Here's the latest update on Blue Note artists who are currently recording or will be entering the studio soon.
Al Green - Al Green will be in town next week for his final recording date, a very special duet with John Legend. From here we will be mixing and mastering the record during the last half of the month. The conceptualization for the record is a fresh take on vintage soul. A bridge between the legendary soul man's classic styling's and the sounds of today's R&B and hip hop is being facilitated by drummer/producer Ahmir “Questlove" Thompson of the Roots and keyboardist James Poyser who has produced Jill Scott, Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton and many others. Anthony Hamilton and Corrine Bailey Rae have already collaborated beautifully on four tracks. The Dap Kings (Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson) laid down horns and strings have been arranged by Larry Gold of Philadelphia International/Gamble + Huff fame.
Amos Lee - Right turn with Amos Lee since the last update...Legendary Rolling Stones/Bob Dylan producer Don Was is producing Amos' third album with an A-list cast of musicians including bassist Pino Palladino (D'Angelo, The Who), drummer James Gadson (Beck, Bill Withers), Muscle Shoals keyboardist Spooner Oldham (Dan Penn), and Eric Clapton Band/Arc Angels guitarist Doyle Bramhall II. Amos and Don are currently in Los Angeles doing overdubs and mixing and we will master in New York later this month. The production aesthetic is grittier, more rock and soul oriented but will also feature Lee's trademark sensitive balladry.
Eric Darius - On his last album Eric had much success covering Alicia Keys' “If I Ain't Got You.". This time around we find Darius covering Mary J. Blige's “Without You" and Ne-Yo's “Because Of You". Eric is fast establishing himself as THE urban smooth jazz artist and is wrapping up tracking right now. Along with signature contemporary jazz sounds there are some new flavors, among them a reggaeton track and some more R&B flavored instrumentals. Darren Rahn who produced the charting track “Chillin' Out" from the last album is back on board for 6 tracks as is upstart smooth producer Micah Otano, who has worked with Brian Culbertson, DJ Spinna, and Dave Koz.
Dianne Reeves - is putting the final touches on mastering for her latest Blue Note incarnation. Producer and long-time collaborator George Duke has cut a set with Reeves that is best described as a “pop take on jazz" and visa versa. The repertoire includes a range of classic material including “When You Know", “Windmills Of My Mind", “Midnight Sun", “Social Call", The Temptations “Just My Imagination", and the Minnie Ripperton's classic “Loving You". The band includes pianist Geoff Keezer, guitarists Romero Lubambo and Russell Malone, bassists Reginald Veal & Reuben Rogers, drummer Greg Hutchinson and a few additional guests.
Cassandra Wilson - has recently mastered her latest installment for Blue Note. The album is fresh & individual take on a wide variety of standard repertoire ranging from “St James Infirmary" and “Black Orpheus" to “Caravan" and “Loverly". The band includes our own Jason Moran on piano, Lonnie Plaxico & Reginald Veal on bass, Marvin Sewell on piano and Lakan Baboloa on percussion. Rhonda Richmond also graced a song with background vocals.
Patricia Barber - Has just mastered her love song to the music of Cole Porter entitled The Cole Porter Mix. It features three Porter-inspired originals along with fresh takes on the legendary songwriters mainstays including “I Get a Kick out of You", “What Is This Thing Called Love", and “Just One Of Those Things". Barber's signature vocal styling's grace the set and she joined by her working band with very special guest Chris Potter on saxophone who plays John Coltrane to her Johnny Hartman.
The Wood Bros - The rootsy brothers have just finished mastering their second installment for Blue Note. John Medeski is once again at the helm of the production; however, this time around he augmented the duo with various keyboards along with the addition of drummer Kenny Wolleson. Additional instrumentation including strings have been added to the sonic stew, along with three very special guest vocalists, “the be good Tanya's" Frazie, newcomer Pieta Brown and Blue Note's own Amos Lee who joins Oliver Wood on a duet cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic “Angel".
Aaron Parks - Blue Note's latest signing is the young alumni of Terence Blanchard's group and piano prodigy Aaron Parks. Parks has a well-developed album concept in mind which he will record in the coming months. It will be a quartet date featuring Mike Moreno on guitar, Matt Penman on bass, and Eric Harland on drums.
