Pat Metheny Group | Still Life (Talking)

Tags

Brazilian, Guitar, Pat Metheny

Still Life Talking is probably my favorite album by the Pat Metheny Group! Until this day, Still Life flows evenly with its ongoing textural nuances and complexities from beginning to the end. ~ The Urban Flux

Pat Metheny Group | Still Life (Talking) – [Geffen Records | Nonesuch, 1987]

This is one of Pat Metheny’s best. I have the original CD release and have used it as a reference when auditioning audio equipment. The original recording really is great. So what could the studio possibly do to improve it when remastering?

Apparently the studio thought that it was important that this recording sound good when listening to it in the car, because they boosted the average sound level by compressing the loud parts. Sure, when comparing the two versions with the volume knob at the same setting, the quiet parts of the remastered version sound clearer and more distinct. But that’s because the quiet parts are louder. Unfortunately for the remastering engineer it’s not possible to make the louder parts louder, too. The result is the loss of dynamic range, and occasional clipping. 5 of the 7 tracks hit the maximum level on the remastered CD. Only 1 does on the original.

So what about those quiet parts where the remastered version seems to sound clearer? When the volume level is compensated for the difference in average levels, the original sounds almost identical to the remastered version in those quiet parts. Too bad — the original is just as clear as the remastered version and has greater dynamics. If you want compression, a lot of consumer playback equipment has a compression circuit, often called “loudness”. That will make the quiet parts louder so just about everything is the same volume, which should be great for listening in your car. —J. Stimson

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..

Berklee Presents Latin Culture Celebration 2009

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Issac Delgado, Latin Music

Berklee presents its 11th annual Latin Culture Celebration, an event organized by students to showcase music from Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, and other parts of Latin American. Public events take place throughout the month of November, with concerts and clinics presented by students, faculty, alumni, staff, and guest artists. Highlights include concerts by Puerto Rican pianist Angel David Mattos November 4, vocalists Mili Bermejo and Patricia Elena Vlieg November 10, and Cuban superstar Issac Delgado November 12.

All concerts are open to the public; clinics are only open to Berklee students. Concerts at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, are $10 for general admission, unless otherwise noted. Events at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston Street; David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston Street; and Recital Hall 1A and 1W, 1140 Boylston Street; are free.

SAXOPHONIST KIRK WHALUM PERFORMS ON SIRIUS XM PRAISE

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African American, Female Vocalist, Kirk Whalum, Lalah Hathaway, Saxophone

Jazz Impresario Performs Songs From His Highly Anticipated Gospel/Jazz Fusion Double CD “The Gospel According To Jazz, Chapter 3.”

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.

Source: Kirk Whalum

Euge Groove | Sunday Morning

Tags

Euge Groove, Saxophone

Euge Groove | Sunday Morning – [Shanachie, 2009]

The long awaited new album “Sunday Morning,” by Euge Groove is finally finished. The prolific and down to earth saxophonist/songwriter, Euge Groove is back in the saddle with his sixth solo album in 10 years is now available in record stores and on the Internet on Tuesday, October 27th.

Sunday Morning, the album promises to be an extension of his last offering Born 2 Groove. As Euge Groove gets ready to kick of his 10th year as a solo artist, it is only fitting that he is releasing his best and most personal musical statement to date. This stunning collection contains 10 original songs on, “Sunday Morning” it is heralded as being one of a few in this genre to have real musicians in the studio to record this seductive yet vibrant new record by Groove.

Euge Groove says: “I have learned and grown a lot of over the past year and I hope this can be heard on Sunday Morning. All of the songs reveal a bit about where I was personally at that moment. I hope when people hear the music they can feel my emotional connection with these songs.”

Visit, Euge Groove.com for more details about this artist.

Livebrush Makes Design Creation Simple

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Adobe, African American, Livebrush, Software

Adobe Air: If you’re looking to put a flourish or two on an invitation, business card, or web page, Livebrush makes it super simple to create your own designs without purchasing advanced vector-based software.

Using Livebrush is as simple as swirling your mouse about. If you want to get more nuanced you can—the examples on their site show some really detailed image results. For adding just a bit of visual interest to the sidebar of your blog or the edge of your stationary, however, Livebrush is easy to pick up and play with.

You can choose from different styles, fine-tuning your brush behavior and weight as you go. Livebrush supports layers and you can export the final product as a PNG file. Upgrading to the Pro version for $10 unlocks additional features like the ability to export vectors. Check out the video below to see Livebrush in action:

Go here, to view a demo of this nifty application.

If you have a favorite resource or tool for adding flourishes and decorations to your design work, let’s hear about it in the comments.

Visit, Livebrush to download and see a demo of this freebie.

Source: Lifehacker.com

Everette Harp | First Love

Tags

African American, Everette Harp, Saxophone

Everette Harp | First Love – [Shanachie, 2009]

Do you remember when you first fell in love? The magic, rush of emotions, the euphoria and excitement of it all! People fall in and out of love everyday but there are some people and some things that remain true loves forever. For celebrated saxophonist Everette Harp, jazz is a first love and enduring love. “I remember when I first discovered John Coltrane’s Soul Trane and Dave Brubeck’s Time Out albums in my parents’ record collection.

This was the music that made me first fall in love with jazz,” recalls Harp, whose own music has made millions of fans around the world fall in love with jazz. Although Harp’s first love was ‘traditional’ jazz, he has made his mark as one of the best-selling and most sought after ambassador’s of contemporary jazz for close to two decades.

