NEW RELEASES: RON CARTER - GOLDEN STRIKER; HERBIE MANN - THE VERY BEST OF HERBIE MANN: IT'S A FUNKY THING; OHIO PLAYERS - THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION PLUS...

RON CARTER - GOLDEN STRIKER

Ron Carter, for almost seven decades, the clever and sympathetic double bass player from Ferndale, Michigan, has been considered one of the most important, most creative and brilliant representatives of his profession and as the most recorded bass player in jazz history with over 2,221 albums on which he has performed. With his philosophy of absolute professionalism and reliability, he rose to become a model for entire generations of jazz musicians. Jazz bassists seem almost perfectly made for festive occasions. They exude elegance, nobility, discretion and prudence, reconcile and bring together. The diplomats of jazz. Consequently, what could be more fitting than to issue the new CD of the Golden Striker Trio on the occasion of Ron Carter's 80th birthday, recorded in the beautiful Theaterstübchen in Kassel, Germany in late October 2016? A gift for the many fans of the bass player, but also for himself. Because this trio has been one of Carter's favorite band line-ups since the beginning of the new millennium, despite or perhaps due to some changes. Perhaps the most serious resulted from the loss of the pianist Mulgrew Miller, who died suddenly at the age of only 57 years in 2013. In his place, Donald Vega now sits on the piano stool and plays with guitarist Russell Malone. From the universe of limitless music, Ron Carter has long since returned home to the songs of the Great American Songbook and his own originals. Hear Mr. Carter and his trio perform at their best on this special recording. Enjoy the birthday party! Track List: Laverne Walk;Candle Light; Golden Striker; Samba de Orfeu; Eddie s Theme; A Nice Song; and My Funny Valentine.

HERBIE MANN - THE VERY BEST OF HERBIE MANN: IT'S A FUNKY THING

Herbie Mann revolutionized the use of the flute in jazz. His legacy is revered for pushing the boundaries (like Miles Davis did) blending jazz, rock, funk, soul, and pop. This is the first collection to feature rare single edits of Herbie’s hits including “Philly Dog,” “A Man and A Woman,” and “Memphis Underground.” The CD also includes the hits “Hijack” and “Superman.” Featured vocalists include Tamiko Jones, Carmen McRae, Cissy Houston and Little Milton. Nine tracks are making their CD debut. 

OHIO PLAYERS - THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION PLUS...

For the very first time you can now get your hands on a Definitive Collection of the Funk sensation that was The Ohio Players. Robinsongs are proud to be the first label to combine the Capitol, Westbound, Mercury, Arista & Boardwalk repertoire to make this unique compilation, but we did not stop there, we have also included material from Band members: Junie Morrison, Sugarfoot & Shadow (Billy Beck, Clarence Willis & Diamond) to give you a total career overview of this exceptional Funk Band. This package also includes a 28-page colour booklet, that includes an essay by Christian John Wikane a New York based music journalist, with contributions by the band's drummer and architect of the Ohio Players beat James "Diamond" Williams. Robinsongs have divided the package in three parts "The Early Years", "The Golden Years" & "The Later & Solo Years", the early years kicks the package off with two tracks from the Capitol Records album "The Observations In Time" where we can see the direction that the Band is heading, onto Westbound where the Band recorded their breakthrough single 'Funky Worm', a R&B #1 which featured Junie as the voice of Granny, other standout Westbound tracks are 'Pleasure', 'Pain' & 'Ecstasy', DISC ONE finishes with two cuts from their first Mercury album "Skin Tight" including the hit 'Jive Turkey'. DISC TWO kicks off with arguably the band's biggest hit 'Fire' which went to #1 in the R&B chart and the Album went to #1 in the Billboard album chart, three other #1 singles feature on this disc 'Sweet Sticky Thing', 'Love Rollercoaster' and 'Who'd She Coo' which was also the Bands only UK chart single. 

NEW RELEASES: FELA KUTI - VINYL BOX SET COMPILED BY ERYKAH BADU; MANKUNKU QUARTET – YAKHAL’ INKOMO; MAYLEE TODD – ACTS OF LOVE

FELA KUTI - VINYL BOX SET COMPILED BY ERYKAH BADU

Knitting Factory Records is proud to release the next installment of the long-awaited vinyl reissues from the FELA KUTI catalog. The inimitable Erykah Badu personally selected the seven albums featured in this fourth box set, which have been remastered from their original vinyl pressings. The artwork for each album has been meticulously recreated from original album artwork, alongside vintage vinyl label artwork. This box set includes: • 7 LPs, Yellow Fever (1976), No Agreement (1977), JJD (1977), VIP (1979), Coffin for Head of State (1980), Army Arrangement (1984), and Underground System (1992). • 20-page full-color booklet featuring: seven personal essays written by Erykah Badu, seven in-depth commentaries by veteran music journalist and Afrobeat historian, Chris May; song lyrics; and never before published photos of Fela Kuti • 16x24” Poster designed by Nigerian artist Lemi Ghariokwu, the creative force behind 26 of Fela Kuti‘s album covers

MANKUNKU QUARTET – YAKHAL’ INKOMO

Saxophonist Winston 'Mankunku' Ngozi's 1968 masterpiece Yakhal'inkomo stands in the front rank of global jazz recordings. A certified jazz classic in South Africa, it has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and has never been out of print. But like so many other crucial South African jazz LPs, it was never released outside the country, and went unheard at the time by the wider world. This reissue is the first time that this truly essential jazz recording has been properly available outside South Africa. Mankunku's masterwork is one of those rare recordings whose audience saw at once that it embodied the spirit of the age. The title, 'Yakhal'inkomo', refers to the bellow made by a bull just before it is sacrificed, and the mourning cries of its fellow cattle as they see it struck down. For South African listeners, the reference was understood as a cry against the violence and brutality of the times, and an act of mourning for all those who were suffering under the barbarity of apartheid. Mankunku's horn spoke eloquently and profoundly for and to an oppressed people, and like Coltrane's A Love Supreme, the album became the musical touchstone for a generation. From today's historical vantage point, Yakhal'inkomo appears as not just an indispensable lost element of the international jazz canon, but as one of the towering cultural documents of its time. Fully licensed, and packaged with a new sleeve note by Francis Gooding and prevoiusly unpublished photographs from the Basil Breakey archive, this trail-blazing release on Jazzman allows Mankunku's classic work to gain its deserved place on the international stage.

