait meets up with a descending motif that echoes "I Mean You." After several shifts the pulse slows to half-time and features resonant wind voicings. Suddenly the metrically unsettled tempo returns with cascading figures in counterpoint hurtling towards a blistering solo by John O'Gallagher on alto. The end of O'Gallagher's solo leads back to the half-time feel and a piano excursion by Carlberg. The band's swinging statement then concludes with a transition to a tutti rhythmic romp serving as a back drop to trumpeter John Carlson's soaring, emotive lines. A long ascending line is followed by the cascading horn lines, with increased counterpoint, before the band delivers one more short statement in half-time. A humorous wink to the classic Monk intro ends the piece on a light note.

  

RHYMES features a lyrical a cappella bass solo by Weidenmüller as an introduction. Once the band enters, Clark Coolidge's evocative poem, "Rhymes with Monk" (read here by poet Paul Lichter), permeates the whole piece. The band commentary features brief solo spots by Jeremy Udden on alto saxophone, and David Smith on trumpet, as well as many allusions to Monk-like shapes by the horn sections.

SPHERE is an energetic romp centered around the pitch of Bb. Washburne's trombone sets the tone before the horns gradually enter in playful rhythmic counterpoint with occasional interruptions. A hint of "Straight No Chaser" enters the fray but disappears just as quickly. After a metric modulation and some tonal shifts Udden's alto takes over with a lyrical disposition. The horns re-enter and build to a climax of organized chaos. After a brief tempo change Washburne and the simmering rhythm section bring the tune to a playful ending.

After some bird-like textures on A DARKER SHADE OF LIGHT BLUE the melancholic melody enters gradually bringing the whole band together in a short tutti statement. Brian Landrus takes over with a yearning bass clarinet solo supported by bass and drums. Clustered voicings provide a backdrop to the solo. A tempo is established with Sarin setting the stage for a bass line with bass trombone and bass clarinet. Carlson solos with gusto on trumpet and a lively sectional counterpoint leads to a rambunctious finale that quickly dissipates into silence.

BEAST, with its distant echoes of Monk's "Ugly Beauty" evokes a somber merry-go-round atmosphere. Alan Ferber's trombone is featured to great effect, building the intensity before the re-entry of the thematic material.

YOU DIG! is a lively verbal Monk quote, sung by Christine Correa. The music rushes forward with reckless abandon, and after breathless woodwinds and relentless brass, O'Gallagher matches the intensity in his brilliant alto solo. After the band returns, drummer Michael Sarin has the spotlight and dispatches a delightfully inventive solo turn before a last humorous slow reiteration of the text.

NO FEAR, MY DEAR opens with stately low winds and bass providing the environment for Sarin's percussive ruminations. After a gradual orchestral build Adam Kolker's tenor plays a beautifully crafted call and response solo with the band. Eventually the ensemble takes over and borrows some phrases of "Ruby, My Dear" in rich orchestration. An open wind pyramid of perfect fifths brings the piece to a close.

The motivic and harmonic materials of INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY are mostly derived from the interval of a sixth (the interval also structurally significant in Monk's "Misterioso"). Udden provides solo commentary to the orchestral setting before giving way to a Frank Carlberg piano solo. The cornet of Kirk Knuffke then builds to the orchestral high point of the piece. A few more sixths in mixed winds end the piece in a ritardando.

Another Monk quote provides the text for the setting in ALWAYS NIGHT. Trumpeter Carlson blows over a churning rhythm section background before Correa enters with the short declamatory yet mysterious vocal line. After some instrumental interruptions the line re-appears twice more. The piece ends with a collective improvisation where Correa and Carlson lead the way.

Thelonious Monk's classic ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT gets an extended, creative treatment here. Carlberg says: "I wanted to include this piece here in all its glory. Being probably Monk's most famous composition (and most frequently recorded...) I wanted to honor the exquisite design of the piece while adding a personal take on it. I also wanted to incorporate a hint of the traditional intro as well as coda with a certain compositional transformation of the original." Knuffke is the featured soloist throughout and turns in an exquisite performance on cornet. The band is richly orchestrated and brilliantly performs the dynamics from a hush to a roar.

MONK DREAMS, HALLUCINATIONS AND NIGHTMARES

is not your grandfather's Big Band music. Specifically, it offers new perspectives on Monk's music, and on compositions for large jazz ensemble in general. It celebrates Thelonious Monk on his centennial while forging new paths in modern jazz by balancing the improvisational impulses with exciting orchestral and structural designs.

www.frankcarlberg.com

Will Downing Set To Release His 20th Album - Soul Survivor

Will Downing’s new CD Soul Survivor is set for release on September 22nd as he celebrates 3 decades as a recording artist. It’s his 20th album and it features "'I'm Feeling The Love' which he says is an “anthem for anyone that has been in and out of love. It is a song about renewed spirit. As always, Avery*Sunshine's performance is heartfelt and it is a  perfect match for me. She absolutely made me feel the love with her amazing vocals."- Will Downing 

Will Downing's voice is one of the most distinctive, loved and instantly recognizable voices in R&B. His flawless, emotive, buttery-smooth and agile honey-toned baritone, along with his impeccable phrasing and jazz-fueled agile runs, seamlessly bridge the worlds of R&B and Jazz. Downing's sophisticated and always-cool sensibilities have proven to be timeless and have garnered him the role as the reigning king of romantic ballads. 

Shanachie Entertainment will release Soul Survivor - Downing's follow-up to last year's critically heralded Black Pearls. Downing's anticipated Soul Survivor unites him with a number of special guests including labelmates Avery*Sunshine, Najee, Phil Perry and Maysa. Highlights on the CD include Will's  inspired interpretations of such classics as Blue Magic's "Stop To Start,"  The Stylistics' "Hurry Up This Way Again," "Tell Me All About It," a hit for both Michael Franks and Natalie Cole. Downing also offers several of his own superb originals!

