The L.A. Chillharmonic featuring Richard Smith

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Contemporary Jazz, Guitar, Jeff Lorber, Keyboards, Patrice Rushen, Smooth Jazz

Dropping this week [8/26/08] is the long awaited collaboration by guitarist/professor Richard Smith and some of today’s world-class players in smooth and contemporary jazz.

The LA Chillharmonic

Following in the tradition of Tom Scott & The L.A. Express, one of the most successful and influential jazz/funk/pop/R&B bands from the ’70s, guitarist Richard Smith has assembled an all-star cast of fellow Los Angeles-based players for an updating of that same crossover aesthetic that opened the door to jazz for a generation of listeners. Collectively known as The L.A. CHILLHARMONIC featuring Richard Smith, this stellar crew is rounded out by the world class rhythm tandem of bassist Brian Bromberg and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, percussionist Alex Acuña, keyboardist Jeff Lorber, pianists Patrice Rushen and Greg Karukas, trumpeter Greg Adams, saxophonists Gary Meek, Michael Paulo, and Eric Marienthal. – TheUrbanMusicScene.com

What We Need Is A Digital Bill Of Rights

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Technology

As the Democrats and Republicans gather at their national conventions, it is time to really think about a comprehensive national technology policy for the Internet Age. Many laws and policies governing the Internet and digital property are inadequate attempts to transplant rules from a different era.

The problems that arise are not just about Net Neutrality (see Comcast) or copyright infringement or digital privacy. They are about all of these things. What we need is a Digital Bill of Rights that spells out what freedoms and rights consumers can expect from Internet service providers, content companies, device manufacturers, and the government itself. – TechCrunch.com

Go here, for the full article.

Charles Mingus | Mingus Ah Um (Remastered)

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African American, Bass, Jazz, Postbop

Charles Mingus

Mercurial bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus was signed to Columbia Records for the briefest of time during 1959. His Columbia recordings, however, remain some of the most inspired, mood-jumping jazz in history. The flowing sadness of “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” (unedited here for the first time on CD!) rings like a funeral chorus that pitches headlong into a celebration of Lester Young‘s life and improvising flexibility, rather than his death. And there’s the funky furnace blast of “Boogie Stop Shuffle” (also unedited!), which reaches its glory with Booker Ervin‘s Texas tenor sax, wrapped tight in bluesy tone. With the index of emotions captured, these songs nail why Mingus is possibly the most relevant jazzer for the ’90s generation. He swings and shouts and hollers and somersaults. His tunes either induce foot-stomping with their intensity or reach for poignant yearning with their lyrical tapestry of orchestral colors. – Andrew Bartlett | Amazon.com

Earl Klugh | Mount Airy Road [Vid of The Week]

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African American, Contemporary Jazz, Guitar, Smooth Jazz

Hello everyone, it’s our pleasure to present to you a video by acoustic guitarist Earl Klugh and his group jamming “Mount Airy Road” from the Benson and Klugh classic “Collaboration.”

Aaron Parks -|- Invisible Cinema [Review]

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Blue Note Records, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Fusion, New Music, Piano

Aaron Parks

Pianist, child prodigy, computer whiz, composer, arranger and virtuoso Aaron Parks makes his Blue Note Records debut with “Invisible Cinema.” After my first encounter, I took a deep breath, shy in wonderment of how I would attempt to unfold into words what this young pianist Aaron Parks has embarked upon. His indescribable harmonic tones, melodies and abstract arrangements lay in the path of a seemingly dark world of Cinematic explorations, are is it an “invisible exploration” from the prolific vision and genius of Aaron Parks.

Let’s meet his supporting cast that shapes this remarkable palette of music features guitarist – Mike Moreno, bassist – Matt Penman and drummer – Eric Harland. With this quartet, you may or not have heard of them. Nonetheless, they are impeccable group of artists drawn from within this body of a-list players that makes his music work effectively.

Bernard Stanley Hoyes | The Gamming Bird [AOTW]

Tags

African American, Art, Bernard S. Hoyes, Jamacian Art

Greeting’s everyone! Last week, The Urban Flux was blessed with and e-mail from Makeda Smith. She  graciously introduced us to a fabulous new artist from Jamaican named Bernard Stanley Hoyes. Today, we’re honored to present you with “The Gaming Bird” one of many wonderful pieces that echoes the ancestry of his homeland.

Bernard Stanley Hoyes –The Gaming Bird [Original]

Bernard Stanley Hoyes