Ximo Tebar | Steps

Tags

Fusion, Guitar, Ximo Tebar

Ximo Tebar | Steps – [Sunnyside Records, 2009]

Ximo Tebar, Steps

Playing jazz guitar involves mastering the tradition laid down by the modern masters of the instrument from Montgomery to Metheny while applying those concepts to create an individual voice that expresses itself in a myriad of stylistic inventions, conceptions, and dimensions. The Spanish-born, New York-based guitarist Ximo Tebar meets all of the aforementioned criteria with the release of his latest Sunnyside release, Steps; an invigorating and engaging record date that demonstrates what the guitar can do in the hands of a master at the top of his instrumental, interpretation, and compositional game.

Tebar is backed by an impressive array of American and Spanish musicians: Acoustic and electric bassists Alex Blake and Boris Kozlov, Orrin Evans and Santi Navalon on Fender Rhodes and keyboards, drummer Donald Edwards, vocalist Ester Andujar, Ramon Cardo and Kiko Berenguer, on soprano and tenor saxophones, respectively, Stefan Braun, cello, and David Pastor, trumpet. With Tebar s fleet-fingered, pan-genre guitar approach, supported by an ensemble that effortlessly leap-frogs fusion, Latin, and straight-ahead contexts, this disc delivers an outstanding aural document that is, in the words of Duke Ellington, Beyond Category.

Patti Austin Shares Her Singing Success Secrets

Tags

African American, Female Vocalist, Jazz, Patti Austin, Soul

Today, we’re delighted to share with you the lovely, impeccable, and virtuous lady of song Patti Austin. It’s one thing to be gifted, but it takes artist like the mesmerizing songstress Patti Austin to soulfully evoke her craft with soul, grace, and undeniable style in the art of blending voice, lyric and song. ~ The Urban Flux

Patti Austin, Promotional

In a ground breaking promotion, Patti Austin, 2008 Grammy award winning jazz vocalist, shares her secrets to singing success at HowToSing.org. Ms. Austin has built a career that has spanned over four decades. Some of her best remembered performances include “Baby Come to Me“, “Getting Away with Murder“, and “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

While most celebrities would sit on their laurels, Ms. Austin continues to re-invent not only her career, but her music, as well as the industry itself. When asked what would be one of her greatest desires, she remarked, “To mentor and give the young, new generation of artists the chance to succeed in a very tough market.” To this end, Patti Austin mentors many new and upcoming performers. She has also decided to share the secrets that she has learned over her long-lasting career HowToSing.org.

Patti Austin, in association with ADPublishing.org, is releasing a limited number of free CDs, wherein she discusses the secrets to longevity in the music industry. She reveals tips on “finding your voice“, “working with a mentor, ” “learning special techniques, ” and much more. This is a behind the scenes look at a music icon who has worked with some of the best in the industry, including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and Luther Vandross, to name a few.

Patti Austin’s free CD is her way of giving back to the industry that has been so good to her over the years. In some small way, it is her hope that generations of new singers will begin the careers with her virtual mentorship.

..:: Source: JazzNews ::..

Melvin Pierce | Something To Remember

Tags

African American, Trumpet

If your taste for jazz is on the smooth edge, then I’m quite sure that trumpeter Melvin Pierce has the right combination of cool, upbeat and soothing sounds readily available for you on his sophomore project “Something To Remember.” ~ The Urban Flux

Melvin Pierce | Something To Remember – [Aventra Enterprises, LLC, 2009]

Melvin Pierce was born in Brooklyn, NY, but was raised in Marrero, LA, a city right outside of New Orleans. With Jazz flowing through the heart of the city, the music bee stung him at an early age. He is a self-taught trumpet player.

In 2005, he debuted his first cd, The Journey, smooth jazz groove with soft lyrics that left his new fans wanting more. His sophomore cd, The Journey, picks up where The Journey left off. Upbeat and flowing jazz sounds will take your musical soul on a journey that you’ll want to remember.

..:: Source: CDBaby.com ::..

Chris Potter | Gratitude

Tags

Bass Clarinet, Chris Potter, Flute, Jazz, Saxophone

Chris Potter | Gratitude – [Verve Records, 2001]

Chris Potter, Gratitude

Over the past 8 years, Chris Potter has been tremendously overlooked by the jazz media and hype circuit, yet worshiped in secret by saxophonists around the country, causing many to pull their hair out and curse the day they first picked up the horn. Major kudos to Jason Olaine for bringing him to a record label that can hopefully find him a mainstream audience.

While Potter’s albums have always featured interesting and memorable tunes, Gratitude stands out as being thoughtfully written, programmed, and produced. Somehow, Potter has figured out a way to communicate with those caught up in jazz’s current fad of odd-metered, groove-driven, atmospheric, fender Rhodes-drenched songs (a la Redman, Douglas, Scofield, and Rosenwinkle)without sacrificing the rhythmic flow and melodic simplicity that are his compositional trademarks. He has also successfully made his almost intimidating improvisational prowess (ever catch him live?) more accessible (mainly due to the context of the tunes) to those in the jazz community not already familiar with his playing (hey, my dad liked it!) without sacrificing imagination, intensity, or swing.

My recommendation: check it out! There’s not as much hardcore blowing here as on some of his other records, but you just might catch yourself humming the bassline to “HIGH NOON” all day. I know I did. —Anonymous

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