Engelbert Humperdinck Set to Release ‘The Man I Want to Be’ on November 24th via OK!Good Records

A love letter to his wife of 53 years, 'The Man I Want To Be' includes songs by Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Willie Nelson, Jon Allen, Richard Marx, and more!

  

Iconic careers don’t come any bigger than Engelbert Humperdinck’s. One would be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with his multi-platinum selling hits such as “Release Me”, “The Last Waltz” or “After the Lovin'”. These and many more of his hits have contributed greatly to 150 million worldwide album sales by the “King of Romance”, as Engelbert is lovingly nicknamed by his legion of fans. Just having entered a new decade of his life, the youthful Engelbert is also celebrating his 50th year in showbiz with the release of a brand new album 'The Man I Want to Be' on November 24, 2017 via OK! Good Records. Not content with being a legacy artist, Engelbert demonstrates effortlessly with this album (his first album of original material in over a decade), that he is very much a relevant artist for today’s audiences as he has been over the last five decades of his career.

Doubling as a love letter to his wife Patricia of 53 years who is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, 'The Man I Want To Be' presents the singer in a much more contemporary style and introspective mood, covering topics such as self realization (“The Man I Want To Be”, “I Followed My Heart”, “Absolute Beginner”), remorse (“How Can You Live”, “Prodigal Son”), and melancholic nostalgia (“Photograph”, “I’m Glad I Danced With You”). A collection of love songs crafted by stellar array of songwriters like Willie Nelson (“Crazy”), Jon Allen (“The Man I Want To Be”), Richard Scott (“Just Like The First Time”), Steve Mac (“Absolute Beginner”), Richard Marx and Fee Waybill (“How Can You Live”), it also includes two unexpected covers – Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” and Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are”, which are definite highlights of the album. Much more than simple cover versions, Engelbert gives the songs a much deeper reading- lyrically and musically. Another unexpected surprise is a duet with his talented nine year old granddaughter Olivia, “I’m Glad I Danced With You,” a bittersweet ode dedicated to his wife Patricia.

Engelbert will be taking the new songs on the road, making them an integral part of his ongoing 50th Anniversary Live tour to destinations both domestic and all around the world. Still doing up to a 100 shows every year is positive proof that there is no stopping the man. A special live show focused mostly on the new album is being arranged for the beginning of 2018 in Los Angeles. In a departure from his usual big room shows, this one will be in a much more intimate setting.

To celebrate his 50th anniversary in show business, his original label Decca Records released a comprehensive 'Greatest Hits' package in May of 2017, which promptly became a Top 5 Chart record in his home country of England. Decca honored his celebrated career with an additional 11 CD box set which includes Engelbert’s first 11 albums recorded for the label.

OK!Good Records previously released a double-CD of duets, 'Engelbert Calling', in September of 2014, which featured collaborations by Engelbert with fellow artists such as Elton John, Willie Nelson, Gene Simmons, Johnny Mathis, Charles Asznavour and many others, making a number of promotional appearances on radio and television.

'The Man I Want To Be' was produced by Jurgen Korduletsch and will be released on November 24, 2017 via OK! Good Records.

Tracklisting:

1. “Absolute Beginner” (Written by Steve Mac, Tia Sillers)

2. “The Man I Want to Be” (Written by Jon Allen, Jake Field)

3. “Just the Way You Are” (Written by Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Khalil Walton, Khari Cain)

4. “How Can You Live” (Written by Richard Marx, Fee Waybill)

5. “Just Like the First Time” (Written by Richard Scott, Kelvin Andrews, Scott Ralph)

6. “Photograph” (Edward Sheeran, John McDaid, Martin Harrington, Thomas Leonard)

7. “I’m Glad I Danced With You (with Olivia)” (Louise Dorsey, Tony Toliver, Jim Martin)

8. “Prodigal Son” (Written by Tony Toliver, Jim Martin)

9. “I Followed My Heart” (Written by Jon Allen)

10. “Songs of Love” (Written by Joerg Evers, Louise Dorsey, Engelbert Humperdinck)

11. “Crazy” (Written by Willie Nelson)

12. “On Broadway” (Written by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil)

13. “Welcome to My World” (Written by Ray Winkler, Johnny Hathcock)

14. “Our England” (Music by Les Reed OBE, Lyrics by Geoff Stephens)

The Tormé Holiday Tradition Continues In the Big Apple, Performed By The Son Of Jazz Legend Mel Tormé

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW PRESENTS, James Tormé in "COLOR ME JAZZ" A brilliant reinvention of the smoky vocal jazz of the early sixties, tipping his hat not only to Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Marlena Shaw and Jack Jones, but also to his own father, Mel Tormé, and several legendary arrangers. "An unforgettable story, told by jazz royalty, sung by one of the very best in the business”. ~ Chris Phillips Jazz FM

FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, presents James Tormé in “Color Me Jazz” on November 25, 2017. From the high-energy Shorty Rogers versions of “Hi-Fly”, “Moanin” and “Puttin’ On The Ritz”, and a Claus Ogerman style “Comin’ Home Baby” (featured in the current Nespresso commercials with George Clooney), to Johnny Mandel’s ultra-dreamy, almost Ellingtonian iteration of Leroy Carr’s “In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down” (recently heard on FX’s Feud), and Chet Baker's timeless “Let’s Get Lost”, “Color Me Jazz”, is a pure delight. Jazz FM’s Chris Phillips describes the show as, “An unforgettable story, told by jazz royalty, sung by one of the very best in the business”. Being hailed by Sony Classics president Chuck Mitchell as “the greatest male jazz vocalist to come along in 20 years”, the young singer feels it’s his responsibility to exceed expectations on a nightly basis. James explains, “Being a Tormé isn’t enough. I know I need to actually be great”. And he is. This one is not to be missed.

Internationally acclaimed singer James Tormé comes to Feinstein’s/54 Below for a special one-night engagement of his Color Me Jazz show, featuring jazz legend, John Colianni, Jay Leonhart, and Vito Lesczak. A brilliant reinvention of the smoky vocal jazz of the early sixties. The second-generation entertainer (yes, he’s the son of the great Mel Tormé), brings his buttery tone and high-level improvisational gifts to bare, tipping his hat not only to Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Marlena Shaw, and Jack Jones, but also, to his own father, Mel Tormé, and several legendary arrangers.

James Tormé in “Color Me Jazz” plays Feinstein’s/54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on November 25, 2017. There is a $35-$45 cover charge and $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at http://www.54Below.com. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 are only available by calling (646) 476-3551.

According to Jazz FMTM, "If you get a chance to see James Tormé, you should beg, borrow, even steal a ticket". With just a single visit to one of James' shows, it's easy to see why the multi-award-winning singer is quickly becoming one of the most talked about artists on the planet.

