THE JAZZ CHILL CORNER NEW RELEASES - STACEY KENT, RANDY BRECKER, KATHY SANBORN |  |
- NEW RELEASES - STACEY KENT, RANDY BRECKER, KATHY SANBORN
- NEW RELEASES - JOHN LEGEND, EDDIE GALE, CALDERA
- NEW RELEASES - CANDACE BELLAMY, JEAN CARNE, DANCE YOUR ASS OFF TO SALSOUL REMIXES
- JAZZ AND SOUL COME TOGETHER IN FROOTFUL'S HEAVYWEIGHT
- CONCORD RECORDS TO RELEASE DELUXE CD/DVD - RAY CHARLES FOREVER
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Posted: 03 Sep 2013 07:52 PM PDT
 A multi-award winner (2001 British Jazz Award, 2002 BBC Jazz Award Best Vocalist, etc) and Grammy nominee, Stacey has built a huge fanbase for her cool, classy interpretations of the Great American Songbook, all recorded with husband, arranger, producer and now songwriter Jim Tomlinson (himself a winner of the 2006 Album of the Year British Jazz Award). Her new album, The Changing Lights is a musical journey through jazz, bossa nova and chanson, including a mixture of Bossa Nova classics from Tom Jobim, Marcos Valle, and also Roberto Menescal, who appears as a featured guest on the album. There are also new songs written especially for Stacey by Jim Tomlinson. The title track, 'The Changing Lights', is written by Jim Tomlinson and novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, the songwriting team that have been writing for her since her first album for EMI, the Grammy-nominated Breakfast On The Morning Tram. Stacey tours constantly, and as well as the Ronnie Scott's dates in late September / early October, she will play a significant number of dates in the UK this year (see the left of this presenter). We will be focusing our promotion and marketing push then as a preview to the forthcoming residency at Ronnie Scotts from Sep 30th to October 4th. We will also target such obvious music shows as Later With Jools and the full range of daytime and arts TV shows - including Richard & Judy, Breakfast shows, Loose Women, The Culture Show, Newsnight, etc. Stacey is a staple for all jazz radio in the UK. We will be focussing on 'One Note Samba' and 'The Changing Lights'. She will be doing interviews and sessions on everything across the BBC and jazz radio stations. We will also be going for Album of the Week, as well as plays right across the spread of jazz radio and more adult-oriented stations and shows. ~ cduniverse 
RANDY BRECKER - THE BRECKER BROTHERS BAND REUNION
Though saxophonist Michael Brecker passed away in 2007, his brother, trumpeter Randy Brecker, keeps the jazz-funk fusion of the Brecker Brothers alive with the Brecker Brothers Reunion Band. While not a strict reunion of the original ensemble, the band does feature many of the players who have performed with the Brecker Brothers over the years, such as guitarist Mike Stern, drummer Dave Weckl, and keyboardist George Whitty, as well as new members including Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti (Brecker's wife), and keyboardist Oli Rockberger. The band played several shows beginning in 2011, and in 2013 released this album, which also featured such former Brecker Brothers' associates as guitarists Dean Brown, Adam Rogers, and Mitch Stein, drummer Rodney Holmes, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and saxophonist David Sanborn. ~ Matt Collar
KATHY SANBORN - SULTRY NIGHT
Sultry Night is the steamy new release by American jazz singer and composer Kathy Sanborn. Sanborn's sizzling album has a film noir inspiration, where passion and sensuality rule the day.Sultry Night opens with the smoky and seductive title track, evocative of the age of film noir detectives Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. The album continues with songs honoring movie icon Cary Grant and jazz vocal legend Anita O'Day, both performers reaching their heyday in the age of film noir, the 1940s and '50s. The album features both ballads and upbeat songs, performed in Sanborn's inimitable smooth and sultry style. The singer composed all of the album's nine songs. In a reverential turn, Sanborn penned the song, "Angels Cry," in honor of the children who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook school tragedy. Based in northern California, the velvet-voiced jazz songstress and composer is of Nicaraguan descent. Bilingual and cosmopolitan, the exotic Sanborn combines sultry vocals with artistic originality. Besides composing, arranging, and producing the Sultry Night album, Sanborn provides the vocal and piano artistry. Trumpeter Wayne Ricci complements the album with full-bodied, film noir performances.