Christian McBride, Questlove, Uri Caine, Joey DeFrancesco, Benny Golson and Others Celebrate Philadelphia Reunion at Newport Jazz Festival August 4 - 6

Philly funk and jazz take a trip to Newport this summer and spark a reunion with a group of special friends and former classmates when Newport Jazz Festival® Artistic Director Christian McBride gets together with Questlove and Black Thought from The Roots and Joey DeFrancesco, who all graduated from Philadelphia's Creative and Performing Arts High School in 1989. The Philly roll call also includes Uri Caine, Orrin Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., George Burton and the legendary Benny Golson.

The Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management welcomes The Philadelphia Experiment, a collaborative project of Christian McBride, Amir "Questlove" Thompson and Uri Caine. The group will take the Quad Stage at 1:55 on Sunday afternoon, bringing the Fort to life with their eclectic mix of Caine's jazz/classical piano background, Thompson's hip-hop drumming and McBride's virtuosity on jazz bass.

The Philadelphia Experiment was conceived by Philadelphia producer, Aaron Levinson as a way to bring together and showcase the talents of different Philadelphia-born musicians making Philadelphia-inspired music. Though McBride, Thompson and Caine were familiar with one another, they had never before played together professionally. The result of this "experiment," their 2001 album recorded in three days, is an amalgamation of styles coming together in a wildly funky masterpiece.

McBride, Thompson and Caine will also take the festival stage individually with their own bands. The Uri Caine Trio plays Saturday on the Harbor Stage at 12:10 pm, the Christian McBride Big Band plays the Fort Stage on Saturday at 12:45 pm and The Roots mount the Fort Stage on Sunday at 5:00 pm. McBride, a Newport Jazz Festival veteran, will be be on hand this year as both a musician and the recently appointed artistic director of the festival.

On Friday, George Burton hits the Harbor Stage at 12:55 and Leslie Odom, Jr, star of the Broadway hit, "Hamilton" brings his jazz band to Newport's Quad Stage at 3:25 pm, followed by Joey DeFrancesco + The People at 4:50 pm. The elder statesman, Benny Golson, takes his turn at Newport with his quartet on the Harbor Stage on Saturday at 2:50 pm.  Orrin Evans plays solo piano in Storyville Sunday at 12:00 pm and then takes the piano chair in the Sean Jones Quintet at 4:05 pm.

The 2017 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management takes place August 4 - 6 at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino. Artists also include Béla Fleck & The Flecktones; Snarky Puppy; Andra Day; Branford Marsalis Quartet; Cécile McLorin Salvant; Maria Schneider Orchestra; Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, John Medeski & John Scofield; Maceo Parker; Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith and many more.

NEW RELEASES: BROTHER 2 BROTHER FEATURING CARTER CARTER – CAN I TAKE YOU THERE; JAZMIN GHENT – CHOCOLATE SUNSHINE; KENNY POLSON – PARADISE VOL. 1

BROTHER 2 BROTHER FEATURING CARTER CARTER – CAN I TAKE YOU THERE

Move over, Philly! Siblings Winston and Charles (Chaz) Carter - collectively known as Brother 2 Brother featuring Carter Carter - are declaring their hometown of Pittsburgh the official city of Brotherly Jazz. The electric guitar and drummer duo backs their boldness with a list of prime opening gigs (Cameo, Bobby Brown, Angela Bofill, Parliament Funkadelic) and a tight, melodic, in the pocket debut Can I Take You There. Helmed by producer Chuck Cymone - who has done projects with Chris Standring, Eric Darius, Peter White, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot - the song set spotlights the Carter's prowess on their respective instruments and creates an inviting, sonically expansive world full of sultry contemporary jazz and R&B. When Brother 2 Brother asks, Can I Take You There, you're gonna say yes! ~ smoothjazz.com

JAZMIN GHENT – CHOCOLATE SUNSHINE

Rising star saxophonist, Jazmin Ghent's sophomore album, Chocolate Sunshine, is a languid, jazzy experience. This young woman stole the hearts of contemporary jazz fans onboard 2014's Smooth Jazz Cruise, where she won the onboard talent competition and played with Boney James and Candy Dulfer. This Smooth Jazz Go Girl is touring and performing at jazz festivals all over the U.S. as a new, solo sensation, including Newport Beach Jazz Festival, Orlando Jazz Festival, Steel City Jazz Festival, Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, JazzDiego, Capital Jazz and many more! Chocolate Sunshine is sophisticated and fashionable, with hand-picked guests such as hit-maker Jonathan Fritzén; groove master, bassist Julian Vaughn; in-demand guitarist, Adam Hawley; and critically-acclaimed, saxophonist Nelson Rangell. Her brand new single, Adele's "Hello" featuring Paul Brown is also produced by Paul Brown, showcasing Jazmin's playing in an entirely new light... this compelling and jazzy re-imagining of one of the biggest songs of all time, is certain to connect Ms. Ghent with listeners all over the world! ~ smoothjazz.com

KENNY POLSON – PARADISE VOL. 1

After earning four college degrees and teaching for years everywhere from Bogota and Rio to Beijing, saxophonist and composer Kenney Polson returns to recording and performing music full time with the release of an album whose title perfectly describes the listening experience: Paradise, Vol. 1. Drawing on his passions for jazz, new age, Latin, R&B, funk and gospel, Polson creates a spirited, soulful mix of melodic tunes, jazzy riffs and dreamy atmospheres with top Brazilian musicians he has recorded with previously. In all, the versatile musical force of nature has visited and performed in over 50 countries. He pools all those magical experiences and vibes together to create a true musical Paradise! Best of all, the second half of the album title promises there's more to come! ~ smoothjazz.com

