NEW RELEASES - KENNY WESLEY, PAMELA WILLIAMS, JEFF SPARKS

KENNY WESLEY - TOYLAND

Mild. Awkward. Ear-piercing. Some call him a paradox: The soulful nerd with the huge voice. His name is Kenny Wesley. ”My mom said I came out the womb screaming, and I’ve been screaming every since!” he jests. The North Carolina born, D.C.-based artist has a voice that can shatter glass, lilt with the tenderness of a soul crooner, sing a Mexican lullaby, or bust out the stank. His love for music and other cultures has taken him around the world where he has performed before presidents, dignitaries, heads of state, and high-profile celebrities. He has shared the stage with several national recording artists such as Alice Smith, Stephanie Mills, Anthony David, Kindred, Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, N'Dambi, Yolanda Adams, Tamia, Zo! & Phonte (The Foreign Exchange), Vikter Duplaix, Mike Phillips, Gordon Chambers, Maya Azucena and Leela James. His songs have been featured on a number of media outlets and projects such as: FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance", ABC’s “The View”, Music Choice, Good Morning Arizona!, WBFF FOX45 Baltimore, soulbounce.com, The Contemporary Songbook 3 (Soulunsigned), The Soul Prototype (Kebomusic), Beautiful Weirdo (GreenTea)and Land of Sheep Ruled by Pigs (Wes Felton), et al. Now Kenny Wesley ushers in the Holiday season with his contemporary adaptation of "Toyland" - one of Victor Herbert's most famous songs from his Christmas-themed 1903 operetta "Babes in Toyland" based on characters from fairy tales and Mother Goose nursery rhymes. Featuring producer Carlton Hicks, Kenny delivers this song with sophisticated splendor taking the listener back to childhood memories of their own “mystic merry Toyland." ~ CD Baby

PAMELA WILLIAMS - CHRISTMS WITH THE SAXTRESS

Pamela Williams music and saxophone style has enchanted many listeners for years. Since she debuted her first CD in 1996, she has had Billboard-charting success with several of her nine CDs. Pamela Williams is undoubtedly, one of the most popular performers on today's smooth jazz scene. And now she has recorded a long-awaited Christmas CD. She adds her distinct sound and jazzy flavor to some of the most popular Christmas songs ever recorded. Pamela Williams is not only an incredible saxophonist, she plays flute, piano, as is a very well-respected producer, which definitely contributes to her unique style. Her fans have requested a CD like this from her for years and it is finally here! "Christmas With The Saxtress" is a must have in your music collection. ~ CD Baby

JEFF SPARKS - JAZZY CHRISTMAS

On Jazzy Christmas with Jeff Sparks, the versatile saxophonist expands on the infectious and powerful blend of gospel, funk and R&B that drove the success of his 2010 Arrow Records release Love.Life.Soul. He brings fanciful twists to five familiar Christmas classics, including a high octane horn driven funk/jazz/rock romp through "Carol of the Bells"; a fiery and percussive New Orleans-styled "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; the brassy gospel rocker "Mary Did You Know"; and colorful, exotic takes on "Feliz Navidad" and "Little Drummer Boy" (featuring vocals by Dria). Sparks complements these with two compelling original tunes, the gospel fired yet sensually romantic "This Christmas" (with lead vocals by Monique Dansby) and the soaring emotional ballad that closes the set, truly making Christmas a "Wonderful" experience. Sparks takes a fascinating and cool moodswing approach - with one of the freshest urban jazz arrangements ever - on the collection's sizzling lead single, an emotionally stirring rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear." The track opens with a bright, funky brass section and bubbling bass motif that burst in and set fire to the saxophonist's cool, laid back and soulful soprano lines between each verse. Later in the tune, Sparks lights up with some exciting, unpredictable improvisations that join the high energy brass for a major holiday jam session. Riffing on the song's title, yes, everyone's gonna want to hear this! ~ clevershoppers.com

ENNIO MORRICONE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS - DUELLO NEL TEXAS, TEPEPA, OPPOSTE ESPERIENZE

ENNIO MORRICONE - DUELLO NEL TEXAS

Sweet early western soundtrack from Ennio Morricone – scored with a bit more drama in later years, but already showing a magical sense of space and sound! The record begins with the excellent "A Gringo Like Me" – a totally catchy English language vocal number sung by Peter Tevis, and reprised later by Daicky Jones – then rolls into an all-instrumental batch of tracks that moves between a few period pieces and some other hipper styles – including a bit of jazz at times that feels a lot more crime than western! Reissue features a total of 20 tracks in all – including two versions of "A Gringo Like Me". (Limited edition.) ~ Dusty Groove

ENNIO MORRICONE - TEPEPA

A lost western score from Ennio Morricone – directed with some nice musical flourishes by the great Bruno Nicolai! The work's got the feel of some of Morricone's more famous spaghetti western scores – with some great moody passages that hint at the offbeat instrumentation of his horror work, coupled with more driving action-related tunes that have a more driving feel overall – and together, these tunes weave a very visual tapestry of sound – possibly even more compelling than the actual film! Titles include "Viva La Revolucion", "Tepepa E Price", "A Meta Strada", "Una Povera Casa", "Consegna Delle Armi", and "Tradimento Secondo". New CD version features a whopping 28 tracks in all – over 70 minutes of music! (Limited edition of 500 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove

ENNIO MORRICONE - OPPOSTE ESPERIENZE

Wonderful work from Ennio Morricone – an obscure soundtrack that we somehow missed for years and years – even though we've always been huge fans of his music! There's a quirky, offbeat feel to the record at the start – some playful elements that bounce along with a slight touch of whimsy, but which are also offset by some more languid, mellow Morricone moments too – those slow-moving sexy sounds that can really make some of his best ones sparkle! The story features a violinist, and there's a bit of lead violin at points – but it's the compressed orchestrations that we dig the most. Titles include "Grande Overture", "Adagio Primo", "Largo", "Adagio Secondo", and "Allegretto" – and the CD features loads of bonus tracks too! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - CHRISTMAS IN LOUNGE, SANTA'S FUNK & SOUL CHRISTMAS PARTY, RHONDA THOMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS IN LOUNGE - VARIOUS ARTISTS

A cool contemporary Christmas set from our friends at Irma Records – served up in a sweet jazzy style that features lots of sweet updates of older Holiday tunes, plus some great 80s numbers too! The approach is more jazz vocal than the "lounge" in the title might make you think – and the whole thing has that great blend of vintage and modern that we love in some of the best Irma projects – with a nice dose of bossa rhythms thrown in to sweeten up some of the best tracks. Tunes are all familiar, but the versions are all nice and fresh – and titles include "This Christmas" by Dario Daneluz, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Sara Pick, "Happy Xmas" by Andrea Nardinocchi, "Last Christmas" by Dario Daneluz, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Ely Bruna, "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Drika Scherlin, and "We Are The World" by Papik. ~ Dusty Groove