MAYLEE TODD – ACTS OF LOVE

Toronto-based songwriter, vocalist, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist Maylee Todd is best known for music that incorporates elements of disco, funk, soul, electronic, and experimental sounds. Her previous two albums Choose Your Own Adventure (2010) and Escapology (2013) brought her on tour across North America, Europe and Asia, charting worldwide, and establishing her as a breakout Canadian indie artist. Her third studio album Acts of Love sees Maylee wholly embracing technology and taking on the role of producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, recording and playing the bulk of the music in her home studio. From a sonic standpoint, the new album marks a departure from the harder-edged sounds of her previous work, boasting a more stripped down, synth-based production approach, with hypnotic beats and undeniably poppy hooks. The 17 track album covers a wide range of timely, topical and universal subject matter, including gender bias (From This Moment), addiction (One of These Days), solitude (Lonely), forgiveness (Eye To Eye), polyamory (Goat Wut U Need) and virtual reality (Virtual Life). This record is a bedroom record. I spent the winter writing and learning software, so creating can be limitless, explains the self-professed augmented reality nerd. Acts Of Love is essentially a tale of Maylee's metamorphosis, of constantly mutating and evolving musically, with the ultimate goal being to enlighten listeners on the symbiotic relationship between music, technology, performance art and human nature.

OTIS REDDING: THE DEFINITIVE STUDIO ALBUM COLLECTION

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of Otis Redding topping the charts with his signature song, "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay." Unfortunately the single's success was bittersweet, as Redding tragically passed away in a plane crash just weeks before its release. Leading up to the "Dock Of The Bay" milestone, Rhino will introduce a new vinyl collection that brings together all seven of the iconic soul singer's studio albums. Big O's biggest hits are all here, from "Pain In My Heart" and "These Arms Of Mine" to "Respect" and "Try A Little Tenderness."

The albums included in the collection are: Pain In My Heart (1964), The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (1965), Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965), The Soul Album (1966), Complete and Unbelievable...The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966), King & Queen - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas (1967), and The Dock of the Bay (1968).

All of the LPs replicate the original packaging, from the sleeve artwork down to small details like the original record labels (Volt and Stax) and catalog numbers, all housed together in a side-loading slipcase. Several of these albums are long out-of-print and back on vinyl in mono for the first time in years.

The music follows Redding's career from his 1964 debut Pain In My Heart up to The Dock of the Bay, which was released in February 1968, just a few months after the singer's untimely death in December 1967. Despite his short career, Redding recorded songs that helped define soul in the Sixties and beyond.

The albums are packed with Top Ten R&B hits: "Chained And Bound," "Mr. Pitiful," "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and his cover of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Another obvious highlight is "Respect," a song Redding wrote and recorded in 1965, which later become a massive hit for Aretha Franklin. Another essential is "Tramp" from his unforgettable duets album with Carla Thomas, King & Queen. As it happens, that's also the last album the singer would release during his lifetime.

Redding's music career began fatefully in 1962 when an unexpected opportunity to record two songs led to a contract with Stax Records in Memphis. Throughout his career, the singer was backed by the legendary Stax house band: keyboardist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson Jr.

www.otisredding.com

  

OTIS REDDING: THE DEFINITIVE STUDIO ALBUM COLLECTION

Album Listing

Pain In My Heart

The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

The Soul Album

Complete and Unbelievable...The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul

King & Queen - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas

The Dock of the Bay

Jazz Vocalist Jeff Baker's 5th Album "Phrases"

Jeff Baker Phrases After a seven-year hiatus from recording, contemporary jazz vocalist Jeff Baker is preparing to release Phrases, his fifth and most ambitious album to date. The new CD, due from OA2 Records on January 19, marks Baker's debut as a composer, with seven of the album's songs featuring his music and lyrics.

The album takes its title from Baker's use of what he calls "prompts" from favorite works of fiction, poetry, and song, among them texts by Pablo Neruda, J.D. Salinger, and Salvador Plascencia. Those cues could be no more than a line of poetry or a snatch of dialogue, or a real-life verbal exchange that caught his ear.

"The musical side of composing -- creating melodies, reharmonizing music -- has always come pretty easy to me," Baker explains. "But in attempting lyrics, I always felt burdened by not being Joni Mitchell. How could I express myself without sounding trite or silly? I found that if I gave myself prompts, I could create stories around them and find my voice as a lyricist. My aim was to tell stories in which people could hear their own experiences."

The deeply reflective, lushly nuanced music on Phrases is performed by a stellar septet whose front line includes alto saxophonist Steve Wilson and trumpeter Marquis Hill. Protean drummer Brian Blade provides the recording with its ebb, flow, and pulse. Pianist Darrell Grant both plays and serves as musical director and co-producer while Baker's longtime friends Clark Sommers and Geof Bradfield appear on bass and tenor saxophone, respectively. Young guitarist Gregory Uhlmann, a former student of Jeff Parker, is one of the album's stand-outs. The listener can hear how the musicians are drawn to the singer in their inspired, beautifully shaped solos.

Phrases was recorded in Chicago in May 2017 at Vijay Tellis-Nayak's Transient Sound following a live performance at the hip Fulton Street Collective. "Jazz musicians talk all the time about their 'Dream Bands,'" says Baker. "Here I am, getting to record with my actual Dream Band! I wrote this music with these musicians in mind, and I am beyond humbled that they've agreed to be part of this project."

Born in 1979 in Boise, Idaho, Jeff Baker was 13 when the Seattle-spawned grunge rock movement hit. But while his friends were thrilling to Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Jeff was discovering Dizzy Gillespie's Live at the Village Vanguard. "It was the best thing ever," he says. "I learned every song and taught myself to sing with them. Singing jazz, the idea that a vocalist could be an instrumentalist and take the music to different places on a lark, was a real revelation to me. My goal became to be equal and in line with instrumental players."