James Tormé (who is the son of 3-time Grammy Award Winning jazz legend Mel Tormé) is taking the legacy he was born with into even further - and causing a serious buzz in the process. Often appearing with outfits like, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronnie Scott's Orchestra and Les Paul Trio, the charismatic young star's debut album has topped both the iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts*.

Tormé is "the best male jazz singer to come along in 20 years" according to longtime Verve Records president, Chuck Mitchell, the man who first discovered him. Having grown up spending time with a myriad of jazz legends (Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Duke Ellington, George Shearing, Buddy Rich & more), one begins to understand why. Tormé himself attributes as much of his ability as a performer to the "process of osmosis” as he does to his own show-business background. Explains Tormé, “There's no question, I absorbed a lot from my dad and his peers.” This is clear as soon as one hears his singing style, which draws from the “old school”, but with modern styling that makes it very current in today's market.

James Tormé is being praised from all corners of the globe by everyone from Billboard TM and CBS News, to BBC Radio 2 and Jamie Cullum. Possessing the look (and swagger) of a Hollywood star, he seems to know just how to handle all the press attention he's getting. It's no mystery that Tormé is now consistently appearing to standing-room only crowds at the world's top venues, as well as, being featured as the centerpiece of prestigious jazz festivals across the globe. Says Tormé, "Every show, every appearance is important to me, whether it's the Greek Theater or a small jazz club. I remember every audience. If they're going to pay money to see me, I want to give them a night they'll never forget."

Feinstein’s/54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, is a performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife. A few blocks from the heart of Times Square and just below the legendary Studio 54, Feinstein’s/54 Below is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. Feinstein’s/54 Below presents iconic and rising stars from the worlds of Broadway and popular music and has set a new standard for culinary excellence worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage.

In their description of the venue, The New York Times writes, “Feinstein’s/54 Below has the intimacy of a large living room with unimpeded views and impeccable sound; there is not a bad seat in the house. Its sultry after-hours ambiance is enhanced by brocade-patterned wall panels planted with orange-shaded lanterns. And the atmosphere is warmer and sexier than in Manhattan’s other major supper clubs.”

THE COMPLETE PRESTIGE 10-INCH LP COLLECTION OF THELONIOUS MONK CELEBRATES THE INFLUENTIAL JAZZ MUSICIAN’S EARLY RECORDINGS

DELUXE VINYL BOX SET OFFERS FAITHFULLY REPRODUCED JACKETS AND LABELS

Craft Recordings, the Catalog Division of Concord Music is proud to announce the release of Thelonious Monk’s The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection. Due out December 15th, the limited-edition box set includes all five of the 10” vinyl LPs which the pianist recorded for the jazz label, spanning 1952 to 1954. Each album has been faithfully reproduced – from the jacket design to the LP labels – while the audio has been carefully restored and remastered by Joe Tarantino from the original analog tapes, with lacquer cutting by George Horn and Anne-Marie Seunram at Fantasy Studios. Rounding out the collection is a booklet with new liner notes by Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection will also be released in high-res and standard audio formats across all streaming and digital platforms. 

Thelonious Sphere Monk (1917-1982), who would have turned 100 this year, remains one of the most highly regarded jazz artists in history, known for his unique style on and off the piano. Monk was a rule-breaker, pushing the limits of his genre, with his dissonant chords, unconventional melodies and progressive rhythms. Initially dismissed an eccentric by the musical elite, Monk stood his ground, and came to be celebrated for his complexities; considered by many to be a genius. 

However, in the early ’50s, the artist was still struggling to find critical and commercial acceptance. In his liner notes, Robin D. G. Kelley refers to this era as the “golden years in terms of [Monk’s] creative output” but, he adds, “these were also dark times.” Following an unjust run-in with the law, the jazz musician’s cabaret card was revoked, preventing him from performing at New York clubs, and restricting his income. The artist’s fortune began to change, though, in 1952, when Prestige Records’ founder Bob Weinstock offered Monk a recording contract. Weeks later, the Thelonious Monk Trio  ̶  consisting of Art Blakey (as well as Max Roach on select tracks) on drums and Gary Mapp on bass, went to work in the studio, with a young Ira Gitler as producer. The resulting 10-inch LP release was Thelonious. By the fall of 1953, Monk returned to the studio, this time with a quintet, for Thelonious Monk Quintet Blows For LP, featuring Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone. Thelonious Monk Quintet and Thelonious Plays followed in 1954. In the final 10-inch LP in this collection, recorded in October of 1954, Monk was actually a last-minute replacement for Elmo Hope at a Sonny Rollins session. But he ultimately received co-billing on the resultant 10” LP release, Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk. Also produced by Gitler, the LP includes an 11-minute jam of Vincent Youmans’ “More Than You Know” which, as Kelley puts it, became “the session’s masterpiece, a sublime dialogue between two great masters of modern music.” 

These early albums in The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection offer an intriguing look into this distinctive and resolute artist before he found full acclaim and acceptance, and feature an impressive collective personnel that includes some of jazz’s finest. “Listening to these tracks more than sixty years after they were recorded, it’s stunning how compelling, modern and original Monk’s music still sounds, even through the filter of 21st-century ears,” observes the collection’s producer, Nick Phillips. “That’s the mark of a true musical genius, indeed.” 

 

THE CHICK COREA + STEVE GADD BAND RELEASE CHINESE BUTTERFLY, CULMINATING A 50-YEAR MUSICAL RELATIONSHIP

Chinese Butterfly finds the two longtime collaborators co-leading a band for the first time, joined by Lionel Loueke, Steve Wilson, Carlitos Del Puerto, Luisito Quintero and special guest Philip Bailey

Fifty-year musical partnerships are rare. But the bond between keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea and master drummer Steve Gadd is legendary: five decades after they first met, Corea and Gadd are making some of the most vital, adventurous music they’ve ever created. Barnstorming funk-based workouts, dazzling and intimate lyrical excursions and Spanish-hearted improvisations set a new standard for no-boundaries jazz. And thankfully, they caught it on tape.

Chinese Butterfly, Corea & Gadd’s debut two-disc studio album, featuring five epic new Corea compositions, is scheduled for release January 19, 2018 via Concord Jazz. The album’s title hints at the rare and transfixing beauty of its music. Chick and Steve use their shared history of fearless innovation as a launching pad, pushing into new territory with an inspired band of collaborators: Benin-born guitarist and vocalist Lionel Loueke, saxophonist and flutist Steve Wilson, Cuban bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, and Venezuelan percussionist Luisito Quintero.

The album is the realization of a long-held desire that Chick and Steve shared, to work together more intensively. “Whenever Chick and I bump into each other, we’re always talking about playing music together,” Gadd says. “After many years of saying that, we finally put some time aside.”

Corea and Gadd first crossed paths in 1965, when Corea briefly joined up with Gadd’s regular gig in Chuck Mangione’s band. Over the next 10 years, Chick became one of the most influential keyboardists and composers of his generation, in jazz or any other genre. Steve, likewise, became a drum legend, laying down ageless, iconic rhythms with Paul Simon, Steely Dan and countless others.