NEW MUSIC: JEFF KASHIWA – FLY AWAY; CAROL ALBERT - FLY AWAY BUTTERFLY; ROBERT G- THE EP

JEFF KASHIWA – FLY AWAY

Former Rippington and creator of The Sax Pack, Jeff Kashiwa enters his third decade of solo recording with FLY AWAY, an emotionally impactful album whose songs alternately capture the bittersweet awareness of the passage of time and joyful optimism about the future. Balancing lilting, wistful reflections with flurries of exuberant soul-funk influenced jazz, Kashiwa – playing alto and tenor sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet and EWI – jams with his longtime band Coastal Access and brings extra punch to the project with guests Marc Antoine, Tom Schuman, Miles Gilderdale, Steve Reid, Ronnie Gutierrez, Ramon Yslas and one of the final recordings of the late Ricky Lawson. Kashiwa reminds us that while time seems to Fly Away, musical inspiration only grows sweeter with time. ~ smoothjazz.com

CAROL ALBERT - FLY AWAY BUTTERFLY

After paving the way with a handful of popular radio singles over the past year, Carol Albert brings out a full array of rich jazz and global fusion artistry on her unique concept album Fly Away Butterfly. The versatile Atlanta-based composer, keyboardist and vocalist takes the listener on deeply soulful, exotic journey that artfully blends spirited, jazzy piano melodies, dreamy vocals, punchy percussion textures and hypnotic ambiences featuring the soaring, inspirational twist on Al Jarreau’s classic song “One Way," a contemporary homage to one of her jazz heroes offering up the powerhouse saxophone of Sam Skelton. Fly Away Butterfly will take your musical imagination to many beautiful destinations! ~ smoothjazz.com

ROBERT G- THE EP

Renowned for his years as a backup vocalist for R&B greats Vesta Williams, Kashif, BeBe Winans and the late Teena Marie, Philly native Robert Gee steps out onto center stage with a heart-tugging set of old school originals that will remind people of his hometown’s seminal soul sound. ROBERT GEE THE EP is the perfect soul soundtrack for a smooth chill with original, jazzy pop featuring candlelit ballads and relaxed, dance floor slow jams showcasing Gee's silky soulful voice. The EP goes down EZ! ~ smoothjazz.com

2017 Newport Jazz Festival® Takes Over Aquidneck Island August 4 - 6

More than 300 established and emerging jazz artists will take over Aquidneck Island when the annual Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management returns August 4 - 6. This year's festival features more than 50 sets of non-stop music on four stages at historic Fort Adams State Park and a Friday evening performance at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

The 2017 roster includes 31 groups making their Newport Jazz debuts* as leaders or with new bands, including Rhiannon Giddens, The Roots, Andra Day, Naturally 7; Leslie Odom, Jr.; JoAnne Brackeen, David Torkanowksy, Cyrille Aimee,Marilyn Crispell, and the Newport Jazz Assembly Band.

Check out the final lineup for the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management:

Friday, August 4, Fort Adams State Park, 11:00 am-7:00 pm

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones; Béla Fleck, Howard Levy, Victor Wooten, Futureman

Maceo Parker: Maceo Parker, Greg Boyer, Will Boulware, Bruno Speight, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Pete Maclean, Darliene Parker,Corey Parker

Cecile McLorin Salvant: Cecile McLorin Salvant, Aaron Diehl,Paul Sikivie, Lawrence Leathers

*Naturally 7: Roger Thomas, Dwight Stewart, Rod Eldridge, Garfield Buckley, Warren Thomas, Lee Ricardo Cort, Kelvin Mitchell

Joey DeFrancesco + The People: Joey DeFrancesco, Troy Roberts, Dan Wilson, Jason Brown

*Leslie Odom, Jr.: Leslie Odom, Jr., Steven Walker, Senfuab Stoney, Michael Mitchell, Orlando Le Fleming, John Davis,

Amir ElSaffar's Rivers of Sound Orchestra: Amir ElSaffar, Dena ElSaffar, Fabrizio Cassol, Ole Mathisen, JD Parran, Mohammed Saleh, George Ziadeh, Jason Adasiewicz, Naseem AlAtrash, Rajna Swaminathan, Tareq Abboushi, Tim Moore, Zafer Tawil, Miles Okazaki, Aruan Ortiz, Carlo DeRosa, Nasheet Waits

Evan Christopher Clarinet Road & New Orleans Brass: Evan Christopher, David Torkanowsky, Roland Guerin, Shannon Powell, Leon Brown, Jon-Erik Kellso, Jeffrey Miller

John Allred, trombone, tuba

*One for All: Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, John Webber, Joe Farnsworth

Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith

Christian Sands Quartet with Gilad Hekselman, Yasushi Nakamura & Jerome Jennings

*Jimmy Greene Quartet with Kevin Hays, Ben Williams & Otis Brown III

Rodriguez Brothers: Robert Rodriguez, Michael Rodriguez, Samuel Torres, Luques Curtis, Nomar Negroni

*George Burton Quintet: George Burton, Tim Warfield, Jason Palmer, Pablo Menares, Wayne Smith Jr., drums

Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop Ensemble

Friday, August 4, International Tennis Hall of Fame, 8:00 pm

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Dan Oestreicher, BK Jackson, Pete Murano, Mike Bass-Bailey, Joey Peebles

*Rhiannon Giddens: Dirk Powell, Hubby Jenkins, Jason Sypher, Jamie Dick

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Snarky Puppy: Michael League, Justin Stanton, Mike "Maz" Maher,Chris Bullock, Chris McQueen, Nate Werth, Bobby Sparks, Jason "JT" Thomas

Branford Marsalis Quartet: Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Eric Revis, Kobie Watkins

Christian McBride Big Band with Special Guests Warren Wolf & Sean Jones: Christian McBride, Warren Wolf, Braxton Cook, Todd Bashore, Ron Blake, Dan Pratt, Carl Maraghi,

Steve Davis, Michael Dease, James Burton, Douglas Purviance, Sean Jones, Frank Greene, Nabate Isles, Brandon Lee, Christian Sands, Quincy Phillips

*Rhiannon Giddens: Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell, Hubby Jenkins, Jason Sypher, Jamie Dick

Vijay Iyer Sextet; Vijay Iyer, Graham Haynes, Mark Shim, Steve Lehman, Stephan Crump, Tyshawn Sorey