Jeff's teachers and mentors "made sure I had opportunities to experience the music at the highest levels!" Chet Baker (no relation) was a major discovery for him, as were Mark Murphy and Johnny Hartman. The music of wide-ranging artists such as Sting and Peter Gabriel resonated deeply with him, as did that of Bonnie Raitt (whose "Not Cause I Wanted To" he covers on Phrases) and minimalist master Steve Reich, whose influence can be felt in the moving harmonies, piano ostinato, and streaming eighth notes on "People of Paper."

Jeff Baker Baker attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, on a singing scholarship, sang in the jazz and classical choirs, and studied opera and musical theater. With plentiful opportunities to perform, he continued educating himself as a jazz vocalist. Backed by Idaho musicians, he recorded his first album, Baker Sings Chet, largely to raise money to attend graduate school. He never went, but working in the studio, he says, "became kind of my graduate school."

The Chet Baker project, released on Origin Records' OA2 imprint, did well enough to enable Baker to make another record, Monologue, for which Origin head John Bishop hooked him up with versatile Seattle pianist Bill Anschell. It proved to be a fruitful collaboration. Baker and Anschell teamed up on two more acclaimed albums, Shopping for Your Heart (2007) and the gospel-infused Of Things Not Seen (recorded at the same time as Shopping, it was released with re-recorded vocals in 2009).

In 2012 Darrell Grant, a distinguished member of the music faculty at Portland State University, helped Baker land a position at PSU, where the singer was instrumental in building what came to be a renowned jazz vocal program. Baker also co-founded and is director of the PDX Jazz Forward Competition.

"We live in an incredible time for creative, genre-defying music," says Baker. "Artists like Laura Mvula, Becca Stevens, Jacob Collier, The Fellowship Band, and so many others are changing the way we think about jazz and contemporary songwriting. It's a privilege to write and make music at this time. Phrases is my humble contribution to this ever evolving conversation."

 

Seal And Frank Sinatra Duet On Christmas Single "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

Today, British soul legend Seal has released a duet with one of history’s most iconic artists, Frank Sinatra, via UMe. Performing the Christmas classic, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” Seal and Sinatra sing side by side, in perfect harmony, creating a unique, one-off single, just in time for the holidays. The dream collaboration, granted by Frank Sinatra Enterprises, is out today, ahead of Sinatra’s birthday next Tuesday, December 12.

Today, British soul legend Seal has released a duet with one of history’s most iconic artists, Frank Sinatra, via UMe. Performing the Christmas classic, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” Seal and Sinatra sing side by side, in perfect harmony, creating a unique, one-off single, just in time for the holidays. The dream collaboration, granted by Frank Sinatra Enterprises, is out today, ahead of Sinatra’s birthday next Tuesday, December 12.

The dream collaboration, granted by Frank Sinatra Enterprises, is out today, ahead of Sinatra's birthday next Tuesday, December 12. The festive single will be accompanied by an exclusively commissioned video to premiere next week, showcasing both artists at their very best.

Seal said: "To play with Frank's musicians on Standards was quite something, but to perform with the man himself is beyond words."

Tina Sinatra said: "Dad's Christmas recordings are as significant to his vast musical legacy as his signature saloon songs. The new Sinatra and Seal duet of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' is a joyous hoot and 'sings' to the spirit of the season."

Originally written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, the track was first performed in 1934. Over the years it has been covered by more than 200 artists and sold millions of copies, becoming the archetypal Christmas standard known the world over.

This single continues Seal's recent affiliation with Ol' Blue Eyes, following his album Standards, which features legendary pianist Randy Waldman. The album also includes other legends, Chuck Berghofer (bass player with Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles) and Greg Fields (drummer with Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder).

The songs were recorded in the famous Capitol Studios (the very studio where Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and many others have recorded), and United Studios, which was established by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

It's a natural successor to Seal's series of soul records, made a decade ago which sold more than five million copies around the world. Standards hears Seal's signature, velvety warm vocals bring to life classics made popular by Sinatra (including "Luck Be A Lady," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "It Was A Very Good Year"), Ella Fitzgerald ("I'm Beginning to See The Light"), and Nina Simone ("I Put A Spell On You"). Elsewhere, there are lush orchestral moments captured on "Smile" (Charlie Chaplin) and the Cole Porter gem, "Love For Sale."

The sound of Seal's new album is also shaped by three renowned collaborators: Grammy®-nominated British producer Nick Patrick (who has worked with luminaries including Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye and enjoyed huge chart success with his pioneering Elvis orchestral albums), multi Grammy®-nominated arranger Chris Walden, and legendary engineer Don Murray.

Columbia/Legacy Recordings Announce Release of Miles Davis & John Coltrane - The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 on March 23, 2018

Available in 4CD boxset and digital configurations, Miles Davis & John Coltrane - The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 brings together, for the first time in an authorized edition with state-of-the-art production, five mythic concert performances as heard by lucky audiences during the epochal Spring 1960 Jazz At The Philharmonic European Tour.

Showcasing the musical chemistry shared by Miles and Trane, The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 offers five of the best recorded shows from that pivotal 1960 tour (Coltrane's last as sideman): two shows from Paris's L'Olympia Theater on Monday, March 21; two shows from the next night at Stockholm's Konserthuset; and one from Copenhagen's Tivolis Koncertsal three days later, on March 24.

The box set was produced by the multi-Grammy winning team of producers Steve Berkowitz, Michael Cuscuna and Richard Seidel. And mastered by multi-Grammy winning Sony Music engineer Mark Wilder. The set is authorized for official release by the Miles Davis Estate, the John Coltrane Estate, and Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings.

Miles Davis and John Coltrane were each implementing their own jazz revolutions at the time these recordings were made and the electrifying sonic frisson produced by the sometimes-competing/sometimes-intertwining musical visions of the artists perplexed contemporary jazz fans--many of whom were just getting acquainted with the recently-released and now iconic Kind of Blue.

"Much happened on that 1960 tour onstage and off, including powerful, emotionally charged performances in which one can hear the swinging, divergent energy of a band, and the unfiltered reactions of the European audiences: the crowd responses are indeed an inherent part of these historic performances," writes Grammy Award®-winning music historian Ashley Kahn in his in-depth revelatory liner notes penned especially for this collection. "The common judgement on this music is that it represents a great jazz ensemble audibly straining to hold itself together...An equally convincing interpretation of the 1960 situation is that Miles and his quintet were redefining what a great band could sound like, and how much music it could contain—at one time, in one concert, even in one tune. It's not that the bandmembers were so much apart, but rather that each were more themselves within the same unit—that divergence could co-exist and make music together."

