Thursday, August 15, 2019

DOR HERSKOVITS Presents FLYING ELEPHANTS


The prolific Israeli-born, Boston-based, drummer/composer Dor Herskovits' new album, Flying Elephants, available September 20, 2019, is chock-a-block with expressions of love, humor and creativity. Like most great works of art, music, dance, architecture, etc., the music on Flying Elephants began as just a seed of an idea in the brain of Herskovits, which was then transferred to notes engraved on paper. It came to exist in the material world, and then took on a life and uniqueness of its own once Herskovits' band mates got a hold of the music and ran it through their minds, bodies and ultimately their instruments. The result is a resplendent suite of music, played by what is in essence a "family", a band that Herskovits calls his "dream team"; Hery Paz - saxophones, Caio Afiune - guitar, Isaac Wilson - piano, Max Ridley - bass, and Dor Herskovits - drums and compositions.

Flying Elephants was conceived of with these specific musicians in mind - in fact, choosing this cast was the very first step the leader took. Knowing their strengths and utilizing their strong personal/musical connections, the album became a true group effort, shining a light on the member's uniqueness, their fearless and ego-less creative instincts, and unparalleled abilities as true improvisers.

In Herskovits' vision for this album, he aimed to make it a rich and complete work of art. Combining the liner notes with poetry, paintings, and descriptive nuggets, in order to create full, multi-faceted experience for his audience. He has also created a stop motion animated video for the title track. "This shows the eclectic nature of the album and the array of colors, atmospheres and purpose each of the songs might play, for me, and for the listener, such as invoking humor, introspection, peregrination, energy, aggression, romance, dance. "It was a natural to have the album art work done by our saxophonist Hery Paz, as his work is a big influence in my life," explains Herskovits.

Stylistically, the album encompasses a wide variety of influences and styles - traditional jazz (New Fashioned, Recursion), avant-garde/free jazz (Scottish Fold, Bangin'), modern jazz (Palette, Come to light), Cinematic music (Recursion, Flying Elephants) meditation music (Water), rock/metal (Flying Elephants), progressive rock (Magenta), and classical (Sob). The drummer/bandleader elaborates, "I believe that it is accessible music that can potentially bring any listener in. Yet, it is fresh, original and has many layers one can enjoy as the music is explored deeply."  

The title track, an avant-garde leaning lullaby, and the seed from which the entire album was born, "Flying Elephants," is a gift to the drummer's newborn son, in utero when the band was in the studio laying down this music. This composition is a heartfelt soundtrack to his future dreams, which symbolizes the power of our imaginations. "Flying Elephants" tells the story of, "a baby in a crib who falls into a wonderful dream filled with adventure. Elephants, stretched from a mobile coming to life, baby asking them to play, they embark on a voyage, flying into a dream world, elephants joyfully marching with heavy feet...Until baby is woken back to our world," explains Herskovits.

"As the knowledge of the pending baby inspired me to write a song for him, each of the other compositions have their own story and identity, some of which are embedded in this composition, and others took on a shape of their own as they were performed. Since music is the most abstract art form, it also engages our imagination in a powerful way and I wanted to celebrate that with this album. To me, music always opened up an inner world and a strong spiritual connection to people and nature. This is what always drew me to music, what excites me about it and ultimately what I hope to pass on to the listeners."

Flying Elephants band bios:
Isaac Wilson, is a pianist, keyboardist, and composer. A native of Los Angeles, he began playing the piano at the age of 4, teaching himself to play his favorite songs and piano works by ear. He moved to Boston to attend New England Conservatory of Music, graduating in the spring of 2015, having studied with Fred Hersch, Jason Moran, Ran Blake, and many others. While in Boston, Wilson performed on numerous occasions with saxophone greats Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone. A recent recipient of a Master's Degree from Berklee's Global Jazz Institute lead by Danilo Pérez, he studied under many Jazz luminaries while attending the one-year program, and had the opportunity to perform at the 2015 Monterey Jazz Festival, the 2016 Panama Jazz Festival, and the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival. Wilson also won first prize at the 2016 Keep an Eye Jazz Awards in Amsterdam. Wilson has also conducted clinics around the world, and was on faculty of the inaugural Berklee Newport Jazz Festival Summer High School Program. Wilson is an artist committed to the exploration of folkloric music from around the globe, and the possibilities of melding jazz with other genres and disciplines within the Arts. He performs internationally and in the United States in a wide variety of musical contexts, and his debut trio album, Dis-Connect, was released in February of 2018.

Hery Paz, saxophonist and painter originally from Cuba, embodies a rich and diverse color and sonic palette. His eclecticism is explicit not only in painting but also in his distinction as a musician and composer. He has won the acclaim and respect of legendary jazz musicians such as Fred Hersch, who called him, " . . . a revelation, a musician of extraordinary strength". Paz is currently an integral element of the creative music scene in New York City, where he has worked with artists such as Francisco Mela, Ralph Alessi, Fred Hersch, Dave Liebman, Thomas Morgan, George Garzone, Tony Malaby, Ingrid Laubrock, Kris Davis, Ethan Iverson, Miguel Zenón, Frank Carlberg, Tom Rainey, Gerald Cleaver, Bob Moses, Ran Blake, Joe Morris, Charles Downs and Michael Attias. Paz also holds a Master's degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston.

Guitarist and composer Caio Afiune is making a lasting impression on the East Coast jazz scene. Currently in Boston, Afiune has not only been performing extensively as a leader and a sideman, but is a part time faculty member of the prestigious New England Conservatory. Originally from São Paulo, Afiune's compositions uniquely blend together the essence of Brazil and his immensely deep knowledge of the North American jazz tradition. He can be seen performing along jazz giants such as Jerry Bergonzi, Luciana Souza, Jaques and Paula Morelenbaum, Mark Zaleski, Phil Grenadier, and most recently Christian Sands.

Max Ridley is a Boston-based musician, composer and educator. He was awarded full-tuition scholarships to study at Berklee College of Music for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Ridley earned his graduate degree from Berklee's Global Jazz Institute under the direction of pianist and educator Danilo Perez and has gone on to share the stage with renown musicians such as Kenny Werner, Ingrid Jensen, Bob Mover, Jason Palmer, George Garzone, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses and Perico Sambeat. He has performed in venues such as the Blue Note, Dizzy's Club at Jazz @ Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the Umbria Jazz Festival. Ridley has toured domestically and internationally and has also spent time embedded in the artistic community of Valencia, Spain, which he considers his second home. Ridley remains very active in the musical community of Boston as a first-call sideman, leader and co-leader of various groups.