*Flying Toward the Sound - For Geri, With Love:Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding with Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran & Christian Sands

*Jazz 100: The Music of Dizzy, Mongo and Monk featuring Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Avishai Cohen, Josh Roseman, Roman Diaz, Ben Street & Adam Cruz

*Henry Threadgill Zooid: Henry Threadgill, Liberty Ellman, Christopher Hoffman, Jose Davila, Elliot Kavee

Benny Golson Quartet with Mike LeDonne, Buster Williams & Carl Allen

*Antonio Sanchez & Migration: Antonio Sanchez, Thana Alexa, Seamus Blake, John Escreet, Matt Brewer

*Dominick Farinacci: Dominick Farinacci, Julien Labro, Christian Tamburr, Shenel Johns, Dan Kaufman, Jon Michel, Jamey Haddad, Lawrence Leathers

*DJ Logic's Project Logic: DJ Logic, Jaleel Shaw, Keyon Harrold, Foday Musa Suso, Vernon Reid, James Hurt, Mono Neon, Marcus Gilmore

*Uri Caine Trio with Mark Helias & Clarence Penn

Gilad Hekselman, solo guitar

*JoAnne Brackeen, solo piano

*David Torkanowksy, solo piano

Peter Evans, solo trumpet

*David Leon: Herb Alpert ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer: David Leon, Leo Genovese, Josh Allen, Francisco Mela

*Jason Palmer's Berklee Septet: Jason Palmer, Emery Mesich, Zachary Auslander, Ben Bass, Domi Degalle, Stefano Battaglia, Alex Michelsen

Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) Senior All-State Jazz Band:Caleb Flynn, Eliot Laidlaw, Sam Rockwell, James Winner, Tim Hecker, Jack Armstrong, Christian Black, Jack Dunn, Ryan Sullivan, Anthony Agatiello, Priyanka Bonifaz, Dante Lopes, Noam Makover, Elena Serrano, Alec Charon, Eric Fay-Wolfe, Brayden Beason, Erin Cowden, Kieran Egan, Artie Montanaro, Conductor

Sunday, August 6, 2017

*The Roots: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tarik "Black Thought" Trotter, Damon "Tuba Gooding, Jr." Bryson, Mark Kelley, Kirk "Cap'n Kirk" Douglas, Ray Angry, James Poyser, Dave Guy, Ian "Chief" Hendrickson-Smith, DJ Jeremy Ellis, Stro Elliot

*Andra Day: Andra Day, Dave Wood, Charles Jones, Nando Raio, Shay Godwin

Jason Moran: Fats Waller Dance Party: Jason Moran, Ms. Lisa Harris, Leron Thomas, Tarus Mateen, Charles Haynes

Maria Schneider Orchestra: Maria Schneider, Steve Kenyon, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin, Scott Robinson, Keith O'Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn, Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis, Mike Rodriguez, Gary Versace, Ben Monder, Frank Kimbrough, Jay Anderson, Clarence Penn, drums

*Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, John Medeski & John Scofield

*Philadelphia Experiment: Questlove, Christian McBride, Uri Caine with special guest DJ Logic

*Bokanté f. Michael League & Malika Tirolien: Malika Tirolien, Jamey Haddad, Keita Ogawa, André Ferrari, Roosevelt Collier, Bob Lanzetti, Chris McQueen, Michael League

*Cyrille Aimee: Cyrille Aimee, Adrien Moignard, Michael Valeanu, Shawn Conley, Dani Danor

Cyrus Chestnut Trio: Cyrus Chestnut, Eric Wheeler, Chris Beck

*Theo Croker: Theo Croker, Eric Wheeler, Kassa Overall

*Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Tim Berne, Oscar Noriega, Matt Mitchell, Ches Smith

*Sean Jones Quintet with Brian Hogans, Orrin Evans, Luques Curtis & Obed Calvaire

*John Medeski, solo piano

*Vernon Reid, solo guitar

*Marilyn Crispell, solo piano

*Orrin Evans, solo piano

*Newport Jazz Assembly Band: Ben Marcoux, Joshua Bruneau, Jimmy O'Connell, Tony Davis, Noah Barker, Alex Tremblay, Mike Camacho

URI Big Band: Taylor Allen, Joel Caputo, Collin Larkin, Andrew Hellwig, Jessica Kilpatrick, Nick Castro, James Kimmerlein, Alyssa Oates, Joe Smith, William Chilton, Robin Hall, Manuel Morales, Jason Taylor, Ryan Tremblay, James Himmelmann, Evan Magno, Nick Motroni, Joseph Parillo, conductor

MA Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Band: Eric Tarlin, Justin Bartlett, Matthew Pearl, Tony Kim, Lael Dratfield, Kevin Costello, Benjamin Dooley, Joseph Nedder, Ryan Shaw, Jeffrey Pinsker-Smith, Alex Tung, Liam O'Hara, Richard Stanmeyer, Alex Park, Benjamin Cohen, Maxxon Wolski, Melanie Baime, Jamie Eder, Michael Manasseh, Ronald Carter, Conductor

(Schedule Subject to Change)

Jack DeJohnette Celebrates 75th Birthday & Continues Year-Long Celebration this Fall with North American Tour for Critically Acclaimed HUDSON Project

Celebrating his historic 75th birthday on August 9, 2017, music legend Jack DeJohnette will continue year-long birthday festivities with extensive touring, limited edition product releases, and more.

The multi-GRAMMY® winner and NEA Jazz Master will embark on a 18-city North American Fall tour with HUDSON, a collective group he co-leads with three of the world's top instrumentalists: Larry Grenadier, John Medeski and John Scofield. Touring in support of their commercially acclaimed eponymous album, which charted #1 and has remained in the Top 3 positions on Billboard's Jazz charts every week since its June 9 release on Motéma Music, Hudson is scheduled to close out the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 6. The group will tour extensively throughout October, including stops in New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C.. The album, which captures the atmosphere and beauty of the Hudson Valley region while celebrating the iconic music that has emerged from it, has received critical recognition from outlets such as NPR Music, Pitchfork, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, PEOPLE.com, and more.

