John Stowell and Michael Zilber -[|]- Shot Through With Beauty [Origin Records]

Tags

Guitar, Jazz, John Stowell, Michael Zilber

John Stowell ans Michael Zilber - SHOT THROUGH WITH BEAUTY

John Stowell and Michael Zilber -[|]- SHOT THROUGH WITH BEAUTY -(MP3)- [Origin Records, 2011]

“…Stowell seems to pull arching motifs out of thin air, eschewing clichés while maintaining a swinging essence.”
—All About Jazz

Master musicians guitarist John Stowell and saxophonist Michael Zilber team with the Bay Area’s first-call rhythm team of bassist John Shifflet and drummer Jason Lewis, crafting a unique and dynamic recording of modern jazz that transcends the whole. Telepathic exchanges are in abundance as the group tackles a compelling mix of originals and compositions from Kenny Wheeler & John Scofield.

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com & Origin Records ::..

Chuck Loeb -[|]- PLAIN N’ SIMPLE [Tweety Records]

Tags

Chuck Loeb, Guitar, Jazz

Chuck Loeb - PLAIN N' SIMPLE

Chuck Loeb -[|]- PLAIN N’ SIMPLE – [Tweety Records, 2011]

The music is swinging, funky, lush and exciting from note one, and stays that way to the very last drop. Chuck’s fans will find the excellence in playing, sound, and production that they have come to expect from him, as well experiencing a side of the artist that they may have never heard before.

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

Scenes -[|]- SILENT PHOTOGRAPHER [Origin Records]

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Jazz, Scenes

Scenes - SILENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Scenes -[|]- SILENT PHOTOGRAPHER – [Origin Records, 2011]

After a decade of performing together, the rapport between guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop has reached what Cadence magazine calls “an enviable tightness.”

Whether performing their intriguing originals or the thoughtful reimaginings of less-done classics, each piece is a ticket to somewhere unique, like a travelogue of where the trio’s members have been and where they would like to go. “…musical creativity at its best.” —Richard Kamins, Hartford Courant. –Origin Records

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

Giacomo Gates -[|]- Revolution Will Be Jazz: The Songs of Gil Scott-Heron [Savant]

Tags

Giacomo Gates, Jazz, Male Vocals

Giacomo Gates - REVOLUTION WILL BE JAZZ

Giacomo Gates -[|]- REVOLUTION WILL BE JAZZ: The Songs of Gil Scott-Heron – [Savant, 2011]

Giacomo Gates is an extraordinary vocal stylist. He’s often credited as a contemporary Eddie Jefferson, but with his full-bodied baritone and blazing inventiveness he sounds like a cross between Billy Eckstine and Kurt Elling. As bracing an innovator as he is an interpreter, Gates transforms his latest recording into a cornucopia of delicacies that extends from the smooth and mellow to the razor-sharp. For his Savant Records’ debut, Gates has chosen to perform a stimulating selection of songs by the influential and controversial Gil Scott-Heron.

Scott-Heron made music that reflected the turbulence, uncertainty and increasing pessimism of the early 70s, merging the soul and jazz and drawing on an oral poetry tradition that reached back to the blues and forward to hip-hop. This material is tailor-made for Gates, who without question is the best-suited performer to deliver the satirical and insightful lyrics of a true American original, Gil Scott-Heron.

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

Arturo O’Farrill -[|]- RISA NEGRA [ZOHO]

Tags

Arturo O'Farrill, Jazz, Piano

Arturo O'Farrill - RISA NEGRA

Arturo O’Farrill -[|]- RISA NEGRA – [ZOHO, 2011]

Pianist, composer, educator and winner of the Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award for 2003, Artuto was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. In 2002, Mr. O’Farrill created the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for Jazz at Lincoln Center due in part to a large and very demanding body of substantial music in the genre of Latin and Afro Cuban Jazz that deserves to be much more widely appreciated and experienced by the general jazz audience. His debut album with the Orchestra “Una Noche Inolvidable” earned a GRAMMY award nomination in 2006. —BIO (Arturo O’Farrill)

For more information about this amazing talent please visit http://www.arturoofarrill.com/, watch out for “RISA NEGRA” coming July 5th, 2011.

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

Down to the Bone -][- MAIN INGREDIENTS [TRIPPIN & RHYTHM]

Tags

Down to the Bone, Jazz

Down to the Bone - MAIN INGREDIENTS

Down to the Bone -][- MAIN INGREDIENTS – [TRIPPIN & RHYTHM, 2011]

This premier funk jazz unit has solidified its undisputed place as the true merchants of groove. Masterminded by writer/ producer Steward Wade, DTTB has churned out hit after head bobbin hit, not only capturing the attention of radio with its thick, throbbing funk but has also established itself as one of the most in demand touring bands in the world.

The Main Ingredients takes the band into double digit territory marking their 10th release and one that takes the band back to its original roots with 10 tracks still steeped in groove but with a heavy dose of 21st century glaze. There is still plenty of meat on the bone here with tracks like Uptown Hustle and Second Nature that will find welcome satisfaction among their minions along with a heaping helping of non-signature flavors like the sides Watch Me Fly co-written by label mate Oli Silk and the Band New Heavies inspired Closer, both featuring vocals from Imani. All in all a funk/ groove feast sure to invigorate the taste buds of all who crave music that makes you move.

