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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:21 PM PDT
BILLY PRESTON - 16 YR. OLD SOUL
Many folks only became aware of Billy Preston in the late '60s through his work as a Beatles sideman and his signing to their Apple Records label as a solo artist. But Preston had actually been recording for many years before that, and his first big break came courtesy of none other than Sam Cooke. Preston—then still in high school—was hired to play on Cooke's 1963 album Night Beat, and Cooke was so impressed with the teenager that he signed him to the Derby imprint of his SAR Records label, and got him in the studio right away to record 16-Yr. Old Soul. The album features a cookin' batch of instrumentals propelled by Preston's funky organ and piano licks leading two tasty combos, one composed of the legendary Earl Palmer on drums, Gene Edwards on guitar and Clifford Hils on bass, the other Hils, guitarist Tommy Tedesco and drummer Milt Turner. This CD debut—yours courtesy of Real Gone Music and ABKCO Music & Records—adds a couple of bonus tracks, "Sweet Thing" and "Win Your Love for Me," with sound overseen by ABKCO's Chief Audio Engineer Teri Landi and notes by Bill Dahl. '60s soul instrumental fans, take heed! Available 10/1/13.
FATHER'S CHILDREN - LOVE & LIFE STORIES
Warmth, wisdom and soul from DC area legends Father's Children! The Father's Children story is a pretty remarkable one – starting out with some creatively masterful, though long-time buried funky soul in the early 70s that finally saw light of day decades later, thanks the good fellows at The Numero Group -and later recording an excellent, should-be classic self-titled set for Mercury, which should have made them stars, but it fell through the cracks. All these years later, Father's Children are doing their own thing on their own terms, with a mature sound, solid group vocals and wise songcraft. Good stuff! Includes "Be Careful", "Saying I Do", "Strange Place", "Unspoken", "History", "For Better Or Worse", "Tunnel Vision", "The World Is Changing", "It's Time", "Conversation" and more. ~ Dusty Groove
BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE SAVAGES - DIG THE SAVAGE SOUL
Raucous rock 'n' soul from Barrence Whitfield & The Savages – who reformed and cut a killer record for the deep soul and garage rock diggers at Munster Records a few years back – and they're doing it with even more soul and savagery for our friends at Bloodshot! The band mixes wild-eyed vintage school rhythm & blues at it's most rugged, but without compromising the soul at the core. Barrence can growl and shout with the best of 'em, but he's got a tender side, when he wants to show it – which is rarely, but that's the point – this is all about the floor shaking and roof tearing good times. It's Savage Soul in both style and title – and dig it, we most certainly do! Includes "The Corner Man", "My Baby Didn't Come Home", "Oscar Levant", "Bread", "Daddy's Gone To Bed", "Blackjack", "Hey Little Girl", "I'm Sad About It", "Subar", "Turn Your Damper Down" and more. ~ Dusty Groove
 
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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:14 PM PDT
Tarpan Records has announced the national release of Thunder 2013, a new full length album by Narada Michael Walden on September 17th 2013. This release features new songs that span Rock, Fusion, Funk and even a ballad or two. This is the first worldwide official release by Narada Michael Walden on his new imprint Tarpan Records.
Narada Michael Walden has produced many household names including: Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Regina Belle, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Ritchie, Elton John, Sting, Carlos Santana, Shanice Wilson, Tevin Campbell, Lisa Fischer, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck and The Temptations. He was awarded Grammys for Producer of the Year in 1988, Album of the Year for the movie soundtrack The Bodyguard in 1993 and the R&B Song of the Year in 1985 for Aretha Franklin's Freeway of Love. Billboard Magazine also named him one of the "Top Ten Producers with the Most Number One Hits".