The  repertoire performed in this collection is a veritable Miles Davis "Greatest Hits" including " 'Round Midnight", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Walkin' ", "All Of You" and "Oleo", all of which he had made his own and had been performing for some time. As well as more recent additions to the repertoire which were composed by Davis – "So What" and "All Blues" --  both from Kind Of Blue.

The Final Tour is essential listening, an invitation to travel through time to experience the enduring beauty and magic of Miles and Trane at the peak of their collective powers. The ensemble includes Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor sax), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums), all of whom had been performing together since the Kind Of Blue album.

The Final Tour closes with a rare contemporaneous audio interview with John Coltrane (conducted by Swedish deejay Carl-Erik Lindgren). "Do you feel angry?," asks Lindgren. "No, I don't," says Coltrane. "I was talking to a fellow the other day, and I told him, the reason I play so many sounds, maybe it sounds angry, I'm trying so many things at one time. I haven't sorted them out."

Originally broadcast on European radio in March 1960, these concert recordings have been long sought after and prized by collectors and are now officially available at last as the latest installment in Columbia/Legacy's acclaimed Miles Davis Bootleg Series.

For 12" vinyl collectors and audiophiles, Columbia/Legacy will release The Final Tour: Copenhagen, March 24, 1960 as a single 12" vinyl album.

A 2LP 12" vinyl edition of Miles Davis & John Coltrane - The Final Tour: Paris, March 21, 1960 will be reissued exclusively through Vinyl Me, Please as part of their new VMP Classics subscription featuring the best jazz, blues & soul reissues on 180g black vinyl with exclusive listening notes. Available by signing up at http://www.vinylmeplease.com/

The first five volumes of The Miles Davis Bootleg Series have enjoyed numerous honors and accolades:

Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 (released September 2011) was the most acclaimed historic jazz box set of 2011, receiving a "5-star" review from Down Beat magazine, where it was voted Historical Album of the Year in the Down Beat 2012 Readers and Critics Poll.  The album was ranked #1 reissue in the Readers Poll of JazzTimes magazine while the Jazz Journalists Association voted it Best Historical or Boxed Set.  The set peaked at #3 on Billboard's Top Jazz Album Charts.

Miles Davis Quintet – Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2 (released January 2013) won the Jazz Journalists Association Historical Record of the Year, voted Historical Album of the Year in the Downbeat Readers and Critics Poll, and #1 reissue in both the Critics and Readers polls of JazzTimes magazine. Like its predecessor, the album also peaked at #3 on Billboard's Top Jazz Album Charts.

MILES AT THE FILLMORE – Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (released March 2014) won the Jazz Journalists Association Historical Record of the Year, voted the #1 Historical Album of the Year in the 2014 Downbeat Critics Poll, #3 Historical Album of the Year in the 2014 JazzTimes Critics Poll, and included in Rolling Stone's Best Reissues of 2014 list with a 4.5/5 STAR rating. The set peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top Jazz Album Charts.

MILES DAVIS AT NEWPORT 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (released March 2015) was voted the #1 Historical Reissue in the 2015 JazzTimes Critics Poll and won Historical/Reissue/Vault Release in the 2015 JazzTimes Readers Poll. The set was also named in Downbeat's "Best Albums of 2015" list, received 4 Stars in the Historical category and in Downbeat's Critics Poll was the winner in the Historical Album category. The set won the 2016 NAACP Image Award for the Outstanding Jazz Album category.

Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 (released October 2016) was #2 Historical Album of the Year in Downbeat's 65th annual Critic's Poll (August 2017 issue) and #6 Historical Album of the Year in Downbeat's 82nd Readers Poll (December 2017 issue).

MilesDavis.com

Wally Badarou The Unnamed Trilogy, Vol. 1

Wally Badarou's The Unnamed Trilogy Vol.1; a collection of recent solo work presented for the first time as a limited edition vinyl and select digital release. Wally Badarou is a visionary musician who over the years has forged a history that is immensely storied, diverse and creatively rich. He has not only released timeless solo material such as the incredible Echoes LP in 1984 (part of which reached a new generation of music fans when the track Mambo was sampled for Massive Attack's Daydreaming), but has also recorded on classic albums with luminaries such as Grace Jones, Sly & Robbie, Mick Jagger, Fela Kuti, Robert Palmer, Jimmy Cliff, Black Uhuru and Talking Heads to name just a few. Both co-founders of Diskotopia have been huge fans of Mr. Badarou's work since before the label's inception and are elated to present The Unnamed Trilogy Vol.1 to the world at large.

Opening track Fisherman (I - Theme) rolls out with an assured strut that pulls you straight into a surging overflow of digi-funk bubble and laser-precise glide tactics. Infectious as it is fluid in its arrangements, Fisherman (I - Theme) is an excellent example of Wally Badarou's ubiquitous sound; highlighted here through the multi-timbral interlocking grooves that balance both the natural and synthetic elements seamlessly like the flow of ocean tides.

Daiquiri Diaries (Vintage Extended) enters with a striking metallic riff before a poetic electric piano takes the lead over insistent drums, soaring strings and warm pad swells. Only a synthesizer specialist such as Badarou would be able to create comparable transcendental magic from such simplicity, transfixing the listener whilst giving a masterclass in restraint. Make no mistake however, this is late night celestial soul music for Balearic excursions into the outer mind's eye.

The nautical beginnings of Awa develop effortlessly into convivial carnival vibes which could easily soundtrack any number of global gatherings. Combining field recordings of lapping waves, a fluid digital kalimba lead, expertly layered polyrhythmic percussion and sun-soaked flourishes throughout, Awa becomes near meditative in its effortless ebbs and flows.

