Ben Allison -][- UNION SQUARE – [Abeat, 2012] –

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Abeat, Bassist, Ben Allison, Composer, Educator, Michael Blake, Rudy Royston

Ben Allison, UNION SQUARE

Ben Allison -][- UNION SQUARE –Mp3– [Abeat, 2012]

Bassist/composer Ben Allison is one of a few band leaders working in jazz today who has developed his own instantly identifiable sound. Known for his inspired arrangements, inventive grooves and hummable melodies, Ben draws from the jazz tradition and a range of influences from rock and folk to 20th century classical and world music traditions, seamlessly blending them into a cinematic, cohesive whole.

With his groups The Ben Allison Band, Man Size Safe, Peace Pipe, and Medicine Wheel, Ben has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Brazil, winning fans and building new audiences with an adventurous yet accessible sound and a flair for the unexpected.

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Nnenna Freelon & John Brown Big Band -][- CHRISTMAS – [Brown Boulevard, 2012] –

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African American, Nnenna Freelon, Vocalist, John Brown, Brown Boulevard

The first Christmas album from the six-time Grammy nominee finds her beautifully backed by the John Brown Big Band on ten songs sure to put some swing into your holiday season.

Nnenna Freelon and John Brown Big Band, CHRISTMAS

Nnenna Freelon & John Brown Big Band -][- CHRISTMAS –Mp3– [Brown Boulevard, 2012]

Nnenna Freelon’s mother was a lover of Christmas – the story, the anticipation, the excitement, but most of all, the gathering of her family around her. In her passing, she left her daughter with a gift that has resulted in a dream fulfilled and a holiday album that will extend a mother’s love of Christmas to listeners everywhere.

Venerated jazz vocalist and six-time Grammy nominee Freelon had long wanted to record a holiday album, but couldn’t garner enough interest from her label. So she did what most people do in need of a little help, she turned to a loved one. With a small inheritance received from her mother, she approached John Brown, a long-time member of her musical family, director of Duke University’s jazz program and leader of John Brown’s Big Band. The two, who have shared the stage and collaborated often during their twenty-year friendship, have now joined together to release Christmas, a selection of holiday songs. Brown produced the album and will release it on his own label, Brown Boulevard.

Jurek Jagoda Trio -][- SONGS WITHOUT WORDS – [SOU Productions, 2012] –

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Composer, Jurek Jagoda, Marek Alaszewski Jr., Pawel Gebicki, Pianist, SOU Productions

Jurek Jagoda Trio, SONGS WITHOUT WORDS

Jurek Jagoda Trio -][- SONGS WITHOUT WORDS –Mp3– [SOU Productions, 2012]

The trio consists of the pianist Jurek Jagoda, Marek Alaszewski Jr. on double bass/bass and Pawel Gebicki on drums. In 2010 the band burst onto the polish music scene with the first album “Songs Without Words“. The project features 12 compelling songs composed by Jagoda and as title of the album suggests this music is constructed around tunes. Over one hour of mood music and colourful melodies. The album gets optimistic reviews (polish music magazines, internet blogs, radio stations) and was noticed by the world renowned jazz critic Stuart Nicholson, who chose this record to the top ten in the ranking “Albums Of The Year 2010” of the greatest British jazz magazine Jazzwise.