The Black Butterflies -][- 1 de Mayo

Tags

Jazz, The Black Butterflies

The Black Butterflies -1 de Mayo

The Black Butterflies -][- 1 de Mayo – [The Black Butterflies, 2010]

A delightful whimsy surrounds the room where 1 de Mayo descends, like a diaphanous sheet of sound amid its celestial wail. So extraordinary is the musical ensemble fronted by the hypnotic sound of Mercedes Figueras’ saxophones; doubly intriguing when entwined with the ululations and caterwauling ablutions of Tony Larokko’s horns. Mercedes Figueras is one of the most exciting saxophonists today. Enormously talented and with a voice as brilliantly eccentric as an exotic Amazonian bird, or in this instance, a very special black butterfly, she is unique among young musicians playing today. Her intonation is sharp and exacting and draws the fluidity out of every note she plays. She is capable of impossible whoops and graceful flights from a note in the lower register of, say, a soprano horn to a shrill leaping flurry of notes that take her ideas to dizzying heights. Her solos begin in linear, logical fashion, and then almost imperceptibly, she flutters into a different plane—almost into a dimension that did not seem to exist a moment ago. —Raul da Gama | LatinJazzNet.com

Go here, to finish reading this splendid review by Raul da Gama. Also check out The Black Butterflies on the web: http://www.theblackbutterflies.com …

..:: Source: LatinJazzNet.com ::..

Eddie Gomez -][- Forever [Plus Loin]

Tags

Bass, Cesarius Alvim, Eddie Gomez, Jazz

Eddie Gomez - Forever (2010)

Eddie Gomez -][- Forever – [Plus Loin, 20010]

Legendary bassist Eddie Gomez and pianist Cesarius Alvim commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the ir first recorded collaboration with Forever (Plus Loin). The two masters take on a varied repertoire: from standards such as “Spring is Here” and “Invitation,” original compositions from both Gomez and Alvim, and Brazilian pianist Luiz Eça’s piece “The Dolphin.”

Alvim first met Gomez through Bill Evans, with whom Gomez played for eleven years. “Meeting Bill Evans was a musical and human encounter of which the memory is unforgettable,” says Alvim. “He had a beautiful message of love for life and music. Afterwards I met Eddie, a musician whom I had always admired. From the first notes we played toge the r, everything was said. We had the same rhythmic and harmonic sense, and the same passion for melodic phrasing.” Gomez elaborates on the ir penchant for melody: “The repertoire is very melodic and also rhythmically treated. The melodies are very strong, and are approached in poetic way with a strong sense of the jazz feeling and ares the tic.”

[Featured Album of the Week] … “Nina” by vocalists Kellylee Evans

Tags

Female Vocalist, Jazz, Kellylee Evans

Featured Album of the Week

***2007 JUNO NOMINEE – Best Jazz Vocal Album ***

Kellylee Evans - Nina

Kellylee Evans -][- Nina – [Plus Loin Music, 2010]

Ottawa singer-songwriter Kellylee Evans is entering the next phase of her music career with her sophomore album, Good Girl.

The alt.-soul pop recording follows her 2006 critically acclaimed urban-jazz debut, Fight or Flight, which helped garner the Toronto native Juno and Gemini award nominations in 2007 and a win for best female artist at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Good Girl was written and produced by Kellylee at Audio Valley Recording Studio in Perth, Ontario, with the help of engineer and co-producer Steve Foley and her trusty touring band since 2005.

“With my last CD, which I did back in 2004, I felt that I didn’t get a chance to get a lot of my ideas out. I wanted that opportunity this time to see where the songs would go on my own,” she says. “The song ‘Good Girl’ is about not wanting to live up to anybody else’s expectations. The whole album is about being true to yourself and the idea of trying to please everybody around you. It’s just this desire to not be anybody’s good girl.”

From the reflective “Questioning My Path” about searching for one’s identity to the aforementioned inspirational groove “Good Girl,” and playful eye-opener “Tonight” about not wanting to fall in love with someone, many of the new songs deal with obsession of one kind or another and an ever-evolving stance on things big and small.

