New Releases: The Holmes Brothers - Brotherhood; Bill Medley - Your Heart To Mine: Dedicated To The Blues; John Mayall - A Special Life

THE HOLMES BROTHERS - BROTHEROOD

The album features fourteen songs, including eight new Holmes Brothers originals and six carefully-chosen covers. Brotherhood is a testament to the uplifting musical power that comes from the close-knit, fraternally telepathic relationship of the Holmes Brothers. A wealth of authentic, joyous blues, funk, R&B and soul, dominated by eight new Holmes Brothers originals. Also featured are sparkling remakes of songs by Ike Turner, William Bell & Booker T. Jones and Ted Hawkins, plus the band's unparalleled version of 'Amazing Grace.' 'Fervent, inspired and joyful blues, R&B, roadhouse rock, soul and gospel... beautiful harmonies, true magic' - NPR ~ newreleasesnow.com

BILL MEDLEY - YOUR HEART TO MINE: DEDICATED TO THE BLUES

Bill Medley is a seminal figure in the history of American music. He is perhaps best known as half of the unmistakable duo, The Righteous Brothers. Their raw emotional rhythm and blues sound essentially created the genre "blue-eyed soul." In the mid-1960s, the Righteous Brothers became a fixture on Top Forty radio with hits like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin," "Just Once in My Life," "Unchained Melody," and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration," creating an ultra- dramatic take on Sixties pop romance. Their partnership lasted four decades, though Medley explored his solo options apart from the duo on occasion. He went on his own in the late-`60s for six years. In 1974 the duo reunited and resumed their hit-making ways with the prophetic "Rock and Roll Heaven." In the seventies, their live shows continued to attract fans and gained the respect of a new generation of listeners. In 1987, Medley scored a monumental hit with another duettist, Jennifer Warnes, on "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," for the film. On March 10, 2003, The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The induction came just months before Bobby Hatfield's unexpected death. Medley not only lost his singing partner.he had lost a close friend whom he'd known since his late-teens. After a period of mourning, Medley made the decision to continue touring as a solo artist.

JOHN MAYALL - A SPECIAL LIFE

As 2013 came to a close and with his 80th birthday mere weeks away, the godfather of British blues quietly entered a North Hollywood Studio with his band, special guest C.J. Chenier and co-producer/engineer Eric Corne. He walked out with one of the finest and most personal records of his career, A Special Life. Along with his accomplished band (Greg Rzab, Jay Davenport and Rocky Athas) Mayall goes back to his roots with an eclectic album centered in the blues but with diversions into rock and Americana. This is John's first studio album in five years. It is an instant classic and a must have for any blues/roots music enthusiast. ~ newreleasesnow.com

Guitarist Rotem Sivan to Release his Second Album, For Emotional Use Only - Out September 2 on Fresh Sound New Talent

One of the most exciting young jazz performers on the New York scene, Rotem Sivan is developing at a fascinating rate. Hot on the heels of Sivan's 2013 debut, Enchanted Sun (SteepleChase), comes the guitarist's new album For Emotional Use Only, featuring Haggai Cohen Milo on bass and Mark McLean on drums. This album - to be released September 2, 2014 on Fresh Sound New Talent Records - sees Sivan lead the trio in a set of beautifully textured and dynamic originals, plus fresh, individual takes on two standards.

Sivan recorded For Emotional Use Only in Brooklyn's Atlantic Sound Studios. Conducted without headphones, with no separation between the players and with a gathering of friends and followers as an audience, the session had a live, in-the-moment atmosphere. The result, with no edits and an emphasis on rich interplay and sheer allure of sound, is one of the more organic, engaging and involving guitar trio albums you're likely to hear. A glimpse of the session can be seen on Sivan's YouTube channel.

Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Sivan moved to New York City in 2008 to study jazz at the New School and pursue his dream of becoming part of the city's vibrant scene. He has developed a glowing tone and quicksilver phrasing, as well as a sophisticated sense of rhythm and an openhearted approach to melody. The guitarist came up with the title For Emotional Use Only after a visit to WDNA-FM in Miami. "I was flipping through the racks of CDs," the guitarist recalls, "and I saw a sticker on one of them that said, 'For Promotional Use Only,' misreading 'Promotional' as 'Emotional.' It struck me immediately, and as I thought it over, I realized that I wanted use the seemingly mistaken phrase for my album title as a way to convey my own relationship to music. Ultimately, what leaves the most enduring impression is the music's emotional effect."

For Emotional Use Only begins with a hypnotic bass solo, "Intro to Spirals," an unusual way to open an album led by a guitarist, yet an utterly compelling one. "It felt right for the music - which is always the choice I'll make," Sivan says. "There are many crossroads you come to when performing music. The choices you make determine where the music is going to go. Mark and Haggai make musical choices that I really appreciate - we usually know where each other is heading, and if it is a surprise, it's a good one."

Cohen Milo's bass intro is followed by "Spirals," a dusky, catchy number with a tricky rhythm of 31/16. The album's other originals include the dynamic "Sefi's Blues," the Monk-like "Pass It On" and the pensively beautiful "For Emotional Use Only," marked by a tolling bass line and golden-hued lead playing by Sivan.

There are also two tracks labeled "Blossom Interlude" interspersed on the album before the record closes with the full-on "Blossom," the ebullient material laced with subtle West  African accents, rhythmically, melodically and texturally - Sivan's electric six-string sounds like a kora harp at some points and sounds like Malian-style guitar at others. The album's two standards are Jobim's lilting-yet-offbeat "Useless Landscape" and the rarely covered "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Disney's Cinderella.

Sivan grew up digging into the legacies of guitarists from Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell to John Scofield and Pat Metheny. But in more recent years, he has been keenly influenced by pianists, from Wynton Kelly, Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson to Ahmad Jamal, Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau. "When I listen, study and transcribe these days, it's most often from the piano," Sivan explains. "I love the sound of the instrument and the counterpoint you can achieve on the keyboard. I adapt piano exercises for the guitar, and piano trios have been the most inspirational for me in terms of the way they interact."

The All About Jazz review of Sivan's Enchanted Sun praised the debut album for its "energy, intensity and creativity," all qualities that the guitarist has amplified with his trio on For Emotional Use Only. He says: "In music, being in the moment is the point - being fully conscious of the situation, where the music is and where it's going. Even solos can be like dialogues with the other players. The best jazz groups commune with each other."