DeJohnette's longtime product endorsers will commemorate the landmark birthday as well. Sonor Drums has "gifted" DeJohnette a new drum set to commemorate his 75 years. On August 21st, Sabian, DeJohnette's cymbal endorser since 1989, will release "Jack DeJohnette Shimmering '75' Ride," 75 numbered 22" limited edition ride cymbals that will come with a certification of authenticity. Vic Firth, DeJohnette's drum stick endorser since 1990, has also released special "Jack DeJohnette 75" drum sticks, exclusively available through DeJohnette's website.

"Celebrating 75 years on earth is just another day for me to continue to create and move the music forward," reflects DeJohnette. "The outpouring of love and respect at times can be overwhelming, and reminds me how grateful I am for all of the places the music has taken me, friendships and collaborations formed and the joy that life has given me". 

In addition to Hudson and limited edition product releases, DeJohnette's recent recording collaborations include Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby (for a new Spike Lee movie), and Anouar Brahem. DeJohnette will also make special appearances this fall with various projects in Woodstock, NY (Drum and Boogie Festival with David Sancious and Luisito Quintero), San Francisco (Miner Auditorium with his group featuring Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison) and Chicago (Chicago Symphony Orchestra with John Scofield and Larry Goldings).

In a career that spans six decades and includes collaborations with some of the most iconic figures in modern jazz, NEA Jazz Master and GRAMMY® Award winner Jack DeJohnette has established an unchallenged reputation as one of the greatest drummers in the history of the genre. The list of creative associations throughout his career is lengthy and diverse: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Charles Lloyd, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Joe Henderson, Freddy Hubbard, Betty Carter and so many more. Along the way, he has developed a versatility that allows room for hard bop, R&B, world music, avant-garde, and just about every other style to emerge in the past half-century through his iconic groups such as Compost, New Directions, Special Edition and The Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane, Matt Garrison Trio. Named as one of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time by Rolling Stone, his recording output has spanned decades on iconic record labels such as ECM (DeJohnette is the most recorded musician in the label's history), Milestone, Prestige, MCA Impulse! and more.

Upcoming Hudson North American Tour

August 6 - Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI

September 2 - Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit, MI

October 4 - Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Poughkeepsie, NY

October 6-7 - Rose Theater @ Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY

October 8 - Berklee Performing Arts Center, Boston, MA

October 10 - The Hamilton, Washington, D.C.

October 11 - The Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA

October 12 - Xavier University Jazz Series, Cincinnati, OH

October 14 - Sheldon Arts Center, St. Louis, MO

October 15 - Yardley Hall, Overland Park, KS

October 17 - Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, AB

October 18 - Chan Centre For The Performing Arts, Vancouver, BC

October 19 - Moore Theater, Seattle, WA

October 21 - Mondavi Center, Davis, CA

October 22 - The Green Music Center, Rohnert Park, CA

October 23 - Newmark Theater, Portland, OR

October 25 - Piper Theatre, Mesa, AZ

October 26 - KIMo Theater, Albuquerque, NM

Additional Jack DeJohnette Tour Dates

September 9 - Drum and Boogie Festival Woodstock, New York  (w/ David Sancious & Luisito Quintero)

September 24 - Miner Auditorium, San Francisco, CA (w/ Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison)

November 17 - Chicago Symphony, Chicago, IL (w/ John Scofield & Larry Goldings)

www.jackdejohnette.com

Jazz trumpeter Ilya Serov swinging his way through summer in the studio

Jazz trumpeter Ilya Serov has been cooped up in the recording studio all summer working on his second album, but Tuesday night in Laguna Beach, he’s going to take a break to make the live performance debut of the first single, “Swing 42,” featuring the dapper swingman dueting with Grammy winner and Oscar-nominated pianist Roger Kellaway. Accompanied by his 10-piece big band, Serov will be joined by Kellaway on stage at the Pageant of the Masters 2017.

Brandishing a fresh whimsical arrangement by Tom Kubis, Serov’s snappy muted trumpet reading of Django Reinhardt’s “Swing 42” is a frisky and fun summer frolic bolstered by Kellaway’s fanciful piano flourishes and a four-chair horn section.

“‘Swing 42’ is one of my favorite of Django’s tunes. It has such positive energy.  I really like the music of that era and I had been compelled to do a rendition of this tune for a while. I am glad we finally did it. It was so much fun and of course it was such an honor and a pleasure to work with an award-winning legend, pianist Roger Kellaway, who is a featured guest on the track. His brilliant play brought so much to the sound,” said Serov, a classically-trained musician from St. Petersburg, Russia who resides in Los Angeles.

At Tuesday evening’s performance, Kellaway will introduce Serov as part of the Rising Stars series in which “world-famous musicians and music aficionados introduce their favorite up and coming performers.” The two musicians first formed a bond after meeting a few years ago, which led to the collaboration for Serov’s sophomore outing. 

“I was fortunate to have met Roger several years ago and was featured on a couple of songs during one of his shows. It was an unbelievable experience for me and very encouraging. We stayed in touch and I am proud to call Roger and his lovely wife, Jorjana, my friends. I feel blessed to have been able to work with him and honored to have him play on my album,” said Serov, who also teamed with Kellaway to lense a video for “Swing 42” (http://bit.ly/2v7F2XB).

              

Last month, Serov appeared on SiriusXM’s The Dave Koz Lounge to talk about “Swing 42” as well as the album in progress, which will consist of standards and tunes from the Great American Songbook. Serov is producing.

A trumpeter and debonair vocalist, Serov released his debut album, “September in the Rain,” in late 2013. A year later, he was named Best New Artist at the Hollywood International Music Awards. Although the new session consists of big band, swing and straight-ahead jazz, Serov is also an imaginative alchemist who experiments with contemporary jazz, R&B, pop and world music nuances. For more information, please visit www.IlyaSerov.com.

