A Gospel According To Jazz Christmas: Kirk Whalum, Keiko Matsui and Amber Bullock

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Composer, Keiko Matsui and Amber Bullock, Kirk Whalum, Saxophonist

Online tickets go on sale today! Only $22

::: SOURCE: KirkWhalum.com :::

Brand new music from Jackiem Joyner!

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African American, Flutist, Jackiem Joyner, Mack Avenue Records, Saxophonist

Jackiem Joyner

Renowned saxophonist Jackiem Joyner presents his latest album, Church Boy, a collection of gospel- and jazz-inspired songs that bring together his childhood, his faith, and his devotion to music.

Eric Person & Metamorphosis CD Release Event Monday, November 12th at the Blue Note sets: 8 and 10:30pm

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Adam Armstrong, Adam Klipple, African American, Craig Bailey, Curtis Hasslebring, Distinction Records, Eric Person, Flute, Harry Carney, Isrea Butler, James Zollar, Jazz Promo Services, Kickstarter, Patience Higgins, Saxophonist, Scott Robinson, Shinnosuke Takahashi

Eric Person, Thoughts on God

A landmark recording, Thoughts on God, is the most recent release from prolific saxophonist and composer Eric Person. His ninth disc as a leader, the fifth on his own Distinction Records label and first funded through the Kickstarter program, an on-line funding platform for creative projects. Having fronted several different units including Meta-Four and Metamorphosis, as well as the cooperative TrioKinesis the veteran horn man is heard here leading his own jazz orchestra for the very first time. Person is an alumnus of the forward looking big bands of McCoy Tyner, David Murray and John Hicks, and is best known for his wide-ranging sideman work with Dave Holland, Chico Hamilton, and World Saxophone Quartet. On Thoughts on God, Person exhibits the fruits of lessons learned during his quarter of a century of diversified experience. The pieces composed for this twelve part suite are inspired by his powerful abiding faith in the positive force of the Creator.

Jackiem Joyner -][- CHURCH BOY – [Artistry Music, 2012] –

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African American, Artistry Music, Jackiem Joyner, Saxophone

Jackiem Joyner, CHURCH BOY

Jackiem Joyner -][- CHURCH BOY – [Artistry Music, 2012] –

Born in Norfolk VA and raised in a single-parent household in Buffalo NY, Jackiem Joyner came through the church choir before taking up the saxophone in high school. After high school Joyner returned to Norfolk. There Bishop Michael Patterson of the World Harvest Outreach Ministries in Newport News made him head of the music department. Joyner not only sharpened his musical and production skills in this capacity, he also had a chance to play for audiences in Nigeria, Sudan and Kenya on a Missions trip in 2002.

Inspired bassist Sean O’Bryan Smith and a stellar ensemble pause for “REFLECTION”

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Bassist, Chuck Loeb, Frank Catalano, Gerald Albright, Great Scott Productions, Groove Therapy Records, Jeff Franzel, Lisa Hearns, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Randy Brecker, Rich Krainak, Sean O’Bryan Smith, Tommy Ogle

The soul, jazz and gospel album scheduled for release July 17 will be prefaced by the radio single “Blessed Be Your Name”

Nashville, TN (29 May 2012): A beatific album of hymns and inspired originals shepherded by bassist Sean O’Bryan Smith and anointed by an accomplished minion of 23 musicians, “Reflection” will be released July 17th on Groove Therapy Records. Smith produced and arranged the offering of soul, contemporary jazz and gospel selections that comprise the second solo album from the in-demand bass player. Previewing the 12-song disc, the rousing rocker “Blessed Be Your Name” featuring guitarist Chuck Loeb, saxophonist Tommy Ogle and pianist-songwriter Jeff Franzel (Taylor Swift, *NSYNC, Clay Aiken) goes for radio adds June 11th.

Elisabeth Kontomanou -][- Secrets of the Wind (feat. Geri Allen) -MP3- [Plus Loin Music, 2012] –

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Elisabeth Kontomanou, Female Vocalist, Geri Allen, Piano

Elisabeth Kontomanou, Secret of the Wind (feat. Geri Allen)

Elisabeth Kontomanou -][- Secrets of the Wind (feat. Geri Allen) –MP3– [Plus Loin Music, 2012] –

Of Greek and African origin, and born in France, Elisabeth Kontomanou has worked with many musicians in both Europe and America, including Sam Newsome, Leon Parker, Michel Legrand, Mike Stern, Alain Jean-Marie. She first gained recognition at the ‘Concours de La Défense’ and has since been nominated for a Django d’Or Award, following her album ‘Embrace’ released on Steeple Chase in 1999.

Grace Kelly -][- GRACE [PAZZ]

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Grace Kelly, Jazz, Saxophone

Grace Kelly - GRACE

Grace Kelly -][- GRACE -(MP3)- [PAZZ, 2011]

To say that we were thrilled when Grace Kelly agreed to perform at the Festival of Homiletics, an interdenominational preaching conference, would be a huge understatement. We only became aware of Grace shortly before the Festival, and it took some schedule shuffling for both parties but it was worth it! We’ve been fortunate to have many outstanding musicians at the Festival, and Grace has joined that storied tradition with a uniqueness and energy all her own.

