Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson | Winter in America

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African American, Gil Scot-Heron, Jazz, Keyboards, Poetry, Vocals

Gil Scott & Brian Jackson

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson | Winter in America [Jazz-Vocals/Tvt/1973]

One of Gil Scott-Heron’s finest 1970s albums, WINTER IN AMERICA finds the ever-provocative vocalist/poet playing off the surprisingly gentle piano arrangements of Brian Jackson. Whereas other records (particularly SMALL TALK AT 125th AND LENOX) …    Full Descriptionfocus more on Scott-Heron’s spoken-word missives, WINTER highlights the influential African-American performer’s abilities as a singer, particularly on the soulful “Back Home” and the smooth, lyrically pointed title track, which superficially evokes a contemporaneous Barry White tune.

While the first part of WINTER IN AMERICA consists of studio sessions, the final four numbers feature Scott-Heron playing live in Washington, D.C., with the concert recordings easily on a par with the more polished earlier tracks, as exemplified by his stirring medley of “The Bottle,” a funky cautionary tale, and the percussive, chanted “Guan Guanco.” Second only to PIECES OF A MAN as an intriguing mix of melody and rhetoric, WINTER IN AMERICA is required listening for anyone interested in Scott-Heron. ~ CDUniverse.com

ISP Owner Berates RIAA for New Copyright Protection Strategy

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Internet, Technology

Recently, the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) stated it would no longer pursue its fruitless strategy of prosecuting individuals for copyright infringement. Instead, it plans to put more pressure on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for weeding out high-bandwidth downloaders.

Well, now ISPs have responded to that pressure by berating the RIAA for ignoring the expensive costs Internet providers must incur to pursue suspected peer-to-peer downloaders. Granted, although finding and shutting off downloaders saves ISPs necessary bandwidth space, the hunt is not a cheap one.

Jazz great Freddie Hubbard dead at 70

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African American, Freddie Hubbard, Jazz, Trumpet

Freddie Hubbard

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Grammy-winning jazz musician Freddie Hubbard, whose style influenced a generation of trumpet players, has died at age 70.

Hubbard’s manager, David Weiss, says the musician died Monday at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack last month.

Although he had been in declining health in recent years, Hubbard continued to perform until just a few months ago. Known for both the intensity of his playing, as well as his melodic style, Hubbard’s last concert was in June in New York at a party celebrating the release of his final album.

He won a Grammy in 1972 for best jazz performance by a group for the album “First Light.” ~ AP/John Rogers

Visit, freddiehubbardfans.com …

Cassandra Wilson | New Moon Daughter

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African American, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz

Cassandra Wilson

Cassandra Wilson | New Moon Daughter [Blue Note Records/Classic/1996]

Her luscious alto has the depth and texture of a great tenor saxophonist, but Cassandra Wilson’s defining asset is a postmodern song sense that enables her to surf through Son House, Neil Young, Johnny Mercer, Billie Holiday, and (gasp!) the Monkees in pursuit of strong songs that can provide that instrument with a canvas. Her second Blue Note album extends Wilson’s seductive pilgrimage beyond the conventions of jazz repertoire and accompaniment, yet it’s her instincts as a jazz singer that inform these brilliant readings. The settings again step away from traditional small group jazz (for starters, there’s no piano) to evoke the emotional core of these songs. Anyone who can turn the Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” into a slow-burning erotic vignette deserves your attention. ~ Amazon.com/Sam Sutherland

Rene Dickerson | Jazz Trio in Blue and Orange

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African American, Art, Culture, Female Artists, Rene Dickerson

We’re delighted to share with you this week the renowned artistry of Rene Dickerson as our last feature for 2008.

A Love affair with a brush and canvas is the best way to create has led him down a road filled with shapes and color that hold the world captivated. Rene has a body of work that spans four decades with various awards and accolades from the art industry and collectors. ~ Grandpasart.com

Rene Dickerson | Jazz Trio in Blue and Orange [Giclee/Limited Edition]

Bob James Trio | Mind Games

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Bob James, Jazz, Piano

The quintessential Bob James, Billy Kilson and James Genus where caught live at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1998 performing “Mind Games.”

