Now Available — Ramsey Lewis’ Concord Jazz Debut

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African American, Jazz, Piano, Ramsey Lewis

Ramsey Lewis | Songs From the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey – [Concord Jazz, 2009]

Ramsey Lewis

Today, September 29, Concord Jazz releases Songs From the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey, the debut Concord Jazz CD from iconic pianist/bandleader Ramsey Lewis. At the age of 74, Ramsey Lewis has not only continued to be active in the jazz world, but he’s also forging ahead with a newly inspired creative instinct as a composer. This re-envisioned artistic sensibility is showcased on his new album, which is a remarkable, refined collection of 12 new originals that he composed over a period of two years. The collection includes music from two commissioned world premiere performances at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, just north of Chicago. Eight songs come from the score of 2007’s ballet To Know Her…written for the Joffrey Ballet Company and four pieces come from 2008’s Muses and Amusements suite performed with the Turtle Island Quartet.

Songs From the Heart, Lewis’ first trio recording in five years, features eight pieces with bassist Larry Gray and drummer Leon Joyce, and four piano solo performances. To Lewis, the CD marks a turning point in his storied career: he’s found new life as a composer.

Bakithi Kumalo | Transmigration

Tags

African, Bass, Funk, Jazz

“While we’re only six years into it, ‘Transmigration‘ may very well be the most important jazz album of the 21st century thus far.” —Ray Ellis –

Bakithi Kumalo | Transmigration – [Bakithi Kumalo Music, 2007]

Bakithi Kumalo, Transmigration

A native of Soweto Township outside Johannesburg, South Africa, Bakithi Kumalo (Paul Simon’s “Graceland“) creates a singular electric fretless bass sound that teems with double stops that sound like human voices and the African grooves of his homeland and has garnered him a stellar reputation as a sideman.

In addition to touring with Simon on his current North American tour, he’s also recorded and/or toured with the likes of Gloria Estefan, Chaka Khan, Harry Belafonte, Gerald Albright, Miriam Makeba, Josh Groban and Chris Botti. Kumalo breaks fertile new ground with his latest CD, ‘Transmigration,’ on Guru Project.

Source: CDBaby.com