New Music [Jazz] for The Week of 5/3/2010

Tags

African American, Azar Lawrence, Jazz, Saxophonist

Greetings’ fellow jazz enthusiasts, May arrives just in time with the distinctive and insinuating sounds, melodies, rhythms & dexterous flavors of jazz to quench your ongoing thirst for new music. As always, it’s an honor to compile an extraordinary complex yet diverse mix of New Jazz Releases for you each week. The multi-facet saxophonist Azar Lawrence is here with his stellar new offering titled: “Mystic Journey” which is our Featured Album of the Week! Vocal stylists Robin McKelle & Nikki Yanofsky are in the mix with their latest projects “Mess Around” and “Nikki.” If that’s not enough, check out the Dutch Nu-Jazz Movement’s latest “What’s Nu?” along with trombonist Alan Ferber’s experimental project “Music for Nonet & Strings: Chamber Songs” … all these titles and more are just a click away to discover fresh and stimulating music!

Featured Album of the Week

Azar Lawrence - Mystic Journey

Azar Lawrence ::|:: Mystic Journey – [Furthermore Recordings, 2010]

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.

Below we have list of this weeks latest jazz releases, also while you’re here check out Amazon.com for and extended lists of imports, vinyl and re-issues.

Vocalist Patti Austin’s Sound Advice

Tags

Africam American, Female Vocalist, Patti Austin

Patti Austin

Grammy-winning chanteuse Patti Austin was born to sing and not just sing but to connect with millions worldwide through her undeniable gift of storytelling. Throughout her illustrious career, Austin has used her voice as a beacon of light in the music industry and beyond, creating timeless anthems and lending her voice to causes like her own Blue Movement (Austin’s inspiring campaign to end domestic violence), cancer awareness, children’s rights, mentoring and other issues important to her.

Patti Austin’s uniquely identifiable, crisp honey toned alto, along with her impeccable phrasing, sultry song styling and ability to take on any musical genre, has made her a treasure in American music. Topping charts as diverse as R&B, dance and jazz, Austin has collaborated with everyone from her godfather Quincy Jones (most recently on We Are the World 25 for Haiti), Michael Jackson (Off The Wall), James Ingram (Baby Come to Me) to Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, George Benson and Bette Middler, to name a few. On August 31, 2010 the awe-inspiring vocalist will release her Shanachie Entertainment debut, Sound Advice, a collection of powerful songs with potent messages that have personal meaning to the singer. Sound Advice follows Austin’s Grammy winning tribute to George Gerswhin, Avant Gershwin.

[Flux Music Essentials] featured artist/album – Manuel Valera | Historia –

Tags

Jazz, Manuel Valera, Piano

Flux Music Essentials

Greetings and blessings fellow jazz aficionados … I imagine you’re wondering what’s up with this Rob? As enthusiasts, we all have recordings we deeply love, respect, and value. Jazz to me is very interesting musically, genre wise, it’s the most creative music available! I know, it’s a matter of taste or opinion. Nevertheless, being that I’ve been blessed to collect a diverse palette of music over the years I decided too share with you one of these recordings each week. SORRY, ABSOLUTELY NO DOWNLOADS! Content wise, the posting(s) will follow the usual status quo viewed here until otherwise stated. What someone says about a particular recording is very important to me, that’s why I’ll gladly post their writings/remarks “credited of course always to them.”

As usual, I respectfully recommend that you suggest your favorites with comments about the recordings you adore as well.

[Flux Music Essential for the Week] … I’m enthralled to feature this week a fabulous Latin Jazz pianist from Cuba named Manuel Valera!

Manuel Valera - Historia

Manuel Valera -:|:- Historia – [Fresh Sound New Talent, 2005]

Cuban-born pianist/composer and bandleader Manuel Valera is a forward-minded jazz musician with a knack for combining myriad Latin styles with contemporary jazz and post-bop. Starting out as a saxophonist while studying at the Manuel Samuell Conservatory in Havana, Valera switched full-time to piano after moving to the United States and enrolling in the New School in New York City around 1994. He has performed with a variety of name musicians, including bassist John Patitucci, reed player Paquito D’Rivera, saxophonist Seamus Blake, percussionist Dafnis Preito, trumpeter Claudio Roditi, and many others.

He released his debut album, Forma Nueva, on Mavo Records in 2004. Since then he has released a handful of records, including Melancolia in 2006 and Vientos in 2007. — Source: Matt Collar, All Music Guide