Tuesday, March 17, 2015

SASHA'S BLOC New Album HEART ON FIRE, Featuring Grammy-nominated Vocalist JANE MONHEIT

With the release of their second album, Heart On Fire, jazz collective Sasha’s Bloc aims to solidify their growing presence on the U.S. music scene with an original album that hearkens back to the Big Jazz Band sound of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, and to a performance style that evokes such seminal acts as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Count Basie, Scott Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald and more.

Conceived by bassist and songwriter Alex Gershman, and featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Jane Monheit performing on multiple tracks, Sasha’s Bloc is an international ensemble — an amalgam of varied artists, nationalities and experiences, aiming to deliver a sound that is consistently big, boisterous, full of spirit and rich in everything that makes jazz linger as an American phenomenon. With a performance style that evokes such seminal acts as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Count Basie, Scott Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald and more, the group looks forward to four concerts in their hometown of Los Angeles to celebrate the release of the new album. All concerts will feature Monheit as well as Alvin Chea.

Upcoming Concerts:
March 18 and 19 at Vibrato Jazz Grill
March 20 and 21 at Catalina Bar and Grill

Following its exclusive premiere last week on AXS.com, the official music video for the Sasha's Bloc single "Breakfast," featuring Jane Monheit and off of their album Heart On Fire, is now available on the official Sasha's Bloc YouTube channel.

With a big-band sound that recalls the vibe of New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band infused with the Blues, a hint of Gypsy Jazz, contemporary jazz and swing, Sasha’s Bloc have been playing to sold out shows across Southern California for the past two+ years and have developed a loyal following across the country.

Formed in 2012 by bassist Alexander Gershman, who hails from Moscow, Sasha’s Bloc is an eclectic mix of musicians focused on the revival of the jazz culture of the 1920’s and 30’s, combined with the adaptation of modern jazz original compositions.






NEW RELEASES: CANDIDO - THE AFRO CUBAN SOUND OF CANDIDO; JOE STILGOE - WE LOOK TO THE STARS; CHASTITY BROWN – LONG WAY

CANDIDO - THE AFRO CUBAN SOUND OF CANDIDO (THREE ORIGINAL ALBUMS ON CD)

Cándido de Guerra Camero, generally known as Candido, is credited with being the first percussionist to introduce conga drums into jazz. Indeed, without Candido there would probably not have been the craze for bongos which sprang up in the late Fifties and early Sixties. Although crossover music genres don't always work, this marriage of Cuban Latin rhythms and modern jazz is one that was made in heaven, as our set of CDs amply demonstrates. Tracks include: Mambo Inn, I'll Be Back For More, Stompin' At The Savoy, Poinciana, Jada, Broadway, Perdido, Indian Summer, Candido's Camera, Cheek To Cheek, Swingin' The Blues, Exactly Like You, King Porter Stomp, It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing,  Ain't She Sweet, When The Saints Go Marching In, Honeysuckle Rose, Sweet Sue, Royal Garden Blues, Conga Soul, The Lady Is A Tramp, Toccata, Candi Bar, The Champ, Love For Sale, Big Noise From Winnetka, New Secrets, Lady Eve, Dark Eyes, and Long, Long Summer. ~ Amazon

JOE STILGOE - WE LOOK TO THE STARS

Upon release Joe Stilgoe's second studio album went straight to the top of the jazz charts while pulling in rave reviews from the national press and attracting new fans from Tim Minchin to Chris Evans and Richard Madeley (BBC Radio 2) to Sir Michael Parkinson.The album showcases Stilgoe's expressive and charming voice in an album of (mostly) originals with his trademark catchy hooks and instant familiarity. We Look To The Stars sees Stilgoe accompanied by a swinging band of strings, brass, saxophone and trio which add a traditional jazz sound to his contemporary songs.From album opener, the swinging Let's Begin, to the exuberant We Should Kiss via Now Wasn't That Fun? which shows off his scatting credentials, Stilgoe has crafted an engaging album which is fresh, yet familiar. Stilgoe completes the album with a cover of the Kinks Waterloo Sunset, a simple yet effective piano-vocal rendition which allows Stilgoe's voice and phenomenal piano playing to shine.Joe Stilgoe worked with three times GRAMMY-nominated, BRIT Award-winning producer, trumpeter and mixer James McMillan to create the perfect sound for We Look To The Stars. ~ Amazon 

CHASTITY BROWN – LONG WAY

Long Way follows Chastity Brown on her two-year journey to re-connect with her Southern roots. Each song brings listeners along for the ride, filling their ears with Chastity's unique blend of raw emotion and powerful lyrics that cannot be limited to a single genre. On Long Way, Chastity delivers her beautiful and complex mix of gospel, roots, soul, jazz, blues and country that made her previous album, Back-Road Highways, a success with fans and critics alike. Chastity has again teamed up with Fred Cannon and Paul Buono and a band of some of Nashville's finest pickers to deliver a stunning record with a poignant punch that you can listen to over and over again. ~ Amazon



NEW RELEASES: GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS MELANIE DE BIASIO NO DEAL REMIXED; SOUL TOGETHERNESS PRESENTS SOUL LIFE; MARC STAGGERS – DREAM CATCHER

MELANIE DE BIASIO - GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS MELANIE DE BIASIO NO DEAL REMIXED

Internationally renowned DJ and radio personality Gilles Peterson has called upon some of the most exciting names across the jazz, electronic and indie worlds to rework Melanie De Biasio's acclaimed album No Deal, including EELS, The Cinematic Orchestra, Hex, and Seven Davis Junior. EELS haunting, orchestral reworking of opening track I Feel You is the first ever remix by Mark Oliver Everett (AKA E), who fell in love with De Biasio's music when she supported EELS at the Royal Albert Hall in June. The Cinemantic Orchestra give I'm Gonna Leave You an intense reworking, while beat maker C. Crisci, a.k.a Clap! Clap! gives the same track an afro-beat slant. Seven Davis Jr gives title-track No Deal an old school house flavour, while LA's Jonwayne coats With All My Love a lush balm of hip-hop. Japan's Toshio Matsuura (AKA Hex) adds an impressive urgency to The Flow, whilst France's modern classical composer Chassol provides a downtempo and discordant take on Sweet Darling Pain. 2014 has been a breakthrough year for Brussels-based De Biasio, who was recently announced the winner for Belgium of the 2015 European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA), which celebrate the best new pop, rock and dance acts in Europe which have achieved cross-border chart success. Other winners include Hosier (Ireland), MO (Denmark), Milky Chance (Germany), and Todd Terje (Norway). No Deal received 4 star reviews from The Guardian, Mojo, and Record Collector, with Hi-Fi Plus awarding it 10 out of 10, saying "I think we have the album of the year on our hands." Her most recent single I'm Gonna Leave You was playlisted at BBC 6 Music, and last month De Biasio performed on Later…With Jools Holland, BBC2's flagship music show, becoming the first Belgian artist to be invited on the show since 1995. ~ Amazon

