AMERICAN PIANISTS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES PERFORMANCE DATES FOR 2011 COLE PORTER FELLOWSHIP IN JAZZ FINALISTS

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Aaron Diehl, Emmet Cohen, Glenn Zaleski, Jazz, Jeremy Siskind, Piano, Zach Lapidus

The Jazz Fellowship Awards

FINALIST EMMET COHEN TO KICK OFF
THE REI REAL ESTATE SERVICES JAZZ PREMIERE SERIES
@ INDIANAPOLIS’ JAZZ KITCHEN ON SEPTEMBER 18

FINAL COMPETITION TO BE JUDGED BY
GERI ALLEN, DANILO PÉREZ, JOHN TAYLOR,
NATE CHINEN AND AL PRYOR
AT JAZZ DISCOVERY WEEK, APRIL 10-17, 2011

Honorary Chair: Dave Brubeck

Beginning in September, five Finalists will compete for the $50,000 prize and the title of 2011 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz of the American Pianists Association. Having been selected as finalists, each of the five pianists will perform as part of The REI Real Estate Services Jazz Premiere Series in their own fully-produced set at Indianapolis’ Jazz Kitchen.

Taylor Eigsti -][- Daylight at Midnight [Concord Records]

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Jazz, Piano, Taylor Eigsti

Taylor Eigsti - Daylight at Midnight

Taylor Eigsti -][- Daylight at Midnight – [Concord Jazz, 2010]

Concord Jazz is proud to announce the release of Daylight at Midnight, the newest album from the pianist/composer Taylor Eigsti. This innovative collection includes original Eigsti compositions, as well as other remarkable musical renditions by composers such as Nick Drake, Imogen Heap, Elliot Smith and Rufus Wainwright. The 11-track collection marks Eigsti’s third Concord Jazz release.

On Daylight at Midnight, Eigsti continues to challenge the norms of what constitutes jazz today. While Eigsti pays full respect to the jazz tradition, he also exercises his passion for melodies of esteemed songwriters from his generation and explores a variety of music that piques his curiosity. In this collection, he not only finds resonance in the aforementioned top-tier, pop-oriented composers… but also brings to light a doubleheader of personal revelation: 20th-century Catalonian classical pianist Federico Mompou and up-and-coming vocalist/songwriter Becca Stevens, who sings five of the 11 tunes and adds her own flavors of the ukulele and charango. As fitting for an adventurous repertoire, the young pianist augments his unique and lyrical style with the Fender Rhodes, Rhodes PianoBass, Wurlitzer electric piano and Mellotron samples to add color and texture to the tunes.

New Music by the Legendary Saxophonist James Moody 4B, Coming August 25th

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African American, Flute, James Moody, Jazz, Kenny Barron, Saxophone

James Moody 4B – James Moody-tenor saxophone, Kenny Barron-piano, Todd Coolman-bass, Lewis Nash-drums (IPOC1017)

James Moody - 4b (Dig)

NEA Jazz Master James Moody returns to the recording scene with his sixth appearance on IPO, Moody 4B, the swinging sequel to last year’s critically acclaimed Moody 4A. Made in New York City in July of 2008 the disc marks Moody’s 60th year as a recording artist. Of the many great records that he’s made during those six decades he considers these among his most special. Moody says, “This recording was a total pleasure because producer Bill Sorin let me be me, musically. So many of the previous producers of my albums wanted a “concept.” Well, how about the concept being “Moody”? Bill is wonderful!!” And so is the record. With the spotlight focused on Moody’s brilliant playing, without the demands of trying to squeeze his ingenious improvisations into someone else’s preconceived model, we hear this jazz icon at his imaginative peak, free to be totally creative playing the music he loves the most.

Introducing … Jamaican artist Tamara Natalie Madden

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Art, Jamacian Art, Tamara Natalie Madden

Greetings art aficionados, I’m thrilled to be with you once more to share with you a fascinating piece of art by upcoming Jamaican born artist Tamara Natalie Madden! —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

Tamara Madden was born in Jamaica and migrated to the United States as a teenager. While battling a life-threatening disease as a young woman, she turned to painting as a lifeline. She survived and continued to paint, she says, “in remembrance of other survivors”.

