Producer Rio Sakairi Presents – HOME – Gift of Music – A Collaborative Manifesto of Hope Through Song for Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami Victims

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Adam Rogers, Alan Hampton, Becca Stevens, Ben Williams, Bill Campbell, Chris Tordini, Claudia Acuña, Danton Boller, Dayna Stephens, DL Media, Doug Wamble, Gretchen Parlato, John Ellis, Johnathan Blake, Leron Thomas, Producer, Records, Rio Sakairi, Ryan Scott, Sachal Vasandani, Taylor Eigsti, The Jazz Gallery

Available September 11 on Sunnyside Records

Various Artists, HOME – Gift of Music

Singer-Songwriter Leaning Album Features:
Claudia Acuña, John Ellis, Alan Hampton,
Gretchen Parlato, Becca Stevens, Leron Thomas,
Sachal Vasandani, Doug Wamble, Dayna Stephens,
Taylor Eigsti, Adam Rogers, Ryan Scott, Danton Boller,
Chris Tordini, Ben Williams, Johnathan Blake and Bill Campbell

All Album Proceeds Donated to
Habitat for Humanity Japan

“News of unprecedented disaster that hit Japan last year has come and gone but the need for relief remains. I am sending this music into the world as an ambassador for people in Japan. I also hope that these songs will bring some comfort and light in your dark moments and help you reconnect with your own humanity.” – Rio Sakairi

Stream Tracks From HOME – Gift of Music

Pat Metheny Unity Band Launches Extensive International Tour in Europe

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Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams, Chris Potter, entertainment, Europe, Nonesuch Records, Pat Metheny, Tour Information, travel

Pat Metheny Unity Band

The Pat Metheny Unity Band—featuring a new ensemble from the guitarist with Chris Potter on sax and bass clarinet, longtime collaborator Antonio Sanchez on drums, and the up-and-coming Ben Williams on bass—launches its European summer tour this weekend with a Sunday night set at the Alter Schlachthof in Dresden, Germany, followed by stops throughout the continent, including Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, San Marino, Spain, and Portugal, and in the UK. The band returns to the United States to tour later this summer and into the fall. See below for all of the currently scheduled tour dates; for additional details and ticket links, go to nonesuch.com/on-tour.

2012 Detroit Jazz Festival Announces Star-Studded Lineup

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2012 Detroit Jazz Festival, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams, Brian Blade, Chick Corea, Chris Potter, Danilo Pérez, Gary Burton, Harlem String Quartet, John Patitucci, Pat Metheny Unity Band, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Wynton Marsalis Quintet

World’s top jazz artists among the headliners for this year’s festival

The 33rd annual Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest free jazz festival, will feature the most celebrated names in jazz including: Sonny Rollins; Wynton Marsalis Quintet; Pat Metheny Unity Band featuring Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, and Ben Williams; Chick Corea and Gary Burton with the Harlem String Quartet; and the Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade.

Nonesuch Releases Pat Metheny Unity Band Album June 12; Band to Launch Summer, Fall Tour

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Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams, Chris Potter, Guitarist, Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny Unity Band

For the first time since his 1980 release 80/81, guitarist Pat Metheny has recorded with a band that features tenor saxophone. Unity Band, due from Nonesuch on June 12, 2012, introduces a new Metheny ensemble with Chris Potter on sax and bass clarinet, longtime collaborator Antonio Sanchez on drums, and the up-and-coming Ben Williams on bass. The album features nine new Metheny compositions. The Pat Metheny Unity Band will tour the United States this summer and fall, with stops in 39 cities; see below for all of the currently announced date and go to nonesuch.com/on-tour for details. Pre-orders of Unity Band are available now in the Nonesuch Store and include a print signed by Metheny and an instant download of the opening track, “New Year.”

Flux Jazz Essentials for 2011?

