Amanda Carr in the Wall Street Journal today!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703481004574646374181099200.html
AMANDA CARR IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL...
Article Headline
READ about one of the top vocalists in the current jazz scene, Amanda Carr - who placed # 2 as Best Female Jazz Singer in the 2009 Jazz Station Poll - in today's edition of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Renowned jazz historian Nat Hentoff writes about Amanda's latest CD "Common Thread" (voted one of the Top 10 Vocal Jazz Albums of the Year in the 31st Annual Jazz Station Poll) and the newly founded non-profit "American Big Band Preservation Society" click here

VISIT www.AmericanBigBand.org to learn more about how you can be involved in this mission to preserve this great music!!

Get tickets NOW for an encore performance of "Amanda Carr and the Kenny Hadley Big Band" at SCULLERS JAZZ CLUB, Boston.
Wednesday, MAY 5th

ONE SHOW ONLY @ 8 PM

TICKETS $22 with dinner packages available
Call 617-562-4111 or visit www.ScullersJazz.com

"COMMON THREAD" IS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON, ITUNES, BARNES & NOBLE , CDBABY... AND EVERYWHERE MUSIC IS SOLD.

Valentine's Day EP from Jamie Cullum

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Jamie Cullum has released his new EP, "Love Ain't Gonna Let You Down," featuring songs from his forthcoming Verve album, "The Pursuit." The EP is available now at iTunes.

Also available from "The Pursuit" at iTunes are the singles "Wheels" (iTunes) and "Don't Stop The Music" (iTunes).Jamie, who sat in last year with the CTI All Stars band at the Montreux Jazz Festival (he is pictured above with Hubert Laws and Mark Egan during the CTI concert) and has been dubbed "a one man British invasion" (Hollywood Reporter), has announced a series of U.S. tour dates in March to coincide with the U.S. release of "The Pursuit". After his string of U.S shows, he will travel to Japan in April and Europe in May & June. Visit jamiecullum.com for the list of dates.

Like the exploding piano on its cover, the long-awaited new album "The Pursuit" blows away audience preconceptions with 14 smoldering tracks that seamlessly run the gamut from swinging standards and yearning singer-songwriter confessionals to 125 BPM house dance tracks and resurrected Broadway ballads. Pre-order "The Pursuit," which will be released in the U.S.on March 2, 2010, from Amazon.

Imelda May: Did you catch her sizzling performance with Jeff Beck at the Grammys?

If you witnessed the entrancing performance by singer Imelda May singing a la Mary Ford when accompanying Jeff Beck on "How High The Moon" for the Les Paul tribute on Sunday's Grammy Awards broadcast, then you will surely want to see the rising Irish star live on her upcoming U.S. tour.

After opening for Eric Clapton/Jeff Beck at London's O2 in February, Imelda May will return to the States and join Jamie Cullum for U.S dates. Visit imeldamay.com for the complete list of dates. Also be sure to watch the interview of Imelda May backstage at the Grammys at AOL.

Super Bowl Pre Party @ Mekka, Feb 5

EXCLUSIVE FRIDAYS 1 TIME EVENT @ THE NEW & AMAZING MEKKA!
February 5, after 11pm, till Feb 6, 6am...
950 NE 2ND AVE DOWNTOWN MIAMI

EXCLUSIVE FRIDAYS FROM ROCKIN MIAMI ENT AND SCENE FRIDAYS GET TOGETHER TO PRESENT THE BIGGEST SUPERBOWL PRE PARTY AT THE NEW MEGA NIGHT CLUB "MEKKA!"

IT WILL BE A VERY UPSCALE EVENT. STRICLY 21+ FOR GENTLEMEN AND 18+ FOR LADIES. DOOR STAFF WILL BE VERY SELECTIVE WITH GUESTS, SO DRESS TO IMPRESS.
THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE SET OF DJS - LIVE DRUMS PERFORMANCE - BEAUTIFUL DANCERS - AND A BUNCH OF SURPRISES AND GIVEAWAYS!

LIKE ALWAYS I LIKE TO OFFER YOU THE BEST DRINK SPECIALS OUT THERE SO WE HAVE BOTTLE SPECIALS AS LOW AS $125! GOOSE AND PATRON FOR $200!

GENTLEMEN FREE BEFORE 12 AND LADIES BEFORE 12:30

HOPE TO SEE EVERYBODY THERE, FOR MORE INFO/RESERVATIONS, CONTACT
FABIO @ 786.523.9455. AND MANY THANKS TO MY FRIEND ANAIS CABEZAS VILASECO FOR THE INVITATION.

Single of the Day - "Erotica 5"

Single of the Day (12" picture disc)
"Erotica 5" (Erotica) 2010

Release Date in the UK: February 8, 2010
Side A "On The Dancefloor" (extended new version)
Side B "I Wanna Go Crazy" (extended original mix)
To order:
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/Erotica-5/381946-01/

Win "Unsound Fest NY" tix!

Other Music got another round of tickets to give away to upcoming Unsound Festival New York events, these three shows being hosted by the Bunker. To enter, just send an email to tickets@othermusic.com, and put the date you'd like to register for in the subject line.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5: tobias. Marcin Czubala Jacek Sienkiewicz Legowelt Kadebostan Newworldaquarium Luke Hess Patrick Russell _Derek Plaslaiko Spinoza

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12: Anthony "Shake" Shakir Mike Huckaby Barbara Preisinger Petre Inspirescu DJ Qu Eric Cloutier

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13: 2562 Untold _TRG Dave Q Pole FaltyDL Pavel Ambiont Konque Sepalcure

PUBLIC ASSEMBLY: 70 North 6th Street Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Vinyl of the Day - "Deodato: Also Sprach Zarathustra"

Vinyl of the Day
Deodato: "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (CTI/Proto) 1983

A compilation released in the UK by the London-based label Proto Record Company, including eight tracks culled from Eumir Deodato's two studio albums for CTI.
Original sessions produced by Creed Taylor & engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Featuring: John Tropea, Jay Berliner, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, John Giulino, Billy Cobham, Rick Marotta, Ray Barretto, Airto Moreira, Gilmore Degap, Rubens Bassini, Marvin Stamm, Hubert Laws, Bill Watrous et al.

Cynthia Layne live @ The Jazz Kitchen, Feb 6

Cynthia Layne LIVE!
February 6, 2010
The Jazz Kitchen - Indianapolis, IN
54th and College
8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets
Cost: $10
www.thejazzkitchen.com

http://www.myspace.com/cynthialayne
Don't miss your chance to see this vocalist in a live performance!

"The gifted vocalist deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Anita Baker and Patti LaBelle." – Joe Montague, RivetingRiffs.com

Obama: "Your thoughts on 2010"

"Dear Arnaldo:

According to our records, you currently live in California's 30th Congressional district.

Want to know what Organizing for America supporters like you think we should do in 2010?Watch a short video I recorded detailing the results of our "What's Next in 2010" survey.

In 2009, you channeled the energy from the Presidential campaign -- building local organizations in all 50 states -- to help bring about the change President Obama's election victory gave us the opportunity to seek. Now, you've given us some great guidance that will help set OFA's course in 2010. Tens of thousands of you returned surveys -- providing us ideas, feedback, and a clear sense of your commitment to help the President.