As impressive a production and songwriting resume as Narada Michael Walden has assembled over the past thirty years, he has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist in his own right. Beginning as a drummer with the pioneering Mahavishnu Orchestra (replacing Billy Cobham at 19 years old), Narada also toured with Jeff Beck, Tommy Bolin, and Weather Report. With eleven acclaimed solo albums of his own which produced Dance Hits such as, I Shoulda Loved Ya, Divine Emotions, I Don't Want Nobody Else to Dance With You, along the way, he has achieved greatness in a wide range of sonic arenas. Walden's music includes groundbreaking soundtrack work on such blockbuster films as The Bodyguard, Free Willy, Beverly Hills Cops II, 9 ½ Weeks and Stuart Little to the EMMY-winning "One Moment In Time," the theme to the 1988 Olympic Games.
Thunder 2013 is a strong new direction from Narada Michael Walden, inspired by his recent successful two-year tour with the Jeff Beck Band. Narada returned home to finish this album and put together his band to tour on his own. In early February 2012, Narada Michael Walden returned from a well received 10 day stint of shows at the Blue Note in Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan to perform at the White House in an all-star band for President Obama's "Red, White and Blues" Concert with legends B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, Trombone Shorty, Booker T Jones and more. Narada enlisted some amazing musicians and performers for his band on Thunder 2013 including: Nikita Germaine (Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, and Patty Austin) on Vocals, Frank Martin (Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson, John McLaughlin, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen) on Keyboards, Angeline Saris (Gretchen Menn, Zepperella) on Bass and Vocals, Matthew Charles Heulitt (Zigaboo Modaliste, Salvador Santana, Megan Slankard, Eion Harrington) on Guitars.
His new label, Tarpan Records is a home for many great established artists and some amazing up-and-coming artists as well. Tarpan Records specializes in artist development, full service project management, promotion, and distribution. Initially focused on Narada Michael Walden's releases, the plan is to apply this business model to up and coming and established recording artists in the years to come.
Tarpan Records will release Narada Michael Walden's new album Thunder 2013 nationally in late September of 2013 with help from distribution and marketing powerhouse Independent Distribution Collective. This new album is a Rock masterpiece, with many flavors of Narada's vast history mixed in. On September 24th 2013 the label will also release Narada Michael Walden's Rising Sun, an instrumental EP that features Narada and his fantastic new band performing remakes of his greatest Fusion Hits.
Narada Michael Walden and his band will perform a series of shows across the USA in the new few months in support of the release of Thunder 2013. The first in this series, deemed a "pre-release" concert, will be held at Yoshi's Oakland - 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607 on September 5th, 2013 doors at 7pm show at 8pm. This show will feature songs from Thunder 2013, Rising Sun, and of course some of the hits from Narada's legendary catalog.
 
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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:14 PM PDT
One brings together the potent forces of Brazilian tenor saxophonist and prolific free jazz icon Ivo Perelman, veteran bassist-guitarist Joe Morris (a ubiquitous figure on the avant garde jazz scene, making his recorded debut on electric bass guitar here) and Hungarian hardcore drummer Balazs Pandi (Slobber Pup, Obake, Metallic Taste of Blood, Merzbow). With no rehearsals, no charts, no sketches or musical road maps whatsoever, the three risk-taking musicians entered the studio and made a joyful noise in daring, unadulterated fashion, pulling no punches while following their instincts from start to finish. Fueled by the hard and fast beats of Pandi, who also demonstrates his remarkably versatile skills and keen listening instincts throughout the session, One is a highly interactive studio encounter that borders on the telepathic at times. And with Perelman's cathartic, Albert Ayler-inspired tenor sax blowing on top and Morris' electric bass lines bubbling underneath, sparks ensue on this turbulent project.
From the opening strains of the kinetic and aptly-titled "Freedom," which kicks off the potent improv outing, to the dynamic 17-minute closer "Stigma," it is clear that these three kindred spirits are going for it with reckless abandon. Along with the blowtorch intensity of Perelman's sax playing and Pandi's thunderous drumming, there are moments of tender reflection on One.