Jazz fusion keyboardist Patrick Bradley honors tangible and “Intangible” influences on his fourth album

The spiritually-minded jazz fusion keyboardist Patrick Bradley doesn’t need a special occasion like marking his tenth anniversary as a recording artist to acknowledge his inspirations both tangible and divine. However, “Dear Friend,” the first single from his forthcoming fourth album, “Intangible,” due August 25, does just that, slated to arrive ten years after the release of his first solo set. Written with the album’s producer, Jeff Lorber, “Dear Friend” pays respectful homage to the seminal musicians who influence and inform Bradley’s contemporary jazz, rock, fusion and R&B mashups released on the Patrick’s Song Factory label.

“My intent was to honor the influence and significant impact that late musicians have on me musically such as keyboardist giants Keith Emerson, Richard Wright, George Duke, Joe Sample and Jon Lord. Bass players Chris Squire and Jaco Pastorius and guitarist Alan Holdsworth have a major influence on my approach to arrangements and melodies. Their influences are woven throughout my musical experiences, abilities and styles,” said Bradley, who wrote and arranged the ten songs that comprise “Intangible” with Lorber. “The tune also celebrates friendship of all kinds - whether it is the intimate friendship between a spouse or lover, a trusted best friend, a mentor, your family pet or the friendship expressed through songs of faith.”        

“Intangible” is the third outing for Bradley and Lorber, the latter of whom is a keyboardist widely recognized as one of the forefathers of jazz fusion, thus an element of mentorship is evident in their ongoing creative friendship. “Jeff and I work very well together. Coming into the studio, I had about 18 songs to work with for this project and we selected ten. Collaborating with Jeff always draws out new dimensions and makes me dig deeper.”

One of the dimensions that Bradley developed under the tutelage of Lorber was to cultivate the ability and the confidence to communicate as a trilingual keyboardist: piano, Hammond B3 organ and Moog synthesizer. Bradley’s nimble finger work dispenses harmonies in equal measures of power and grace, poignant and propulsive, riveting and rousing, and cerebral and accessible. His multi-voiced keyboard approach makes an individual track seem as if it is helmed by more than one protagonist with each unique keyboard instrument providing a different perspective on the melodies. In addition to the heavy usage of the Hammond B3 along with frequent spacy Moog forays, Bradley’s distinctive brand also consists of deep-pocketed grooves constructed by live instrumentation from a core unit of prominent musicians – guitarists Adam Hawley and Michael Thompson, bassist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Gary Novak and Lorber on synth bass, guitar and additional keyboards. A handful of cuts are bolstered by the brawn and bravura of David Mann’s horns. Paul Jackson Jr. cranks out a gale force of electric guitar riffs on “Tail Wind” while Andrew Carney’s trumpet thrives animatedly while exploring “Newport Coast.”                   

There is another essential element to Bradley’s recordings that have been present ever since he issued his debut album, “Come Rain or Shine,” a decade ago. “Music and creativity and whatever talents we each have are a gift from God. Love, faith, hope and even music are all intangible, hence the new album title. Much of our universe is intangible yet we spend the majority of our time seeking the physical and temporal things. I always want to encourage people to look beyond the physical universe and turn our hearts towards God,” said the Southern California native who balances his creative output with a corporate profile by serving as president of the Southern Pacific Region at Whole Foods Market.

Bradley’s singles regularly hit the Billboard chart, but he was especially encouraged by the success and growing support he received for his previous album, 2014’s “Can You Hear Me.” “It gave me a new drive to write, play and collaborate with a newfound zeal and energy, revealing where I am at musically at this time. All music has a piece of the artist within their songs. I find with each new project, I feel the need and responsibility to dig deeper and in a sense, be truer to the musician I am and inspire to be.”

  

“Intangible” contains the following songs:

“Dear Friend”

“Funky Greens”

“Tail Wind”

“On Tap”

“Intangible”

“Find the Way”

“Newport Coast”

“Winds of Change”

“Destiny”

“Out of Bounds”

www.PatrickBradleyMusic.com.

NEW MUSIC: SKINNY HIGHTOWER - EMOTIONS; WILSON PICKETT – WILSON PICKETT SINGS BOBBY WOMACK; BRENTON WOOD – OOGUM BOOGUM

SKINNY HIGHTOWER - EMOTIONS

Skinny Hightower is a smooth jazz pianist who is known for his keen ability to draw influences from other genres of music, claiming that he doesn't listen to smooth jazz. Nonetheless, the result is a smooth, complex blend somewhere in between R&B, jazz, and soul. Skinny started out playing drums as a young child, later developing an ear for piano, bass and guitar. He recorded his first song at nine years old and realized that he'd found a niche in songwriting and recording. As years progressed, Skinny continued recording smooth jazz and has since worked with numerous artists behind the scenes as a producer.

WILSON PICKETT – WILSON PICKETT SINGS BOBBY WOMACK

Two of the hippest soul artists of the late 60s – coming together here for an incredible collection of work! Bobby Womack would explode into huge fame as a star in his own right at the end of the decade – but at the time of these recordings, he was mostly getting play as a songwriter – and the young Wilson Pickett was one of the strongest supporters of his work! The tracks here were all recorded between 1966 and 1968 for Atlantic Records – including many excellent Muscle Shoals recordings – and the style of Womack's writing is a perfect blend with the deep soul vocals of the Wicked Pickett – at a level that almost seems to provide a blueprint for the mode that Bobby would use on his first few length albums. The lyrics are wonderful – full of fantastic feeling, and arguably more mature than some of the contemporary soul from the time – and it's wonderful to hear all the selections together in one place, especially with detailed notes that really frame the whole project. Titles include "It's A Groove", "Let's Get An Understanding", "People Make The World What It Is", "Trust Me", "Remember I Been Good To You", "I've Come A Long Way", "Sit Down & Talk This Over", "Nothing You Can Do", "I'm In Love", "I'm Sorry About That", "I Found A True Love", "We've Got To Have Love", and "Jealous Love" – and the CD also features two great bonus tracks – an early Bobby Womack single from Atlantic in 1967 – with Bobby singing "Find Me Somebody" and "How Does It Feel".  ~ Dusty Groove

