George Brooks | Summit

Tags

Jazz Fusion, Saxophone, World Music

George Brooks | Summit [Jazz Fusion]

” A fascinating set…Exotically lyrical…gracefully bridges seemingly antithetical disciplines.”
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE Critics Choice

George Brooks

Incredible music by some of the world’s finest musicians, blending the exotic sounds of India with the drive of modern Jazz.

“Summit” is the third CD from, saxophonist, George Brooks. Produced by Brooks and world music visionary Zakir Hussain, Summit is the result of Brooks’ twenty year love affair with Indian classical music and Jazz. This album features five of the world’s greatest jazz and Indian musicians. – CDBaby.com

Ken Ford | Right Now

Tags

African American, Funk, Smoothjazz, Violin

Ken Ford

Back in 2001, violinist Ken Ford spread his wings musically by attracting a new audience with his unique brand of intense urban jazz and soulful flavored “Burnt Toast,” to much music apparently was burning in his soul as he returned in 2003 with the charismatic “Chevelle Lane.” The electric sound and style of Atlanta’s extraordinary violinist continued resonate in 2005 with visual and sonic intensity on his very first DVD titled “Live Ken Ford!” Now, he’s back with another appetizing blend of ultra smooth funk, soul and jazz called “Right Now!” This high impact jam session is bound to set sound systems on fire everywhere! – The Urban Flux

Per-order “Right Now” at –kenford.net/

Dr. Cornel West | Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom

Tags

African American, Books

Dr. Cornel West

The New York Times best-selling author of Race Matters and Democracy Matters offers open-hearted wisdom for our times in this courageous collection of quotations, speech excerpts, letters, philosophy, and photographs that reflect the profound humanity that fuels the passionate public intellectual. In a world that seesaws between unconditional love and acceptance and blind hatred and exclusion, Hope on a Tightrope will satisfy readers in search of deep wells of inspiration and challenge that marries the mind to the heart.

Educator and philosopher Cornel West is the Class of 1943 University Professor at Princeton University. Known as one of America’s most gifted, provocative, and important public intellectuals, he is the author of the contemporary classic Race Matters, which changed the course of America’s dialogue on race and justice, and the New York Times bestseller Democracy Matters. He is the recipient of the American Book Award and more than 20 honorary degrees. – Amazon.com

Christian Scott | Anthem

Tags

African American, Jazz, Trumpet

Christian Scott

New Orleans native and trumpeter Christian Scott steps boldly outside the glass ceiling of traditional and contemporary jazz with 12 new enthralling compositions from his masterful sophomore release on Concord Records appropriately titled “Anthem.”

Now, for those of you that might be stuck in time-warp or one particular genre then Scott’s latest endeavor might be a little over the top for you. With that said, after his debut Grammy nominated “Rewind This” it was only expected that Christian would deliver a wealth of inspiring music on this project to endure with each spin. Oh yeah, Christian’s voice unquestionably echoes gracefully, yet he daringly attacks each heartfelt note on this project with vigor. He immediately makes his statement with the opening piece with the dark fusion inspired piece titled “Litany Against Fear.” His piercing, yet mournful cry [In remembrance of Katrina] compositionally is saying, “dare me” if you will as his prolific voice courageously takes you on a joyous and unexpected journey.

Chicago Afrobeat Project

Tags

Funk, Independent Artists, Jazz

Chicago Afrobeat Project

In the tradition of earlier Afrobeat groups that emerged in the 60’s and 70’s, this Chicago-based band weaves an original blend of funk, jazz, and rock with African percussion styles and rhythms.

Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) is a dynamic, 8- to 14-piece collective rooted in ’70s funk and jazz-infused afrobeat. In its own urban, contemporary style, CAbP reinterprets music pioneered by Nigeria’s charismatic political activist, Fela Kuti. CAbP mixes Fela’s traditional afrobeat with other dance-invoking musical motifs such as Chicago’s electronic house music, complex Senegalese percussion rhythms and upbeat funk. – CDBaby.com

Van Jones | The Green Collar Economy

Tags

Books

“Van Jones’ authentic and passionate arguments trump the status quo. In The Green Collar Economy he holds the welfare of our neediest people front and center as he lays out a viable plan for the remainder of the 21st century.” — Tavis Smiley, Author, Television and Radio Host