SANTA'S FUNK & SOUL CHRISTMAS PARTY - VARIOUS ARTISTS

One of the coolest Christmas compilations we've seen in years – a package that's filled with rare funk and soul singles from the 60s and 70s – all of which have a Holiday theme! Almost all the tunes on the set are original numbers – which means that the songs are totally fresh, and not just reworked versions of Christmas standards – and all the tracks come from tiny independent labels, which means there's an extra gritty edge to the whole thing – hardly the sort of sleepy Christmas record you might know from your youth! The funky 45 label Tramp put the whole thing together, with the same energy they usually bring to 7" vinyl – and titles include "Black Christmas" by Rose Graham, "Christmas Day" by Detroit Jr, "You Won't Have To Wait Till Xmas" by Lee Rogers, "Santa's Got A Brand New Bag" by Gary Walker, "Holiday Baby" by Fat Daddy, "Xmas Done Got Funky" by Jimmy Jules & The Nuclear Sound System, "Christmas Groove" by Vernon Garrett, "Soul Christmas" by Count Sidney & His Dukes, and "Stone Soul Christmas" by Binky Griptite. ~ Dusty Groove

RHONDA THOMAS - LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL

A really beautiful Christmas album from Rhonda Thomas – a singer we already love during the other seasons of the year – but one who's really won us over with this unique Holiday set! The record's easily one of the best Christmas records we've heard in years – and Rhonda does way more than just rehash Holiday classics – and instead reworks tunes with a vitally fresh sort of energy – proud, righteous, and solidly soulful – at a level that puts the record right up there with classic Christmas soul efforts from the likes of Donny Hathaway and Luther Vandross – the kind of record you'll be pulling out year after year in December – for decades to come! ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - JOHNNY MATHIS, PIPIK, HELIOCENTRIC COUNTERBLAST

JOHNNY MATHIS - A SPECIAL PART OF ME

A sweet 80s set from Johnny Mathis – one of those great later albums when he brought a good deal of soul into the mix! The feel here is almost more modern R&B than the vocal jazz mode that first brought Johnny fame – and it turns out that the Mathis mode is wonderful for such a setting – rich and full of feeling, and arguably better than some of his younger contemporaries on the charts! The ballads are beautiful, but there's also a few surprising midtempo numbers – and titles include a sublime remake of "Love Won't Let Me Wait", done with Deniece Williams – plus "Love Never Felt So Good", "Simple", "Priceless", "One Love", "Right Here & Now", and "Lead Me To Your Love" – plus "You're A Special Part Of Me", a duet with Angie Bofill. CD features two bonus tracks – "Simple (single vocal)" and "Simple (inst)". ~ Dusty Groove

PAPIK - PAPIK PRESENTS: COCTAIL MARTINO - A TRIBUTE TO BRUNO MARTINO

A warmly jazzy tribute to the music of Bruno Martino – the Italian songwriter who's best known for the famous "Estate" – but who also gave the world a host of other wonderful tunes over the years! The set's done in a sparkling Irma Records style – with backings from Papik that mix 60s retro modes with 21st Century production – often with instrumentation from a small jazzy combo that has great keyboards and horns. Most vocals are in Italian, although the set also features a few non-Martino numbers too – and singers vary from number to number, which adds a nice sense of variety to the set. Titles include "Estate", "Fai Male", "Che Peccato", "Al Di La", "Se Mai", "Cos'Hai Trovato In Lui", "Soli Tra La Gente", "Sabato Sera", and "Rimpiangerai". ~ Dusty Groove

HELIOCENTRIC COUNTERBLAST - A TRIBUTE TO SUN RA

A great contemporary tribute to Sun Ra – put together in ways that are a lot more sensitive than other projects of this nature! These young players really seem to get the sense of Ra's Arkestra as an ensemble – and work in ways here that really recall the best energy of the early Saturn recordings – even on a few original numbers by members of the group! We're not familiar with most of the players, but together they work wonderfully – in a lineup that includes Nikolaus Neuser on trumpet, Kathrin Lemke on alto, Dirk Steglich on tenor and flute, Gerhard Gschlossl on trombone,a nd Rui Gincel on piano and "spacekeys". Titles include "Future", "Images", "Ancient Aiethopia", "A Call For Demons", "Do To Voodoo", and "Watusa". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MARLENA SHAW, HORACE SILVER, NORENE TATE

MARLENA SHAW - JUST A MATTER OF TIME

Soaring soul from Marlena Shaw – her last recording for Blue Note, and a set that points the way towards her bigger fame to come at Columbia Records! Like some of her previous sets, there's definitely still some jazzy elements in the mix – yet the overall sound is much more fully soulful, thanks to arrangements and production from Bert DeCoteaux and Tony Silvester, who both bring in a rich sound that's similar to some of the indie dancefloor soul coming out of Philly and New York at the time – with backings that are a great blend of funk and strings, perfect for Shaw's unique blend of the sophisticated and soulful. Marlena handles this mode better than anyone else, and we think this set's easily one of her strongest records ever – even more so than some of her later dates too. Titles include the wonderful "Think About Me", a solid stepping seventies soul track that is (or should have been) an instant classic – plus "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", "Take My Body", "No Hiding Place", "Love Has Gone Away", "You & Me", "It's Better Than Walkin Out", and "Be For Real". ~ Dusty Groove

HORACE SILVER - SILVER 'N BRASS

A beautifully soulful set from Horace Silver – hardly the "with brass" session you might guess from the title, and instead a well-integrated album that really showcases a new level of arranging genius from Horace! The set is heavy on hip horns – with work from Oscar Brashear, Bobby Bryant, and Tom Harrell on trumpets – plus Frank Rosolinon on trombone, Jerome Richardson on alto and soprano sax, Buddy Collette on flute, and Bob Berg on tenor – but these instruments are often wrapped up in this warmly rolling groove driven by the bass of Ron Carter and drums of Al Foster – inherently funky, but much more complicated from a rhythmic perspective – and rolling out beautifully with a really imaginative vibe! Tunes are all originals by Silver – wonderful little numbers filled with passion and life – almost painting in sound, with really rich tones and colors throughout. Titles include "The Sophisticated Hippie", "Dameron's Dance", "Barbara", "Adjustment", "Mysticism", and "Kissin Cousins". ~ Dusty Groove

NORENE TATE - TENDERLY

A very early session on Elektra – cut during a year when the label recorded a surprising amount of jazz! Norene Tate's a singer we only know from this album – a very moody vocalist with this mixture of blue notes and more trilling high spots – a mode that makes her surprisingly expressive in a very short space, with the kind of range you might be more likely to hear from some of the bigger vocal sets of the time. Yet the backings here are nice and lean, just trio accompaniment from a group led by pianist Isaac Royal – who himself has all these nice dark tones that really go great with the vocals! Titles include "Butterfly", "After My Laughter Came Tears", "I Cover The Waterfront", "The Wall", "One For My Baby", "I Was Doing All Right", "Every Now & Then", and "I've Had My Moments". ~ Dusty Groove

JOAN ARMATRADING SET TO RELEASES NEW ALBUM - STARLIGHT

429 Records is set to release Starlight, an all new collection of compositions by celebrated songstress Joan Armatrading. Starlight is a collection of 10 songs which emphasize her unequaled prowess as a singer and arranger. Always the consummate songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Armatrading explores new vocal phrasing technique with Starlight which add new emotional dimension and depth to her always incisive explorations of love and the human condition. The lively jazz-inflected musical arrangements serve to buoy the constantly shifting lyrical moods. As on her last 429 Records studio albums "Into the Blues" and "This Charming Life," Armatrading produced the album and plays every instrument to spectacular effect. Starlight will be released on 429 Records February 26th.

