Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Soul/R&B Singer KEM Releases 4TH Album - Promise To Love

As soon as KEM's fourth full-length album Promise to Love [Motown Records] became available on August 25th, it clinched number one on the iTunes Top R&B Albums Chart and the Amazon R&B Soul Chart. Moreover, the record soared to the Top 10 of the iTunes Top 200 and Amazon's Top Albums Chart. It's turning out to be a monumental week for the two-time GRAMMY® Award nominee and Billboard Music Award winner as everyone falls in love with his latest offering.

Simultaneously, the lead single "It's You" holds strong at number one at Urban Adult Contemporary Radio according to BDS and Mediabase, while hitting #3 on Amazon's Best Sellers R&B Chart.

In 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, on his Kemistry Records label, selling nearly 15,000 units, after which, he was signed by Universal Motown. Motown re-released KEMISTRY in 2002, released KEM ALBUM II in May 2005 and INTIMACY in August 2010, which debuted at #2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums list and was certified Gold in March 2012.KEM's first three studio albums on the Motown label garnered him national critical and commercial acclaim, including two GRAMMY® nominations, a Soul Train award nomination and a BET Centric Award nomination. Kemistry, Album II, and Intimacy have each been certified RIAA gold, and worldwide sales are in excess of 2.5 million copies. 

KEM's Christmas album, WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS, was released on October 16, 2012. After the holiday season, the album had sold 76,000 copies, making it the #3 highest-selling Urban Christmas record in one season. KEM wrote and recorded a duet with Ronald Isley entitled "My Favorite Thing," which was released as the second single from Ron Isley's 2013 CD, "This Song Is For You." KEM re-released his WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS DELUXE project in October 2013, which included four bonus tracks. The added track, "Jesus" features Patti LaBelle and Ronald Isley. In December 2013, KEM presented the 'KEM & Friends: What Christmas Means Holiday Tour,' a holiday-themed concert with a storyline narrated by actor/comedian Anthony Anderson and featuring KEM & his R&B friends Patti LaBelle, Ronald Isley and Avery Sunshine. Performances of their hits, as well as Christmas original & classic songs together on stage, took audiences on a never-seen-before uplifting holiday journey. KEM's fourth studio album, PROMISE TO LOVE, released on the Motown label on August 25, 2014.

 

NEW RELEASES: SOULS OF MISCHIEF - THERE IS ONLY NOW; WITCH - KUOMBOKA; DUKE ELLINGTON - MY PEOPLE

SOULS OF MISCHIEF - THERE IS ONLY NOW

A great pairing of Bay Area hip hop legends Souls Of Mischief and producer-composer Adrian Younge – akin to the cinematic hip hop funk productions by Younge for Ghostface Killah and others – but it's also the tightest, most focused work we've heard from the Souls in a while! It finds the right balance of delivering on the character-driven song cycle/concept album front – held together by interludes featuring fellow blueprint era hip hop veteran Ali Shaheed Muhammed as a radio DJ whose brief news readings move the story along – but concept aside, it's a timeless, funky jazz-fueled gem that'll stand the test of time. Includes "Time Stopped", "Womack's Lament" with Busta Rhymes, "Panic Struck", "Another Part Of You" feat William Hart of The Delfonics, "All You Got Is Your Word", "There Is Only Now" with Snoop Dogg, "Meeting Of The Minds", "Miriam Got A Mickey", "Stone Cold" feat Scarub, "The Synopsis" plus intro, outro and interludes with Ali Shaheed Muhammed, "Narrow Escape", "Finally Back" and "The Last Act". ~ Dusty Groove


WITCH - KUOMBOKA

A surprisingly great later set from Witch – one that still has some of their funky styles of a few years before, but which also seems to bring in some stronger African elements as well – in the kind of sweet fusion that was showing up in some of the hipper South African acts of the period. The sound is more late 70s, especially in the keyboards, than some of the clunkier pop that you might expect from the 1984 date – and a few really great numbers have cool moogy touches that really make the record stand out. Titles include "Erotic Delight", "Come Together", "More Sweat Than Sweet", "I Wanna See The Light", and "Kuomboka".  ~ Dusty Groove

DUKE ELLINGTON - MY PEOPLE

A great high-concept composition from Duke Ellington – one that rivals the earlier brilliance of his Liberian Suite! Like that one, vocals are a key part of this long-form work – a special performance done for the Century Of Negro Progress Exposition in Chicago in 1963 – with an all-star cast that includes Jimmy Jones both at the piano and conductor's stand; Joya Sherrill on vocals with the Irving Bunton Singers, Jimmy Grissom, Jimmy McPhail, and Lil Greenwood; Billy Strayhorn on celeste, Juan Amalbert on conga, and other familiar Ellingtonians in the larger group! The tunes have a mix of gospel and folk roots, turned towards more modern Ellington compositional modes – and almost all numbers feature vocals, including one with narration by Ellington himself. Titles include "Will You Be There", "Come Sunday", "David Danced", "Montage", "My Mother My Father", "My People", "The Blues Ain't", and "What Color Is Virtue".  ~ Dusty Groove


NEW RELEASES: NICOLE HENRY - AT THIS MOMENT; KEV BEADLE PRESENTS PRIVATE COLLECTION 2; SALT - LA SOLUTION

NICOLE HENRY - AT THIS MOMENT

Following up on her 2013 Centric Soul Train Award for Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” Nicole Henry, one of today’s most acclaimed female vocalists, releases her new single “At This Moment”, digitally on August 5, 2013 on Banister Records and distributed by Entertainment One. Recorded at Squat Sound Studio in London, the single showcases Ms. Henry’s soulful interpretation of the 1980’s classic hit by Billy Vera and the Beaters. Accompanying the single, Ms. Henry debuts her first official music video. "Hearing Billy Vera's performance of this song was fascinating to me because it was a live recording, which was and is, a rarity to hear on the radio. I loved that you could feel more of its heartfelt soulfulness because of that fact," says Henry.  "I had a great time creating my own version of it while I was in London during a writing and recording session, and was honored to perform it for Billy in Los Angeles earlier this year." Her passionate, soulful voice and heart-felt charisma have earned her a 2013 Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance," three Top-10 U.S. Billboard and HMV Japan jazz CDs, and rave reviews by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more.  Hen ry’s accompaniment ranges from a jazz trio to a full big band with a repertoire that includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, contemporary standards, blues and originals.

