Marcus Finnie | Boundless

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Drums, Jazz, Marcus Finnie

Marcus Finnie - Boundless

Marcus Finnie .:|:. Boundless – [Marcus Finnie, 2010]

::BIO:: A Memphis native, Marcus “Stix” Finnie began playing drums at church accompanying his mother on organ. From grade school to high school, Marcus began studying classical and jazz music. While playing at Olivet Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, Marcus was told by Grammy winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum that “if you keep practicing and learn to read music, you will play with me someday.” Ten years later during his college days at Middle Tennessee State University, Marcus was invited to record with Kirk Whalum on album – “Into My Soul.”

JOURNEYED TENOR SAXOPHONIST AZAR LAWRENCE SET TO RELEASE MYSTIC JOURNEY, MAY 4 ON FURTHERMORE RECORDINGS

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African American, Azar Lawrence, Jazz, Saxophone

ALBUM FEATURES EDDIE HENDERSON, GERALD HAYES, BENITO GONZALEZ, ESSIET ESSIET AND THE LATE RASHIED ALI

Azar Lawrence - Mystic Journey

LAWRENCE’S SEXTET TO PERFORM IN TRIBUTE TO ALI ON MAY 7 AT THE TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The re-emergence of saxophonist Azar Lawrence has been one of the most exciting things and perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the past five years on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Those who have experienced Azar live in the past year can bear witness to a real life prodigal son story. No doubt remains that he is here to reclaim his title as heir to the throne of the John Coltrane legacy.

A child prodigy, Azar played in the shadows and under the watchful eyes of giants. At 21, he was hired by Miles Davis to perform and record at Carnegie Hall in what would become the 1974 underground classic, Dark Magus. In his twenties, he was taken in by Coltrane acolytes McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones and absorbed all they had to teach. He appeared on several of Tyner’s classic ’70s recordings and was signed by the Prestige label, where he recorded three albums as a leader.

The Enoch Smith Group | Church Boy

Tags

African American, Enoch Smith Jr., Jazz, Piano

The Enoch Smith Group - Church Boy

The Enoch Smith Group | Church Boy – [Enoch Smith Jr., 2009]

A return to the Soul Jazz sound and feel incorporated with great arrangements of classic songs and refreshing original compositions. A true musical journey!

This album is my first musical statement to the world. To hear it is to know me intimately.
I took special care in selecting the musicians as well as the compositions for this project. Each composition is spiritual by nature. Some of them were taken directly from a church pew hymnal while others are interpretations of well known compositions from the Pop, Gospel, and Classic Rock genres.

Jack Kerouac | Beat Scene

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Jack Kerouac, Jazz

Jack Kerouac - Beat Scene

– Jack Kerouac – ::|:: Beat Scene – [101 DISTRIBUTION, 2010]

2010 collection. In the ’50s, with Allen Ginsberg and William S Burroughs, Jack Kerouac was instrumental in starting the Beat movement. The acknowledged leader and spokesman of the group, it was he who first used the term Beat Generation to express despair over the suppressed state of the individual in society and belief in the natural world and in the powers of the beat of Jazz music and poetry. The Beats rejected the prevailing academic attitude to poetry and declared, through their art and attitudes, their alienation and disgust with shallow American middle-class values. This collection includes cuts from this influential period including tracks from Kerouac, Mamie Van Doren, Ken Nordine, Sun Ra, Lenny Bruce, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and many others. El.

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

Israeli Guitarist Yotam Fronts All-Star Lineup on JLP Debut, Resonance

Tags

Guitar, Jazz, Yotam

May 4 Release Features Christian McBride, Aaron Goldberg, Greg Hutchinson and Special Guest Roy Hargrove

Yotam - Resonance

On Resonance, his debut for Jazz Legacy Productions, accomplished Israeli guitarist-composer Yotam (full name Yotam Silberstein) has one foot firmly planted in his bebop roots while also showcasing his love of Brazilian music, American blues, Jamaican reggae and Israeli folk songs. Tying this highly eclectic program together is Yotam’s exceptional, rhythmically assured six-string work, which is marked by his inviting warm tones, clear articulation and penchant for free flowing improvisation. The New York-based guitarist is joined on this potent offering by the stellar rhythm section of Christian McBride on bass, Aaron Goldberg on piano and Greg Hutchinson on drums. Special guest trumpeter Roy Hargrove also appears on faithful recreations of Clifford Brown’s “Daahoud” and Joe Henderson’s “Mamacita.”

“Aaron, Christian, Greg and Roy, in my opinion, are a few of the giants of their generation,” says Yotam. “I was very honored to have them on the record. We have have forged a special chemistry together. And I think you can hear that on the album.”

Gerald Albright | Pushing The Envelope

Tags

African American, Gerald Albright, Jazz, Saxophone

NO HOLDING BACK FOR SAX MASTER GERALD ALBRIGHT ON JUNE 15 HEADS UP RELEASE

Gerald Albright - Pushing the Envelope

Gerald Albright | Pushing The Envelope – [Heads Up International, 2010]

Jazz and R&B icon Gerald Albright is considered to be one of the most innovative and successful artists of the last twenty-five years. With the June 15, 2010, release of Pushing The Envelope on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, Albright’s super cool side is back. With its polished soul/jazz vibe, Pushing The Envelope is a showcase for Albright’s remarkably fine balance of songcraft and musicianship, and features special guest appearances by Fred Wesley on trombone, Earl Klugh on acoustic guitar and George Duke on acoustic piano.