Long recognized as a pioneering force with a career spanning three decades, the Saint Kitts born Joan Armatrading has maintained an acclaimed and storied career. The three times Grammy nominated British artist has garnered countless accolades which include Top 10 albums and singles ("Love and Affection," "Willow," "Drop The Pilot," are but a few), not to mention a #1 debut atop the Billboard Blues chart in 2007 (a first for a female artist from the UK). She has made VH1's list of the 100 Most Influential Women in Rock, has been nominated for a Brit Award, gave a command performance for Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday at Wembley Stadium, received an Honorary Degree from Birmingham University.

Track Listing:
1.Single Life
2.Close to Me
3.Tell Me
4.Back On Track
5.I Want That Love
6.The Way I Think Of You
7.Always On My Mind
8.Starlight
9.Busy With You
10.Summer Kisses

NEW RELEASES - HORACE SILVER, BLUE NOTE LIVE AT THE ROXY 2, BOBBY HUTCHERSON

HORACE SILVER - SILVER N WOOD

Wonderful work from Horace Silver – part of a great run of late 70s sides for Blue Note that unlock a whole new side of his soulful talents! The vibe here is different than the previous United States trilogy – still very righteous, with an overt message too – but served up in these wonderfully warm tones – with loads of great woodwind passages over these wickedly angular rhythms – grooves that are somewhat like those Silver first started forging on his 27th Man album! The arrangements are sublime – and on some cuts handled by Silver, but orchestrated by Wade Marcus – with players who include Tom Harrell on trumpet, Bob Berg on tenor, Buddy Collette and Fred Jackson on flutes, and Jerome Richardson on soprano sax. The rhythm section is key, too – and features Ron Carter on bass and Al Foster on drums! Side one features "The Tranquilizer Suite" – with passages that icnlude "Keep On Getting Up", "Time & Effort", and "Perseverance & Endurance" – and side two includes the excellent "The Process Of Creation Suite" – with "Motivation", "Activation", and "Assimilation". ~ Dusty Groove

BLUE NOTE LIVE AT THE ROXY LIVE 2 - VARIOUS ARTISTS

An overlooked gem from Blue Note – a special live performance that brings together some of the label's funkiest and most soulful artists of the 70s! The set's somewhat unusual for Blue Note at the time – especially given the label's increasingly studio-driven approach to jazz, with projects by the Mizell Brothers and others – yet given that bent, the whole thing's a great illustration of the vibrancy of all these artists always from the studio – playing live and extremely funky! As the title implies, the set was recorded live at the Roxy in LA – with players who include Donald Byrd, Ronnie Laws, Gene Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, and Alphonse Mouzon – all coming together in warm unity to show that the spacious sounds of Blue Note could also be crafted in a live setting, and not just under closely-watched studio help arrangers and producers. Carmen McRae sings on a number of tracks, and the album overall does a good job of presenting the material in concert-like setting – and some of the longer tracks feature some mighty nice jamming solos. Titles on this second volume include "Music", "Them There Eyes", "You're Everything", and "Paint Your Pretty Picture" by Carmen McRae; a medley of Brazilian tracks by Earl Klugh – including "Like A Lover", "A Felicidade", "Manha De Carnaval", and "Samba De Orfeu"; and a long track that involves all the artists as the Blue Note All Stars, on "Blue Note 76". ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBY HUTCHERSON - LINGER LANE

A beautiful later Blue Note album from vibist Bobby Hutcherson – a set recorded after his famous association with Harold Land, but with a groove that's wonderfully soulful in a whole different way! Bobby plays marimbas instead of vibes this time around, and he's working with his own arrangements for a slightly larger group – one that has some sweet fusion overtones, and these wonderful mellow funk inflections – so that even the mellow cuts have this warmly glowing, ultra-soulful sound that's mighty nice – a bit like some of the work from Gene Harris around the same time. Other players include Jerry Peters on Fender Rhodes, who also helped out with the arrangements – plus Harvey Mason on drums and Ernie Watts on reeds – and a few tracks feature sweet backing vocals from The Waters. The highlight here is a nice moody extended version of "People Make The World Go Round", but all cuts are great, and titles include "Silver Rondo", "Manzanita", "NTU", and his dark cover of "Theme From MASH". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - MOACIR SANTOS, AZAR LAWRENCE, DUKE PEARSON

MOACIR SANTOS - MAESTRO

Amazing 70s work from Moacir Santos – the first album the Brazilian arranger recorded for Blue Note, and a set that sparkles with warmth and soul from the very first note! The approach is a brilliant updating of the famous sound that Santos crafted in Brazil the decade before – recast here with some warmer elements that includes great organ from Clare Fischer, electric piano from Bill Henderson, trombone from Frank Rosolino, and flute and tenor from Don Menza! Santos sings on a number of tracks, but in this cool angular way that's often right in line with the instrumentation – almost submerged a bit in the mix, as an element that gives the record a strong degree of warmth. The album's unlike any other we can think of – even a bit different than Santos' two other albums for Blue Note – and has a wonderful fusion of influences that never fails to delight our ears over the years! Titles include his version of "Nana", which was performed often by others – plus "Luanne", "Bluishmen", "Kermis", "Mother Iracema", and "Astral Whine". ~ Dusty Groove

AZAR LAWRENCE - BRIDGE INTO THE NEW AGE

A wicked set from reedman Azar Lawrence – one of the few albums issued under his own name, and a great example of the waves he was making on the 70s west coast scene! There's a depth here that goes beyond most of the other Fantasy Records sessions of the time – a sound that would be right at home on Strata East, or in some of the more righteous Cobblestone sessions – no surprise, given that the ensemble here is filled with key spiritual jazz players, including Woody Shaw on trumpet, Hadley Caliman on flute, Joe Bonner on piano, Billy Hart on drums, Mtume on congas, and even Jean Carn on a bit of guest vocals! Most tracks are longish, and a perfect setting for Azar's exploratory reed work on soprano sax and tenor – and titles include "Warriors Of Peace", "Forces Of Nature", and "The Beautiful & Omnipresent Love". ~ Dusty Groove

DUKE PEARSON - IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO YOU

Pivotal work from Duke Pearson – a brilliant set that perfectly sums up all the criss-crossing of styles he was working on in the late 60s – and comes up with a wonderful blend of electric jazz, Brazilian rhythms, and just a touch of 70s soul! Pearson plays some sweet Fender Rhodes on the set, in addition to acoustic piano – and there's some other wonderful instrumentation in the mix too – including flute and guitar from Hermeto Pascoal, making a rare Blue Note appearance – plus sweet flutes from Jerry Dodgion and Lew Tabackin, both blowing in kind of a CTI-ish way – as well as tenor from Frank Foster, trumpets from Collins/Shepley, and wonderful drums from Mickey Roker – whose inventive rhythms here really helps set fire to Duke's new ideas. Flora Purim sings on a few tracks – pre-Fantasy Records, and turning in some of her greatest vocals ever – and titles include a wonderful version of "Stormy", plus "Book's Bossa", "Gira, Girou", "Hermeto", "Emily", and "It Could Only Happen With You". ~  Dusty Groove

MOLLY RINGWALD RELEASES DEBUT CD - EXCEPT...SOMETIMES

Except…Sometimes, the debut CD from actress and author Molly Ringwald, will be released by Concord Records on April 9th, 2013. An homage to the Great American Songbook, Ringwald has crafted a carefully chosen selection of nine standards which she caps off with her take on The Breakfast Club classic, “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The release of Except…Sometimes will be accompanied by select tour dates as well as appearances in conjunction with the release of her bestselling new novel, “When It Happens to You.”


