New Releases [Jazz] for the Week of 5/10/2010

Tags

Arturo Sandoval, Gregory Porter, Jazz, Jose James

Greetings’ once again fellow jazz enthusiasts, May continues in week two with more distinctive and insinuating sounds, melodies, rhythms & dexterous flavors of jazz to quench your ongoing thirst for quality music. I’m humbled to have the opportunity to compile for your viewing pleasure an extraordinarily complex yet diverse mix of New Music [Jazz] Releases this and every week. In fact, the featured album of week was very difficult to choose because of the variety of new stuff coming out. Actually, there’s two choices beginning with vocal sensation José James and his debut on Verve Records titled “For All We Know” features pianist Jef Neve on this inescapable duo offering. Being that there are virtually tons of great music waiting to be heard it was fitting to include guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Butler’s, “So Strong” arrives just in time. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval puts his touch to sweet melodies of “Time for Love,” guitarist Al Di Meola scores One Night in Montreal,” bassist Joseph Patrick Moore takes us on a music safari with “To Africa With Love.” To my surprise, I stumbled into also another nu-voice this week the Stephen Anderson Trio and his latest “Nation Degeneration” and then we have a remarkable new saxophonist on the horizon named Sarah Manning to shake things up with her fabulous new record “Dandelion Clock,” and to round things out is jazz guitarist Andreas Öberg’s “Six String Evolution” is on hand and lots more.

Featured Album of the Week

José James (and Jef Neve) - For All We Know

José James & Jef Neve ::|:: For All We Know – [Verve Records, 2010]

“A labor of love” is how José James describes his May 11, 2010, release For All We Know, his first American release and his first for the Impulse! label. A collaboration between James and noted Belgian pianist Jef Neve, the album finds the charismatic young singer applying his warm, rich baritone to a sterling assortment of jazz standards, including “Tenderly,” “Body and Soul” and George and Ira Gershwin’s “Embraceable You.” All but one of For All We Know’s songs was recorded in one informal six-hour session at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium, with no producer, no overdubs and no retakes.

Flux Music Essentials – [Garrett, Yellowjackets, Wright & Harris … 5/10/2010]

Tags

African American, Jazz, Kenny Garrett, Lizz Wright, Stefon Harris, Yellowjackets

Flux Music Essentials

Greeting’s fellow jazz enthusiasts, as usual thanks so much for dropping by The Urban Flux! As you see, today I’ve added four fabulous recordings from the shelves of “Flux Music Essentials” … peace and blessings, Rob

Kenny Garrett - Songbook

Kenny Garrett | Songbook – [Warner Jazz, 1997]

Although I am merely a 19-year-old, I have spent the last 9 years living, learning, and breathing jazz. About a year ago, I had known who Kenny Garrett was but had not heard any of his music. It was at this point that a friend of mine played me “Songbook”. About a week later, I had this album in my possession.

Ever since I have had this album, I have not been able to stop listening to it.

Each track provides a different ambiance, in such away that alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, along with fellow performers Nat Reeves on bass, Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums, and the late Kenny Kirkland on piano, is trying to tell a story or perhaps bring the listener on a journey.

Scenes | “Rinnova”

Tags

Guitar, Jazz, John Stowell, Scenes

Scenes - Rinnova

Scenes | “Rinnova” – [Origin / OA2, 2010]

“One of those rare records that almost insidiously creeps its way into the subconscious ”

From its inception in 2001, Scenes has added a distinctive voice to the classic guitar trio lexicon through the creative group aesthetic applied by guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop. For their latest release, the trio presents a set of compelling originals as they also explore varying sonic textures with Stowell’s use of nylon string guitar, and even the fretless-guitar on the closing track.

Johnson introduces his singular approach to the electric bass on several cuts as an alternative to the acoustic bass. With a stirring intent, the harmonic and rhythmically unfettered world of “Rinnova” unfolds to each listener at a unique pace, always challenging, and always delighting. “…at times reminiscent of guitarist John Abercrombie’s trio, but more in its aesthetic than any direct stylistic reference.” -All About Jazz

..:: Source: Origin Records.com ::..