THE JAZZ CHILL CORNER VALERIE JUNE - PUSHIN' AGAINST A STONE

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VALERIE JUNE - PUSHIN' AGAINST A STONE Posted: 19 Jul 2013 05:20 AM PDT Valerie June will release her debut album, 'Pushin' Against A Stone,' August 13 in the US via Concord Music Group. The album--which brings together the talents of acclaimed producers Kevin Augunas (Edward Sharpe, Florence + The Machine), Dan Auerbach, and Peter Sabak, along with an all-star cast of musicians ranging from Booker T. and Jimbo Mathus to some of Hungary's top session players--was recorded at Easy Eye in Nashville, Fairfax Recording in Van Nuys, CA, and Studio H in Budapest. June, whose voice percolates somewhere between Dolly Parton and Billie Holiday, wrote or co-wrote all but one of the record's 11 tracks, blending rural roots, country, rock, and blues into an astonishing and singular sound that bridges Alan Lomax and Jack White. See below for full track listing. June grew up in the small town of Humboldt, TN, before moving to Memphis, and she pays tribute to her home with charismatic Southern charm on "Tennessee Time." She spent years honing a distinctive sound that effortlessly shifts between eras and genres: from the indie-blues slide guitar shuffle of "Can't Be Told" and the heavenly harmonies of traditional spiritual "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations," to the stark, acoustic "Workin' Woman Blues" and the uncanny darkness of "Twined and Twisted." June can be haunting and melancholy, singing of loneliness on "Somebody To Love," or fiery and defiant, taking a life to save her own on "You Can't Be Told." At one moment seductive in a sensual come-on, fragile and vulnerable the next in a display of naked honesty, June's voice transports you to another world the moment she opens her mouth. Valerie counts Booker T. and Eric Church among her fans. The former performs on two tracks on the album, the mesmerizing "Somebody To Love" and "On My Way," which he also co-wrote, and June recently performed a stunning duet of "Like Jesus Does" with Church at the 2013 ACM Awards. The album's US release follows June's breakout year in the UK, where she has performed on Jools Holland, toured with Jake Bugg, and earned critical raves, with the London Evening Standard calling her "a major star in waiting" and The Sunday Times hailing her as "this year's big new voice." 'Pushin' Against A Stone' Track list: 1. Workin' Woman Blues 2. Somebody To Love 3. The Hour 4. Twined And Twisted 5. Wanna Be On Your Mind 6. Tennessee Time 7. Pushin' Against A Stone 8. Trials, Troubles, Tribulations 9. You Can't Be Told 10. Shotgun 11. On My Way www.valeriejune.com www.twitter.com/thevaleriejune www.facebook.com/valeriejunemusic

KNEEBODY - THE LINE Posted: 19 Jul 2013 05:18 AM PDT Kneebody releases their fourth album, The Line, as their debut recording on Concord Records, September 24, 2013. Their sound is...... explosive rock energy balanced with high level nuanced chamber ensemble playing, highly wrought compositions balanced with adventurous no holds barred improvising. All genre and "sounds like" references can be set aside as this band has created a style all its own. This project explodes with rock and jazz influences through engrossing improvisational instrumentals, includes 12 original compositions, and contributions from various members of the group. The album, produced by Chris Dunn, Sr. Director of A&R, and Kneebody, features the band's five players; keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, electric bassist Kaveh Rastegar, saxophonist Ben Wendel and drummer Nate Wood. Kneebody bassist Rastegar says, "Personally, I think calling Kneebody "jazz" or "electric jazz" is fantastic because then we can move on from that hang up and play our music -- and alter expectations of what 'jazz' is." The Line opens with a dark rock tune titled "Lowell," then moves to a lighter mood with Cha Cha, a contrapuntal number with an engaging swing beat. "Trite" embodies the non-linear approach the band gives to compositions and "Sleeveless" provides a slow-moving feel with dark undertones. Still Play has a twisty, technically challenging horn line that is complemented by the other players' musicianship. The title track from the album, "The Line," is hard-hitting, embracing the rock energy of the band. "E and E," is a lush, improvised intro to "Pushed Away" with three basses. Keyboardist Adam Benjamin describes Work Hard, Play Hard, Towel Hard as "a tribute to those of us who don't want to dial it down," and "Greenblatt" as "a song about open space and subtle transformations." "What Was" has jarring drum beats matched with a flowing melodic line. "Ready Set Go" manifests their industrious indie rock side and is the final piece on the album. Kneebody draws upon influences spanning D'Angelo's Voodoo to music by Elliot Smith, Bill Frisell, and Miles Davis. Their live shows are known for intense sonic landscapes of the Radiohead ilk, for the rhythmic bombast of a Squarepusher or Queens of the Stone Age show, and the harmonic depth and improvisational freedom experienced at a Brad Mehldau concert. The quintet met in their late teens while at The Eastman School of Music and Cal Arts, became fast friends, and converged together as Kneebody amid the vibrant and eclectic music scene of Los Angeles in 2001. Since then, each band member has amassed an impressive list of credits and accomplishments over the years all while the band has continued to thrive and grow in reputation, solidifying a fan base around the world. Tour dates include Japan, Europe and North America. Complete Track List Includes: Lowell (4:42) Cha-Cha (5:08) Trite (6:24) Sleeveless (5:29) Still Play (4:51) The Line (6:23) E and E (1:26) Pushed Away (3:20) Work Hard, Play Hard, Towel Hard (5:25) Greenblatt (4:20)