“If I just look at simple things, like a month ago I didn’t wear make up and now I do everyday. A few years ago I was told I was allergic to fragrances and so I didn’t use anything that was scented and now, everywhere I go, I’m looking for a perfect scent to wear,” she chuckles. “And there are still people in my life who I haven’t seen in a while who are like, ‘Oh Kellylee, you’re eating meat. You were the biggest vegan!’”

Read more: http://www.myspace.com/kellyleeevans#ixzz11tgmX1zB

..:: Source: MySpace.com ::..

New Releases [Jazz] … for the week of 10/11/2010

Tags

Jazz, New Releases

Releases”]

Greetings jazz aficionados, thanks for dropping by The Urban Flux at WordPress.com. Each week we explore together the intricate sounds of stimulating and innovative jazz that awaits us on this massive canvas in cyberspace. With each visit you’ll discover a montage of new jazz releases featured that encompasses a generous diet of nuances which includes a wealth of complex and distinctive styles, textures, melodies, and rhythms exalted by a host of definitive and creative voices in the world of jazz.

New Jazz Releases this week at The Urban Flux:

New Releases 10-12-2010

-))- Hello Tomorrow by Dave Koz (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- CTI Records – The Cool Revolution by Various Artists (Audio CD – 2010) – Box Set
-))- The Rub & Spare Change by Michael Formanek, Tim Berne, Craig Taborn, and Gerald Cleaver (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Reunited by Jazz Passengers and Elvis Costello (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Mayhem by Imelda May (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- DIRTY BABY by Nels Cline (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Complete Live at the Blue Coronet 1969 by Miles Davis (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- Three Point Shot by Jerry Bergonzi, Jacek Kochan, and Piotr Lemanczyk (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Mac Straight Ahead by Mac Gollehon (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Living Inside Your Love and Magic in Your Eyes by Earl Klugh (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- Between While by Mike Prides From Bacteria to Boys (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Nina by Kellylee Evans (Audio CD – 2010) – Import – Featured Album of the Week
-))- Uncle Joe’s Spirit House by William Parker (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Stories Untold by Hannah Koepf (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Whirling Mantis by Harold O’Neal (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Love Stories by Bill Easley (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Blue Nights by Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Empire by Scott Colley (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- The Message: Soul Funk & Jazzy Grooves from Mainstream Records by Various Artists (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- Ethics by Michel Benita (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Music Redeems by Marsalis Family And Friends (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- Jazz Poet by Tommy Flanagan (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Lost in Europe by Danilo Rea (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- We’re Here To Listen by Leslie Pintchik (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Love Came- The Songs of Strayhorn by Allan Harris (Audio CD – 2010)
-))- Footprints + Exit by Pat Martino (Audio CD – 2010) – Import
-))- Trio Ostiko by Rosario Giuliani, Pippo Matino, Benjamin Henocq (Audio CD – 2010) – Import

At your leisure visit Amazon.com, for more details about Imports, Vinyl, Soundtracks, and Re-issues.

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

[Classic Jazz Revisited] … Various Artists, California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium

Tags

AIRTO MOREIRA, Billy Cobham, Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, HANK CRAWFORD, Hubert Laws, Jazz, JOHNNY HAMMOND, Ron Carter, Stanley Turrentine

Classic Jazz Revisited

Various Artists - California Concert

Various Artists -][- California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium – [SONY MASTERWORKS, 2010]

With CTI Records having gone independent in 1970, founder Creed Taylor celebrated the early success of the label with a one night only concert at the Hollywood Palladium on July 18, 1971.

Taylor handpicked a dream team of CTI artists for California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium, with GEORGE BENSON on guitar, FREDDIE HUBBARD on trumpet, HUBERT LAWS on flute, STANLEY TURRENTINE on tenor saxophone, HANK CRAWFORD on alto saxophone, JOHNNY HAMMOND on organ and electric piano, RON CARTER on bass, BILLY COBHAM on drums and AIRTO MOREIRA on percussion.

California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium is newly remastered from the original two-track analog tapes and is the most complete version of the legendary concert ever released. This 2-CD set doubles the content of the original five-song LP release with five additional tracks – three of them previously unreleased – and restores the original concert sequence for the first time.

