Recording News

Ran Blake and Christine Correa - Out of the Shadows (Red Piano)

Source: Master of a Small House
April 22, 2010

Cinema and music are inextricably entwined in Ran Blake's creative consciousness. He's a pianist though, not a filmmaker and his taste in moving picture media filters through a far narrower lens than that of the aural, fixating on noir and vintage musicals. Musically, he's all over the map. Practically anything and anyone is fair game and the subject of delightfully disconcerting mash-ups from Debussy and Horace Silver to Michael Jackson and Mahalia Jackson. As an erudite student of American song, ...

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Hampton Hawes: Bird Song

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 22, 2010

One of Hampton Hawes' finest recording sessions spent 43 years gathering dust on a shelf. Though Bird Song was recorded on January 18, 1956, the nine tracks captured that day went unreleased until 1999, when they were accidentally discovered by producer Eric Miller and issued on CD. At this session for Contemporary Records, Hawes was backed by bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Larance Marable. The music features Hawes in a swinging, upbeat mood, and the material exploits every facet of ...

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Recent Listening: Billy Childs

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
April 22, 2010

Billy Childs, Autumn In Moving Pictures: Jazz Chamber Music, Vol. 2 (artistShare).

There is a long history in jazz of strings in small-group chamber music. In a 1935 concert, Artie Shaw played a piece that he composed for clarinet and string quartet. It brought him attention that helped lead to his first big band. Ralph Burns integrated strings, flute and French horn with his piano, Ray Brown's bass and Jo Jones' drums, for his exquisite 1951 collection Free Forms. Later ...

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Journeyed Tenor Saxophonist Azar Lawrence Set to Release "Mystic Journey," May 4 on Furthermore Recordings

Source: DL Media
April 22, 2010

JOURNEYED TENOR SAXOPHONIST AZAR LAWRENCESET TO RELEASE MYSTIC JOURNEY,MAY 4 ON FURTHERMORE RECORDINGS

ALBUM FEATURES EDDIE HENDERSON, GERALD HAYES, BENITO GONZALEZ, ESSIET ESSIET AND THE LATE RASHIED ALI LAWRENCE'S SEXTET TO PERFORM IN TRIBUTE TO ALI ON MAY 7 AT THE TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER The re-emergence of saxophonist Azar Lawrence has been one of the most exciting things and perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the past five years on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Those ...

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Tiny West African Nation Inspires Politically Provocative Afro-Rock

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
April 22, 2010

Watch out! Here they Come Again! A Tiny West African Nation Inspires a Politically Provocative Afro-Rock Re-invention

In the political maelstrom of Washington DC, where Dr. King marched for civil rights, where soldiers vigorously protested Vietnam, and thousands continue to speak truth to power on the steps of the nations capitol, an adamant African voice exclaims, “Adje! Adje," urging people to take action against social injustices. From atop a smoldering, Afro-rock soapbox, rooted in the traditions of his homeland, an ...

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Trombone Shorty's "Backatown" Released on April 20th

Source: Michael Ricci
April 21, 2010

Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews' new album, Backatown (Verve Forecast April 20), is the work of a rare artist who can draw both the unqualified respect of jazz legends and deliver a high-energy rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars and audiences alike. With such an unprecedented mix of rock, funk, jazz, hip-hop and soul, he had to create his own name to describe his signature sound: Supafunkrock! Andrews is the kind of player who comes along maybe once in ...

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Owl Studios Releases Frank Glover's "Abacus", a Chamber Jazz Masterpiece, on May 11, 2010

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations
April 21, 2010

Born and bred in Indianapolis, innovative composer-arranger Frank Glover may be one of Indiana's best-kept secrets. On his 2004 tour de force, the classically influenced Politico (reissued in 2009 on Owl Studios), Glover established himself as an accomplished clarinetist-composer with a penchant for long-form pieces that strike an organic balance between improvisation and formal structure. On Abacus, he expands on his large canvas vision with a stunning program of chamber jazz that alternately reflects the influence of classical renegades Igor ...

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Solitude: Phil Woods with the Depaul University Jazz Ensemble / May 11 Release

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations
April 21, 2010

Jazzed Media announces the May 11, 2010 release of SOLITUDE, featuring Phil Woods with the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble. SOLITUDE features 10 original compositions by Phil Woods in fresh, big band arrangements crafted by Woods, Jim McNeely, Thomas Matta, Kirk Garrison, and the DownBeat magazine award-winning DePaul University Jazz Ensemble. Phil is featured as soloist on each of the selections, with his long-time colleagues - pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin - joining the DePaul band ...

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