Vinyl of the Month - "Freddie Hubbard: Red Clay"

Vinyl of the Month
Freddie Hubbard: "Red Clay" red vinyl issue (CTI/Barnes & Noble Consign 538110)
Rating: ***** (musical performance & sonic quality)
Release Date: February 10, 2017

Produced by Creed Taylor
Recorded & Mixed by Rudy Van Gelder @ Van Gelder Studios. Recorded January 27, 28, 29, 1970.
Cover Photo: Price Givens
Album Design: Tony Lane
Featuring: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet & flugelhorn), Joe Henderson (tenor sax & flute), Herbie Hancock (Fender Rhodes electric piano & Hammond organ), Ron Carter (electric bass) & Lenny White (drums)

As the label’s first release, "Red Clay" established the soul-jazz-funk template Creed Taylor’s CTI imprint would follow for the next decade. Joined by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter and Lenny White, Freddie Hubbard lays down bluesy hard-bop epiphanies, turning in one of his most memorable albums as a leader.

In addition to standing as a career-defining affair, the landmark 1970 effort also marks Hubbard's break from his Blue Note era and signals the fusion-minded direction he and other players would further investigate in the years to come.

"Red Clay" includes four great tunes composed by Hubbard: Besides the title track, which became a contemporary jazz standard, includes three other gems: "Delphia" (a gorgeous ballad dedicated to his mother, with Herbie moving to organ and Henderson playing flute), "Suite Sioux" and the explosive hard-bop "The Intrepid Fox." A CTI classic!

CD/DVD of the Month - "Vitoria Maldonado: O Que Está Acontecendo Comigo)

CD/DVD of the Month
Vitoria Maldonado: "O Que Está Acontecendo Comigo" (VMG CD 0002, 2-disc set)

Rating: **** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced by Vitoria Maldonado
Associate Producer: Ney Marques
Photo: Ella Dürst
Coordination: Victor Rebouças
Design: Leticia Moura
Session Photos: André Bechelane
Rehearsal Photos: Felipe Galvão
Making Of directed by André Bechelane

Recorded by Carlos KK Akamine @ Estúdio Cachuera (São Paulo, SP, Brazil)
Mixed by Luis Paulo Serafim @ Estúdio Trama
Mastered by Carlos Freitas @ Classic Master Studio

All songs written by Vitoria Maldonado
Basic tracks arranged by Vitoria Maldonado
String section arranged & conducted by Ruriá Duprat
Featuring: Vitoria Maldonado (piano, vocals), Sylvio Mazzucca Jr. (acoustic bass), Duda Neves (drums), Luiz Guilherme Rabello (percussion), Marcelo Pizarro (acoustic & electric guitars), Teco Cardoso (soprano sax), Nailor Proveta (clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax & tenor sax), Rubinho Antunes (flugelhorn)
Special guest: Roberto Menescal (acoustic guitar on "Meu Moreno")

An amazing 2-disc set release, with a deluxe 16-page booklet, by the São Paulo-based pianist, composer, arranger and singer Vitoria Maldonado. Both the CD and the DVD "O Que Está Acontecendo Comigo" (What Is Happening To Me) include 11 tracks, with an extra "making of" on the DVD.

"The DVD was filmed during the recording sessions, so that the listener could meet all the musicians involved in this project, and feel the thrill and happiness we had making it," Vitoria writes on the liner notes.

Vitoria Maldonado's style reflects the Bossa Nova romanticism added to the jazz sophistication, an influence from the years she studied at the Berklee College of Music, from where she gratuated in 1986.

SACD of the Month - "Michel Legrand: Twenty Songs Of The Century"

SACD of the Month (Hybrid)
Michel Legrand: "Twenty Songs Of The Century" (Bell/Vocalion) 1974/2017
Rating: ***** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced by Michel Legrand & Nat Shapiro
Associate Producer: Arlene Chapman
Art Director: Beverly Weinstein
Album Design: The Music Agency
Recording Engineers: Alan Varner, Frank Laico, Jorgen Jorgensen, Yves Chamberlan
Mixed By Michel Legrand and Don Young
Music Consultants: Mort Goode and George Painkin

Reissue Producers: Michael J. Dutton and Oliver Lomax
SACD Remastering: Michael J. Dutton
Arranged & Conducted by Michel Legrand
Associate Conductor: Tom Pierson
Contractor: Marvin Stamm

Featuring: Michel Legrand (acoustic piano, synthesizers, whistle), Ron Carter (acoustic bass), Grady Tate (drums), Airto Moreira (cuica, shaker, percussion), Gene Bertoncini (electric guitar), Phil Woods (alto sax), Eddie Daniels (tenor sax & flute), Marvin Stamm (trumpet), Toots Thielemans (harmonica), Max Polikoff (concertmaster)

One of my desert island discs. A wondrous project, originally released as a 2-LP set with gatefold cover. A lesson in orchestration provided by one of the world's greatest arrangers. The album concept was/is very challenging, but Legrand succeded in all aspects, leading a 60-piece orchestra with tremendous soloists such as Phil Woods, Toots Thielemans, Marvin Stamm and Eddie Daniels soloing brilliantly on top of a equally brilliant rhythm section (Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Airto, Gene Bertoncini).

All of the 20 great songs appear on a way you've never heard them before, I swear! From W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" to Antonio Carlos Jobim/Newton Mendonça's "One Note Samba" (Samba de Uma Nota Só) on which Legrand performs an unbelievably astonishing solo using two acoustic pianos, as if in a duet with himself, propelled by Airto's intoxicating batucada breaks.

The "multi-channel" effect of this SACD actually is the original quadraphonic mix from 1974, since the vinyl was released both on stereo and quad albums. A stereo K2 24-bit remastered CD had been already released in Japan in 2004 by BMG.

The masterpiece of the masterpieces.

Beyond CD of the Month - "Hugo Fattoruso & Leo Maslíah: Montevideo Ambiguo"

Beyond CD of the Month
Hugo Fattoruso & Leo Maslíah: "Montevideo Ambiguo" (Montevideo Music Group 6450-2)

Rating: **** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Recorded live @ Teatro Solis de Montevideo on May 12, 2015 by Federico Langwagen
Mixed by Gustavo De León @ Studio Sondor
Photos: Albana Barrocas
Artwork: Alejandro Echegoyen

Featuring: Hugo Fattoruso (piano, accordion, synthesizers, vocals), Leo Maslíah (piano, guitar), Gustavo Etchenique (drums), Albana Barrocas (percussion, drums, vocals), Rossana Tadei (vocals).

