THE JAZZ CHILL CORNER Saxophonist JIMMY GREENE Releases Beautiful Life - Featuring Special Guests Including Kenny Barron, Javier Colon, Kurt Elling, and Pat Metheny, Among Others |  |
- Saxophonist JIMMY GREENE Releases Beautiful Life - Featuring Special Guests Including Kenny Barron, Javier Colon, Kurt Elling, and Pat Metheny, Among Others
- Blue Note Records’ 75th Anniversary Celebrations Continue With Commemorative ‘Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression’ 5-CD Singles Box Set & Hardbound Book to Be Released November 4
- NEW RELEASES: JUNGLE FIRE - TROPICOSO; DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS - DOUBLE UP!; ELIZABETH SHEPHERD - SIGNAL
- NEW RELEASES: PRINCE & 3RDEYEGIRL - PLECTRUMELECTRUM; FELA KUTI 7-LP BOX SET; VADOU GAME - APIAFO
- JAMES BROWN REISSUES: HOT PANTS, THERE IT IS, IT'S A BRAND NEW DAY - LET A MAN COME ON, BODYHEAT, SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF
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Posted: 01 Oct 2014 01:32 PM PDT
Jimmy Greene's new release, Beautiful Life on Mack Avenue Records, is a celebration of the life of his 6-year-old daughter, Ana Márquez-Greene, whose life was tragically taken, along with 19 other children and 6 educators, on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
"I want the music to reflect the way that Ana lived," Greene says. He fulfills that mandate with an intense, cohesive, genre-spanning program-juxtaposing the hardcore instrumental jazz for which he is best known with traditional spirituals, contemporary Christian music, standard ballads and three original songs framing his own lyrics. Animating the repertoire is a gold-standard rhythm section (Renee Rosnes, piano; Christian McBride, bass; Lewis Nash, drums), augmented at various points by guitarists Pat Metheny and Jonathan DuBose, Jr.; pianists Kenny Barron and Cyrus Chestnut; vocalists Kurt Elling, Javier Colon and Latanya Farrell; spoken word from Tony® Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose; a 13-piece string ensemble from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra; as well as an accomplished children's choir.
Greene himself is one of the most respected saxophonists of his generation since graduating from Hartt School of Music in 1997. He composed or arranged every selection and plays tenor and soprano saxophones as well as flute with customary authority, melodic focus and abiding soulfulness.
"In the days after my daughter was killed, playing and writing music wasn't even a thought," the 39-year-old saxophonist says. "I was very much in shock, grieving deeply and trying to just function coherently. Family and friends surrounded us and held us up, and we received 10,000 communications-emails, texts, Facebook messages, voice calls, letters-from people around the world. The community of musicians was front and center for that support. When I called, they responded, 'Whatever you need, just say the word, and I'll be there.'"
In late January 2013, Greene, feeling that "I needed to get back to some sense of routine," resumed a regimen of practice and composition. Soon thereafter, Norman Chesky, the co-owner of Chesky Records and HDtracks, reached out with an extraordinary offer.
"An intense amount of media attention was focused on my family and all of us in Newtown, so I was fairly guarded whenever communicating with someone for the first time," Greene relates. "But Norman offered to donate the production of a recording that I could do whenever I was ready, and to give me complete ownership. I was humbled and honored by his generosity, and began to devote my energies to the project."
Greene decided to weave lyrics and singers into the flow for the first time on one of his recordings. "Ana loved to sing and listen to singers, and had a wonderful singing voice," he explains. "So an album dedicated to her memory needed to have singers and songs that were important to her and me and my family."
Beautiful Life opens with a recording of Ana singing the traditional "Saludos" ("Greetings") at a Christmas celebration (parranda) in Puerto Rico with her mother Nelba Márquez-Greene's family-and her father playing in the background-a year before her death. Greene segues to a section in which he and guitarist Pat Metheny perform "Come Thou Almighty King" before concluding with another family recording of Ana singing the hymn to her brother Isaiah's piano accompaniment.
The wistful "Last Summer," a quartet feature, evokes Greene's impressions of the photograph of his children-captured from the rear with their arms around each other's shoulders in the family's backyard in Winnipeg, Canada, where Greene taught at the University of Manitoba between 2009 and 2012-that appears on the cover of Beautiful Life.
The mellow tenor voice of Javier Colon, Greene's one-time classmate at Hartt who won the 2011 edition of NBC's The Voice, delivers Greene's lyric for "When I Come Home" supported by the quartet, Greene's signifying tenor saxophone and the strings.