As The Unnamed Trilogy Vol. 1 comes to its close Higher Still … takes an introspective step to the side giving us a cinematically beautiful allegory for the modern age. Equal moments of reflection coincide with transformative key changes as we can equate our own journeys in life to the arrangement here: At once entered into existence in such a distinct manner to have then gone through irrevocable changes and thusly transformed into a new state of consciousness altogether, we remain Higher Still …

NEW RELEASES: HERMETO PASCOAL & BIG BAND – NATUREZA UNIVERSAL; SOUL ON FIRE – THE DETROIT SOUL STORY 1957 - 1977; THE CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL CLUB 5

HERMETO PASCOAL & BIG BAND – NATUREZA UNIVERSAL

Continuing genius from the legendary Hermeto Pascoal – an album of strongly jazz-based arrangements – done with all the dynamic energy of Hermeto's earlier music, but also maybe tuned a bit towards the Duke Ellington or Gil Evans worlds of tone and color! There's nothing particularly Ellingtonian about Pascoal's music here – but there's a warmth and soul that's very striking – particularly in the way the horns come together, often with a voice that's more unified than on some of his more experimental recordings – soaring together to unlock some really beautiful spirits in the tunes! All the other players are younger, and most tracks feature at least one instrumental soloist – shifting out from the pack and really expanding the chromatic energy of the performance. Titles include "Brasil Universo", "Choro Arabe", "Viva O Gil Evans", "O Som Do Sol", "Apresentacao", "De Cuba Lanchando", and "Piramide". ~ Dusty Groove

SOUL ON FIRE – THE DETROIT SOUL STORY 1957 - 1977

Not the complete Detroit soul story, but a set that's even more interesting than that – as the huge package looks at a wealth of lesser-known tracks from the farther reaches of the scene – mostly with a focus on the kinds of underground 60s cuts that made the Motor City so great! A good deal of the work here is from the labels of producer Robert West – who's probably best known for the Lu-Pine label singles, but also worked with other imprints too – a number of which are included here in a package that goes out of its way to present tracks that go way past the usual Motown-styled modes! There's a good deal of group soul work here, and many of the numbers are from the earlier part of the decade, and show a soul scene that still had plenty of grit, despite the later famous Detroit production policy. Also, many of the tracks are presented in a way that features two tracks or more by a single artist in a row – as if you're flipping over both sides of a single – and the box has a huge booklet that really details all the music too! There's 86 tracks in all – including some unissued numbers from the 60s – and the package features work by Ed Robinson, Sax Kari, The Conquerors, The Falcons, Marv Johnson, Tornados, Delores Maxwell, Don Juan & The Vulcans, The Minor Chords, The Rayber Voices, The Knight Hawks, The Fourmost, The Corvells, Gene Martin, Mack Rice, Eddie Floyd, Betty Lavette, Tina Marvel, Just Brothers, Eddie King, The Precisions, Tony & Tyrone, and many others! You might know a few of these tracks – but you'll also find plenty more to discover. ~ Dusty Groove

THE CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL CLUB 5 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Volume 5 of Craig Charles' Funk & Soul Club compilations is something of a milestone - so let me take you through just some of the highlights of this latest trunk of funk which also includes some 100% exclusive tracks not available anywhere else!. The Traffic have a knack of rendering well known sounds into a re-grooved grooves - and their contribution is a crispy, deep fried instrumental version of the Rick James classic Super Freak! The Andy Tolman Cartel make musical time travel a reality - because when you listen to You What! you're transported back to the early 70's and chasing crooks down alleyways because you're in a TV cop show! The recently departed Charles Bradley - the screaming eagle of soul, was a man who had it tougher than most. He spent decades as James Brown impersonator, a homeless person on the unforgiving streets of New York City before signing Daptone Records aged 62. Included here is his beautiful track Change For The World. Tanika Charles gorgeous Endless Chain proves that Canada's soul scene is a firing as anywhere else right now. Stir into the mix The Niteshifters' slice of NY style delicious disco Show Me What You've Got and a new exclusive Body by Kylie Auldist, we have all your disco demands covered. Carleen Anderson is a genuine legend, James Brown said She's not just good, she's phenomenal and Begin Again from her recent remarkable solo album Cage Street Memorial, is a beautiful gospel and jazz tinged slice of acoustic alchemy that will sooth your soul. Also includes are the gritty organ grooves from The Scone Cash Players, The Filthy Six and legend Brian Auger, rocking rhythm & soul from The Hawkmen, ultra rare afro funk from Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers, neo Northern from Nicole Willis, stonking rap & soul from The Allergies and Lack Of Afro too.

DR. LONNIE SMITH TO RELEASE TRIO ALBUM "ALL IN MY MIND" ON BLUE NOTE RECORDS

Hammond B-3 organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith has announced a January 12 release for All in My Mind, a spirited live trio album that the NEA Jazz Master recorded during his 75th birthday celebration at the Jazz Standard in New York City this past summer. The album is the follow-up to his acclaimed 2016 release Evolution, which marked Smith’s return to Blue Note Records where he first made a name for himself with a run of classic soul jazz albums between 1968-70. Hear the new track “Up Jumped Spring” on the playlist Dr. Lonnie Smith: The Finest which features Smith’s greatest Blue Note tracks as a leader and sideman, and can be streamed on Apple Music or Spotify. Smith will return to the Jazz Standard to celebrate the album's release from January 11-14.

At 75 years old Smith still reigns as a master of innovation and experimentation. He may have been away from Blue Note for 46 years, but he perfectly fits in with the current mission of label president Don Was to present the future movements of jazz as well as honoring those who forged the tradition. “Dr. Lonnie Smith returns to the Blue Note label with an album that reveals the enduring appeal of organ soul,” raved The Wall Street Journal in a 2016 review of Evolution, adding that the album “showcases a variety of organ-soul stylings [and] demonstrates the versatility and currency of the style.”

A connoisseur of groove and a consummate showman, Smith wanted to record All in My Mind in a live setting because, as he says, “It’s so hard to capture what I’m feeling at the moment in the studio. Hearing me live is catching me playing in the moment. It’s a good vibe. It’s a loving situation.”

“My group is a brotherhood, a dedicated family,” Smith says of his trio with guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Johnathan Blake. “They are the heartbeat of the music. They know what I’m trying to do, and they enhance what I play. I play in the moment all the time, and they adjust and are there for me.”