Except…Sometimes was produced by Peter Smith and features Clayton Cameron on drums, Allen Mezquida on alto saxophone, Peter Smith on piano and Trevor Ware on bass.

Said Ringwald, “I grew up in a home filled with music and had an early appreciation of jazz since my dad was a jazz musician [pianist Bob Ringwald]. Beginning at around age three I started singing with his band and jazz music has continued to be one of my three passions along with acting and writing. I like to say jazz music is my musical equivalent of comfort food. It's always where I go back to when I want to feel grounded."

An actress of both stage and screen, Molly was cast in Paul Mazursky’s film Tempest at the age of thirteen. Her performance as Miranda, the daughter of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and she went on to star in numerous films, including The Pick-Up Artist, For Keeps, Fresh Horses, Betsy’s Wedding, Cindy Sherman’s Office Killer, Billy Bob Thornton’s short film Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade, Jean-Luc Godard’s King Lear, and the now-iconic John Hughes’ movies Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink.

In 1992, a lifelong Francophile, Ms. Ringwald moved to Paris where she acted in such foreign films as Jean-Charles Tacchella’s Tous Les Jours Dimanche and Toni Marshal’s Enfants de Salaud, which she performed entirely in French. She frequently returned to the United States to star in television projects, including the critically acclaimed comedy series Townies, Stephen King’s The Stand, and the Emmy-nominated Allison Gertz Story.

In 1997, Ms. Ringwald returned to the theater in New York City to star in Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize winning How I Learned to Drive, a role she reprised at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Subsequent theater credits include playing the legendary “Sally Bowles” in the Broadway production of Cabaret; the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Enchanted April; and the London production of When Harry Met Sally. She created the role of Horton Foote’s Lily Dale in the NY off-Broadway production, performed the role of Salome (with Al Pacino) and starred in Jonathan Larson’s musical Tick Tick Boom! and the hit comedy Modern Orthodox, directed by James Lapine.

Currently, Molly can be seen starring in the breakout hit The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family, and she is also on the road promoting her new novel, the national bestseller, “When It Happens to You.”

A complete list of tracks featured on “Except…Sometimes” is as follows:
1. Sooner Or Later
2. I Get Along Without You Very Well
3. I Believe In You
4. I’ll Take Romance
5. The Very Thought Of You
6. Exactly Like You
7. Where Is Love
8. Pick Yourself Up
9. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
10. Don’t You (Forget About Me)

NEW ORLEANS GUITARIST CLIFF HINES RELEASES WANDERLUST

Wanderlust, the new recording from New Orleans guitarist/composer Cliff Hines, is a rich tapestry of ideas, inspirations and sounds patched together from various times and places in the world. It is a sonic journey, an electro-acoustic blend traveling from one culture to the next. In making this record, Hines and co-producer/engineer Ian Painter gathered together some of New Orleans's finest musicians, including local legends James Singleton, Bill Summers, Kent Jordan, Dave Easley and Helen Gillet, coupled with some of the best musicians of the new generation, including Khris Royal, Ashlin Parker, Mike Watson, Rex Gregory, Sam Craft and Jack Craft. Hines' core band features vocalist Sasha Masakowski, drummer Paul Thibodeaux, bassist Jasen Weaver, and pianist Andrew McGowan. While all of these musicians are well versed in jazz, rock, funk and many other genres, the music they created together on Wanderlust defies convention and categorization.


Wanderlust is a CD that could have only been conceived and realized in New Orleans. The big easy's legacy as a port city meant that it was constantly importing new sounds from all over the globe. Many of these sounds are represented on the album, including Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, African, Spanish, European classical, Middle Eastern, Indian, American swing (both of the southern and northern varieties), hip-hop, rock, and electronic/experimental. Musicians in New Orleans have grown up and studied in this tradition, and as such, they are some of the most creative and versatile players in the world. There is also a strong sense of camaraderie between New Orleans musicians that is unlike any other music scene. All of the musicians know each other and regularly play with each other, regardless of what style of music or background they come from. This leads to very interesting and surprising combinations of players (as we find on Wanderlust). Yet with all of its innovative and creative energy, New Orleans is very much rooted in tradition. As such, Wanderlust features giants of the old guard of New Orleans music, in addition to the young lions of the new generation.

Wanderlust is also about the music world in 2012. A world shrinking day by day. Culture has been digitized; the farthest reaches of the world are at your very fingertips - from the street beat of a brass band in New Orleans ("Aetherea") to the hypnotic dances of Africa ("Wanderlust"). One can find folktales of anthropomorphizing the heavenly bodies ("Lonely Moon") or traversing the seedy underbellies of the world ("Interzone"). And yet, with such a rich history, this present moment in time is perhaps the most fascinating of all. It is a time of merciless war ("Dresden"), bloody revolutions ("Tehran"), and nuclear crisis ("Clouds"). We may turn our heads to the heavens for answers ("The Path of Arhuna"), but the only way forward is to work together as Brothers. - Cliff Hines on Wanderlust.

The music on Wanderlust:

1. Brothers - feat. Khris Royal (alto sax), Chris "Ciel Rouge" Carter (drum programming), Simon Lott (drum effects) [4:57] A song about unity, with a simple, singsong melody meant to transcend culture and boundaries.

2. Dresden Intro - feat. Helen Gillet (cello), Sebastian Figueroa (shortwave radio) [2:33] This is a brooding improvised classical piece between pianist Andrew McGowan and cellist Helen Gillet. They delicately dance around each other over a sea of shortwave radio transmissions and white noise wind sounds.

3. Dresden [6:00] A reflection on the 1945, WWII firebombing of Dresden, Germany. The melody is reminiscent of the nursery rhyme, "Ring Around the Rosie". It begins very soft, building with feedback guitar noise echoing in the background, climaxing with crashing drums and a wall of distortion underneath an angst-ridden guitar solo.

4. Tehran - feat. Helen Gillet (cello) and Simon Lott II (drum effects) [6:11] Inspired by the wave of revolution that spread across the world in 2011 (nicknamed the "Arab Spring" by the press). The song has an Arabic sound and feel, with a doumbek groove, Gillet's flowing melodies on cello and Hines' percussive, acoustic, oud-like guitar solos.

5. Wanderlust - feat. Bill Summers (assorted percussion), Kent Jordan (flute), Simon Lott II (drum effects) [2:40] The title track is a summation of the record's concept. It's a poem that asks the question, "how can one travel without ever moving?". The song borrows from many cultures simultaneously, with a guitar rhythm from Brazilian, and the percussion rhythm traveling from the Caribbean to Africa.

6. Aetherea - feat. James Singleton (bass), Michael Watson (trombone) and Rex Gregory (bass clarinet) [4:08] "Aetherea" is the most representative composition of New Orleans on Wanderlust. It features James Singleton, perhaps the Big Easy's most renowned bassist. It also features a captivating trombone solo by Michael Watson (evoking the New Orleans's brass band sound), as well as a piano solo from McGowan (in the style of such New Orleans piano legends as Jelly Roll Morton, James Booker, etc.).

7. Interzone - feat Simon Lott II (drum effects) [5:10] "Interzone" is a tune about the fictional location (of the same name) in William S. Burroughs's 1959 classic "Naked Lunch". It is a song about sex, drugs, and schizophrenia. The groove sporadically switches from a swing waltz to glitch rock. The piece climaxes with Thibodeaux's drum solo that leads into an intense metal/operatic melody.

