THE JAZZ CHILL CORNER New Music Releases: King Curtis – The Soul Of King Curtis; David Sanchez – Caribe; Flying Lotus - Flamagra |  |
- New Music Releases: King Curtis – The Soul Of King Curtis; David Sanchez – Caribe; Flying Lotus - Flamagra
- New Music Releases: Philip Bailey – Love Will Find A Way; Quantic - Atlantic Oscillations; Boyan Rista - Without Your Love
- Guitar Virtuoso Scott Henderson To Release Instrumental Album For Guitar Trio “People Mover” On July 1, 2019
- 18 Year Old Multi-Instrumentalist Matthew Whitaker Set to Release Debut with Now Hear This
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Posted: 20 Jun 2019 01:49 PM PDT
King Curtis – The Soul Of King Curtis
Searing sax instrumentals from the great King Curtis – plus a lot more too – as this package not only brings together the King's records as a leader for Enjoy Records, but also digs up lots of performances as a sideman for that famous Harlem record label too! The grooves here are raw and ready, nice and tight, and done with a nitty gritty style that might have been funk if the cuts were recorded a few years later – but which definitely had a bit influence on countless soul instrumental modes to come, both in the rhythms and in King's wicked lead work on saxophone! The package features some of the best instrumental singles that Curtis cut for Enjoy Records, from his Soul Twist album and other singles – and CD2 also features material that Curtis cut for Enjoy as a soloist on records for other artists! CD1 features 18 tracks that include "Soul Twist", "Twisting Time", "The Monkey Shout", "Hot Potato", "Midnight Blue", "Wobble Twist", "What'd I Say (parts 1 & 2)", and "Big Dipper". CD2 features tracks that include "Our Love Will Never End" by The Avons, "I'm Gonna Catch You" by Curtis Carrington, "Madisonville USA (parts 1 & 2)" by The Strolls, "Juicy Fruit" by Rudy Greene, "Fine Little Girl" by The Arcades, "Ice Cream Baby" by The Pearls, "Air Raid" by Curley Hammer, "Mama Don't Allow" by Tyron Rowe, and "Korea Korea" by Bob Kent. ~ Dusty Groove
 David Sanchez – Caribe
David Sanchez kicks off the album's liner notes with a great discussion on the African diaspora and its influence on music – one that's always been strongly felt in David's recordings, but which seems to come through even more strongly here! The record's definitely jazz, but borrows lots of rhythmic conceptions from around the globe – using a fair bit of percussion at the bottom of the sound, which is balanced nicely with strong, soulful tenor lines from Sanchez, waves of color on the guitar from Lage Lund, and a mix of piano and Fender Rhodes from Luis Perdomo! There's some especially great interplay between the angularity of the tenor and the warmer, rounder currents of the guitar – on titles that include "Madigra", "Wave Under Silk", "Mirage", "Fernando's Theme", "Canto", "Land Of The Hills", and "Iwa". ~ Dusty Groove
Flying Lotus - Flamagra
Fantastic sounds from Flying Lotus – an artist who just keeps on pushing past any conventional expectations, to a point where his music is almost a genre unto itself! The record's got this very tripped-out sort of vibe – very much in keeping with the image on the cover – and while many others are exploring this territory of late, few ever even get close to the right sort of mix that's going on here – subtle elements of soul, funk, jazz, hip hop, and maybe a million other influences – all flowing through the double-length space of the set, as it Flying Lotus redefines the sound of soul in the modern age. The set's got guest work from Thundercat, Shabazz Palaces, David Lynch, George Clinton, Anderson Paak, Little Dragon, Solange, and others – and titles include "Post Requisite", "Takashi", "Spontaneous", "More", "Burning Down The House", "Actually Virtual", "Find Your Own Way Home", "The Climb", "Debbie Is Depressed", "Black BAloons Reprise", and "Land Of Honey". ~ Dusty Groove
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New Music Releases: Philip Bailey – Love Will Find A Way; Quantic - Atlantic Oscillations; Boyan Rista - Without Your Love
Posted: 20 Jun 2019 01:37 PM PDT
Philip Bailey – Love Will Find A Way
Philip Bailey's looking hipper than usual on the cover – and he's sounding hipper than usual within – thanks to fantastic production help from Robert Glasper, Christian McBride, and Chick Corea – all artists who play on the record, and help give Bailey a really timeless sense of soul! The man himself needs no introduction – thanks to his long legacy in Earth Wind & Fire, and a range of great solo records too – but there's really something different, and something special taking place here – as Bailey pushes both his vocal range and sense of songform, working through music by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Oscar Brown Jr, and even the Talking Heads – while also turning in some great songs of his own, co-penned with some of the album's collaborators. The instrumentation is served up by a dream group of jazz talents – Kamasi Washington on tenor, Kenny Barron on piano, Robert Glasper and Chick Corea on keyboards, Steve Wilson on saxes and flute, Lionel Loueke on guitar,and Christian McBride on bass – and although the record features guest vocals from Bilal and Casey Benjamin, it's Bailey's work that's the real main attraction. Titles include "We're A Winner", "Stairway To The Stars", "Just To Keep Your Satisfied", "Once In A Lifetime", "Billy Jack", "You're Everything", "Brooklyn Blues", "sacred Sounds", and "Love Will Find A Way". ~ Dusty Groove