All in My Mind opens with a powerful rendering of Wayne Shorter’s “JuJu” from the saxophonist’s 1965 Blue Note album of the same name. Smith also takes Paul Simon’s hit “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” for a 10-minute joyride with drummer Joe Dyson taking a turn behind the kit, and reworks his own vintage composition “All in My Mind” which features the amazing vocal range and spirit of Alicia Olatuja.

Smith reflects, “You play life, you tell your story. I know who I am, and that means so much.” As for his return to Blue Note, he singles out Don Was who produced Evolution and All in My Mind. “I’ve worked with producers who don’t understand the musicians they’re working with. But Don wants me to be myself, he understands and respects creativity. It’s a reminder of the old days when Frank Wolff used to be the same.”

Chris Dave and the Drumhedz Announce Blue Note Records Debut out January 26th

Today, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz announce the release of their debut self-titled album, out January 26th via Blue Note Records. Led by drummer, composer, and bandleader Chris Dave, the album features Anderson .Paak, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Bilal, SiR, Anna Wise, and dozens more. The album pre-order launches with the first single “Destiny n Stereo (feat. Elzhi, Phonte Coleman & Eric Roberson),” which is now available to download or stream. NPR Music recently praised the track's “head-nod beat reminiscent of Dave's rhythm lodestar, the revered producer J Dilla.” Stream the track via Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/chrisdaddydave/destiny-n-stereo-feat-elzhi Chris Dave has drummed for everyone from Adele to Bieber and Dolly to D’Angelo; Questlove once described Chris as his “worst nightmare” and Rolling Stone named him one of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. The Drumhedz’ debut LP showcases a family of musicians whose credits coil like ivy around nearly every pillar of modern sound. It's a place without genre, where elements of funk, soul, gospel, hip-hop and jazz mix until they're an indistinguishable surging mass of solid groove. It's the album the Drumhedz founder has been building toward his entire life. Chris first reached for the sticks at 3, hoping to hit skins for his brothers' funk group. He was denied, but found his second chance at church, initially on percussion. By the time Chris hit middle school, he was drumming for Houston choirs backing singers like Kim Burrell and Yolanda Adams. He attended the revered High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, then received a full ride to Howard University, but dropped out to join Mint Condition. After that the work started pouring in, playing sessions with Lionel Richie, Mary J., and Kenny Garrett. In studios, on tour and in private, he was perfecting his style. Chris' need to absorb  all he heard paid off – from 2009 to 2012, he worked on three Grammy-winning albums across three genres: Maxwell's BLACKsummer'snight, Adele's 21, and the Robert Glasper Experiment's Black Radio. In the personnel credits for those LPs, you'll find the foundation of the Drumhedz. There are nearly 50 Drumhedz on this record, spanning core crew like Pino Palladino (bass), Isaiah Sharkey (guitar), Cleo "Pookie" Sample (keys), Sir Darryl Farris (vocals) and Keyon Harrold (horn), to old familiars like James Poyser (the Roots), Stokley Williams (Mint Condition) and Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), to fresh guests like Anderson .Paak, Bilal, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Phonte Coleman. With all their otherworldly ability, the Drumhedz are who they are because of connection. At the end of the day, they're the cats who came together. And because  they did, you might be a Drumhed too. Tracklisting:1. Rocks Crying2. Universal Language [ft. KRNDN, Sy Smith, D.Rose]3. Dat Feelin [ft. Sir, Tiffany Gouche, Keyon Harrold]4. Black Hole [ft. Anderson .Paak]5. 2n16. Spread Her Wings [ft. Bilal, Tweet]7. Whatever8. Sensitive Granite [ft. Kendra Foster]9. Cosmic Intercourse [ft. Stokley Williams, Casey Benjamin]10. Atlanta, Texas [ft. Goapele and Shafiq Husayn]11. Destiny n Stereo [ft. Elzhi, Phonte Coleman, Eric Roberson]12. Clear View [ft. Anderson .Paak, Sir]13. Job Well Done [ft. Anna Wise, Sir]14. Lady Jane

15. Trippy Tipsy

 

Johnny Mathis 68-Disc Set ‘The Voice Of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is set to release The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection, the definitive Johnny Mathis career-spanning box set on December 8th. The 68-disc set comes as a part of the continued celebration of the enduring musical achievements of Johnny Mathis (who first signed with Columbia Records in 1955.) Legacy has worked closely with Mathis on the curation of his Columbia catalog, pouring through the label’s deep archive of studio and live material, restoring and remastering tracks for digital release. Within this vast career-spanning boxset, Legacy Recordings has included 62 Columbia albums that have been remastered (25 of which are available on CD for the very first time), two previously unreleased albums, a 2-disc collection featuring 40 previously unreleased songs as well as Johnny Mathis Sings The Great New American Songbook.

Signed to Columbia Records in the mid-1950’s, Johnny Mathis was one of the very first musical artists to embrace the album concept and record fully-realized thematically and sonically coherent collections of songs. His 1958 release, Johnny’s Greatest Hits inaugurated the ongoing “greatest hits” anthology phenomenon becoming one of the most popular albums of all time after spending an unprecedented 490 continuous weeks (almost ten years) on the Billboard Top Albums Chart. To date, Johnny Mathis has had 3 songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, achieved 50 hits on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart, and ranks as the #6 all-time album artist in the history of Billboard’s pop album charts. He has received 5 Grammy Nominations, and in 2003 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Science.

QWEST TV Founded by Music Legend Quincy Jones Announces December 15, 2017 Launch Date

Qwest TV, the world's first subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform dedicated to jazz and jazz-inspired music forms founded by music legend Quincy Jones in collaboration with French jazz impresario and television producer Reza Ackbaraly, announced today its official global launch date set for December 15, 2017. The announcement comes just two months following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in Fall 2017 that raised nearly $170,000 USD, nearly double the platform's target goal.

First announced at Montreux Jazz Festival in July 2017, Qwest TV will feature over 100 curated concerts, documentaries, interviews and archives of premium jazz and related eclectic music original content, through a responsive platform available for access on computers, mobile and tablet devices. Subscriptions are available in Standard (SD) or Premium (HD/4K) formats, with pricing starting at $7.49 USD per month. All subscription tiers are ad-free. Customers can subscribe at www.qwest.tv.