Rotem Sivan

Sivan is a guitarist for the 21st century, with an international background and border-defying interests. From an early age, he was influenced by a wide range of genres, including Baroque music and classic rock, Indian classical and Middle Eastern music. In New York City, Sivan quickly became an active player and started collaborating with acclaimed musicians such as Peter Bernstein (see this video of Sivan and Bernstein playing duet on "The Way You Look Tonight"), Ari Hoenig, Colin Stranahan, Paul Bollenback and Ziv Ravitz. Sivan was a prize-winner at the Montreux Jazz Festival and has performed at the Sonora Jazz Festival in Mexico, the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland and numerous others. The Rotem Sivan Trio performs regularly at well-known jazz venues such as Birdland, Smalls, Le Poisson Rouge, the Bar Next Door, Fat Cat and more.

www.RotemSivan.com

PAUL TAYLOR live @ Germany's greatest Soul, Funk & Jazz - Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg, Germany, Sept. 11, 2014

Paul Taylor took up the saxophone at the age of seven. Though the Denver native has lived and worked primarily in Las Vegas since graduating as a music performance major from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the proximity of his adopted hometown to Los Angeles gave him many opportunities to vibe with R&B and contemporary jazz producers and artists. In 1994, Jeff Lorber asked Taylor to play with him at the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival. 

Another popular keyboard player, Keiko Matsui, and her producer/husband Kazu liked Taylor's charismatic performance and offered him an audition with their band. He recorded and toured with the Matsuis for two years (appearing on "Sapphire" and "Dream Walk"), and Kazu Matsui eventually co-produced his debut album "On The Horn" (1995), which spawned the #1 radio hit "Till We Meet Again." Although Taylor has since been one of the genre's most popular live attractions as a solo artist, he eagerly accepted Russ Freeman's invitation to tour with The Rippingtons as a special guest artist in 2000. 

He later toured as a featured performer with the all-star "Groovin' For Grover" lineup (including Lorber, Richard Elliot and Gerald Albright). Over the past few years, Taylor has also been part of two of the genre's biggest summer tours, Gentlemen of the Night (with Marion Meadows and Warren Hill) and Sax and the City (with Meadows and Vincent Ingala). Long a mainstay among the most popular and elite artists, Taylor has been on one of the most exhilarating upswings of his career over the past seven years, starting with "Ladies' Choice" (2007), which marked his first ever #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz. "Burnin'" the title track from his 2009 album, "Push To Start" from "Prime Time" (2011) and "Supernova" from his latest release "Tenacity" (2014) hit the pole position on the Smooth Jazz Songs chart. The albums itself respectively reached the Top Ten on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

 

Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson & Others Headline Unforgettable All-Star Smooth Jazz Cruises

While sailing into placid blue-green Caribbean waters last January, The Smooth Jazz Cruise encountered a tidal wave of demand for cabins for the 2015 sailing. On just the second day of the 2014 venture, next year’s cruise sailing January 11-18, 2015 showcasing more than twenty of the brightest stars in contemporary jazz and R&B sold out. To make sure that no one would be left stranded ashore, cruise producer Entertainment Cruise Productions, working with cruise line Holland America and the enthusiastic cooperation of the artists and musicians, swiftly put together a solution to rescue the lengthy waiting list of enthusiasts from all over the world eager to be part of the luxurious musical vacation adventure. Six days later, The Smooth Jazz Cruise 15.2 sailing March 1-8, 2015 was conceived. 

Spending a week at sea performing, meeting and hanging out with fans aboard Holland America’s m/s Eurodam while visiting exotic Caribbean ports during the traditional January time slot fits nicely into the musicians’ schedules because most don’t tour or release new albums immediately after the holiday season, but rounding up everyone six weeks later in March, including such Grammy winners, legends and chart-toppers as Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Joe Sample, Peter White and many others, could have been difficult. 

“We called all the artists’ agents and managers and they were happy to hear about the unprecedented demand so everyone was ready and willing to sign up immediately,” said Entertainment Cruise Productions’ Executive Director Michael Lazaroff of the cruise that will depart Fort Lauderdale and visit Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Croix and the private island Half Moon Cay. “The Smooth Jazz Cruise is simply the best entertainment in the world of smooth jazz. No other festival or event can boast this level and depth of talent, fun and excitement. As it’s affectionately known, it is ‘The Greatest Party at Sea.’” 

Capturing the unique spirit of the perennially sold-out cruise that many guests embark upon year after year has been a bit of a challenge as well. Offering live music plus DJ Biz Markie in six different venues large and intimate on top of informative panels, theme parties and autograph sessions with the artists, it is more than a music festival and more than backstage experiences with fan favorites. It is more than a vacation in the Caribbean with a dazzling array of amenities and delectable dining. It is more than a week of pampering during which everyone is treated first class by the Holland America staff. For the past twelve years on 17 full-ship charters, The Smooth Jazz Cruise has delivered unforgettable music and lifestyle experiences. Something special happens when passionate guests devote the entire week to being immersed in the music. A new video clip that provides a glimpse into the magic that occurs on every sailing is as close as one can get without leaving shore. It can be viewed at http://www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com/Videos/PreCruise2015. 

www.TheSmoothJazzCruise.com

Trumpeter Sean Jones Releases Im.pro.vise Never Before Seen

Celebrating his 10th anniversary with Mack Avenue Records, internationally acclaimed composer/trumpeter Sean Jones views his seventh album, im.pro.vise never before seen, as "a reintroduction of who I am." Although he has clearly established himself as a formidable leader through recordings and live performances, this album reflects his "conscious decision to approach this latest step in my artistic evolution as a trumpet player, a composer and a leader."

  

A major event in that evolution occurred when he chose to step down from his longtime position as Lead Trumpeter of the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra in 2010. But touring with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock's Tribute To Miles the following year made a truly profound impact on his personal journey. "I have so much respect for those men, so I asked them how I could best contribute to this music. Without hesitation and in one voice they said: 'Lead. That's what we hired you to do.' That brought it all together for me."

  

Through that epiphany, Jones set out with a new motivation firmly in place, and im.pro.vise never before seen began to take form. Paring his artistic viewpoint down to the basics, he decided to make his first quartet recording with his longtime bandmates, the dynamic pianist Orrin Evans, and the seamless bass/drum tandem of Luques Curtis and Obed Calvaire. Furthermore, he chose to do it old school.