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Posted: 03 Sep 2013 10:14 AM PDT
JOHN LEGEND - LOVE IN THE FUTURE
Singer, songwriter, and producer John Legend is back and this time has definately taken a step forward on a record that should have that amazing voice reaching even more ears than ever before! By that, we don't necessarily mean that the set's commercial, just put together with a mode that goes way beyond conventional soul – still deep at the core, but richly expressive past barriers of age and style that few other pop artists could push this successfully! From start to finish the album displays a stripped-down urgency that melds perfectly with Legend's delivery. Titles include "Who Do We Think We Are", "The Beginning", "Save The Night", "Tomorrow", "Hold On Longer", "All Of Me", "You & I", "Caught Up", and "Dreams". The standard version of the album features 16 tracks and the deluxe version includes 4 bonus tracks.
EDDIE GALE - BLACK RHYTHM HAPPENING
One of the most righteous albums of jazz ever recorded – a brilliant blend of soulful and avant garde styles, backed up by a chorus of voices that have a really soulful sound! The album's the second recorded for Blue Note by the Ghetto Music ensemble of trumpeter Eddie Gale – a lesser-known talent who recorded previously with Cecil Taylor, but who made a turn away from modernism at the end of the 60s, in order to express himself at a level that he felt was more clearly grounded in the people. The result of that effort is sheer brilliance – an album that sounds like nothing else you can imagine. Part of the style shares the energy of similar vocal/jazz projects by Max Roach and Billy Harper, but Gale's conception of the music is much more dynamic, and very carefully rooted in song structures – with a sound that's as powerful today as it was when it was recorded! Titles include "Ghetto Love Night", "Song Of Will", "Ghetto Summertime", "Black Rhythm Happening", and "Look At Teyonda". ~ Dusty Groove
CALDERA - CALDERA / SKY ISLANDS
A pair of killers from this jazzy Latin combo of the 70s! First up is the self-title Caldera album – a jazzy Latin fusion classic – and the first album by the border-crossing combo! The group features both North and South American players – coming together in a hard-riffing approach to fusion that rivals the best fusion combos of both the California and Brazilian scenes at the time. There's a few nice moments that really belie their more southern roots – and recall the choppy fusion of Airto, or the vocal scatting of Flora – but the set's also got a sunny west coast finish, thanks to some wonderful production from Wayne Henderson – who kicks things up in a way that the group hardly matched on later albums! Guest stars include Raul De Souza and Roberto Da Silva – and titles include the funk classic "Coastin", plus "Guanacaste", "Out Of The Blue", "El Juguete", and "Synesthesia". Nest is Sky Islands – a set that's recorded with a smooth soulful style that's right up there with the best of the Capitol Rare generation! Caldera mixes together nice jazzy saxes with guitars, percussion, and some great keyboard work by Eduardo Del Barrio – all produced by the group with a sweet arching style that's very much in the Brazilian fusion style of the time – a wonderful blend that also gets a dose of California warmth, which is just the right element to send the whole thing home nicely! Tracks include the classic "Sky Islands", plus "Pegasus", "Carnavalito", "Triste", and "Ancient Source". ~ Dusty Groove
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Posted: 03 Sep 2013 10:04 AM PDT
CANDACE BELLAMY - IN MY LANE
Candace Bellamy is Knoxville, TN born soul singer is a physician by day and a soul singer by night, Bellamy took up singing as a hobby 10 years ago, paying dues in cover bands, musical theater (her role in an R&B version of "Porgy & Bess" impressed the New York Times), and with a one-woman show where she told stories of her life in between tunes. Bellamy's path led to Ruth Carter (composer for Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Palmer, and John Mayall), bass playing legend Jimi Calhoun (player with Dr. John, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Wilson Pickett, Sly Stone) and Jake Langley (Roberta Flack, Willie Nelson, k.d. lang), who mentored her, and became her co-writers."It was when we got together for the first time to write that I realized the depth of their backgrounds," Bellamy recalls. "They made me feel comfortable." Bellamy can say she's a singer just as easily as she can say she's a doctor. "Several people have asked why I am pursuing music when I already have a good job," she muses. "The answer is simple – because I love it."