Dor Herskovits is an Israeli drummer and composer based in Boston. As a sought after sideman, he plays in various jazz and experimental groups on the Boston-New York line. He has also toured around the US, Canada, Europe and China. Herskovits has recorded many albums as a sideman, featured on labels such as Newvelle and Endectomorph music, alongside musicians such Grammy award-winning guitarist Bill Frisell, Michael Blake and Jason Palmer. He has also performed with George Garzone, Jon Cowherd, Steve Cardenas, Elan Mehler, TJ and the revenge, Bert Seager's Tet-rap-tych, Max Ridley's Basement Philharmonic, Daniel Rotem and Xiongguan Zhang. As co-leader of Earprint, he received critical acclaim from publications such as Downbeat magazine, NPR's critics' poll and many more. In 2018, he established the Dor Herskovits Quintet, featuring saxophonist Hery Paz, guitarist Caio Afiune, pianist Isaac Wilson and bassist Max Ridley. Their debut album Flying Elephants will be released in September 2019.



Wednesday, August 14, 2019

SOULSTRESS KATHERINE PENFOLD RELEASES SWEETEST THING


Soul resides just beneath the exterior. Upon meeting Katherine Penfold, you might initially notice the prominent tattoos along her shoulder and arms before the conversation veers to her lifelong affinity for motorcycles, skateboarding, or woodworking - let alone music. Listening to her sound elicits a different impression altogether - as a sultry, smooth, and sweet delivery belies the rustic badassery she exudes with ease. This gorgeous contrast illuminates the artist’s 2019 full-length debut, SWEETEST THING, available October 4th.

With a story to every song and a really powerful vibe, SWEETEST THING is the musical juxtaposition that is Katherine Penfold. Although her tattooed, 6 ft, tomboyish exterior seems harsh to the naked eye, Penfold’s quirky Nova Scotia and Brandon University classically-trained upbringing creates a soft and clear musical voice that is all about love and joy. With this unique persona, Penfold went on to win the GROOVEFM singer/songwriter competition, perform alongside the likes of Hugh Laurie, Jeff Lorber, Brad Turner, and Jodi Proznick, and even sell out headline shows. Her fascination for construction and architecture drove her to build her own studio - one of the many things she loves creating from scratch with her hands. While co-producing this album with David Sikula, Penfold channels these experiences and her spirited style to a soul, funk, and R&B 10-track wonder.

She taps into this vibe on the first single, her cover of Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” Over dreamy keys and slick percussion, she breathes new life into the classic staple, sliding into the pocket with seductive bliss. She co-wrote “Better” alongside GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Chin Injeti [Drake, Eminem]. Its slinky groove seesaws from jazzy verses into a resounding chorus as she croons, “You make me feel better,” in a call-and-response over a bass warble. “I struggle with depression and anxiety,” she admits. “The song is for my partner. He finds a way of making me feel better during those times. It’s dedicated to the person who helps you up.” Elsewhere, fluttering keys and dreamy production underscore “Far Away” on which she joined forces with Moonchild’s Amber Navran. The track details “the heartache of a long-distance relationship.” Handclaps and sky-high vocal runs abound on “Unapologetic,” highlighting the scope of her showstopping range. “It’s about stepping up and not hiding anymore,” she goes on. “It’s a powerful moment for me.” In the end, these moments define the duality at the heart of SWEETEST THING. The album will be released in full October 4th, 2019, with the second single, “Far Away”, releasing this Friday, July 26th.

TRACKLIST
1. Unapologetic
2. Feel Like Making Love (prod. Eye 3 Brandon)
3. Far Away (prod. Amber Navran from Moonchild)
4. Better
5. We Gotta Choose
6. High
7. Sweetest Thing
8. Movin’ On
9. Tell The World
10. You Know the Way I Feel

KATHERINE PENFOLD SHOW DATES 2019:
7/28 @ Langley City, Canada - Jodi Proznick Quintet
8/13 @ Vancouver, Canada - CBC Nooner featuring Katherine Penfold
8/19 @ Sechelt, Canada - Katherine Penfold at Sechelt Writers Festival


KRISTIN CHENOWETH - ONE FOR THE GIRLS


Emmy and Tony Award-winning singer-actress releases new album on September 27 featuring guest appearances by Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Hudson and Reba McEntire
  
Kristin Chenoweth has emerged as one of today's most versatile and charismatic performers. An accomplished actress, commanding singer and uniquely charismatic personality, she's conquered Broadway, film, television and the recording medium, releasing a series of acclaimed albums that demonstrate the depth and breadth of Chenoweth's musical passions.
   
Chenoweth's seventh album, and third Concord Records release, is For the Girls, one of her most personal and compelling projects to date. The album is a tribute to some of the great singers who have influenced her, with Chenoweth's personally charged interpretations of 12 classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand ("The Way We Were"), Eva Cassidy ("It Doesn't Matter Anymore"), Dinah Washington ("What a Diff'rence A Day Made"), Doris Day ("When I Fall In Love"), Patsy Cline ("Crazy"), Judy Garland ("The Man That Got Away"), Carole King ("Will You Love Me Tomorrow"), Eydie Gorme ("I Wanna Be Around") and Linda Ronstadt ("Desperado").

Entertainment Tonight has the premiere for “I Will Always Love You” here. Listen to the track: https://found.ee/KC_IWillAlwaysLoveYou 

"I really wanted to pay homage to all the women singers who have influenced me over the years," Chenoweth explains. "I wanted to make something that men could also enjoy, but this is by the girls and for the girls. These songs have all stood the test of time, and most of them are songs that I grew up listening to. It was a little intimidating, because people like Judy, Barbra and Dolly are the people who made me want to be a singer in the first place. I wanted to pay homage to these women and do them proud, but I also wanted to put my own stamp on it. And I think I was able to do that."
  
"Sometimes it felt impossible," she continues, "because there were about 45,000 songs I wanted to record, and it took me a year and a half to narrow it down for the album. Some of the songs were obvious choices, but others were not. I also tried to find a story arc for the album through the songs, which I was able to do with the help of my producer, Steve Tyrell."
  
On several tracks, Chenoweth is joined by some high-powered guest vocalists, including Dolly Parton, who lends her voice to her own composition "I Will Always Love You"; Ariana Grande, who's featured on a pointed reading of Lesley Gore's feminist pop anthem "You Don't Own Me"; and Jennifer Hudson and Reba McEntire, who trade vocals with Chenoweth on "I'm A Woman," originally popularized by Peggy Lee.

"These are some of my favorite singers in the world," Chenoweth asserts. "'I Will Always Love You' is a song I've loved since I was a child. I used to think, 'One day I'm going to sing that song.' Little did I know that I'd get to sing it with the queen herself."

Chenoweth credits veteran producer/performer Steve Tyrell, a key collaborator who also produced her acclaimed 2016 release The Art of Elegance. According to Chenoweth, Tyrell's experience and insight made him an ideal collaborator.