Fusion CD of the Month - "Vasil Hadzimanov Band featuring David Binney: Alive"

Fusion CD of the Month
Vasil Hadzimanov Band featuring David Binney: "Alive" (MoonJune)
Rating: **** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced & Engineered by Alen Hadzi-Steganov
Co-Producer: Vasil Hadzimanov
Produced for release by Leonardo Pavkovic
Mastering: Mark Wingfield
Design & Illustration: Dejan Mandic
Recorded live @ Belgrade Jazz Festival, Serbia, 2014

Featuring: Vasil Hadzimanov (piano, keyboards), David Binney (alto sax), Branco Trijic (electric guitar, percussion), Miroslav Tovirac (electric bass), Pedja Milutinovic (drums) and Bojan Ivlovic (percussion & vocals)

In keeping with the label's time-honored tradition of shining a spotlight on newly-discovered artists whose immense musical talents challenge convention and defy categorization, MoonJune Records is pleased to offer the musical stylings of Serbian keyboardist, pianist and composer. Although hardly a household name outside Europe, Vasil has performed with a number of elite, renowned musicians (David Gilmore, Antonio Sanchez, Matt Garrison, David Binney, Nigel Kennedy and rock stars of the former Yugoslavia, Dado Topic and Vlatko Stefanovski, and his parents, the famous Macedonian pop and folk singer Zafir Hadzimanov and celebrated Croatian singer Senka Veletanlic). Vasil is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, in Boston.

"Alive" documents Vasil and his band in peak creative form, in front of an enthusiastic, most appreciative audience. The music is fresh and truly "Alive! -- unpredictable and unpretentious, at times, hypnotic, at times pushing the envelope and flattening boundaries. This is bold, adventurous music which pays homage to a variety of styles and influences – jazz, ethno-fusion, progressive rock –, while remaining free, spry and elusive in its own right.

This, their international record debut, is actually the band's sixth album. Since first forming more than 15 years ago, the Vasil Hadzimanov Band has performed hundreds of shows and been well received in numerous jazz festivals covering Europe, Eastern Europe and the Japan. This mesmerizing performance -- recorded in Belgrade, in 2014 and features as a special guest the well known American saxophonist David Binney – serves notice of yet another powerhouse of a musical treasure that MoonJune's Leonardo Pavkovic is proud to present; proving, yet again, that music which is truly "progressive" is not bound by convention or tradition, but is art which seeks out its own form and travels uncharted paths.

Jazz CD of the Month - "Mark Whitfield: Grace"

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month
Mark Whitfield: "Grace" (Marksman Productions) 

Rating: **** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced by Mark Whitfield, Mark Whitfield Jr. and Davis Whitfield
Executive Producer: Antoine Drye
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Dave Stoller @ the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio
Photos: Deneka Peniston
Art Direction: Scott Sandler (Mr. Scott Design)
Manufacturing Coordinator: Ric Sherman

All compositions by Mark Whitfield
Featuring: Mark Whitfield (guitar), Davis Whitfield (piano & keyboards), Yasushi Nakamura (bass), Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums), Sy Smith (vocal & lyrics on the track "Grace")

Esteemed guitarist and composer Mark Whitfield has just released "Grace", his 15th album as a leader. Whitfield's first project as a leader in seven years, "Grace" is a celebration of love and legacy, family and future, as the elder Whitfield ushers in a new era of musical excellence in the form of his descendants: pianist Davis and drummer Mark Jr.

Like father, like sons. Whitfield burst on the jazz scene with his critically acclaimed 1990 debut "The Marksman" for Warner Bros. Heralded then as "The Best Young Guitarist In the Business" by the New York Times, Whitfield stayed true to the sentiment with a fruitful career spanning over two decades and including tenures with a litany of jazz and pop music greats.

Following in the footsteps of their father, and their uncle (the great jazz drummer Troy Davis), Mark Jr. and Davis have established themselves as "ones to watch" on their respective instruments. Both "grew up on the bandstand" alongside their father and both picked up their instruments at a young age. "I was attached to him by the hip! Anytime I could be there, I'd be there. You know, in all those clubs where I wasn't supposed to be as a five-year-old -- I was there," recalled Mark Jr in an interview with Revive Music in 2013.

After sharing the stage on so many occasions, Mark brought his children into the studio along with "honorary Whitfield family member" bassist Yasushi Nakamura and guest vocalist Sy Smith to record "Grace". "I wanted to share my love of music with sons, and use this love to forge a bond between the three of us that would enrich our lives, enlighten our consciousness and support us through the toughest of times," says Mark. The result is "Grace", a collection of nine personal compositions; each telling a unique story that chronicles the last two decades as a family.

"Grace" kicks off with the biographical "Afro Samurai", inspired by Mark's triage of young curiosities: music, skateboarding and "terrorizing all who dared to come near my garage with my less than stellar kung fu skills!" These three disciplines are represented by the three distinct solo sections.

"Blue D.A". which first appeared on Whitfield's 1994 album "True Blue", is reimagined here as a tribute to the late, great Kenny Kirkland, who can be heard on the original. The title track presents the first "extended family" collaboration with a special appearance by cousin Sy Smith. "I wrote a song as a reaction to the violence that has plagued our society for years and seems to have worsened severely in recent months and we turned to our cousin... composer, lyricist and songbird extraordinaire, Sy Smith, to bring it to life," said Whitfield.

"Double Trouble" serves as an homage to Mark's mentor George Benson, who encouraged him to join the Jack McDuff Quartet and is inspired by a tour situation gone wrong.

Whitfield and co. slow things down for "Space Between Us", a tender ballad where Whitfield's playing resonates with every stroke, but picks us back up for "Fortress", another call to Benson and a nod to contemporary Kevin Eubanks. "The 1st guitar record I ever owned was George Benson's Breezin'. I wore the old vinyl LP down to the grooves learning every single note that the aforementioned Benson played," said Mark, adding, "...then I made the boys listen to over & over so they could clearly understand the genius of the man they refer to as "Uncle George"!

The final third of "Grace" includes "Undiscovered", a testament to self discovery. Says Mark, "As teacher, bandleader & composer I endeavor to create musical situations that promote the right environment for the group to discover new pathways to reach higher levels of self expression. If nothing else, Davis' piano solo is the embodiment of that which I hoped to create!"

The penultimate tune "The Socrates Curse" brews a perfect storm between Davis' transformative solo and Mark Jr's volcanic rhythmic explosion. 'Grace' reaches its conclusion with "Pulse Pt2", an easy groove off into the sunset.