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African American, Ambrose Akinmusire, Bass, Ben Williams, Christian Scott, David Binney, David Sanchez, Drums, Eric Harland, Fabian Almazan, Female Vocalist, Flux Jazz Essentials 2011, Flux Music Essentials, Gerald Clayton, Gretchen Parlato, Hiromi, Itai Kriss, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenón, Miles Español, Piano, Rez Abbasi, Saxophone, Sean Jones, Stefon Harris, Terri Lyne Carrington, Trumpet, Yellowjackets

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to my fellow jazz enthusiasts, as always it’s great to be with you. Although, it’s been an extremely stressful year economically and politically for so many globally I’m thankful regardless for those of us who are still here despite the mayhem that’s currently causing all this strife and pain. With that said, as a optimist times like this has a tendency to draw us closer to our love ones, make new friends and on the entertainment side of the spectrum expand our music collection to give us a positive outlet to delve into. In this case, as music goes so far this has been an exceptional year jazz wise. Therefore, this among many reasons led me to return and share with you a few of my favorite jazz albums that I stumbled into this year. If you haven’t, I hope that you find time to listen some of these titles (their well worth your effort). If not, please share with us some of your favorite recordings you’ve embraced this year. Thanks in advance, I’ll be delighted to hear from you!

The following selections in no particular order are some of my favorite Jazz albums for 2011!

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In my absence, I appreciate those of you who drop by and followed me on Twitter at your convince. One thing for sure, I plan to return in the near future to continue sharing with you some of the finest jazz, news, and reviews available.

Until then, take care and God bless.

Rob Young |The Urban Flux [… is jazz with abstract xpressions shaped by vibrant and unique voices!]

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 ::..

Ben Williams -][- STATE OF ART [Concord Jazz]

Tags

African American, Bass, Ben Williams, Jazz

Ben Williams - STATE OF ART

Ben Williams -][- STATE OF ART -(MP3)- [Concord Jazz, 2011]

“By definition the bass player is a pivotal figure in jazz, a steward of tonality as well as tempo. Determining a good one can require close listening: that quality reveals itself in the cohesion of the band as well as in the handling of line and phrase. All of this was accounted for in Mr. Williams’s set, which also involved a pair of harmonically sound original compositions and a balance of tradition and novelty.” -Nate Chinen, New York Times

State Of Art is a result of Williams’ first prize in the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Competition for double-bass. The album marks Williams’ first album as a leader, however it is not the bassist’s first time working with the Concord Jazz family.

For the past two years, Williams has been a working member of two Concord Jazz artists’ working bands: vibraphonist Stefon Harris & Blackout, a R&B and hip-hop-tinged group, which calls on Williams’ unique connection with go-go, from his native Washington, DC to inform its sound and pianist Jacky Terrasson’s Trio. Williams was featured on Harris’ 2009 Concord Jazz debut, Urbanus and Terrasson’s 2010 Concord Jazz debut, Push. So it is particularly fitting that he now joins the Concord Jazz roster as a leader in his own right.

Bassist BEN WILLIAMS, Winner of The 2009 Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition, Releases His Debut Album, State of Art on Concord Jazz, June 28, 2011

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African American, Bass, Ben Williams, Jazz

Featuring MC John Robinson and Trumpeter Christian Scott, with Covers of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Goapele and The Jazz/Hip-Hop Mashup, “The Lee Morgan Story”

“By definition the bass player is a pivotal figure in jazz, a steward of tonality as well as tempo. Determining a good one can require close listening: that quality reveals itself in the cohesion of the band as well as in the handling of line and phrase. All of this [is] accounted for in Mr. Williams’…harmonically sound original compositions and a balance of tradition and novelty.”
– Nate Chinen, The New York Times

Ben Williams

Concord Jazz proudly announces the release of Washington, DC-born, New York-based bassist Ben Williams’ debut album State of Art , available June 28, 2011. The album is a result of Williams’ first prize in the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Competition for double-bass. State of Art marks Williams’ first album as a leader, however it is not the bassist’s first time working with the Concord Jazz family.

For the past two years, Williams has been a working member of two Concord Jazz artists’ working bands: vibraphonist Stefon Harris & Blackout, a R&B and hip-hop-tinged group, which calls on Williams’ unique connection with go-go, from his native Washington, DC to inform its sound and pianist Jacky Terrasson’s Trio. Williams was featured on Harris’ 2009 Concord Jazz debut, Urbanus and Terrasson’s 2010 Concord Jazz debut, Push . So it is particularly fitting that he now joins the Concord Jazz roster as a leader in his own right.

The title of Williams’ debut stops modestly short of such a bold argument, but does sum up the young bassist’s of-the-moment approach. “I’m trying to interpret the times,” Williams says, “to represent what’s going on today.”

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wagnBrefewk&feature=youtu.be