"Steve and I are a match made in heaven," Chenoweth states. "Not only is he an incredible singer and performer in his own right, he has a wealth of knowledge of all music. He has a fantastic ear and kept reminding me, 'KC, you don't have to be perfect the first time!"

Since achieving Broadway stardom with her roles in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth has effortlessly transitioned between her parallel careers in stage, television, film and music. After winning a Tony award for her work in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and earning a Tony nomination for her breakthrough role in Wicked, she won an Emmy award for her work in the ABC TV series Pushing Daisies, and received two Emmy nominations for her work in the Fox series Glee.
  
In addition to numerous other TV, film and stage projects, Chenoweth was featured in 34 episodes of NBC's The West Wing, was a guest judge on American Idol and Project Runway, and has recorded four studio albums.  In 2014, Chenoweth released Coming Home, a live album, DVD and PBS special recorded at a historic concert in her hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, followed by the celebrated studio effort The Art of Elegance. Among her many upcoming projects are a pair of holiday-themed films, A Christmas Song and Holidate.

Her multimedia successes notwithstanding, Chenoweth retains her enthusiasm for the recording process, regarding her album projects as a vehicle for creativity and expression.

"I love to make records, because I love getting to say something through music on my own terms," she states. "Music is such a powerful, healing force. Whether you like rap or opera or country, music is something that bonds us together. And we live in a time where music is really speaking to us. There are no more rules, and that's really inspiring to me, because there's no limit now."

TRACK LIST:
The Way We Were
You Don’t Own Me with Ariana Grande
It Doesn't Matter Anymore
I Will Always Love You with Dolly Parton
What a Diff'rence a Day Makes
When I Fall In Love
Crazy
The Man That Got Away
I'm A Woman with Jennifer Hudson & Reba McEntire
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
I Wanna Be Around
Desperado 



Alex Cuba: Sublime


Higher Truth: Alex Cuba Distills His Sound to its Essence on Sublime

The spark of creation is a rare and special moment. That’s Alex Cuba’s favorite part of music-making: when inspiration strikes at 3 AM, stepping out into the little studio in his garage, turning on the heater (he’s made a home in the far north of British Columbia, far from the Cuba of his birth), and being alone with a new musical idea. His new album, Sublime, is all about “capturing that magic, while it’s still hot,” as Alex says, “in that moment of higher truth” (Caracol Records release: September 20, 2019).

Alex Cuba wanted to find just the right title for this new project. It had to strike a chord with his Spanish- and English-speaking listeners. It had to reflect the way he’s been distilling the Alex Cuba sound down to its pure essence. “One day I was listening to the masters, having a coffee, and all of a sudden the word crosses my mind: “Sublime,” he recalls. In Spanish, English, and even French, that title captures Alex’s goal: to find the spirit at the heart of his music, leaving out everything that doesn’t need to be there.

What’s left is that sound that brings together Afro-Latin influences into one distinctive voice, the sound that has already won him Latin Grammys, Junos, and three Grammy nominations. It’s purely Alex Cuba, while leaving space for Alex’s signature duets with artists both well known and about to break out.

For one thing, it’s Alex playing every instrument you hear on Sublime. “I’ve recorded with incredible musicians for previous albums,” Alex recalls, “but the vulnerability of these songs led me to this choice. It’s so simple, and yet so strong, I wanted to express all that myself.”

The album’s first video, for single “Yo No Sé,” gives visual expression to the process: Alex plays all the roles, from a grizzled bass player laying down a driving groove, to a beanie-wearing percussionist, to a trio of singers harmonizing syncopated staccato rhymes. “I recorded a vocal guide while I was arranging in the studio. It sounded so much like a bandleader telling the band what to do, the video idea was born right there. I knew it had to be the first single.”

Digging deep into his essential sound requires a certain maturity and honesty. As Alex’s musical career has progressed, he’s learned his strengths. “For years I was a rocker, a funky guy, but I know that my voice calls people to reflect on their own lives. The songs that stay with people are the ones that bring peace and calm, so I wanted to embrace that and be completely naked and intimate.”

That intimate feel, the careful attention to songwriting, and the largely acoustic sounds lend Sublime a vibe that could be called retro, and that’s okay with Alex. “Acoustic music just goes with my soul,” he explains. “I’m not against synths and electronics, but I’m not interested in just making a big noise and getting people to dance. I wanted the songs on this album to have some breathing space. I suggest things, leave things at a subliminal level. Every listen will tell you something else.”

Alex may be focused on his own sound and songwriting, but he still relishes collaborating with other artists. Duets with Ron Sexsmith and Nelly Furtado were instrumental in his career, after all. This time around, Alex pairs his voice with some of Cuba’s brightest lights: Pablo Milanés, a founder of the Nueva Trova sound; Omara Portuondo, the vocalist of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club; and singer-songwriter Kelvis Ochoa, the Cuban vibes king. “This album has the most important duets of my career,” Alex says. “Pablo shaped my generation in Cuba. I listened to his music almost every day of my life, so recording “Hoy Como Ayer” is a dream come true” (Single release: August 23).

Alex recorded Sublime in Canada and Cuba, the places he calls home, and also in Mexico and Spain. Sublime is graced by duets with artists in Mexico City’s music scene, both superstar Leonel García (one half of the duo Sin Bandera) and up-and-comers Silvana Estrada and Alex Ferreira. These songs came out of spontaneous collaboration, capturing ideas and emotions by bouncing ideas around together. “It is a wonderful thing to share,” Alex muses. “When you do it with the right people who think and feel alike, it’s an empowering thing to do. It’s like you expand your musical universe.”

From the pensive heartbreak of “De Los Dos” to the insistent groove of “Yo No Sé,” from the frenetic “Ciudad Hembra (La Habana)” to the easy optimism of “Dividido,” Sublime sees Alex Cuba pull off two simultaneous feats: honing his sound down to a sharp edge while expanding his musical universe.


Brooklyn Funk Essentials: Stay Good


Bringing Back the Funk: Brooklyn Funk Essentials Celebrate Diversity and Their Brooklyn Roots on New Album

The creative relationship between Lati Kronlund and Alison Limerick spans decades and genres. It began back in 1990, when they released the club anthem “Where Love Lives.” That runaway success launched them both in different directions, sending Lati to New York City to found supergroup Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

“Where Love Lives” brought them back together again in 2016. Kronlund asked Limerick to sing with BFE at a gig in London, and everyone knew: she just had to join the line-up. With her voice as the cherry on top of their groove sundae, Brooklyn Funk Essentials holed up in a Stockholm studio to record their latest album: Stay Good (Dorado Records Release: Sept 20, 2019). A celebration of self-care and respect for diversity, Stay Good is fun, funky, fresh and more focused than ever.

