Kirk Whalum -]|[- Romance Language [Rendezvous Music, 2012]

Tags

African American, Jazz, Kevin Whalum, Kirk Whalum, Male Vocals, Saxophone

The multi-talented Grammy Winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum is back, this time he collaborates with warm and inviting baritone of his brother Kevin Whalum unite collectively to unveil their highly anticipated release “Romance Language.” As you can imagine, the title speaks explicitly to the romantics [Maybe the some of us non-romantics can listen and get some pointers?]. The Whalum’s capture this moment by joining their voices to serve up a delicious dish of ten plush yet soulful nuances just in time for Valentine’s Day. —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

Kirk Whalum, ROMANCE LANGUAGE

Kirk Whalum -]|[- Romance Language -(MP3)- [Rendezvous Music, 2012]

The 1963 Impulse! Records LP John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman helped to redefine the renowned jazz saxophonist by pairing him with a singer on a collection of standards, showing that Coltrane wasn’t (or wasn’t only) an avant-gardist bent on playing free jazz. Nearly 50 years later, Kirk Whalum’s Romance Language isn’t going to have the same impact on his career, even though he has recorded the same half-dozen tunes with his brother Kevin Whalum taking the vocals. Kirk doesn’t have Coltrane’s reputation for one thing, and for another, he and Kevin are not trying to re-create the Coltrane/Hartman sound on Romance Language; they just happen to be performing the same songs.

Tord Gustavsen Trio -[|]- The Well [ ECM Records, 2012]

Tags

European Jazz, Piano, Tord Gustavsen

Tord Gustavsen Trio, The Well

Tord Gustavsen Trio -[|]- The Well [ ECM Records, 2012]

It began right after the release of “Returned, Restored” because I had started writing material that already pointed in this direction. It developed very gradually, the repertoire kept adding new aspects slowly – that is how I prefer to develop things actually. In the course of these years I also had two commissions to work on, which turned out to fit very naturally in the material for the album. So even though I feel that “The Well” has become a very unified and coherent album, it still is a mixture of songs written individually and of pieces written as a commission for the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in England 2011 and pieces for the Oslo International Church Music Festival 2011.

The Joel Harrison 7 Releases SEARCH March 27, 2012 on Sunnyside Records

Tags

Christian Howes, Clarence Penn, Dana Leong, Donny McCaslin, Gary Versace, Guitar, Jazz, Joel Harrison, Stephan Crump

Composer/Guitarist Joel Harrison Negotiates Contrasting Textures and Genres on his Stunning New All-Star Septet Album

Featuring Donny McCaslin, Gary Versace, Christian Howes, Dana Leong, Stephan Crump & Clarence Penn

The Joel Harrison 7, Search

Joel Harrison’s latest CD, Search, finds the critically acclaimed composer/guitarist challenging himself compositionally, using extended forms and techniques borrowed from many of his favorite classical composers. The end result transcends style and genre – the writing is stunning, and cements Harrison as one of the most important contemporary composers of the day.

The compositions flow seamlessly, instantly immersing the listener in a coherent, rich, dynamic sound world. Pieces such as “Grass Valley and Beyond” and “The Beauty of Failure” have rich, memorable melodies that stick with the listener long after the album ends. Complex rhythmic motion is a hallmark of the multi-layered, emotionally wrenching “A Magnificent Death,” which Harrison describes as the centerpiece of the record. This 15-minute mini-epic tells the story of a close friend who died in 2009.

Composer | Pianist Vijay Iyer Announced as 2012 Winner of the Prestigious Greenfield Prize

Tags

Composer, Greenfield Foundation, Jazz, Piano, Vijay Iyer

Vijay Iyer

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Greenfield Foundation are proud to announce that Composer-Pianist Vijay Iyer is the winner of the $30,000 Greenfield Prize , awarded this year in the field of music. Iyer will receive the award at a special celebration dinner on April 1, 2012 in Sarasota, FL. Serving on the jury that selected Iyer were Linda Golding, past president of Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. music publishers and founder of The Reservoir; Jennifer Koh, solo violinist and prolific recitalist, and Limor Tomer, general manager of concerts and lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Mike Prigodich -[|]- A Stitch in Time [Mexican Mocha Music, 2011 | Review]

Tags

Jazz, Keyboards, Mike Prigodich, Piano

Mike Prigodich, A Stitch in Time

Mike Prigodich -[|]- A Stitch in Time –MP3– [Mexican Mocha Music, 2011 | Review]

After recovering from cancer back on 2008, composer – keyboardist Mike Prigodich decided not to let this life altering disease keep him down. Instead, he submitted to first love writing music, and performing to rejuvenate his heart, mind and soul.