KEV BEADLE PRESENTS PRIVATE COLLECTION 2: MORE INDEPENDENT JAZZ SOUNDS FROM THE SEVENTIES & EIGHTIES

Kev Beadle dips into his private collection, and comes up with a stunning batch of jazzy tracks in the process! The grooves here aren't as locked up as the cover might imply – because some of these cuts are ones the global scene has dug for years – but they're definitely the kind of tracks that really need reviving, especially in a wonderful collection like this – where each new cut seems to bring out the best of the others! All tracks are nice and long, and most have some sort of vocals – blended with modal rhythms, Brazilian touches, and strong soulful solos throughout. Titles include "Kitty Bey" by Byron Morris & Unity, "Music In My Heart" by Kathryn Moses, "Yours Is The Light" by Paz, "Dreams Can Be" by Janet Lawson, "He Loves You" by Seawind, "I'm Tryin To Find A Way" by Stanley Cowell, "Ferrovias" by Grupo Medusa, and "Bamba" by Dimenzio.  ~ Dusty Groove
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SALT - LA SOLUTION

A really lovely set from this enigmatic duo – a mix of the sweet French vocals of Myra Maud and the keyboards of Lutz Krajenski – then agumented by lots of warm jazzy touches! The record's got a voice that's all its own – French language lyrics, bossa-tinged backings, and soulful undercurrents that make us think that Myra might be a hell of a jazz singer if ever turned strictly towards that format! There's nothing salty about the sound – as it's warm, sweet, and very appealing right from the start – beyond the bounds of language, especially if you dig soulful sounds as much as us. Titles include "L'Homme Au Vacoa", "Je Ne Sais Pas", "La Solution", "Soley", "Un Peu De Ci", and "Poutji". ~ Dusty Groove


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

NEW RELEASES: TINA LOUISE: IT'S TIME FOR TINA; KEITH JARRETT & CHARLIE HADEN – LAST DANCE; SOPHISTICATED LADY JAZZ QUARTET - SOPHISTICATED LADY

TINA LOUISE - IT'S TIME FOR TINA: THE SONGS OF TINA LOUISE

Everyone s favorite red-haired castaway and star of Gilligan s Island, the lovely Tina Louise, shows off her prodigious talents on this rarely heard collection of late night lounge classics - featuring Coleman Hawkins on sax! Includes Tonight Is The Night; Hands Across The Table; Snuggled On Your Shoulder; Embraceable You; I m In The Mood For Love; Baby, Won t You Say You Love Me; It s Been A Long, Long Time; Hold Me; I Wanna
Be Loved; Let s Do It; How Long Has This Been Going On?; and Goodnight My Love. 


KEITH JARRETT & CHARLIE HADEN – LAST DANCE

Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden broaden the scope of their duo project to showcase jazz classics like Thelonious Monk s Round Midnight and Bud Powell s spritely Dance Of The Infidels. Love songs, however, are to the fore in this selection, with tender versions of My Old Flame, My Ship, It Might As Well Be Spring, Everything Happens To Me, and Every Time We Say Goodbye as well as alternate takes of Where Can I Go Without You and Goodbye, every bit as touching as the Jasmine renditions.  When we play together it’s like two people singing, said Jarrett of his reunion with Haden. The intentions of the song are honored, the shades of meaning in a melody or a lyric explored instrumentally.  As Charlie Haden put it, Keith really listens, and I listen. That s the secret. It s about listening.  The music of Last Dance was recorded at Keith Jarrett s home studio is is available on CD and vinyl. Recording Engineer: Martin Pearson DDD. Produced by Manfred Eicher. ~Amazon

SOPHISTICATED LADY JAZZ QUARTET - SOPHISTICATED LADY

The Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet's debut recording should be of great interest to fans of forward-looking straight ahead jazz. Each of the four musicians is excellent both as soloists and in ensembles, the music that they perform ranges from melodic versions of standards to lyrical originals and freer explorations, and their subtle playing keeps one guessing. This CD is well worth exploring and I certainly recommend it. --Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene More jazz records should be like Sophisticated Lady Quartet - relaxed yet focused, tradition-based yet modern, elegant yet conveying a sure sense of swing. The recording is so pure that you almost feel as if you're eavesdropping on four musicians who seem completely in their element while performing, in a one-take environment, a set that's evenly split between previously rehearsed arrangements and performances where they had one chance to turn a composition into a memorable piece of music. No splicing or editing here-just a live-in-the-studio recording where the mood, playing and sonics are so solid that that jazz lovers will wish that the mostly-classical label Yarlung wandered over to this side of the street more often. --Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound Look out Brubeck, Sophisticated Lady's remarkable debut should perhaps be re-titled TAKE ONE. Why? Each tune was captured in one take! The 60+ minute CD also celebrates Yarlung's audiophile venture into JAZZ with a splatter of Chet Baker's seductive, kicked-back Californication daubed with a drizzle of Miles at his mellowest. No matter how busy your day, an evening spin through this one will definitely move your mood. --David Thomson, Record Collector News

 

NEW RELEASES: CECILIA NOEL - HAVANA ROCKS; JULIE KELLY - HAPPY TO BE; CHRIS THILE & EDGAR MEYER - BASS & MANDOLIN

CECILIA NOEL - HAVANA ROCKS 

The passionate Cecilia Noël returns with her newest album, Havana Rocks, a Latin-infused collection of American classics recorded in Havana Cuba, with special permission from the US Government, with an all Cuban cast of musicians and singers. Together, Noël and crew combine elements of salsa, soul, jazz, funk, and afro-cuban music to deliver an infectious Latin takes on 80's classic rock 'n roll hits. The album includes covers of Devo's Whip It, Gary Numan's Cars and ACDC's You Shook Me, all propelled by deep percussive grooves and Noël's rich and appealing alto vocals. Says Noël of her style, I call what I do 'hardcore salsa' because nowadays there is a lot of romantic salsa but I'm more of a punk salsa singer. Originally from Lima, Perú, Noël was discovered by Stan Getz and moved to New York City, briefly performing as a dancer with Jo Jo's Dance Factory and Menudo. In 1989, she relocated to Los Angeles and became involved in the local music scene. She formed Cecilia Noël and The Wild Clams, a James Brown meets Pérez Prado type band, which received instant acclaim for their explosive live shows and frequent bookings at the House of Blues and the Playboy Jazz Festival. In 2009 Noël released A Gozár! (Compass Records), an infectious set of playful 'salsoul' grooves for which Noël is known and which earned Noël a spot on Putumayo's critically-acclaimed Latin Party release in 2010. In addition to her band, Noël also performs and records with husband and former Men At Work front man Colin Hay. ~ Amazon