The seeds that would eventually grow into Stay Good were actually sown back when Kronlund and Limerick recorded “Where Love Lives.” Around that time, Kronlund had written the first version of “Stay Good” and wanted Limerick to record some vocals on it. “The collaboration never materialized though,” Kronlund says. “So I thought it would be cool to bring it back!” “Stay Good” opens the album, and an updated version of “Where Love Lives” closes it out. Kronlund and Limerick’s collaborative relationship finally reaches its brightest potential.

Aside from the addition of Limerick’s legendary voice, the line-up of Brooklyn Funk Essentials has shifted throughout the years. Today, it consists of six musicians: UK-born Anna Brooks (sax & vocals), who was discovered and brought to the band by Iwan VanHetten (trumpet, keyboards & vocals). There are also Londoner Desmond Foster (guitar & vocals), Swedish Lati Kronlund (bass) and Swedish Roma Hux Nettermalm (drums). Some members are newer than others, but their diverse sounds come together to create an eclectic groove that has always been the essence of the Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

Musical Director Iwan VanHetten, Kronlund tells me, is largely to thank for the streamlining of the lineup. “Iwan was always after a smaller band with a more focused sound,” Kronlund muses. “It was strange at first, but now I appreciate the change and what it’s done for us”.  With their new stripped down lineup, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have been able to cultivate a special synergy with each other as musicians. Their relationship with Dorado Records continues to flourish, spanning 25 years, and now four albums. As a result, BFE are tighter and jammier than ever on Stay Good.

The lyrics of Stay Good’s opening and title track are a testament to this—how the group has changed and grown over the years as musicians. “In many ways,” Kronlund explains, “Brooklyn Funk Essentials has morphed into something completely new. But we’re all committed to stay good--to continue developing and improving as musicians.” The song is also about navigating times marked by rapid socio-political and technological change. “It’s so important to stay good in times like these,” Kronlund explains. “To side with compassion and stay true to yourself.”

Many of the tracks featured on this album, in one way or another, touch on or directly embody this idea of staying true while reacting to changing times. “Ain’t Nothing” features a duet from Foster and Limerick, as well some catchy chanting in Patois from Jamaican Foster. While the lyrics continue to transmit the album’s message of “staying good,” the idea of the song came from VanHetten, who was inspired by a studio session with neo-soul superstar Anderson .Paak.

“Watcha Want From Me” is another reimagining of a song that Kronlund co-wrote for the late Frankie Knuckles’ second record. Originally titled “Whadda U Want (From Me),” Kronlund changed the title to differentiate this new version. That’s not all that changed—the track features updated lyrics inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. “For the instrumentation, we took it back to an 80’s boogie disco vibe--some of the origins of house music. The whole thing is a tribute to Frankie and BLM,” Kronlund tells me. “I think he would have liked it.”

Taking it back to the roots, to the essentials, makes sense here. All of the genres that Kronlund’s band has been influenced by started in New York City. And so even though Brooklyn Funk Essentials aren’t based in Brooklyn anymore, they’re still a Brooklyn band. “We’ve always been a very international band, and we still love Brooklyn and New York City. From the get-go, Brooklyn was not a geographical pinpoint for the band,” Kronlund explains. “The city represents to us a rich cultural diversity, and we try to make a community of diversity work just as well in our band as it does in Brooklyn, the borough.”



Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Monterey Jazz Festival Artist Spotlight: Leyla McCalla


Leyla McCalla is a New York-born Haitian-American who sings in French, Haitian Creole and English, and plays cello, tenor banjo and guitar. Originally gaining national recognition as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, she’s deeply influenced by traditional Haitian Creole music, American jazz and folk. Her music, reflective of social justice, is at once earthy, elegant, soulful and witty, vibrating with three centuries of history, yet is strikingly fresh, distinctive and contemporary. She’s appearing at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 6:00PM on the Garden Stage.

Inspired by the divided sociopolitical climate in the United States, Leyla's McCalla's
album The Capitalist Blues explores the psychological and emotional effects of living in a society where money is king, and the poor are left to fend for themselves. Despite the pessimism and cynicism the album's title evokes, these songs focus on recognizing that while we may feel overwhelmed by the injustice happening around us, we must always resist the temptation to be overcome by it. The Capitalist Blues is a clear musical departure from the folk approach of McCalla's first two critically-acclaimed albums. Comprising mostly original songs and increasingly steeped in the music of her adopted home of New Orleans and her ancestral home of Haiti, McCalla's songs span the musical spectrum from New Orleans traditional jazz to Zydeco to Haitian Rara.


Harry Connick, Jr.'s New Album True Love: A Celebration Of Cole Porter

After 30 million albums sold worldwide, 13 No. 1 jazz albums in the United States, and a music, film, television and Broadway career spanning three decades, Harry Connick, Jr. returns with a sensational new record, True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter.

Comprised exclusively of Cole Porter compositions, True Love highlights Connick's talents as pianist, singer, arranger, orchestrator and conductor, as he breathes new life into popular songs from The Great American Songbook including "Anything Goes" and "You Do Something To Me."

"This is the first time I've taken a deep dive into another artist's repertoire, and Cole Porter was my #1 choice for the project. His lyrics are witty and nuanced and he takes risks as a composer that I find appealing" Connick said. 

Cole Porter's body of work, composed primarily for Broadway and Hollywood, comprises one of the central chapters in the Great American Songbook. It is not surprising that Porter would appeal to Connick since, like Connick, he wrote both music and lyrics and redefined what it meant to be the complete songwriter. Connick, whose success in several styles of music as well as film, theater and television has similarly reshaped the notion of what it means to be the complete entertainer.

Connick's effort in pulling together the album True Love was typically Herculean.  After selecting the songs, and writing and orchestrating the arrangements, he assembled and conducted the orchestra which features his longtime touring band with additional horns and a full string section.  The results showcase new depths in every area of Connick's creativity, which soars to new heights in the new show that he has conceived and will direct on Broadway this Fall.

Celebrated worldwide for his multi-faceted talents as singer, pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, presenter and actor, Harry Connick, Jr. has been performing since he was 9 years old. He emerged on the scene with a precocious command of jazz and popular music styles, having been trained by legendary pianists Ellis Marsalis and James Booker in his native New Orleans.
  