In 1972, Corea reimagined his pioneering Brazilian outfit Return to Forever as an electric band, and Gadd became its first drummer. His commitments as the most in-demand session drummer on the scene could not accommodate RTF’s extensive touring schedule, but Corea & Gadd would reunite in 1976 for Corea’s Grammy-winning The Leprechaun and the acclaimed My Spanish Heart, whose mix of electric jazz and Latin rhythms echoes through Chinese Butterfly. Their camaraderie was the backbone of 1981’s Three Quartets, a watershed album for Chick’s writing and a master class in next-level straight-ahead jazz.

By the time they cleared their schedules to get together at Corea’s Florida studio in early 2017, their unique chemistry provided Chick with a burst of compositional inspiration, beginning with “Like I Was Sayin’” and the playfully titled “Gadd-zooks”.

“I’ve always enjoyed composing music for a band, and hearing what Steve would do with my compositions,” Corea says. “When we started playing those two tunes together, it felt so good that we started to talk about putting a band together.”

While Corea is credited as the composer on the majority of the set’s eight tunes (with John McLaughlin’s tribute “Chick’s Chums” and “Wake-Up Call,” co-written with Loueke, the only exceptions), he insists that the end result is a group effort, indelibly marked with Gadd’s distinctive rhythmic sensibility. “It’s a co-creation,” he explains. “I write the compositions, and Steve puts together the form of the rhythm, which is the backbone of the band. In my music, rhythm is everything – if the music doesn't have the right emotion and rhythm, it can’t live.”

Right from the opening seconds – a whip-crack pulse-quickening intro to the infectious “Chick’s Chums,” – Gadd’s signature is all over this album. He and Corea drive a band with bottomless reserves of firepower: the opener’s deep-pocket funk and elegant lyricism give way to “Serenity,” a showcase for Loueke’s stirring vocals and Wilson’s lilting flute. The band’s high-wire dynamic comes to the fore through the taut, roiling grooves of “Like I Was Sayin’,” which strips the ensemble down to a trio with Del Puerto for the session’s most full-throttle excursion.

Corea’s keyboard mastery is breathtaking throughout, melding beautifully with Quintero’s percussive pulse for the intricate Latin sound of “A Spanish Song.” The tune strikes a unique balance between passionate emotion and effortless complexity. Disc one closes with the title track, inspired by a verse written by Corea’s friend, poet Malin Gelfan. “Your heart will tremble,” the brief poem concludes, “like a Chinese Butterfly.” The brimming, expressive interplay between Corea and Wilson alone is enough to deliver those palpitations.

The three expansive tracks on disc two find the group stretching out even further. “Return to Forever” offers a glimpse of a parallel universe where Gadd stayed in the band, revisiting that iconic group’s eponymous theme song, with lovely, keening vocals courtesy of R&B great and Earth, Wind & Fire original member Philip Bailey. The track alternates between sparse, idyllic impressionism and joyous, celebratory bursts of soulful colors.

The captivating drones of “Wake-Up Call,” with atmospheric tones that suggest a lush jungle enlivened by birdsong and chants, adds gentle African rhythms to the mix while maintaining a sharp focus throughout its epic 18 minutes – this is a tune that’s about digging deep, not losing control. Finally, “Gadd-zooks” offers a comic book-inspired reaction to Gadd’s drumset prowess, a 16-minute tasting menu of the drum master’s rhythmic eclecticism, paired with a stunning palette of shimmering tones and inventive approaches from Corea’s synths.

Artist Marc Bessant’s cover design shows the form of a butterfly constructed by the instruments of the band – pianos for wings, drums for the head and thorax, etc. It’s an image that perfectly encapsulates The Corea/Gadd Band’s unique beauty – organic, one-of-a-kind, and inspiring in its ability to take breath-taking flight.

 

  

Anita Baker Will Perform On The 19th Annual Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage Cruise Sailing April 29 - May 6, 2018

"Anita's coming out of retirement as I go into retirement…and she will come out of retirement for the cruise…Thank you, Lord!"

Tom Joyner announced that guests aboard the 2018 Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage will be treated to an exclusive Evening With Anita Baker. The eight-time Grammy Award winner will honor radio pioneer Tom Joyner by performing live aboard his annual benefit cruise sailing April 29 – May 6, 2018. Anita Baker's performance will be a highlight on the cruise as we also celebration Joyner's 25 years in syndication. As the most groundbreaking entertainment cruise, the charitable endeavor is known for featuring over 60 entertainers and comedy acts along with daily empowering seminars, theme nights, morning inspiration, concerts, shopping, beach parties, fitness, late night after-parties, parades and a cavalcade of celebrities celebrating Tom Joyner's efforts to assist students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Tom Joyner announced:

"Man do I have a treat! Oooooo…I can't keep a secret. I'll explode! She's coming on the boat…She's coming out of retirement…Anita Baker is coming on the cruise! Anita's coming out of retirement as I go into retirement…and she is coming out of retirement for the cruise…Thank you, Lord!"

AUDIO: https://tinyurl.com/ydz5yn9a

Baker's decades-long career has included four platinum and two gold albums with signature R&B hits including "Caught Up in the Rapture", "Sweet Love" and "Giving You the Best That I Got". Her unique voice has the sultry vibe of a jazz singer and has been the cornerstone of a sound that has helped to shape R&B since her solo career began in the early 80s.  Although the Detroit-bred contralto established a musical style that has noticeably influenced an entire generation of talents, Baker herself has remained unmoved by the ebb and flow of trends in the industry. It is that timelessness that has left fans clamoring for her presence on the music scene ever since the wife and mother took a hiatus from the spotlight to focus on family.

The Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage® Cruise features nonstop empowering activities, theme nights, and entertainment featuring Anita Baker, in addition to Chris Brown, Tamar Braxton, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, The Isley Brothers, The O'Jays and a wide range of hit-makers performing on the cruise. The current line-up for the 2018 cruise includes Divas, Soul, Throwback Hip Hop, Funk and Comedy: SWV, En Vogue, Jones Girls, Heatwave, GQ, Taste of Honey, The Sylvers, Brothers Johnson, Ying Yang Twins, Eastside Boyz, Trillville, Young Bloodz, Bonecrusher, Raheem Devaughn, Dwele, Eric Roberson, 112, the Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston, Force MD's, Das EFX, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio (Furious Five), DJ Kool, EPMD, Fat Boys. Now in its 19th year, the original Party with a Purpose® will sail from Galveston, TX April 29 - May 6, 2018 and make stops in Montego Bay and Cozumel on the Carnival Breeze raising money to help keep students in school at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

NEW RELEASES: RUBY TURNER – LIVIN’ A LIFE OF LOVE: THE JIVE ANTHOLOGY 1986-1991; SOWECO – KEEP ON; LA BAND DEL BRASILIANO VOL. 2