Watch today: http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/55c10692/6bac30d3/fa632359/11886c76/462456605/VEsF/

Thanks,
David Plouffe"

P.S. :This Thursday, at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time, OFA will host "A Conversation with the President" -- a strategy update and Q&A broadcast live on BarackObama.com.
Click here to RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/55c10692/6bac30d3/fa632359/11886c71/462456605/VEsC/

"JazzThetik" - February 2010

Gold CD of the Month - "Deodato: Prelude"

Gold CD of the Month
Deodato: "Prelude" (CTI)

Produced by Creed Taylor, engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Featuring: Eumir Deodato, John Tropea, Jay Berliner, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Ray Barretto, Airto Moreira, Marvin Stamm, Hubert Laws, Bill Watrous et al.
Cover Photo by Pete Turner
Album Desigb by Bob Ciano

LD of the Month - "Chroma: Music on the Edge"

LaserDisc of the Month
Chroma: "Music on the Edge" (CTI/Pioneer) 1991

Produced by Creed Taylor
Featuring: Jim Beard, Bob Berg, Randy Brecker, Mark Egan, Dennis Chambers, Mike Stern, Jon Herington, Mark Ledford, Mino Cinelu
"Music on the Edge," by the all-star fusion group Chroma (originally called CTI Superband during the Japanese tour), was filmed and recorded live in concert in Tokyo's Gotanda U-Port Kan-Hoken Hall on October 25 & 26, 1990, and filmed with 4 Panafloex Gold 35mm cameras. The audio signals were recorded by location recording engineer Phil Magnotti on a Mitsubishi X-880 32-track digital machine. The source master used for the program was the Sony D-1 format, a digital audio & video signal source. This LaserDisc was mastered at the sampling rate of 44.1 khz, which conforms to the CD sampling rate and is encoded with CLV.
Film directed & edited by Gary Sharfin.
Director of photography: Peter Wiehl
Co-producer: Steve Sterling
Production and set designer: Susan Bolles
Concert producer: Toshinari Koinuma
Tour coordination: Kentarou Ogawa
Production manager: Satoshi Takahashi
Stage director: Atsumi Yajima
Mixing engineer: Paul Wickliffe

DVD of the Month - "Marianne Faithfull: Live in Hollywood"

DVD of the Month
Marianne Faithfull: "Live in Hollywood" (Eagle/ST2) 2010

This concert was recorded in Hollywood in Spring 2005, with a band led by former John McLaughlin's bassist, Fernando Saunders, with trumpeter Lew Soloff (Blood Sweat & Tears, Gil Evans Orchestra, and currently with the Manhattan Jazz Quintet) as special guest soloist. Daniel Mintseries (keyboards), Courtney Williams (drums) & Barry Reynolds (guitar) complete the excellent back-up group. It features tracks from her 2004 album, "Before the Poison," along with other hits such as "As Tears Goes by," "Falling from Grace," "Sister Morphine" and "Broken English." The DVD also includes a 30-minute interview with Marianne and an original video ("There Is A Ghost"). The bonus CD includes the audio of the entire concert.

In the heady days of swinging London, Marianne Faithfull was a waifish mod singing orchestral pop versions of Rolling Stones songs. In the late 1970s, she reemerged as a shockingly blunt post-punk feminist armed with track marks and obscenity-laced confessionals. More recently, Faithfull has transformed herself into a whiskey-voiced cabaret singer feted by alt-rock acolytes like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and PJ Harvey.

This program captures every facet of the chameleonic chanteuse with a concert recorded at Hollywood's Henry Fonda Theater in spring of 2005, performing a selection of songs from her 2004 album "Before the Poison" as well as older classics like "Broken English," "Ballad of Lucy Jordan," and the absolutely scathing "Why D'ya Do It."

Songs:
1. Trouble in Mind
2. Falling From Grace
3. Mystery Of Love
4. Ballad Of Lucy Jordan
5. She
6. No Child Of Mine
7. Last Song
8. Kissin' Time
9. Times Square
10. Working Class Hero
11. Incarceration Of A Flower Child
12. Strange Weather
13. Guilt
14. As Tears Go By
15. Sister Morphine
16. Crazy Love
17. Broken English
18. Why D'ya Do It

Total Time: 145Min (DVD), 50 Min (CD)
DVD 9/NTSC
16:9 Widescreen, extras 4:3 Full Screen
DTS Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0

SACD of the Month - "Jim Beard: Revolutions"

SACD of the Month
Jim Beard: "Revolutions" (Intuition) 2009

Almost two decades after his debut solo album, "Song of the Sun," for Creed Taylor's CTI label, composer wiz and pianist/keyboardist Jim Beard delivers another masterpiece: "Revolutions," recorded "live in the studio" in The Netherlands with Vince Mendoza conducting the fantastic Metropole Orchestra. And it's available as an Hybrid Stereo + Surround Super Audio CD, playable on all CD and SACD players.

The 10 tracks were selected from Beard's first four solo albums. And four of them from the groundbreaking "Song of the Sun": "Diana," "Holodeck Waltz," "Parsley Trees" and "Crossing Toll Bridge." Mendoza did most of the orchestrations, but Matt Harris, Gordon Goodwin and Beard himself also contributed with impressive charts.

Curiously, this time Jim - known by many as "the Joe Zawinul of the 21st century" - focused on the acoustic piano, using Rhodes and electronic keyboards only in a couple of songs. "Revolutions" also feature such great players as Bob Malach, Jon Herington, Ruud Breuls, Paul van der Feen, Bill Evans, Bart van Lier, Leo Jansen, Marcel Serierse, Aram Kersbergen, Frans van Geest, Martijn Vink and Peter Tiehuis.

The top-class cover design, in digipack format, is signed by my dear friend Knut Schötteldreier, who gave me the honor to collaborate with me in several projects I compiled and produced for the Verve label in recent years. A fascinating packaging for a fascinating album.

As guitarist Jon Herington (who played in most of Beard's projects, including "Song of the Sun" and "Chroma") points out on his liner notes: "Jim has accumulated a good list of quiet accolades from reputable reviewers, but my sense is that he has yet to be discovered to the degree that his talent both warrants and will certainly support. His work belongs in the 'required listening' category." In other words: Jim is an underrated genius. Period.

Reissue of the Month - "Azar Lawrence: Summer Solstice"

CD Reissue of the Month
Azar Lawrence: "Summer Solstice" (Prestige) 2009
Release Date in Japan: November 18, 2009

I got my first vinyl copy of "Summer Solstice," arguably Azar Lawrence's best solo album ever, thanks to one of the most underrated Brazilian musicians of all-time: the great guitarist and brilliant composer Amaury Tristão, who took part on albums by people like Ron Carter, Charlie Rouse, Dom Um Romão and mostly Herbie Mann, being a member of the group led by the prominent jazz flutist in the 70s, when Tristão lived in NY. Not to mention that he also recorded a never released album as a leader produced by Norman Schwartz for RCA's Gryphon label.

Amaury Tristão is a key figure on the successful "Summer Solstice," a Brazilian-oriented free-fusion project produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro's dear friend and mentor Orrin Keepnews on April 29 & May 1st, 1975, for the Prestige label, and now reissued in Japan by Nippon Universal as part of the "Prestige Sixtieth Anniversary" series (this album never came out on CD here in the USA).

On two Tristão's extended compositions, "Novo Ano" and "Highway" (also covered by Dom Um on his "Spirit of the Times" LP for Muse), Lawrence is heard on soprano & tenor saxes, propelled by a burning and all-acoustic rhythm section consisting of Amaury Tristão on guitar, Dom Salvador on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Guilherme Franco on drums & percussion, Gerald Hayes on flute and the one & only Raul de Souza on trombone.

The three other selections feature once again Raul de Souza and Ron Carter, but with the late Albert Dailey (the pianist on Stan Getz/João Gilberto's "The Best of Two Worlds") and Gerry Mulligan's drummer Billy Hart, with additional percussion by Guilherme Franco and wood flute by Lawrence himself on "From the Point of Light," on which Raul doesn't play.

