July 13, 2011 Release Features Vocal Tracks by Sue Raney, Johnny Holiday, Leslie Lewis/Gerard Hagen, Kurt Reichenbach, Diane Hubka, Tierney Sutton, Dick Noel, Frankie Randall, Pinky Winters, and Chris Connor
Includes Solo Piano Performances by Alan Broadbent, Christian Jacob, and Jim Cox
All tracks are new and/or previously unreleased
The story behind this project is a very simple one. The Sunday morning after the disaster, I phoned SSJ artist Diane Hubka to ask about the well-being of some of our mutual Japanese friends. In passing, Diane offered the notion that SSJ should release a fund raising CD featuring some of the label's artists. At once, I volunteered to examine such a possibility. The next day I began making exploratory phone calls, and literally everyone I spoke to jumped at the chance to help. Naturally, when I reported back to Diane, she was elated and we began discussing division of labor on the project. And it wasn't long before another fine SSJ singer also possessing a gift for graphic design, Kurt Reichenbach, came on board.
With the exception of the late Chris Connor, all the participants have recorded for SSJ in the past and all live in California, thus the title From California With Love. SSJ Records has been in operation for five years and during that time, its catalog has grown to nearly 100 titles. Sales of its releases are not, by any means, exclusive to Japanese jazz fans. Most of the artists on this recording have also performed in Japan. SSJ also has a U.S. division, SSJ-USA, and this earthquake-tsunami CD is only the second released under that imprint.
As should be apparent from the titles, the songs in the collection are ones of hope and positivity in keeping with the overall post-tragedy outlook of the Japanese people. All tracks are previously unissued. ALL proceeds, of course, are going to Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief.
On March 11, 2011, Northeast Japan was hit by the most powerful recorded earthquake (9.0) in that country's history. This, in turn, unleashed a tsunami of equally epic proportions. As of June 12, the estimated death toll has reached more than 15,400 and another 8,000 are still missing, with more than 90,000 people now living in relocation facilities such as gyms and public buildings. To further complicate matters, the catastrophe also unleashed an ongoing series of dangerous radioactive events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This is expected to cause untold economic health issues for the region far into the foreseeable future. In short, this combination natural/manmade disaster is without precedent in human history. In response, governments as well as individuals worldwide have jumped into the fray to offer economic and other sustenance on behalf of the Japanese people.
Our own particular response to the above is this new Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief jazz CD that will go on sale both as a download—iTunes U.S.—and as a hard copy disc on SSJ-USA Records. All proceeds will go to the Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief. Hard copies in the U.S. will be mostly sold on cyber sites, CDBaby, etc., but it will also be made available in “better" brick and mortar stores throughout the U.S.
All tracks are previously unissued.
U.S. release date: July 13, 2011.
Available at U.S. iTunes & CDBaby on 7/13.
Available on Japan iTunes and on sale in Japan 8/3.
All proceeds go to Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief.
TRACKS & ARTISTS
Includes Solo Piano Performances by Alan Broadbent, Christian Jacob, and Jim Cox
All tracks are new and/or previously unreleased
The story behind this project is a very simple one. The Sunday morning after the disaster, I phoned SSJ artist Diane Hubka to ask about the well-being of some of our mutual Japanese friends. In passing, Diane offered the notion that SSJ should release a fund raising CD featuring some of the label's artists. At once, I volunteered to examine such a possibility. The next day I began making exploratory phone calls, and literally everyone I spoke to jumped at the chance to help. Naturally, when I reported back to Diane, she was elated and we began discussing division of labor on the project. And it wasn't long before another fine SSJ singer also possessing a gift for graphic design, Kurt Reichenbach, came on board.
With the exception of the late Chris Connor, all the participants have recorded for SSJ in the past and all live in California, thus the title From California With Love. SSJ Records has been in operation for five years and during that time, its catalog has grown to nearly 100 titles. Sales of its releases are not, by any means, exclusive to Japanese jazz fans. Most of the artists on this recording have also performed in Japan. SSJ also has a U.S. division, SSJ-USA, and this earthquake-tsunami CD is only the second released under that imprint.
As should be apparent from the titles, the songs in the collection are ones of hope and positivity in keeping with the overall post-tragedy outlook of the Japanese people. All tracks are previously unissued. ALL proceeds, of course, are going to Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief.
On March 11, 2011, Northeast Japan was hit by the most powerful recorded earthquake (9.0) in that country's history. This, in turn, unleashed a tsunami of equally epic proportions. As of June 12, the estimated death toll has reached more than 15,400 and another 8,000 are still missing, with more than 90,000 people now living in relocation facilities such as gyms and public buildings. To further complicate matters, the catastrophe also unleashed an ongoing series of dangerous radioactive events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This is expected to cause untold economic health issues for the region far into the foreseeable future. In short, this combination natural/manmade disaster is without precedent in human history. In response, governments as well as individuals worldwide have jumped into the fray to offer economic and other sustenance on behalf of the Japanese people.
Our own particular response to the above is this new Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief jazz CD that will go on sale both as a download—iTunes U.S.—and as a hard copy disc on SSJ-USA Records. All proceeds will go to the Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief. Hard copies in the U.S. will be mostly sold on cyber sites, CDBaby, etc., but it will also be made available in “better" brick and mortar stores throughout the U.S.
All tracks are previously unissued.
U.S. release date: July 13, 2011.
Available at U.S. iTunes & CDBaby on 7/13.
Available on Japan iTunes and on sale in Japan 8/3.
All proceeds go to Japanese earthquake-tsunami relief.
TRACKS & ARTISTS
- Blue Skies / On a Clear Day—Sue Raney / Alan Broadbent
- Sweet and Lovely—Alan Broadbent
- Strike Up the Band—Johnny Holiday / Sam Most
- Skylark—Leslie Lewis / Gerard Hagen
- Here's to Life—Kurt Reichenbach / Jim Cox
- Sweet Happy Life—Diane Hubka / Dan Sawyer
- Ue Wo Muite Arukou (Sukiyaki)—Christian Jacob
- Beautiful Love—Tierney Sutton / Christian Jacob
- We Can Work it Out—Jim Cox
- Dream—Dick Noel
- I Feel a Song Coming On—Chris Connor
- The Wave—Frankie Randall
- You'll Never Walk Alone—Pinky Winters / Jim Cox
None of the singers and musicians accepted a fee for their performances. The following companies or individuals have also donated their services: Lori Muscarelle, Umbrella Media (Lauren Price, Andy Waterman), Michael Bloom Media Relations, Diana Hubka (concept and execution), Bill Reed (music production), Kurt Reichenbach (art direction), Asian Advertisers, Inc., BounDEE, Inc., Ichikudo Printing Co, Ltd., Jazz Japan, Kenji Seki.
For more information contact Michael Bloom Media Relations.