Watch the album trailer: : https://HarryConnickJr.lnk.to/TrailerPR
Listen to the first track "Just One Of Those Things" 
https://HarryConnickJr.lnk.to/JustOneOfThoseThings


Larry Fuller releases Overjoyed


Jazz piano maestro Larry Fuller releases Overjoyed A treasure of stylistic flair and diversity featuring Lewis Nash and Hassan Shakur
  
Larry Fuller - a masterful pianist whose soulful artistry matches his sensational technical expertise - learned his craft the old school way: on the bandstand. Honing his impressive talents with four giants of mainstream jazz: the legendary bassist Ray Brown, famed vocalist Ernestine Anderson, drum giant Jeff Hamilton, and acclaimed guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, Fuller developed a personal style both relentlessly swinging and outwardly expressive. On his new release, Overjoyed (available May 17, 2019 via Capri Records), Fuller translates that invaluable experience into a deeply personal statement of jubilation directly communicated through rhythmically charged, yet sensitively inflected, improvisation. Melding in harmony with the bassist Hassan Shakurand drummer Lewis Nash, Fuller and his gifted compatriots inject soul and cheer into the Great American Songbook, Jazz, Blues, and Pop standards as well as companionable originals.

Fuller brings his own take to a sweeping variety of compositions including Stevie Wonder's classic "Overjoyed"; Oscar Peterson's "Bossa Beguine," Wes Montgomery's "Fried Pies," Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant," Ray Brown's "Lined with a Groove," and Richard Evans' "Bossa Nova Do Marilla"; the standards "How Long Has This Been Going On?," "Never Let Me Go" and "Mona Lisa"; the blues workhorse "Got My Mojo Workin'"; and his own finely constructed originals, "Jane's Theme" and "The Mooch".  Exhibiting an outsized command of his instrument balanced by tasteful displays of inward beauty, Fuller has the worlds of swing, bebop and the blues at his command and isn't shy about sharing his gifts to engage the full emotional response of the listener. Whether meshing flawlessly with his rhythm mates, or exhibiting his finely honed sensitivity and imagination throughout lyrical solo performances ("Never Let Me Go" and "How Long Has This Been Going On?"), Fuller speaks with his own pianistic voice.

Famed for the exuberance he brings to the bandstand and the seamless connection that he makes with his audience, Fuller's artistic message is as forthright as his music itself: "To uplift people with the joyous sprit of the music. To play with joy, to swing and play the blues. These are the hallmarks of jazz that inspired me as a child. They are traditions that I continue to aspire to."

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Fuller was playing professionally as a pre-teenager. The late eighties and early nineties found him working with vocal legend Ernestine Anderson as both pianist and musical director. After a noted stint with the celebrated West Coast-based drummer Jeff Hamilton, Fuller found fame with Ray Brown, performing with the bass boss until Brown's passing. Fuller then became an integral member of John Pizzarelli's ensembles for nearly a decade. (Among the other jazz notables that he has worked with are Stanley Turrentine, Harry "Sweets Edison," Phil Woods, and Clark Terry.) Fuller has led the Larry Fuller Trio since 2013; he has released three albums as a leader since 2005.


Nicholas Payton Releases Relaxin’ With Nick


Acclaimed Trumpeter, Keyboardist and Composer Takes to the Stage of Smoke Jazz & Supper Club for a Scintillating Live Double-Disc Set: Relaxin' With Nick

When Nicholas Payton enters the recording studio, he uses that environment to the full extent of its capabilities, as he’s abundantly revealed on a series of groundbreaking releases that showcase his gifts as a producer as well as his virtuosic trumpet playing and multi-instrumental versatility. At the same time, Payton has evolved a singular approach to live performance, supplementing his breathtaking voice on the trumpet with his own accompaniment on piano and Fender Rhodes. On Relaxin’ With Nick, Payton is joined by the renowned rhythm section of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington – no relation, though their incredible chemistry highlights a bond as tight as family – for a stellar live set captured at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club.

Due out October 25 on Smoke Sessions Records, Relaxin’ With Nick brings the experience of witnessing Payton’s unparalleled live performances directly to the listener. The double album largely consists of Payton’s original compositions, alongside a few well-chosen standards, all evidencing the virtuosic musicianship and thrilling camaraderie discovered together on the club’s intimate stage in front of an enthusiastic audience.

The Smoke crowd plays an integral role in the album, as Payton was intent on representing the vibe of the space as well as the sound of the band, inspired by live classics like Ahmad Jamal’s At the Pershing: But Not for Me. “The particular way that Smoke is situated makes for even greater intimacy than your average club,” Payton says. “You can feel the atmosphere; you can feel the quiet. I want to hear glasses clinking, the murmur of conversation or the excitement of toe-tapping. All of those things lend themselves to the creative spirit and help set a mood.”

With that atmosphere established, the trio can feed off the energy in the room and spark a truly special, once-in-a-lifetime experience. That notion is only amplified by the fact that the weekend of concerts recorded for Relaxin’ With Nick represents this trio’s first performances together, though Payton has worked with each of the Washingtons in other contexts. The bassist and drummer share extensive experience together, most notably as members of the longstanding Bill Charlap Trio.

“At this point, their level of instantaneous dialogue is so intuitive that you have a ready- made camaraderie there,” Payton says. “The vibe they’re able to generate on such a consistent basis from having such a long association just feels so good. Once you connect with them it’s a beautiful thing, which is why they’re so sought after. Both of them have very strong and deep roots, but also a sensibility, a touch and a flair for whatever is current. Having a strong footing in the foundation and fundamentals, but also a willingness to be daring and to take risks, are equally important criteria to me.”

While always central to the sound of any ensemble, the rhythm section is particularly important to Payton’s unique approach given his peerless ability to double himself on trumpet and keys. While undoubtedly a crowd-pleasing feat of skill, the multi- instrumentalism is crucial for Payton’s deeply personal conception of his music, which has expanded beyond the confines of his horn to a more holistic notion of the overall sound.

“As my music became more personal, the idea of just taking trumpet solos and standing on the side of the stage seemed a bit stale and boring to me,” he explains. “Playing keys and accompanying myself allows me to be a part of the music in a more tangible way. It frees me up to play the music as I hear it, and puts me at the vanguard of creating a new technique in territory that is largely uncharted. It gives me a different edge.”

That edge manifests in a wide variety of styles and moods throughout Relaxin’ With Nick, from the gentle, buoyant swing of the title track to the slinky, blissed-out soul groove of a tune like “Eight,” to the bristling surge of “F.” Payton culls a few tunes apiece from his recent albums Letters and Numbers, with “C” performed as an elegant piano trio ballad, “A” at a joyous trot with Payton taking a thunderous turn on the piano before parrying his own trumpet solo on Rhodes. “Five” finds him alternating between the three instruments in a particularly tour de force outing propelled by the Washingtons’ muscular rhythms.

“El Guajiro” was originally recorded on Payton’s genre-blurring 2017 album Afro-Caribbean Mixtape. The tune is forged around a sample of the voice of master Cuban trumpeter Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal, here launching the trio into a brisk, infectious cha- cha-cha. “Jazz Is a Four-Letter Word” is similarly built on the foundation of a vocal sample, here using a monologue by the iconic drummer Max Roach to opine on one of the trumpeter’s favorite subjects over a rock-solid beat. “1983” dips into a laid-back soul bag, pairing singing trumpet lines with shimmering keyboard textures, while “Othello” cedes the spotlight to Payton’s crooning skills, embedded in Kenny’s whispering brushwork and Peter’s eloquent bass oratory.