There's a perfect balance between Brazilian, fusion and free-jazz elements throughout the album. Something very rare to be achieved and that, therefore, deserves to be admired.

SHM-CD of the Month: "CTI + RVG Audiophile Sampler"

SHM-CD of the Month
"CTI + RVG Audiophile Series Sampler" (CTI)

Featuring: Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Evans, Eumir Deodato, Astrud Gilberto, Airto Moreira et al.

For the very first time, 20 CTI titles from the 70s are being released on SHM-CD format (some of the albums from the 60s, from the A&M/CTI era, had appeared before, such as Wes Montgomery's best-selling "A Day In the Life").
AND, also for the first time ever, such albums were digitally remastered, in 2009, by the man who recorded most of them during the CTI heyday in the early 70s, the wiz Rudy Van Gelder, under the direct supervision of another legendary jazz master, producer Creed Taylor!
The booklets preserve the original LP artworks, done mostly by the unmatched team of Pete Turner (front cover photos) and Bob Ciano or Tony Lane (album designers), with liner notes written by Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Ira Gitler, Leonard Feather, Toshio Handa, Shoich Yui and Masa Asanishi.

All previous CTI CDs released in Japan in the past 25 years had been remastered at King Studios by such engineers as Seiji Kaneko and Kuniaki Takahashi, sometimes under Arnaldo DeSouteiro's supervision; and all the CTI CDs released in the USA and Europe by Sony had been remastered by experts like Tim Geelan and Mark Wilder, with whom DeSouteiro worked respectively in the first domestic releases of such titles as Deodato's "In Concert - Live at Felt Forum" and Jobim's "Stone Flower."

SHM-CD means "Super High Material CD" and involves a new technology of manufacturing. This high quality SHM-CD format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing, SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players.

CTI RVG アルティメット・リマスタリング・シリーズ
2009.11.26 発売

天才プロデューサー“クリード・テイラー（CTI）”自らがプロデュースにあたり、ジャズ録音の神様“ルディ・ヴァン・ゲルダー（RVG）”が精魂込めリマスタリング！プラスSHM-CD仕様の高品質!
CTI+RVG アルティメット・リマスタリング・シリーズ 希代のプロデューサー、クリード・テイラーとジャズ・サウンドの代名詞、ルディ・ヴァン・ゲルダーによる21世紀最新リマスター盤!!
税込￥2,800

Vocal CD of the Month - "Havana Carbo: Phantoms of Love"

Vocal CD of the Month
Havana Carbo: "Phantoms of Love" (MODL Music) 2010

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Featuring: Dario Eskenazi, Oriente Lopez, Vince Cherico, Oscar Feldman, Sean Smith, Leo Traversa, Pablo Aslan, John Pezanelli, Helio Alves, Nilson Matta, Lino Fernandez, Gabriel Machado.
Highlights: "Tarde Triste," "Poinciana," "Canto Triste," "Tres Palabras," "Retrato em Branco e Preto," "Que Reste-t-il de nos Amours," "La Valse des Lilas," "Maybe September," "The Shining Sea."
Available from http://www.amazon.com/PHANTOMS-LOVE-Havana-Carbo/dp/B0035QIKAI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1265139124&sr=8-6

Actually, the whole album is a highlight. Our latin-tinged Helen Merrill, Gladys "Havana" Carbo delivers another love letter in form of a CD. Her warm and seductive voice, gifted with exceptional phrasing and impeccable enunciation, fits perfectly with the sumptuous repertoire.
The unexpected opener, Maysa's "Tarde Triste," would be enough to make it one of the top CDs of the year. But the emotions don't stop there. Havana's renditions of Percy Faith's "Maybe September" (the best one since Tony Bennett's take on his masterpiece album from 1965, "The Movie Song Album"), Michel Legrand's "La Valse des Lilas" (aka "Once Upon A Summertime", Legrand's first song, dating 1954), Johnny Mandel/Peggy Lee's "The Shining Sea," Nat Simon/Buddy Bernier's "Poinciana" made a hit by Ahmad Jamal, and Osvaldo Farrés' bolero anthem "Tres Palabras" are beyond words.
Besides "Tarde Triste," her affinity for Brazilian music is showcased through magnificent interpretations of Edu Lobo/Vinicius de Moraes' "Canto Triste" (a song included in the first album I ever produced, the debut LP of Yana Purim for RCA in 1980) and Antonio Carlos Jobim/Chico Buarque's "Retrato Em Branco e Preto," all sung in Portuguese. Not to mention Havana's French adventure on Charles Trenet's standard "Que Reste-t-il de Nos Amours," one of João Gilberto's personal favorite songs, having been recorded by the Bossa Nova Pope on his "João" album orchestrated by Clare Fischer in 1991. Essential.
(Havana Carbo during the recording sessions for "Phantoms of Love")
The artist talks about her creative process and the making of this new CD:

‘Phantoms of Love’ …from dream to reality.
In an earlier poem I wrote about “ a land where love and beauty reign.” Beauty…that rare pearl of incalculable value, cherished all the more as values change! Instinct draws me to well-crafted, beautiful music and compelling stories. Rummaging through scores, recordings, films, and remembered conversations, childhood songs, saved photographs, I search for treasure.

That’s my process for selecting songs, and was my process in creating ‘Phantoms of Love.’ I picked these tunes from among hundreds. Forever intrigued by the obscure gem and bypassing the usual menu, beauty trumps all. Financial gain is never a motivating factor, and as an independent artist/producer I’m free to let artistic integrity guide me. I’m answerable only to my conscience and my heart. Not an easy or practical choice but one I can live with.

I suppose I should explain how my mind worked for this album. I don't do ‘up-tunes’ any more…for the sake of doing up-tunes to balance the album. ‘Happy’ music for no particular reason doesn't appeal to me...unless the song meets my criteria which includes beauty, construction and content. This particular collection is more than a bunch of pretty songs... they tell a story, are woven from a fine, sometimes fragile thread and speak of vulnerability, loss, haunting memories of love, and all are personal intimate moments. They are part of a complex process which starts with my interminable and ever growing list of songs I absolutely love. After
months of editing out titles I found myself with a group of songs united by some common thread, often not immediately apparent. I followed my gut however, and began to recognize which ones worked and why. As I narrowed them down to the final dozen or so, I then began searching for a hidden reason or message that linked them all together, often concurrent with, and influenced by the state of my heart and my mind at the moment, or by the pain or joy of my soul. I let the music speak to me. Sounds nutty? Perhaps, but to me it's the only thing that makes sense. Commercial success is never a priority though the economic aspect surfaces like Hamlet's ghost as I confront the reality of my life, yet it never alters my vision or my artistic integrity. If anything it reinforces what I believe to be right.

In this collection, Poinciana and Que Reste-t-il de Nos Amours can be considered my concession to an uptune, but that's not why they were selected. It just worked out that way.
As for Epilogue, that's something I wrote in the 80's for piano to act as underscoring for ‘Llanto de Luna.’
You'll notice that in no way is it meant to assuage or musically smooth out the tragic lyric or to make it easy for the singer - quite the opposite, it's meant to be in conflict and highlight the sadness and despair in the lyric. Comfortable harmonies are for resolutions and happy endings. I included it as my epilogue as well, both a farewell and a recapping of all the stories that came before. A theatrical conceit.

I’m fortunate and thrilled to work with such remarkable multi-talented musicians in an ambience of fun and friendship. I have the deepest appreciation for Dario Eskenazi’s legendary artistry, sensibility and highly developed sense of beauty, his myriad arrangements and the production of many songs (see credits) selfless dedication and an uncanny ability to make me laugh; for Oriente Lopez’s musicality, originality, versatility and music-direction of his arrangements; Vince Cherico’s rare sensibility, dependability, wisdom and long, helpful conversations, Leo’s sensual heartbeat bass, Sean’s solid dependable round tone, and the entire ‘Band of Angels’ for their brilliance, high level of professionalism and flexibility. I’m indebted to my sons Michael
and Robert for long hours, patience and exceptional photography/ artwork; I am blown away by the generosity of spirit and kind words of extraordinary composer Gabriel Yared (Possesso).
I cherish the love and support of my other children Aline and Ethan, my brother Nick, and loyal friends.