Van Jones

Provocative, personal, and inspirational, The Green Collar Economy is not a dire warning but rather a substantive and viable plan for solving the biggest issues facing the country—the failing economy and our devastated environment. From a distance, it appears that these two problems are separate, but when we look closer, the connection becomes unmistakable. In The Green Collar Economy, acclaimed activist and political advisor Van Jones delivers a real solution that both rescues our economy and saves the environment. The economy is built on and powered almost exclusively by oil, natural gas, and coal—all fast-diminishing nonrenewable resources. As supplies disappear, the price of energy climbs and nearly everything becomes more expensive. With costs and unemployment soaring, the economy stalls. Not only that, when we burn these fuels, the greenhouse gases they create overheat the atmosphere. As the headlines make clear, total climate chaos looms over us. The bottom line: we cannot continue with business as usual. We cannot drill and burn our way out of these dual dilemmas. – Amazon.com/

Andy Bey | Tuesdays in Chinatown

Tags

African American, Jazz, Vocals

We’ve been meaning for some time now to drop this cat’s music in the mix of things at The Flux. We’re enthralled by the music and smoothness of baritone vocalist/pianist Andy Bey and his 2001 release “on Encoded Music titled “Tuesdays in Chinatown!” Perhaps you haven’t heard this dude croon before, yes I did say croon this is definitely your opportunity to experience and envelope his riveting vocal style!

Andy Bey, Tuesdays

Andy Bey’s hypnotic vocals have enriched the music of Horace Silver, Stanley Clarke, and McCoy Tyner, and made him one the premiere jazz stylists today. On this CD, the Newark-born pianist-vocalist is supported by a quicksilver rhythm section featuring bassist Ron Carter, drummer Victor Lewis, and percussionist Mino Cinelu. Augmented by strings and horns, the deep-voiced Bey drapes his songs in a sophisticated azure aura that is simultaneously ethereal and earthy. Bey’s stylistic range is broad, stretching from the slinky, slow-tempoed title track written by Herb Jordan to the down-home number, “Feelin’ Lowdown,” by blues legend Big Bill Broonzy. Bey’s love of Brazilian music is evident on his impassioned takes of Milton Nascimento’s “Saidas e Bandeiras” and “Bridges.” – Amazon.com/Eugene Holley Jr.

While you’re here, check out Andy captured live as he sings “Like a Lover.”

Alonzo Adams | Chocolate Rose

Tags

African American, Art, Culture

Welcome to week four of October 2008! As usual, we’re elated to present to you one of the latest prolific works from the world of African American art with a “Giclee-Limited Edition” piece by renowned artist Alonzo Adams.

Alonzo Adams’ palette is dominated by the earth tones favored by Rembrandt and the American artists he admires, giving his work a poetic, pensive quality. His professional goal is to keep integrity in art, and his personal ambition is to hang in the world’s great art museums alongside the masters he reveres. For today, he remains engaged in portraying contemporary black lifestyles inspired by everyday sights and sounds that deserve immortality in a constantly changing world. – Grandpasart.com

Alonzo Adams | Chocolate Rose [Giclee – Limited Edition]

Alonzo Adams

Weather Report | Black Market

Tags

Jazz Fusion

Weather Report

In all respect to the genre, it’s evident that jazz-fusion wouldn’t have reached its milestone of notoriety without the multifaceted voicing’s of Weather Report. My first encountered with the group was their 1973 effort titled “Sweetnighter.” Wow, what a unique experience after hearing “Boogie Woogie Waltz & 125^th Street Congress” this was clearly a defining moment for me as I couldn’t believe my ears I was simply blown away with the unsullied sound of this awesome group.

Dave Valentin | Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival

Tags

Culture, Flute, Jazz

Hola everyone, we’re back in tune with a video by one of the most exciting instrumentalist in jazz Grammy Winning flutist Dave Valentin.

Dave Valentin, flute with Orestes Vilató, timbales, and the Latin Giants of Jazz, at the Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival, Greek Theater, May 10, 2008!

Please pardon the shakiness of the video presentation, we couldn’t resist sharing this fabulous music by Dave Valentin with you!