CD of the Day - "Freddie Hubbard: Windjammer"

CD of the Day
Freddie Hubbard: "Windjammer" (Wounded Bird) 1976/2009
US CD release date: June 9, 2009

First ever CD reissue of Hubbard's third album for Columbia, now available thanks to the wise guys at the Wounded Bird label. Jazz historian Douglas Payne says that it's "a Bob James album with special guest soloist Freddie Hubbard." In that sense, I would say that it's Hubbard's equivalent to Hank Crawford's "I Hear A Symphony," recorded around the same time for the Kudu label, and which sounds like "a David Matthews album with special guest soloist Hank Crawford."

Produced by Bob James with his favorite engineer Joe Jorgensen taking care of the technical aspects, sounds very differently from all of Hubbard's previous album, specially from his CTI studio dates done between 1970 and 1973. However, it's very similar to the "new" CTI sound that was dominant on Creed Taylor's label around 1976, when David Matthews replaced both Don Sebesky and Bob James as the main house-arranger, bringing a heavy funky spice to the sessions he was involved in.

Curiously, although they had performed live in several occasions on the CTI All Stars concerts and tours in the USA and abroad (Sony still has the masters of an unreleased fantastic performance from April 20, 1973, at the Madison Square Garden, when Hubbard, James, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Eric Gale & Stanley Turrentine opened for Deodato's "2001 Space Concert"), Hubbard and James had done only one studio session during their CTI (hey)days. Two cuts from that April 1972 meeting, "People Make The World Go Round" and "Betcha by Golly Wow" were eventually included on "Polar AC," an album of out-takes released by CTI in 1975, when FH had already left CTI.

On "Windjammer," Bob James took control of everything. By "everything" I mean all the opulent arrangements, orchestra conducting, choice of material, musicians, engineer and musical direction, reprising Creed Taylor's approach or "concept," if you like. The all-star cast assembled a la CTI includes Gary King (the stupidly underrated late bass master who is the only musician, along with Hubbard, that plays in all tracks of the album), Steve Gadd, Chris Parker, Andy Newmark, Michael Brecker, Eric Gale, Dave Spinozza, Ralph MacDonald, Ray Mantilla, Hubert Laws, Phil Bodner, George Marge and many more in the brass & string sections, plus Patti Austin and the late Gwen Guthrie among the five backing vocalists.

The only member of Hubbard's touring band at that time that was allowed to take part of the proceedings was George Cables. Even so, Bob James is "the" keyboardist on the session, using acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Yamaha YC 30 organ, Hohner clavinet & Arp synthesizer. Bob also contributed with his original "Touch Me Baby" and had the nerve to arrange a beautiful funk-ballad arrangement of "Feelings," the supermellow pop hit composed by Brazilian singer Morris Albert (born Mauricio Alberto) that reached #2 in the Adult Contemporay and #6 in the Pop singles of the Billboard charts in 1975, having been recorded also by other jazzmen like Milt Jackson on his Pablo LP "Feelings," produced by the purist Norman Granz. On James' hands, "Feelings" got a real funky bass line, played by Gary King, contrasting with the subtle woodwinds of the intro and the romantic string passages. Very pleasant music to listen, dance and f***!
Here are some insightful comments borrowed from my dear friend Doug Payne's "Sound Insights" blog:

http://dougpayne.blogspot.com/2009/04/freddie-hubbard-on-columbia.html

Some go as far as to say that Hubbard's Columbia period makes his CTI period sound good. Not me. This was some of the first Hubbard I ever heard, as I began buying jazz albums at the time his Columbia albums were initially released, and some of the finest. One LP in particular, Windjammer (1976), my first Hubbard purchase (when I obsessed about collecting anything with Bob James's name on it) remains my favorite Hubbard album of all time, even though I concede that he made many better, more artistic albums.

Simply put, this period contains some spectacular music. Hubbard rarely sounded as good as he did on his Columbia albums. As a player, he was at the very top of his game and he sounded in good form throughout. He is firmly in charge of the proceedings.

Windjammer (1976):. Even in 1976, this record seemed surprising and, to many, hugely disappointing. Hubbard left the auspices of CTI Records in 1973 only to record his most CTI (or Kudu)-like record ever for Columbia in 1976. Turning arrangement, production and, in one case ("Touch Me Baby"), songwriting reins over to keyboardist Bob James, Hubbard seemed to sense that the jazz winds were blowing this way. So, as they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em (or as The Simpsons' Mayor Quimby would say, "If that is the way the winds are blowing, let no one say that I don't also blow").

James, who played live behind Hubbard as part of the CTI All Stars several years before and was still recording for CTI himself, was signed in 1975 by Columbia Records to provide A&R services for such acts as Paul Simon, Kenny Loggins, Neil Diamond and Maynard Ferguson. These projects were such huge successes that by 1977, Columbia offered James his own label and Tappan Zee was born.

Windjammer was perhaps the least successful project either Hubbard or James had ever worked on. But not only does it serve as a template for the work James would do at Tappan Zee, it really has some terrifically exciting moments that are hugely memorable - at least when given half the chance. Backed by a typically huge group of New York City studio pros, including soloists Eric Gale, Hubert Laws and Michael Brecker (Patti Austin and Gwen Guthrie are among the vocalists), Hubbard seems at times to be sublimated by James's charts or the occasional vocals. This is particularly true on the album's daft single, the MacDonald/Salter feature "Rock Me Arms," and, to an extent, James's own "Touch Me Baby."

The covers are worth hearing, particularly James's near brilliant arrangement of Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver." Throughout each passage of the song, James perfectly spices the groove with different keyboard effects that work wonders on the basic melody, aided in no small measure by the unmistakable syncopations of Steve Gadd (who also adds his unique zest to "Touch Me Baby"). Hubbard solos magnificently here, seemingly engaged in James's clever take on the song. James also rethinks Morris Albert's dreadful "Feelings" and Hubbard elevates it to a new level that makes you absolutely forget the drivel of the original (Albert's original always reminds me of Carol Burnett as Eunice performing it on "The Gong Show").

The two Hubbard pieces heard here don't rank high among his output but are solid features nonetheless, particularly the title track, which features great solos by Hubbard and Brecker (and an oddly overdubbed passage by James). Both "Windjammer" and "Neo Terra (New Land)" - which, I believe, has been the only song up until now to find its way onto CD - feature Hubbard's keyboardist of the time, George Cables, shamefully buried deep, deep, deep in the background. This is one heck of a good album, warts and all. As a Freddie Hubbard album, it really isn't all that significant or notable (Scott Yanow calls this and 1981's Splash Hubbard's worst records ever). But taken as a Bob James album with special guest soloist Freddie Hubbard, it’s a monster of a good record.

Diana Krall back on the road tonight

After some weeks to rest from the Canadian portion of her "Quiet Nights World Tour 2009", Diana Krall is back on the road, now also taking the opportunity to promote the new "Live in Rio" (Eagle Vision/ST2) DVD. She performs tonight, June 5, at The Palace Theater in Waterbury, the fifth largest city in Connecticut, USA.
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=22009&pid=6471201

The Jazz Station blog will rejoin the tour, reporting details of all concerts, after June 12, when Diana performs at Foxwoods Resort Casino's MGM Grand Theater in Mashantucket.