Payton opens Benny Golson’s classic “Stablemates” with a cosmically adventurous keyboard solo, ushering in the trio’s clamorous reimagining of the oft-recorded tune. Taken at a brisk tempo, “Tea for Two” feels anything but quaint as Payton’s trumpet rides the rollicking waves of the Washingtons’ urgent swing. “I Hear a Rhapsody” is passed through a prismatic deconstruction, while Payton takes to the microphone again for a heartfelt “When I Fall In Love,” before closing the set with a brief take on his own “Praalude,” from 2003’s Sonic Trance.

Given Payton’s rejection of the “listening room” experience of shushed patrons and reverent attitudes, Relaxin’ With Nick is just that: an opportunity to get comfortable with a genial host who hopes to entertain an audience, in a club or listening at home. “I feel honored that people choose to spend their evening with us with all the options people have these days,” he concludes. “There’s no greater compliment to me than people being able to hook up or party or converse in whatever fashion necessary. I’m happy to have my music be a part of fun and romance and the life force. To me, this is the point.”

"Relaxin’ with Nick” was recorded live at Smoke Jazz Club, NYC
on May, 30, 31, and June 1, 2019; mastered to ½” analog tape using a
Studer mastering deck, and produced by Paul Stache and Damon Smith. 

Nicholas Payton · Relaxin' with Nick
Smoke Sessions Records · Release Date: October 25, 2019


Monday, August 12, 2019

Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths, Releases New Album 'Timeless'


Celebrating 55 years timelessly as an artist in the worldwide music fraternity, Queen Marcia Griffiths has released her new album.  One of the foremost singers of Reggae music, Empress Marcia Griffiths, is continuing to break new ground. Her new album, which is appropriately titled 'Timeless', is a selection of 15 songs that pay tribute to the endurance of the Studio One label catalog, which boasts the most solid collection of foundation songs in the historic art forms of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae music.

In a career spanning over 55 years and still going strong, Marcia Griffiths has reached high points as a soloist, and with Bob Andy as the duo of Bob and Marcia. She toured the world as a member of the I-Threes with Bob Marley and the Wailers, and subsequently hit the Billboard charts with the "Electric Boogie Song", creating a world-class dance - the electric slide.

Marcia has had the incredibly good fortune of spending her formative years at Studio One, the record stable that shaped the career of other top-ranking artists such as Bob Marley and Bob Andy.

Marcia recalls, "'Timeless' speaks for itself - from then until now; working on this album was refreshing and filled with fun memories of early Studio One days when those songs were being recorded. Much thanks to Donovan Germain for conceiving and producing the album and to Tad's Record for promoting and distributing it".

Her brilliance is on full display in the wide range of artists/songs covered, from Delroy Wilson's 'Once Upon A Time' and Ken Boothe's 'Home Home Home,' to The Heptones' 'Baby Be True' and The Cables' 'What Kind Of World,' from Peter Tosh's 'I'm The Toughest' and Sugar Minott's 'This Old Man' to Abyssinians' 'Declaration Of Rights,' plus a Ska medley inclusive of Jackie Opel, Toots Hibbert, The Wailers, and Rita Marley among other luminaries.

The musicians who contributed to this album are also a bonus. They recaptured the feel of the original riddims and with digital recording produced a sweet clean quality, supporting a timeless voice echoing a timeless era that will certainly help drive the revival of popular reggae music.

Listen to 'What Kind of World' from the album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9N3XEVChY&feature=youtu.be.

'Timeless' Tracklist:
01. What Kind of World
02. Once Upon A Time
03. Baby Be True
04. True Believer
05. Love Me Forever
06. Love Is a Treasure
07. Your Love
08. I'm The Toughest
09. Ska Medley
10. Rock Steady + This Old Man
11. Home
12. My Guiding Star
13. Declaration of Rights
14. Cry Me A River
15. Stranger in Love

GRAMMY Award Winner Kurt Elling to Headline Labor Day Concerts in Reno, Lake Tahoe with the Reno Jazz Orchestra


GRAMMY award winning jazz vocalist, composer, and recording star Kurt Elling will headline the Reno Jazz Orchestra's Labor Day Weekend Shows in Reno, NV on August 30 and Incline Village, NV on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore August 31st.

Renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, Elling has secured his place among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. His list of awards throughout his career to date include: "Male Vocalist of the Year" (Jazz Times - ten years); "International Jazz Artist of the Year" (Jazz Journalist Association - ten years); "Best Jazz Album of the Year" (GRAMMY Award); "Best Jazz Album” (nine GRAMMY Nominations); "Best Vocal Performance"(three GRAMMY Nominations); and "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist" (two GRAMMY Nominations).

In addition, with a fourteen-year run atop the DownBeat Critics Poll, vocalist Elling promises a standout performance accompanied by the 17-piece Reno Jazz Orchestra.

“His music and wit appeal to the full range of music lovers, from the novice jazz fan to the most jaded jazz hipster,” said Chuck Reider, Music Director for the Reno Jazz Orchestra. “Elling does not regularly perform with big bands so this will be a real treat for all to experience an electrifying performance with this virtuoso vocalist and compelling storyteller featured with our contemporary 17-piece big band.”

The Reno Jazz Orchestra has been based in Northern Nevada for over 20 years and includes musicians who have performed and traveled the world with acts such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Natalie Cole, Luciano Pavarotti and other legendary performers.

“Thanks to our private donors and corporate sponsors, we are able to bring one of the most respected jazz voices to Northern Nevada for all to enjoy,” said Reider.

“Elling combines authenticity with stunning originality,” is how The Wall Street Journal describes his talents, while The Guardian has called him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.” The Toronto Star has gone so far as to say that “Kurt Elling is the closest jazz will ever get to having its own saint," while The Guardian makes up one voice in a chorus that has called him “one of jazz's all-time great vocalists."

Elling has not only thrilled audiences around the world in jazz clubs, symphony halls and festival stages, but at the White House, where he gave a command performance for President Obama’s first state dinner.

He has collaborated with jazz legends and classical orchestras; created multi-disciplinary theatrical works for the Steppenwolf Theatre and the City of Chicago; served as Artist-in-Residence for the Singapore and Monterey Jazz Festivals; and explored the fertile common ground between jazz and poetry, working with the words of Allen Ginsberg, Rainer Maria Rilke, Pablo Neruda and others.

Over the ensuing years, Elling has become one of the music’s most renowned practitioners of vocalese, the writing and performing of words over improvised jazz solos.