"What Love Can Lead To" has Pandi playing in more understated fashion on mallets while Perelman pursues a poignant, searching melody. "To Remember What Never Existed" builds from a lightly swinging intro to a tumultuous crescendo capped by Ivo's mighty overblowing and Balazs' bashing. The title track is an intimate, conversational duet that has Morris playing contrapuntal bass guitar lines to Perelman's angular and skittish sax lines. "Universal Truth," a frantic barrage fueled by Pandi's dynamic polyrhythmic pulse and Morris' bubbling bass lines, comes across like Ivo's white-hot homage to Albert Ayler. And the visceral, suite-like closer, "Stigma," travels across a myriad of moods while serving as a perfect microcosm of what these three such potent forces can do together.
While Perelman, Morris and Pandi had all previously recorded before (Perelman most recently on two trio projects with drummer Gerald Cleaver for Leo Records - 2012's Family Ties and Living Jelly) and Morris had previously played with Pandi in Slobber Pup (on their 2013 debut Black Aces for RareNoise Records), One marks the first time that Ivo and Balazs had ever played together. "Balazs clearly comes from a rock or hardcore background," says Perelman, "but you can still hear some Elvin Jones in his playing, which I really love. So the idea of playing with Pandi was very exciting to me."
At Pandi's invitation, Perelman came down to The Stone, John Zorn's experimental music club on Manhattan's Lower East Side, to hear the drummer play with Slobber Pup, a thunderously intense band featuring Morris on distortion-laced guitar, Trevor Dunn on electric bass and Jamie Saft on keyboards. "I totally enjoyed Balazs' playing, although I had to cover my ears at times because I wasn't used to hearing such intense music. And as I watched them I thought that if we played together it would sound great with Joe on electric bass, just to give it that punch to match Balazs' intense backbeats."
As Pandi recalls of that first encounter with Perelmen, "After the show at The Stone, Ivo ran up screaming and told me pretty much that I can't leave the States without us recording. Within three days, we were in the studio."
And so, a power trio was born. They went into the studio carte blanche and pressed the record button. And the result is One. What you hear is what they played that day in the studio. "This has pretty much been the way on mostly all the recordings I have done," says Ivo. "I really like not playing with a particular person before I go into the studio because I want the first reaction to be documented right there, right then."
While Perelman was well aware of Pandi's thunderous nature, he was not surprised by the sheer versatility the drummer exhibited from track to track on One. "I wasn't surprised by the quality of his other kind of playing because I could tell he was a sensitive listener and would adapt to the environment and bring something tasteful to the plate." Adds the Hungarian drummer. "Playing lightly is nothing new to me. I used to play timpani in an orchestra when I was nine years old, so I grew up dealing with all kinds of tempos and dynamics and playing, from playing solo to playing with up to 60 musicians. People know me more from playing intense and loud music, but in the end my goal is not to kill anyone at the session or to be the most intense performer ever. Also, it is possible to play heavy music with light dynamics. Sun Ra is the best example of this. So it is possible to play at a lower dynamic but still destroy."
Balazs is definitely a unique drummer," adds Perelman. "I don't even know how to name what he does because it's so unique, but I definitely never played with anybody with that intensity, really. When I played with Rashied Ali, to me that was beautiful and very intense. But Balazs has something unique. So he forces me to play in a different way as well." Morris concurs. "Balazs does a lot of different things. He's somebody who has a rock and metal sort of feel, this sort of head-banging kind of thing, but he has incredible ears and really good technique and he's very pliable and flexible. So he's really easy to play with. And I think Ivo was blown away at how different it was and yet how good it was."
Though Perelman has amassed an extensive catalog of free jazz recordings over the years, he says it is never easy to remain in that place of pure improvisation. "Easy is never a good word, I think, because every day it's a different set of parameters. You're dealing with the situation, whether it's studio or live, the psychological, the social, the spiritual. So many factors play into this so every day is a challenge to say something meaningful, fresh, honest and good. So it wasn't easy improvising with Joe but it was familiar in the sense that I relate to him in a beautiful way. He's a keen listener and he gives me back ideas, so it's a back-and-forth type mutual collaboration. And now I feel like I'm developing that same kind of communication with Balazs. So I'm looking forward to collaborating with him again to see if we can take it to the next level.