Mark Whitfield graduated from Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music in the spring of 1987. Shortly thereafter, he returned to his to his native New York to embark on a career as a Jazz Guitarist that afforded him the opportunity to collaborate with legendary artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Carmen McRae, Gladys Knight, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry, Shirley Horn, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Joe Williams, Stanley Turrentine and his greatest teacher and mentor George Benson.

In 1990 the New York Times dubbed Whitfield "The Best Young Guitarist in the Business". Later that year, Warner Bros. released his debut album "The Marksman". The success of his debut release led to a recording career that has produced a total of 14 solo recordings and a myriad of collaborative efforts with some of the most important artists in recent years; Sting, Steven Tyler, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Chaka Khan, Jill Scott, Diana Krall, Christian McBride, Chris Botti, Roy Hargrove and Nicholas Payton.

ABOUT THE WHITFIELD FAMILY BAND:
Along the way the "Whitfield Family Band" was born, literally. In 1994 The Mark Whitfield Quartet appeared on the Thanksgiving Day broadcast of Good Morning America. This performance featured a very special guest drummer, 4 year old Mark Whitfield Jr. It was obvious even then that he was destined for greatness. Following in his father's footsteps he attended the Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2011 with honors. He went on to study for his Masters Degree at the Manhattan School of Music while simultaneously embarking on a career as a drummer extraordinaire. He has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best young drummers in Jazz and was nominated for a Grammy in 2014 as part of the ensemble featured on Kenny Garrett's 2013 release "Pushing the World Away". Not to be outdone by his older brother, Davis Whitfield, a prodigious pianist, earned a Presidential Scholarship and graduated from the Berklee College of Music with honors in 2014.

R.I.P.: Horace Parlan (1931-2017)

RIP: Horace Parlan
(born January 19, 1931, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;
died February 24, 2017, Korsør, Denmark)

A soulful hard bop pianist & Charles Mingus collaborator who passed away in Denmark at age 86. Parlan recorded 7 Blue Note sessions as a leader between 1960-63 including "Movin' & Groovin'" "Us Three" & "Speakin' My Piece," and appeared on Mingus classics like "Blues & Roots" & "Mingus Ah Um."

He also played with Dexter Gordon, Thad Jones, Booker Erwin, Lou Donaldson, Dave Bailey, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Slide Hampton, and many more. However, the first time I heard him was on Stanley Turrentine's "Salt Song" for CTI. Explore Parlan's Blue Note catalog with the complete Mosaic set on Apple Music.

I treasure this LD because it allows me to watch Horace Parlan playing in top form with Archie Shepp, Wayne Dockery and Marvin Smith. "The Stuttgart Jazz Summit" (Pioneer) also features Sun Ra, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Sonny Fortune, Glen Moore, Steps Ahead with Mike Mainieri, Samul Nori & Red Sun, Jorg Reiter, Charlie Mariano, Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Dennis Chambers, John Zorn Naked City etc.

Composer/bandleader Jihye Lee Turns Tragedy into Lavish, Heart-Wrenching Inspiration on Debut Orchestral Album

Composer/bandleader Jihye Lee releases her sumptuous and heart-rending debut recording titled "April" tomorrow, February 24. The album features a 20-piece orchestra culled from Berklee faculty and Boston-area musicians, with Sean Jones as special guest. Inspired by the Sewol ferry disaster of 2014 in South Korea, Lee's original six-song suite explores the myriad conflicting emotions that a tragedy can engender, vividly embodied by an orchestra that can navigate fluidly from visceral force to impressionistic beauty.

On the morning of April 16, 2014, tragedy struck South Korea when the ferry Sewol capsized and sank, killing more than 300 passengers. Half a world away, composer and native Korean Jihye Lee watched on in horror from Boston, where she was studying at Berklee College of Music. As the hours, days, weeks and now years have passed, reactions to the disaster have mingled grief and anger, sorrow and outrage, protest and sympathy as human tragedy collided with political controversy.

Not long before the wreck of the Sewol, Lee had written two pieces that came to prove eerily prophetic: "April Wind," which gradually builds from gentle and tender to majestic and powerful; and "Deep Blue Sea," through which Lee's soaring voice wends an emotional, wordless lament before being overwhelmed by swelling tides of sound. "Destiny is a big word," Lee admits, "but maybe I was meant to make this album."

Lee expanded upon those two compositions in the wake of the Sewol disaster, creating the heartfelt six-song suite that comprises her new album, "April." Performed by a 20-piece orchestra culled from Berklee faculty and Boston-area musicians, the album (due out tomorrow, February 24) explores the myriad conflicting emotions that a tragedy like the ferry crash can engender, vividly embodied by an orchestra that can navigate fluidly from visceral force to impressionistic beauty. Lee composes from a wide palette, at one moment lush watercolors, the next bold splashes of action painting.

Being so far away from home as events unfolded, Lee says that the worst feeling was being unable to contribute to rescue and relief efforts. "If I were in Korea I would have done something," she says. "But in Boston there was nothing to do. My mind was so chaotic, I couldn't help but write this music."

"April Wind" opens the album, the calm before the storm that sets the scene for the events of the day to unfold. Alain Mallet's piano solo rides the orchestra's cresting waves, while Shannon LeClaire's alto and Allan Chase's soprano usher in the rising tide. It's followed by "Sewol Ho," named for the ferry itself, which begins with John Lockwood's churning, ominous bass, soon joined by frantic, cross-talking horn lines which build in tension and urgency. "Deep Blue Sea" is an oasis of serenity, seemingly peaceful but perhaps suggesting the stunned silence following unimaginable horror. Rick DiMuzio's tenor offers a soulful elegy.

The brisk, manic rhythms of "Whirlwind" capture the chaos of the sinking's aftermath: the frenzied worry of victim's families, the unanswered questions and political turmoil that persist nearly three years later. "Guilty" is aimed squarely at those whose neglect, greed and politicking led to the tragedy and its staggering death toll, the composer's seething contempt for the deceit and disregard for human life mutedly expressed in the tug of war between Bruce Bartlett's guitar and Rick DiMuzio's soprano. Finally, "You Are Here (Every Time I Think of You)" is Lee's outpouring of sympathy for those lost and those left behind, highlighted by the aching, sweepingly gorgeous flugelhorn of guest soloist Sean Jones.

The band was assembled and the album co-produced by trumpeter and longtime Berklee professor Greg Hopkins. "Greg really believed in me and my music," Lee says. "When I shared my vision he was really supportive." Hopkins also helped Lee set up the Kickstarter campaign that funded the album's recording.

