New Music Releases for 1/26/2010

Tags

African American, David Sanborn, Hiromi, Jazz, Maysa, New Releases, Pat Metheny, Saltman Knowles

Greeting’s fellow jazz aficionados, it looks like and exciting week musically from a cast of various voices in today’s jazz.

Featured Album of the Week

Saltman Knowles -|- Yesterday’s Man – [Pacific Coast Jazz, 2010]

Saltman Knowles - Yesterday's Man

Saltman Knowles, called “a fine example of all that is good in contemporary jazz,” once again stays true to melody and original composition in their latest release on the Pacific Coast Jazz label, Yesterday’s Man.

Lori Williams-Chisholm

On the heels of their critically acclaimed fifth CD, Return of the Composer, bassist Mark Saltman and pianist William Knowles have produced a sophisticated yet rhythmically driven statement with a fresh point of view that illustrates the importance of combining intricate song craft with introspective emotion. Lori Williams-Chisholm returns to provide what JazzTimes calls “her exquisite wordless vocals” encased in a sultry, smooth sound. – PACIFIC COAST JAZZ

George Duke | Face The Music

Tags

George Duke, Jazz, Keyboards, Piano. African American

The incomparable, sensational, dynamic and fun loving artistry of George Duke is armed with the juice that takes an alternate route back to his roots on this phenomenal recording called “Face The Music.” Yep, brother GD from the first note does it brilliantly ! ~ Rob Young | The Urban Flux

George Duke | Face The Music – [BizarrePlanet Entertainment, 2002]

George Duke, Face The Music

The first few seconds of crowd noise on the debut release from legendary funk/jazz keyboardist George Duke’s label might lead the listener to believe it’s a live recording. But it’s just a clever interpolation. Duke fashioned “The Black Messiah” as a cool, soulful, brass-tinged meditation on the musical splendor of his mentor Cannonball Adderley, and so bookends the tune with original sounds from a date the keyboardist did with the sax icon in the early ’70s — complete with an authentic Adderley prattle to the audience about his young cohort.

The essence of the recording — which features diverse elements of everything Duke, from gospel to African rhythms to pop vocals — is the keyboardist jamming with his tight rhythm section, featuring Christian McBride (unique because Duke rarely uses upright on his projects), guitarist Jeff Lee Johnson, and drummer John Roberts. Duke allows for a lot of tight solo action, beginning with McBride’s bright solo dance on “Chillin’.”

Seamus Blake Quartet | Live in Italy

Tags

Jazz, Saxophone, Seamus Blake

Seamus Blake Quartet | Live in Italy – [Jazz Eyes, 2009]

Seamus Blake Quartet - Live in Italy

Well seeing how no one has reviewed this album yet I thought I’d give it a shot & inform the jazz public on a fantastic live album by the Seamus Blake Quartet. I’ve had this album now for a few weeks & its been steady in my music rotation. It just a few words it is smoking! Seamus is joined here in Italy by pianist David Kikoski, bassist Danton Boller & drummer Rodney Green. The entire group is in top form especially David Kikoski who takes many stand out solos from greasy shuffle funk to straight ahead post bop. One particular thing I love about Seamus on this album is how he utilizes electronic effects on his tenor like wah wah & echo delay but the effects never threaten to overwhelm the natural sound of the horn, rather they enhance the mood and enforce Seamus’s ideas.