First Love, Harp’s new and third Shanachie Entertainment CD is truly a labor of love and was inspired by opportunities he has had over the past year and a half to play both contemporary jazz and mainstream jazz gigs in the US and abroad. “I have had the chance to play with some incredible musicians in a variety of venues. All of which led me, inexorably, to this recording,” shares Harp. “With First Love I was given the opportunity to explore some of the elements of jazz that made me crave to learn more about this wonderful music. And while I feel like I am starting over again as a novice, that is a welcome sacrifice in regaining some of the excitement I felt some years ago. The possibility of growth is again my goal!”

Released Date: 10/27/2009

Source: Shanachie

Esbjorn Svensson Trio | From Gagarin’s Point Of View

Tags

Esbjorn Svensson Trio, Jazz, Piano

Esbjorn Svensson Trio | From Gagarin’s Point Of View – [Diesel Music, 2007]

The Esbjorn Svensson Trio is (one of) the best piano-trio’s in the world. They prove the statement that it’s impossible for jazz to renew itself, without changing it into something completely different to be totally wrong. The trio has been together for a long time, and that you can hear: they really listen to each other. They have to, because they tend to put so much space or silence in their music, that it would be very hard to play when they didn’t.

A lot of jazz combs change their strength a lot, and not always in their advantage. At jazz festivals you here a lot of theme-solo-solo-solo-boring drum solo-theme-jazz, and that’s alright when the individuals are interesting enough, but a lot of times it’s simply not good enough. Sometimes the reason of that is that the bands are so good that they can change their personal a lot, but it doesn’t always do the music good. And this is one of the differences between E.S.T. and some other jazz bands you could hear live.

Jon Irabagon | The Observer

Tags

African American, Jazz, Saxophone, Thelonious Monk International

Jon Irabagon | The Observer – [Concord Jazz, 2009]

Jon Irabagon, The Observer

Concord Jazz is proud to announce the release of The Observer, saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon’s newest recording as a leader. Winning the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition has afforded Irabagon the opportunity to assemble a dream-team of musicians, including the stellar rhythm section of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis. This combo of familiar players is augmented by extraordinary trumpeter Nicholas Payton on two tracks, while pianist Bertha Hope provides gorgeous accompaniment to one of her late husband, Elmo Hope’s compositions. Along with veteran producer Don Sickler and engineering wizard Rudy Van Gelder, Irabagon and company have crafted a statement of power and beauty replete with twists and turns, a diverse but cohesive collection sure to please jazz aficionados and new fans alike.

George Duke | Feel

Tags

African American, George Duke, Keyboards, Male Vocals, Piano

Alright music lovers, today is the day I’ve searched deep in the vaults of The Urban Flux for another rare and timeless treasure filled with the octaves of retro-jazz, funk and fusion sounds of keyboard master, producer and vocalist George Duke titled “Feel.” By chance, if you missed this jewel it’s time to unlock the time machine and click on the link to “Feel” to revisit one of the most beloved and celebrated visionaries in modern music Mr. George Duke. ~ The Urban Flux

George Duke | Feel – [Verve Reissues, 1973/2008] – Jazz/Funk/Fusion Classic

George Duke, Feel

Well after years of waiting, this 1974 masterpiece finally came out on CD! Well I didn’t totally do without it, I transferred my record onto tape and then onto CD some years ago, but now it’s cleaned up, packaged and on the shelves and should definitely sell out! This is George Duke at his best, uniquely Dukey, very funky music with the most amazing keyboard solos and keyboards in general. Talk about ‘feeeel’! ‘Bend it like Duke’ would be apt but his feel is also about unbelievable phrasing and choice of notes. (we should not speak of speed, bad word but he flies too!) Check out the solos on “Feel” and “Yana Aminah“, sung by Flora (the latter solo is jazz like only Duke can do it)

The line-up has Ndugu (Leon Chancler) on drums (check out his drumming on Weather Report’s fabulous Tale Spinnin’), John Heard on bass (?), Airto and Flora and Obdewl’l X, the mystery guitarist who ‘rocks’ on song 2 😉 Well Zappa did have Duke playing on the incredible “Overnite Sensation” album so i guess that’s fair. Speaking of funny names, wasn’t it Duke who went by “Dawili Gonga” somewhere sometime?! The remastering is impeccable in addition to it being a great recording to start with. A recommend here, speaking of amazing Duke solos, check out Stanley Clarke’s “Journey to Love“, a great album with one of the best synthesizer solos of all time (and lots more). And of course, after you listen to this one, buy a “A Brazilian Love Affair“. Coming back to this CD, just buy it!! —APU Sista

Source: Amazon.com

Curtis Brothers Quartet | Blood · Spirit · Land · Water · Freedom

Tags

Curtis Brothers Quartet, Jazz

Curtis Brothers Quartet | Blood · Spirit · Land · Water · Freedom – [Truth Revolution Records, 2009]

Curtis Brothers Quartet

Each of these represent key components to our physical and metaphysical experience and (relative) reality. Because we are human and of Life, these are the essentials which define our mind, body and soul since Existence. They make us who we are. Without any one of them we cease to be as we are.

Blood contains our DNA. DNA is something that is still mostly a mystery to us, though it contains the instruction to our entire being and history. Some scientist would like us to believe it is less important than it is. Perhaps because of the secrets contained within us. The four bases found in DNA are adenine (abbreviated A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). With just the arrangement of these 4 letters, the blueprint and code of who we are, what we will do, how we will do it and much more are contained. This is our “computer program”, the method of life, natures laws and a testament to the intelligence from which we are made. Blood is nothing less than the “way” of god or nature.