Greene initially recorded "Ana's Way" instrumentally as "Ana Grace" on the 2009 recording Mission Statement. Complementing Grammy® Award-winner Kurt Elling's characteristically penetrating, graceful interpretation is the Linden Christian School Early Years Choir, comprising classmates of Ana and Isaiah in Winnipeg; solos by Greene and Rosnes distill the oceanic emotions of the lyric. "It was brutal seeing Ana's friends again, without Ana there amongst them," Greene says. "But we got through it somehow, and I think the results are very touching."
Iconic pianist Kenny Barron joins Greene for conversational readings of the Broadway songs "Where Is Love?" from Oliver and "Maybe" from Annie, the latter featuring Greene's pure-toned soprano saxophone. "Kenny, Christian and Lewis were the rhythm section for the 1996 Thelonious Monk Competition, where I was named first runner-up," Greene recalls. "They made me feel welcomed and comfortable, that I could do this for my life, and so I wanted them involved."
"My daughter loved Annie, and would sing 'Maybe' a cappella with great pitch and rhythm in the back of the car when we were driving around," Greene recalls. He includes "Where Is Love" in homage to Jackie McLean, his primary musical mentor, who showed Greene, then 15, the melody at their first meeting at Hartford's Artists Collective.
The penultimate track of Beautiful Life, titled "Prayer," is Greene's musical setting of the text of the "Lord's Prayer." Cyrus Chestnut accompanies Greene's devotional tenor saxophone; illuminating the message is Latanya Farrell (who Greene met while attending Hartt), whose powerful contralto enchanted Ana as a toddler.
Ana became a fan of Anika Noni Rose-a high school classmate of Greene's in Bloomfield, Connecticut-after hearing her inhabit the role of Princess Tiana in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Rose's recitation of Greene's optimistic soliloquy "Little Voices" precedes another appearance by the Linden Children's Choir.
"Many people have asked what they can do to help, and this is my answer," Greene says. "Let's remember what happened at Sandy Hook. We can each hold up our end of the bargain, which is to somehow learn to love ourselves, and then see past ourselves and love our neighbor. That's pretty simple, but if we all did it, I think our existence would be different."
A portion of the proceeds from Beautiful Life will be donated to the following charities in Ana's name:
The Ana Grace Project of Klingberg Family Centers - initiated by Greene's wife Nelba, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to promote love, community and connection for every child and family through partnerships with schools, mental health providers, community organizations and faith leaders.
The Artists Collective - where generations of children and families in Greater Hartford have gained access to world-class training in the arts.
A native of Hartford, CT, saxophonist, composer, and educator Jimmy Greene has emerged as a positive presence in the jazz world. His 9 solo recordings, released on various labels including RCA Victor, Sunnyside, and Criss Cross, have been met with much critical acclaim. In addition to his recordings and appearances as a leader, Greene appears on over 70 albums as a sideman, and has toured and/or recorded with Horace Silver, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Harry Connick, Jr., Avishai Cohen, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash, Steve Turre, the New Jazz Composers Octet and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, among many others.
Greene is Assistant Professor of Music and Co-Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the University of Manitoba (2009-2012). Greene was selected to receive the 2013 Governor's Arts Award in Connecticut, as well as grants and honors as a composer from ASCAP/IAJE (2006), Chamber Music America (2004), the State of Connecticut (2004) and the City of Hartford (2009).
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Posted: 01 Oct 2014 01:25 PM PDT
Blue Note Records' 75th anniversary celebrations continue in full swing. In addition to fall releases from Jason Moran, Otis Brown III, and Kandace Springs, as well as the continuation of the label's successful vinyl reissue series, Blue Note/UMe will release a new label-spanning 5-CD singles box set as a companion piece to a new hardcover book, both titled Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression. The book and 75-track singles collection are both available now for preorder ahead of their November 4 release.
The Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression singles box opens with the label's very first artist, pianist Meade "Lux" Lewis, and closes seventy five years later with the beautifully progressive sounds of Derrick Hodge. A sweeping overview of one of the world's most diverse and celebrated Jazz catalogs, the 75-track collection also features singles by Jazz greats Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Norah Jones, Thelonious Monk, Cassandra Wilson, and many more. Curated by Jazz expert and author of the Uncompromising Expression book, Richard Havers, each of the collection's discs covers a specific era of the label's evolution, from boogie to bop, soul jazz to the roots revival of the 1990s, and 21st Century trailblazers including Robert Glasper and Gregory Porter. The new collection is presented in a beautiful slipcase with a 48-page booklet including a complete discography of its 75 featured singles.