  

"All of my previous albums were 'productions' with overdubs, etc," says Jones. "This time it was just the four of us in one room, no barriers between us, playing live." The sense of immediacy and urgency that has always been a key element of the jazz art at its highest level is front and center throughout this entire album. Another essential tradition of looking back to look forward is also omnipresent here, and that includes the full scope of that legacy from its blues roots to its freer explorations.

  

Powerfully committed to his art and clearly focused upon where he wants to take it, Jones has developed one of the most impressive and compelling ensembles on today's scene, all of whom are committed to performing together and taking their place alongside the most affecting and important ensembles in jazz. 

Together this quartet generates the consummate energy to which all truly dedicated jazz artists should aspire. The musicians bring everything they have to the table, making the music their own, yet always understanding that the purpose is to fulfill the vision of the leader. "I want to reflect the tradition of what jazz is," says Jones, "and my voice is a voice that needs to be part of it."

Upcoming Sean Jones Performances:

July 31 / Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Festival / Atlantic City, NJ

August 8 & 9 / Richmond Jazz Festival / Richmond, VA

August 12 - 13 / Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (featured guest artist) / New York, NY

August 21 / SFJAZZ Center / San Francisco, CA

September 1 / Detroit Jazz Festival / Detroit, MI

September 5 / The Frick / Pittsburgh, PA

September 25 - 28 / Jazz Showcase / Chicago, IL

November 3 - 8 / SF Performances Residency / San Francisco, CA

November 10 - 15 / Jazz Bistro / St. Louis, MO

www.SeanJonesMusic.com

MAYIMBA MUSIC TO RELEASE VIDA. ARTE. AMOR. A BRAZILIAN JOURNEY WITH MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST LAURA DREYER

Laura Dreyer, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, has established herself as a vital member of the New York jazz scene. Always drawn to Brazilian music, the composer, educator and multi-instrumentalist created a "latinized" fusion incorporating elements of jazz, funk, and rock.

Dreyer was a founding member and contributing arranger for the big band DIVA. In this capacity, she worked with luminaries Dave Brubeck, Rosemary Clooney, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Slide Hampton and Clark Terry, among others. Additionally she has performed with Dr. Billy Taylor, Mel Lewis, Robert Palmer, Nnenna Freelon, Lea Delaria, Leny Andrade and Portinho. She was a band member for the award-winning musicals "Hot and Sweet" and the Duke Ellington tribute, "Hit Me With A Hot Note." 

The National Endowment for the Arts awarded Dreyer grants in performance and professional jazz study/composition. She participated in the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop and four of her songs have received an honorable mention in Billboard Magazine's songwriting contests. Dreyer has been active as an educator, and continues to write for music publications.

Of her current work she says, "I discovered an intrinsic emotional quality in Brazilian music that helped me find a deeper level of self-expression. After having performed many times with Brazilian jazz artists throughout the years in New York City and Brazil, I began to envision recording my newest album in Rio de Janeiro. I had worked with world-class Rio-based jazz artists in Brazil, and realized that I had found the perfect group of musicians to perform my music and complete my vision."

In the spirit of creating a multi- cultural recording, vocalist and music educator Professor Roger Wesby wrote lyrics in Spanish for one of Dreyer's compositions. Brazilian vocalist Débora Watts adapted these lyrics to Portuguese, and penned lyrics to another one of Dreyer's songs. Vocalist Teri Koide contributed her vocal talents and English lyrics to another piece, and Karen Rodriguez helped with further Spanish lyrics and stellar vocals. The repertoire was completed with the addition of two arrangements of a composition by the legendary Romeo Santos.

The 14 tracks of the CD were recorded in the historic neighborhood of Santa Teresa with engineer Carlos Fuchs at his state of the art studio. Dreyer concludes, "I am grateful that the magic I felt during the recording session, and my passion for the fascinating sounds of Brazil, are captured on Vida. Arte. Amor."

TRACKS

Caminhos Novos

Beauty & The Beast

Ping Pong

La Pena El Placer (Portuguese Version)

Beijo del Sol (Rio Version)

Spring St.

Vale La Pena El Placer

O Outro Lado do Seu Amor

Perdendo Voce

A Somba Se Foi

Until Daybreak

Arcade

A Danca dos Cacharros

Perdiendote

www.lauradreyer.com 

http://mayimbamusic.com.

Reed Master Harvey Wainapel's "Amigos Brasileiros Vol. 2" Due for September 2 Release

Harvey Wainapel Amigos Brasileiros volume 2 Saxophonist and clarinetist Harvey Wainapel has been dividing his time between Berkeley and Brazil for nearly 15 years now, and in the course of his expansive Brazilian travels he's forged deep musical friendships with an array of that country's notable composers and instrumentalists. Many of them were showcased on Wainapel's gorgeous 2007 travelogue Amigos Brasileiros, and many more are in the spotlight on its follow-up, Amigos Brasileiros Vol. 2. The new disc will be released by Wainapel's JazzMission Records on September 2.

"I've been pretty ambitious with both of these CDs, but I'm still just scratching the surface," Wainapel says. "There are so many traditions and styles that are very localized and not commercial, so you won't hear them on the radio." 

The sessions took place in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Recife, Brazil; one track featuring carioca pianist and U.S. resident Weber Iago ("Palavras de Menina") was recorded in Washington state. Rhythms such as xote, caboclinho, maracatú, baião, frevo, marcha, and choro infuse intoxicating compositions by Léa Freire ("Mamulengo"), Spok ("Nilinho na Aldeia"), Wilson Lopes ("Árvore"), and Marco César/João Lyra ("Triunfando"). The leader contributes "Nas Ruas de Perdizes," a composition selected as a semi-finalist for the 2010 Curitiba Choro Festival (and the only entry by a non-Brazilian). 

In many ways Amigos Brasileiros Vol. 2 serves as a savvy on-the-ground survey of the contemporary Brazilian scene, a thoughtfully curated guide to musicians' musicians in a nation bound together by sound. Instrumental music is overshadowed in Brazil by vocal music, which means many of the Amigos Brasileiros players and composers are unsung at home. "I wanted to reflect what's happening now with the people I meet," says Wainapel, "and they were kind enough to include me on their scene. There's so much creative energy down there. You never get to the end of it." 

Equally adept on clarinets and saxophones, Wainapel (pronounced wine-apple) has also collaborated with some of jazz's most acclaimed musicians over the past three decades, including pianists Kenny Barron and McCoy Tyner, tenor saxophonists Joe Henderson and Joe Lovano, and drummer Billy Hart. It was while living in New York City, in 1979, that he first contracted his fever for Brazilian music. He landed a weekly gig playing in a large Brazilian jazz ensemble led by Thiago de Melo, which also included drummer Duduka da Fonseca, Wainapel's onetime Berklee classmate Claudio Roditi, and pianist Marcos Silva. The fever became an obsession.