JULIE KELLY - HAPPY TO BE

Julie Kelly s new release, Happy to Be, offers up a feast of storytelling that draws from classic vocal jazz, bebop roots, and fresh originals. Whether singing her own lyrics to the rollicking Blues According to Orpheus or chiming though the narratives of Phoebe Snow s Harpo s Blues and Antonio Carlos Jobim s Corcovado, Julie s vocals never fail to capture all the senses at once. In her deft hands, song and story embrace, entwine, and unerringly enchant. A collaboration between Grammy®-winning pianist Bill Cunliffe, jazz impresario Barbara Brighton, and vocalist Julie Kelly. The result is a fresh journey into the jazz vocal universe with songs both known and just-discovered. ~ AmAzon

CHRIS THILE & EDGAR MEYER - BASS & MANDOLIN

Nonesuch releases the second recording collaboration by bassist Edgar Meyer mandolinist Chris Thile. The album features 10 original compositions by the two artists, who have been performing together sporadically for more than a decade and made their recording debut as a duo with 2008 s Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile, which the Washington Post, among others, praised, saying "Thile and Meyer are most enthralling when they pass a melody back and forth, fingers flying. "  Includes: Why Only One?; Tarnation;  The Auld Beagle;  Big Top; Look What I Found;  El Cinco Real; Friday; Monkey Actually;. I'll Remember For You; and It's Dark In Here.  ~ Amazon

 



NEW RELEASES: ETTA JAMES ROCKS THE HOUSE; TRIO 3 & VIJAY IYER / OLIVER LAKE / REGGIE WORKMAN / ANDREW CYRILLE; CHARLES LLOYD - MANHATTAN STORIES

ETTA JAMES - ROCKS THE HOUSE

Blues, soul, jazz, R&B, and rock vocalist Etta James needs no introduction. An icon from early rock 'n' roll's pantheon of divas, she has inspired 5 decades of listeners and fellow artists with her vocal stylings. From Janis Joplin to Beyonce, her expressive and guttural style has been imitated but never quite matched. Best known for the lush 1961 rendition of the ballad At Last - a slow-dance staple at wedding celebrations everywhere, Etta is also celebrated for having recorded one of the best live albums of all time, Rocks the House. Recorded in 1963 at the New Era Club in Nashville, James is captured at her performance peak. The foundation for her reputation as a fiery no-holds-barred performer was firmly established in this recording. Jackpot Records is honored to release this momentous record on stellar blue vinyl, with the original album artwork and including 3 bonus tracks which have only ever been released previously on CD. Her powerful version of Something's Got a Hold on Me will shake you. Her impassioned version of All I Could Do Is Cry will break you. ~ Amazon

TRIO 3 & VIJAY IYER / OLIVER LAKE / REGGIE WORKMAN / ANDREW CYRILLE

One of the most famous live blues albums ever. First time on vinyl including bonus tracks. Pressed on BLUE vinyl and mastered by Kevin Gray (Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles). Three 'heavy weights' of American jazz Oliver Lake, Reggie Workmann and Andrew Cyrille make up the band Trio 3. For their 6th album on Intakt Records they have added pianist Vijay Iyer to the line-up. The 43 year old musician is after Irène Schweizer, Geri Allen and Jason Moran the fourth guest piano player cooperating with Trio 3. In the summer of 2013 Lake, Workman, Cyrille invited Vijay Iyer for a week long residency in New York's Jazzclub 'Birdland', before they recorded the CD ""Wiring"" in Sear Sound Studio. Amiri Baraka wrote in the liner notes to this recording: ""If you want to hear real music not some kind of shallow 'entertainment' this is your number, four great musicians trying to change your world. There is nothing superficial or frivolous in this music, it is organic and necessary! Within this actual quartet, a flood of emotional worlds. Each a way of seeing 'into things'." ~ Amazon


CHARLES LLOYD - MANHATTAN STORIES

Two 1965 New York Concerts, Disc 1 recorded at Judson Hall & Disc 2 recorded at Slugs' Saloon. A remarkable and previously unrecorded quartet featuring three jazz giants: guitarist Gábor Szabó, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Pete La Roca. 'It was a specific time and place'; Lloyd told Manhattan Stories annotator Don Heckman. 'We all felt like the boundaries were being dissolved and we could do or try anything. This is a music of freedom and wonder -- we were young and on the move.' The Judson Hall recording comes from the archives of Resonance founder George Klabin, whose trove has previously yielded treasures from Bill Evans and Jimmy Giuffre. The Slugs' performances were recorded by Bjorn von Schlebrugge, who accompanied Lloyd to his Manhattan gigs. Deluxe 2 CD Digi-Pack Edition contains a rich booklet with liner notes by Stanley Crouch, Willard Jenkins, Don Heckman & Michael Cuscuna. Mastered for CD and vinyl by Bernie Grundman. A must have for Charles Lloyd fans, jazz collectors & audiophiles! Featured artists: Charles Lloyd: saxophone & flute; Gábor Szabó: guitar; Ron Carter: bass; and Pete La Roca: drums. ~ Amazon


NEW RELEASES: SHAUN ESCOFFERY - IN THE RED ROOM; MIKE MARSHALL & CHORO FAMOSO - SEGUNDA VEZ (SECOND TIME); OMER AVITAL - NEW SONG

SHAUN ESCOFFERY - IN THE RED ROOM

We haven't heard from Shaun Escoffery in years – but damn, it's really been worth the wait! This album really knocks it out of the park from the very first note – and pushes Shaun way way farther than his previous work, which we really loved a lot – into some kind of sublime classic soul territory that may hopefully get him the international fame he deserves! Escoffery's got this great back to basics approach on the record – still schooled by his more cosmic years on the London scene, but also soaking up plenty of older, deeper soul elements too – yet fusing them in a way that's completely modern, completely fresh, and very individual. There's nothing retro soul about the record – despite some burning Hammond and guitar at points – and the whole thing was done in close collaboration with producer Gil Cang, who also played most of the instruments and helped on backing vocals too. Titles include "Nature's Call", "Perfect Love Affair", "People", "Do U Remember", "Crazy", "Nobody Knows", "By Your Side", "Get Over", and "Day After Day".  ~ Dusty Groove


MIKE MARSHALL & CHORO FAMOSO - SEGUNDA VEZ (SECOND TIME)

A second pairing of the mandolin of Mike Marshall with the Brazilian sounds of the Choro Famoso trio – served up with rootsy elements that really link together the cultures of the Americas! The trio have a definite traditional leaning, and features Colin Walker on 7 string guitar, Brian Rice on pandeiro and percussion, and Andy Connell on both sax and clarinet – the latter of which evokes an especially strong choro tradition. And while Marshall's use of mandolin echoes the bandolim work of older choro musicians, there's also some warmer moments that echo Mike's strongly Americanist vision over the years – in ways that make the record way more than just a rehash of older styles. Titles include "Bole Bole", "Bola Preta", "Flores", "Evocacao De Jacob", "Tenebroso", "Paraiso", "Sete Estrelas", and "Queira Me Bem".  ~ Dusty Groove

OMER AVITAL - NEW SONG

Bassist and composer Omer Avital, one of the most celebrated and revered musicians on the global jazz scene, delivers the creative tour-de-force, New Song, to be released on Motema Music on November 4, 2014. New Song signifies a giant leap in Avital's ongoing quest to explore the deep connections between jazz and the music of the Middle East. A pioneering force behind Israeli jazz, Omer Avital makes his homeland resonate through his voice - a voice that can be mistaken for no other. Featuring Avishai Cohen on trumpet, Joel Frahm on saxophone, Yonathan Avishai on piano, and Daniel Freedman on drums. 