8. Interzone Reprise - feat. Ashlin Parker (trumpet), Lloyd Dillon (spoken word) and Sebastian Figueroa (shortwave radio) [2:55] "Interzone Reprise" gives way to a 5/4 mariachi groove (reminiscent of Burroughs's time in Mexico) as the last chapter of "Naked Lunch" is read. Ashlin Parker takes a trumpet solo as paranoid spy codes leak through the radio.

9. Lonely Moon - feat. Sam Craft (violin) and Jack Craft, Helen Gillet (cello) [5:56] "Lonely Moon" is a folktale about the Moon's tragic love affair with the Earth. It features string textures in the style of a 50's pop ballad. While the melody evokes Middle-Eastern harmony, the rhythms of the song shift from a ballad to light bossa nova, ending in a bombastic Afro-Cuban 6/8 feel.

10. Clouds - feat. Rex Gregory (soprano sax), Sam Craft (violin), Jack Craft (cello) [4:55] "Clouds" is a song about nuclear crisis in Japan (both the Hiroshima/Nagasaki tragedy of 1945 and the Tsunami of 2011). It has a constant sense of urgency and danger. It once again features strings, in addition to an intense soprano solo from Rex Gregory. The song ends in an odd-metered rock feel with a heavily effected guitar solo from Hines.

11. Arjuna Intro - feat. Dave Easley (slide guitar) and Andrew McLean (tabla), [2:37] "The Path of Arjuna Intro" is a brief raga that features Dave Easley on slide guitar (with a sitar bridge as a slide), Andrew McLean on tabla, and Hines on ebow guitar/loops. It is a moment of reflection before the final piece.

12. The Path of Arjuna - feat. Khris Royal (alto sax), Sam Craft (violin), Jack Craft (cello), Sebastian Figueroa (Line 6 DL4), Rex Gregory (bass clarinet), Ashlin Parker (trumpet), Michael Watson (trombone) and Simon Lott II (drum effects) [12:04]

"The Path of Arjuna" is a song about the life and death of a warrior. The lyrics allude to several proverbs from the Hindu holy book, "The Bhagavad Gita". After the melody and guitar solo, the music breaks down to an ambient two-chord progression. This section builds as instruments are added one by one, ending in a triumphant drum solo. The melody returns briefly before devolving into a minimalist two-chord progression that breaks apart and gives way to a quiet ambient soundscape, representing the warrior's passage into the afterlife.

The Wanderlust Tour:

January 6 - Drom, NYC
January 15 - Snug Harbor, New Orleans, LA
January 17 - The Brick, Kansas City, MO
January 20 - Cervantes' Other Side, Denver, CO
January 24 - The Boom Boom Room, SF, CA 
January 25 -The Mint, Los Angeles, CA
January 26 - Flagstaff Brewery, Flagstaff, AZ
January 27 - Tucson, AZ (venue & details TBA)
January 29 - The Deli, Norman, OK

MATT HERSKOWITZ - UPSTAIRS

As a followup to 2010's acclaimed Jerusalem Trilogy on Justin Times Records, pianist-composer Matt Herskowitz showcases the art of solo piano on Upstairs, recorded before a live audience in the intimate setting of Montreal's Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill. Drawing on his classical training and his deep love of jazz, Herskowitz presents an artful blend of musical styles with direct nods to Michel Petrucciani, Dave Brubeck, George Gershwin, J.S. Bach and Robert Schumann along the way. "I wanted the choice of pieces to reflect a broad range of what I do, including my own compositions, arrangements of classical pieces, and my favourite jazz covers," writes Herskowitz in the liner notes to Upstairs.

Performing on a Yamaha C-6 piano in the quiet ambiance of the Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, Montreal's answer to Manhattan's Village Vanguard, Herskowitz delighted the Tuesday night audience with his eclectic program, which opens with Brubeck's rhapsodic homage to Chopin, "Dzienkuye (Thank You)," a piece he wrote in 1958 while on tour with his quartet in Poland and which first appeared later that year on Brubeck's Jazz Impressions of Eurasia. "I've known him for a long time because I wrote a piece back in 1998 called 'Chorale and Variations on a Theme of Dave Brubeck,' which is based on one of his tunes, 'In Your Own Sweet Way,'" recalls Herskowitz. "The Canadian premier performance in Montreal was recorded by Radio-Canada, and it sounded great. So I gave it to a mutual friend of mine and Dave's son, Chris, and Chris ultimately gave it to Dave, who called me six months later to tell me that he was blown away by it! We kept in touch until his passing earlier this month. It's difficult to express the profound influence and effect that his music, his generosity, support and encouragement have provided me over the years I've had the privilege of knowing him. I feel truly blessed for that."

"In addition to being a supportive and influential voice in my own music, as well as in music in general, he was absolutely the most generous, selfless and encouraging person I've ever known, and I'm very glad to feature one of my favourite tunes of his on my album, now as a tribute to Dave. I sent a copy of my performance of 'Dziekuye' to Dave back in August, and he loved it, which was very heartening to know." Of Herskowitz' last album Jerusalem Trilogy, Dave wrote the following in a personal letter: "I listened to Jerusalem Trilogy carefully. Congratulations! You have transformed the concept of 'world' music as I conceived of it half a century ago. You have carried it further than I could imagine back then. The playing is wonderful throughout."

The brooding "Waltz in Moscow" was written by Herskowitz in 1994 when he participated in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. "I was inspired by being in a place from my own roots and by the warm, open, talented and creative people I met there, particularly the students from the Gnessin Conservatory, who took it upon themselves to drag me out of my hotel room and show me around the town, as I could not have seen it on my own," he writes in the liner notes.

Petrucciani's uplifting "Cantabile" is a gospel-tinged number that traverses a wide dynamic range. "It has a thoroughly infectious groove, simple and beautiful chord changes, and permeates a feeling of cool optimism. You can take it anywhere you feel like going, from a big, crazy jam to a lonely, reflective inner moment, and it always shines through," says Herskowitz. On his interpretation of Schumann's "Traumerei," Herskowitz imbues a few passages with real-deal blues statements.

Herskowitz's melancholy "Bella's Lament" is a song he wrote with singer Theresa Tova for the original musical theatre production "Bella, The Colour of Love," which tells the story of the great Russian-French painter Marc Chagall and his beloved wife and muse Bella, as told through Bella's voice. "I wanted to specifically include 'Bella's Lament' on the album because I thought it would fit well. Even without the lyrics,the music is still conveying the emotion of their story. And I liked the effect that it has just playing it as a solo instrumental in a bar."

The jaunty waltz-time "Bach à la Jazz" is a jazz arrangement of Bach's "Prelude in C Minor" from the WTC book 1, which Herskowitz previously recorded for part of a film soundtrack. "An old friend of mine, Ben Charet, asked me to play the 'C minor Prelude' in the style of Glenn Gould for a film he was scoring called The Triplets of Belleville. After I'd recorded it, I started playing around with it as a jazz waltz, just killin' time and having some fun. He ended up using that in the film, calling it 'Bach à la Jazz.' That original performance I did in the film has been released on EMI's soundtrack of The Triplets of Belleville, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. I've since made a concert version of it which I play with my trio. I adapted the solo arrangement from more or less what I did with the trio and included it here. It's kind of well known at this point, especially among fans of the movie."