 "It's led me to making these annual trips," says the saxophonist, a native of upstate Ellenville, New York, "though I play jazz there too. Brazilians love jazz, so it's 50/50. The Brazilian side injects a lot of emotion into my playing, and it opened up my concept of melody and harmony." Wainapel has gone on to tour internationally with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, and perform in the U.S. and Brazil with such top figures as composer Guinga, guitar virtuoso Paulo Bellinati, and master pianists Jovino Santos Neto and Nelson Ayres.

Wainapel relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982 and quickly became an in-demand player. He made his recording debut as a leader in 1994 with At Home/On the Road, followed by Ambrosia: The Music of Kenny Barron (1996) and The Hang (1998), with Barron at the piano. Wainapel's first full recording of Brazilian music was 2004's New Choros of Brazil, a duo album with guitarist Paulo Bellinati that focused on previously unrecorded choros by masters like Sérgio Assad, Guinga, and Dori Caymmi.

The saxophonist is planning a special series of shows to celebrate the release of Amigos Brasileiros Vol. 2. He'll be appearing 9/4 at Kuumbwa, Santa Cruz, and 9/5 at the California Jazz Conservatory (formerly the Jazzschool), Berkeley, with special guests Vitor Gonçalves on piano (Hermeto Pascoal, Maria Bethânia, Anat Cohen) and Cleber Almeida on drums and percussion (Hamilton de Holanda, Banda Mantiqueira), plus bassist Scott Thompson and percussionist Brian Rice. He'll also be performing as a duo with Gonçalves 9/10 at Sonoma State University (1-3 pm) and 9/12 at Old Siskiyou Barn, Ashland, Oregon.

Wainapel and carioca vocalist (and longtime California resident) Claudia Villela are scheduled to appear together at the Monterey Jazz Festival 9/19. In October, Wainapel will head to the Northwest for additional CD release gigs with pianist and frequent collaborator Jovino Santos Neto and his group: 10/6 at Rhythm & Rye, Olympia (also featuring Filó Machado) and 10/7 The Royal Room, Seattle. And then the saxophonist will pack his bags for another temporada in Brazil, staying for most of the remainder of 2014. 

"Time to start working on Volume 3!" says Wainapel. 

Lost Dog Found to Release Second Full-Length Album, DINE ON DANGER The “jump roots” treat drops on August 19, 2014

San Francisco-based outfit Lost Dog Found will release its second full-length album, DINE ON DANGER, on August 19, 2014.  The 10-song (all original) record demonstrates the award-winning band’s fresh take on classic Americana genres.

With a uniquely modern blend, called “jump roots,” of retro Americana genres including blues, swing, rock, and soul, Lost Dog Found reaches a broad spectrum of music lovers, young and old alike, who love to dance and sing along to songs about love, happiness, heartbreak, and hangovers.

DINE ON DANGER opens with a one-two punch of R&B-tinged, finger-snapping, toe-tapping retro poppers, “Hot Swing is Back” and “The Big Stomper.”  The title tracks delivers some expert jazz horn work, and guest powerhouse Leah Woodard adds some gorgeous, smoky vocals to “I’m Not Crying for You.”  Throughout is skillful chops, playful songwriting, and reminders of joyful, grab-your-honey kind of music.

Lost Dog Found is: Chris Hudlow – lead vocals, tenor sax, Steve Mac – guitars, piano, Kyle Pesonen – drums, Nick Miller – alto sax, Jeremy Greene – tenor sax, baritone sax, Craig Berletti – trumpet, organ, Paul Geoghan - upright bass, Guest performers include Scott Yost – upright bass (Time are Tough and Big Stomper), Todd Grady - Trumpet (Times Are Tough and Big Stomper) and Madison Bohrer – tenor sax (Times are Tough and Big Stomper)

DINE ON DANGER TRACK LIST

Hot Swing is Back

The Big Stomper

The Ghost of Johnny Walker

These Times are Tough (But Baby So are We)

I’m Not Crying for You - featuring Leah Woodard

Dine on Danger

Give Me Love

I Never Thought You Would Make It

You are the Kind of Girl

Nobody Loves Me Like You Do

“Below that fun surface there’s incredibly tight band member cooperation and teamwork.

This is a big bold band that rumbles like a freight train hauling a heavy blues load down the line."

 - Rust Magazine

DINE ON DANGER was written (both words and music) by Steve McCannell  It was produced by McCannell with Jeremy Greene and Chris Hudlow.  Recording was done  at Hyde Street Studios, San Francisco and engineered by Nathan Winter.  “These Times are Tough” and “Big Stomper” were recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley CA and engineered by Jesse Nichols.

Listen Here to Nobody Loves Me Like You Do

New Releases - Eloise Laws - Eloise; Gerardo Frisina - Passon Dance / Space In Time; Gerardo Frisina & Maurizio Bonizzoni - Through The Night / Superstrut

ELOISE LAWS - ELOISE

The warm, sweetly grooving Eloise album from Eloise Laws – a nice bit of smoothly produced LA soul, with arrangements by Gene Page, and production by Linda Creed and Jerry Goldstein. Eloise's vocals are really wonderful here, exuding warmth something of relaxed approach to her singing that works really well with the jazzy soul accompaniment. The standout tracks have more of a laidback, lightly soaring vibe – including "Someone Who Still Needs Me", "You're Incredible", and "Love Comes Easy" – but the more uptempo cuts such as "Number One" and "Baby You Lied" acquit themselves nicely, too. Ronnie Laws lays down sax solos on a few numbers, and Lonnie Jordan plays arp – and there are other great players in the mix, including Paulinho Da Costa, Wah Wah Watson, Ray Parker and others. Other tracks include "1,000 Laughs", "Love Is Feeling" and "Forever Now". This remastered FTG edition includes 2 bonus tracks: 12" extended versions of "Number One" and "1,000 Laughs". ~ Dusty Groove

GERARDO FRISINA - PASSION DANCE / SPACE IN TIME

Spacey club grooves from Gerardo Frisina – blending cosmic dancefloor sounds with a genuine dose of jazzy instrumentation! Frisina often flirts with modern club influences, and on "Passion Dance" and "Space In Time" he nearly goes all the way – or at least gets to third base. Both cuts have tripped out atmosphere to spare, and steady, prominent dancefloor beats – but the jazzy keys, sax and other elements keep it loosely rooted in jazz, however abstract. "Space In Time" also includes some hypnotic, hazy vocals by Francesca Sortino. ~ Dusty Groove. Available in vinyl.