Bob James Trio | Mind Games [Vid of The Week] Ironically, embedding of this video was disabled by request. Nevertheless, it’s worth the click to check them out.

Bob James

Benny Reid | Findings

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Benny Reid, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz, Saxophone

Benny Reid

Benny Reid | Findings [Review/Concord Music]

At twenty-six years old, alto saxophonist [keyboardist/vocals] and composer New Jersey native Benny Reid bursts onto the music scene with one of the brightest offerings of 2007 on his Concord Jazz debut titled “Findings.” While some jazz enthusiasts might argue that he’s straddling the fence with one foot on the smooth turf while the other is steeped in the musings of authentic jazz territory.

At a glimpse, you might find yourself a little distraught at the number of tracks (6) offered on the disc. Fear not. Because there’s over fifty minutes of incredible gems with extremely long track times. You’ll find Reid’s debut quite attractive in the way it beckons you with each note as his bright yet simplistic shades and colors of his alto horn soars with consistency throughout.

The Weekend Spin [Grover, Chestnut, Hancock and TPE]

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African American, Funk, Jazz, Jazz Funk, Keyboards, Piano

Season’s Greeting’s, our apologies for posting “The Weekend Spin”  a little late today. You know how it goes with the Holiday festivities and such. We hope that you’re having a fabulous and safe weekend. On the menu this week, we’re featuring the long awaited re-release of “Soul Box” by Grover, also on tap a classic Hancock fusion jam “Head Hunters,” finally in the mix The Philadelphia Experiment and Christmas jazz with pianist Cyrus Chestnut rounds out this weeks “Spin.”

Grover Washington Jr. | Soul Box [Kudu/Contemporary Jazz/1973]

Grover Washington Jr., Soul Box

The early work of alto saxophonist and composer Grover Washington, Jr. is a rare and beautiful thing to behold. His entire Kudu period, marked by the albums Inner City Blues, All the King’s Horses, Soul Box, Mister Magic, and Feels So Good, is brilliant, solid urban groove jazz played with grace, mean chops, and slippery funkiness. Soul Box, a double LP recorded in 1973, has Creed Taylor‘s production enhanced by a symphony orchestra and full-blown jazz band arranged and conducted by Bob James. Some of the session men include Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Eric Gale, Idris Muhammad, Airto, and Richard Tee. Soul Box only contains seven cuts. Among them are truly innovative reads of Weather Report‘s “Taurian Matador,” Stevie Wonder‘s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” a side-long jam on Marvin Gaye‘s “Trouble Man” (the album’s centerpiece and masterpiece), and the deep funk of Norman Whitfield‘s “Masterpiece.” “Trouble Man,” however, is the cut on which all the contradictions of the session come to bear and are resolved due in large part to Washington’s deeply lyrical improvising and James‘ ability to layer an orchestra into a groove.~ Allmusic.com/Thom Jurek

Saltman Knowles Quintet | Return Of The Composer

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African American, Female Vocalist, Jazz

Saltman Knowles Quintet

Saltman Knowles Quintet | Return Of The Composer [Modern Jazz]

Return of the Composer is the fifth recording produced by Saltman Knowles. It features original compositions and expresses a similar sentiment to the previous release ‘It’s About the Melody.’ While their music could be considered part of the …    Full Descriptionmodern jazz mainstream, it has its unusual and distinctive qualities. The beautiful voice of Lori Williams Chisholm is often used as part of the ensembles and, other than on ‘Pain Management,’ she is mostly heard singing wordlessly; her scatting is exquisite. The original songs generally feature haunting and strangely catchy melodies, very original chord changes, and infectious rhythms. There is much to discover on this memorable outing.

Composers: Mark Saltman and William Knowles. ~ CDUniverse.com

Sultry `Santa Baby’ singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81

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Actor, African American, Female Vocalist

Eartha Kitt

NEW YORK (AP) — Eartha Kitt, the self-proclaimed “sex kitten” whose sultry voice and catlike purr attracted fans even as she neared 80, has died. The singer, dancer and actress was 81.

Family spokesman Andrew Freedman said Kitt, who was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, died Thursday in Connecticut of colon cancer.

Dubbed the “most exciting woman in the world” by Orson Welles, Kitt’s career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer with the famed Katherine Dunham troupe to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, in movies and on television.