Madden has exhibited in a number of group and solo exhibitions and her work can be found in private and public collections including Vanderbilt University, TN; and Alverno College, WI. She was a recent recipient of an individual grant from the Puffin Foundation for her project “Never Forgotten” which focuses on combating poverty. —Aviscafineart.com

Tamara Natalie Madden -][- Sankofa – [Mixed Media on Canvas]

Tamara Madden - Sankofa

..:: Source: Aviscafineart.com ::..

DANILO PÉREZ’S NEW RELEASE – PROVIDENCIA

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Danilo Pérez, Jazz, Piano

AVAILABLE FOR FULL ALBUM PREVIEW AS PART OF
NPR MUSIC’S “EXCLUSIVE FIRST LISTEN“ SERIES

Danilo Pérez - Providencia

“Danilo is open to whatever comes, in that zero-gravity kind of way.
When we become weightless, he doesn’t start looking for things to hold on to.”
– Wayne Shorter, 2008

Danilo Pérez, the acclaimed Panamanian pianist, educator and social activist, will kick off the release of his new album, Providencia, with an NPR Music “Exlusive First Listen.”

From August 23-31, NPR Music will make Providencia available for free on-demand listening in its entirety at http://www.NPRMusic.org

and through the NPR Music App for iPhone and iPod Touch; a week-long world exclusive, culminating with the retail release of the album on August 31

Providencia, his debut for the Mack Avenue Records label, crosses streams of jazz, classical and Latin American folk music-which Pérez refers to as “hearing music in three dimensions.” “This record is based on the idea that whatever we do has an impact in the universe,” Pérez says. “The word ‘providence,’ for me, means standing up for the future of the next generation of children.”

New Releases [Jazz] … for the week of 8/24/2010

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Drums, Jazz, New Releases, Owen Howard

Greeting’s jazz enthusiasts, it’s great to be back this week with the engaging new project “Drum Lore” by upcoming modern jazz drummer Owen Howard as our featured “Album of the Week.”

As always, there’s another intricate canvas of what’s -cool – and maybe not so -cool– from a optimistic perspective we don’t usually find in the diet of the chromatic pop music culture. The origin of new music featured each week encompasses various branches of jazz, which exudes a wealth of complex and distinctive styles, insinuating textures, immaculate melodies, and relentless rhythms exalted by the definitive voices of creative artists serves up sounds to quench our immutable thirst for quality music.

Featured Album of the Week

Owen Howard - Drum Lore (BJURecords, 2010)

Owen Howard -][- Drum Lore – [Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, 2010]

Owen Howard, originally from Edmonton, Canada, has performed and recorded with the likes of Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Tom Harrell, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Dave Liebman, George Garzone, Dave Holland, Eddie Henderson, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton and many others. He has appeared on over forty recordings to date, including five under his own name, and has toured extensively throughout Europe, the United States and Canada. He is clearly an artist successfully following in the footsteps of legendary drummers/bandleaders such as Tony Williams, Peter Erskine, Billy Hart, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Motian, Al Foster, Shelly Manne and others, and now with the release of his sixth CD as a leader, Drum Lore (BJURecords), Owen Howard shines a spotlight on the composing talents of these exalted players.

[Classic Jazz Revisited] … featuring ‘Components’ by mallet-master Bobby Hutcherson

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African American, Bobby Hutcherson, Jazz, Vibes

Bobby Hutcherson - Components (Blue Note, 1965)

Bobby Hutcherson -][- Components – [Blue Note Records, 1965]

Bobby Hutcherson is rightfully considered one of the best vibraphonists in the history of jazz. He’s also one of the most innovative and esoteric as his recordings for Blue Note in the mid to late 60’s display. Hutcherson led sessions are most commonly called ‘post-bop’ with interesting compositions and outstanding playing from all-star lineups. Components is one of these sessions. The lineup includes James Spaulding on alto sax and flute, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. As an LP the album two sides were split into compositions Hutcherson (the first four) and Chambers the last four. Its interesting to hear how their compositional styles vary and how the group tackles these originals. The standout performer here is Spaulding who has several top notch solos.