SOUL TOGETHERNESS PRESENTS SOUL LIFE: 16 CONTEMPORARY SOUL DANCE AND LUXURY BAR GROOVES

Contemporary cuts, all hand-picked by the Soul Togetherness crew – who you might know from their other excellent collections of vintage funk and soul! The music here is from the global Neo Soul underground – and reflects both the sort of cutting-edge acts showcased by Soul Togetherness, and the long legacy of new music released by the Expansion label – still one of the strongest imprints for contemporary soul after all these years! A few cuts here mark the CD debut of tracks that have only been vinyl or digital before – and titles include "Brighter Tomorrow" by Diplomats Of Soul with Incognito & Imaani, "So Good" by Sparkles with Ethel, "Saving All My Kisses" by Soperfreesia, "Best Work" by Tasha Page Lockhart, "Bring Me Back" by Marc Staggers, "Your Love Is On Fire" by Sheree Brown, "Control Yourself (Opolopo rmx)" by Robin McKelle & The Flytones, "Soul Life (T-Groove Philly soul mix)" by Tom Glide with Shylah Vaughn, and "Dontcha Wanna Dance" by Cool Million with Marc Evans.  ~ Dusty Groove

MARC STAGGERS – DREAM CATCHER

Great contemporary soul from Marc Staggers – a singer who really takes us back to some of our favorite mellow soul singers of the 70s! Like some of our favorites, Staggers sounds especially great when hitting a midtempo groove – kind of a smooth stepping style that has the rhythms tripping along nicely while his rich vocals really take off over the top! Nothing's ever overdone or forced – and like a small range of true talents in this area, Marc's got a way of keeping things understated at all the right moments – while still making us really feel his vibe. Titles include "Partner For Life", "Bring Me Back", "Be My Girl", "So Amazing", "I Wanna Spend My Life With You", and "I Like The Way".  ~ Dusty Groove



NEW RELEASES: KEVIN EUBANKS / STANLEY JORDAN - DUETS; PAT MARTINO – NEXUS; FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO - DANCA DOS TEMPOS

KEVIN EUBANKS / STANLEY JORDAN - DUETS

The impeccably balanced Duets includes four spontaneous arrangements of well-known classics: "Nature Boy," "Blue in Green," "Summertime" and "A Child Is Born"; plus interpretations of modern pop songs (Adele's "Someone Like You" and Ellie Goulding's "Lights"). This was the all-natural uncalculated result of long philosophical heart to hearts as well as a nine-city tour - over 30 years after Eubanks' and Jordan's first meeting in the early '80s at New York's famed jazz-fusion club, The 55 Bar. The supplemental genesis of the pairing resides in their decision to do a short tour, initially playing separate sets with each musician occasionally popping in on the other's time. Word got back that audiences liked it best in those moments when they played together. Everything changed during a sound check in Texas in April 2013. "We were in an all-wooden church where the acoustics were fantastic", Eubanks recalls. "We started playing, looked at each other, and felt how easy and nice everything flowed. That exchange created a lot of energy. The show flipped to us starting the show together, playing a couple songs alone, then us back together to close." Summing up Kevin Eubanks' and Stanley Jordan's inaugural Duets recording, Jordan thoughtfully concludes, "This album fills a nice niche because it's relaxing yet engaging. When you hear Kevin and me play together, it's all about the music - we're not competing. I just love the feel of it - it has a real sweetness. People who have a heart and listen from their right hemisphere are really going to love this record as an antidote to the norm." ~ Amazon

PAT MARTINO – NEXUS

Rare archival work from guitarist Pat Martino – never-issued sides that feature the musician in a small club setting from 20 years back – with only additional keyboards for accompaniment! The groove is very lean, and allows us plenty of space to hear Martino's tremendous skills on the strings – that strong, soulful approach to jazz guitar he first forged working with organ combos at a very young age – given great modern expression here in a Philly nightclub! Pat's got a nicely chromatic touch on his guitar at times – that maturation in sound he picked up during the 70s – and it's well-matched by keyboardist Jim Ridl, who often knows how to just shade in the spaces in the background, leaving Pat to structure and direct most of the tunes. Titles include "Recollection", "Sun On My Hands", "Oleo", "Interchange", "Naima", and "Tenetree".  ~ Dusty Groove

FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO - DANCA DOS TEMPOS

A contemporary record, but one that's got an amazingly timeless feel – like the best early 70s material from Brazilian artists like Airto, Hermeto Pascoal, or Egberto Gismonti! The music of Fabiano Do Nascimento has a similar genre-breaking quality to these giants – not straight jazz, but very jazzy in parts – not traditional Brazilian roots, either – but very schooled in the strongest elements from decades of creativity on that scene – all wrapped up in this fresh, new blend that's completely mesmerizing right from the start! Most instrumentation is acoustic, and relatively simple – guitar, percussion, drums, and vocals – but the arrangements are wonderful, and fold these familiar elements together in ways that are completely unique. The legendary Airto guests on the record – but the vision here is clearly that of Fabiano Do Nascimento – as he mixes together works by Hermeto Pascoal, Baden Powell, and other Brazilian composers with some bold new ideas of his own. Titles include "Forro Brasil", "Minha Ciranda", "Etude", "Primeira Estrella", "Tupi", "Se Ela Preguntar", "Tocatta Em Ritmo De Samba", and "Nana".  ~ Dusty Groove



Guitarist Blake Aaron to Release "Soul Stories" Featuring Jazz, R&B, Latin & Funk Settings

Guitarist Blake Aaron utilized an unconventional approach when constructing his fifth album, “Soul Stories,” which will be released May 5 by Innervision Records. To maintain his presence on radio and in the marketplace while juggling a busy schedule as a first-call session player, featured sideman and in-demand producer, he issued a variety of singles with three cuts – the retro funk-disco energizer “Groove-O-Matic,” the urbane romantic duet with jazz crooner Spencer Day entitled “You’re the One for Me” and the salsa-singed “Encantadora” featuring Najee on flute - entering the Billboard Top 10. The ten-track “Soul Stories,” Aaron’s first collection that is entirely self-produced, contains eight original tunes authored by the artist.   

Saluting one of his hallmark influences, Aaron embodies seminal jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery on the aptly-titled “Wes Side Story,” an evocative selection that will be serviced to radio stations for playlist adds beginning April 6.

Weaving engaging narratives told through a triad of guitar voices, Aaron’s “Soul Stories” unfolds amidst a varied backdrop of contemporary jazz, R&B, Latin and funk settings. He approaches his compositions as a storyteller and elects to feature a different guitar – cool jazz electric, gentle acoustic or emotional nylon string – as the protagonist of each musical vignette. Often Aaron provides a counterpoint by waging an expressive discourse using interpretive play between multiple guitars on the same song. Whether emoting on brisk radio-friendly jaunts or taking his time to elaborate on expansive improvised jams, Aaron’s inspired fret work is crisp, clear, lyrical and skillfully performed with passion and precision.     