Taking the long view of Elling’s audacious and richly varied career, the Washington Post lauded, “Since the mid-1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling. With his soaring vocal flights, his edgy lyrics and sense of being on a musical mission, he has come to embody the creative spirit in jazz.”


New Music Releases: The Soul Rebels; New York Voices; Banda Black Rio


The Soul Rebels - Poety In Motion

Eight men pick up shiny brass instruments, lock into an unspoken groove and rotate genres like your favorite playlist shifting from jazz and R&B to hip-hop, pop and beyond with fire, focus and fluidity. New Orleans-bred staple The Soul Rebels expand musical boundaries with an unwavering commitment to originality. Far more than augmentation and accompaniment, the octet - Julian Gosin [trumpet, MC], Marcus Hubbard [trumpet], Lumar LeBlanc III [snare drum], Derrick Moss [bass drum], Corey Peyton [trombone, MC], Erion Williams [saxophone], Paul Robertson [trombone] and Manuel Perkins Jr. [sousaphone] - pioneer the integration of their chosen instrumentation. For Poetry In Motion - the group's first album for their new imprint, Rebelution Music Group, on Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group - The Soul Rebels infused this handcrafted approach into a wider sonic palette than ever before. "This particular album made us dig deeper into the reservoir of feelings both artistically and emotionally," says Lumar. "Our band members brought out all kinds of thoughts. The record represents eight different individuals with a lot of soul, emotion and feeling."

New York Voices - Reminising In Tempo

After a decade of collaborative, and superlative, releases with large ensembles such as the WDR and Bob Mintzer Big Bands, the New York Voices return to their roots and mark their 30th Anniversary with one of the most ambitious, accomplished undertakings in their esteemed catalog. Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader & Kim Nazarian worked with revered producer Elliot Scheiner, applying their stamp to standards by Cole Porter & Al Jolson, modern jazz gems from Chick Corea & Fred Hersch, a deeply personal swing-era classic from Duke Ellington, songs by the Beatles & Ivan Lins, and a pair from Cuban classical composer, Ignacio Cervantes. Opening is a tour de force rendition of Al Jarreau's lyrical contribution to Brubeck's 'Blue Rondo la Turk,' which includes a new vocalese section based off Dave Brubeck's and Paul Desmond's original solos, with lyrics by Lauren Kinhan. Reminiscing in Tempo finds the quartet's individual chops and their collective chemistry to be as powerful as ever, foretelling yet another creative and significant span for this landmark group.

Banda Black Rio - O Som Das Americas

Contemporary work from Banda Black Rio – the legendary Brazilian funk band who gave us some really great records in the 70s! Turns out, the group still sounds great after all the passage of years – more in a modern soul mode overall, with a few more sophisticated twists and turns alongside the grooves – and a wider style overall, to make room for guests who include Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Elza Soares, Cesar Camargo Mariano, and others! Think of the music as a progression from earlier Brazilian soul modes – a bit in the way that early Ed Motta work was a step forward from the generation of Tim Maia – and amidst the great guest vocal work, there's also plenty of sharp instrumentation. Titles include "Arthur E O Gigante", "America Do Sul", "Labirintos", "Rir E Chorar", "Isabela", "Aos Pes Do Redentor", "Vento Leva", "Aguas Sabias", "Bossa Da Praia", and "Nove No Samba". ~ Dusty Groove

Sunday, August 11, 2019

“Halston” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Composed By Four-Time Grammy® Winner Stanley Clarke


Node Records has released Stanley Clarke’s original score for the critically-acclaimed documentary "Halston" through all digital platforms. 

Halston Director Frédéric Tcheng ("Dior and I") documents America’s first superstar designer’s rise to international fame in the 1970s through weaving archival footage and intimate interviews with Halston’s family, friends and collaborators including Liza Minnelli, Iman, Joel Schumacher, Lesley Frowick, and Jacqueline Kennedy. It is a behind-the-headlines look into the struggle between Halston’s artistic legacy and his fall to the pressures of big business. Halston is produced by Roland Ballester and Frédéric Tcheng, with producers Stephanie Levy and Paul Dallas, executive produced by T Dog Productions (Dogwoof) and CNN Films and music supervised by Tracy McKnight.

Frédéric Tcheng reflects, “The music that Stanley composed captures brilliantly the epic sweep of Halston’s career and the enigmatic aura of his persona, elusive yet intimate, a true American giant.

Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world, and an accomplished composer of more than 70 film and television projects including the Academy Award®-nominated "Boyz n The Hood," the Tina Turner biopic "What’s Love Got To Do With It," and "The Transporter."

“'Halston' was fascinating to work on due to the wealth of archival footage available,” explains Clarke. “Frédéric Tcheng sequenced the material in a manner that gave me an opportunity to maintain a storytelling continuity to the score. The soundtrack is melodic and is part jazz-combo dynamic and part orchestral with occasional elements of synthesized music acknowledging the era of the 1970s.”

Stanley Clarke is equally gifted as a recording artist, performer, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and film score composer. A true pioneer in jazz and jazz-fusion, Clarke is particularly known for his ferocious bass dexterity and consummate musicality. Unquestionably, he has attained “living legend” status during his over 40-year career. Clarke’s creativity has been recognized and rewarded in every way imaginable: gold and platinum records, Grammy® Awards, Emmy® nominations, virtually every readers and critics poll in existence, and more. He was honored with the highly prestigious Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival for his entire body of work. In 2014 he was invited to become a member of the exclusive Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.




Italian Jazz-Funk supergroup CAMERA SOUL release EXISTENCE


Italian Jazz-Funk supergroup CAMERA SOUL returns to the global music scene with EXISTENCE its fifth studio album in eight years.

Since the group's previous commercial success, "Connections" (2017), producer-composer brothers Pippo and Piero Lombardo have continued to create original musical and lyrical stories, even as the group has maintained a relentless European touring schedule.

As a testament to the group's growing success, and in tandem with its regular homeland performance schedule, in November 2017, Camera Soul debuted for the first time outside of Italy, performing live in the United Kingdom on the "Soulfully Yours" tour, headlined by fellow soul artists Kenya McGuire Johnson and Gwendolyn Collins, together with blues man Arthur Miles.

New album "Existence" promises to deliver more of the beefy, timeless horn-line sound for which the group has become famous, and also includes a special homage to its ongoing partnership with American composer/lyricist, Kathryn Ballard Shut. The brothers penned original music on 'Colorado Sky' as a tribute to the strong relationship that they have forged with the Denver resident, who has creatively collaborated with the group on four of its five studio albums since 2012. In return, Ballard Shut offered the lyrical story of living happily in her beloved state.