Disc: 1

1. Impressions (previously unreleased)
2. Fire And Rain
3. Red Clay
4. Blues West
5. So What (previously unreleased)

Disc: 2

1. Here’s That Rainy Day
2. It’s Too Late
3. Sugar
4. Leaving West
5. Straight Life (previously unreleased)

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

Flux Music [Jazz] Essentials … [Redman, Metheny & Humphrey]

Tags

African Amercian, Bobbi Humphrey, Jazz, Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny

Flux Music Essentials

Greeting’s jazz connoisseurs, it’s great to return with another intriguing palette of creative music from some of today’s most unique, adventurous and inspiring voices known and unknown artists alike in the world of jazz.

Joshua Redman - Beyond

Joshua Redman -][- Beyond – [Warner Bros, 2000]

mr. redman gives us an outstanding jazz session on this album. the first three tracks (“courage,” “belonging,” and “neverend”) draw us into a solid neo-bop atmosphere. mr. redman has obviously grasped the lessons of the masters. one hears the echoes of sonny rollins, dexter gordon, and hank mobley as mr. redman weaves and dances through these songs. all the while, though, mr. redman continues to give us his own voice. he swings and sings throughout the album with high energy. the album really hits it stride on the lengthier selections in the middle (“leap of faith,” “balance” and “twilight”). here we get to hear mr. redman stretch out and never meander, never lose focus as he developes his themes with style and grace. moreover, his support really shines through. aaron goldberg is a find on piano. just dig his soloes and comping throughout, you’ll want to find more by him. also, hearing mr. redman and mark turner together is a real treat (“leap of faith”). finally, mr. redman shows his mastery of all the major saxes. his work on alto and soprano throughout are outstanding. the only gripe is that i wish he would dabble with some of the adventuresome spirit of his father, dewey redman. son joshua obviously has the ability to explore, it’d be nice to hear the results. —p dizzle | Amazon.com

Pedro Bermudez -][- No Limits (Self Produced – 2010)

Tags

Afro-Caribbean, Jazz, Pedro Bermudez, Piano

Pedro Bermudez, No-Limits

Pedro Bermudez -][- No Limits – (Pedro Bermudez, 2010)

The energy contained in the body and soul of pianist Pedro Bermudez far exceeds that which may normally be given mere mortals. For his hands and arms are infused with a surfeit of tumbao. In his heart, the echoes of the timbales and the congas bounce excitedly against every internal surface. It is this incredible treasure of rhythm that flavours what he expends through his fingers on the ivories. More importantly, it is this that provides impetus for him to expand his energy like the ripples in a still sea that he plunges into with all the incredible weight of his skills in every aspect of Afro-Caribbean music. This is why his energy is so infectious and cannot be contained in a smaller ensemble, especially not on No Limits, an album that sits somewhere between the Atlantic islands of Puerto Rico and the deepest part of the Caribbean, in the eye of the Afro-Caribbean Hurricane of sorts, so to speak.

Although his proclivities tend more towards urban jazz with a Latin tinge, Bermudez has too much tumbao in his heart and hands to pass up on the Latin idioms and forms altogether. However, in the context of the larger ensemble, this rather tends to be buried and will only come to the fore on charts where his piano is sparingly accompanied by a thick layer of percussion, such as on songs like “El Jarriero” where Richie Flores and Vince Cherico provide that thunderous bed of ritmo, or in “Bombaião” where the exuberant percussion of Duduka Da Fonseca creates dancing rhythms from the Northeast of Brasil. It is then that Bermudez lets it all hang out and appears to fall prey to the charms of his alter ego—that one that lets all control go and when tumbao sets in. —Raul da Gama | LatinJazzNet.com

At you leisure, check out the complete review by Raul da Gama.

..:: Source: LatinJazzNet.com ::..

Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita -][- ELB

Tags

Drums, Guitar, Jazz, Michel Benita, Nguyên Lê, Peter Erskine

Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita - ELB

Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita -][- ELB -[ACT Music, 2001]

The previous review summed it up well. But I can’t help chiming in. This is a democratic trio, but Le is certainly the attention getter. His style is so facile that I’m afraid he’ll be seen as constantly in some one else’s foot steps. To me he comes in some where between Frisell and Scofield (he can dial up that early Scofield tone with frightening ease). But that would be an unfair assessment. He has integrated much that has gone before him and made it his own. It’s beautiful guitar work..