“As with my live performances, I like to make all of my records as if they are movies with all the emotional ups and downs, as if I am taking the listener through a story or a musical landscape. On ‘Soul Stories,’ I wanted to try to tell compelling musical stories - some with words, but most without. Many artists like to focus on one trademark sound, but I prefer using different modes of expression because that’s really who I am. It keeps the albums fresh and allows for more spontaneity onstage,” said Aaron who recently previewed the album at a sold-out gig at Spaghettini south of Los Angeles. “It’s the most expressive album I’ve ever made as an artist representing the many different facets of the music I love and who I am creatively. There’s literally every part of me on this CD – my heart, blood and sweat. It’s all on this record.” 

The musicians who helped Aaron illustrate “Soul Stories” were vocalist Derek Bordeaux, keyboardists Tom Zink, Rob Mullins and Lew Laing; bassists Hussain Jiffry and Melvin Davis; strings arranger and keyboardist Mike Whittaker; strings arranger and label mate Craig Sharmat; percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez, and drummers Ricky Lawson and Winston Butts.

Another creative outlet occupying Aaron’s time is his weekly “Blake Aaron Live with Tina Anderson,” a nationally-syndicated radio show airing in markets including California, New York, Florida, Arizona and on Urban Soul Radio. Over the years, Aaron has hosted, interviewed and played with a galaxy of the brightest stars in contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and pop on the radio program. The Southern California-based recording artist debuted with 2002’s “With Every Touch” that offers collaborations with David Benoit and Eric Marienthal. Subsequent releases – “Bringin’ It Back,” “Desire” and “A Romantic Christmas” – garnered airplay and chart action while frequent appearances on the concert circuit enhanced his national profile. In other media, Aaron held a 14-year-stint as the guitarist and theme song co-composer for “MAD TV” along with more than a dozen films and television series the likes of which include “The Ben Stiller Show,” “Super Dave Osborne” and “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.”

“Soul Stories” is comprised of the following songs:
“Groove-O-Matic”
“Wes Side Story”
“Sol Amor”
“Europa”
“You’re the One for Me”
“Story of the Blues”
“Sara Smile”
“Story of My Life”
“You’re My Miracle”
“Encantadora”

   

Monday, March 16, 2015

Guitarist Thom Douvan Returns With His Most Eclectic Release Yet, 'All Over Again'

As a followup to last year's critically acclaimed release 'Brother Brother', guitarist Thom Douvan stretches into some different territory on his new album 'All Over Again'. Accompanied by such stellar musicians as keyboardist Mitchel Forman, bassist Jimmy Earl, percussionist Luis Conte and drummer Michael Barsimanto, Douvan pushes the envelope on nine original compositions and one well-chosen cover tune. “I see it as a continuum of the jazz, blues and soul music I featured on the last album, with a little bit more rock thrown in this time,” says the former Detroit session man who is currently an in-demand player on the Los Angeles studio scene.

'All Over Again' is the third CD released by composer-bandleader-guitarist Thom Douvan. Like his earlier soul-jazz tribute to the Motown Funk Brothers 'Brother Brother', which one critic called a “throw-back release with plenty of modern day flair”, Douvan's new recording 'All Over Again' recalls an era in music when the labels on music did not matter. Painting with a broad musical palette, the music on this new CD runs the gamut from soul to smooth jazz, adult contemporary to jazz fusion, World music to New Orleans funk, and straight ahead jazz.

This record features all original instrumental and vocal compositions by Thom, plus a lovely vocal ballad written by fellow Detroit guitarist Kenny Burrell sung by the great Lynne Fiddmont, who is currently on tour with Natalie Cole and has previously sung with Stevie Wonder, George Duke, and the Crusaders. The basic rhythm tracks on 'All Over Again' were recorded at Stagg Street Studio in Van Nuys, California in two day-long sessions featuring the killer rhythm section of Mitchel Forman on piano, Michael Barsimanto on drums, Jimmy Earl on Fender bass, and Trey Henry on acoustic bass. Overdubs and mixing were performed at several studios in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Final mixing was performed by Co-Producer Michael Parlett at Talented Studio in Los Angeles.

“This is a snapshot of some of my favorite influences and music,” says Douvan, who cites Billy Cobham’s 'Spectrum', Robben Ford’s 'Inside Story' and David Spinozza’s self-titled debut from 1978 as big inspirations for this recording. “I just kind of stood out of the way and let the music happen. And with the caliber of players on this record, I didn’t have anything to worry about.”

Along the way you can also hear the influence of such respected rhythm guitarists and soulful soloists as David T. Walker, Phil Upchurch and Cornell Dupree in his playing, as well as touches of such jazz icons as Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Larry Carlton and Detroit’s own Kenny Burrell.

From fusion (“Sephardia”) to smooth jazz (“Deja Vu All Over Again”), swinging jazz (“Wes Coasting”), classical and bluegrass (“Rhonda”) and funk (“Believe in You”), Douvan cuts a wide stylistic swath on his third outing as a leader. And he comes by his eclecticism honestly. Thom recalls, “Growing up in Ann Arbor in the early '70s, I came of age musically seeing all the great performers like Count Basie, Miles Davis, Magic Sam, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and others at the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival. It really was an era where there were not so many barriers between different kinds of music. People could go between styles easily. I really miss that freedom, so I wanted to explore that on my own self-produced CDs.”

Though Thom currently splits his time between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, his heart is still deeply imbedded in the Motor City, where he gained invaluable bandstand experience during the '80s with a group of former Motown session men collectively known as The Funk Brothers. Those funk and soul-jazz roots run deep with the Ann Arbor native, proving you can take the man out of Detroit, but you can’t take Detroit out of the man! While attending law school in Ann Arbor, Douvan began playing with The Funk Brothers around 1985, long before those Detroit musicians appeared in the successful 2002 documentary 'Standing in the Shadows of Motown', which effectively launched their second career. He worked with The Funk Brothers until 1992, when he relocated to California.

While Douvan has accumulated an abundance of chops since his stint at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and his subsequent 40 years as a working professional, he downplays his technical prowess. Says Thom, “I'm into the soul groove. I like to lay into the pocket. I'm a roots player. I love Americana...anything from the roots. But I gravitate towards soul music, that's my thing.”