BRENTON WOOD – OOGUM BOOGUM

A classic by Brenton Wood – one that crossed over big, and which was a real bright spot on the indie soul scene of the late 60s! Brenton's sound is kind of a swinging LA one – a bit pop in parts, but all-soul on the vocals, which are a bit sweet, but with a raspy edge that's always made Brenton's singles standout with soul fans over the years. The album includes Brenton's big singles "The Oogum Boogum Song" and "Gimme Little Sign" – as well as the tracks "Birdman", "I Like The Way You Love Me", "Best Thing I Ever Had", and "Take A Chance". Oddly, though, the album also features a psychedelic soul cover of "Psychotic Reaction" – the garage classic by Count Five, who were also on the Double Shot label, and who nicely let Brenton cut their song! It's real crazy – trust us!  ~ Dusty Groove

Pianist David Lopato's "Gendhing for a Spirit Rising" Featrures World Jazz Fusion on 2-CD Set

David Lopato Gendhing for a Spirit Rising Musical genres have been melding for ages, yet pianist/composer David Lopato has developed an eclectic East-West fusion that truly has no precedent. A respected educator, inventive composer, inveterate musical explorer, and fearless sonic pioneer who has traveled a highly personal "silk road," Lopato is releasing the extraordinary Gendhing for a Spirit Rising on September 8 via Global Coolant Records. This two-CD set is the culmination of the mesmerizing musical landscape he has cultivated since his first encounter with Javanese gamelan in the mid-1970s.

Along the way, including a pivotal year spent in Java as a Fulbright Scholar, Lopato carved out a niche for himself by crafting a fascinating and idiosyncratic instrumental voice that distinguishes him from others on the contemporary music scene.

An opulent smorgasbord of sounds, Gendhing for a Spirit Rising showcases the leader's work on piano, marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, Sundanese kendhang (hand drums), gongs, and electronics. Joining him on the recording are such jazz luminaries as Marty Ehrlich (alto and soprano saxophones), Mark Feldman (violin), Erik Friedlander (cello), Ratzo Harris (bass), Bill Ware (vibraphone), and drummers Tom Rainey and Michael Sarin; classical marimba virtuoso William Moersch; I. M. Harjito, the preeminent master of the Javanese rebab (traditional spike fiddle); and American gamelan masters Anne Stebinger and Marc Perlman (Javanese kendhang).

"I wanted to be able to infuse Western harmonic movement into a modal system that doesn't have that type of motion (and many Indonesian musicians perhaps prefer it that way)," Lopato explains."I sampled the gongs not only because I needed them to be compatible with Western tuning, but also to reinforce that sense of harmonic motion. And I chose certain instruments (vibes, glockenspiel, and marimba) because their timbres are somewhat similar to those of the Javanese instruments upon which their parts are modeled."

Every musical moment on Gendhing for a Spirit Rising is informed by Lopato's decades of intensive study and experimentation that found him embracing stride piano, the post-bop continuum, avant-garde classical music, blues, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and the traditional music of a myriad of other cultures, most importantly that of West Africa and of Indonesia.

Disc 1, Java, contains the recording's title track, a four-movement symphonic work for 10 musicians marked by incantatory rhythms and shimmering textures. The opening movement "Ladrang" flows from Lopato's work early in his career with Steve Reich and features a sumptuous melodic line above its churning rhythmic structure. "This Life" opens up space for improvisation, with Ehrlich's alto and soprano saxophones leading the surging opening theme, which feels like a bebop steeplechase over a lush West Javanese landscape. "Jalan Jiwa" evokes the "walking music" of Wayang Kulit, the traditional Javanese shadow puppet play, while the expansive "Gendhing" is an ingenious melding of Javanese gamelan structure with Western instrumentation and tuning. (Gendhing is a general term used to describe pieces in the gamelan repertoire but also refers to the longest form in terms of gong cycle and overall length in that musical tradition.)

With Bill Ware's vibes serving as a sonic bridge between Disc 1 and Disc 2, the jazz-steeped New York volume kicks off with "Beboppin' with Bella," a striking piece inspired by the interlocking metallophone lines in Balinese gamelan. The meditative "Jakshi" takes a Middle Eastern turn with its keening melody, and the cathartic three-part "Suite 911" flows from Lopato's experience living up the street from the World Trade Center.

David Lopato A prolific composer who has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for both jazz and classical music, Brooklyn native David Lopato made his recording debut with the critically praised 1982 solo piano session Giant Mbira (Lumina). He followed up with the highly dynamic 1993 trio session Inside/Outside (Enemy), and 1998's The Standard Line (Unity), a duo project with baritone saxophonist David Mott. With his last album, Many Moons (Global Coolant), he returned to the solo piano format.

After earning his B.A. in music composition at Yale in the early 1970s, Lopato went on to study West African drumming and Javanese gamelan at California Institute of the Arts in the mid-1970s. Eight years later, with the aid of a Fulbright Fellowship, he was able to deepen his knowledge of Javanese music and culture at the source. "Much of the music on Disc 1 is an outgrowth of that experience," he says.

On the faculty of the Jazz & Contemporary Music Department at the New School University in New York since 1991, Lopato has taught courses ranging from music theory, composition, and ear training to film scoring and the use of computer technology in music. A vital member of the New York City arts community, he produced a concert series at InHouse, a downtown Manhattan performance space devoted to contemporary improvised music, from 1990 to 2010.

David Lopato and his trio-mates, bassist Ratzo Harris and drummer Michael Sarin, will be performing at Cornelia Street Café in New York City on Monday 10/23, 8:30 pm.  

Web Site: davidlopato.com

Arturo O'Farrill & Chucho Valdés Celebrate Family on Collaborative Album, Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico

Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico brings together two of the influential families in Afro-Cuban music in a celebration of their late patriarchs: pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Bebo Valdés and composer, arranger and bandleader "Chico" O´Farrill.