Quantic - Atlantic Oscillations
A masterpiece from Will "Quantic" Holland – an artist who always surprises us with new sounds, but really blows us away with the depth in this set! Quantic started out groovy, then got funky and soulful, then embraced a range of Latin cultures in later work – and throughout that long musical journey, he's never failed to keep on growing – always stepping forward towards new sonic horizons, rather than be content to serve up the same sounds that got him attention in the first place! Subtle strings are added to beats (both acoustic and electric), keyboards, and just the right use of vocals from Nidia Gongora, Alice Russell, Denita Odigie, and Holland himself – so that the album's got this balance between instrumental activity and lyrical passages – the shifting voices never taking the spotlight away from the larger musical vision that Quantic uses to guide the whole proceedings. Sly5thAve also adds in some great work – and titles include "Tierra Mama", "Incendium", "Divergence", "Is it Your Intention", "La Reflexion", "Orquidea", "September Blues", and "Now Or Never". ~ Dusty Groove
Boyan Rista - Without Your Love
Serbian Soul! – East meets west in the sound of multi-instrumentalist Boyan Rista
London based artist and producer Boyan Rista releases the video for his début single 'Without Your Love' a song that talks about how Rista's life was changed after loving and losing a very special girl. The video, which was shot in Miami, shows how one simple decision can change the course of one's life (think The Butterfly Effect) as we watch one character live out 2 alternate time lines simultaneously. Originally from Serbia, Boyan fell in love with soul and R&B after discovering Stevie Wonder's Innervisions in his dad's record collection. He has gone on to become a multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer, much like his idol. Every instrument you hear on this track was played by Boyan himself. He also wrote, produced and mixed the song from his studio in South London. It was mastered by Bob Katz, mastering engineer of 2 Grammy Award winning albums. Katz said of the song "It's magic … I listened to it several times after mastering, just for the joy."
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Posted: 20 Jun 2019 01:29 PM PDT
Guitar virtuoso Scott Henderson has finished his new album "People Mover," the most ambitious project of his career! The highly anticipated instrumental album for guitar trio will be released on July 1, 2019.
Says Scott, "The music has a lot of interplay due to a busy touring schedule with bassist Romain Labaye and drummer Archibald Ligonniere. I'd say this album is a bit more harmonic than 'Vibe Station,' and the rhythm section plays a bigger role in the music. The challenge was to come up with new tones and effects I haven't used before, since like 'Vibe Station,' the songs are layered with multi guitar tracks."
"People Mover" demonstrates Scott's striking ability to combine elements of jazz, rock, funk and blues in an even more authentic, seamless and musical way than any of his previous work. Proof that after 35 years as a bandleader, Scott is a musician who's playing and composing continues to grow.
From a recent interview, "My music isn't for purists, that's for sure, and I'm very thankful for my fans who are obviously open-minded and share my love for many different styles of music."
Scott Henderson's impressive work over the years as co-leader of the group TRIBAL TECH, leader of his own ground breaking trio, and sideman to some of the best jazz artists of their generation, including the great Joe Zawinul, has elevated him to the front ranks of both Jazz and Blues. Catch Scott on tour in 2019: July in Europe, September in South America, and October in Asia.
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Posted: 20 Jun 2019 01:24 PM PDT
Though he's still only 18 years old, multi-instrumentalist Matthew Whitaker has come a long way to get where he is today, overcoming adversity and dedicating countless hours to honing his craft. Now, with his declarative label debut Now Hear This, Whitaker announces himself as a major new voice on jazz piano, organ, and a wide range of keyboard instruments.
Due out August 9 via Resilience Music Alliance, Now Hear This teams Whitaker with a stellar all-star band featuring guitarist Dave Stryker, bassist Yunior Terry, drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., and percussionist Sammy Figueroa. Keyboard great Marc Cary and flutist Gabrielle Garo also make special guest appearances. The album was overseen by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Brian Bacchus, who has worked closely with the likes of Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Randy Weston and Sullivan Fortner, among others.