NEW RELEASES: STEVE TURRE - SPIRITMAN; HENRY FRANKLIN - TWO VIEWS; THE CHEEBACARA - RETOUCHED

STEVE TURRE - SPIRITMAN

A great straight set from this top-shelf trombonist – done at the same relaxed, stretched-out level of some of the other excellent albums on the Smoke Sessions label – no tricks, no gimmicks, just a great demonstration of Steve Turre's strengths as a leader, and his always-sharp ability to solo! The group features Bruce Williams on soprano and alto sax, and Xavier Davis on piano – and rhythm is from Gerald Cannon on bass and the great Willie Jones III on drums – the latter of whom keeps things moving with just the right crackle on the groovers, but lets Cannon gently shape the mellower cuts with his bass. Turre's horn sounds wonderfully mellifluous – and Williams often steps back a bit to let the leader shine first, before swooping in for his own strong solos. Titles include "Trayvon's Blues", "Nangadef", "Spiritman/All Blues", "Bu", "Peace", and "Funky Thing".  ~ Dusty Groove

HENRY FRANKLIN - TWO VIEWS

Bassist Henry Franklin is still very much at the top of his game here – grabbing our attention right away, as he has with his other excellent recent releases on his own label – playing with this strong, soulful quality that really steps off from his better-known work of the 70s! The album features reedman Benn Clatworthy throughout – on either tenor or flute – and the "two views" in the title comes from the use of either pianist Cecila Coleman or Kirk Lightsey, who each provide a slightly different flavor on the tracks on which they appear! Drummer Carl Burnett's in the group – but the tracks with Coleman don't have any drums at all – which makes for this special sort of interplay between her piano and Franklin's bass – and the album also features a bit of guitar from Calvin Keys, plus some percussion as well. Titles include some interesting originals by Clatworthy – "Kandahar" and "Blues For Drayce" – and other titles include versions of Joe Henderson's "Punjab", Lightsey's "Heaven's Dance", Frank Strozier's "Frank's Tune", and Clare Fischer's "Pensativa" – which is always one of our favorites.  ~ Dusty Groove
THE CHEEBACARA - RETOUCHED

Cheebacabra return to the funky fold – with a set that offers up both unreleased material for the sessions from their previous three records, plus remixes of tracks from those albums as well! The remixes take a variety of approaches – some really cutting into the tunes, some layering more elements on top – including some nice instrumental twists – and the studio outtakes are used in between each remix track, almost like cool little "skit" instrumentals, as you'd find in a classic hip hop set! We especially love these outtakes – as they're lean, and mighty funky – often with great drums and keyboards – and remix tracks include "Osgood Schlatter (DJ Dinya rmx)", "Adventures Beyond (Cheeba rmx)", "Pass The Information (Art Hodge rmx)", "The Delivery (9dw rmx)", "Hidden Valley (Funkscribe rmx)", and "The Players Rendezvous (Naoki Yoda rmx)" ~ Dusty Groove


MARCUS MILLER'S Blue Note Debut AFRODEEZIA, Inspired by Miller's Role As UNESCO Artist For Peace & Spokesperson For Slave Route Project

Marcus Miller will be appearing tonight on the  Late Show With David Letterman sitting in with Paul Shaffer & The CBS Orchestra. Tune in to CBS tonight at 11:35/10:35c to hear Miller preview songs from his Blue Note debut  Afrodeezia, which is available today in Europe and tomorrow March 17 in the U.S. Miller is currently on tour with shows this week in Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles, and has announced additional U.S. tour dates in June and September. See below for a full list of dates or visit  www.marcusmiller.com.
 
Afrodeezia—which was inspired by Miller’s role as a UNESCO Artist For Peace and spokesperson for the organization’s Slave Route Project—was recorded in locations around the world including Morocco, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Los Angeles, and features a wide range of guests including rapper Chuck D., vocalist Lalah Hathaway, keyboardist Robert Glasper, trumpeters Etienne Charles and Ambrose Akinmusire, guitarists Keb’ Mo’ and Wah Wah Watson, bassist/producer Mocean Worker, organist Cory Henry (Snarky Puppy), and cellist Ben Hong, as well as musicians from Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Miller’s core band includes saxophonist Alex Han, trumpeter Lee Hogans, pianist Brett Williams, guitarist Adam Agati, and drummer Louis Cato.
 
"It was after visiting the House of Slaves on Gorée Island that I composed “Gorée,” explains Miller, referring to the powerful track featured on his previous albumRenaissance. “Onstage I felt the need to say what I had been feeling in Senegal. I wanted people to understand that this tune spoke not only of the slave tragedy but, through the music especially, that these people who suddenly found themselves at the bottom of a ship's hold had discovered a way to survive, and were able in time to transform their distress into joy. Shortly after my trip to Gorée, UNESCO named me an Artist for Peace, and made me the spokesperson for the Slave Route Project. That was when I started thinking about  Afrodeezia."
 
"The power of music has no limits,” states Miller. “Through spirituals, jazz and soul we were able to preserve our history, because all the rest had been erased. What I wanted most was to go back to the source of the rhythms that make our musical heritage so rich, to follow them like footprints from their beginnings in Africa all the way to the United States. That journey took us from Mali to Paris, from New Orleans to Sao Paulo and across the Caribbean.”
 
“For this project, I collaborated with musicians from West Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the southern U.S. and the large northern cities of the U.S. This is my way of paying tribute to the long journey of my African ancestors who became African-Americans. The melodies and rhythms they carried with them from Africa have EXPLODED into a ‘dizzying’ array of musical styles and genres that have changed the world.”
 
MARCUS MILLER – 2015 U.S. TOUR DATES:
March 17 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
March 18 – B.B. King Blues Club – New York, NY
March 20-21 – Spaghettini’s – Los Angeles, CA
June 4-7 – Yoshi's – San Francisco, CA
June 9 – Musical Instrument Museum – Phoenix, AZ
June 12 – One World Theatre – Austin, TX
June 13 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
June 14 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
June 16-18 – Jazz Bistro – St. Louis, MO
Sept. 3 – Low Country Jazz Festival – North Charleston, SC
Sept. 4 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, CA
Sept. 5 – John Coltrane Jazz Festival – High Point, NC 

Marcus Miller – a two-time GRAMMY Award winner and UNESCO Artist for Peace – is not only an exceptional musician – a multi-instrumentalist and world-renowned bassist – but also a highly-gifted composer and producer. The legendary  Tutu album he wrote and produced for Miles Davis sealed his international fame when Miller was only twenty-five. Since then he has continued collaborating with artists as varied and talented as Eric Clapton, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Jay-Z, Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Brian Ferry and Herbie Hancock (to name only a few). At the same time, he has produced his own albums, among them  The Sun Don’t Lie,  M2,  Silver Rain, Free,  A Night in Monte Carlo (with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra), andRenaissance, giving him occasion to tour internationally with young musicians whose talents he's recognized (as Miles did for him, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and others). You can hear Miller's radio show  Miller Time every Sunday night on SiriusXM's RealJazz.