Ivo adds that he was pleasantly surprised by the results of Morris' first-time use of electric bass guitar on One: "I've played and recorded with Joe both on acoustic bass and electric guitar. And for me, the electric bass is like a great mixture of both. So on this recording I got a bit of his 'bass thinking hat' and I got a bit of his 'guitar playing hat.' I really dug that and I have a feeling that Joe will expand and be asked to play electric bass guitar more and more when people hear what I'm hearing. This is the beginning of a new language for him, a new axe. Between the chording, the things he does with his pick, the nuances and speed he can generate on the instrument...I don't hear electric bass players doing that. So I think Joe bumped into something great. I'm happy that I brought it up to him."
Says Morris, "I had never done a gig on electric bass before. I do play bass and I've done a lot of gigs and records on upright bass. And I've played electric bass at home but I've never done any kind of performance on electric bass. So this was the first one that I did. In fact, I had to borrow my son's Fender Jazz bass for this session. And for a while I was thinking about being a bass player on it but then I started thinking, 'Well, it's really a bass guitar.' So at that point in the session I sort of shifted to being a guitar player and just thinking of it as being a bass guitarist. And that's when it sort of went to a different place because that realization gave me an opportunity to shape the form a little bit differently."
With the release of the powerhouse triumvirate's One, Perelman, Morris and Pandi are poised to destroy. And each night that they play together on tour to promote their RareNoise debut, it's bound to be a new and different and undeniably intense experience. As Morris put it, "Every time I pick up my instrument, whether it's the guitar, upright bass or electric bass, it's my obligation to do something different than what I did last night. And it's great when you play with people like Ivo and Balazs, who both have the same attitude. They're both seem to be innate musicians who have tons of energy, who are great listeners and who don't get stuck because they can change and go with the flow. They're great improvisers. And together, we have something real special."
 
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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 12:40 PM PDT
SAINT ETIENNE PRESENTS - SONGS FOR A CENTRAL PARK PICNIC (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
Imagine a beautifil day sitting under a shady tree in Central Park, and you bring along some music to create a truely relaxing atmosphere. This really cool summer set includes a total of 25 songs and it feature: Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Vince Guaraldi); Bee Born (Sammy Davis Jr.); Stranger On The Shore (The Drifters); Gopher Mambo (Ymo Sumac);Boato (Bistro) (Lalo Shifrin); Yes I Love you (Paris Sisters); Moon River (Jerry Butler); Some For Cat (Henry Mancini); Lost For Sure (Dion); Private World (Artie Farr); Bad Boy (The Jive Bombers); A Kiss From Your Lips (Billy Storm); Raincoat In The River (Sammy Turner); Moon Guitar (The Rangoons); Untie Me (The Tams); Marie (The Four Tunes); Quiet Firl (Don Rondo); You Don't Have To Be A Tower of Strength (Gloria Lynne); Where Have You Been (Arthur Alexander); plus many others!
FROOTFUL - THE ROAD / BENEDICT'S BOOGALOO
Frootful return with a new two track 45 taken from Heavyweight - their follow-up to their eclectic 2011 debut long player - Colours. The Road feature UK soul vocalist Mazen Bedwei, who was first featured on a Freestyle release when he sang on Nick Van Gelder's Somethings Gotta Give compilation Sounds From The Soul Underground. The Road is a light, breezy, and uplifting soul groove that has something of a late 60's feel, where shimmering horns underpin Mazen's Curtis Springfield inspired vocals, while Frootful's Nick Radford's tasteful guitar picking locks down the sweet summer sound. One the flip side the mood is altogether greasy as Benedicts Boogaloo is a gritty soul-jazz work out that been double dipped in the funk. Nick gets the chance to display his guitar cjops wonderfully, while the guitar bass line in unrelenting while a dirty and distorted organ grooves out to a stunning climax. This is just an example of what is come from the new album - Heavyweight.