DK's next concerts this month:

6/6/2009
Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center
York, PA

6/7/2009 7:30 PM
Flynn Center For The Performing Arts
Burlington, VT

6/9/2009
Stanley Theater for the Performing Arts
Utica, NY

6/10/2009
Artpark
Lewiston, NY

6/12/2009
MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Casino
Ledyard, CT

6/13/2009
Bank of America Pavillion
Boston, MA

6/14/2009
Providence Performing Arts Center
Providence, Rhode Island

6/16/2009
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Baltimore, MD

6/17/2009
Filene Center - Wolf Trap
Vienna, Virginia

6/19/2009
Mann Music Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

6/20/2009
Borgata Spa and Resort
Atlantic City, NJ

6/21/2009
nTelos Pavilion Harbor Center
Portsmouth, VA

6/23/2009
Carnegie Hall
New York, NY

6/24/2009
Carnegie Hall
New York, NY

6/26/2009
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

6/27/2009
Ravinia Pavilion
Highland Park, Illinois

6/28/2009
Riverside Theater
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

6/30/2009
State Theatre
Cleveland, OH

CD of the Day - "The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival"

CD of the Day
The Who: "Live at The Isle of Wight Festival 1970" (Eagle/ST2) 2009

2009 reissue. Out-of-print for some considerable time, Eagle Records & ST2 are now making available once again the double CD set of the complete performance by The Who at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970 in the original running order of the live show. The sound has been remastered by long time Who sound man Jon Astley and is now better than ever. Featuring the original classic line-up of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon and John Entwistle, The Who's performance at the Isle Of Wight is rightly celebrated as one of their finest ever and this CD shows exactly why. 24 tracks.

R.I.P.: Koko Taylor

Koko Taylor
(born 1928, Memphis/TN;
died June 3, 2009, Chicago/IL)

The blues singer Koko Taylor died June 3rd in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 80 after complications from surgery. Obituary: The Seattle Times, The Independent.

R.I.P.: Sam Butera

Sam Butera
(born September 17, 1927, New Orleans)
died June 3, 2009, Las Vegas)

The saxophonist Sam Butera died in Las Vegas at the age of 82. He had been at the hospital suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. Butera had been performing with the bands of Tommy Dorsey and Joe Reichman, but especially with Louis Prima in whose band he served for 21 years. Obituary: Las Vegas Sun, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent.

DVD of the Day - "Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark"

DVD of the Day

OMD: "Live - Architecture & Morality & More" (Eagle/ST2) 2009

Produced & Engineered by Julie Gardner.
For the early part of this tour, when OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark") reunited and undertook a tour in which they played theur third album in full -- including this concert recorded in the UK, at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2007 -- the show was split into 2 halves. The first part of the evening was a complete performance of the "Architecture & Morality" album (1981), while the second half was a greatest hits covering the rest of the British electropop band's career. Extras include 20 minute interview with the band, interview with VJ Hambi Haralambous, and alternate editings of "Joan of Arc" and "The New Stone Age." Oh, how I miss the "Crepúsculo de Cubatão" nights... Depeche Mode, Spandau Ballet, The Cure, nevermind...

New event by The Los Angeles Jazz Society

"I have President Obama on the line"

Dear Arnaldo:

Our records show that you live in California's 23rd district.

"If we don't get it done this year, we're not going to get it done."

That's how President Obama -- briefing leading Organizing for America volunteers in our health care effort -- described our fight to pass real health care reform in 2009.

Then, yesterday, the President took the next step by writing congressional leaders to re-emphasize his principles for real health care reform, including his commitment to creating a public insurance option available to all.

Now it's up to us to show massive public support for the President's call -- and we have to move quickly. Can you add your name today?

Declare your support for the President's health care reform principles.

You can also listen to the President's call with leading Organizing for America volunteers. It was an incredible moment, and I'd like you to be a part of it.

This signature drive is so urgent because Congress is working as we speak to hammer out the details for health care reform.

What comes out of this process will make or break our one shot at real reform.

Washington is swarming with insider lobbyists, and we have to show that regular people in every state and every district are paying attention.

So please add your name to show you support President Obama's call that any final reform plan must reduce costs, guarantee choice -- including the choice of a public insurance option -- and ensure quality health care for every American.

http://my.barackobama.com/ObamaCall

President Obama put it best on the call: "This is our big chance," he said, "to prove that the movement that started during the campaign isn't over -- we're just getting started."

And that's exactly what we're going to do.

Thank you for standing with us again,

David Plouffe
Organizing for America

P.S. -- Please forward this note around to friends and family who want to listen to the President's briefing from Air Force One and then add their voice to our campaign. This is going to take all of us.

Diana Krall on "Jazzeit"

To read DK's interview on "Jazzeit" magazine, please click on the scans to enlarge them.

Tropicália at Village Voice, this week

Fifth Street Tropicália (in Furs)
A downtown record-store owner unearths the Holy Grail of lost Brazilian psychedelia
BY CHARLY WILDER

Tropicália in Furs, a hole-in-the-wall Brazilian record shop in the East Village, is the kind of place New Yorkers worry will disappear from the city forever. A tiny alternate universe where Technicolor dots bounce off glossy LP covers by Os Mutantes, the Cramps, and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, it's never crowded or empty, and the same affable connoisseur is always behind the counter. Joel ... MORE »

Mike Longo live @ Kitano tonight

Get ready for some more heavy swing with the Mike Longo Trio, featuring master musicians Santi Debriano on bass and Ray Mosca on drums, tonight, June 4, at KITANO, 66 Park Avenue at 38th Street, direct from their acclaimed performance at the Denver International Jazz Festival.

There will be two shows at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.
NO COVER, $15/minimum/set.
Call 212-885-7119 for Reservations & Information.

DVD of the Day - "Heart: Dreamboat Annie"

DVD of the Day
Heart: "Dreamboat Annie" (Eagle/ST2) 2009

The band, led by Ann and Nancy Wilson, revisit their very first triumph live on stage in front of an ecstatic audience. Thrill as they play their legendary debut album "Dreamboat Annie" live for the first time ever. The band tears into their hits and covers classics by Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd, all of whom inspired them as they were writing the album. The concert was recorded at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Extras include interviews, fan featurette, and photo gallery.
Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson struck gold in 1976 with their debut CD, spawning radio hits like "Crazy On You" and "Magic Man," that opens the concert. They perform five encores, including "Mistral Wind," "Goodbye Blue Sky" and Led's anthem "Black Dog," which I recently selected for my Verve compilation "Jazz Rock" on Eumir Deodato's fusion version.

CD of the Day - "Tori Amos: Live at Montreux"

CD of the Day
Tori Amos: "Live at Montreux 1991/1992" (Eagle/ST2)

This 2-CD set includes two Tori Amos concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1991 and 1992, catching Tori right at the start of her solo career. The first, from July 1991, happened a few months before the release of her "Little Earthquakes" album and the second from July 1992 followed a few months after. There is a fascinating progression from one year to the next as she grows in confidence and skill as a live performer, buoyed by the critical and commercial success of the album. Naturally most of the songs are taken from "Little Earthquakes" but there are also rare songs from her various EPs released across the two years which didn't make it onto the album, including Tori's distinctive takes on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and "Thank You", as well as on Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the closing track.

J.P. DeLaire hosts CD release party on June 14

In celebration of his new CD "In My Life," and the single release of "The Game of Love," multi-instrumentalist/vocalist J.P. (Jason Peterson) DeLaire of the Minneapolis musical Peterson family has just announced he will be hosting a CD release party at Bunker's Bar and Grill on June 14, 2009 at 11:15PM. DeLaire will be backed by one of the hottest bands in Minneapolis, The Combo. (The Combo's drummer Michael Bland was with Prince for years.)

DeLaire, who has worked for several seasons with Michael Bolton, recently returned from Trinidad with Bolton and will be headed out with Bolton again in July. DeLaire, who has also toured with Prince, continues to garner attention with his debut CD, "In My Life" on Tender Girl Music. Susan Frances of the Jazz Review said, "DeLaire’s album takes audiences back in time to the dance-funk-soul amalgams of the 80s while simultaneously moving R&B/soul forward in time. Born and raised in Minneapolis, DeLaire was weaned on the city’s urban-funk sound and spurred on by his own attachment to R&B/soul riders. Having played as a sideman for Prince and Michael Bolton, J.P. DeLaire imprints his own lettering on R&B/soul and gives the genre a splash of contemporary hues, which enliven its bouquet and garden-fresh feel."