JEAN CARNE - FLASHBACK
Jean Carne is back with a new release that not only includes remakes of her previous hits but also some gems from the Philadelphia International catalog. There's definitely lots of Philly elements in the music – no surprise, given that production is by Butch Ingram – who also uses just the right amount of jazzy touches to open up the deep roots that have always made Jean's music so great! A number of cuts are remakes of older gems from Carne, but given a great new spin here – and a few numbers feature guest vocals from Glenn Leonard too. Titles include "Closer Than Close", "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon", "Free Love", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "Do You Get Enough Love", "My Baby Loves Me", and "One Million Miles From The Ground".
DANCE YOUR ASS OFF TO SALSOUL REMIXES (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
The title borrows a slogan from the late 70s disco years at Salsoul Records – but the groove here is 21st Century all the way – thanks to a host of very contemporary-styled mixes that take older classics from the label, and infuse them with a modern dancefloor groove! Even back in the day, Salsoul had a great ear for key club talents who could expand on their strong blueprints for disco grooves – and here, they re-show that same strength, but in a completely different way! Titles include "I Got My Mind Made Up (DJ Dan rmx)" by Instant Funk, "Jingo (Federico Scavo rmx)" by Candido, "Doctor Love (White Noize rmx)" by First Choice, "Love Break (Stephane Luke rmx)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "I Never Knew" by Jessie Andrews, "Find Somebody (J Paul Ghetto rmx)" by Inner Life, "Hit & Run (Joe T Vannelli diva rmx)" by Loleatta Holloway, and "By The Way You Dance (Julien Jabre rmx)" by Bunny Sigler. ~ Dusty Groove
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Posted: 03 Sep 2013 09:52 AM PDT
In 2011, Frootful released their debut album Colours on Freestyle Records to great acclaim, with everyone from Osunlade, Craig Charles and Diesler praising its modern-yet-retro blend of 60s soul, rocksteady, dance floor friendly jazz and R&B, whilst Jazz FM made it an Album Of The Week. The debut single taken from it, 'Fish In The Sea' became a club hit, and also featured in Steven Soderbergh's hit movie Magic Mike.
Fast-forward to 2013, and guitarist Nick Radford and crew return with an equally eclectic collection of songs and grooves that make up the new album, Heavyweight. The title originates from a soul night Nick used to play 45s at, but also tips its hat to the art of producing a record, in aiming to get an authentically heavy sound down - from the writing, engineering and recording, through to the final mixing and mastering. Co-producer Krzysztof Oktalski played a big role in getting such a sound down, himself a big Northern Soul collector, who worked with Larry Stabbins and members of Portishead on his Stonephace album (on Tru Thoughts).
As if to pay homage to their original influences, the album's opener is a cover of a track originally by Billie Poole with The Junior Mance Trio featuring one of Nick's musical heroes; jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell. This new version features the ice cool vocal of Nick's long time collaborator Angeline Morrison, also a Freestyle artist in her own right now since the release of Are You Ready Cat? earlier in 2013.
A new and exciting collaboration happens on The Road, which is a bright, breezy and uplifting soul groove, that has something of a classic Isley Brothers feel, where shimmering horns underpin Mazens Bedwei's Curtis Mayfield inspired vocals, and Frootful main man Nick Radford's tasteful guitar picking locks down this sweet summer sound.
Another quite sublime moment occurs when Mazen and Angeline Morrison voices join forces on the beautiful Baby It's A Fine Line, a delicate duet that hints at the southern soul of Stax Records, as both vocalists take turns to express themselves over this delicate song of troubled love.
Producer of the debut album, Adam Gibbons, lends a helping hand with some production work on a couple of tracks; Gettin' Ernest skanks in a mildly dubby style, guitar and organ taking turns to let off some steam, reminiscent of the late 60s work of Jamaican music legends Jackie Mittoo and Ernest Ranglin - while Jazz Hands cooks up a distinct flavour of good ol' fashioned swing, the heavily syncopated drums having one foot in the Cotton Club and the other firmly on dancefloors of the 21st century.