Given the singular vision of Lee's writing for big band, which calls to mind the bold narratives and colors of the Maria Schneider Orchestra along with the intricate arrangements of Jim McNeely, with whom she's now studying at the Manhattan School of Music, it's surprising to learn that Lee arrived in Boston with no intention of leading an orchestra and very little knowledge of jazz in general. She'd worked primarily as a folk and R&B-influenced pop singer-songwriter in Korea but came to Berklee hoping to expand her musical horizons.

"I wanted to see something that I didn't see when I was in Korea," she recalls. "I really loved complexity in harmony and rhythm, but I didn't know what genre I could find it in. I just followed my gut, and my gut said you have to go to Berklee. I got to see a lot of concert jazz orchestra music there, and I was overwhelmed. I was enchanted by the energy and complexity, the richness and diversity that we can mix and use in different ways. That's how I got into jazz big band writing."

One of the most striking elements of Lee's pieces throughout April is the way she interweaves her own voice into the orchestral palette. She doesn't write lyrics, uncomfortable with penning words in English, but doesn't see the lack of them as inhibitive of communicating her messages. "Lyrics are too specific to convey some images or emotions that I cannot really express with words," she says.
The use of voice, though, came naturally from her background as a singer. "It was only natural. I think people are very drawn to the human voice because we're all human, and there's some things that only voice can express."

While she doesn't draw on explicit influences from her native country, Lee says that her essential Korean-ness comes through in every note that she writes. "Korean people are very emotional, very expressive," she explains. She mentions a Korean expression, han, that connotes a sense of deep, restrained emotion rooted in the country's long history of war and colonization, similar to the melancholic/nostalgic Brazilian term saudade but in an earthier, more inward form. The stoicism they display on the surface means that their sadness comes through in art as a howl of sadness. "I think it naturally comes through in my melodies: dramatic, lyrical, very sad, that kind of emotional statement."

The title "April" ties into her adopted home of Boston as well, given that the Boston Marathon bombing took place one year almost to the day prior to the Sewol. Lee hopes that her music offers a path to healing from both incidents. "April is a beautiful month, the beginning of spring when everything is new and beautiful and blooming," she says. "I want to make April bloom again."

The Anna Mjöll Sextet @ Baked Porato, tomorrow

The ANNA MJÖLL ALL-STAR SEXTET at The Baked Potato!
Tomorrow, Feb 24!!!
With Anna Mjöll (vocals), Bill Cunliffe (piano), Brandon Fields (sax), Clayton Cameron (drums), Willard Peterson (bass) and Joe Elliott (guitar).
Two shows 9:30 and 11:30.
This event will sell out FAST (!!) - for tickets call (818) 980-1615.

R.I.P.: Leon Ware (1940-2017)

R.I.P.: Leon Ware
(born on February 16, 1940, Black Bottom, Detroit, Michigan, USA;
died on February 23, 2017, Marina del Rey, California, USA)

The fabulous North American singer & songwriter, recorded many great albums, but this self-titled r&b gem is my favorite. Recorded in 1982 for Elektra, arranged by Marty Paich & Jerry Hey, featuring Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Laudir de Oliveira, Gato Barbieri, Janis Siegel, Nathan East, Chuck Rainey, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Rita Coolidge, Steve Lukather etc. There are two beautiful songs co-written with Marcos Valle: the haunting ballad Deeper Than Love (Mais Que Amor) and the infectious samba-funk Somewhere (later recorded by Emilio Santiago as Dentro de Você.)

Leon Ware's tunes were recorded by Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Minnie Ripperton, Donny Hathaway, Isaac Hayes and many others, being sampled by Ice Cub, Tupac, Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest etc. Rest in Power.

Gianni Bianchini featuring Jason Marsalis: Debut "TYPE I" is out tomorrow!

Respected jazz pianist, vocalist and organist Gianni Bianchini proudly announces the February 21 release of his highly-anticipated, debut album, 'Type I'. Recorded in Austin, Texas, Gianni enlisted the esteemed stylings of NEA Jazz Master Jason Marsalis along with drummer Brandon Guerra and bassist Richard Mikel. In addition to the aforementioned, a guest appearance is made by vocalist Karen Tennison. This record features songs from the Great American Songbook genre but embodies characteristics from the modern piano trios of today.

Bianchini establishes this dexterous album as a collection of songs that have, in his own word, "the ability to encompass the tradition of this great American music and simultaneously push the boundaries for the next generation of jazz musicians". Gianni continues to explain that his principal obligation to both his audience and his band is to simply make the music feel good.

"I want everyone who listens or plays my music to feel good and also to understand that this music is very much alive and growing".

The Floridian native labelled his album, 'Type I' for two pertinent reasons; the first being that this is his debut and the first time he is presenting his music to the general public while the second is much more personal. A decade ago, Gianni was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. This diagnosis has affected every aspect of his life, including his music. "Not only is this record a reminder to my music accomplishment, it is also a reminder to myself the everyday accomplishments that I have to undertake to fight this disease," he says.

Inspirations for this album, and to Gianni as a musician in general, include Nat King Cole, Gene Harris, Diana Krall, Harry Conick Jr., Chet Baker, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Bill Charlap and countless others.

The 7th track of Bianchini's album, his interpretation of Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" can be heard here.

Dr. Gianni Bianchini is considered one of the leading pianist, vocalist and organist in today's jazz scene. He has played, recorded or studied with many of jazz's prominent artists such as; Jason Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, Joshua Redman, Jeff "Tain" Watts, John Scofield, Stefon Harris, Kenny Werner, Jean Michel-Pilc, Gil Goldstein, Ron McClure, Justin Faulkner, Ralph Lalama, Duffy Jackson, Kevin Marcus (Black Violin) and countless others from around the world. Throughout his education, Dr. Bianchini has had the opportunity to study at some of the most prestigious music schools in the world.

He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree from Berklee College of Music, a Master's Degree from New York University, and a Doctorate in jazz piano performance from the University of Texas. Dr. Bianchini is currently on staff as a full professor of jazz piano at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito, in Ecuador. Prior to accepting this position, Dr. Bianchini taught as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Texas and as an Adjunct Professor at New York University. In addition to teaching, Dr. Bianchini continues to perform with his piano trio, organ trio (GOT), and his quintet (The Quintini) across the globe.