This album is a reissue as part of Blue Note’s flighty Connoisseur series, these are limited editions and become hotly pursued once they go out of print. This one has been in print an abnormally long time (1994 reissue) and certainly can’t be around much longer. Anyone interested in exploring the Blue Note recordings of Bobby Hutcherson should start here. —Thomas Aikin | Amazon.com

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

Flux Music [Jazz] Essentials … [Omura, Shaw, Metheny, Elling & Strickland]

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African American, E J Strickland Quartet, Jaleel Shaw, Jazz, Kurt Elling, Pat Metheny Group, Tomoko Omura

Flux Music Essentials

Greetings jazz aficionados, it’s a pleasure to be back with five more spellbinding jazz titles from the shelves of Flux Music Essentials! The following recordings fit perfectly into the mold of what I view as being the usual suspects … at least from my perspective. Although similar in context, these gems where originally recorded to create an atmosphere with just enough complex nuances and innovation painted on the canvas to make these jewels a worthwhile listening experience.

Tomoko Omura - Visions

Tomoko Omura -][- Visions – [Tomoko Omura, 2008]

Modern Jazz/Fusion, original compositions featuring an unique and sophisticated improvisational style on jazz violin.

“Visions” is a tribute to seven of the finest jazz violinists of all time, and in it, Tomoko does more than just honor these gentlemen … she really gets to the emotional core of what makes each of them tick as players. Her compositions are lovely,well-conceived tunes that are played blazingly by her crackerjack band, and especially by Tomoko herself.

Her playing here is uniformly amazing, with great ideas, great tone , perfect intonation and great feel. –-CDBaby.com | MySpace.com

Masada Quartet feat: Joe Lovano -][- Book Of Angels: Stolas Vol. 12

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Dave Douglas, Jazz, Joe Lovano, John Zorn, Masada Quartet

Masada Quintet - Book of Angels - Stolas Vol12

Masada Quartet feat: Joe Lovano -][- Book Of Angels: Stolas Vol-12 – [Tzadik, 2009]

Stolas: The Book of Angels, Vol. 12 is the newest installment in John Zorn’s ongoing Book of Angels series, and possibly the best yet. For most Zorn fans, I would imagine that this part of the series would be particularly exciting, as it features the studio return of the Masada Quartet (Zorn on alto sax, Dave Douglas on trumpet, Greg Cohen on bass, and the great Joey Baron on drums), with some augmentations; Joe Lovano on tenor sax replaces Zorn and pianist Uri Caine is added. Despite the relative change in the lineup, the Masada Quintet plays with all the tightness, taste and musical intuition of a band together for years. Lovano adds a more round, even tone, and isn’t as aggressive or abrasive in his playing as Zorn (although he is capable of some fire). This makes for a more relaxed, evenly-tempered Masada. Uri Caine’s piano adds a lot of harmonic flavor without limiting the players, and adds some interesting solos like the Cecil Taylor-like one on “Sartael”.

The pieces, all by Zorn, feature memorable themes, fun grooves, and plenty of space for both the individual and the ensemble to shine, as well as some entertaining, interactive out playing, although nothing really on the level of the fiery, intimidating previous Masada quartet releases. (The only things that come close are “Sartael”, a speedy, energetic blowing session driven by Baron’s forceful drumming, and “Rahtiel”, the only piece that features Zorn on alto.) Cohen and Baron are a world-class rhythm section as always, adding plenty of propulsive force, groove, and melodic color. This is a worthy addition to the Masada catalog and a rewarding listen. —Art Johnson | Amazon.com

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

… the weekend spin … with pianist John Beasley’s – Letter to Herbie

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Jazz, John Beasley, Piano

Greetings jazz enthusiasts, TGIF! I’m enthralled to showcase for the weekend one of the baddest pianist/keyboardist in the business, John Beasley! His 1992 Windham Hill Jazz debut “Cauldron” was my first serious encounter with Beasley’s music as a soloist. “Letter to Herbie,” is a brilliant tribute by Beasley to the legendary Herbie Hancock. If you love jazz piano, this homage to Hancock ranks well within the top as one of my favorites. —Rob Young

John Beasley - Letter to Herbie

John Beasley -][- Letter to Herbie – [Resonance Records, 2008]

Pianist, keyboard artist, arranger and composer, he is a third generation musician born in Louisiana. Long one of the “go to guys”, he has amassed an impressive array of credentials. “Beas” has recorded and/or performed with: Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Dianne Reeves, Lee Ritenour, Steely Dan, John Patitucci, James Brown and Hubert Laws. He recently toured with Queen Latifah as Music Director for her jazz tour.

The previous year he was MD for Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search For the Next Doll (CW). For two years prior he was an Arranger/Associate MD for American Idol (Fox).

He has a long list of familiar TV and film credits. –BIO by Artist Rep | Amazon.com

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