"In My Life" was mixed and mastered by super sound engineer Steve Hodge (Janet Jackson, Flyte Time Productions), and radio music programmers have already begun playing cuts. It features DeLaire's soulful vocals, as well as his keyboard artistry and smooth saxophone.

Regarding his brand of music, DeLaire said, “I think that there are many fans of the “Minneapolis Sound” that are hungry for something new from the Minneapolis scene. "The lyrics are original but the grooves we’ve laid down will be a homecoming for a lot of listeners out there,” said DeLaire.

The video of "In My Life" highlights DeLaire's talents and was one of the most viewed videos on YouTube in 2008. The video contains emotionally riveting messages of hope and change and was dedicated to the campaign of President Barack Obama. “We are a nation that is hungry to know the truth behind what is being presented to us,” said DeLaire. The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yCtb3gbjp4

iTunes link here

As an added bonus, DeLaire has released a bonus single "The Game of Love," which is not a track on In My Life. "The Game of Love" single is available as a download only at www.itunes.com/j.p.delaire. "The Game of Love" is currently going for adds on radio nationwide.

A new previously unreleased Art Pepper CD comes out on June 23

"Art Pepper: The Art History Project," Vol. IV in the critically acclaimed "Unreleased Art" series, to be released by Widow's Taste Records on June 23.
This 3-CD set traces Pepper's development from poll-winning early days with Stan Kenton to the wild, sweet personal music of his own bands at the end.

Art Pepper played the most autobiographical instrumental music in the world. The 17 selections on the forthcoming Widow's Taste release, "The Art History Project," describe the emotional and musical evolution of an artist as he reacted, always intensely, to the events of his own life and to the events of the music world in general.

The 3-CD set, lovingly compiled by the alto saxophonist's widow, Laurie Pepper, and set for release on June 23, includes a 20-page booklet filled with previously unpublished photographs as well as anecdotes, impressions, and information from her life with Art and from the book they wrote together, "Straight Life." But the musical emphasis throughout is more on Art than on history. No track has been included purely for its historical value. Each performance is of good-to-excellent audio quality, all have been remastered by the truly masterly Wayne Peet, and together they embody the heights and depths Art felt and was able to convey.

In keeping with the goals of the Widow's Taste "Unreleased Art" series, two-thirds of the music here has never been released before. The program begins in 1950 (Art Pepper with Stan Kenton) and concludes with tracks from a previously unreleased New York gig, featuring Stanley Cowell, George Mraz, and Ben Riley, played just a couple of months before Pepper's June 1982 death, at age 56. "It's a natural elaboration of the goals I started with when I began the label," says Laurie. "I wanted to displace the pirates and give terrific unheard Art a really high-quality vehicle, each release a kind of jewel. I just got a little more ambitious with this fourth set. I thought it was important to show where Art was coming from."

Disc 1. "Pure Art" is a story told by the young fellow who placed second only to Charlie Parker in the DownBeat polls, and who, by his own account, "musically, at least, had the world by the tail." That "at least" is typical Art Pepper. Nothing was ever was quite perfect enough. Nothing was ever quite right. He began to use drugs during this period, in an effort to escape the universal lack that prodded and plagued him. This disc is mostly "West Coast Jazz" with all its contrapuntal cleverness and loveliness -- though Art always gave it his own bright little edge of adrenaline so it never was lightweight. Many of the tunes are his originals. Sidemen here include Warne Marsh, Jack Sheldon, and Shorty Rogers (pictured with Pepper above). "This music is sublime and really timeless," says Laurie.

Disc 2. "Hard Art" consists of mostly unreleased material from a rehearsal recorded at Contemporary Studios in 1964 a few weeks after Art's first release from San Quentin. It reveals his love for Coltrane and for the new sound of jazz. Art's songs still swing and have moments of lyricism, but he uses the license given him by freer musical conventions to express the grief, anger, and alienation he felt in the midst of serving what seemed like an only-occasionally-interrupted life sentence -- doing time in jails and prisons just for using drugs.

Disc 3. "Consummate Art" is just that. This is a narrative of reconciliation. In this music, most of which has never been released, Art embraces his past and his pain in music that is delicate, lively, and touching, and, at the same time, free: It rages and celebrates. The edge of desperation is still there, but Art has found a way to use it. He is again at the top of the jazz polls, respected and even adored, playing all over the world. He is "a knowing athlete, trained and poised" (Gary Giddins, Village Voice), who brought from deep inside the beauty of his own passion angst and glee and connected so unerringly with ours. He was "an architect of emotion" (John Litweiler, Chicago Sun-Times) who "played with controlled intensity, clean articulation, and a command of his instrument that make his virtuosity seem almost casual and easy" (John S. Wilson, New York Times).

The new set is an ideal companion piece to Art's book "Straight Life" and, like the other splendid volumes in the "Unreleased Art" series, it is an instant collector's item. Each volume has been compiled by the partner who knew Art most completely, and in irreverent anecdotes she gives him to us whole, his music reverentially reproduced and packaged.

Laurie Pepper's Widow's Taste label was launched in 2006 in order to introduce Art to a generation who may not know how soulful jazz can be and to satisfy the blessedly insatiable desires of his knowledgeable fans. That this small record company remains in the black is thanks to those fans and to the overwhelming praise heaped on it:

Coda: Widow's Taste is "nearly impeccable," and Art's playing on previous releases "rhapsodic, heartfelt, almost demonic, exhaustive." --Jack Chambers

New York Times, in a feature article: Widow's Taste "captures the artist at a mesmerizing peak." --Fred Kaplan

Audiophile Audition: "I have loved each of the Unreleased series, but I have to say that Vol. 3 is my favorite. Its combination of funky swinging blues combined with Art's lay-it-on-the-line blowing knocks me out. The sound is surprisingly good and kudos should go to Wayne Peet for a brilliant remastering job." --Jeff Krow

This new release will be available at Amazon.com and at CDBaby.com. The next release from Widow's Taste will (probably) be a dazzling concert recorded in Stuttgart, Germany. A digital download of the deeply desired "Blues for the Fisherman" will soon be available at CDBaby.

Meanwhile, a weird and witty music video featuring a track from Disc 2: "Hard Art" can be seen and heard at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNQgVMM4YxU

Web Site: www.straightlife.info

Ann Hampton Callaway @ Feinstein's, The Regency, on June 6

Vinyl of the Day - "Dulce Nunes: Samba do Escritor"

Vinyl of the Day
Dulce Nunes: "Samba do Escritor" (Forma) 1968

Featuring: Edu Lobo, Nara Leão, Gracinha Leporace, Momento Quatro & Joyce
All songs by Dulce Nunes, with lyrics by Guimarães Rosa, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Mário Quintana, Paulo Mendes Campos, Jorge Amado, Antonio Callado, Millor Fernandes & Vinicius de Moares
Piano, guitar & arrangements by Egberto Gismonti, who had just married Dulce Nunes at that time
Other arrangers include Luiz Eça & Oscar Castro-Neves
Liner Notes by Carlos Drummond de Andrade

Vinyl of the Day - "Lee Ritenour & Oscar Castro-Neves"

Vinyl of the Day
Lee Ritenour & Oscar Castro-Neves: "Um Encontro" (Evento) 1974

One of the rarest albums ever in the EMI catalog, never reissued in any format. Only 500 copies were printed! Produced by Aloysio de Oliveira for his Evento label, which he had founded a year before, as an affiliated label to Brazilian EMI. Both Ritenour and Castro Neves were in Brazil touring with Sergio Mendes (they performed in Rio at the Teatro Bloch, with the Brasil 77 joined by a symphony orchestra conducted by Dave Grusin), and Aloysio had the idea to pair them as co-leaders on "Um Encontro," the first album with Ritenour's name on the front cover.