Produced and arranged by Albright, Pushing The Envelope provides the perfect opportunity for this master musician/saxophonist/songwriter to exhibit his skills. He plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, flutes, bass guitar, and keyboards, and also handles synthesizer, EWI and drum programming. Albright’s band on most of the album includes keyboardists Tracy Carter and Luther “Mano” Hanes, guitarist Ricky Watford and drummer Ricky Lawson.

New Releases [Jazz] for the Week of 4/20/2010

Tags

Jazz

Greetings jazz enthusiasts, we’re into the third week of April with another promising crop of New Jazz Releases. Trombone Shorty makes his statement with Backtown as our Featured Album of the Week. Check out fusion guitarist John McLaughlin’s new cut “To The One” we also have “Earthglow” by keyboardist David Benoit. The return of pianist Vince Guaraldi awaits us with another classic tale of “Peanuts 60th Anniversary”, also trumpeter Wallace Roney serves up a tasty gem titled “If Only for One Night,” and then jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon delivers the goods as only like she can with “Homefree.” Finally, get on board with hip-hop influenced trumpet sensation Maurice Brown, he’s back with “The Cycle of Love” all these and more this week at The Urban Flux!

Featured Album of the Week

Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews - Backatown

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews .:|:. Backatown – [Verve Forecast, 2010]

In 2010 alone, 24-year-old New Orleans singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist and all-around musical powerhouse Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews has signed with Verve Forecast Records and performed on Good Morning America and ESPN’s SportsCenter in the run-up to the Super Bowl. He has seen recordings he contributed to earn a Grammy® award (Buckwheat Zydeco’s “Lay Your Burden Down”) and an Oscar® nomination (Dr. John’s “Down In New Orleans” from the hit Disney film ‘The Princess and the Frog’). He has taped two appearances – as himself – for the upcoming HBO series ‘Treme’ from ‘The Wire’ creator David Simon, and played with his band Orleans Avenue as honored guests on Saints owner Tom Benson’s float in a victorious post-Super Bowl Mardi Gras parade.

Fabrizio Sotti | Inner Dance [Review]

Tags

Fabrizio Sotti, Guitar, Jazz

Fabrizio Sotti - Inner Dance

Fabrizio Sotti ::|:: Inner Dance [E 1 Music, 2010]

Recently I’ve become acquainted with a relatively new guitarist, composer and producer on the music scene named Fabrizio Sotti. I say “new,” without any prior knowledge of his music other then his production work. Obviously being a student of his craft Sotti sharpen his skills in a variety of musical settings recording, touring, and playing with an impressive staple of top-shelve musicians on the jazz scene including the likes of Al Foster, Roy Hargrove, George Coleman, George Garzone, Steve La Spina, Sammy Figueroa, Mick Goodrick, Mark Egan, Mino Cinelu, Victor Jones, Rachel Z, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Cameron Brown, Andy LaVerne, Harvie Swartz, Brian Lynch, Mick Goodrick, Lincoln Goines, Rick Margitza, Clarence Penn and many more. Perhaps I’ll just stop here … oh no let’s take a moment and delve into his latest entitled “Inner Dance.”

Jeff Lorber Fusion | Now Is The Time

Tags

Jazz, Jeff Lorber, Keyboards

LORBER RECAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ FUSION ON NOW IS THE TIME

Jeff Lorber Fusion - Now Is The Time

Jeff Lorber Fusion -:|:- Now Is The Time – [Heads Up International, 2010]

By the late 1970s, keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber had become a prominent figure in the new movement known as jazz fusion – a marriage of traditional jazz with elements of rock, R&B, funk and other electrified sounds. Lorber and his band, the Jeff Lorber Fusion, first honed their craft in the Portland, Oregon, club scene and rapidly expanded their reach to a national and international audience via a combination of complex harmonies, unconventional time signatures and compelling rhythms.

In subsequent years, Lorber dropped the term “fusion” from his billing as the movement evolved into what is currently known as contemporary jazz. Still, he continued to explore the innovative, improvisational potential of grafting other musical forms to the jazz idiom.

SONGSTRESS ROBIN MCKELLE TO RELEASE “MESS AROUND” ON E1 MUSIC

Tags

Female Vocalist, Jazz, ROBIN MCKELLE

ALBUM SHOWCASES A NUMBER OF GENRES INCLUDING SOUL, BLUES, AND JAZZ

Robin McKelle - Mess Around

“I’ve wanted to do this kind of album for a long time. It’s a project that spans a number of genres: soul, blues and jazz – all musical styles I love and which define my personality. It’s an organic, flesh-and-blood record, recorded with musicians close to me. It has quite a 60s flavor, inspired by the albums Ray Charles and Nina Simone were making at the time.”

Robin McKelle’s husky warm contralto more than measures up to these rhythm ‘n’ blues songs on her newest release, Mess Around (out on E1 Music on Tuesday, May 4th), which perfectly suits her natural expressiveness. As one jazz diva after another took to the airways, Robin (originally from Rochester, New York) needed to stand out from the competition in record shops. “On stage, people have an idea of who I am. I’ve always made room for this kind of repertoire in my concerts, but on record, it took me a while to express this character trait, this enthusiasm. I’m obviously not in the same category as Diana Krall or Norah Jones, so I might as well deal with it since that’s the way it is (laughter).”