Initial content available on launch date will include content featuring artists such as Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Anderson .Paak, Bobby McFerrin, Robert Glasper, Jacob Collier, Sun Ra, Al Jarreau, Maceo Parker, Chick Corea, Gregory Porter, Macy Gray, Wayne Shorter, George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Pharoah Sanders, Elvin Jones, Milton Nascimento, and many more. A variety of new original content will be added on a monthly basis. 

Visit www.qwest.tv/catalog for a complete list of launch content.

With support from musicians such as Questlove, Erykah Badu, Gilles Peterson, Marcus Miller, Gregory Porter, Kamasi Washington, Chucho Valdes, Zakir Hussain and many more, Qwest TV's objective is to increase the popularity of jazz, highlighting its influence on other types of music from hip-hop to electronic music, introducing new talent, and bringing to light its major role in the evolution of society to engage the next generation.

"I have witnessed first-hand the power of jazz - and all of its off-spring from the blues and R&B to pop, rock and hip-hop, to tear down walls and bring the world together. I believe that a hundred years from now, when people look back at the 20th century, they will view Bird, Miles and Dizzy as our Mozarts, Bachs, Chopins and Tchaikovskys," says Quincy Jones, Qwest TV Co-founder. "It's my hope that Qwest TV will serve to carry forth and build on the great legacy that is jazz for many generations to come."

Each program will be accompanied by informative liner notes written by journalists and jazz experts, and subscribers will also be guided by playlists created every month by guest curators (ranging from music experts, producers, record label owners as well as famous musicians).

"At Qwest TV, jazz and jazz-inspired music are going to be at the root of everything we do, but we also want to highlight their influence on culture and music in general, the connections between different musical genres, and how jazz is constantly evolving and keeping up with the times," says Reza Ackbaraly, Qwest TV co-founder.

The December 15 launch will be celebrated with a special live concert in Paris featuring artists such as Jacob Collier, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Moh Kouyaté, Magic Malik, Mederic Collignon (performing a special Quincy Jones tribute), Sylvain Luc, and Omar Sosa. The concert will be livestreamed through Qwest.tv and available for Video on Demand playback following the livestream, an example of prime original content Qwest TV will produce.

Created in October 2017 after several years in the making, Qwest TV, the world's first streaming-video service celebrating jazz and jazz-inspired music forms, is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA, and Paris, France. Supported by a first-class team of artists, producers, venues and festivals, Qwest TV offers its subscribers around the world a carefully curated selection of high-definition, 100% legal films and videos.

NEW RELEASES: FKAJAZZ - LET IT SNOW; SLIVOVITZ - LiveR; JOE MCPHEE / PASCAL NIGGENKEMPER / STALE LIAVIK SOLBERG - IMAGINARY NUMBERS

FKAJAZZ - LET IT SNOW

Deemed a "triple threat, musician, producer, and writer" by United Press International, Samir Zarif aka FKAjazz has taken the latter half of 2017 by storm, first by releasing his groundbreaking sophomore album under his new moniker, FKAjazz and now with the release of "Let It Snow (Lovers' Version)" a single release for the long winter season to come. "It's time to cozy up," he says. Jonathan Widran of Jazziz Magazine writes, "NYC based saxophonist Samir Zarif lays the dynamic groundwork for the possibilities of what jazz is for his generation and provides a vision for what the cherished American art form can be moving forward. With a freewheeling energy driven by the still simmering melting pot of influences that drive his musical passion – traditional jazz, R&B and hip-hop – [his music] is the culmination of a multi-faceted journey that transcends easy definitions. It’s always evolving with a sense of grooving and improvisational wonder and discovery." By all means, this is a beautifully unexpected version of "Let It Snow" which effortlessly holds a place on every holiday playlist. From it's smooth-groove R&B feel to the masterful saxophone performance, FKAjazz's "Let It Snow" is a must-listen throughout the cold months ahead. As Christian Wissmuller of JazzEd Magazine put it "[FKAjazz is] moving jazz forward even further into new and exciting territories, incorporating elements of hip hop, traditional jazz, R&B, and other musical forms. This single release of "Let It Snow" coupled with the release of "Stereotype Threat" (released Sept 2017), proves that FKAjazz is on a mission to take us all on an epic musical journey.

SLIVOVITZ - LiveR

The fourth album of the progressive jazz-rock group from Napoli, Italy - SLIVOVITZ on MoonJune Records. Recorded live in Milan, Italy, in May of 2016, "LiveR" showcases the eccentric Italian maestros at their collective best – playful, daring and just having fun! Some of their most potent material to date (primarily from their heralded 2011 release, "Bani Ahead" and 2016's delectable "All You Can Eat") is revisited in truly refreshing style: uninhibited, lively, but still with their decidedly tight synchronicity and intuitive interplay as a unit. Brilliant individual moments abound, with many songs extending well beyond their previously-established studio confines: affording soloists the opportunity to really step out and shine, while harmonic and rhythmic potentials are explored with playful delight by an always-adventurous rhythm section, steadily smoldering in the background. While many live albums may come across as merely a rehash or an attempted recapturing of some previous musical magic, from the opening frame it's apparent that Slivovitz is completely engaged in the material -- showcasing both their collective and individual brilliance and ambition, while continuing to push the bounds of each song's structural and harmonic blueprints. This album roars with intensity, while serving as a testimony to the intrepidity and unfettered spirit of adventure which make this band one of progressive music's most unique, innovative collective entities. 