We asked Grace to take traditional hymns/spirituals and perform them creatively on her saxophone at the Festival. The attendees of the Festival received these interpretive variations with delighted ears and thunderous applause. The arrangement of these hymns is simple and respectful. Grace Kelly and her accompanists are not self-indulgent when they play. They use their talents in service of the songs, reminding us of the good news. Yet we’ve never heard anyone expand upon “Let There Be Peace on Earth” the way Grace does. Listen for the chanting and saxophone at the end. In her concerts as well as on this cd, Grace will surprise you with her vocals. It’s like receiving yet another blessing when you thought all the blessings had already come.

Marcus Shelby Pays Tribute to Dr.King on April 4 [Soul of the Movement Meditations on MLK]

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African American, Bass, Faye Carol, Gabe Eaton, Howard Wiley, Jazz, Jeannine Anderson, KENNY WASHINGTON, Marcus Shelby

Marcus Shelby

April 4, 1968 is a tragic day in our country’s history. It marks the day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN.

Bassist/composer Marcus Shelby, whose family is from Memphis, TN, pays tribute to Dr. King on April 4 with 4 new videos featuring music from Shelby’s widely acclaimed CD “Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

This is a very personal project for Shelby, who had several family members in the “I Am A Man” march and several who were arrested in the struggles. —Ann Braithwaite

More videos celebrating “Soul of the Movement” featuring the incomparable Marcus Shelby “Memphis: I Am A Man,” We’re a Winner” and “Take My Hand Precious Lord.”

..:: SOURCE: BKMusicpr.com ::..

Lizz Wright Returns With Fellowship (September 28 on Verve Forecast)

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African American, Female Vocalist, Jazz, Lizz Wright, Pop

Lizz Wright - Fellowship (Verve Forecast, 2010)

Lizz Wright -][- Fellowship – [Verve Forecast, 2010]

New York, NY – Verve Forecast releases the new album Fellowship by acclaimed singer Lizz Wright on September 28. The 12-track gospel-tinged record features a number of traditional songs long held sacred by Wright alongside originals by guest performers Angelique Kidjo, Me’Shell Ndegéocello, Joan as Policewoman and social activist and Sweet Honey in the Rock founder Dr. Bernice Reagon, among others. Produced by Brian Bacchus, Fellowship is the follow-up to Wright’s 2008 record The Orchard, which “CBS News Sunday Morning” declared “one of the best albums of the year” while the Los Angeles Times called it “a creative breakthrough for Wright, whose smoldering, sensual voice now has a vision to go with it.”

Fellowship continues Wright’s celebrated collaboration with acclaimed singer-songwriter Toshi Reagon, who co-produced the new album and wrote/performed on a number of tracks on Wright’s previous release. The record features several traditional songs that Wright grew up with in church including “Amazing Grace,” “Sweeping Through the City,” and a gospel medley featuring “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Power Lord.” Wright also covers a number of songs by noted writers including “Presence of the Lord” by Eric Clapton and “In From the Storm” by Jimi Hendrix. Dr. Bernice Reagon performs on two tracks, including “I Remember, I Believe” which she composed.

Lizz Wright, whom The Wall Street Journal calls “a thoughtful, sensitive soul,” has received critical praise from Time Magazine, NPR, Ebony, Essence, New Yorker and Billboard, and her music is featured in several major television shows. Wright was born in the small town of Hahira, Georgia, to a local minister. She grew up traveling through the South singing with her parents and siblings. She first came to national attention in 2002 when she performed in a series of Billie Holiday tribute shows. Since then, she’s released Salt (2003), Dreaming Wide Awake (2005) and The Orchard (2008), all three critical and fan favorites.

Listen to her new single: “Imagination” …

For more info about Lizz Wright, please visit http://www.lizzwright.net & http://www.myspace.com/lizzwright!

..:: Source: T.U.M.S.com | Think Tank ::..

New Releases [Jazz] … for the Week of 6/28/2010

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Eric Darius, Jazz, Lee Ritenour, New Releases

Greetings’ jazz aficionados, I’m back with an 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-6

Lee Ritenour - 6 String Theory

Lee Ritenour -|- 6 String Theory – [Concord Records, 2010]

It’s hard to believe that 2010 marks 50 years since Lee Ritenour starting playing the guitar, setting in motion a career that legends are made of. A career that has earned him 19 GRAMMY® nominations, a GRAMMY Award, numerous #1 spots on guitar polls, A Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian SJ Awards, and the prestigious “Alumnus of the Year” award from USC. During his illustrious career, he has recorded over 40 albums, with 35 chart songs and was a founding member of the group Fourplay, considered the most successful group in contemporary jazz.

As a young guitarist his diverse musical style became the foundation of over 3,000 sessions, covering a broad spectrum of artists ranging from his first session at 16 with the Mamas and Papas, to Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Simon & Garfunkel and Frank Sinatra. On his latest endeavor, 6 String Theory, Ritenour celebrates the instrument that has allowed him this blessing, the guitar; -by producing and assembling a star-studded tribute with the greatest and soon- to- be greatest guitarists of our time. —Concord Records