Serendipity played a role when funds from a soon to become ex-employer appeared - the genie came out to make this project possible. (2nd CD on my label MODL, 5th CD to date).
Having recently survived cancer, I live fearlessly and thankfully in every minute, every song and every act of kindness.
We are born, we die and everything in-between is a gift. Nourished then by music, laughter, love and beauty
I’m living that rare and beautiful gift.
- Havana Carbo, NY
*******
Press Release:

US raised, Cuban-American singer/composer HAVANA CARBO, nee Gladys Lourdes Margarita Carbo Ramiro Garcia y de la Torre, received her MFA in Music Theatre composition from TSOA/M/T at NYU ('93) and is a Yip Harburg Fellow. Formerly recorded on Soul Note, later CAP. Carbo now records on MODLmusic, her own label since 1985.

At 3 she took to the piano and at 8 began formal lessons in Havana, where she was raised in an environment that celebrated music but viewed "nightclub" performing as inappropriate for a young lady. Jazz established residence in her soul during her NY high school years, but parental scrutiny prevailed, and a brief marriage to a Cuban Economics major she met while at Villanova University in pre-Castro Havana dealt the final blow to her musical pursuits.

Twenty odd years, a revolution, three marriages, several moves and four fabulous children later, with life's experiences as bonus, she created "Havana Midnight", a successful latin/jazz group in the Berkshires devoted to her arrangements of Latin American classics from her past. A self-produced EP (Another Summer) led to a Soul Note contract, "Street Cries" (1991) with Gene Bertoncini, Michael Moore, Marvin Stamm and John Sauer. Acceptance at NYU's prestigious Music Theatre Masters program allowed her two wonderful creative years followed by an unsolicited divorce that coincided with her Masters degree. The divorce turned out to be an invaluable gift and the defining moment that prompted her permanent move to New York City to pursue her passion.

Her introduction to American popular song and jazz came via Chet Baker, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hartman, Frank Sinatra, June Christy, Mel Torme, and later Shirley Horn, Maysa, Elis Regina, Joao Gilberto, Edu Lobo, Ivan Lins and Antonio Carlos "Tom" Jobim. Fascinated by the directness of Brazilian lyrics, incomparable melodies and harmonies, Carbo taught herself Portuguese to better understand the culture, and to do justice to the song. Over a decade ago, as luck would have it, while searching for lyrics to a song she heard sung by Gilberto called, "Retrato em Branco e Preto," she was put in contact with its composer, the legendary Jobim, who gave generously of his time on the telephone by clarifying, translating, and answering her questions.

Carbo believes that greatness inspires acts of great generosity, most recently displayed by the Oscar winning composer Gabriel Yared, when, as his huge fan she sent him a simple note thanking him for his extraordinary music. That act eventually led to Yared granting her artistic freedom to record her interpretation of his aria Possesso from his score for the film "Possession". Her core "Band of Angels" consists of Dario Eskenazi, Vince Cherico. Oriente Lopez, Sean Smith and Leo Traversa. Carbo has also performed /recorded with Cliff Korman, Cafe, Helio Alves, Edsel Gomez, Aaron Goldberg, John Di Martino, Nilson Matta, El Negro Hernandez, Arturo O'Farrill and the Chico O'Farrill Band, John Benitez, Diego Urcola, Mark Walker, Alain Mallet, Oscar Feldman, Oscar Stagnaro, and the late greats Jimmy Giuffre, Edson Machado and Mercedes Rossy.

You can order a "Havana Carbo", an exotic rum based drink created in her honor, at the Redbones Blues Cafe, an upscale Supper Club, in Kingston Jamaica. Previous recordings, have garnered glowing reviews from as far as Braga, Portugal to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Arnaldo Desouteiro wrote (on the Rio daily Tribuna da Imprensa) that Carbo possesses a "...singularly warm timbre...extraordinary phrasing and stirring expressiveness... and "is destined to develop a cult-following" calling Luna de Varadero "SUBLIME...a perfect CD". As a result DeSouteiro selected Carbo Best Female Jazz Vocalist of the Year for 2004 and 2007 on his annual Jazz Station Poll.

In addition to composing discrete songs other compositions include a one-act Music Theatre piece, another in progress, and other compositions include "Arco Iris" a chamber piece in 5 colors for guitar, soprano saxophone and piano premiered at Simon's Rock, and the Stockbridge Requiem, a latin/jazz/classical setting of the liturgy for the Requiem Mass for organ, full chorus and jazz quintet. Carbo has performed in venues here and abroad, from Birdland to Jazz Festivals in the Caribbean, small Paris boites, concert halls such as Aaron Davis Hall, Gillespie Auditorium, the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, Berkshire Museum and SOKA University California.

Her ever evolving and often entertaining adventures coupled with a typically Cuban ability to find humor in tragedy has given her a deeper insight and greater determination, most recently as a cancer survivor. Every moment informs her music, including her diverse work experiences and the irony and contradictions of her various roles in the worlds she inhabits. Carbo turns lemons into 'mojitos' and deals as it comes, allowing life to enrich her understanding of other cultures, languages, stories and songs.

Havana continues to write poetry, music, and working on "LIVING BY EAR", a One-Woman Show based on her adventurous life. She found her home in a community of extraordinary musicians with whom she is proud to work. Nourished by love of music, family and friends she lives in constant awe of the gift that is music and the responsibilitythat comes with the gift, striving to keep her dream alive and uncompromised.
**********
Best Female Jazz Vocalist of 2007 "Through A window...Like a Dream," Best Female Jazz Singer and Top Vocal CD of 2007 - Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Tribuna da Imprensa and Jazz Station Poll, Dec.2007

" Carbo is among the world's great singers...master storyteller... impeccable phrasing, a voice to remember." Sun-Sentinel

"...Carbo infuses traditional Latin ballads with new musical meanings..." DownBeat

"Elegant, unhurried, utterly classy...very rich and rewarding album." - New World Music

"...top notch, pure music...unaffected by fashion or fad. A winner. Midwestrecord.com

"...rare vocalist... with a rare degree of taste...thoroughly delightful CD" Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

"...achingly beautiful." Nate Guidry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"..." Carbo can evoke the atmosphere of a smoky back alley bar as easily as that of a sophisticated club on the Lido. A master of musical understatement and subtlety, she becomes one with the impeccable musicianship of the ensemble of prominent musicians with whom she performs." Richard Peaslee, 2007

" Like Dietrich, Carbo's endowed with a remarkable ability to simultaneously sound dreamily passionate and drowning in ennui." Jazz Times

"Sublime singer... #1 Female Jazz Vocalist of 2004 " A. DeSouteiro, Tribuna da Imprensa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"...Carbo smolders...Jazzweekly.com

"Carbo's voice has a rich timbre combined with a directness and a remarkable feeling of intimacy and restrained passion". Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

Terrific, an effortless sounding voice...warm as heated cognac, magic...
"Bronwyn Mills, The Valley Advocate, Mass.

"Havana stepped up to the microphone and the magic began... Sunday Observer, Jamaica W.I.