GERARDO FRISINA AND MAURIZIO BONIZZONI AKA DJ SKIZO - THROUGH THE NIGHT / SUPERSTRUT

Jazzy instrumentation and clubby grooves from Gerardo Frisina & Maurizio Bonizzoni, aka DJ Skizo! "Through The Night" kicks off a slow cooking bass groove and a percolating beat, but it doesn't take long for the keys, sax, flute and vibraphone to kick in, and really nice, timeless jazz funk vibe over. They up the tempo a bit on the equally strong flip "Superstrut". The beat and electric keys are prominent, but there's some echoey/spacey touches that give it a slightly more tripped out vibe. ~ Dusty Groove. Available in vinyl.

New Releases - The Whole Truth With Mo Kolours - Don't Tell Me No Lies; Sahib Shihab - Sentiments; Nicola Conte - Sandalia / Baltimore Oriole

THE WHOLE TRUTH WITH MO KOLOURS – DON’T TELL ME NO LIES

The Whole Truth returns for a second round of precision engineered dub boogie hybrids, this time featuring the mighty Mo Kolours on vocal duties. The first Whole Truth release, which featured Errol Bellott, garnered praise from DJs like JD Twitch, Hugo Mendez and Zaf Chowdhry, and WT002 finds this anonymous project exploring even more dubwise territory. One-Handed's Mo Kolours guests as a singer and percussionist on the lead track, Don't Tell Me No Lies, while Steppas Don't Lie, Truth Groove and Myth Dub represent a more stripped down instrumental approach. Full bespoke artwork comes courtesy of Lewis Heriz, known for his contributions to the Sofrito and Soundway labels.

SAHIB SHIHAB - SENTIMENTS

One of the coolest, most compelling albums we've ever heard from reedman Sahib Shihab – and that's saying a lot, given how much we love all his other music! This rare gem's got a very exotic feel –explained by Shihab in the notes as coming from a Tunisian influence on the leadoff track, but which also seems to influence the whole record all the way through – not just in Sahib's amazing phrasing on soprano, baritone, and flute – but also on the album's angular modal rhythms from Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Jimmy Hopps on drums. The record's one of the hippest that Drew's ever played on – and has a vibrant feel that's much more Saba/MPS than the usual sessions on Storyville. All tracks are original – and titles include "Ma'nee", "The Call", "Rue De La Harpe", "Sentiments", "From Me To You", and "Companionship". ~ Dusty Groove

NICOLA CONTE - SANDALIA DELA FEAT. HEIDI VOGEL / BALTIMORE ORIOLE FEAT. BRIDGETTE AMOFAH

A pair classic jazzy tunes, interpreted by modern master Nicola Conte! "Sandalia Dela" is a brilliant take on the classic Brazilian number, probably most famous for the version sung by Flora Purim. Conte is faithful to that classic groove, but he definitely brings some fresh life to this time honored tune, with nicely raw percussion, sweet keys, flute and standout lead vocals by Heidi Vogel. The flip is another fresh take on a classic tune – Hoagy Carmichael's "Baltimore Oriole" – with Bridgette Amofah singing, and it's another gem! ~ Dusty Groove. Available on vinyl.

New Solo Recording from Pianist Alan Broadbent - Just One Of Those Things

The new solo recording of Alan Broadbent "Just One Of Those Things" shows very clearly: Alan is not only a highly acclaimed arranger and orchestra leader, two Grammy Awards as well as working with Woody Herman, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Paul Mc Cartney, etc., he is also a great and distinctive pianist. In decades of cooperation with the unforgettable Charlie Haden and his Quartet West, he demonstrated this emphatically. Charlie Haden praised him as "one of the most original improvisers of jazz".

Alan's last solo CD "Heart To Heart" received the very rare 5-star award from Downbeat magazine and also from the British Jazz Journal. His solo performance at the St. Emilion Jazz Festival was mentioned by the magazine Jazzman as Best Jazz Concert 2012 in France.

His new solo recording on the vinyl Edition Longplay proves this exceptional position strongly. His improvisations on piano pieces by Cole Porter and the likes of John Lewis and Dave Brubeck to Elvis Costello show him again as a master of sensitive and emphatic reinterpretations and boundless communication. He is, as formulated by Tobias Richtsteig in his liner notes, a "Storyteller".

Alan Broadbent will perform an LP release concert on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 in Saarbrücken, Germany. More concerts at: www.alanbroadbent.com

Tracklisting for Just One Of Those Things - Alan Broadbent Solo Piano 

SIDE A

1/ All The Things You Are 4.17 (Jerome Kern) 

2/ Serenata 4.44 (Leroy Anderson)

3/ Birds Will Still Be Singing 5.17 (Elvis Costello)

4/ In Your Own Sweet Way / Strange Meadowlark 8.05 (Dave Brubeck)

SIDE B

1/ Just One Of Those Things 3.44 (Cole Porter)

2/ Django 6.04 (John Lewis)

3/ My Romance / Spring Is Here 9.43 (Richard Rodgers)

4/ Autumn Leaves 4.54 (Joseph Kosma)

Trumpeter Dennis Angel Keeps The Timeless Grooves Flowing Right "On Track," New Album Produced by Jason Miles

The Emerging Contemporary Jazz Horn Trumpeter And Flugelhorn Player Is Rising On The Charts Again With His New Single “Soul Strut” Featuring Jazz Greats Kenny Barron and James Genus

Tapping once again into the Timeless Grooves that drove three singles off his critically acclaimed 2012 debut album up the contemporary jazz radio charts, Dennis Angel is right On Track for another successful run with his latest full length release.

The versatile trumpet and flugelhorn player’s latest single, the acoustic jazz-funk driven “Soul Strut”, is a fast rising sensation on various prominent smooth jazz radio outlets, reaching the Top 35 on the Smoothjazz.com Radar chart, debuting in the Top 50 on SmoothIndieStar.com and gaining spins on the Radio Wave Internet Airplay chart.

“Soul Strut” and the coolly swinging “Sunset Café” are driven by an organic quartet arrangement, featuring Angel vibing with jazz greats Kenny Barron (piano) and James Genus (acoustic bass); on the latter tune, Angel successfully experiments for the first time with a more laid back, Chet Baker styled tone.