But this is not just the guitar and when you look past Le you realize why Erskine is the titular headliner. The drummer’s vast experience and his restrained power give this music its depth and drive.

I wish I knew more about Benita. There is no room to hide in a trio. The bass has to stand up and be heard and Benita is doing some wonderful work here. Never overplaying, but bringing more force to the double bass than I’ve heard in quite a while without sacrificing that instrument’s grace and nuance.

This will probably be filed in the jazz rack for lack of a better location. The roots are somewhere between fusion, prog rock and late 20th century jazz. Hendrix influence, yes. Le is a unique voice that brings Terje Rypdal to mind. Taken as a group there is a tap root back to power trios like John Abercrombie’s Gateway (though Le and JA are miles apart)both in style, interplay and the level of musicianship. But these guys refine that tradition. Fair to say it represents a good step forward. —THX1138b | Amazon.com

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

DRummer Omar Hakim Endorses Hammerax Hybrids

Tags

Drums, Hammerax, Jazz, Omar Hakim

Hammerax has entered into an agreement where drumming icon Omar Hakim will endorse and play Hammerax Hybrid bronze hanging sculptural percussion instruments.

Omar Hakim

In addition to it’s cymbal division, Hammerax has a highly creative department where they craft US made hanging bronze instruments which are suspended from extremely strong and light cord. These instruments are connected to Maple frames and mounted on cymbal boom stands in a manner like chimes. The unique patented shapes, alloys and metallurgical techniques give these instruments a wildly beautiful sound. They are very durable and playable with drumsticks. “It will be a pleasure to be working with Omar in our Hybrid efforts. He brings a wealth of experience that few drummers in history can claim” said Hammerax President, John Stannard. Omar has already begun playing Boomywang, Culebra, Glass, Meanie, Lash, and other Hammerax hybrids.

Omar Hakim’s resume reads as a who’s who of musicians. He is one on the most sought after drummers in history. He has played with Miles Davis ,Weather Report , Carly Simon, Sting, Dire Straits, NBC’s Night Music, Anita Baker, Mariah Carey, Madonna, David Bowie, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Marcus Miller, Lee Ritenour and many more. Omar Joins a growing list of Hammerax hybrid endorsers including Dame Evelyn Glennie, Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson, Emil Richards, Walfredo Reyes Jr, Will Callhoun, Marco Giovino, Danny Gottlieb, and others.

All Hammerax products are 100% USA made.

Videos and information: http://www.hammerax.com
US Phone 9 a.m to 5 p.m. (727) 442-5050

Negroni’s Trio -][- Just Three [Mojito Records]

Tags

Jazz, Negroni's Trio, New Releases, Trio

Negroni's Trio - Just Three

Negroni’s Trio -][- Just Three – [Mojito Records, 2010]

Hailing from Puerto Rico, accomplished pianist and composer Jose Negroni has garnered recognition in the world of Jazz. A disciple of the legendary multi-instrumentalist salsa and Latin Jazz great, Papo Lucca, Negroni’s career spans over 16 years as a teacher in his island’s Music Conservatory. His talent then took him to the States where he worked as Director for Sony Music Publishing for ten years.

Negroni’s true passion never left him throughout and in 2002 he created Negroni’s Trio, a truly amazing combination where jazz, classic lyricism and Afro Latin punches merge. Negroni’s Trio consists of his son Nomar Negroni, a gifted and powerful drummer, and alternating guest bass players including John Benítez, Marco Panascia, Michael Bordelon and Jonathan Estes, amongst others.

A product of the famed Berklee College of Music, Nomar’s career also includes session work for various great jazz and pop artists and recently was nominated as 2008 Best Drummer of the Year by The Latin Jazz Corner.

Throughout his journey, Negroni performed with the likes of Apollo Sound and was the featured pianist with La Sonora Ponceña when his mentor, the famed Papo Lucca, was unavailable to perform. Simultaneously, Negroni established a successful career as one of the most solicited director, producer and pop music arrangers all while on tour as pianist and director with numerous multinational artists. —Negronistrio.com/Bio

You dig Latin Jazz, then check out Negroni’s previous recordings … Father & Son – (2009), Negroni’s Trio Live – (2007), Piano/Drums/Bass – (2004), Naturaleza Nature – (2003)

..:: Source: NegronisTrio.com/ ::..