The program includes nice versions of Gabor Szabo's "Mizrab" (which Lee would revisit 30 years later on "Overtime" - see below) and "Quem Diz Que Sabe," a song co-written by João Donato, Paulo Sergio Valle & Dora Beatriz which became among the 12 finalists of the "II Festival Internacional da Canção" in 1966. Two years later, Wes Montgomery recorded that song, retitled "Know It All," on his "Down Here On The Ground" album for A&M/CTI - by coincidence, that LP is being reissued this month here in the USA on the "Verve Originals" series.

Backed by an unobtrusive rhythm section, Rit & OCN also recorded a couple of Jobim songs ("Corcovado," "Wave"), two others by Michel Legrand ("Watch What Happens," "The Summer of '42"), pop hits of that time by Stevie Wonder ("You Are The Sunshine of My Life") and Gilbert O'Sullivan (a medley of "Alone Again" and "Clair"), an adaptation of the famous Adagio from Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez", and Castro-Neves' own haunting ballad "Companheira da Manhã," a song he had recorded one year earlier on the sublime "Alayde Costa & Oscar Castro-Neves" LP for EMI.

DVD of the Day - "Lee Ritenour: Overtime"

DVD of the Day
Lee Ritenour: "Overtime" (VideoArts/ST2) 2004/2009

This 19 song 2-DVD set covers Ritenour's music from the 70s to the present. It covers four distinct areas starting out with acoustic jazz and moving into Brazilian music with Ivan Lins, fusion days at The Baked Potato including the original band of Dave Grusin, Patrice Rushen, Anthony Jackson, Harvey Mason, Ernie Watts, and Steve Forman, as well as many of his popular 80s smooth-jazz songs like "Is It You?". There are also some new songs, with guest vocalists Kenya Hathaway (Donny Hatthaway's daughter and Lalla's sister) & Grady Harrell.

With his distinctly fluid playing style, Lee Ritenour has established himself as one of the world's leading jazz fusion guitarists. Dubbed "Captain Fingers" for his manual dexterity, Ritenour began his career in the early 1970s as a session player for artists as diverse as the Mamas and the Papas, Tony Bennett, Pink Floyd, Sergio Mendes and Dizzy Gillespie before launching his career as a leader. Since then, Ritenour's long and varied career has moved from traditional jazz and jazz fusion in the 1970s to Brazilian music (when he toured Brazil with Sergio Mendes in 1974 and recorded the ultra-rare LP "Um Encontro" with Oscar Castro-Neves for Aloysio de Oliveira's Evento label - yes, Evento, Aloysio's label associated with EMI-Odeon in the 70s, not the legendary Elenco label from the 60s), and the smooth GRP-style in he 1980s and '90s, counting 3000-plus recording sessions as a sideman.

The aptly titled "Overtime", directed & edited by Charley Randazzo, with the big budget provided by executive producer Hisao Ebine (the big boss of the famous Japanese company VideoArts Music aka VAM) captures Ritenour revisiting several periods of his career with a selection of 19 songs that feature appearances by longtime cohorts Dave Grusin, Patrice Rushen, Anthony Jackson, Harvey Mason, Ernie Watts, and Steve Forman (all of whom played with Ritenour at the legendary Los Angeles jazz club the Baked Potato in the late 70s) as well as more recent collaborators such as alto saxophonist & flutist Eric Marienthal (from Chick Corea's Elektric Band), trumpeter Chris Botti, drummer Oscar Seaton, bassist Melvin Davis and vocalist Kenya Hathaway, who sings lead on "Morning Glory" and returns with male singer Grady Harrell to backing efforts on "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "Is It You?"

Other sidemen are former Weather Report member Alex Acuña (on percussion), keyboardist Barnaby Finch, and bassist Dave Carpenter.

Oddly, this charming, silky and hip DVD, filmed in front of an audience of guests at the Enterprise Studios (Hollywood) between Match & August 2004, doesn't bring any information about the composers. So, unless you are familiar with the songs, you'll not know that "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" was a huge #1 Pop hit (on the Billboard Hot 100) for the Motown group The Temptations in 1972; the centerpiece of the "All Directions" LP, it won three Grammy awards in '73. Neither that "Thirteen" was originally written by Gary McFarland for the score to a 1967 film called "13", and later retitled "Eye of the Devil."

The legendary late Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo was "luckier" because Ritenour introduces his name to the audience as the composer of "Mizrab," the mysterious title tune from Gabor's first album for CTI in 1972. Ivan Lins guests (doing vocals, playing Fender Rhodes and a small pandeiro) on four tracks: "Harlequin," "Beyond The Storm," "Dinorah Dinorah" and the closing theme "She Walks This Earth." There's a nice take of Miles Davis/Bill Evans' "Blue in Green," an interesting arrangement of Jobim's "Water to Drink" and a new version of Ritenour's own virtuosistic "Captain Fingers." "Overtime" has also been released as a 13-track single CD, which opens with a Wes Montgomery tune, "Boss City," unfortunately not included on the DVD.

DVD 1
1. Party Time
2. Blue In Green
3. Mizrab
4. Sugarloaf Express
5. Harlequin
6. Beyond The Storm
7. Dinorah Dinorah
8. P.A.L.S.

DVD 2
1. Captain Fingers
2. Morning Glory
3. Captain Caribe
4. Night Rhythms
5. A Little Bumpin'
6. Water To Drink
7. Possibilities
8. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
9. Is It You?
10. Thirteen
11. She Walks This Earth

CD of the Day - "Albert Collins: Live at Montreux"

CD of the Day
Albert Collins: "Live at Montreux 1992" (Eagle/ST2) 2009

The Iceman is in remarkable form on this seven-song live date, offering proof positive that his smoldering Texas-style electric blues is ageless. With a set list that spans from his early hit "Frosty" to tracks from his 1991 release, "Iceman," Albert Collins's stinging technique makes his Telecaster sing out over his no-holds-barred full electric band. A deeply satisfying blues excursion, "Live at Montreux 1992" was recorded merely a year before Collins's death from cancer, making it a fitting tribute as well as a fine concert recording. A DVD version of this concert was already available, including as an added bonus four lengthy tracks from Albert Collins' 1979 appearance at Montreux.

Win tix to the June 13 night at the Northside Fest

WIN TICKETS TO THE WAR ON DRUGS/ENDLESS BOOGIE/VIRGIN FOREST/DOUG PAISLEY

The first ever Northside Festival kicks off soon, with venues throughout the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area of Brooklyn hosting four days of music and art. If you haven't already, you'll want to check out the schedule which lists a slew of great musicians performing, as well as special art shows and parties.
We've got a couple of tickets to Northside Festival-related concerts up for grabs, starting with this solid Saturday evening showcase at Union Pool, curated by our friends at Chouette and No Quarter, featuring the War on Drugs, Endless Boogie, Virgin Forest and Doug Paisley.
To enter, email tickets@othermusic.com, and they'll notify the winner on Friday, June 12th.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13 (9PM-MIDNIGHT)
UNION POOL: 484 Union Avenue
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$10 or get an All Access Badge

Diana Krall on "Jazzthing"

To read the Diana Krall interview in "Jazzthing" magazine, click on the images (scans) to enlarge them.