The Main Ingredients has, as the title suggests, the base ingredients that got the band from Wade s early concept to the massive success it is today yet purposefully sprinkled with some surprise spices to keep the sides interesting, funky and on the edge.

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

MASTER STORYTELLER DOMINICK FARINACCI SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ON EONE MUSIC – DAWN OF GOODBYE AVAILABLE JULY 26 –

Tags

Dominick Farinacci, Jazz, Trumpet

Dominick Farinacci - DAWN OF GOODBYE

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM THE ALBUM

When does a song become a timeless standard? Perhaps the precious few compositions that achieve this exalted status do so through melodies that insinuate themselves into a permanent place in a listener’s ear, and through lyrics that seem personal and intimate to individual after individual, generation after generation.

Of course, no story is complete without a master storyteller, and 28-year-old trumpet player Dominick Farinacci weaves a compellingly fresh but familiar tale on his second U.S. release, Dawn of Goodbye. Mostly comprised of familiar standards alongside equally heartfelt originals, the album tells a story of love lost and found (and lost again) through classics whose meanings are as recognizable today as when they were written.

“I wanted to put together material that told a story through the lyrics,” Farinacci says. “These songs reflect the bittersweet ironies of love. They all have beautiful melodies and a timeless quality because the stories they tell are stories that we can all relate to.”

Gail Jhonson =]|[= HERSTORY [111 East Jazz Records]

Tags

African American, Gail Jhonson, Jazz, Keyboards

Gail Jhonson - Herstory

Gail Jhonson =]|[= HERSTORY -(MP3)- [111 East Jazz Records, 2011]

Herstory, is the fourth CD from Gail Jhonson, the First Lady of Smooth Jazz. She says, …”My story begins with her story…this is dedicated to you Mom!’

The music blends jazz, R&B and soul. It kicks off with Make It Happen, an uptempo, funky live trio. Electric Lady reveals her synthesizer work on the keytar , a treat for fusion fans. Crusin‘ After Dark , a summertime jam with guest trumpeter Lin Rountree. Still Care About Me, if you ever been in love, you’ll understand this passionate vocal feature by Ms Jhonson. The journey continues with a tribute to her son Aaron aka Vein, with a smooth midtempo bass performance from Dwayne “Smitty” Smith and sweet vocals by daughter Tamina on Dear Aaron. The title cut , HerStory, produced by Chuck Jefferson pumps your heart & makes you understand that this lady has something for you to feel. After that ballad whoo’s you, jump back into swing with saxophonist Tom Braxton on Do Something Else, whose partial proceeds benefit The Do Foundation. This One, great smooth jazz top tappin’ listen, nice duet with Lin Rountree. For You Mom, the soul searching solo piano piece dedicated to the lady that was a loving inspiration to her daughter, so she could someday tell her story…in music. American Boy features the feminine side of jazz with Jazz In P!nk, a lively rendition of the hit single. The bonus track Dee‘s Dance, named for her mother is reminiscent of early contemporary jazz and her Philly musical roots.

Jhonson invites you to experience a musical journey of a woman who brings you smooth jazz with a feminine touch~

The Jae Sinnett Trio -][- THEATRE [J-Nett Music]

Tags

Jae Sinnett, Jazz, Piano

The Jae Sinnett Trio - THEATRE

The Jae Sinnett Trio -][- THEATRE -(MP3)- [J-Nett Music, 2011]

Hello friends. I present to you my tenth recording as a leader and first live date…”Theatre.” In my other professional life…now as a 20 year broadcaster as jazz/host/producer for “Sinnett In Session” and “The R&B Chronicles” on NPR affiliate WHRV FM in Norfolk VA…I get to hear a lot great jazz from extraordinary musicians. Through this listening over the years I’ve noticed a shifting in the conceptual direction of the music in terms of rhythmic feel and structural style and intentions. There is a very deep heady-ness to much the music today. It’s intellectually stimulating more than it is in emotional content in my view. I’ve been guilty of this methodology of playing too. So I decided to not think about this project in terms of writing advanced compositional structures…with secondary intentions of attempting to showcase virtuosic playing as in the 2008 release… “It’s Telling…A Drummer’s Perspective”.

I started to miss the foundational naturalness of the feel of jazz…along with the soul of the push and pull pulse and the basic fundamentals of swing and groove. The soulful music I grew up with never really affected me through intellectual process but rather from within a deeply rooted connection I had that was so profoundly connected to the blues, gospel, spirituals, hymns and soul… from a child. That music always stayed with me. I started to ask myself…why is it that I have such a hard time remembering little of the current music two months down the road? My conclusion…if I can’t feel it… it’s not going to live with me over time.

New JAZZ Releases for the Week of 6/28/2011

Tags

African American, Bass, Ben Williams, Jazz

Greeting’s jazz aficionados, as always I’m delighted to present the latest jazz releases this week. With each visit, you’ll discover a montage of new jazz recordings featured at Amazon.com 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.

For more details, please visit Amazon.com for a complete list of jazz releases for Tuesday (6/28/2011)!

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..