"...her velvet voice parades throughout your body...her music subtly reminds her listener that she has lived in every lyric and every note... writes bone shattering poetry." Joanna Rudnick, the Artful Mind

" A deep, powerful voice...in the Gilberto tradition she creates a kind of a hush around her lyrics..."
Michael Ullman, High fidelity Magazine
*******
Discography
1985 Another Summer EP- (MODL)
1991 Street Cries (Soul Note)
1997 So I'll Dream You Again (CAP)
2004 Luna de Varadero (CAP)
2007 Through a Window...Like a Dream (MODLmusic)
2010 Phantoms of Love (MODLmusic)

Photos by Michael Lavin Flower

Instrumental CD of the Month - "Mel Martin: Where The Warm Winds Blow"

Instrumental CD of the Month
Mel Martin: "Where The Warm Winds Blow" (JazzedMedia) 2010

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Produced & Annotated by Mel Martin
Engineered by Don Feiszli & Nikki Ben-Natan

Featuring: Mel Martin (soprano & tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute & alto flute), Don Friedman (piano & Fender Rhodes), Robb Fisher (bass), Jeff Marrs (drums), John Santos (congas & percussion), and Bard Buethe & Barry Finnerty (guitars).
All tracks recorded @ Bay Records Studio (Berkeley, CA), except Miles Davis/Bill Evans' evergreen "Blue in Green" cut live @ Jazz at Pearl's (San Francisco, CA)

A massive set by the multi-talented reedman Mel Martin.
Besides great originals written by the leader, the album also includes excellent performances of tunes by George Russell ("Ezz-Thetic"), Herbie Hancock ("I Have A Dream," also recently covered by Pablo Held), Victor Young ("Weaver of Dreams"), Stephen Mellilo ("In the Stars") and Martin's idol, Benny Carter (the title track "Where The Warm Winds Blow").

The opening tune, "Rhythm Man," is a killer, featuring Martin on tenor sax, Don Friedman on Fender Rhodes, and John Santos on multiple percussion instruments. Martin plays "Ezz-Thetic" on flute ("George Russell is a dean of American jazz composers as is the great Benny Carter with whom Russell got his start," Mel writes in the liner notes), but leads the sultry "In the Stars" on the soprano sax, overdubbing a bass clarinet and other reeds to great orchestral effect, also with Martin himself adding some subtle synthesized-string lines, mixed in a very low level. "Silly Hawk Walk," with tenor and Rhodes, has a delightful funky groove, reminding me of Stanley Turrentine's CTI days. A (good) impression reinforced by the Benson-esque guitar solo of Brad Buethe.

Then comes the wonderful title track, written by Martin's mentor Benny Carter, showcasing the gorgeous warm tone achieved by Mel on alto flute. It's followed by Hancock's "I Have A Dream." Martin starts on bass clarinet, also uses flutes, but plays the melody and his solo on tenor, with Brad this time evoking another guitar hero, Wes Montgomery, by employing those trademark octaves. "I had transcribed many of Herbie Hancock's composition for publication and had always wanted to do 'I Have A Dream' with his original horn arrangement adapted for woodwinds," Mel reveals. "At all times during this recording, I wanted to capture what I believe to be the overriding quality of great wind playing...warmth, both in soloing and ensemble."

"Blue in Green," the Miles Davis/Bill Evans gem, was cut live at the now defunct jazz venue, Jazz at Pearl's, featuring Martin's soprano and the electric guitar of fusion master Barry Finnerty, whom I first met in LA in the 70s when he was connected to people like Hugo Fattoruso (of OPA fame) and Raul de Souza. The excellent drummer Jeff Marrs uses mallets effectively, and I would like to suggest Martin to release the entire gig in a near future. In the meantime, "Where The Warm Winds Blow" - which concludes with Mel's "To Catey with Love" (a piece in 6/8 dedicated to his wife and played on soprano) and the standard "Weaver of Dreams" (tenor), the only straight-ahead quartet number on the program, with Don on acoustic piano and Robb Fisher (a veteran of Cal Tjader's band) on acoustic bass - is full of marvelous moments that guarantee the pleasure of any jazz fans. A must-have item.

"Backstage" - February 2010

"Backstage" magazine - February 2010
Includes, on the "Play-Rec" column on page 22, reviews written by Alexandre Coelho about two CDs produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro: "Bim Bom - The Complete João Gilberto Songbook" and "Audiosapiens." A transcription follows:

"Bim Bom - The Complete João Gilberto Songbook" / Ithamara Koorax & Juarez Moreira
"Bim Bom" é uma reunião de talentos tão raros que só poderia resultar em um álbum excepcional. O repertório explora (e foge ao óbvio) a obra de ninguém menos que João Gilberto, um dos maiores compositores e intérpretes do mundo. O violão de Juarez Moreira presta tributo a um dos mentores da bossa nova sem deixar de lado sua própria identidade. A voz de Ithamara Koorax, inteiramente à vontade ao passear pelo gênero, justifica porque é uma das mais celebradas pelos amantes do jazz mundo afora: trata-se de um registro completo. É técnica, límpida, extremamente afinada, com emissão impecável e muita sensibilidade a cada interpretação. De quebra, a produção fica a cargo do experiente Arnaldo DeSouteiro que, sem firulas, extrai o melhor de cada nota.

"AudioSapiens"
Em seu homônimo álbum de estréia, o Audio Sapiens busca no pop-rock dos anos 80 a fonte de inspiração para as 10 faixas que compõem o trabalho. As letras em espanhol tornam inevitáveis as comparações com as bandas "hermanas" daquela década e com uma faceta mais romântica dos Paralamas do Sucesso, trupe brasileira que mais se aproximou da produção musical latina de antanho. "Te acuerdas?" é uma bela canção apoiada em uma levada de violão com texturas de teclados e pontuada por um violoncelo. Em "Todo oídos" as guitarras até arriscam uma distorção, mas a estrutura da composição não foge à base pop-rock que orienta todo o trabalho. O divertido shuffle "Ombligo del mundo", uma das melhores faixas do disco, brinca com o jazz e usa até um inusitado vibrafone.

"JazzTimes" - February 2010

http://jazztimes.com/articles/25480-bim-bom-the-complete-jo-o-gilberto-songbook-ithamara-koorax-juarez-moreira

February 2010, Page 74
Ithamara Koorax & Juarez Moreira
"Bim Bom: The Complete João Gilberto Songbook" (Motema)
Reviewed by Christopher Loudon

Though guitarist and vocalist João Gilberto is acknowledged as the father of bossa nova, the song—“Chega de Saudade”—with which he ignited what would become a global bossa craze was created not by Gilberto, but by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Morares. On the flip side of Gilberto’s 1958 recording of “Chega de Saudade” was his own “Bim Bom” (inspired by a passing gaggle of washerwomen).

So it can be considered near-equally seminal—and it is with “Bim Bom” that vocalist Ithamara Koorax and guitarist Juarez Moreira open this first-ever complete collection of Gilberto’s compositions. They number a mere 11, written across two decades between the early ’50s and early ’70s. Yet together they capture a vital slice of Brazilian jazz history, defining a visionary genius who, as producer (and longtime intimate of the reclusive Gilberto) Arnaldo DeSouteiro notes, “inspired a complete revolution in Brazilian music, in terms of rhythm, melody and harmony.” Paying absolute respect to Gilberto, DeSouteiro was meticulous with regard to tempos and keys as he guided Koorax and Moreira through these 12 tracks (the 12th an English-language version of “Hô-Bá-Lá-Lá” crafted for Sylvia Telles in 1960).

Koorax, arguably Brazil’s finest contemporary jazz vocalist, and Moreira, a guitarist who can fairly be recognized as the João Gilberto of his generation, respond in kind. A better trio to pay such beautiful and integral homage to Gilberto could not likely be assembled. Bim Bom is not only an album of gloriously elegant reverence but also a recording of essential importance.