Jazz Station Gallery: Hector Costita, Joseval Paes, Bebeto Castilho & Arnaldo DeSouteiro @ Bottle's Bar - Beco das Garrafas, Rio de Janeiro

 (Hector Costita, Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Bebeto Castilho, Joseval Paes)

                             (Hector Costita & Arnaldo DeSouteiro)

 (Hector Costita, Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Bebeto Castilho & Joseval Paes)

 (Hector Costita, Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Bebeto Castilho & Joseval Paes)

                                    (Hector Costita & Arnaldo DeSouteiro)

                                                    (Hector Costita)

  (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Tamba Trio's bassist/flutist Bebeto Castilho)

                                  (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Bebeto Castilho)

                                 (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Bebeto Castilho)

                                   (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Bebeto Castilho)

                                   (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Bebeto Castilho)

                                 (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Bebeto Castilho)

                                   (Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Bebeto Castilho)

(Hector Costita at Bottle's Bar, Beco das Garrafas, February 18, 2017)

R.I.P.: Larry Coryell (1943-2017)

R.I.P.: Larry Coryell, at age 73.
(born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III on April 2, 1943, Galveston, Texas, USA;
died February 19, 2017, New York City, New York, USA)

Terrible news. Another idol & friend is gone, another jazz master. Had the honor to work with him during his CTI years ("Fallen Angel" was a best-selling on the Billboard jazz charts) and when I produced the album "Almost In Love / Ithamara Koorax Sings The Luiz Bonfá Songbook," recorded in 1996, on which he guested. The first time I saw him live was in 1978 in a brilliant duo concert with Philipe Catherine at the Sao Paulo Jazz Festival, during the "Twin House Tour." And the first Coryell album I got, as a gift from my aunt Elge Agricola, was "Introducing The Eleventh House" in 1974. It means I have been "connected" to his artistry for 43 years... Photo by Celso Brando (P. Mallagutti, Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Larry Coryell, Ithamara Koorax)

Al Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy 40th Anniversary Tour 2017

Al Di Meola celebrates the 40th Anniversary of "Elegant Gypsy" 
Sunday, February 26, 2017, 7:00 pm 

Released in 1977, "Elegant Gypsy" was the follow-up album to Di Meola's debut release.  The distinctive music on the album is a fusion of jazz and rock, with Di Meola's lightning-fast guitar riffs intermixed with lyrical acoustical passages.  The album was named Best Guitar Album in Guitar Player magazine and is generally regarded as a masterpiece in the rock-jazz fusion music genre.

A bona fide guitar hero and perennial poll-winner, Al Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as a virtuoso of the highest order. A prolific composer and prodigious six-string talent, Di Meola has amassed over 20 albums as a leader while collaborating on a dozen or so others with the likes of Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Jean-Luc Ponty and more.

And while his dazzling technique on both acoustic and electric guitars has afforded him regal status among hordes of frettboard aficionados who regularly flock to his concerts, the depth of Di Meola's writing and compositions along with the soulfulness of his guitar expressions have won him legions of fans worldwide.

Meet and Greet Tickets Available!

Al Di Meola's "40th Anniversary Meet & Greet Package" includes:
Admission to sound check
20 Minute Q & A session delivered by Al Di Meola from onstage
Meet and Greet
Autographed 40th Anniversary Poster

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Arnaldo DeSouteiro's biography

Arnaldo DeSouteiro – Biografia ultra-resumida 

Produtor de discos, com cerca de 530 álbuns em sua discografia (incluindo novos CDs, reedições, coletâneas, trilhas sonoras, projetos especiais), conforme consta no All Music Guide, principal e mais acessado website sobre música no mundo. Jornalista e publicitário (formado em Comunicação pela PUC-RJ), tendo escrito para os jornais Tribuna da Imprensa (de 1979 até sua extinção em 2009, com 3.200 artigos publicados), Última Hora, O Globo e O Estado do Paraná, revistas Billboard, Keyboard (USA), Cuadernos de Jazz (Espanha), Swing Journal (Japão), Revista do CD (Brasil) etc. 

Roteirista de shows (João Gilberto, Diana Krall, Ithamara Koorax, Marcos Valle, Eumir Deodato, Bjork etc) e de especiais de TV para as emissoras Globo (Antonio Carlos Jobim & João Gilberto) e Manchete (Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Chuck Mangione, Airto Moreira & Flora Purim etc) no Brasil, BET e PBS nos EUA, NHK no Japão (Diana Krall, João Gilberto, CTI All Stars, Dave Brubeck etc).

Nascido no Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) em 1963, radicado em Los Angeles (EUA) desde 1999. Estudou piano clássico e harmonia com sua mãe, a pianista e maestrina Delza Agricola. É membro da Associação Brasileira de Imprensa (ABI) e da Ordem dos Músicos do Brasil (OMB) desde 1979, membro catedrático titular efetivo da Academia Internacional de Música desde 1985, membro votante do Grammy-Naras (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) desde 2006, membro votante da Los Angeles Jazz Society (único brasileiro) desde 2007, e também único brasileiro que é membro votante da Jazz Journalists Association (sediada em Nova Iorque) desde 2002. Atua como consultor e parecerista para diversas empresas, centros culturais e festivais de música no Brasil e no exterior.

Também foi membro honorário e primeiro membro brasileiro da Associação Internacional de Educadores de Jazz (IAJE – International Association of Jazz Educators) durante 12 anos, até sua extinção em 2008, tendo realizado palestras e "panel sessions" nas convenções anuais realizadas nos EUA. 

Fundador e Presidente da gravadora JSR (Jazz Station Records), sediada em Los Angeles – EUA desde 2001, uma divisão da Jazz Station Marketing & Consulting. Dirige também a JSR Casting e a LaCalifUSA Pictures, empresa de cinema que produz conteúdo e trilhas sonoras (composição, produção, seleção) para filmes e séries de TV. 

Produziu discos e sessões de gravação com artistas como Luiz Bonfá, João Gilberto, Dom Um Romão, João Donato, Palmyra & Levita, Mario Castro-Neves, Claudio Roditi, Gaudencio Thiago de Mello, Dexter Payne, Bjork, Rodrigo Lima, Don Sebesky, Hubert Laws, Fabio Fonseca, Marcos Ozzellin, Herbie Hancock, Jorge Pescara, Paula Faour, Anna Ly, Pascoal Meirelles, Yana Purim, Carlos Pingarilho, Nelson Angelo, Marcelo Salazar, Ithamara Koorax, Ron Carter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Steve Swallow, Herbie Hancock, Hugo Fattoruso, Larry Coryell, Sadao Watanabe, Jurgen Friedrich, Claus Ogerman, Gazzara, Eumir Deodato, Azymuth, Marcio Montarroyos, Sivuca, Laudir de Oliveira, Marcos Valle, David Matthews, Gene Bertoncini, John McLaughlin, Raul de Souza, Hermeto Pascoal, Jadir de Castro, Lew Soloff, George Young, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Alphonso Johnson e muitos outros. 