Friday, March 13, 2015

NEW RELEASES: IAN SHAW - DRAWN TO ALL THINGS: THE SONGS OF JONI MITCHELL; MARY STALLINGS - FEELIN' GOOD; GLENN ZALESKI - MY IDEAL

IAN SHAW - DRAWN TO ALL THINGS: THE SONGS OF JONI MITCHELL

Ian Shaw's debut album on Linn Records is a stunning collection of re-workings of classic and lesser-known songs by his personal heroine Joni Mitchell. Originally released in 2006 Drawn To All Things has been re-issued as part of Linn's ECHO series which offers a second chance to enjoy the best of the label's award-winning catalogue. Drawn To All Things includes three songs which had not previously been recorded by anyone other than Joni; Talk to Me, Love Or Money and Stay In Touch. Top jazz vocalists and musicians lend their support; Claire Martin and Lea de Laria on vocals, plus trumpeter Guy Barker and guitarist Jim Mullen. Twice named Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards, Ian Shaw is one of the UK's finest male jazz vocalists. His exciting, edgy and provocative style has made him a popular name both at home and in the States. Ian has performed with some of the UK's top jazz musicians, including Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor and Cleo Laine, as well as fellow Linn artist Barb Jungr. Shaw has toured extensively in the UK - regular venues include the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Blackheath Concert Halls, Ronnie Scott's, Pizza Express Soho Jazz Club, The Vortex, the Jazz Café and The Barbican. Ian has played at all of the major jazz festivals in the UK including Brecon, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh (where he was nominated for a Perrier Award), Grimsby, Glasgow, Cheltenham, Scarborough, Swanage and St. Ives. Shaw's ongoing and highly popular collaboration is a celebrated duet show with Claire Martin. Together they have toured the world in an intimate duo setting with Shaw playing piano and with the BBC Big Band.
~ Amazon

MARY STALLINGS - FEELIN' GOOD

Writing about Mary Stallings The New York Times declared that perhaps the best jazz singer singing today is a woman almost everybody seems to have missed. Bay Area jazz lovers chuckled ruefully over yet another blast of East Coast parochialism, long recognizing Ms. Stallings as a singular jazz treasure. Her talents were also recognized by the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, Count Basie, Cal Tjader, Ben Webster and Wes Montgomery, who all went out of their way to showcase this supremely soulful singer. For her latest HighNote outing, Bruce Barth occupies the piano bench and handles the arranging duties with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington rounding out the rhythm section. Mary herself requested the added tone color of Steve Nelson's vibes, Freddie Hendrix's trumpet and the latin percussion of the irrepressible Ray Mantilla. So here again is Mary Stallings, enjoying her recording resurgence, singing with such confidence, poise and authority that every tune feels like a custom-tailored garment expertly made for her fine-grained tone, relaxed phrasing and supple sense of swing. ~ Amazon


GLENN ZALESKI - MY IDEAL

Pianist Glenn Zaleski's debut recording as a leader, My Ideal, is a tremendously varied and expertly wrought piano trio performance of compositions well-known in the genre and a couple that have the makings to be. To insure that the music was exploratory and new, Zaleski enlisted the talents of bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Craig Weinrib to assist in generating arrangements that avoid contrivance but are played both proficiently and naturally. After developing a solid musical foundation as a part of the Massachusetts jazz scene, Zaleski attended the Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California where he met numerous likeminded musicians, many of whom he still plays with today. On his twentieth birthday, Zaleski moved to New York City, where he studied at the New School and soon began his career as a professional musician. Ravi Coltrane nurtured the young talent, and contributes to the closing track here, Jerome Kern s 'I m Old Fashioned' which features a wonderful performance by Ravi on tenor sax on his own exquisitely expressive arrangement. ~ Amazon


NEW RELEASES: LARRY CORYELL - THE HEAVY FEEL; MELODY GARDOT – CURRENCY OF MAN; DAYME AROCENA – THE HAVANA CULTURA SESSIONS EP

LARRY CORYELL - THE HEAVY FEEL

Joining Larry are Saxophonist George Brooks, Drummer Mike Hughes, and Bassist Matt Montgomery. The album sounds like a collect of Larry's career. Big open sounding tracks like Ghost Note, Polished and Heavy Feel juxtapose tracks like River Crossing and Oasis Path showing Larry's acoustic side. 2011 East Sharing Air and The Way It Was are sure to be radio pleasers. The guitar virtuoso Larry Coryell has had and up and down career. And quite unjustified being overshadowed by others - be it Jimi Hendrix or John Mclaughlin - for most of his long time as a first class musician. Starting of as psychedelic pioneer with Free Spirits and then producing a string of fabuluos jazz/rock albums likeAt the Village Gate and Coryellbefore almost hitting the big time with the splendid Eleventh House. And performing and recording with the likes of Jack Bruce, John Mclaughlin, Carla Bley, Gary Burton. But after that he seemed to loose focus and producing a string of rather dissatisfactory albums - except for some forrays into world music, Larry like McLaughlin always been inspired by Indian music. As one of the pioneers of jazz-rock -- perhaps the pioneer in the ears of some -- Larry Coryell deserves a special place in the history books. He brought what amounted to a nearly alien sensibility to jazz electric guitar playing in the 1960s, a hard-edged, cutting tone, phrasing and note-bending that owed as much to blues, rock and even country as it did to earlier, smoother bop influences. Yet as a true eclectic, armed with a brilliant technique, he is comfortable in almost every style, covering almost every base from the most decibel-heavy, distortion-laden electric work to the most delicate, soothing, intricate lines on acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, a lot of his most crucial electric work from the '60s and '70s is missing on CD, tied up by the erratic reissue schemes of Vanguard, RCA and other labels, and by jazz-rock's myopically low level of status in the CD era (although that mindset is slowly changing). ~ Amazon 

MELODY GARDOT – CURRENCY OF MAN

The highly-anticipated ‘Currency of Man’ is an intensely creative milestone, transcending musical distinctions of jazz, blues and R&B, to offer a stirring social and musical statement. On the new album, Melody joins forces again with Grammy Award-winning producer Larry Klein. This striking musical partnership saw their last collaboration, 2009’s ‘My One and Only Thrill’, sell over 1.5 million copies, and produce songs that have become modern classics. ‘Currency of Man’ marks a substantial leap forward indeed, as we see Gardot take her gift for songwriting in a completely different direction to her last record, the critically acclaimed release ‘The Absence’. ~ Amazon


DAYME AROCENA – THE HAVANA CULTURA SESSIONS EP

Brownswood and Havana Cultura are delighted to announce this new EP from Cuban singer, composer, arranger, choir director, and band leader Daymé Arocena. At just 22 years old, Daymé is already a skillful, charismatic presence in Cuban music. Recorded in just a few days in London and Havana, The Havana Cultura Sessions EP is a great introduction to Daymé’s broad ranging musical talent. Drama showcases her trademark mix of jazz and Latin styles. El Ruso is what Dayme calls ‘a funny song.’ Its story covers her mother’s enforced study of Russian during the heyday of Cuba’s relationship with the Soviets. “Life never says it; does truth tell a lie?” she sings. On Sin Empezar Daymé glows with the range and use of tones in a superb song. Mellow and slow, its moving and stunning inclusion of the trumpet playing slowly with elongated notes. The sharp and crisp drumming and the piano’s impressively subtle phrases all work in harmony with the chorus and Dayme’s unusually delicate voice in response to some lyrics. A deep rumba re-imagining of the American torch song 'Cry Me a River' completes the package. ~ Six Degrees