"AdLib" - February 2010

COVER: Pat Metheny
ADLiB Photo Gallery: Sade
Master Piece Story “...All This Time / Sting”
David Sanborn
Whitney Houston
Akira Jimbo
Uri Nakayama
Akiko Yano
Michael Buble
Saori Yano
Hiro-a-key
Jaco Pastorius
The World Of Jacket
ADLiB CHART
New Disc
Imported Disc
Coming Soon
VIP Producer: David Foster
Fusion V.I.P. Artists
Lisa Nakazono
Jose James
Sonho
Speech Debelle
Keiko Matsui
Carole King & James Taylor
Chris Botti
ADLiB CHORONICLES
Deset Island Discs -Hiro-a-key-
Hot Live Report: David Sanborn / David T.Walker / Dimension / Yuji Ohno / Etc
Corinne Bailey Rae
Joe Chemay
Interviews：Anuna / Brett Anderson
KK JAM
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" - February 2010

COVER: The Serial, The Truth Behind Masterpieces - Liner Notes Tell A Golden Era of Jazz Giants: Miles Davis Part.2

2009 Jazz Disc Awards
Mal Waldron Discography
Interview with Gold Award winner, Hiromi Uehara
Pat Metheny’s Orchestrion project
Fascinating Jazz EP Discs Part.1 ~ from Dave Brubeck to Marilyn Monroe
Jazz vocalist Kei Kobayashi-The third in the line of Jazz prominent family
Jazz Masterpieces Story-Enja ~ Steeple Chase
New frontier of J-Jazz picks in 2010
2009 Jazz Disc Awards - Foreword
Gold Award "Place to be / Hiromi Uehara"
Gold Award "Portraits of Love / Eddie Higgins"
Silver Award "25-Tribute to Art Blakey / Manhattan Jazz Quintet"
Jazz of Japan Award "My Wonderful Life-Masahiko Togashi's Ballade Collection / Masahiko Sato-Sadao Watanabe-Terumasa Hino-Kousuke Mine-Yousuke Yamashita
Vocal Award "Fly me to the Moon / Nicki Parrott
Vocal Award "Sing Once More-Dear Carpenters / Marica Hiraga
Best Reissue Award "Blue Note Best&More 1100" 100titles
Best Production Award "Wide Angle / Miki Hayama"
Best Engineering Award "Japanesque / Europian Jazz Trio"
Best Engineering Award "Handful of Stars / Eddie Higgins ＆Scott Hamilton ＆Ken Peolowski
Best Engineering Award "Dear Souls / Iroha"
New Star Award "Inspiration / Mayuko Katakura"
Postscripts
Nanri Fumio Award Goes to Yoshio Suzuki
Round about Monk in Europe
Chihiro Yamanaka's essay"Day by Day"
Questions For Jazz Beginners
Hot News: Overseas
New York Jazz Monthly
Topics
Hot News: Domestic
Jazz on Air
The Monthly Disc Review
Top Chart
This Month's Gold Disc
Import Discs
New Discs Release Information
Let's Dig The Re-Issued Discs
Yasukuni Terashima's Jazz Lounge-Pianist,Composer Junko Moriya
Here Comes New Masterpieces

What's up now!
SJ Focus
Readers Plaza : Jazz Spot Pilgrimage Returns / Readers / Jazz Allnighters By Tatsuo Sunaga / Jazz West Coast
Swing Street : Yozo Iwanami / Music / Movie/ Study
Q&A
Live Report
Comin' Soon！
Live & Jazz Spot Guide
Jazz Sound & Visual
The Forefront of Flat Panel TV
SJ New Products Selections
Series M2-12R report
Postscripts of Best Engineering Award
Surprising real sound JSP-2013
BD Player Guide
New Component Test Report
A&AV tpics
Sound Quality Of New Discs

"DownBeat" - February 2010

COVER
Buddy Guy -- The next recipient of the Blues Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award brings the sound and soul of the Windy City to audiences around the world through his electrifying live performances and blockbuster recordings. Back home, the influential guitarist/singer discusses the future of his popular blues club, Legends, which has great things in store for 2010.

FEATURES
Eric Bibb -- The finger-style guitarist makes magic with a vintage instrument that once belonged to Delta blues great Booker White.

Joe Henry -- The Grammy-winning producer and solo artist discusses his work with some of the most celebrated names in jazz and beyond.

Myron Walden -- The New York saxophonist and bass clarinetist emerges from a recording hiatus with three fresh CDs full of creative, original material.

SPECIAL SECTION: DownBeat U RECORDING SCHOOL -- Includes useful recording techniques and tips for musicians, plus reviews of hot new products designed for the studio.

PLAYERS
Leonardo Cioglia (bass)
Akira Sakata (saxophone)
Erik Deutsch (piano)
Ben Perowsky (drums)

BLINDFOLD TEST -- George Duke live at The Monterey Jazz Festival

THE BEAT
Pat Metheny creates player piano project.
Ted Williams pictorial tribute.
Saxophonist Greg Wall gets ordained as orthodox rabbi.
European Scene
Caught: Umbrella Festival (Chicago), Asian American Jazz Festival (Los Angeles), EdgeFest (Ann Arbor)

Jazz on Campus -- Berklee Global Jazz Institute Launched

REVIEWS
Hot Box
Keith Jarrett, Testament Paris/London (ECM)
Jon Gordon, Evolution (ArtistShare)
Dee Dee Bridgewater, To Billie With Love (Emarcy/DDB)
Matthew Shipp, 4D (Thirsty Ear)

CD Reviews
John Moulder, Bifrost (Origin)
Ramsey Lewis, Songs From The Heart (Concord Jazz)
Gary Peacock/Marc Copland, Insight (Pirouet)
Harris Eisenstadt, Canada Day (Clean Feed)
Nice Guy Trio, Here Comes The Nice Guy Trio (Porto Franco Records)
Linda Oh Trio, Entry (lindaohmusic.com)
Cesaria Evora, Nha Sentimento (Lusafrica)
SF JAZZ Collective, Live 2009 (SF JAZZ)
Jon Mayer, Nightscape (Reservoir)
Jaroslav Jakubovic, Coincidence (VMM Records)
Howard Levy, Tonight And Tomorrow (Chicago Sessions)
Howard Levy, Alone And Together (Balkan Samba Records)
Trio This, That (GM Recordings)
Arturo Stable, Call (Origen Records)
Joel Frahm & Bruce Katz, Project A (Anzic Records)
Jazz Punks, Jazz Punks (jazzpunks.com)
Mark Soskin, Man Behind The Curtain (Kind Of Blue)

Jazz
Bierele Lagrene, Gipsy Trio (Dreyfus)
Sylvain Luc, Standards (Dreyfus)
Luis Salinas, En Rosedale (Dreyfus)
Dorodo Schmitt & Family (Dreyfus)
Generation Django (Dreyfus)

Blues
Doug Cox & Salil Bhatt: Slide to Freedom 2 (NorthernBlues)
Abatji: Origine Orients (Harmonia Mundi)
Boo Boo Davis: Ain't Gotta Dime (Black & Tan)
Samba Toure: Songhai Blues (Riverboat/World Music Network)
Tinariwen: Imidiwan-Companions (World Village)
Les Triaboliques: Rivermudtwilight (World Village)

Beyond
Neil Young, Archives, vol. 1 (Reprise)

Historical
Miles Davis Complete Columbia box (Sony/Legacy)

Book Review
John Hartley Fox, King of The Queen City: Story of King Records (Illinois Press)

2010 GRAMMY Winners

WINNERS ON BOLD

Category 9
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Besame Mucho - Herb Alpert
Track from: Anything Goes — Live
[Concord Jazz]

Throw Down Your Heart - Béla Fleck
Track from: Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 — Africa Sessions
[Rounder]

The Fire - Imogen Heap
Track from: Ellipse
[RCA Records / Megaphonic Records]

Phoenix Rise - Maxwell
Track from: Blacksummers' Night
[Columbia]

Funk Joint - Marcus Miller
Track from: Marcus
[Concord Jazz/3 Dueces Records]

Category 10
Best Pop Instrumental Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

In Boston - Chris Botti
[Columbia]

Legacy - Hiroshima
[Heads Up International]

Potato Hole - Booker T. Jones
[Anti]

Modern Art - The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman
[Hear Music]

Down The Wire - Spyro Gyra
[Heads Up International]

Category 14
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

A Swingin' Christmas - Tony Bennett
[Columbia]

Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden - Michael Bublé
[143/Reprise]

Your Songs - Harry Connick, Jr.
[Columbia]

Liza's At The Palace - Liza Minnelli
[Hybrid Recordings]

American Classic - Willie Nelson
[Blue Note]

Category 19
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. Singles or Tracks only.)