RUBY TURNER – LIVIN’ A LIFE OF LOVE: THE JIVE ANTHOLOGY 1986-1991

Classic work from Ruby Turner – a UK soul singer, but one who was part of a new generation that hardly had to answer at all to her contemporaries on the other side of the Atlantic! The tracks here have a modern, midtempo groove that's right up there with the best US mainstream soul of the period – and Turner's voice, honed by years of work with others, really soars out right from the start – with a richness that really keeps these songs fresh, even past some of the production styles of the time! Ruby sings here as if she's working for Atlantic Records at the end of the 60s, and not Jive Records in the 80s – and she brings a proud, full sound to her vocals that holds up wonderfully over the years. The set's a really well-chosen batch of tracks – 32 numbers that show Turner at her best, including duets woth Jimmy Ruffin and Jonathan Butler – with titles that include "I'm Livin A Life Of Love", "Hurting Inside", "If You're Ready Come With Me", "I'm In Love", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "It's My Life (ext version)", "Step In My Shoes", "Still Waters Run Deep", "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted", "Just My Imagination", "It's Gonna Be Alright", "Paradise (radio edit)", "Everytime I Breathe", "It's Gonna Be Alright (Brixton bass mix)", "It's You My Heart Beats For", "Merry Go Round", and "Provoking".  ~ Dusty Groove

SOWECO – KEEP ON

Soweco is just a trio, but one that comes across with the fullness of a classic combo from years back – particularly the sorts of blue-eyed soul groups from the end of the 70s! Singer Fredric Frosche Renmark has a great range, and this warmly gliding style to his vocals – which are set up over jazzy keyboards by Mattias Roos and drums from Peter Gustafsson – augmented by other touches in the studio, but also as lean as the lineup might imply! This isn't a contemporary beats and keys project – and instead, the whole thing's got a charm that goes back to the old school. The album's issued on the same label as work by guitarist U-Nam – who guests here on two tracks – and there's definitely the same blend of jazz, soul, and funk going on in the music. Titles include "Keep On", "Forget For A Moment", "Lucky Charm", "Way Up High", "Let The Rain Fall Down", "Your Love", and "By The Sea". ~ Dusty Groove

LA BAND DEL BRASILIANO VOL. 2

A contemporary record, but one that's got a very vintage vibe – served up by a young Italian combo whose style hearkens back to the grooviest styles of the 60s! Most of the tunes are romping, jerking, and jumping – that mod 60s blend of soul, rock, and jazz elements that flourished strongly on the Euro scene – and which built a very hip bridge between American styles and the newly emerging hipster scene overseas! Vocals are by both female and male singers – sometimes alone, sometimes together – and the instrumentation is heavy on Hammond, guitar, and saxes – on titles that include "92 Minuto", "La Verita", "Impossibile", "Hey Ragazzo", "Un'Ora In Piu", "Eclisse Twist", and "Preparati Bambina". ~ Dusty Groove

Drummer Jerry Granelli Reunites with Guitar Greats Bill Frisell & Robben Ford After 25 Years for Blues-Soaked Repertoire on Dance Hall

Back in 1992, veteran drummer-composer Jerry Granelli went to studios in Seattle and San Francisco with an all-star cast, including trombonist Julian Priester, alto sax great Kenny Garrett, bassist Anthony Cox and guitarists Bill Frisell and Robben Ford, to record a set of blues-based tunes that resonated with his youth. The resulting album, A Song I Thought I Heard Buddy Sing, inspired by Michael Ondaatje's haunting novel "Coming Through Slaughter" about the life of the legendary New Orleans cornetist Buddy Bolden, includes blues-tinged nuggets as Johnny Hodges' "Wanderlust," Charlie Parker's "Billie's Bounce," Ornette Coleman's "Blues Connotation" and Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You."

Twenty-five years later, Granelli returned to the studio with the same producer from that landmark session, Lee Townsend, along with the same guitar tandem of Frisell and Ford for another blues-soaked outing. Inspired by his upbringing as an aspiring musician in San Francisco, Dance Hall, is at once a joyful reunion and a fond salute to his own youth. "This is the bookend," said the revered, 76-year-old drummer from his home base in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "When I told Bill and Robben I wanted to make another blues record, they both said, 'I'm in.' It took about a year to get everybody in the same place, but it was a great session. This record really meant a lot to me. There's magic on these tracks."

Granelli's 20th album as a leader has him tackling hit singles from yesteryear, including The Platters' "The Great Pretender," Dinah Washington's mournful "This Bitter Earth," Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame" and Louis Jordan's "Caldonia." He also tips his cap to Max Roach on a dramatic reading of "Driva Man" (from 1964's pivotal protest record We Insist! Freedom Now Suite featuring singer Abbey Lincoln) and to Charles Mingus on a straight shuffle version of "Boogie Stop Shuffle." An earthy reading of "Meet Me in the Morning" represents one of the artists Granelli knew from the early days of the Fillmore West in San Francisco, Bob Dylan. The drummer explains that his laid back, behind-the-beat groove on this Dylan tune was more inspired by a funkier version by Texas bluesman Freddie King from his 1975 album Larger Than Life. Aretha Franklin is also represented here with a newer tune, the gospel-tinged "Never Gonna Break My Faith" (from the 2006 movie Bobby about the death of Bobby Kennedy). "I heard that song on a plane and I just felt, 'That's the time we're in, that's what we gotta do now," Granelli maintains. "We gotta stand and not let these motherfuckers break our faith.'"

  

When Granelli and producer Townsend began talking about the project, Granelli stated he wanted the album to be "personal." Townsend replied, "That's it, find it from there." This is how Granelli was able to develop personal connections to each of the songs. "'Ain't That a Shame' has a story behind it. I was in high school and had just met the woman who would become my first wife. I just fell in love, walked around the corner to a record store and I remember that song was playing. I was not yet 20 when I first heard Dinah Washington single, 'This Bitter Earth.' After that I would sit in this bar every day, drinking gin and tonics, trying to feel melancholy and capture the sadness of that profound song. It's so gorgeous. Louis Jordan is someone I grew up listening to and his 'Caldonia' in particular is how I learned to play quarter note triplets on the drums. So I had all of those songs memorized as a kid, and every one of them meant something real to me. And as far as 'The Great Pretender,' I toured with The Platters when that song was popular, so I must've played it hundreds of times."

The core quartet - Granelli  on drums, Frisell and Ford on guitars and Granelli's son J. Anthony Granelli on bass - puts its stamp on "Boogie Stop Shuffle," "Driva Man," "This Bitter Earth" and "Never Gonna Break My Faith." A punchy three-piece horn section, arranged by Steve Bernstein of Millenial Territory Orchestra and Hot 9 fame, are augmented on four other tunes - "Meet Me in the Morning," "The Great Pretender," "Ain't That a Shame" and "Caldonia." Granelli, who has cultivated a two-guitar sound in his previous bands V-16 and UFB, says he fell in love 20 years ago with that combination from the Frisell-Ford hookup he heard on A Song I Heard Buddy Sing. "I just always loved that sound, where it's like two guitars meshing into one big guitar to the point where you can't tell who's playing what."