Timeless Grooves included “Rio On My Mind”, which was #67 on the Groove Jazz Music Top 100 of 2012; “Forever Funk”, which reached the Top 25 on the Groove Jazz Music Top 30; and “Vegas Vibe”, which also received significant airplay.

Both Timeless Grooves and the new album were produced by Jason Miles, a keyboardist, composer and artist in his own right, who is renowned for his work over the past 30 years with Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Michael Brecker, Whitney Houston, Grover Washington, Jr., Sting, Ivan Lins, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, David Sanborn and Michael Jackson. Miles arranged the tracks of On Track with longtime Angel collaborator Gottfried Stoger (who also did transcriptions and charts, and plays tenor sax, soprano sax and flute). Miles performs on piano and adds a classic soul-jazz sensibility to the ten tracks with synthesizer, strings and dynamic array of keyboards, including electric piano, Wurlitzer electric piano and Hammond B-3 organ.

Five of the tracks (“I Like It Like That”, “Take Me Away”, “Serenity”, “Jubiliation”, and “Tea for Two”) are anchored by the rhythm section of Amanda Ruzza (bass) and Brian Dunne (drums), with featured appearances by acoustic guitarist Romero Lubambo and bassist Will Lee. Angel’s 18-year-old daughter Rebecca Angel, a jazz vocal major at Ithaca College, showcases her charming vocals on a seductive bossa nova twist on the Jazz Age classic “Tea for Two”.

The high-energy soul-jazz jam track titled “This Song’s For You” features bassist George Porter, Jr., who is well known for his work in the band The Meters and the TV series Treme. The song also features Miles on Wurlitzer and B-3 as well as a colorful flugelhorn-sax doubling by Angel and Stoger.

The funked out, thumping groove infused “Dream Dancer” is a retro disco/Herb Alpert 70s vibe tune with cross genre appeal. Veteran engineer Goh Hotoda from Japan mixed the original track and did another mastered version that could be a dance track. Two other tracks capture the overall emotional dynamics of the set, with the silky and graceful “Serenity” (featuring Gottfried at his most deeply expressive) giving way to the explosive whimsy of the bossa nova carnival “Jubilation”, featuring powerhouse solos by Lubambo on acoustic guitar and Stoger on flute.

After switching off between trumpet and flugelhorn on the first album – which earned Angel the distinction of December 2012’s Artist of the Month from the monthly jazz webzine Sounds of Timeless Jazz – Angel features his fluid and melodic work on the latter exclusively throughout the ten cuts of On Track. This is all the more impressive considering that he only began playing the flugelhorn two years ago.

“After so many years of playing trumpet simply for my own pleasure,” Angel says, “it’s been very exciting for me to write and record these original songs – especially with Jason and so many world class musicians who bring them to life in ways beyond anything I could have dreamed. I love the whole process of creating music, from the initial spark of inspiration through the smallest details of working in the studio to finally sharing it with the world and playing it live for people. My wife Linda came up with the title of the new album and I thought it fit perfectly with what I wanted to say. It has a lot of different meanings. I really feel that I’m On Track, right where I want to be as an artist.”

Musicians include Gottfried Stoger on tenor sax, soprano sax and flute; Jason Miles on piano, keyboards, synthesizers, strings, percussion and string arrangements; special guest Kenny Barron piano;  Will Lee (electric bass); James Genus (acoustic bass) George Porter Jr. (electric bass); Amanda Ruzza (electric bass) Tom "Bones" Malone (trombone); Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar); Nick Moroch (guitar); JT Lewis (drums); Brian Dunne (drums);

Adrian Harpham (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion) Cyro Baptisata (percussion); Maya Azucena, James D Train Williams, Pamela-Driggs; and Rebecca Angel on vocals

Dennis Angel's On Trakc is produced by Jason Miles, and all tracks are arranged by Jason Miles and Gottfried Stoger.

New Releases: Michael Carvin Experience - Flash Forward; Greg Reitan - Post No Bills; Diane Monroe & Tony Miceli - Alone Together

MICHAEL CARVIN EXPERIENCE - FLASH FORWARD

Having played with many of the jazz giants in his impressive career (Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard & more), master drummer Michael Carvin taps into a new generation of young, international talent to form his quartet, Michael Carvin Experience. Carvin, who has taught a veritable 'who s who' of drummers, brings his vast experience to put his unique fingerprint on iconic songs on Flash Forward, an album of jazz classics. A top master of the craft of drumming, Michael Carvin has played and recorded with the biggest names in jazz, including Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Jackie McLean, Hank Jones, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Hampton Hawes, Ruth Brown, Johnny Hartman, Abbey Lincoln, Jimmy Smith, Hugh Masekela, Alice Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Charles Brown, Terumasa Hino, Bobby Watson and Billy Bang. ~ Amazon.com

GREG REITAN - POST NO BILLS

After years of experimentation and exploration, it can be beneficial and, occasionally, revelatory to look backwards to known paths and accomplishments. The reexamination of an older composition can lead to new discoveries and goals for an ensemble that has been performing together for years. Pianist/composer Greg Reitan has led his fantastic trio of bassist Jack Daro and drummer Dean Koba since 1996, formed shortly after their graduation from University of Southern California s Thornton School of Music. Their long and fruitful tenure has created a fantastic partnership, which can be fully enjoyed on their new recording Post No Bills. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Reitan relocated to Los Angeles to study composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Upon graduation, he organized the trio with Daro and Koba to perform at the 1996 Hennessy Cognac Jazz Search in New York City, in which Reitan was a finalist. The trio needed an original composition for their performance. Reitan decided to revisit a composition he had written for solo viola and orchestra and he then adapted elements for their piano trio. Being in New York City for the first time, Reitan was inspired by the myriad of sights and sounds, ultimately naming the piece after the nearly ubiquitous warning, Post No Bills. Over the years, Post No Bills fell out of the trio s repertoire. It wasn t until the summer of 2013 that Reitan rediscovered it. Reitan: I made a few changes and decided to record it as the centerpiece for the new album. It s really gratifying to see how the composition 

