Hiromi Uehara | Place To Be

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Hiromi, Jazz, Keyboards, Piano, Stanley Clarke

.:: Hiromi Chronicles Her World Travels On – Her First Solo Piano Recording ::.

Hiromi Uehara | Place To Be – [Telarc Jazz, 2010] | Release Date: 26 Jan 2010

Hiromi's first solo piano recording!

If all the world is indeed a stage, pianist-composer Hiromi Uehara has played on just about every corner of it. Since the beginning of the decade, she has supported her impressive body of studio work with an ambitious tour schedule that has electrified audiences throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and elsewhere with performances that have pushed the limits of piano jazz to new frontiers of compositional and technical skills.

Each stop on her journey – be it the world-class metropolis, the quiet college town or something in between – has introduced her to a new and singular vibe that has left an indelible impression on her creative sensibilities. Indeed, she has come away from every new place with just as much as she has brought to it, and perhaps even more.

Hiromi chronicles just a few of the many places and moments where she has experienced the almost mystical exchange between performer and audience on Place To Be (CD-83695), her new CD on Telarc International, a division of Concord Music Group. The album is her first solo piano recording.

“I really wanted the record to be a kind of travel journal,” she says. “I’ve traveled so much in the last few years that I’ve started to wonder exactly where is the place that I’m supposed to be. Traveling takes so much out of you. It can be exhausting. But as soon as I go on the stage and I see people who are very happy because of what I’m doing, it just erases all of the struggles and the craziness that can come with all the traveling, and it really fulfills me.”

Giulia Valle | Enchanted House

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Bassist, Giulia Valle, Jazz

Giulia Valle | Enchanted House – [Fresh Sound Records, 2008] – Weekend Spin

Giulia Valle, Enchanted House

In order to properly understand this trio‚s genesis, it is convenient to step back to 2000, during Giulia’s and drummer Marc Ayza’s first visit to New York City. That’s then when being in musical touch with pianist Jason Lindner, they all three find out that a very special chemistry is created while playing together. During the last years the trio has been performing in several occasions, playing the three musicians‚ repertoire along with some interesting standards and recording this outstanding brand new album for Fresh Sound New Talent.

The trio‚s sound combines a strong versatile rhythm section with the agility of Lindner phrasing. This unique blend of talent, knowledge and command can be listened here, a recently recorded session cut in NYC and awaited by public and press. The CD will include mainly Giulia’s stuff, as well as she is the artistic producer for an astonishing piece of the hottest part of contemporary Jazz.

..:: Source: Fresh Sound Records ::..

Performance on Sirius XM Praise feat. Lalah Hathaway airs Sunday!

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Female Vocalist, Kirk Whalum, Lalah Hathaway, Promotions, Saxophone

Just in case you missed the dynamic duos spellbinding in studio performance yesterday, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and vocalist Lalah Hathaway returns with a repeat broadcast of this show on SiriusXM this coming afternoon Sunday at 3PM:EST! ~ The Urban Flux

October 2009 – Eight time Grammy nominated saxophonist Kirk Whalum recently taped a riveting performance on Sirius XM’s Praise Channel in celebration of his highly anticipated jazz/gospel fusion project, “The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 3.” Neo Soul vocalist Lalah Hathaway, who is featured on the single “He’s Been Just That Good,” also joined Whalum in studio for an exhilarating performance. Tune in to hear Kirk Whalum on Sirius XM Praise on Tuesday, October 27 at 1pm EST, with a rebroadcast on Sunday, November 1st at 3pm ET.

The long-awaited third installment in Whalum’s popular genre-bridging gospel jazz series will be released on Mack Avenue Records on February 16, 2010. The star-studded live celebration will include both a two-disc CD and a special DVD shot in hi-definition video.

For more information on Kirk Whalum, visit: Website: Kirk Whalum: KirkWhalum.com,
Facebook: Facebook.com/KirkWhalum
Twitter: Twitter.com/KirkWhalum

..:: Source: Miles Ahead Entertainment ::..

George Hunt | I Am A Man

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African American, Art, George Hunt, Grandpas Art

Today, I’m delighted to feature a gentleman who’s considered and elder statesman and one of the most provocative artists on the African American art scene Mr. George Hunt with his thought provoking piece from a three part series titled “I Am A Man .” This brilliant painting is a bold statement that stems from the struggle African American Men faced during sixties as they sought job opportunities to provide for their families is simply an intoxicating image to encompass by Mr. Hunt. ~ The Urban Flux

George Hunt | I Am A Man 3 [Hand-Pulled Serigraph]

George Hunt is an artist with a “gift” for seeing things differently than most people. Born in 1940 in rural Lake Charles, Louisiana. George was delivered into the world in a sugarcane field by the hands of his great grandmother.

George Hunt personal “stamp” on the cubism style of painting includes collage, vibrant colors, and lively texture. The bold colors are reminiscent of his childhood experiences of going to church and seeing women wearing very colorful hats. Today much of Hunt’s work is influenced by African American experiences in the South. —Grandpasart.com

Gary Burton | Quartet Live

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Antonio Sanchez, Gary Burton, Jazz, Live Music, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow

Gary Burton | Quartet Live – [Concord Jazz, 2009] – Music Review

As music lovers, if you’re like me important factors like time, patience, and money has a tendency to hinder the thought process when it comes to listening too and purchasing music. At some point, as greedy as we are sometimes as music collectors we’re bound to meet music along the way that’s readily available for us as enthusiasts to indulge ourselves in as we navigate through this infinite galaxy of recordings and wonder if it’s worth our time and money?

Recently, a friend and fellow jazz aficionado suggested to me via email to seriously consider posting a article or review referencing the latest album by the legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. At his request, in a matter of time with few clicks of the mouse I immediately found the Gary Burton’s new project on Concord Jazz appropriately titled “Quartet Live.” As jazz comes and goes, it’s always a pleasure to be invited to listen to creative, thoughtful, complex and engaging music that prompts you to embellish the incredible sounds and artistry displayed by musicians like Gary Burton.

Usually, when artists like Burton sets out to record a new album he assembles a cast of like-minded yet comparable players in order to make things happen accordingly. On this outing, he summoned guitarist Pat Metheny, drummer Antonio Sanchez and bassist Steve Swallow together to utilize their talents to record “Quartet Live.” As you know, from a listener’s point of view with a session like this on hand something great is about to manifest from within this musical gathering.