For the drummer and educator, who is approaching 77 in December, Dance Hall represents a return to the fundamental desire to play the blues. "I've gone through a lot of phases in my career, starting out playing straight ahead in piano trios led by Vince Guaraldi and Denny Zeitlin, then playing that right-in-the-pocket Mississippi-Louisiana thing with Mose Allison in the '70s. I've gone through the 'out' stuff with free jazz and all that. But the beauty of playing this instrument, the drums, is playing time for people who can just do it and use it. And these guys really know how to use it.

"Everybody did this session as a labor of love all the way down the line," he added. "There was a lot of laughing, a lot of joy at the sessions. It was a real love fest. And to me, personally, it just feels like artistic freedom has finally been reached with this recording, where you can actually do what it is that you love. For me, it feels like a pretty outrageous record to make at this point in my life. Just to play the drums that way...that's what I grew up in. I can't wait to get on the road and play this music and see what happens. That's the next step."

NEW RELEASES: BOOTSY COLLINS – WORLD WIDE FUNK; WILLIE JONES III – MY POINT IS; JAMES BLOOD ULMER "THE THING" - BABY TALK

BOOTSY COLLINS – WORLD WIDE FUNK

Bootsy Collins has always been a very collaborative artist – from his early work in the James Brown Band, to his famous recordings with George Clinton, to his own albums – which often included most of the leading lights of the P-Funk universe! That collaborative spirit is alive and well here – as Bootsy opens the door to invite a huge host of guests from the worlds of funk, soul, and hip hop – all to augment his groove, and help his classic music find a way to live anew in the contemporary generation! Nearly every track here has at least one guest – most have many more – and the album features contributions from Musique Soulchild, Doug E Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Dru Down, Mc Eiht, Bernie Worrell, Chuck D, Buckheat, and many others – all of whom participate in the general party vibe of the set. Titles include "Pusherman", "Thera-P", "World Wide Funk", "Candy Coated Lover", "A Salute To Bernie", "Hi On Heels", "Snow Bunny", "Worth My Wile", and "Come Back Bootsy".  ~ Dusty Groove

WILLIE JONES III – MY POINT IS...

Over the years, the name of Willie Jones III has really become one that makes us want to stop and check out a record – and this time around, not only does the set feature Jones' name on the front – but the quintet also includes great performances from Ralph Moore on tenor, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Eric Reed on piano, and Buster Williams on bass! With a lineup like that, Reed just can't miss – and the record takes us back to the kind of instant classics we were hearing from Henderson, Moore, and Reed twenty years back – but given that sort of special vision that makes Willie both a great drummer and leader, one who's evolving into a one-man powerhouse of jazz – given that he also produces and releases his records himself. And yet there's nothing smalltime about this set – especially with Henderson and Moore in the lead, the latter of whom is always a treat to our ears. Titles include "Manhattan Melodies", "My Point Is", "The Wind Of An Immortal Soul", "The Maze", "Blues For Dat Taz", and "Early Morning".  ~ Dusty Groove

JAMES BLOOD ULMER "THE THING" - BABY TALK: LIVE AT MOLDE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2015

Over the years, the mighty Thing trio has turned out to be a wonderfully collaborative group – and here they join forces with legendary guitarist James Blood Ulmer, who may well be serving up one of his best performances in years! The unbridled energy of the core group is well-known – drums from Paal Nilssen-Love, bass from Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, and baritone and tenor from Mats Gustafsson – who's pictured perfectly on the cover, caught in the moment of one of his joyous expressions! Ulmer's of an earlier generation than the musicians, but fits in well – and they, in turn, know when to back off a bit and allow his complicated flurries of tones to get just the right sort of space in the spotlight. Titles include "Baby Talk", "High Yellow", "Proof", and "Interview".  ~ Dusty Groove

 

JAZZ VOCALIST CARMEN LUNDY ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES TO ACCOMPANY HER CRITICALLY-LAUDED ALBUM, "CODE NOIR"

Cities Include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami And Chicago

Lundy’s ruggedly conversational lyrics and welcome social commentary inhabit territory Abbey Lincoln and Marvin Gaye both might recognize. Her voice swoops down and provides a focal point. It’s sensuality. It’s wisdom, it’s curiosity – they all roll into a fetching package.” – Downbeat

"Musicians as diversely gifted as Carmen Lundy, who has excelled as a vocalist, composer, lyricist, arranger, guitarist and keyboardist for more than three decades, remain far and few between." - Jazz Times

Los Angeles, California. On the heels of her celebrated CD "CODE NOIR"released earlier this year, Jazz vocalist Carmen Lundy has announced additional tour dates to take place this Fall and Winter. With stops in New York City November 11th (a live PBS special taping, The Historymakers Honor Franklin Thomas), a four night run at The Jazz Showcase in Chicago November 30th-December 3rd, December 9th at Scullers in Boston and South Jazz in Philadelphia on December 16th and 17th, Lundy will close out 2017 on a high note following rave reviews of the album and her accompanying live performances. Also slated for February is a date at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on Valentine's Day 2018 and a featured spot at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival in Baltimore on February 18th.

Never one to limit her creative journeys, Lundy explores the realms of Jazz, Blues, Brazilian Samba and Pop on CODE NOIR with a multitude of messages that reflect not only the complexities of her own mindset, but the disparity of the world at large. Poignant, heartfelt, angry, joyous, shocked, and saddened are just a few of the emotions conveyed by this wonderfully evocative singer on CODE NOIR via this highly personal musical voyage.

"These songs encompass the musical and artistic influences from the African diaspora and its influence on jazz and other musical genres – the bossa nova, the blues, swing, funk, the exploration into the avant-garde," says Carmen. "Yet they also encompass the many emotions that are currently prevalent in this country. We are going through tough times with a country that is sorely divided and many of these tracks reflect the feelings that we as human beings are going through on an individual level. CODE NOIR actually refers to the first law ever written by a person in power of a sovereign nation/empire - the King of France Louis XIV - the first law to disallow and make illegal the integration of the African race into white European society.

Lundy either wrote or co-wrote all twelve tracks on the record which features Patrice Rushen on piano, Ben Williams on bass, Jeff Parker on electric guitar, Kendrick Scott on drums and percussion and Elisabeth Oei on background vocals. In addition to vocals, Lundy also plays keyboards and guitar.

www.CarmenLundy.com

Dionne Warwick: Odds & Ends--Scepter Records Rarities

With a total of 40 Pop chart hits, Dionne Warwick’s recordings for the Scepter label rank as arguably the most successful run of any artist—and certainly of any female artist—for an independent label during the 1960s. But all that success had a downside for her considerable legacy: Scepter became a hot property for acquisition, and as a result the label’s holdings were bought and sold several times before Dionne herself arranged to buy her own masters back. By that time, though, the Scepter tapes had been scattered in disarray, thus leaving a lot of material in limbo and causing compilers to throw up their hands. 