JOE MCPHEE / PASCAL NIGGENKEMPER / STALE LIAVIK SOLBERG - IMAGINARY NUMBERS

A really old school trio setting – one that has a loose, open, freely exploratory vibe that really takes us back to the loft jazz generation – as the musicians work in very creative territory that really shows their individual spirits, yet still also come together strongly as a whole! Joe McPhee is great on tenor and trumpet – and really reminds us of those tremendous textures and tones he started developing in the late 70s – and the rest of the trio features Pascal Niggenkemper on bass and Stale Liavik Solberg on drums – both younger musicians, but equally creative in the setting. Titles include "i", "A", and "Zero Supreme Love" – the last of which is dedicated to John Coltrane. ~ Dusty Groove

'70s REISSUES FROM HANK CRAWFORD – CAJUN SUNRISE; SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL ‘77 - LOVE MUSIC; RON CARTER - ANYTHING GOES

HANK CRAWFORD – CAJUN SUNRISE

Hank Crawford comes across here as much as a soul star as a jazz musician – as he sings on half the album's tracks, and delivers his trademark alto solos throughout! The album's got a similar vibe to some of Crawford's other CTI/Kudu material of the 70s – but the presence of vocals also brings about something new – especially as Hank's singing nice has a vibe that's maybe more raspy and down to earth than the smooth sound of his horn! Arrangements are by David Matthews, and other players include Fred Wesley on trombone, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Hiram Bullock on guitar, and Cliff Carter on keyboards. Titles include the strong instrumental cut "New York's One Soulful City" – plus "Just The Way You Are", "Daytime Friends", "Evergreen", "Cajun Sunrise", "What A Difference You've Made In My Life", and "I Don't Want No Happy Songs". (Part of the CTI 50th Anniversary Special Collection!) ~ Dusty Groove

SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL ‘77 - LOVE MUSIC

Warm mellow magic from Sergio Mendes in the 70s – a great little album that's got a sweet electric feel! The set was recorded with help from Tom Scott and Bob Alcivar on arrangements, and has a sunny southern California feel that's a nice extension of Sergio's 60s work – yet which also takes his sound to a whole new level. There's still some traces of Braziliana in the mix, but there's also a lot more straight soulful pop – really working that twin female vocal lead style nicely, and wrapping it around some great tunes like "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Hey Look At The Sun", "Love Music", "Killing Me Softly With His Song", "Where Is The Love", "Put A Little Love Away", and "Walk The Way You Talk". ~ Dusty Groove

RON CARTER - ANYTHING GOES

Ron Carter gets sweet and funky on this 70s classic for Kudu Records – a set that's a fair bit different than some of Carter's acoustic trio sides of the decade, or some of his more high-concept work in recent years! The approach here is free and flowing – larger arrangements penned by Carter and David Matthews – all in that sweet Kudu blend of soul and jazz, acoustic and electric elements. Ron himself plays acoustic bass and piccolo bass – alongside some great keyboards from Don Grolnick and Richard Tee. A few cuts have backing singers, but others are more instrumental – and titles include a great cover of "Barretta Theme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow)", plus "Anything Goes", "Big Fro", "Quarto Azul", and "De Samba". (Part of the CTI 50th Anniversary Special Collection!) ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES: PETER HORSFALL - NIGHTHAWKS; SLY5THAVE - THE INVISIBLE MAN: AN ORCHESTRAL TRIBUTE TO DR. DRE; CHIARA PANCALDI - WHAT IS THERE TO SAY

PETER HORSFALL - NIGHTHAWKS

Singer, songwriter and trumpeter Peter Horsfall releases his debut album Nighthawks this autumn. This cinematic song cycle of nighttime ballads includes five original compositions co-written with Giacomo Smith ('Nighthawks', 'Then I Saw You', 'Secretly', 'Couldn't Stop Lovin' You' and 'This is Goodbye') as well as interpretations of 'Paradise' by Barry Harris and 'Sunset & The Mockingbird' by Duke Ellington with new lyrics by Horsfall. The ensemble features a stellar cast of the UK's most exciting young jazz soloists drawn from Horsfall's band mates in the renowned Kansas Smittys House Band – saxophonist Giacomo Smith, pianist Joe Webb, Ferg Ireland on double bass and Pedro Segundo on drums. Horsfall sets down his horn for this release, choosing to put his vocals at the front and centre of the project. "The choice to work with this specific personnel for my solo record was easy - it's an ensemble of musicians with a refined sensibility for ballad playing. These are four musicians in whom I have total trust." says Horsfall. "I've also been a fan of singer Cecile McLoren Salvant's visual art for some years now and am overjoyed that she has painted three beautiful watercolours on the theme of Nighthawks to accompany this release, adding a special element to the album artwork". "Nighthawks is a love letter to the ballad form. It embraces the twilight, loneliness, and ultimate romance of the nighttime," says Horsfall. "Edward Hopper's painting of the same name has always chimed with me. The lonely figures of the nightime scene; the waiter working until the early hours, the man sat lonesome at the counter. Perhaps it is musicians who are the definitive nighthawks." For fans of: Kurt Elling, José James, Gregory Porter, Shirley Horn, Tom Waits, Billie Holiday

SLY5THAVE - THE INVISIBLE MAN: AN ORCHESTRAL TRIBUTE TO DR. DRE

With "The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute to Dr. Dre" multi-instrumentalist and producer Sly5thAve releases one of his most accomplished works to date. The album comes from a place of collaboration and pioneers an openness to improvisation and experimentation, resulting in a collection of visionary jazz cross-over tributes to Dr. Dre's work. A significant marker of the collaborative process can be heard in the many link-ups and vocal features which hit home throughout the record; from Will "Quantic" Holland ('The Edge') and Marc de Clive-Lowe ('Drelude for Woo') to Jimetta Rose ('Let Me Ride') and Melissa McMillan ('I'd Rather Be With You'), each significantly contributing to the album's rhythmic and melodic flair. Honing many of his chops through former projects and on the road as a session musician, Sly5thAve has also worked as a collaborator and session musician with such legendary and established artists such as; Prince, Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monáe and Quantic.

CHIARA PANCALDI - WHAT IS THERE TO SAY

With What is There to Say , Italian jazz singer Chiara Pancaldi demonstrates her talent to sing jazz standards in a flawless and convincing way. Chiara formed a pure acoustic trio with Kirk Lightsey (piano) and Darryl Hall (double bass) to record this album and they are joined by special guests Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) and Laurent Maur (harmonica) who play on one track each. The recording is a true live session, with the artists improvising freely. Each song, whether it is the famous standard On the Sunny Side of the Street or the obscure Strayhorn tune Love Came, has its own atmosphere. 'We chose a repertoire that could allow us to take chances and get loose but at the same time be tight on the musical structures and arrangements…' Chiara Pancaldi. The album was recorded at Studio de Meudon, Paris in March 2017.