Monday, August 25, 2014

NEW RELEASES: BRENT: SUPERB 60s SOUL SOUNDS; MARINA QUAISSE - THE LEGEND OF SIRENA; JEFF MORRISON - THE COMPTROLLER

BRENT: SUPERB 60s SOUL SOUNDS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Superb soul, indeed – a heady batch of work from the important Brent label in the 60s – including a fair bit of previously unissued tunes! Brent was a bit different than some of the 60s indie soul labels – in that they didn't just pull from their local scene, but culled material from all over the US, which makes for a really great sense of variety here – both in the artists used, and in the sort of grooves they produced! Most numbers are upbeat, and pretty darn groovy – not in a straight Northern Soul mode, but a wider range of underground 60s soul – really wonderful material that's perfectly sung, beautifully produced, and still pretty darn fresh after all these years. We've only had a handful of singles on Brent in our own collection, so we're stunned at the quality of the material here – a smashing 24 track lineup that includes "Begging You" by Ronnie White, "I Love You Baby" by The Moovers, "I Want Love" by Brenton Wood, "Praying For The Rain To Come" by Dave Crawford, "Someone" by Bertha Tillman, "My Man He's A Loving Man" by Lynda Lyndell, "A Lot of Loving Going Round" by Clarence Hill, "Don't You Know That I Believe" by Carl Lester & The Show Stoppers, "Go To Him" by Clyde Wilson, and "I Need You Baby" by Lewis Clark.  ~ Dusty Groove


MARINA QUAISSE - THE LEGEND OF SIRENA

Marina Quaisse is a cellist, composer and arranger of strings.She became known first by collaborations with Wax Tailor and the last few years with Mattic, including the albums “The Abstract Convention” and “The Adventures of Doctor Outer.” “The Legend Of Sirena” forges a universe in which converge multiple dimensions, both graceful and dark, air and hypnotic. Strings and wood vibrations naturally mix perfectly to the accuracy of a poetic abstract hip-hop. The story begins on July 8, aboard a vessel ready to leave the port. This is the start of an introspective journey led by a character “Sirena” evil sorceress that attract sailors on the seabed. The first part of the album symbolises the descent into hell of the seaman, lost between reality  and illusions. Interlude then Mattic come out on « Dance with the devil » and « The good  times », to announce the second part wich illustrate the expression of the tribulations of the sailor. Will the seaman follow Sirena? The Legend Of Sirena is set for release on September 29.


JEFF MORRISON - THE COMPTROLLER

The album's got a really classic-styled cover, and a classic-styled sound to match – a great Hammond/tenor vibe that's wonderfully old-school all the way through! The album was recorded live in a small Chicago club, and has the feel of a vintage Prestige records live date – with heavy organ lines from Ben Paterson, who handles the basslines as well – with a Jack McDuff sort of flair – plus tenor from Jeff Morrison and superb trumpet from Odies Williams III! The group's completed by Todd Howell on drums – and titles include classics like "Silver's Serenade", "Dat Dere", "Peace", "Hittin The Jug", and "Senor Blues". Note: The package is a bit hand-made by the artist, but the recording is great and the music is really top-shelf! ~ Dusty Groove


PRINCE ANNOUNCES TWO NEW STUDIO ALBUMS FOR RELEASE: ART OFFICIAL PAGE & PLECTRUMELECTRUM

Music icon PRINCE has announced not one, but two, brand new studio albums to be released globally via Warner Brothers Records. The much-anticipated new albums are 'Art Official Age and the second entitled "Plectrumelectrum', both of which are set to release on September 30th 2014 in the US. 'Art Official Age' is a solo album and "Plectrumelectrum' is by Prince's new band 3RDEYEGIRL.

2014 has been one of the most exciting years yet for the prodigious musical talent. Together with 3RDEYEGIRL, he rocked UK and European audiences into a frenzy with his sell-out 'Hit & Run' tours, generating some of the most significant critical acclaim of his career so far. In April, NPG Music Publishing was launched, marking the first time Prince's vast publishing catalog has been independently controlled and administered in over twenty years. All of this in addition to headlining and curating the Essence Festival on July 4th in New Orleans and a much talked about appearance on hit TV show 'New Girl'. 2014 has underlined that Prince continues to innovate and surprise, thrilling his fans and welcoming a whole new audience in the process.

The brand new studio albums mark a historic return to Warner Bros. Records, Prince's original label home. The renewed partnership came after the announcement that Warner Bros. Records returned to Prince the master recordings of his pioneering '80s albums, including Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain and Sign 'O' the Times. 

"Prince is one of just a handful of visionary artists who have truly reshaped and redefined modern music and culture," said Warner Bros. Records Chairman & CEO Cameron Strang. "For the past 35 years, he has never stopped evolving, challenging himself, reinventing his sound, and pushing boundaries. In true Prince fashion, he has just given us not one, but two extraordinary albums that express the incredible range and depth of his talent. All of us at WBR are immensely proud to be working with Prince to bring this brilliant new music to his legions of fans around the world, and needless to say we are thrilled to be working in partnership with him again."

In releasing two albums on the same day fans get the chance to savor the many different aspects of Prince's musical talents with 'Art Offical Age' and "Plectrumelectrum' offering two very distinct listening experiences.

'Art Official Age' is a classic Prince album, produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince and Joshua Welton (@joshuaworld). Sonically the record is a contemporary concoction of soul, R&B and funk. The melodies are immediate and prominent as ever and Prince's vocals are rich and solid, taking full advantage of his vocal range with decidedly, seductive lyrics.

'Plectrumelectrum' is a classic band record, with 3RDEYEGIRL which include Prince, Donna Grantis (guitar), Hannah Ford Welton (drums) and Ida Nielsen (bass). Recorded live and in analog the album is an electrifying funk-rock statement. Many of the tracks from "Plectrumelectrum' were performed live on the 'Hit & Run' tours of the UK earlier this year -- incendiary performances in a series of historic venues -- which led The Guardian to declare "These are performances by one of the greatest funk-rock bands ever." The group was showered in 5-star reviews from all major reviewing media.