But it's Whitaker that commands the spotlight, evidencing a bold and confident sense of swing and a wide-ranging palette that spans straight-ahead jazz and hard bop to R&B and Latin influences. Supplementing his virtuoso piano skills with soulful Hammond organ and coloristic synthesizers, Whitaker leaves any "prodigy" stigma far behind on this stunner of an album.
Whitaker's distinctive voice would be captivating under any circumstances, but the obstacles that he's had to overcome in his young life make Now Hear This all the more breathtaking. He was born three months premature in 2001, weighing less than two pounds and able to fit in the palm of his father's hand. The newborn was given less than a 50% chance of surviving; the oxygen that he was given by doctors allowed him to live but cost him his sight.
Blindness proved no obstacle to playing music, however, and Whitaker displayed preternatural talents from the first moment he touched a keyboard. That initial opportunity came at the age of 3, when Whitaker's grandfather gifted him a small Yamaha keyboard. "I would come home from school and teach myself nursery rhymes," Whitaker recalls. "No one showed me how, I just started playing. If I can hear it, I can play it."
At 5 Whitaker began studying classical piano at the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School in New York City, the only community music school for the blind and visually impaired in the United States. He continues to work closely with the school; his heartfelt composition "Emotions" was written expressly for a performance there. "They've supported me since I was 5 and they continue to do that to this day," Whitaker says.
As a blind African-American piano prodigy, comparisons to Stevie Wonder were inevitable. Meaningfully, Wonder himself gave the younger keyboard wizard his imprimatur when he invited Whitaker to open for him during his induction into the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. In 2016 Whitaker returned to that legendary stage, this time performing Wonder's classic "I Wish" for FOX TV's revival of Showtime at the Apollo.
But Whitaker never set out to be a Stevie Wonder clone, and while the soul icon is a definite influence Whitaker can rattle off a long list of indelible influences that leans heavily towards jazz giants like McCoy Tyner, Barry Harris, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. His gifts have been recognized by a number of jazz luminaries who have provided crucial mentorship, including Cary, Christian McBride, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Regina Carter, Jon Batiste, Roy Ayers and Jason Moran, among others.
His musical path was set at the age of 7 when his father dialed into a jazz station on the car radio one day. "Ever since then it's been my favorite genre of music to play and listen to," Whitaker says with obvious enthusiasm. "Unlike other styles of music where you play what's on a sheet of paper or play just like a recording, with jazz you have the ability to be free with the music and improvise. You can really do you."
Whitaker has done just that from an early age, adding drums to his repertoire at 6 and the Hammond organ at 9, inspired by such legendary forebears as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, Jimmy Smith and Joey DeFrancesco. Whitaker shows off his impassioned B3 playing on a dazzling original arrangement of Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite" that he premiered during his debut performance at NYC's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.
A more intimate, impressionistic side of his organ playing emerges on his own original, "Thinking of You," which Whitaker insists is an open-ended dedication, with no single "You" in mind. He renders the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil hit "Black Butterfly," best known for Deniece Williams' version, in soulful atmospherics embellished by Cary's Fender Rhodes, and gets deeply funky on Eddie Harris' immortal "Freedom Jazz Dance," here highlighted by Stryker's blistering wah-wah guitar.
The album opens on Whitaker's brilliant acoustic playing, however, as he sets the pace for "Overcoat," an intense contribution from guitarist Django Rowe, a fellow participant in the Kennedy Center's renowned Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. That's followed by a tender trio rendition of Ahmad Jamal's gorgeous "Tranquility," after which the band expands to realize Whitaker's own composition "Underground." The piece blends a vibrant array of colors, with Figueroa's percussion accents and Garo's soaring flute added to Whitaker's Moog and synth flavorings.
The Tyner influence emerges on a stormy trio rendition of the standard "Bernie's Tune," while a more elegant side of Whitaker's talents is revealed on Billy Strayhorn's "U.M.M.G.," performed as a finely-tailored duet with Terry. Whitaker's "Miss Michelle," a dedication to his manager, melds Latin and R&B influences into a gently swaying dance, while the Latin inflections explode on Michel Camilo's fiery "Caribe."
Now Hear This is a perfect summation of Whitaker's evolution to date. He's enjoyed a remarkable career already, receiving the Harlem Stage Emerging Artist Award and the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award among other honors. His promise has only begun to be fulfilled, as he prepares to enter Juilliard as a freshman this fall as the first blind undergraduate student to join Juilliard's Jazz Study program.
"This album is the next level for me," Whitaker concludes. "I'm really happy and excited and hope people enjoy it."
Matthew Whitaker · Now Hear This
Resilience Music Alliance · Release Date: August 9, 2019
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