Herskowitz closes his live outing with two popular Gershwin numbers - a spacious extrapolation on the ballad "But Not for Me" and a rousing, reharmonized take on the age-old jamming vehicle "I've Got Rhythm," the latter serving as a dazzling chops showcase for the accomplished pianist. "You have to do something a little bit original with that tune at this point," he says of "Rhythm," which has him running surging bass lines with the left hand while comping and soloing furiously with the right. "Everybody knows it so everybody's going to recognize it even if you do something extreme to it. If you put it in 9/4 and add an unrecognizable intro, everyone's still going to know what that is. So you've got a lot of room to run with on that one."

Regarding the intimate ambiance of the Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, where you can literally hear the clinking of glasses in the room by the patrons, Herskowitz says he appreciated the pin-drop silence during his solo performances. "I didn't even tell people that we were recording that night. Maybe I should've, but it turns out I didn't have to because they were just so respectful of the performance. They were there to chill and listen to the music."
A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, the Albany native has made Montreal his adopted home since 1999. He distinguished himself as a talent deserving of wider recognition with his 2007 solo piano release, Matt Herskowitz Plays Gershwin (Disques Tout Crin), which featured solo arrangements of "Rhapsody in Blue," "Concerto in F" and "Cuban Overture." In 2008, he premiered his piano concerto "Undertow" with New York-based multi-genre chamber orchestra Absolute Ensemble at the Bremen International Musikfest in Bremen, Germany, and in 2010 recorded the ambitious Jerusalem Trilogy, which seamlessly fused contemporary jazz and classical styles with a unique blend of Arab and Jewish styles and grooves. Now with the release of Upstairs, the outstanding pianist-composer stands ready to make the next incremental leap in his burgeoning career.

Upstairs - Track Listing/Personnel
1. Dziekuye (Brubeck)- 13:36
2. Waltz in Moscow - 7:05
3. Cantabile (Petrucciani)- 9:03
4. Träumerei (Schumann)- 5:27
5. Bella's Lament - 12:22
6. Bach à la Jazz (Bach, Arrangement by Herskowitz)- 3:25
7. But Not For Me (Gershwin/Gershwin)- 10:55
8. I've Got Rhythm (Gershwin/Gershwin)- 8:16

All tracks composed by Matt Herskowitz (unless otherwise noted)
Matt Herskowitz / piano

For more information on Matt Herskowitz, please visit: mattherskowitz.com
For more information on Justin Time Records please visit: justin-time.com

NEW RELEASES - KENNY WHEELER / NORMA WINSTONE / LONDON VOCAL PROJECT, MARIUS NESET, ANDREW MCCORMACK TRIO

KENNY WHEELER / NORMA WINSTONE / LONDON VOCAL PROJECT - MIRRORS

Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone have been at the forefront of the European Jazz scene collectively for the last 5 decades gaining admiration and reverence from all generations of musicians and fans. With the release of ‘Mirrors’, a suite of music composed by Kenny Wheeler set to poems by Stevie Smith, Lewis Carroll and W.B. Yeats, they are joined by the London Vocal Project, a 24 piece choir directed by the inimitable Pete Churchill. Featuring some of the most renowned and celebrated musicians in British Jazz including pianist Nikki Iles, saxophonist Mark Lockheart, bassist Steve Watts and drummer James Maddren, 'Mirrors' is vast in conception and world class in its execution. Available March 28, 2013 via Edition Records.

MARIUS NESET - BIRDS

Described by Norway’s national paper, Dagbladet, as ‘the most talented Norwegian saxophonist since Jan Garbarek in the 1960s’, Norwegian-born/Denmark-based saxophonist & composer Marius Neset, over the last 18 months, has become one of the most talked about musicians of his generation. As well as demonstrating exemplary technique and brilliant invention on both tenor and soprano saxes, he is a composer of intricate, compelling music, bustling with energy and virtuosity. With the release of ‘Golden Xplosion’, he has been praised throughout the international jazz press, receiving 4 and 5 star reviews for the album and his live shows. In spring 2013 Marius will release his new album ‘Birds’, a record showcasing the breadth of his musical vision and featuring the stellar line-up of pianist Ivo Neame, vibest Jim Hart, bassist Jasper Høiby and drummer Anton Eger . Not only does it demonstrate his further development as a performer and bandleader, it also reveals further evidence of his brilliance as an inspirational and inspired composer. Available February 18, 2013 via Edition Records.

ANDREW MCCORMACK TRIO - LIVE IN LONDON

Pianist Andrew McCormack and his newly formed trio, who have recently released a live digital album and videos from The 606 Club in London, will embark some dates in February next year. Described as a ‘breakthrough modern sounding album’, this trio is definitely one to watch over the coming months.

"The group build expectations with patience and precision, from quiet, dripping-water motifs propelled by soft mallet sounds that swell and recede, to folksy Mehldau-like themes that release flows of Jarrett-like inventiveness, or hip Cuban groovers". Guardian ~ Edition Records

SHELLY MANNE / BILL EVANS WITH MONTY BUDWIG - EMPATHY

A pair of great Bill Evans albums for Verve – both a very good fit together! The cover of Empathy co-credits Bill Evans and Shelly Manne as the leader of the set – and that distinction's an important one – as the record has a slightly different feel than some of Bill's other 60s work for Verve! The sound is often a bit stronger, somewhat bolder – and although Manne's not a monster on the drums, he does have a way of directing the tunes that's a bit different than some of Evans' other piano-led albums. Bass is by Monty Budwig, who's nicely sensitive to the talents of both players – and there's almost an equally-weighted melodic feel to all three elements of the trio – which really rounds out the record nicely.

Titles include "The Washington Twist", "Danny Boy", "Let's Go Back To The Waltz", "With A Song In My Heart", "Goodbye", and "I Believe In You". Simple Matter Of Conviction is a move into a more sophisticated vein than his earlier recordings! The album has him working with bassist Eddie Gomez, a hugely talented bassist that would be one of Bill's best partners during this period, and a player who added a nice dose of soul to the proceedings. The drummer is Shelly Manne, who's pretty nice, too – and really shows off some of his more sophisticated shadings here in the presence of Evans and Gomez – similar to his work on the great Empathy album. Tracks are shortish, but filled with imagination – and titles include "Unless It's You", "These Things Called Changes", "Stella By Starlight", and "A Simple Matter Of Conviction". ~ Dusty Groove

DAVE BASS RELEASES TIMELESS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC - THE CHRISTMAS SONG

Dave Bass is a vocalist, saxophonist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist – a true Renaissance man of jazz with a range spanning from straight ahead to modern jazz as well as contemporary pop. Having performed professionally since the age of 15 and a seasoned performer, Dave Bass is releasing his first recording -- just in time for Christmas. Bass’s rendition of Mel Torme’s “Christmas Song” captures the essence of early versions recorded by Nat King Cole, Mel Torme & Frank Sinatra and adds a fresh spin for a new generation joining the ranks of Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr.

“Dave Bass is a singer inspired by Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, a tenor-saxophonist whose tone recalls Dexter Gordon. His vocal on “The Christmas Song” is soulful, heart-warming and lightly swinging. Listeners will enjoy the happy Yuletide spirit.” Scott Yanow, jazz historian and author

Dave Bass has worked under the radar for too long, despite rave reviews for his live performances, arrangements, vocals and virtuosity in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and various appearances around the country. Michele Rhea Caplinger, the Executive Director of the Recording Academy in Atlanta has called Dave “the quintessential artist”; Connie Zerden, the Vice President of Showtime Networks states that Dave is “jazz music’s most extraordinary secret. A virtuoso on multiple instruments.”