Como compositor e letrista, tem parcerias com Dave Brubeck (“Broadway Bossa Nova”), Francesco Gazzara (“O Passarinho”), Mamoru Morishita (“Hotaru”) e Fabio Fonseca (“Samba da Copa”, executado na cerimônia de abertura da Copa do Mundo de 2006). 

Produziu reedições de discos de Sergio Mendes, Flora Purim, Tamba Trio, Ivan Lins, Carlos Lyra, Miucha, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ron Carter, Idris Muhammad, Hank Crawford, Lonnie Smith, Johnny Hammond, Luiz Bonfá, Phil Upchurch, Tennyson Stephens, Eumir Deodato, Grant Green, Mario Castro-Neves, João Donato, Claus Ogerman, David Matthews, Esther Phillips, Joe Beck, Eric Gale e muitos outros.

Produziu as séries “A Trip To Brazil” (cujo Volume 1 chegou ao primeiro-lugar na parada de world-music na Europa em 1998, superando “Buena Vista Social Club”), “Brazilian Horizons”, “CTI: Acid Jazz Grooves”, “Jazz Club”, e retrospectivas - lançadas mundialmente entre 2006 e 2010 pelo selo Verve – das carreiras de Quincy Jones (“Summer In The City: The Soul-Jazz Groves of Quincy Jones”), Eumir Deodato (“Do It Again: The Fantastic Jazz Funk of Eumir Deodato”) e Chick Corea (“Electric Chick”).

Desde 1981, tem realizado, como free lancer, produção musical para diversas gravadoras, como RCA/BMG, Sony, Verve/PolyGram/Universal, CTI, King, Paddle Wheel, Pausa, Milestone/Fantasy, Warner/WEA, Motor Music, JVC/Victor, Sanyo, Movieplay, Imagem, Eldorado, CID, Alfa, RGE, Mr. Bongo, Terra Música, Blue Moon, Bomba, Cedar Tree, Treasure Trove, Irma, Vivid Sound, Motéma, e Huks Music, no Brasil, Europa, Estados Unidos, Japão, China, Taiwan e Coréia. 

Entre 1982 e 1984, atuou como assessor cultural do Serviço de Comunicação Social da Petrobras. Em 1983, criou, produziu e apresentou o programa "Jazz espetacular", transmitido pela Rádio Tupi FM. Em 1984, assumiu a responsabilidade da programação de bordo (musical e audiovisual) transmitida nos vôos internacionais da Varig, função que exerceu durante 14 anos. Também nesse período (1985 a 1987), participou da comissão de seleção do Free Jazz Festival. 

Escreveu textos de contracapa para discos de diversos artistas, como Toots Thielemans, Ella Fitzgerald, Eliane Elias, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jeff Kinsky, Paulo Bellinati e Carlos Barbosa Lima, entre outros. Assinou textos para divulgação ("press releases") de artistas como João Gilberto, Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Pat Metheny, Bill Evans, Jimmy Smith, Elvin Jones, Stanley Turrentine e Tony Bennett.

Atuou como entrevistador em depoimentos prestados para o Museu da Imagem e do Som (Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo) por João Donato, Stellinha Egg, Maestro Gaya, Eumir Deodato, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim e Carlos Barbosa Lima. Em 2001, recebeu o prêmio de International Man of The Year, concedido pelo International Biographical Centre, de Londres. Foi o primeiro brasileiro a receber essa premiação, oferecida anteriormente a apenas quatro outros produtores: Arif Mardin, Tommy LiPuma, Quincy Jones e Phil Ramone. Ainda nesse ano, a JSR (Jazz Station Records), de sua propriedade, foi considerada uma das cinco melhores gravadoras de jazz do mundo, em relação publicada na edição de dezembro da revista especializada norte-americana "Down Beat", premiação que se repetiu por quatro anos (7º lugar em 2003, 9º lugar em 2004, 5º lugar em 2005 e 6º lugar em 2006).  

Foi entrevistado em vários programas de TV, seriados (incluindo o documentário "Laurindo Almeida, Muito Prazer" exibido pelo canal GNT) e filmes como o premiado documentário "Beyond Ipanema", no qual foi entrevistado ao lado de Creed Taylor, Lalo Schifrin, Wayne Shorter, Gene Lees e Norman Gimbel. Depois de apresentado em diversos festivais de cinema nos Estados Unidos e Europa, "Beyond Ipanema" foi transformado em série de televisão transmitida em território brasileiro pela emissora Canal Brasil em 2014.

Jazz Station Records (JSR), a division of Jazz Station Enterprises
CEO & Founder · Los Angeles 

            (Arnaldo DeSouteiro during a recording session in 2014)

"People are going to talk about you, especially when they envy you and the life you live. Let them. You affected their lives, they didn't affect yours... you will eventually lose someone you love & love someone you never thought you'd find..."

Arnaldo DeSouteiro - Short Bio

Music Producer (with over 530 albums to his credit according to the All Music Guide), Voting Member of NARAS-GRAMMY and Jazz Journalists Association (NY), Member of LAJS (Los Angeles Jazz Society), Musical Philosopher, Journalist, Jazz & Brazilian Music Historian, Publicist, Public Relations, Composer (having written successful jazz & pop songs, some dance hits like "O Passarinho" for the Italian TV reality show "La Pupa e Il Secchione", and "Samba da Copa" for the "2006 World Cup" in Germany, plus many other soundtracks for movies, soap operas & TV series in the USA -- PBS, BET, Universal Cable etc --, Europe and Asia), Lyricist (he wrote lyrics to Dave Brubeck's "Broadway Bossa Nova" at the invitation of Brubeck himself, among other songs), Arranger, Percussionist, Keyboardist, Programmer, Educator (conducting clinics and panel sessions worldwide as the first Brazilian member of IAJE-International Association of Jazz Educators during its existence). He has also acted as consultant for several companies and jazz festivals all over the world.

Founder and CEO of JSR (Jazz Station Records), a Division of Jazz Station Marketing & Consulting - LA, Calif. Most recently, founded LaCalifUSA Pictures and JSR Casting in 2007 for movie & TV productions featuring music & fashion.

Produced the acclaimed CD compilation series "A Trip To Brazil," "CTI Acid Jazz Grooves," "Brazilian Horizons," "Focus on Bossa Nova," "Focus on Brazilian Music Grooves", "Bossa Nova Singers," "Bossa Nova Guitar","Jazz Rock" etc.