Well, where other reissue labels fear to tread Real Gone Music goes full speed ahead! Odds & Ends—Scepter Records Rarities offers 26 hard-to-find tracks (plus some bonus promo spots) from the Scepter vaults, including rare alternate versions (of hits like “Don’t Make Me Over,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose”), stereo singles (“He’s Moving On;” “Amanda”), foreign language singles (“A House Is Not a Home” in Italian and French; “Walk On By” in German and Italian), stereo mixes (of “Get Rid of Him” and “Silent Voices”), and just plain lost tracks (like “Our Ages or Our Hearts” and “Monday, Monday”). 

Many of the selections are previously unissued and most are making their CD debut. What’s more, this one’s released with the full cooperation of the legendary lady, Dionne herself, who sat down for an interview with liner note writer Joe Marchese, and includes rare photos. Remastered by Ted Carfrae, Odds & Ends—Scepter Records Rarities is a stone solid must for any Dionne fan, and of course any Bacharach-David fan as well…this is some of the greatest—and rarest—vocal pop music of the ‘60s!

Track Listings

Disc: 1

  1. I Say a Little Prayer (Alternate Version)

  2. Monday, Monday

  3. A House Is Not a Home (Italian Version)

  4. He's Moving On (Stereo Single Non-Soundtrack Version)

  5. Amanda (Stereo Single Non-Soundtrack Version)

  6. Walk On By (German Version)

  7. Get Rid of Him (Stereo Mix)

  8. Don't Make Me Over (Alternate Version)

  9. Reach Out for Me (French Version)

  10. The Good Life (Studio Mix)

  11. Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets (Alternate Version)

  12. Walk Little Dolly (Italian Version)

  13. If You Let Me Make Love to You, Then Why Can't I Touch You

  14. La Vie En Rose (English Version)

  15. You'll Never Get to Heaven (German Version)

  16. As Long as There's an Apple Tree (Extended Version)

  17. Our Ages or Our Hearts

  18. How Many Days of Sadness (French Version)

  19. I Love Paris (Studio Mix)

  20. Silent Voices (Stereo Mix)

  21. The Windows of the World (Italian Version)

  22. C'est Si Bon (Studio Mix)

  23. Odds & Ends (Alternate Version)

  24. A House Is Not a Home (French Version)

  25. Walk On By (Italian Version)

  26. Do You Know the Way to San Jose (Alternate Version)

  27. Dionne Radio Promo Spots & Public Service Announcements

Grammy® nominations “Possible” for R&B-jazz singer-songwriter Selina Albright’s “Conversations”

Being considered in four preliminary Grammy categories for her debut album, “Conversations,” in her first year as a NARAS voter provided smooth soul singer-songwriter Selina Albright an entirely new perspective about what her father, contemporary jazz saxophone giant and eight-time Grammy nominee Gerald Albright, experienced while she was growing up.  

“When I was little and my dad would tell me that he was up for a Grammy, I didn’t realize how life-changing the process of getting on that final ballot must have been for him - the hundreds of tracks he must’ve been introduced to, the wonderful people he must’ve met, how big and multi-faceted the world of music must’ve seemed by the time he’d finished voting, and how much it must have meant to him to be nominated out of the multitudes. Now, I’m beginning to understand the magnitude of the honor and responsibility of being a voting member, which I take seriously,” reflected Albright about her father who makes a guest appearance playing flute on “Conversations.”

Albright is a Best New Artist candidate in the midst of a breakthrough year that began with the release of the album’s attention-grabbing first single, “Eat Something,” a joyous affirmation of self-love and acceptance while in a romantic relationship with lyrics that make it okay to pack on some extra weight. Like the nine originals she penned for the collection, the Best R&B Song contender is inspired by intimate conversations she’s had with family, friends and loved ones. The track is receiving airplay and has charted at two different radio formats: urban adult contemporary and smooth/contemporary jazz. 

  

A few months after releasing “Conversations,” the Best R&B Album aspirant issued “Possible” to radio, an empowering single on which Albright unleashes the full power and magnitude of her impassioned four-octave voice, delivering a worthy Best R&B Performance entrant. “Conversations” is a deeply personal and revealing set that Albright describes as a “therapeutic diary.” Chris “Big Dog” Davis, James “JRob” Roberson and Albright produced the session that features performances by Gerald Albright, Peter White, Kay-Ta Matsuno, Randy Ellis and David P. Stevens.          

Throughout the year, Albright has supported “Conversations” with concert dates across the country, selling out clubs and playing packed theaters and festivals on shared bills, including shows with her father. She was invited on a 24-city Christmas concert tour with smooth/contemporary jazz royalty - Dave Koz, David Benoit, Rick Braun and White - that launches the day after Thanksgiving. Albright hopes to receive an early Christmas gift when the Grammy nominations are announced on November 28.     

“The honor of having my own music on the preliminary ballot is so beautiful to me. I can’t even put into words the honor I’d feel to actually get a Grammy nomination. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me!”

www.SelinaAlbright.com.

Italian Bassist Lorenzo Feliciati Releases Elevator Man

As a follow-up to his most personal project to date, 2015's KOI, in-demand Italian session bassist and RareNoise recording artist Lorenzo Feliciati has upped the ante on his latest project, Elevator Man. A powerhouse recording with echoes of King Crimson, Allan Holdsworth and other Prog Rock icons, this latest outing by the prolific bassist-composer-arranger features a rotating cast of stellar musicians, including King Crimson drummer Pat Mastelotto, former Holdsworth drummer Chad Wackerman, Swedish Freak Guitar shredder Mattias IA Eklundh (of the Jonas Hellborg Trio and Art Metal), Italian progressive metal guitarist Marco Sfogli (currently of the legendary Italian Prog Rock band Premiata Forneria Marconi, aka PFM), trumpeter Cuong Vu and Feliciati's Naked Truth bandmate Roy Powell on distortion-laced clavinet. As well as composing and arranging all the material, Feliciati plays fretted and fretless basses, electric guitar and keyboards on his seventh and most potent recording as a leader to date "Elevator Man has a different lineup on every song," explains Feliciati, a member of RareNoise bands Naked Truth, Berserk!, Twinscapes and Mumpbeak. "It's the same 'one song-one line up' philosophy that I used on Frequent Flyer, but this time all the music for Elevator Man was composed at the same time, in a three-month period. So I was probably able to concentrate more and think more deeply about the direction of the album. And while a varied stylistic approach is something I always try to achieve, this one has a more clear Prog Rock flavor that was a planned decision. After KOI, I felt the need to move from the soundtrack-ambient soundscapes attitude that is a crucial ingredient of both KOI and Twinscapes, my duo project with bassist Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree, to a more songs-oriented project."  