With this project, Prigodich pens a palette of eleven adventurous, complex and lively collage of music on this exceptional offering titled “A Stitch in Time” on Mexican Mocha Music produced by David Matthews. Out of the box, he opens with the infectious “Chaos Theory.” Suddenly this gem ascends flawlessly to rhythmically allow the ensemble room to interact seamlessly without notice they cut loose with blazing dexterity on this fusion lover’s delight. Wow, this is great way to kick off the session!

Candy Dulfer -][- Crazy [Razor & Tie Label, 2012]

Tags

Candy Dulfer, Jazz, Saxophone

Candy Dulfer, Crazy

Candy Dulfer -][- Crazy –MP3– [Razor & Tie Label, 2012]

Candy pushes the whole musical experience to the edge once again on her new recording, Crazy. The 13-song set includes numerous tracks co-written and produced by multi-instrumentalist Printz Board whose mile-long list of credits includes musical director for the Black Eyed Peas for more than a decade, as well as work with a broad range of artists: Macy Gray, Mariah Carey, Sergio Mendes Gomez, Katy Perry, Burt Bacharach and dozens more.

When saxophonist Candy Dulfer steps onto the stage or into the studio, everything is immediately up for grabs and anything can happen. This sexy, high-energy vibe seemingly out-of-control, yet always carefully calculated is a direct result of her consistently hot and sweet confection of jazz, funk, R&B, soul, pop, techno and more. It’s a no-holds-barred recipe that has served her and her worldwide fan base well since her earliest recordings at the start of the 1990s.

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

Julian Joseph -[|]- Live at the Vortex in London [ASC Records, 2012]

Tags

Arranger, Composer, Jazz, Julian Joseph, Piano

Julian Joseph, Live at the Vortex in London

Julian Joseph -[|]- Live at the Vortex in London –MP3– [ASC Records, 2012]

Virtuoso pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger and broadcaster, Julian Joseph is the undisputed heir to the global house of jazz. Acclaimed by critics and audiences the world over, Julian never fails to inspire with his mastery of the keyboard, the versatility of his musicianship, and the seemingly limitless scope of his creative imagination. Always relaxed and self-assured, Julian is completely at home on any stage and in front of any band. His passion for the music is palpable, and his desire to communicate that passion compelling.

Ricky Sweum -[]- More Than Imaginable [NINJAZZ, 1201]

Tags

Composer, Educator, Jazz, Ricky Sweum, Saxophone

Ricky Sweum, More Than Imaginable

Ricky Sweum -[]- More Than Imaginable –MP3– [NINJAZZ, 1201]

Saxophonist Ricky Sweum joins forces with the world-renowned talents of drummer Clarence Penn, pianist Edward Simon, and bassist Dave Robaire. This fiery and exciting session captures 10 uniquely varied Sweum originals.

The disc showcases his penchant for modern-grooving- free-blowing vamps coupled with beautiful melodic playing reminiscent of classic ECM recordings of the 1970’s.

Lyambiko -[|]- Sings Gershwin [Sony IMPORT, 2012]

Tags

Female Vocals, Jazz, Lyambiko

Lyambiko, SINGS GERSHWIN

Lyambiko -[|]- Sings Gershwin [Sony IMPORT, 2012]

The singer LYAMBIKO was born in the German state of Thuringia and grew up in a musically active family. Her grandfather was already a member of a jazz combo back in the 1930’s, and her father sang in both a church choir and in jazz and world-music bands in his native Tanzania. As a child, LYAMBIKO took lessons on the saxophone and the clarinet and in classical singing, and played the tenor sax in her music school’s big band. She was only 17 when she founded her first band as a singer (folk, pop and blues), and was the youngest entrant in a band contest where she won her first studio recording.

Hiroshima -[|]- Departure [HIROSHIMA, 2012]

Tags

Hiroshima, Jazz, Kimo Cornwell, Tetsuya “Tex” Nakamura

Hiroshima, Departure

Hiroshima -[|]- Departure –MP3– [HIROSHIMA, 2012]

Hiroshima is the only Asian band to receive a Grammy-nomination and they have two. Legacy featured songs from the first 10 years and celebrated the band’s 30 years in the industry. Departure, number 18 for the celebrated Hiroshima who has created it’s own voice. . . One of the most unique bands in the world, Hiroshima combines traditional Japanese instruments, including koto, taiko and shakuhachi with western instruments and harmony, embracing rhythms ranging from Jazz to Latin and R&B –a blend referred to by famed British producer Robin Millar as “Urban World Music.”

After more than 30 years in the recording industry — and almost 4 million records sold – Hiroshima decided to leave record companies behind and venture on our own. It’s kinda scary, but given the changes in the music industry and what it’s now going to take for us to survive, we are moving toward direct contact with the community.