Disc 1: From Boogie To Bop 1939 – 1953
Disc 2: Messengers, Preachers and Hard Bop 1953 – 1958
Disc 3: Struttin', Moanin' and Somethin' Else 1958 – 1960
Disc 4: Bossa, Blues and Hits 1961 – 1965
Disc 5: Can You Dig It? 1953 - 2014
Authored by Richard Havers, the new Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression book is the first official illustrated history of Blue Note Records. Commemorating the storied label's 75th anniversary, the 400-page hardcover book includes forewords by Wayne Shorter, Robert Glasper, and Blue Note President Don Was. The book details Blue Note's impact on popular culture and celebrates more than seven decades of extraordinary music, as well as the label's ongoing commitment to "Uncompromising Expression," the tenet first set forth by Blue Note's founder, Alfred Lion, a German immigrant who came to America to pursue his dreams and his love of music.
Tracing the evolution of jazz from the boogie woogie and hot jazz of the 1930s, through bebop, hard-bop, the avant-garde and fusion, to the eclectic mix Blue Note releases today, the book also narrates a complex social history from the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany to the developments in music and technology in the late 20th century. Featuring classic album artwork, unseen contact sheets, rare ephemera from the Blue Note Archives, commentary from some of the biggest names in jazz today, and feature reviews of seventy-five key albums, this is the definitive book on the legendary label.
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Posted: 01 Oct 2014 08:44 AM PDT
JUNGLE FIRE - TROPICOSO
A heady sound from Jungle Fire – a group who seem to be equal parts 70s Afro Funk and Latin – with percussion that rivals the best of the latter, and horns and guitar that match the best of the former! The group's got a super-sharp approach, but one that's never slick or commercial either – just really well-crafted instrumentation in a mostly vocal-free setting – which allows for plenty of great moments from the individual members, especially some of the reed players! The group have kind of snuck into our world through a handful of 7" singles, but they've really got our attention with this full length set – a record that includes the tracks "Firewalker", "Tropicoso", "Culebro", "La Mano", "Village Hustle", "Chalupa", "Snake Pit", and "Comencemos". (Includes bonus download, too!) ~ Dusty Groove
DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS - DOUBLE UP!
Wonderful work from the team of Dave and Ansell Collins – a key act in helping Jamaican music transition from rocksteady to reggae at the start of the 70s – and a duo who had a surprising impact in the US, thanks to their funky style of work! Ansell handles all the keyboards – including acoustic piano produced with an echoey sound, and some great Hammond too – and Dave doesn't always sing so much as shout – in ways that are a bit like calls from a DJ in a set, but which also clearly have some James Brown inspiration too – but more in the way that James might shout and urge on his band. Their music here is heavy on soulful elements from America, but also has some plenty trippy early dub styles too – and tracks include "Sexy Dream", "Hot Sauce", "007", "Liquidator Shuffle", "Johnny Dollar", "Great Shocks Of Mighty", "Girl Of My Dreams", and "Mister Talkative". ~ Dusty Groove
ELIZABETH SHEPHERD - SIGNAL
Some of the greatest sounds we've heard from Elizabeth Shepherd in years – a record that really returns the singer to her funky roots and soulful styles! There's a stripped-down vibe to the record we really love – mostly just Fender Rhodes from Shepherd, alongside her vocals – mixed with relatively loose, spontaneous work from a small group of rhythm players – who, like Elizabeth, are all stepped strongly in jazz, but find a way of making the music come across at a more funk-based level! The lyrics are wonderful, as always – a bit less singer-songwriter than some recent years, in a good way – and titles include "Baby Steps", "I Gave", "Willow", "What's Happening", "The Signal", and "Lion's Den". ~ Dusty Groove
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Posted: 01 Oct 2014 08:35 AM PDT
PRINCE & 3RDEYEGIRL - PLECTRUMELECTRUM
One of a pair of Prince records released on the same day – and this one that finds him in a lean, hard-hitting funk rock mode that we always love from him – and deservedly sharing credit with his 3rdeyegirl group. It's honestly a lot of fun to hear Prince having this much fun himself, in a small combo psych-rock-soul guitar mode – letting his Hendrix and Maggot Brain-era Funkadelic imflunces fly, and recalling his his own trailblazing 80s style. The 3rdeyegirl trio of Donna Grantis, Hannah "Ford" Welton and Ida Nielson more sharp indeed. Nice stuff! Titles include "Wow", "Pretzelbodylogic", "Aintturninaround", "Plectrumelectrum", "Whitecaps", "Fixurlifeup", "Boytrouble", "Stopthistrain", "Anotherlove", "Tictactoe", Marz" and "Funkinroll".~ Dusty Groove
FELA KUTI - LONDON SCENE / SHAKARA /AFRODISIAC /GENTLEMEN / UPSIDE DOWN / ZOMBIE / ITT (7-LP BOX SET)