More live dates will be confirmed shortly.

Tracklisting:

ART OFFICIAL AGE
ART OFFICIAL CAGE
CLOUDS
BREAKDOWN
THE GOLD STANDARD
U KNOW
BREAKFAST CAN WAIT
THIS COULD BE US
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
affirmation I & II
WAY BACK HOME
FUNKNROLL
TIME
affirmation III

PLECTRUMELECTRUM
WOW
PRETZELBODYLOGIC
AINTTURNINROUND
PLECTRUMELECTRUM
WHITECAPS
FIXURLIFEUP
BOYTROUBLE
STOPTHISTRAIN
ANOTHERLOVE
TICTACTOE
MARZ
FUNKNROLL


Friday, August 22, 2014

Eight-Time Grammy Nominee Michael Spiro & Ritmos Unidos Take a Pan-Caribbean Journey With New CD - Ritmos Unidos

Think of the Caribbean as a vast and far-flung laboratory, with thousands of researchers constantly investigating and refining a dazzling array of African diaspora rhythms.  Ritmos Unidos is a rare ensemble that draws inspiration from various corners of the region, from sacred Santeria rituals of Cuba to the celebratory carnival grooves of Trinidad and Tobago.  Under the direction of renowned percussionist Michael Spiro the band makes a major leap with its second, self-named album, an ambitious project centering on two extended pieces that encompass several profound rhythmic currents. "Our intent isn't to play one style," says Spiro, an eight-time Grammy nominee with deep and abiding ties to Cuba. "Ritmos Unidos means we're bringing many different rhythms together.  It's a little bit different from what other Latin bands are doing."

While Spiro maintains closely associated with the Bay Area Latin music scene, he's also based in Bloomington since taking on a tenured position at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2011.  Looking for opportunities to play with likeminded musicians, he gathered together an impressive cast of fellow faculty, alumni and grad students connected to IU, and ended up recording the 2012 album Funklorico, a critically hailed project that immediately put the band on the Midwest's Latin music map.  With its incisive solos, skin-tight ensemble work, and savvy arrangemetns, Ritmos Unidos elevates the band from a regional phenomenon to a national force.  "I'm always looking for ways to move the band forward, and the best way to do that is you have another project," Sprio says. 

Tha album opens with the title track; a hip piece co-written by Spiro and trombonist Wayne Wallace that draws on timba and songo, two potent Cuban grooves that continue to dominate in Havana.  The album's conceptual centerpiece is the "Ochun Shuite," a three-part invocation of the Afro-Cuban orisha who presides over love, intimacy, beauty, and weath. After the Afro-Cuban incantation, the band evokes to jazz giants with beautifully Latinized arrangements of classic tunes. Wes Montgomery's 'Road Song" bounes along stylishly as a cha-cha-cha, eventually shifting into higher gear as the hard-charging  NG la-banda style vocals importune the orisha Ellegua.  Taking a similar tack with Wayne Shorter's mysterious 'water Babies," the band opens and closed with Afro-Cuban call and response, while translating the tune's waltz-like feel into an earthy 12/8 Latin jazz work out.  The album concludes with a pan-Caribbean excursion.  

NEW RELEASES: SONNY ROLLINS - THE SOUND OF SONNY; ART BLAKEY & JAZZ MESSENGERS - CARAVAN; TUMI MOGOROSI - PROJECT ELO

SONNY ROLLINS - THE SOUND OF SONNY

A new phase in Sonny Rollins' career began in 1957. He started what was at the time an almost blasphemous trend of recording for a number of different labels. His pioneering spirit yielded a few genre-defining albums, including this disc. His performances were also at a peak during 1957 as Down Beat magazine proclaimed him the Critics' Poll winner under the category of "New Star" of the tenor saxophone. This newfound freedom can be heard throughout the innovations on The Sound of Sonny. Not only are Rollins' fluid solos reaching newly obtained zeniths of melodic brilliance, but he has also begun experimenting with alterations in the personnel from tune to tune. Most evident on this platter is "The Last Time I Saw Paris" -- which is piano-less -- and most stunning of all is Rollins' unaccompanied tenor solo performance on "It Could Happen to You." Indeed, this rendering of the Jimmy Van Heusen standard is the highlight of the disc. That isn't to say that the interaction between Sonny Clark (piano), Roy Haynes (drums), and bassists Percy Heath and Paul Chambers -- who is featured on "The Last Time I Saw Paris" and "What Is There to Say" -- is not top-shelf. Arguably, it is Rollins and Heath -- the latter, incidentally, makes his East Coast debut on this album -- who set the ambience for The Sound of Sonny. There is an instinctually pervasive nature as they weave into and back out of each others' melody lines, only to emerge with a solo that liberates the structure of the mostly pop standards. This is a key component in understanding the multiplicities beginning to surface in Rollins' highly underappreciated smooth bop style. ~ Concord Music Group

ART BLAKEY & JAZZ MESSENGERS - CARAVAN

One of the best non-Blue Note sessions from Art Blakey in the 60s – a really searing set that features the sextet lineup of the Jazz Messengers – a group that's filled with legends who include Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Reggie Workman on bass, and Cedar Walton on piano! The sextet format really pushes the energy of the group – and allows for even more wonderful horn interplay than before – while still allowing for lots of solo space for individual voices. Tracks are long and open, with a bouncing lyrical groove that's more soaring than some of the heavy-hitting earlier albums from Blakey, but no less pleasing – and possibly even a bit more soulful! Titles include "Sweet N Sour", "This Is For Albert", "Skylark", and "Thermo". ~ Dusty Groove

TUMI MOGOROSI - PROJECT ELO


Not a tribute to the Electric Light Orchestra, but a wonderfully spiritual set of jazz – one that takes key inspiration from the elohim entities of spiritual scriptures – as well as some of the best jazz mass projects from artists like Max Roach, Donald Byrd, or Mary Lou Williams! The group here features a quartet of South African singers – working with the core jazz combo in this really great way – never too overwhelming at all, but floating into the mix with this heavenly sort of presence, as you'd hear on Byrd's famous "with voices" sessions for Blue Note! The group's led by drummer Tumi Mogorosi – and features tenor, alto, trombone, and guitar – all used sparingly, but with these strong solo voices amidst the human ones. Titles include "Inner Emergence", "In The Beginning", "Thokozile Queen Mother", and "Slaves Emancipation".  ~ Dusty Groove


Thursday, August 21, 2014

WORLD-RENOWNED CUBAN TRES AND GUITAR VIRTUOSO BENJAMIN LAPIDUS RELEASES "OCHOSI BLUES"

World-renowned Cuban tres and guitar virtuoso Benjamin Lapidus and his new group Kari-B3 release his long awaited 7th Latin jazz recording and 8th as a bandleader. The album features heavyweights from the Latin and jazz worlds such as Pedrito Martínez, NEA Jazzmaster Cándido Camero, 7-time Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria, Jared Gold (organ), Frank Anderson (organ), saxophonist Paul Carlon, NYTimes bestselling author T.J. English, trumpet sensation Greg Glassman, vocalist Bobby Harden, organist Frank Anderson, reed legend Walter "Gene" Jefferson, vocalists Enid Lowe and Hiram Remón, Latin-Grammy nominee Charlie Sepúlveda (trumpet), trombonist and vocalist Elizabeth Frascoia, and Chicago R&B session guitar ace Aaron Weistrop. 