The release of “The Christmas Song” is just an opening salvo for an upcoming pop album that Bass has been writing and arranging, blending jazz and soul into the contemporary pop idiom. This single evokes his timeless style and sense of swing, showcasing his vocal warmth and instrumental prowess.

"Dave Bass does a beautiful job breathing new life into the Christmas classic — personalizing the song with an intimacy that suggests he's singing only to the listener. And he is playing all the instruments!” Elliot Zwiebach, Cabaret Scenes

This single is a wonderful gift from Dave Bass to you; a timeless Yuletide carol you can share with a loved one, or your entire family. It will uplift your spirits and warm your home -- with or without an open fir
Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

NEW RELEASES - WALT DICKERSON, RONNIE MATHEWS, FRANK FOSTER

WALT DICKERSON - THIS IS WALT DICKERSON!

An amazing batch of tracks that will convince you that Walt Dickerson is one of the greatest jazz musicians ever to touch a set of vibes! The record was Dickerson's first for Prestige, and (like most of his albums on the label) it features a quartet lineup that includes the enigmatic Austin Crowe on piano, a very young Andrew Cyrille on drums, and little-known bassist Bob Lewis – whose pulsating work here really makes the album move! There's a strong sense of modernism to the music – those sharper tones that set Dickerson apart from most of his contemporaries on the vibes – but there's also a great sense of soul and warmth as well, more so than on some of Walt's other albums. Titles include the classic "Death & Taxes" – a massive modal groover – plus the beautiful "Evelyn", the haunting "Time", and other titles that include "Infinite You" and "Elizabeth". ~ Dusty Groove

RONNIE MATHEWS - DOIN' THE THANG!

One of the only early albums as a leader from pianist Ronnie Mathews – a player who recorded more often in later years, but who really sounds incredible in this rare session for Prestige! Although a lyrical player at heart, Mathews also has a very hard edge here – more of a soul jazz groove than you'd hear on his later records, and a great example of the sound he was picking up from some of his key 60s work as a sideman. The group is great overall – with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Charles Davis on baritone sax – both players who bring a Blue Note-like sense of imagination to their solos here. The rest of the group features Eddie Kahn on bass and Albert Heath on drums – and titles include the killers "The Thang", "Ichi Ban", and "The Orient" – plus "Let's Get Down", "1239A", and "Prelude To A Kiss". ~ Dusty Groove

FRANK FOSTER - FEARLESS FRANK FOSTER

An incredible album from tenor giant Frank Foster – one of his best records ever, with an impeccable soul jazz groove that's light years beyond his earlier work! The record has a bit of the feel of Frank's album with Richard Davis for Impulse, but takes off in a slightly different direction – tightly grooving, with a bit of a searching feel that points towards Foster's Coltrane-inspired later years. Frank's on tenor, and the rest of the group includes Virgil Jones on trumpet, Al Dailey on piano, Bob Cunningham on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. The rhythmic component of the session is tremendous, and titles include "Disapproachment", "Baby Ann", "Janie Huk", and a great version of his "Raunchy Rita".  ~ Dusty Groove

THE ROJAC STORY: THE BEST OF ROJAC & TAY-STER

Funky sounds from the Harlem scene – an incredibly rich collection of work from the Rojac and Tayster labels – a set so massive, it's like finding a box of rare funky 45s and deep soul singles in the back of some old record store! The package offers up way more work than we might have expected from our knowledge of a few key funk classics from the labels – a treasure trove of under-discovered gems from the grittiest years of the New York scene – most of them cut in the pre-disco years, with raw edges that almost feel more like southern soul and funk than other work from the Big Apple!

This overstuffed set also comes with a sweet booklet of notes – really telling the tale of the labels and related enterprises – plus 44 tracks that include "Where Were You" by Kim Tolliver, "Meet Me Halfway" by Lillie Bryant, "Old Love Never Dies" by Big Maybelle, "Something Special About My Baby" by Clarence Reid, "I Love My Baby" by International GTOs, "No Better For Ya" by Jo Armstead, Love Love Love" by Chuck Flamingo, "Christmas In Vietnam" by Private Charles Bowens & The Gentlemen From Tigerland, "Everybody's Going Wild" by Curtis Lee & The KCPs, "Lovin Lies" by Third Guitar, "This & That" by Jo Armstead, "Don't Lose Your Groove" by Lavell Hardy, "Nwanne Nwanne Nwanne" by Aleke Kanonu & Tolbert The Miracle Man, "Lucky Man" by Damn Sam The Miracle Man, "Baby Don't Cry" by Third Guitar, and "Whip Ya" by Chuck A Luck & The Lovemen Ltd.  ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD REISSUES - IN SESSION, SKIN I'M IN, BITTERSWEET

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD - IN SESSION

A killer album by the Chairmen of the Board! The record's their second – and although the "In Session" title, photos on the front, and liner notes all make it appear to be a live album, it's actually a studio session, with the same great Holland-Dozier-Holland production as the first! The album includes an amazing track called "All We Need Is Understanding", a jaunty groover with this funky organ at the beginning, and some killer vocals by General Johnson. It's one of the group's best tracks ever – and the record has plenty of other nice ones – like "Pay To The Piper", "Hanging On To A Memory", "When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me", and "Chairmen Of The Board". Plus, the record includes their great version of "Patches", which they wrote for Clarence Carter – already on their first album, but featured here again for some strange reason! Who cares, though – because we love the track! CD also features the bonus cut "Try My Love On For Size". ~ Dusty Groove

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD - SKIN I'M IN

Probably the rarest of all albums by The Chairmen Of The Board – and also the last! The album was cut after the band re-formed briefly, and it's got a fuzzed-out heavy soul sound that's quite different from some of the group's earlier work. There's heavy guitar on many tracks – riffing away in a psychedelic mode that dominates most tracks, but which almost buries the group's vocals. The album's a great one if you dig the funk side of the Chairmen – and at times, it almost reminds us of The Politicians, who were kind of labelmates of the group. Includes the excellent two-part funk track "Life & Death" – plus "Love At First Sight", "Everybody Party All Night", "Let's Have Some Fun", "Finder's Keepers", "Skin I'm In", and "White Rose (Freedom Flower)". Lots of bonus tracks too – including "Finders Keepers (inst)", "Someone Just Like You", "Come On In & Dance", and "You've Got Extra Added Power In Your Love". ~ Dusty Groove

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD - BITTERSWEET

An excellent album from this sublime soul trio! The record's got a nice heavy style – similar to the funky soul that was creeping into the sound of other artists on the Invictus label – and it rumbles along with a nice fuzzy edge that adds a whole new dimension to the incredible vocals of the group. Holland-Dozier-Holland produced, but the real skill here is that of General Johnson and Greg Perry – who wrote all the songs on the album save one – and whose vocal genius really makes the whole thing soar. The album yielded no hits for the group, but still has plenty of great numbers – and with General Johnson's vocals, just about anything would sound great! Cuts include "Bittersweet", "Weary Traveler", "So Glad You're Mine", "Elmo James", "Working On A Building Of Love", and "Men Are Getting Scarce". CD featyures two bonus tracks – "Let Me Down Easy" and "Everybody's Got A Song To Sing". ~ Dusty Groove