PYHLISS HYMAN & TYRONE DAVIS CLASSIC ALBUMS EXPANDED EDITIONS

PHYLIIS HYMAN - YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME (EXPANDED EDITIONS)

Phyllis Hyman's  You Know How To Love Me includes 8 Bonus Tracks Contains the Un-Released track, You re The One The album includes the chart hits "You Know How To Love Me and Under Your Spell Produced by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas. Liner Notes by Alex Henderson Re-Mastered from the Original Master Tapes by Sean Brennan, at Battery Studio s, New York. You Know How to Love Me is the fourth album by soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Arista Records in 1979, and produced by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas. Writing in Smash Hits, Bev Hillier described You Know How to Love Me as a "great album" that was "relaxing, pleasant, easy listening and anything similar that you can think of". Hillier went on to describe Hyman's voice as "amazing and perfectly used". The release was Phyllis Hyman's most successful album and was carefully tailored to become the artist's crossover breakthrough. The end result became a carefully constructed blend of contemporary disco-styled songs and ballads, including the song that would become one of Hyman's signature tunes, "You Know How to Love Me." The song became a hit, growing into a classic, covered by artists such as Lisa Stansfield and Robin S. Other highlights include the excellent quiet storm of "Some Way," which allows Hyman's husky voice to shine; the somber, sublime piano ballad "But I Love You"; and the jazzy saxophone ballad "Complete Me." You Know How to Love Me is as close as Hyman truly came to becoming a force and is an important and essential chapter in this star's musical legacy. This release has grown into a classic whose importance will only increase with the passing of time. ~ Amazon 

PHYLLIS HYMAN (EXPANDED EDITION)

Phyllis Hyman's self-named album will be Expanded for the First Time Ever. Includes 6 Bonus Tracks The album includes the chart hits "Loving You, Losing You and No One Can Love You More Produced by Larry Alexander, John Davis, Jerry Peters, and Sandy Torano Liner Notes by Alex Henderson Re-Mastered from the Original Master Tapes by Sean Brennan, at Battery Studio s, New York. Phyllis Hyman is the self-titled solo debut studio album by soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. The album was released by Buddah Records in 1977 and charted on the Billboard 200 chart, with two singles released from the album: "No One Can Love You More" was the most successful, charting on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart. After recording a cover version of The Stylistics' 1971 hit "Betcha By Golly Wow" that appeared on Norman Connors' 1976 "You Are My Starship" album, Hyman was signed to Buddah and began work on her debut. The album featured the hits "Loving You - Losing You," and "I Don't Want To Lose You," a R&B ballad (originally recorded by The Spinners). This 1977 debut set from one of music's most emotional and loved singers including many songs she would be later identified with, like Skip Scarborough's "No One Can Love You More" which is indicative of her plentiful sensual charm and her rich vocal timbre. Hyman's vocal prowess is well known, as the album shows that she was gifted with an uncommon maturity. Hyman was only in her mid-20's when the album was recorded. That self-possession made her glide through the majority of the material, as on Thom Bell and Linda Creed's "I Don't Want To Lose You" which became a classic tearjerker. From singing the chorus in the intro, to doing a Sarah Vaughan-like scat in the middle, the song was hers. The debut also displays her skill on "Beautiful Man Of Mine" and Hubert Eaves' "Children of the World," as her vocals are undoubtedly the best thing about the release. Phyllis Hyman veers from instant melodic classics to unformed ideas, a mix that prevents it from being essential. ~ Amazon


TYRONE DAVIS - LET'S BE CLOSER TOGETHER!

Tyrone Davis Lets Be Closer Together will be Expanded and on CD for the First Time Ever. Includes 2 Bonus Tracks The album includes the chart hits "This I Swear and All You Got Liner Notes by Alex Henderson Re-Mastered from the Original Master Tapes by Sean Brennan, at Battery Studio s, New York. Tyrone Davis (born Tyrone Fettson; May 4, 1938 February 9, 2005) was a leading American blues and soul singer with a distinctive style, recording a long list of hit records over a period of more than 20 years. He had three no. 1 hits on the Billboard R&B chart: "Can I Change My Mind" (1968), "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" (1970), and "Turning Point" (1975). Davis released about 25 singles during his seven years with Dakar, most of them big R&B sellers produced by Willie Henderson. He finally returned to the top spot with "Turning Point" in 1975. Soon afterwards, Davis switched to the major Columbia record label and recorded seven albums over the next five years with producer Leo Graham and arranger James Mack who had collaborated with him for "Turning Point". Major hits with Columbia included "Give It Up" (#2), "This I Swear" (#6), and "In The Mood" (#6, 1979). Dubbed the "king of romantic Chicago soul" by MTV, Davis' perceived vulnerability and class endeared him to female soul fans through the 70's. ~ Amazon


Gilles Peterson Presents: Sonzeira Brasil Bam Bam Bass - The Out Takes and Remakes Curated With Love!

In the middle of 2014, with all roads leading to Brazil, DJ, tastemaker and cultural curator Gilles Peterson embarked on the project of a lifetime, his most ambitious to date: setting up camp in a recording studio in Rio to record a sort of love letter to the nation under the artist name “Sonzeira” (meaning a joyful / killer sound). The resulting album “Brasil Bam Bam Bam” was a deeply personal work, bringing together the many authentic sounds and traditions but always through the eyes of an enthusiast inspired by 30 years of DJIng and record collecting. As Gilles said at the time: ‘Brazil’s music culture is massive..There’s the North – Bahia, Recife, the afro-brazilian sound. There’s batucada, the heavy sambas. Then bossa nova - Tom Jobim and all that history. There’s baile funk. There’s Tropicalia and the more soulful, funky scene championed by groups like Banda Black Rio, Trio Mocoto and icons like Gilberto Gil. Such a huge amount of stuff to fit in. I wanted to try and cover it all – to make a kind of Buena Vista meets club culture, but to keep it sonically very modern.’ The album included star turns from Brazilian superstars young and old, including ‘City of God’ actor and singer Seu Jorge, the grande dame of samba, 76-year-old powerhouse Elza Soares, and world-renowned percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. Of course, this was a Gilles Peterson record and so there was also many left turns - who else would come up with Emanuelle Araujo’s bossa nova take on the 80s UK jazz-funk hit Southern Freeez, or draft in Seun Kuti (youngest son of Fela) to join the dots between modern day Brazil and the slave ships that bought poly-rhythms from Africa 400 years ago.

