New Releases [Jazz] for the Week of 6/14/2010

Tags

African American, Gerald Albright, Jazz, New Releases, Stanley Clarke

Greetings’ jazz aficionados, I’m back with another slice of distinctive, amusing, and insinuating sounds, immaculate melodies, relentless rhythms attached to the opulent flavors embedded & exalted freely from the vibrant voice of jazz is here to quench our ongoing thirst for quality music.

Featured Album of the Week

The-Stanley-Clarke-Band

Stanley Clarke -|- Stanley Clarke Band – [Heads Up International, 2010]

Unlike his previous acoustic bass releases, Clarke feels that this album’s music is fresh and different from just about anything he’s done before. Produced by Clarke and Lenny White, the range of collaborative material on The Stanley Clarke Band has allowed him to venture to new levels of experimentation, utilizing his arsenal of bass instruments. Clarke compares this new release to the first three albums of his solo career: Journey to Love, Stanley Clarke, and School Days, with long extended electric pieces that take the listener on a kind of journey.

“Technically, it’s a Stanley Clarke record, but it’s very much a band-oriented record at the same time,” says Clarke. “I may be the leader, but everyone played an important role in what emerged. If a project like this can be looked at like a ship, I’d be the one steering the ship and keeping everybody on course. But all hands were definitely on deck, and everyone played an important role in getting us to our destination.” —Concord Music

Jon Gold -|- Brazil Confidential

Tags

Jazz, Jon Gold, Piano

Jon Gold - Brazil Confidential

Jon Gold -|- Brazil Confidential – [Zoho Music, L.L.C., 2010]

Jon Gold is a composer and pianist originally from Palo Alto, CA. He began studying classical piano with the renown Spanish pianist Francisco de Hollas (himself a pupil of Gyorgi Sandor/Bela Bartok). Jon also studied delta blues guitar listening to and influenced by the greats such as Lighting Hopkins, Elmore James and Black Ace. It was natural that the two would merge into an interest in jazz. His earliest childhood influences in jazz were Mose Allison and Oscar Peterson.

In high school he discovered and become consumed by the music of John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter. While still in high school, Jon had the opportunity to study with and perform with legendary saxophonist Joe Henderson. This was deeply inspiring for him and he credits much of his inspiration to Joe. Another opportunity in high school brought Jon together with Dizzy Gillespie to film a program for KQED-TV. Jon was awarded the Charlie Parker Jazz Award in his senior year of high school. Jon began to study jazz improvisation under Dwight Cannon (CBS Orchestra) at San Jose State University. During this time Jon worked with Eddie Gale (Cecil Taylor/Sun Ra) and performed throughout the West Coast.

..:: Source: Jon Gold.com ::..

Flux Music Essentials … [Hargrove, Grusin/Ritenour, Porter, Sanchez & Spalding]

Tags

Dave Grusin, Dave Sanchez, Esperanza Spalding, Gregory Porter, Lee Ritenour, Roy Hargrove

Flux Music Essentials

Greeting’s jazz lovers, I’m back with another tasty serving of who’s who in the world of jazz from the shelves of “Flux Music Essentials.”

Esperanza Spalding, Esperanza

Esperanza Spalding -|- Esperanza – [Heads Up International, 2009]

In recent memory, not many artists can claim victory to the promise land with a splash as the gifted Esperanza Spalding has conquered with her voice of duality as a bassist and vocalist. While petite in stature, as silly as it is some might let this distract them from paying attention to her music. At present, this admirable young lady retains her spot as an incomparable talent that transcends her twenty-three years beyond what jazz enthusiast’s might expect from her sophomore and debut record “Esperanza” on Heads Up International.

On these gorgeous collection of songs, Esperanza’s signature swells with detailed and rhythmic symmetry combined with her adoring voice equals utter splendor to any listener who enjoys a potent injection of jazz coupled with an abundance of Brazilian/Latin music.

Esperanza attaches herself to a core of A-list artist on this record including flamingo guitarist Nino Josele, percussionist Jamey Haddad, and drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez along with Naw-leans saxophonist Donald Harrison. —Rob Young