A Day In The Life - Jeff Beck
Track from: Performing This Week...Live At Ronnie Scott's
[Eagle Records]

Warped Sister - Booker T. Jones
Track from: Potato Hole
[ANTI]

Playing With Fire - Brad Paisley
Track from: Play
[Arista Nashville]

Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin' - Brian Setzer Orchestra
[Surfdog Records]

Now We Run - Steve Vai
[Favored Nations Entertainment]

Category 44
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

Urbanus - Stefon Harris & Blackout
[Concord Jazz]

Sounding Point - Julian Lage
[Emarcy/Decca]

At World's Edge - Philippe Saisse
[E1 Music]

Big Neighborhood - Mike Stern
[Heads Up International]

75 - Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
[Heads Up International]

Category 45
Best Jazz Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

No Regrets - Randy Crawford (& Joe Sample)
[PRA Records]

Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman - Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]

So In Love - Roberta Gambarini
[Groovin' High/Emarcy]

Tide - Luciana Souza
[Verve]

Desire - Tierney Sutton (Band)
[Telarc Jazz]

Category 46
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
(For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter's name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.)

Dancin' 4 Chicken - Terence Blanchard, soloist
Track from: Watts (Jeff "Tain" Watts)
[Dark Key Music]

All Of You - Gerald Clayton, soloist
Track from: Two-Shade
[ArtistShare]

Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey - Roy Hargrove, soloist
Track from: Emergence
[Groovin' High/Emarcy]

On Green Dolphin Street - Martial Solal, soloist
Track from: Live At The Village Vanguard
[CamJazz]

Villa Palmeras - Miguel Zenón, soloist
Track from: Esta Plena
[Marsalis Music]

Category 47
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

Quartet Live - Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez
[Concord Jazz]

Brother To Brother - Clayton Brothers
[ArtistShare]

Five Peace Band Live - Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band
[Concord Records]

Remembrance - John Patitucci Trio
[Concord Jazz]

The Bright Mississippi - Allen Toussaint
[Nonesuch]

Category 48
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

Legendary - Bob Florence Limited Edition
[MAMA Records]

Eternal Interlude - John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
[Sunnyside]

Fun Time - Sammy Nestico And The SWR Big Band
[Hänssler Classic]

Book One - New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
[World Village]

Lab 2009 - University Of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band
[North Texas Jazz]

Category 49
Best Latin Jazz Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

Things I Wanted To Do - Chembo Corniel
[Chemboro Records]

Áurea - Geoffrey Keezer
[ArtistShare]

Brazilliance X 4 - Claudio Roditi
[Resonance Records]

Juntos Para Siempre - Bebo Valdés And Chucho Valdés
[Sony Music/Calle 54]

Esta Plena - Miguel Zenón
[Marsalis Music]

Category 74
Best Traditional World Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

Ancient Sounds - Rahim Alhaj And Amjad Ali Khan
[UR Music]

Double Play - Liz Carroll & John Doyle
[Compass Records]

Douga Mansa - Mamadou Diabate
[World Village]

La Guerra No - John Santos Y El Coro Folklórico Kindembo
[Machete Records]

Drum Music Land - Ten Drum Art Percussion Group
[Wind Music]

Category 75
Best Contemporary World Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

Welcome To Mali - Amadou & Mariam
[Nonesuch]

Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 — Africa Sessions
Béla Fleck
[Rounder]

Day By Day - Femi Kuti
[Mercer Street Records]

Seya - Oumou Sangare
[Nonesuch]

Across The Divide: A Tale Of Rhythm & Ancestry - Omar Sosa
[Half Note Records]

Category 83
Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
(A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

The Climb (From Hannah Montana: The Movie)
Jessi Alexander & Jon Mabe, songwriters (Miley Cyrus)
[Walt Disney Records; Publishers: Vistaville Music, Hopeless Rose Music, Music Of Stage Three, Mabe It Big Music.]

Decode (From Twilight)
Josh Farro, Hayley Williams & Taylor York, songwriters (Paramore)
[Summit Ent./Chop Shop/Atlantic; Publishers: WB Music Corp/But Father, I Just Want To Sing Music/Josh's Music/FBR Music, Meaux Hits/Hunterboro Music, Rimutaka Music.]

Jai Ho (From Slumdog Millionaire)
Gulzar, A.R. Rahman & Tanvi Shah, songwriters (A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash)
[N.E.E.T./Interscope Records; Publisher: KM Musiq.]

Once In A Lifetime (From Cadillac Records)
Ian Dench, James Dring, Amanda Ghost, Beyoncé Knowles, Scott McFarnon & Jody Street, songwriters (Beyoncé)
[Music World Music/Columbia; Publishers: B-Day Publishing/EMI April Music, Amanda Ghost Bucks Music Group Ltd./EMI Blackwood, Red Ink Music Ltd., Ian Dench Music/Songs of Kobalt Music, Chrysalis Music.]

The Wrestler (From The Wrestler)
Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)
[Columbia; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen.]

Category 84
Best Instrumental Composition
(A Composer's Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.)

Borat In Syracuse
Paquito D'Rivera, composer (Paquito D'Rivera Quintet)
Track from: Jazz-Clazz
[Timba Records]

Counting To Infinity
Tim Davies, composer (Tim Davies Big Band)
Track from: Dialmentia
[Origin Records]

Fluffy
Bob Florence, composer (Bob Florence Limited Edition)
Track from: Legendary
[MAMA Records]

Ice-Nine
Steve Wiest, composer (University Of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band)
Track from: Lab 2009
[North Texas Jazz]

Married Life (From Up)
Michael Giacchino, composer (Michael Giacchino)
Track from: Up — Soundtrack
[Walt Disney Records]

Category 85
Best Instrumental Arrangement
(An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Emmanuel
Jeremy Lubbock, arranger (Chris Botti & Lucia Micarelli)
Track from: In Boston
[Columbia]

Hope
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Jim Beard With Vince Mendoza & The Metropole Orchestra)
Track from: Revolutions
[Sunny Side Records]

Slings And Arrows
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge)
Track from: The Comet's Tail: Performing The Compositions Of Michael Brecker
[MAMA Records]

Up With End Credits (From Up)
Michael Giacchino, arranger (Michael Giacchino)
Track from: Up — Soundtrack
[Walt Disney Records]

West Side Story Medley
Bill Cunliffe, arranger (Resonance Big Band)
Track from: Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute To Oscar Peterson
[Resonance Records]

Category 86
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
(An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

A Change Is Gonna Come
David Foster & Jerry Hey, arrangers (Seal)
Track from: Soul
[143/Warner Bros.]

