Recording News

The Making of "Alfie" (Part 1)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 23, 2010

If the arrival of the Beatles in February 1964 marked a turning point in jazz's commercial viability, then the recording of Alfie by Cilla Black in 1965 was the sound of the door slamming shut. Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the U.S. release of the English film starring Michael Caine, the song went on to become a big hit for Black, Cher and Dionne Warwick. Despite Bacharach and David's initial trepidation about writing the song, Alfie today ...

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50 Latin Stars Gather to Record 'Somos el Mundo'

Source: All About Jazz
February 23, 2010

The atmosphere at Miami's Bongo's restaurant, perched on top of the American Airlines Arena, was almost festive as an endless stream of Latin acts began to file inside. They were there to record “Somos el Mundo," the Spanish-language version of “ We Are the World," and, heeding the spirit of the cause and the directions on the tip-sheet, there was little fanfare surrounding their arrival. Artists had been instructed to be accompanied by no more than two people, and they ...

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Gaida's Debut Album "Levantine Indulgence" Arrives March 21

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
February 23, 2010

Translating Ecstasy from Syria to the Blues: Gaida's Secret Passion is Revealed

For Gaida, morning in Damascus meant melodies: waking to the sound of her father's radio while he shaved, the predawn intertwining calls to prayer bursting from mosques across the world's longest-inhabited city. Strains of Umm Kulthum and Fairouz rose from radios and stores as horses clopped and cars purred by. The age-old harmonized with the modern.

These sounds shaped the gorgeous and thoughtful Syrian singer's impeccable musical intuition ...

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Resonance Records to Release "The Mastery of Passion"- A Collection of All Star Recordings with Special Guests Michael Brecker and Claudio Roditi

Source: DL Media
February 23, 2010

Resonance Records To Release The Mastery Of Passion- A Rare Collection of All Star Recordings From Keyboardist Harris Simon Heirloom Series Release Features Special Guests Michael Brecker and Claudio Roditi

As a 21-year-old wunderkind, pianist-composer-arranger Harris Simon went into the studio in March of 1978 to record his first recording under his own name. Produced by George Klabin and Jeff Kaufman, New York Connection featured an all-star cast including tenor sax titan Michael Brecker, Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi, saxophonist-flutist ...

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Charlie Hunter Goes for Harder Jazz Groove

Source: Michael Ricci
February 23, 2010

As a child, jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter lived in a hippie commune and traveled the country in a hippie bus. But don't call him a hippie kid. “I wasn't a hippie kid; I was a kid with a hippie mom," says Hunter, 42. “I have absolutely zero affinity for the culture. When you're a kid growing up in it, most of it's a pretty futile narcissistic endeavor. “I see kids today who think they're hippies. I say 'You guys are ...

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Where Jazz Meets Blues

Source: All About Jazz
February 23, 2010

The essential relationship between jazz and blues seems so well understood that it's not discussed much. Junior Mance explored this relationship not through words but through his piano, when he led his trio through Junior's Blues (OJC).

You don't need to be a Mance fan, just a fan of fine and powerful blues-based piano, to enjoy his impeccable program: Three of Junior's own blues swingers as mileposts in a survey that encompasses historic piano styles from stride to bop. Everything ...

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Hoodoo Gurus' Ninth Album, "Purity of Essence," Coming to U.S. on May 11

Source: conqueroo
February 23, 2010

Key track “Crackin' Up" came to frontman Dave Faulkner as a dream

SYDNEY, Australia -- The Hoodoo Gurus, known for high energy, hook-laden rock 'n' roll, have completed their ninth album, Purity of Essence, which will be released May 11, 2010 on their own label in the United States via Virtual Label/ADA. Formed in 1981, the band is described by AllMusic.com as “(channeling) their inspiration from the vast entirety of the American pop cultural landscape, drawing on such disparate sources ...

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Summerfold Records Announces the Release of Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks with Free Download at All About Jazz

Source: Lori Hehr Public Relations
February 22, 2010

Summerfold Records announces the release of One by Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks featuring Bill Bruford with a free download on All About Jazz. The track “Prism" is available here. Pete Lockett is one of the world's leading multi-percussionists. An authority on Indian percussion and an expert on tablas, kanjira, and bongos, he has played and recorded with countless artists including Bjrk, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, David Torn, Vikku Vinayakram, Selva Ganesh, Ustad Zakir Hussain, The Verve, Steve ...

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