Kristin Korb @ Tutuma Social Club, NY

Don't miss the multi-talented Kristin Korb live, tonight and tomorrow night, at the Tutuma Social Club (New York, NY) - [map]

"Jazz Rock" - "Modern Drummer" review, June 2009

Review about the "Jazz Rock" compilation CD (produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro for Verve) published in the June 2009 issue of "Modern Drummer" magazine - Brazilian issue, page 79. Reviewed by Lucas Mota

JAZZ ROCK - George Duke, Alphonse Mouzon, Return To Forever & Others
Esta ácida coletânea do selo JazzClub/Verve traz eletrizantes temas de jazz rock. Para não correr o risco de intitular erroneamente o material, o produtor brasileiro Arnaldo DeSouteiro explica que deixou de lado a denominação fusion, evitando assim que o trabalho fosse interpretado de maneira imprecisa pelo público.
Para se der idéia da complexidade sonora que as faixas sugerem, imagine os arranjos psicodélicos de Eumir Deodato para a apoteótica "Black Dog", do Led Zeppelin, com a intensidade de STEVE GADD na bateria. Em contradição, a irregular "Love For Sale", de Cole Porter, traz a vivacidade de TONY WILLIAMS em uma condução calcada em polirritmia. A forte presença de TONY fica ainda mais evidente em "Emergency", gravada com seu grupo Lifetime.
"Ant Steps On An Elephant's Toe" traz o balanço de ALPHONSE MOUZON, guiado pelo elétrico Jaco Pastorius. LENNY WHITE mostra a que veio na exuberante "Vulcan Worlds", com Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke e Al DiMeola. O CD tem ainda as participações de LEON 'NDUGU' CHANCLER, DON ALIAS e KIRT RUST em emblemáticas conduções. (Universal/Verve/Jazz Club) - Lucas Mota

CD of the Day - "The Moody Blues: Isle of Wight Festival"

CD of the Day
The Moody Blues: "Live at the Isle of Wight Festival" (Eagle/ST2)

In 1970 The Moody Blues were at their creative and commercial peak. After reinventing themselves from their R&B roots to a much more sophisticated sound, between 1967 and 1970 they released five albums, four of which hit the Top 5 in the UK with two of them going to No.1. They enjoyed similar success in the USA where four of the albums hit the Top 20 and the other was just outside. At the end of August 1970, shortly after the release of their album "A Question Of Balance," The Moody Blues took to the stage of the Isle Of Wight Festival (the England version of Woodstock) in front of an audience estimated at over half a million. This CD makes that performance available for the first time, including a great version of guitarist Justin Hayward's "Nights in White Satin," from their groundbreaking album "Days of Future Passed," and which would be later covered by Brazilian arranger Eumir Deodato on his second CTI album, "Deodato 2."
Among the other tracks are "Gypsy," "Tuesday Afternoon," "The Sunset," "Never Comes the Day," "Tortoise and the Hare," "Question," "Melancholy Man," "Legend of a Mind," "Ride My See Saw," "Minstrel's Song" and "Are You Sitting Comfortably", played by Hayward, Mike Pinder (on the mellotron! - a vintage keyboard instrument operated by a system of rollers and delicate tape loops, sounding like a mix of organ and strings), Graham Edge (drums), John Lodge (bass) & Ray Thomas (flute and vocals).
Michael Headley provides a nice set of liner notes, and all tracks were carefully remixed by Alberto Parodi & Danilo Madonia under the supervision of Justin Hayward himself.

R.I.P.: Billy VerPlanck

Billy VerPlanck
(born April 30, 1930, Norwalk/CT;
died June 2, 2009, Hackensack/NJ)

The arranger & trombonist Billy VerPlanck died June 2nd in Hackensack, New Jersey, at the age of 79. He played trombone with Jess Stacy's band at the age of 15, later worked as a musician and arranger with Charlie Spivak, Claude Thornhill, Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet and Tommy Dorsey. He became one of the busiest studio arrangers and conductors in New York writing music for jingles, films, documentaries and record dates, especially the albums of his wife, the singer Marlene VerPlanck.

Corina Bartra & Azu live in NY tonight

Corina Bartra & her Azu project celebrating the release of their new CD.
Tonight, June 2th at the Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Baha'i Center.
At 53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway).
There will be two sets at 8:00 and 9:30pm.
Telephone: 212 -222-5159
Admission is $15.00 per show, $10.00 for students. Tickets will be sold at the door.
*************
A Joyous Celebration (by Mark Fogarty)

This CD includes recordings Corina did in Peru with some of the musicians she has worked for the last 9 years and tracks she recorded here in New York with top-notch players she has performed and recorded with these past years. This original Afro Peruvian Jazz pioneer offers us a first quality CD with top-notch players.

Afro-Peruvian rhythms and jazz. Spanish and English lyrics. Music from North America and South America. Originals and classics. Corina Bartra's restless exploration of diverse musical idioms and locales over many years has now evolved beyond study and mastery of these forms into something new, in her fifth CD. To a celebration that synthesizes all she has learned from a lifelong engagement with the music she loves. Afro Peruvian Jazz Celebration embraces the driving rhythms of South American music-the lando, the festejo, the baiao-and links them with the ballads and standards of American jazz to make a joyous combination of the indigenous music of her native Peru and her adopted New York City.

This celebration draws you right into the swirling movement of joyous music. Revel in the Peruvian moment with incessantly swinging tunes like “No Valentin” and “Chacombo.” Then switch to jazz standard like “Stella by Starlight” or Corina's own originals, “You Took Me by Surprise” and “I Won't Regret a Moment.” As with her previous Afro-Peruvian jazz CDs-Corina Bartra Quartet, Travel Log, Son Zumbon, and Bambu Sun, Corina has assembled a world-class set of musicians from both Peru and New York (including Cliff Korman, piano, Vince Cherico, drums, and Perico Diaz, cajon) whose virtuoso talent and infectious enthusiasm turn this spectacular music into a celebration of life, love and eternal rhythm.
--MARK FOGARTY, author of WENT TO SEE THE GYPSY

DVD Box Set of the Month - "Rory Gallagher"

DVD Box Set of the Month
Rory Gallagher: "Shadow Play" (WDR-Eagle/ST2) 2009

After the great 2-DVD set "Rory Gallagher Live at Montreux" (with five performances from 1975 to 1994 at the famous Swiss Festival), the guys at ST2 give us this 3-DVD deluxe digipack set, "Shadow Play," which includes five full lenght concerts spanning 1976 to 1990.
Perhaps one of the most treasured blues guitarists over the past 30 years, Irish rocker Rory Gallagher (1948-1995) made a number of appearances on Germany's famed Rockpalast show between 1976 and 1990. For the first time ever, all these performances are collected in 1 complete package with 9 hours (!!!)of Rory at his finest. Included are WDR Studio L (1976), Grugahalle Essen (1977), Wiesbaden (1979), Jam Session Wiesbaden (1979), Loreley Jam (1982), Loreley (1982), and Cologne (1990). Jack Bruce appears as guest artist.
Tracks include "Pistol Slapper Blues," "Nothing But The Devil," "Calling Card," "Country Mile", "Jackknife Beat," "Out On The Western Plain," "Bullfrog Blues," "What In The World," "Brute Force And Ignorance," "Moonchild" and many more.
A fear of flying, coupled with a growing dependency problem, began to hamper the guitarist's career and, in June 1995, Rory Gallagher succumbed to complications following a liver transplant. Donal Gallagher, always a tenacious defender of his older brother's music, in the late 1990's oversaw the remastering and reissuing of Rory's entire catalog. He authorized an exhaustive biography of Rory by French author Jean-Noel Coghe, and now contributes pics, memorabilia and liner notes to this "Shadow Play" DVD.
Length: 591 minutes

Creed Taylor on "Wax Poetics"

"Creed Taylor: The Man Behind Impulse, Verve, and CTI Records" is the cover story of the latest issue of "Wax Poetics" magazine. Two great artists with whom Creed worked as a producer, Freddie Hubbard and John Coltrane, are pictured in the back & front covers. If you are a Creed fan, don't miss it!