Dedicated To You
Laurence Hobgood, arranger (Kurt Elling)
Track from: Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman
[Concord Jazz]

In The Still Of The Night
Thomas Zink, arranger (Anne Walsh)
Track from: Pretty World
[AtoZink Music]

My One And Only Thrill
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Melody Gardot)
Track from: My One And Only Thrill
[Verve]

Quiet Nights
Claus Ogerman, arranger (Diana Krall)
Track from: Quiet Nights
[Verve]

Category 89
Best Album Notes

The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935–1946)
Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)
[Mosaic Records]

Dance-O-Mania: Harry Yerkes And The Dawn Of The Jazz Age, 1919–1923
Mark Berresford, album notes writer (The Happy Six)
[Rivermont Records]

Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson — Music From The Film
Douglas Brinkley & Johnny Depp, album notes writers (Various Artists)
[Legacy Recordings]

My Dusty Road
Ed Cray & Bill Nowlin, album notes writers (Woody Guthrie)
[Rounder]

Origins Of The Red Hot Mama, 1910–1922
Lloyd Ecker & Susan Ecker, album notes writers (Sophie Tucker)
[Archeophone Records]

Category 91
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
(An Engineer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.))

Ellipse
Imogen Heap, engineer (Imogen Heap)
[RCA/Megaphonic Records]

Gossip In The Grain
Ethan Johns & Dominic Monks, engineers (Ray LaMontagne)
[RCA Records]

My One And Only Thrill
Helik Hadar & Al Schmitt, engineers (Melody Gardot)
[Verve]

Safe Trip Home
Jon Brion, Grippa, Greg Koller & Jim Scott, engineers (Dido)
[Arista]

Swan Feathers
Richard Alderson, Chris Allen, Roman Klun, Lawrence Manchester, Rob Mounsey, Jay Newland & Gordie Sampson, engineers (Leslie Mendelson)
[Rykodisc]

Category 95
Best Engineered Album, Classical
(An Engineer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.))

Britten: Billy Budd
Neil Hutchinson & Jonathan Stokes, engineers (Daniel Harding, Nathan Gunn, Ian Bostridge, Gidon Saks, Neal Davies, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose, London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra)
[Virgin Classics]

Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10
Peter Laenger, engineer (Michael Tilson Thomas & San Francisco Symphony)
[SFS Media]

QSF Plays Brubeck
Judy Kirschner, engineer (Quartet San Francisco)
[Violinjazz Recordings]

Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloé
Jesse Lewis & John Newton, engineers (James Levine, Tanglewood Festival Chorus & Boston Symphony Orchestra)
[BSO Classics]

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 15
John Newton & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Valery Gergiev & Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre)
[Mariinsky]

Category 102
Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)
(Award to the Instrumental Soloist.)

Caroline Goulding
Caroline Goulding (Christopher O'Riley & Janine Randall)
[Telarc]

Chopin
Maria João Pires
[Deutsche Grammophon]

Journey To The New World
Sharon Isbin (Joan Baez & Mark O'Connor)
[Sony Classical]

Oppens Plays Carter
Ursula Oppens
[Cedille Records]

Sonatas & Etudes
Yuja Wang
[Deutsche Grammophon]

Category 106
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
(A Composer's Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.) Award to the librettist, if applicable.)

Crumb, George: The Winds Of Destiny
George Crumb (James Freeman)
Track from: Crumb: American Songbooks 2 & 4
[Bridge Records]

Higdon, Jennifer: Percussion Concerto
Jennifer Higdon (Marin Alsop)
Track from: Alsop Conducts MacMillan, Adès, & Higdon
[London Philharmonic Orchestra]

Pärt, Arvo: In Principio
Arvo Pärt (Tõnu Kaljuste)
Track from: Pärt, Arvo: In Principio
[ECM New Series]

Sierra, Roberto: Missa Latina 'Pro Pace'
Roberto Sierra (Andreas Delfs)
[Naxos]

Wyner, Yehudi: Piano Concerto "Chiavi In Mano"
Yehudi Wyner (Robert Spano)
Track from: Wyner, Yehudi: Orchestral Works
[Bridge Records]

Category 107
Best Classical Crossover Album
(Award to the Artist(s) and/or to the Conductor.)

A Company Of Voices: Conspirare In Concert
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor; Conspirare (Tom Burritt, Ian Davidson & Bion Tsang)
[Harmonia Mundi]

Jazz-Clazz
Paquito D'Rivera Quintet (Trio Clarone)
[TIMBA Records]

The Melody Of Rhythm
Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
[E1 Music]

QSF Plays Brubeck
Quartet San Francisco
[Violinjazz Recordings]

Twelve Songs By Charles Ives
Theo Bleckmann; Kneebody
[Winter & Winter]

Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace
Yo-Yo Ma (Odair Assad, Sergio Assad, Chris Botti, Dave Brubeck, Matt Brubeck, John Clayton, Paquito d'Rivera, Renée Fleming, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, Natalie McMaster, Edgar Meyer, Cristina Pato, Joshua Redman, Jake Shimabukuro, Silk Road Ensemble, James Taylor, Chris Thile, Wu Tong, Alon Yavnai & Amelia Zirin-Brown)
[Sony Classical]

Category 109
Best Long Form Music Video
(For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51% of the total playing time.)

In Boston
Chris Botti
Jim Gable, video director; Bobby Colomby, video producer
[Columbia]

Johnny Cash's America
(Johnny Cash)
Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video directors; Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video producers
[Columbia/Legacy]

Anita O'Day — The Life Of A Jazz Singer
(Anita O'Day)
Robbie Cavolina & Ian McCrudden, video directors; Robbie Cavolina, Melissa Davis & Ian McCrudden, video producers
[AOD Productions]

Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World Tour Live
Keith Urban
Chris Hicky, video director; Blake Morrison, video producer
[Capitol Nashville]

The Beatles Love — All Together Now
(Various Artists)
Adrian Wills, video director; Martin Bolduc & Jonathan Clyde, video producers
[Apple/Capitol]

Kurt Elling's "Dedicated to You" wins GRAMMY for Best Vocal Jazz Album!

SPECIAL EDITION: 52nd GRAMMY Awards 2010
And the GRAMMY goes to . . .
~ KURT ELLING ~
Best Vocal Jazz Album
"Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman" (Concord Jazz), also voted one of the Top 10 Vocal Jazz Albums of the Year in the 31st Annual Jazz Station Poll, on which Kurt Elling also placed as # 1 Best Jazz Male Singer, with his DVD "Live in Montreal" being voted among the Top 10 Jazz DVDs of 2009. For more details, please check:

http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-jazz-of-2009.html

Bravo & many, many congratulations, Kurt!

Watch the Pre-Telecast Awards Ceremony streaming live 1:00-4:00 pm PST Sunday, January 31.or the archived podcast available
1:00-4:00 pm PST Sunday, January 31.
or the archived podcast available on line through February.
Kurt's GRAMMY Award comes about 1:25 into the show.

Kurt co-hosted this live GRAMMY awards show with Tia Carrere
and performed Billie Holiday's God Bless the Child with Lalah Hathaway.
Their duet comes about 1:48 into the show. Join Kurt's many fans on Facebook & Myspace

Meet the GRAMMY man, John Billings, Sr.,
who lovingly handcrafts the GRAMMY statues, in these two short video interviews: The GRAMMY Man, Part 1 (9:50) The GRAMMY Man, Part 2 (6.22)

Watch Kurt's five-minute video about "Dedicated to You," with clips from the live performance at Lincoln Center where the album was recorded in January 2009. Songs include "Dedicated to You," "Autumn Serenade," "All or Nothing at All," and "Lush Life."
Dedicated to You video

"Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman" is available @ Amazon.
List Price: $18.98
Amazon Price: $14.99 Buy Now