The band's roster remains largely as heard on "Connections". Executive produced by Azzurra's Marco Rossi, the lineup features lead vocalist Maria Enrica Lotesoriere and background vocalist Piero Dotti, pianist Pippo Lombardo, bassist Beppe Secuestro, drummer Fabio Delle Foglie, percussionist Liviana Ferri, saxophonists Gianni Binetti and Bruno Tassone, trumpeter Alberto Di Leone, and introduces new lead guitarist, Alex Milella. Fans of previous efforts will also recognize the recurring voice of Gabry Filograno on "Life". Finally, the album was recorded and mixed by Tullio Ciriello at A.MA Studios in Bari and mastered at 5.4 Studios in New York City.

For more information, visit Camera Soul's official website at http://www.camerasoul.eu and 'LIKE' the group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/camerasoul.

Sarah Jane Morris / Tony Remy - The Songs Of John Martyn: Sweet Little Mystery


On 10th May soul-jazz diva Sarah Jane Morris releases Sweet Little Mystery, an album of songs by Scottish singer and songwriter John Martyn. The album is a joint project between Sarah Jane Morris and long term collaborator, guitarist Tony Remy. Together they pay homage to the sublime genius of John Martyn - a restless, often self-destructive artist whose unique voice and music is both breathtakingly bold and achingly tender in its beauty. This year marks 10 years since his tragically early death aged 60. Sarah Jane Morris is a singer with an astonishing vocal range. Her thirty-year career, during which she has garnered a loyal and loving international audience, has been wide-ranging and her rich contralto voice goes from strength to strength. She has performed with many groups over the years, from rock to soul to African blues, with classical orchestras, a one-hundred cello ensemble, with acoustic guitars and jazz big bands. Her voice, her versatility, and her emotional intelligence - the absolute authenticity of feeling which she conveys - make her a world-class compelling performer. 

In 1986 she toured the world with The Communards when their song 'Don't Leave Me This Way' became a worldwide Number One hit. She also performed with bands including The Test Department, The Redskins, The Annie Whitehead band and The Republic. For some years she fronted the celebrated 21-piece Brechtian big band The Happy End. Perhaps surprisingly for an established English soul and jazz singer she has a very successful career in Italy where she plays frequently. She has a strong and passionate following there and has had several Number One hits, including a cover of Barry White's classic 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. She has also had three Number One hits in Greece. In November last year Sarah Jane worked with Orphy Robinson on his Van Morrison show Astral Weeks, to great acclaim. Revisiting popular songs has always appealed to her, famously in Don't Leave Me This Way, and another cult single, Billy Paul's Me and Mrs Jones, but also works by Bob Dylan, Sting, John Lennon and Tom Waits. She has said that she will only cover a song if she feels she can take it, change it, claim it and make it her own. Sarah Jane has featured the music of John Martyn in her shows and has included some of these new arrangements to enthusiastic audiences in recent performances, so Sweet Little Mystery is an album eagerly anticipated by those already given a taste of her take on this material, as well as by fans of John Martyn. 

Sarah Jane and Tony completely re-imagine John Martyns' songs, retaining their original hypnotic fragility, with her voice matching the emotional and musical range of his and Tony's arrangements and grooves, helping her voice create new and illuminating versions of the music. These are fresh and invigorating re-interpretations that make you listen anew to familiar tunes. Musicians on the album include Tony Remy on electric and acoustic guitars, Trinidadian born Tim Cansfield on acoustic guitar, Henry Thomas on acoustic and electric bass, Martyn Barker on drums and percussion and Jason Rebello on piano and keyboards, Tessa Niles and Gina Foster on backing vocals and a string quartet put together by Sarah Jane's long-term friend and fellow Comunard, Sally Herbert and other illustrious guest musicians. Sweet Little Mystery will be touring nationwide and in Europe from May in a show directed by comedian/activist Mark Thomas and it will include unreleased footage of John Martyn and interviews with his family and friends. "..she speaks to the soul" THE TIMES "..her take on the music of John Martynfelt incandescent" EVENING STANDARD


Saturday, August 10, 2019

New music Releases: Ben Webster; Kaidi Tatham; Bryony Jarman-Pinto


Ben Webster - Plays Ballads

180g vinyl reissue of this Ben Webster LP that was originally released in 1988 and is complete with the original artwork. Although Ben Webster's artistic output is not solely synonymous with tender ballads, he could still have had an impressive career had he only produced the sweet, quiet melodies that he excelled in. The tracks from this release are taken from various recordings he did with The Danish Radio Group during the late sixties and early seventies. They represent some of the best ballads from his live repertoire. The band consists of some of the best Danish musicians at the time, including Niels-Henning Ørsted Petersen, Jesper Thilo and Palle Mikkelbord among others. The sound offers a warmth that suits the ballads perfectly, and the musicians accompanying Webster display the perfect ability to play their instruments subtlety. The album contains seven tracks in total, including well-known tracks such as Stardust, Cry Me A River and Willow Weep for Me.

Kaidi Tatham - Serious Times EP

Soaring sounds from Kaidi Tatham – music that's upbeat and moving, yet wonderfully precise in its simplicity too! Kaidi works in this cosmic fusion style that owes plenty to the London style a decade or so back – but it also moves forward with a lot more live instrumentation in the mix, maybe the full flowering of the deeper jazz elements we always knew that Tatham had in his music! Keyboards are the main solo instrument, but there's plenty happening in the rhythms too – always complex, but never too heady – on titles that include "Cost Of Living", "Zallom", "Sugar", and "Don't Cry Now".  ~ Dusty Groove


Bryony Jarman-Pinto - Cage And Aviary

'Cage & Aviary' is the much-anticipated debut album from songwriter and vocalist Bryony Jarman-Pinto. Written over the course of three years, the album ties personal reflection to wider social issues, giving an intimate insight in to what it means to come of age in today's world. Sophisticated songwriting is brought to life with Bryony's harmonious vocals, layered with jazz, soul and elements of folk, creating a melodic sound that has charmed many major tastemakers, including Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music), Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra), Robert Elms (BBC Radio London), John Kennedy (Radio X) and Tina Edwards (Worldwide FM); receiving praise from publications ranging from Clash to Music Is My Sanctuary and DUMMY. 'Cage & Aviary' was created with long-time friend, collaborator and Tru Thoughts label-mate Tom Leah AKA Werkha, highlighting their capacity for musical exploration. "The album is built around my contemplations on life, love and myself and tying that in with wider global issues." Jarman-Pinto explains, "lyrically I have circled around the theme of family and securities I felt at a younger age, measured against my insecurities now and personal desires to my own femininity and personhood". This lyrical struggle is best represented in "Emerge", a track written at a time when Jarman-Pinto was experiencing her biggest lack of creativity and insecurity around her writing; she describes a breakthrough in writing, willing for one to come.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...