Produced special compilations for Quincy Jones ("Summer in the City - The Soul Jazz Grooves of Quincy Jones"), Chick Corea ("Electric Chick") and Deodato ("Do It Again - The Fantastic Jazz-Funk of Eumir Deodato"), all released by Verve/Universal. His latest CD for Verve is "Bossa Nova USA," released last May, featuring Dave Brubeck's title track performed by Quincy Jones.

Supervised and/or Directed TV specials featuring João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Mangione, Flora Purim & Airto Moreira, Miles Davis, Dom Um Romão, Eliane Elias, Diana Krall, Eumir Deodato, Bjork et al. Worked with producers Creed Taylor, Yoichi Nakao, Susumu Morikawa, Matthias Kunnecke, and photographers Pete Turner, Victor Skrebneski, Robert Mappelthorpe, Duane Michals.

Mr. DeSouteiro has also worked in his native Brazil for TUPI-FM radio station (as musical programmer-DJ as well as hosting his own show, "Jazz Espetacular"), Manchete TV network (anchoring & supervising the "Terça Especial" series for which he interviewed such jazz giants as Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Chuck Mangione, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim etc), Globo TV network (screenplay, coordination and mix for the TV special "João Gilberto & Antonio Carlos Jobim - O Grande Encontro" in 1992, the last time these 2 geniuses performed together, plus the texts and screenplay for the "Minuto da Bossa" series), and as the jazz columnist for the "Tribuna da Imprensa" (Press Tribune) daily newspaper during 29 years (from 1979 to 2008). Before moving to the USA, he also worked as Brazilian correspondent of "Keyboard" magazine (from 1985 to 1994), as a free-lancer to Billboard, Cuadernos de Jazz, Swing Journal and International Music Magazine, and as entertainment-in-flight programmer for several airline companies like Varig Brazilian Airlines (from 1983 to 1998).

Produced over 530 albums and sessions featuring: Luiz Bonfa, João Gilberto, Dom Um Romão, Thiago de Mello, Dexter Payne, João Donato, Palmyra & Levita, Mario Castro-Neves, Jorge Pescara, Paula Faour, Fabio Fonseca, Claudio Roditi, Rodrigo Lima, Hermeto Pascoal, Ithamara Koorax, Don Sebesky, Sammy Figueroa, Bjork, Anna Ly, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Pascoal Meirelles, Yana Purim, Pingarilho, Nelson Angelo, Marcelo Salazar, Ron Carter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Steve Swallow, Herbie Hancock, Hugo Fattoruso, Larry Coryell, Sadao Watanabe, Jurgen Friedrich, Eloir de Moraes, Gazzara, Deodato, Jadir de Castro, Azymuth, Marcio Montarroyos, Sivuca, Laudir de Oliveira, Marcos Valle, Jay Berliner, George Young, David Matthews, Lew Soloff, Alphonso Johnson, Gene Bertoncini, John McLaughlin, Claus Ogerman, Raul de Souza, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and many others.

Produced and supervised CD reissues of albums by Ron Carter, Hank Crawford, Johnny Hammond, Sergio Mendes, Hubert Laws, Grant Green, Idris Muhammad, Joe Beck, Esther Phillips, Lonnie Smith, David Matthews & Whirlwind, Phil Upchurch, Tennyson Stephens, Miucha, Flora Purim, Carlos Lyra, Tamba Trio, Ivan Lins, Raul de Souza, Trio 3-D and many others. As annotator, he wrote liner notes and press releases for albums by Toots Thielemans, Hank Crawford, Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald, Pat Metheny, Eliane Elias, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Jeff Linsky and dozens of others for labels like RCA, CTI, Kudu, Milestone, Fantasy, Verve, Columbia, Irma, Alfa, JVC, Caju, Sonet, Paddle Wheel, JHO, Mercury, Imagem etc.

Mr. DeSouteiro also had the honor to be associated with some of the world's greatest photographers like Pete Turner (who did the cover photos for Rodrigo Lima's "Saga" and Jorge Pescara's "Grooves in the Temple," released on his own JSR label and featured on Turner's new book "The Color of Jazz"), Victor Skrebneski (the CD reissue of "Upchurch/Tennyson"), Bruce Weber (Esther Phillips' "For All We Know"), Robert Mappelthorpe ("Brazilian Horizons"), Alen MacWeeney, William Cadge, and Duane Michals (many of the CTI CDs) and so on. He has appeared in several movies and TV series such as the Award Winning documentary movie "Beyond Ipanema," for which he was interviewed alongside Creed Taylor, Lalo Schifrin, Wayne Shorter, Gene Lees and Norman Gimbel.

Jazz Station Marketing & Consulting, JSR Casting, LaCalifUSA Pictures
CEO & Founder: Arnaldo DeSouteiro

Jazz Station Records (JSR), a division of Jazz Station Enterprises
CEO & Founder · Los Angeles ·

(PLEASE, DO NOT SEND UNSOLICITED MATERIAL; any unsolicited CD or promo packets will be returned. If you wish to submit material, please contact us through comments on this post or through Facebook. Thx!)
https://www.facebook.com/arnie.gilberto

People are going to talk about you, especially when they envy you and the life you live. Let them. You affected their lives, they didn't affect yours... you will eventually lose someone you love & love someone you never thought you'd find... 

TBT: Grady Tate & Arnaldo DeSouteiro

 (legendary drummer/singer Grady Tate & Arnaldo DeSouteiro, 1979)

Photos by Delza Agricola DeSouteiro

The Baylor Project charts on Billboard and announces dates in Boston, Alpharetta, Durham and Delray Beach

"The Journey", the debut album from visionary duo The Baylor Project, has debuted at number 8 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. Released on February 10, 2017, "The Journey" has not only been topping the charts, but has also received worldwide acclaim from outlets such as All About Jazz, Hot House, Soul Tracks, Soulbounce and more.

Fresh off the heels of their sold-out CD release mini tour throughout NYC, Philly and Washington, DC, The Baylor Project will be appearing in Boston, MA at Scullers Jazz Club on March 31; in Alpharetta, GA at the Velvet Note on April 28; at the Art of the Cool Festival in Durham, NC on April 29 and at The Art Garage in Delray Beach, FL on April 30.