Of course, with roots so deep in the interesting edges of club culture it was natural for Gilles to continue this journey into new sonic territories. As such he has spent the last 6 months curating this new album “Brasil Bam Bam Bass” drafting in some of his favourite producers, friends, and associates to reimagine tracks from the album, with all the taste and good judgement you would expect. Much like the original record this is a very personal curation, a considered work that saw Gilles hand pick producers to re-imagine the album track by track - these include At Jazz, FaltyDL, DJ Oil, Kyodai, Max Graef and many more. Also included on this double CD are some wonderful outtakes (including the sublime reworking of Yusef lateef’s Plum Blossom previously only on the vinyl box set of the album), and dubbed out alternative versions of several tracks by Gilles’ Sonzeira co-producer Dillip Harris.

If the original record was about examining Gilles own history and love for every quarter of Brasil’s sound, this provides a further glimpse into Gilles’ creative mind, ever serching for connections between rhythms; exciting, imaginative and original productions. Most of all this is a record where respect for the source material continues to shine through.

Que sonzeira!

~ Sex Degrees


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Guitarist ISAAC DARCHE Releases TEAM & VARIATIONS Featuring Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Glenn Zaleski, Desmond White & E.J. Strickland

Isaac Darche Team & Variations In the nearly ten years that guitarist Isaac Darche has called New York home, the San Francisco Bay Area native has found opportunities to work with many rising jazz stars and to pursue his own muse. He's emerged as a rising star himself and is now following up on the 2012 release of his well-received debut Boom-Baptism with Team & Variations, to be released by the Dutch-based Challenge Records label on April 14. 

Darche's fluid, warm-toned style reflects the classic influence of Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino. But as indicated by the title of the album's opening track, "A 'Winkel in Time" -- a nod to influential guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel -- he is open to the innovations of all kinds of stylists. "Pushing the boundaries musically yet keeping a certain authentic 'jazz feeling' was very important to me on this project," says the leader. 

Darche's performances on the new CD with ace team members Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on tenor saxophone, pianist Glenn Zaleski, bassist Desmond White, and standout drummer E.J. Strickland confirm his status as one of the most impressive young guitarists on the scene. 

The playful titles of the originals are drawn from his life. "Sloped Perspective," a wry reference to Brooklyn's Park Slope community, where many jazz musicians live, strives for a combination of simplicity and complexity. "Arts of a Bachelor," an experiment in unusual intervals, reflects on his schooling. "Don't Run out of Money," a double time-exercise with a melody that evolved out of guitar voicings, is the ultimate advice for living in New York. 

Fresh readings of the standards "You Stepped Out of a Dream" and "Nobody Else But Me" are also in the mix, along with his take on Wayne Shorter's "Ana Maria." 

Born and raised in San Anselmo, California, just north of San Francisco, Isaac Darche, 32, started playing the clarinet at age 7, switched to the guitar at 10, and was also playing the saxophone a year or so later. It was the sound of the guitar -- specifically the pure, beautiful jazz sound of the Gibson L-5 models as played by Montgomery and Martino -- that hooked him. He played in various groups at Marin Academy, a San Rafael high school known for its strong arts program.
  
While attending the Stanford Jazz Workshop Jazz Camp as a young teenager, Darche was blown away by a performance featuring fellow students Ambrose Akinmusire, Jonathan Finlayson, Dayna Stephens, and Taylor Eigsti. "I kept thinking, oh my God, I'm so far behind, this is crazy," he recalls. 

Isaac Darche He went on to attend UCLA, studying with Billy Higgins, Anthony Wilson, and, primarily, the distinguished guitarist and composer Kenny Burrell, whose groundbreaking course on Duke Ellington was an essential part of the curriculum. Burrell was a stickler for good tone, good phrasing, and swing feel. "He would stop us and say, 'This is not swinging,'" said Darche. "But he was open to all kinds of music."

Darche was encouraged to go to New York by guitarist and "super sideman" Randy Napoleon. His "boom-baptism" there was eased by all the great music happening around him. He got hired by keyboardist Sean Wayland, and played with numerous other artists including Mark Shim, Jon Gordon, Randy Ingram, Henry Cole, Linda Oh, and his old campmate Ambrose Akinmusire.

"It's no easy accomplishment in a field packed with guitarists," wrote David Adler in NYC Jazz Record of Boom-Baptism, "but Darche has found a unique sound and technical approach on the instrument. His tone is bright, his articulation blindingly fast and flawless, his rhythm consistently in the pocket but full of breath, never stiff. ... Effortlessly forward thinking, free of idiomatic clichés."

Isaac Darche brings the exciting music of Team & Variations to Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY on Wednesday 4/28 at 8:15 pm, appearing with the same quintet as on the new CD.


Vocalist Joanna Pascale Embraces Deep Emotional Connections with Lesser Known Repertoire on Wildflower // Produced by Pianist Orrin Evans and Featuring Christian McBride, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gregoire Maret, Bilal, Cyrus Chestnut and more

Whether referring to the lesser-known repertoire to which she's drawn or to the singer herself, nurtured in the concrete jungle of her native Philadelphia, Wildflower is the ideal title for Pascale's captivating new album. Supported by an excellent band led by the session's producer, pianist Orrin Evans, and a host of special guests including Christian McBride, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gregoire Maret, Bilal, and Cyrus Chestnut, Pascale finally comes into full bloom, a wildflower whose beauty is emerging into the sunlight. 

The recording of Wildflower coincided with the end of Pascale's decade-long engagement at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which allowed her to hone her voice, style, and vast repertoire. But leaving that long-running engagement also provided a newfound freedom to follow a more personal path, which she embraces on her fourth album. Each song on Wildflower is one with which Pascale feels a deep emotional connection, which shines through in the passionate feeling she conveys to the listener. "If I don't connect with a lyric, I can't sing a song," she says. "I love to dig into the lyrics and find all the different shades, the stories within the story, and then try to interpret that." 

But equally important for her approach to breathing life into this material is Pascale's interaction with her musicians. "For me," she says, "it's the space between the words that tells the story. I love that these musicians allowed so much space for me to paint these pictures. It allowed me to get very intimate with the phrasing of the lyrics. The fun in storytelling is finding a way of phrasing so that the listener connects to your intention and all the ways you feel the subtle shades of the emotions in the story." 

Propelled by the deep, sinuous groove laid down by Evans, McBride, and drummer Donald Edwards, "Forget Me" immediately establishes that connection via Pascale's intimate, impassioned delivery. It's followed by the tender J.J. Johnson ballad "Lament," featuring an original lyric penned for Pascale by Tony Haywood, which features Edwards and bassist Luques Curtis. Most of the album features bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Obed Calvaire, who luxuriate in creating space while maintaining momentum on tracks like "I Remember You" and "Stay With Me." 