DVD of the Month - "Diana Krall: Live in Rio"

DVD of the Month

Diana Krall: "Live in Rio" (Eagle Vision-Verve/ST2)

Audio Produced by Tommy LiPuma, engineered by Al Schmitt & Steve Genewick

Video Executive Producers: Terry Shand & Geoff Kempin

Directed by David Barnard

Orchestra arranged by Claus Ogerman & conducted by Ruriá Duprat

Packaging Design: Nikkie Amouyal

A worldwide release! For more details:

http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com/search?q=%22krall%22+%2B+%22live+in+Rio%22

Approx. Time: 135 minutes. NTSC format, 16:9 Widescreen. There are 3 soundtracks available: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround 5.1. All of these with great separation and fidelity, with no substantial difference between the DD 5.1 and DTS mixes. Dynamic range is superb. Subtitles in the "Extras": English, French and Spanish (no Portuguese). The menu is presented in English only.
The video credits refer to a "Rio de Janiero (sic) Orchestra," which, in fact was assembled exclusively for the recording of this DVD. The credits omit the exact recording date at "Vivo Rio": November 1st, 2008. And the version of "You're My Thrill" was actually filmed after the concert, when Diana told the audience that they needed to re-record a few songs. It's a shame because the first take of "You're My Thrill," the one really played during the concert, was much better, more intense, and with a superb performance by Paulinho da Costa, doing many special effects on percussion that someone in the production team considered "too extravagant" to the occasion, asking him to play "less" when redoing it.
Carlos Lyra was the host of the concert, the MC. He "prepared" the audience, talked about Diana's passion for Brazilian music, encouraged the audience to not to be shy and sing with her during the Brazilian songs, called Diana to the stage but... all of this was deleted during the DVD final editing. Lyra appears only in the "Rooftop Session" in the extras of the Japanese issue, not available in the issues that came out in all other territories.
The final editing also cut-off most of Diana's comments about Claus Ogerman (she said "he had never been in Brazil, was ready to travel but then he had an accident with his leg... otherwise, Claus would be here with us tonight") as well as a very constraining moment when, after DK having mentioned once again the name of Elvis Costello, some people started booing. Krall turned to the audience and asked: "What?" Silence and laughs.

CD of the Month - "Daniel Murray: Universos Sonoros"

CD of the Month
Daniel Murray: "Universos Sonoros Para Violão e Tape" (Canto Discos) 2009

One of the most adventurous, complex, creative & challenging albums recorded by a Brazilian artist in this century. Murray and his main collaborator in this project, avant-garde master Lelo Nazario (responsible for the techical coordination, editing, mixing & mastering, besides his contribution as composer of the opening track, "Balada Unidimensional," a masterpiece of electro-acoustic music) set a new standard, a very personal one indeed, for the contemporary guitar repertoire. Outstanding performances of great works by Nazario, Panayiotis Kokorasm, Mikhail Malt, Silvio Ferraz, Antonio Ribeiro, Sergio Kafejian, and Flo Menezes.
Recorded in May 2008 by Carlos Akamine in the large room (fantastic natural ambiance!) at the Cachuera Studio, in São Paulo, where, sometime ago, I had the privilege to produce a not yet released album by pianist Edu Toledo with an all-star cast of São Paulo-based musicians which included Lelo Nazario's brother, drummer Zé Eduardo Nazário.
"Music is the art of expressing the meaning of sounds. This preamble is to say that the newness contributes to the elimination of the obscurity. Without invention, life does not exist, nothing flourishes," states Celso de Alencar on his enlightning liner notes.

Diana Krall's "Quiet Nights" out today in the UK

To English fans of Diana Krall: “Quiet Nights” (Verve) is finally being officially released in the United Kingdom today, June 1st 2009, as a special edition CD (catalog number 2704935, containing two bonus video performances) and digital download.
To order:

HMV UK

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=933540(best price: £8.99)

Amazon -http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/v-v/090507083728

iTunes -http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/v-v/090507083435

Reissue of the Month - "Freddie Hubbard: The Love Connection"

Reissue of the Month
Freddie Hubbard: "The Love Connection" (Wounded Bird) 2009
CD Reissue Date in the USA: June 9, 2009

Recorded in February & March 1979 for Columbia.
Produced by Freddie Hubbard & Claus Ogerman.
All Arrangements (Rhythm, Brass & Strings) by Claus Ogerman, who also conducted the orchestra in all tracks.
Executive Producer: Dr. George Butler.
Featuring: Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Chuck Domanico, Chester Thompson, Rubens Bassini, Jumma Santos, Joe Farrell, Al Jarreau, Chuck Findley, Oscar Brashear, Snooky Young, Steve Madaio, Tom Scott, Dick Hyde, Phil Ranelin, Phil Teele, Ernie Watts, Guy Lumia et al.

Ogerman considers his score for the closing track, "Lazy Afternoon," his personal favorite arrangement ever! Curiously, but not surprisingly -- since he adores that haunting Jerome Moss melody -- Ogerman recorded a new arrangement of the tune on his 2008 album with Danilo Perez, "Across The Crystal Sea," (EmArcy) featuring Cassandra Wilson on an impeccable vocal performance. This track is nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist".
But all the tracks on "The Love Connection" are outstanding, starting by the exciting title tune on which Claus shows his underrated skills as brass arranger (skills that were overshadowed only because of his genius as a string orchestrator; or, like Freddie himself wrote in the back cover, as "the greatest string composer of the century.") There are great solos by Freddie on trumpet and Chick Corea on MiniMoog, propelled by Stanley Clarke on electric bass, Chester Thompson (then a member of Genesis) on drums, and the late Rubens Bassini on congas & tambourine.
"Brigitte", dedicated to his wife, pictured with him in the album cover, had been previously recorded on the CTI LP "Keep Your Soul Together". But this orchestral is far superior, also thanks to Corea's solo on the acoustic piano and the late Chuck Domanico's pulse on the acoustic bass.
Then comes another wondrous orchestration, featuring French horns and strings: Claus' own composition "This Dream". A dream made in heaven, indeed. Hubbard's tone on the flugelhorn is simply glorious and astonishing, making the highly difficult melodic line sound apparently very simple. Maybe his greatest flugel performance ever.
"Little Sunflower" got a lot of airplay in the USA jazz radio stations at the time of the original release in 1979, mostly due to the presence of Al Jarreau, then at the height of his popularity. Al added beautiful lyrics to one of Hubbard's most famous tunes, previously recorded as "Sunflower" on a marvelous self-titled LP recorded by Milt Jackson (with Hubbard as guest soloist) for CTI in 1972, arranged by Don Sebesky, who is also nominated for a Grammy in the same category on which Ogerman was nominated. Both Corea and Bassini shine once again, but Jarreau doesn't scats. And Hubbard sounds superb on the flugel one more time.
Although a Japanese CD reissue had been released in November 2008, this is the first domestic CD release of this underrated gem, thanks to the Wounded Bird label, which licensed it from Sony Music.
*********
Doug Payne's comments, borrowed from his Sound Insights blog, follow:
http://dougpayne.blogspot.com/search?q=%22Love+Connection%22+%2B+%22CD%22

The Love Connection (1979): Freddie Hubbard must have experienced a great deal of frustration and consternation by this late point in his Columbia career. After five years with the label and repeated bows to acceptance or salability, he hadn't found a hit that met with public favor or a successful formula that rekindled the critics' appreciation of his music. So he teamed with arranger Claus Ogerman, who'd recently provided Hubbard's former CTI-mate George Benson with two huge-selling records for Warner Bros. and another former CTI-mate, Stanley Turrentine, with two of his better post-CTI albums for Fantasy.

Ogerman, who also provided arrangements for Jobim's best CTI records, doesn't seem like the right match for Hubbard. The trumpeter's title track is proof enough. But it does get better. Among the best songs heard here are the ones where Ogerman's magic gets to shine through. Such examples include Hubbard's "Brigitte," written for Hubbard's wife (and widow) and originally featured on Hubbard's 1973 album Keep Your Soul Together, showing off Ogerman's gorgeous string flairs and a lovely piano solo from Chick Corea. Hubbard rises to the occasion here, as he does on "This Dream," Hubbard's duet with strings and muted brass as well as Corea and bassist Stanley Clarke in top supportive form.