"This project was born out of everything that I love in music (Caribbean rhythms, folklore, Jazz, and the inspired imaginings of musicians in conversation with each other) and of my obsession with the Hammond B3 organ, which included hours of listening to Jazz organ combo recordings.  Often, these recordings feature a great conga player who is confined to playing a tumbao on a backbeat. I love the sound of the Hammond B3, but the conga drum on the backbeat only hinted at the possibilities of these two worlds meeting. What would it sound like if that conga in the organ combo was front and center? More practical questions followed: What would the repertoire be? Who would play it? What would it sound like? Wouldn't it be great to have the concept turned inside out with the organist playing the bass tumbao and the whole band swinging in clave? Shirley Scott and the Latin Quintet got into some of this and the great Panamanian organist, Avelino Muñoz did as well, but could we push the envelope? If jazz drummers play mambo patterns in their solos to "get house" in straight-ahead performances, why not play Latin standards in swing? Kari-B3 and "Ochosi Blues" are the result of these musings and truly, we are only beginning to answer the questions above." - Benjamin Lapidus
  
Latin music's cutting-edge musician/scholar returns with Ochosi Blues, a swinging and ear-pleasing recording that is inspired by the vast musical traditions of the Spanish Caribbean and the equally deep tradition of the jazz organ combo with a sprinkling of West Indian flavor. The result is a powerful and joyous listening experience that offers a truly unique take on the organ combo. When asked to label Benjamin Lapidus' music, critics and fans agree that it is Latin Jazz in the truest sense of the term, as Lapidus continues to explore different ways of mixing Jazz and Spanish-Caribbean music, while making the music accessible, organic, and logical. This is the direct result of the New York musicians involved, who are completely bi-and even tri-cultural, a benefit of being residents of the largest Caribbean city in the United States.  Active in the New York Latin scene since 1995, Lapidus has made a name for himself among the elders as the go to player for long-established bands and new live and recording projects such as The Buena Vista Social Club, Jerry and Andy González, Típica 73, Larry Harlow, and many more.

Critics and fans agree that Benjamin Lapidus' music is unique in its cutting-edge approach without sacrificing accessibility or the traditions of Spanish-Caribbean music.  With Ochosi Blues, Lapidus continues his dynamic vision of bringing Spanish-Caribbean music and jazz together as equals while charting new ground and creatively altering conventions of both worlds. He started on this path in his previous five releases (1998-2005) as the leader of the world-renowned Latin jazz phenomenon Sonido Isleño, and continued with his pan-Latin jazz interpretation of the Brazilian songbook with Kaori Fujii on Garota de Ipanema for RCA Victor Japan (2007). In 2008, he released Herencia Judía a critically acclaimed Afro-Latin Jewish recording project.

For Ochosi Blues, Lapidus assembled an A-list of performers and friends with whom he has frequently toured and recorded: Pedrito Martínez, charismatic percussionist, vocalist, and bandleader, Cándido Camero NEA Jazzmaster and conga legend, Bobby Sanabria 7-time Grammy nominee, bandleader and educator, rising organ star Jared Gold, Hammond organ elder and legend of studio and Broadway orchestras Frank Anderson, Elder statesman of reeds and Caribbean music Gene Jefferson, as well as tough tenor Paul Carlon and trumpeter Greg Glassman. Special guests include: two-time Latin Grammy nominee trumpeter Charlie Sepúlveda (Eddie Palmieri and Batacumbele), Veteran big band singer Enid Lowe (Jan Garber). Original Blues Brothers vocalist Bobby Harden, Colombian vocalist Hiram Remón, Trombonist Elizabeth Frascoia, Chicago session ace, Gospel and R&B guitarist Aaron Weistrop, and a songwriting contribution by New York Times bestselling author T.J. English (Savage City and Paddywhacked).  Lapidus joins them on guitar and tres, the quintessential Cuban instrument with three pairs of strings on its small guitar-like body.  Its unique tuning provides the skilled player with infinite range while its playing technique is at once percussive, harmonic, and melodic.

Pedrito Martínezopens the album singing and playing batá drums for Ochosi, the Yoruba god of the hunt and swift justice on Ochosi Blues (1), and closes it by singing and drumming for Yemayá, the goddess of the sea on Yemayá's Changes (15). These two pieces serve as bookends for the project and they offer two possiblilities of marrying Cuban folklore with jazz in the organ combo context. Lapidus and Martínez have collaborated on numerous recordings and live performances since Martínez's arrival in New York in the late 1990s most recently on Paul Carlon's La Rumba is a Lovesome Thing. Organist Jared Gold is comfortable in a variety of musical settings and he adds a solid jazz and blues feel to these two prayers, which are traditionally sung only with drum accompaniment. I'll see you on Moonday, Wendell (2) is dedicated to the late Dr. Wendell Logan, who was Lapidus' advisor, mentor and role model at Oberlin College.  He taught and inspired many musicians at Oberlin who have subsequently spread his teachings and philosophy through their own teaching, writing, and playing. Wendell did not believe in hierarchies that separated musical styles and he drew from the blues, whether writing for symphonic orchestras or for big bands. Trumpeter Greg Glassman, another Oberlin alum and student of Wendell's, plays the first solo on the track. A collaborator and friend for the last 16 years, saxophonist Paul Carlon is also featured on this track.