To find the ideal musicians to realize her vision for the album, Pascale worked closely with producer Orrin Evans. The two go back almost twenty years together, to her near-disastrous first experience on stage when she was 14-years-old at an Evans-led jam session. When the pianist finally called her to the stage, he waved off her offer of a songbook with the music for Billie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache." 

"This was honestly the first time I'd ever sang when I wasn't singing along to a record," Pascale recalls. "Orrin starts playing and something wasn't right. I start singing and he's in a different key, and I'm horrified. So I turn around and the bassist and drummer are laughing hysterically to the point where tears were rolling down their faces and their shoulders were shaking trying to hold it in. Next thing I know, somebody grabs the songbook and puts it in front of Orrin. I still have a little bit of fear whenever I sit in on a jam session." 

Despite that shaky start, Pascale and Evans forged an ongoing friendship, to the point where they consider themselves virtually family. "Joanna's like a little sister to me," Evans has said. "I think we really see time and space and rhythm in the same way. So whatever we do, there's going to be space for us to grow and make something happen." 

As a producer, Pascale says, Evans "knew exactly what I wanted to get to and I really trusted that. There were times where it was hard for me to give up control, because I had total control of all the other records that I've done. But he really had the wider vision than I did at the moment, which helped to shape everything. We have a lot of mutual respect." 

Gregoire Maret's expressive harmonica highlights two rare excursions into the pop songbook for Pascale, Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" and the Gerry Goffin/Carole King favorite "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" Maret also appears, along with Cyrus Chestnut's spirited organ, on Pascale's achingly slow rendition of Henry Glover's "Drown in My Own Tears," best known from Ray Charles' recording.

The title song, meanwhile, features two of Philadelphia's favorite six-string sons, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Tim Motzer, and vocals by neo-soul singer Bilal, Pascale's friend from Philly's renowned High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), which also boasts Rosenwinkel, McBride, Joey DeFrancesco, and members of The Roots as graduates. "We started discovering music together," Pascale recalls of Bilal. "We would make each other jazz vocal mix-tapes and trade them. So it was a very special, very magical moment for me to have him share his gift on the recording twenty years later." 

After graduating from CAPA, Pascale attended Temple University, where she is now a member of the faculty and has been featured on two of the university's releases, including the Temple University Jazz Band's Thad Jones tribute album, To Thad With Love. She is featured on Warfield's Jazzy Christmas album; Orrin Evans' Liberation Blues, recorded live at Smoke; on Philly sax legend Larry McKenna's From All Sides; and on That Music Always Round Me, a setting of Walt Whitman's poetry by Garry Dial and Dick Oatts. She made her leader debut with 2004's When Lights Are Low, followed by the 2008 release Through My Eyes and a 2010 duo recording with pianist Anthony Wonsey that focused on Songbook standards.

Joanna Pascale · Wildflower
Release Date: May 5, 2015 


Josh Groban to Release New Album STAGES Featuring Special Guests Audra McDonald and Chris Botti

Multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban announced today on ABC's Good Morning America that he will release a new album, entitled Stages, on April 28th, 2015, via Reprise Records. The album is a collection of some of the greatest musical theater songs of all time, which Groban describes as "gorgeously arranged songs that have stood the test of time," and which he was drawn to because of their combination of "incredible melody with an incredible story." The album is available for pre-order at all participating retailers and JoshGroban.com. An exclusive edition of the album will be available at Target containing 2 extra tracks.

"Nothing has inspired me more in my life than the energy that is shared in a theater when great songs and great art are on the stage," he says. "I wanted this album to pay tribute to those inspirations and memories."

Recorded with producers Humberto Gatica and Bernie Herms in both Los Angeles and London's Abbey Road (with a 75-piece orchestra), Stages features songs from Les Misérables ("Bring Him Home"); Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel ("You'll Never Walk Alone"); Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George ("Finishing the Hat"), Sweeney Todd ("Not While I'm Around"), and Into the Woods ("Children Will Listen"); The Fantasticks ("Try to Remember"); A Chorus Line ("What I Did For Love"); Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera ("All I Ask of You"), The Wizard of Oz ("Over the Rainbow"), and others.

Another highlight is "Pure Imagination," originally sung by Gene Wilder in the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which though best known as a film, is also a West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "It's a tiny bit of a cheat because it was from a film originally, but I really wanted to sing it," Groban says. "The fans wanted me to as well. It's one of my most requested songs to record ever. I am a huge fan of the original film, it was a part of my childhood. Gene Wilder will always be number one for me with this song. There's a tenderness to the way he sang it that is just the essence of Wilder. It's something in his soul that will never be duplicated."

"Stages is an album I've wanted to make since I signed to Reprise/Warner Bros. Records during my freshman year as a Musical Theater student at Carnegie Mellon," Groban says. "I knew in my heart that, at some point, I would visit the songs I love from that world as an album. Having lived in New York City the last few years, seeing as much theater as I could see, and having so many great friends in the theater community, it became really inspiring to take this on. It was time."

Groban says the title was inspired by his lifetime love for the musicals represented on the album, as well as "the countless stages, both physical and metaphorical, it has taken for me to get to a place where I have the opportunity to record an album like this in the way we did it, with the great orchestra at Abbey Road. It was an extraordinary 'pinch me' opportunity. There was a great freedom to go big with these songs because the world of musical theater welcomes that. It's all about big stories, big emotions, and big vocals. Every arrangement on this album is its own work of art. Standing in the room and listening to the orchestra was just breathtaking. And Both Humberto and Bernie are producers who think about the warmth and clarity and emotion of the voice. What I love about them is the vocal, the arrangement, the quality is key."

Stages features three duets: Kelly Clarkson is featured on "All I Ask of You" ("she can, quite simply, do anything"); Audra McDonald sings on "If I Loved You" ("in my head I heard her on this and to sing it in the room with her was a dream come true"); and trumpeter Chris Botti plays on "Old Devil Moon" ("he plays with such control and expressiveness"). "All of these duets have great meaning to me and I'm honored to have them on this album," Groban says.
  
The track-listing for Stages is as follows:

"Pure Imagination" (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
"What I Did For Love" (from A Chorus Line)
"Bring Him Home" (from Les Misérables)
"Le Temps Des Cathédrales" (from Notre Dame de Paris)
"All I Ask Of You" (from The Phantom of the Opera) (feat. Kelly Clarkson)
"Try To Remember" (from The Fantasticks)
"Over the Rainbow" (from The Wizard of Oz)
"Children Will Listen"/"Not While I'm Around" (from Sweeney Todd/Into the Woods)
"You'll Never Walk Alone" (from Carousel)
"Old Devil Moon" (from Finian's Rainbow) (feat. Chris Botti)
 "Finishing the Hat" (from Sunday in the Park with George)
"If I Loved You" (from Carousel) (feat. Audra McDonald)
"Anthem" (from Chess)


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