Flux Music Essentials … [Gunn, Hancock, Roumain, Whalum & Yellowjackets]

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Daniel Bernard Roumain, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Kirk Whalum, Russell Gunn, Yellowjackets

Flux Music Essentials

Greeting’s jazz lovers, I’m back with another tasty mix of jazz that’s undoubtedly shaken and well stirred from the shelves of the “Flux Music Essentials.” First up, I’ve got the innovative voice of trumpeter Russell Gunn heading the pack, meanwhile the mix thickens with the legendary keyboardist, producer, songwriter and mega-star Herbie Hancock makes his statement with “The New Standard,” also newcomer and extraordinary violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain is ready to rock your world. The exceptionally soulful Kirk Whalum on saxophone arrives with “Gospel According to Jazz,” and finally the beloved Yellowjackets featuring guitarist Mike Stern is the icing on the cake of this infallible groove called jazz.

Russell Gunn - Ethnomusicology Vol1

Russell Gunn -|- Ethnomusicology 1 – [Atlantic / Wea, 1999]

Crossover recordings run an extraordinary risk of failing, or at least flailing. Trumpeter Russell Gunn’s avoids the former fate and, by and large, also escapes the latter. Consider this recording a sibling to his other early-1999 release, Love Requiem, which toes a straight-ahead acoustic jazz line while Ethnomusicology does something entirely different. Gunn’s ensemble crosses the wires of hip-hop and postbop, coming up with a slinky funk feel in spots (witness the opening groove bit with the Parliament-style pinched vocal welcoming listeners to the CD) but keeping a strong neobop improvisational vibe heavy and pervasive.

Gunn’s band gets great mileage from DJ Apollo’s turntables, especially on “Shiva” and the soul jazz-touched “Sybil’s Blues,” and pianist James Hurt plays fleet acoustic harmonies and uses the Fender Rhodes to its fullest ethereal potential. The horns are all at top capability, too, with trombonist Andre Heyward turning in splay-toned solos and saxophonists Gregory Tardy and Bruce Williams providing a nice one-two power beside Gunn’s confident, sharp-minded brass. —Andrew Bartlett

HERBIE HANCOCK’S – “THE IMAGINE PROJECT” – SET FOR RELEASE JUNE 21st

Tags

African American, Herbie Hancock, Keyboards, Piano

I’m looking forward to this musically transforming moment … “The Imagine Project,” simply defies category, beyond anything we could imagine, it’s a breathtaking world music excursion from the genius of the phenomenal Herbie Hancock … Rob Young

CD AND DOCUMENTARY RECORDED AROUND THE GLOBE AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY TOUR DATES

Hancock joined by Anoushka Shanka, Seal, Pink, Jeff Beck, Konono No. l, Lionel Louke, Ceu, Dave Matthews, Lisa Hannigan, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Chaka Khan, Tinariwen, The Chieftains, Marcus Miller, Wayne Shorter, Oumou Sangare, Juanes, James Morrison and more …

Herbie Hanock - The Imagine Project

Los Angeles, California. In honor of Herbie Hancock’s 70th birthday on Monday, April 12th, fans around the globe will be offered the opportunity to download a free track, “The Song Goes On,” from the new CD “Herbie Hancock’s The Imagine Project” set for release June 21st. Featuring Anoushka Shankar (sitarist daughter of Ravis Shankar), Chaka Khan and Wayne Shorter, the track was recorded in Mumbai, India, along with a stellar group of Indian musicians and will be available free to fans for two weeks!

Herbie Hancock’s “The Imagine Project”, the new CD from multiple Grammy-winning artist and musical pioneer Herbie Hancock, is an unprecedented international recording and film project featuring collaborations between music legend Herbie Hancock and over a dozen superstars from every region of the planet. Utilizing the universal language of music to express its central themes of peace and global responsibility, the musical collaborations combine Hancock’s genre-defying musical vision with the “local” musical identity of cultures from around the world. Additionally, footage from each recording session has been shot in each locale to be included in a planned documentary. With veteran music producer Larry Klein serving as one of the album’s producing consultants. “The Imagine Project” is set for release June 21st via Hancock Records/Red.

Herbie Hancock | The Imagine Project

Tags

African American, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Keyboards, Piano

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock’s “The Imagine Project”, the new CD from multiple Grammy-winning artist and musical pioneer Herbie Hancock, is an unprecedented international recording and film project featuring collaborations between music legend Herbie Hancock and over a dozen superstars from every region of the planet. Utilizing the universal language of music to express its central themes of peace and global responsibility, the musical collaborations combine Hancock’s genre-defying musical vision with the “local” musical identity of cultures from around the world.