But Beautiful(3) features Frank Anderson and Enid Lowe, two wonderful Panamanian musicians that have been collaborating together for many years in Panama and New York. Lapidus first met Enid, Frank, and Gene Jefferson through Bobby Sanabria. Bobby is a complete musician, a showman, a scholar, and a friend and frequent collaborator of Lapidus' who has an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He has spent over 30 years working with Gene, Enid, and Frank. Historically, Panamanian musicians have been fluent in Spanish and English Caribbean music as well as jazz due to their geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas. For Lapidus, these are the perfect musicians to explore the Caribbean organ combo concept because they can do it all and have done it all. Enid worked regularly at the El Panama Hotel and with artists like Jan Garber and others in the 1950s. Here in New York, she and her husband Gene Jefferson, along with Frank, continue to perform throughout the city. Frank Andersonis a virtuoso pianist and organist who has recorded and performed with the best of the best in Panama, New York and the world.

Historically, Anderson is one of the only people who has played Hammond organ within this context and he brings to the studio his years of playing with Vicentico Valdés, Marcelino Guerra, Arsenio Rodríguez, his own Pan-American big band, and countless Broadway shows since the 1940s. Frank shows his swing chops on Bilongo (4), which also features Gene Jefferson and Cándido Camero as the band swings a Cuban standard.  Cándido Camero is perhaps the most recorded conga player in history, having arrived in NYC in 1946.  Besides playing tres in Arsenio Rodríguez's second band in Cuba and working as a bassist in the son genre, he worked with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie among so many others. Check out Candido's straight ahead conga solo on Bilongo! When the power supply went out on the mixing board during the recording sessions, he asked Enid and Frank to play and sing standards to pass the time.  After each one, he would talk about how he had recorded and performed with the singers that made each song famous, like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan and more. Bobby Sanabria and Cándido are the rhythmic anchors of this project. Gene Jefferson recorded and toured with many important artists including Tito Rodríguez, Arsenio Rodríguez, and many others both in his native Panama, New York and abroad. He was also in the house band of the Apollo Theater for many years and he brings a positive feeling to the session as well as the ability to swing in calypso, jazz, guaracha, and anything else!
  
T.J. Englishis a New York Times bestselling author, a good friend, and a regular dinner guest in Lapidus' home. During one of these dinners, after dessert had been served and too much rum had been imbibed, the guests were discussing the color of roux and how it darkens depending on how long it cooks. This led to Lapidus and English collaborating on The Sweeter the Lovin', The Darker the Roux (5). Bobby Harden, who has sung with the Original Blues Brothers Band, and Aaron Weistrop, a close friend of Lapidus' for 23 years and a guitar player who is at home with jazz, gospel, r&b, blues, and rock, bring the Roux recipe to life. Often, one meets the right people at the right time, and such serendipity led Lapidus to the multi-talented Elizabeth Frascoia, who plays an appropriately greasy trombone on the Roux song right when it was needed.

Tú, mi delirio/Here's That Rainy Day(6) features Enid Lowe with Colombian vocalist, Hiram Remón, who brings his extensive experience and repertoire, beautiful vocal renditions, and virtuosic maraca playing with him. The Latin Side of Your Mama (7), a boogaloo meant to poke fun at jazz albums that try on the "Latin side", features Jared Gold.  Guajira Orgánica (8) pairs Lapidus' tres with Frank Anderson's organ in a guaracha context.  Habla Cándido (9) is a snippet of the master with his drum; what a treasure to have on this record! Charlie Sepúlveda, a prolific trumpeter based in Puerto Rico, joins Lapidus on this duo version of the Cuban classic El Manisero (10), capturing a deep feeling of simpático. Close your eyes and imagine sitting on the beach every time it plays. The groove was so intense, that nobody wanted to stop playing Have You Met Ms. Jones? (11), which features Frank Anderson, Gene Jefferson, Bobby Sanabria, Cándido, and Lapidus on tres. Ernesto Duarte's Como Fue (12) is Lapidus' wedding song and is dedicated to his wife, Teresita Levy on their tenth wedding anniversary. No Brooklyn-based recording would be complete without recognizing the vibrant West Indian community and its musical contributions to the soundtrack of New York City.  Frank Anderson and Gene Jefferson have been playing The Five Year Plan (13), a calypso song sung by Atila the Hun, for ages but calling it "Workers," which is why you hear Gene's whistle and shout to get back to work. Stella by Starlight (14) features Enid's vocals and another tres/organ pairing that travels between funk, bolero, swing, and chachachá.

Finally, Dennis Mario, an award-winning visual artist and musician based in Puerto Rico, generously contributed his incredible painting, "Congo Blue y Changó" (1995), to reflect the musical duality and beauty of this record. Check out his art at dennismario.com and stay tuned for the forthcoming recording, Dueto Libre by Lapidus and Mario.
  

In addition to Ochosi Blues, Lapidus has been busy performing on tres with Típica 73, the legendary salsa band co-led by Sonny Bravo and Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez. He is also performing with Larry Harlow and Michael Stuart at Lincoln Center for the salsa opera, Hommy. Lapidus sings and plays on Paul Carlon's album, La Rumba is a Lovesome Thing: A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn. This exciting nonet has been performing throughout New York City before and after the release of the album and regularly at the Zinc Bar. In addition, Lapidus' catalogue of compositions is being championed by Cuban jazz innovator Pablo Menéndez and Mezcla as his 1998 piece "¿Quién Tiene Ritmo?" appears on the band's 30th anniversary DVD. Singer songwriter José Conde also recorded Lapidus' "Bizcocho" for his forthcoming release. In 2014, Lapidus performed and recorded with master musician, Andy González in support of the forthcoming Truth Revolution Records album to be released in December 2014.


Trumpeter Avishai Cohen Presents Dark Nights, the Much-Anticipated Third Album from his Electrifying Trio Triveni with Bassist Omer Avital & Drummer Nasheet Waits

Trumpeter Avishai Cohen presents Dark Nights - the third album from his electrifying trio Triveni with bassist Omer Avital and drummer Nasheet Waits - on October 28, 2014, via Anzic Records. Cohen, voted a Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll two years running, is joined on the album not only by his powerhouse rhythm mates but also by three special guests: superstar clarinetist Anat Cohen (Avishai's sister and band mate in The 3 Cohens); Grammy-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton; and hit-making French-Israeli vocalist Keren Ann. Avishai has worked with Keren Ann for more than a decade; the two shared their love of Chet Baker by performing "I Fall in Love Too Easily," a standard long associated with the legendary singer-trumpeter.   But the purview of Dark Nights is wide, from intimate lyricism to electrifying virtuosity, from jazz classics to progressive originals. The evergreen balladry of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and Charles Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" rubs shoulders with compositions from Avishai's pen that groove hard and burn slow, by turns. There's a deep-blue wail ("Betray," featuring Anat's clarinet) and a free-minded tribute to Ornette Coleman ("The OC"), as well as numbers accented by Avishai's electronic effects,including his emotion-rich title track and the grooving "Old Soul" (with both Anat and Clayton). Throughout, Avishai's playing has never been more expressive, underscoring The New York Times description of him as "an extravagantly skilled trumpeter, relaxed and soulful. . . deftly combining sensitivity and flair." 