Steeped in the heart and soul of jazz, Marcus and Jean Baylor's highly anticipated collaboration showcases the grace and glory, versatility and virtuosity of a truly extraordinary musical union. Joining Marcus and Jean on their self-produced debut is an expansive assemblage of top-notch collaborators including pianists Allyn Johnson and Shedrick Mitchell, guitarists Rayfield "Ray Ray" Holloman and Marvin Sewell, bassists Dezron Douglas, Chris Smith, David "DJ" Ginyard and Corcoran Holt, percussionists Pablo Batista and Aaron Draper, tenor saxophonists Keith Loftis and Bob Mintzer, trumpeters Freddie Hendrix and Keyon Harrold, trombonist Stafford Hunter and harpist Brandee Younger.

As the children of Pastors, Marcus and Jean's musical roots were planted deep within the church, and it was there that the road was paved for the influence of gospel, blues, soul, and jazz to make it's mark. On "The Journey", listeners are taken on a comprehensive musical journey that showcases as much versatility as it does virtuosity. A world-class drummer, Marcus' creativity and innovative storytelling ability expose his seasoned improvisation and musicianship. Jean, with her agile mezzo-soprano range, combines a fresh, whimsical, approach to phrasing with clever musicality resulting in soul-hugging vocal purity. Released around Valentine's Day in February, "The Journey" has as much to do with the The Baylor's 15 years of loving one another as it does with Black History Month. Their first feature recording together embodies the true spirit of love while also paying homage to their musical roots and those of the African American experience.

"The Journey is a true reflection of our childhood, the musical and cultural influence of the African American Church, and all the things that have become a part of our creative fabric from then until now," says Jean. As co-creators of their label Be A Light, Marcus and Jean served as the sole producers of "The Journey". "As producers, we were involved in every aspect of the project from inception to completion," says Marcus, adding, "...from songwriting, arranging and collaborating with great musicians to cultivate the sound we heard in our heads, we loved having the autonomy to create music from the inside out."

Anchored by their exceptional band, The Baylor Project made their live debut in 2013 at Smoke Jazz Club to critical acclaim. Such a success, they were extended an invitation to remain in residency at Smoke for the coming year. "Performing on a regular basis not only gave us the opportunity to evolve as a band, but to build a buzz and anticipation for The Baylor Project," says Marcus.

The buzz was certainly built; word-of-mouth brought packed houses at the famed Blue Note, Apollo Music Café, and DC's Blues Alley, leading to performances in premiere jazz festivals across the United States and Europe--a glamorous arrival for two people from humble beginnings. Marcus is a native of Ferguson, MO and Jean, a native of Moorestown, New Jersey.  Both grew up in a tradition that imprinted itself upon their craft.

It is apropo that it was their craft that brought them together back in 2000. It was then that Jean was set to perform at a showcase and found herself in need of a new drummer.  On a fellow musician's referral, Marcus and Jean were connected for the first time through music.  As a close friend tells the story, Marcus fell in love with her that night on stage.

With "The Journey," the Baylor Project showcases their outstanding versatility with a dynamic collection of original compositions, newly arranged standards and reimagined hymns. Upon pressing play, listeners are transported into the heart of the black experience: inside a little church in the mountains of West Virginia built by Jean's ancestors, hands are clapping, feet are stomping on time tested hardwood floors, and voices testify to the power of prayer in song. "Block Party" is the joyful introduction to the Baylor Project rife with the church blues and jazz improvisation.

What follows is the Baylor's signature arrangement of the stalwart hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and their lush arrangement of the Herbie Hancock classic "Tell Me A Story", which is enhanced by original lyrics penned by Jean.

A restorative hymn for healing and forgiveness begins the original composition "Again" which then gives way to a full swing orchestration with horns and strings featuring explosive solos. On the following track, the Baylors present a beautifully moody arrangement of the Gershwin classic "Summertime" with the lush stylings of harpist Brandee Younger, thus providing a remarkable remedy for the familiar. On "Afro Blue", listeners are filled with an open palette of sound that brings forth a sincere spiritual offering of faith, strength and resolve. Afro Blue is a journey in and of itself through the collage of solos that express a deep connection to their cultural roots.

An interesting surprise, penultimate tune "Laugh and Move On" is a tribute to a simpler time in music. "This song reminds me of an era in music that focused on telling a story with a lot of soul and some good ole' fashioned singing about letting the tough times roll off your back," says Jean.

Likened to an aria, Jean's beautiful and sometimes haunting vocal arrangement is sung over Marcus' dramatic drum solo on the final track "Journey". Vacillating in and out of tempo and bound only to the rhythm of the soul, the two dance together telling their stories. Intertwined with voices of their personal lineage that give audible accounts of the discovery of their musical gifts, it is the perfect ending to the story and cleverly circles listeners right back to the beginning.

"We want to inspire, foster hope and ultimately, bridge the gap between generations in our culture," says Marcus. With "The Journey'', The Baylor project does just that. They are relatable, they are virtuosic, and for these reasons they captivate listeners and packed houses alike. "The Journey" pays homage to their wide-ranging musical influences, and in so doing; they generate an eclectic sound whose overall effect is spiritual, buoyant, and feel good music.

MORE ABOUT THE BAYLOR PROJECT:
"The Baylor Project" is an innovative collaboration merging the talents and creativity of this dynamic husband and wife duo, Marcus and Jean Baylor. Both artists have established themselves in the music community, Marcus as a jazz musician having toured and recorded with Kenny Garrett, John Scofield, Cassandra Wilson, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride and as a long-time member of the Grammy Award Winning, Yellowjackets. Jean first established herself in R&B as a platinum selling recording artist and later emerged in jazz having recorded and toured with Kenny Garrett, Marcus Miller, Yellowjackets, Jimmy Greene and legends, Harold Mabern and Buster Williams. The Baylor Project was founded in 2013.

MANAGEMENT: Gail Boyd Management
gail@gailboyd.com

RECORD LABEL: Be A Light
thebaylorproject@gmail.com

R.I.P.: Helio Matheus (1940-2017)

R.I.P.: Helio Matheus (1940-2017),
(born on July 5, 1940; died on February 09, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, RJ)

Brazilian singer, composer and guitarist. Besides this debut solo album recorded in 1975 for RCA with an all-star cast, Helio had his songs covered by such acts as Elis Regina, Azymuth, Zimbo Trio, Meirelles, Wanderléa, Doris Monteiro, Banda Black Rio etc. My favorite ones are the recordings of "Kriola" by Meirelles and "Que É Que Você Vai Fazer Nesse Carnaval" by Azymuth, which I've included in the volume 3 of the compilation series "A Trip To Brazil" that I produced for Verve. Rest in Power.

Anna Mjoll to appear @ Baked Potato, Feb 24

One of our favorite singers, Anna Mjoll will be performing with her sextet at the Baked Potato, next February 24.
For infos and reservations, please call (818) 980-1615.