The song everyone remembers from this record is Hubbard's lovely "Little Sunflower" (which Hubbard debuted on his 1967 album Backlash), with lyrics and vocals by Al Jarreau. Ignore Jarreau and, even Hubbard to an extent. What Ogerman does here is what he does best. And it gets even better, spectacularly better, on the gorgeous standard "Lazy Afternoon." This is what probably makes the Hubbard-Ogerman connection make the most sense. Both are at the height of their creative and collaborative powers here. Even Ogerman agrees. As he said in his beautiful anthology, Claus Ogerman: The Man Behind The Music (2002), "I say that the slow parts of 'Lazy Afternoon' arranged for Freddie Hubbard are my best work and all I can do as an arranger. This chart and its recording alone was worth my coming to the United States." The more up-tempo part of the track features sensational solos by Hubbard, tenor sax great Joe Farrell and interesting synth lines from Chick Corea. As much as the title track is worth listening to, everything else here is worth hearing too. The Love Connection was also issued on CD in Japan in November 2008.

Blu-spec CD of the Month - "Seawind: Reunion"

Blue-spec CD of the Month
Seawind: "Reunion" (Village International)

Seawind's first album in 29 years!
Beautiful new songs ("Keep By Your Power," "Wayne," "Liquid Spies" and great new versions of two tunes from their debut album for CTI in 1976: "Devil Is A Liar" and the dancefloor bossa-jazz hit "He Loves You," with Al Jarreau doing a superb scat solo. Lead vocalist Pauline Wilson is singing better than ever.
Produced by Larry Wiliams & Bob Wilson.
Featuring: Bob Wilson (drums & primary writer), Pauline Wilson (vocals), Larry Williams (keyboards, sax & flutes), Ken Wild (acoustic & electric basses), Bud Nuanez (acoustic & electric guitars), Kim Hutchcroft (saxes & flutes) & Larry Hall (trumpet & flugelhorn).
Special guests: Al Jarreau (vocal solo on "He Loves You"), Gary Grant (trumpet & flugelhorn), Bill Reichenbach (trombone), Michito Sanchez (percussion) & Joe Turano (backing vocals).
Booklet Dsign, Photos & Digital Imaging by Mr. Blue Johnson.
For more details:
http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com/2009/04/seawind-cti-albums-reissued-today-on.html

To check the recent reissues (with bonus tracks!) of Seawind's CTI albums: http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com/search?q=%22Seawind%22+%2B+%22CTI%22

"AdLib" - June 2009

Cover Story: T-Square
ADLiB Photo Gallery - Michael Jackson -
Masterpiece Story "8:30 / Weather Report"
Elliott Yamin
Best 10: Live Albums Of British Rock
PAUL POTTS
Shino Inagi
Bill Labounty
The Bossa Nova Hotel
Baijaku Nakamura
Spotlight: Candy Dulfer / Gary Burton & Pat Metheny / Cool Forest / Inger Marie / Vanessa Williams / Casiopea / Connie Talbot
ADLiB Audio Topics
Jacket Gallery
ADLiB Chart
New Disc
Imported Disc
Coming Soon
VIP Producer: Philippe Saisse
Some Of The Longest Selling Albums
Star Story -Larry Carlton-
History Of Japanese Fusion
Hot Live Report: Fourplay / Ai / Quasimode
ADLiB Chronicles
The Songs Of David Foster
Don Grusin
Lisa Ono
Jesse Harris
Febian Reza Pane
Fulare_Pad
Cross Field
Kelly Joe Phelps
Toshiki Kadomatsu-No End Talk
Soul Kiss
AOR
Tina / Katsumi Horii
Shiro Sagisu / Cindy Suzuki
Yuji Muraoka / Paper & Web
Yumi Kudou / Yoshinori Ohtomo
Sound Planet
News Of The World
News In Japan
Concert Information
Letters
Last Chorus

"Swing Journal" - June 2009

Cover Story
The Serial : The Truth Behind Masterpieces - Liner Notes Tell A Golden Era of Jazz Giants : Stan Getz
John Coltrane x Eric Alexander
Animal Jacket Albums
Miles Davis & John Coltrane: 50th Anniversary of Kind of Blue & Giant Steps / Thelonious Monk at Town Hall: The 50th Anniversary Celebration
European Jazz Piano
Blooming! Jazz Female Vocalists
Here Comes New Masterpieces
Benny Goodman
Makoto Ozone
Serial: Basics About Jazz Instruments: Bass Part 2
Questions For Jazz Beginners
Hot News: Overseas
New York Jazz Monthly
Topics
Hot News: Domestic
Jazz On Air
The Monthly Disc Review
Top Chart
SJ Gold Disc of This Month
Import Discs
New Discs Release Information
SJ Gold Disc Preview: "Bolero Nights for Billie Holiday / Brian Lynch Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra"
SJ Gold Disc Preview: "Brazilian Passion / Amanda Brecker"
SJ Gold Disc Preview: "This One's for Dinah / China Moses"
Jazz Japanesque
Jazz Masterpieces Story - Fontana/Limelight
Atlantic & iTunes Store
Let's Dig The Re-Issued Discs
1968-1970 Miles Davis
What's up now! : Toshio Osumi / Carol Yamazaki
SJ Focus
Readers Plaza : Jazz Spot Pilgrimage Returns / Readers / Jazz Allnighters By Tatsuo Sunaga / Jazz West Coast
Swing Street : Yozo Iwanami / Music / Movie
Q&A
Live Report : Giovanni Mirabassi / quasimode / Terence Blanchard / Big Band Festival 2009 / Karel Boehlee Trio
Comin' Soon！
Live & Jazz Spot Guide
Jazz Sound & Visual
LCD Frontline - Challenging to its weakness, "white ghost trail"
SJ Components Selections
Hot 3 Brands for Upgrading Your Audio System
Audio-Technica "Art-Monitor" High-End Headphones A1000X/A2000X
Vienna Acoustics the Klimt Series
AET cables
Enjoying Jazz with Overseas Component - JBL Compact Monitor
New Component Test Report
Serial : Guide To Visual Equipment in HD-Image/HQ-Sound Era
Phono Cartridges Selection
A & AV Topics
Reader's Square / Audio Q&A / Market / etc.
Sound Quality Of New Discs

"DownBeat" - June 2009

Cover Story
Béla Fleck — The banjoist appears to be entering a new phase of his virtuosic career. His latest release, "Throw Down Your Heart," finds him collaborating with African musicians he encountered during a three-month journey through the continent, including kora master Toumani Diabaté. He’s also been busy collaborating with the Sparrow Quartet and a project with Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain. Sure, the Flecktones are still together, but Fleck’s focus appears to be set on a broader horizon these days.

FEATURES
Alex & Nels Cline — The drumming and guitar playing twins have pushed musical boundaries for decades. Today, they are as influential as ever. Alex’s recent release, "Continuation," received a 5-star DownBeat review. Nels’ solo album "Coward" offers a glimpse into a fertile musical mind, as does his Nels Cline Singers and his work with the rock band Wilco. We sat them down for a conversation, which offers an illuminating discussion into their music.

Marcus Roberts — The pianist’s gorgeous "New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1" is his first album in eight years. He claims to have eight albums’ worth of material ready for release, so after a number of years of occasional touring, this one time Young Lion appears to be emerging with the next act of his career.

Ken Vandermark — Tireless. If one word could sum up the Chicago multireedist, that would be it. But don’t forget innovative, progressive, musical and ambitious. Vandermark has an amazing ability to organize and motivate musicians, and at this point in his career, he’s one of the leading free-jazz musicians in the world.

SPECIAL SECTION: Student Music Awards
Complete list of all the winners, as well as stories on the top soloists, small ensembles, vocalists and engineers. Also includes the DB Education Achievement Awards.

SPECIAL SECTION: Indie Life
• Eric Mintel: Besides playing swinging music, the pianist has developed a increasingly more prominent jazz career through innovative touring and gig ideas.
• Part Time Jazz: From policemen in New York City to lawyers in Chicago, here are some gigging, recording jazz groups that use the music as a diversion from their day jobs.