DownBeat Magazine raved over 2012's Triveni II. The magazine's review - which gave the album four and a half stars - called the trumpeter "a versatile, modern master" while adding: "Cohen and company improvise together so wonderfully that they often sound shocked at their collective inventions." The New York City Jazz Record lauded Triveni II at length: "Cohen proves himself a versatile and virtuosic trumpeter on the diverse playlist, able to handle just about anything, whether it's free or traditional, quiet or loud, fast or slow. Avital, a longtime colleague and fellow member of Third World Love, has an uncanny rapport with the trumpeter, while Waits, who has played in trios with the likes of Jason Moran and Fred Hersch, provides energetic drum work throughout. The absence of a piano here affords the trio added harmonic freedom and they take advantage of it with some soaring, adventurous improvising." All About Jazz echoed the praise, characterizing the album as "a quantum leap" in Cohen's artistry and adding about the Triveni trio: "When these three men match wits, barbs and quips, the results are stunning." 

Cohen's Triveni partners - Avital big-toned, funky and melodic à la Mingus, Waits as dizzyingly inventive as he is swinging - could hardly be more attuned to the trumpeter's sensibility. "I've been playing with Omer for so long that we have total rapport," Cohen says. "We can hear where each other is going harmonically and vibe-wise, and our feel for time is hand in glove. He's an incredible bassist and musician, almost like a second horn player he's so melodic. Nasheet is still a mystery to me in a good way - always surprising. He's such a force, an incredible drummer who never plays anything but the music itself, no 'licks'." 

For their third album as Triveni, the three musicians convened in Brooklyn's Bunker Studios without having toured the music or even rehearsed it beforehand. The trio recorded in the same room together, as with their prior sessions, with no separation and without headphones, helping impart a vital sense of intimacy to the music-making. "With just a single day in the studio, and a whole lot of music to learn and record on the spot, we set the rule of the day: 'No more than two takes per song'," Cohen explains. "That focused the process, giving the session a sense of movement, of flow. Just letting the music be, and relaxing into that feeling - this enabled us to embrace the unknown, to seek the right vibe above all. Even the electronic effects overdubs on this record were made in a 'first take' manner - listening to the track and just reacting to the music, trusting my instincts. All of this helped impart a big sense of spontaneity to this session, particularly in the shaping of the music. My tunes were new to Omer and Nasheet, and I didn't tell them what to play, or even what I heard as their parts. When it came to the standards, their parts were a more obvious call, of course, but their interpretations of the songs stayed their own - which makes this album as much theirs as it is mine."

Even having the first-ever guests to appear on a Triveni album was a spontaneous touch. Anat and Clayton were traveling together back to New York from a West Coast gig, and they came straight from the airport to join Triveni in the studio after a call from Avishai. Anat - whom Avishai calls "not just my sister but one of my favorite musicians in the world" - launched into "Betray" just minutes after entering the studio, yet the first take was the master. With Anat again on clarinet and Clayton on electric piano, the impromptu quintet recorded "Old Soul," a tune Avishai wrote about his son. As for Keren Ann's inclusion, Avishai says: "I always call her the 'voice of an angel.' She has something that always blows me away: this fragile, simple yet haunting voice, with a special way of phrasing. She and I were touring together right before the session, so it felt right for her to join Triveni in the studio, too. We gave Omer and Nasheet a break while the two of us went over 'I Fall in Love Too Easily' with Gerald on piano - but we never ended up recording a full band version. When we listened back to the run through, it sounded complete with just the three of us."

Summing up his aims, Cohen says: "Whether we're playing with guests or on our own as a trio, my approach to Triveni has been to challenge ourselves to balance freedom with self-restraint, to always stay lyrical and true."

Avishai Cohen, born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, but resident in New York City for more than a decade, played his own headlining set at the 2011 Newport Jazz Festival, and he tours the world as part of the prestigious SF Jazz Collective and with The 3 Cohens Sextet, his hit family band with his sister, clarinetist-saxophonist Anat, and brother, saxophonist Yuval. With his elder siblings, Avishai has performed at Carnegie's Zankel Hall and twice played a headline run at the Village Vanguard, and the three Cohens shared the January 2012 cover of DownBeat magazine. Avishai was named Rising Star - Trumpet in the DownBeat Critics Poll of 2013 and 2012. As a co-leader, he tours and records with Third World Love, his longtime collaborative venture with bassist Omer Avital, pianist Yonatan Avishai and drummer Daniel Freedman. International Music Network represents Cohen for booking and tour management. 

Cohen's discography includes seven albums as a leader: The Trumpet Player (Fresh Sounds New Talent, 2002), After The Big Rain (Anzic, 2007), Flood (Anzic, 2008), Seven (Anzic, 2008), Introducing Triveni (Anzic, 2010), Triveni II (Anzic, 2012) and Dark Nights (2014). He has also recorded four albums as co-leader with The 3 Cohens Sextet and five with Third World Love, along with being featured on several albums with the SF Jazz Collective. As a sideman, he has appeared on recordings by Mark Turner, Anat Cohen, Yuval Cohen, Jason Lindner and singer-songwriter Keren Ann, among others. His music-making can also be heard on such soundtracks as American Gangster and Soul Man. 

Cohen began performing in public in 1988 at age 10, eventually touring with the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. He attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship, and in 1997, he established his international reputation by placing third in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Trumpet Competition. Cohen came of age as a jazz musician as part of the fertile scene at Smalls, the storied club in New York's West Village, where he developed his artistic vision alongside such friends and colleagues as pianist Jason Lindner and bassist Omer Avital. All of his diverse work as a leader, co-leader and sideman is informed by the fresh, broad-minded legacy of this scene. Recently, Cohen has toured as a member of top bands led by Mark Turner and Kenny Werner, and he appears on Turner's upcoming ECM quartet album. Hot House Jazz magazine justly called Avishai Cohen "one of the most exciting voices on the horn to arrive in this century." 

AVISHAI COHEN'S TRIVENI: DARK NIGHTS
1. "Dark Nights, Darker Days" (Avishai Cohen)
2. "You in All Directions" (Avishai Cohen)
3. "Betray" (Avishai Cohen)
4. "Pablo" (Avishai Cohen)              
5. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (Charles Mingus)
6. "The OC" (Avishai Cohen)
7. "Shiny Stockings" (Frank Foster) 
8. "Lush Life" (Billy Strayhorn)          
9. "Old Soul" (Avishai Cohen) 
10. "I Fall in Love Too Easily" (Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn) 

 

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