Recording News

Dreyfus Jazz (USA) Presents the European Modernists: Jean-Michel Pilc, Aldo Romano, Rosario Giuliani and Philip Catherine

Source: Michael Ricci
June 19, 2010

Jazz, once a singularly American invention and one of the United States' greatest exports, has become a truly international phenomenon, with important players from all over the world making valuable contributions to the music's evolution. Europe, previously home to many of the most devoted connoisseurs of the art form, is now also the producer of some of the most innovative voices in jazz. With the inauguration of its European Modernists series Dreyfus Jazz is proud to bring U.S. audiences some ...

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Hancock Can 'Imagine' More Jazz

Source: All About Jazz
June 19, 2010

The music world is not unaware that Herbie Hancock turned a youthful 70 on April 12. To mark the occasion, there will be a concert in New York's Carnegie Hall on June 24, two days after the release of his latest album, “The Imagine Project," and the Hollywood Bowl will host a star-packed concert Sept. 1 featuring many of the performers on the album. There will also be a tour in support of the disc, which was recorded on five ...

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Joined at the Hip/ Pinetop Perkins and Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith

Source: All About Jazz
June 18, 2010

“Walking Down the Highway" is one of the treasures from Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes" Smith's new album Joined at the Hip.

They have 170 years of living-legend status between them. Go Walking Down the Highway with Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes" Smith.

“Walking Down the Highway," Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes" Smith

This is how it's done.

The former Muddy Waters sidemen turned blues elder statesmen pour every one of their combined 170 years of living ...

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Not so Lucky at Life

Source: Riffs on Jazz by John Anderson
June 17, 2010

Saxophonist Eli “Lucky" Thompson was born on this date in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1924, and spent his formative years in Detroit. He played tenor in the swing orchestras of Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, and Billy Eckstine in the mid-1940s. Thompson's main influences were Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Don Byas. He was also the sax player that Dizzy Gillespie hired at this time to substitute for Charlie Parker, who was an erratic presence due to his drug problems (Parker ...

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1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (641-650)

Source: Groove Notes
June 17, 2010

For those of you who have been following along with the list, you know that we add twenty albums each week. We are going to tweak things a bit for the remainder of the list, adding anywhere from 5 to ten albums at a time, but posting the lists a bit more frequently. Additionally, we will have links next to each album, so that if you find an album interesting, you can click on the link and buy it.

Here ...

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Flamenco Guitar Virtuoso Mehran Unleashes the "Angels of Persepolis"

Source: Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
June 17, 2010

Chicago, IL - There have been many fine concept albums released in recent years, but none more pertinent to today's affairs as the new CD by Iranian-born flamenco guitar virtuoso Mehran. Angels of Persepolis is a concept instrumental CD that intertwines ancient Persian history, Persian mythology and Iran's current affairs. This objective was reached by usage of sound effects, insertion of actual excerpts and sounds of the recent affairs in Iran and the mood translated by the music. On this ...

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Preview Maria Schneider's "Spring Commission Project"

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

With her second ArtistShare fan-funded Commission project well underway, Maria Schenider would like to invite you to preview “The Spring 2010 ArtistShare Commission Project". Preview project updates, interviews and submit questions for Maria by clicking here. Participants in the project will receive a step by step walk through of the composition process, interviews and Q&A with Maria and the band as well as videos of rehearsals, Maria's rehearsal techniques, and a copy of the score upon completion. To participate today ...

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"Empire" an Upcoming Release from Scott Colley

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

Scott Colley's upcoming album Empire is his seventh release as a leader and it seems as though his experience has served him well. “It felt to me that writing the material for this recording flowed quite easily. I think that because I have listened to all these musicians so much over the years, and have been fortunate to play with them all in many different musical environments, it was very easy for me to imagine them all playing together and ...

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