Roberto Occhipinti | Yemaya

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Bassist, Culture, Jazz, Latin Music, Roberto Occhipinti

2006 Juno Nomination Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year!

Roberto Occhipinti

Roberto Occhipinti | Yemaya [Alma Records, 2005]

Rare is the bassist who steps forward to lead his own ensemble. Rarer still is the bandleader who successfully bridges the worlds of jazz and classical music. Roberto Occhipinti clearly belongs to that rare breed. On his first album, 2001’s Trinacria, Occhipinti explored the range of Latin jazz through works by Thelonious Monk, Cuban piano virtuoso Hilario Durán and his own compositions.

His follow up album, 2003’s The Cusp, expanded on the concept, adding violin, flutes, reeds and horns while tackling composers as diverse as Wayne Shorter, Jimi Hendrix and Giacomo Puccini. Now, with Yemaya, Occhipinti has given full flight to his musical vision, employing horns, a string quartet and a full string symphony orchestra on classical arrangements of Cuban, Brazilian and original jazz pieces. It’s an inspired synthesis.

Source: Roberto Occhipinti.com

Read more about the fascinating artistry of bassist Roberto Occhipinti by going here …

Benny Golson | New Time, New ‘Tet

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African American, Concord Jazz, Jazz, Saxophone

Benny Golson

Benny Golson | New Time, New ‘Tet [Jazz/Concord Jazz/2009]

Concord Jazz announces the debut of Benny Golson’s “new jazztet,’ a stellar sextet that revives that legendary group’s highly regarded three-horn front line along with its classic, tight ensemble work and sophisticated sound.

Led by Grammy “Lifetime Achievement” award winning saxophonist-composer Benny Golson, this version of the jazztet features heavyweight jazz musicians on each instrument: trumpet master, Eddie Henderson; trombone virtuoso, Steve Davis; the brilliant Mike LeDonne, piano; bassist extraordinaire, Buster Williams; and percussion ace, Carl Allen.

NEW TIME, NEW ‘TET elaborates the traditional jazztet concept. This album’s song choices advance a subtle but genuinely seductive proposal: what if jazz, conventionally defined, is overdue for re-inspection and revision? What if “jazz” and “classical” music are closer in spirit and artistic execution than standard views of their difference comprehend?

~ Source: ConcordMusicGroup.com … go here to read more about the new album by the legendary Benny Golson.

Dr. Lonnie Smith | Rise Up

Tags

African American, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jazz, Organ

Dr. Lonnie Smith

Dr. Lonnie Smith | Rise Up [Soul Jazz/Palmetto Records/2009]

What first stirred in the heart and soul of man, deep in the night and twilight of obscure caves and woods, back when the ear was an organ of fear and survival? Does man express himself through music or does music express itself through man?

The Doctor knows, but he ain’t saying–or rather, he just said it, chapter and verse. Listen close now, cos you can follow the doctor’s advice, but you can’t follow the Doctor.

Lonnie has been at the forefront of the jazz scene since he was named Top Organist by Downbeat Magazine in 1969. Recently, Lonnie was voted the Organ Keyboardist of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 by the Jazz Journalist Association.

Dr Lonnie Smith’s latest release, RISE UP! features Peter Bernstein, guitar; Herlin Riley, drums; Donald Harrison, alto sax with guest musicians Matt Balitsaris, guitars, James Shipp, percussion and Jo Lawry, vocals. ~ Source: Amazon.com

Released Date: 2/17/2009