MICHAEL PEDECIN - WHY STOP NOW...UBUNTU
Tenor saxophonist Michael Pedicin is in the midst of an impressive creative surge clearly reflected in his prolific work as a recording artist and composer. His new CD, Why Stop Now ... Ubuntu, is his 12th as a leader -- and 5th in the last six years. Scheduled for release on September 24 by his GroundBlue label, the disc reconfirms his status as a masterful post-bopper. Much of the music on Why Stop Now was inspired by the 2012 Newtown tragedy, including the haunting ballad ("Newtown") by guitarist Johnnie Valentino and Pedicin's glowing impromptu solo passage ("Ubuntu"), which closes the album. "'Ubuntu' means 'human kindness,' an African philosophy focusing on our connections with one another," says Pedicin. "It echoes my constant hope for peace and connectedness in our world." Along with Valentino, who's been an essential collaborator on all of Pedicin's recent recordings, the saxophonist is joined by regular bassist Andy Lalasis and two newcomers to his working quintet, tasteful drummer Vic Stevens and rising young pianist Rick Germanson. Pedicin continues his relationship with producer Joseph Donofrio, best known in the jazz world for his work on Pat Martino's Grammy-nominated Blue Note recordings and also at the helm for last year's Pedicin CD Live at the Loft. W hy Stop Now contains four originals by the leader, including "Trane Stop," a tribute to his musical hero, as well as two by Coltrane himself, "Tunji" and "Song of the Underground Railroad." "I lived my life admiring and idolizing Trane, every day, all day," Pedicin says unabashedly. "I identify with everything about him."
 
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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 12:11 PM PDT
DONNA SUMMER - LOVE TO LOVE YOU DONNA
Verve Records has announced the release of Love To Love You Donna, a remix record celebrating the life and voice of five-time Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Donna Summer. A dozen highly sought after DJs and remixers have contributed a diverse and creative spin to some of the most beloved tracks in dance and pop music history. The first single is "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)," remixed by Chromeo & Oliver. It will be followed by legendary producer Giorgio Moroder's entirely re-imagined version of "Love to Love You Baby," the classic song he recorded with Donna, released in November of 1975. Love to Love You Donna was produced by Dahlia-Ambach Caplin, the architect of the five-volume Verve Remixed series, and Randall Poster, the legendary producer and music supervisor. Posthumously, Donna Summer will be awarded The Legends of Dance award at the Promo Only Summer Sessions, Tuesday, August 13th, in Atlantic City, NJ. ~ ververecords.com
YUNA - NOCTURNAL
Breakthrough singer/songwriter Yuna is set to release her forthcoming new album "Nocturnal" on Verve Records on October 29. The new album marks Yuna's first full-length follow-up to her critically acclaimed self-titled debut from last year. "Nocturnal" features Yuna's distinctive blend of organic pop, R&B soul and acoustic folk while also "digging deeper into her huge bag of pop star potential" (okayplayer.com). "Nocturnal" is a collection of eleven infectious new songs featuring the intoxicating single "Falling" produced by Robin Hannibal of the soul-pop group Rhye as well as the effervescent and uplifting track "Rescue" produced by Chris Braide. Other album highlights include "I Wanna Go" produced by Michael Einziger of Incubus as well as the breezy "Come Back." The album marks a new chapter for the Malaysian-born artist who is earning plenty of comparisons to female vocalists such as Feist, Adele and Norah Jones. ~ ververecords.com
LOU DOILLON - PLACES
Places was recorded at Studio De LA Seine in Paris and originally released via Universal France on September 3rd, 2012 and quickly achieved critical praise across Europe, referred to as "a real wonder" by Mad and "splendid and miraculous" by Le soir. The chantueuse has followed in the footsteps of the French singers before her such as Carla Bruni, Keren Ann and Charlotte Gainsbourg to craft an array of beautiful, sweeping songs with producer Zdar (Phoenix, The Rapture, Beastie Boys). As the daughter of international icon Jane Birkinand Jacques Doillon, and with Serge Gainsbourg as her step-father, it goes without saying that Lou was born into a creative environment. Although she originally pursued acting and modeling careers, Lou always kept music as a hobby, and even wrote many songs in English, which she refers to as her "private language." Lou