Al Green - Al Green will be in town next week for his final recording date, a very special duet with John Legend. From here we will be mixing and mastering the record during the last half of the month. The conceptualization for the record is a fresh take on vintage soul. A bridge between the legendary soul man's classic styling's and the sounds of today's R&B and hip hop is being facilitated by drummer/producer Ahmir “Questlove" Thompson of the Roots and keyboardist James Poyser who has produced Jill Scott, Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton and many others. Anthony Hamilton and Corrine Bailey Rae have already collaborated beautifully on four tracks. The Dap Kings (Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson) laid down horns and strings have been arranged by Larry Gold of Philadelphia International/Gamble + Huff fame.
Amos Lee - Right turn with Amos Lee since the last update...Legendary Rolling Stones/Bob Dylan producer Don Was is producing Amos' third album with an A-list cast of musicians including bassist Pino Palladino (D'Angelo, The Who), drummer James Gadson (Beck, Bill Withers), Muscle Shoals keyboardist Spooner Oldham (Dan Penn), and Eric Clapton Band/Arc Angels guitarist Doyle Bramhall II. Amos and Don are currently in Los Angeles doing overdubs and mixing and we will master in New York later this month. The production aesthetic is grittier, more rock and soul oriented but will also feature Lee's trademark sensitive balladry.
Eric Darius - On his last album Eric had much success covering Alicia Keys' “If I Ain't Got You.". This time around we find Darius covering Mary J. Blige's “Without You" and Ne-Yo's “Because Of You". Eric is fast establishing himself as THE urban smooth jazz artist and is wrapping up tracking right now. Along with signature contemporary jazz sounds there are some new flavors, among them a reggaeton track and some more R&B flavored instrumentals. Darren Rahn who produced the charting track “Chillin' Out" from the last album is back on board for 6 tracks as is upstart smooth producer Micah Otano, who has worked with Brian Culbertson, DJ Spinna, and Dave Koz.
Dianne Reeves - is putting the final touches on mastering for her latest Blue Note incarnation. Producer and long-time collaborator George Duke has cut a set with Reeves that is best described as a “pop take on jazz" and visa versa. The repertoire includes a range of classic material including “When You Know", “Windmills Of My Mind", “Midnight Sun", “Social Call", The Temptations “Just My Imagination", and the Minnie Ripperton's classic “Loving You". The band includes pianist Geoff Keezer, guitarists Romero Lubambo and Russell Malone, bassists Reginald Veal & Reuben Rogers, drummer Greg Hutchinson and a few additional guests.
Cassandra Wilson - has recently mastered her latest installment for Blue Note. The album is fresh & individual take on a wide variety of standard repertoire ranging from “St James Infirmary" and “Black Orpheus" to “Caravan" and “Loverly". The band includes our own Jason Moran on piano, Lonnie Plaxico & Reginald Veal on bass, Marvin Sewell on piano and Lakan Baboloa on percussion. Rhonda Richmond also graced a song with background vocals.
Patricia Barber - Has just mastered her love song to the music of Cole Porter entitled The Cole Porter Mix. It features three Porter-inspired originals along with fresh takes on the legendary songwriters mainstays including “I Get a Kick out of You", “What Is This Thing Called Love", and “Just One Of Those Things". Barber's signature vocal styling's grace the set and she joined by her working band with very special guest Chris Potter on saxophone who plays John Coltrane to her Johnny Hartman.
The Wood Bros - The rootsy brothers have just finished mastering their second installment for Blue Note. John Medeski is once again at the helm of the production; however, this time around he augmented the duo with various keyboards along with the addition of drummer Kenny Wolleson. Additional instrumentation including strings have been added to the sonic stew, along with three very special guest vocalists, “the be good Tanya's" Frazie, newcomer Pieta Brown and Blue Note's own Amos Lee who joins Oliver Wood on a duet cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic “Angel".
Aaron Parks - Blue Note's latest signing is the young alumni of Terence Blanchard's group and piano prodigy Aaron Parks. Parks has a well-developed album concept in mind which he will record in the coming months. It will be a quartet date featuring Mike Moreno on guitar, Matt Penman on bass, and Eric Harland on drums.