It's a multi-generational tribute led by Arturo O´Farrill and Chucho Valdés - their sons, major figures in their own right - but also featuring the next generation, including pianist Leyanis Valdés, drummer Jessie Valdés, trumpeter Adam O´Farrill and drummer Zack O´Farrill.

In keeping with the theme of Familia, sitarist Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the great Ravi Shankar, is featured playing "Raja Ram," a piece by executive and artistic producer Kabir Sehgal, inspired by memories of his father.

Scheduled for September 15 release on Motéma Music, the 12-tracks presented in two discs, one featuring the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the other the Third Generation Ensemble, are a mix of classics by Bebo ("Ecuación" and "Con Poco Coco,") and Chico ("Pura Emoción" and "Pianitis") as well as originals by their sons and grandsons. The project was recorded in the studio immediately following sold-out live performances of the material as part of O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Alliance performance series at New York's Symphony Space in January 2017.

"I love that the name of the record is Familiaand that the cover features pictures of everybody, like a family album," said Valdés. "I love it because beyond the musical considerations, this is a very emotional project."

While recording this album, "there were at least two instances in which I literally had to hide in the bathroom to cry," recalled Valdés. "The first one was when I heard the orchestra playing my dad's "Ecuación" [originally written for Dizzy Gillespie in 1982 and orchestrated in 2004 for his "Suite Cubana"]; I remember he wrote that suite in pencil and copied all the parts by hand. And when Arturo's orchestra started playing, the sound put me back at the Tropicana, when I was a kid and Bebo used to take me to the rehearsals - and I had to hide and cry because the emotion was overwhelming. I felt my dad in the room." The other especially emotional moment happened when recording "Tema de Bebo," a piece he included as "Bebo" in his 2013 album Border-Free.

"The recording session had a pinch-me feeling, watching two maestros make music at the highest level. This collaboration is a watershed moment not just for the music but for education in our country: how different generations can work, learn, and imagine with each other. The workplace is increasingly intergenerational, and this album shows us how to thrive," said Sehgal, who also wrote the liner notes.

For O'Farrill, Familia suggests a deeply personal follow up to his latest album, Cuba: The Conversation Continues, which won "Best Instrumental Composition" GRAMMY® for the track "The Afro Latin Jazz Suite," as well as winning a Latin GRAMMY® for "Best Latin Jazz Album." It's a conversation between Chico and Bebo, old friends and colleagues in Cuba, who once shared music and a profound mutual admiration, continued and expanded by other, familiar voices.

But Familia is also something else, he noted: It´s a celebration of the creative spirit.

"It's important to me that Familia is not just a nostalgia project," said O'Farrill. "It cannot be. Bebo and Chico were both forward-looking creators so, for us, it was important not just to recreate the music they left us, but to capture the zeal and vision they had for progress. They were innovators. They wrote music that was radical for their times."

As a tribute to that spirit, consider O'Farrill's own "Three Revolutions," celebrating change and progress well beyond the mere political, or Zack O'Farrill's adventurous "Gonki Gonki."

Reflecting on the recent political climate as it relates to Familia, O'Farrill says, "It's sad to see progress made by a family-oriented President be dismantled by a business-oriented one. Business teaches that it's okay to lie, divide, manipulate and do whatever it takes to succeed. Familia stands as a challenge to those people who think mounds of glitter are what life is all about. We support the progress the United States has made with Cuba. Our restored diplomatic relations are a sign of recognition that familial obligations are more important than ideological or business obligations, and that the first order of business is to see those families as global."

As for the recording sessions, "there were many unbelievable moments for me," he said. "I have a photograph of Bebo and Chico standing together and looking very happy so when we first started the session I taped this photo on a very high boom stand. So Chucho and I had our backs to each other, and high up, between us, we had Bebo and Chico watching over the music."

He recalled the recording of "Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters," for which, at one point, "We had everyone in the studio, Leyanis, Jessie, Zack, Adam, a group of young trumpet players from Cuba, the entire band and me and Chucho," said Arturo. "I just took a moment to look at the assembled crowd and I had this overwhelming sense of accomplishment, and thinking of Chico and Bebo."

Arturo "Chico" O´Farrill (October 28, 1921 - June 27, 2001) and Dionisio Ramón Emilio "Bebo" Valdés Amaro (October 9, 1918 - March 22, 2013) first worked together in Cuba at the fabled Tropicana Club. O´Farrill wrote arrangements for the house orchestra and Valdés was the house pianist. From there, their paths diverged widely. O´Farrill moved to New York in the late 40s, lived in Mexico City from 1955 to 1965, when he returned to Manhattan. Valdés left Cuba in self-exile in 1960, first to Mexico and then Europe, settling eventually in Stockholm. Both lived most of their lives as exiles and both unexpectedly found success again, performing and recording, in their winter days, but their paths did not cross again many times.

"A beautiful moment I recall with them was while touring in Spain with Chico in 1995," said O'Farrill. "I believe we were in Madrid and Bebo came to see the band. And when they saw each other there were a lot of hugs and tears. It was very emotional, very powerful. There was a lot of love and respect between them. It was a beautiful thing to witness."

As for the next generation, O'Farrill has played and recorded with his sons Zack and Adam from an early age, but for Valdés, this was the first time in the studio with Leyanis and Jessie.

"They already have recorded their first album, and theirs is a very different music. It has nothing to do with me or Bebo," said Valdés, sounding like a proud dad. Meanwhile O´Farrill, spoke of how moved he was with the way the young guys carried themselves.

"Zack, Adam, Leyanis and Jessie are incredible musicians, and I keep thinking of how their music comes from their humanity," he said. "We have pieces like the ones by Zack and Jessie and you can hear how the vision and spirit of our forefathers has been carried on by the generations that followed. I think Chico and Bebo would've been proud."

Arturo O'Farrill & Chucho Valdés · Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico

Label: Motéma Music · Release Date: September 15, 2017