finally revealed her musical talents in the spring of 2012 with the European release of the first track on the album, "ICU." Its haunting vocals, compelling melody and twilight ambience held the immediate promise of a bright future.The first single off the album "Devil or Angel," an immediate classic, is an emotionally revealing song showcasing Lou's effortless storytelling ability. The album continues to showcase Lou's unique voice and timbre. Describing days of melancholy passing at the pace of a drum roll, "One Day After Another" is reminiscent of Patti Smith's narrative art, while "Make A Sound's" pop immediacy holds a reference to its writer's "leaded wings". Much like Cat Power, Lou Doillon is equally at home with an acoustic range (the iridescent clearing in the middle of the album: Same Old Game) and brass-backed soul (Jealousy and Questions And Answers - two visas for Memphis). These livelier tunes also heighten the depth of her startlingly flexible voice. ~ ververecords.cp,
 
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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 11:52 AM PDT
James Carroll Booker III was also an unheralded genius of American music, a New Orleans pianist whose dizzying technique and mastery of the keyboard was matched only by his imagination and his soulfulness. His short and often flamboyant life was also marked by struggle and lost opportunity.
Classified, recorded in October, 1982, was one of only two studio albums released during his lifetime, and this remixed and expanded edition offers a poignant and often surprising look at his music, for if James Booker is often cited in the piano lineage that passes from Jelly Roll Morton to Professor Longhair to his own student, Harry Connick Jr., New Orleans tradition was only his jumping-off point.
On October 15, 2013, Rounder Records will release James Booker's Classified: Remixed and Expanded. The expanded volume's 22 tracks, which include nine never-before-released performances, range from the pure rhythm and blues of "All Around the World," to the light classical "Madame X," to his astonishing version of the jazz standard "Angel Eyes." Among the unreleased songs is the slow blues instrumental, "I'm Not Sayin'," and his syncopated reading of Nino Rota's "Theme From the Godfather." Whether playing solo or accompanied by saxophonist Alvin "Red" Tyler, bassist James Singleton and drummer Johnny Vidacovich, Booker ties together a giddy array of musical influences with virtuosity and an often quirky sense of humor. If New Orleans was the only place that could have produced such a talent and such a character as James Booker, the scope of his musical vision was boundless, and he stands alone in the New Orleans piano pantheon.
All Music Guide cites the original edition of Classified as arguably Booker's best album (even if that mythical collection may still reside in the live recordings his passionate fans have traded over the years). Three decades later, with the new material and dramatically improved sonics, it stands as a lynchpin in his discography.
Included are new notes by co-producer Scott Billington and several new photographs. Classified will be released both on CD and as a limited edition double-LP vinyl set. Lily Keber's film, Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker, has been playing to rave reviews, and that interest in James Booker is expanding beyond his devoted cult following.
According to Grammy Award-winning pianist George Winston, "James Booker and Professor Longhair and Dr. John are the three biggest influences and inspirations for the New Orleans piano renaissance that is happening more and more, and James's music is even more influential now than when he was alive. He is my biggest overall piano influence and has been since I first heard his recordings in 1982. It's so great to have everything here from his final studio sessions."
Track Listing:
1. Classified
2. If You're Lonely
3. Warsaw Concerto* 2:47
4. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (solo piano alternate take)*
5. Medley: Tico Tico / Papa Was a Rascal / So Swell When You're Well*
6. All Around the World
7. Angel Eyes
8. Lonely Avenue*
9. Professor Longhair Medley: Tipitina / Bald Head
10. King of the Road
11. Theme from The Godfather*
12. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
13. I'm Not Sayin'*
14. Hound Dog
15. All These Things*
16. Yes Sir, That's My Baby*
17. Baby Face
18. If You're Lonely (solo piano alternate take)*
19. Madame X
20. One For the Highway
21. Three Keys
22. Amen
*previously unreleased
 
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