Recording News

In a Whisper... Between Ambient and Jazz, a Love Call

Source: BlueGal 110
February 9, 2009

In music, as in life, a fortuitous encounter can generate a spark of poetry. This is what happened between Gino Fioravanti (at the piano) and Mirko Fait (at the soprano saxophone). To bring together these two artists was John Toso (co-author of the pieces) who skilfully led the two musicians on parallel paths. The evanescent notes and the relaxing, almost hypnotic, melodies played by Fioravanti on a grand piano Steinway, intertwine the smooth sound of a soprano saxophone which, although ...

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Transvalue - Book III CD - Available Now

Source: All About Jazz
February 9, 2009

Book III, the latest from Transvalue features the genre-bending, improvisationally-friendly compositions of trombonist/composer Michael Vlatkovich (Vinny Golia, Rob Blakeslee) that support, surround and interact with the writings and vocal performances of spoken word artist, Chuck Britt. Recorded and produced by drummer/percussionist, David Crigger (Don Ellis, Passport), Book III is the next step in Transvalue’s ongoing exploration of the inner depths of human interaction and the outer reaches of jazz... and where both come together as one. Transvalue – Book III’s ...

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Warsaw Village Band to Release 'Infinity' in April

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
February 9, 2009

The James Brown of the Carpathians, the Ghostly Voice of Krakow, and New Warsaw Soul: Warsaw Village Band Imagines the Limitless Future of Polish Music on Infinity

When you think of music from “other places," you either picture bands playing local traditional music or playing some form of global pop in their native language. But Warsaw Village Band, on their latest album Infinity (Barbes Records; April 7th), is forging a little-known third path for musicians “from somewhere else," from the ...

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Omar Sosa CD Release & Tour Dates

Source: All About Jazz
February 9, 2009

Half Note Records is proud to release Omar Sosa Sextet's Across the Divide: A Tale of Rhythm & Ancestry on March 24, 2009. Across The Divide is a song cycle highlighting the shared rhythms and ancestry of Cuban pianist OMAR SOSA and New England multi-instrumentalist and vocalist TIM ERIKSEN, a specialist in native and adopted American musics. It is a narrative, a tale of musical and spiritual passage, drawn from the roots of our common cultures. It is a folkloric ...

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Boston's Tamandua Brings Prog-Jazz to the World - New CD Now Available!

Source: Bennett Alliance
February 8, 2009

Tamandua's hard-hitting debut album, Eternal Anteater of the Universe, is now available on Bennett Alliance Records. The CD is available for purchase. The group just performed their much anticipated CD release concert in Boston.

Tamandua is the newest prog-influenced instrumental trio to come out of the Boston scene. Labels are hardly accurate, but the band plays a sort of progressive/avant-garde jazz-rock that is often influenced by various Eastern (Indian, East Asian, and Middle Eastern) ethnic music.

Drummer/composer Rick Landwehr was ...

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Or, the Whale: Light Poles and Pines

Source: JamBase
February 8, 2009

By: Dennis Cook

Launching out with all the strummy, harmonized vigor you could want, Light Poles And Pines (released January 20 on Seany Records) taps into the shimmering, vaguely off-kilter rock of R.E.M. and early 10,000 Maniacs mixed with older country classics like Dolly Parton and Flying Burrito Brothers, then piles on slices of close-to-the-chest emotions and finely etched observations. One feels pulled in tight and then set free in a way that's tough to put into words. Well constructed, ...

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Ani Difranco:Red Letter Year

Source: JamBase
February 8, 2009

By: Trevor Pour

What else can one write about Ani DiFranco? When an artist approaches the release of her 18th official studio album, history is essentially established. So, what differentiates Red Letter Year (Righteous Babe) from the droves of music that's come before? Surprisingly, quite a bit. This is Ani's first new material since the birth of her daughter, Petah Lucia DiFranco Napolitano, who just may have the greatest name in the history of babies. Her newfound happiness as a ...

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Hard Bop, Continued

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
February 7, 2009

Response to the Rifftides post on hard bop has created a lively discussion. You can read the comments here. In addition to the Savoy CD called Hard Bop that was, more or less, the focus of the piece, the commenters mention or allude to other albums. If you're thinking of expanding the hard bop (if there is such a thing) section of your library, or starting one, here are a few worthy candidates. Other nominations will be accepted in the ...

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