The Trio | Real

Tags

African American, Clarence Penn, James Genus, Jazz, Makoto Ozone

When you assemble three of the music industries finest musicians you’re bound to hear a one of a kind gem. On this occasion, a group called “The Trio” features the impeccable voice of Japan’s very own Makoto Ozone on piano, & fender Rhodes also with the incomparable James Genus on the acoustic bass and the charismatic Clarence Penn on drums to record an exceptional project titled “Real” on Concord Records. —Rob Young

The Trio - Real

The Trio | Real – [Concord Records, 2006]

.:|:. A premier jazz musician in Japan, Makoto Ozone has made a successful transition to America, where he became equally prominent in this nation’s improvisational community. He began on organ at four, then took up piano as a teenager. He went to Berklee in 1980 and studied composing and arranging. He was noticed by Gary Burton and later recorded with him and was part of his band.

Ozone’s striking ability (especially on mid-tempo pieces) and impressive technique made him a big hit at the Kool Jazz Festival. His 1984 debut recording featured Burton and bassist Eddie Gomez. It was a stunning example of complete knowledge and mastery of the full jazz piano spectrum. Ozone later worked with European pianist Michel Petrucciani and spent extensive time studying classical music.

..:: Source: AllMusic.com ::..

Nnenna Freelon | Homefree

Tags

African American, Female Vocalist, Jazz, Nnenna Freelon

Nnenna Freelon .:|:. Homefree – [Concord Records, 2010]

In our mobile culture, the notion of “home” conjures up comfort, relaxation, the congenial touchstone of the soul. “There’s no place like home,” intones the young Judy Garland as Dorothy in the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, while troubadour Paul Simon pines for the familiar in the 1966 Simon & Garfunkel hit, “Homeward Bound.”

As the saying goes, home is where the heart is, which is the sensibility behind esteemed jazz vocalist and multi-Grammy® nominee Nnenna Freelon’s latest recording, Homefree, her seventh Concord Jazz album as a leader and first studio outing since 2005. It’s a soulful, swinging homegrown CD, recorded at Sound Pure Studios in Durham, North Carolina, which, she says, “has been my home base for 28 years.” The album is an 11-track collection that Freelon calls her “home brew,” comprised largely of tunes that have been road-tested by her stellar touring band as well as a new original (the witty, playful and poignant “Cell Phone Blues” composed by the singer) and spirited arrangements of two anthems (the gospel treasure “Life Every Voice and Sing” and the national hymn “America the Beautiful”) that close the CD.

Organic Vibes | Glue

Tags

Hammond B3, Jazz, Saxophone

Organic Vibes | Glue – [Tomas Trulsson, 2009]

Organic Vibes, with the classical setting of a Hammond Quartet, playing original jazz with groovy organ sound into focus. The music is played with great joy, humor and a dose of suppressed anger, a mix of urban jazz and Nordic melancholy.

Tomas Trulsson … Woodwind player based in Sweden. Studied at Fridhems Folkhogskola and graduated from Berklee college of music 98. Studied with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone and Hal Crook to name a few. Working with own bands and freelance. Work as Jazz educator at Eric-Ruuth culture school and Sundsgårdens folkhögskola. Plays regularly with Organic Vibes.

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