PLAYERS
Gerald Clayton (piano)
Melissa Morgan (voice)
Mike Holober (piano)
Garrison Fewell (guitar)

BLINDFOLD TEST — Kenny Werner

THE BEAT
• Dave Douglas launches Brass Ecstasy record tour
• Cuban Tiempo Libre do Cuban jazz take on Bach
• Update on jazz societies
• Herbie Hancock, George Duke go on State Department visit to India
• European Scene; Backstage With ...
• Caught: Chick Corea & John McLaughlin; Charles Tolliver big band re-creates Thelonious Monk in Town Hall; Honor! series celebrates first night at Carnegie Hall

WOODSHED
• Jazz on Campus: Charles Mingus Summit at Manhattan School of Music
• Master class: Pianist David Budway
• Transcription: Bill Frisell’s guitar solo on “Strange Meeting”

REVIEWS
Hot Box
Wynton Marsalis, He And She (Blue Note)
Fareed Haque and the Flat Earth Ensemble, Flat Planet (Owl Studios)
Sean Jones, The Search Within (Mack Avenue)
John Scofield, Piety Street (EmArcy)

Reviews
Tony DeSare, Radio Show (Telarc)
Keith Jarrett, Yesterdays (ECM)
Refuge Trio, Refuge Trio (Winter & Winter)
Steve Lantner Quartet, Given—Live In Münster (hatOLOGY)
John Stetch, TV Trio (Brux) (Hale)
Nate Wooley/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Jason Roebke, Throw Down Your Hammer And Sing (Potter)
Brad Shepik, Human Activity Suite (Songlines)
Branford Marsalis, Metamorphosen (Marsalis Music)
White Rocket, White Rocket (Diatribe)
Amadou & Miriam, Welcome To Mali (Nonesuch)
Briggan Krauss’ H-Alpha, Red Sphere (Skirl)
Miles Okazaki, Generations (Sunnyside)
Ralph Alessi and Modular Theatre, Open Season (RKM)
Abdullah Ibrahim, Senzo (Sunnyside)
Townhouse Orchestra, Belle Ville (Clean Feed)
Diana Krall, Quiet Nights (Verve)
Lynne Arriale, Nuance: The Bennett Studio Sessions (Motéma)
Claudia Acuna, En Este Momento (Marsalis Music)
Jason Marsalis, Music Update (Jason Marsalis)
Seamus Blake Quartet, Live In Italy (Jazz Eyes)
Dee Alexander, Wild Is The Wind (Blujazz)
Ernestine Anderson, A Song For You (HighNote)
Martial Solal, Live At The Village Vanguard (Cam Jazz)
Steven Hashimoto’s Mothra, Tradewind (Chicago Sessions)
The City Champs, The Safecracker (Electraphonic)
Booker T, Potato Hole (Anti-)
Tiempo Libre, Bach In Havana (Sony Masterworks)
Fly, Sky & Country (ECM)
Marc Copland, Night Whispers (Pirouet)
Diego Barber, Calima (Sunnyside)
Latin Giants Of Jazz, ¡Ven Baila Conmigo! (Latin Giants Of Jazz)
Teddy Charles, Dances With Bulls (Smalls)
Brian Blade, Mama Rosa (Verve Forecast)
Eric Lindell, Gulf Coast Highway (Alligator)

Jazz
Omer Klein, Heart Beats (Smalls)
Steve Haines Quintet with Jimmy Cobb, Stickadiboom (Zoho)
Vinnie Cutro & New York Coty Soundscape, Sakura (Royal Music Ensembles)
Bop Tribal, Bop Tribal (Pacific Hawaiian)
Brenan Brothers, The Throw Down (Death Defying)
Nathan Eklund, Trip To The Casbah (Jazz Excursion)

Blues
Guy Davis, Sweetheart Like You (Red House)
Roxy Perry, In My Sweet Time (Blue Perry Hill)
Nicole Hart, Treasure (Blues Leaf)
Enrico Crivellaro, Enrico Crivellaro (Electro-Fi)
Little Richard, Live At The Toronto Peace Festival 1969 (Shout! Factory DVD)
Ramon Goose Band, Journey Into The Blues (Tekni)

Historical (2 columns)
Michel Petrucciani Box Set (Dreyfus)
Don Cherry/Nana Vasconcelos/Colin Walcott, The Codona Trilogy (ECM)
Steve Kuhn, Life’s Backward Glances (ECM)

Book
John Brackett, John Zorn: Tradition And Transgression (Indiana University Press)

Kristin Korb @ Commerce Casino tonight!

Kristin Korb live at Commerce Casino tonight!
With Llew Matthews (piano) & Steve Barnes (drums).
Her last hang before the gigs in the East Coast...

Commerce Casino-Stakes Restaurant
Tonight, May 30, 7-11pm
6131 Telegraph Road
Commerce, Cal. 90040

A home run

Dear Arnaldo:

Our records show that you live in California's 23rd district.
President Obama hit a home run with his nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court -- and not just because she's the "woman who saved baseball" by ending the strike in 1995, nor simply because she would be the first Latina ever to serve on the high court.

It was a home run because in her three-decade career as a prosecutor, judge, private litigator and law professor, she has time and again earned bipartisan praise as one of America's finest legal minds. And it was the right choice because Judge Sotomayor -- herself born and raised in a South Bronx housing project -- has summed up the American dream in her own incredible story and never once forgotten how the law affects our daily lives.

Now her historic nomination goes to the Senate. I know that process well, and I can tell you that the debate of the coming weeks and months will be shaped by the public response in the next few hours and days. It's critical that the Senate and the public clearly see where the American people stand.

Will you add your name to the growing list of Americans who are pledging to "Stand with Sotomayor" today? Your name and comments will become part of a public display of support at this crucial time.

I've followed Judge Sotomayor's remarkable journey for years. I voted for her when President George H.W. Bush nominated her for the District Court in 1992, and I was proud to vote for her again when President Bill Clinton nominated her for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998.

Born to a Puerto Rican family, Sotomayor grew up in a public housing project in the South Bronx. She was an avid reader from an early age, and was first inspired to pursue a legal career by the Nancy Drew mystery novels. Driven by her mother's belief in the power of education and her own relentless work ethic, she excelled in school. She won a scholarship to Princeton University, graduated summa cum laude, and then went on to attend Yale Law School where she served as an editor of the prestigious Yale Law Journal.

Like President Obama, Sotomayor passed up many more lucrative opportunities after law school to put her degree to work for the public good. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York, tackling some of the hardest cases facing the city, including robberies, assaults, murders, police brutality, and child pornography. Her growing reputation for fearlessness and legal brilliance prompted her first nomination to the federal bench, and she's only continued to soar.

If confirmed, she would start with more federal judicial experience than any Justice in a century, more overall judicial experience than any Justice in 70 years, and replace David Souter as the only Justice with firsthand experience as a trial judge. She has participated in over 3,000 panel decisions and authored roughly 400 opinions, expertly handling difficult issues of constitutional law, complicated procedural matters, and lawsuits involving complex business organizations.

In her years on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has earned acclaim from legal scholars and experts from both sides of the aisle for her intellectual toughness, her probing oral questioning, and her ability to issue decisions that hold both factual details and legal doctrines in equal measure. And she's never failed to apply a steady, common-sense analysis of how the law touches our daily lives.

Her story is incredible. Her qualifications are undeniable. And her judgment will serve us all well on the highest court in the land.

Please join me in becoming a part of this historic moment for the Court and our country. Add your name now to publicly show that you, too, "Stand with Sotomayor." In these crucial early hours, let us leave no doubt about the people's support for this extraordinary nominee.

http://my.barackobama.com/sotomayorstand

Thank you,

Vice President Joe Biden