DIANE MONROE / TONY MICELI - ALONE TOGETHER

Two of Philadelphia s most revered jazz artists unite for an intimate, exploratory duo session on Alone Together. Violinist Diane Monroe and vibraphonist Tony Miceli have been playing together since the mid-'80s, and the fruits of that three-decade relationship are evident throughout their debut collaboration. The album s thirteen tracks encompass the wide range of the pair s mutual interests, from jazz to classical, standards to spirituals, originals to classics, and even an unexpected TV theme song. Both Monroe and Miceli have long histories of forging rich collaborations in Philadelphia and beyond. Monroe has bridged the jazz and classical traditions for most of her career. She studied at Oberlin Conservatory, Philadelphia Musical Academy, Michigan State University, and the Curtis Institute of Music. She toured for more than a decade with the Max Roach Double Quartet and the Uptown String Quartet and performed extensively as a member of the String Trio of New York, all ensembles which fused classical virtuosity with jazz improvisation. Miceli has been a force on the Philly jazz scene since 1980 while touring the world and mentoring young players as an educator. In 1990 he co-founded the group Monkadelphia, dedicated to playing the music of Thelonious Monk. He is also a member of the PhilOrch Jazz Ensemble, a quartet featuring members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has worked with countless jazz luminaries as both a leader and a sideman. ~ Amazon.com 

 

Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro Composer/Arranger/Pianist Billy Childs leads an All-Star interpretation of Songwriter Laura Nyro's beloved works Featuring Guest Artists Renee Fleming, Esperanza Spalding, Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, Ledisi, Wayne Shorter and more

When Grammy Award®-winning musician Billy Childs was 11 years old, his older sisters introduced him to the work of Songwriter and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Laura Nyro. Her blend of Broadway-inspired melodies, jazz improvisation and socially conscious lyrics have stayed with him. Now Billy has returned to his early source of inspiration, conceiving and orchestrating his new album, "Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro."

Childs is not alone in his enthusiasm for Nyro's music, an incredible range of musicians join him in interpreting her narratives. Classical soprano Renée Fleming and cellist Yo-Yo Ma add new meaning to her hometown ode, "New York Tendaberry." Jazz stars Esperanza Spalding and Wayne Shorter collaborate on Nyro's pictorial "Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp," and R&B chanteuse Ledisi updates one of Nyro's biggest hits, "Stoned Soul Picnic." Other prominent voices include Alison Krauss, Rickie Lee Jones, Shawn Colvin, Dianne Reeves, Susan Tedeschi, Lisa Fischer and Becca Stevens, with featured instrumental soloists Chris Botti, Jerry Douglas, Chris Potter and Steve Wilson. Childs' own experiences leading jazz chamber groups proved invaluable to creating the widescreen scope of "Map to the Treasure" his focus was on arranging the ensemble and guests to best present Nyro's imagery. Even after Childs' decades of considering Nyro's music, at the heart of it all is his unyielding devotion to her art. That love is the heart of the re-imagination of "Map to the Treasure." ~ billychilds.com / sonymasterworks.com

New Releases: Andreas Varady; Jazz On Film...Bio Pics; Smoke Sessions Vol. 1

ANDREAS VARADY

Varady blends the accomplished technique of Wes Montgomery, soulful voicing of George Benson and Gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt. While he started absorbing these masters from his parents record collection, he also has a fresh view on their legacy. I always knew that I was slightly different than other people, Varady said from his family s home in Limerick, Ireland. Not that I was better, but just slightly different. When I was 12, the kids at my school were into casual things, and I was into way different things. This guitarist also stands out from many veteran musicians. Guitar Player put Varady on its cover in 2012 and that summer he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in front the festival s legendary founder, the late Claude Nobs, and world renowned producer Quincy Jones, who has since taken Varady on as a protégé. Andreas is the complete package, Jones said. He s a 360-degree musician whose knowledge and appreciation for all genres from jazz and hip-hop to rock and pop can be felt in his music. ~ Amazon.com

JAZZ ON FILM...BIO PICS (BOX SET)

An amazing collection of music from 50s biopics, scattered with iconic legends that influenced a generation. For the first time, this unique new release compiles a collection of nine stunning jazz scores from classic biographical films that traced the lives of some of the most influential jazz and blues musicians in history, as well as one of the most iconic film actors: James Dean! 6 Discs Include: The Gene Krupa Story (1959) music by Gene Krupa and Leith Stevens; The James Dean Story (1957) music by Johnny Mandel and Bill Holman; The Five Pennies (1959) music by Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong; St Louis Blues (1958) music by Nat King Cole and Nelson Riddle Orchestra; The Eddy Duchin Story (1956) music by George Dunning & Carmen Cavallaro; The Glenn Miller Story (1954) music by Universal-International Orchestra; Young Man with a Horn (1950) music by Harry James and Doris Day; Pete Kelly s Blues (1955) music by Ray Heindorf; The James Dean Story (1957) music by Leith Stevens; The Benny Goodman Story (1956) music by Benny Goodman. ~ Amazon.com

SMOKE SESSIONS VOL. 1 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

A collector s edition sampler of the first four titles in the Smoke Sessions catalog! Pressed on

200-gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings, it is destined to be a rare collector s item as it is

limited to only 500 hand-numbered copies! The packaging is a classic tip-on style gatefold

jacket featuring original artwork and liner notes, as well as photography by noted jazz photographer Jimmy Katz. Mastered by celebrated vinyl mastering engineer Kevin Gray, tracks include: Vincent Herring s exhilarating Elation from The Uptown Shuffle; a classic reading of Kurt Weill s My Ship from David Hazeltine s For All We Know; George Cable s jazz-rock classic Think on Me from Javon Jackson s Expression; and Thad Jones beautiful ballad To You from Harold Mabern's Right On Time. ~ Amazon.com

KERBSIDE COLLECTION - REMIXED AND REWORKED

Not known for his prolific output, Melbourne producer Ennio Styles makes a surprisingly quick return following his recent remix (with Cy Gorman) for London's Los Charly's Orchestra. This time it's the turn of Brisbane's retro jazz-funkers Kerbside Collection for German label Légère. Ennio takes the downtempo Meters-style funk of 'Sweet Like Nectar' and completely flips it into a B-boy disco funk monster. It gets started sounding like a lost early 70s session from ESG, all percussion, heavy snare fills and Jez O'Connor's Fender bass. Then midway it's as though Nile Rodgers and his friends crash the studio, with layers of guitar, horns and flutes joining the party. Ennio Styles again brings his distinctive approach to the art of sampling, with every sound in this remix taken from the back catalogue of the Légère family of labels, yet somehow keeping a very 'live' feel. Even the added keyboards by James Bowers (JamBow/Kirkis/Sex on Toast) are played on sampled sounds.