                                                                 

From the opening track, "Elevator Man," Feliciati shifts to the dynamic "The Brick," "14 Stories opens with an ambient, mysterioso vibe the top before the piece erupts into an orchestral crescendo. The melancholy ballad "Black Book, Red Letter," also highlights some lyrical trumpet playing and some impassioned soloing from the alto saxophonist. The aggressive rocker "Three Women" has Feliciati grooving on fretless bass while "Unchained Houdini" is a slamming jam that pits Feliciati's bass, guitar and keys against some whirlwind wailing on the kit. "The Third Door" has Feliciati going mano-a-mano with a turntable wizard while "S.O.S." introduces a mellow vibraphone and an intense guitarist. The swinging "Thief Like Me," features a strong bass solo from Feliciati, who also anchors the proceedings on Moog bass. And the haunting closer, "U Turn in Falmouth," has Feliciati interacting on bass, guitars and keyboards. "The power to have these great musicians ready to play on the songs forced me to be a more focused composer on this project," said Feliciati. "So this one is less on the abstract/improvised side. When you have so many amazing musicians ready to collaborate with you, you are the luckiest person in the world but you must have a very clear idea of what you will ask them to play on, what you want them to add to your music."                                                                                                                               

Feliciati, who has worked with some of the great drummers throughout his career, seemed especially pleased with the crew of time-keepers he was able to recruit for Elevator Man. "I love drums and drummers and to have such great players on this album as Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Stickmen), Chad Wackerman, Roberto Gualdi (PFM), Davide Pettirossi, Armando Croce, Gianluca Palmieri (Greg Howe Band) and the young star Davide Savarese is such a wonderful privilege. To compose some music and have so many choices in front of you is wonderful. And to realize that everyone involved is enthusiastic and willing to collaborate is truly fantastic."                                                                      

He also heaped high praise on the two sensational guitarists who appear on Elevator Man. "Marco Sfogli is a great friend of mine and we played together several times," explains Feliciati. "I played on his latest solo album. Mattias Ecklundh did a masterclass at the school where I was teaching in Rome. I asked to do some music together and he enthusiastically agreed. I was happy when he agreed to play on this record."                                                                                                                                 

Returning from KOI is the three-piece horn section of trombonist Pierluigi Bastioli, baritone saxophonist Duiliu Ingress and bass trombonist Stan Adams, who also arranged and conducted the section. "The idea for the horns came while working on KOI, where the same three-piece section plays on several tracks," Feliciati explains. "I was wondering about doubling the bass riffs with a horn section on that recording but I immediately understood that a funky-jazzy section of trumpet/sax/trombone would have been too conventional or traditional sounding. So I switched to this low-end section consisting of bass trombone, trombone and baritone sax, and the final result was so good I immediately decided to use them on some of the songs of Elevator Man."   

The bassist-composer-arranger describes his daily creative process that has led to the realization of such visionary projects as Frequent Flyer, Koi and Elevator Man: "I love to wake up early in the morning, have breakfast with family and then walk upstairs to my home studio and ask myself, 'What do you like to work on today?' I always had a home studio and the technology related to recording (software like ProTools, etc.) became way less expensive. This way I can work on different projects at the same time, switching from one to another; not to mention all the sessions I do at home for music that arrives via Dropbox from all over the world, People want me on their music and with the files-exchange approach they can have my bass track on their album easily and fast."                                                                                                         

The great bassist also acknowledges the towering influence of Jaco Pastorius on his own playing and on this recording, particularly on "Elevator Man", "S.O.S." and "Black Book, Red Letter." Says Feliciati of Jaco's influence: "For me you can easily divide not only bass playing but also Jazz Rock Fusion in before Jaco/after Jaco segments. The influence he had on my love for the bass and music is endless. I saw Weather Report in 1980 in Rome on their Night Passage tour. That night changed my life. I decided to play the bass after that because I realized how much the instrument can drive a band and be the center of the sonic spectrum. If the song, the music needed one note, Jaco was playing one note...if the song needed one hundred he was playing the right ones the most soulful ones and with such an incredible timing and groove. But I really love Jaco the composer. And of all the wonderful tunes he wrote and played, the one that is touching me the most is still 'John and Mary' from his Word of Mouth album. Together with Night Passage and Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light, these are timeless classics.                                                                                                

That Pastorius influence is present throughout Elevator Man. But Feliciati also carves out his own unique niche on this superb prog-rock flavored outing.

TRACKS AND PERSONNEL

1. Elevator Man

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted and fretless bass, electric guitars, keyboards

Roberto Gualdi - drums

Stan Adams - trombone and horn section arrangement

Pierluigi Bastioli - bass trombone

Duilio Ingrosso - baritone saxophone

2. The Brick

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted bass

Roy Powell - hohner  clavinet

Chad Wackerman - drums

Stan Adams - trombone and horn section arrangement

Pierluigi Bastioli - bass trombone

Duilio Ingrosso - baritone sax

3. 14 Stones

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted bass, electric guitars, keyboards

Cuong Vu - trumpet

Alessandro Gwis - acoustic piano with Reaktor running on laptop

Pat Mastelotto - drums

Stan Adams - trombone and horn section arrangement

Pierluigi Bastioli - bass trombone

Duilio Ingrosso - baritone sax

4. Black Book, Red Letters

Lorenzo Feliciati - upright bass, fretted bass with effects

Sandro Satta - alto sax

Claudio Corvini - trumpet

Gianni Di Renzo - drums

5. Three Women

Lorenzo Feliciati -  fretless bass, electric guitars, keyboards

Cuong Vu - trumpet

Antonio Jasevoli - electric guitar solo

Davide Savarese - drums

Stan Adams - trombone and horn section arrangement

Pierluigi Bastioli - bass trombone

Duilio Ingrosso - baritone sax

6. Unchained Houdini

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted bass, electric guitars, keyboards

Davide Pettirossi - drums

7. The Third Door

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretless bass, electric guitars, keyboards

DJ Skizo - turntables & rhythm design

8. S.O.S.

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted and fretless bass, electric guitars, keyboards

Mattias IA Eklundh - electric guitar solo

Luca Giacobbe - vibraphone

Armando Croce - drums

9. Thief Like Me

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted bass, moog bass

Marco Sfogli - electric guitars

Aidan Zammit - keyboards

Gianluca Plamieri - drums

10. U Turn in Falmouth

Lorenzo Feliciati - fretted bass, electric guitars, Keyboards

Davide Savarese - drums

All tracks composed, arranged and produced by Lorenzo Feliciati, except 'The Brick' composed by Roy Powell.

Mixed by Alessandro Marcantoni at Metropolis studio, Milan.

Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studios, NYC.

RareNoiseRecords Presents Roswell Rudd / Fay Victor / Lafayette Harris / Ken Filiano with Embrace

For his follow-up to 2016's purely improvised studio recording Strength & Power (featuring pianist Jamie Saft, bassist Trevor Dunn and drummer Balazs Pandi), the ever-adventurous trombonist-composer Roswell Rudd made a decided shift in direction on his first RareNoiseRecords release as a leader by embracing jazz standards he has loved and played throughout his long and illustrious career. Accompanied by the brilliant pianist Lafayette Harris, upright bass virtuoso Ken Filiano and soulful vocal sensation Fay Victor, the 81-year-old jazz master (who turns 82 years old on November 17, the day of the release) delivers with rare potency and poignancy on the aptly-titled Embrace. This intimate, drum-less quartet session is brimming with conversational playing between all the participants, with Rudd and Victor partaking in some particularly interactive exchanges on jazz classics like Billy Strayhorn's "Something to Live For," Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," Thelonious Monk's beautiful ballad "Pannonica," the standard "Can't We Be Friends" and the traditional "House of the Rising Sun."

Rudd has high praise for his empathetic partners on Embrace. "Lafayette Harris is one of the best accompanists that I ever played with. Boy, is he there! He's not only ahead of the music, he's in the moment and behind it all at the same time. It's amazing to find somebody who can play like that. It's as if Lafayette has been there all my life when I play with him. Kenny Filiano is a virtuoso of the bass, particularly with the bow. Let the world be told and shown! And Fay Victor is my most recent discovery. Fay is an instrument, a voice, a personality, a spirit...all of those and more."

Of the members in this Embrace quartet, Rudd goes back furthest with Filiano (the bassist appears on the trombonist's 2000 album Broad Strokes as well as 2011's The Incredible Honk). Harris appeared on Rudd's 2008 album Keep Your Heart Right (which had a similar drum-less quartet configuration featuring vocalist Sunny Kim) and also on The Incredible Honk. Victor previously made a guest appearance on two tracks from 2013's Trombone For Lovers.

"I like playing without drums occasionally and I've done that a bit over the years," says Rudd. "I hear the harmonics of the singers a lot better when the drums aren't there. I don't know, it just seems to work better for me with voice and piano. Getting those interactions is something that's very important to me, which I learned about from Sheila Jordan and some other vocalists that I've been lucky enough to play with. I really want to hear the whole harmonic series of the singers when I play with them. And you know that's a very delicate and temperamental place to come from."

Rudd treads delicately on the tender opener, "Something to Live For," a 1939 song, which marked the first collaboration between Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington. Following a beautiful solo piano intro, Rudd sings the melody through his horn in raucous yet poignant fashion, like latter day Billie Holiday. Victor enters and the trombonist proceeds to shadow and comment on her soulful singing through the remainder of the piece.

They inject a lively, almost calypso type bounce into Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," a tune mostly played as a brooding, funereal dirge. "That version came from playing it over and over when we got together," says Rudd. "This is what eventually emerged." Victor showcases her scatting prowess on this number before singing the Rahsaan Roland Kirk lyrics, which the saxophonist had penned for his 1976 album The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man. "Yeah, we got our own take on it," continues Rudd. "And that tune is so infectious it is bound to get to each musical personality in its own way. And that's what we are. We're four musical personalities who go together, whatever we're playing."

Victor channels her inner Betty Carter on a jaunty, swinging rendition of "Can't We Be Friends," which features the vocalist in some daring scat exchanges with Rudd's muted trombone. "I think Fay started singing it one day and it just took over," Rudd recalls. That's it. It was just right for us."

Their raucous rendition of Ray Noble's "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" is bristling with energy and supported by Harris' Fats Walleresque touch on piano. Rudd explains the origins of his collaboration with Victor on this 1938 chestnut: "We wanted to do something together but we really didn't know each other that well. And she finally said, 'Do you know, 'I Hadn't Anyone Till You?' and I said, 'Yeah! And I hadn't been able to find anybody to play that with. So let's do that one.' So that brought us together. That got us started right there, doing that song. And we've kept that up."

Filiano's bowed bass intro to the lovely "Too Late Now" (from the 1951 Fred Astaire-Jane Powell movie Royal Wedding) showcases his low-end virtuosity while Victor reveals her romantic side in interpreting the Alan Jay Lerner lyrics. Rudd, who contributes one of his most lyrical solos of the session here, next testifies on his trombone on a chilling rendition of "House of the Rising Sun," which also features Victor in a most expressive Carmen McRae mode.

"I Look in the Mirror," a smart, swinging, Blossom Dearie-styled ditty about accepting the aging process, was written by Rudd's partner, Verna Gillis. "That was one of the first things we collaborated on," says Rudd. "And I didn't feel it as a sultry ballad or a sad song, I felt like a Dixielander on that one."

The album closes with a heartfelt reading of Monk's most beautiful ballad, "Pannonica," a tune he composed in 1956 as a tribute to jazz patron Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter. It's a tune that Rudd has played countless times since 1962, when he formed a band with saxophonist Steve Lacy that specialized in Monk's music. "I used to play 'Pannonica' a lot with Steve Lacy. We later recorded it together on an album we did, called Monk's Dream (2000, Verve). So I was used to playing it in Monk's original key, which is C. But Fay came in with it in A flat, so that threw me off a little bit. Because everything lies so beautifully in that song and with Monk's music in general that you tend to remember it where he wrote it, where he played it. So that took a little adjustment." Victor gives a heartfelt reading of Jon Hendricks' lyrics on this achingly beautiful ballad while Rudd turns in a remarkably expressive solo on this Monk classic.

Embrace is the latest chapter in the extraordinary career of the revered trombonist, who came up playing Dixieland in college before dipping into the avant-garde in the early '60s with the likes of Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, John Tchicai, Don Cherry and longtime collaborator Steve Lacy. In more recent times, the ever-adventurous Rudd has collaborated with Malian musicians (2001's MALIcool), traditional Mongolian musicians (2005's Blue Mongol) and Latin musicians (2007's El Espiritu Jibaro). He gathered nine of the greatest trombonists on the scene, along with the Gangue Brass Band of Benin, for 2009's Trombone Tribe and in 2016 he debuted on RareNoiseRecords with the audacious improvised outing Strength & Power. His latest for the label may be his most inspired and affecting outing to date.

A tribute to the master trombonist is scheduled for November 16 and will be held at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club. Friends and collaborators will celebrate this outstanding musician, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2013. Roswell is unable to play right now but hopes to be strong enough to attend this glorious musical event. For further info, please visit http://www.jazz.org/dizzys/

TRACKS

1. Something To Live For

2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

3. Can't We Be Friends

4. I Hadn't Anyone Till You

5. Too Late Now

6. House Of The Rising Sun

7. I Look In The Mirror

8. Pannonica