Frootful's return has the hallmarks we have come to expect; originality, eclecticism and that indefinable quality that's marks them out from the crowd.
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Posted: 03 Sep 2013 05:14 AM PDT
Ray Charles will be commemorated on September 23, 2013, his 83rd birthday, with a United States Postal Service Music Icons Forever® Stamp. Concord Records celebrates the occasion with the release of Ray Charles Forever, a deluxe CD/DVD collection on September 24th.
In addition, Concord Records will be producing a special edition of Ray Charles Forever with an exclusive bonus track, available at major Post Office™ locations across the country, as well as online at usps.com and ebay.com/stamps. Various launch events will be held across the U.S. to pay tribute to this momentous occasion, including at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, CA and the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.
"Ray Charles was a musical genius whose fans spanned the globe. The U.S. Postal Service is delighted to partner with Concord Music Group to announce the release of this new CD featuring the legendary Ray Charles," said Chief Marketing Officer Nagisa Manabe. "This CD, including an exclusive song never before released, serves as a stellar companion to the limited-edition Ray Charles Forever Stamp the Postal Service is issuing September 23, as the latest addition to the Postal Service's music icons series," Manabe said.
Ray Charles Forever features 12 remastered classics and unique gems including "A Song For You," "Ring Of Fire," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Imagine," "America the Beautiful," and a previously unreleased recording of "They Can't Take That Away From Me."
The 20-minute DVD features rare live performances of "Imagine" (Goodwill Games, 1998), "They Can't Take That Away From Me" (Earth, 1992), and "A Song For You" (North Sea Jazz Fest, 1997) along with interview segments culled from the BBC's "Live In London" (1986) and Norman Seeff's "The Session Project" (1985).
"No matter how many awards and accolades he received, Mr. Charles was genuinely humbled by each and every honor. To him, it meant people appreciated what he loved doing so much—his music," said Valerie Ervin, President of the Ray Charles Foundation and Executive Producer, of the collection. "Georgia On My Mind, "Hit The Road Jack," "What'd I Say" and "I've Got A Woman" are among the many hits that are standards and meet the test of time. But to mark this momentous occasion, I selected songs that also exemplify the forever quality of his performances." Ervin is co-Executive Producer of the album along with John Burk, Chief Creative Officer of Concord Music Group.
During a career that spanned some 58 years, Charles performed a total of more than 10,000 concerts, and starred on over 100 albums, many of them top sellers in a variety of musical genres. He received the Lifetime Achievement and the President's Merit Award, is a recipient of the Presidential Medal For the Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, and France's Legion of Honor, received the NAACP Image Awards "Hall of Fame Award in 2004, and is one of the original inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He appeared in movies such as "The Blues Brothers," and starred in commercials for Coca-Cola, Diet Pepsi and California Raisins, among numerous others. In 2004, the biopic Ray was released for the world to see the historic life and times of the "Genius." The movie garnered six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and Jamie Foxx took home the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Ray. Charles' last public performance was on July 20, 2003, in Alexandria, VA. In 1998, Charles received the Polar Music Award, an award given for significant achievements in music.
Referring to his gift Charles said, "I don't call myself a blues singer or a jazz singer or a country singer. I just call myself a singer that can sing the blues, a singer that can sing jazz, a singer that knows how to sing country music, but in my own way."
RAY CHARLES FOREVER - Deluxe CD/DVD Track Listing
Song For You (4:16)
I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (3:42)
Ring Of Fire (3:11)
Come Rain Or Come Shine (3:42)
They Can't Take That Away From Me (4:14)
Till There Was You (4:09)
Isn't It Wonderful (4:08)
None Of Us Are Free (5:05)
Imagine (4:29)
If I Could (4:57)
So Help Me God (4:03)
America the Beautiful (3:35)
Bonus Track*
I Didn't Know What Time It Was (4:53)
* USPS edition (only) will include bonus track and will be available in Post Offices on September 23.
*Digital version includes the 12 music tracks only.
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