Title: The Imagine Project
Release date: Jun 22, 2010
Record label: Hancock Records/RE

Additionally, noted Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney (“Taxi To The Dark Side”) is serving as one of the film’s producers with veteran music producer Larry Klein serving as one of the album’s producing consultants. “The Imagine Project” is set for release June 22, 2010 via Hancock Records/RED.

Herbie Hancock | Secrets

Tags

African American, Contemporary Jazz, Herbie Hancock, Keyboards, Piano

Herbie Hancock, Secrets

Herbie Hancock | Secrets [Columbia/Sony, 1976] – Revisited

As you know, more often than not it’s a delight to dig into the crates (shelves) and pull out a gem by one of your favorite artists. At this juncture, I give props to the legendary Grammy winning, visionary, composer, arranger, producer, jazz/funk keyboardist Herbie Hancock and his 1976 album “Secrets.” All particulars aside, he stands firmly at the head of the pack of A-list artists as a mentor, player, and composer in the music industry.

“Secrets” is nicely marinated with infused and intricate textures that Mr. Hancock has been noted to grace listeners with over the years. For those of you whose been around a minute, you should recall during the 60’s and 70’s on most jazz recordings you had four to ten cuts on a jazz album. With “Secrets,” Hancock strategically aligns his voice into “seven” alluring, yet accessible compositions to groove, listen and enjoy with each spin.

Herbie Hancock New Los Angeles Philharmonic Jazz Creative Chair

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African American, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Keyboards, Piano

Herbie Hancock has grand plans for his new position as the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s creative chair for jazz.

The two-year stint, which begins in 2010, includes overseeing jazz programming for the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, helping to hire musicians and mentoring young artists. The 69-year-old Los Angeles resident will take over from bassist Christian McBride.

Donald Byrd | Free Form

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African American, Blue Note Records, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Trumpet

Donald Byrd | Free Form [Blue Note, 1961]

Donald Byrd, Free Form

As the story goes Herbie Hancock entered the ‘room’ the big leagues through Donald Byrd. He knew of Herbie when he was going to college (U.of Chicago?), and they needed a fill in, in Chicago one night, and the rest is history. Donald has four originals, and Herbie contributes two of his own.

This is classic stuff. With Herbie, Butch Warren, and the ‘house’ Blue Note regular Billy Higgins, and Shorter and Byrd. featuring! Higgins is on fire,  poppin. There is a nice balance throughout the set. Byrd plays superbly on Herbie Hancock’s ‘Night Flower‘. On ‘French Spice‘ Wayne puts down one of the finest solos I can think of during his tenure at Blue Note.And ‘NAI NAI’a tune written by Byrd you should reserve for when you want to pick your spirits up. Yeh,life is good! All this and more welcome you in the room for some vintage music. Enjoy folks! — Brian D. Fitzpatrick

Source: Amazon.com/

The Weekend Spin [11/28/08]

Tags

African American, Female Vocalist, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Keyboards, Phil Collins, Raye Jones

At this stage of our extended “Thanksgiving Holiday,” it’s “Black Friday“! On today, I just chill for a moment to recover from the festive thanksgiving as family, friends and a zillion of others head out shopping for “Christmas” gifts. Today, we’ve come with another savoring palette of groves for “The Weekend Spin” It’s an opportunity collect our thoughts with some tasty jams before we hit the road headed home and back to work on Monday. Be safe and patient in your travels this weekend with love and peace!

Raye Jones

Raye Jones | Sista Girl’s Lament [Nu-Voice/Jazz Vocals] Weekend Spin

Sistah Girl’s Lament is the debut release from Raye Jones. Raye is a native of Philadelphia now residing in Wilmington, Delaware where she has been a staple in the world of jazz and the arts.  As Executive Director of the Christina Cultural Arts Center, she has been one of the driving forces in the continued establishment of creative arts in the area.

Now, Raye is stepping out to make a more personal statement on her new release.  Raye’s blues-influenced jazz style brings to life selections such as My Favorite Things, Never Can Say Goodbye, and her self-composed tribute to Phyllis Hyman, titled “We Miss You Phyllis“. – CDBaby.com

Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Perez – Across The Crystal Sea

Tags

Herbie Hancock, Latin Jazz, Online Music, Piano

Danilo Perez, Across The Crystal Sea

Across the Crystal Sea is the latest chapter in Danilo Pérez extraordinary career as a pianist and bandleader who delivers a distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz that covers the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music. He’s not only impressed critics (for example, The New York Times’ Ben Ratliff writing that he is “a bold example of the musicological rethinking of jazz”), but also fellow musicians. Wayne Shorter says that Pérez “has all of the attributes of a performer, conductor, impresario and purveyor of musical expression greatly needed in these uncertain times” while Herbie Hancock says that Pérez is “not afraid of anything.” – Amazon.com