A stunning set of work from the legendary Fela Kuti – seven full albums, served up in an ultra-limited box set – all hand-chosen by the equally legendary Brian Eno! Eno was a key supporter of Afro Funk in the 70s, and it's no surprise that just about every record here is one of Fela's standout classics – albums that include his excellent early UK recordings on London Scene, through Nigerian classics that include Shakara, Afrodisiac, Gentlemen, Upside Down, and Zombie – as well as the massively political, album-length jam of ITT (International Thief Thief)! Every album comes with the original record art too – and the set's one of the heaviest funk packages you could ever hope to find. ~ Dusty Groove
 VADOU GAME - APIAFO
A cool contemporary group with roots in Tojo – hotbed of African voodoo culture, which is a strong inspiration on their sound! The music takes an older style of voodoo chants, and fuses it onto a more funk-based approach – one that draws on inspirations from 70s west African funk, but in a way that's more subtle than most of the other contemporary groups – a mode that still uses horns, but really strips down the sound a lot, so that the hypnotic vocal passages really take center stage! The production is great – very much in a vintage mode – and these guys are way than just another Afro Funk group, and have instead really stumbled onto something fresh and vital. Titles include "Wrong Road", "Ata Calling", "No Problem", "Dangerous Bees", "No Way To Go", "I Need A Job", and "Meva". ~ Dusty Groove
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Posted: 01 Oct 2014 08:24 AM PDT
JAMES BROWN – HOT PANTS
James Brown really opens up on this early 70s classic – really showing the world the amazing groove he was crafting with his band – who were let loose to jam in the studio, spinning out some really long grooves – which were then cut down to make this sweet little record! The title cut was a big single for James at the time, but it's presented here in its full 9 minute version – a monstrous jam that's equal to anything on the Payback record, or the JBs albums too – and the album also includes the long two-part take of "Escapism", and another funky gem – "Blues & Pants", which snaps along for a solid 9 minutes too! The album's filled with heavy funk, and the longer tracks allow for plenty of instrumental flourishes from Fred, Maceo, and the other JBs – and honestly, the record is more of a People Records session than a Polydor record from James. Includes a monster of a bonus track: the 19+ minute complete take of "Escape-ism". ~ Dusty Groove
JAMES BROWN – THERE IT IS
Raw power and righteous energy from James Brown – a set that still has all the best funk elements of his longer-form albums of the time, but which also packs an even stronger political message too! The vibe of the record is clear from the image on the cover – the most powerful since Payback – and James is even more focused in the lyrics, which bite harder than some of his other commentary of the period – while still allowing the JBs plenty of room to serve up some heavy funk in the process! Titles include the classics "Public Enemy #1" and "King Heroin", both hard soul political tracks – and the funkier side of The Godfather is represented by the killer cuts "Talkin Loud & Sayin Nothing" and James own version of "I Need Help" (which was also recorded by Bobby Byrd). The album also includes a great duet with Vicki Anderson on "Who Am I", the excellent title cut "There It Is", and a surprisingly nice version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" – as well as the single "I'm A Greedy Man". ~ Dusty Groove
JAMES BROWN – IT'S A NEW DAY – LET A MAN COME IN
Further genius from James Brown at the start of the 70s – a record that's starting to show some of the more open-ended grooves he'd explore with the JBs on their own albums – longer, stretched-out tracks that are way more than simple funk and soul! There's a sense of freewheeling energy here that's totally great – dynamic, powerful calls from James at the top of most tunes – and incredibly sharp work on horns and rhythm from the band – cutting grooves and turning lines like no other combo in the business, all with a great mix of deep soul and hard funk! The album features the 7 minute killer version of "Let a Man Come In & Do The Popcorn", plus "World (parts 1 & 2)", "It's A New Day (parts 1 & 2)", "Give It Up or Turn It Loose", "If I Ruled The World", "The Man In The Glass (part 1)", and "I'm Not Demanding (part 1)". A treasure trove of funk and soul! ~ Dusty Groove
JAMES BROWN – BODYHEAT
An enduring classic from James Brown – quite possibly the strongest of his late 70s albums, and a record that nicely balances the harder funk of the early part of the decade with a more sophisticated style that almost gets slightly jazzy at times! The vocals are planted strongly at the top of most tunes – really calling out the shots and directing the rhythms – even though they seem tight enough to keep snapping along on their own – and also noteworthy are some of the mellower numbers on the set, which are almost more compelling than some of the groovers! Titles include "Bodyheat", "What The World Needs Now", "Don't Tell It", "Kiss In 77", "Woman", "Wake Up And Give", and "I'm Satisfied". ~ Dusty Groove
JAMES BROWN – SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF
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