NEW RELEASES - BLACK RIO, RON TRENT, BOBBI HUMPHREY

BLACK RIO - BRAZIL SOUL POWER 1971-1980 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A limited new pressing of this sought-after Strut LP from 2002, compiled by Batmacumba's DJ Cliffy and celebrating the 'Black Rio' movement of the 1970s. Tailing out from the Tropicalia movement, Black Rio initially took shape as sound systems began to champion the empowering soul of James Brown during the country's long-running military dictatorship. While homegrown artists like Gershon King and Uniao Black stayed faithful to the US funk formula, others created strident Afro-Brazilian fusions of many shapes - Banda Black Rio's effortless samba jazz funk classic 'Gafieira Universal', Trio Mocoto's chanted 'Nago' and Jorge Ben's 'Comanche' from his classic Afro-Brazilian LP 'Negro e Lindo' are all featured here. This fresh reissue is fully remastered as a 2LP gatefold featuring original sleeve notes, rare photos and original flyer artwork. The first 100 copies will be made available on 180g heavyweight vinyl. All copies will feature the remastered CD version of the album within the package. ~ Strut Records

RON TRENT - RAW FOOTAGE

Strong and rawly percussion sounds from Chicago legend Ron Trent! Ron has way of carrying the torch for classic club soul soundscapes – the kinds that he helped pioneer – and all the while continues to evolve and innovate. It's a pretty tricky balancing act, yet he gets across each time out! Raw Footage has some pretty insistent, African percussion-inspired beatscraft paired with spacey keys and some hypnotic bits of vocal. Includes "Message To The World", "Sundance", "Electric Blue", "Pressure Zone", "Exotic Drums", "Her", "Atmoshere", "Sweetness", "Space Dance", "Blood And Fire" and more. ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBI HUMPHREY - DIG THIS!

A stone killer from funky flute player Bobbi Humphrey – one of her early albums for Blue Note Records, and a set that's a perfect summation of the best sides of her talents! The album's got a slightly different feel than Bobbi's work with Larry Mizell – yet still sports a similar approach that blends her amazingly spiritual flute lines with rich larger backings – in this case arranged by Horace Ott, Alphonse Mouzon, and Wade Marcus, in a sublime blend of electric jazz and soaring strings – all with a feel that's almost like some lost blacksploitation soundtrack! Given the lady's strength on her instrument, and her sharp sound on her solos, the record's got a focus and righteousness that takes it way past most contemporary efforts of this nature – a bold testament to the qualities that have made Bobbi one of our favorite players on flute for many many years. The set also features some wonderful Fender Rhodes – played both by Harry Whitaker and Paul Griffin – plus bass from Wilbur Bascomb, and heavy drums from Alphonse Mouzon. Titles include "Love Theme From Fuzz", "Nubian Lady", "Lonely Town Lonely Street", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", Is This All", "I Love Every Little Thing About You", "El Mundo De Maravilas", and a great version of Mouzon's "Virtue". (On the Dusty Groove label.) ~ Dusty Groove

“JUMPINJAZZ KIDS – A SWINGING JUNGLE TALE” RECEIVES GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM IN THE 55TH ANNUAL AWARDS; SPECIAL CONCERT TO BE HELD AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM IN LOS ANGELES FEBRUARY 8TH IN CONJUNCTION WITH GRAMMY WEEK

“A stand-out mix of storytelling and songs . . . an imagination-stirring musical adventure!” – Parents’ Choice Foundation “The music stands on its own superbly . . . Isn’t this how YOU want young people to get hooked on swing?” – Jazz Weekly

“JumpinJazz Kids – A Swinging Jungle Tale,” the new CD celebrating the rich history of Jazz and Popular music by paying tribute to its legendary pioneers through story, song and a variety of musical styles, is the proud recipient of a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Children’s Album in the 55th Annual Awards to take place in Los Angeles February 10th, 2013. In celebration of the CD release as well as the Nomination, a special performance will take place at The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on February 8th at 11am as part of Grammy Week and the Museum’s Educational Outreach Series. The nomination follows “JumpinJazz Kids” recent win of a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, the highly coveted award for children’s entertainment that is the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys.

“JumpinJazz Kids – A Swinging Jungle Tale” (the CD) is a unique blend of classic storytelling and fun, original jazz/pop songs performed by world-renowned jazz artists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Al Jarreau and Hubert Laws and backed by an energetic jazz quartet, symphony orchestra and narration and voice characterizations by James Murray.

“JumpinJazz Kids – A Swinging Jungle Tale” introduces children to the imaginative worlds of jazz, the spoken word and the Symphony in a fun yet educational, engaging and unique way. Produced and created by music industry veterans Steve Barta and Mark Oblinger and co-author Linda Lawson, “JumpinJazz Kids – A Swinging Jungle Tale” was released September 25th.

The GRAMMY Museum seeks to educate and to inspire all museum visitors and members as to the enduring qualities and cultural significance of popular and classical music. By implementing a variety of innovative educational strategies; by incorporating the advice and needs of scholastic teachers, locally, regionally, and nationally; and by presenting the expertise of nearly 14,000 Recording Academy members, the GRAMMY Museum offers the most dynamic and exciting educational programs available from music museums today. The education mission of the Museum is to use music as a gateway to learning; inspiring and cultivating creativity, critical-thinking and self-expression.

Barta, Oblinger and Lawson stated, “We are thrilled to be the recipients of a Grammy Nomination for Best Children’s Album in the 55th Grammy Awards. Our main goal is to provide quality children’s entertainment that fully engages the listener’s imagination. “A Swinging Jungle Tale” supports this idea through our “Imagination Is Me!” concept that encourages the listeners to actively visualize the story and imitate the animal dance movements in each song to become a “real” part of the tale. We believe that with the quality of the music, the magnetic performances of the artists involved and the imaginative nature of the story, “JumpinJazz Kids” has something to offer all ages.

All three guest artists – Bridgewater, Jarreau and Laws – were equally enthralled with the project and offered their support immediately when approached to participate and their performances from the downbeat let you know that this is no ordinary children’s CD. Bridgewater’s unparalleled chops are featured on “ This Elephant’s Gerald,” while Jarreau’s playful vocals highlight “Do The Monkey Swing” and “Hubert Hummingbird.” Laws adds flute to both a song named in his honor, “Hubert Hummingbird” and “Her Name Is Little Growl.”

“JumpinJazz Kids” is a unique line of children’s music that combines classic narrative storytelling with fun, pop-influenced jazz songs backed by a Symphony Orchestra. The stories follow the imaginative adventures of a seven year-old girl named Claire and her stuffed animal friends. The first title in the series, “A Swinging Jungle Tale,” finds Claire in her Grandpa’s backyard jungle looking for a “lost story.” Powered by her imagination alone, Claire’s stuffed animal friends begin to magically come to life and she learns all about their world … and a little bit about herself along the way. In addition, the music for “JumpinJazz Kids” has been fully-scored for live performances with a symphony orchestra.

With the story for “A Swinging Jungle Tale” already translated and recorded in French, Japanese and Spanish, it is the vision of “JumpinJazz Kids” to develop a series of interactive CDs, books, apps, concerts and educational events nationally and worldwide with the premise being to teach jazz and symphonic history, provide music education, promote children’s physical activity through dance and movement, enlighten their understanding of the animal world and most importantly, to allow their imaginations to flow. Concerts have already taken place with full orchestra/jazz quartet in Colorado and Milwaukee and were met with widespread critical acclaim. JumpinJazz Kids - “A Swinging Jungle Tale" - a celebration of story, song and swing . . . where Imagination is King!