Kerbside Collection - are an all instrumental jazz funk and rare groove ensemble from the inner suburbs of Brisbane/Queensland/Australia. ‘A gritty rhythm section of old school drums and fender or upright bass, alongside funky hammond and rhodes, with some sweet George Benson-ish jazz guitar licks on top.’ The sound harks back to the 60’s and 70’s Californian West Coast jazz funk music of artists such as Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Chico Hamilton, Joe Sample and The Crusaders, whilst tipping its’ hat to today’s contemporaries keeping the ‘feel’ alive (Soulive, Bobby Hughes, James Taylor, Eddie Roberts & the New Mastersounds, Cookin on 3 Burners, Mattson 2, Frootful, Stance Brothers etc). Their debut LP 'Mind the Curb' was released May 2013 on Indie German funk label Legere Recordings and P-Vine Records to wide acclaim in funk and soul circles from UK to Japan.

MINNIE DRIVER - ASK ME TO DANCE

"This would have come a lot sooner, but I had a baby, and I wanted to focus on being a mum for awhile," Minnie Driver says of Ask Me to Dance, her third Rounder/Zöe album, and her first new release since 2007. 

In a musical career that's run concurrently with her endeavors as one of her generation's most acclaimed and in-demand actresses, Minnie Driver has consistently demonstrated an organic, distinctive set of talents that have been honed through a lifetime of music-making.

Ask Me to Dance marks another notable landmark in Driver's creative evolution.  Where her first two albums, 2004's Everything I've Got In My Pocket and 2007's Seastories, focused on her own vivid songwriting, Ask Me to Dance finds the artist interpreting a selection of compositions by some of her favorite songwriters, demonstrating the breadth of her musical interests while showcasing her substantial interpretive skills.

Driver lends her warmly expressive voice to an impressively diverse set of songs, underlining her talent as a song stylist as well as her deeply personal engagement with the material.  She submerges herself in the bittersweet vibe of "Waltz #2" by Elliott Smith, whom Driver befriended when both were in the early stages of their respective careers, and brings a jazzy lilt to The Cure's "Close To Me."  While her readings of Neil Young's "Tell Me Why," John Prine's "Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness," and Neil Finn's "Better Be Home Soon" cut straight to the emotional heart of those songs, she reinvents the Killers'  "Human" as an affecting country ballad, reworks the swinging Sinatra standard "Fly Me To The Moon" as a stark, moody ballad, and recasts Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster" as a pensive, introspective mood piece.

"This is something that I've always wanted to do," Driver says of the covers project.  "Every single song on it has enormous resonance for me, for one reason or another.  It's called Ask Me to Dance because a lot of it is my entire teenage experience of standing at the side of a dark dance hall, just willing someone to ask me to dance.  Some of these songs are the ones that helped me through being a teenager.

"But it wasn't just about going back to the past," she continues.  "The point was to choose songs that I felt a real connection to, and then metabolizing the song and seeing how I could bring something new to it.  It was much harder than I thought it would be, and it was quite a challenge to try to turn these songs into something new, and to find myself in them in a way that would also be meaningful to other people."

London-born Amelia Fiona Driver spent much of her early childhood in Barbados, until her parents separated and sent her back to England to attend boarding school.  As a teenager, she began singing and playing guitar in London jazz clubs, while earning her degree in drama from the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.  By the time she reached her 20s, she was acting regularly on British TV, while singing with the jazz group Puff, Rocks and Brown.

"I don't know if I actually did the whole Malcolm Gladwell thing of playing for 10,000 hours, but I felt like I did," Driver recalls.  "I had planned to make music my primary thing, but then I got offered a film and it all went off in a different direction.  At the time, I thought that I was ready to take on the music industry, but I don't think that I really was.  I had to grow up enough to have something to say."

Although her band won a development deal with Island Records, Driver temporarily put her musical passions on hold when her acting career took off, first with her breakout role in Circle of Friends in 1995, and subsequently with high-profile turns in such films as GoldenEye, Big Night, Grosse Pointe Blank, Sleepers and Good Will Hunting.  Her work in the latter film earned Driver her first Academy Award nomination, along with a London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year.

As her acting career gained momentum, Driver found time to continue writing songs, gravitating towards a rootsy folk-pop sound that she unveiled with the release of 2004's Everything I've Got in My Pocket and refined on 2007's Seastories.  Both albums received considerable critical acclaim and won Driver a substantial fan base.

Driver was hardly idle in the seven years separating Seastories and Ask Me to Dance.  In addition to raising her now-five-year-old son, she won wide acclaim for the FX TV series The Riches, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award as Best Lead Actress.  She also starred in the 2010 BBC series The Deep, and appeared in the feature films Conviction and Barney's Version, for which she won a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Most recently, Driver starred in the television movie “Return to Zero,” a devastating true story of a couple’s attempts to navigate their way through a pregnancy filled with doubt, grief and trepidation. Driver was nominated for a 2014 Critics’ Choice Television Award, as well as a 2014 Primetime Emmy Award on behalf of her performance in the film. She's also currently one of the stars of the NBC series About A Boy, which will premiere its Second Season on Tuesday, October 14th at 9:30PM.

Driver recorded Ask Me to Dance with noted producer Marc "Doc" Dauer, who also produced her first two albums, and legendary engineer Jim Scott, who worked on Seastories, along with many of the same musicians who played on her prior releases.

"I really like the continuity of working with the same people," Driver states.  "To me, that's a lot more interesting to me than the idea of going to France to make a record with Phoenix or going to North Africa to work on some world beats.  I'm more interested in finding my own groove, and I like where I'm at with these guys, because there's a shorthand and a communication that's developed over time.  This time, we were all in the room together, and it just felt so good and so positive.  I gave a little speech every time we started a new song, letting them know what the song meant to me, and they got it."

Having ended her extended recording hiatus, Minnie Driver is returning to music with a renewed passion.  She's also looking forward to return to playing live, and planning to work around About A Boy's shooting schedule to bring Ask Me to Dance to life on stage.

"Everyone's journey is different, and there's a million different ways of doing it," she reflects.  "With my first record, because I had been waiting for such a long time to do it, I felt such a need to prove myself.  And then people actually listened and realized that it wasn't a self-aggrandizing trainwreck, so now I don't feel like I have quite so much to prove.  But music is still very important to me, and I feel like I'm still learning and still growing.

"You can't talk people into believing that you're good at something," Driver concludes.  "You just have to show them, and then you just have to keep doing it and keep getting better at it, and let the work speak for itself."

Ask Me To Dance will be released on October 7, 2014.